A Crucible of Souls (Book One of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence)

by Hogan, Mitchell

  “Probably. Anyway, it’s not important.”

  Then why ask about it? thought Caldan.

  “Alas,” said Felice, “we come finally to the bad news. An addendum added to the entry almost forty years ago stipulated that anyone with information regarding the trinket was to inform the emperor’s advisors at once, more specifically the First Adjudicators. I felt I should tell you this, and that’s the reason I consider my debt to you not fully reckoned. Because the addendum was so old, and because you intrigue me, I haven’t yet decided whether to dispatch a missive to the First Adjudicators. Actually, I have to, but I can delay doing so for a while.”

  Caldan groaned audibly. His heart felt fit to burst. “I… but why, if it was so old? Who cares anymore?”

  “Because that’s what I was asked to do.”

  “I mean, why do they need to be informed?”

  Felice shrugged. “It doesn’t say, which is a pity. If I knew why, I could decide whether to arrest you or not. Sit down! I’m not going to!”

  Having leapt to his feet, Caldan stood poised between making a break for the door and subduing Felice. Both very bad options. Taking a few deep breaths, he calmed slightly when no guards came bursting in.

  Felice’s laughter brought him to his senses. She seemed genuinely amused at his reaction. “Please sit down,” she repeated between chuckles. “If I wanted to arrest you, you would have been taken as soon as you walked into the keep. And why bother sending a note to summon you?”

  “Ah… yes, I can see that now. I just…” The bone ring pressed guiltily into his chest.

  With a wave of her hand, Felice dismissed his embarrassment. “The addendum was very specific, but I like you, so here’s what I am going to do. You,” she pointed a finger at Caldan, “are going to sit tight. Don’t leave Anasoma while I make further inquiries. A few weeks’ delay informing the First Adjudicators won’t matter after all this time. And if there is anything you’re not telling me, you would be wise to rethink your reluctance and be forthright. Am I clear?”

  By the ancestors, she knows! No, how could she? She suspects. It is one of the possibilities and she has to cover them all, as any good Dominion player would.

  Palms sweaty and heart racing, Caldan replied as calmly as he could. “I’ve told you everything I know. It all happened when I was young. I don’t know anymore.”

  Felice stared at him a few moments then nodded. “Very well. Once I have gathered as much information as I can, I’ll send the missive. If I were you, I’d wait for their response. It will come to me and we can decide what to do. Agreed?”

  Not seeing any other option at the moment, Caldan nodded.

  As soon as he arrived back in his room, Caldan drew out the bone ring. It looked exactly as it always had, just bone with runes carved into the surface. A fake trinket without any of the usual properties or powers. Such a cheap copy, it wasn’t even made of metal. What was special about it? Felice had asked too casually for him to dismiss the ring out of hand. There had to be more to the story, though judging from Felice’s behavior, she didn’t know much more than he did. It had probably been in the addendum she mentioned.

  Caldan sat on his bed and put his head in his hands. At least he had gained some information from Felice, which was a start. But it looked like, instead of him having to venture out and find more information, it was going to come straight to him. A few weeks for Felice to research what she could, then a few months for a messenger to reach the capital and return with a response. He didn’t care to think of what would happen then. Nothing good, he was certain.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Barrows lay to the east of the Sorcerers’ Guild, bordered by the River Modder. A less well-to-do district than West Barrows, Parkside or Five Flowers, it was conveniently close to the major guilds without being too expensive. It had become an area where a great many businesses set up shop as those that provided materials and equipment to the guilds found it ideal due to its close proximity. The River Modder and the North Road were perfect for resupplying stocks as the voracious appetites of the guilds ate them up.

  Discreet inquiries among the apprentices and a few journeymen had directed Caldan here. It was obvious once he thought of it; there had to be merchants close to the guilds, and where there were large merchant businesses there were also small ones. The merchants who dealt with the guilds were contracted to abide by certain rules to keep their business. It hadn’t taken Caldan long to learn that all rare earths the merchants acquired were to be exclusively sold to the Sorcerers’ Guild, with their reputation and the guaranteed flow of ducats more than enough to prevent the merchants from gouging prices. Still, materials entered the city through other avenues, and the merchants were by no means the only sources of the metals Caldan needed.

  He found himself in the streets of Barrows, first stop a jewelry supplier for the majority of the metal and some beeswax. He tucked the pouch of white gold deep into a pants pocket then put his purse on top, lighter by a fair sum of ducats. With luck, he would still have enough left for some rare earths, depending on what price the merchant wanted and his own bargaining skills. He carried a lump of beeswax the size of his fist wrapped in cloth.

  Four Quivers stood at an intersection a few paces from the shop and eyed him as he left. They resumed surveying the crowd, eyes and ears alert for any disturbance.

  Caldan crossed the intersection and made his way up another street, passing a butcher’s shop and a merchant selling uncommon liquors and ales from around the empire. Soon he stood in front of a chandler’s, and according to his information, across from this was the general store that stocked a supply of rare earths.

  As he pushed through a beaded curtain and entered the store, a tinkling came from some bells. Inside, the air was fragrant with the merchandise stored in barrels and crates and on the shelves around the walls were wood and iron, oils and leather. Hardly any dust, though, and the floor and surfaces looked as clean and polished as any he had seen in the city. Caldan sniffed the air again. Underlying it all was the scent of something… rancid.

  Behind a counter at the back, the shopkeeper stepped through a dark doorway. Tall, with close-cropped hair, he moved fluidly, gliding around the end of the counter. Caldan started. The man had a faint reddish glow to his skin.

  Caldan blinked and the glow was gone.

  “Why, hello there,” the shopkeeper said.

  Caldan breathed in to reply and choked, his nose filled with a stench akin to rotting meat. He coughed and blew out his nose to clear it.

  “Oh dear, are you all right, good sir?”

  Caldan shook his head and tentatively took a short breath. Nothing. The reek had cleared. Strange, maybe he was getting a fever, or the stress of what he was about to do was preying on his nerves.

  “Sorry, just a dizzy spell. Perhaps I have been working too hard.” Caldan wiped a hand across his brow. The shopkeeper gave him a concerned look, probably wondering what had walked into his store.

  “And what work would that be, young sir? I would normally place a muscular lad like yourself as a guard recruit or apprentice blacksmith, but I can sense something else about you. Something that sets you apart, an… intelligence.”

  Caldan shook his head, bemused. “I’m apprenticed in the Sorcerers’ Guild.” He decided not to mention the Protectors.

  “Apprenticed? Aren’t you a little… old?”

  “I only recently arrived here and was lucky enough to find a position with them.”

  “Indeed you were. No doubt you have family in the city?”

  “No, no family to speak of.”

  The shopkeeper smiled. “A shame. Forgive me.” He held out a hand. “My name is Amerdan.”

  Caldan eyed the hand suspiciously, wishing he knew why he had seen a faint glow over the man’s skin. He clasped the hand in his own and shook. No sensation, other than the man had a grip like a vice.

  “Caldan,” he replied, squeezing back for a moment before they both released.
Caldan thought he had been assessed in some way.

  “So, young Caldan, an apprentice of the sorcerers. Why, I imagine you must learn all sorts of things up there with those powerful men and women. And I must say, you aren’t like any sorcerer I’ve ever met. Aren’t they all… bookish, pale from studying by candlelight?”

  “Most are like that, I have to admit. From what I’ve seen so far, there are different talents there. I may be more inclined to physical skills, but I guess I’ll find out if I have a talent for the rest.”

  Amerdan looked disappointed. “Well, what brings you to my shop? Ink, pens, paper? Mayhap a lamp?” He touched a finely worked lamp atop a crate.

  “I heard you might have some rare earth metals. I’d be interested in having a look, and if they’re what I require, purchasing some.”

  “Ah.” Amerdan moved back behind the counter and retrieved a wooden box, two hands square and one high. He placed it carefully on the counter and opened the lid. “I do happen to have a few ingots left, as well as some crystals.”

  The box was divided into eight separate compartments, each holding ingots or crystal chunks on rough pieces of hessian. He recognized all the crystals but was only interested in two. Caldan sighed under his breath with relief. The samples held both minerals he required to mix the alloy he wanted.

  Glancing at Amerdan for permission, he picked up a yellow, translucent, sharp-edged crystal. There was more than enough here for his needs, and he selected another crystal, placing both on the counter next to the box, each the size of his thumbnail. Next, he selected a similar sized piece of a reddish hexagonal crystal.

  “Vanadis, and good quality, too.” He placed it with the yellow crystal. “I’m afraid that’s all I need. Do you have a set price for them? I’m only an apprentice, so my funds are limited.” He looked at Amerdan, who was frowning at the crystals on the counter.

  “One moment.” Amerdan removed a handkerchief from his pocket and settled it on the counter before placing the three crystals on top. “There. Ah, well… truth be told, I have had the minerals for a while, and they aren’t selling as quickly as I’d like.”

  Caldan blinked. A strange shopkeeper. One who didn’t try to haggle over the price, or at least he was doing a bad job. He decided to take the initiative.

  “For all three small crystals, I would expect to pay, say, two silver ducats for each of the yellow and three and a half silvers for the vanadis.” He fetched his purse out and started counting coins. He had a mix of five silvers and the rest copper, and had to count enough copper to cover the difference.

  “That seems fair enough. Perhaps you could spread word among your colleagues about my shop? And that I have some rare earths for sale?” He wrapped the three crystals in the handkerchief and slid the bundle across the counter.

  “So tell me, Caldan, what exactly do you do as an apprentice?”

  “Mostly crafting, metallurgy and alchemy.”

  “Crafting? And do you have a talent for… that sort of thing?”

  Caldan double-checked his coins and held his hand out. “I like to think I do.”

  Amerdan gave a pleased smile. “Excellent. The world needs people with talent. Be sure to learn all you can, to stretch yourself.” He paused. “If I might be so bold, I have a question for you.”

  Caldan shrugged, itching to be off and working on his crafting design but not wanting to appear rude. After all, he might have to come back here if he needed more rare earths. “Go ahead,” he said.

  “A… friend of mine, who is the shy sort, needs some crafting done. He values his privacy and has a need for the type of locks more complex than a blacksmith can make. Truth to tell, he is paranoid about his security and is reluctant to go to the Sorcerers’ Guild for what he needs. He fears thieves would make use of the information, if they knew, so would prefer a… how do you say? Quieter solution.”

  “I’m not sure, I mean… if the man has something to hide…”

  “No, no, nothing of the sort. He has certain valuables which he would like to keep secure, as well as his personal safety. Same as any man of means.”

  “Well, if it’s all above board then I might be able to assist.” Caldan thought of the now poor state of his purse and how much he could charge for such work.

  “Totally legitimate. Probably one door lock and a chest lock. Though I would have to confirm the details, but that won’t take long. How can I contact you? A message to the guild?”

  “It would be better if I came back here when I have some free time. It won’t be too long.”

  “Excellent. Then I’ll expect to see you in the next few days?”

  Caldan’s pressing need at the moment was the work he needed to do to complete his crafting. After that he could see to the state of his purse. His name was becoming known around the Yawning Rabbit Inn, and his Dominion winnings dwindled as the odds against him decreased. This sounded like a good solution, some ducats to tide him over in the short-term.

  “Perhaps a week,” he began and saw Amerdan stiffen. “I have a lot of work to complete. I’m afraid it can’t be sooner.”

  “Well,” said Amerdan, disappointed, “these things can’t be helped. Best you be off to start your work. The sooner you are finished, the sooner you can make it back here.”

  Amerdan held his hand out, palm up. Caldan handed him the coins and scooped up the handkerchief with his crystals inside. “Thank you,” he said. “I’ll be sure to mention your shop to other apprentices. I wasn’t expecting to find the minerals I needed all in one place.”

  “It seems this has been a good day for both of us.”

  Caldan nodded. “Thank you again, sir. I’ll see you in a week.” He turned and exited the shop through the beaded curtain.

  Amerdan watched the young man’s back as he left. A callow youth, but from what he said, talented. But there was something about the man, a feeling he had when they were close, a niggling in his mind he had never felt before. Almost… an affinity.

  Amerdan scoffed at the thought. He had been experiencing strange sensations in his mind since disposing of the apprentice to the sorcerers. Such a pathetic thing, it had been. Unworthy to survive.

  He frowned at the itch in his mind, which had started only recently. His thoughts probed at it, like a tongue at a chipped tooth.

  Never mind. The youth, Caldan, would be back before long, which gave Amerdan time for research, to find out whether he was worthy before taking things further. He opened his hand to count the coins.

  Seven and a half silver ducats in total. Five silver coins and five sets of five coppers. Amerdan laughed. Of course.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Aidan felt Anshul grab his arm and tug him to a halt. They ducked into the nearby doorway of yet another deserted house. A musty odor wafted out, like all the other houses they had encountered so far in the town.

  “Let’s check one more,” said the swordsman, and Aidan nodded.

  Around them, the house appeared as all the others had, as if the occupants had left in the middle of whatever they had been doing. On a table sat four plates, four sets of eating utensils, four mugs. A platter in the center held the remains of a meal: a leg bone and some dried scraps of unidentifiable vegetables. All the surfaces were covered in a fine layer of dust. Nothing had entered the house since the occupants left, until now.

  Aidan motioned for them to leave, and they joined Caitlyn outside.

  “Same again, my lady,” whispered Aidan. “Not a soul around and dust covering everything.” It’s as if they disappeared one day, in the middle of whatever they were doing.

  She sniffed and wrinkled her nose. “Perhaps they didn’t fight what came for them and joined it like many would these days.”

  Aidan glanced at cel Rau. “Perhaps they didn’t have a chance to resist.”

  Caitlyn shook her head. “Everyone has a chance, unless they are weak. Let’s keep going.”

  They moved silently into the night, their group spread out along five stree
ts, all traveling parallel to each other.

  So far they had not heard a sound from the other groups, which meant they should be making similar progress. Caitlyn and her men were getting closer to their quarry, who if luck wasn’t with them would be surrounded before they had an inkling anything was amiss.

  Ahead, a hiss from Chalayan brought them to a halt again. Caitlyn motioned Aidan and cel Rau to follow as she sidled up to the sorcerer.

  “What is it?” she demanded, pitching her voice low.

  The sorcerer’s face was beaded with sweat and he trembled. “Something… ahead…”

  “What?” whispered Caitlyn impatiently.

  “Give me time,” snapped Chalayan back at her.

  Caitlyn glared at the sorcerer.

  “There’s something… old here,” said Chalayan.

  “Old? What do you mean?”

  “Sorcery, years old. Yet traces of it still remain. Such power…” His voice trailed off.

  Caitlyn touched Chalayan’s shoulder. “Not recent, then? Good. Nothing for us to worry about.”

  “There’s something else, more recent, ahead of us. A crafting. I think it crosses the street.”

  “A trap?”

  The sorcerer shook his head. “Wait.” He whispered a few words and squinted. One his crafted amulets around his neck flashed briefly.

  “It’s… a trigger. An alarm.”

  “Ancestors’ shadow!” cursed Caitlyn. “Across the street?”

  Chalayan nodded then went back to staring ahead.

  “All the streets are probably guarded the same way.”

  “I agree,” said Aidan. “We need to stop the men going forward until we can find a way around or deactivate the crafting.” He expected Caitlyn to disagree.

  “We can’t stop all of them without giving away our positions,” said Caitlyn.

  “They’ll be given away anyway, if the alarms are tripped.”

  “We don’t know there is more than one.”

  “It makes sense that…”