Wizard's Alley

by James Haddock

  “Kill the raiders, and protect the caravan,” I commanded.

  The dogs attacked, taking down horse and rider as they came to them. I rode the opposite way around the caravan, meeting the raiders head on. Staying low, I leaned over my horse’s neck. As I approached each raider, I launched a crossbow bolt into their heads or neck. The impact of the bolts knocked the raiders from their saddles. I rode the length of the caravan, killing all I came to, including the ones our guards were fighting. I was out of bolts as I turned to ride down the other side, so I launched throwing knives as I came upon raiders. As I passed burning wagons,

  Passing by the burning wagons, I sent the though: “Extinguish.”

  All the raiders were down, and a few of my dogs were still ripping into their bodies. Most of the dogs were circling the caravan looking for other targets, but they stayed close, protecting the caravan.

  I sent my senses out, but there were no other raiders in the area. They had apparently committed their entire force.

  The Caravan Master and Sergeant Vince were shouting directives, trying to restore order. I rode up to Sergeant Vince.

  “All the raiders are down; no others are in the area. My war dogs have the perimeter secured, and all the fires are out.”

  He nodded. “They are taking the wounded to the cook's wagon; help them if you can.” I nodded and rode to the cook's wagon.

  Cookie, it seemed, was also the caravan's medico. “I can help, Cookie,” I offered as he was looking at an arrow in a man's shoulder.

  “I'll take all I can get,” he said.

  Blue's memories helped me. I concentrated on the arrow and ported it out of him still intact, including all of the clothing debris.

  “That's better than I can do,” Cookie said.

  We bandaged the wound and moved on to the next casualty. Cookie used all the bandages he had, and we started using mine. We cleaned the cuts and stab wounds, and I used magic to seal them shut and stop the bleeding. There were a few broken bones that I healed on the spot, telling them it would still be sore, but that they could use the limb.

  Jessy had a nasty cut on his arm; I cleaned and sealed it. He nodded and went back to his duties. One of the Rooma men had a broken leg. I healed him. “Everyone else okay?” I asked, looking at Jacob.

  He nodded. “Yeah, we're good. Thanks.” I nodded.

  Once I had seen to all the wounded, I walked the line and checked wagons. I repaired the burnt ones as best I could. Others pitched in, giving them canvases to cover their goods. I raised several stacks of rocks and made them hot. I wanted to make sure everyone stayed warm. I also fixed Cookie's pit so he could at least feed everyone something.

  As I passed each of the raiders’ bodies, I recovered my bolts and knives. I needed to make more bolts; I didn't like running out in the middle of a fight. I took nothing else from the bodies; someone else in charge could do that. I didn't want to be accused of taking an unfair share of the spoils.

  Looking closer at the raiders’ bodies, I realized these were not a rag-tag bunch of thieves. They acted and were equipped more like mercenaries.

  Burt found me looking over one body. “Am I wrong, or do these guys look more like mercenaries than bandits?”

  He nodded. “I had the same thought. They are too well equipped and trained. They’re definitely mercs.”

  “Out of work mercs, you think, or hired for the job?” I asked.

  “Ahh, that is the question,” he said. “Once we strip the dead, we'll put all the spoils in our wagon. Each guard will take what he needs to repair or resupply what he used in the fight. After that, we'll divide up the rest. The guards and the caravan will split the horses between us.” I nodded and started helping to strip the dead.

  The “butcher’s bill," as they called the dead and wounded, was six killed and twenty-seven wounded. We lost two guards, and all but me had been hurt in some way. The mercs lost their whole force of twenty-three.

  When the Caravan Master and caravan’s people were ready, I lowered all the bodies of our fallen into the earth. I raised stone crosses to mark their graves and placed the bodies of the mercs in a separate site.

  “How long will your war dogs stay active?” Vince asked.

  “A day or so. They'll stay on guard until I send them back to the ground.”

  “Good, they will make our job easier being down two men.”

  I nodded. “I'll fill in where needed.”

  “No, you keep doing what you’re doing. I think we are more effective that way.”

  “Yes, Sergeant.”

  Burt brought me a short sword. “This is the best of the bunch; the size fits your style.”

  “Thanks,” I said, as I belted it on.

  I drew the sword; it was well cared for and in good condition. I would do more to it later to make it better. I already planned to look through the armor and use some of it to upgrade mine. Suddenly, I stopped, and a thought hit me.

  “What?” Burt said, looking around for danger.

  “Where is their camp? They had to stage somewhere before they hit us, right?”

  “Good question. They might have been a fast-moving bunch, but mercs in that size of a group usually travel with some kind of support wagons or pack animals. Let's go talk to Vince.”

  Sergeant Vince listened to us with a faraway look in his eye. “Can you find them?” he asked, looking at me.

  “If they are out there, yes. If I find nothing, at least we'll know there is no other danger from them.”

  “How are you…?” He stopped talking. “Never mind, I'm not even going to ask. Just see if there are any more mercs left out there.” I nodded and walked away from his fire.

  I went to the picket line and took care of my horse before leaving. Once she was squared away, I made sure I was alone, then dropped into the earth. I cast my senses about but felt no people other than our caravan. I went along the mercs back trail, moving faster as I travelled. I kept my senses out and looked for anything out of the ordinary.

  I had circled all the way around to where Burt and I had cut their trail earlier in the day, but I continued. Finally, I found two wagons and their teams hidden off the trail. I guess they expected to retrieve the wagons after they raided us. No one was with the wagons, as they had taken everyone on the raid. One wagon carried a little extra gear, and the other had their supplies of food and water.

  I hitched up the teams and tied a lead rope from the second team to the lead wagon and started toward our caravan. I didn't get back to the caravan until well after midnight. I parked the wagon at Vince's fire.

  “Anyone?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “No one. They hid the wagons and brought everyone to attack us.” We unhitched and picketed the horses. “I need to rest; a lot of magic was used today.”

  “Go ahead, we'll be staying here at least for tomorrow.”

  I went to my bedroll and was asleep almost before lying down. Sometime during the night, I sank into the earth and seemed to heal quicker that way.

  I woke refreshed the next morning and went to the cook wagon. I was starving, so Cookie served me a double portion.

  “I've worked with wizards before,” he said, “and I figured you'd be starving this morning.”

  “Thanks, Cookie.” I ate as I walked the caravan line. Everyone greeted me as either Master Gray or Sir Wizard. It felt nice.

  I stopped by Vince's fire. “Look through the spoils and see if there is anything you'd like to have, including the supplies in the wagons you brought in,” he said.

  I dug through the stuff, taking a pair of armored leather pants and some odd pieces of metal from armor to use for upgrading mine: two metal helmets, two quivers of arrows to make bolts out of, a boar spear, a nice set of chain mail, scraps, broken knives, and swords. I lay everything I chose to the side and stepped back.

  “Any objections?” I asked.

  “That's all you want?” Vince inquired. “That's mostly junk,” he said, frowning.

 
; I smiled. “I can use magic to improve my gear with this “junk,” but I'd like to look through the horse's gear to improve my rig too.” He nodded and looked around the group. No one said anything.

  “It's yours,” he said.

  I nodded, gathering my spoils, and went to the picket line. I concentrated, opened a cavern underground, and sank down into it. I dropped my gear and conjured a light globe to float up at the ceiling of my small cavern. I took off all my gear and weapons and lay them out, along with my spoils.

  I took my wizard's staff with the purple sunstone head and gathered my power, concentrating. I fixed my mind on what I wanted to do, and when I was ready, I released the enchantment. The enchanted chain mail combined with my cloak to make both stronger. I then combined the extra material with my gear to make all of it better. I purified and strengthened the metals and leathers. I also added strength and flexibility to the sword, knife, dagger, and boar's spearhead so they would not break.

  The new set of chain mail I’d made was stronger and lighter, like my other set. I merged the two helmets into one, making it far better than either. It was a spartan style helmet, but instead of horsehair plume, I made it low to the crown metal ridge. That way it would fit under my cloak's hood. I also put slits around it for airflow.

  All of my gear merged and started pulsating purple. I held the enchantment until the purple glow was solid, then stopped. The purple glow faded, and what was left was a stronger set of armor and weapons.

  I put my wizard's staff away and got dressed. Everything fit and moved perfectly with me. I removed the boar spear's head, attached it to my staff, and ran my hand over the spearhead.

  “Hide,” I told it, and it did.

  My staff looked like a plain staff until I wanted to use the spearhead. Then it would appear and be ready to use. The two quivers of arrows made into bolts. I now carried twice as many bolts as before, so I enchanted them and they fit in one quiver. The quiver would ride close to me, as to not be in the way of my movements. Satisfied with my work, I closed the cavern and went back up top.

  I saddled my horse and led her over to where all the captured horses' gear was. I found what looked to be the officer's saddle and tack. It was much nicer than mine, so I traded. I swapped all my personal gear over to the new saddlebags and left my old gear in the pile of spoils. I checked with Vince to make sure he was good with what I had taken.

  “No problem. You had the most kills by far, so you get first pick of the spoils. When we sell the rest, you'll get a cut of that too,” he said. “We'll be pulling out in the morning. Are your dogs good for another night?”

  I sent my sense out. “Yeah, we're good.”

  “You did good, you saved a lot of lives out there—you and your war dogs. I bet they were a surprise to those mercs,” he said, smiling.

  I smiled. “I bet they were too.”

  I took my horse back to the picket line, stripped her gear, and brushed her down. I put the feedbag of oats on her. She deserved it; she had worked hard for me.

  Chapter 12

  I was up at my usual time, practicing my weapons dance, but this morning I did so with my new sword. I ate a double portion at breakfast again; then, Burt and I rode out at our usual time to scout ahead. Vince did change one thing though. He added a rider to the rear to make sure no one came up on them unexpectedly again.

  I thought about the merc attack as we rode. I didn't think they were after the caravan, or at least not only the caravan. Someone either hired them to take the ransom wagon, or they found out about it and were in it for themselves. In any case, I felt sure it was the ransom wagon they were after.

  Our days got back to normal, or as much as they could this soon after a battle. We still stopped at small places to do business and would be off again the next day.

  Rooma's man found me. “Master Gray, the master wishes for you to check our wagon.” I nodded and followed him.

  Jacob was under the wagon, looking at the axle when we arrived, and there was a new man there with him.

  “Good morning, Master Rooma,” I greeted him.

  “Good morning, Master Gray. I'd like you to check this axle; I don't like the way it's sounding.”

  “Of course, sir.” I put my hand on the wagon and made a small crack on the topside of the axle. “You are correct, sir, there is a small crack in the axle.” I climbed under the wagon with Jacob; the new man came under too. I showed them where the crack was, and both nodded.

  “Will it hold to get us to South Landing?” Jacob asked.

  “It might, but it might not. I can fix it for four silvers.”

  “Four silvers? I could buy a new axle for six.”

  “True, but you'd lose two days having it installed, and the caravan leaves tomorrow.” I said, getting out from under the wagon. Jacob and the new man followed.

  “Two silvers,” Jacob said.

  I laughed. “You merchants are all the same. You'd try to bargain the ferryman down to one coin and pluck an eye out to get it. Two silvers then.” I fixed the wagon, and Jacob paid me.

  I took the coin. “Good day to you, sir.”

  Jacob grunted and turned away. He had passed the information he wanted me to have. The new man was probably working for his enemy, but he was staying with the caravan to South Landing…or so he believed.

  When everyone was down for the night, I went underground to Rooma's wagon. I packed a handful of clay between the axle and the bed of the wagon and hardened it. As long as that clay was on the wagon, I could find it.

  We had no more excitement the rest of the trip into South Landing. We stopped short of the city at a place they called Bald Knob. From there you could see the city of South Landing. It impressed me, as I had been nowhere outside my city until this trip.

  “Quite a sight, isn't it?” Burt said.

  “It is,” I answered. “We'll not go on in today?”

  “No, it looks close, but we're still a day's travel from it. We'll stay here the night and get there late tomorrow afternoon. Will you be going with us on the return trip?” Burt asked.

  “I don't know yet; I might stay in the city for a time and see what it offers. Or I might spend all my money and be ready to leave like the rest of you.” We laughed and headed back to the caravan.

  ***

  Burt and I didn't scout ahead today. We stayed with the caravan, as it eased along its way to South Landing City. We made good time getting in and were there by three o'clock. The Rooma wagon stayed with the caravan as we entered the caravan yard.

  All the guards met with Sergeant Vince to settle accounts. “Most of you know it will be a few more days before we sell all the spoils we took this trip. Check back with me in two days to get your cut of the sales. I have the agreed-upon pay for this trip in coin for you now.”

  We were each called in turn to receive and sign for a purse. We had to count it and sign the tally sheet. I made a one gold bonus for all the extra things I had done.

  “Before you go and spend all your money, if you want to sign on for the trip back, see me before you go. If you are not sure, they schedule the caravan to leave in four days. Be here on the day before. You may leave your horses and gear with the caravan until you decide. I know that money is burning a hole in your purse, so be gone. You all did well. The Caravan Master and I thank you.”

  “Where are you for, Gray?” Jessy asked.

  “Skeeter is going to introduce me to his sister,” I answered.

  “Have you seen his sister?” someone shouted.

  “Now, see there, that's how fights start,” Skeeter shouted back. Everyone was laughing. We had survived the trip and had money in our purses. Life was good. The group broke up, going our separate ways.

  I made sure my horse was cared for and went to find a bathhouse. As I left the park, I notice the Rooma wagon was still there. When I was out of the park and down the street, I sent my sense out. I could still feel the clay on the wagon. I found a bathhouse close to the park and treated mys
elf to a scrubbing, massage, and hot soak. As I left, I asked, “Where can I get a good meal that won't cost me a fortune?” I handed the towel boy a copper.

  “Thank you, sir. Two streets to the left when you leave, then north one block.” I nodded and left.

  I felt to see if the Rooma's wagon had moved yet, but it had not. The boy's recommendation was a good one. It was a good-sized place and busy. I took a table toward the back. They recognized me as a wizard and steered clear of me.

  “What will you have, Sir Wizard?” a serving boy asked.

  “Beef steak, fried potatoes, bread, and watered wine.” The boy nodded and returned shortly with my drink.

  This was one of the inns close to the park, so there were wagon merchants here. There was the usual talk of business—what was selling, and what might be a good buy for the return trip. When my food came, I paid the boy and dug in. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. I'd have to eat here again.

  “No, he's not a Red.” My ear caught a piece of a conversation. “He came in with our caravan. He was part of the guards and done us a good job too. If it hadn't been for him, the raiders would have overrun us. I hope he goes back with us on the return trip.” I quit listening and concentrated on my meal.

  Suddenly, I stopped eating; I felt a wizard was at the door. Time slowed, and the Blue's memories told me to turn my power down, to hide how strong I was. I did so. The door opened, and a Red Wizard stepped in. Everyone stopped talking, and I continued eating. The Red looked over the room. His eyes hesitated when they got to me, and then continued. He took a table on the opposite side of the room from me. Like two wolves, we made it a point not to look at each other. He had a greasy feel to his magic. The Red's memories told me it was because he used dark magic; that was the taint I felt. When he was seated, the conversations started again, though somewhat subdued. I finished my meal, left, and headed back toward the park. I wanted to be close when the Rooma's wagon moved.

  ***

  I went down a side street and, when I was out of sight, dropped into the earth. I moved back to the park and stopped under the Rooma's wagon. They were sitting there doing nothing but waiting. I figured we'd be here a while, so I lay back and rested.