by Bob Blink
“Perhaps it is reasonable for you to go and check on her then,” Daim agreed. “Ask her if whatever it is she has planned can wait. Her expertise can be better used helping us.”
Rigo nodded, but he had doubts that Daria would see it Daim’s way. If something had caused her to bring the KalaBhoot back, absolutely nothing would stand in the way of her completing any task she felt worthy of her attention. There was little to gain by arguing with Daim about it at this point, however.
Rigo stood to leave. He was anxious to get on, and had alerted Daim to the fate of Burke’s team. They had already left word for Queen Jusay so she could alert her own team that continued to press into the southern jungles.
“I expect you back this evening,” Daim said before Rigo could leave. “I want both you and Jeen to learn how to trigger this new spell that Lyes and Fen have uncovered. You are among our most powerful wizards and it is likely you will need the ability before long.”
Rigo looked uncomfortable. “I have not done very well with the symbolic magic,” he said, attempting to sidestep the matter.
“That’s from lack of effort. You speak the Sedfair language fluently, and it shares much with the symbolic. No more can we put off learning such things. The two branches each offer us tools, and you can no longer procrastinate.”
Rigo looked at Jeen who nodded her agreement. She had been learning the symbolic language, and was now reasonably proficient at a number of spells. Nycoh wasn’t here at the moment because she was already with Lyes and Fen, learning the new magic. Rigo knew he had become lax.
“When I come back tonight,” he agreed.
“Good,” Daim replied. “By then we will have a number of staffs with the appropriate symbols on them.”
He looked at Jeen.
“Are you planning on going with Rigo?” he asked.
Jeen nodded.
“What about the artifacts Daria found?” Daim asked.
“They are in the small storeroom down on the first level,” Jeen explained. “Daria brought them to the Outpost a few days ago. A lot has happened since then. I haven’t had time to examine them.”
“Well, have Ash’urn and his team have a look at them. Show him what you have before you leave. Have him look to see if there is anything that should be hidden away just in case we are attacked here.”
Chapter 33
Rigo looked at Jeen as they prepared to part ways. She was going to see Lyes and Fen with the intention of learning the new magic. Rigo knew her well enough to know she’d practice diligently and would have it mastered in short order. Nycoh had added it to her array of weapons, and Ash’urn, the elder scholar had learned it as well. Rigo didn’t know about Daim. He had been an accomplished wizard in his day, and was responsible for the majority of the magic the wizards knew today. Rigo didn’t know if he had been practicing symbolic magic. He would have been surprised to learn Daim hadn’t been doing so however.
Rigo felt the familiar reluctance to put forth the effort to learn the new skill. Despite his best intentions, and frequent promises to himself, he had yet to make any attempt to understand the symbolic magic that the rest of them were adding to their capabilities. For a while, Rigo had been the most powerful and knowledgeable wizard in the known world. That wasn’t the case any longer. He was well aware of the fact. There were many who were stronger and more knowledgeable than himself. No small number of those he had once taught were now mages, masters of both disciplines, or at least capable in both.
A part of him was disappointed in himself. Look at Ash’urn. More than twice Rigo’s age, and eager to learn any new skill that was presented. Nycoh was more capable than any of them, and yet she eagerly added the new ability. Rigo suspected that part of his reluctance to learn was the consequences of being the best and most capable. That usually meant being in charge, and he had experienced the result of having that burdensome responsibility. How many had died following his lead? How many had he been forced to kill? He was more interested now in a more sedate existence with Mitty, and before too long, their child. Unfortunately, he wasn’t to be allowed his preference. He understood that his reluctance to become as capable as possible was irresponsible given the current state of affairs. The Three Kingdoms needed him. More importantly, Mitty needed him. Mitty had told Rigo enough for him to understand that the strange woman in her visions was aware of her, and had reason to wish her harm. That meant he needed to be prepared to protect her, which meant the time for procrastination was past. He knew he was too focused on the matter of Koess, perhaps because part of him wished to be able to bring the man back to offset others he had lost. He would go see Daria, but when they returned he promised himself to begin learning the magic of the Casters. This time he wouldn’t falter.
“Suline’s going with you?” Jeen asked when they reached the split in the tunnels.
“That’s the reason she came along,” Rigo confirmed. “That she was able to help check the site where Burke’s team was captured was simply an unanticipated benefit.”
Jeen nodded. She knew that Suline and Daria had become close, and that it was Suline who had taught their friend how to make Doorways.
“Tell her I’m going to begin going through the stuff she recovered. I’ll let you know what is there.”
Rigo nodded. “What about your kids?” Rigo asked. Jeen had a pair of daughters at the Outpost for wizard training.
“My consort will be taking them to his family estates in northern Branid in the morning,” Jeen said. “I don’t consider either the castle or the Outpost secure enough for them to stay.”
Mitty and Jeen hugged, and Jeen nodded to Suline. Then she turned and headed toward Ash’urn’s lab where she expected to find Lyes and Fen. Rigo led his small group to the area used for making a Bypass inside the Outpost, and a short time later they stepped out of the portal onto the grass just a short distance away from the familiar main structure of the orphanage.
Jeen had been correct when she had commented that Daria and Kaler had started raising horses. The pasture to the far side of the buildings had been fenced, and now several hundred horses roamed freely in the open area. More than a dozen small colts and fillies could be seen, more than likely only recently born. Three of the older boys were hard at work in the nearby corral, which adjoined the newly added fencing. One was riding a large black mare, while the others encouraged him.
As usual, the squeals and shouts of laughing children could be heard coming from all directions. It was obviously free time, and the children made the best use of the warm spring day as they went about the games that only they understood. Rigo couldn’t remember ever being at a place where there was so much laughter and happiness.
They had been spotted, and one of the children ran into the nearest building shouting a message. Before they had reached the structure, the rear door opened and Nyll stepped into the warm sunshine. Rigo recognized him immediately, despite the changes in appearance. To begin with he had put on considerable weight. He had also gone bald, or nearly so. He might be shaving what remained of his hair, but gone was the ponytail. He recognized Rigo and Suline, but had not yet met Mitty.
Rigo made the introductions, and after the usual small talk, inquired about Daria and Kaler. He was not surprised at the answer. He had half expected it, and when they hadn’t appeared with Nyll or shortly afterward, he had become certain of it.
“Gone,” Nyll said. “They left almost two days ago. A couple of young girls from the Wanderer wagons have yet to be recovered. They were sold as slaves by the bandits who attacked the wagons. Daria had some information as to what happened to them. She intends to get them back.”
Someone was soon to be very sorry they had ever had any dealings with the bandits, Rigo knew. If Daria was after them, it was simply a matter of time.
“Do you know where they went?” Suline asked.
“Not really,” Nyll replied. “Somewhere in Lopal, but exactly where she didn’t say. I would expect it would have to be somewhere nea
r Fontin, where the attack on the Wanderers took place. They took their best riding horses, however.”
The name meant nothing to any of the three visitors. Mitty and Suline were from Sedfair and had only the smallest familiarity of the Three Kingdoms, and Rigo had never heard of the place either.
“It is somewhere near Bertrack,” Nyll said. “She mentioned that Torusk and the Wanderer camp was there at the moment. If anyone knows where Daria and Kaler have gone, it would be him. He helped them bring back the items that had been taken from the Wanderer wagons when they were attacked.”
That told Rigo that Torusk was probably familiar with the cave where the artifacts had been recovered. It made sense to find him, and proceed from there. Unfortunately he didn’t know where Bertrack was either, but almost certainly someone back at the Outpost would. More importantly, someone must have visited nearby, at least close enough to get them within a couple of day’s ride. This was not going to move along as smoothly as he’d hoped.
“Did either of them indicate how long they would be gone?” he asked.
“Kaler implied it might be as much as a month. I gather they have only the barest clues to where the men they seek might be.”
Rigo silently cursed. His chances of finding Daria were fading by the moment. She could be anywhere, and not even a wizard would find her easily if she intended to be invisible.
He thanked Nyll and turned down an invitation to stay the night.
“There is business back at the Outpost,” he told the former monk. “I also want to find someone who has visited this Bertrack you mentioned.”
The threesome returned to the Outpost, and after getting Mitty settled in, Rigo and Suline went to find Ash’urn. Lyes and Fen had already left, but Ash’urn was back at his desk, gazing at the most recent addition to his personal power staff. Rigo knew this meant he had fully mastered the new magic.
“Rigo,” Ash’urn said as he smiled. “Suline,” Ash’urn added when he saw the Caster who had come along. Rigo couldn’t help but examine his friend. Shara had spoken to Rigo earlier, and he could see she was right. Ash’urn was looking even thinner than Rigo recalled. Something was not right. He’d have to find Nycoh and ask her, but she wasn’t easy to find. Perhaps he’d have to see if Jeen knew anything.
“Nycoh thought you would be back,” Ash’urn said. “She made this for you. She says there is more here than you can use at the moment, but she expects you to grow into it rather quickly.”
Ash’urn reached behind the desk and retrieved a tall dark black staff that resembled the one Nycoh carried. He handed it to Rigo, who felt a flash of something as he wrapped his hand around the shaft.
“She says this one will align itself to you much as your original staff. It incorporates some of Daim’s designs, but is far more resistant to almost everything, including the effects of the Ruins.”
Rigo examined the black staff. It felt good to hold, and once again he wondered why he kept setting aside the staffs that came his way of late. A wizard really should have a staff. This one was engraved with literally hundreds of fine symbols, small and intertwined around the shaft. Unlike the power staffs of the Sedfarian Casters, the runes and glyphs wrapped around the shaft, rather than being arranged in careful rows along the axis. He tested the heft, and realized the skill that Nycoh had used in crafting the piece. It was balanced and felt perfect in his hand.
“I thought I should try and learn the trigger for the green power beam that has been such a problem for us,” Rigo said.
Ash’urn nodded enthusiastically. “Both of you should.” He handed Suline one of the small wooden wands of which several were sitting to one side of his desk. “I’m sorry this is so poorly done,” he said to Suline, “but once you have learned the phrase, you will want to add the symbols to your own staff anyway. Nycoh said the necessary symbols were already incorporated into Rigo’s staff.”
Suline accepted the small wand with a smile. “These were made quickly.”
“We learned a technique when we had to train a small army to deal with the Hoplani,” Ash’urn explained. “Come, we can go outside and test it. I doubt either of you will have much trouble learning the spell. Suline is well versed in such spells, and Rigo has a command of the Sedfarian language, which makes it easier.”
They returned to the test area, and Ash’urn taught Rigo the phrase in sections. Each was a bit of a tongue twister, but Rigo was surprised how easily they became comfortable to him. Once he had mastered each piece, Ash’urn had him attempt the full phrase. Rigo stumbled a couple of times, but then the words seemed to link naturally, and he had it mastered. Suline learned it even faster, knowing most of the phrase already, and having only to modify it with the recently learned additions.
“I thought as much,” Ash’urn said smugly. “You both had little trouble with that. Rigo, you need to spend some time and you will be a Senior level Caster. It’s about time you showed some interest. Now, let’s try it with the staff and see what results.”
Rigo was surprised at the power of the beam he created. There was little doubt that Carif or any of her followers would have been unable to match him. Suline created a respectable beam of her own, but nowhere near as powerful as Rigo’s. Even so, he felt that something was missing. He knew he should be able to do better, but wasn’t sure what needed to be done differently to tap the power he sensed lurking inside. When he returned to Mitty, he carried the staff with him. He didn’t know if the new ability would be sufficient to protect Mitty should the need arise, but he felt more capable than he had just a short while earlier. He hoped he would see Nycoh in the morning. There were several things he wished to speak with her about, and to thank her for the staff. He compared his staff to the wand that Suline was using, even if temporarily, and realized Nycoh had made sure he had something far more special.
Chapter 34
Rigo had a rather spartan room at the Outpost where they could have stayed the night, but instead he and Mitty Bypassed into Sulen where he had his personal quarters and which were far more private and comfortable. Suline took one of the guestrooms at the Outpost. With the number of Casters who were making their way across the Ruins from time to time, Daim had set aside an area for their use. Initially she had planned to stay with Daria at the orphanage, but now that they were going to have to go in search of her, Suline was considering going along on the expedition. Rigo didn’t mind at all. He had a theory that might require someone like Suline to test.
The next morning they returned to the Outpost and made a point of locating Daim to tell him what they had learned. It was clear that Daim was disappointed, but Rigo wasn’t able to decide if it was because Daria and Kaler weren’t available for whatever task Daim had in mind, or because of Rigo’s expressed plans to take off and go in search of her. Daim had sent someone to inform Tara about what had happened to Burke, and she was now here at the Outpost, but uncertain what action she could take.
“This isn’t the best time to have everyone wandering off,” he said unhappily. He pointed to the staff that Rigo had by his side. “Nycoh made that for you?”
Rigo nodded. “There’s a lot of stuff on it that I have no idea what to do with, but she indicated maybe my having it would motivate me to try and learn more.”
“Insightful of her,” Daim agreed. “Did you have any luck mastering Lyes’ new discovery?”
Rigo smiled. “It is actually surprisingly easy once one knows the key. Both Suline and I are now fully qualified. I just hope it is effective against the shields some of the captive Casters are using.”
Suline was sitting next to Mitty. She had her Caster’s staff, which Rigo had seen she had already modified with the new set of symbols. There wasn’t much room for any more additions, but this way she wouldn’t have to deal with both her staff and the small wand.
“Where is Nycoh?” Mitty asked. “We hoped to see her before setting off today.”
“She and Ash’urn went off somewhere earlier. It appeared as though sh
e had something on her mind. Might have just been she wanted to get away after seeing Lyes. I can’t decide if he was pleased with being able to be in a position to teach Nycoh something, or peeved that he had to share something he could do and she couldn’t. Those two can’t seem to be around each other very long these days without some kind of issue.”
Mitty looked at Rigo. The tenseness between Nycoh and Lyes was not much of a secret anymore.
“Where is it you are going?” Daim asked.
Rigo told him what Nyll had relayed.
“Bertrack,” Daim repeated. “I think that Tomas knows that area. Look him up and see if he can’t help you get right to the Wanderer camp.”
That was good news. Rigo had hoped that someone might know the area as he had never been there, which made opening a Bypass impossible. They had planned on seeking out Nycoh or Jeen to see if they knew of anyone who could help, but Daim may have provided them the answer.
“I want you to stay in contact,” Daim said. “With the current uncertainty of what might happen, we need to be able to alert one another should something unexpected occur.” He handed Rigo one of the special contact bracelets. He set another labeled with Rigo’s name onto a pole which already contained a number of similar devices. “If I alert you, I expect you to come back immediately. If you run into trouble and need help, trigger that one.”
Rigo slipped the device over his wrist. It was a cumbersome way of signaling, but as yet nothing better had been discovered. At least they could know whether everything was all right without having to make constant trips back to check. Daim handed Suline one of the bracelets as well. As a Caster, she wouldn’t be able to detect a signal, but if she activated the one she wore, Daim would know to send help to her. Since Suline was actually a mage, even if her wizard abilities were vanishingly small, she might be somewhat sensitive to Daim’s signals.
