The Habit of the Sorcerer

by J J Moriarty

  “How many dead?” He asked of the room.

  “Three”, a slaver answered.

  Three? Hyzou thought.

  Three corpses were dropped at the head of the room. Bee, Yash and Nagyember, whose face and head had been beaten into a bloody pulp. Hyzou looked at Nagyember and felt a nausea rise. He wasn’t supposed to die.

  “Line up against the wall”, the master bellowed.

  Hyzou walked to the wall the master had pointed to. Beside him the others did the same. The dogs walked along their line, teeth bared, growling.

  “You bitch tits seem not to have thought this through. Who the fuck is going to have to clean up all the blood down here if not you cunts?” The master said.

  “Master, we found this”, one of the slavers said, and he brought forward the nail Hyzou had taken downstairs yesterday.

  The master’s face turned livid, then fell back into calm.

  “You”, he whispered, pointing at Orhtep.

  He flicked his finger, inviting Orhtep out of the line. Orhtep was shaking, but if he was afraid, his face didn’t show it. The master ground his teeth. Finally, he spoke.

  “Boys. Death.”

  “No wait!” Orhtep began.

  But it was too late.

  The dogs rushed him. They landed against Orhtep’s chest and knocked him over. Orhtep fell to the ground, and the dogs went straight for his throat. They broke the skin and tore what was inside onto the already bloody floor. All the dogs gathered around and began to tear chunks of meat off to eat.

  The master chuckled, then turned back to the group. The master tucked his hands into his waist and began walking up and down the line. The silence was punctuated only by the noise of the dogs as they ate their way through skin and bone. Finally, the master’s eyes settled on Hyzou. He flicked his finger at Hyzou, just as he had done to Orhtep.

  His ability to breathe gone with panic, Hyzou stepped out from the wall. He couldn’t help but look at the dogs gnawing away at the corpse. The master placed one meaty hand upon Hyzou’s shoulder. His smile was uglier than his face, with most of the teeth knocked out or rotted away over the years.

  “Now Hyzou, who had the nail? Who took it down here?” The master asked.

  Shaking, Hyzou pointed over at the pile of bodies.

  “It was Nagyember”, Hyzou said.

  “Really Hyzou? That’s awfully convenient. Isn’t it?” The master said.

  He tightened his grip on Hyzou’s shoulder, so that it hurt his bones.

  “You wouldn’t lie to me Hyzou, would you?” The master asked.

  Hyzou shook his head.

  “Well?” The master said, turning to the others. “Does the bitch tit lie? Did Nagyember bring it down?”

  Hyzou dare not turn around to see whether the others were nodding or shaking their heads. He did hear some murmurings, but nothing loud enough for him to make out.

  “Well it looks like you’re all lucky, Nagyember took down the nail, and Nagyember died in the following fight”, the master said. “It’s poetic. I always fucking hated poetry.”

  Hyzou’s breathing returned to normal.

  “Upstairs then, you bitch tits”, the master said.

  Hyzou joined the crowd shuffling upstairs. His limbs were heavy and his body sore.

  In the yard, Hyzou went to take his usual place in the line, but when he stepped where usually the line ended, some weaker slaves lined behind him.

  I’ve moved up in life. Hyzou thought.

  Hyzou frowned but didn’t say anything. He couldn’t complain. In the middle of the line the vetch was better quality, the water cleaner.

  Hyzou took his meal to the bench and ate. No one bothered him, as he spooned the bitter porridge into his mouth, and swallowed it with the aid of the warm water. The water and food helped ease the pain in his head. He tried not to think about what was next.

  Hyzou’s mind wandered, as it did regularly, to the meals he used to have.

  The underworld, it’s all waiting for me in the underworld. Hyzou thought.

  Then he had another thought.

  I killed someone. Two people, actually. Hyzou thought. Just hours ago.

  He’d never killed anyone before, he’d never even deliberately hurt anyone in his old life.

  The only thing that surprised him was how little remorse he felt.

  Hyzou got up to bring the cup and bowl back over to the pot, but he was stopped by Abe, who limped into Hyzou’s path.

  “I need your help with shining the weapons boy, so once you’ve finished there come with me”, Abe said.

  “Yes, sir”, Hyzou said, bowing his head.

  Hyzou returned his utensils to the pile, then followed Abe, who was walking to the weapons shed. Hyzou followed Abe inside, trying to see where he had gotten to. Beyond its front door the shed was shrouded in darkness.

  Hyzou felt sharp bronze placed against his throat.

  “I know it was you”, Abe’s voice whispered beside him.

  Hyzou could smell the alcohol in the air. Abe ran his arm behind Hyzou’s back then pulled him in close. Hyzou was shuffled to a wooden post and turned around. The bronze dagger was trained between Hyzou’s eyes.

  Hyzou looked up but could barely see Abe’s eyes in the darkness.

  “Rice wine?” Abe asked.

  “What?” Hyzou asked.

  Abe took a flask from his waist and waved it beneath Hyzou’s nose.

  “Rice wine?” He asked again.

  “What?” Hyzou said.

  Abe frowned, then undid the cap on the flask with the palm of the hand holding the knife.

  “Do you want a mouthful of rice wine?” He asked.

  “What?” Hyzou said.

  “Take some of the wine Hyzou”, Abe said.

  Hyzou took the flask into his hands and swallowed a mouthful of the liquid. Hyzou had only ever drunk beer. Despite the knife in his face, a spasm ran through his body and his eyes watered.

  “It’s quite something, really wakes me up in the morning”, Abe said.

  Keeping the knife on Hyzou, Abe took the flask and took a swig from it. He kept at it, running the poison into his mouth in six, seven, eight gulps. Finally, his lips detached from the flask with a loud smack, and he shook the flask, now empty of rice wine. Hyzou was surprised Abe was still standing.

  “I hope you weren’t looking for any more”, Abe said. “Sorry about that, I hadn’t had enough to get into the day yet.”

  Abe shrugged, then fit the flask back into his waist.

  “Anyway, back to the matter at hand. You are responsible for that bloodbath”, Abe said.

  “No I’m not. Sir”, Hyzou said.

  Abe rolled his eyes.

  “I know you are, so don’t lie to me”, Abe said.

  Hyzou looked into Abe’s eyes and knew it was pointless to argue. Hyzou was afraid that Abe would open his throat right here.

  “How could you know, sir?” Hyzou said.

  “Oh, I first saw it that day you went walking after being beaten to a pulp – I took you downstairs to sleep and eat your pain away. Remember? Well I saw it there, that day. But you were dreaming then, seems queer for you to be able to use it awake, without training, that’s rare boy.”

  The knife was lowered slightly, so Hyzou felt a slight bit more confidence when he spoke.

  “What did you see, sir? I’m not following you, sir”, Hyzou said.

  “Why, the Qi, of course”, Abe said.

  “The what? Sir”, Hyzou said.

  “The Qi. Your Qi”, Abe said.

  “As in the Servants of Qi?” Hyzou asked.

  “The very same”, Abe said.

  “Sorcery, sir?” Hyzou said.

  “Exactly”, Abe said, and he dropped his arm to his side.

  “You saw sorcery the day I was knocked out?” Hyzou said.

  Abe smiled. “I sure did.”

  “From you? I know you were in the Servants of Qi once upon a time sir”, Hyzou said.

  “
You can stop calling me sir, and you are right that I was in the Servants once, but I haven’t used my powers in a long time. No, that day, you were the only person using magic around here”, Abe said.

  “I was. Was I?” Hyzou said.

  “You still think it’s a dream”, Abe laughed. “What do you think the Qi is? For men it appears orange, as a light that can replace all five senses.”

  “That’s Qi?” Hyzou asked.

  “That’s Qi”, Abe confirmed. “And replacing the senses is just the beginning of the things it can do, I’ve seen Servants break the immutable laws of the natural world – time, strength, speed, and even death – all are merely servants, bowing to the true power on this hallowed ground.”

  The visions. Hyzou thought.

  Abe continued.

  “If you were to look up, do you know what you would see, were this roof not here?”

  “Um. The Sun Tower?” Hyzou said.

  ‘Yes. The Sun Tower. A feature so large it could only have been built by Pharaoh Ganymedes, one of the few men who have ever challenged the gods for their title of true power. Yet even the Sun Tower would wince against the mighty weight of Qi. Qi is the language of the gods, and we humans have only just begun to learn its phrases.”

  “Oh, Abe, I’m sorry. I’ll not use it again, I didn’t understand...”

  “Sorry?” Abe said, incredulous.

  The old man grabbed his shoulders.

  “Why do you think we exist?” Abe said.

  “What?” Hyzou said.

  “Why do you think we exist?” Abe said.

  “I… I don’t know what to say.” Hyzou said.

  Abe rolled his eyes.

  “Then say nothing. Just listen to an old man tell you his little tale”, Abe said.

  “Ok”, Hyzou said, unsure of any other suitable response.

  “You’re right, I was a Servant of Qi once upon a time. That was before the Anarchy. In the Anarchy I was brought to a place much like where you are now. I was a hostage and was broken accordingly. Servants may be strong, but years of torture would break a man eight times my constitution. The booze helps, but I still hurt, and sorcery is beyond my scope of powers, so I have discarded my cloak. Pharaoh Ganymedes offered me a job in his court, training soldiers and warriors”, Abe said.

  Abe seemed to be searching for the words he wanted to use.

  “It... It’s truly fucking boring. I push men through training knowing within six months they’ll be torn apart – and everyone in this city thinks I am nothing more than a drunk. Finally, the Pharaoh insults me so much that he asks me to train men to go and fight a Colossus. No one, no matter how I train them, will do anything but slowly be eaten by the Colossus in front of a large cheering crowd. It’s the ultimate disrespect. So what do you think I want?” Abe said.

  “I don’t know, sir”, Hyzou said.

  “I told you to stop calling me sir. And I want once, just once, to show them the true power of the Servants of Qi. I’d show them myself, but I’ve been broken beyond repair. But does that mean I’ve forgotten what I know? No, no, no. And I trained plenty of Servants down the years”, Abe said.

  Abe stood, now becoming animated.

  “Imagine it, sixty thousand onlookers, the entirety of Pharaoh Ganymedes’ court and a lowly Piquean steps out onto the sand and kills a Colossus”, Abe said.

  “You think one of the slaves can kill the Colossus?” Hyzou asked.

  I should try to be scheduled to go into the arena after him, whoever he is. Hyzou thought.

  “I think you can kill the Colossus”, Abe said.

  “What? No. It’s going to tear me apart, in front of everyone”, Hyzou said.

  Hyzou almost added that he’d already seen it happen. The visions were always right. Somehow.

  “You’re right, Hyzou of Nuyin would never be able to defeat a Colossus. But a Servant of Qi might. It’s been done before”, Abe said.

  “Men can kill a Colossus?” Hyzou asked.

  “Some Servants of Qi can”, Abe said.

  “How?” Hyzou asked.

  “If you’d agree, I’d teach you. Train you in the ways of Qi”, Abe said.

  “How?” Hyzou asked again.

  “If you’d oblige, you could come and live with me. The master won’t mind. He does whatever I ask of him”, Abe said. “It won’t be easy, and we will have to focus almost completely on combat, avoiding the other aspects of Qi. But perhaps, just perhaps, if we are lucky, and if you are as powerful a pupil as I imagine you will be, you might yet kill a Colossus.”

  Hyzou looked at the old man, and something told him that all of this was true. A queer thought entered his head - the kind that hadn’t been there in a while, not since the Colossus had been revealed to him. He thought it just once, but it lit up his brain, his whole body. Once it was thought, there was no stopping its effect.

  I don’t have to die. Hyzou thought.

  “Abe”, Hyzou said, before he could stop himself. “I want to survive. Whatever it takes. I want to survive.”

  “Together, Hyzou, we can show them greatness.” Abe said with a smile.

  CHAPTER 10

  “It’s not mine, I’m only a tenant, and it’s leant to me only while I serve the Pharaoh. Still, it’s more than a drunk deserves”, Abe said.

  Hyzou looked at the house, long and only the one story in height. Perhaps once it had been a stable or a cowshed, it certainly was built that way. But compared to his bed in the cellar, it was a mansion.

  “It’s beautiful”, Hyzou said.

  Abe unlocked the gate and opened it up for them. Hyzou limped through after the Servant.

  “I’m glad you think so. I sure could be staying somewhere worse”, Abe said. “Are you still in pain?”

  Hyzou nodded. The toll of the beatings had been paid for by the shape of his face. He looked half dead.

  “I wish I could give you some time to recover, but we haven’t any to waste. The Colossus is closer than you think”, Abe said.

  “It’s ok”, Hyzou said. “Whatever it takes.”

  “There’s a shed out at the back. It’s basic, but I’ll move some straw there for you to sleep, and it can be yours for the duration of your training.”

  “Thank you, sir”, Hyzou said.

  “What did I say about calling me sir?” Abe said.

  Abe opened the front door.

  Inside, the house was dark and cluttered. Empty pots were everywhere, and from their stench Hyzou could tell that they had been used to transport rice wine. The shutters were all closed.

  “Take a seat Hyzou”, Abe said.

  Abe waved to the corner of the room, where there were several hammocks, recliners and stools. Hyzou stumbled on his way, wary of the pots on the ground. Some of them had shattered, and sharp shards were left littering the ground.

  Hyzou found a stool.

  “I’d actually arranged to meet with two old friends this afternoon, before I knew I’d be taking you on as a pupil. You don’t mind meeting them, do you?” Abe said.

  Hyzou looked around the house. He found it hard to believe that only this morning ago Hyzou had awoken in a pool of blood, certain that he was destined to be crucified for killing Yash and Bee.

  “I don’t mind”, Hyzou said. “Who are they?”

  Abe was filling his flask from a pot of rice wine.

  “Old friends. They should be along any minute”, Abe said. “Can I interest you in something to eat?”

  Hyzou twitched. Abe laughed.

  “I see that I can”, Abe said. “A lady usually brings me around some food every morning, and today she has brought a pot of snake soup. It’s gone cold, but that will hardly bother you?”

  “It won’t”, Hyzou said.

  Abe laughed again. He brought over a bowl and handed it to Hyzou. Abe just drank his rice wine and settled down on the recliner beside Hyzou’s stool.

  Hyzou began to wolf the soup down. Abe sat across from him, a smile on his face.

  �
�Are you enjoying that?” Abe said.

  Hyzou stopped slurping just long enough to speak. “Yes sir, it’s wonderful, sir.”

  There were footsteps outside on the pathway up to the front door.

  “This will be our guests”, Abe said.

  The door opened. In walked a woman. She wore a hood to protect her from the rain, and from beneath her hood brown hair frizzed in the air. Her dull brown eyes reflected the room she was looking at. She was of an average height, an average weight, an average dress.

  Upon her heels entered the most remarkable figure Hyzou had ever seen.

  It was a gelding, and Hyzou couldn’t tell whether it had been a man or woman. It must have been gelded very young. It was tall, completely hairless and pale. It was skinny, with long slender fingers growing from its feline hands. It hadn’t worn a hood, and so was soaked to the skin.

  The woman bowed.

  “Abe, so kind of you to have us on such short notice”, She said. “We’d just arrived into town.”

  Abe grunted.

  “And who is this delightful creature?” The gelding said.

  Its voice was not the high pitch squeal of those who had been gelded as children. Instead the words were spoken quietly, in a whisper.

  “This is Hyzou of Nuyin, one of those training to be Warriors. He’s to fight in the Stadia on the Pharaoh’s birthday”, Abe said.

  The gelding’s eyes flashed. “Well, well, well. Fight a Colossus? I must say I don’t envy you, yet someone must do it, for the glory of the Pharaoh and all that.”

  “I’m Vo”, the woman said.

  “And you can call me… well what would you like to call me?” The gelding said. “I’m afraid I cannot go by my regular name when I walk in Lamybla, there are too many locals who would be alarmed to hear of my presence. But I have yet to think of an alias. Tell me, Hyzou of Nuyin, what did you notice about me when I entered?”

  “Ehmm… That you’re a gelding, that you’re tall”, Hyzou said.

  The gelding shook his head. “That won’t do, I like neither of those titles.”

  “That you speak in a whisper?” Hyzou offered.

  The gelding’s eyes lit up. “Hyzou of Nuyin, you truly are a god amongst men. Yes, you may call me The Whisperer. I rather like that name.”

  Vo rolled her eyes.

  “Don’t worry Hyzou, my sister was never named Vo at her birth. She’s carrying an alias just like me. Only mine is designed to truly grant me an air of mystery. The Whisperer. I like it”, The Whisperer said.