by Randy Nargi
“But at what cost? I fear she is using dark magic,” Bryn Eresthar interjected. He explained how Silbra Dal had saved him from the doldar assassins and the particularly gruesome way they died.
Hirbo Thrang shook his head. “Why shouldn’t she use awhyll?”
“You? You were the one who taught her forbidden spells?” asked Bryn Eresthar.
“She saved your life,” Hirbo Thrang said. “And you are going to complain about an outdated classification of spells?”
“Knowledge is always good,” Bander said to Silbra Dal. “Well, mostly good.”
“It is more than that,” she said. “I was trammeled. He freed me.”
Bander knew a little bit about the practice of trammeling. The Guild evaluated each postulant for his or her natural abilities. Those with extraordinary power were subjected to a magical hobble of sorts once they were accepted into Delham University. In the process, the novice's memory was also affected so he or she retained no knowledge of the procedure. When the mage reached the rank of archmage, or in some cases adept, and proved herself loyal and trustworthy, the Guild Master would reverse the procedure and the mage would have access to his or her full power. The practice was most commonly used for potential battle mages, but apparently, Silbra Dal was judged in need of trammeling as well.
“You are a member of the Guild,” Bryn Eresthar said. “You must adhere to its laws.”
“No longer.”
“Then why did you work to free Meomannan Quill?” Bander asked.
“I want answers.”
"Meomannan Quill is notoriously tight-lipped. How do you plan on getting these answers?"
“By force if necessary.” Silbra Dal looked at each of them in turn. “You will all join me and together we will topple the Guild.”
Chapter Four
FROM HIS TOWER PERCH, GREDARL KAR SAW ASRYN AND HIS MEN TRUDGE FROM THE WAYSTATION TOWARDS THE FORTRESS. He supposed he could have sent a coach, but it amused him that a high-born Lord Governor had to walk a mile along a sun-baked, dusty track in order to meet with him. Even their mysterious patron in this venture, the dark mage Morin of Thect, did the same.
Of course, Gredarl Kar could not take credit for the source of his amusement. The fortress had been completely shielded from magic by its previous occupant, a paranoid wizard named Ahantophan. The old mage had somehow acquired an ancient artifact and had it set into a reliquary in the dungeon level of the fortress. This relic prevented any sort of magic from penetrating the perimeter of the structure. That meant no teleportation, in or out. Which suited Gredarl Kar just fine. He greatly appreciated all the wards and protections Ahantophan had installed. His favorite, though, was the moat.
It wasn’t a real moat. At least not the typical moat you’d think of. There was no trench and no water circling the fortress. No, Ahantophan’s moat was more of a garden: a garden of nearly-transparent crystal shards growing out from the foundation of the fortress. These shards grew at all sorts of odd angles, almost like massive blades of grass, as wide as a horse and as tall as three men. And they were indeed blades of a sort, yet sharper than any blade forged by man. Every edge was unnaturally honed. Birds alighting on a shard would be sliced in half. And it was a sight to behold when Gredarl Kar meted out punishment by tossing a man from one of the towers. All gathered to see the poor wretch’s body be instantly severed in a dozen places.
Gredarl Kar smiled at the memory, and then looked out to mark Asryn’s progress. The Lord Governor should arrive in a quarter hour, but Asryn would make him wait for twice that amount of time. Just because he could.
In the meantime, he reviewed the agenda he had prepared for Asryn based on Morin’s instructions. The dark mage had commanded him to prepare Asryn to give a speech during an emergency meeting of the Lord Governors called by the Viceroy for tomorrow.
At first, Gredarl Kar had wondered why not seize the opportunity and slaughter the heads of state all in one batch, like so many pigs trapped in a sty. Morin had explained the folly of that approach. They didn't want all the Lord Governors dead; they wanted them all to rally around Asryn to support his bid to oust the Viceroy. Gredarl Kar understood the logic, but if it were his decision, he would slay them all and then start anew.
There was nothing better than a fresh start.
Chapter Five
“I HAVE NO PARTICULAR LOVE OF THE GUILD,” BRYN ERESTHAR SAID. “Dynark knows, they cost me enough. Yet, I do love my Empire. And I respect the rule of law. And the Guild has always been a part of that.” He moved to a sideboard and refilled his cup of tea.
“You say that, even after having been wrongly imprisoned?” Silbra Dal rose from her seat, her eyes flashing.
“I am free now. That is what is important.” Bryn Eresthar stepped closer to the young sorceress and spoke with compassion. “Do you plan to live your life as an outlaw then? I have seen what such a life has been like for Hirbo Thrang. It is not a happy one.”
“You are not one to talk,” Hirbo Thrang countered.
"You bicker like children," Bander said. "Or an old married couple. Sit, all of you. I have much news to share." He told them of looking into Tarthas Jorr's death and how his investigation led him to the wife of the criminal Karn Tenney who testified against Tarthas Jorr and was hanged alongside him. "She confirmed that her husband had been hired by rangemen, specifically by a man named Daras Mirth."
“The name means nothing to me,” Bryn Eresthar said.
“He’s the First Man of Gredarl Kar,” Bander said.
“Him I have heard of.”
“Elaborate,” Hirbo Thrang said.
“Gredarl Kar clawed his way to power over the last two or three years. He controls nearly all of the organized crime in the south,” Bander said.
“And why would a Rangelands gangster want to kill my Captain of the Guard?” Bryn Eresthar asked.
“I believe that was an error on their part. Either that or they were trying to scare me away. In any case, I brought the information to Etthar Calain in Rundlun.”
“The Imperial Magister of the Murmurs,” Hirbo Thrang said.
“Not any longer. He was forced out of office after his failure to stop the attack on Waterside,” Bryn Eresthar said. “He did not even attend my trial. Which was probably better for me.”
Bander continued. “Etthar Calain may be retired, but he is still a valuable ally. It was he who sent us to Vale to find one of Daras Mirth’s lieutenants, a gambling house owner named Alton Ferdun.”
“Us?” asked Silbra Dal.
Bander was pleased that she was becoming engaged in the discussion. “Dusk, Faramir Boldfist, Wegg, Niam, and Jaden.” He noticed that Silbra Dal’s eyes widened slightly when he had mentioned Wegg’s name.
“Jaden? So they found him!” Bryn Eresthar exclaimed. He quickly explained that he had hired Dusk and her team to locate Jaden. He needed the bounty hunter’s help in finding his sister.
“Yes, together we uncovered information that suggested that Gredarl Kar was behind the shipment of poison to Kreed’s Keep.”
“I suspected that the Guild wasn’t truly involved,” Bryn Eresthar said.
Bander said, “Etthar Calain believes that the scene had been orchestrated to make it appear that it was a mage who had poisoned the reservoir. They murdered the mage and left his body as evidence.”
“A desperate ploy,” Bryn Eresthar said.
“But it appears to be working. Mages are under intense suspicion and steps are being taken against them.” Bander turned to Silbra Dal. “If you want to topple the Guild, Mistress, you already have some competition.”
“Or some assistance,” Bryn Eresthar said.
“I have no kinship with those who have been terrorizing the Empire,” Silbra Dal said.
“Then join us,” Bander said. “Jaden and his man Niam have tracked Asryn as he met Gredarl Kar and this morning I captured Chiran Hemmig—”
“Dynark’s blood!” Bryn Eresthar exclaimed. “You did what?”
“So you think the Imperial Magister of the Shield will tuck his tail and run to the most prominent criminal in the south?” Hirbo Thrang asked.
“I do. And when he does, we’ll have all the evidence we need. But we must return to Etthar Calain.”
“I need to return to Laketon,” Bryn Eresthar said. “I promised the Viceroy that I would do my part to help restore order. And with this latest attack throwing the rest of the Empire into chaos, Laketon must stand firm.”
“I’m not sure that is wise. Your own council may have been compromised,” Bander said.
“I don’t believe it…”
“Jaden and some of the others returned to Laketon to seek you out. They were told you were traveling.”
“I leave standing orders that if I disappear for any reason, my Magister of the Murmurs concocts a tale that I have been called away on Imperial business. Only after forty-eight hours does my council begin to concern themselves.”
“Even if the hallway outside your chambers resembles a slaughter house?”
“That was her doing.” Bryn Eresthar nodded towards Silbra Dal.
She said nothing.
“Still,” Bander said. “Your Magister of the Axe was likely complicit in the death of Tarthas Jorr. There may be additional conspirators. Forwin Lath is on my list, as is Tad Sircas.”
“The more reason I should return.”
“I will accompany you and guard you,” Hirbo Thrang said. “Although I’m not sure I could have protected you against those doldar much better than Silbra Dal did.”
“As usual, your company is most welcome, old friend.”
“And you, Mistress?” Bander asked. “What is your next move?”
“I will question Meomannan Quill. Once he escapes.”
“How will you find him—assuming that he does actually escape?” Bryn Eresthar asked.
A flicker of doubt played across Silbra Dal’s face. “I will find a way.”
Bander said, “Come with me to Mornwell then. It is Etthar Calain’s lodge outside of Rundlun. It is a safe place.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because that is where Meomannan Quill will go. He and Etthar Calain are old friends and the former Magister is probably the only man in the entire Empire Meomannan Quill can trust right now.”
Silbra Dal was silent, lips pursed in thought.
Bander continued, “I believe that you want to see justice served as much as I do.”
“Please, do not try to play your games of manipulation with me.”
“I would never presume—”
"Answer me this, Captain. Are you now a man of action? Because when I last left you, you were paralyzed and wallowing in self-doubt."
“That was an error. You know that I am no stranger to errors.”
“Indeed, Captain. That I will not dispute.”
“So will you join me?”
“No…”
Bander was silent. Whatever trouble he would be facing, he’d rather face it with Silbra Dal by his side.
“However, you may join me,” Silbra Dal said.
“Join you?”
“I’m not in the habit of repeating myself.”
Bander looked into the young mage’s amethyst eyes. Her expression was defiant, but there was something flickering far back in those eyes.
“Let us not bicker over semantics, Mistress. We shall work together. I will help you find what you need from Meomannan Quill. I can be quite persuasive myself.” Bander stood tall, towering over her.
“Agreed.”
“Good. We will first teleport to Rundlun to meet with the rest of our cadre.”
“And what of your portal sickness?” Silbra Dal asked. “We just teleported.”
“I thought you didn’t care, Mistress,” Bander smiled. “I shall be quite fine. Besides, Wegg will be there to tend to my ailments should the need arise.”
At the mention of the healer’s name, Silbra Dal’s flushed almost imperceptibly. After a moment she said, “Well… it is your life, Captain.”
"Yes, it is."
Bryn Eresthar pointed to the crimson armor that Silbra Dal still wore. “I’ll be needing that back,” he said. “It’s an old family heirloom.”
“How did it even fit her?” Bander asked.
"The armor is magical," Hirbo Thrang said. "It has no noticeable weight and it adapts to the wearer's body. It would fit you, even though you are twice her size."
“Yes, it is quite clever. And useful. Dynark knows, I am not the svelte lad I was when I first was given it.” Bryn Eresthar patted his stomach.
“I shall return the armor,” Silbra Dal said. “When this matter is concluded. Not before.”
Chapter Six
“ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BRYN ERESTHAR’S DISAPPEARANCE?” Gredarl Kar sat across from Asryn in the northeast tower. The crime lord was seriously considering tossing the duplicitous Lord Governor out of the window, but he was sure that Asryn’s hulking bodyguard Neeth, and his mage Aglaard Shie would intervene. Morin also believed that the Lord Governor still had his uses. So, for now, the weasel would live.
“It don’t matter none now,” Asryn said. “What with the poisoning of Kreed’s Keep, that’s all anyone is talking about. Eresthar has disappeared in the past…” He trailed off.
“So you are saying that he was not assassinated?”
“I ain’t saying one way or another. For all I know, he’s hiding in a cave somewhere like the worm he is.”
“The fact of the matter is that Bryn Eresthar was sighted in Rundlun this morning.”
“What?!”
“He is very much alive.”
“Those damn doldar!” He shouted across the room to his mage. “I want Eondun Mell dealt with when we get back. And the doldar!”
Gredarl Kar said, “You would be wise to forget the doldar, Lord Governor.”
“That son of a bitch Eresthar should be dead!”
“And it will happen—just as Morin promised. But for now, we must focus on the task at hand. Your speech must be perfect.”
Asryn sat back in his chair. “Son, if there’s one thing I have no problem with, it’s talking. I can talk all day long. To rich folk. To poor folk. I can talk to anyone. And they’ll listen, mark me.”
“And you have memorized the speech?”
“I only just heard about the meeting. Besides, I don’t work that way. I speak from the heart, you understand?”
“This is critically important. Morin will not tolerate any errors.”
“I have this, Kar.”
Gredarl Kar ran through some possibilities in his mind. If Asryn failed at this task, it might slow their plans to take over the Empire, but it wouldn’t be a fatal blow. They still had Chiran Hemmig, and he was looking like a better choice for a puppet Viceroy. On the other hand, another display of Asryn’s incompetence would certainly accelerate the man’s eventual fate. Gredarl Kar decided to let things take their own course.
“I must respect your wishes, Your Grace.”
“Now that’s what I like to hear, Kar. I didn’t get to be Lord Governor for nothing. You follow my lead and everything will turn out fine.”
“Good!” Gredarl Kar clapped Asryn on the shoulder. “Let us continue. The second item on the agenda is Vale.”
“Don’t you worry about Vale, son. Me and Haster Grambs are thick as thieves. Met with him last week.”
“So the Lord Governor will support you?”
“Of course he will! He’s no friend of the Guild. Just like we talked about.”
“Excellent.”
“Your problem is that you get worked up too much about everything, Kar. You understand what I’m saying?”
Gredarl Kar had to refrain from laughing out loud. This simpleton was trying to
give him advice. He bit his tongue and tried to appear earnest. “My friend, I have the utmost confidence in you. It’s merely that these are extremely delicate negotiations. Everything must line up just so.”
“That’s my point, old man. We got all our cattle in the pen. I met with the Raytons and they’re on board. And I’m meeting with the Tolormys next. Breaking bread and all that. Sealing the deal. You know who the Tolormys are?”
“Yes, it was I who suggested that you meet with them.”
“Damn fine idea it was. Powerful family. Rich, too. Old Nechal’s going to be good for Waterside. Real good. When the Tolormys talk, regular folks listen. ”
"And with any luck, they will talk. They will talk about how the Viceroy is weak and that the Guild needs to be dissolved."
“I got that part right handy on the tip of my tongue. Like I said, you leave everything to me.”
“Of course.”
“Good man. Now what you say we break out some of that Iorlian wine you got stashed away.”
“A splendid idea, Your Grace. But there is one more thing,” Gredarl Kar said. “Morin has made the suggestion that you might relocate here to my fortress. With the civil unrest, he won’t be able to guarantee your safety unless you are here within these walls.”
Asryn looked at Aglaard Shie and then back at Gredarl Kar. “I don’t have a problem with that, son. If you’ve got the room for us to bunk down here, let’s do it.”
Chapter Seven
BANDER LED SILBRA DAL NORTH THROUGH THE BACK ALLEYS OF THE BERNTROW DISTRICT IN OLD RUNDLUN. He wanted to keep out of sight because Chiran Hemmig would certainly have escaped by now and initiated the manhunt. Luckily this part of the city was populated with tall old buildings with steeply-pitched roofs which cast long shadows in the late afternoon sun. Bander’s eyes drifted up and he scanned the rooflines with their pointed arches, ornamental towers, and decorative bargeboards. It was an old habit of his. Danger could come from above as easily as it could come from below.