by D. H. Aire
‘Leave,’ demanded the spirit that gave the Summoning life.
‘Oh? And why should I do that? Ouch… Fine, be that way. You claim them, cousin… But I’ve chosen my own piece for the Great Game…’
‘This is not a game and you cannot just play with their lives.’
‘Well, I have limited options as you well know… and I have much to learn about the Empire.’
‘Have you picked a side?’ it asked.
‘Not yet…’
‘Don’t take too long. As is it, the Demonlord’s minions are on the move.’
He saw an image of an old elf, who looked far from happy, heading out of the city in a private carriage on the Northland Road. Fog obscured the vision, but more fog could be seen heading south – possibly originating from the Tower of the Consecrated.
‘So the lady has left her Tower and is heading here.’ This was not good for Esperanza, who would arrive too late. She really did need help.
‘Still not taking sides?’ it asked.
‘I thought the idea of a kingdom was foolish, too.’
‘Now it’s an Empire, Sage One.’
‘You know I have no love of humans.’
‘No reason you should.’ He turned to seek other game and heard, ‘Good
hunting.’
What had Elfdom come to? he wondered.
‘Perhaps, someone with friends might be of more assistance to you?’ He was offered an image of a sleeping mage with pathetic wards protecting him.
‘Don’t think this means I owe you!’
‘Of course not.’ Laughter echoed behind him as he moved across the city in the blink of an eye.
He focused on the mage and whispered in his dreams, ‘I have a task for you… You are going to need to keep some of your Faeryn mages in reserve. Talik will have enough help. It’s the Lyai who must be warned of danger… There is a young scryer stranded on the East Road… She is marked by elvin chainmail and she’s your witness that the Scryer’s Network has been suborned.’
Galt slept fitfully. He had the most vivid dream of a young woman in chainmail on the… which road?
‘East Road, idiot… She’s your proof… Go to her; help her reach the Lyai to warn him.’
“Crazy,” he muttered.
‘Perhaps, but can you take that chance, Master Galt?’
His eyes opened and he sat up. “What?”
‘Dare you take that chance?’
“Who said that?”
There was a breeze on his cheek, then he knew he was alone. He pointed at the candle, which lit, then turned, “Where are my damn boots?”
Esperanza bolted awake. Her armor was swirling, turning fluid, becoming the waters of the scrying pool that had shattered around her only, what, two days before?
She saw a mage waking others in the middle of the night.
‘He’s coming here, you realize.’
She glanced at the night sky, “Yes, I had an inkling that might be the case.”
There was laughter. ‘My, you do wake up badly.’
Shaking her head, “Okay, perhaps I do.”
‘Better… much better… and just for that, I am going to give you a present.’
Water welled up from the ground beside her. It fountained upward and
fire burned within it. Abruptly there was no water. But there was a sword – another black metal sword.
‘It is not as fancy as the one your friend took with her, but it should do.’
“You’re giving me some sort of bane sword?” she muttered.
‘Well, it is not precisely a bane sword. Consider it a relic. It was buried in the Barrows and you will, no doubt, put it to much better use.’
She reached out to it.
‘I would not do that.’
Her fingers stopped within inches of its hilt. “Uh, why?”
‘You are wielding a spell at the moment. It really does not like spells.’
“Then how did you bring it here?”
‘Believe it or not, not through magery. It followed you here.’
“Right; like you have?”
‘Hmm, something like that, yes.’
She rose off her knees and stood. “Okay, I’ll bite. What I am supposed to do with it?”
‘Why give it to the nice elf with the horse, of course.’
She nodded, “Ah, huh.”
Her armor solidified and gave off light.
‘Best not touch the blade when your armor’s like that, either.’
“Thanks for the safety tip. Now, can I go back to sleep?”
‘Please, it is not like I am going anywhere.’
“Great,” she whispered, wondering how she was going to fall back asleep with a ghost hanging around.
Traitorous Scryer
Chapter 47
Fri’il awoke to the aroma of herbal tea. Se’and smiled at her, but it was Lord Je’orj’s look that made her say, “Okay, am I dying, or something?”
George nodded, “Well, ‘or something’ sums it up.”
Fri’il felt the bump on her head. It was gone. “You healed me.”
The tawny furred, black maned beast, Raven, bounded onto the bed. She was lolling her tongue, then settled at Fri’il’s feet. George nodded, “Yes, we healed you and learned something when we did.”
The staff stood sentinel at the foot of the bed. It, well, twinkled at her. “Okay, what did you learn?”
Se’and glanced at George, who nodded. She grinned, “Fri’il, you’re pregnant.”
“Right, I’m pregnant.”
Raven shimmered and changed form and chuckled, “I to have a sister.”
Fri’il suddenly looked uncertain. “You mean, I’m pregnant?”
George sighed, “You think we’d lie about something like that?”
She glanced down at herself, “But, but I don’t feel any different.”
“You will,” Se’and said.
“But, but –– I don’t want to give up my sword training!”
“Cathartans,” George muttered, “and their knives.”
Fri’il was now dancing on the bed, “I’m pregnant!”
Raven jumped on the bed and Se’and was, well, on watch, might best describe it.
:George,: his computer staff said through their rapport, :lucky you. We are going to be a father.:
He turned away from Fri’il’s delighted face as Raven fell into her arms. In a whisper, he said, “Right, this changes nothing. We’re going to find the Gate and go home.”
Se’and looked at him.
:George, what are you going to do about the – baby?:
“Same as always since we got here. Play it by ear and hope for the best.”
Se’and came up to him. “You look far too serious, Milord. The first child of our House will be born.”
“Yeah, I realize that.”
Se’and glared at him, then whispered, “If you spoil this moment for Fri’il, I’ll kill you.”
Now that was a cheery thought. He walked back over to the bed and opened his arms to his young bodyguard – who was his wife in everything but name.
Staff watched.
Se’and watched George hug the mother of his first born child to be –– and she looked anything but joyous. Staff hid that knowledge, logging it with the knowledge that this pregnancy was all its fault.
“So, they did not send for a healer.”
“No, Milord,” the innkeeper told the elfblood.
“Anything else to report, Jakov?”
“Uh, only that those in the room below complained about the noise this morning.”
“What kind of noise?” Jakov knew his duty, but also believed his guests deserved their privacy. “Out with it.”
Jakov wasn’t particularly courageous, which is why his lack of discretion could always be counted on. “The bed’s banging on the floor a lot. I was about to go up to discuss it, when you arrived.”
“Oh, leave that to me,” he said with a smile. “I will talk to them
Jakov, all too quickly, agreed; glad to see the Lyai’s agent go. He grabbed up the two gold pieces conspicuously left on the counter.
Fri’il was dancing with her lord to music only they, and Raven, could hear. Se’and was both amused and chagrinned. Delighted Je’orj, at least, was paying proper attention to Fri’il; chagrinned Raven was still naked and wouldn’t tell her what she’d done with her servant’s clothes. The wer–girl was sitting on the bed, looking actually happy. Shaking her head, Se’and
knew how vexing the girl could be –– and how dangerous.
The knock at the door was most unwelcome. “Get back in bed, Fri’il,” Se’and rasped, then glared at Raven, who rose and shimmered, then bounded off the bed.
George took up his staff as Fri’il ducked under the covers. Se’and glanced back one last time, then opened the door a crack.
“Ma’am.”
“You again,” she opened the door and stood aside.
“I heard you had some trouble last night… Master d’Aere.”
“Master Terhun,” George said as Se’and closed the door.
The Imperial agent glanced at the bed. “I hope the lad’s doing better.”
“He’ll be fine,” George replied.
“Good… Oh, and I believe this belongs to you, too.” Terhun tossed a bulky wrapped package on the floor. It tore open, and a corner of Raven’s servant boot jutted forth.
The beast growled.
“You know hounds haven’t been seen in the Province, possibly the whole of the Empire in centuries. They are Northland beasts after all. Saw a few when I served in the legion, though. But none with such tawny blonde fur or such a lovely black mane. One night, though, I saw a hound that had been practically a pet to one of the mages walk out of the perimeter. It was dark that night, but I could have sworn I saw that hound stand on two feet. I’ll never forget when I heard laughter. It was a man’s laughter. A man I’d heard laugh before, one of our Chain Hill scouts I hadn’t seen in a while.”
Terhun gazed unflinchingly at Raven. “You killed last night, boy. I understand that. You had no choice.”
Raven tilted her head and glanced at George, who nodded. She rose on her haunches then shimmered, changing form.
“Empress,” Terhun muttered, “you’re a girl.”
She growled, muttered, “I no girl.”
Fri’il sat up in bed, “No, you’re not.”
Terhun scratched his head, “Quite the family you have here, Jeo.”
“Yes… and I want to keep it that way.”
“Oh, far be it from me to interfere with that. Now, who –– or I should say, what are you really?”
“Hmm, I’m a teacher primarily. A rather angry one, where this Mage
Guild of yours is concerned.”
With a wry grin, “Well, how would you like to see them get their comeuppance?”
He entered the wayside tavern and went to the barkeeper, and placed a gold piece on the table. “I am meeting a lady.”
The man frowned and glanced at the coin, it was not a standard Imperial; flames emblazoned it, making it a coin for a followers of the Demonlord. The other advantage to enchanted coins is that they could only be recognized by those sworn to the Dark Lord.
Nodding, the man muttered, “Upstairs, fourth room on the left, Milord.”
He continued on without thanking the man, he was only human, after all. Climbing the stairs, he proceeded to the room and knocked on the door.
The door opened, seemingly of its own volition. “Uh, finally, what took you so long?”
“Took me so long? Why have you left the Tower? Are you crazy?
Your assignment is to lead the effort to blind the fool Imperials.”
“Which will only continue to be possible after I deal with the twit of a girl who escaped the Tower and knows the truth,” she replied.
“How could you have been so stupid?”
She glared at him. “Her name is Esperanza.”
“What?” he shouted. “Do you know what it took for me to get rid of her without anyone questioning her being given into your so tender mercies?”
“Yes… But she’s not someone we can kill outright. It’s not like the Emerilyn’s unwonted heir to the wealthiest House in the Mage Guild Alliance would not be the subject of an official Imperial investigation.”
He grimaced. “What do you need?”
“I need you to get me in to see Archmage Constandine.”
“That old fool?”
She grinned, “Precisely.”
The Interfering Spirit
Chapter 48
“Aren’t you a little young to be an archmage?” Amira asked, riding double behind Talik, who had just finished casting a spell that enhanced their mount’s speed, strengthening its heart, lungs, and sinews.
“Aren’t you a little young to be a scryer?”
She sighed. “Point taken… but you look young for an elf.”
“I am. I’m only in my seventh decade… However, Faeryn rank is garnered by merit, not heredity as it does in Lyai’s Mage Guild.”
“Becoming one of the Consecrated requires only the gift –– and a desire to rid the world of us.”
He glanced over his shoulder, “That bad? Have you no family?”
“Not that would claim me of the other Consecrated.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty and six.”
“You really are a child.” He felt her stiffen, “But not exactly a child, as humans reckon time.”
They rode in silence for a time, then said, “I have one question for you. What’s in the pouch?”
“What I suspect, are very dangerous arrowheads.”
“Well, I must admit that I have no skill as an archer.”
“No problem, they’ll be archers enough when we get to Niota.”
He smiled thinly, “You might as well tell me your tale.”
Nodding, she watched the land pass around them as their mount sped down the old road in what once had been the Province of Niota. “It started when I came on duty at the end of my friend Esperanza’s shift… She’s my best friend, practically a sister. We have long been struggling to scry the Northlands, so …”
#
It was late morning when Galt reached his destination, and there she was,
just like in his dream. He slowed his mount
“So, I am told that you have something for me.”
“I take it that you are in the market for a bane sword.”
He laughed, “Most definitely. Mind showing me it mage mark?”
“You won’t find one. Believe me; I have examined it rather closely.”
“Perfect, then I can enchant it and mark it as Faeryn.”
The young elvin woman frowned, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. It’s not that kind of bane sword.”
“What?”
“Don’t draw it while working magery, I’m told we really wouldn’t like what happens.”
He offered her his arm. “In that case, climb aboard, so we brook no delay.” She mounted behind him. Galt turned the horse around and began his return to the city.
He watched his chosen ride off with a mage, who was considered a heretic for not verbalizing spells. He wondered when they had taken the oral tradition so literally.
‘Over time the Demonlord has eroded much of our knowledge.’
‘Oh, now you want to be helpful,’ he said, amused.
‘I thought I would take a moment to check on you.’
‘What you mean is that you decided to spy on me, Youngling.’
‘Actually, I have questions. You see, there have been changes to reality that are beyond my ken.’
‘Yes, paradox has a power all its own.’
‘Ancient One, will you… help me understand what has happened?’
‘Now what would be the fun in that?’ He laughed. ‘Go watch over that human of yours. He’ll get himself into tr
ouble without you angeling him.’
The enchanted form whisked back to the city.
If he would have still had a physical form, he would have shaken his head. ‘Je’orj Bradlei, you are going to be quite the burr in my old friend’s side… And I get to watch. It’s so much fun being dead – and freed from my eternal prison.’
He thought they would also enjoy the little present he had sent.
Tale of Two Scryers
Chapter 49
“Where are you, Esperanza!?” the Lady shouted in frustration. She had left the Tower and driven the carriage southward. She stayed overnight at an inn along the Lyai Northland Road. Now, she took the time to use the scrying bowl, which had lay clouded for too long, revealing nothing of the two young women who threatened all her long set forth plans.
She tried searching for the other young woman again. Chanting softly, she called up the scrying, then muttered, “Amira, Amira, show yourself... I seek you, and your dear friend, Esperanza. You will lead me to her.”
The waters suddenly began to clear and Amira’s imagine formed. The Lady smiled. Amira was with another, his form misty and vague. Both were riding hell bent toward a dim structure in the distance. “What have we here, Amira? Who is your friend? Where have you been?”
The image shifted. She saw a distant place. It was clouded, obscured, but some things she could still see. A great stone was flung from its misty walls, dirt and rock erupted at its impact and a soldier crumpled. Another stone, and another, followed in turn and a gate opened.
The Lady Mother screeched, “No! What are you doing there?”
The shambling form could be seen grinning as it closed the gate behind the two latest guests. Pounding her fists on the table before her upset the scrying bowl, casting water all about. “No! They are ruining everything!”
Talik and Amira brought their mounts to an abrupt halt. Three ogres surrounded them, while harried looking Imperial troopers stared down at them from the keep’s high walls.
“Lord Talik?” the Sergeant rasped in astonishment.
