Wizard's Blood [Part One]

by Bob Blink

Steph encouraged Lord Hoalt to climb down from the carriage with the tip of his sword. “Here is your kidnapper my Lord, otherwise known as Falk.”

  “This is Lord Hoalt! You must be mistaken. He is one of the wealthiest Lord’s in Carta. I’ve known him for years.”

  “That’s why he has never been caught. He has created an assumption about himself to divert suspicion.”

  “Please,” said Lord Yeren. “Release this man. We can work this out and I’m sure you will be proven wrong.”

  Just then a very weak Tomas raised his head and whispered, “Father.”

  Lord Yeren heard Tomas’ plea, and rushed to his side. He leaned over while Tomas whispered into his ear. A very different Lord Yeren turned back to face the group a moment later, his eyes icy and cold as he looked at the Lord he had just been defending.

  He nodded at the Captain of the Guard and said, “Tomas has just confirmed their claim. Take him and hold him in the strongest of the cells. Take three men and make sure he does not escape.”

  Steph and Asari watched as Falk was led away.

  “I don’t mean to be ungrateful, but I must see to my son immediately,” Lord Yeren said. “Who do I have to thank for this so I can contact you later and show my appreciation properly?”

  Asari gave the man his uncle’s name. The goodwill might serve his uncle, and he did owe him for the loan of Steph and his men. Then they headed back to the Peaceful Pony.

  Chapter 36

  Free of their prisoner and their extra passenger, Asari and Steph split up. Asari asked Steph if he would drop by the tavern where Ashreye worked and let her know what had occurred, and then go back to his uncle’s and let him know as well. It would be best his uncle was warned he might be hearing from a grateful Lord Yeren before it happened. Asari would see to getting Jolan back to the Peaceful Pony, and get him whatever care was needed, which at this point looked like food and rest. With his sincere thanks and promise to meet up later, Asari waved to Steph as he departed, then told the driver where he wanted to go.

  As the carriage rattled along the stone roadway, Asari examined his friend as he slept. He couldn’t believe how thin Jolan had become in so short a time. He was also dirty beyond belief, especially his hands, and his clothing was muddied and torn. Asari was pleased to see he slept peacefully, which encouraged him to believe with a little proper care he would be back to normal. He’d checked briefly back at Falk’s prison, and looked again now as best he could, but could see no indication of wounds or direct abuse.

  Jolan woke near the end of their journey, looking around a bit confused until he located a familiar landmark, then smiled weakly remembering that he was free.

  “Thank you,” he said to Asari as his eyes turned to his friend. “You are still at the Pony?”

  “I thought it was safe enough and wanted to be where you could find me if you tried somehow. Also, I couldn’t move your Box.”

  Jolan nodded in understanding. “I had forgotten about that.”

  Asari helped Jolan from the carriage, and told the driver to wait while he helped him inside. The innkeeper was shocked to see one of his patrons in such shape and hurried over to help.

  “I need several things and right away,” Asari demanded. “Send someone to fetch my horse from the carriage outside and return him to your stables. Also pay the driver and put the charges on our bill. I want a large pot of soup, something with a lot of broth prepared and sent to the room. Make sure there is some fresh bread, and a bottle of white wine. In addition, I’ll need a bath and plenty of hot water sent up to the room as soon as possible. Jolan is in no shape to bathe in the baths down here. Do you understand?”

  The innkeeper nodded and rushed off to start things moving as Jolan and Asari walked slowly across the hall and started up the stairs.

  “Where’d you learn to get so pushy?” Jolan asked, smiling at his friend.

  Asari grinned back. “It worked, didn’t it? I’ve been watching the past few days how Steph ‘requests’ things. He does it in a way that leaves no question that he is to be obeyed.”

  Once in the room, Jolan collapsed into one of the chairs, happy beyond words to be back in familiar surroundings. Within minutes four men arrived carrying one of the bathing tubs, followed shortly thereafter by a train of staff bringing large buckets of warm water. While the tub was filling, a young serving girl arrived with the pot of stew, which Asari took and placed on the table. He filled a bowl, mostly with the thick brown broth, and brought it over to Jolan, who accepted it eagerly.

  Jolan attacked the stew slowly at first, uncertain how his stomach would react to the sudden return of food after so long. He soaked some of the warm bread in the broth, and took small amounts of the soggy bread into his mouth. Gradually, he increased the pace, his body welcoming the nutrients it had so long been denied. By the time the bath was ready, he had worked his way through the first bowl. Asari handed him a jug of water so he could wash everything down.

  “More?” Asari asked.

  Jolan nodded at the tub. “Bath first,” he said, and forced himself to his feet where he stripped off his clothes and climbed into the soothing water.

  While his friend relaxed, Asari picked up the filthy clothing, declared it a complete loss, and tossed it in a corner to be disposed of later. He was sitting beside the tub comparing stories with Jolan when Ashreye and Sindra walked into the room.

  Ashreye ran over to give Asari a hug, while Sindra walked over to stand next to the tub and looked down at Jolan with a warm smile. Jolan felt exposed, but there was no way she could see through the brownish water that now filled the tub, and smiled weakly back at her as she stood there. Within minutes, Sindra had slid a chair over next to the tub, and while Jolan relaxed in the cooling water, she fed him another bowl of the nourishing soup, this time with far more meat and vegetables than he’d had the first time around.

  It was already evening, and by the time Jolan climbed out of the bath all he wanted was a long night’s sleep. Thanking the three friends, he headed off to his room and crawled between the wonderfully soft sheets and fell immediately into a restful slumber. When he woke many hours later it was almost dawn, and he found himself staring at the delightful image of a smooth shapely breast and exposed nipple. He was snuggled up against Sindra, who he was able to confirm with very little exploration was just as naked as himself. Although a small part of him thought this should be explored further, he knew that he hadn’t the strength to make good on any such wishes, and snuggling closer to the soft warmth, he fell back to sleep.

  When he awoke the next time, he was alone. He slipped out of bed, still weak, but feeling far better than he had in days. He grinned when he looked over in the corner and saw his staff leaning against the wall in it’s usual place. He had thought it lost forever, but somehow his friend had even managed to recover that. He ran his hands over the shaft, and while it was impossible it could have made a difference, he felt suddenly much stronger and clearer headed.

  “Where’re the girls?” he asked when he walked out of his room into the common area and found Asari sitting alone.

  “They’ll be back. They went to do a little shopping and are making arrangements to be off work for a few days.”

  Jolan noticed the tub and its dirty water had been hauled away while he slept. So had the pot of stew, and he was hungry. Asari saw where he was looking, and told him the innkeeper had agreed to send up anything they wanted.

  “This special treatment has got to be costing us plenty,” Jolan observed, but happy to be freed from the need to go down to the common area to eat.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Asari said with a smile. “We can afford it.”

  Jolan raised his eyebrows and looked at him.

  “Look at this,” Asari said, after he returned from his room a moment later and dumped the contents of a large coin purse on the table. Dozens of large gold coins and a few silvers tumbled out onto the surface. “Fifty-six Royals!” Asari exclaimed happily.

  “Wh
ere did you get this?” Jolan asked, but he already thought he knew when he spotted a familiar ring lying in among the gold coins.

  “Falk had it in the desk with the cell key you asked me to get. I figured he wouldn’t be needing it. I didn’t expect anything like this.”

  “That ring belongs to Tomas. We need to see he gets it back. He told me it was something special and he paid almost two hundred golds for it.”

  “Two hundred for a ring?”

  “I guess money has a different meaning when you have enough. Do you have plans for all your new found wealth?” Jolan asked.

  “Ours,” Asari insisted. “Actually, I do. I think we ought to share some with Steph and his men. Also, I posted a reward for information, and a bit later today I need to go and pay off the informant that led us to you.”

  “Someone in Falk’s group?” Jolan asked, not pleased with the idea of paying gold to one of the men who was involved in the first place.

  “No, a little street waif; a cute little girl of about ten that cornered me one day and demanded the reward for leading me to where they first took you.”

  Jolan nodded, pleased with the answer.

  “After I pay off that debt, I can see to Steph when I talk with my uncle.”

  This was news to Jolan. “He’s finally returned?”

  Asari nodded. “I’ve already told him what we need, and he’s agreed to try and help, although he’s not as confident as I’d hoped about being able to convince the Parliament to hear us. We’ve probably got an ally in your friend Tomas that might help.”

  “If he lives,” Jolan added, suddenly remembering the state of his fellow hostage. Given the state of medical care in Carta, Jolan could only guess at his chances.

  Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the girls. They were carrying a number of parcels, and promised that more would be delivered shortly. With great glee they showed off the new clothes they had bought for Jolan, and a few things Ashreye felt Asari needed as well. After all, he had given them a full gold to spend as necessary, and he had told them that he and Jolan would hopefully be appearing before Parliament in a week or so. They couldn’t do that dressed as they usually did.

  Asari left Jolan in the good hands of the two women and departed to take care of the errands he felt needed to be handled immediately. His first stop took him back to the spot where the little girl had approached him a few days before. He didn’t have long to wait, and soon enough she suddenly appeared in the alley and came to stand beside him.

  “I told ‘em you was different.”

  “Told who?”

  “Me friends. They said I’d never see the reward. That you would forget all about it once you found your friend.”

  “How did you know I found him and that I’d be here?” Asari asked her.

  “The word’s on the street that someone took down Falk. I s’pected it were you. I get the whole gold now, don’t I?” she asked giving him a careful appraising look. “Ya found your friend.”

  “No,” Asari said, and watched as the girl’s eyes narrowed suddenly. “I think two would be fairer,” he said and reached over to hold out the two gold Royals he’d held in his palm to her.

  She looked at the wealth suddenly uncertain. “Truly? Yer giving me two golds instead of one ya said before?”

  Asari smiled. “Because of you we saved my friend. It turns out we found a little gold as well. Seems only fair you get to share in the spoils. Just be careful no one takes it from you.”

  “No need to worry there. Me friends will watch out for me.” So saying she reached out a thin little hand and plucked the two heavy coins from his palm before he could change his mind.

  “I gotta go now,” she said, suddenly anxious to depart.

  Asari smiled. “Thank you,” he said as the girl turned and scampered away.

  Next he returned to his Uncle’s house to find Steph and then discuss developments with his relative. Steph happened to be there, and despite his protests Asari pressed five of the golds into his palm, plus another four to divide between his two men. They hadn’t been there for the fighting, but they’d put in long days during the search and deserved more than the standard pay his uncle would give them. Without Steph’s support, he would have had no chance of rescuing Jolan.

  “I’m intrigued by the stories Steph has told me,” his uncle said when they had a chance to sit and talk. “He said that weapon you showed me is as effective as you claimed, and against a wizard of all things. I wasn’t sure I believed what you told me even after seeing the skull you brought before.”

  Asari hadn’t known the fat man had been a wizard when he used the weapon on him. Jolan had told him later and explained that was how Falk had kept him from using his magic. Apparently the man hadn’t known of or otherwise hadn’t had access to Karonabark. All Asari had known at the time was that he was a threat, and the pistol was the only weapon Asari had. While he hated to use the precious cuprum projectiles, his bow had been back at the Peaceful Pony, being too conspicuous to carry around the city, and he had never learned to fight with his belt knife, which was a tool rather than a weapon in his mind. He had been pleased to learn the pistol had worked as they suspected, thinking forward to the day another wizard might be on the receiving end.

  “Steph told me you told Lord Yeren that I was responsible for the recovery of his son. That wasn’t strictly true, but I thank you. It cannot but help future prospects.”

  “Have you had a chance to approach your contacts about arranging a hearing before the Council?” Asari asked.

  “I’ve put out a few requests, but I suspect you already have a better path than I do. Lord Yeren has got to feel a debt of honor towards you.”

  “We don’t know if his son even survived, and I’m not sure how to approach him. It is an option I guess, if other means fail.”

  His uncle promised to contact him as soon as he had any word, and on better terms than the two had ever parted, Asari returned to the inn.

  * * * *

  Jolan had regained his strength quickly, and a couple of days later he looked almost as if the kidnapping had never taken place. Ashreye and Sindra had taken up residence in their rooms, and given the noises Asari had detected the previous evening from Jolan’s side of the suite, he and Sindra were not simply sleeping when they retired to the room across the way. Jolan had a more relaxed look when the two of them appeared in the morning, and Sindra had given Ashreye a bit of wink that Asari wasn’t meant to see.

  Once again they were waiting, although now the waiting had a different feel. Before they were waiting for the return of Asari’s uncle, in hopes he could get them an audience. Now that he was back, they were waiting and wondering if it would ever happen. The better part of a ten-day week passed, and the four of them were preparing to go out for dinner when there was a knock at the door. Sindra was closest, and hurried to see who was there.

  “I was told this was Jolan’s room,” asked a voice somewhat uncertainly.

  Jolan recognized the voice and pushed himself out of the chair he was lounging in and hurried over to the door. Standing outside, still looking a bit ragged, and backed up by a couple of armed men was Tomas.

  “I’ll be damned,” Jolan exclaimed. “You made it. I was beginning to worry. We’ve been wondering if it would be acceptable to drop by your father’s estate and ask. Come in.”

  Tomas turned and talked to one of the men with him, who nodded at the instructions.

  “My father insists I have a couple of body guards, at least for the present. He’s more than a little put out that I left the estate, but I had to see you. I didn’t feel it right to put it off any longer”

  Happy to see the person with whom he’d shared so much had survived after all, Jolan blurted “We did it Tomas. We beat the odds.”

  Tomas looked confused. “Angin panus,” Jolan thought to himself remembering something from years before. Some things simply don’t translate well. “Sorry, it’s an expression from where I come
from. We survived when it didn’t seem possible.”

  Tomas nodded, finally understanding.

  Jolan could see Tomas was still weak, and pointed him to a chair that he gratefully reclined in. He still had a bit of puffiness around the eyes, and his hand was bandaged where the finger had been removed. At least the hand didn’t look swollen like it had before. Tomas saw him looking.

  “Father’s physicians were able to get some of the Mage created medicines from Cobalo, and they worked wonders on the various infections. It will still be a while before it is fully healed, and my doctor insists that once I am fully recovered and strong enough he will need to remove a bit more of the finger. The butchering they did left a sharp section of bone that will be a problem if it isn’t repaired properly. I have to admit, I’m more than a little fearful of having it done.”

  “Don’t rush into it,” Jolan warned. “I’ve been told there are mages who specialize in medical cures. Let me talk to someone I know here. He might be able to suggest a solution that would be far less traumatic.”

  Tomas nodded, but turned his gaze to the others in the room. “This young man is one of those who charged in against the odds to rescue us,” he said recognizing Asari. Tomas held out his hand and was about to stand when Asari walked over and encouraged him to sit. “I owe you my life. Somehow I need to find a way to repay you. My father wants to meet with you as well.”

  Asari was uncomfortable, but Tomas was adamant.

  “It’s already set. Father has a large party planned at the estate to celebrate my return. Most of my friends, and many from his political circle will be there. You both are invited as well, along with your lovely young ladies.”

  Belatedly Jolan made the introductions. It was something he had always been bad at doing. The women were a bit intimidated at meeting a Lord’s son, but handled themselves admirably.

  Jolan wasn’t much for parties, and didn’t relish the idea of being an object of attention, which would have to be the case since he and Tomas had been together during their confinement, but he realized what Tomas was doing. He was providing a means for Jolan to be in contact with those that he needed to reach, and doing it in a way they couldn’t easily refuse. He could always make sure Asari was the one in the spotlight, which was only fair since his friend had been the one who had heroically come to their rescue.