"Yes M'lord." She turned and hurried away.
I stepped into the alley out of sight and dropped into the earth. I flew to the west corner of the cross street and looked up into the apothecary. An old lady was working in the back. She didn't look right something was off about her.
I came up through the floor behind and across the room from her. I watched her a moment. I saw her shoulders tense. She reached into a pouch at her side. She turned and threw a hand full of powder toward me; it sparkled as it left her hand.
My hand waved itself before me, the sparkling dust fell dead to the floor. It also nullified the illusion of the gray-haired old crone. Instead, a middle-aged woman with black hair stood before me.
I smiled, "nice trick".
She saw her illusion was gone, "it has its uses."
She looked at me studying me, "why have you come?"
"You sent a death token to Princess Maddison. The King is not happy."
He eyes grew a little. "It's true, they paid me to make a death token, but I did not know they meant it for the Princess."
She pointed with her chin, "we are of a kind, you wear an artifact too. Although yours is more powerful. They pay us to do what we can do. A smith makes a knife but is not responsible for who it kills."
"That's not quite the same, but I understand your point,"
"Perhaps we can bargain, we can help each other."
"I'm listening."
"The man who paid for the token, his name I know. I'll give it to you; you forget about me."
"You could never show up looking like the old lady again."
"Easy enough."
"Ok, you give me his name if he's the one, you have a deal, If not..." I left the rest unsaid.
She nodded, "His name is Richter Schmid. He is a jeweler, but a special one. He is an arcane jeweler. He creates magic jewelry with runes inscribed on them. He made the ring that puts me under a guise when I want it too."
"Where can I find Master Schmid?" She told me, "I know the area." I left by the front door.
The name Schmid sounded familiar, but there were Schmids, Smiths and Schmits everywhere.
I went into an alley and dropped into the earth. I flew to the area where Schmid was supposed to have his shop. I found the shop and went under it to check everything. There were a lot of runes magic up there. He was working alone in his shop.
I went across the street to an alley and came up. I crossed the street to Master Schmid's jewelry store and went inside.
"Good afternoon M'lord, how can I be of service?"
"Good afternoon, I'm looking for something special. We have a mutual friend and she recommended you."
"Excellent, who might that be?"
"The lady apothecary."
He studied me a moment, "I see."
"She had a ring, that helped her looks. I'd be interested in one of those, and perhaps some others if you have others."
He seemed to relax, "I think I have what you are looking for." He locked the door and closed the curtains. "Now we won't be interrupted."
He took out a display pad with rings on them. "The ring the lady has is a simple guise ring. It changes your face and hair appearance, but that's all. This one," He picked up a ring, "is much more complex. It causes your total appearance, including your clothes to change. You just think of the way you want to look, and you do. It takes some practice to get it right."
"You guarantee this to work?"
"I do."
"How much?"
"I mean no offence M'lord, but I do not haggle, five hundred gold."
I nodded, "I'll take it, what else do you have?"
He showed me his other rings, the ring of armor. Which made any clothing you were wearing armored and multiplied the strength of any armor you were wearing. It also shielded you against magic being used against you.
Ring of divination. Which recognized magic objects, magic being used, people lying, and counter magic being used against you.
Ring of quick reflexes. Which gave you much faster reflexes.
Ring of levitation. Which allowed you to levitate, even carrying heavy weight.
Ring of strength and stamina. Which multiplied your strength and stamina.
"I have another thing that may interest you." He took out a bracelet with five chains attached to it.
"What does it do?" I already suspecting the answer.
"This is a bracelet of magnification. When you wear this bracelet with rings attached to it by these chains, it magnifies the power of each rings exponentially."
"Will anyone be able to see them while I'm wearing them?"
"Yes, but I can add runes that will put them under your skin, they will attach to your bones. No one can see them, and no one can steal them."
"Can you do five that way and the sixth one just be invisible?"
He nodded, "I can."
"Total cost of all the rings, bracelet, and additional rune work?"
"fifty thousand golds."
"I'll pay fifty-five thousand if you can have it done by tomorrow."
He nodded, "half in advance." I took a wallet out of my pouch with thirty thousand in bills in it and handed it to him.
He took it and thumbed through the bills, nodding, "which one do you just want invisible?"
"The guise."
He nodded, "good choice, the magnifier would not help it much. They will be ready for pickup by mid-morning."
I nodded, "mid-morning then." He showed me out of the shop and locked the door behind me.
I went back across the street to the alley and once out of sight I dropped into the earth.
I went back under the jewelry shop and watched Master Schmid. He took all the jewelry I bought to his workbench and started working on them.
I'd wait until the morrow, after he finishes my work, then question him about the token. If he lies, I'll gain the knowledge of how to make magic jewelry. I smiled.
Right now I needed to get dressed for dinner. I'd need nicer clothes for a private dinner with the Royals. I flew under to a tailor's shop near the castle to see what clothes he had that might fit me.
"Good afternoon M'lord, how may we assist you."
"I need some nice clothes to wear to an important dinner tonight. What do you have that will fit that bill?"
"let me take your measurements then I'll see what I have." He took my measurements then went into the back. He and a servant returned in a few minutes." I think these will do for a short notice dinner."
The clothes fit and were of good quality. "I'll take them." They packaged them for me, and I left. I went down the closest alley, dropped into the earth, and headed for the castle.
Chapter fifteen
I flew under the Castle and opened a vault and opened my backpack. I cleaned up and got dressed in my new clothes. When I was ready, I closed up my backpack, closed the vault, and went up into the chapel walls.
The Royal family was there at prayer. I watched the Princess; she was dressed in nice clothes, that showed off her figure. She was a good-looking woman. This was a nice little chapel, I waited for them to finish their prayers. I came up on the side of the chapel out of sight and moved around to the front. I waited for them to come out.
I bowed as they came out of the chapel, "Sire, my Queen."
"Ah, Sir Draugur, well timed," he said smiling. "Will you escort Lady Maddison?"
"Yes Sire. Lady?" I asked offering her my arm.
"Thank you, Sir Draugur. You look nice this evening."
"I could wear rags, and no one would notice. All eyes are on you."
"Watch this one my dear he has a smooth tongue." The Queen said.
"Only made smoother by speaking the truth, M'lady."
The ladies chuckled, "entirely to smooth." The Queen said.
We went to the private Royal Dining room and were seated. It was only the four of us. The table was in the shape of a "U" so we could all see each other as we talked. The meal was of different meats, vegetables, and bre
ads. It was all very good.
"My brother, Prince Kade, is well?"
"He is, M'lady. He is at Black Stag Keep awaiting the rest of our troops."
"How many will you have?"
"At the moment, roughly three hundred. I plan on hiring more. We plan on manning the Fort at Port West Gate. The earthquake changed the cove to more of a harbor. Most of the cove was closed off by crags rising up from the sea. The fort now overlooks a narrow entrance to the harbor. We have workmen improving the fort as we speak. Once that is complete, we will start improving on the harbor."
"Prince Kade made you Baron of Port West Gate?"
"He did Sire, after Sir Gordon attacked us and tried to kill Prince Kade. I captured him. Under questioning he pleaded guilty to treason, working for Hinterland, and attacking us knowing that it was Prince Kade he was attacking. Hinterland had promised to make him Duke of the Western District. His ambition overrode his common sense. He was a greedy man."
"His wife?" The Queen asked.
"They killed her when six of the Criminal Guild attacked her home trying to kill me. They did not survive the encounter."
"The Guild?" The king asked.
I snugged my shoulders, "The ones in Port West Gate won't bother us again."
"Are you a dangerous man, Sir Ghost?" The Princess asked.
I looked into her eyes, "only to those who attack me, or my friends. As I told your brother, I don't like to kill, but it is something I'm very good at."
They brought in dessert and more wine. I picked up my wine cup, and my hand tingled. I looked, and we were all about to drink the wine.
"STOP! Don't drink the wine, its poison."
Two men dressed as guards rushed in swords drawn, with two others right behind them with crossbows. They aimed the crossbows at the King and Queen.
The crossbowmen fired. Time slowed. *No!* Stones shot up from the floor in front of the King and Queen stopping the crossbow bolts. Two stone dogs rose from the floor attacking the assassins. One assassin made for the Princess. I drew and threw my knife, burying it up to the hilt into his temple. The impact drove him into the wall. The other three were dead an instant later.
The three Royals were all holding daggers staring at me.
*Enough.* The stone shield in front of the King and Queen lowered back into the floor, as did the stone dogs. I stepped over to look at the bodies. They all had Assassin Guild tattoos. I felt the King beside me I showed him. "These are from Hinterland." He nodded. *Take them under the castle.* The bodies and blood sank into the stone.
"I'll be back Sire, I think there is another one trying to escape the castle, probably the leader."
"Alive if possible."
"Yes, Sire." I stepped through the wall and moved around the castle looking for the runner. I saw a slave with a shimmer around him I recognized. He was strolling to the stables. Once he entered, and was out of sight, I pulled him down. It was the woman apothecary. *Teach me.*
Her body turned to a husk. I had a headache. She was a nasty piece of work. Searching her I took her ring, few golds. She had nothing else of importance. I went to the four assassins and searched them. I got my knife back, and a few golds.
I went to her shop and searched it. I found her code book, book of poisons, gold and currency to fund her operations. I took all her apothecary supplies. I released her messenger birds.
I flew back under the jewelry shop Master Schmid was still working. Turns out he was not part of any plot. I went back to the Castle.
✽✽✽
They were all in the Royal apartments.
I came out of the wall in the Kings Office. The door was open, so I announced myself. "Sire, I have returned."
"Come in Sir Draugur."
I stepped into the sitting room of the Kings quarters. The three of them were sitting there.
I bowed, "Sire, M'ladies."
"Were you successful?"
"Partially. I caught the ringleader she did not survive. They were, as we thought, Hinterland Assassin Guild. She was also the Spymaster's lover and intermediary for Hinterland. The poisoned wine was supposed to kill you, the assassins were there as a backup in case something went wrong. Which it did. I believe we've cleaned out this group, none of them survived."
The King nodded, "I've sent messages to the Keeps in the North and the East. The Crown Prince marches north for Vigil Keep at dawn. Once again, we find ourselves in your debt. Not only for my life but for the life of the Queen and the life of my daughter twice in one day."
"Sit and have tea with us." I sat and took the offered tea.
"Are you a mage Sir Ghost?" The Princess asked.
"A minor one perhaps, and untrained."
"Your powers didn't look minor to me; your parents were mages?"
"I never knew my parents, so I guess it possible."
"Does Prince Kade know how powerful you are?" The King asked.
"He suspects, he lets my secrets be mine. You are the first ones to see this much of my powers."
"And live?" The King asked.
I nodded my head, "and live."
"I'm glad we're your friends, Sir Ghost," the Princess said.
I looked into her eyes. She looked down blushing.
"Yes, well, what boon would you ask of us?"
I sat thinking a moment. "As I've said I have no father or mother, what advice would you give one of your sons, Sire?"
His eyebrows climbed. He looked at the Queen, then back at me. "Well, you have a title, lands, money. You have money, don't you?"
I smiled,” yes Sire."
"A wife then."
"I know I will want a wife someday, but the women I've been around, and listened to are only invested in wealth, and what a man can give her. Not in the man himself."
"That can be true, that is why you must make your choice carefully." The Queen said.
I noticed Princess Maddison was watching me closely. "What about a strong-minded woman? One that knows her mind and wants a partner not a keeper? Do you prize beauty over intellect?"
"Strong-minded women do not intimidate me. And it should be a partnership, two facing what even life throws at them. As for beauty, I heard an old man say one time 'I don't care how good looking you are, Someone, somewhere is tired of your, Umm.. stuff..." The Princess chuckled.
The Queen was looking back and forth between us, a small smile on her face.
"Would you give up your lands, and titles for the woman you loved?"
I thought for a moment, "if I loved her, yes. Together we would have lands anew."
"And your tittles?"
"Husband, would be title enough." The Queen, and Princess stared at me saying nothing.
"I'll continue to think on how we can best reward you, Sir Draugur. I'll have the letter to Prince Kade ready tomorrow afternoon."
I took that as a dismissal, standing I bowed, "good night Sire, my Queen, Princess." They all replied good night. I left by the door, smiling. I slept in the earth under the jeweler's shop the rest of the night.
✽✽✽
I was waiting at the jeweler's door the next morning when he opened. He let me in, then re-locked the door.
"I believe you will be pleased with the results." He said as he walked over to the display counter.
He lay the rings and the bracelet on the counter. They looked nice. I was more concerned with them working and not melting through my hand down to the bone.
"We will put each ring on a finger then fasten the bracelet. Once it fastens, they will blend into your hand and wrist becoming part of you. Understand, you cannot take them off. There may also be some discomfort, pain even, when they bond with you."
I nodded, "proceed."
We put the rings on and gave them a moment to size themselves to my fingers. He then took the sides of the bracelet, "last chance to back out."
I shook my head. "Do it."
I prepared myself for the pain; He snapped the bracelet closed. Nothing happened for a moment. Then the s
tinging started. Then heat, as they sank beneath my skin.
It was painful, but nothing like the other one. Runes glowed gold through the skin of my hand. "Wow, I've never seen that before." He looked up at me suddenly, "and I saw nothing this time either."
I nodded. I looked around the store and saw magical objects in many locations. I paid him the rest of his money and left. I did not want to try anything in his shop.
In the alley I dropped into the earth and opened a vault. I sat down and concentrated on levitation. *Up one hand span.* I lifted, when I did both hands began to grow and runes ran up my arms to the elbow. There was an outline of gauntlets and grieves up each arm. They started pulsating out of sync, then synced to each other. They grew brighter, then faded. I was not sure, but both hands felt more powerful.
I took my knife and tried to cut my shirt sleeve. The blade slid across the sleeve like trying to cut steel. That one seemed to work too. I closed the vault and flew under to an Inn and had a meal and tea.
I sat for a while thinking of all the things I needed to do. Wondering what the King had in mind, probably more than I cared to know.
✽✽✽
I went to the King's office and stood until he arrived. When He entered I bowed. "Good afternoon Sire."
"Good afternoon Sir Draugur," he said as he put a letter on his desk.
"The ladies have asked me to escort you to the Lady's sitting room. Once there, you are on your own my young friend." He said chuckling.
Frowning, "yes Sire," I said following him. We went back through the Royal quarters and down a hall. The door to the lady's sitting room was open. The Queen and the Princess were there.
I bowed, "my Queen, Princess."
"Sir Ghost how nice to see you again. The Princess and I were wandering?"
"Here it comes." the King mumbled.
"What was that dear?"
"Nothing dear, please continue."
She nodded smiling, "as I was saying we were wondering, having seen your influence over stone, could you change the Castle?"
"Some M'lady, what did you have in mind?"
She walked over to a set of double doors that opened onto a small balcony.
"We'd like a larger balcony."
Hand Made Mage Page 13
