Sorcery's Child (The Mindbender's Rise Book 2)

by D J Salisbury

  Why hadn’t he studied auras? Brief mentions in various texts told him what he was looking at, but none of them had detailed what color or intensity meant. They couldn’t be random. Trevor often said apparent randomness was merely a lack of recognition of the pattern. A lack of education.

  How would he ever finish his education without Trevor?

  The bird fell silent.

  Viper stiffened. Hissing whispers shuffled rhythmically from the south end of the orchard. It could only be human feet swishing through dry leaves. Wild animals didn’t walk like that.

  Was it the orchard caretakers again? Should he hide?

  Two silhouettes showed between the trees, one short and slender in a wide-bottomed skirt, the other very tall carrying something very large.

  He relaxed and grinned. About time they got here.

  Time to pack up and leave this thunder-forsaken orchard. He slid the grimoire back into his knapsack with mild regret. RedAdder’s theories on magic were even stranger than Trevor’s, but they were fascinating, once he deciphered the handwriting. That was a word by word battle.

  Even more fascinating were the auras of the girls approaching him. Lorel’s was a spiky, glaring red with migrating splotches of moss green. Red suited her, but the green seemed odd. Faye’s aura was mossy green with rippling waves of ocean green. He found her colors calming and peaceful.

  But Faye herself marched through the leaves and glared at him like a hunting nercat. “You ridiculous child. You can’t live in the orchard forever.”

  “I know that.” Did she think he wanted to be here? “I don’t plan to. But I need a safe place until I figure out how to get on a ship. Lorel was supposed to tell you that.”

  “I did.” Lorel tossed the overgrown wicker basket at his feet and glared at him. “Ain’t my fault she don’t believe me.” She hadn’t believed him at first, either, and he’d never in his life lied to her. But who would guess the City Guard could just give one person to another?

  Faye frowned at them both. “And how do you plan to buy passage on a ship if you won’t go near people?”

  “I don’t know yet, but–”

  “But nothing.” Faye began to pace, hands behind her back.

  Lorel skittered several feet backwards. If she was jittery, all sorts of things must be wrong. Why didn’t they just tell him?

  Maybe because they knew he didn’t want to know. But what could be worse than Trevor’s death?

  Faye stopped in front of him and shoved her hands on her hips. “It’s high time somebody straightened you out. Now tell me – and the truth, mind you – don’t you have any other sorcerer friends?”

  Who were his friends now? Viper hunched himself smaller. Faye, Lorel, and maybe: “Samiderf is always kind to me. But he’s nice to everybody, even Frujeur.”

  “Is he friendly with that awful Frujeur person?”

  “No, I don’t think–”

  “I’ve noticed.” Faye began to pace again.

  Viper stared at her slack-jawed. My world falls apart, and even my lovely Faye is mean to me. What did I do to deserve such scorn?

  “That will have to do.” Faye stopped pacing and stood in front of him.

  “What’ll do?” Lorel crept forward, but stayed well out of reach. Had Faye slapped her? Would Lorel even notice if she had? Well, she’d notice the humiliation of it even if she ignored the pain.

  Faye crossed her arms. “Viper will go to Samiderf and ask for help. Nothing else will do.”

  Viper shook his head. “I don’t know where he lives.”

  “I do know where that particular sorcerer lives.” Faye turned her back. “We will go there now.”

  “But, Faye.” Viper leapt to his feet. “Wait–”

  “Certainly not.” Faye brushed her hands against her skirt and began to walk toward town. “Grab your things and come along. You’re not too dirty. No one will question you as long as I’m with you. Assuming you don’t act silly. And you’d better not.”

  Lorel shook her head. “Climb into the basket, kid.”

  Faye whirled to face her. “How dare you?”

  “Guards are looking all over for him.” Lorel shrugged, but didn’t look either of them in the face. “That Frujie creep put up a reward for him.”

  Blast. Frujeur must have noticed he’d been in the house, probably because he’d locked the door to the Lab’s stairwell. Everything else was too much of a mess to tell if he’d moved anything. Unless Bahtdor Nose had left a trap that he’d triggered.

  “Whatever.” Faye looked skeptical, but pointed at the boy-sized basket. “If she wants to carry you, I certainly don’t care.”

  Something was going on here he didn’t like. Faye was never crabby, but today she acted as if hyenas had stolen her winter supplies. And she seemed madder at Lorel than at him. Had that overgrown turybird done something to annoy her?

  “Move,” Faye barked.

  Yup, she was furious. He obediently crawled into the basket.

  Lorel lifted it, dumping him onto his head.

  “Wait,” he shouted. “Help!”

  “Silly goose.” Lorel dumped him out on the dirt. “Get in feet first.”

  He grumbled, but complied. Escaping the orchard was getting far too complicated. He should have left Lorel behind and walked north. It couldn’t be that far to Sedala. Probably no farther than he’d walked from the mountains.

  Lorel slammed the lid down and attached it well enough he couldn’t push it open again.

  And he desperately wanted it open.

  The wicker reeked of moldy socks and sweaty shirts. He gagged, tried to speak, and gagged again. “What was in this thing? Veriz blue cheese?”

  “My family’s servants’ laundry,” Faye snapped. “Stop pushing on the lid.”

  Lorel snickered and hauled it upward. “Shut up, kid. You’re just stinky laundry now.”

  He felt like stinky laundry, for all the affection he was getting. Why hadn’t he started walking days ago?

  Sunlight filtered through the wicker. If he held his breath and closed one eye, he could see out a little. “Don’t forget my mandolin, turybird.”

  “Shut up, kid.” The basket tilted as she bent down and grabbed his gear.

  Faye led the way out of the orchard and past the Trader’s Inn. She never so much as hesitated.

  Lorel hesitated. Often. What was her problem? It wasn’t like the turybird to be so timid. Was she worried about him? There did seem to be an awful lot of Guards patrolling the streets.

  “Quit wiggling,” Lorel whispered. He could tell she wanted to say more, but she held the words in.

  And he wasn’t wiggling. At least, not very much. It was hard to sit still while stuffed into a basket no bigger than he was. While the City Guard was looking for him, poking and prodding at everything.

  While he couldn’t breathe without gagging. Faye’s servants needed to bathe more often.

  Lorel froze. Viper tried to peek through the wickerwork.

  A whole patrol was marching directly toward them. Thirteen pairs of eyes stared at them. At the basket. At him. How did they know?

  Lorel’s panting breath shook the whole basket.

  What was she afraid of? They weren’t going to send her into slavery. At worst, she get scolded for smuggling him into the city. No matter how annoyed she was, Faye would protect her.

  Wouldn’t she? Lorel obviously didn’t think so. The basket was vibrating so hard her knees must be knocking.

  “Keep walking,” he whispered. “Try to act normal.”

  She snorted and started moving. Now, if she kept her wits about her when the Guard intercepted them, they had a chance.

  The patrol leader reached out and grabbed Lorel’s arm.

  Viper’s toes curled. Keep your wits about you, turybird.

  She froze again. “Yes, sir?”

  “Where you heading with that, girl?”

  “Lestari house, sir.”

  The guard grunted. “Do you really think�
�”

  “Is there a problem, sergeant?” Faye’s voice asked. “Isn’t our property clearly marked?”

  The sergeant stepped back and bowed. “Apologies, my lady. I was concerned about theft, and the girl fits the description of a wanted felon.”

  The basket shuddered.

  Faye sighed. “She looks like every other Kerovi to me. But this one has been in my employ for over a year. Is that sufficient vouchsafing?”

  “Yes, my lady.” The sergeant bowed, turned to his patrol, and led them away.

  “You better not have done anything awful,” Faye growled.

  The basket shuddered again. “I didn’t do nothing I didn’t have to. I never hurt nobody on purpose, you know that.”

  Faye didn’t reply, and the basket trundled onward.

  Viper let out the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. What was that all about? Faye was angry, Lorel was scared, and the City Guard was looking for a Kerovi girl? Not a comfortable combination. Of course, there were hundreds of girls of Kerovi descent in Zedista, and Faye did get annoyed occasionally. But he’d never seen Lorel scared before. He’d have sworn it wasn’t possible.

  Faye led them farther and farther south, doing something that kept the Guard away. Finally she stopped in the walkway of an old house and crossed her arms.

  Lorel pried the lid off the basket and lifted him out as if he weighed less than a pair of dirty socks.

  The white-painted, blue-trimmed house appeared to be one the oldest structures in the city, but it fit well in this neighborhood of ancient houses lining the Souwall Road. The modern rage of tall stone buildings hadn’t reached this far into the outskirts of town, and probably never would, if the proud lines of the homes were any indication of the wealth of the residents.

  Viper was awed that such little houses could appear so regal. He was horrified to learn that funny old Samiderf lived in this one.

  “I can’t go in there,” he whispered.

  Faye turned and glared at him. “And why not?”

  “I always treated him like a silly old pauper.” The house’s windows looked like eyes, laughing at him. “And he’s rich.”

  “What difference does that make?” Faye crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s still your friend.”

  Was he? Really? How could he tell? Would Samiderf simply turn him over to Frujeur?

  Lorel shook her head and took one step backward. “I know what the kid means. Rich folk make me nervous, too.”

  Faye scowled up at her. “He can’t be any wealthier than my parents.”

  “Maybe, boss. But you’re different.”

  “Thanks a lot.” Faye turned and captured his hand. “We’re going in. Hush, child, I’ve had enough of your nonsense. Lorel, you can come if you like, but choose now.”

  “I’m coming already.” Lorel glanced at him and chuckled. “Stop holding your breath, kid. You’ll pass out on his doorstep, else.”

  He growled at her and puffed several loud breaths in her direction.

  Faye laughed and squeezed his hand a little tighter. “You’ll be just fine. He’ll take care of you, don’t worry. I’d take you home myself, but I really think my parents would turn you in. You do understand that, don’t you?”

  “Yes.” His fingers glowed from the warmth of her hand in his. “Lorel thinks her parents would turn me in, too. I just wish I’d been nicer to Samiderf.”

  They walked up the neat blue steps and paused on the lattice work porch.

  Viper reached for Faye’s other hand and stared longingly into her eyes. He wanted so badly to ask her, and this could be his last chance.

  “Faye.” He fought to catch her gaze. “Dear Faye–”

  “Well, are you going to knock on the door, or what?” Lorel looked at him as though he’d lost something important. Like his nose, from the direction of her stare. Or, more likely, knowing Lorel, his courage.

  Faye dropped his hands and pointed to the door. She did not look at him.

  He sighed and glared at Lorel. She would decide to ruin his very first romantic moment. He shuffled the last few steps and knocked gently on the immaculate blue door.

  Lorel rolled her eyes. “Ain’t nobody gonna answer that little tap.”

  Faye just stared at him oddly.

  “He’s a sorcerer,” Viper said, as though that phrase would answer all their questions. How else could he explain it?

  Faye turned to Lorel and shrugged.

  Lorel planted her feet, crossed her arms, and settled into her best ‘I’m being patient’ pose.

  Faye sighed. “You’re both crazy.”

  Viper kept his eyes on the door. Even before it opened a silvery aura filled with sparks of gem-like colors glittered inside his mind. The sensation of being followed vanished in a puff of warm wind. Too much imagination. He was safe now, and his lightning-blasted nerves knew it. “Good evening, Samiderf.”

  “Good to see you, Viper.” The sorcerer laughed when both girls jumped.

  Lorel raised her fists. “How’d you do that?”

  “Don’t do that,” Faye scolded.

  Samiderf laughed again. “Why don’t you come in? I think Viper shouldn’t be seen out on the street.” He led them into a parlor. “How did you get into so much trouble, young man?”

  “Trevor died all of a sudden.” Viper sank into a velvet armchair and closed his eyes.

  Samiderf stared at the carpet and nodded. “Such a waste. He was so alive.”

  “The only sorcerer I could find that day was Frujeur.” Viper sighed and leaned back in the chair.

  The old man put one hand over his eyes. “Oh, dear. That explains quite a bit.”

  “He managed to get custody of me.” Viper squeezed the arms of the chair. “He set me out to pull a mandrake root.”

  “He did what?” Samiderf jumped to his feet. “How dare he? The toad-brained old fool! So that’s how he gets the root. The snake-eyed beast.” He took a deep breath and shook his head. “How did you get out of it?”

  “I didn’t.” He hadn’t had enough sense to try and get out of it. What drugs had Bahtdor Nose used on him, anyway? “I pulled it and I ate it. That was better than any of the alternatives.”

  The old man stared at him in open-mouthed awe. “You ate it?” he whispered. “And survived? But how?”

  “I don’t know.” Viper shrugged and swallowed hard. “We have a bigger problem. Trevor’s body is in the Lab, inside the labyrinth. And the spell he was working on is still alive.”

  Samiderf’s eyes grew round. “Inside the labyrinth. I’ve never been down there. I don’t know anyone who has. Or who admitted to it. And Trevor’s spell is still active? I knew he was powerful, but I hadn’t guessed his studies were so far advanced.”

  “Frujeur wouldn’t even try to shut it down.”

  “I doubt he could.” The old sorcerer sighed. “He’s not a strong student of the sorcerous arts. Besides, do you want him inside the labyrinth?”

  Bahtdor Nose inside the Lab? “No way.” The cold goat would try to steal everything.

  Lorel snickered at the expression on his face.

  Viper turned and glared at her.

  “Master Samiderf.” Faye stood up hastily and curtsied. “We came here in the hope that you could help. That Frujeur person reported Viper as a runaway, even though he left him for dead, and now the City Guard is looking for him.”

  “And we wanna leave the city on a ship.” Lorel bounced in her chair like a frog chasing a tasty fly. “But none of us know how to pull it off.”

  “I see.” Samiderf measured each of their faces in turn. “I think I can help you with a ship. Certainly I can keep Viper safely hidden for the time being. Now, am I arranging passage for two or three?”

  “Three,” Viper said promptly.

  “One.” Faye threw her hands up.

  One? One!

  “Weaver crap.” Lorel sprang to her feet. “Two at least.”

  “Now, Lorel.” Faye crossed her arms below her b
reasts. “You can’t leave any more than I can. We both have responsibilities and–”

  “I ain’t got no responsibilities that can’t do without me.” Lorel glared down at them. “I’m gonna go see the world. I ain’t gonna hide in a corner for the rest of my life.”

  “Please come with us, Faye.” Viper leaned toward her chair. “I love you. I’ve been waiting to ask you to marry me.”

  “Poor darling,” Faye whispered. “I was afraid you were working up to that. I do care for you, my sweet friend, but I don’t love you. I can’t love you. And I can’t go with you.” She turned and curtsied again to Samiderf. “Please take good care of him.” She left the room without looking back.

  The dull thud of the front door closing echoed in the silent house.

  Viper dropped his burning face into his hands and tried to hold his breath. He’d been so sure she’d say yes. How could she abandon him?

  He’d lost Trevor. He’d lost his family, his mother, his whole tribe. He’d never dreamed he’d lose Faye, too.

  “It’s all right, kid. Don’t you fret. We don’t need her, anyways. We’ll sail off without her, we will, and–”

  Viper interrupted without raising his head. “Lorel.”

  “Yeah, kid?”

  “Shut up.”

  “Weaver’s cold toes.” Lorel turned to Samiderf. “How about you tell me what I need to pack? I ain’t never gone traveling before.”

  Samiderf recited a detailed list of gear. None of it made an impression on his memory. None of it mattered.

  Viper went back to holding his breath, and to hiding tears in the cup of his hands.

  Chapter 11.

  Lorel wasn’t surprised when Faye stormed out. What was the kid thinking? It’s one thing to flirt a little, but gentry could never marry no barbarian, not even a nice one like him. And Faye wouldn’t never marry a boy three years younger than her. The noodle brain was only twelve or thirteen.

  For that matter, she couldn’t see Faye traveling, for all her fancy talk of moving to Shi.

  Samiwhatis rattled on about all the crap they’d need to travel. She tried to keep her end of the chatter going, to give the kid time to pull himself together, but her pack was full and safely hidden with the dust bunnies under Baxter’s bed. Unless Mom decided to clean her brothers’ bedroom today, she was ready to go.