Into The Ruins

by Blink, Bob

  Rigo stared at the elder scholar questioningly.

  “Mitty, of course. She has been with us each and every time we purchased an item of clothing. I’d be surprised if she didn’t figure into this selection of items prominently.”

  As they spoke there was yet another knock at the door.

  “It’s about time to move,” Rigo said sarcastically. “We have become too easy to find.”

  He opened the door to see a sour-faced Kimm and an equally agitated Delril standing just outside. “What is going on?” Kimm asked angrily.

  Rigo grinned delightedly, stepped back into the room to retrieve the invitation, and formally handed it to the Caster. Uncertainly, she opened the very richly printed parchment and read the inside.

  “This is unacceptable,” Kimm said. “We were not told of this event. The Saltique is currently away on private business, as are other members of the Eight. There are not enough of us available to properly escort you to such an event. There will be literally hundreds of guests there.”

  “Are you suggesting we slight the Queen by failing to appear as requested?” Rigo asked in mock shock.

  Kimm obviously didn’t know how to deal with the situation. Rigo was certain the woman had been looking forward to the end of the day when she could turn over responsibility for the three outsiders to the guards and go to whatever home she had. Now she had a problem on her hands and an evening of duty loomed. It would certainly be very late before an event like this ended.

  “I suggest you and Caster Delril hurry and get dressed,” Rigo advised, enjoying himself. “The invitation says it is to start in one glass.”

  Kimm took another look at the invitation, cursed, and turned away. She paused to give the guards instructions, then she and Delril disappeared. Rigo wondered what they would look like in formal clothes.

  A quarter glass before the time indicated on the invitation, they were surprised by another knock at the door. Expecting Kimm and Delril had returned, Rigo opened the door to find Lady Alani, and two younger women formally dressed and waiting.

  “We’re your escorts this evening,” Alani said with a grin. “I hope we haven’t upset anyone’s schedule?”

  “Our schedule is generally pretty open,” Rigo said. He was surprised to see the women, and a little disappointed that Mitty wasn’t one of them. Of course, there might have been an unsightly situation where he and Lorl vied for the woman’s arm. “I believe you might have upset the plans of our minders, however.” As he spoke, the two women in question stepped out of space, having obviously returned via a Doorway to be certain of arriving before the three men wished to leave.

  “Wonderful,” Alani said, seeing the two Casters coming across the grass toward the cottage. “We’re all here. Shall we go?”

  It was only a short walk to the castle, and this time they joined the throng entering through the massive front gates. The Guild’s guardsmen were invited to remain outside as usual, further causing Caster Kimm to swear.

  “They will be safe enough in the castle,” Alani promised Kimm, and led the way inside.

  If Rigo had thought his clothing was abnormally colorful, he soon changed his mind after seeing the selections worn by the other guests. Obviously whoever had chosen the clothes for them had toned down the local effect and come up with a compromise that would allow them to feel comfortable, yet wouldn’t stand out against local custom. Rigo wasn’t entirely surprised by the number of guests. He’d been dragged into more than one royal affair back home, but he had to admit he never felt entirely comfortable with such crowds.

  Lady Alani was quite the opposite. She nodded to many of those they passed, and acknowledged waves and greetings from a great many of those in attendance. Clearly she was well known by the upper crust of Nals society. As they passed into the grand ballroom of the castle, Rigo was amazed at the transformation. An army of servants must have worked the better part of the week to hang the decorations. Magical glow bulbs of various colors hung from the high ceiling, and polished metal sculptures were tastefully arranged around the room. A large orchestra played softly off to one side next to a dance floor. Opposite were a number of tables with a variety of tasty snacks and a large bar where uniformed tenders would provide any drink one might wish. Lorl glanced hopefully in that direction, but Lady Alani led them along a different path.

  “This is a farewell party the Queen has chosen to throw,” Lady Alani explained. “There will be an official ceremony in a couple of weeks held by the Guild when they crown the new Queen and officially retire Queen Rosul. That will be a more stilted affair, and she wanted a chance to thank those who have supported her efforts over the years. She also wanted a chance to show you three off. Many of the city’s more prominent members have been anxious to meet you.”

  “Are affairs like this common?” Ash’urn asked, as his eyes roamed around the highly decorated room, noting the women and their consorts. He had noted the signs of role reversal here, with the women taking the lead and the men following along a step behind.

  “Usually there is one major affair each year after the summer harvest to celebrate the year’s bounty. With the transition to a new regime, it is likely that there will be several this year.”

  The outsiders and their escorts, followed dutifully by Casters Kimm and Delril headed directly toward the raised platform where the Queen and her consort were greeting guests. Queen Rosul smiled widely when she saw them approaching. She pointed to empty seats near her, and once she had greeted each of them, she had a uniformed man with a long golden horn blow a series of long notes. The room suddenly became quieter, and slowly the throng formed into a line headed toward the platform.

  Rosul and Kall stood, and she motioned Rigo and his friends to join her. They stood together, and for the next glass were introduced to an unending line of guests, with names they couldn’t hope to recall. Most were curious, and several asked pointed questions that Rigo didn’t know how to answer. Ash’urn seemed completely at home, and even managed to exchange a few jests with several of the women, despite his somewhat limited facility with the language. Lorl was at a loss, smiling when he thought it appropriate, but he understood almost nothing of what was being said, and several times glanced longingly toward the table where tankards of ale as well as sparkling glasses of wine were available. Casters Kimm and Delril were pushed into the background. They had a position well behind the throng, and while they could see their charges, they could only watch the backs of the passing guests.

  While the many guests soon became a blur, two incidents stood out in Rigo’s mind. A certain Lord had stared at Rigo intently as he made his way through the line and approached the Queen. When he was introduced to the three outsiders, he paid special attention to Rigo, and listened intently to the answer to a meaningless question he had posed as they exchanged greetings. Something about the man’s intense scrutiny locked his name into Rigo’s memory. The second incident was the arrival of Mitty and her escort. She looked wonderful, and Rigo couldn’t help but wish she were with him instead of the younger man who was escorting her. She smiled at Rigo and Ash’urn, greeting them casually. She bowed to Lorl, who awkwardly returned the bow, not certain what he should do.

  “This is Kev,” she said, introducing the young man to Rigo.

  Rigo suddenly felt as if the whole room had gone quiet. The sounds of the other guests, the soft music in the background, and the conversations taking place all around him, suddenly faded away. He looked squarely at the young man in front of him. He had the gift! Rigo hadn’t sensed one with the gift since arriving in Sedfair, and had wondered if it simply didn’t exist here or whether the bands he wore had blocked his ability to sense one like himself. There was absolutely no doubt. This young man had the ability to trigger inherent magic. Rigo could sense the man’s ability to be very weak, probably because his talent hadn’t been released. He was much like Rigo had been before Daim had opened up his skills. Like Rigo had been then, he wouldn’t be able to sense another. I
t wasn’t until his full power was released that he’d been able to detect another with the gift.

  Rigo was about to say something when he realized that Mitty was watching him carefully. She knew! She was watching to see how he would react in the presence of the young man. This was no chance encounter. Suddenly, he realized that Mitty was also more than she seemed. She saw him notice her scrutiny, and minutely moved her head to warn him to silence. Then she and the young man were gone, disappearing into the ballroom with the other guests who had paid their respects.

  Another quarter glass was required before all of those who wished to greet the Queen or have a chance to see the outsiders had their opportunity. When the last of the long line were gone, the Queen signaled, and another series of horn blasts heralded the beginning of the feast. Rigo and his companions were seated adjacent to the Royal table. Even their Caster minders were provided a seat. A long succession of dishes were provided. By the time the meal was finished, all had eaten far more than made good sense. Slowly the tables emptied as the guests returned to mingling, a great many headed toward the dance floor.

  Rigo and his friends watched the proceedings, and were in turn watched by Kimm and Delril. Several times they were approached, usually to be asked a question, but several times to be asked to join the dancers. Rigo knew better than to embarrass himself by attempting a dance he had never seen. He was awkward on the dance floor under the best of conditions. He thought Ash’urn was going to accept one invitation, but Kimm shook her head indicating he wasn’t to do so, so he politely declined. Caster Kimm earned herself a sharp look of annoyance from the departing woman for her interference.

  There were too many people and too much was happening for Kimm and Delril to effectively watch over the three outsiders. They really should have had one more Guild Caster so that each could stay with one of the strangers. They were supposed to prevent private conversations between them and any locals. Carif wanted to know anything that was revealed, or which might be passed between the outsiders and anyone else. After a time Rigo and his two friends slowly became separated. Kall appeared and drew Ash’urn aside for a quiet discussion. Kimm drifted with them. One of the guests appeared and drew Lorl away toward a group of local women. Uncertainly, not wanting to give offense, he followed quietly. Delril followed along to see what transpired, not convinced Lorl was as incapable with the language as he appeared. She looked uncertainly back at Rigo. She decided she could hurry back if anyone approached him. That left Rigo momentarily alone, standing not too far from the table with the sparkling crystal glasses of wine. Idly, he picked one up and took a sip. Their wine was indeed very good.

  “What did you think of Kev?” a quiet voice said behind him. He turned slightly to see Mitty standing alone, hidden by her position from the two Casters now several tables away.

  “He’s like me,” Rigo said. He could see no reason to play games, and he was certain they wanted to know if he could tell. They also had wanted to show him something. He was certain this was Queen Rosul’s doing.

  “So you could tell?” she asked, eliminating any doubt she had known.

  “It’s quite obvious to one like me. I didn’t know if these bands would block the awareness, but it appears they don’t.”

  “He couldn’t sense you,” she said.

  “That’s because his power hasn’t been unlocked. He’s a novice level wizard. Unskilled and with his full potential yet to be released.”

  “Will that happen someday?”

  “Not usually. It takes someone who knows how.”

  “And you know how?”

  Rigo nodded as he took a drink. “I do. How many more are there like him?”

  “We have a few. We don’t know how many others there are.”

  “There is a special crystal that can be created. It would alert you to the presence of those with the gift.”

  Mitty took in a sharp breath. “That would be useful, yet dangerous. If Carif learned of the existence of those like Lyes, she would be able to seek them out with such a thing.”

  “So the Guild doesn’t know about them?”

  “No, and I’ve probably said enough.”

  “Lyes?” Rigo asked, realizing she’d used a different name for the young man.

  Mitty blushed. “Slip of the tongue. Please forget that name. He is being sought by your watchers.” She nodded toward Delril and Kimm across the way.

  Mitty was about to slip away when Rigo asked her, “Do you know a Lord Chaten?”

  A small twitch at the corner of her mouth gave her away. “He thinks he’s related to you,” she said, watching his reaction.

  Rigo had wondered if that might be it. He and Ash’urn had discussed the possibility, but the odds had seemed so remote that he would accidentally encounter someone here who might detect a resemblance to someone they knew. Then he realized it wasn’t an accident. Someone had suspected. Perhaps this whole party was a ruse to check these matters out.

  “We might be,” Rigo said easily, watching Mitty in return.

  “Just like that,” she said surprised. “You admit you are from Sedfair.”

  “I don’t know. I have wondered about it when the language came to me so easily. I don’t know where I came from. An event when I was young stripped me of my memory and dumped me in a place where I was a stranger. The story would take some time telling.”

  “Which we don’t have,” Mitty said, and started to slip away. “Your guardian is coming back.”

  Rigo looked up and saw that Delril and Lorl were returning. The entire conversation with Mitty had taken place without his looking back at her more than once or twice. A quick glance at Delril verified she had not detected his conversation with Mitty.

  It was considerably later when they finally were escorted back to the cottage.

  “Did you sense anything about him?” the Queen asked Lyes when they were alone in her private quarters.

  “Nothing,” Lyes replied. “I had hoped with his greater ability it would be possible, but I couldn’t tell a thing. Maybe that’s because of the bands. Maybe it’s because I’m too weak.”

  “Maybe it’s not possible,” Kall suggested. “I don’t know why you expect to be able to do so.”

  “Because he knew about me,” Lyes answered. “That’s what you wanted to see, wasn’t it? He could tell. I saw it in his eyes the moment he looked at me.”

  “Are you certain?” Rosul asked.

  “He’s right,” Mitty said. She was late getting to the meeting, and had just entered the room. “He told me right off that he could detect that Lyes was gifted. He wanted to know if there are others. He was quite interested.”

  “Did he tell you anything else?”

  “He told me Lyes’ abilities are locked somehow, whatever that means. He claims he can unlock them, and then Lyes’ strength would increase greatly.”

  Rosul and Kall looked at one another. “We’ve got to bring him to our side,” Rosul said. “Did you learn anything else?’

  “He says he can make a device that would show who has the gift.”

  “That would certainly aid our search for more like us,” Lyes said.

  “He also confirmed that Lord Chaten might be right. He didn’t have time to tell me the background, but he also believes he might be from Sedfair.”

  “How can that be and he not know?” Kall asked.

  “Even more importantly, if it is true, how did he get to this place he calls the Three Kingdoms?” Queen Rosul asked.

  “We must find a way to free him from his bands and convince him to help us,” Mitty pleaded. “Time is running out.”

  Queen Rosul knew that better than anyone. In a month she would be replaced. Once that happened, she would no longer be in a position to thwart Carif. The Saltique would be able to direct the new Queen as to how the prisoners were to be handled. Given the way Rosul had impeded her, it was likely her approach would be to move quickly and harshly.

  Chapter 55

  The Baldari attack
in Fernwah was by far the worst that Sedfair had endured up to this point by a wide margin. A mounted force of nearly five hundred determined Baldari had struck the inland city, located far to the south of Nals. Five of the Guild’s Casters had been killed by the invading force, as well as three lesser skilled Army Casters. One Army Caster had been abducted and carried off by the surviving Baldari. Over two hundred Army soldiers had been lost as well, not to mention the countless civilians who had been slaughtered. The number of wounded far exceeded the number killed.

  “Why are we being brought here?” Lorl asked as they stepped through the Bypass, or Doorway, as the Sedfairians preferred to call it.

  “The Queen asked that we be shown the results of the attack and have a chance to see both the attacking enemy and the odd creatures they ride upon. I’ve explained to her that we have never encountered the Baldari, and she wanted me to see them firsthand. I have described the Duneriders, and she wondered if they might be related, although from the description I’ve been given, they don’t sound at all the same.”

  “I’m surprised that witch that is in charge of their wizards agreed,” Lorl observed.

  “It would be too blatantly disrespectful for her to refuse an order from the Queen,” Ash’urn said. “The request was made quite publicly, and despite the bad blood, the Saltique is bound by law to follow the demands of the Queen.”

  Lorl looked at Ash’urn. “You’ve become quite schooled in the local politics,” he observed.

  “The players and the specific issues are somewhat different, but at the heart of the matter the situation here is no different than everywhere else,” Ash’urn noted. “It’s all about who pulls the strings.”

  They were coming in force. Rigo had learned that nearly a thousand guardsmen had already been sent into the area from the northern territories, which had to have left some of the western border exposed to possible Chull attack, but the Baldari were actually the more formidable problem facing Sedfair. In addition to the Army forces already in place, they were making the trip with ten Guild Casters. Kall, the Queen’s consort, had come along as well. Their minders for the day, in this case Ensay and Bonn, were among the group and not looking too happy about it. In addition, Rigo recognized Suline and Kirin. One other of the Casters he had seen before but never learned her name. The rest were all new to him. As usual, he found that all of the Casters involved were women, despite the Guild having a significant number of men. Carif only used those she trusted to attend to matters involving Rigo’s group, and that meant no men. In charge locally was a Caster named Ardra. She was apparently out of the loop politically, because she didn’t seem to mind the presence of Rigo and his two friends. They had been sent by the Queen, and she was quite willing to show them what had happened. She had shown momentary surprise when she recognized two of the arriving Casters as members of the Eight, as well as the presence of the King, but had said nothing, only acknowledging their arrival with a slight bow.