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

by James Haddock

  It seemed I had helped remove one tyrant from the throne, and helped another tyrant take his place. I wondered if all kings were like that, or maybe it was people in general… able to say one thing to your face, and another behind your back. I poured the hot water over the tea leaves and enjoyed the smell. I sipped my tea looking at the problem from all angles.

  I was not going to let him just take my family's quarry, but I would sell it to him. But it was going to be expensive, I thought, smiling. And he owes me for the stone he has already taken. I finished my tea, packed my camp, and Shadow Flowed down to the vault.

  I laid out my storage sheet and elevated all the yellow gold in the vault onto it. I did the same to the gems, jewels, jewelry. I left the blood gold where it sat, though I did take a hand full of blood gold coins. I'd let him explain to the Blood Bankers how he came into possession of the blood gold. Of course, he would now have to use it to finance his kingdom.

  The blood bankers would hear about the use of blood gold. They, of course, would want their interest on the loan. The quarry was going to be awfully expensive, indeed!

  I went back up to Aric's office and found no one there. I put the desk in Shadow and left a note. It read:

  King Aric, rock quarries are expensive to own and operate. We have taken payment from your vault and make the sale of our quarry to you easier.

  I signed it, The Stonecutter family.

  I stepped the desk out of Shadow and went up to the king’s bedchambers. Guards were on duty in the halls and at the door. I Shadow flowed under the door, and saw Aric was in his bed asleep.

  On the bedside table lay the Mage Sword bracelet I had given him. Staying in Shadow I levitated the bracelet, and the guise ring, from the table into my hand. I put the mage sword bracelet on and dropped the guise ring into my pouch.

  “You should be more careful who you steal from and stab in the back,” I said, though no one could hear me. Satisfied, I Shadow Flowed from the palace.

  * * *

  I wasn't ready to leave Farshores just yet, since I had cargo ships bringing in supplies. When they arrived, the king was going to have to pay the remaining cost of the shipment. That's when the Blood Gold would go into circulation. I thought I'd hang around a while and if needed, pay expenses with blood gold coin to see what happened.

  I took a room at a sailor's widow's boarding house. It was clean, quiet, and the food was good. I was in the guise of a small-time merchant. I went out every day and wandered the markets, supposedly looking for a cargo to invest in. My first ship, or rather the ship that Aric and I took, finally arrived.

  The captain went to the palace before they unloaded the ship. I started to go with them but changed my mind. As predicted, the king paid with blood gold, and the ship was unloaded. That would be the first stone that would cause the avalanche.

  After that, blood gold began showing up all around the city.

  I heard that the crown was hiring workers to work the quarry and to lay road stones. Aric was at least putting the people back to work so they could buy food.

  Crime was so high that Aric had augmented the city watch with the army. Which made the capital look like an armed camp, and in some ways it was.

  I took lunch at a small, but decent tavern. The fair wasn't fancy, but it was good, and plentiful. As I ate, I listened to the talk around me for the latest news of the city. Maybe news was too strong a word for what I heard; they were rumors more than anything.

  “S'what I heard, isn't it?” came from a few tables away.

  “Who would be daft enough to marry his daughter to that lout?”

  “It's a third daughter and he's land hungry. He's giving him an army to take back Farshores.”

  The whole tavern was listening now. “You talking about Lermont?” Someone asked.

  “Who else?”

  “How many men are in this army he's bringing?” I asked.

  “Not sure,” he said. “They just said an army.”

  “What kingdom is the army coming from?” Someone shouted across the room.

  “Rockspire,” he answered. Which brought on more talk around the room.

  I knew little of Rockspire, just that it was north of Farshores with no usable ports. There had been some border skirmishes with them over the years, but nothing ever came of it. I guess Lermont was able to convince Rockspire's king that now was the time to act.

  Surely Lermont realized he would become a puppet of Rockspire, but he probably didn't care, as long as he could take Farshores back. I was fairly sure if a tavern rat had heard this, so had Aric.

  The more I thought about it, the more it bothered me. It was like a scab on a healing wound that you kept picking at. You knew you shouldn't, but you couldn't help but do it. Maybe I'd go see if there was an army on the move, and if Lermont was at its head. If he was, well, I still owed him a blood debt. It might be time to collect.

  * * *

  I had been told that it was eight weeks from our capital to the border of Rockspire, then another few weeks to their capital. No wonder Rockspire never did any more than border raids. Eight weeks was a long way to try to support an army. They would have to have a huge supply train, and supplement that by living off the land, and inhabitants along the way. I didn't think there were enough inhabitants along the way to support an army of any size until they were with-in a few weeks of the capital.

  The more I thought about it, the more I felt their plan was doomed before it started. If I were the king of Rockspire I would never agree to it. So, I thought, if I could see the folly of the plan, I'm sure their king could too. Which begged the question; what was he up to? Why the ruse?

  I decided to go to Rockspire and see for myself what was going on. I figured it would take Falcon and me couple of weeks to get there. There was really no need to hurry, since an army was either coming or it was not.

  I resupplied my food, including tea. “I really liked my tea in the mornings...and during the day...and in the evenings,” I chuckled to myself. Falcon and I left early morning, and I let him fly at an easy pace. I was enjoying watching the earth pass beneath us, well, for the first week anyway. After that I was ready for the trip to be over.

  We flew all day, then landed and rested for the night. I let him hunt for his own meals, he seemed to prefer it that way. When I made camp, I always did so in Shadow, there was no reason to take any chances.

  We arrived at Rockspire midafternoon on the 18th day of our travel. Falcon landed us on one of the high natural rock spires the city and country were named for. I released him to go hunt and feed.

  I sat looking out across the sprawling city, which took up one end of the river valley. The sun glinted off the river that divided the city in two, but there were several arched bridges that connected one side with the other.

  The rest of the valley was a combination of farmland and forest, with the far end being mostly wooded. There were barges on the river moving cargo, showing that Rockspire was using her river for trade. I sat enjoying the view until Falcon returned to me. I let him sit on my shoulder for a while, then sent him back into his ring.

  I Shadow Flowed down from the spire to the edge of the city. Out of sight of anyone, I stepped out of Shadow and walked into the city proper, keeping the guise of a small-time merchant, visiting the city for trade and profit.

  My first stop was the market district where all merchants went when coming to a new city, or so I imagined. It was much like the ones in other cities I had visited. Of course, the first thing I bought was a sweet roll. It had a slightly different flavor to it, but was delicious.

  I took a room at an inn, not the best, but not the worst. The rooms were clean, bug free, and the food was good. At mealtime I ate, listening to the conversations around me. I heard nothing of any army movements, impending war, nor did I hear Lermont's name mentioned. After I ate and drank a few ales, I retired for the night, thinking I’d start fresh in the morning.

  * * *

  I ate breakbeat, liste
ning to conversations, but learned nothing new. I left the inn and decided to go down to the river. Both sides of the river were like canals, and all the banks were stone lined walls where barges could tie up. Some areas were more for unloading cargo than others, but it was all clean and well kept, though some areas were showing signs of age and needed repair.

  I continued my walk, heading for the area that was more for bulk trade, where barges would load and unload. From what I could see most of the barges would unload here and return upriver near empty. further along I came to a small drydock where some barges were being repaired.

  “I can't pay you unless I move cargo, and I can't move cargo until you repair my barge,” the owner of the barge was almost shouting.

  “Look, I have to have money to buy supplies and pay my workers. So, until you pay, she doesn't get repaired. find someone else to do the work if you can, but you owe me for a day in my drydock.”

  There was a woman holding a small boy standing on the quay watching all that was happening, with some trepidation.

  “She looks like a fine barge,” I said, joining her in watching what was going on.

  “She is,” she answered without looking at me. She’s our home.”

  I nodded. I'd learned that most barges were like that. The family lived and worked aboard their boats. Her husband, I assumed, paid the daily drydock fee, and was coming toward us.

  “What's wrong with her?” I chin pointed to his barge.

  He looked back, “She's leaking like a sieve. She needs to be re-caulked.”

  “Pardon my ignorance, but couldn't a wood-mage fix her?”

  “Probably, if there were any around, but they cost money too. I have a bit of magic, but my gift is with water, which is why I own the barge.

  “If I may ask,” I said, “what did the drydock owner say the repair would cost you?”

  “Five golds,” he said, looking back at his barge. “But I could pay that back in three or four good runs, and the freight season is just starting.”

  “I have a small talent with wood-magic, I can't promise anything, but I can take a look at her if you'd like.”

  His eyes hardened a bit, “and what would that cost me?”

  I smiled trying to disarm him, “a cup of tea, if you have it.”

  “That we can do,” his wife answered before he could.

  He looked at her, then nodded, “my name is Scores, Julius Scores. This is my wife Fawn, and son Jason.

  I shook his hand, “Mason,” I replied, and followed them onto their barge.

  The stern of the barge held their living quarters, the rest of the barge was for cargo.

  “Please, have a seat,” Julius said, motioning to the table and chairs.

  “I'll need to sit on the floor so I can get a better feel for the wood,” I answered. He nodded. I looked around, seeing there was a nice homey feel about the place. I moved to a place that was out of the way and sat down leaning against the wall. Getting comfortable, I closed my eyes and relaxed. I started as I did when working with stone, I concentrated on feel of the wood around me.

  The wood had a different feel, a different flavor to it. I didn't try to do anything to start with, I just concentrated on getting closer to the wood. Slowly I began to feel more and more of the wood, and how it was joined together. I followed that feeling and felt how separate pieces of lumber made up the whole of the barge. I felt how each piece moved and flexed so as not to break. It had a beauty all its own.

  I didn't rush anything or try to force my magic. When I felt I was ready, I asked the wood to push all the extra water out, I felt the wood needed to keep some so I left that alone. There were some weak places in the beams, frame, and planks, so I strengthened them. Then I asked the wood to keep the extra water out, and for each piece to help its neighbor do its job.

  When I felt like I was finished, I stopped, and let my magic settle. The smell of bacon drew me up from the wood. I opened my eyes and found the little boy sitting in front of me, watching me.

  He smiled at me, “She wikes you,” he whispered. I frowned; he pointed to the planks of the floor.

  “Ah,” I said smiling. “I like her too, she’s a fine lady,” I said. “You feel her?” He nodded, smiling.

  “Oh, good! You're awake Master Mason,” Fawn said.

  “I am,” I said, “and it's just Mason.”

  She nodded, “then come to breakfast, Mason.” I nodded and came to sit at the table.

  They didn't ask anything while we ate but I could tell the wanted to. “I think she'll be alright now,” I said. “I repaired a few places and tightened her seams.” Jason was nodding, I chuckled at him.

  “Well, the only way to be sure is to put her back in the river,” Julius said. I nodded. We finished our food then went to find the drydock owner. Of course, he charged another three coppers to refloat her. Then we let the current take us down the quay wall a bit and tied up. Julius started checking everywhere, for leaks or seepage. I noticed Jason with his ear to the deck, smiling.

  “What are you listening to, Jason?” I asked.

  “She's happy,” he said, “she's singing.”

  Fawn frowned. I put my hand on the deck, and concentrated. I smiled; the wood was humming. “She is.” I looked at Fawn, “you may have a wood-mage in the making,” I said.

  Julius came up from the hold, “she looks like she's dry.”

  “What do you think Jason, is she fixed?” I asked, Jason nodded smiling.

  “What do I owe you?” Julius asked.

  I shrugged, “I may need a favor someday, you can pay me then.”

  He frowned, “are you sure?”

  I nodded, “I'm sure.”

  “Then if it's within my power and does not harm my family, I shall return your favor.”

  I nodded, “I would not ask if it brought harm to your family.” he nodded and shook my hand.

  He thought a moment, “Mason, as in stone mason?”

  I shrugged, “Sometimes,” I answered.

  Well, if you are any kind of stone-mage, there is plenty of work around. There haven’t been many good stone mages around here for many years.

  I nodded, “I'll keep that in mind,” I said.

  I waved at them from the quay as they poled away, heading upriver for their next cargo.

  Chapter 22

  I decided to go to the city center where the palace was located. If Lermont was here to make a deal for an army and a wife, that’s where he’d be. If he weren’t staying in the palace, he would at least be close by.

  The closer I got to the palace the nicer the houses, or I should say mansions, became. Like everywhere else, the rich and powerful wanted to be close to the rich and powerful. They all felt the need to boast of their riches and display their power.

  This was also the mage quarter, though it was not walled off from the rest of the city. There was a separate market area here that catered to the wealthy, and their inventory was the best of the best.

  While at the market, I went down a side street and stepped into Shadow, then went into a tavern, where the wealthy came to drink. It was much like any other tavern. Men met here for business and to get away from their wives. I moved around the room listening to deals being made, alliances struck, and gossip being spread.

  “His name is Lamont, or something like that. Half-brother to some king or other,” one said.

  “Lermont,” another corrected. I stopped to listen. “Half-brother to the king of Farshores. Old Monty is trying to marry off his third daughter, Princess Rayne, for the hundredth time.” Everyone at the table chuckled.

  “She's not so bad,” a younger man said.

  “Not to look at, though she is as plain as a mud wall. It's her tongue, and her attitude. Her tongue could cut granite. Who wants to come home to that? Though I have heard she's quite the mage.”

  “Not really,” another joined in. “She's a generalist, no specific gift, and a bookworm. She keeps to herself in her library. They say she's got shel
ves of magic books and devotes herself to their study.”

  “Old Monty has spoiled her, that’s the fact of the matter. He's going to have to find an old desperate noble who wants heirs and will take her as is.”

  “So, what's this Lermont get out of the deal? Is he old and desperate?” the younger one asked.

  “He wants an army to return south with to take and hold Farshores. Monty may be old, but he's still knows how to cut deals. Once Lermont takes Farshores he can sit on the throne, but Monty will be pulling the strings,” an older man said.

  “Well, that confirmed Lermont's plan,” I thought, leaving the tavern. “Now, what to do about it?” I continued to the palace. That was where I would get firm answers. I'd just have to be careful not to get to close to Lermont.

  The palace was well guarded by both soldiers and magic. There were wards at every entrance, the walls, and around the grounds. Fortunately, as I was in Shadow, they had no effect on me.

  The king was holding court, and hearing cases of import, or so someone thought. The peacocks were present, as were some powerful mages. One in particular stayed close to the king. I listened for a while, but lost interest.

  I left the throne room and found the king’s office. I looked over his desk, reading reports, and proposals. I finally I found the one I wanted, Lermont wanted a 50,000-man army and its support train. Apparently Old Monty wasn't that desperate to marry number three off, so he countered offered 10,000 men, with a supply train. The only other item of interest was that the king was looking for stone mages. He had sent out inquiries across the lands but was getting little or no response.

  I was hungry, so I went to find the royal kitchen. I figured the food would be better than at an inn. Moving down the hall, I rounded a corner and ran into Lermont and his entourage. My adrenaline spiked, and time seemed to slow for me. I drew my steel dagger because my magic ones would not work against his nullification magic. I started to strike; my first stroke would be to put my dagger through his eye killing him. Hopefully after that my magic would work and I could get back into Shadow, or at least fight free of his entourage.