Alain gazed outward across the water, watching the boats ferrying items and people between the shore and the two other ships. The whole process reminded him of ants laboring, each individual unable to accomplish much but together creating impressive works. It was hard for him to believe that the illusion surrounding Mari had grown so much in so short a time. They had arrived in Altis as just the two of them, seeking the tower where the past of Dematr might be learned. Leaving Altis, their party had grown to include Mechanics Alli, Calu, Dav, and Bev, as well as the Mages Asha and Dav.
And now there were so many. He did not see Mechanics Alli, Calu, or Bev, and knew that Mechanic Dav must still be watching over Mage Asha aboard the Pride. Alain watched the Mechanics and Mages who were here, trying to spot the Mechanics Lukas and S’san or Mage Dav. But other tasks must have drawn them away from this place, where so many Mechanics and Mages who did not know each other and had been long taught to detest each other were now intermingling.
It did not take foresight to be worried about what might happen.
As if in answer to Alain’s concern, angry voices broke into his reverie. Alain turned to see a small group of Mages confronting a larger group of Mechanics. Everything about the way the two groups faced each other caused alarm to rise in Alain. He walked quickly toward them, certain that there was no time to summon Mari, Lukas, S’san or any of the others to help deal with these Mechanics.
As he got closer, a large male Mechanic was leaning in toward a Mage who stood at the head of her group. The big Mechanic yelled again. “Just get out of the way!”
The Mage did not react at all. It was typical Mage behavior to ignore the actions of the shadows around them, as they had been taught others were only illusions. Those Mages who had joined Mari had been told to behave differently, but a lifetime of experience was not so easily set aside. Especially when it involved Mechanics. Every Mage knew that the best way to infuriate arrogant Mechanics was to ignore them. That old tactic was working all too well at the moment.
The big Mechanic tried to shove the Mage aside but she slid away from his shove without apparent effort or even taking notice. The other Mages in her group moved to face the Mechanics. The Mechanics stepped closer, the two groups only a short distance apart. “I’m only going to tell you one more time,” the big Mechanic said in a threatening voice.
“There is a problem?” Alain used his full Mage voice, which drew the attention of the Mages who would have disregarded anyone else, and of the Mechanics who were already keyed on Mages.
Alain could read the traces of stubbornness and anger in the faces of the Mages, who no doubt looked impassive to the Mechanics. The pride and resentment of the Mechanics was much easier to see.
The big Mechanic turned a furious eye on Alain. “Oh, so you’ll talk to me?”
“I am Mage Alain of Ihris,” he said.
“I don’t really care. What I do care is that these Mages are deliberately blocking us!”
“Hold on,” said one of the other Mechanics. “Mage Alain. He’s Master Mechanic Mari’s Mage.”
“Then he ought to understand why we’re unhappy!”
Alain looked around the dock area. “I see a large place, and two groups arguing over a very small patch of it.”
The big Mechanic looked angrier, pointing to a small building standing nearby. It sat near the waterfront and was separated from the structures on either side by access roads leading onto short piers. “We need that vacant building. The Mages won’t get out of the way.”
Alain looked to the Mages. “Is there a purpose?” he asked.
The woman leading the group of Mages spoke as emotionlessly as Alain had. “There is no Guild Hall, and Mages should live apart. That place will serve our needs.”
“We need this building!” the big Mechanic insisted. “It’s empty, it’s in the right place, and it’s the right size. And you should be grateful that I said that much, because we don’t need to justify what we do to anyone!”
“Mages care not for the imaginary needs of shadows,” the female Mage responded, her impassivity seemingly designed to further goad the Mechanics.
“That does it,” the big Mechanic snarled. He clenched his large hands into fists and stepped forward. The other Mechanics did the same.
The Mages gave no ground, but their long knives appeared in their hands.
In another moment blood would surely be shed, and the stain of it would lie between Mages and Mechanics whom Mari wanted to work together as one.
And Alain could not strike at the Mechanics, or he would be one more Mage acting as an enemy. Nor could he attack the Mages, who would regard him as a Dark Mage if he aided their enemies.
His eyes fell upon the place the groups both wanted and in that moment, as he eyed the illusion of a building, he realized that it had become something else. Not just a structure, but a symbol to each of these Mechanics and Mages. None of them would have risked injury or death for such a building. But they would for that symbol, which represented their own pride and status.
Alain cast his arms wide, his robes flaring around him, and shoved his way between the two groups just before they clashed. Startled, both groups backed up slightly. Facing the building they were prepared to fight over, Alain rapidly summoned the heat over his palm, then placed it within the structure.
A muted roar sounded, followed by fire billowing out from the windows. Alain rapidly placed two smaller fires within it, spending his strength recklessly, so that within moments the entire building was a roaring mass of flames.
Trying not to let his weakness from casting the spells so quickly be apparent to either group, Alain turned to face them. “Mages. You would fight with shadows over an illusion. Look upon it. It never stood and does not burn, for all we see is false. Yet you would have let that falseness control your actions. I have destroyed nothing. But seeking that illusion above all else would have destroyed our hopes to find a new wisdom, one free of the dogmatism of the Guild elders.
“Mechanics. You know these Mages have powers that are real.” Alain pointed at the bonfire which had been a building. “They are worthy of your respect, for they can do as I did. Master Mechanic Mari has shown me that a person does not need to understand something to respect it. I do not understand what you do. No Mage does. You create things with your hands as Mages do with our minds. Accept that we also can do things beyond your understanding, as I will try to teach Mages to accept the very different wisdom of Mechanics.”
Alain pointed to the building again, already collapsing into itself. “Mechanics. Mages. Look upon this. If you wish to fight over nothing, then nothing will remain. To create something new, to change what was, requires minds willing to see what could be, not simply the illusion of what was.”
He stopped, breathing heavily from the exertion of the spells and then the speech.
An alarm bell was ringing frantically, and commons were bringing a wagon designed to pump water onto fires while many others stared in the direction of the blaze.
The female Mage nodded to Alain. “A young Mage, and yet he knows wisdom better than those who have studied it longer. I sought a battle over nothing. I will not fight over an illusion given greatness only by one’s own lack of wisdom.”
The big Mechanic shook his head, then laughed. “You’re crazy, you know that, Mage Alain? But you’ve got guts, coming between us like that. And you’re right.” He looked at the flames dancing over the ruin of the building and shook his head again. “That building wasn’t worth what it could’ve cost all of us. Stubborn pride won’t bring us freedom or change this world to what we’d like it to be.” He switched his gaze to the female Mage. “I don’t know how to talk to you. I’m willing to give it a try.”
The Mage considered those words. “This one listens.”
“She does not know how to talk to you,” Alain told the Mechanics. “It is something Mages must learn.”
“I don’t understand that,” another Mechanic said. “How hard is
“Extend your arm from under your robes,” Alain told the female Mage. She did as asked, showing an arm laced with numerous old scars.
“What happened to her?” the big Mechanic asked.
“This is how Mage Acolytes are taught,” Alain said. “This is how we were made to forget how to talk to somebody not a Mage. The price for doing wrong was a painful one.”
The Mechanics exchanged embarrassed glances as the water wagon finally arrived and began hosing down the neighboring buildings to cool them. Little remained of the building Alain had set afire. “All right,” the big Mechanic said. “That’s…rough. It’s not like Mechanics are experts at social skills, either. We’ll…handle things differently while we figure out how to get along.”
Mechanic Bev ambled up, looking relaxed but carrying one of the Mechanic weapons and, to Alain’s Mage eyes, inwardly tense. “Any problems here?”
“Not anymore,” the big Mechanic said. “Do you know how to talk to Mages?”
“Sure,” Bev said. “One of my best friends is a Mage.” She nodded to Alain.
Reassured that Bev would handle matters from this point on, Alain began walking back to where he and Mari had been given a room, feeling worn out from the physical and emotional effort. He saw Master Mechanic Lukas approaching quickly, a thundercloud on his brow, and Mage Dav also hurrying in the same direction. “It is dealt with,” Alain said. “There was no conflict.”
“Whose fault was it?” Lukas demanded. “That hothead Mechanic Len?”
Alain paused to think, assuming that Len was the big man he had spoken with. “The fault lies with those who founded our Guilds and set us on paths of mutual distrust and contempt. Mechanic Len has seen another path, as have the Mages he argued with.”
“You got Len to listen to you?” Lucas said with a snort. “You’re a better man than I am. Thank you, Sir Mage. I should have been watching these goons but got called to handle something else.”
“I should have been present as well,” Mage Dav said, as Lukas walked onward at a more sedate pace, the Mechanic’s eyes searching for more trouble. “I neglected my duties to check on Mage Asha.”
“Mage Asha is your niece,” Alain said. “It is right that you care for her. But now is perhaps not the best time. Is she well?”
Mage Dav looked back at the Pride. “Our Guild insists that happiness is an illusion and love cannot exist. You know this. Like you, I have spent years trying to put aside feelings the wisdom of the elders declared were not real, and yet I could never find the answer to one question. Why do such things have so much power if they do not exist?”
“It is a worthy question,” Alain said. “But not one the Guild elders would ever accept.”
“I look upon my niece Asha and I feel something I cannot describe,” Mage Dav said. “It is more than satisfaction in her skills. There is a concern for her welfare and a pleasure in seeing her.” Mage Dav gave a most un-Magelike sigh. “Asha’s mother is my sister. A shadow. One of those the Mechanics call commons. Like you with your parents, Mage Alain, I could never in my innermost self believe that my sister was nothing. Asha’s father died before Asha was taken by the Guild. He was a soldier. Her mother still lives. If the opportunity should come, I will take Asha to her mother. I do not know why I am resolved in this, but I know it feels like wisdom.”
“I believe it is wisdom,” Alain said. “What of Mechanic Dav?”
“What of him? Mage Asha’s wisdom must decide her path with Mechanic Dav. I think Mechanic Dav has already decided on his path with Mage Asha, but she will doubtless take more time to consider which road is the right one for her.” Mage Dav paused again. “Do you go to battle tonight, Mage Alain?”
“This one does.”
“I will find more Mages to accompany you. We cannot let the Mechanics claim the victory as their own.”
Surprised, Alain was about to remind Mage Dav that such rivalries must end, when he spotted a hint of amusement on Dav’s face. “You speak a joke.”
“Was it done well?”
“Well enough. I understood.” Alain could almost see Mari rolling her eyes. “Mage humor,” she would say.
He hurried back to where Mari still slept.
* * * *
Mari sniffed the air as they approached the docks, where the setting sun was painting red long-abandoned buildings now bustling with activity. “Was there a fire?”
“At the waterfront,” Alain said.
“What burned?”
“Only one building that meant nothing.”
“Was anyone hurt?” Mari pressed.
“No.”
“Good.” Mari gave Alain a suspicious glance. She had the sense that he was hiding something, but whatever it was probably wasn’t as important as what was going on now. “Thanks for letting me sleep. I really needed it.”
“Hey, your daughterness. Have a rifle,” Alli said as Mari approached.
“Alli, I swear, if you don’t—” Mari took the rifle, looking at it and thinking that soon she would be using it to shoot at people.
At “General” Raul’s people. Before they could torture anyone else.
She checked the safety and sighted out into the harbor, getting a feel for the weapon.
Calu came up, carrying his own rifle. “Hey, I had an idea. If those Rocs can carry a couple of people, they could be used to ferry soldiers someplace behind the enemy. Think of that! Just go right over the enemy defenses!”
“One soldier at a time?” Mechanic Bev said as she approached. “Slow way of attacking.”
“And not very inconspicuous,” Alli said. “You know, giant birds going by overhead. Somebody might think to check on what they’re doing.”
“There are a few bugs to work out,” Calu conceded. “Alain, is there any chance any of the Mages who create dragons would join us?”
“I don’t want them,” Mari said before Alain could reply.
“It is unlikely they would join,” Alain said. “The…temperament?…of Mages who create the illusion of dragons is…somewhat like that of a dragon itself.”
“Say no more,” Alli replied. “I agree with Mari that we don’t need that kind of help. Here come the last couple of guys I’ve been waiting for. I’ve think we’ve got your whole Mechanic army assembled, Mari.”
Mari looked around in the growing darkness. Forty men and women, most of them Mechanics but a few older Apprentices as well. Each carried a rifle, and with Apprentices authorized for this night mission to wear dark jackets like the Mechanics, the entire group blended into the gloom. In addition, eight Mages counting Alain stood on the waterside, their robes wraithlike in the night.
“The other eight good rifles are with Mechanics on the town wall, like you ordered,” Alli added. “Just in case that warlord tries a night attack against the town while we’re getting into position to kick his butt.”
“Great.” Mari spoke to the others in a low voice that carried. “We’re going to get to the edge of the swamp and then break into eight parallel columns, each led by a Mage. The Mages will head toward the Dark Mage they can sense in Raul’s camp. Each Mage will hold a length of line, and the Mechanics behind them will hold that line to keep from losing contact with the Mage or each other. Mechanics, if the Mage leading you tells you something, listen. Calu thought he spotted some sentries near the edge of the swamp. If they are there, the Mages will take them out before they can sound any alarm. We’ll form into a line once we clear the swamp and get ready to give Raul and his scum an unpleasant wake-up call. The locals here have given us a salve they say will repel insects and recommended we apply it very liberally, so make sure you follow their advice before we get to the swamp. Any questions?”
One Mechanic raised his hand. “I heard those screams last night. Are we taking any prisoners?”
“Yes,” Mari said. “The officials of Pacta Servanda say about half of Raul’s people are being forced to fight for him. It might have been one of them being tortured last night as a lesson to the others. We’ll accept surrenders, then turn them over to the people of Tiae so that anyone forced to fight can be sorted out from the real criminals. Remember, everyone be as quiet as possible, and make absolutely certain that your safeties stay on until you get the order to fire. A single gunshot could ruin everything.”
They moved to where the boats from the Pride and the Dolphin waited, sailors with muffled oars already seated and ready to row.
Bev sat near Mari and Alain in one boat as they waited for everyone else to load. “I hear we’re doing this for a princess?” she whispered. “A for-real princess?”
“Who told you?” Mari asked. “As few people as possible are supposed to know.”
“Alli told me. So we really are rescuing a princess?”
Mari couldn’t help smiling. “Sort of. Helping her out, anyway. She’s a pretty hard-core princess, though. You know, this is like the sort of games I used to play as a little girl. I had a friend. Dina. We had a rule that there could only be one princess, so one of us would be the princess and the other would be the hero coming to save her.”
“Why couldn’t you both be heroes?”
“I don’t know. We were little girls playing a silly game.” Mari stared into the darkness, feeling almost as if she could see those little girls at play. “I haven’t seen Dina since the Guild came for me when I was eight years old and took me to the Guild Hall for training. And you know what’s funny? Here I am, and I could become a princess, or I could become a hero, but I don’t really want to be either one. I just want to be free to do what I enjoy, instead of being forced to do what I must.”
“Did it ever occur to you that you already are a hero?” Bev asked. “What do you think, Alain?”
“Mari has saved me many times,” Alain said.
“Ha ha,” Mari whispered. “Quiet, everyone. Here we go.”
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