‘I had no choice. If I hadn’t, I would be dead now.’
‘The others are headed for Cintar. We must be after them quickly. Captain Garret’s company is still after us and there may be others on the road looking for us.’
Samuel nodded dumbly, for the words sounded like buzzing insects in his ears. ‘Let’s go,’ he managed to say, fumbling the words out his mouth.
Samuel and Master Glim sped along the dark highway atop their mounts through the steady rain. The old teacher’s mage-lights blazed ahead, flooding the road and roadside trees that flashed past with their bluish hue. Soon the sun would rise, bringing Rimus one day closer to getting hold of the Staff of Elders-if he had not managed to do so already. Samuel did not even dare to think about what would happen if they arrived too late.
Feeling his mount tiring beneath him, Samuel cast a little more energy into the horse. There were only a few more hills until they made the next town, Nolanhull, and there it would be the last change until they reached the capital. Samuel was exhausted, but he had no choice save to hold on and keep riding as best he could. He remembered the warning that Grand Master Anthem had given him the last time. Every time he overexerted himself, there was a greater chance that it would be fatal. Even now, he half-felt like letting himself drop from his horse onto the muddy roadside and allowing death take him in its grip. At least then he could have some rest. Every particle of his body felt spent. Foul bile kept leaping up into the back of his throat, reminding him that his body was wracked and wasted. He felt like a dried husk of a man.
He looked over to Master Glim and determination was set on the teacher’s face. Samuel could sense the man feeding power into him and he was thankful for it-it was the only thing keeping him in his saddle.
They had ridden hard since leaving the quarry, but they found no sign of Lomar and the others. Neither did they meet any more soldiers bent on stopping them. Several times, they passed regular highway patrols in the rain, but none made any attempt to hail them or slow them down. Samuel only hoped his friends had made it to Cintar similarly unmolested.
Their hooves clattered across the Northbank Bridge soon after dawn and they galloped to the front of the queue that had formed before the North Gate. A ruckus seemed to be going on and the guards were struggling to keep the crowds under control.
‘This is not good,’ Master Glim mentioned to Samuel. ‘The city folk are restless. Trouble could be afoot.’
The guards at the gate waved them through and the two magicians pushed their way into the city with due haste.
‘Where to now?’ Samuel asked.
‘We’re both exhausted and useless as we are,’ Master Glim replied. ‘I suggest we get some rest and then we try to find the others. I’m sure they have taken refuge somewhere also.’
‘Can we go to the school?’ Samuel asked.
Master Glim shook his head. ‘I don’t think we should. I don’t know what Rimus is planning, but it’s better we stay out of sight for now.’
‘That also leaves out the safehouse,’ Samuel said. ‘General Ruardin’s men will know about it now.’
Master Glim nodded. ‘We must assume that Rimus knows every place of refuge we have used so far. We’ll go to an inn,’ he decided.
‘What about The Pride,’ Samuel suggested and then he continued upon noticing Master Glim’s puzzlement, ‘It’s an inn-a favourite of Eric’s. I don’t know of anyone else who goes there. It’s not too far from the palace.’
‘That’s a good idea,’ Master Glim said with a nod. ‘We’ll get a room and put our feet up for few hours or until we can find the others. Niether of us is in any state to do much of anything.’
They agreed and began through the jostling streets, until Master Glim began to look uneasy.
‘We’re far too conspicuous on these mounts and in these clothes,’ he said. ‘We’d better get rid of them.’
They dismounted next to a farrier’s hearth, where the blacksmith was too busy hammering on a rod of radiant steel to notice them. Instead, the apprentice came running over to meet them.
‘Watch these for a few moments, will you?’ Master Glim asked. ‘We’ll be back in a moment to speak with the smithy.’ And, with that, they walked off.
They took the quieter streets and alleys, always winding down towards the sea. As they were crossing one particular street, Samuel looked to his left and almost choked when he saw a group of soldiers marching towards them. Black cloth could be seen amongst them.
‘I’d say we’ve been noted,’ Master Glim remarked without even a turn of his head and they crossed over into the opposite narrow street. ‘Hurry.’
They quickened their pace and began to run down the paved street. As they turned another bend, Samuel could hear shouts and the sound of hurrying boots following behind.
‘We’ll head towards the southern quarter,’ Master Glim said. ‘Once we lose them, we’ll make back for the inn.’
‘This way,’ Samuel said and they squeezed into a narrow gap between two buildings. It opened onto a bare yard and Samuel and his teacher darted through, opening a weather-stained, wooden gate, loose on its squeaky hinges, and stepping out into another busy street. Samuel could feel his heart inside his chest, beating loudly and quickly. He was operating on his last bare shreds of energy.
‘I think this must be Cherry Street,’ Master Glim mentioned.
They continued on at a brisk pace, with Samuel taking the occasional glance over his shoulder to peer through the crowd, but he could see no sign of their pursuers.
‘In here!’ Samuel called as they passed a series of cloth merchants and he led the way into a tailor’s store.
‘What are we doing in here?’ Master Glim asked, eyeing the racks of clothing along the walls. The place smelled like all tailors. Moth-fluid cups sat in the corners, giving off a bitter smell that kept all the ravenous insects away from the precious fabrics.
‘Getting a disguise,’ Samuel told him. ‘It’s something I learned from Eric. We need to get out of these magician’s clothes.’
‘Good idea,’ Master Glim replied, looking nervously to the door, ‘but we may not have much time.’
The tailor emerged from the back room with a needle and length of thread still in his hands. ‘May I help you, My Lords?’ the man asked.
Samuel quickly snatched up two long tunics from beside him. ‘These will do.’
‘Ah,’ the tailor remarked. ‘Very fashionable. Perhaps you would like something similar with a sturdy black dye suitable for the Order?’
‘No, thank you,’ Samuel replied. ‘We’ll take these.’
Samuel pushed by the man and went behind a tall divider. Master Glim followed closely. They both stripped to their undergarments and began to pull the tunics over their heads.
‘If I may be of assistance?’ the tailor inquired and came over, helping them both adjust their new clothes and tie the drawstrings at their waists. ‘The fitting is really not appropriate,’ he said with a shake of his head. ‘Perhaps if you give me some time I can adjust them accordingly.’
‘No need,’ Master Glim insisted and he pressed a handful of coins into the tailor’s palms. The man could only bow deeply and smile.
Samuel’s outfit was a pale blue, while Master Glim’s was a grassy green. They both looked rather strange and Samuel felt half-naked, as he had not worn clothes that revealed his legs since he was a small boy.
‘I hope you enjoy your new clothes,’ the tailor expressed with a grand smile.
‘Well,’ Master Glim mentioned as they went to the door, ‘we certainly look…unusual. No one will certainly be picking us for magicians in a hurry.’
Samuel managed a smile as they exited the tailor’s store. ‘I think we look rather fetching.’
Peeking outside, they saw no sign of any guards or magicians, so they began again down the street, this time at a much more leisurely pace. The street here led directly to the central market and so was bustling with activity.
After they were jostled and bumped too many times, Master Glim turned to Samuel. ‘I think we should find a quieter route.’
They pushed their way to the side of the street towards a quiet laneway. They could take some back streets for a while and avoid the crowds.
As they squeezed through the people, Samuel noticed an extremely short man, barely reaching to his waist, jostling tightly at his side. Samuel gave the little man a questioning glance and the fellow looked back at him, baring a puckish smile. Samuel turned to Master Glim to say something, but as he opened his mouth to speak, Master Glim’s eyes opened wide. The crowd around them seemed to act as one and fell in upon the two colourful magicians. Someone had Samuel around the legs and he toppled over. As he struggled on the ground, something hard and heavy struck him fair on the head, and the last thing Samuel saw was the sky spinning up and around him and a big, mischievous grin.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Empire and Order
Samuel looked out through the iron bars and sighed. He surveyed the world outside with his chin cupped in his hands and with his elbows set upon the dusty windowsill. Through the small opening he could not see very much, but the shadows upon the ground far below were stretching longer under the late afternoon sun. Tiny people were moving in the courtyards and gardens beneath them-dark splashes of magicians strolling, glinting soldiers striding, and coloured officials and servants scurrying, going about their duties.
‘We have to get out of here,’ Samuel said. ‘I can’t stand it any more.’ The words caught in his dry throat. He could feel the magic surge and beckon just beyond his reach, but he could not touch it. He felt hollow inside-empty-as if his innards had been torn out and just a dry husky shell was all that was left for him to inhabit.
‘Try not to think about it,’ Master Glim said, sitting up against the wall on the floor. He did not bother to look up, but kept tracing letters on the dusty cell floor with his finger. ‘We can depend on the others to help us. They should come up with some plan to save us soon, assuming they even know we’re here, of course.’
‘It’s been two days already. They could have been caught by now or worse. It’s probably all over by now, anyway.’
‘Calm now, Samuel,’ the level-headed teacher told him. ‘That’s not like you. I’m sure the others are fine and I’m sure nothing has happened yet or we would know about it.’
‘Well, there’s something going on out there,’ Samuel said, straining his head against the bars to see as directly downwards as possible. ‘They’re looking busier than before. There are guards everywhere.’
‘But they’re not running and screaming. That’s what we should be worried about most. Until that happens, we know we still have some time to act.’
‘You’re right,’ Samuel said, and turned away from the window with a sigh.
For the second time in his life, he had awoken to find himself locked in the Mage Cell. Master Glim had been sitting beside him, chewing on an old crust of bread that had been thrust under the door. They were both still dressed in their coloured tunics, but they were considerably scuffed and dirtied all over. The last couple of nights had not been kind to them and Samuel just hoped he did not look as bad as Master Glim.
‘I feel so terrible,’ he moaned plaintively.
After a few empty moments, Master Glim responded. ‘I know. Don’t dwell on it. It will only make it worse. Just be glad we’ve had time to rest. You certainly needed it. I’ve had to stop the guards from taking you away twice. You slept so long that I think they thought you were dead. It was only your infernal snoring that finally convinced them otherwise.’
‘I can certainly think of other places I would have preferred to stay,’ Samuel stated. ‘And I would have slept much better if I hadn’t been lying on a stone floor.’
He pushed his head against the bars once more. There was little else to do up here, except peer out the window as far as was possible. People were still skittering around down below, but there was nothing that hinted at an imminent rescue.
The solitude of the Mage Cell chilled his heart. For his second time within it, he felt no better. In fact, the longer he was held away from the touch of magic, the smaller and colder he felt. Samuel turned away from the window and stalked around the small square cell, rubbing at his forehead in frustration.
He had barely turned away, when a grunt from the window caught his attention and a man’s legs suddenly dropped into view outside the bars.
Samuel pressed his face against the bars and gawked at the tall man swinging around outside. ‘Lomar?’ Samuel said, peering between the bars. ‘When did you learn to fly?’
‘I didn’t,’ Lomar grunted, his face now visible beyond the bars, creased with effort. ‘I’m on a rope-and it’s cutting me in half!’
‘What are you doing out there?’ Samuel asked incredulously.
‘Trying to set you free…and trying not to kill myself in the process!’
‘How, may I ask?’ Master Glim questioned, coming to stand beside Samuel.
‘Spells work perfectly fine out here,’ Lomar explained. ‘Once I get you out, you will be able to spell as much as you please. Now, if you will.’
‘Step back,’ Master Glim urged as Lomar began a spell.
Samuel did as instructed, while Lomar began to concentrate his energy upon the cell window. His spell took hold of the bars, which began twisting and turning as the magic did its work. Flecks of mortar began popping into the air and, one by one, each bar groaned and snapped and clunked onto the floor with a resounding clang.
‘Not bad,’ Master Glim noted, examining the cleared window. The stubs of the bars were hot to the touch and Master Glim’s finger hissed as he tested one. ‘Ai!’ he spat and shook his fingers in the air and sucked on the injured digit. Samuel managed a smile and shook his head at his teacher.
‘Come now!’ Lomar urged with a grunt as he struggled with his makeshift harness. ‘Get out of there before I fall to my death.’
Samuel was first into action. He pushed his head out the window and observed the ground far below. It was distressingly far to the ground and he felt his heart lurch in his chest. He gulped and closed his eyes a moment, trying hard to calm himself.
‘Master Pot and Master Goodfellow are assisting me,’ Lomar noted, ‘but my poor stomach can only take so much. Try to hurry along!’
‘Can it hold both of us?’ Samuel asked.
‘It may,’ Lomar responded. ‘But I do not think that the Erics can. They can only take our combined weight for a moment-long enough for you to get out of the cell and cast yourself a spell. I hope you have something suitable ready.’
Samuel nodded. He reached out and grabbed the rope just above Lomar’s head, and pulled himself slowly out. Despite his efforts, they both began to swing around and worried shouts of distress sounded from above.
‘Quickly, Samuel!’ Lomar urged frantically, as they slowly spun in the same place.
Samuel felt helpless as he clung to the rough rope for all he was worth. A long fall awaited him should he slip and the dizzying heights made him all the more giddy. It did not even seem a particularly sturdy rope, all coarse and fraying. Magicians often lacked the more practical skills in life, Samuel quickly noted, such as being able to choose a decent rope and a more effective way of fixing it to Lomar, who looked to be in great discomfort.
Samuel could feel his energy returning and the giddiness from the height was replaced with excitement as his magic returned to him.
‘Samuel!’ Lomar hissed.
Samuel remembered himself and quickly cast out a spell. He pushed his feet out against the tower wall and then his hands followed, so that he clung to the side of the tower like a spider. He still felt nervous, hanging so far above the ground, but a smile lit his face as he enjoyed the taste of magic again.
It was then Master Glim’s turn and he, too, popped his head out the window. He raised an eyebrow as he surveyed the ground far below. People were still busy down in the palace g
rounds but, so far, none seemed to have noticed them. Master Glim sucked his bottom lip, no doubt imagining what would happen should he fall.
‘Master Glim,’ Lomar urged. ‘Hurry! My stomach can’t take much more of this!’
In a moment, Master Glim had mustered his own skills and was out beside Samuel. The man looked terrified as he clung to the wall, squeezing his eyes tightly shut. Samuel examined his teacher’s spell. It was not really so great in strength, but quite a mastery of efficiency.
‘You two look like a couple of overgrown butterflies,’ Lomar remarked with a grin, referring to their brightly coloured tunics.
Samuel made a sour face. ‘You don’t like my tunic? It’s very popular with some.’
‘Yes,’ Master Glim agreed, ‘-with women! It was all his idea. Little good it did us.’
Lomar started to laugh and then coughed. His face was turning bright red.
‘Down?’ Samuel asked him, looking far below.
‘Up! Up! Up!’ Lomar exclaimed excitedly and began quickly tugging on the rope.
With a jerk from above, he began to rise, bumping and banging into the wall, grunting and muttering each time. Samuel took one last look inside the Mage Cell. He hoped he never saw its insides again. Nothing had made him feel that terrible for a long time-not since he had lost Leila. It was a different kind of feeling, but it filled him with the same strange despair and hopelessness.
‘Samuel,’ Master Glim said, ‘can you set one of your illusions inside? We don’t want to be missed.’
It took a moment to become calm enough to cast another spell; then Samuel formed an illusion of himself and Master Glim, and set them in the cell. Thankfully, the spell held true and the two images sat quietly beside each other on the floor. Samuel grinned. Turning right side up, he followed Master Glim and the grunting Lomar up the tower’s side.
‘You should try our way,’ Samuel suggested to his lean friend.
‘No, thank you,’ Lomar said. ‘I would not like to see what would happen if you sneezed and forgot your spell, or a mage below noticed you and negated it. Despite the discomfort, this rope is doing me fine.’
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