“Humphrey said the pretender will leave soon, so we don’t have much time if you still want him,” the tradesman said.
Grant seemed torn. Again, Alexander wished he could see the man’s colors.
“Of course I want him,” he said. “But I can’t afford to underestimate him again.”
“This may be our last chance,” Joss said. “He took our home and our standing from us. Look at where we are, Titus. This is intolerable.”
“I know, but he’s dangerous. Even more so with his allies surrounding him.”
“I’ve never known you to shy away from an adversary,” she said, seeming a bit confused.
“I’ve never faced an adversary who can see me when I don’t want him to.”
“If the mayor is correct, we haven’t much time to prepare,” the wizard said. “Perhaps your interests would be better served by allowing him to leave Andalia so that you can focus on consolidating your power over the rebels.”
The table fell silent again while Grant weighed his options.
“That would certainly be the safe course,” he said to the wizard. “The thing is, every time I’ve ever won big it was because I took a risk.”
The wizard nodded thoughtfully. “Success will deliver Andalia to you. Failure will cost you everything.”
Grant looked to his wife. She nodded.
“All right then,” Grant said, looking to another of the men at the table. “Make my ship ready to sail, and lay in stores for a long journey. We’ll have to sail the eastern seas to reach Karth once we have him.”
The man nodded, even though fear rippled through his colors.
“What about the strike?” another asked.
“You stay here and proceed with the plan. The message has already been sent to the Andalian fleet. I’m sure that the rebels will be more amenable to our offer when they learn that their supply ships are at the bottom of the ocean.”
“Understood,” the man said.
“So now we just need a way of luring him into a trap,” Joss said.
“That and a trap capable of holding him,” Grant said.
“You don’t think a collar will be enough?” Joss asked.
“It certainly wasn’t enough back in Mithel Dour,” Grant said, looking up and tapping his chin. “He did seem very concerned about the well-being of his pet dragon though. If we could get a collar around her neck, I suspect she could serve as both bait and leverage.”
“Ambitious and quite dangerous,” the wizard said. “The collar would prevent her from reverting to her true form, but it would do nothing to limit her strength, and very likely only serve to exacerbate her ferocity.”
“Unless she’s paralyzed,” another man at the table said, setting a vial before him. “One drop of glowworm toxin and she’ll be helpless.”
“And once the toxin wears off, then what?” the wizard asked.
“Once we have him, we kill her,” Joss said.
“That would be unwise,” the wizard said. “Killing her may provoke the dragons of Tyr.”
“He’s right,” Grant said, shaking his head. “That’s the last thing we need.”
“Perhaps there’s another way,” the wizard said, turning to the tradesman who’d delivered Humphrey’s message. “You say he plans to leave soon. Will he be traveling by ship?”
“That’s hard to say. He arrived on a wyvern.”
“If he leaves by flight, then he’s beyond our grasp,” the wizard said. “But if he were to leave by ship, perhaps we could provide the crew.”
“If we put a bunch of our people onboard, he’ll know,” Grant said. “Besides, I’m not sure I like the idea of being trapped on a ship with him. I’ve seen him fight.”
“He still has to eat,” the man with the glowworm toxin said, placing another vial next to it. “We make him a nice meal and he goes to sleep.”
“I like that better,” Grant said. “We’d only need one man onboard. As long as he stays out of sight, the pretender will be none the wiser.”
“I’ll go,” another man said.
“Good,” Grant said, standing up. “We need to get to my ship quickly so we can be in position to intercept them.”
“Come back to me, Little One,” Alexander said, separating his mind from Chloe.
When he returned, he found Jack sitting behind him and holding him steady in his saddle. The Rangers had dismounted.
“Just a suggestion,” Jack said, slipping to the ground. “You might dismount before you decide to leave next time. You almost fell out of your saddle.”
“Point taken,” Alexander said.
“Any news?” Jack asked.
“It seems that Grant has plans for me.”
“That’s too bad,” Anja said. “I almost liked his wife.”
“You wouldn’t feel that way if you knew what I know.”
Chloe buzzed into view. “She wanted to kill you.”
Anja frowned. “In that case, we should go kill them.”
“Maybe there’s another way,” Alexander said, dismounting and opening his Wizard’s Den. Moments after he sat down, his mind was floating on the ocean of creation. He thought of Joss and found her riding hard toward the coast with her husband and a dozen other men.
Alexander was waiting for them when they rounded a bend in the forest trail. Grant reined in sharply, looking for signs of an ambush. Finding none, he motioned for his people to make ready as he cautiously approached.
“Hello, Alexander,” he said. “May I call you that? Or would you prefer Lord Reishi?”
A crossbow bolt fired by one of his henchmen sailed through Alexander’s illusion and Grant nodded to himself as if confirming a suspicion.
“I’d heard about your magic, but I wasn’t sure I believed the stories. I’m curious how you managed to find me. I tend to be invisible to divination spells.”
“I didn’t find you … I found her,” he said, pointing at Joss.
A flicker of worry registered in Grant’s expression before it was replaced with practiced confidence.
“I know about your plan,” Alexander said. “The man you sent to poison me will be apprehended. The Andalian fleet will sail into a trap and you will be reduced to a fugitive running for your life … unless you agree to my terms.”
A glimmer of worry danced in his eyes, but only for the briefest moment.
“Ah, spread a little thin, are we?” Grant said. “I was wondering why you’d go to the trouble of warning me about my impending defeat. You never struck me as the type to gloat at the expense of a tactical advantage.”
“I considered hunting you down and killing you myself, especially after hearing your wife’s suggestion for Anja,” Alexander said, pausing to let the significance of his words sink in. Joss’s colors flooded with fear. “But honestly, you’re just not that important.”
“Out of curiosity, what are your terms?” Grant asked.
“Disengage your forces in the north and go kill the Babachenko. Do this, and I’ll forgive your past crimes. Refuse, and I’ll go to the Babachenko and tell him your name. Then I’ll suggest that he can find you through your wife, just as I have.”
Grant hesitated, struggling to maintain his mask of indifference. “I’m sure the Babachenko has more important things to do right now.”
“I’m sure he does, but I’m equally certain that you’re on his list. It’s one thing to be hunted when nobody knows who you are. But once he has your name, there won’t be anywhere in the Seven Isles that you can hide, at least not if you want to stay with your wife.”
“What makes you think I can kill him?” Grant asked.
“Because he won’t see you coming,” Alexander said. “Your rather unique magical talents make you the perfect man for the job.”
“You’re asking me to take quite a risk.”
“Just a few minutes ago you were saying how your greatest successes have always involved risk.”
Grant looked a bit startled.
“Yes, I heard
every word. Now you’ve heard my terms. Do as you will, but know this … I will be watching.”
He faded out of sight before Grant could speak, sending his mind to the north coast of Andalia and searching for the enemy fleet. It didn’t take long to find them harbored in a large cove well east of the shipyards. It looked like they were making ready to put to sea.
He flickered to Kai’Gorn and found Talia making preparations to send his fleet to war. The docks were abuzz with activity, ships being loaded, men bustling this way and that. The only man standing still was Talia. Alexander materialized next to the general.
“Lord Reishi, do you have new orders?”
“Yes, and a warning,” Alexander said. “The Andalian fleet is aware that you’re coming. They’re planning to attack. Has the wing of Sky Knights arrived?”
“They’re due this evening.”
“Good. Take me to your maps.”
Talia led him to a small building adjacent to the docks. A map of southern Ruatha and northern Andalia was spread out on a table.
“The Andalians are harbored in this cove,” Alexander said, pointing. “They’ll put to sea by nightfall. Send the Sky Knights against them first thing in the morning. They should be in deep water by then. Sink them all. I want the Andalians to watch their fleet float away and never return.”
“Understood.”
“Also, send a pair of Sky Knights to LaChance. Kiera’s wyverns have been injured and I might need to fly.”
“I’ll dispatch them immediately, Lord Reishi.”
“Well done, General,” Alexander said, fading into the firmament and returning to his body.
“Let’s go have another chat with the mayor,” he said, as he mounted his horse and turned toward town.
Chapter 6
“He made me do it, Lord Reishi. Please don’t kill me,” Humphrey sobbed.
The mayor had been brought to LaChance’s headquarters by a pair of Rangers. He’d tried to lie and bluff but his courage failed when Alexander drew the Thinblade.
“You mean he paid you to betray your own people.”
“No … well, he did pay me, but only after he threatened to kill me,” Humphrey said, desperation and fear coursing through his colors.
Alexander regarded the man as he considered his options. Humphrey started to fidget nervously.
“Have you ever killed anybody?”
“No, Lord Reishi. Never.”
“Will you serve the Old Law from this moment forward?”
“Yes, Lord Reishi,” he said, nodding emphatically.
Alexander scrutinized his colors. The mayor meant what he said … at the moment anyway.
“Very well. You’ll make a list of all of Nightshade’s agents in this community for Commander LaChance. Then you’ll go to the men you’ve recruited to participate in the strike and tell them it’s been called off. You are no longer the mayor. You are now the commander’s assistant. You will help him manage this community as he sees fit. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Lord Reishi. Thank you.”
“I’ll be watching you. If you betray the Old Law again, I will take your life. Do you understand?”
“Yes, absolutely. I’ll serve you faithfully, I promise.”
“No … you’ll serve the Old Law faithfully.”
A flicker of confusion danced through his colors but he nodded hastily nonetheless.
“Make your list,” Alexander said, pointing to a desk against the wall. Humphrey did as he was told without a word. Alexander sat down at LaChance’s table.
“How are the wyverns?” he asked.
“They’ll mend,” Lita said, “but I’m afraid none will be flying anytime soon.”
“I’ve ordered my men to increase security around the aerie, but honestly, I’m not sure how we can defend against magical attacks,” LaChance said.
“Hopefully, you won’t have to,” Alexander said. “Given the situation, we’ll be staying the night. Have my ship ready to sail at dawn.”
“It’s ready whenever you are,” LaChance said.
“Good. I think I’ll have a look around town.”
“Do you want an escort?” LaChance asked.
“No, we’ll manage. When we come back, I’d like to talk about Humphrey’s list of names.”
“How about over dinner? I think the cook mentioned something about roasted boar.”
“Sound’s good,” Alexander said. “I’ll let you get back to work, Commander.”
Silently, Alexander said, “Keep an eye on Humphrey, Little One.”
“Yes, My Love.”
He walked outside, stopping on the porch and surveying the town.
“I thought we were in a hurry to get to Ruatha,” Anja said.
“We are. Message riders are on the way. We’ll leave by air in the morning.”
“Then why did you tell LaChance to have a ship made ready?” she asked.
“I want to see what Grant and Humphrey do,” Alexander said. “And I don’t want my enemies to know what I’m actually planning.”
“This isn’t how I thought war would be,” she said.
“What did you expect?”
“More fighting and less lying.”
“Deception is often the most potent weapon of war,” Alexander said. “Causing your enemy to act on a false belief will undo them more quickly than almost anything else.”
“I’d rather just kill them,” Anja said.
“Sometimes I know how you feel,” Alexander said, setting out for the aerie. A platoon of Rangers stood guard while a group of workmen were busy building a fence. He found Kiera pacing in front of her wounded wyvern. She stopped, nodding respectfully but motioned for silence so as to not wake her steed, then led them to a small building adjacent to the handlers’ quarters.
“How are the wyverns?”
“They’ll heal, and much quicker for Lita’s efforts,” Kiera said, nodding her thanks to Lita.
“Good. I have a mission for you once you’re ready to fly.”
“Of course, Lord Reishi.”
Alexander produced the ring he’d taken from Yasim and held it out to her. She took it curiously.
“This ring will unlock an Andalian slave collar. I want you to fly to Karth and deliver this ring to Captain Wyatt, then remain there to provide him with whatever support he needs.”
“How will I find him?”
“Have a seat, I’ll just be a minute.”
With a gesture, he opened his Wizard’s Den and went to his magic circle, slipping easily into the firmament. A moment later he materialized in a room with Wyatt and Ayela. With a bit of effort, he projected an image of Karth onto the table.
“Where are you hiding?”
Wyatt frowned, trying to orient himself.
“We’re here,” Ayela said, pointing at Alexander’s illusory map.
“Good, stay in the area and look for two Sky Knights,” he said, fading out of sight. He appeared in the room with Kiera and projected the map of Karth onto the table in front of her, marking Wyatt’s location so she could update her flight maps. Once she’d marked her objective, he returned to his body.
“Wyatt is working with the House of Karth against Phane. Since they’re seriously overmatched, they’ve been trying to undermine Phane’s efforts covertly … unfortunately, with limited success.”
“How many should I take with me?”
“Just your wing rider,” Alexander said. “Remaining unseen is your best defense against Phane. At the moment, he has many more pressing concerns to deal with, but if you attract his attention, it could prove fatal.”
“Understood,” Kiera said, hesitating momentarily. “I understand that Lady Reishi is his prisoner.”
“She is,” Alexander said.
“I am duty bound to attempt her rescue,” Kiera said.
“I know how you feel, but it would do more harm than good,” Alexander said. “Your objective is to free Wren and Lacy. That will limit Phane’s options considerably
.”
Kiera frowned but held her tongue.
“No one wants Isabel back more than I do,” Alexander said softly. “But this is the way it has to be.”
“As you wish, Lord Reishi.”
“Thank you, Kiera.”
He spent the rest of the afternoon inspecting the town and their operations, more to bolster the morale of the people than anything else. In reality, he was waiting. He considered trying to contact Siduri again, but decided that the risk was too great. The last time he’d tried, it had cost him three days. While Chloe could probably pull him back, she was otherwise occupied with Humphrey.
By evening, the town had transformed from the bustle of work to a festive celebration, apparently in his honor. While he felt it was entirely unnecessary, the people seemed excited by the prospect of a good meal and a brief reprieve from the frenzied effort to build a town, a shipyard, and a fleet.
Humphrey was waiting for them when they arrived in the town square, which had been set with tables and strung with lanterns, all surrounding a central fire pit where a number of wild boar were roasting.
“Lord Reishi, I’ve done as you asked and called off the strike,” he said. “Everyone in town is now aware that Nightshade is a criminal and an enemy. He’ll find no allies here.”
Both his colors and Chloe’s voice in Alexander’s mind confirmed that he was telling the truth.
“I’m glad to hear it,” Alexander said.
“Please, let me show you to Commander LaChance’s table,” Humphrey said, a bit too eager to please.
Alexander gestured for him to lead the way as he scanned the crowd for any hint of a threat. As always, Jataan was doing the same. Many were watching Alexander, most with curiosity but a few with suspicion, though none of them seemed dangerous. He idly wondered where the two message riders General Talia had dispatched were.
Moments after he sat down, the servers began bringing food and drink. A young woman moved along the front of LaChance’s table filling goblets with dark red wine. When she reached Alexander and began pouring, he realized at a glance that something was wrong.
Sovereign of the Seven Isles 7: Reishi Adept Page 6
