Nicholas Raven and the Wizards' Web (The Complete Epic Fantasy)

by Thomas J. Prestopnik

  “Not a chance,” Nicholas said as he slowly removed the amulet while looking up at his captor. He was preparing to fling it into the trees, hoping to buy a few seconds to escape, but as he collected the chain and small circle of silver into his palm, the soldier was already mindful of his intention.

  “Don’t even think it!” he said, waving the knife above him.

  “Fine,” Nicholas replied.

  He reluctantly raised his arm to deposit the amulet into the man’s outstretched hand. But as he opened his fingers and let the metal chain pour onto the soldier’s palm, Nicholas grabbed the man’s wrist and yanked him forward, throwing him off balance just long enough so that he could scramble to his feet. But he didn’t get far. Nicholas had taken only a few steps when the soldier was upon him from behind, grabbing and turning him before pinning him against a tree. The Islander pressed his left arm to his chest. Nicholas saw the whites of the man’s eyes and the point of his dagger only inches from his face. His hot breath rolled across his cheeks. Nicholas didn’t have time to catch his breath and speak, knowing that it was all over as the man pulled back the knife, preparing to thrust the cold piece of metal into Nicholas’ body as he offered a vindictive grin.

  But in the next instant, the man’s spine went rigid and he stood up straight, gazing at Nicholas as if in a trance. Slowly, the vindictive grin melted off his face. His right arm dropped to his side and the metal dagger fell from his fingers. The soldier’s body slumped and toppled to the ground in a heavy mass. Nicholas looked down in shock, unable to believe what he was seeing. He wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him. Or was that truly an arrow sticking out of the dead man’s back?

  CHAPTER 58

  A New Recruit

  Nicholas looked up from the dead body sprawled upon the ground. He peered into the darkness, half expecting a second arrow to fly through the air and kill him. But all he saw was a small figure stooping over the fire, and moments later, it walked toward him carrying two burning sticks.

  “Are you all right?” A woman spoke, her voice containing a stony quality that veiled a more genial nature just below the surface. She handed Nicholas one of the makeshift torches and smiled. “You seemed to need help, so I finally decided to step in.”

  “Thanks,” Nicholas said, his mind still reeling. “Uh, finally decided?”

  The woman nodded. “I’d been tracking you both for over an hour through the woods and along the river while I was hunting.” She bent down and looked at the dead man’s face, fingering his coat sleeve with much interest. “I don’t know how long he had been tracking you.”

  “Since late yesterday.” He curiously watched the woman as she studied the body. “That’s what he told me before he tried to kill me.”

  “Hmmm,” she replied, but Nicholas wasn’t sure if she was responding to his comment or was thinking about something else as she examined the dead man’s coat. She stood and handed Nicholas the amulet she removed from the soldier’s lifeless hand. “Yours?”

  “Yes,” he said, grateful to have the wizard’s gift back. He draped it around his neck and concealed it under his shirt.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Haven’t really thought about it, being almost killed.”

  The woman chuckled softly. “You’re welcome to follow me home and get something to eat,” she said. “And while you’re doing so, I’d like to know why a man from the Northern Isles was trying to put an end to your young life.” She looked around. “I didn’t see anyone else while I was tracking this one. I think we’re safe.”

  “There were only two of them. They attacked us a few days ago,” Nicholas said.

  “Us?”

  “I was with some friends who have since taken a different road,” he explained. “The other Islander is dead, too.”

  “There must be an interesting story behind that. I’d like to hear it,” she said. “Will you come with me?”

  Nicholas, still in shock, nodded. He felt he could trust the woman to an extent as she had just saved his life, and hoped he might glean some information from her about the incursion of the Islanders into the area. She apparently was knowledgeable about them, and anything he could learn might help him in his search for Ivy. “Thanks. A meal would be great.” He studied the woman’s face in the glow of the torch flames, noting a gritty exterior than still radiated a youthful beauty that belied her fifty years of life. “My name is Nicholas.”

  “I’m Hannah.” She stuck her torch into the ground and then leaned over the dead body. “Could you give me a hand?”

  Nicholas looked at her askance. “A hand? With what?”

  “I need to remove this coat before the body goes cold,” she said. “A shame that my arrow tore a hole through the back, such nice material and all.”

  Nicholas looked slightly aghast. “You want his coat? Are you serious?”

  She grunted with laughter. “Not for me. And yes, I realize this seems ghoulish.”

  “Just a bit,” he said. He gazed back with morbid curiosity, rethinking whether he should accompany Hannah to her house.

  “But I do need the coat,” she insisted. “And the man’s dagger and sheath. We can leave the boots.”

  “May I ask why?”

  “You may ask, but I can’t tell you. Not just yet anyway.”

  Nicholas sighed, not knowing what to think. But since Hannah appeared quite rational to him at the moment, he simply shook his head and bent down to assist her. “Considering that you saved my life, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt about why you’re doing this. But if you don’t need the coat, who does?”

  “My brother,” she replied as she attempted to pull one sleeve off the dead man’s arm, tugging at it with a clenched jaw. “Not that Arch plans to wear it himself, but he might be able to use it for a project he’s working on. As I said, maybe I’ll tell you about it later. In the meantime, help me turn him over. He’s quite heavy.”

  “Sure…”

  “And let’s be careful so we don’t rip the coat any worse on the arrow.” Hannah paused for a moment when an idea struck her. “This might help.” She grabbed the arrow with both hands near its base and snapped off most of the shaft. She casually tossed it aside. “There. Now it should be easier.”

  Nicholas recoiled with disgust. “Should we even do this? Won’t we be cursed or something?”

  “Don’t get squeamish on me now, Nicholas. This man just tried to kill you. But there’s a good reason for what I’m doing. Still, if it’ll make you feel better, we’ll come back and bury the body in the morning. It’ll be very cold tonight. He should be fine until sunup, assuming no animals come sniffing around for a meal.” She smiled, freeing one of the sleeves from the man’s arm. “There! Now let’s work on the other one.”

  A short time later, Hannah led the way through the woods to her cabin, carrying a torch along with her bow and quiver of arrows. Nicholas followed, again shouldering his pack as well as carrying the heavy coat and cold dagger worn only moments ago by a dead man.

  They traveled less than two miles when Hannah pointed out her home, a small one-story cabin built of pine logs. The seams between the logs were filled with a mixture of mud, clay and straw. A small, adjacent clearing contained the remains of a vegetable garden. A nearby stream cascaded over several rocks before emptying into the Wolf River.

  Hannah invited Nicholas inside. While he attended to the cold fireplace, she prepared them something to eat. Soon they dined at a table by the warm flames on strips of venison and gravy, steaming squash soup and bread. Nicholas devoured first and second helpings to Hannah’s delight, telling her how delicious the food tasted.

  “Nearly losing one’s life gives you an appetite,” he joked.

  “I’m just happy for any compliment about my cooking,” she replied. “As you probably guessed, I don’t get many visitors here.”

  “Where’s your brother live?” He noted a hint of worry in Hannah’s blue eyes and in the subtle lines on a face framed b
y long, straight locks of dirty blond hair. “Will he join us tonight?”

  “No, but I’m going to visit him soon,” she replied. “He and his wife live in the village of Illingboc on the seacoast. I’m leaving the day after tomorrow for an extended stay as I do a few times each year.” Hannah looked up at her guest with a sense of eagerness. “Perhaps you’d like to go with me? You can tell them the story about how we found the Island soldier’s coat. I’m sure Arch will be interested in hearing the details.”

  “I’m sure that you’d like some more information, too, before we go to your brother’s house.” Nicholas sensed there was a more serious and troubled side to his dinner host, concerned that she was not being completely forthright about some matter or other, but he didn’t want to press her.

  “I think I’m entitled to a little, saving your life and all,” she pleasantly said before taking a sip of hot tea. “How does a young man all the way from– By the way, you never did tell me where your home is.”

  “Kanesbury,” he said, feeling that she deserved to know a little bit about him. “It’s a small village in the middle of Arrondale.”

  “Never heard of it. But how does a young man from there nearly end up dying so close to my doorstep? Why was that soldier after you?” Hannah set her cup on the table as the fire crackled in the dimly lit room. “And I’m also curious to know about that thing around your neck. Is it valuable enough to kill for?”

  Nicholas leaned back in his chair, troubled that he again had to explain his business. But since Leo and Hobin were miles away and their fate was out of his hands, he didn’t have to be so secretive and evasive anymore, a trait he did not treasure.

  “I’m searching for a dear friend,” he finally admitted, happy to tell his story even if it was with a woman whose motives weren’t quite apparent. “My friend was kidnapped over five weeks ago by men from the Northern Isles. Her name is Ivy.” A trace of melancholy quickly enveloped him. “That’s why I was heading down Wolf River to the sea. I need to get on a ship to the Isles if any are still in the vicinity. I assume Ivy was taken there. But how I plan to locate her if I make it to the Isles is a whole other story.” He anxiously drummed his fingers on the side of the chair, his heart and mind sensing the apparent futility of his plan.

  Hannah leaned forward, resting her chin upon her folded hands. “That’s quite the beginning of a story, Nicholas. Ivy must mean a great deal to you.”

  “She does, though we’ve only known each other a short time.” His coat was draped over the back of his chair. He reached inside a pocket and removed the gauzy scarf. The subtle autumn colors were illuminated in the glow of the fire. “This is a gift I gave Ivy after we first met. More than anything, I want to give this back to her as soon as possible.”

  “It’s very pretty,” Hannah said, admiring the material before he tucked it safely away. “Is the man who attacked you one of the men who kidnapped Ivy?”

  “No. Those were other troublemakers from the same place. It seems those Islanders are up to no good all over Laparia.” He picked at the remaining food on his plate while Hannah waited patiently for more of his story. “The man who tried to kill me had attacked me and two of my friends several days ago. He and another were after something we had. Our guide killed one of them. The other escaped and found me by chance just now.”

  “Was he after that?” she said, indicating the amulet.

  “No,” he replied, deciding that he could trust Hannah enough to tell her about his journey to see the wizard Frist, at least a condensed version, without risking any harm to Leo or Hobin. He hoped by doing so that she would open up to him and eventually help him find a way to the Northern Isles.

  Hannah listened in fascination as Nicholas explained about the Enâri race and their connection to Kanesbury, and of a stolen magic key that was destroyed and turned into a medallion and then back again into a key. “Will the entire Enâri race be destroyed if the Spirit Box is opened?” she asked.

  “That’s the plan. We’ll see in the days ahead if it’s so.”

  “Well, if the wizard’s new key works as well as that amulet he gave you, there should be no problem,” she said with a smile. “That fine piece of silver jewelry saved your life, did it not?”

  “You saved me,” Nicholas replied with an appreciative smile.

  Hannah shrugged. “Amulet. Arrow. You’re still breathing and walking, right?”

  “I guess so,” he said, pouring himself another cup of tea. “And now that I thoroughly discussed my comings and goings over the last several weeks, I’d sure like to hear more about you.”

  “Such as?”

  “Such as why you’re living here in the middle of nowhere.”

  Hannah grinned. “It’s not in the middle of nowhere, Nicholas. We’re quite close to the edge of the woods. It’s only a few miles to the eastern border of the Dunn Hills, and then just a few more miles to the seacoast. I’m not as isolated as you think.”

  “But why do you live here? Why not in Illingboc where you have family?” Nicholas hoped he wasn’t prying too much.

  “Because I like it here. But as I said, I do visit the coast several times a year to see family and friends and to buy and barter for supplies that I can’t grow, make or find for myself. I fell in love with the woods years ago and value my independence. I work with my hands and survive by my wits. It’s as simple as that,” she admitted. “Maybe when I get a little older I’ll move back to the coast when living alone is more of a challenge. But right now I’m happy where I am.”

  “Sounds like someone else I know,” he said, recalling when he met Hobin. He glanced at Hannah with a more serious eye. “Still, there’s one thing I hope you can tell me about. Why did you…?”

  Hannah leaned back in her chair. “Why did I what, Nicholas?”

  He looked uncomfortably at the tabletop before eyeing his host. “Why did you take that dead man’s coat?”

  Hannah stood and added wood to the fire from a pile of dried and split logs. “That’s a long story which perhaps my brother could better explain.” She noted an expression of restrained surprise upon his face. “Now I realize you did me the courtesy of detailing your recent adventures and are probably expecting the same in return, but I have my reasons.” After stoking the blaze, she joined Nicholas at the table again. “And it’s not that I don’t trust you with the information, but matters relating to that coat and such are best left for Arch to make clear. Still, I think my brother will be more than happy to bring you into the discussion after he hears your story.”

  “All right. I’m patient. I can wait until we arrive in Illingboc.”

  Hannah sensed his disappointment and decided to relent a bit despite her better judgment. “Nicholas, maybe I shouldn’t tell you this, but perhaps there is–” She paused abruptly, reconsidering her words. “Well, maybe I shouldn’t get your hopes up.”

  He leaned forward. “Perhaps there is what? If you can tell me anything, I’d like to hear it.”

  “I know. And I don’t wish to divulge secrets, but seeing as how you want to go to the Northern Isles and find Ivy, perhaps there is a way to get you on one of those ships near the coastline.” She noted Nicholas’ skepticism. “I’m being quite serious.”

  As much as he wanted to believe her, Nicholas couldn’t imagine how a woman he met by chance living all alone in the woods could have any means to get him aboard a ship from the Isles. It seemed awfully convenient that she could provide him the one thing he so desperately needed–a way to Ivy. He grew suspicious of her all over again, particularly because of the stolen coat off of the dead man. He wondered if Hannah was merely a woman out of touch with reality and was simply leading him on for her own entertainment and companionship. Or did she have some other motive, attempting to secure his trust and lure him onward? He began to wonder if she really had a brother living in Illingboc, knowing only time would tell.

  “Thanks for the offer,” he said. “Maybe we can discuss boarding one of the ships afte
r we get to your brother’s house.”

  “Sure,” she replied with a friendly smile, certain that he didn’t believe her. “We’ll leave the day after tomorrow if you don’t mind staying here until then. First we have to bury the dead Islander and then I have to pack supplies for the trip and tend to a few other matters before I leave. I plan to be gone for a few weeks.”

  “I’ll give you a hand,” Nicholas said. “Tell me what to do.”

  “Thanks. I have extra blankets so you can sleep by the fire,” she replied, pointing to his empty bowl. “So now that we’ve sized each other up, more or less, would you like more soup? There’s still plenty in the kettle.”

  The following morning while Hannah attended to her chores, Nicholas buried the dead man near the spot where he was killed. When he finished the somber task, he paddled his canoe to the cabin and brought it ashore. After lunch, he split and piled firewood and burned the last of the dried remains from the vegetable garden while Hannah packed and tidied up the cabin before their departure. After a late supper, the two retired for the night and awakened at dawn, prepared to depart by midmorning.

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll throw some of my things in your canoe,” Hannah said, carrying a small sack in one arm and lugging a second over her shoulder as they tramped along a leafy dirt path to the river. Nicholas followed, similarly burdened. “I’m usually weighed down on my trips to and from Illingboc. I should get a second canoe or build a small raft to load with my supplies and drag behind me. Maybe the Islanders will sell me one of theirs,” she joked.

  “You’re familiar with their excursions up the Lorren River to Kargoth?” Nicholas asked.

  “Of course,” she said. “I’ve seen their tall ships and heard stories about how they build rafts along our coastline away from populated villages with utter impunity. The few communities scattered along the Crescent have no standing army like Arrondale nor the proper number of men to form one capable of challenging a threat from the Isles.”