Death Mage's Nemesis (Death Mage Series Book 4)

by Jon Bender

  “I will be ready,” he said.

  Whisper rolled up the map and stood. “Good. I still have several other visits to make tonight to inform the other faction leaders of their parts.”

  Harlow stood with him. “There is one other thing,” he said.

  Whisper paused after tucking the map into his cloak. “What is it?”

  “Fulvia’s real name. What is it?”

  “With everything you now know, risking yourself to rescue her would put us all in jeopardy if you were captured,” Whisper said, his voice heavy with authority.

  “I know that,” he said, and believed it. But if they accomplished their goal, there might be time to get her out. He couldn’t just give up on her.

  Whisper’s hood bobbed slowly. “Her name is Elitha, and like you, she is one of the noblest people I have ever met. I can’t stop you from trying to rescue her, all I can do is remind you of what is at stake.” With that, he turned and left.

  Harlow stood there for many moments after his leader had left, repeating her name over and over in his head. He admitted to himself that he knew next to nothing about her, but what he did know had always drawn him to her. Her tough exterior covering a dark humor that always brought a grin to his face even with the world they lived in. The way she smiled at the little jokes they had shared. Most of all, her dedication to freeing their city from Or’Keer at any cost, a commitment that had taken her up against a shadow mage without hesitation. Running through every possible scenario he could think of to free her, he knew first that he would have to track down which temple the shadow mage had taken her to. It wouldn’t be easy with getting his faction organized for the attack. He went to his room and sat down at the small desk there. Pulling out a map of his own, he began marking every temple within the city. There were five, with four near the locations he would find his lieutenants. Trying to discover information about her whereabouts would be risky, but he had to try.

  Chapter 6

  Keller walked through the gates of the estate without hindrance, accompanied by Benkt, Taft, and Seldon. The guards now recognized him on sight, after having spent the majority of the day before coming and going from Karadin’s largest temple where he had brought the thief Elitha. After leaving the undercity, he found Tiny’s deserted, the tavern and outside space void of any sign that it had been the guild’s place of operation. He thought it likely that Tiny had placed scouts in the undercity to watch for their return. Upon seeing Keller with his two prisoners, they would have warned the guild giving them time to disappear into the city. In truth, it was fortunate they had fled. Even without magic to aid them, so many men would have been a formidable challenge if they decided to take issue with his capture of their people.

  He had been torn between remaining at the temple for when information became available, and being unable to think about what he had commanded done. Even now, Elitha was under the harsh ministration of those priests as they tore at her body and mind. He knew it necessary to fulfill the commands of his god, but the thought of it brought back dark memories of when he had done similarly to the man who had murdered his family. Something he wished he could forget. Not because of the suffering that minor noble had endured, it was less than he had deserved in Keller’s mind, but what he allowed himself to become at that time. A base animal driven by anger and revenge. In the end, when the last breath had left his victim, it was Keller who would suffer with what he had done the rest of his life.

  It had taken only six hours to get the first bit of information from Elitha. The priests giving him a list of three places, one in the undercity, where mages were supposed to have made their homes. Keller had gone to all of them himself, accompanied by a squad of soldiers and a storm mage in service to Lord Prasil. It had been a surprise when the mages had attacked him in the undercity, but more so when Elitha had told them of others in the city. Just with those five he now knew of, they matched the number of those loyal to Or’Keer in Karadin, and the priest believed that the thief was holding back more.

  When he arrived at where they had been hiding, there had been evidence of hasty departures. Clothes and been left scattered on the floor along with dinnerware, books, and other household items. In the undercity where some had made their home, he had also found children’s toys amongst what was left behind. He was filled with regret for what would happen to those children when he found their parents. They would become orphans and be given to the temples as wards to be guided onto the path. If they showed an ability to cast, they would then join the many other mages who now served Or’Keer. Keller had not expected that such things would be needed on his arrival to the city, but it was now evident that a full purge was necessary to remove the threat. A threat that would fester and risked all that Or’Keer was trying to create.

  Moving through the garden, he made his way to the largest building where Lord Prasil was sure to be. At Keller’s request, he had commanded that soldiers accompany the dozens of priests now scouring the city for traitors and heretics. Passing through the doors, he moved toward the audience hall from where Prasil was conducting the search. Inside the large room, a group of soldiers, priests, and two mages in red and green robes, were gathered near a large chair from which the lord of Karadin would receive petitioners. They were all listening as Prasil spoke.

  Noticing Keller’s approach, Prasil stepped forward from the group to greet him. “Good morning, Magus.”

  “And you, Lord Prasil. Has there been progress on the search?” Keller asked.

  There was a pause as Prasil looked over his shoulder to the men behind him. All averted their gaze telling Keller what he needed to know. “There have been several discoveries of those still worshipping the old gods, found by our people or turned over by others. But aside from that, nothing that would lead us to the larger conspiracy.”

  Keller nodded, making sure to appear displeased. He had known that finding a group that had been in hiding for the last twenty years, which had the resources and organization to stage an attack on him, would unlikely be found by such measures. It was just a tactic to put pressure on them in the hopes they would make a mistake. His assumption that the traitors were the same as other rebellious groups had led him to this point. If he had simply entered the city without announcing his presence from the beginning, he may have gathered more information to take them quickly. Now they knew he was here, and after failing to kill him, they would be driven even deeper into hiding.

  “Very well,” Keller said. “Our captive has offered up another location of where we can find a mage.” He was sure that they would be gone as well, but there was no choice but to investigate.

  Prasil turned to one of the soldiers wearing the black tabard depicting the form of Or’Keer, the quality of his breast-plate and chainmail marking him as someone of rank. “Commander, see to the chosen’s needs and ensure he has the best men available.”

  The commander raised a fist to his chest in salute before facing Keller. “They shall be waiting outside momentarily, Chosen One,” he said, before taking his leave.

  “You have your tasks,” Prasil said to the remainder of the group. “See to them.”

  The rest of his advisors began making their way out of audience chamber leaving the lord of Karadin alone with Keller and his company.

  “What have you told them to do?” Keller asked.

  “Since our search is not producing the fruit we desire, I have commanded that our soldiers begin searching the undercity with the support of priests and mages. Perhaps luck will be on our side.”

  “You commanded the priests of Or’Keer?” Benkt asked, obviously not liking the implication.

  “I misspoke, holiness,” Prasil corrected himself, bringing his hand to heart in apology. “That is to say, I requested they accompany my men in case any mages are found. Without the help of Or’Keer, they would not stand a chance against a caster.” This seemed to placate the brash priest, who said nothing more on the matter.

  “I do have another matter I
wish to discuss with you, Magus,” Prasil said, moving the conversation away from the uncomfortable moment. “I have held the leader of the thieves’ guild as you said, but if you have no further use for her, I would have her executed for her crimes against the city and its people.”

  The mention of Hailey reminded him that he had indeed asked Prasil to keep her confined until he could deal with her. With the interrogation of Elitha and the information she had provided on the enemy mage’s whereabouts, the young woman had slipped his mind.

  “Respectfully…” Taft spoke up, addressing both Prasil and Keller, “… she could have more information that could be useful. There may be others within the guild who may be involved with the traitors, and she could be helpful in finding them.”

  “She is a thief and an unrepentant traitor to Or’Keer. The only choice to be made is whether she is sent to a conversion chamber or put to death,” Benkt said.

  Knowing Benkt was right, and that it was unlikely she knew much more about the dissenters, Keller considered how much use Hailey could be. He felt a debt for what had happened beneath the city. She could have run to save herself, but had stayed to help him. He was not so foolish to think her decision was out of anything other than self-interest. If she had fled, he would even now be hunting down the guild, thinking them a part of the rebellion. Still, he could not shake the feeling the he owed her something.

  “I will speak with her,” Keller said.

  Prasil nodded without objection, but he could hear the barely audible sigh from Benkt as they followed the lord of Karadin. He led them back outside to another building that held no windows and only one entrance that Keller could see. Four soldiers stood at the front, offering a salute as they moved closer. Walking through the iron studded door, the room on the other side was filled with more men sitting at tables playing dice. One jerked to his feet at seeing them and was quickly followed by the rest.

  “We need to speak with the thief. Take us to her,” Prasil said. Two guards began moving instantly, pulling a ring of keys from the wall.

  “I’ll speak with her alone,” Keller said, as his company began to follow. “You three go and wait for the escort. I will only be a few minutes.” Taft and Seldon hesitated for only a second before obeying.

  Benkt stopped to meet his eyes. “You know the edicts of Or’Keer. She must be dealt with as he has commanded. You can’t release her.” There was no disrespect or the usual obstinacy in his voice. He was simply stating the facts.

  Keller looked at him without answering until the priest turned and left as well. He continued to stare at the door after Benkt had disappeared outside, and let the man’s words settle. They removed any notion that he may have had of letting Hailey go.

  Following the two guards down the hall with Prasil at his side, he expected to be led down a flight of stairs. Instead, the hall branched off into others lined with cells.

  “There are no cells underground,” Prasil said, perhaps reading the confusion on Keller’s face. “With the undercity, it would not be wise to allow prisoners easy access to dig into the network of tunnels. The floor beneath us rests atop three feet of stone to prevent that.”

  He could see through the iron bars that many of the cells held occupants who stared hatefully as they passed, but the guards did not stop in front of these. Instead, they were led to a more secluded area away from the others. Finally, coming to a cell situated alone at the end of a hall, he peered through the iron bars to the curled form within. Lying on the stone slab that served as a bed was Hailey. Her shoulder-length blonde hair was in disarray, and she was still wearing the dirty blood-stained clothes he had last seen her in.

  “Wait down the hall,” Keller said to the guards.

  “If you have no further need of me, Magus, I will go as well. There are still many matters I must see to,” Prasil said.

  He had hoped to get the man’s opinion on whether or not they could gain any use for her, but he was right. They were still searching for the traitors, and the daily problems of the city could not be neglected. “Very well, inform me if you learn anything new.”

  Prasil gave a slight bow and turned back up the hall.

  “So even the great Lord Prasil obeys you,” Hailey said. She had managed to near the bars of her cell while the lord of Karadin had held his attention. It was amazing how quietly she moved. “You must be some priest to command respect like that.”

  “I’m no priest.”

  “No, I didn’t think you were,” she sighed. Gripping a bar in each hand, she leaned forward to press her face between them. Even now, she seemed young to Keller, but he remembered who and what she was. She had killed easily enough in the undercity, and might try to kill him given the chance.

  “At first I didn’t want to believe that a shadow mage had come to Karadin, but it only makes sense with what is happening here and this foreign alliance coming,” she said.

  “What do you know about those things?” he demanded, hoping that she did in fact have useful information. There was still a debt he owed, and he would welcome any excuse to stave off her execution. If she was helpful enough, it may give him legitimate reason to pardon her completely.

  “Why should I tell you?” she asked.

  Keller narrowed his eyes. “Many wish for you to be executed today. I am the only one holding them back from carrying out that just punishment.”

  Hailey returned to sit on the slab and let out a heavy sigh. “Even if I help you, all it will earn me is a stay in a conversion chamber. And I am not sure that is preferable to death.”

  Keller understood her dilemma. It was obvious that she was not a loyal follower of Or’Keer, and that was not something he could just ignore. All people owed their obedience to the Dark God. On the other hand, she had chosen to side with him when it had mattered. It didn’t feel right to punish her for her lack of faith while not rewarding her actions of helping advance the Dark God’s cause. Perhaps there was room for compromise; a way to bind her completely to Or’Keer while still allowing her to remain herself. “I can see to it that you never see those walls, but there would be a condition.”

  “I’m listening,” she said, a small laugh accompanying her words. “It’s not like I have much choice.”

  Keller grinned himself, feeling respect for the woman who could make light of the situation she was in. “If you submit to becoming one of Or’Keer’s weapons, to giving yourself over completely to him, then you may be saved. You must agree to become one of his blades in the dark, one of his faithful.”

  “The faithful?” she said shocked. “You mean those mindless creatures.”

  “They are not mindless,” he corrected. “The faithful are among the most devout. Men and women who have given all they are to Or’Keer. Often, they do not feel the need to speak to those who aren’t of the priesthood or chosen, seeing them as unworthy, but they are no different from whom they were before power was granted to them.”

  The idea had come to him as a way to save her life and prevent her from forced conversion. A process that would leave little left of who she was. But as he considered the offer more deeply, he began to see the possible benefits of having a leader of the thieves’ guild as one of the faithful. With her knowledge of its workings, she would be able to help the temples finally hunt down the rest of the guild. What she knew would be far more valuable than information provided in a conversion chamber.

  Keller realized that she had not spoken while he had considered the possibilities. Looking at her, he could see that fear was beginning to settle over her like a morning mist. A blanket that weighed down her shoulders and forced her straight-backed stance to bend slightly at the weight. Her head lowered to stare at the dusty, grey stone of the floor. “So, I can choose between death, losing myself to conversion, or becoming one of the faithful,” she whispered, before looking up again to meet his eyes. “What does it mean to be one of the faithful?”

  Keller considered his words carefully. This was the only way he knew to p
reserve her, and she needed to agree, otherwise, Or’Keer would reject her as an aspirant. But she also had to understand the commitment and consequences.

  “You will forever be connected to the Dark God. His desire will become your will. To disobey would mean being hunted down by your fellow faithful. It has happened only rarely. Those who have betrayed him have all been captured, and continue suffering to this day. They are not allowed to die.”

  He had seen such a creature only once. Delivered to Or’Keer so that he could exact his vengeance, it was a fate that Keller would suffer himself should he ever betray the Dark God. It was shown to him by the high priests before he accepted the blessing of his god’s power. The thing, its frail and twisted form barely recognizable as the woman she had been, cowered in the corner and growled under its breath. A scarred, naked body covered in filth. Patches of white hair clung to its scalp, the rest pulled out during fits of insanity. But still, the shadow mask clung to its face showing it still held the power granted by Or’Keer.

  Unlike the priests, the power given to the faithful and shadow mages could never be stripped away. Occasionally, a withered hand would come up to stroke the mask in an almost self-soothing gesture. He had looked into its eyes and saw nothing. There was no life there, no sign that it had ever held intelligence, it was a walking corpse. The high priest told him that Or’Keer visited the former faithful often, even though it was no longer capable of understanding why it was being punished. The Pontiff had explained that she had sworn herself to Or’Keer, but had regretted leaving her children. In time, she had abandoned her faith to return to them. A choice that she would live with until the Dark God released her into death.