“Aren’t you going to tell me?”
“You really are an asshole,” observed the ring.
Will chuckled. “I learned from the best. So what spell is it?”
“The iron-skin transformation.”
“You mentioned that before. Didn’t you say someone tried to use it for his ‘little soldier’ and wound up killing himself?”
Arrogan began sniggering. “Yes, that’s the story of Leonard Kaspar and his infamous iron cock. He died of iron poisoning, but he wasn’t using the regular iron-skin transformation. The spell I’m talking about is perfectly safe, though it’s a little difficult to cast.”
A little difficult in Arrogan’s terminology probably meant a seventh- or eighth-order spell at least. Will was close to succeeding with eighth-order spells, but he wasn’t quite there yet. And if it’s ninth I won’t be able to manage it for months.
The ring went on, “The transformation usually can’t be kept up for more than a few minutes at a time because it’s both physically exhausting and it uses a significant amount of turyn.”
“Physically?”
“Iron isn’t anywhere near as elastic as your skin is. The spell manages that by adjusting the effect as you move, but it isn’t perfect. The result is that every movement, even breathing, requires more effort than usual, while at the same time, the constant adjustments use extra turyn.”
At that point, Will was mashing up the turnips he’d boiled and seasoning them with butter, salt, and a small amount of fresh horseradish. “It sounds like I’m not going to be able to learn that spell soon enough to do me any good. Do vampires have any weaknesses like they do in the stories?”
“Forget the rubbish about churches and holy symbols.”
“Garlic?”
“Pisses them off, but only because they have sensitive noses.”
“Silver?”
“That’s poisonous to them, but it isn’t instantly fatal. It’s similar to how the fae react to iron.”
Will nodded. “Too bad it’s such a soft metal. It’s difficult to make effective weapons with silver.”
“Silver inlay on blades is enough to keep them from healing immediately after cuts, but it’s expensive,” said Arrogan. “Easier to burn them, or better still, if you can find the right spells, daylight will wreck them.”
“Light?”
“Daylight,” corrected Arrogan. “A certain portion of daylight absolutely ruins them. Depending on how strong it is, it can turn them to dust in seconds to minutes. As an added bonus, the spells require less energy than most fire spells since the output is primarily light without heat and flames. You should still have some fire spells ready, though. If you get a chance, look for Ethelgren’s Illumination.”
“Why, if light is so much more effective?”
“Because any vampire that has survived since my day will almost certainly be smart enough, and wizard enough, to have learned the right magic to protect himself from daylight.”
He was about to start organizing the plates for the meal, but Will froze at those words. “Some of them use magic?”
“Not many,” said Arrogan. “Being dead, they don’t have a source, so it’s hard for them to get started, but the ones that survive a long time are more likely to have learned. Also there’s the ones who were wizards before they were turned.”
“What are they like?”
“If they were first-order, or worse, like the wizards these days, then they aren’t much to worry about. Without a source to work from they’re crippled, magically speaking, but if they’re second- or in your case, third-order, then the change doesn’t bother them much.”
Will nodded. “Because we don’t use turyn from our source anyway. So if it happened to me…”
“At first, you’d be violent and insane, but you’d still be able to use spells. Later you’d probably adjust and then you’d be worse—you’d become a long-term threat, an undead monster smart enough to protect and hide itself, while also potentially powerful enough to do almost anything.”
“And immortal.”
“You’ve probably got almost eight hundred years ahead of you. That’s more than enough to get sick of it all. Trust me.”
“Do any of them ever stay good?” asked Will.
“Define good,” replied Arrogan. “If by good, you mean did any of them help people or refrain from murdering the innocent, then no. The best—and in my opinion also the worst—outcome has been those that gained enough control to stay hidden, which is probably why we are now facing this very old problem all over again.”
“What about the lich, Grim Talek—what’s he like? Did you and Aislinn fight him?”
“Clearly you overheard too much,” said the ring sourly. “For today you don’t need to worry about him. You should focus on the here and now.”
The meat was done resting, so it was time to serve and eat. He needed to finish the conversation. “What should I do then, in the here and now?”
“Learn the iron-skin transformation, expand your repertoire with fire, talk to Laina’s Arkeshi and see if she knows anything about Tailtiu, but above all else, don’t go anywhere by yourself after the sun sets. If you learn something and figure out where Tailtiu is, don’t attempt to rescue her alone.”
“I understand,” said Will, hoping to placate the ring.
“No, I’m very serious here. You’ve got power enough to destroy them, but you’re only human and these things are fast. If you get caught by surprise, caught off-guard, flanked, hell, if you just look the wrong way for a few seconds—they’ll rip you from throat to groin and your armor will barely slow them down.”
“Can they tear through mail?”
“No, but they can hit you hard enough to break bones with just their bare hands, and anywhere you have exposed flesh is a serious vulnerability.”
“Damn.”
“So, you do what wizards should always do. Prepare. Make sure you’ve got the right tools and never, ever, put yourself in a situation where you might face one alone. The best way to counter overwhelming speed and strength is to have plenty of allies with you. If they have to fight through your guards, you’ll have more time to do what you need to do.”
Blake called from the other room, “Something smells delicious. Is it almost ready or are you just torturing us?”
Will dismissed the limnthal and answered, “Come get your plates!”
Chapter 14
Tiny leaned back, pushing his now-empty plate away from him. The chair beneath him groaned faintly. “I haven’t eaten like that since I left home.”
Will smiled. “Your mother must have been a good cook.”
The big man sighed with satisfaction. “I won’t speak ill of her cooking now that I’ve eaten yours, but she knew how to fill me up.”
He laughed. Back when they’d been in the army together, Will had often shared his extras to help keep Tiny from going hungry. “I remembered how much you eat, so I tried to prepare accordingly. Aside from getting full, did you like it?”
“It wouldn’t be a lie to say that if I died right now, I would have no regrets. What was that mash on the side? I couldn’t figure out what it was, but I couldn’t stop eating it either.”
“Turnips.”
Tiny’s brows lifted in surprise. “I’ve never cared much for turnips, until now.”
“What about the bread crusts?” asked Blake. “Were those the stale leftovers we had from a few days ago?”
Will nodded. “Buttered and toasted with minced onions. Garlic or shallots might have been better, but we didn’t have any. I guess neither of you liked the steak, since all you’ve talked about are the sides.”
There was an uproar at that, and Will found himself laughing as they bantered back and forth. Eventually Blake rose and cleared the table before retreating to the kitchen to clean up. Will and Tiny moved back to the parlor, where the furniture was more comfortable, and once they were seated Tiny mentioned the dinner again. “Most in your position wouldn�
�t be seating the butler at the table.”
“It’s just the two of us most of the time,” Will replied. “I prefer not to eat alone. Besides, it isn’t as though I was raised with any of this.”
Tiny nodded, then switched subjects. “Sammy is going to be so jealous when I go back and tell her I was able to eat your food for two weeks.”
That got Will’s attention, for he hadn’t seen his younger cousin in more than a year. “You’ve seen Sammy? How is she doing?”
Tiny turned pensive. “She’s feisty as ever, as well as—hmm, I’m not sure how to say this.”
“Say what?”
“Well, I don’t want to offend you. I’m not sure how you’ll react to me commenting on your female relatives.”
“If you say she’s ugly I’ll put a dent in your nose,” Will said jokingly.
“A dent?”
“I doubt I could do much more than that.”
Tiny laughed. “Fine, well I’ll risk a dent then. Sammy is turning into a stunning woman.”
Will frowned. He had actually been worried about that the last time he’d seen her, especially because his fiery-haired cousin also seemed to lack any native caution when it came to the soldiers stationed in Barrowden. “Are the soldiers bothering her?”
“Not while I’m there,” said Tiny smugly. “I’m a sergeant now, and I made it clear what I’d do to any who step over the line.”
Will doubted it was just because Tiny was a sergeant. The man was like a mountain on the move. No one would have wanted to cross him, sergeant or not. “You’re a sergeant? Was this before or after you became a squire?”
“Before. After you sent the mail, I took the money I’d been saving for armor and invested it in buying my own equipment and becoming a contract soldier. After that it was just a matter of time since they seemed to think I had the aptitude.”
“That’ll keep you in for at least five years,” observed Will. At the same time, he tried to imagine his friend yelling at new recruits and being a general asshole, but his mind blanked out. The big man was just too kind for him to envision it.
Tiny shrugged. “With the current tensions, they wouldn’t have let me go for several years at best. I figured I might as well make a career out of it.”
“You outrank me now.”
“You’re still on the rolls?”
Will nodded. “They’ll probably force me to go back after I finish at Wurthaven.”
“You’re married to the king’s daughter, Will. You’re never going back, not as a private contract.”
“You might be right about that.”
“I know I’m right,” said Tiny confidently. “Just like I know you’re scared to ask about your mother now that I’ve mentioned Sammy.”
He looked down. “Is it that obvious?”
“She’s going to skin you alive if you don’t visit soon. Having the wedding without any warning was bad enough, but all you’ve done since then is send a letter.”
“I’ve been busy and it’s a long trip.”
“A week, I just made it, and your mother knows quite well that you can make the journey in a fraction of that. They could come here too. Have you thought about that?” Tiny glanced around as though making note of the massive house they were sitting within. “This would be a huge step up for them compared to that little shanty they’ve been staying in.”
“It’s too dangerous here for them.”
“But not for your wife?”
She’s not here! thought Will, his lips making a firm line as he closed his mouth. “It’s complicated and I can’t tell you everything. Not here.”
Tiny’s eyes darted in the direction of the door, his question clear. The servant?
Will nodded. “He’s a good man, but there are somethings he is duty-bound to report if he hears them. So I do my best not to put him in that position, and he does his best not to hear.”
Tiny seemed confused for a minute, then he silently mouthed the words, you’re afraid of the king?
“Yes,” answered Will. “But we can talk about that later.” He got to his feet. “You’re probably tired from traveling. Would you like to rest a while?”
“That would be nice.”
It was still early afternoon, and Will needed to start making preparations. “Blake will show you to your room. Feel free to treat this house as your home for as long as you’re in Cerria.”
“You’re sure?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll be leaving for a while but I’ll be back before sunset, then I’ll probably leave for most of the evening.” Will paused there, to let his words sink in.
“You’re going to be out all night?” Tiny’s face held numerous questions. “Is there a party or do you need some help?”
Will stared at his feet for a moment, then lifted his chin and gave Tiny and earnest stare. “I hope you don’t think less of me, but when I found out you were here, I was happy for more than one reason. I am glad to see you, but I’m also about to be up to my eyeballs in trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
He glanced at the armor bag in the corner of the room. “The kind that makes me glad you brought your gear.”
“Damn,” swore the big man.
“You don’t have to get involved in it if you don’t want to,” Will said, trying to reassure him. “I know you’ve seen enough back in Barrowden and you deserve a rest.”
Tiny nodded. “You’re right, and the thought of putting that armor on fills me with dread, but I’ll come with you anyway.”
Will felt more alone than ever, but he tried to smile anyway. “Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll be fine—wait, what?” It had taken a moment, but Tiny’s words finally sank in. His tone said no, but his mouth said yes.
“You know I hate violence, but I’ve made a career out of it anyway. At first, I fought to protect my friends, now I fight to protect the people of Terabinia. If you need help then I’ll get to do both.”
“I haven’t even told you what’s going on,” said Will. “How do you know it’s to protect the people of Terabinia?”
The massive soldier reached out and slapped Will’s chest just over his heart, the blow landing with such force that he nearly lost his balance. “Because I know you, Will. Your heart is always getting you into more trouble than you can handle, and it’s always on someone else’s behalf.”
Will shook his head. “That isn’t true.”
Tiny arched one brow. “We can argue later. I need a nap.”
“Don’t you want to know what we’ll be doing?”
“It might disturb my sleep. Tell me later.”
***
At the library, he ran into Janice as he headed for the stairs. “Oh, hello,” he greeted her, noting that she had tied her hair into an unruly bun and somehow anchored it in place using only a pencil. Clearly an act of magic, he told himself silently.
Janice blinked at him for a second then frowned. “This can’t be good.”
“What?”
“You’re in the library.” Pretending to shade her eyes with one hand, she stared in the direction of the front entrance. “Has the sun gone dark? Is this the end? Has Marduke risen from hell to consume the world?”
“Very funny. I do come to the library on my own for legitimate purposes, you do realize that, don’t you?”
“Mmhmm,” she replied noncommittally. “And what brings you here today?”
Will glanced to one side then focused on meeting her gaze. “Nothing special,” he answered, keeping his tone innocent.
“Then you won’t mind if I tag along.”
“I’m sure you’re busy. No need to go out of your way.”
“I don’t mind,” she said blandly, following him up the stairs. As they passed the second floor, she commented, “Third floor, spell archives—why am I not surprised?”
“I could be going to the fourth floor.”
“Mmhmm, you could, but I’d bet good money you aren’t.”
Will
stopped. “God damn it, Janice. Don’t you have something better to do?”
“And there’s the temper,” she observed. “Is that why Rob’s mad at you? Did he ask too many questions?”
Will pursed his lips. After a second he replied, “I’m not angry.”
Janice took his hand and started back up the stairs. “Come on. I’ll help you look for whatever it is.”
“I don’t want to get you involved.”
“I’m not going to get involved. I have no desire to get caught in one of your adventures, but this is the library. I’m pretty good with index cards. I’ll give you a hand and then you can go do stupid things with the information afterwards. I won’t interfere.”
He glowered at her for a moment, trying to decide whether to be offended or touched by her remarks.
She tugged on his arm. “Come on, hero, it’s the library. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“Fine.”
Once they reached the third floor, they headed for the card files. “What are you looking for?”
“A spell called the iron-skin transformation, another called Ethelgren’s Illumination, and anything with simple fire battle magics in it.”
Janice stared at him blankly for a moment, then her lips began working silently. Will could easily make out the words, ‘What the fuck?’ but to her credit Janice didn’t actually voice her thoughts. Instead she turned back to the card index and began searching.
He stepped to the other end of the card file and started at the E’s. “I’ll look for Ethelgren’s Illumination.”
She nodded, already working her way through the I’s. Fifteen minutes later, courtesy of Janice, they had a tidy sheet with notes on the locations of what Will wanted. He’d brought his own journal and writing implements, but they were stored in the limnthal, so he had deferred to her rather than display yet another of his secrets.
“You’re out of luck,” she told him, looking over the sheet once again. “Every single one of these items is in the restricted section, even Ethelgren’s Illumination.”
Scholar of Magic Page 15