The Echoes of Destiny: An Epic Mage Fantasy Adventure (Legend of the Ecta Mastrino Book 5)

by BJ Hanlon

  “Right.” The duke sighed and rested his head in his hands. “And you wish for my leave to do so?”

  “I’m not doing anything here,” Edin said. “I may not be a citizen of yours; nor am I a person who would be allowed to live if your church had their way. I’m under assault and it will continue.”

  A moment later the door creaked open and Merik entered, he moved slowly and methodically like a panther on the prowl.

  Perfect timing, Edin though.

  Edin then continued, “I believe, no, I know this is what I must do, what I have to do.”

  “You want to be the savior of the world.”

  Merik strolled over to a side cupboard and grabbed a carafe of wine and a goblet.

  “Sure, just waltz in and drink my wine, Inquisitor,” the duke said. “If people do not start listening to me I don’t know that we’ll be able to survive this even if you get the elves on our side.”

  “He killed three of my men,” Merik said. “You cannot be thinking about letting him run off and—”

  “They attacked me!” Edin said.

  “It’s true, Inquisitor,” Berka said in a reverent tone. “I watched them.”

  “They were trying to arrest him for attempted murder on you!” Merik said pointing the goblet toward the duke.

  “He’s right!” Icari said. Edin had nearly forgotten the man was there.

  “We’ve been over this already,” Sinndilo said. “I do not believe that for a moment. I do not think Edin is that stupid. Nor are you that stupid to think that Inquisitor de Demar.”

  Merik began to protest but Sinndilo raised a hand again. “No, we’re in my lands and I am the ruler. I give you much leeway and until this morning you were with me on this.”

  “That was before—”

  Sinndilo cut him off again, “Master Edin, where would you go?”

  “The mountains,” Edin said. “West of here.”

  “He’s going to the mountain keep. He has a backway into it and he’ll go and hide. I know the stairway was destroyed but what of the actual keep?” Merik gasped. “We cannot access it and many Por Fen and warriors died attacking it.”

  Sinndilo ignored this. “And you know where the elves are?”

  Edin nodded. “I want to be of service.” Berka gave him a sidelong glance. “I want to help stop these monsters and I know this is the only way.”

  “And what of the wall?” said Sinndilo. “If we’re attacked and you’re more than a pair of hours away we lose our best weapon. That’s why we let you stay in the city, to get rest.”

  “You may lose it anyway if more soldiers of yours…” Edin turned to Merik, “or more monks of yours, decide to follow the Vestion’s lies despite orders.”

  Sinndilo nodded. “And what of Rihkar and Dorset. It seems they have yet to find a ship.”

  “Send them to Carrow where your fleet is. Give them a missive that lets them commandeer one of your naval vessels.”

  “After what you did to the last fleet that sailed toward the Isle of Mists, what makes you think any captain would willingly go?” Said Merik clearly tired of his complaints being ignored.

  “The duke is their sovereign,” Edin said. “I will go with them to Carrow and then head west through Jont’s Pass. From there, I will not say.”

  The duke sighed. “You may leave this afternoon.”

  “Sinndilo!” Merik cried. “They murdered your men and mine.”

  So much for a working relationship with the Por Fen, Edin thought.

  “I may believe that not all magi are evil,” the captain gasped, though Edin could tell the lie, “but this cannot go unpunished. It will make you look weak.”

  “Inquisitor, you call me by my right title or you do not get an audience with me again.” Then he moved toward the inquisitor and took the goblet from his hand. “And you do not get any of my wine.” Then he turned to the scribe. “What proof do any of you have that he started the fire? What proof that he attacked our men? I believe he’s innocent until proven guilty. We do not just live on assumptions; what do you think we are, Resholtian nobility who lie and murder for political points?” Then he glanced at Edin. “Well not all of us are; Baron de Yaultan.”

  “Do not worry,” Edin said. “I’m sure I was stripped of my lands and am not welcome in Resholt either.”

  “It’s settled. Edin, take your people to Carrow, get them a ship, and you continue on to find the elves. I will have other letters for you to deliver as well. The Vestion wishes to have my crowning ceremony soon,” the duke said shaking his head. “We’re at war and the church wants to plan a party.”

  “It is tradition,” Merik said.

  “We do not need that type of tradition right now,” he said, not looking at Merik. “Will you deliver the letters for me?”

  Edin nodded.

  “Good, now get packed,” Sinndilo then looked at Merik. “Oporius isn’t going to be happy, is he?”

  “I’m not happy.” Merik growled.

  “But you never are.”

  “Sometimes.” There was a look of longing on his face.

  Edin looked at Berka and then at Icari. Both of them looked as uncomfortable as Edin felt. He raised a hand and pointed toward the door. “So, can we go?”

  “Yes.”

  4

  The Second Time Around Is Easier

  It only took an attempt on his life for Edin to be able to leave the army and try to save the world. Or so they all thought.

  After the guards at the front entrance returned Edin’s weapon and they were on their way back to the home they were supposed to stay in, Berka nudged him with a hardy elbow.

  A little too hardy, Edin thought.

  “Ow.”

  “What are you doing?” Berka said. “You are up to something. You’re not really going after the elves.”

  Edin rubbed his arm. “Yes, of course I am.” But it sounded like a lie even to him. That wasn’t in his plan. He needed to find her. Until this morning, he hadn’t heard from her in almost a week and then she appeared in his vision. Or at least he hoped she did. He didn’t exactly have a mirror when he looked through her eyes, nor did he look down for breasts.

  Before him, I mean her, Edin thought, there was that great lake, who knew how large and how deep, but it made sense. She was on a river. Eventually it should’ve come to a lake and hopefully above ground and not some aquafer below it. But how would she have gotten up the mountain?

  Berka didn’t continue to question him on it, and for that, Edin was grateful.

  They rounded the corner to find the building they had been staying in perfectly safe and sound. No one had burnt it, well any more than it had been burnt, despite what Edin originally been told. It was a false flag operation those morons had tried. And they didn’t do a great job. He could picture Icari, Arsholnol, and the justicar all scheming in some back room thinking about how great this would be. How many others were part of the scheme to discredit or kill him?

  As they entered, they found a dozen guards standing watch over Rihkar, Dorset, and Henny. They drew their weapons, Edin held up the letter Sinndilo had given him for just this reason. Edin handed the sealed envelope to the guard that approached.

  He quickly read it. Worry and confusion came over his face, then he looked at Edin and rubbed his tongue over his lips as if trying to pick a very stubborn piece of steak from it.

  “Men, we’re leaving. They are all free to go,” he said and sheathed his dagger. “I’m watching you,” he said to Edin with squinting eyes.

  Edin wanted to reply but a look from Berka told him don’t. Edin complied. They stepped aside as the soldiers filed past them and out the door into the sun.

  Rihkar rubbed his face with his one hand. “Well that was a fun morning. How’d the burning of the duke’s place go?”

  “I didn’t—” Edin started but Rihkar was smiling.

  “We know you didn’t,” Dorset said. “It was clearly something someone else set up.”

  “
The duke thinks so too, the inquisitor doesn’t.” Berka said going to his things.

  Edin then went to his own, a bedroll he wouldn’t sleep in and his pack with little in it. “We’re heading to Carrow. You three are getting on a boat to the Isle.”

  Rihkar asked “And you?”

  “I’m headed to find the elves.” Edin said though seemingly with little conviction.

  “Me too,” said Berka stepping forward.

  Edin raised an eyebrow at his friend.

  “The duke is finally letting you leave?” Rihkar asked.

  Edin nodded. “I may be a distraction in the army, you know, with everyone wanting me dead.”

  “Believe me, I do,” Rihkar said. “What are we waiting for, let’s go.”

  They packed and grabbed a little grub from the inn. Most of the soldiers ate from the stores the army provided but Edin wasn’t going to share any more food with them and he certainly would not be eating with them. They sat in the open-air courtyard near the back wall where Edin had knocked out the last guard that thought it’d be a good idea to question Edin.

  “So, are we walking?” Rihkar said.

  “We don’t have a choice, unless you’ve got horses somewhere up your bum.”

  “Not normally where I stable them but I can check,” Rihkar said crunching on a chicken leg. “What about that sail–cart thing you did in the tunnels?”

  Edin shook his head. “The road twists and turns too much,” he said. “We go on foot. It’s at least four days south.”

  “Supplies?”

  “Henny and Berka will get them from the quartermaster while I go see the duke to pick up his missives,” Edin said. “Two non-magi have a better chance not to be harassed.”

  “You’d think that wouldn’t you,” Berka said. “But I quit the Por Fen… and Henny here has mage blood.”

  “Take the other two if you wish, I’m going to see Sinndilo,” Edin said while standing up. He finished his meal and drank a glass of water. No need for whiskey or ale this morning. After waking up to another battle, at that moment, he thought he wouldn’t have another drink for weeks or maybe until this was over or he was dead. Though he guessed that thought would be out the window soon.

  Edin grabbed his pack and threw on his cloak. As he approached the door to the duke’s residence, he spotted Merik next to the wall with a couple Por Fen flanking him. How many were here? How many were in Bestoria?

  They watched Edin, the other two with their hoods up and their faces hidden beneath them. Merik had his down and stared. Was he trying to intimidate Edin? He was already planning on taking off. What was the point of this? Edin wondered as he left his sword with the guard at the front. He was about to hand the quarterstaff to the guard when he remembered it was the Por Fen ranger’s weapon. He turned to Merik and tossed it.

  “I believe this is one of yours,” Edin said and turned before Merik snatched it from the air. Edin felt chilled eyes on him and hoped these two guards were under orders to watch his back.

  Heckles were hung around on his neck until he was about five feet in and the door closed behind with a loud rattle that nearly made him jump. Edin glanced over his shoulder and saw no one followed.

  He walked through the courtyard with the guards looking down at him as if he were some warrior in a gladiatorial arena, someone there just for their entertainment.

  He passed the trickling fountain. In it, a mermaid sat on a rock spouting water from her mouth. Her bosom was large and covered with a pair of shells and somehow the stone eyes seemed sultry.

  The guards didn’t even check him before he entered and met the scribe in the antechamber. The door to the duke’s office was shut.

  The scribe held out three letters, all were tied together with twine and there was a seal in candle wax on each.

  “Admiral Kanee will get you a ship for your friends. Please deliver the other two to High Priest Vewto and Earl Dallest of Carrow. They are all sealed so do not read them, if you please. Also, it’d probably be prudent for you not to announce that you are a mage,” the old scribe said with a comical look that somehow made Edin shit uneasily.

  “I thought I’d wear a cap with it embroidered on my forehead,” Edin said, starting to turn.

  “Just because he thinks you may be an honest mage, do not think others share his views.” The man said with conviction. “You’re an aberration of the gods’ images.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of thinking that. Small-minded folk love their prejudices,” Edin said. “That’s what keeps them from advancing beyond the job of a secretary.” He winked like Grent would have and then walked away.

  There was a gasp from the scribe as Edin reached for the door and pulled it open. He didn’t look back. Though for the first time he wondered if the new duke was safe. Was he putting himself in danger by allowing Edin to live?

  Edin contemplated it as he walked past the guards. He paused for a moment and eyed them. Neither moved but one made eye contact. Would the duke be betrayed by one of his own? How much was he pushing his luck. For that matter, how much was Edin?

  An image of sorts came over him. The duke dead, stabbed in the back, and Edin was the prime suspect. Their lives were now inextricably linked. As long as Edin was within striking distance of the duke. He had to leave and fast.

  Edin nearly ran down the stairs and into the courtyard. He hadn’t seen the duke and was now worried if something had happened to him. Something that could be blamed upon him since Edin was up in the same general area.

  Edin’s heart thudded wildly in his chest and he felt the energy in the air and summoned gobs toward him. Were there Por Fen in any of these doors ready to leap out? Would the scribe come rushing from the door above and say Edin killed the duke?

  Then he heard his name. For a moment, his heart stopped.

  Slowly, Edin turned and looked up. Standing on the balcony above him was Sinndilo.

  Edin breathed a sigh of relief. He was getting in his own head far too much. “Yes, my duke,” Edin said hesitantly.

  “Bring me an army.”

  He nodded and turned away. That was his job, his duty according to the prophecy.

  But Arianne was out there and Edin’s heart felt heavy. He knew mountains and saw the giant lake in his head but had no idea where they were. He’d have to do some research in Carrow. A lake like that couldn’t be hard to find. But the duke already knew that he was aware of the location of the elves. If word got back to him that he was searching for something else, Edin did not want to think of the ramifications.

  Edin nodded at Merik as they left. The man’s two hooded sentinels had disappeared into the day. Edin had a bad feeling about those two.

  They left shortly after the group returned to the small home they were supposed to have shared but never did.

  It was just after noon by the time they set out. Edin had already killed multiple men and saw the still smoldering tower before it was blocked by the burgeoning forest. Since Foristol, he’d tried his best not to kill anymore humans. He’d failed.

  One day he’d stop. He’d put down his sword and retire. Or I’ll be dead.

  It took twenty minutes before they were out of the town. It was a lot easier moving on the roads as opposed to backyards when Arianne and he had been hunted.

  The troupe traveled in a southerly direction as the road wound again through the forest. There were wheel ruts in the road from caravans, but none of them seemed fresh. A few days maybe? Edin wasn’t much of a woodsman and couldn’t tell for sure.

  They walked for a few hours. After a while, some of the area began to look familiar and he thought of Arianne again standing over the giant mysterious lake with huge beasts at the shoreline.

  He spotted a tree that looked familiar and something that looked like metal that had been charred. As he walked past it, he saw it was some sort of buckle that had been touched by flame.

  This was the spot where the Por Fen Tosoria killed the soldier. The tree was the one they had hid behind.<
br />
  He remembered the man sniffing, searching out the magi with his nose. Edin’s heart stopped. The Por Fen mages could find other mages. How did he not remember that? Were those two men with Merik part of the Inquisitor’s dogs?

  “What was that?” Dorset said from just in front of him.

  Edin looked up and saw Dorset looking over his shoulder and then beginning to slow. “Huh?”

  “You said ‘yes.’”

  Edin shrugged. He looked past Dorset and saw Berka staring back at him. There were accusations in those eyes. “Nothing, just in my own head.”

  They camped that night in a small clearing, one he remembered from the first time through. They’d been on the run and scared. It’d been just after he killed the Marquees Sandon.

  The man was evil, there was no denying that. His servant and he were murderers who tried to kill the wrong people. Edin closed his eyes and tried to find Arianne in his mind again, in the dream world again…

  But nothing appeared. He slept and dreamed, but the dreams were nothing remarkable. Nothing he even remembered.

  They woke and broke fast early the next day trying to get some greater distance. Edin didn’t want to spend many more nights on the road. He wanted to get away and search for Arianne.

  The next two days were all the same gloomy with scattered drizzles that tickled the leafless forest and the dirt road. It wasn’t enough to turn it to mud or wash it out but it drew on his remaining strength and was terribly annoying.

  As the days went on, he felt cold from a chilly wind, despite the white cloak, and the rain continued.

  No one said much. The roads were nearly empty of foot traffic, much like the last trip down. All they passed were two caravans, both carrying supplies for the army and their group had to scoot off to the side of the road to give them room to pass.

  Edin smelled dead animals on one, meat for the army. He didn’t know how many pounds there were, but it was six wagons being drawn by oxen. The other wagon train had a mix of equipment: tools for the northern wall, swords, armor, tents, and other objects that’d be doled out by the quartermaster when they found their way to him.