“Get off of me, Quinn,” Mansel said through gritted teeth.
Quinn stood up and brushed the dirt from his clothes.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Quinn,” Mansel said. “But if you ever threaten me with a blade again, I will.”
Quinn shook his head. He couldn’t believe how dense his apprentice could be. On the one hand, he knew he needed to give Mansel a chance to salvage his pride—that was why he’d been so easy on him after he’d made a fool of himself the day before. But now, it seemed like he didn’t care about anything anymore.
“I won’t threaten you again,” Quinn said sadly. “If I draw my blade on you, it’ll be to use it.”
“Then that will be the last thing you’ll ever do.”
They rode hard all day, neither speaking. They didn’t stop to eat or to rest the horses. Quinn knew they were close to the coast. His plan had been to take passage on a fast ship heading south. He wasn’t sure what Mansel would do, but he couldn’t worry about that now. He knew that Mansel had a problem, but he also knew that until Mansel could admit that he had a problem, there was no hope of fixing it. They rode through the night and reached the seaport of Lorye early the next morning. The horses were exhausted and Quinn paid for them to stay in a livery stable until he and Mansel returned.
For his part, Mansel went along with Quinn’s plan. His anger and fear had boiled down into a growing resentment, but he knew that taking a ship would be the fastest way to reach Osla. If he’d taken a different route, he might have parted company with Quinn, but at this point it was foolish. They found a ship that was scheduled to set sail with the tide that afternoon and booked passage on board. They brought their saddles, their weapons, and a supply of food and drink for the voyage. The ship was a small, two-masted vessel, built for speed, but with enough room to serve as a cargo vessel. Quinn and Mansel were given a small room with a trunk for their food and two hammocks.
Mansel was tired after their long ride and decided to go to sleep. Unfortunately, the hammock, which seemed so comfortable at first, soon felt confining. And the constant motion of the ship wreaked havoc on his stomach. The ship was just setting out on its voyage south when Mansel came running from his cabin to the railing and vomited over the side. After he finished coughing and sputtering, he looked over and saw that Quinn was already at the ship’s railing. The older man looked green. He was sitting on a stool and had his head propped on the rail.
“Are you sick, too?” Mansel asked.
“I wish I was dead,” Quinn moaned. “I forgot how terrible the first few days at sea are.”
“Days?” Mansel asked.
“Everyone’s different,” Quinn said. “It used to take me a couple of days to get used to things.”
Mansel felt his stomach quivering and gripped the rail. He was oblivious to the sailors who were bustling about the ship and paying their passengers no attention at all.
“You mean I’m going to puke for two days?”
“Maybe more,” Quinn groaned. “Maybe more.”
Chapter 16
“I would suggest we take fifty men,” Sir Hausey said. “We can position the rest strategically to cover our retreat.”
“You don’t think our plan can work, then?” Zollin asked.
He was meeting with the army commander in the fort. The sun was setting and the events of the day had been swept away by the planning for their mission to find and kill the dragon.
“Nothing we’ve tried so far has worked,” Hausey said. “I’m not being pessimistic, I’m merely being practical.”
“You haven’t had me with you before,” Zollin said.
“I do not doubt that you can do what you claim to be able to do,” Hausey said. “I’ve seen you do things I did not think possible, but it is the cunning of the dragon that I fear most. It seems to outthink us at every turn.”
“We don’t know enough about the beast,” Zollin admitted. “And we don’t yet know enough about the ruins at Ornak, but we should be able to make a stand even if things don’t go as planned. Still, I’ll leave the distribution of your forces to your discretion. Just be sure that I have men who can work with stone. And I can drill your archers with moving targets, if you like.”
Hausey nodded and Zollin left the man’s quarters. He was still tired, but feeling stronger. Kelvich had retrieved Zollin’s staff and he was thankful for its strength as he walked along. He found Jax waiting for him. The two of them left the fort.
“Everyone’s at Miriam’s,” Jax said. “I wanted to fetch you because I have a favor to ask.”
“And what is that?” Zollin said.
“I want to go with you,” Jax said.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I can help,” Jax pleaded. “And I won’t get in the way, I promise. Please, Zollin! I really want to go. I’ve got no reason to say here.”
“It’s dangerous where we’re going,” Zollin said. “You know that we’re going to fight the dragon, right? It isn’t just a fun trip or a field exercise.”
“I know that, but I really want to go. I know I can help you.”
“I don’t think I can keep you safe,” Zollin said as they wound around the crowds of people in the narrow streets.
“You won’t have to, I can take care of myself.”
“I’m sure you can, in the city.”
“No, listen, I know how to look after myself. I’ve been doing it for years.”
“With help,” Zollin added.
“And without it. I always pull my weight, and I know I can help.”
Zollin didn’t know what to do. Of course he had no intention of letting Jax get anywhere near the dragon, but he recognized the pleading look in Jax’s eyes. The boy was useful, and he had helped Brianna, saved her, in fact, from the ruffians who would have done God knows what to her. He owed the boy something for that and, in truth, he enjoyed having Jax around. It reminded him of life before he was a wizard.
“I’ll have to talk to the others about it,” Zollin said.
Jax beamed. “That’s all I’m asking for,” he said.
They turned a corner and angled across the street. The crowds of people were thick, many of them just looking for a morsel to eat or a dry place to sleep for the night. Many had children with scared expressions who they herded through the crowded streets. Jax was smiling, almost swaggering as he led the way. Zollin still couldn’t remember the way to Miriam’s house, especially with all the refugees flocking to the city.
“I knew I’d find you sooner or later, boy,” came a gruff voice from behind them.
Jax turned quickly around, his eyes wide and then, just as quickly, he sprinted up the street. He got about ten paces before a man in front of them grabbed the boy and lifted him up off the ground.
Zollin’s defenses had gone up as soon as he heard the voice. He turned and saw two men, one was tall and lanky, the other was of medium build, with a poorly mended gash across his face.
“What’s going on?” Zollin said.
“This doesn’t concern you,” said the shorter man. “The boy’s due a little payback, that’s all.”
“Let him go!” Zollin said angrily. He realized he was dealing with the men who had attacked Brianna and he immediately felt the flames of his power flash up inside him. His staff’s magic was mingling with his own, but he didn’t let it show.
“Now, listen,” said the scar-faced man. “We’ll be taking our pound of flesh from this boy, and unless you want the beating of your life, you’ll move along.”
Zollin didn’t mince words. His primary concern was Jax’s safety, so he reached with his magic and held the man holding Jax.
“Don’t worry, Jax,” Zollin said.
“You’ll need more than a stick to deal with us,” said the taller man.
“Here, you take it,” Zollin said, tossing his staff at the man.
The brigand instinctively caught the staff, but Zollin let the branch’s power crackle to life and it shocked
the man so hard he flew backwards, his hands blackened and every hair on his body standing on end.
The scar-faced man stepped forward and thrust a knife at Zollin’s side, but before the blade could reach him, Zollin lashed out with a slap of magic that knocked the man backwards. The crowd backed up and formed an open space in the street. Zollin turned to Jax and forced the man’s hand to let go of the boy, who scurried away. Then Zollin lifted the man into the air. The crowd gasped, even as the ruffian fell headfirst onto the hard paving stones.
Zollin felt the attack of the scar-faced man coming and he jumped forward to avoid it. The man had gotten back to his feet and rushed forward, slashing with his knife. It was a short blade, thick and not well made. Zollin focused on the weapon and soon it was too hot to touch.
“What the hell?” the ruffian shouted as he dropped the blade.
“You attacked a woman today,” Zollin said calmly.
“No we didn’t,” the man said angrily. He was circling Zollin, looking for an opening to exploit, but Zollin’s lack of defense and calm demeanor made him hesitant to attack.
The other man, who had held Jax, was starting to get up, but Jax rushed forward and hit the man in the back of the head with a little leather woven weapon that Jax kept in his pack. It was weighted with wood on one end and knocked the assailant instantly unconscious.
“It’s just you and me now,” said Zollin. “Confess your crime and I’ll go easy on you.”
“I’ll break you like a dry twig,” the man threatened, but Zollin could tell he didn’t mean it.
“You attacked a woman today; that was a mistake.”
“I didn’t attack anyone.”
“Then what happened to your face?”
“That boy hit me with a rock,” he said angrily. “And he’ll pay for that.”
“No, he saved the woman you were assaulting, and it’s you who’s going to pay. This is your last chance: admit what you did in front of all these people and I’ll go easy on you.”
“I didn’t do nothing,” the man snarled.
“Have it your way.”
The man rushed forward, but Zollin merely levitated him into the air.
“My name is Zollin,” he said loudly to the crowd. “I’ve been sent by King Felix to deal with the dragon. I know things look bleak, but soon you’ll be able to return to your homes. I promise we will kill or drive the beast away.”
“How you gonna do it?” came a voice from the crowd.
“I’m going to use magic,” said Zollin.
The scar-faced man was screaming for mercy, but Zollin ignored him.
“What we can’t tolerate is lawlessness,” Zollin said. “The soldiers at the fort are doing all they can to help, but most of them will be going with me to fight the dragon. If you value safety and justice, then it is up to you to make the city safe. Work with the soldiers, take care of the people in need around you. You can leave Felson better than how you found it.
“Come along, Jax, it’s time to go,” Zollin said. “Please send the King’s soldiers to Miriam the animal healer’s home. That’s where they’ll find me and this man,” Zollin pointed to the scar-faced man wailing over his head. “The woman he attacked is there and she can testify to his crimes. Anyone who wants to is free to come with us to see that he is treated fairly.”
Zollin picked up his staff, his stomach was burning with hunger and his arms and legs felt heavy. He put his free hand on Jax’s shoulder, and the crowd parted before them. They walked slowly to Miriam’s and by the time they arrived, a large crowd was following them.
Zollin slumped onto a stool and lowered the scar-faced man to the ground.
“What’s going on?” Miriam said as she came hurrying out of her house.
“This is the man that attacked Brianna,” Zollin said.
“You hunted him down?” Miriam asked.
“No, he and his friends attacked Jax as we were coming here. I’ve sent for troops and if Brianna identifies the man, then they can deal with him however they see fit.”
“What’s going on here?” came a loud voice from the crowd.
Everyone looked up to see a centurion and three soldiers, all with spears, push their way through the crowd. They came to stand in front of Zollin.
“Sir, I believe this man attacked Brianna earlier today,” Zollin said.
“I didn’t,” cried the scar-faced man. “I was attacked by this sorcerer and he’s holding me here against my will.”
“Where is this Brianna?” asked the centurion. He was younger than Yorik, but he still had the hard look of a life spent in the King’s Army.
“She’s inside,” Miriam said. “I’ll go get her.”
It was only a moment before Miriam returned. Brianna looked surprised. She had been resting, her body still dealing with the shock of her dislocated arm, although the injury had been healed completely. She had fallen asleep, and Miriam woke her and led her outside.
“Are you Brianna?” the centurion asked her.
She nodded her head and took Zollin’s hand, who had stood up and was now standing beside her.
“Did this man attack you today?” the soldier asked.
Brianna looked at the scar-faced man. He was weeping and his wound was running with a clear liquid that made her stomach twist.
“Yes,” she said to the centurion. “How did you find him?” she asked Zollin.
“He and two of his cohorts attacked Jax,” Zollin said.
“And then Zollin walloped them,” Jax said proudly. “And I helped.”
“He and two others took me against my will early in the day,” Brianna explained to the soldiers. “I don’t know what I would have done if Jax hadn’t shown up and helped me. As it was, they dislocated my shoulder and would have done more, I’m sure.”
“Alright,” the centurion said. “Take him to the fort,” he ordered his men. “We won’t allow lawlessness in the city,” the soldier said loudly to the crowd. “Now you all disperse and go home.”
“We don’t have homes,” someone shouted.
“Well then find shelter wherever you can,” the centurion shouted. “Commander Hausey’s going after the dragon tomorrow. You’ll have your homes back. You can bet on that.”
“What about the wizard?” someone shouted. “Are you really going after the dragon?”
“Yes,” Zollin said.
There was murmuring and talking among the crowd, which was reluctant to leave, but the soldiers began pushing them back and Zollin followed Miriam into the house, along with Brianna and Jax.
“I can’t leave you alone for a minute,” Brianna said.
“They attacked us,” Zollin said.
“At least you didn’t kill him.”
“I wanted to. Once I realized who it was, it took a lot of control not to blast them to bits in the street.”
“You did the right thing,” Miriam said. She was preparing a meal and set a cup of wine in front of Zollin. “I imagine you’ll need this.”
“Thank you,” Zollin said. He took a drink and felt better immediately.
“So what’s the plan?” Brianna asked.
Zollin took his time outlining Sir Hausey’s ideas. They would meet the commander just after dawn the next day, and Zollin was looking forward to getting some rest. Kelvich came in just before Miriam finished preparing their meal. She had cooked a hearty stew and she had fresh bread from the bakery, cheese, butter, wine, and cider.
After Zollin had polished off his first bowl of stew, he looked over at Brianna.
“Jax wants to go with us,” he said.
Brianna looked up, first at Zollin, then at Jax. He was small for his age, thin and not quite as tall as most twelve-year-olds, but he had bright, intelligent eyes and a hopeful expression.
“Why?” Brianna asked.
“I want to help,” he said. “I know I can, just give me a chance, please.” He was looking back and forth from Kelvich, who was staring intently at him, to Brianna, who was frowning.
“No,” Miriam said. “It’s much too dangerous.”
“No more so than running loose in the streets,” Zollin said. “I brought in one of the men, but the other two are still free. Who knows what kind of trouble they might cook up?”
“And there are lots of bad men in town,” Jax added. “I do well enough avoiding them. I’m sure I can avoid a dragon.”
“I don’t know,” Brianna said. “Jax, I owe you more than anyone here, but I don’t know if I could live with myself if you got hurt.”
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