The next room was behind a pair of thick iron strapped doors. The guards at the door had to call via speaking stone to have the doors unlocked. When they were, they opened them, and Sherie was impressed by the sights and the strong smell of urine.
She saw at least thirty cells in the ground with corridors between them. The cell walls were wide enough that they also served as walkways for the Legionnaires that guarded them. There were suspended cages for what seemed to be more serious criminals. They were hung away from the semi-subterranean cells over the solid ground. There were armed soldiers everywhere. Sherie guessed there were probably three times as many soldiers as there were prisoners.
This place was not making her feel too comfortable. So she decided to ask the obvious question, “Am I a prisoner?”
“You think you’d still have your blades if you were a prisoner?” Gren asked, her voice still odd because of her broken nose.
Sherie just nodded at that. The woman had a point.
They stood aside, out of the way of the other soldiers. Sherie waited patiently. Some soldiers walked over and spoke to Uno and Gren briefly. They obviously knew them well.
After about twenty minutes of waiting, a Soldier walked over and told them that they were wanted on level eight in the Wizard’s offices.
Sherie felt her courage drain right out through her feet. Her heart rate increased, and she fought the futile urge to try running straight from this spot. She knew there was no way she could get out of here. There were too many soldiers to even consider it.
Sherie uncapped her whiskey and took a big pull. She washed it down with a pull from her water skin while walking with her escort.
When they returned to the center of the tower, Uno asked, “Stairs or lift?”
“If I'm screwed I'd rather know it sooner than later," Sherie said.
“Lift it is then," he said and walked them to the lift's door. They spoke briefly with the guards at the doors and went into the right-hand lift.
There was a middle-aged woman inside that wasn’t a soldier. She asked them, “What level?”
“We need to go to the eighth floor, ma'am," Uno told her.
“Very well, sir." She replied, then she spoke into a speaking stone, " The Eighth floor please." The lift shuddered and began its steady ascent.
Sherie knew that up above them right now a huge wheel being pushed by several strong slaves. They walked forward while pushing the spokes on the huge wheel to lift them. At least that was the system she had seen in the towers of Vox. She had been assigned to guard them before. She could almost hear the clicking of the huge mechanism that kept the lift’s thick chains from slipping.
The lift made its way at a good pace. It stopped at a floor, and more Legionnaires entered. The operator inquired about the floor they wished to visit, and they told her the twelfth floor. She nodded, closed the door and spoke into the stone, saying, “Resume”.
Moments after, the lift began moving again.
Sherie knew outside the lifts on each floor was another operator that signaled the operation floor on the highest level where the lifts were needed. She hadn’t seen anyone else on the ground floor, so the guards by the lifts probably call for the lifts when they are needed. Maybe they just had the Legionnaires on each floor do it too. All she knew for sure was that someone standing by the lifts had a speaking stone to call for them.
After what seemed an eternity, the lift stopped on the eighth floor. Sherie took a deep breath when the operator announced they had arrived. She opened the door with a mechanical lever on the wall.
Uno stepped out and she followed him. Gren took position behind her.
They walked her through the halls; Sherie saw no guards here other than two that were by the lift.
The corridors were dark here, for some reason, the lanterns hanging from the sconces weren't lit. Uno pulled a light rod from a sheath beside his blade. It lit automatically when the exposed flesh on the palm of his gauntlet touched it. Sherie felt a little better being able to see the hall. Uno was looking for landmarks it seemed.
It was eerily quiet here. So quiet it startled her and the soldiers with her when they heard words being spoken in a strange tongue from one of the halls. When she looked down the hall, she could see an undulating red glow coming from beneath one of the doors. She felt every hair on her body stand up when she saw it, and she stepped backward. It was about ten yards down the left-hand corridor.
“This way,” Uno said in what sounded like reasonable certainty, but Sherie could tell he was just as scared as she was. His voice trembled a bit. At least she wasn’t the only one that was frightened.
They walked down the right-hand corridor when suddenly the three of them were lifted off the ground, and symbols lit up on the walls, floor, and ceiling all around them. All of them screamed like girls, even the man. The strange runes glowed blue, green and red around them. They covered an area about two yards deep on all four sides.
All three of them floated, and flailing only seemed to turn them askew. Sherie was floating sideways, while Uno had flailed so much he was upside down and holding his weapons in their sheaths. Gren was only slightly askew, but she was taking deep gulping breaths trying to calm herself.
Sherie saw a door about ten yards down the corridor open up. A small woman stepped out of it, silhouetted by the lamp light pouring from the room. She held what looked to be a walking stick in one hand, but she knew it was no simple walking staff. It would have to be the staff of a Wizard, the symbol of this woman’s mastery of Magik.
“Oh my, you seem to have gotten yourselves tangled up there. You should have called out to me when you were at the end of the hall! I swear you armored buffoons are lucky the ward wasn’t lethal!” The woman said gravely.
“By the spirits, we were lucky,” Sherie thought while trying to hold onto her meal.
Gren spoke up first, "No one told us to do that, milady." That was something Sherie had nearly forgotten; a Wizard, by completing their training in the art of Magik gained Noble rank. As Sherie knew it Wizards were lower than landed Nobles but still higher than she would ever be.
“Are you Wizard Phena, milady?” Uno asked as respectfully as he could while floating upside down.
The woman looked like she was snapped out of thinking about something not relating to the current situation at all. She replied, “Why yes, I am. What of it?”
“Milady, we have orders to escort Miss Sonom to you so you can question her." He said, trying to move around so he could be right side up again. It didn't seem to be working so well for him.
“What? Oh yes, that bandit attack and all that. Very well," she said and came forward, letting go of her staff. The staff simply stood where she left it as if it was still being held. She grabbed Uno and straightened him out before she pulled him out of the trap she had set. The small woman just set him on the ground, without straining herself at all. Sherie knew there was no way she was strong enough to do something like that. Not without the Magik this woman possessed.
One by one, Wizard Phena turned them upright then pulled them out of the trap. Sherie was the last one. Sherie would have guessed she outweighed this woman by at least three stone, but the little lady just set her down gently, as if she were a toddler.
It was one thing to see her do that to another person, but it was far more impressive to have it done to you. The woman turned on her heel and took her staff into hand. With a wave of the other hand, the glow of the trap behind them faded.
She led them to the open door and said, “Enter, Miss Sonom. If you touch anything without my leave, I will correct you,” she said menacingly.
Sherie knew to take that warning seriously. "Yes, Milady." She looked at the collection of books, notes papers, and diagrams strewn about the room in what seemed to be some kind of chaotic order.
Sherie stopped and looked over her shoulder when she heard the Wizard snap, “And where do you think you’re going?”
“We're here to escort Miss S
onom, Milady," Uno replied.
“You’ve done a fine job of that. Now you will stay there,” she said.
“But Milady, we are...”
Phena cut him off by saying, “Are you contradicting me, soldier?” Sherie could see the fear flood the man’s face. “No Milady,” he snapped instantly.
“Good. If you hear screams and are needed, the door will be open. If you aren’t needed, it will be locked. Do you understand?” She asked him, her voice dripping scorn.
Sherie shivered at that, “Why would they hear screams...” she didn’t like the sound of this one little bit, but there was nowhere she could go even if she wanted to run. Sherie despaired about how powerless she was right now.
“Yes, Milady!” Both Uno and Gren said together with salutes. The door then closed, and Sherie could hear it lock. The Wizard hadn’t touched it.
The woman turned to look at Sherie and said, “Well then! I’m sorry if I seemed unpleasant, but those soldiers can really try a woman’s patience sometimes. Would you like some tea?”
Sherie wasn’t the best at etiquette, but she knew that when a Noble offered you something, you took it. “Yes Milady, thank you.”
“Alright, have a seat in that chair. I’ll be right back, and don’t touch anything else!” She emphasized.
The chair the Wizard pointed to was off to the side of a large desk which seemed to be in the center of the room’s clutter. There was a large comfortable looking chair sitting in front of the desk. The chair that was indicated was a wooden ladder-back chair that was as common as Sherie was.
Sherie sat in it and looked at the leather covered miniature throne with envy. She couldn't understand why when she was so scared all she could think of now was how comfortable that chair must be. She watched the small woman take a ceramic mug off of her desk and go into the adjoining room. There was a door to it, but it was left open. Sherie grabbed her whiskey skin and took a drink.That didn’t really make her feel better, but she could pretend that it did.
The Wizard returned with two mugs of steaming tea. She handed Sherie one and cautioned her that it was hot. She took the mug gratefully and thanked her respectfully. She felt like it was wrong for a Wizard to be serving her, but there was no indication of a servant being here.
The small woman pulled her huge chair to one side and set her staff alongside it. She sat down, looking almost comically tiny in it, with her legs hanging inches above the floor. Sherie tried to remember how scary the Wizard was to try to keep herself from smiling.
But she failed miserably.
She just looked a Sherie quizzically. “Well, I am glad to see that at least you aren’t so terrified that I can’t even talk to you.”
Sherie almost burst out laughing at that, but managed to say; “Thank you, Milady.” while wearing her ridiculously out of place smirk.
“Well, first things first. I want to know all about the bandit attack. If you lie to me, I’ll know and I’ll be… insulted that you wasted my precious time.” Wizard Phena told her with a look of deadly seriousness on her young face. Sherie hadn’t been able to see her well in the dark hallway, but now that she was looking at her face to face in good lighting, she could see that she was only a few years older than she was.
Sherie did her best to recount the attack from the beginning until she fled with Brina. She recounted everything honestly, as well. She didn't want to find out what this tiny little powerhouse would do if she angered her. The questions after that all revolved around the lightning bolt. “How thick was it? How long did it fire? How far did it go?”
After she had beaten those questions to death, Phena started asking for detailed descriptions of each person she had seen when the lightning bolt had illuminated them. During this, they took a break while she went and made more tea. Sherie was relaxing. This woman wasn’t interested in Sherie's identity. She was interested in the Sorcerer, as the bandit leader had called him.
When the Wizard returned with the tea, she spoke, “Milady, I think I may have killed him. I could see the man that had fired the bolt when he fired it. When I loosed my arrow, I heard him scream.”
Phena looked at her and shook her head sadly. "No, Jirai you probably didn't kill him. A Wizard or even a Sorcerer as this one was called would have to be killed so quickly that they would have no time to scream. I don't believe for one instant that he would have fired an attack like a median lightning bolt if it would leave him powerless."
Sherie's mind tried to grasp this. Oh, she had heard many stories while she was growing up about Wizards and the things they could do. But she had a hard time wrapping her mind around the idea that she would have to kill one completely in one strike in order to win. She just sat there, astounded by what Phena’s simple words truly meant.
A Wizard can cheat death. That’s what this meant.
“Can you keep other people from dying, Milady?” Sherie asked, still in shock from her new understanding.
“Well, it depends on the wound and many other circumstances. I won't bore you with the details. The simple answer is yes. Any wound a Wizard could heal themselves they can also heal in another person," Phena told her, looking at her a bit oddly.
“Milady, I told you how Brina was wounded when she saved me, I think she is dying. Could you heal her? I will give you all of my coin if you can,” she asked desperately hoping she would say yes.
“Perhaps." The small wizard replied. "There is something else I would like to discuss with you first, though."
Sherie's hope for help for Brina started evaporating painfully. She asked, "Milady, every minute we waste is a minute she doesn't have!"
“Miss Sonom, calm yourself. What I have to ask you is relevant to your friend’s care,” Wizard Phena said forcefully.
Sherie stopped and took a deep breath to calm herself. She almost succeeded and breathed; "Yes, Milady?" somewhat more impatiently than she would have liked.
“Did you know that you have a spirit attached to you?” Phena asked her directly.
“Yes. The bandit's leader said something about it like I told you… Milady," Sherie replied, so frustrated she nearly forgot to address this woman properly. She fervently hoped she would never have to say 'milord' or 'milady' ever again, she was already sick of it.
“I would buy that spirit if you are willing to sell it, Jirai. I will give you five gold marks for it, and I will do everything in my power to assist your friend. You will not have to give me any of your precious coin, I will give you coin, and the healing that you wish for her,” Phena told her.
Sherie's heart leaped for joy. She said, "Yes I'll do it. What do I have to do, Milady?"
The woman moved some papers aside and pulled out three parchments. She grabbed a pen and began writing on the first sheet quickly. “In order to make this contract legal, I have to describe the spirit to you, so if you know who it is you can identify them.”
“Fine, whatever, Milady,” Sherie said, irritated by the time this was taking.
“Bear with me, I didn’t write the law, but we are all bound by it,” Phena said, writing quickly.
Sherie heard the door unlock, and saw it open by itself. The Wizard spoke and her words rolled like thunder from her throat, “One of you will enter. Close the door when you do.”
Sherie's hands went to her blades she was so startled by how loudly Phena had spoken. Her eyes lifted from the parchment she was furiously scribbling on and met hers. Sherie felt like her eyes saw everything. She just let go of her blades and took a deep breath.
That was when Gren walked in, her plate and scale armor jangling in a familiar rhythm. She closed the door, came forward and saluted.
“What is your full name soldier?” The Wizard asked, still scribbling furiously.
“Taya Gren, Milady,” she replied crisply.
“Very well, Miss Gren. You will be a witness to the agreement that I am making with Miss Sonom, you will sign this document, confirming you saw her agree to everything, then you will leave. Do you unde
rstand?" Phena asked, not seeming absent-minded at all at this moment.
“Yes I do, Milady.”
“Good. Miss Sonom, the spirit I see attached to you is that of a man. He is a bit taller than you, by about four inches. He is wearing Legion armor with the rank insignia of Junior Lieutenant on it. Please note, the rank a spirit wears may not be the rank the person was when they died. The man’s hair is shorn short, but curly. He bears a scar on the right side of his jaw that is about one and a half inches. He appears to have had his nose broken, it bends slightly to the man’s left...”
Sherie cut her off accidentally as she burst into tears. She knew who this spirit once was.
She sobbed and said, “I know him.”
“Do you wish to name him?” Phena asked.
“He was my father,” Sherie said quietly.
“What was his first name?” She asked more somberly.
“Jinn.” Sherie realized he would be listed under the name of her alias, but it was too risky to correct it. She was glad he wasn’t alive to see how far she had fallen.
“Do you agree to sell me the spirit of this man that is attached to you, of your own free will, without coercion or threat from me, for a sum of five gold marks plus any and all aid I can provide to the woman Brina?” Phena asked her formally.
“I do, milady.” Sherie began getting her tears under control now. She wiped them with her sleeve.
“Very well. Miss Sonom, please examine this agreement, and sign it here,” she pointed with the fancy self-inking pen and handed it to her.
She signed, and found herself thinking while she did, “I am selling all that my father left to me.” Her signature was smeared by the tears that fell.
“Soldier, the agreement says what I have just stated. Please verify this is correct, and then sign it here as a witness." She said, handing it to Gren. She seemed to scan it quickly and signed it. Then she handed it to Phena.
“Is there anything else, Milady?” Gren asked.
Fugitive: A Prequel to Spirit of Magik Page 10
