Foundling Wizard

by James Eggebeen

  “I don’t want to impose on your hospitality,” Lorit said.

  Chihon held her breath. She wanted Lorit to stay and learn. She was growing to love Yerlow and Gareb. They were courteous folk and treated her like a sister. She didn’t want to press Lorit. She felt the bond growing stronger, but she could feel him trying to keep his distance from her, as if he were afraid to let her in.

  “Don’t worry about imposing,” Yerlow said. “We’ve enjoyed having Chihon with us these past weeks. We’ve had such a short time to get to know you. You’ve only just awakened. It would be an honor to have you as our guest for a while longer.”

  Chihon reached over and grasped Lorit’s hand. “Please, let’s spend a little time getting prepared for the journey. Gareb has some very good books that I’ve been studying. I’ve learned a lot from him already. We can be well prepared before we head off to Quineshua.”

  “I’m not asking you to come with me,” Lorit said. “I know it’s dangerous. You would be safer if you stayed here, while I undertake this quest alone.”

  “That,” she said, “is not going to happen. I go where you go. No argument!”

  Lorit agreed to pass the worst of winter with Gareb and Yerlow. Chihon worked with Yerlow at her seamstress duties, helping cut and sew to the best of her abilities. Lorit spent his days as a butcher in the market, using the skills he’d acquired on the farm to earn his living. Lorit filled out from the regular exercise and Yerlow’s cooking. Chihon was happy to see him lose some of the anger and sorrow that was so prevalent when he first awoke from the web.

  Evenings, after dinner, they worked through the lessons that Gareb planned out for them.

  Lorit rapidly mastered the shields. He was almost as good as Gareb before he started training. By spring, he’d mastered every type of shield in the book. He’d surpassed most of the skills Gareb possessed within the first moon of their stay. He passed his teacher, demanding ever more difficult challenges.

  Chihon grew into her power more slowly than Lorit, but was able to draw on his strength when needed. She quickly mastered the spells in all of the books that Gareb had stored around his dusty workshop.

  She spent the evenings poring over her lessons with Gareb, and occasionally in discussions with Rotiaqua, learning the secret ways of the sorceress.

  In one of her evening sessions, Chihon was more concerned than ever. “Rotiaqua, why is he so distant?” she asked.

  “You mean other than that he’s a man?” the sorceress chuckled.

  “I feel the bond growing between us. We’re practicing spells together that are far beyond anything I thought I’d ever be able to perform. He’s advancing so quickly. It scares me.”

  “That’s the way of it,” the sorceress said. “I recall when Zhimosom and I first started to form the bond. I knew immediately that we were going to spend a long time together. I was eager to learn and grow at his side. He spent ages pushing me away, afraid of the bond.”

  “What did you do?” Chihon asked.

  “I kept at it. I worked with him and stood by him until he finally came to his senses.”

  “And now it’s better?”

  “He’s still a man,” the sorceress snorted. “But now we’re close. He confides in me. He depends on me. We work together to further our common goals. I’m the only person who really knows the man behind the name,” she added.

  “How long did it take for you?” Chihon asked. She hoped it would not take too long.

  The sorceress laughed. “Let’s hope that it doesn’t take you as long as it took me.”

  Chihon took Rotiaqua’s advice to heart. She spent time with Lorit as he practiced his spells and grew into his power. They worked together until either one of them could handle the more complex spells on their own. She felt the power he drew from her to drive these spells as a tangible physical demand. She also felt the euphoria and power she experienced when she borrowed from him to tackle something more difficult.

  She worked hard at earning his confidence, but she never felt like he truly let her in. The specter of his sister was a constant barrier between them. Lorit needed to get that out of his system, or they would never be as close as Rotiaqua said they could be.

  Chihon feared the only cure for Lorit was to defeat the temple and repay them for what they’d done to his family. Maybe then, he could open up to her and let her in.

  Chihon was preparing to serve dinner one evening, when Lorit announced, “I heard that the harbor is starting to clear. Spring is almost here, and soon the ships will resume their trade.”

  “That’s good,” Chihon said. “Yerlow needs more of that lace that comes from Veldwaite. You just can’t get anything like that anywhere else, and she’s almost to the last of the stock she purchased last summer.”

  “It also means we can be on our way soon,” Lorit said. “As soon as the ships resume their trade, I want to get started.”

  “You’re set in this, then?” Gareb asked.

  “As much as ever. I’m prepared, and it’s time we got going.”

  “We’ve enjoyed your hospitality,” Chihon said. “But if Lorit is ready, then we have to be going. This is what we’ve been working toward all winter, after all,” she added. She was supportive of his efforts now. They had to complete this task or Lorit would never get over the loss of his family.

  “You feel you are sufficiently prepared?” Gareb asked.

  Lorit cleared a space on the table in front of him. He passed his hand over it, and then tapped the center of the freshly cleared space. The cover of a book appeared, situated squarely in front of him. He tapped the cover of the book and placed his palm against it. Chihon had seen him do this several times in practice. She’d even mastered it herself, but he made it look effortless.

  Lorit slowly raised his hand. The cover of the book followed his hand upward expanding into a large tome. Lorit grasped the edge of the book and flipped it open to reveal a page which contained a drawing of a dragon surrounded with mystical symbols. Beneath the illustration were inscribed the words of a spell in the runes of the wizards.

  “I think I’ve mastered much of what’s in the books,” Lorit explained. He snapped the book shut, pressed on it until it became only a flat cover, then tapped the cover. It vanished, leaving the table bare in front of him.

  Lorit slid his plate back and began eating his dinner.

  “My powers are not so great,” Gareb said. “Are you sure that you are ready? Those priests are a pretty nasty lot, you know?”

  “I’m ready,” Lorit said.

  Chihon quietly sat and ate. She would miss Yerlow and Gareb. They were like family to her. Especially Yerlow. The woman was teaching her the sophisticated ways of the city, as she called them. Chihon would also miss the luxurious bath as they once again set out on the road.

  Gareb settled into his customary place at the head of the table. “I saw him again today,” he announced without prelude.

  “Where was he?” Lorit asked.

  “He was poking around the chandlery earlier. He walked back and forth a few times, tried to look casual, but he had that violet glow you showed me,” Gareb said, chuckling.

  “Don’t they know that we can see through their shields, or are they trying to provoke some reaction, just to see if I’m here?” Lorit asked. He would not put it past the temple to send an inept priest just to see if he would react and expose himself.

  “What did you do?” Lorit asked.

  “I clouded his memory,” Gareb said. “Just like we agreed. He’ll remember being here today, but he will also remember that he caught the scent of a young wizard passing through. He’ll be chasing that down for a few days.”

  “We should be on our way before they figure out we’re still here. I think we’ve had enough training. It’s time we took this fight to them.”

  Yerlow looked over at Chihon. “Must you go? You know how much I love having a little sister around to talk to.”

  Lorit spoke before Chihon had the chance
to open her mouth. “I’ve located a suitable ship to carry us to Nebrook. I hear it’s being prepared already and should be back in the water by the end of the month. We can book passage on her without much trouble.

  “Once we reach Nebrook, we can make our way across the Plains of Grass and on to Veldwaite. From there, we should be able to book passage to Quineshua.”

  The Rutting Boar was a dilapidated inn two blocks from the wharf. The inn was crowded for the noon meal. Wharf workers and seafarers jostled for tables or a seat at the sagging bar. Lorit looked around until his eyes settled on a large man with shoulder-length black hair and two fingers missing on his left hand. He pushed his way through the crowd to the table in the back corner and leaned in, trying to make himself heard over the din.

  “Are you Captain Bukelach?” he shouted.

  “That I am,” replied the man. “And what can a poor old captain do for the likes of you?”

  Lorit seated himself at the table across from the captain. “I am looking to book passage to Nebrook. I understand your ship is ready to depart tomorrow.”

  “That it is,” said the captain. “Just yourself then?”

  Lorit raised two fingers at the serving girl after catching her eye, and then pointed to the Captain’s almost empty flagon. “There will be two of us,” he said.

  “You’re not scared of the winter storms, then?” the captain asked with a smile.

  “I’m confident in your ability. If there were something to be concerned with, I hardly think you’d be risking your ship and crew.”

  The serving girl returned with their drinks and set them on the table. “One silver,” she said, holding out her hand. She waited as Lorit fetched the coin from his pocket and placed it in her hand. She turned back to the kitchen. The thick braid of her hair snapped around as she left.

  “Do you have the room?” Lorit asked.

  The Captain was watching the girl depart and seemed not to hear. Lorit repeated himself to no avail until the serving girl disappeared into the kitchen. “What was that you were saying?” the Captain asked, his attention returning to Lorit.

  “I was inquiring if you had the space for the two of us to sail with you to Nebrook.”

  The Captain took a deep drink from his fresh flagon and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. He emitted a satisfied belch and slammed the flagon back on the table. “Four golds each and you help with whatever we need you to help with,” he said. “The both of you.”

  “What kind of work do you have in mind?” Lorit asked.

  “Help with the rigging, scrub the deck when she gets dirty, haul supplies up from the hold to the galley, and help with the sails, that sort of work. Nothing that you won’t be able to handle. You look like a strong young lad.”

  “I can surely handle that,” Lorit said, “but my traveling companion is a young lady. I don’t think she’ll be able to assist much in those tasks.” He took a sip and carefully replaced the flagon on the table.

  “Does she cook?” the Captain asked.

  “She can cook,” Lorit said. Chihon had learned several recipes from Yerlow and enjoyed preparing them. She called it “citified” cooking, and was becoming quite proficient at it.

  “Fine, then,” the Captain said. “Pay the purser when you get aboard.”

  “What time will you be ready to sail?”

  The Captain looked at him with a look of disgust. “You know nothing of the sea. Do you, lad?” he asked. “Ships on the ocean leave with the turning of the tide. The Freshen Sea has no tide, so we leave as soon as the morning breeze starts. That usually happens just about two hours after sunrise on most days. Be there by sunrise, so you can get your gear stowed before we raise anchor.”

  Lorit stood to leave, but the Captain held up his hand. The missing fingers were prominent. “Hold on, lad. There are a few more things you need to know before you go.” He motioned to the seat. “Sit yerself down and listen fer a bit.”

  Lorit sat back down and took a drink of his ale.

  The Captain held up his left hand, demonstrating the missing fingers. His glove had been altered to accommodate his handicap. He shook his hand in front of Lorit.

  “When I was just a young man, like you, I signed on to a ship to learn the ways of the sea. I wanted to travel and see the world. I wasn’t much older than you are today. I thought it would be a great life, I did.

  “I thought I didn’t have to listen to the Captain. Treated him like me pa, I did.” The Captain took another giant swig of ale and continued. “One day I popped off to the Captain. I figured he’d swat me good like me pa used to do, and that would be that.

  “We were on a ship in the sea proper, not this freshwater lake, but the mighty ocean. We were just out of the port of Kirdon up in Quilst,” he said, “when I decided to act the fool.”

  Bukelach leaned over to Lorit, holding up his hand once again. “Know what he did?”

  “No,” Lorit replied. The Captain stank of sour Ale and sweat. “What did he do?”

  “He threw me overboard, he did. Picked me up by the scruff of the neck and the seat of me pants, and threw me right over the rail. Lucky for me, we were close to land, and I know how to swim. Many sailors would not be so fortunate.

  “Only unlucky for me, before I could get to the shore, a shark came after me. It first swam past and just sort of rubbed against me. It must have decided I was a tasty snack, because it came back with a mouth full of teeth like you never saw,” he continued.

  “But you survived,” Lorit said.

  “I survived, but not before it took my fingers. It came back a second time and tried to take my leg, but must’ve decided I was more than a snack. It left me bleedin’ all the way to shore.”

  He took another drink and drained the flagon before continuing. “Some kindly folk found me and bandaged me up. I survived and went back aboard ship as soon as I was able.”

  “That is most fortunate,” Lorit said.

  The Captain looked over at Lorit’s ale. He’d only taken a few swallows. He raised one eyebrow at Lorit. Lorit slid the flagon over in front of the Captain. “Here,” he said. “Storytelling is thirsty work.”

  “You’re probably wondering why I’m telling you this,” he said.

  Lorit looked back at the Captain, waiting for him to continue.

  “I’m the Captain now, lad, and I take the same attitude. On my ship, I’m the only one in charge. My word is law. You’ll respect and obey me or face the consequences. I don’t take lightly to any lip or backtalk. There are no sharks in the Freshen, but over the side you’ll go if I have any problem with you at all.”

  “I’ll remember that,” Lorit said. This time, when he rose, the Captain just nodded to him.

  “If you’re still going, we’ll see you in the morning. You and your lady friend,” the Captain said.

  Gareb and Yerlow were up before dawn with Lorit and Chihon. Yerlow placed a plate of bread and cheese in front of each of them, taking her own seat. Lorit was anxious to get going. The sooner they started, the sooner he would have his revenge.

  “I’ve packed your travel bag with a few things to tide you over. You should be good for at least two weeks before you need to forage or buy food,” she said. Yerlow turned to Chihon and said, “I understand that, as part of your passage, you’ll be assisting the cook.”

  “Yes. Lorit arranged it for me.”

  “I’m sure the crew will be glad of a woman’s touch in the galley,” she reassured her. “At least you won’t have to break into your travel stock before you reach land.”

  “How long do they expect the trip to take?” Gareb asked. He seated himself and poured a steaming mug of dark tea.

  “It should take just over a week,” Lorit said. “This early in the season, they’re worried about running into ice floes, so they take it slow.”

  “For your sakes, I hope they don’t run into any trouble,” Yerlow said. “A week cramped up on a ship like that with a bunch of unwashed sailors isn’t something I’d
look forward to.”

  “It’s no worse than the farm or the slaughterhouse,” Lorit said. “You get used to the smell and, after a while, you don’t even notice it.” He picked up his empty plate and headed for the kitchen. He’d grown accustomed to helping out in the kitchen, something his mother had never been able to instill in him. He felt as if he were an imposition on Yerlow if he didn’t help out.

  Yerlow stopped him, taking the plate out of his hand. “I’ll take care of that once you’re gone,” she said. “You two get ready and get going. It’s a long walk to the wharf in the dark.”

  “I guess we’d better get going,” Chihon said as she stood, shouldering her pack. She hugged Yerlow tightly for a moment, and then held her by the shoulders. “You’ve been so gracious to us,” she said. “You’ve been like a sister to me.” She kissed Yerlow on the cheek and turned to Gareb.

  “You’ve also been so kind and such a great teacher,” she told him. “I will not forget your lessons.”

  “You’re a great student,” he said. “Please remember me fondly when you become one of the mighty ones.”

  Gareb came over, grasped Lorit’s hand, and shook it firmly. “Lorit,” he said, “I’ve never met a wizard quite like you.” He hugged Lorit and patted his shoulder. “Take care of Chihon, and give those priests what they deserve. If you can’t do it, then I don’t know who can.”

  Yerlow reached up to Lorit and grasped his chin in her calloused hand. She directed his gaze toward her eyes. “You take care of this young lady, or I’ll come after you myself. You let them hurt her and you’ll have me to deal with. Wizard or not, I have a few tricks that will work on you, young man.”

  She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, turned him toward the door, and gave him a shove. “On with you, then,” she said.

  The wharf was bustling when they arrived, just after sunrise. The air was so cold that Lorit could see the breath steaming from the people rushing about their business. Lorit spotted an old man sitting at a table near the wharf entrance.