by JD Franx
Seifer held up his hand to stop her. “I have something better... Augmentation magic.”
Sephi laughed, her relief obvious. “You have Elderblood magic.”
The Master Wizard nodded. “If I can boost Kyah’s natural healing ability, she should be able to stay ahead of the swelling in Kael’s head.”
“Thank you,” Kyah said. “But we must hurry.”
The guards took Lircang and Dahlea off to the barracks, while Captain Kern, Seifer, and several guards escorted the trio back to the inn. Once there, the guards took the bodies of the men Sephi had killed earlier.
Kyah and Seifer went to work on healing Kael’s wounds. He managed to thank Sephi before he slipped into unconsciousness, the lack of sleep and injuries finally catching up.
Chapter Sixteen
“The countries of Talohna are all known for creating unique individuals. DormaSai is known for magic and the people who use it. Cethos and the people who live there are known for their willingness to help others, even if it means defending them during conflict. Though these are never universal truths, they are more common than not. The Northman, however, are uniquely different. Each and every Northman, whether male or female, value loyalty above all else. The men and women from Kastalborg Island would rather die than betray one of their Kreeda Oaths. It is impressive in a world that is often so easily corrupted.”
ArchWizard Giddeon Zirakus’ speech
to the 2024 PC University graduating class.
DASAL, FREE LANDS
It was near dark when a loud argument woke Kael, he managed to catch the tail end of Kyah’s sentence.
“...will not wake him up, Captain. He barely survived the healing process! He needs to rest!” she yelled. As Kael sat up, a wave of dizziness swamped his mind and he fought with his equilibrium to remain upright.
“It’s fine, I’m awake. What’s... happening?” he asked, struggling to sit on the bed.
Kyah looked at the Captain and scowled. “If I had the ability, Captain, I swear I would roast your backside for waking him,” she huffed, as she stormed away and sat beside him, careful not bounce the bed. Placing her hands on him and closing her eyes, he knew she was checking to see how well her and Seifer’s healing had worked.
“Captain Kern, how can I help you?” Kael asked.
“I’m sorry to bother you, Master Kael, but there are now seven pirate ships in the harbour, and they will speak with no one from the city. Havarrow’s boatman says he is there to take only you. People are starting to panic. Some citizens are even arming themselves. We were hoping you would go speak with him and ease the tension before open fighting breaks out,” he requested. His voice trembled with fear, either from the pirates or from Kyah’s threats, Kael wasn’t sure.
“Shit, forgot about him. All right, let me get dressed and we’ll go talk to Dominique. Okay, Captain?”
“Thank you. We’ll wait for you in the barracks.”
Kael nodded and started to get dressed as Kyah snorted her disapproval.
“You need to rest,” she said, glaring at him.
He did his best to ignore her. “Let’s just get this done. I can rest tonight and then we can leave this place in the morning. I’ve had enough of it. I don’t think the disgusting filth of this city will ever wear off.”
Captain Havarrow met them on the deck of the Twilight Reave the moment Kael and Kyah stepped aboard.
“It is good to see you well, brother,” he said, smiling. “My daughter still rests, so you will not leave this ship until you tell me how you freed her and what happened upon your return. Yes?”
“Fair enough,” Kael chuckled, wincing as a jolt of pain spiked in his head.
They followed the pirate back to his cabin and sat at the table as he opened a bottle of wine and the ship’s cook brought in a plate of bread, with meats and cheeses layered to the side.
Still starving, Kael grabbed a slice of smoked meat and took a bite before he explained how they achieved sneaking his daughter out of the slave cells.
“I knew breaking Neria out by force would only get us hung, so when we left your ship the first time, we stopped and borrowed some paint from a local artist. Kyah painted Neria’s face to match her own demonic markings while we were in your daughter’s cell ‘shopping’ for slaves to take with us when we left. They switched clothes, and Kyah’s Orotaq cloak and hood made sure no one even noticed that Neria left with me, while it was actually Kyah who stayed behind.”
The Northman pirate rubbed his jaw as he listened, but never interrupted, speaking only after Kael had finished. “Risky, Kael, had someone noticed...”
“True, but when was the last time you looked a witch directly in the eyes? Even now, your men won’t make eye contact with my wife. It was a risk, but the best chance we had. Your second mate almost ruined our plan when he came in looking to settle-up the money he was owed for arranging Neria’s kidnapping and sale. I never considered that one of your own might be involved.”
Havarrow nodded and shifted in his chair. “Then what? You had trouble upon returning. I can see it in your eyes.”
“We did. Luckily my magic attracts the most exotic of help,” Kael smirked, before he carried on. “Kyah spent most of her time in the cell under the lone blanket all the slaves are given. The slavers who took Neria actually helped us when they cut her long blond hair and tried to colour it with ash and charcoal. It was close enough in colour to Kyah’s dark hair that when Anton looked in on her after we left, it fooled him. After bringing Neria to you, I had planned to go back to our room for a couple hours’ rest before going to the city’s Master Wizard and telling him that Dahlia had taken Kyah. With no proof, I couldn’t frame Lircang Yorcali, as much as I’d have liked to. His thugs actually worked to our advantage, or would have if they hadn’t nearly killed me by caving in my head. A young couple were staying in the room next door; she heard the commotion and saved my life. Afterwards, we went to see Seifer and the city guard. Finding Kyah in the slave’s cells was all the proof he needed after years of trying to prove Lircang was kidnapping young women. You should have seen the fat bastard’s face, Dominique, and his Madame! She pissed herself when she realized your daughter was gone and they were caught.” Kael’s sadistic laugh echoed through the room and was soon joined by the pirates and their captain. Though it was all an act, he saw Kyah shiver at the brutal cruelty in his words.
Dominique, clearly impressed that the plan had worked as well as it did, added, “Had Lircang not moved against you, the fool would still be a free man. A stupid mistake. Thank you once again, Kael, for all your help, but we must haul anchor and drop the mainsail. I will keep my word. We will leave Fang Bay the moment you step upon dry land and my boatman returns to the Reave. We are overdue for a meeting with a very dangerous and unstable man,” he chuckled.
With a deep frown, Shasta raised an eyebrow towards the pirate commander. “How many ships we taking south, Captain?”
“All of them. Just the Reave will enter the Lover’s Embrace once we arrive at the twin cities. It stays our private business, First Mate, until you’re ordered otherwise. Signal the other ships to prepare for the journey.” With a nod, Shasta left Havarrow’s quarters and the Northman turned to escort Kael off the ship.
“Heading south, Captain?” Kael asked as he followed the pirate to the rowboat.
“Yes. Should our trip go well and we meet again someday, this ship and all Suns of Blood vessels will be a floating fortress of armament. Until then, brother, be safe, and raise all the hell you can,” he said, laughing.
Kael smiled. “We will meet again, Captain, of that I am sure. Until then, may the waves carry you safely.” The Northman thanked them as they left his ship.
True to his word, Captain Havarrow led his other six ships from the harbour as Kael and Kyah watched. The sunset at their backs danced on the bay’s waters and wooden planks of the pirate vessels.
Back at the barracks, they informed Captain Kern and Seifer Locke of the pi
rates’ departure. Seifer promised to meet them at dawn when they were ready to leave Dasal.
It was not soon enough for Kael. All he could think about was closing his eyes and having a good night’s sleep in a real bed, but not before having something substantial to eat.
Not quite remembering how he got there, Kael woke the next morning to find it still dark in their room and Kyah gone. Getting dressed, he remembered his saviour in the room next door and wanted to do something to thank her for her help.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he closed his eyes and tried to figure out how to use his magic to find the young Fae woman Sephi and her husband were looking for. Concentrating hurt his head and he realized his skull was far from healed, but ignoring the pain was easy thanks to the months of torture he received at the hands of the Dead Sisters. Taking a deep breath, he refocused and sent his esoteric senses out into the world around Dasal. A subdued blaze of white magic flashed inside his mind, but it was far beyond where his senses could reach.
Instinct took over and his mind expelled a pulse of magic that raced for the white light. He followed it in his mind until his magic hit the failing light, making it blaze with renewed energy and return to him, twice as fast. It slowed and entered his mind, telling him that the light was indeed a young Fae woman.
He smiled. “That’s cool.” Laughing as the rush of magic subsided, he knew immediately that she was to the south-west, the same direction he and Kyah had come from.
“What the hell is going on out there?” he mumbled, opening his eyes. “The ArchWizard’s down there, we were down there, and now a Fae is down there. God in Heaven, what’s next?” Kael shook his head gently and stood. It mattered little to him in the long run, it really was not any of his business. He walked next door to thank Sephi for her help and to tell her what he had discovered.
She stepped outside seconds after he knocked. Closing the door, she gave him a hug. “You two take care of yourselves, all right?”
“We will, and thank you. For everything. And your Fae? The one you’re looking for?”
“What about her?”
“She’s to the south-west, moving in this direction,” he offered.
“How do you know that?” He shrugged and smiled, making her chuckle. “Thank you, Kael.” He nodded and returned to his room to finish packing his few belongings.
When Kyah had not returned by sunrise, Kael gathered his things and headed downstairs, finding her outside with Master Locke and their horses.
Seifer walked with them to the city gate. Their horses and both spare mounts had been loaded with supplies and gear. He handed each of them a small fist-sized bag of gold and silver coin.
“You have our thanks, both of you,” Seifer said. “You are welcome in Dasal at any time you may need or like.”
“Take care, Master Wizard,” Kael said, smiling. Seifer grasped his arm and shook it.
“First names are for friends, Kael, regardless of rank,” he said
“Good bye, Seifer.” Kael smiled again, mounted his horse and galloped away with Kyah right behind him.
Seifer turned on his heel and headed to the barracks. A very long day awaited him.
Chapter Seventeen
“There are many people in Talohna who play the game of power and money. Yet very few seem willing to pay the price when the time comes to pay the toll for losing. Families like the Talos never lose and so they never pay. But I have always found those who play the game best continue to win even after they have paid the price for losing. Very few people have the foresight to plan that far into the game. Planning beyond my death has given me a distinct advantage.”
Lircang Yorcali,
Private journal entry, 5021 PC
BARRACKS PRISON, DASAL
Cold and dark ruled the dungeon. The funk of human waste lingered in the air, rising from the filthy buckets in each prison cell. Water or some foul liquid fell from the ceiling with an incessant tap as it struck the stone floor. The subtle noise added to the convicts’ misery. With only two long candles lighting the room inside each barred cell, tall shadows danced on the walls and added to the oppressive weight of doom that soon ate into all prisoners. The Dasal Barracks Prison was one of the few true dungeons left that had survived the Cataclysm five thousand years before.
Master Wizard Seifer Locke stood in the heart of the dungeon, having heard enough excuses. “You know, Lircang, you’re already a dead man walking. The city and guard Councils voted for you to hang, unanimously, so what would it hurt?”
Dasal’s ex-slave master scoffed. “Hurt? What does it gain me? I’m not telling you where she is, Seifer. You can go fuck your own arse, you...” The wizard’s backhand fist flashed with blue light seconds before it struck Lircang with enough force to knock the chair he was tied to backwards. Both crashed to the floor. The slaver groaned and twitched as minute currents of electricity danced across his jaw and over his bald head.
“Fucking wizards,” Lircang griped, rubbing his face against the dirty stone floor in an attempt to ground out the last of Seifer’s electricity. “Can’t just fucking hit someone, gotta use magic, too.”
“Pick him up,” Seifer snapped. Captain Kern and one of his guards, a freshly-trained recruit, grabbed the chair, picked it up and slammed it back down, eliciting another moan from Lircang. “I gave my promise to her dying father that I’d find her and free her. You have nothing to lose except a shit load of pain, Lircang. Tell me where she is!” Seifer’s voice instantly calmed as he placed his hands on the arms of the wooden chair and bent over so he was eye to eye with the man he hated more than anything. “Tell me and you can spend the rest of the time you have left eating and drinking yourself into a stupor before the hangman’s noose snaps your fat neck.”
Without breaking eye contact, Lircang exhaled his rotten breath into Seifer’s face. “There’s a winning argument, you... Fuck. Commute my sentence instead and you have a deal. I’ll tell you exactly where she is... wizard,” Lircang said, using the University term for a first year mystic on purpose.
“I don’t have that authority and you know it. You sat on the Council in judgement for how many years yourself? How many times did you sentence people? Only those who sentenced you can commute it, and they won’t. I can offer you one final option. I can’t give you your life, but as Master Wizard, I can make sure that your businesses and financial earnings pass to your son unimpeded when he returns from where ever he disappeared to.”
The slaver snorted with amusement. “That will happen anyway, Locke. Right of Succession—the Legacy assures it. Looks like we’re back to you fucking yourself, all mighty wizard,” Lircang mocked. Another flash of power lit up the darkness, red instead of blue. Chair and slaver spun, crashing to the floor. Both slid almost six feet before slamming into the closest set of prison bars. Lircang screamed in agony, but his voice quickly climbed to a shriek as the oily flames licking at his face refused to die out.
Panicking, and without thinking, the inexperienced guardsman grabbed the waste bucket from inside the cell and tossed the contents into Lircang’s face, dousing the magical fire.
“Mother-screwing piece of dog shit,” Lircang sputtered, spraying urine and slimy faeces from his mouth.
“I’m sorry, sir, I...” the guardsman stuttered, as he apologized. The wizard could see the guilt written all over the young guard’s face.
Seifer chuckled as he bent over the fallen slaver. “Well, now... Funny, don’t you think? I always thought you were a slimy, shit-ridden piece of garbage. Guess the Gods agree.” He shook his head, laughing. The slaver returned the smirk and spit at Seifer. More human waste misted from his lips, but inches from Seifer’s face, a pale yellow glow flared to life as Lircang’s expulsion hit a magical shield and stuck before oozing to the floor. It never touched Seifer’s flesh or clothes.
“Ah! Fucking wizards,” Lircang moaned, as he lay back.
“Just tell me, Lircang. Get it over with. You know you’ll give it up eventually. I�
��ll make sure your Legacy passes to Kyro. You have my word. Because of your conviction, the council and city guard are already talking about severing your Right to Succession. Kyro would get nothing. Your Legacy, everything you own, would be siezed and sold. Kyro could possibly even be convicted if it can be proved he knew what you and Dahlea were up to. You won’t get a better deal,” Seifer said, as he tried again.
“It’s true, Yorcali,” Captain Kern said, speaking for the first time. “And to be honest, they’d have my vote. Especially to charge that animal son of yours. I’m tired of handing your money to scarred young women, for his transgressions, just because you held a third of the city’s power.”
Still laying on his side, Lircang burst out laughing, a full, hearty honest laugh, but after several seconds it died down to a chuckle and his eyes shifted from the guard captain back to Seifer. “I was wondering how long it would take you to stop playing kiddie games. Always knew you had it in you, wizard. You want to make a deal? Then listen. That sweet soul you’re so worried about? Ah, what was her name, again?” Lircang paused, being dramatic.
Seifer, unable to help himself, fell for it. “Katarina Desolla. You know exactly who she is, you piece of...”
“Yes, yes. I remember who bought her too. You really should stop talking, Seifer. Listen instead and we might get actually make some progress,” Lircang said, continuing to chuckle.
“Spit it out,” Seifer barked, as flames flickered to life in his right hand. “Or there won’t be a piss and shit filled bucked to douse you with this time. I’ll make sure of it.”
Lircang swallowed hard, his prominent Adam’s apple quivering in his throat. “Fair enough, Seifer. First, my deal, and I don’t want to hear you can’t. You do it or I will die with your beautiful bride-to-be’s location buried deep in my mind, clear?” As much as he’d rather choke the slaver, Seifer nodded instead. He’d just have to persuade the councils to deal if he ever wanted to find his fiancée.
