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

by Jon Bender

  Benkt gave a slight bow of his head. “Of course, Chosen One.”

  Leaving the room, he collected both Taft and Seldon on his way out. The two soldiers had questions about what had happened having seen Hailey leave without an escort. They would not have missed her transformation. Not wanting to discuss what had happened with them anymore than he had with Benkt, he explained that he had begged Or’Keer’s leniency to repay his debt to the guild leader and left it at that. It was apparent that the men wished to know more, but remained quiet as they made their way back up through the temple. Soon they were on their way back to the inn where he planned to have a large meal and then sleep. Tomorrow he would resume the search and fulfill his task. The Dark God had granted his request, and he could not repay that generosity with failure.

  Harlow adjusted his hood to better hide his face as the shadow mage and his guards came down the temple steps. He could see from the man’s drawn, pale face that his fight with Torbin had been taxing. Harlow had not known about the green mage until recently when one of his lieutenants, a locksmith he had visited to pass on Whisper’s instructions, told him about it in the cellar of the shop. There was never a clear source for these rumors. Likely one of the soldiers had spoken about what happened and it had spread from there. However, word had gotten out and it had only taken a trip to this merchant’s house to discover the truth.

  When the mage exited, Harlow had not recognized him at first. If not for how the soldiers had acted around the man, he would never have put a face to the Dark God’s fiercest weapon. Learning more about who had taken Elitha and was now hunting their people was not an opportunity he could afford to waste. Hoping he would lead him to where she was being held, he followed the mage in his carriage. It was a hunch that had paid off. Reaching the estate, he saw the mage reemerge with another woman held by his two guards before leading him to the northern temple. There was no way to be sure that this was where she was being held, but the mage’s presence was the only clue he had.

  Turning away from the crowd, he moved down the street intent on returning to the southern city. There were still several stops to make before it got dark. His people would be in place as Whisper wanted, but now he had to figure out a plan to rescue Elitha. It would not be an easy task, but if things went as expected, he would use the distraction of the attack on the wall to get her. He would not leave her to the mercy of the brotherhood.

  Chapter 8

  Keller opened his eyes slowly. His room was dark, the one candle he had left burning on the nightstand now a cold puddle of hardened wax. Moonlight filtered through the window, but did nothing to illuminate the presence that had woken him. The shadows came to his call, the power they contained flooding every fiber of his body. There was no struggle to hold his magic. After eating a full meal and resting, he now felt much restored and prepared to meet the threat. Concentrating the power into his eyes allowed him to see everything in front of him, the enhanced vision showing nothing except the door leading to the hall, a desk, and small washstand in the corner. He tried to pull more power to further expand his sight as he had been able to in the sanctuary but it was a futile attempt. Without the absolute darkness that was Or’Keer, he was left with only his own meager abilities. Whoever was in the room with him had yet to strike, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t coming.

  Tensing his muscles, he took a deep breath and leapt from beneath the thin blanket. Landing in a crouch, he spun about with a hand outstretched to cast. Tucked near a corner, he caught the vague outline of a person and attacked. The clawed gauntlet formed almost instantly, launching out to tear into the form against the wall. The form moved in such a way that even his magically fueled eyes could barely follow as it shifted to the side allowing his cast to tear through the wall where it had been. He quickly realized he did not need his magic to know where the intruder was. Retracting his cast left five ragged holes in the wood. Standing upright, he looked at the form which was still once more.

  “Why are you here? Did Benkt send you?” he asked.

  The faithful stepped forward into the moonlight revealing blonde hair and a mask of pure darkness. Her clothes had changed to a simple black shirt with matching pants tucked into leather boots. At her hip hung a curving sword sheathed in black leather. But it wasn’t just her appearance that had changed. The way she stood, how she held herself, was different as well. He had been able to see the confidence in her before. Now, she radiated strength.

  “I didn’t know where else to go,” she said, her voice still holding the husky quality. “I could sense where you were and felt like I should be near you.”

  So, whatever their connection, it went both ways. He was not sure how he felt about anyone knowing his whereabouts at all times, but at the moment didn’t know of anything he could do to change it, or even if he should attempt to. He had been so exhausted after his encounter with the Dark God, that he had not fully understood the depth of their link. But he was rested now, and was acutely aware of her presence. If he calmed himself, he could feel a gentle throbbing of warmth emanating within, a beat that connected them to each other.

  Shrugging, he decided not to mention the connection. She must be aware of it as well, and he had no information to offer about it. Whatever had been done to them, it was Or’Keer’s will and not for either of them to question. “I’m awake now, and hungry. Do you want to join me for something to eat?”

  “Perhaps you want to get dressed first,” she said, her shadowed-altered voice sounding almost playful.

  It wasn’t her tone that let him know that she was amused and slightly aroused when looking at him. He felt those things. The bond connecting them was conveying the emotions to him. The sensation was disorienting as the emotions intertwined with his own. He couldn’t see it, but was sure she was grinning at the fact that he was wearing nothing but his underclothes. Her humor made him self-conscious at being so exposed to her eyes.

  “You may want to remove that,” he said, indicating her mask, the rebuke said only to cover his sudden feeling of vulnerability.

  The swirling shadows covering her face slid away, but it did nothing to remove her threatening appearance or her amusement at his getting dressed.

  Hailey followed him out of the room, but for the link between them he would never had known she was there. Down the stairs, the common room was mostly empty except for a couple of traders getting an early start on the morning and the owner standing behind the bar. All three looked up with frightened looks on their faces, the two merchants half standing from their chairs. It took Keller only a moment to realize it was not him that had frightened them. Their eyes were glued to Hailey on the step above him. Even without the mask, they recognized what she was instantly. It was likely the first time they had seen one of the faithful in the open light, if they had ever seen one at all. He had never made it known that he served Or’Keer when he had arrived, but it mattered little now that the traitors knew he was hunting for them.

  The smell of freshly baked bread coming from the kitchen reminded Keller how hungry he was. “Bring two plates to the private dining room,” he said, breaking the fearful silence.

  The owner nodded his head nervously, and Keller led Hailey away to the room. Closing the door, he took a seat at the long table as she sat down next him. It was an odd sight. He had never seen the faithful sitting before. What was even stranger was how he knew he could close his eyes and still sense her. Their link was not something either had expected, but he would not question Or’Keer’s decision or the reasons behind it.

  They sat there in silence as she stared at the polished wood of the table until he could no longer stand it. He could feel the lack of direction and purpose emanating from her. “How are you doing?”

  She looked at him with surprise, but no more than he felt at himself for asking. He would never had inquired that of any other faithful or even another chosen.

  “I don’t know… different. I can sense you and the others in the city, but that’s not all
. I feel weaker in the light, more vulnerable.”

  Keller nodded, but had expected the other faithful to explain the new life she was now living. One of complete servitude to the Dark God, and both the advantages and weaknesses of that life. “Your power is directly linked to darkness. Being in the light will reduce the gifts you have been given.”

  “So, what am I supposed to do now?”

  Keller thought on the question for a moment having no immediate answer. He realized that he had never considered what the faithful did when they were not carrying out commands. It was apparent they did not sleep, but did they ever take time for themselves? The notion of one of the faithful enjoying a book, wine, or any other simple pleasures seemed unnatural. “I believe Or’Keer wants you to assist me in finding the traitors,” he told her.

  “And after that?”

  “There will be others who would see the fifteen kingdoms remain in subjugation. It is up to us to stop them and bring all people to the path. Then one day, we will all be able to live in peace.”

  She gave a hesitant nod and seemed prepared to say more when the inn’s owner came in carrying plates of food. Without ever looking up, he hurriedly dropped the plates and left. Keller’s hunger had returned in force so he decided to ignore the rude behavior in favor of digging in to his meal. He ate without really tasting while his mind worked. His only lead into the dissident group was already caught, but that had led him almost nowhere. The traitors had also taken steps to hide themselves further. For the moment, he was at a loss on how to proceed in finding them. If he did not make progress soon, things within the city would devolve to a point where people who were thought not to be devout enough would become suspect. After that, others would be offered up in the fervor of the purge – people who were innocent, but were unfortunate enough to have caught the ire of the wrong person. It was not a situation he wished, but at the moment he saw no other option to obtain the information needed. All the while he considered his next steps, Hailey was there in his mind. It felt as if she was contemplating a problem of her own. He was still working the problem over when Benkt entered wearing a satisfied look.

  The priest sat down opposite Hailey but spared her only a glance, paying her no more attention than he would a piece of furniture. “My brothers were able to extract another name from our prisoner.”

  “If it’s another mage, I will leave the brotherhood to look into it. By now they will have moved all those she would have known to different locations, but it must be investigated nonetheless,” Keller said.

  Benkt grinned. “What about the name of a person she wasn’t supposed to know of? Would you be interested in investigating that yourself?”

  Keller’s fork paused halfway to his mouth. “Are you sure the name she gave you was real? Those in her situation will often say anything to stop the pain.”

  “It’s possible, but I don’t think that is the case. Those interrogating her assured me they verified the name before passing it on. In any case, it will do no harm to check.”

  Keller resumed eating. “Do we know any of the specifics on why this person is important?” he said between bites.

  The grin on Benkt’s face bloomed into a full smile. “She finally gave up her role in this organization. She is one of several who lead separate groups, as is the person whose name she gave us. Each is responsible for a different aspect of treachery and disruption. But all take their orders from one man.”

  “I would guess that she has not given you this man’s name, or you would have told me that first,” he said.

  “None of them know his name, and none have seen his face. The only information she provided was that they call him Whisper.”

  Keller grunted in amusement at the ridiculous name. Of course it would not be that easy. “Do we know how she discovered who this other leader is?”

  “By accident, a chance sighting of a face she recognized while working as a thief. His name is Marish, a well-known merchant high up in their guild. He is responsible for providing supplies and coin to the other leaders.”

  “Then it’s possible that he will be able to lead us to the others,” Keller said, hope now forming that he would be able to finish his business in the city and prepare for the real threat.

  “Perhaps, but from what we have seen so far, whoever this Whisper is, he has told his subordinates only what they need to know. I think this merchant will have a piece of the puzzle, but won’t know it all.”

  Keller was sure they could end the insurrection today if they could only discover this Whisper’s true identity. He sighed in irritation with no attempt to hide it from the priest. Wishing for that information to fall into his lap was not a realistic or productive use of his time. “Get something to eat. It may be a long day,” he said.

  By the time Benkt’s food arrived, Taft and Seldon had joined them as well. He gauged their responses at hearing the news. Both seeming pleased that they were now a step closer to finding the traitors, but he was sure each was distracted by Hailey’s presence – they had not missed her change of clothes or the new sword at her hip.

  Keller finished eating first, but restrained himself from ordering more. His strength was mostly returned thanks to the rest and food, but overeating would only slow him down. When the others were done, Benkt led them out into the dawn, the morning light just breaking over the buildings of Karadin. Hailey winced at the brightness and pulled her hood up to cloak her face in darkness. Beneath the hood, he could see that the shadow mask had returned to cover everything but her eyes. It truly was an odd sight to see one of the faithful out in the open light of day, but he had a feeling she was compelled to go wherever he did. Stranger was the realization that he wanted her to be close by. The warmth he felt within became stronger the closer she was. It was so different from the feeling of the shadows. Nowhere as powerful, but somehow more comforting.

  “Do you think we will need more than just us?” Taft asked, once they were out on the street.

  “There is no chance that this Marish would suspect we were coming for him if he thought his identity safe. From what I could learn, we will likely find him at the merchants’ guild house where he conducts business,” Benkt replied.

  “He’s right. We don’t know who is working for them, and sending for soldiers or priests could alert them. We go alone,” Keller said. The others nodded and Benkt started off with Taft and Seldon behind.

  Hailey remained at his side as they followed the others, her hood pulled low even as she spoke. “How long will Elitha be held?”

  With the change in her voice, it was hard to tell if she was asking out of curiosity or concern. Because of the link, he knew it to be neither. He could feel a thread of anger mixed with satisfaction coming from her. “Until all those who have worked with her are brought to justice for their crimes against Or’Keer,” he said.

  “And when that is done?”

  “She will likely be put to death.” Hailey’s hood bobbed softly in response. “Would you want me to intervene?” he asked.

  The woman would never be set free, but he was curious to discover Hailey’s true feelings. Before she had formed the words, he already knew the answer, the anger she felt intensifying to the point that he wasn’t sure if the emotion was not his own.

  “No. We were friends, but it was her choices that led to her situation… and mine,” she said with resigned finality. “If she had followed the rules and stayed out of this foolish rebellion, you would have come and left when you found the guild didn’t know anything. Perhaps you would have reported what you found out, but I would not be what I am now.”

  The anger their bond relayed was now laced with despair, and he felt compelled to ease it. “I know that you may feel as if you have lost your freedom. That you will spend the rest of your life in servitude, but that is not the case. One day, we will remove the corruption from the fifteen kingdoms that the old gods have tended to for so long. If we both survive to that day, I promise, I will make sure you will be able to l
ive your life as you want.”

  She looked up so that he could just make out the bright blue of her eyes above the shadow mask. “Do you really think that is what Or’Keer wants? That once he has brought the whole of the world to his ‘path,’ that he will let us live as we want? Will the purges end? Will his priests stop taking people because they are not completely devoted to him?”

  Her words caused him to miss a step. No one had ever so openly spoken against the Dark God in his presence. He had on occasion considered the very questions she asked for the briefest of moments, but always he had crushed such blasphemous thoughts before they had taken hold. He had always only ever kept his mind on the path before him, and removed those obstacles on it. His only belief in the future was that it would be as his god had promised a place where all men were equal and treated fairly under his guidance. There were practices that had turned his stomach to watch, like what was happening to Elitha beneath the temple, but he had accepted those as necessary to reach that goal. Many among those loyal to Or’Keer took pleasure in punishing the disloyal at his behest, but surely that would end when those who opposed him were defeated… wouldn’t it?

  The question startled him. With such few words spoken aloud, she had shaken his faith enough that he had questioned the path. Had caused him to question his purpose and doubt his god. The sensation was disconcerting and he did not like it. Then it struck him that these feelings were not his own. The subtle doubt had crept through the bond to supplant his own emotions. He felt angry at himself for allowing her weakness to overwhelm him, and angry at her for forcing them upon him. Locking his eyes on the source, he took a slow breath to refrain from shouting. He knew the type of person she was before the transformation, and now had to accept the burden of it. Perhaps that was why Or’Keer had linked them, to make Keller responsible for ensuring her service to him. He had made the request to save her life, now he had to deal with the consequences of that choice.