Fate of Wizardoms Boxed Set

by Jeffrey L. Kohanek

  Algoron ran his hands along the wall, cracking and chipping sounds arising. He traced a doorway over five feet tall and half the width. With a grunt and a push, the stone fell forward and crashed down in a swirl of dust.

  Narine gawked at Algoron’s handiwork. “You can do the stone magic, as well?” She looked at Rawk. “I don’t understand how it is possible. Who are you people?”

  Algoron grabbed Jace under the arms, helping Rawk carry him through the opening, as he replied. “We are among the best stone-shapers in Ghen Aeldor. You might call us dwarfs.”

  Narine scoffed. “Dwarfs are a myth – existing only in stories.”

  Salvon put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t be so quick to dismiss something as myth. As for our two friends here, you may also know them as Makers.”

  Makers, Narine thought, shaking her head as she followed Salvon through the opening.

  Although it seemed an outlandish idea that Makers might return after so many centuries, she could find no other explanation for Rawk’s and Algoron’s ability to shape stone.

  No wonder Maker-built structures outlast anything man might craft.

  She held her magic-fed light up to examine her new surroundings. The tunnel had led them to a dark storage room cluttered with junk, old furniture, barrels, crates, and shelves, all covered in dust.

  “Where are we?” Rhoa asked.

  “This room is beneath the temple,” Algoron replied. “I thought it best to have a way to escape should things ever go wrong with Malvorian.”

  “Well planned,” Salvon said as he walked to the door. The old man turned the knob and eased the door open, the hinges emitting a long, drawn-out creak. He poked his head out and waved them forward.

  Down a corridor and up a set of stairs they went. At the top stood two doors. One obviously led to the temple, so they chose the other and emerged outside.

  A guard stood not far beyond the door. He spun toward them, and Narine realized she had forgotten to douse the light.

  The man held up his hand to shield his eyes. “Who goes there?”

  “It is Chancellor Thurvin,” Salvon said, doing his best impression.

  “What are you doing here? Wait. You’re not Thurvin!”

  Narine was ready. She dropped the illusion of light and cast a construct of mental manipulation, imprinting sleep on the man in the hopes of making him too drowsy to fight. The guard’s eyes rolled and he collapsed in a heap, his helmet striking the stone walkway with a clang.

  “What did you do to him?” Rhoa asked.

  “I just… That wasn’t supposed to happen,” Narine stammered.

  Salvon knelt beside the man and pressed fingers to his neck. “He is alive.”

  A deep snore came from the guard.

  “Did you put him to sleep?” Salvon asked as he stood.

  “I guess I did.” Narine lifted her hand and stared at the bracelet. She wondered what else she could do with her newfound power.

  “Let’s go,” Adyn said, dragging her along.

  “Where are we going?”

  “We should head to Jace’s apartment and prepare to leave the city. The gates open at sunrise.”

  They exited the courtyard, leaving the sleeping guard behind. Narine released her magic, afraid it would attract the attention of other wizards in the area, but the memory of it would not wane. It was as if she had been incomplete before but never realized it. Is this addiction? She didn’t care. The bracelet was hers now, and she intended to keep it. But the loose fit was annoying. Perhaps on my ankle, she thought. There, it would be hidden beneath her skirts, sure to attract less attention.

  The walk across the city was a blur, Narine’s head clogged with concern for Jace, wonder of the bracelet’s power, and worry about how they might escape the city. It could not be as easy as it was in Fastella.

  When they reached The Blue Hen, Adyn led them through the dark alley until reaching the stairs, warning the others of the loose step and broken rail. Climbing the stairs, they all crowded onto the landing at the top.

  “Does someone have a key?” Rawk asked as he and Algoron held Jace upright, each with one of the thief’s arms about their shoulders.

  “I’ll find it,” Narine said, shifting to stand in front of Jace, whose head sagged as if he had been drugged. She felt inside his coat. The first pocket held lock picks. The second held three gold pieces, a silver, and four coppers. The third held a key. Grabbing it, she turned to the door and grasped the knob, the door swinging open slightly.

  I know he locked it when we left. She pushed the door open all the way. The interior was dark, save for an amber light coming from the hallway. There was no candle or lantern lit when we left, either. Wary, she drew in her magic, readying a construct.

  Gesturing for the others to stay where they were, she crept inside. Of course, Adyn followed, her dagger drawn. Narine didn’t bother to argue with her. It would do no good.

  The two women crept down the hall, Adyn with dagger ready, Narine with her magic. The door to Jace’s bedroom was open a crack, a narrow band of flickering candlelight coming through the opening. With a brief pause outside the door, Narine put her hand on it and pushed. She was not prepared for what she found.

  The bedding had been pulled to the footboard, leaving nothing but sheets and pillows. A woman, blonde, beautiful, with the body of a goddess, lay on the bed, propping herself up with an elbow on the pillows. She was stark naked, her skin smooth and supple, her body lean, yet not short of curves.

  The blonde arched a brow. “You are not Jerrell.”

  “Who are you?” Narine asked.

  “I’m Haelynn.”

  “What… What are you doing in his bed?”

  The woman ran her palm across the sheets, oozing sensuality. “I was waiting for his return. I’ll let you guess at what happens then.” The smile on her face left little doubt.

  Narine’s cheeks felt hot – first with embarrassment, then with anger. “You need to leave.”

  Haelynn’s expression turned into a pout. “But I have plans for Jerrell. Some fun, then a proposal.”

  “Listen, woman,” Adyn said, stepping past Narine and gesturing with her dagger. “If you value your appearance, I suggest you do as she says and go. I know how to leave scars that will never properly heal.”

  Haelynn’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

  Narine’s patience broke. She lashed out with her magic, picked the naked woman up off the bed, and slammed her back down into it. Haelynn shrieked and bounced off the mattress, her long hair flinging wildly has she flew to the floor, landing with a grunt.

  Panting, the woman rose to her hands and knees. She looked up at Narine through her golden locks. “A wizardess? Has Jerrell sunk so low? He now invites wizards into his home?” The woman stood, walked to the chair where her clothes lay, and began to dress.

  Narine waited with her arms crossed, lips pressed together, toe tapping impatiently. In contrast, Adyn leaned against the wall and began to manicure her nails with the tip of her dagger. Once dressed, Haelynn left the room. They followed her down the corridor and watched her walk out the door, past the startled quartet of Rhoa, Salvon, Rawk, and Algoron, the latter two still carrying Jace.

  “Who was she?” Rhoa asked as she walked inside.

  “Haelynn,” Adyn said as Rawk and Algoron lay Jace on the sofa.

  “Who is Haelynn?”

  “Someone who had best watch out if I ever see her again,” Narine growled.

  She noticed Adyn’s smirk and arched brow.

  “What?” Narine said in challenge.

  Adyn shook her head. “Nothing. I just find your reaction interesting. One might think your feelings for the thief are stronger than you express.”

  Narine’s gaze shifted back to Jace, unconscious on the sofa. She stood and stared for some time, concerned for his health, angry about his visitor, and confused about what to do about the entire situation.

  Jace’s eye
s flickered open. People shuffled around him, moving things, banging things. He blinked to get his bearings. The living room of his apartment was a mess, everything scattered around. Salvon stood in the kitchen, sorting through a crate. Rhoa said something from down the corridor, her voice muffled, as was Rawk’s response.

  With stiff muscles, Jace swung his legs to the floor and sat upright.

  Narine, sitting in the chair beside the sofa, turned in his direction and sat forward, placing her hand on his knee. “You’re awake.”

  “And you are spectacularly observant.” He worked his dry mouth, wishing he had something to drink.

  “Sarcasm.” Narine nodded. “I’ll take that as a good sign.”

  Jace stood, wobbling under a wave of dizziness that forced him to grip the arm of the sofa. “Good for who?”

  “Whom,” she said, rising to steady him. Her hands felt warm, her grip gentle.

  Adyn came from around the corner and chuckled when he gave her a wincing look.

  “I need something to drink.” Jace was really thirsty. “Ale, wine, swoon, brandy… Anything you can find.”

  Narine tugged on his arm. He turned toward her. “You’ll get water, nothing else.” She held a glass before him. “I filled this with your pump, expecting you would be thirsty when you woke.”

  “Thanks.” He took it and downed it in one long drink. Lowering the cup, he said, “Now, please tell me why you people are tearing my apartment apart.”

  “We are packing,” Salvon said.

  “For what?”

  Narine’s hand was still on his arm. “We need to leave Marquithe.”

  Jace blinked, his brow furrowed. “Why?”

  “Don’t you remember what happened? Malvorian tried to kill us.”

  “Malvorian…” Jace frowned and sifted through his most recent memories – flashes of Malvorian, Thurvin Arnolle, Despaldi, the confrontation. The pieces began to resemble a picture, ending with pain. “What happened to me?”

  “A guard ran you through with his sword.”

  He felt his stomach. His tunic was torn and matted with dried blood. “I survived that?”

  “Yes. I healed you.”

  His gaze met hers, and he noted the concern in her eyes. I should be dead, and she knows it. “Thank you. I didn’t realize you could heal such an…extreme injury.”

  She looked down, lifted her skirts, and bent her ankle toward him. “Normally, I can’t.”

  He noted the shape of her calf, her shin smooth. When did she have time to shave? Then he saw something familiar twinkle against her skin. “You stole the bracelet from Thurvin?”

  “Yes. It is…amazing.” Her blue eyes were alight as she spoke.

  “As are you.” He felt himself drawn to her again, his hand going to her cheek.

  He considered kissing her, imagining her warm, soft lips against his. Leaning toward her, his lips parted, but she stepped backward.

  “Who is Haelynn?”

  He blinked at the sharp change in conversation. “What?”

  Narine crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes issued a challenge. “Haelynn. Who is she?”

  “How do you know that name?”

  “I asked you first.”

  “She is a business acquaintance.”

  Narine arched a brow, toe tapping in the floor. “Is that what you call it?”

  “I don’t know what this is about, but I don’t enjoy being accused without knowing what it is I’ve done.”

  Narine pointed down the hallway, toward his bedroom. “She was here when we arrived, waiting.”

  “Haelynn?”

  “Yes.”

  Besides an occasional passing, Jace hadn’t seen the woman for many weeks. “Did she say why she was here?”

  “You are being awfully coy about this woman.” Narine’s lips pressed together, her gaze a silent challenge.

  “I can see you are angry, but I haven’t done anything wrong. Haelynn and I worked together until last year when she gave me bad information for her own benefit. I lost all my savings as a result and haven’t seen her since.”

  “Why was she naked?”

  “What?”

  “When we arrived, she was in your bed, naked.”

  Jace chuckled. “I wish I could have seen that. Haelynn might be a snake, but she has a wonderful body.”

  Jace underestimated her reaction. His head snapped to the side, cheek stinging from her slap. He raised his hand to his face, frowning. “What was that for?”

  Narine glowered at him, huffed, and stomped off down the corridor, slamming his bedroom door.

  Wow. She is angry!

  He noticed the others staring at him. “What did I do wrong?”

  Rhoa snorted. Rawk and Algoron looked away. Adyn snickered. Only Salvon had a response.

  The old man shook his head. “For such an enterprising young man, you can be blind to some things.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Think on it, Jace. Why would the princess react in such a manner?’

  The conversation replayed in his head, and he thought about Narine’s attitude shift when mentioning Haelynn. From there, things had spiraled.

  She’s jealous. A grin appeared. She cares.

  Taking a deep breath, he walked down the hallway and softly knocked on the bedroom door.

  “Who is it?” her voice came from within.

  “May I come in?”

  “It’s your apartment. Besides, I can’t really stop you, can I?”

  He opened the door to a room torn apart – the wardrobe doors open, the drawers emptied, his clothing and belongings strewn about. She was sitting on the bed, her face turned away from him.

  “What a mess.” He stepped over a pile of clothing and sat beside her, taking her hand in his. She didn’t resist. “I have lived my entire life on the edge. I often wonder how I have survived for so long. When you live such a life, you put little thought into relationships. In truth, I have been with many women.”

  Narine turned to him, eyes flared and lips tight together.

  He hurriedly said, “Please, hear me out before you react.”

  She glared at him a moment longer before nodding. “Very well.”

  “When you wake every day thinking it might be your last, it alters your perspective. That, and the need to fight every day to survive, made my motives simple – get what I could from each day and hope to survive another. You know I am a thief. Each job was a conquest of sorts. In truth, I treated women no differently. I knew it wasn’t fair to them, but self-preservation and selfishness both begin with one’s self, the lines often blurring.

  “Haelynn is similar, almost like a female version of myself. Our…relationship was a mutual agreement where we each would benefit for our own selfish desires without any of the other issues that might arise between a man and a woman.”

  She cocked her head. “So you slept with her for fun, nothing else?”

  He blinked, shocked about her understanding. “Well, yes.”

  Narine sighed. “As I have said before, you and Adyn have much in common.”

  He had heard Adyn talking about the sailors on Starlight Chaser. The bodyguard sounded like a man with some of her comments, making Jace chuckle and Narine blush.

  Squeezing her hand, he waited until she turned toward him. “I’m not interested in Adyn. Sure, she is fun, fit, and pretty enough, but she isn’t you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I know we are in trouble here, and I don’t know what the future will hold, but I am tired of living as if there is no tomorrow to live for.”

  “What are you saying, Jace?”

  He cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes. “I am attracted to you, Narine, and have been from the start. Even though you drive me crazy sometimes, I cannot stop thinking about you.”

  “You don’t see me as just another conquest, do you?”

  “I am not sure what I see, other than a beautiful, intelligent woman.” He g
ave her a wry grin. “Would it be so bad to be conquered by Jerrell Landish? He has become quite the legend, you know.”

  She laughed, the sound raising his spirits. “You are so bad.”

  Leaning into him, her lips met his, pressing firmly at first, separating, intertwining with his. The thrum of his own pulse hammered in his ears as his body began to respond.

  “I see you two have made up,” a woman’s voice said from behind Jace.

  Narine pulled away and glared past him. “Wonderful timing, Adyn.”

  He turned toward the doorway as the bodyguard said, “Sunrise is not far off. We need to pack up and head out.” She frowned. “We’ll need horses.”

  Rising to his feet, Jace looked down at his bloodstained tunic. “Let me get changed, gather some supplies, and we can leave. I know where we can get food and procure horses.”

  21

  Evasion

  Rhoa sat in silence. She had said little since their encounter with Malvorian and found herself repeatedly gazing down at her hands, imagining them stained with blood. In the fracas, she had killed another man – one responsible for protecting his ruler. The man had only been doing his job, yet Rhoa’s fulgur blades had snuffed him out just like Taladain, a man who deserved such an ending. Did the guard deserve to die? Who was he? Did he leave a family behind? The questions continued to run through her mind, joined by the image of him lying there, his empty eyes staring into the beyond. It was haunting. Even if they weren’t preparing to flee the city, she couldn’t have slept.

  The door opened, and she turned toward it as Jace entered with two loaded packs.

  “Frella gave me as much as I could carry,” he said, extending the packs toward Rawk and Algoron. “Can you two carry these?”

  The two Makers accepted the packs without comment, while the others gathered around Jace. The thief shouldered the pack he had left beside the door and asked, “Is everyone ready?”

  “Where will we go?” Rhoa asked. The question had been lingering for hours, waiting for someone to ask it.

  “Certainly not back to Ghealdor,” Salvon said. “It won’t be safe for some time. Not with the war and all.”