by Pedro Urvi
“Everybody likes you,” Lasgol said with a smile.
“Not everybody, but you’re right, almost everybody.” She chuckled. “Well, except when I have an attack of clumsiness and make a mess of things.”
“I think when that happens, some people like you even more.”
Nilsa laughed and shook her head. “I doubt that very much.”
Lasgol was very happy to be in her company once again. Her smile, her joy and her good humor were a balm for any sorrow or trouble anyone might be suffering.
“We haven’t been able to find out anything about the problem of the Dark Rangers so far. Dolbarar refuses even to talk about the subject. It’s as if he didn’t even want to consider the idea that a group like that might exist.”
Nilsa was thoughtful. “The more I think about it, the more I believe the two people I heard conspiring against you must belong to the Dark Rangers… probably a couple of their leaders, because they were in the Library, and only nobles, Erudites and magi have access to it.”
“We can’t jump to a conclusion like that. It’s extremely hasty, and we have no evidence for it.”
“You’ve been talking to Egil,” Nilsa said, and laughed.
Lasgol smiled and shrugged. “Sometimes it rubs off when I spend some time with him.”
“But you’ll agree with me that the two people I heard must be from the Dark Rangers.”
Lasgol nodded. “That’s what Egil and I think. He didn’t believe it could be coincidence that two people had been conspiring against me just before another group tried to kill me. The two things are too remarkable to be a coincidence. They have to be connected. You know Egil doesn’t believe in coincidences. If anything happens it has to be for a definite reason.”
Nilsa nodded. “I think so too. I’d give a lot to know who they are.”
“The only clue we have is the engraved coin Erika showed me. We imagine the engraving is of a coat of arms that shows a bear and a boar. Egil’s looking for it, but so far, he hasn’t found anything. He warned me it wouldn’t be easy. There are some tomes on the noble houses of Norghana in the Camp library, and he’s already gone through them. He hasn’t found anything.”
Nilsa looked disappointed. “Well, I don’t have access to the Royal Library. It’s a pity, because we could look for it in there. There are thousands of tomes in it, and I’m sure there’ll be some about the coats of arms of all the Norghanian houses, together with their history. We might try to sneak in, but at the moment it’s under constant watch. In fact the whole castle is monitored, from the dungeons underground to the tops of the towers.”
“I noticed that.”
“We’ll think of something. Let’s not be in a rush and end up in the dungeons…”
“Tell me, what interesting things have you found out as Gondabar’s liaison and personal messenger?”
Nilsa gestured with her hand, and her expression turned secretive. “A lot of interesting things go on here. Very interesting.”
“Go on, don’t keep me in the dark!”
“The first is that King Thoran and his brother Orten have summoned all the Eastern nobles to a very important meeting, which is going to take place shortly. In it they’re going to complete their preparations for the final offensive against the West.”
“It would be great if we could overhear what they’re planning.”
“That’s rather complicated, if not impossible. The Throne Hall and the royal chambers are under observation day and night by the Royal Guard. Thoran’s a bit paranoid, going by what I’ve heard from the Royal Rangers who are protecting him.”
“That information would be very helpful to Arnold and the Western League.”
Nilsa sighed deeply. “If you’re caught spying, you’ll be executed straight away.”
“I know…”
“I’m not sure we ought to take part in this political game of East against West,” she said with dulled eyes.
“You want us to stay on the edge of things?”
Nilsa shrugged. “I don’t know… I’m a Ranger, I serve the King, and whether we like it or not, Thoran is King. He’s not a Shifter.”
“The crown belongs to Egil’s family by right of succession,” Lasgol countered.
“That’s a political game. I don’t think we ought to take part. We’d get into an endless fight between sides, and I fear we’d come out very badly from it.”
“And also, you’re from the East.”
She nodded. “So I am. Which influences my feelings about this war, I can’t deny it, but it doesn’t change my opinion that we ought to stay apart from the political fighting and the struggles for power.”
“I see.”
“And what do you think?” she asked, sounding troubled.
“Egil warned me that this new situation would test us all.”
“Do you think we ought to help Egil? Support the West?”
“The more I think about it, the more I believe each of us must decide, weighing up what’s at stake: the kingdom, honor, our friendship – and most of all, our lives.”
Nilsa snorted and lay back on the bed. “That’s a lot to weigh up. I know that if I think too hard about it I’m going to end up with one of those headaches when you feel you’re going to explode.”
Lasgol smiled sadly. He felt the same. There were a lot of things to consider. The decision, for each one of them, was going to be a very complicated one.
He tried to cheer her up. “Luckily we don’t have to decide today.”
“Very true,” she replied, watching Camu, who was chasing a spider across the ceiling.
“What else interesting has happened?”
Nilsa propped herself up. “Magi. Ice Magi and their cursed magic,” she said, clenching her jaw and her fist.
“What’s happening with the Ice Magi?”
“They’re here, at the castle.”
“I thought they were still in training.”
“They were, in Mage Eicewald’s tower. He’s been training three young magi. They arrived at the castle a few days ago. There was a big to-do. King Thoran met with Eicewald for half the day, and there was a lot of loud shouting in the Throne Hall. He’s let him have one of the towers of the castle, and nobody is allowed to go near, not even the Royal Guard. Not that anybody would go near it anyway. Not when they’re practicing their dirty magic all day long.”
“They practice here, at the palace? That’s very dangerous.”
“Yes, they create ice storms and all kinds of spells in that tower. You can hear thunder and strange noises that freeze your blood. The tower gives off a cold that freezes the soul. It’s all filthy magic.”
“Magic isn’t filthy…”
“Say what you will, but you know what I think.”
“I know…” Lasgol had no desire to force an argument with her about magic, so he let it pass.
“And also, there are strange rumors in the palace about Eicewald…”
This caught Lasgol’s interest. “What kind of rumors?”
“They say he’s very powerful… and a bit shady…”
“He had to be powerful, just to survive.”
“Not exactly… they say he didn’t die in the fighting because his magic isn’t only Water Magic.”
“Are you sure of that? The Ice Magi specialize purely in Water Magic. That’s why their spells are so powerful, because they only use that element and they put all their power into it.”
“They say there’s something else… although nobody knows what it is.”
“Where do these rumors come from?”
Nilsa shrugged. “Guards, nobles, servants, stable boys, everywhere. Everybody’s talking and then denying they’ve ever done anything of the sort.”
“That doesn’t mean the rumors are true. It sounds to me more like gossip. Egil says that Norghanian Magi are born with an affinity to the element of water, and that for them the natural thing is to develop their power using this element.”
“I don’t kno
w anything about filthy magic and I don’t want to. I’m only telling you that they’re here and that their leader is strange…”
“Have you met him?”
“Met him? Of course not. I’m liaison and messenger for the Rangers. I don’t deal with Magi. And nor have I any desire to!”
“Then how can you be sure the rumors are true?”
“Because I’ve seen him, and it made my hair stand on end. I felt something horrible in my stomach and I got goose-bumps all over.”
“That’s because he’s a Mage, and you loathe them.”
“No. I saw the four of them when they were moving to the north tower of the castle. He was the only one who gave me that horrible feeling.”
“That doesn’t prove much…”
“For me it’s proof enough.”
“A bad feeling?”
“Call it what you will, a bad feeling, an omen, my instinct, whatever you like. There’s something really weird about that mage.”
“We’ll have to check him and see whether there’s any truth in what you say.”
“I wouldn’t if I were you. It’ll give you a bad feeling that’ll last all day.”
Lasgol was almost sure his friend had felt like that because of her hatred and fear of magic, and that seeing a powerful mage about, whom strange things were rumored had impressed her so intensely that she had felt ill. Whatever the case, he would have to investigate to make sure and avoid unpleasant surprises.
“When are you going to see Gondabar?”
“As soon as we finish catching up.” He winked at her.
“Well, right now he’s with the King and his counselors. We still have some time left.”
“Great!”
Play hide-and- seek? came the message from Camu.
“He wants to play hide-and-seek.” He pointed to the creature, who was now on one of the bunk beds.
“Hide-and-seek? Here? But there’s nowhere to hide in this room.”
“He cheats.”
“He’s going to use his magic?”
Lasgol nodded. “You know what he’s like.”
Nilsa wagged her finger at Camu. “No magic.”
Camu began to protest with mournful little shrieks.
You know Nilsa doesn’t like magic.
My magic good.
I know, but she doesn’t understand. For her all magic is bad.
I know.
So, if you want to play, it can’t be hide and seek.
Then sleep.
Good idea. Rest and get your energy back.
Almost before Lasgol had finished transmitting the thought, Camu was already asleep.
“He’s fallen asleep,” Nilsa said in surprise.
“He doesn’t want to play without magic.”
Nilsa’s gaze lingered on him. “He really is bigger.”
“It’s not only his body that’s grown, so has his mind.”
Nilsa nodded and then changed the subject. “Let’s talk about the others. How are Ingrid and Viggo?”
Lasgol told her about their parting. Both friends seized the chance to talk about lighter matters, and good humor and joy came back to them like a cool spring breeze. They were both happy about their reunion and about having a true friend to confide in and lean on in that particular place. Something told Lasgol that he was not going to have too pleasant a stay in the capital, and that he was going to need a friend.
“Rest for a while,” Nilsa said. “I’ll go and get you something to eat.”
“Thanks.” He smiled fondly at her. “Actually, I’m beginning to get hungry after so much talking.”
She laughed. “After you’ve eaten, you’d better go and report to Gondabar.”
“Agreed.”
Nilsa left the room, and in her haste she almost bumped into another Ranger who was coming out of one of the other rooms. Lasgol smiled. She had not changed a bit, she was still the same Nilsa as ever, and that made him happy. He realized he had been feeling so much at home with her that he had forgotten to ask where he had to present himself. He rested until she came back with food, and the redhead joined him for the meal. Feeling restored, he got up, ready to report to Gondabar.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Nilsa said. “I have to go on my rounds as messenger and liaison.”
Lasgol smiled at her gratefully. “See you later, then.”
“I’ll come by to see how you’re doing when I’ve finished my duties.”
Lasgol nodded, and she left as quickly as she had before.
Camu, wake up.
A moment later his friend opened his eyes. I awake.
Stay in the room and wait until I come back. I have to see Gondabar.
I wait, said Camu, and curled up to go on sleeping.
Lasgol was hoping nobody else would come into the room that day, or they would be in trouble. An idea occurred to him.
Camu, can you sleep while you’re camouflaged?
Don’t know.
Try and see.
Right. Camu became invisible, and Lasgol waited to see what happened. He was intrigued. Suddenly the creature became visible again. As he said nothing, Lasgol went over to the bunk. Camu’s eyes were tightly shut and he was breathing deeply. He was asleep. The experiment had not worked; he could not sleep while camouflaged. He stroked him and woke him up gently.
Camu, wake up, he messaged softly, so as not to alarm him.
Camu opened his eyes and looked at his own body. No camouflage?
I’m afraid not. It seems that when you fall asleep you’re not able to keep yourself camouflaged.
Camu cocked his head to one side, then the other. Bad, he messaged sadly.
You ought to practice and try to do it. It would be a very valuable skill, especially in situations like this, with people all around who might spot you.
I try, Camu messaged confidently.
That’s my boy, Lasgol messaged back, and stroked his head.
Might not able.
Yes, I know, but you try anyway. You never know what skills you might develop until you try.
You able?
Lasgol thought about it. I’m not sure. Probably I couldn’t keep one of my skills going while I’m asleep either. I’ve never tried… He smiled. I’ll have to find out too.
Both try.
That’s right. But I can’t do it now, I’ve got to go and report. You keep trying and see if you make any progress.
I try.
He left Camu in the room. If he could succeed, although it was not very likely, it would be a very useful skill. Lasgol hoped his mischievous friend would succeed, for the good of the whole group.
It was time to report for duty and see why Gondabar had called him. A shiver ran down his spine.
Chapter 24
Lasgol left the room and came to the spiral stone stairs of the blackish tower. They did not only go up but also went down underground, which surprised him. He was on the ground floor, so they must lead to some kind of cellar, presumably for storing food. He decided to go down and take a look, and found two Rangers guarding a barred steel door. This was not a larder.
“What are you looking for?” one of them asked him aggressively.
“Oh, nothing, I have to report…”
“Upstairs. These are the Rangers’ dungeons.”
Lasgol’s eyes widened in surprise. “I didn’t know we had any…”
“Where d’you think we keep the ones we catch?”
“Access is forbidden except with Gondabar’s explicit permission,” the other Ranger explained.
“Understood. Thanks.”
“Now then, up you go!”
Lasgol did as he was told and went up the wide staircase to the ground floor of the tower. There he found a large dining-room which opened on to the kitchens. Several older Rangers were there chatting at long oak tables, and they exchanged greetings.
“Where do I have to report?”
“Third floor,” two of them answered, almost at the same time. Another jabbe
d his thumb upwards.
Lasgol thanked them for the information and went on. He had the impression that going in circles up that endless staircase would make anyone dizzy, but luckily the impression was false. The tower was larger than it looked from the outside, which surprised him.
On the second floor he found a wide hall where several Rangers were looking after weapons and equipment, as well as barrels and sacks with what he guessed were provisions and weaponry.
“Do you need any supplies of equipment or food?” a Ranger asked him. He was fat, and getting on in years.
“No, I have to report.”
“First time in the capital?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Third floor, ask for Ranger Liriuson.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You needn’t ‘sir’ me. I’m just a plain Ranger, veteran but plain. You’re a Specialist.” He indicated Lasgol’s clothes.
Lasgol nodded. “I’m still not sure how I’m supposed to address my fellow-Rangers.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll learn as you go on. If you need food or any piece of equipment – weapons, clothes, traps, mounts, whatever – here in the capital, I’m your man. Ranger Helmond, Quartermaster.”
Lasgol smiled. “I’ll bear that in mind.”
“Just one thing: the Royal Rangers have preference when it comes to anything to do with equipment, so all I’ll be able to give you is second-rate stuff. All the best, first-rate or above, is reserved for them.”
“Above?” Lasgol asked in surprise. He could understand that there would be first-rate and second-rate material, but what could be above that?
“There are certain components and weapons that are very hard to get hold of. Those we classify as superior level, and they’re not within the reach of all Rangers.”
“I see. I’m sure that whatever I’m given will do me perfectly well.”
“It’ll do that and more, you have my word as Quartermaster. Everything I hand out is checked and has my personal approval.”
Lasgol smiled and gave a small bow of appreciation. “I’ll pass by before I leave.”
“I’ll be here. I’ve spent fifteen years in this post, so I don’t think I’ll be moving.” He winked.