‘Gone,’ Maud said. ‘At your last words, he vanished. As you told him to.’ There was awe in her voice when she said that.
‘Help me up.’ Her strong hands pulled him to his feet, and he looked around. Everything was as it had been before the fight. The vases, the writing desk, the chairs stood in their rightful places.
‘What was it?’ Jurgis said, his voice shaky.
‘Illusion,’ Basil said, and he felt laughter tickle in his throat. No hysterics! he thought, and he grabbed the bottle from Maud’s hands. Putting the neck to his mouth, he drank, washing the threatening laughter down. Then he burped.
‘Phew,’ he said, as he handed the bottle back. ‘Thanks.’ He looked around at the faces around them. ‘Wargall, come here.’ The boy stumbled to him. Basil put his hands against Wargall’s face. ‘Pardon the intrusion,’ he said, and sent a burst of energy into the boy. ‘There. Now you’re fighting-fit again.’ For a moment, he pressed his knuckles against his temples. ‘Sorry, all; this was an unexpected interruption.’ He sat down at the table and pulled the tome toward him.
‘Wait,’ Jurgis said urgently. ‘It won’t happen again, will it?’
Basil laughed. ‘No. The spell is gone; the book is unlocked.’ He saw Saul’s eyes resting on him and he raised his eyebrows. ‘Questions?’
His new brother turned red-faced. ‘How did you know it was an illusion? It looked damned real to me.’
‘It was too much. Everything he did was deadly, but it wasn’t real. Had it been actual damage, the tower would’ve collapsed.’ His smile was a painful attempt. ‘I gambled, but I wouldn’t have lasted much longer, anyway.’ He opened the book again and a slip of paper fluttered away.
Saul cried out and snatched it before the draft from the chimney could pull it into the roaring fire.
‘That’s it!’ he cried. ‘The spell and counterspell.’ He smoothed out the paper and opened his mouth.
‘Better let me do it,’ Basil said. ‘I don’t think it’s wise to undo your own enchantment.’ For a moment, Saul struggled with himself and Basil politely waited.
Then Saul handed him the slip of paper. Basil read the words, mouthing them in silence. Then he smiled. ‘Quite simple. Better sit down.’
Saul fell down in an armchair, still staring at Basil. Jurgis went to stand behind him. Then, clearly and without a moment’s hesitation, Basil spoke the words to undo the enchantment. At the last word, a great spasm went through Saul’s body. He veered up in his chair and Jurgis gripped his shoulders. Then he sagged back and went limp.
‘I feel his heart going,’ Jurgis said, looking worried.
‘It’s a tough spell,’ Basil said absently. ‘Not to worry; he’ll live.’ He was leafing through the tome and his face grew angrier and angrier.
‘Is it bad?’ Maud said.
Basil didn’t answer. He read a page, while his face went red, and then white again. He closed his eyes and for a moment he looked sick. Then, with a vicious snap, he shut the tome and sat staring at it, shaking his head.
‘What’s wrong?’ Maud said. ‘Isn’t the spell you seek in there?’
‘It is,’ Basil said.
‘But?’
Now everybody was looking at him.
‘It’s impossible.’
Jurgis rose from Saul’s side and came over. ‘Tell us. What is the difficulty? Is it the spell?’
‘No, the spell is simple. Awfully simple. It’s the ingredients.’ He looked at his brother. ‘I need to bless a knife–shaman-bless it, with blood and tears. Then I must kill with it, a healthy innocent boy of my own age. I must cut off his toes and make them into a salve, which I have to apply to my own foot. Then there are certain words to speak at a certain time, and more of that nonsense. After a month, the toes will have grown to near normal size.’ His laugh sounded desperate. ‘What idiocy. Shall I kill another person to repair such a small inconvenience? Not in a million years.’ He tapped the tome with a nervous finger. ‘All these spells are like that. Damned sorcery, full of murder and disregard of life.’ He rose, with the book in his hands. ‘The queen wanted me to return this collection of monstrosities to her. I won’t. Nobody needs these spells.’ He went over to the hearth and shoved the tome into the flames. Then he wriggled his fingers and a surge of heat ate at the heavy cover. A low moaning filled their ears as the fire consumed Kelwarg’s years of work. When the tome had gone, Basil used the tools beside the hearth to spread the ashes. Wiping his hands, he rose and turned around to see the others staring at him, even Saul, resting on his elbows.
‘No need for those glum faces. I’ve lived with this foot all my life; I am used to it. I’m no longer bound by the rules of the Council, either, so to the hells with their summons. I’m done with it. Saul, my dear, how do you feel?’
‘Lightheaded. As if I’m dreaming. Did I really see you burning the tome? What a great deed!’ Saul stepped forward and put his hands on Basil’s shoulders. ‘I have no words. Thank you. All of you.’
Suddenly Jurgis jumped up. ‘What time is it?’ he said.
‘Almost midnight.’ Saul nodded to the brass timepiece on the wall. ‘Why?’
‘The ship! They were to sail if they hadn’t heard from us by nightfall.’ He dashed down the stairs.
‘They’re gone,’ he said, minutes later. ‘Damn; it’s a long walk back.’
Basil shrugged. ‘There must be some brooms around,’ he said. ‘Tomorrow we’ll fly back.’
‘I have my carpet,’ Saul added.
‘Good,’ Maud said. ‘I don’t fly.’
‘Nor do I,’ Wemawee said. ‘I’m not a warlock.’
‘Nonsense.’ Basil turned around. ‘I’ll teach you the spell, but anyone can fly a broom. Jurgis can do it, and Wargall. Maud doesn’t want to. It’s easy.’ He patted Wemawee’s arm. ‘I’ll show you how.’
‘By daylight,’ Maud said. ‘Now we will talk. You first, Wisewoman. Tell me as if I were the queen.’
Wemawee told her story and when she finished, Maud nodded.
‘Well done, little sister. To fight a troll and win is a feat not many of us would have managed. You can be proud of yourself.’
‘Saul, were you locked up?’ Jurgis said. ‘How did that happen? Was Kelwarg, or whoever uses his name, that angry with you?’
His brother gave a wan smile. ‘Worse. I told you I’d return here after leaving you at the Dimdras ruins, and so I did. In spite of what I said you can cross the ocean, at least at one point. It’s a tricky journey; you don’t want any storms or headwind, but there are several small islands on the route, so it’s doable. When I arrived here, the communicator called me almost immediately. The troll was watching me. It served as guardian of the tower, with a little den on the top floor, so I was used to its being around. But it had never been following me, staring and twitching its nose. It was unsettling. Then the voice called me. No, it wasn’t pleased with me. Even worse, he accused me of treason. I’d thought I had been so clever, but the voice knew everything I had done. Everything. I thought he’d kill me there and then. Instead, he ordered the troll to lock me up in that cage until he himself had time to deal with me in person. Which the troll did with the utmost pleasure. I never knew the beasts were clever enough to have human emotions, but this beast hated me.’
Basil stared at Saul. ‘I think I see, but I’ll ask anyhow. Why?’
‘That troll at Towne was its mate and the beast blamed me for its death.’ He sighed. ‘I’d been a fool. Anyhow, there I was, until Wemawee came to free me.’ He smiled at the wisewoman. ‘I would kiss you again for that, but I’m afraid I’d make Wargall angry.’
‘For kissing Wemawee?’ the boy said. ‘I wouldn’t like it, but I wouldn’t be angry with you. She’s a free woman, like I’m a free man. We will be equal, as the lioness and Jurgis are.’
‘We will?’ Wemawee said, startled.
‘If you want me, yes,’ Wargall said. ‘It’s the new fashion for Kells.’
Next morning, having slept
little, but still full of spirits, they left the tower. Once they were on the other side of the bridge, Saul spoke with the bell. The bridge retracted, and the heavy door closed.
‘It will ring only for one of us,’ Saul said. ‘That’ll keep the spells and everything inside safe.’
Basil nodded. ‘Good. You have your brooms. We’ll keep it simple; start slow and low, to give everyone the chance to get used to it. No stunts, please. Ready?’
Slow they went, but not for long. Now she was freed of her earlier pretensions, Wemawee was a young girl, and once she got the hang of it, she and Wargall were like two colts straining at their leashes. Soon the four brooms and the carpet sped along faster than the dhow had sailed.
They caught up with her halfway through the afternoon. Basil saw the leopardesses on board point their bows skyward, and he gestured to the others he was going down. Low over the water he approached the dhow, waving and smiling. The girls lowered their weapons, and Basil, not daring to land in the crowded vessel, inched his way to Jorlok.
‘It’s all right,’ he shouted. ‘We had some adventures, a few fights, but the tower is ours. We’ll fly directly to Seatome. There’s a lot Captain Yarwan and the others must hear as soon as possible. We’ll see you there, Mister Jorlok.’
‘Aye, Spellwarden,’ bellowed the mate, as Basil waved and joined the others, leaving the dhow ambling her way home.
Near dark, Saul gestured to a ruined building amid a large copse of firs. He sank down, and the brooms followed suit.
‘It’s near the carpet’s flight limit,’ Saul said. ‘This is my usual stop on this route. It doesn’t look much, but I’ve cleaned it up somewhat.’ With a wave of his hand he lifted a barely visible protective spell.
‘Somewhat,’ Jurgis said appreciatively. ‘I’d call it luxurious.’ And so it was. Thick carpets hid the dirt floor, there were some good chairs, nice paintings on the walls and a large bed.
‘Where do you get all those things?’ Maud said.
Saul shrugged. ‘Many ruins have a sealed cellar or something, in which the last owner hid their valuables. As no one returned to claim it, I took some pieces.’
‘You’re as bad as Jurgis, then,’ the lioness said grimly. ‘A pack of thieves, the lot of you.’
Saul looked at Jurgis, who lifted his hands. ‘I haven’t been able to convince her of the legality of taking ownerless property. It’s a lack in their upbringing.’ He drew his arms around Maud’s neck and pulled her head to his. After a long kiss, he sighed. ‘She is still my dream girl, though.’ He growled softly. ‘I can’t wait till we’re back in our cabin on board.’
The look Maud gave him was so full of promise, his knees nearly buckled.
Saul sighed. ‘My bed is lonely and cold,’ he complained.
‘Well,’ Jurgis said. ‘Now that Wargall is, ah, no longer free, we have all these nice archeresses aboard. If you think you’re strong enough.’
‘If not, I’ll help you wrestling and doing the cannon run,’ Wargall said with enthusiasm. ‘You pick up a lot of muscle that way.’
‘Ah, very good of you,’ Saul said, eying the sturdy young warrior. ‘But no thanks; I’ll manage.’
Jurgis grinned broadly. ‘Coward.’
Basil sat back and looked his newfound brother over. ‘You do look like me,’ he said. ‘As does Jurgis, but Maud dyes his hair black, so it isn’t all that noticeable.’
‘I’m not dyeing mine!’ Saul said hastily.
‘No, perhaps the need is past. Yet I don’t know. When we get back to Seatome, would you keep your hood up? I would like to keep your joining us a secret for a while.’
‘Why?’ Saul said, and the others seemed as puzzled as he was.
Basil shrugged. ‘Call it a hunch.’
‘You’re keeping secrets,’ Jurgis said accusingly.
‘Yes.’ Basil faced them. ‘Kelwarg being dead for ages changed the whole game. If what I suspect is true, we’re up against a devious opponent.’
‘Danger?’ Jurgis said, eying his brother sharply.
‘Far greater than I thought.’
Saul grimaced. ‘Well, I’ve worn that hood so often it’s almost part of my face, so a few more weeks won’t matter.’
‘Good,’ Basil said, relaxing.
CHAPTER 36 - DHOW
They reached Seatome the second day and Basil’s heart jumped as he found the Magonaut at the quay. He saw Yarwan, staring up, and Dalja mustering her girls. Their bows seemed awfully ready for a simple welcome back. Only then did he see the ship had her guns run out and the town guards were running from the castle with their muskets. Little puffs of smoke from a small gun on top of one of the towers didn’t seem very hospitable, either.
‘Spellwarden and friends!’ he shouted, letting his voice boom over the square. ‘Hold your fire, we’re coming in.’
The leopardesses on the ship lowered their bows, and the guards ran to form a line on the quay. Basil waved, and touched down in front of the soldiers. The one in front, a young fellow he only vaguely knew, wore the lieutenant’s uniform. The town guards saluted somewhat raggedly, and Basil lifted his hand gravely. Without waiting for the others, he hurried to the ship.
Yarwan met him at the top of the gangway, and for a moment they embraced in silence.
‘Welcome back,’ the captain said finally. ‘Sorry for the aggressive reception. It was the carpet, you know. We’ve been spied upon, from the air. Some fellow on a carpet like that one of yours flew over and studied the ships, the castle and the reparations to the walls.’
‘No hostile moves?’ Maud said.
‘None. Still, the last time he came, I had a few warning shots fired, and he left in a hurry. I don’t like it a bit.’
‘No,’ Basil said. ‘Nor do I. Should he come back, we’ll meet him in the air. We’ll see what he will do then. Let’s go to the cabin and we’ll fill you in.’
Once in the quiet dimness of the captain’s quarters, he sighed. ‘Home.’ Then he turned and drew his new brother to him. ‘My love, meet Saul, our elusive number three. We rescued him from the enemy’s claws and here he is.’
Saul lowered his hood, and the two stared at each other.
‘I hated your guts, you know,’ Yarwan said. ‘First that terrible thing you did with my crew when we were fighting over this ship, and later over that stunt with the troll.’
‘I apologize,’ Saul said. ‘That first time, I was in a panic. I saw the whole thing slipping from my fingers and I knew I couldn’t afford to lose the ship. The singers would never forgive me and Kelwarg would have me punished to appease them. Everything I did later was to get you people after me. I hoped for a moment alone with Basil or Jurgis, to show myself to them and lure them to Bitter’ights.’
‘To lure them?’
‘They had to follow me there,’ Saul said simply. ‘Basil was about the only one I knew who could get me out.’
‘I thought you were jealous of him?’
Saul smiled lopsidedly. ‘I was. If Kelwarg hadn’t stolen me, I would have been the Spellwarden. But I never underrated him. Basil is better at our trade. I know I’m a good mage. As a singer, I’m one of the best. But Basil is more. He’s sneaky. None of the singers are.’
‘Our enemy is sneaky,’ Basil said.
Yarwan scratched his head. ‘Who? Kelwarg?’
‘We found Kelwarg. He had been dead for a long time. No.’ Basil hesitated. ‘Maud, you once said there never had been a Kell Warlock before Kelwarg’s birth. Well, I think there never has been one at all. I believe Kelwarg was no more than a shaman. A good one, but only a shaman. All that time there was someone else behind him.’
‘Who was a warlock?’
Basil was silent for a moment. ‘Perhaps.’
Yarwan gave him a steady look. Then he turned to Saul. ‘Whatever happened we will leave behind us. You are Basil’s brother, and Jurgis’, and I’m glad you joined our side.’ They shook hands, and their mood lightened. They talked of the tower and Wemawee
’s fight with the troll, of Kelwarg dead on his bed and his illusion very much trying to kill them a little later. Basil told of the tome and his disgust with the spell he had put his hopes upon.
Then, when Yarwan had to go and take over the watch, they washed and changed into clean clothes. Saul looked dubiously at the chests of discarded clothes the former crew had left behind, but after some searching he found some items that more or less fitted him.
When all were clean again, they put up their feet and slept till it was time for dinner.
The second day after their return, Yarwan took Basil aside. ‘Jorlok hasn’t come back yet.’
Basil started, embarrassed that he hadn’t for a moment thought of the dhow. ‘You’re right. He should be here by now.’
‘How is the river? Difficult to navigate?’
‘Not at all. The Tome was like a major road, all the way to the tower.’ Basil looked at him. ‘Do you want me to go and look for her?’
Yarwan nodded. ‘If you would. Jorlok is a capable officer, but you never know.’
‘True. I’ll speak with the others. Discreetly; no need to alarm the crew.’
They walked up the quay, passing behind the houses bordering the left side of the castle square, till they came to the place where the harbor ended and the River Tome began.
‘Problems?’ Jurgis said.
‘I hope not.’ Basil stared to the river, disappearing in the distance. ‘It’s the dhow.’
‘Jorlok,’ Maud said. ‘I was wondering why he hadn’t returned yet.’
‘Yes. Yarwan is getting worried, too.’
‘I’ll go,’ Wargall said and Jurgis was a split second behind him.
‘First!’ the boy said contentedly.
‘You’re not going out alone,’ Basil said.
‘I’ll go with him.’
Jurgis looked at Wemawee and closed his mouth again. He sighed.
‘All right,’ Basil said. ‘Get your things. I want you back by nightfall. If you haven’t seen anything by then, we’ll send an armed expedition.’ He patted Jurgis’ back. ‘Outshouted twice. You’re getting slow, old boy.’
Jurgis sniffed and snuggled up to Maud. ‘Let them go. I’ve still a lot of catching up to do.’
Lioness of Kell Page 38
