Fate of Wizardoms Boxed Set

by Jeffrey L. Kohanek

  “Thanks, Zard.” Jace tossed the man a copper. “Get yourself an ale on me. It’s the least I can do for you holding up your end of the bet.”

  He turned from the table and carved a path through the crowd. Narine covered herself with her cloak and followed, Adyn trailing. Jace stopped at the bar and spoke with the barkeep while handing the man a handful of coins. Moments later, the man returned with three full mugs and a key.

  Turning, Jace held out two mugs. Adyn took one.

  Narine stared at the other. “You expect me to drink that? Has the mug even been washed?”

  “You don’t want it?”

  She shook her head. “Not at all.”

  He grinned. “Great. More for me. Come along.”

  Heading to the stairs, he led them up and along a dimly lit corridor before stopping outside a closed door. Holding both tankards in one hand, he used the key to open it. The room was dark.

  “Hmm… We could use a lantern.”

  “Hold on,” Narine said, stepping past him.

  Forming a construct of illusion, she drew in magic, the power filling her and making her feel alive, as if the world had shifted from shades of gray to a lush pallette of color. The construct appeared as a disk of light around her hand, the pattern one she knew well. As ungifted, neither Adyn nor Jace could see the construct or Narine’s skin glowing with her magic.

  With a twist, she bent and shaped the construct until it became a sphere of light, sending shadows scurrying to the corners of the room.

  “Nice trick,” Jace said as he walked past her. “I sometimes forget you are a wizardess.”

  He set the tankards on the table. From beside the lantern, he grabbed a thin rod with a wick and stepped into the hallway. Moments later, he returned with a flame at the end of the rod and used it to light the lantern. Narine released her magic, and the world plunged back to mediocrity.

  Remember, you will burn out if you hold it too often.

  The room contained two beds, neither large enough to sleep two in comfort.

  “I hope you are comfortable on the floor,” Narine said.

  Jace turned toward her. “I got us this room. Why should I sleep on the floor?”

  Her hands went to her hips as Adyn closed the door. “We had the coin to pay for the room in the first place. All you did was parlay our coin into passage to Shear.”

  He nodded. “And you are welcome.”

  “No. You don’t get off that easy. I’m angry with you.”

  Jace finished a drink and wiped his mouth, glancing at Adyn, who shrugged. “Why are you angry now, Your Highness?” The last word came out on a sneer.

  Narine’s voice rose in anger. “How could you possess the gall to declare us as prizes for your little game? We are not property. Neither yours nor anyone else’s.” She pointed at him, her finger mere inches from his nose. “What if you had lost?”

  “I knew I would win.” He shrugged. “Besides, why are you so upset about something that didn’t happen?”

  “It’s a game of chance. How could you know?”

  He grinned and reached into his coat. When he withdrew his hand, he held six dice. “This is how.”

  Her brow furrowed. “You stole their dice?”

  Adyn laughed. “No, silly. He has weighted dice. I noticed him swap one in before the last round.” She looked at Jace. “The die was off-weighted to land on one, wasn’t it?”

  He put his dice away while chuckling. “Yes. Good thing, too, or Zard may have shaken five sixes.”

  Narine recalled the game and remembered how she had been pushed onto the table. She glared at Adyn, her nostrils flaring. “You pushed me.”

  A grin spread across the bodyguard’s face. “Yes, I did. I remembered your dress wasn’t buttoned in the back. If anything was going to distract those men, it would be those.” She pointed at Narine’s chest.

  “Good thing, too,” Jace said. “Zard was onto me and watching too closely for me to swap the rest of the dice. When you fell onto the table, I made the switch.”

  Jace laughed. Adyn joined him, the pair tapping their mugs together before taking another swig. Narine crossed her arms and glared at the two of them, her foot tapping on the floor. It was bad enough she had to contend with Jace, but now Adyn had joined him in a downward spiral of depravity. Finally, she gave up searching for the right thing to say.

  “I have had enough.” She circled the bed where Jace and Adyn sat, claiming the one against the wall. “You two can fight over the other bed.”

  She pulled her hood over her head, wrapped the cloak about her body, and curled up facing the wall.

  5

  Denial

  Narine watched Adyn attack her food furiously. A few crumbs from the chunk of bread she had forced down remained on her own plate. An empty water glass sat beside the plate. With a sea voyage on the horizon, she didn’t dare eat anything else. Adyn, on the other hand, finished her second full bowl of porridge and followed it with a sizable slab of ham.

  The pale light of breaking dawn came through the window beside their table. The taproom was empty save for the two of them and a sleepy-looking barmaid who occasionally appeared before retreating to a back room. Somehow, the room smelled even worse than the night before, reeking of spilled ale and who knew what else.

  A shadow passed by the window and the door opened. Jace stepped in, his gaze sweeping the room before he approached their table. “Bad news. They have posted a dozen guards at the gate and are inspecting anyone trying to leave the city.”

  Adyn sat back, her gaze on Narine before she looked at Jace. “What about a distraction? It worked when we left Fastella.”

  “I thought of that, but there are too many men to draw them all away. Worse, a man wearing a captain’s star is among them, likely to keep them on task rather than be drawn into such distractions.”

  After a deep breath, Narine said, “I can get us past those men.”

  He looked at her with an arched brow. “How do you propose that?”

  Rising to her feet, Narine said, “Magic.”

  “Do you plan to fry the lot of them with lightning or something?” He grinned.

  “No.” She chuckled. “Nothing so aggressive.”

  Without another word, she walked past him and headed toward the door while drawing her hood over her head. It was still cool outside, the air damp as the sky brightened.

  Adyn and Jace emerged from the building, the three of them gathering on the street outside.

  “What are you going to do, Narine?” Jace asked. “I need to know so I can plan accordingly.”

  Stopping, she gave him a haughty look. “I don’t think so.”

  “What? Don’t be stupid. This is a dangerous situation.”

  She arched a brow. “Are you saying it bothers you to not know what I am planning?”

  He glanced at Adyn in exasperation. “Of course it does.”

  “Now you know how it feels.” She flashed a smug smile and continued toward the harbor gate.

  He caught up and gripped her arm, turning her toward him. His tone softened. “Is this about last night?”

  “No. This is about everything you do.” Her tone grew more heated as frustration arose. “You lay these plans in secret and spring them on others, expecting us to bend to your whim without question.”

  Shockingly, he didn’t reply, but fell silent, his expression contemplative. A long moment passed. Narine glanced at Adyn, who shrugged.

  Finally, Jace sighed. “I suppose you have a point.”

  She blinked in shock before recovering. “Well…yes, I do.”

  “It’s not intentional.” He ran his hand through his dark hair while staring off into space. “I have been on my own for so long I guess I forget to communicate. I’m just not used to having companions, and certainly not when my more…exotic skills are required.”

  Adyn put a hand on his shoulder. “You have done well by us so far, so don’t be too hard on yourself.” She looked at Narine. “O
ur little princess has made her point, but she has her own faults, one of which is being pig-headed. I thought she had outgrown the habit, but when around you, she regresses.”

  Narine glared at Adyn while stifling a retort. She hated that Adyn was right. Worse, she hated Adyn had said it in front of him.

  “Now,” Adyn said, reaching out to grab Narine’s shoulder and drawing the three of them into a huddle. “I suggest you two start behaving as adults so we can get out of here.”

  With a sigh, Narine said, “I’m going to use an illusion to get Adyn and myself past the guards.”

  “You can do that?” Jace asked, eyes wide.

  “Don’t sound so surprised. I am exceptionally skilled at illusion.”

  “Why didn’t you use it last night? We could have just walked past the guards and out the front door of the inn.”

  “Because I was a bit frazzled and had no time to prepare. Besides, if there were any other wizards nearby, they would have sensed the magic. It makes a person glow and would have drawn attention, especially at night.”

  “I’ve never seen a glow,” he said.

  “Of course not. You are ungifted.”

  He stared in silence before nodding. “All right. Tell me what to do.”

  Jace walked from the alley with a leather cord in his hand. He glanced back, finding it odd to see Jabbers lazily following him. Even more odd, the horse’s footsteps were muffled, the sound nothing like what one might suspect from a horse.

  Oddly, he felt naked without the Eye of Obscurance, safely stored in his coin purse. He had taken to wearing the amulet as protection against magic, thinking himself invincible for a time. When Narine spanked him with the switch, it made him realize magic remained a risk, if only indirectly. Still, he longed to put the amulet back on, but the illusion was imperceptible while wearing it. He would rather see what others saw so he could react properly.

  He strolled down the street until he reached the small square beside the north gate. As he had seen earlier, a dozen guards were stationed inside the gate, six to each side. A line of horse-drawn carts and people on foot waited as the guards performed their inspections. The clopping of hooves arose, joined by the rumble of wheels as a wagon entered the square from another street.

  “Let’s get behind that wagon,” Jace muttered and began to walk.

  With the cord in hand, he crossed the square and stood behind the wagon. A backward glance showed Jabbers behind him, tail still, eyes glossy.

  Slowly, the line advanced until they inspected the wagon ahead of him. The guards even climbed into the back and pounded on each barrel on the wagon, the thumps all sounding solid, the barrels filled with wine. The men climbed down and the driver was waved ahead.

  Jace hurried forward as the wagon and horse rode away, the wheels rumbling, hooves clopping noisily.

  “Hold.” A guard stepped between him and the advancing wagon. “State your name and business.”

  “My name is Chase Dannil. I’m a trader.”

  “Where are your wares? Where are you headed?”

  “I ran into a bad bit of luck. My cart’s axle broke right in half. I had to abandon it on the road between here and Lionne. I’m searching for passage to Fastella to purchase a new cart from a vendor I know in the city.”

  “Very well.” The guard stepped aside.

  Without the noise of the horse-drawn wagon to mask their distinct lack of noise, Jace was reluctant to leave. He glanced backward, hopeful another horse would be coming, yet saw only people on foot behind him.

  The guard grunted. “I said you can go.”

  “Yes. Of course.” Jace looked back at Jabbers, pretending to pull the cord. “My horse sometimes refuses to move. Stubborn as anything you have seen.”

  Another guard shouted, “Move along. We don’t have all day.”

  Realizing he had no choice, Jace pulled for real, stepping forward while Jabbers followed. The quietness made him wince. They are going to notice.

  A thunderous rumble arose from his left as a pair of soldiers rode along the outside of the city wall at a gallop. Thankful, Jace hurried in the other direction, toward the busy docks. The riders slowed and stopped just outside the gate, the men dismounting to have a conversation with the guards posted there. By then, Jace was beyond earshot and closing in on the western pier.

  A pair of warehouses stood outside the city walls. He walked past the first warehouse, then led the horse into the narrow gap between the buildings. The alley was a dead end, the city wall blocking it and leaving no other way out.

  He turned toward the horse. “Okay. You can drop it.”

  The image of the horse bent, twisted, and dissolved, revealing Narine holding the other end of the leather cord, Adyn standing behind with her hands on Narine’s shoulders.

  Jace shook his head in wonder. “If I could do that, there would be nothing I could not steal.” The possibilities flashed in his mind and left him thinking that with such an ability, he would be the richest man in the world in a matter of years.

  Narine frowned. “Do you think stealing from others would be an appropriate use of magic?”

  He shrugged. “Better than setting a man on fire or creating a tornado that leaves nothing but crushed and broken bodies.” When her expression darkened, he felt a pang of regret. He reached for her hand, holding it gently. “I’m sorry. That was unfair.”

  Narine nodded but didn’t pull her hand back. “Yes, it was.”

  “At least I admitted it,” he replied in a hurt tone.

  A smirk appeared on her face. “Perhaps there is hope for you yet.” She gestured toward the pier beyond the narrow alley. “Now, can we leave?”

  “Yes.” He released her hand and walked past her. “Let’s go find Starlight Chaser.”

  Narine climbed the stairs from below deck, squinting at the bright light of day. Scattered clouds decorated the pale blue skies, drifting with the same wind tossing Narine’s hair about. Rippling waves ran across the cerulean blue water from horizon to horizon, no land in sight.

  A goat, the only animal on board, was tied to the main mast. It bleated and stretched, trying to reach the rear of a sailor who was bent over a rope. When the man stepped backward, the goat bit his shirt, tugging on it. The sailor spun around and jerked his shirt away, tearing it. Curses followed as he walked away. Narine covered her grin and headed toward the fore of the ship before spotting Adyn on the bow.

  The bodyguard was stripped to her sleeveless undershirt and breeches, her skin damp with sweat and glistening in the sun. She held her curved sword high, the tip straight ahead while she glared at an invisible enemy. In a flash, she spun, ducking and coming around with a strike meant to slash her opponent’s mid-section. The sight of Adyn training against imaginary enemies was nothing new to Narine, but she wasn’t the only person watching.

  She walked to the rail, gripped it to steady herself against the rocking ship, and approached Jace, who was focused on Adyn.

  “Are you enjoying yourself?” Narine asked with an arched brow.

  Jace looked back at her and shrugged. “It’s all right. I’ve never been big on sailing. How do you feel?”

  Narine blinked, taken aback by him asking. “Better, thank you.”

  He turned and resumed watching Adyn, which stirred Narine’s anger.

  “It’s impolite to stare at a woman just because she is dressed provocatively.”

  “What?” He glanced back at her. “Oh, you mean Adyn.” He shrugged. “Sure, she is pretty enough. Thin and athletic, if you are into that sort of thing.”

  Narine’s focus shifted to Adyn, her arms bare, undershirt unbuttoned to her chest, lean body glistening with sweat. She was built like a goddess and possessed the eyes, nose, and jaw that made other women jealous. How could a man not be attracted to her?

  “I don’t understand.”

  He turned toward her and tilted his head. “I have this theory about the gods and physical preferences.”

  She snorted. “
This should be good.”

  A grin crossed his face. “Take women, for example. Some prefer a man with dark hair, some prefer blond, some like a beard, some detest facial hair. Some even prefer a man who is bald. I know women who seek tall, thin men, and others who are drawn to a man with more meat on his bones.”

  Her mouth twisted into a frown. “What is your point?”

  “Beauty and attraction aren’t the same for everyone. If we all had the same preferences, there would be far more lonely people in the world.”

  Narine found herself nodding. It was a startlingly deep observation. “So… What are your preferences?”

  His gaze flicked toward her before looking out toward the sea. “I prefer a woman with curves. Ideally, she would be around my height, but that’s more of a practical thing. I also find myself drawn to fair hair and light eyes.”

  Narine’s eyes narrowed as she stared at him. It sounded like a checklist of how one would describe her own physical attributes. She wondered if he meant what he said or if he were attempting another ploy.

  Jace turned toward her and asked, “What about you? What attracts you to a man?”

  Narine stared back for a moment before replying. “I desire a man who is loyal and trustworthy. He should treat me well and with respect.”

  Rolling his eyes, Jace huffed. “No. What attracts you to a man? What makes you swoon, wish to kiss him, and–”

  Her hand clapped over his mouth. “Stop there.” Narine felt her face flush as she pulled her hand away. “I think it’s inappropriate to consider a man purely based on appearance. It’s as if he were just a piece of meat I am choosing at a butcher shop.”

  “Sometimes the right cut of beef can be awfully satisfying.” Jace grinned.

  She refused to take the bait. “If you wish me to be honest, I desire a man who can make me laugh. One who helps me recall the joy in life.”

  His brown eyes gazed into hers, the sunlight painting them amber. With dark, windblown hair and an unshaven face, he appeared the definition of a rogue. She felt herself drawn toward him, recalling their kiss. Images of Jace at the river resurfaced – skin bared to the waist, his lean, rippled torso glistening in the morning sun. Her pulse began to race as she eased closer, her hand reaching toward his face.