Hand Made Mage

by James Haddock

  I don't know what time it was, but it was dark outside. The light I had been following were the lanterns of the Chapel. I made my way to the fountain in the atrium and drank my fill. I knew I would regret it, but I lowered my burnt hand into the water to rinse the dirt and grime from it. The pain was not as bad as expected but worse than I hoped.

  I took a prayer cloth from a pew and wet it. Leaving it mostly wet I wrapped my hand. I walked around the fountain to the door to leave but stopped. I turned back toward the front of the chapel where The Crucifix hung. I bowed, "thank you for the water and the bandage." I wasn't a believer, but why take chances. With that I left the chapel.

  Outside there was an early morning mist of rain and it seemed to get worse. I made my way through the graveyard and down toward the river. Maybe I could find somewhere dry to rest before I went to the Den.

  Every step I took it seemed it jarred my hand. The pain was such I only realized where I was when I stood at the riverbank. I turned and walked back up the street.

  From the porch of one shanty came a voice. "They be no need for washing today son." I came to a staggering stop, looking to the porch through blurred eyes.

  "Good morning Grandmother."

  She motioned me over to her porch, "are ya hurt lad?" she asked looking at my bandaged hand.

  I looked down at my ruined hand, "a bit."

  "Come inside then, out of the rain." I followed her inside. She had a small fire going. "Get out of those wet clothes before ya catch your death." Handing me a blanket. I started trying to get undressed one handed. "Here let me help ya." She stripped me out of my wet clothes being careful of my hand. Wrapping in the blanket she sat me by the fire. "Tea will be ready shortly."

  I kept my hand away from the fire, even this small flame hurt. She handed me a cup of weak tea, but it was hot, and I was thankful.

  She pulled her chair close in front of mine. "Will ya let me look to your hand?" I nodded and held it out to her. Luckily the rain had kept the cloth wet. Seems wrapping a burn in cloth without ointment is not a wise thing to do.

  "I'll be as gentle as I can Iad." I nodded. I made a brave showing, I was proud that I didn't cry out, but it was a close thing. When my make-do bandage was finally off, I could see how bad it was in full light. It was not a pretty sight.

  "I've seen worse, but few. I'll do what I can for ya."

  As she worked she talked, sprinkling powder on my hand. "This will take away some pain as I clean it. Saw plenty of burns back during the wars. I was a camp follower for a time. I was in love with a soldier. When he was killed I kind of lost my way in life. To fill the hole it left, I started helping with the wounded. I learned as much as I could from the healers. My knowledge is all mundane I have no magic abilities, but I get by."

  "I am thankful for your help."

  "In all honesty ya may lose the hand."

  I nodded, "I'm still thankful for your help."

  She gave me more tea, "I've put something in it to help you sleep." I drank it and she lay me down on a palette. Whatever she gave me worked great. The next thought I had was "morning". I had slept through the day and night. I got up to do the needful, but I moved slowly the beating and bruises were making themselves known.

  I slowly got dressed. She made me more tea and a slice of bread. Once finished, I took my purse from my neck. "It's not much, but the best I can do, for now."

  I rose to leave, "come back around in a few days so I can look to your hand and keep it dry." I bowed and left.

  I limped my way to the Den. As usual Dane was standing watch outside.

  "You sure you want to go in there Ghost?"

  I frowned, "I have no choice, I have to report in."

  "True enough, be warned, troubles waiting. Shorts and Pick went in two days ago. Ain't seen them since."

  I nodded, "Thanks Dane."

  He nodded, "luck."

  I went inside, limping down the hall to Tall-man's office. When he saw me, "wait here," and went into Lead-man's office.

  Tall-man opened the door and motioned, "get in here." He grabbed me by the back of the neck and slammed me into the chair. Lead-man looked at me from across his desk. "Before you say a word, be warned those other two fools told all. So, where's my gold?" I sat stunned.

  "There was no gold the only thing we found." That was a far as I got. Tall-man knocked me out of the chair, making my ears ring. He stomped on my bandaged hand. I screamed.

  "Don't even think about telling me that story about stone lions attacking you. The only way I will believe that, is if one walks through that door, and I wish one would."

  *I wish one would too.*

  There came a growl from behind us. We all looked, there in the doorway stood a stone lion.

  "Oh-God, he followed us." I said. I scrambled toward the far wall. The lion roared and leapt over Lead-man's desk tearing out his throat. This was not the same lion we met in the catacombs. This one's teeth were long and sharp, and so were its claws. Tall-man didn't shy away from the fight. He drew his knife and leapt on the lion's back. Tall-man's knife had no effect on the stone lion, and he was dead in the next instant.

  The lion turned looking around the room. looking at me he turned and ran roaring out the door. I didn't move for fear he would come back. I sat motionless, listening to the fighting outside. After a while all was quiet. I waited a while longer, still no sounds.

  Tall-man was dead. Lead-man was dead. Upper-men would come to see what had happened. With everyone dead but me, I needed to disappear. Let them think me dead too. Money would make my disappearance easier.

  I eased over to the desk and searched Tall-man and Lead-man's bodies. both carried coin purses, with gold inside. I searched the desk but found no more gold. He must have a hiding place to store the Den's money.

  I studied the room thinking where I might put a hiding place. My left hand started tingling, and I knew where the hiding place was. I pulled out the bottom drawer of the desk and under loose floorboards was the money.

  I lifted out four large bags of gold, banknotes, and two money belts. I knew if I took it all, the Upper-men would never stop looking for whoever did this. I filled the purses I had taken from Tall-man and Lead-man with as much gold as they would hold then put the bags and belts back under the floor. I replaced the boards and the desk drawer as I had found them.

  I looked up and the stone lion sat in the doorway looking out, as if he was guarding this room. For some reason I was no longer scared of the lion.

  If everyone was to think me dead, I could go nowhere I normally went. I definitely could not go back to my sleeping area at the other warehouse.

  My clothes were bloody, I needed new clothes. I had money to buy new, but I needed some to get me to a place I could buy new ones. I looked in Lead-man's wardrobe; we were of a similar size. I found a pair of pants and a shirt that would fill my needs.

  I changed clothes and threw my old blood clothes into the other room. It was then I missed the lion. He was gone. It was time for me to be gone too. I headed slowly down the hall. Dead bodies were in every room. The front door was open, and no one was around. There was no sign of Dane, dead or alive. I hoped he escaped alive.

  It was now late afternoon, and I was hungry. I went back to "Grandmothers" house. When I arrived she was sitting on her porch.

  "I see you survived your meeting."

  "Barely, I need a place to stay out of sight for a few days and heal. I now have money to pay for food and your help."

  She looked at me a moment, "I can hardly turn my grandson away," smiling at me.

  We went inside and she made tea. I took out Tall-man's purse and poured it on the table. It was a tidy sum.

  "Use this to buy food, and whatever other supplies you need. You need make no accounting to me for it. Get more tea you seem to be running short," I said smiling. She took a few of the coins and left for the market. I sat thinking, drinking my tea.

  ✽✽✽

  Someone was shaking me, "Wake
up you." It took a moment for my eyes to focus. There was a man sitting across the table from me and Grandmother sat to his left. Looking around the room, another man behind me and one by the door.

  "How much did you put in his tea?" The man at the table asked.

  "Not much, just enough for a short nap, he'll come out of it shortly." I glanced at the empty tea up in front of me, then at her.

  "why?" I asked.

  "For the reward lad, nothing personal. I like you but you are far too trusting."

  My anger cleared my head. "So now you're the only one left that knows where the gold is hidden." Her mouth dropped open.

  "What gold?" The man across the table asked.

  I looked back at him. "You're an Upper-man?" He nodded. "Me, Shorts and Pick brought back gold from a crypt, and hid it. Lead-man killed Shorts and Pick trying to find it. Now it just me and her who knows where it is, I guess she got greedy."

  "He's lying!"

  Upper-man plunged his knife into her chest. She looked down at the knife, then at me.

  "There's your reward Grandmother, nothing personal."

  Upper-man pulled his knife from her, she fell to the floor dead. He looked at me considering, then he smiled.

  "There isn't any gold is there?"

  "Only what's on the table. I took it from Tall-man's body."

  He chuckled, "well played lad," he said looking down at the dead woman. He cleaned off his knife and put it away.

  "You were there when the Den was attacked?"

  I nodded, "I was."

  "Then regale us with your tale," he said leaning forward, "leave nothing out or you'll be joining the old woman."

  I nodded, "four days ago Lead-man ordered Shorts, Pick, and I to rob a particular crypt..."

  I told him my tale, well, most of it. I left out the part about the melted rings and bracelet in my hand, and that I knew where the Den's gold was hidden.

  "And why didn't the stone lion kill you as it had everyone else?"

  "I don't know, and I wasn't hanging around to give it another chance. I ran."

  He nodded, "you're coming with us, Over-man will want to talk to you." He pointed to the money on the table, "take your money you earned it." I put the money in the purse and put it away.

  I followed Upper-man out the door; I got into a wagon with his two bruisers. The other one drove the wagon with the Upper-man beside him. We drove through the city and across the bridge to Upper-City. We followed the river to a warehousing district.

  We drove into a warehouse; they took me to a back area. I was sat at a table and given food. "Wait here," Upper-Man said. I sat, ate and waited. With-in the hour I found myself in front of Over-man telling my tale again.

  When I finished Over-man sat considering me. "Unwrap that hand," he said pointing.

  As easily as I could I took off the bandages. It was a blackened swollen mess but showed no signs of infection. At least the old woman had done that right.

  "You might keep the hand, but it will be of little use to you. Will you go back to the crypt?"

  "If it's all the same to you sir, I'd rather not."

  He laughed, "a diplomatic answer if I ever heard one. Draw me a map we'll check your story, then decide what to do with you."

  I drew them a map of the way we went in and also of the Chapel exit. Over-man looked at the map nodding.

  "Take him to the holding cell."

  I followed Upper-man down to the holding cells; he placed me in one in the back away from everyone else.

  "I'll be back, if everything checks out you'll be out in no time."

  I went to the back of the cell and sat down on the floor. *I wonder what they really think.* My hand started tingling and I could hear Upper-man, and Over-man talking.

  "Why didn't we kill him? You have the map."

  "We will use him to solve a problem."

  "What problem is that?"

  "Top-man has set me a task, to see it done personally."

  "That's unusual."

  "Yes, but it's an unusual task. We hold Prince Kade prisoner in the brothel basement next door. He's not to survive the night. We will use our young grave robber as the murderer. Neither one will survive."

  "You'll want it to happen in front of witnesses. Maybe a knife fight and fall from the second-story balcony?"

  "Yes, that will do nicely. See that all is ready for the performance." I sat stunned. How could I have heard them? They're going to kill me. I felt panicky.

  "Calm down, breath. What else is going to happen? *Maybe the earth will open up and swallow me.* That would be a great end of the day."

  Before I could react, I sank into the ground like a stone dropping into a pond. I fought like a drowning man, to no avail, I was below ground level. I clawed and fought until it exhausted me. I finally gave up. I just floated there in the ground under my cell.

  When I calmed down, I realized I was still breathing. "This is crazy, how is this possible." I realized my hand was tingling. I thought back to each time my hand had tingled, and each time something crazy had happened. What had that talking corpse done to me?

  *I needed to get back up into my cell.* I began rising through the dirt and into my cell. I stopped rising and was once again seated in my cell. I sat there digesting all that had happened, trying to understand it. It was obviously magic. The artifact the talking corpse put on me had to be the cause of all of this.

  My hand tingled, I knew they were coming for me. I remained seated, the door opened, and Upper-man stepped in.

  "No one eats for free, come with me.'' I got up and followed him, "we need to move a drunk from the brothel next door, you will help." We went out and around by the alley to the back of the brothel. Then down through a door into the basement. There was a guard by one of the doors, "open it." The guard opened the door and stepped back. Upper-man looked in then motioned me inside. "Wait in here and keep an eye on him."

  I nodded, "yes sir," and went in the room playing my part as he expected. They closed and locked the door behind me. I didn't know how much time I would have before they came back. My cellmate had a bag over his head and was bound hand and foot.

  I sat on the floor and concentrated. Nothing happened. *Show me... The surrounding rooms.* My hand tingled, and I was looking through transparent walls and floors.

  I could see the guard outside the door, and the surrounding rooms. Most were storage rooms, but there was a narrow hall on the other side of the back wall of our room. It reminded me of a secret escape passageway.

  I got up and moved to the back wall no one was in the passageway. I put my hand on the wall and pushed. Nothing happened. *I want to go through this wall.* I stepped through the wall. I smiled, "this will come in handy."

  I walked to the door I could see at the end of the passageway. There was no one on the other side of the door. I went to see where the other end went. It looked to go under the street, and deeper into the city.

  I went back to the wall of the room the Prince was in and stepped through the wall. It was easier this time. I went to the door looking at the guard. I needed to get rid of him. With my wounded hand it would make it tricky.

  I concentrated and dropped through the floor into the earth. This was a weird feeling. I was under the guard looking up at him like I was swimming in a pool of water. No one else was around. I concentrated, reached up and pulled him under with me. He dropped in like a rock in water. When he was fully under I kicked away from him. When I broke contact he was locked solid in dirt and could not move. He was dead moments later, drowned in dirt.

  If my hand was whole, maybe I could have done it differently. My hand began to tingle and the guard's corpse crumple in on itself. It looked like it had been there for years. I looked at my hand, it no longer hurt, I unwrapped it. My hand was totally healed. It looked perfect. Another mystery was how I could see in the earth's darkness. A mystery for another time. I took the guard's keys, knife, and coin purse.

  Checking to insure the hall was sti
ll clear, I raised up through the floor. I unlocked the storage room door and went back inside locking the door behind me. Crossing to the Prince, I knelt down and removed the bag from his head. His eyes were open, and he was staring at me. I had my finger over my lips for him to remain quiet. He frowned at me but nodded his head.

  I untied his hands, "we must be quiet if we are to escape." I untied his feet; he took off his gag. "Can you walk?" He nodded, and I helped him up. He was a little wobbly but at least he was on his feet. I unlocked the door and led him to the door to the escape passageway.

  "Follow this, it will lead you to an exit closer to the inner city. Be warned Prince you have enemies. Someone paid big money to have you killed in a fight in the brothel tonight. That much money usually means Royalty." I handed him the guard's purse and knife. "Luck."

  "Your name?"

  "They call me Ghost."

  "Who do you work for?"

  "Myself."

  "Well, Sir Ghost, I'll not forget this, know you have a friend if you ever need one." With that he trotted off down the passageway. I barred the door, then stepped through it to the other side. I had a few loose ends to tie off.

  Chapter three

  I walked across the hall and through the wall. I moved through the earth by thinking what direction I wanted to go. I moved under Over-man's office. I had been betrayed three times in the last three days; I was in no mood to be merciful.

  There were only two men left alive that knew my story. Those loose ends stood in the office above me. They were in the office alone with the door closed.

  "All is ready?" Over-man asked.

  "Ready to go on your word, but doing away with a Prince is a risky business," Upper-man said.

  "He's a third son, posted at the fort serving in the army. He's known as a wild one. There will be some stink, but the money they are paying for the job makes it worth the risk. Let's go earn our money."

  I concentrated, and without touching them pulled them both down into the earth where they drowned in dirt. When they were almost dead, I reach toward them. *Heal me.* Their bodies crumple into old corpses. My body felt better, stronger, no soreness no bruises. My gums and teeth no longer hurt either.