Stonecutter's Shadow: A young mage's fight through a fantasy kingdom full of treachery

by James Haddock

  “You're a mage, aren't you.” she said. I didn't say anything, I just glanced at her. “What's your talent?”

  I gave my standard answer, “keeping secrets.”

  “That doesn't sound very useful.”

  I chuckled, “So I've been told.”

  “Where are we headed?”

  “The caravan camp grounds, to see a friend.” Thankfully, Sergeant Churn's caravan had arrived. “Keep your guise on, I'm dropping mine,” I said as we found Churn's wagon. “May we join your fire?”

  “Oh, you're still alive, come on in,” he said smiling.

  “Only because of your training!” I said. We took a seat at his fire, and he poured us tea. “How's business?”

  He shrugged, “about the same. You?”

  “Working with the Rollings company. They are gathering a force for next spring's campaigns.”

  “I heard something about that in one of the taverns.”

  “Want a job?”

  “Doing what?”

  “Recruiting men as you travel toward Dame's Ford, then sending them on to Split Rock.”

  “At what pay?”

  “Winter's pay, plus one gold. And if you're a mind to be a sergeant again, we'll hire you on.”

  “You can make this commitment?”

  I nodded, “I can.”

  He considered my offer, drinking his tea. “I’ll recruit for you and get them to Dame's Ford. I'll consider joining after that.”

  I gave him a small purse, “for expenses, and first pay for the men you hire.” He took the purse. “Mind if we stay the night?”

  He shook his head, “grab a piece of dirt.”

  * * *

  I felt Esme get up and walk toward the latrine, I dozed lightly as I awaited her return. When she didn't return, I got up and headed toward the latrines. She was not there, so I began to search the area, thinking she may have gotten lost. I thought that unlikely, as she was raised around caravans, and merchants.

  I headed toward the merchant’s quarter, hoping she was not foolish enough to go to her family's home. I stepped into Shadow so I could move faster without drawing attention to myself. I caught up with her as she walked up the steps of her family’s home. I stepped out of the Shadow to join her, she opened the door and we stepped in.

  She closed the door, “I need to see them,” she said. I nodded.

  But then a brilliant flash of light blinded me and a concussion blasted against my shields, throwing me into the wall. I went into Shadow, rolling and sliding from the explosion. I got to my feet shakily, looking for Esme.

  The hallway was clouded by dust and smoke. Staying in Shadow I walked to the pile of rubble where we had been standing. Esme lay under the rubble, I started for her, but soldiers rushed in. There were at least ten soldiers, accompanied by two men dressed as assassins.

  The soldiers began digging her from the debris, it took all I could do not to join them. I moved in the Shadow behind the assassins. The soldiers stopped digging, one man feeling her neck.

  “Dead,” he said looking over his shoulder.

  “The man with her?” the assassin asked. The soldiers began digging again, looking for my body.

  I can't really say what happed at that point. The world went red and I found myself between the assassins. With my rock-hand I punched one, then the other in the head. Both fell away from me with their heads caved in. Before the soldiers knew I was there, I was on them, punching as hard as I could. I crushed skulls, caved in chests, broke jaws and faces. My shields flared a few times, but I didn't stop until I had killed all of them.

  People were gathering outside; soldiers and the city watch were pushing their way though. I stepped back into Shadow and moved to Esme. She was indeed dead and there was nothing I could do for her. I removed her guise ring, so no one could use that against us.

  I waited, watching. The sergeant in charge, was looking at the two dead assassins, then at the soldiers. “Search the house,” he said. The city watchmen moved to carry out his orders. I moved upstairs as well. There were two couples in their beds, all dead. I assumed the older couple was Esme's parents. The watchmen reported back to their sergeant, he shook his head, looking disgusted.

  The soldiers removed their dead, and the watch took Esme and her family. They left the assassins where they lay and left. I waited, thinking I had unfinished business with the assassin’s guild.

  I moved around the house in Shadow, since I was sure someone was watching the place. I found the family's vault, they were not wealthy, but well off. I added it to my hoard so that the king would not get it to use against me.

  The longer I sat waiting looking at the dead assassins the darker my anger became. I made a drawing motion for my bow, its glowing figure appeared. “Black,” I said. It no longer glowed but both bow and arrow were now Shadow black. I extended the spear; and it was shadow black as well. I practiced extending and retracting the spear as quickly as I could, like a snake striking. I was not in this to fight; I was in this to kill. What I had done earlier, fighting the assassins and soldiers, had been foolish. I'd not do it again, when I was satisfied with my spear strike, I put it away.

  I went to the kitchen and gathered food for a meal. I didn't know when they would come, so I decided to eat now. I cooked the meal over my fire in Shadow, keeping my senses out to warn me of anyone's approach.

  After dark two men entered the house, but they were looters. They didn't bother the bodies, as they searched the house taking what valuables they could find. I let them alone since they might have been sent to see if anyone was here. They left, I continued to wait.

  It was after midnight when a covered wagon pulled up in front of the house. Two assassins come in and searched, followed by four who retrieved the bodies. They put the bodies in the wagon, and everyone got in. I joined the wagon's Shadow as they pulled away. They drove to the warehouse district, pulled into one, closing the doors behind them.

  They unloaded the bodies, taking them into a side room. I followed them finding them going through a secret door, into a passageway leading down. We walked quite a way before coming to a large underground room. There were others there, and they began preparing the bodies for burial.

  “I'll report to the master,” one said. I followed him as he left the room heading up stairs. We passed through halls; the place reminded me of what I thought a monastery would look like. He stopped at a door and knocked.

  “Come,” came an answering and we went in. There was an older man behind the desk, despite his age he looked fit. “Well?”

  “You were right, she returned home accompanied by a man. Our men sprang the trap killing the woman, but unfortunate the man apparently survived. He killed all the soldiers and our two men. No sign that he was injured, but he almost must be. We left men watching the house.”

  “Was it our overseas employer's nephew?”

  “No one could say if it was the prince or not.” The master considered, and so did I. Was Aric's uncle their employer? Was he also behind Lermont's take over?

  “Recall the men … he won't go back there. Check the local doctors, and any place he may go for help. If he's hurt, he'll look for a safe place,” the master said.

  “Yes, Master,” he said, and we left the office. As we moved down the halls, I followed him closely, then jumped into his Shadow, becoming part of it. In Shadow form I grabbed him and broke his neck. I took his body into another Shadow before anyone saw us. I had only used 'Shadow Form' a time or two, and never realized how strong I was in it.

  If you want to kill something, cut off its head. I went back to the master's office and went under the door. The master stood, drawing his knife, looking around the room.

  “I thought I felt someone, why don't you show yourself?” He asked, his eyes moving to and fro. I made the arrow drawing motion and released a shadow black arrow. To my surprise the arrow impacted his shields. He threw a fire ball that impacted near me. As I was in Shadow it had no effect on me. The master was
apparently a mage.

  To distract him I raised the stone under the bookshelf behind him. He saw its tipping motion and turned towards it. I drew and released another arrow, this one went through his back, exploding out his chest.

  I waited to see if anyone had heard the noise of the fight. No one came to investigate, so I pulled the dead master into the shadow. I concentrated on his image for my guise ring, then searched him. I took his shield ring, and put it on. I left him in the Shadow as I stepped out.

  I made sure everything was set right after from the fight, in case someone came in before I was ready. I sat at the desk reading reports, of intimidation jobs, murders, beatings, and the like. I found what I was looking for: Aric's uncle was indeed behind Lermont's takeover and was using the assassin’s guild to keep Lermont in line.

  The Shadows told me someone was approaching the door. They knocked, “Come,” I said.

  The door opened, “Will you be joining the burial rites, Master?”

  I thought a moment, “No, send for the men watching the merchant's house, they are no longer needed there. Also send a message to our men at the castle. Have them come see me, without the king’s notice.”

  “Yes, master,” he answered and left. I put the ledger in my pack and waited for the men watching Lermont to report to me.

  Chapter 13

  When the two assassins that had been watching Lermont reported to me, I asked, “any changes in Lermont’s actions?”

  “None, Master, he's still taxing the kingdom to the bone, eating all day, and bragging about what a great king he is.”

  “The perfect puppet!” the other joined in.

  “When the order comes, how will you kill him?”

  “Poison powder in his bed,” one answered.

  “Blade through the base of his skull,” the other said.

  I nodded, “has he found out that his treasury vault is empty, that he has no money?”

  They looked at each other, “he has not, and as far as we have heard, no one else knows either,” the first answered.

  “He is truly a fool,” I stood, and rounded the desk. “Continue to watch, and report changes.” I put my foot on one's Shadow.

  “Yes, master.” when they turned to leave, I took Shadow form and pulled them into a Shadow throwing them. They tumbled, then stood. Like a snake striking, I extended the shadow black spear through one, then the other, killing them. I took the few coins they had and left them where they lay.

  I moved downstairs; seeing that everyone had gathered in the basement for the burial rites. I moved down the secret passage, touching the stone wall. I grew the rock, closing the tunnel and did the same to the top of the stairs, trapping everyone in the basement.

  I felt the Shadows until I found their vault. I lay my sheet out and added their gold to my sheet. I folded the sheet and put it back in my pack. I moved outside the building feeling the stone of the building, I found the weak points. I moved the bed rock away from the foundation, then collapsed the building in on itself. No one survived the collapse. I vowed I would also be on the hunt for any assassin I may have missed — they all had a date with the ferryman.

  * * *

  Even though I have visited retribution on the assassin's guild for Esme’s death, I didn't feel the whole debt was paid. I went down to the dock’s taverns where soldiers drank and put on the guise of an older mercenary. Once in one of the taverns, I bought an ale and moved to where a group of soldiers stood drinking.

  “Well, here's to ya, mates. This is my last drink in this hole,” I said, talking a drink.

  “What are you on about?” one asked.

  “I know one of the men that guard the treasury vault, and he's seen inside and says there's no gold there. The new king doesn't have the money to pay us. I don't work for free, and I definitely don't fight for free.”

  “That's a load of dung!”

  “That's what I said, but the two men with him backed his story, they are leaving tonight.” I finished my ale, “see ya on the next one, lads,” put my cup down, and walked out. I repeated the performance in a few more places, I figured the story would be everywhere by dawn. I ate a meal in another ale house, then went into Shadow to sleep.

  I slept until mid-morning, then broke my fast at a bakery. I had fresh bread, ham, and a bowl of porridge. I walked the docks seeing what ships might be in port. There was a merchantman I remembered that was sitting there when I arrived. “Where are you bound?” I asked one of the sailors.

  “Not sure — the captain and the owner are looking for a cargo now,” he answered.

  “Where might I find them?”

  He pointed with his chin, “Yon ale house, ask for Captain Lester.”

  I nodded and headed there. I walked in and picked out who I thought would be the captain and the owner. I walked up to the table, they looked at me. “Captain Lester?”

  “Yes?”

  “I understand you are looking to make a cargo run.”

  “We are,” the other man answered.”

  “But,” the captain interrupted, “it would depend on what cargo and where.”

  “I work for the Rollings mercenary company, and we need supplies for 500 men to take us through the winter.”

  They were nodding, “destination?”

  “Split Rock.”

  “Pfft, that cove is a widow maker,” the captain said.

  “No longer, they hired a mage to fix it, you'll have no problem there now.”

  “This is the first I've heard of it.”

  “It was done last month; they've already had one ship delivery there. “I'm sure the harbormaster's heard about it. He unloaded the ship from there.”

  “If he can confirm it, we'll take your cargo,” The captain said,

  “Have you bought your cargo yet?” The owner asked.

  “I have not, I'd like for you to do that.”

  “You have gold for the purchase?”

  “It will be delivered to your ship when the deal is made.” I answered.

  “How soon do you need it?”

  “Well, as you have been sitting dockside for quite some time, I would think you'd be ready to go as soon as possible,” I said smiling.

  The owner chuckled, “We would.”

  “Then as soon as you are loaded, cast off. We'll pay for the supplies and half of the delivery cost. Captain Rollings will pay the other half upon delivery.” They agreed, and I delivered the gold to their ship. They sailed for Split Rock two days later.

  * * *

  The rumor mill had spread my story across the city and it was now common knowledge that the royal treasury was empty... again. There had already been clashes between mercenaries and the king's soldiers. I started spreading the word that the Rollings company was hiring now for a spring campaign, and in a few days mercenaries began trickling from the capital heading south.

  I kept a watch on the assassin's guild house and sent a few more hired killers to see the ferryman, depleting their ranks even farther. Then I started ambushing the king's patrols around the city, taking any coin they had. To my delight, the disenchanted mercenaries were blamed. That led to the patrols outside the castle being stopped. Soldiers no longer trusted the mercenaries, and some of the mercenaries would not leave until they were paid.

  Within a week some ill disciplined companies began looting, which soon turned into open warfare between them and the army. Martial law was declared, with no one allowed out after dark. To keep the pot boiling I fired an occasional mundane arrow or two into the king's patrols.

  At other times I stayed in the Shadows listening to the gossip in the taverns, taking the temperature of the populace. No one was happy, businesses were suffering, and everyone blamed Lermont.

  I kept watch at the harbor for the return of our ship, and saw that few other ships were coming in. I watched one of those tie moors at the wharf, and saw that its flag said it was from the kingdom of Redmoore, Starwick's Kingdom. A man dressed as an emissary, carrying a satche
l, left the ship. The way he moved made me think he was more than a simple diplomat, so I followed him.

  I silently moved ahead of him and when I was ready, shot him with a sleeping dart. When he stumbled, I pulled him into Shadow. I stripped and searched him and found hidden weapons, darts, and poisons. He was either an assassin or a spy sent by Starwick. I opened the satchel and found his orders. His name was Sir Rodrick and he was an emissary from Starwick. The letter basically instructed Lermont to find and kill the prince, keep the kingdom in line, and not to fail.

  I got a chair and rope, then blindfolded and tied Sir Rodrick securely. I lay my hand on him, concentrating on my guise ring, thinking it might come in handy to look like him. I knew it would be a while before he woke, so I got some sleep.

  I woke before he did, so I went and ate breakfast. Before I reentered the Shadow where Sir Rodrick was, I felt it and made sure he was still tied to the chair. He was, so I entered. I knew he was awake, but faking being asleep.

  “Let's not waste each other's time shall we?” I said. He made no move, nor made a sound, but I continued, “I suppose in your career you've had to extract information from men, be they captured spies or just someone in the wrong place at the wrong time. Did you ever consider the possibility that you'd be in that position some day?

  “What did you imagine happening? Talking your way out of it, or perhaps buying your freedom?”

  He sat up, saying “both crossed my mind, I suppose it would depend on the situation. So, what's it to be gold or my glib tongue?”

  “I don't need gold, but I would like information. Actually, I'm simply curious as to the why behind the information.”

  “You’re new at this, aren't you?” he said.

  “Oh, yes, I'm the guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. So, I already know Starwick is backing Lermont’s take over, What I'm curious about is why? He already has a kingdom, so why kill off this family for his?”