Knight of Shadows, page 25
Rezkin did not turn to watch it further. He did not want to move. His whole body ached both with the pain of the blast and that of tumbling down the falls. He knew he was lucky the bag had not exploded while he was carrying it, but he did not feel lucky in that moment. Still, he was presently in violation of a number of Rules and if he were to adhere to Rule 164—Do not depend on others, then he would need to get moving on his own. Rezkin closed his eyes for a moment before he felt a weight press down on his chest. His eyes darted open, and he found a toothy snout in his face. Icy-blue eyes gazed down at him with concern, and a leathery tongue lashed out to rake his cheek. Rezkin slowly sat up, stifling a groan for his aching ribs. Seena leapt off and sat back on her heels as she watched him. Her wings drooped with worry, and she snorted a puff of smoke.
He took a painful breath and said, “I am well enough, all things considered.”
“You live,” she whispered in his mind.
“You worried I did not?” he asked.
“I knew you did, but I worried you would not.”
“I appreciate your concern, Seena. Thank you for finding me.”
“Of course. We are one.”
Rezkin swallowed down his pain as he got to his feet. None of his limbs were broken, but he was sure to be black and blue by nightfall. He convinced Seena to open a portal into the castle to the room where he had stowed his belongings. There he changed into dry clothes and set his boots beside the fire he built in the hearth. With an illusion of the servant Pollick wrapped around him, he went in search of the dukes. As he stalked through the halls, he noticed the increased number of guards. Since the explosion, the castle had been put on high alert. He also noted a number of wards had been activated along the corridors and in doorways. At least these would help prevent the demon from returning.
He learned that the dukes and the general were once again in the war room, hopefully this time coming to a consensus. Rezkin obtained a tray of meats and cheeses from the kitchen, then reported to the war room to serve the men. When he arrived, Wellinven was using the portable mage relay to hold a discussion with Tieran in Cael. They seemed to have gotten past the initial surprise of contact and were well on their way to negotiating the terms of an alliance. Rezkin noted that although Wellinven seemed to be taking the hard line in the discussions, Tieran sounded knowledgeable and confident and was no less demanding. This seemed to take the dukes by surprise, and Rezkin could see the pride shining in Tieran’s father’s eyes.
Rezkin remained at Wellinven for the next day until the other dukes departed. There were no more assassination attempts during their stay, but he knew there was always a chance the dukes could fall prey to an ambush during their return journey. Rezkin traveled back to the northern fortress where he had trained with General Marcum, and once the general was safely ensconced in the fortress, he departed for Cael. He had other important matters to deal with.
Chapter 18
Wesson stepped cautiously over the hummocky terrain as he made his way to the meeting point. The rain had stopped so he no longer needed the shield ward he had constructed to keep himself dry, but the tall grasses were still damp and so were his pant legs. He paused beside the tree line to cast a quick spell to dry his clothes. This far from the city it was unlikely any mages would be around to detect his use of vimara. At least, none that he had to worry about. He did not yet know if the party he was meeting had any mages in it. He knew only where and when to meet, and he was already late.
He cast his awareness into the forest searching for any signs of people. He was not particularly good at this spell, and results often varied. Still, it was better to try than be surprised. He sensed no one in the vicinity, and he deflated. Had he missed them? Had they left without him? Where would they go? Wesson shook off his disappointment and continued into the forest, hoping to find them farther in. He continued casting his awareness into his surroundings but only detected a few forest creatures, nothing large enough to be a person. When he reached a tributary, he stopped and settled on a boulder beside the river. He had only been sitting for a few breaths when a voice spoke from directly behind him.
“Mage Wesson.”
Wesson nearly jumped out of his skin. Even though he had been casting, he had not detected the presence of another person. With chagrin, he noted to himself that he needed to practice that particular skill with more frequency.
Upon turning, his heart still racing, he said, “Y-yes, Striker Farson. I am here.”
“Good. We have been waiting for you.”
“I apologize for my tardiness. I was delayed in leaving the city thanks to the rain.”
Farson nodded once, then said, “Come with me. I will take you to the others.”
The sounds of Wesson crashing through the underbrush rendered Farson’s silent passage all the more noticeable. Somehow, the striker was immune to thorny bushes and low-hanging vines. As Wesson’s shirt tore on a branch, he wished he could be so graceful.
At one point, Farson looked back at him. “Must you break every branch in the forest? A toddler could track you.”
“Sorry,” said Wesson. “I am not much of a woodsman.”
Luckily, they did not have far to go to reach the others. He found a neat camp of several tents arranged around a central fire pit that presently was not lit. Thanks to the rain, any wood they found to burn would produce too much smoke. Azeria greeted him as he approached. Connovan, who was seeing to the horses, gave him a nod. The former Rez did not speak often, and usually what he did say was not something you wanted to hear. He heard a yelp from within one of the tents. A moment later, Anda came tromping out looking a bit disheveled. Formerly one of Caydean’s battle mages, Anda had finally opened her eyes to the truth once she had seen Cael and everything they were striving to create. Still, that did not mean Wesson trusted her, even if they had once been friends.
Wesson turned to Farson. “What is she doing here?”
“She is a battle mage. We thought she might be useful.”
“But she has sworn a mage oath to serve Caydean.”
“No,” said Anda, holding up a finger. “I swore to serve the king, and you all have convinced me that Caydean is not the rightful king.”
“How do we know she speaks truth?” asked Wesson.
Anda said, “Wesson, you know me. I have always tried to do what’s right. And this feels right. You can trust me.”
Wesson cringed at her words. That was exactly what a traitor would say. The problem was, Wesson wanted to believe her. Anda was not a particularly powerful battle mage, but they could use all the help they could get, and she had been his friend during a difficult time in his life.
Wesson sighed. “Very well. What are we doing?”
Farson answered. “You are going to tell us everything you have discovered since you have been here. Then we will formulate a plan.”
Wesson nodded then proceeded to explain everything he knew about the battle mage generals, the experiments in Avikeev’s cellar, the mage prisoners he had released, and then the news of the weapon Rezkin had told him about. He was a bit vague on where he had gotten that information since Rezkin had sworn him to secrecy. He also described the increased presence of the zealots of Caydean’s new religion who were congesting the city. In fact, there were so many pilgrims arriving daily for the upcoming unveiling of the new temple that an encampment had been established outside the northern gates of Kaibain.
“The influx of pilgrims into the city means the guards are not checking everyone that enters. It is easy to come and go. There will be no problem getting you into the city,” said Wesson.
“Did you find us a safe house?”
“Not exactly,” said Wesson. “With so many pilgrims, it was impossible to find a room to rent much less an entire home. I did manage to secure a small storehouse near the market district, though.” He neglected to mention that it was Rezkin who had directed him to the storehouse.
“Hmm, it will have to do,” replied Farson. “What of this Avikeev? How much of a threat is he?”
“He is a demon. I am sure of it. If the power released during his experiments is any indication, he is pretty powerful, too,” said Wesson.
Anda said, “Avikeev is the battle master since Rhone died.” She glanced Wesson’s way before continuing. “He is very powerful, and he’s brilliant but merciless. There is a reason he was Rhone’s second. I didn’t see much of him at the Battle Mage Academy since he was usually in Kaibain, but when he was around, we all made ourselves scarce. I have a hard time believing in demons, but if anyone is one, then it would be him.”
Wesson pulled the sketches of the runes from Avikeev’s cellar from his tunic and handed them to Azeria. “I was wondering if you have seen anything like these before. I need to know what they mean.”
Azeria examined the sketches and nodded. “Yes, I have seen this writing before. It is a form of Adianaik used by the Sen. I only know a few of these runes.”
“That is great,” said Wesson. “You have at least given me a place to start. Now that I know they are Sen, I can do some proper research.”
“Your research will have to wait,” said Farson. “Other matters take precedence.”
“I am afraid this cannot wait,” said Wesson. “This is pertinent to discovering what Avikeev is up to.”
“Where must you go to do this research?” said Farson.
“There should be some books and scrolls on the Sen in the library in Kaibain. I am not sure if I will have access to them, though. Caydean has likely restricted access to them if he hasn’t removed them altogether.”
“Very well,” said Farson. “Then our first order of business is to secure you access to the restricted section of the library.”
“I would like Azeria to go with me. She knows what to look for.” Wesson turned to her. “If that is all right with you, that is.”
“Yes, I will join you,” she said.
“Okay, then if you all want to follow me, I will lead you to the storehouse.”
The group packed up their tents and covered the evidence of their presence. Then they followed Wesson into the city, blending with the pilgrims as they passed the gate guards. The storehouse was located near the market district. It was small but thankfully dry. The outer façade was made of timber and stucco. The interior was vacant save for a few dusty crates stacked to one side. It bore no windows, which would make it much more difficult for anyone to spy on them. The space would have been dark if not for the glowing mage lights stacked atop the crates. Those mage lights were powered by the mages Wesson had released from Avikeev’s cells who were waiting for them. This made Striker Farson uneasy. Wesson made the introductions, then Farson pulled him aside.
“What are they doing here?” he said.
“They needed somewhere to go. They’re in danger.”
“But we do not know them. They could betray us,” said Farson.
“They were going to be killed. I saved them. I don’t think they’ll betray us,” Wesson replied.
“You do not know what oaths they have sworn. If they are sworn to serve Caydean, they will be compelled to betray us whether they want to or not.”
“They were selected for the experiments because they refused to swear oaths to the king. But, I’ve been thinking about that. I think I may be able to come up with a way to break a mage oath if it was sworn under duress.”
“Impossible,” said Farson. “Mage oaths are unbreakable regardless of the conditions during their swearing.”
“I can’t believe that. It isn’t fair—”
Farson barked a laugh. “Fair? Clear the muck out of your head. Life is not fair.”
“Yes, of course, Striker. I understand.” And Wesson did understand. Much of his life had been unfair.
He said, “What if Azeria takes them back to Cael?”
Mage Bargus cleared his throat as he approached. He said, “I could not help but overhear. If I may …”
“What is it?” barked Farson.
Bargus gave a slight bow. “I was held prisoner by Avikeev and the other generals for weeks. I witnessed many of my colleague’s deaths while being held. Those were people I have lived and worked with, some for decades. I mourn them even now.
“I had given up hope of escape. I knew it was only a matter of time before I was selected for the experiment, and I knew I would not survive it. Mage Wesson saved me—all of us—from a terrible fate. I will forever be in his debt. And I hate Caydean and everything he stands for. I was at the Mage Academy when it was attacked. I know how treacherous and heartless he is, and I do not intend to stand idly by and watch him ruin this once great kingdom.” He glanced back at the other mages before continuing. “I think I speak for all of us when I say I want to help. Please, allow us to be a part of your resistance. Let us put our powers to use.”
Farson mulled that over for a minute before he finally said, “Mage Wesson is the emperor’s mage. He is young, but he earned the emperor’s trust and therefore has mine. Do you have a problem with answering to him?”
Bargus looked to Wesson and bowed more deeply this time. “It would be my honor to serve under the mage who saved my life.”
Wesson said, “Thank you, Mage Bargus. You may join the new Mage Academy at Cael.”
Bargus sounded surprised when he said, “There is a new mage academy?”
“Yes, we have a number of mages in Cael. We needed structure and a way to train new mages. It is a small academy right now, but we intend to rescue or recruit as many mages as we can find.”
Bargus nodded. “There are a number of mages who, like us, refused to swear an oath to the king. Many of them are being held in the palace dungeons. I believe the only reason they have not been executed is because Caydean and Avikeev intend to use them for their experiments.”
“Then we need to save them,” said Wesson resolutely.
He, Farson, Connovan, and Anda spent the rest of the day making plans for that evening’s activities while Azeria escorted the mages to Cael through the pathways. That night, Connovan, Azeria, and Anda joined Wesson in an attempt to infiltrate the library’s restricted section. The library was as dark as the night when they arrived. It was a sprawling building, three stories high and made of stone with a terra cotta roof. Arched windows decorated the top two floors, and a series of columns lined the front where the steps ascended. Boxwoods occupied the spaces between columns, and decorative topiaries adorned the lawn on either side of the steps. There were no guards, but there was an active ward meant to bar entry to any who did not possess the magical key, a specific spell that only the librarians possessed.
They hid in the shadows of the columns at the top of the steps as they examined the ward for any defects. They failed to find any. The ward was as solid as the stone walls from which the library was built, and the large mahogany door remained undisturbed. Connovan suggested attempting to access the building by breaching the stained-glass windows via the roof, but Wesson wanted to avoid doing any actual damage to the premises if possible. Besides that, it was likely the ward extended to the entirety of the building.
Without thinking, Wesson muttered, “I wish I knew how Rezkin did it. He would simply walk through the ward and could take us with him.”
Anda snorted as if she did not believe it.
He glanced at Azeria and could see the turmoil in her eyes at the mention of Rezkin. She seemed to brush it off, though, as she said, “The Spirétua are invulnerable to many spells and acts of magic because they possess the entire spectrum of vimara in equal parts. Only magic generated using the full spectrum or nocent power is guaranteed to work against them.”
Wesson said, “So if we could use the entire spectrum, we would be able to walk through the ward as well?”
“Yes, but none of us possess such power,” she replied.
Connovan said, “What if we were to combine our power to the same effect?”
“We would need to be able to cover the entire spectrum between us,” said Azeria.
“And we would have to isolate each strand independently,” added Wesson. “I don’t know how to do that. I don’t even know if it could be done.”
“I can show you how,” said Azeria. To Wesson, she said, “Yours will be most difficult because your nocent power may interfere, but Connovan should have no trouble. As a reflector, his power is already partitioned in such a way.”
“But do we have the entire spectrum between us?” asked Wesson.
Azeria answered, “It is likely that between the three of us we cover the entire spectrum. Anda will remain out of the link because her nocent power renders her unable to control her constructive power. The difficult part is applying the power in equal parts as would a Spirétua.”
“How can we do that?” asked Connovan. “Only a reader can see the ratio of power. How will we know how much to add?”
“We can link our power,” said Azeria. “I can manage the link. You will each select your powers and feed them into me, and I will add the required amounts.”
“You know how to do that?” said Wesson.
“Eihelvanan are not like human mages. You come into your power near adulthood. We are born with our power. Our parents and teachers use the link to guide our powers when we are young. I know how to form the link. I have never managed one, but I believe I can do it. A warning, though. Once the link is established, only the manager is able to wield the power. You will no longer have the ability to cast so long as the link is in place.”
Wesson was alarmed. He possessed a vast amount of destructive power, and he did not like the idea of someone else wielding it. He said, “How long does the link last?”
“Until I, as the manager, release it. Technically, I could maintain the link indefinitely. This is why it is dangerous to form a link with someone. Is breaching this ward worth the risk for you?”
Connovan said, “I say we try to go in through the window.”
Wesson scowled at Connovan. “The ward likely extends to the windows as well.”
Connovan shrugged. “It is worth a shot.”
