Soul Mayhem: Zed's Chronicles of the Parallel Universe Disruptions

by John Hindmarsh

  Jonesie looked relieved I hadn’t pursued the issue.

  I stopped on the way out at a small office located inside the security area. It held two young trainee constables, both female. One was the young constable who had escorted us to Jonesie’s office when we first arrived and the second was the young constable who’d rushed out of Parley’s office. They looked intrigued when I beckoned them to me.

  I said, “Jessie, I’d like to help both of you.”

  Jessie looked at me. The other girl was not as forward. Jessie said, “Yes, sir?”

  I sketched a sigil, twice. I said, “If anyone here tries to force their attention on you, snap your fingers like this.” I demonstrated. “They’ll have an immediate sneezing attack. The spell is for both of you. It will last for a month. Contact me if you need assistance after that.”

  They both looked at me, the second girl was still apprehensive. Jessie said, “Oh, thank you, sir. You’re so kind.” The other girl nodded her agreement. Jessie continued, “We’ll let you know if we need more of your—ah, help.”

  Leopold laughed when we reached the street. He muttered, “Sir Gallant.”

  “Sir Galahad,” I corrected him and looked around. “Where’s a cafe? One for taxi drivers?” I thought for a moment. “Ah, I know, there’s one on the embankment. Let’s go, I’m hungry.” Leopold followed.

  oOo

  Chapter 14

  Leopold didn’t reject the offer of a serving of ham, bacon, eggs, baked beans, toast, and tea when I ordered mine. My taste buds enjoyed the meal, even more because of my hunger. When we finished, I said, “I sense some of your red-headed friends waiting outside.”

  “I, too. Good food.” He wiped his face, removing the last vestige of sauce. “Ready for fight.”

  We stepped out of the small cafe into relatively bright late morning sunshine. Clouds that threatened earlier had drifted away. As the door closed behind us, Leopold reached into one of his accessible universes and drew out my two katanas, of the kissaki-moroha-zukuri style, curved slightly and hand-drawn. He drew out a two-handed battle sword for himself, crafted in carbon steel and sharp enough to shave a small ant. I sketched a sigil which hid us from any but a most intensive scrutiny. We both stepped away from the cafe and moved to the embankment along the Thames, which was free of tourists and bystanders. The waiting ogres, five of them, red-headed, were trying to find us. One, probably with tracking ability, pointed directly at me.

  I thought he wasn’t being fair and decided he would be the first I’d deal with. Beside me, Leopold had increased his height to his more appropriate six and a half feet. He wore a hungry expression. I said, “We need one survivor. I want to find out who is behind these idiots.”

  “Good.”

  Four of the ogres rushed toward us, heedless of passersby who scattered out of the way and continued on, oblivious of the pending conflict. I stepped sideways, out of sight of the rush, and moved behind them. I appeared immediately in front of their tracker and sliced off his right hand. He screamed. I did the same with his left hand. He stood, pouring blood onto the pavement. I took pity on him and surgically decapitated him. The head bounced off the top of the protective wall along the river and landed with a splash in the Thames. The body slowly collapsed. Messy. I thought, I should be neater in future.

  I turned just as an ogre almost reached me; he had apparently sensed the death of the tracker. He had a heavy cast iron sword in one hand and a rough-made round leather and iron shield in the other. He was wearing protective leather armor. The ogre didn’t realize he’d need far stronger protection. I spun, wielding both katanas. He dodged sideways, and the katana in my right hand scored a cut across his leather gauntlet. The blow jarred. The leather had been magically reinforced. While he was preparing to re-engage, I spun my right-side katana into the air, sketched a sigil, and caught the spinning sword on its way down. The ogre rushed me again. I dodged, avoiding the potentially destructive blow, and again scored his gauntlet. He shouted in surprise and pain. I moved toward him, feinted with a thrust and swung my sword in reverse, slicing his shield in half. He dropped the ruined remainder and grabbed a heavy hammer from his belt. He swung and threw it at me with surprising force. I slipped past it—I know, using your magic to fight an attacker is most unfair—and appeared by his side and pressed my left katana deep into his chest. I retrieved my sword as he collapsed to the ground.

  I checked Leopold. He was fending off the remaining three ogres with apparent ease. I stopped for a few seconds to admire his technique. Somehow, he had lined up his three assailants and was able to use the longer battle sword to hack at each ogre in sequence, returning to the first one to repeat the strokes. I sheathed both katanas and applauded. He ignored me, except for a slight frown, which was quickly replaced by a grin. He was enjoying himself.

  The three ogres were totally hypnotized by Leopold’s approach. I walked over to the nearest combatant and touched his shoulder. He jumped and swung around; before he was fully aware, I hit him solidly on his chin. He dropped, unconscious. Leopold did the same to the next ogre who was distracted by the fall of his companion. The last one threw his sword into the Thames and ran as fast as he could along the embankment. I shrugged and let him go.

  Leopold moved the two dead bodies into one of his empty universes while I propped up the ogre I’d knocked unconscious, and revived him, first making sure he couldn’t move or attack me. He opened his eyes, looked around in a panic, saw me, and attempted to back away.

  “What is your name?” I asked. He scowled and ignored me. “Pass that hammer, please.”

  Leopold placed the ugly hammer, used by one of the dead ogres, in my hand. I hefted it and crashed it down onto my victim’s hand. He shrieked. He had four broken fingers to worry about. I moved toward his other hand. He struggled and tried to speak. He choked. His tongue slowly protruded and turned a dark blue. The ogre shuddered, drew a deep breath, and died.

  “Poison,” Leopold suggested.

  I agreed. I checked the body, using a sigil to confirm our assumption. It seemed someone had provided the ogre with a capsule of some kind and he managed to swallow it when I assaulted his hand. When I finished my examination, my companion moved the now dead ogre into his favorite storage environment.

  I sighed. We had one more chance. I would have to stop the last ogre from swallowing or even biting the capsule. Of course, I could remove it before waking him up. Ugh. Digging around in an ogre’s mouth was not my idea of fun. There was another approach, now I was aware of the existence of the capsule.

  “Leopold, can you stop this one from biting or swallowing the capsule while I try to read his recent thoughts? Someone must have given him directions in the last hour or two.”

  “Agree. Will stop.”

  I made sure this last ogre was unable, when conscious, to attack either Leopold or me. I would rely on my friend to prevent the ogre killing himself. I revived him, and like the other ogre, he looked around in bewilderment, saw me, and struggled against his restraints. I sketched a calming sigil.

  The ogre stopped his struggle, although his eyes retained their alarm.

  I said, “What’s your name?”

  The prisoner didn’t speak.

  “Who told you to attack me and my friend?”

  I detected a sudden memory flash of someone handing money to the ogre. I looked deeper, trying to hold and expand his memory. “Who was it? Tell me.”

  My words triggered another flash. I thought I detected a red uniform and brass chest pieces. The ogre shuddered, breathed deeply for two breaths and collapsed, his thoughts fading. He was dead. Whoever had sent these ogres had painstakingly hidden his trail.

  I showed Leopold the fragments of memory. “Was that a Tir-Kiran uniform?”

  He frowned. He started to shake his head in a negative and, apparently with second thoughts, halted the gesture. He looked me in the eyes and said. “Damn. Could be. Not enough evidence.”

  “Do you think it’s a form
of revenge because of the kidnapping?”

  Leopold pursed his lips and whistled softly. He moved the last ogre’s body into his disposal universe and stood. He had reduced his height back to his normal two feet. “Possible.” He continued to worry at the possibility. He held his hand up. “Could be trickery.”

  “You think someone knows enough about Finders, our ex-employees, the kidnap, and they want to cause trouble by blaming the Tir-Kiran for these ogre assaults?”

  “Also, soul stealers.”

  “Aah. Nasty.” I let my mind grind along. “Could it be demons? Or Lucifer?”

  “Perhaps. Possible. Hostibus capere volunt universum.”

  Could someone think they’d be able to capture or take over an entire universe? If their home environment had been destroyed or damaged too much for them to survive, perhaps they’d have the motivation. Focus on the most powerful mages resident in a key part of the target and take them out. It would be a possible strategy. I’d have to update my fellow mages.

  Leopold caught my attention. He was watching as my thought processes moved along, ever so slowly. He said, repeating what he’d voiced in the Tir-Kiran Embassy, “Debt owed, not repaid.”

  I smiled. “You know my reply. Well, standing here isn’t solving problems. I suppose we’d better get to Smithfield Market and do some detecting. Coming?”

  Leopold nodded, and I hailed a taxi.

  Our first call was Landry’s where George said he’d look up details of a couple of casual workers who seemed to be missing. I had a rough idea where Landry’s stall was located, and we headed in the general direction after I settled with the cabbie. As we reached the approximate location, I asked one of the meat porters for directions.

  He paused, looked me up and down. “Who you’re lookin’ for?”

  “George.”

  He spat on the ground and wiped his face with a blood-stained sleeve. “You’d be unlucky. Landry’s burned down early this marnin’. George was caught in the fire. He’s dead. Bad. Very bad. George was one of the best.” He spat again and walked off, silently mourning one of the best.

  “Not a coincidence,” I said to Leopold.

  “No. Danger.”

  “For us?”

  “For you. Girls. Get home now.”

  I started to run. Leopold followed. We had to get to the street where I could catch a cab. As I ran, I made a call.

  Dena answered. I asked, “Where are you and Morwen?”

  “We’ve just arrived home. Why?”

  “Stay there. Don’t move. There’s danger. Where are Vic and Hunter?”

  “Vic’s helping Hunter decorate. They’re home. Tell me what’s happening.”

  “We’ve been attacked. No, we’re unharmed. Five ogres are dead. We’re at Smithfield where we wanted to talk to someone. He’s dead, killed in a fire. Too much death to be an accident. Take shelter, all of you, in the main basement. We’ll be home as soon as possible.”

  We grabbed the first empty cab and it took thirty minutes to reach home. I worried every second of the journey.

  oOo

  Chapter 15

  The taxi dropped us off at the front door. Everything looked peaceful. Leopold opened the gate and shut and shielded it behind us. I paused halfway to the front door. I could feel pixies everywhere.

  “Can you detect the pixies?”

  “Yes.” He spoke in Pixish; it sounded like an instruction.

  Twenty small bodies moved out from behind shrubs and garden decorations, while another ten jumped or fell from trees. They were all armed with a range of weapons, from evil looking swords to crossbows.

  Leopold said to me after an exchange of Pixish, “Apparently Dena told Angel to implement a shutdown. Angel told some of her friends. It seems you have a new guard force of about a hundred pixies. I suspect they could mount a reasonable defense.”

  I scratched the back of my head, speechless for once. “Tell them I said well done and to take care.”

  Leopold spoke, and the bodies merged back into their hiding places. I doubt I’d be happy if a hundred pixies, armed to the teeth with various cutting and stabbing implements, attacked me. It all added to our protection.

  Dena was waiting near the front door when we entered. I saw Leopold strengthen defenses and shields on the already heavily guarded entrance and perimeter wall. The exteriors of the houses were almost overburdened with spells and I doubted we could improve their protective nature.

  Dena wrapped her arms around me. “I was worried about you.”

  “Everyone’s inside?”

  “Yes, against some protests. Vic wanted to go out, and I said no. We’re waiting in your sitting room. I couldn’t hide in the basement not knowing whether you were safe. Come and tell us what this is all about.” Dena held my hand and led the way.

  Her two sisters were seated on a twin-sized cushioned chair and Hunter was sitting on a chair next to them.

  Morwen said, “Good. You’re both home. Tell us what’s happening.”

  I sat on a large chair with Dena almost in my lap as she sat on the arm. Leopold stood in the far corner, his attention focused on the exterior of the houses.

  “We are under attack. Or, at least, I am. Leopold defeated two ogres who tried to enter the front gate a couple of days ago. We were attacked earlier today by five ogres, from the same sub-species. Whoever commanded them was very astute; he removed their memories of his briefings. He also set traps so if they were questioned, they would die before answering. Nasty. A man who was going to provide information about possible soul stealer killings was himself killed early this morning. His office was also destroyed—set on fire. As you know, we’re under threat from the soul stealers. My problem is I have no idea who is mounting these attacks.”

  Dena said, “Tir-Kiran?”

  I shrugged. “They have to be on the list.”

  “What about Hurian?” Victoria asked.

  “I can read him, and no, he’s not our enemy,” Dena said.

  “Leopold is wondering whether someone from a ruined universe is preparing an attack to take over this one. It’s possible, especially if they’ve contacted an ally, for example, on this planet. This possibility sets up an entirely different set of challenges. I’m going to contact the other Guardian mages to see if they’ve heard anything and to warn them. Once I’ve done that, we can sit and work through our defenses and other options.”

  “Until we identify our enemy it will be difficult to defend against them,” Dena mused.

  I said, “Exactly. Of course, we can’t continue in lockdown. I wanted to make sure you were all safe until I returned. We’ll work on some protective spells and arrange some stronger defenses.”

  “The two junior mages from the Tir-Kiran Embassy will be here later this afternoon,” Dena reminded me.

  Leopold said, “Suggest caution.”

  I recalled a previous comment by Leopold and reminded him, “You said the other day you might have some other Dar-Iide who could work with us. Have you checked?”

  Leopold looked at me for a long time. At last, he nodded. “Some. Will contact.”

  “Are they mages?”

  He moved his hand from side to side. “Warriors.”

  “Good.”

  Dena said, “You think we need to recruit an army?”

  “Yes. As many Dar-Iide as possible. The hundred or so armed pixies will help. I’ll see if there are other mercenaries we can add. Even Hurian.”

  “Wow,” said Hunter. “A demon working with us.”

  A pin, if dropped at that instant, would have echoed off the walls.

  I cleared my throat. “Who said Hurian was a demon?”

  Victoria blushed. “I mentioned to Hunter I had a task of helping teach Hurian to read. When he asked who Hurian was, I told him.”

  I looked at Hunter. “This is something I should have said before. Living in this household means you’re going to hear and see things that firstly, might disturb you, and secondly, will be confidenti
al. I don’t care who asks, under no circumstances are you to release information you glean here. Will you give me that undertaking? Consider it a vow given in blood.”

  Hunter’s face was very serious when he replied, “Zed, I realized your standing as one of the most powerful mages in Londin, means I’ll see and hear things in your household I otherwise would never do. I promised myself at that point to remain completely silent if I was ever questioned. Vic will tell you I don’t gossip. So, I have no hesitation in now vowing I will honor the confidentiality of your family, your business, and anything else you require.”

  I checked as he spoke. He was being totally truthful.

  “Thank you. We may restrict some matters notwithstanding your vow, simply to protect you.”

  “I understand.”

  I headed to the basement where I could contact my fellow Guardians. The responsibilities were almost overwhelming, and I needed a vacation. We shared a high -security communication system that allowed encrypted conversations. Like any encryption, an enemy with enough processing power could break it. We took that risk.

  I sat at my corner desk and switched on the comms system; it was designed to bounce signals off various atmospheric layers in a way that made it difficult, if not impossible, to trace the source. I set the link for a group conversation and sent out my conference request. We avoided names, substituting cities as identifiers. Responses didn’t take long.

  “New York here.”

  “Beijing here.”

  I said, “Londin here.”

  The default wait time was one minute. I waited two minutes. I was worried. Rio typically replied first. Time zones were irrelevant; a group communication indicated a serious topic requiring an urgent response. I reached out, searching. Nothing.

  “Can either of you detect Rio?” I asked.

  The replies were almost simultaneous, and both were negative.