Wizard's Blood [Part One]

by Bob Blink

  “Are you okay?” he asked Tomas some time later.

  There was no answer for a bit, then Tomas replied back, his voice reflecting how shaken he was. “Dragons, you wouldn’t think a little thing like that could hurt so much. Damn. It still screams at me.”

  “Is it bleeding much?”

  “It’s still oozing a lot. I’ve got nothing I can tie it off with.”

  “Wrap it in a bit of cloth. You don’t want it to get infected.”

  Tomas laughed. “Not much chance of that in here, is there? Doesn’t really matter in the end, I suspect. You know we aren’t getting out of here. Falk has no intention of letting us go. It’d take a miracle for someone to find us.”

  Jolan suspected he was right. Only the remotest of chances would get them free from this sadist.

  Chapter 33

  Asari initially had wanted to go immediately to his uncle’s place, but had then reconsidered. As urgent as the present situation was, it had been no time for rash decisions. All could be lost if he handled the first meeting with his uncle poorly. Asari had been exhausted and wooly headed, which wasn’t a good condition to be in for the argument he knew would result when the two of them got together. In addition, he’d known that his uncle would be in a foul mood after the days of travel. In the past, a night in the man’s own bed had done wonders for his uncle’s disposition.

  Reluctantly, Asari had headed off to his own bed the previous evening after first checking on the Mage’s Box. He’d run his hand over the surface, reassured by its continued existence. He only wished he could know the state of his friend’s health, not just that he was alive. For all Asari knew, Jolan might be barely hanging on by now.

  Asari had arrived unannounced early this morning, and had been ushered in to see his uncle while he was still at breakfast. Everything had started off as badly as he feared, but after the initial fireworks, the exchanges became less intense and they were able to communicate without yelling. Despite the fact the old man could be difficult and the two of them had seldom gotten along, Asari knew he was an honorable man at heart, and that he felt an obligation to his younger brother with regards to Asari. That was what had brought him to fetch Asari from the wilderness the previous year. But Asari had to be careful what he asked for. Once the man felt his obligation had been met, there was no telling if he would continue to help.

  “What brought you back here after so long? You need money, right? Tired of living out in the sticks with nothing?”

  Money might help him, but Asari knew that once given, it was one of the things that could well end any obligation the man felt.

  “I have money,” Asari said resolutely, showing him the money pouch filled with silver coin. He could tell the man was surprised to see more than a gold’s value in silver coin spilling out onto the table.

  “What have you done you young fool, taken up thieving? How would a boy your age with no skills come to possess such a considerable sum? You know if you’d stayed here like you should have I’d have seen you trained in commerce, something that would serve you well for the rest of your life. Are you here because the Guard is searching for you then?”

  Asari sighed and shook his head. “This is from a friend. He is the reason I need your help.”

  For the next ten minutes Asari told the story of how he had met Jolan, the concerns about Cheurt and their fear he was preparing for a war which Ale’ald would have every certainty of winning due to technology that no one else on Gaea had ever seen. He explained how Jolan was a mage, although one with undeveloped capabilities, but apparently with great potential. He was surprised his uncle actually let him talk for so long uninterrupted.

  “Mages, Wizards,” thundered the old man. “I’d have thought after what happened to your father you’d have sense enough to stay away from such people. I thought before you had as much fear and contempt for them as I. If you think I’m going after some Dragon Cursed wizard, forget it.”

  They’d had the same argument last year. His uncle was not a brave man and was fearful of what an angry wizard could do.

  “How do I even know any of this is true. Another world! I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

  Asari reached into his pocket and pulled out the loose cartridge he stripped from the partially filled magazine. He lobbed it to his uncle, who was quick enough to catch it as it came his way.

  “What’s this?” he asked before he had a chance to look at it. “Cuprum!” he exclaimed when he’d had a chance to see it more closely. “Boy, do you have any idea what this is worth?”

  Asari nodded. “We’ve sold several of them; after they’ve been fired.”

  “Fired? What does that mean?”

  “That’s a weapon uncle. It’s from a place where cuprum is common and not particularly valuable. It’s also capable of defeating magic. My friend Jolan killed a Muloka with one of those.”

  “Oh for the love of Dragons!” the man exclaimed. “Your story is wild enough without something like that to add a bit of spice.”

  “I can show you the skull if you want. We are taking it to Cobalo to show the Mages at the college.”

  His uncle looked at him carefully for a long time. “I think you’re serious.” He held up the cartridge. “You have more of these?”

  Asari nodded and pulled out the spare magazine. “There are seven more in here, and I have another holder just like this one, plus a few spares. This is the weapon that fires them,” he said lifting the Colt out of his belt holster.

  His uncle took the magazine and looked at the copper gleaming at the top of the magazine. His eyes traveled over to the pistol, but he made no attempt to touch it.

  “What do you want from me?” he asked finally.

  “I think my friend has been kidnapped along with Tomas, the son of Lord Yeren.”

  “Lord Yeren’s eldest has been kidnapped?”

  “I think so. He and Jolan were talking, and they disappeared when I was inside the tavern for a few minutes. There is no reason for anyone to take Jolan, so I think Tomas was the target and Jolan was taken because he was there. But I have no way to verify Tomas is missing, and whether his family has had any contact with the kidnappers.”

  “They would be keeping it quiet as best they could,” his uncle observed. “If word got out, our ham headed King would have the Guard running around everywhere, and whoever took him would kill him and run off.”

  He looked at Asari. “So tell me what you need.”

  Asari took a breath and laid out his requests. “First, I need someone to help me try and find Jolan. It has to be someone who might have contacts or an ear to the criminal element, and someone who can help try and rescue him once we have an idea where he is being kept. Second, I’d like to know if Tomas’ family is dealing with the kidnappers, and whether they have any idea who is responsible. It might help finding where they are being held. I suspect his family would simply pay and not do anything that might upset the culprits.”

  “Is that all?” his uncle asked dryly.

  “No. If, I mean when,” he said correcting himself. “When we rescue him, I need help getting him an audience with the Parliament, or maybe even the king. He can’t just walk into the College of Mages without some kind of sponsor. Maybe we could find a way, but with your contacts, I thought this would be the best approach.”

  “You don’t want much, do you? You also have a lot more faith in my contacts than is warranted. I don’t know if the people I know would have the kind of influence to win such an audience. But that would be a matter for afterwards, now wouldn’t it?”

  The man sat silently as he thought. Asari didn’t know that his uncle had spent a great deal of time thinking over the past month. The trip to the shores had far less effect on his health than it had in the past. His doctor was most likely correct, Dragon’s Curse him. He didn’t have too much longer. Another year, maybe two. The doctor didn’t know the nature of the disease that afflicted him, only that it was slowly bringing him down. Asari was all th
at remained of their bloodline, and as angry as the cursed boy made him, he was the only person he had to leave his life’s efforts to.

  “All right,” he said slowly. “I’ll have my man Steph see what he can do. He knows others if you need them. He’s an ex-soldier, and knows his way around.”

  Ex-mercenary, Asari thought. He’d known the man from before, and actually liked him. He provided security for the old man, and was certainly competent. Asari was pleased to have him offered.

  “Where are you staying?” his uncle asked. “I can have him look you up this afternoon.”

  Asari told him.

  “Nice enough place. You want to move here?”

  Asari shook his head. “I need to be where Jolan would expect to find me, just in case.” He didn’t tell his uncle about the other reasons.

  * * * *

  Steph had been prompt, and had shown up later as promised. He went straight to the task, bringing two others with him. After hearing the story, Steph and his men went off to see what could be learned. Their lack of success surprised even them.

  Somehow his uncle had determined that Tomas’ family had withdrawn into the family estate, and he agreed that Tomas must be missing. His friends hadn’t seen him for a few days, and Asari’s uncle had established that Tomas had missed an important dinner that was an annual event. His uncle also agreed with Asari that direct contact with the family was out of the question. They would deny everything, and might even inform the kidnappers of their interest, which could be disastrous for Jolan.

  With nothing else to do, Asari made his rounds again, hoping that someone had come forward with information, but knowing it wasn’t likely. If they had, he would have been sent a note to that effect. Dejected, he walked out of the tavern after talking with the owner, and stood by the end of the building near where he’d found the staff.

  “I see’d him ser.”

  Asari glanced over to see who was talking and found a skinny girl of about ten years old, dirty, wearing what could only be described as rags, looking back intently at him.

  “You saw who?” he asked her, as much as anything to see if she was really addressing him.”

  “Yer friend. The one everyone says you’re asking ‘bout. I want the reward.”

  Asari pushed himself away from the wall and walked over to the girl, his heart pounding. He was almost afraid to hope. He pulled out the last of Sindra’s drawing, and unrolled it to show to the girl.

  “That’s him,” she said, her small head wagging up and down on her skinny neck. “They was taking him down the alley.”

  “What happened to him?”

  “They put him in a carriage. Him and the one with fancy clothes.”

  “Did you follow them?” Asari asked, praying she’d say yes.

  “No ser,” she said shaking her head. “They would not like me doin’ that.”

  His hopes faded. The girl may have seen Jolan, but without knowing where they’d taken him, it wasn’t of any help.

  “I didn’t need to. I know where they take ‘em.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I recognized the leader. I’ve seen him before. They done this before, and they take ‘em down near my ma’s place.”

  “You’ve seen them kidnap people before? How come you’ve never told the Guard?”

  “They wouldn’t like it none if they learned I squealed. Besides, I don’t like the Guard. They try and chase me sometimes. I don’t take much. Just enough to live. Besides, they never offered gold for information like you.”

  “Can you show me this place?”

  “Do I get the reward?” she asked eagerly.

  “If the place you show me leads to my friend, I promise you will get it,” Asari said sincerely.

  “Even if he’s not there anymore?”

  “Why wouldn’t he be there?”

  “’Cause they move ‘em after a bit. At least, they have in the past.”

  “You seem to know a lot.”

  “Got nuthin’ better to do all day.”

  “You wouldn’t know where they take their victims?”

  She shook her head. “Bet ya could follow ‘em there though. Always someone comin’ and goin’ from there.”

  “Come on,” Asari urged. “Show me where this place is.”

  They walked for almost a mile, a lot closer than Asari would have guessed, when the girl grabbed at his arm and pulled him off to one side.

  “It’s over there,” she said, pointing to a run-down structure sitting all alone a block off the main street of the waterfront.

  Asari looked it over. He needed to get back to Steph. This was something he and his men were far more capable of handling. Looking around to be sure he could find the place again, they headed back the way they had come.

  “When do I get the reward?” she asked when he stopped a block away.

  “As soon as I know if this is the right place. How do I find you?”

  “Just wait outside the tavern. I’ll know.”

  Asari nodded and pulled out his coin purse. He handed the small girl a silver and said. “This is extra. You still get the full gold if you’ve brought me to the right place.”

  The girl smiled broadly and slipped away. She turned into the next alleyway and disappeared. Asari turned and tried to think of where he could find Steph.

  Chapter 34

  “Maybe this wasn’t the best idea after all.”

  Asari, Steph, and his two friends had spent the past two days working shifts watching the small structure to which the street urchin had directed him. They had followed every individual who’d had contact with the supposed transfer point for the kidnap victims. So far they had been led to a couple of taverns, a brothel, and one very worn out, falling down building that turned out to be an outlet for mist, a particularly strong narcotic that had become popular in the past couple of years.

  “You’ve got to give it some time,” Steph said patiently.

  “I was certain you were going to tell me I’d been taken in by a streetwise little girl, and that we’d been wasting our time,” Asari said.

  Steph leaned out to stretch his back. It wasn’t the hardest stake out he’d been on, but the sitting was difficult. They had to stay out of sight, which wasn’t that easy in an area where there wasn’t very much human traffic. Fortunately there was an alley across the way which provided enough shadow from which to watch without being conspicuous. On those rare occasions when someone did wander down the little back street, they could easily enough slip a bit deeper into the shadows until the individual passed by.

  “Now that’s always a possibility. But in this case I really don’t think so. There’s something about this place that has the right feel. It gives me a feeling that someone did some careful thinking. They take the victims, and move them somewhere relatively close real quick before anyone really realizes they are gone. Our ‘nappers then hold them quiet until everyone assumes they got away with the victims. Then, after everyone is focusing their attention a bit further away, they move them again, under everybody’s noses, to someplace else that’s a lot more secure. No, we best give it a little more time.”

  “Doesn’t it seem a bit strange that nothing has come up regarding the kidnapping?”

  “You’re right. So far we haven’t learned a cursed thing. There should be some sort of rumbling on the street, but no one seems to known anything. It’s a real strange situation when a crime this important can be pulled off without a sniff anywhere.”

  Asari heard a shuffling down the alley, but it was only their horses, restless from hanging out hour after hour. They needed them close in case they had to follow someone who came by carriage or on horseback.

  “This friend of yours is a wizard then? Strange folk, wizards.”

  “He’s really more of a mage.”

  “Well, we need to keep that in mind. Mages don’t use the power for fighting, so he won’t be much use if we get into it with these guys.”

  “Jolan’s dif
ferent. He’ll surprise you if he gets the chance. I’ve known him to use the power against these kinds of people before.”

  “Doesn’t that make him more of a wizard?”

  “I used to think so, but now I realize it’s a matter of outlook. Wizards use the power to obtain their own goals, whoever gets hurt. Jolan isn’t like that at all.”

  “I hate to say this, but he’s probably dead.”

  “He’s not. I know that for sure.”

  “You’ve said that before. I’d wish I knew how you could be so positive.”

  Steph looked up at the sound of an approaching horse and rider. “Hmmm, we’ve got company. This guy looks to be in a hurry. Don’t think we’ve seen him before.”

  Asari watched as the new arrival slipped off his horse and tied it to the post out front. He hurried up to the building and slipped inside without knocking. That made him more than a messenger. He was inside for a very short time when he and the big one with the scar across his face stepped outside together. The new arrival waited while the big one walked around to the back and retrieved one of the horses being held in the small yard, and then they headed off together.

  “Let’s go,” urged Steph.

  “Shouldn’t I wait here?” Asari asked. “Just in case something else happens?”

  “We’ve been keeping count for two days, and we know for certain there’s no one else inside at the moment. Besides, we were scheduled to be relieved in less than an hour, so the place will be unwatched for only a short time. Gennal will understand what must have happened if he finds us gone. He’ll pick up the watch regardless. I have a feeling about this. I think it’s the break we’ve been hoping for.”

  Within minutes they had retrieved their horses and were headed off in the same direction as the two riders they wished to follow. This time of day the streets were busy with riders, making it too noticeable for their quarry to ride very swiftly through town. The same condition that slowed their quarry also made it relatively easy to follow unnoticed, and they sat back and waited to see what they would learn.