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

by James Haddock

  “Good afternoon, sir,” he said.

  “Good afternoon,” I answered, handing him two silvers. “Your tip on Sgt. Rhodes paid off for me, and I appreciate it. He nodded, smiling, and pocketed the coins. “Now I have another need. Perhaps there is a retired officer or top sergeant who may be reconsidering his retirement plans?”

  “As luck would have it, I do know of such an officer … Captain Preston. I saw him yesterday and he was complaining about having nothing to do. Said he was thinking about coming out of retirement.”

  “And where would I find the good captain?”

  “Try the Red Anvil a little way up the river walk. He's usually around there by this time of day.”

  “Thanks.” I handed him two more silvers and headed out.

  The Red Anvil was easy to find. It was a decent looking place, and I went inside. I stopped at the bar, “Is Captain Preston in yet?”

  The barkeep chin pointed to a man by the window whose beer mug was almost empty. “Give me two of what he's having.” I said.

  Taking the two beers I walked over Preston's table. He eyed me as I approached. “May I join you? I asked.

  “If one of those is for me you can,” he answered, smiling.

  I handed him his beer, “Name's Rider.”

  “Preston,” he answered shaking my hand. He took a swallow of his beer studying me over the mug. “What can I do for you Master Rider?”

  I started to give him the cover story of a rock quarry and logging camp but changed my mind. I had a feeling he was not the city watch type man. “I understand you might be tired of retirement.”

  “I'd be willing to listen to an offer. As long as you're buying the beer anyway.”

  I nodded, “Do you know the Flat Lake area?”

  He frowned thinking, “a little. From what I do know there isn't much there.”

  “Not at the moment,” but I'm changing that. I'm building a canal and lock system to open the river for barges. Then we’ll start caravans from there south and east and will also be sending lumber back upriver.”

  “Good for you, but why would you need a mercenary company?”

  “I'm doing all this building past the southern border of Rockspire. King Joseph is a greedy man and sooner or later he's going to want what I've built.”

  He nodded, “You are right. He'll extend the border to include you and send in the army to enforce his rule.”

  “That's where you and your mercs come in. The gorge is narrow, it wouldn't take many men to hold it.”

  He shrugged, “maybe, but you are talking about war.”

  “Aren't you in the business of war?”

  “I am, but unless you hire ten companies you are fighting a losing battle. You have the gorge to protect you or limit their frontal attack. But they would have supplies enough to wait you out. Unless you plan on bringing in supplies from 100 miles from the south.”

  “That's an option, but not Ideal. What about hiring enough soldiers to keep the peace while I'm building? I'll worry about the king's army if and when he comes.”

  “Oh, he'll come, like you said, he's greedy. But I'll take the job of keeping the peace, as long as it’s clear I won’t fight the king. I'll hire a short company of two platoons of mounted infantry. You'll have to feed us. We'll also need a place to relax and have a drink. I know a man we can hire for that, and he's not too big a crook.

  “I can do that; I've hired a Sgt. Rhodes to feed my men and Cpl. Range as our scout.”

  He nodded I know Sgt. Rhodes and Cpl. Range — good men.

  “How long will it take you to be ready to move?”

  He thought a moment, “we can be at the lake in a month.”

  We negotiated their pay, and I paid for the supplies they would need in advance. I went back to the merchant house and changed my order, taking into consideration all the new mouths I would have to feed. It was going to be quite a caravan!

  It was going to be a day late leaving, due to the added supplies I needed. Word was also spreading around the city that there was something going on in the south. I was staying in Shadow watching the caravan load supplies when I saw Captain Preston enter the office of the merchant I was dealing with. Out of curiosity I went in to see if he may have news of some kind.

  When I entered the building the captain and the merchant were heading into an office, closing the door behind them. I went under the door, into the office to listen in on their conversation.

  “Is that your caravan going to Flat Lake?” Preston asked.

  The merchant nodded, “It is.”

  “How would you like to make a third of the cost back?” Preston asked.

  “How?”

  “I'm taking some of my boys down there. We won't be staying long and when we come back with the caravan you can buy it back from me for two-thirds the price.”

  “I can't imagine Master Rider will be to cooperative with your endeavor.”

  “He's a rich kid with dreams of being a king — he won’t really have a choice in the matter.”

  Before the merchant could answer, I wrapped myself in Shadows and step out behind Preston. I called forth a Shadow sword and took Preston’s head off even with his shoulders. I held Preston’s head up by his hair as his body fell from the chair spewing blood everywhere.

  The merchant was frozen to his chair in terror. All he could see was a shadow holding up Preston's head. “If you steal, or plot to steal from my master this is what happens!” I intoned. Then I threw the head onto the merchant’s desk.

  He jumped up, knocking his chair over trying to get away from the tossed head. While he was dodging the head, I stepped back into Shadow.

  I put my sword away and let the Shadows unwrap from me. The Shadow that had wrapped me kept any blood from getting on me. I watched the merchant to see what he would do. He looked around the room for the Shadowed killer that had decapitated the captain. Assuring himself it was gone, he called for his clerk to send some men into his office.

  Shortly two thugs came into the office, seeing the body they quickly closed the door, “What happened?” one asked.

  “He was going to double-cross the wrong man. Get rid of the body and clean up this mess. I'll be back.”

  I followed the merchant as he left, then jumped into his Shadow. After he took several side streets, he went into a non-descript tavern. Stepping to the bar, he muttered, “if he's in I'd need to see him.” The bartender nodded, gave him a mug of beer, and walked into the back. The merchant took a long drink of the beer before he sat it down. The bartender came back out and motioned for the merchant to go in the back.

  In the rear was a set of stairs going up and at the top stood two bully boys watching him as he climbed the stairs. One led and one followed as he walked down the short hall. The one in front knocked on the door, then opened it, letting the merchant pass, then followed him into the office.

  A well-dressed man sat behind the desk, watching the merchant as he entered, “have a seat,” he said. The merchant sat. “What can I do for you?”

  “Do you know Preston, the merc captain?” The man behind the desk nodded. The merchant explained what Preston had intended, and what happened after. The man behind the desk listened, saying nothing. When the merchant finished, he waited.

  “Then I guess you had better not steal from Master Rider,” The man behind the desk said. “In the meantime, we'll see what we can find out about him. Thank you for the information.” The merchant nodded, then got up and left. I stayed behind.

  When the merchant was gone the man behind the desk took out a small pouch, took out a blue stone and held it out in his palm. He and his bully boys watched the stone. I felt the tingle of magic as the stone pulsed three times. They seemed to relax. “Well, at least the Shadow Assassin didn't follow him here,” the man behind the desk said.

  “A divination stone, and it didn't see me,” I thought to myself.

  The man behind the desk put the stone away. “Put the word out, I want to know all
about Master Rider.” His boys nodded and left the room.

  I decided not to eliminate 'desk man' just yet. I'd wait and see what information he gathered and what he did with it.

  Chapter 27

  Preston had brought up some valid points which had me reexamining my plan. I still needed someone to keep the peace and give us some protection. But I didn't want to scare them off at the thought of fighting an army. I could block off the gorge with rock, and make it look like a rockslide. That would keep us safe for a while, but not forever. What I was doing was just too big to keep quiet.

  I went to a few taverns where merc's drank, and bought a few rounds until I found the man they all agreed was the best tactician. Captain Rothman was an older soldier who had a lot of experience. I bought him beers and laid out a tactical problem for him.

  “You've got a few difficulties,” he began, “you are going to have to control or collapse this ‘hypothetical’ pass. Both ideas have their problems: one will cut supply lines while the other will require more men. You'll wind up having too many men or not enough, and both are expensive in the end. Not knowing more of the particulars, and at the risk of cutting myself out of a contract; my advice would be not to undertake this — or sue for peace if you’ve already started.”

  I thought a moment and decided to give him all the details, figuring cold-bloodedly that I could always get rid of him if he crossed me. I nodded. “I see, OK, let's go somewhere quieter and I'll give you the whole plan.”

  “There's a back room here we can use,” he said getting up. I followed him to the back room, and the Shadows told me we were alone.

  We took our seats, and I laid out the project plan. “My concern is that King Joseph might try to take it, and how to stop him.”

  Rothman chuckled, “It's not might, King Joseph WILL take it. Especially as close as you are to his border. He, like all kings, is greedy for more land. That's how they make their money. If you fight, you'll need to control the gorge. That will take a strong fort and at least a battalion of men.

  “You'll also have to open a supply line from the south.

  “It's that or go to the king and negotiate a settlement. If you don't want to lose everything, you are still going to need to control the gorge. Otherwise, he'll just take it.”

  We sat a while in silence drinking our beer. “It seems my best option, if I want to keep my work, would be to cut a deal with the king. But it would need to be from a position of strength.”

  He nodded, “that would be my advice, and even then, you still run the risk of him deciding to take it anyway.”

  “Well, I'm committed now. Do you want the contract?”

  “Can you ‘fort-up’ the gorge, closing off ground travel giving me a defensible position to hold against an army?”

  “I'm a Stone Mage, so I can have a fort ready for you to occupy by the time you arrive. If you draw a layout of what type you want, I can build it to your specifications.”

  He nodded, thinking. “Here are my terms. I can have a battalion at the gorge in two weeks. You have to pay six months in advance,” and named the amount … he wasn't working cheap. “If the fort is not ready, we come back home and you lose the six month's pay.

  “We'll bring as many supplies as we can with us. Our cover story will be we are taking a contract in the south and leave it at that. We'll hold the gorge fort for you to make your negotiations. We will NOT fight to the last man, if they breach the walls, we'll ask for terms and surrender. So, you'd better build a strong fort.”

  “Then draw me a strong fort to build.” I answered. He left the room for paper and charcoal. While he was gone, I pulled a chest of gold out of my Shadow.

  Rothman returned with paper and drew what he wanted. It was quite extensive. I looked it over and asked a few questions to make sure I understood what he wanted.

  “OK,” I finally said, “I can do that, and I agree to your terms.” I removed the Shadow covering the chest. “There's your payment.”

  He opened the chest, checking its contents. “Deal,” he said shaking my hand. To emphasize he was working for a Mage, I stepped into Shadow, disappearing.

  He stood staring for a moment, “neat trick!”

  * * *

  Falcon flew me straight to the gorge, and I started work on the fort. I didn't know how long it was going to take, but I didn't want to be caught short. I was sure part of Rothman's plan was the possibility that I could not complete his extensive fort in two weeks. If that happened, he'd make six months of pay in less than one month, and a ten-day ride would be his only work.

  Just beyond the Rockspire border the gorge narrowed, then spread back out. That's where I started the fort. I went into Shadow and sat down against the cliff getting comfortable. I felt down into the earth and up into the cliffs. The first thing I did was raise a wall fifty feet tall and thirty feet thick across the gorge. I left a tunnel for the river to pass through, as well as a tunnel for the trade road to pass through. That took a full day of hard work, but I was not exhausted, only tired.

  While I was working I felt an open place like a canyon or something on the east side of the eastern river cliffs. I didn’t have the time or energy to explore it right then, so it would have to wait. I ate a big meal and went to sleep.

  After the first day I got up early every morning and added to the fort, following Rothman's drawings.

  A week into the build my supply caravan from the merchant arrived along with the workmen I had hired. All they could see were two tunnels, one for the river and one for the road. The road tunnel was 100 yards long with no exits except the outlet on the other end. They sent a scout through to check everything, and then, satisfied it was safe, they continued.

  I met them on the road south of the tunnel and spoke to the foreman. “When you arrive at the lake the loggers can start felling trees along the east side of the south river. I plan to put a sawmill there. Once that is complete have them clear an area around the beach camp. We'll build a warehouse there. I should be there by the time they complete that.” I handed him a purse, “pay everyman a day’s wage for the days they have traveled to get here.”

  “Thank you, Master Rider, that will improve their outlook,” the foreman said. I waved, as the caravan continued toward flat lake.

  I finished the fort, for the most part, by the 14th day. Rothman and his battalions didn't arrive until the 16th day, which gave me time to complete the few places I hadn't quite done. Once there, Rothman and his company commanders inspected the fort, then occupied it and assumed the duty of keeping the gorge secure.

  The entire battalion was housed inside the fort above the road and river. The walled battlement looked out over the road north and south. The road tunnel now had portcullis at each end with murder holes throughout the tunnel. There were also places where hot oil could be poured into the tunnel, which was now effectively a death trap.

  Rothman and his battalion had brought enough supplies for two months. “With this fort, we can hold the gorge as long as you keep us supplied.” He said, as we were overlooking the battlement north. “I expect to be scouted within a week, no more than two. Everyone in Rockspire knows we took a contract in the south and there are always parasites who will follow us.”

  I gave him a purse, “send your quartermaster back now, have him buy three months of supplies and return as quickly as he can. Hopefully, He'll get back before anything starts happening.

  Rothman took the purse nodding, “I'll send him at once.”

  “Your next task is to send a platoon to the lake to keep the peace and to scout south so no one surprises us at the lake. They need to take tents, as there are no structures there yet.”

  He nodded, “they'll head that way tomorrow.”

  “As to the road traffic, let everyone through except raiders, mercs, and the Royal Army,” I said smiling.

  “Will do.”

  * * *

  I rode Falcon to Flat Lake, finding the caravan had only been there a day, and that
they were going back to Rockspire in the morning. Hanson had assigned the labors and loggers an area and they had put tents up. Sgt. Rhodes was feeding everyone, with no problems. The only complaint I had heard so for was the lack of a tavern.

  “They should thank me,” I thought, “I'm saving them money,”

  After the laborers and loggers had eaten, they moved back to their areas. Only the original crew was left around the mess fire.

  “We heard talk of a wall that has been built across the gorge,” Hanson said.

  I nodded, “that was my doing. I build a fort at the first bottleneck past Rockspire's border. I had concerns that as soon as word got back of what we were doing here, the king would come and claim it for his own.”

  I had everyone's attention now. “I raised the fort and hired mercs to occupy it to protect us. They'll hold the fort while I go to negotiate with King Joseph. It will cost me something I'm sure but at least I'll be able to keep what's mine.”

  “What's going to happen to us?” Jon Furman asked.

  “Nothing. Even if I lose everything, you'll get paid for your work, and go back to Rockspire. Or King Joseph will pay you to keep working. In the meantime, We'll keep cutting the tunnels for the canals. The loggers will clear a place on the south river where I plan to put a sawmill. The laborers will help move the cut stone for the trade road, and the carpenters can start building our first warehouse.

  “We’ll get a caravan from Hackman, which is the first city 100 miles south of us on the other side of the south cliffs. A platoon of mercs will be living here on the lake to keep the peace and patrol south, so we get no surprises. I'll be leaving again as soon as Hanson and I look at the site for the sawmill and cover any other concerns.

  “Any questions?” No one asked anything.” Then I shall bid you a goodnight.”

  After breakfast, Hanson, and the lead logger and I walked the south riverbank looking for a good site for the sawmill. After a mile we stopped looking and headed back upriver. I was going to have to make a site for it. the logger drew in the dirt what was needed. Once I saw it, I understood what I had to do.