by Guy Antibes
“Your parents?”
Hemo shook his head. “I’m as much an orphan as you are, although my parents died when I was attending the Fourth Ring. My mother’s brother lives here. He used to be a blacksmith, but an injury forced him to less strenuous work.”
A man with blond hair like Hemo’s walked into the shop from the back. He spoke in Vorrian to Hemo. Ricky expected them to hug or something, but the conversation wasn’t much better than Hemo’s discussion with Blink.
The shopkeeper went to the back door and called. A woman walked into the room. Her voice was filled with hostility. The man shrugged and exited the shop.
Hemo endured the tirade from the woman for longer than Ricky would have and then walked out. Ricky followed.
“We are not friends,” Hemo said as they walked down the street. “There was a girl that I once liked, not Greda. Our parting wasn’t amicable. My aunt’s niece. She and my mother tried to put us together. It was an ill-fated matchmaking attempt.”
“You are a father?”
Hemo laughed. “Not at all. There are Vorrian families that feel a sorcerer in a family is a blessing. The girl ended up showing a certain amount of shrewishness during our courtship. It was the final reason, among many, that I needed to leave for Duteria. It appears my aunt never got over it. I didn’t expect anything else, but I needed to make an effort.”
“Another try? Do we have time?”
Hemo smiled. “We do. I chose the worst for first. Our next destination isn’t far.”
Their next stop was a few blocks away. Hemo stood in front of a presentable townhouse with his arms on his hips. “My sister lives here,” he said, looking at the front door.
He walked up the steps and knocked. A woman older than Hemo answered. She threw her arms around the sorcerer and ushered him in, speaking Vorrian. Ricky was left standing on the pavement looking up at the closed door.
The woman opened the door and beckoned Ricky to join them. He walked into a neatly furnished house. She led him into a sitting room where Hemo was surrounded by four teenagers, two boys, and two girls. They all sported the white-blond hair of their uncle.
“None of them speak Parantian,” Hemo said with an apologetic look.
Ricky took a proffered chair and looked on at the reunion. There were no dark undercurrents here, just a happy reunion. It was interesting to see teenagers not much younger than he gush at Hemo’s words.
After some time, Hemo’s sister served them a light wine, light enough for the youths to drink.
“Aleka is my only sibling,” Hemo said in Duterian. “We have written each other often.”
“You did save the best for last,” Ricky said. He couldn’t help but smile as the teenagers tried to follow their conversation in the foreign language.
“A niece and nephew have shown enough power to be trained,” Hemo said, “but I am reluctant to send them to the Rings for training. Life hasn’t always been easy for me.”
Ricky could understand that. He sat back and thought as Hemo answered a question in Vorrian, and Ricky was basically lost, trying to catch a word here or there. He took a sip of his wine and had an idea—a great idea.
“Hemo,” he said to get his friend’s attention. “After this is over, why don’t we establish a sorcery school in Samira along the lines of the Rings? Such an institution could serve both Vorria and Paranty. Instead of sending sorcerers to the University of Sealio, they could come to Samira. If Greda and Wedo agree, we would have three Vorrian teachers.”
As Ricky thought about the idea, he realized that such an institution could weaken the Botoyan influence in Vorria.
Hemo nodded. “We will speak of this tonight. I certainly wouldn’t mind being closer to my sister’s family.”
“Doubli Academy could act as a source for students, at the very least. I’ll do some more thinking while you talk to your family.”
Ricky wanted to discuss his idea with Pira, but it would be rude to link, even if he didn’t understand the conversation. He could teach the ancient sorcerer methods, which he had already started doing with Pira in Dimani.
He smiled at thinking of them as staff, but perhaps they would be more like faculty. The castle wasn’t built to be a school, so he couldn’t really use it as a headquarters, so the school would have to be built from the ground up. He wouldn’t construct Rings, but Ricky liked the concept that you progressed when you earned it rather than advancing by spending time at the school.
Minnie could help with the physical organization. Perhaps Kened might be able to recruit some Ring sorcerers who would be willing to move to Paranty, but it would have to be a different Paranty than the one that currently existed. Ricky smiled with excitement. If anything, thinking about the project gave him something to do while Hemo continued to chatter with his sister and her children.
A blond man walked through the doorway. Ricky stood up. More excited discussions ensued. Hemo’s brother-in-law was a civil servant in the Council’s bureaucracy. Hemo introduced his brother-in-law as Purdo Sesskal.
“You are creating quite a stir, young Valian,” the brother-in-law said in better accented Parantian than Hemo could manage. “There are members of the Council who have been helped by Lord Rasso.”
“Helped means bribed?”
“A more straightforward description, yes.”
“Does that mean Vorria will go to war with Dimani?”
Purdo shook his head. “You can tell your Crown Prince that won’t happen, at least from what I can see. The bureaucracy won’t support it. Ducri Wamia is also out of the picture?”
Ricky nodded.
“He helped Rasso get established. I suppose he was offered more than Rasso gave. I work in the Trade Ministry, you see.”
“Did you help Lord Rasso distribute wands?”
“We did. Unfortunately, the wand master is gone, thanks to you.” Ricky didn’t know if Purdo was antagonistic or not.
“Gone, but not inaccessible,” Ricky said. “He is currently in southern Naparra. I am sure we can come to a trading arrangement. I’m not familiar with the true value of the wands, but Wedo Sinkel is no longer a contract employee. He might continue to trade with Vorria under a revised agreement.”
Purdo grinned. “I can help you there. Lord Rasso exported the wands at a very, very high price.”
“We can talk about that,” Ricky said. “Anything we discuss will have to be disclosed and agreed to by Wedo.”
“That is quite all right. What are Lord Jac Griama’s intentions about export?”
“He wants to continue the relationship, but the terms will run for a year or so until both parties are satisfied with the arrangement. I’ve talked to Jac personally, and he doesn’t intend to deprive Vorria of dark dimani. Who knows what kind of profits Rasso made on the furniture and on the raw wood? The sorcerer contract workers will be released and work as employees, not servants.”
“Lord Rasso charged a great deal, but he might have taken large profits. I don’t think there will be a problem as long as both parties are reasonable.”
“No bribes,” Ricky said. “I don’t want to raise any expectations.”
Purdo pursed his lips. “We will see how persuasive Lady Rasso is. The Trading Ministry would rather have everything above board. It makes it easier to negotiate.”
Ricky nodded. “I didn’t mean to monopolize Hemo’s time with his family. Perhaps I’ll bid you all farewell and return to our townhouse.”
“You’ll get lost if you go by yourself,” Hemo said. “I can return to Okansil if negotiations go the Vorrian way.” He looked at Purdo as if they shared a joke about the Vorrian way. It might mean more than just moving slowly.
Hemo said goodbye to his sister’s family, and they were back on the streets before the sun had set. They walked in silence all the way to their townhouse. Their meal had been delivered, and Ricky thought they would have plenty to talk about over dinner.
“You missed your sister?”
“I’ve
never seen my nieces and nephews before. My sister married Purdo just before I left Okansil. I don’t know when I’ll see them again.”
“Remember my idea?”
“Oh, I forgot. A sorcery academy in Samira? The concept has a great deal of merit. I know Greda would participate. She doesn’t like Duteria.”
The admission didn’t surprise Ricky. “Wedo could work on his wands and help us with Vorrian students.”
“No white shoes!” Hemo said. “Just seeing sorcerers wear them on the streets makes my skin crawl.”
“And they don’t have to wear grays,” Ricky said. “Maybe we could come up with something else, like pointed hats.”
Hemo laughed. “That would make us look even more ridiculous. You would turn the castle into a school?”
Ricky shook his head. “My time in the Applia Juvenile Home showed that castles aren’t very suitable. We would build a new school. I wouldn’t make Rings, but I like the way sorcerers move ahead when they are ready rather than after a certain number of terms. We couldn’t teach everything at first. I doubt we can attract that many teachers, but it would help integrate Vorrian, Duterian, and Parantian sorcery.”
“Your project!” Hemo said.
Ricky nodded. “Right. We can begin to plan now and execute when this mess with King Leon is settled. If it doesn’t work to our liking, King Courer has already promised me land and a title in Dimani. We could build the school there as a backup plan.”
Ricky served himself some food, and after eating, they talked for the rest of the night about how the school could be set up.
In the morning, Ricky had a long linking session with Pira, describing what had happened the previous day. He was relieved that she fully supported the school idea. She admitted she could use more classes.
Hemo and Ricky went out for lunch and a visit to Wedo’s dark dimani supplier and the metal worker who supplied the blanks for inside the wands. Dark dimani was getting expensive, even though the man admitted that he had heard that shipments of the wood were being resumed by Lord Griama. That was a good rumor, and a resumption of shipments by Jac meant people already saw South Dimani as part of Jac’s domain.
When they returned, a message had been delivered asking Hemo and Ricky to dinner at his sister’s house.
“Can you go by yourself?” Ricky asked. “Your family is great and all, but I can’t understand a word they say. No one will be care about me.”
“I’ll take my wand for protection and link with you if anything happens,” Hemo said.
Ricky had Hemo instruct their food provider to still deliver a whole meal to himself. He would have preferred to eat at a restaurant, but that would be unnecessary exposure. Neither of them knew what the Vorrian Sorcerer’s Guild would do. He drifted into the sitting room and sat on an easy chair. He had some linking to do.
First of all, he brought Jac up to speed on his progress and gave him feedback on his discussion with Purdo Sesskal. Jac had indeed started up dark dimani shipments and had already freed the contract workers. He had trusted people in Rassoport. The port’s name would soon be changed back to whatever it was, and he was talking to his mother and other advisors about setting up preliminary wage rates for all workers. It appeared that Lord Rasso was raking off huge profits from all his South Dimani operations.
He checked in with Pira one more time before connecting to Minnie and Tobia.
Minnie? Ricky said once the link engaged.
Ricky, I am so glad you linked. Tobia was about to try you. Kened said the Botoyans are getting worse and worse. Since you’ve been gone, the city council has been taken over, and strange regulations have been spewed out by them. I’ve already moved most of our operating funds to Torak. I hope you have room for us in Naparra.
Ricky had to take a few moments to absorb what she said. You aren’t joking, are you? How could it get that bad so quickly? Are they compelled?
Tobia thinks so, and I must agree.
I can’t help you from here, but I’ll do what I can, Ricky said. I know it sounds a bit odd, but I have an idea that I wanted to share. He told her about his schooling idea.
Between Princess Pira and you, I’m sure it will happen. I’d be happy to help in any way I can. Right now, though, I’m scrambling to move our business interests out of Duteria. Tobia will keep you posted.
Ricky sat back. There might be refugees from the Rings showing up on his doorstep sooner than later, he thought. How could he transfer his spells to Duteria? He thought of his link with Healer Kokorak.
The link engaged so easily; Healer Kokorak seemed to look his way, and they were connected.
Ricky? I’d recognize your link anywhere. How are you doing? she said.
I hear that Duteria is becoming weird.
That doesn’t describe it. Irrational is a more apt term.
Ricky explained the different spells that he had developed. Some other sorcerers know, but most of them are with me. Could you spread the spells to your Green associates?
I would be happy to. I think you can teach me through our link. It is that clear.
That’s what I was hoping, Ricky said. They went over the compulsion counterspell and the protection spell. She knew they would work. Ricky told her about his new sorcery school.
If you set up a healing specialty, I’m sure I can talk my family into moving to Paranty. Would Mirano Bespa be part of it?
I’m not sure. He makes a great deal of money healing performance sorcerers, but I’m sure he would be available for consultation.
This is a secret? Healer Kokorak asked.
Very much a secret. I have to get my status with Paranty taken care of, first. I don’t like exposing you to the Sun faction, but it may forestall worse situations in the future.
I have some trusted Green friends who will push out the spells and the protection to other city-states. I’m sure Kened Gostok will help.
He already knows the spell, but I can’t link with him, Ricky said. I’m sure he can help with the Gruntalians. By the way, the spell doesn’t work on someone who doesn’t need to be coerced. If the person is disoriented, they were enchanted. If nothing happens, they weren’t compelled. The non-compelled sorcerers will be dangerous, so be careful.
Ricky felt relieved when he finished his link with her. Her link was more intense than any other except for linking with Pira. He leaned his head against the back of the chair, knowing he had done all he could in Duteria from where he sat in Vorria.
Someone knocked on the door. Ricky wondered if it could be Hemo, but he didn’t expect his friend for another hour or two. He grabbed his wand, sitting in its case on the entry table and opened the door.
Three older sorcerers stood at the door. Ricky glanced down at their white shoes. He held the wand at his side but in plain view of the visitors.
They backed up as one when they noticed the wand.
“We come in peace,” a sorcerer said in Parantian, holding his hands out, palms forward, as if to protect himself. “May we come in?”
Ricky didn’t trust the sorcerers, but perhaps they really did come in peace. He held the door open and ushered them into the sitting room.
“What do you want?” Ricky said.
The three men sat together on the couch, each holding hats on their laps. They didn’t look threatening, but Ricky could take no chances being alone with them. He sang the counterspell to compulsion, and none of them showed signs of being compelled. That didn’t mean anything other than he didn’t talk to sorcerers with compelled minds.
“What did you do?”
“Botoyan sorcerers have been free with administering compulsion spells. King Courer, Duke Bariani of Tossa, and Princess Pira were all compelled. They no longer are, and none of you are compelled,” Ricky said.
The men looked at each other. Ricky was pleased to see some discomfort. If they were Botoyans, their arrogance would shine through.
“I understand why you might be apprehensive,” the one in the middle said. He seem
ed to be the spokesman. “There are some of us in the Guild that do not agree with the Botoyans. It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain amity within our order.”
“I understand. Something similar is currently happening at the Duterian Rings.”
“It is?” one of the other sorcerers said.
Ricky nodded. “So, why come to me?”
The men looked at each other. “We may be seeking refuge. We aren’t as powerful as many who have been swayed by the Botoyan religion. If it comes to conflict within the Guild, we are sure to lose.”
“Have you gone to King Renako about the matter?”
They shook their heads. “Master Gottal is a Botoyan, but he did not participate in the attack on the Council.”
“Was that why Greda left Okansil?”
The leader nodded. “She was facing expulsion for helping you. She left before anyone could formally disassociate her from the Guild.”
“And you do as well?”
The leader sat closer to the edge of his seat. “We do. It may become a crisis, it may not. We understand you have a refuge in southern Paranty.”
“I might,” Ricky said. “You want to move?”
“Temporarily,” one of them said. “Wedo is there?”
Ricky nodded.
“We might want to join them.”
“What do I benefit from giving you sanctuary?”
“Not much. We are all competent sorcerers. Members of the Vorrian Guild must meet a certain standard, even the apprentices.”
Ricky moved his lips together. “Can I speak to the Master? Perhaps he is compelled.”
“Would you?”
Ricky nodded. “Not at your guild. The last time you all tried to murder me.”
“Not us.”
One of the others said, “I was one of those who drank with Wedo.”
“To get him drunk, so he could be put at the bottom of a well?”
The man waved his hands and shook his head. “None of us did that. It was the Master and Blinak Renako’s doing.”
