“I swear he will want to see me.”
The guard shoved through the line at the doorway. No one complained, though they all looked unhappy about Turesobei skipping ahead. As it was, the baojendari were clearly allowed to skip ahead of any zaboko who were in line.
The guard introduced him to a bureaucrat in orange formal robes who interviewed each person seeking a hearing. His eyes were glazed with boredom as he stroked his long beard. A clerk behind him recorded each person and their complaint in the register.
The bureaucrat rolled his eyes. “An emergency? I don’t really need this, you know. You just made the whole line more unhappy.”
“I am very sorry, sir. But I do need to see the magistrate. I am Chonda Turesobei.” He pulled out his official seal from his money pouch, so he could prove his identity. “I need—”
The bureaucrat, actually paying him attention at last, locked eyes on him. The man lifted his hand and then turned to the clerk. “Strike that name. Guardsman, send the line home. Tell them to return in the morning.”
Turesobei fidgeted and took a deep breath to steady his nerves. The man knew who he was and was clearing the entire afternoon’s schedule. Had his fame spread that far, or was there something bad going on? A secret alliance with the Gawo? No, Tikaso had long been neutral in the conflict. Surely they hadn’t abandoned that policy.
The guard closed the door and made his announcement. Grumbles and a few shouts sounded through the door.
“Pay them no heed, my lord.” The bureaucrat bowed. “I’m Secretary Zeino. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Chonda.”
Turesobei pocketed his official identity seal. Apparently it wasn’t needed.
“How do you know who I am?”
He smiled absently and didn’t answer the question. “Follow me, my lord.”
Avoidance … not a good sign. He didn’t like how this was going, but there was no turning back now. He needed help. He had to see it through.
The ornate audience hall stretched far longer than necessary. Oak columns held up a lattice roof from which enormous lanterns hung. The windows were shuttered. At the end of the hall stood a dais the height of a man. The magistrate sat behind a table on the dais. Three councilors flanked him to each side. Was it really necessary to have seven men to judge all these cases? He’d never heard of such a thing outside Batsa, but that was the capital of Batsakun, and the magistrate courts with multiple judges handled only the large disputes between noblemen or the various provinces.
Standing before the dais, straining to look up to the magistrate, a fishmonger pleaded his case. Turesobei broke out into a sweat. He wiped his forehead with his sleeve.
“Wait here,” said Secretary Zeino.
The bureaucrat climbed a set of stairs and whispered to the magistrate. The magistrate’s eyes went wide and his jowls quivered. He said something to Zeino then stood. His enormous belly knocked over a cup of wine. He glanced at in frustration then spoke to the merchant.
“We have a most urgent matter to attend to. Come back tomorrow and we shall complete your case then. You will be the first allowed in.”
A guard escorted the perplexed merchant out and Turesobei stepped forward. Secretary Zeino descended and stood beside Turesobei.
“Your Honor, I present Lord Chonda Turesobei from Ekaran. He has come to ask a boon of us.” He turned to Turesobei. “My Lord, behold His Honor Magistrate Motoki.” He named the councilors present but Turesobei didn’t pay the names any attention.
Bows were exchanged and Zeino exited the audience hall, leaving Turesobei alone with Magistrate Motoki and the councillors. It wasn’t wise to leave him in here unguarded. He had the power to wipe them all out if he wanted. Did they realize that? If their clans had been enemies … Not that he could ever do such a thing. But the thought made him relax a little. He could fight his way out of here if he absolutely had to.
“As you may know, I am the heir of the title of High Wizard of the Chonda.”
“We are well aware,” said Motoki in a booming voice. “Word of your deeds has spread far and wide.”
“Your Honor, I present to you a dire matter. A plot against the land that I have uncovered. Obviously I wasn’t near home when this happened.”
Motoki seemed alarmed. “What matter is this? We will help if we can. Our clans have long enjoyed friendship. But if it concerns war with the Gawo …”
“It has nothing to do with the Gawo. Though it concerns all of us. Okoro will soon be plunged into endless winter by a group known as the Deadly Twelve.”
“I have never heard of them.” Motoki glanced at the councillors, but they shook their heads.
“They are assassins from the Old World. Chonda Lu killed them but they have returned from the dead. They are going to open the Winter Gate and unleash the One Hundred and the Eight and eternal winter.”
The magistrate restrained a laugh. One of the councillors giggled. The rest smirked. He’d known this was a stretch, but if they’d heard of him and the Storm Dragon’s Heart, why would they so easily doubt what he was saying?
“You must believe me.” Turesobei laid out all the details, quickly. He told them everything he could about the situation that wasn’t a secret, like Lu Bei and Aikonshi. He explained in detail what he needed. Three squads of soldiers, passage down the Tomo to Batsa, a ship to Zangaiden, mounts, and two wizards if they could spare them.
“I promise that the Chonda will reimburse you any expenses. I would have gone home. As it is, I’m sending a message. But we cannot wait the extra ten days or more it would take for me to get help from home.”
When he finished the councillors laughed. Magistrate Motoki showed no reaction. Did he at least believe him?
“Please, you’ve got to help me. I am not a liar.”
A councillor said, “You’re just a boy. Wizard or not, what do you know? It sounds like a lot of bunk.”
Another said, “Someone has deceived you, Lord Chonda. This nonsense about the Twelve Who Are Three and One and the One Hundred and the Eight … I’ve never heard of such groups before.”
“Maybe a spell has gone wrong and made your head go wonky,” said one.
“Or maybe he’s just having a bit of fun with us,” another added, snickering.
Turesobei’s cheeks flushed. Why wouldn’t they believe him?! Wasn’t it worth the risk, even if they thought he was wrong? The cost wasn’t too great, especially if the whole continent could be in danger. Millions of people would starve and die during endless winter.
A door to the side of the dais opened and Zeino entered. Motoki, still not showing any reaction, stood and smoothed out his robes.
“Lord Chonda, if you would follow me into my private courtyard, please. Perhaps there you can fill me in with greater detail. I sense that you are leaving out some things.”
More snickers followed. He ignored them and focused his mind on his mission and Magistrate Motoki who didn’t mock him. He followed the magistrate into a lavish garden courtyard walled off behind the Magistrate’s Office.
“Your Honor, you know of my exploits last year. Please listen and understand that I know what I’m talking about and would never seek to deceive you with a childish prank.”
“I am deeply sorry, Lord Chonda. It sounds highly implausible.”
“You don’t want to hear more?”
“It would do no good.”
Then why invite him out here? It didn’t make any sense. “Fine. I’ll just have to save the continent on my own.”
Through the door behind him twenty soldiers with their weapons drawn stormed into the courtyard. A wizard with a spell strip in hand strolled in behind them.
“I truly am sorry, Lord Chonda, but I simply cannot let you leave.”
Chapter 43
“If there is such a threat as you claim,” said the magistrate, “which I highly doubt, you will have to convince King Ugara and High Wizard Kahenan.”
Turesobei’s hand twitched toward his spell pouch. He would fight his way out if
he had to.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I received the order to detain you from the High King’s Office four days ago, a day after a message came from King Ugara, requesting the same. They thought you might be coming this way.”
“Why does the High King care?”
“Because he is trying to prevent war between the Chonda and the Gawo.”
“Good luck with that.”
“My sentiments as well. But your family was worried after you ran away. It is lucky that you were caught in friendly territory. Now, where are you companions?”
“What companions?”
Magistrate Motoki sighed. “Do not play games. We know from the letter that there are others with you. We will find them. It would be so much easier if you would just tell me.”
The soldiers closed in a step. Turesobei moved his hand away from the spell pouch. To get away now, he’d have to kill most of these men. Then he’d have to fight his way out of the city. He wasn’t willing to do that to people who didn’t mean him harm. They were just doing their jobs. He’d have to find another way.
“I will not betray my companions.”
“Ah well, loyalty. I can’t fault you for that. They should not be hard to find, though, I think.”
“So what now? You’re going to lock me up?
“You will find the accommodation comfortable. You and your friends will be treated with the utmost respect, I assure you, until representatives from the Chonda Clan arrive to pick you up.”
Motoki, twelve of the soldiers, and the wizard led him into a small building near the Magistrate’s Office. Inside was a hallway and eight well-furnished rooms. Aside from the locks, the reinforced doors, and the guards, it could have been a wing in a nice hotel. His was the room at the end of the hallway. Aside from the bed, the room had a water closet and a writing table. Warding runes covered the doors and walls.
He wanted desperately to make a break for it, but he’d have all of Tumokon after him. He’d never escape. It would just make it harder. The only thing now was to convince Kahenan and hope the Winter Child held out long enough. And Iniru … He couldn’t think about her. He’d done all he could to get there fast. He’d have to go the slow way now, unless he found some way to break out.
“I have heard tell of your power,” said Magistrate Motoki. “My wizards tell me that it’s not possible, even for you, to break free. I would ask that you please not try. I will have many guards posted outside. You will be stopped if you can make it out of here.”
Turesobei shuffled in, head hanging, tears stinging in his eyes. The door was shut and locked. The room fell into shadow, as did his heart.
~~~
As soon as the magistrate had left, Lu Bei popped out. Turesobei had convinced the Magistrate to let him keep his apparently blank diary to write in. He kept Sumada and his kavaru as well. No one would dare touch a sacred blade or a wizard’s stone. They had taken his armor, his knife, Chonda Lu’s grimoire, and his spell pouch, however. There was a slat in the door that could be pulled back so a guard could look in, but it was currently closed. No one would see the fetch.
“Do you see any way of getting out?”
“No, master.”
Turesobei opened his kenja sight and scanned the runes. “Our wizard-locked room has the same wards. These are nearly as good as ours. I think I could break them with storm energy, but I’d be weak or lost in the dream and what then?”
“Maybe this is for the best, master. You can get help from Lord Kahenan. He will believe you, I am sure of it.”
“I’m not so sure. He hasn’t heard of the Deadly Twelve before. And even if he does believe me, what about the king? He doesn’t even know about you. How can I explain all this to him?”
“You’ll find a way to convince them.”
“And I failed Shoma. She doesn’t want to go back.”
“I thought you wanted her to go home.”
“I do. I think it’s better for her. She’s making a mistake running away like this, but it’s her decision. Going home isn’t what she wants and I feel like I’ve betrayed her. And Zaiporo …”
“He made the choice to come along, master.”
“But he won’t deserve what they’ll do to him. The king will have him lashed and exiled, or imprisoned and indentured to heavy labor.” Turesobei threw his head into his hands. “I shouldn’t have come here. Now I’m stuck. And I feel … I feel like I’ve lost everything.”
Lu Bei frowned and patted him on the leg. “It will all work out, master. We can still go after Iniru. It will just take a little longer. And you could use a few days of rest.”
“I can’t beat the Deadly Twelve. I can’t get to Iniru soon enough. I’ll never convince the king. I’ll never be able to get there in time. It will take forever.” He pounded the bed with his fists. “I was so stupid to come here. Why would any of these adults believe me, a fifteen year old, when they don’t even know me?”
He flopped back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. He had to get out of here and get to Iniru. If only he could truly turn into the Storm Dragon and keep his identity and fly there …
If only he could fly there.
He shot up from the bed.
“I have a plan. There’s a ritual in Chonda Lu’s book for summoning a cloud dragon. It could fly me there.”
Lu Bei shook his head. “This one … It is too much for you, master.”
“You were the one encouraging me to do spells from the book.”
“Spells you could manage, yes. But you’re not … You’re not ready for this level yet.”
“I think I can do it. I could power the ritual with storm energy. It would work for summoning a cloud dragon.”
“You’d have to stay conscious even after opening the channel fully, and you’d have to sustain it for the course of the entire ritual. I do not think you have a chance at making it work. And cloud dragons … they are difficult, flighty, distant. You would never convince one to help you.”
“I think I could.”
“Chonda Lu never could.”
“Then why does he have a spell for it?”
“He summoned them, of course. But convincing one to do what you want is different. These are not creatures even a Kaiaru can bind.”
“Lu Bei, I’ve got try. I can’t go home. I can’t risk facing the Twelve there. If I can get to their lair, maybe I can take them by surprise.”
“You can’t do it on your own. You know that. Why else did you risk coming here?”
“I don’t want my family to get hurt. And I’d like to have the chance to save Iniru. I’m willing to die fighting them. Look, I know I’ve got a special destiny and that I’m Chonda Lu’s heir in some strange way I can’t really understand, so tell me, what would Chonda Lu do?”
Lu Bei folded his arms and pouted. “It’s not fair to use that against me.”
“Well …”
“Chonda Lu would take the battle to them. But he had the strength to fight them, and he didn’t do it alone.”
“I won’t be alone. I’ll have you.”
Lu Bei frowned. “I was useless against them last time.”
“If we fight them in Ekaran, it will already be too late to stop eternal winter. Grandfather and King Ugara, if they believe me, they will not risk letting me go. But whoever they send after them won’t stand a chance without me.”
Lu Bei sighed. “I only know one way to get out of here, master, and to give you a chance against the Deadly Twelve.” He flew up and met Turesobei eye-to-eye. “If you are willing to risk it all for this.”
“I am, Lu Bei. I must.”
“So be it.”
“What are we going to do?”
“I’m going to do something I don’t want to do. And I am going to do it for you. It’s the only chance you’ve got at pulling this off by yourself.”
“What is it?”
Lu Bei didn’t answer. He sat lotus on the floor and conjured an amber flame on the tip of hi
s index finger.
“Since when could you do that?”
“Shhh.”
With his fingertip, Lu Bei drew a circle. The magic flame stuck to the floor as if it were ink. Around the outside of the circle he drew a series of twelve runes. He chanted in a whisper. What language was that? Turesobei had never heard anything like it before.
“You never told me you could do magic before! Will the wards prevent what you are doing?”
Lu Bei paused and glared at him. “Hush. I’m trying to concentrate. It’s special magic. The wards won’t stop it.”
Knuckles tapped the door.
“I can’t stop,” Lu Bei whispered quickly. He was retracing the runes.
The slat on the door pulled back. Turesobei leapt from the bed and rushed to the door. The magistrate. Turesobei blocked his gaze by going right up to the door.
Motoki narrowed his eyes. “Is everything okay in there?”
“Of course.”
“We found your companions.”
“Are they okay?”
“They are well. They didn’t put up a fight. I am moving them into the rooms next to yours, even the zaboko boy.”
“Zaiporo … please let him go. Let him have his freedom.”
“His indenture remains in Ekaran. I cannot release him. He must live with the consequences of his actions. We will bring you dinner in an hour.”
Motoki closed the slat and left.
Lu Bei finished chanting. The flames became glowing lines. He placed his palm in the circle. His eyes glowed bright and sparks shimmered off his wings. He spoke, to whom Turesobei didn’t know.
“It is I, Lu Bei. Master needs help. You know that I would never call you if I wasn’t desperate.”
Light flashed around Lu Bei. The circle and runes he had drawn disappeared. Lu Bei collapsed back onto his behind, panting.
“Help is coming, master. Must rest now.”
His eyes shut and he turned into a book.
“Lu Bei! Lu Bei, come back right now.”
Nothing. So much for answers. What had the fetch done?
Chapter 44
Lair of the Deadly Twelve (Storm Phase Book 2) Page 18
