A Coursing Passage (A Life of Magic Book 3)

by Matthew Mitchell

  The girl smiled broadly, "Timothy! He is always in here. Let me get my sister!" She hopped from her stool and dashed behind the counter and through a curtained opening. Her voice could be heard talking to another person. Shortly a woman appeared from behind the curtain.

  "My sister tells me you are the sister of Timothy." She stepped forward and looked our group over. "I do see a family resemblance. He has been a blessing to my family and our business. My mother would have died without his healing potions." She looked at a book behind the counter. "We have a suite that should work well for your group. Enough berths for all and a space to eat, if you choose not to dine in public." She grabbed her sister. "Take them to the suite." She turned and headed back to the curtained opening. "I am Lizz. Ask for me if you need anything."

  "Yeah, she is Lizz. I am April. I am the youngest. She is the oldest. There are three more girls between us. No boys. Too bad. We could use the help with the heavy lifting. But that is how it goes." April rattled along as she led us to the suite. "If you need anything, pull on the blue cord. Someone will show up soon and help you out." She handed Tulip a key and left. We entered a large room with a table large enough for us to sit together and doors leading off to sleeping areas.

  "I am going to bed. It has been a good, but long day." Tulip locked the door and went to the first room beside the door. She opened it and shut it behind her.

  Ruth shook her head. "I am going to bed also. My eyes are starting to cross, I am so tired." She took the room beside Tulip's.

  Amelia and Roger took the last room on that side of the room. They wished everyone a good night and closed the door.

  Stain took the door opposite of Tulip. "Good night you two. Raven you did very good tonight, with everything." He closed the door and we could hear him sit on the bed.

  "We will take the middle room." Mophar hopped down and went into the one beside Stain's. Pat followed.

  "I guess that means we get the last room." Raven walked to the door, unbraiding her hair as she went. "Coming to bed, darling?" She looked over her shoulder and smiled.

  ***

  The next morning we found ourselves packing up and preparing to leave.

  "Since we will be heading in a different direction than most of the rest of our group there is no reason for us to stay here." Tulip was explaining. "We might as well pack up and head on towards the mountains. The sooner we can get going the sooner we might arrive."

  Stain nodded. "I had just hoped to find a guide, one who knew of this mysterious pass we are searching for on this side."

  Tulip grinned, "If there is a guide to be found, it will not be in Shadow's Edge. Too much oversight. We need to seek farther down the road." She stood. "We need to leave."

  "What about stopping and seeing Skyler and Zack?" Raven asked.

  Stain nodded, "It would be wise to do so. We three will do so while the rest go ahead and prepare the wagons for travel."

  Tulip chuckled and shook her head. "Fine. Meet us back at the campsite. We will move out as soon as you arrive." They left and we headed towards the Wounded Gull.

  "That woman is used to being in charge." Stain commented with humor in his voice. "Very take charge."

  Raven and I smiled to each other, enjoying Stain being flustered.

  "Shall we visit the Wounded Gull first? Perhaps a breakfast is in order?" Stain picked up his pace slightly, hunger driving him.

  "I could eat quite a bit myself." I commented.

  "But of course you could. You are still young. You could eat anytime." Stain tossed this over his shoulder. As we walked along we looked at the buildings. It was dark when we passed through before. Now the colors jumped out and grabbed our attentions. Shadow's Edge was a city awash in colors. Each building was painted a bright color while a separate color was used for different elements of the buildings. Bright doors and windows cheered up the buildings. Some people must have attended the contest the previous night, they called out to Raven, offering well wishes. She grinned, blushing each time. In very little time we arrived at the steps of the Wounded Gull. Smells wafted out, good food and drink smells.

  Skyler was talking to one of her workers when we walked through the door. "Welcome back our victorious champion!" She grabbed Raven and guided us to a table in the back of the room. "What would you like this morning?"

  We all sat at the table and placed orders for food and juice. Skyler nodded and hurried off.

  "So, we are going to find a guide to help us locate the pass through the mountains?" Raven asked Stain.

  Stain nodded, "I had thought we might find one here, but Tulip disagrees and it seems as if she is right. I have yet found anyone able to lead us that way."

  "Where else might we find a guide?" I asked Stain.

  He shook his head, "More than likely it will be a smuggler."

  Skyler arrived with some help. "Food, drink, and advice." She sat down as her workers filled the table. "Trey the giant escaped this morning. He will most likely seek out revenge for what he probably considers an insult to his manhood. Your group needs to put some miles between you and this town." She grabbed a roll and took a large bite, ripping it in half.

  Stain nodded, "We wanted to stop by here and then at the Bawdy Steer. Zack asked Raven to stop by for a moment. Then we are leaving."

  Xavier walked up just then, "That is good. Do you need an escort outside of the town?"

  Stain shook his head, "We can handle it outside of town. Some company might be good inside of the walls though."

  Xavier nodded, "I will be right back with a patrol. We will see you to the Bawdy Steer and then to the gates." He left quickly.

  "He worries." Skyler looked after him. "That is one of the things I love about him. His good heart." She stood, "Eat and then be careful. If you are ever passing back through Shadow's Edge, please stop by." She left us to finish our meal.

  "Well, this morning gets more exciting as the sun rises higher. We need to be moving." Stain stated this and bit into his bread. Raven and I quickly finished off our food and were ready to leave when Xavier returned with the patrol.

  "These fine men will see you safely through to the Bawdy Steer and then on your path from the city." Xavier nodded to a big man carrying weapons. "The captain of the patrol, Mavish."

  Captain Mavish nodded his head, "Xavier has explained the danger and we will see that you are allowed to leave the city without harm." He turned and stepped out of the Wounded Gull.

  Xavier shook his head, "A good, if tightly strung, man. He will do his best to defend you, as long as you do not violate the law." His tone made it clear he meant the use of magic.

  Stain nodded, "We understand. Let's get this done so we might leave soon." He stood and led the way to where Captain Mavish waited. "We are ready to proceed."

  Mavis nodded and motioned, his patrol taking defensive positions around us. "Onward to the Bawdy Steer." Mavish declared. We moved forward at a steady rate, the morning crowds making way for us and the soldiers. Within a short period of time we arrived at the Bawdy Steer. "Wait here." Mavish entered the building with another young soldier. Moments later he exited. "It seems safe. Mark will stay inside, if you seem to be in need of us he will call." He motioned for us to enter the building and the patrol took up positions beside the entrance. Out of the way, yet prepared to rush into the building.

  Stain nodded his thanks, "Let's go see this Zack quickly." He led the way into the building.

  When we entered the building the difference in light caused us to pause for a moment. It was deepingly dark inside. Looking around we located Zack sitting at a table farther back in the room. We slowly made our way towards him. He sat alone at a large table, evidently anticipating our arrival.

  "You made it!" He stood and waved us to seats. "I had heard that brute had escaped and worried that you might not stay long enough to heed my request." He sat after we each took a seat. "I do appreciate your kind gift last night and wished to repay you in some manner." He reached under the table
and retrieved a bundle. "As you pointed out I am a master knife handler. One of the highest in this area, in fact. I can tell you have trained with other masters, foreign ones most likely." Raven nodded to his subtle probe. "Since, you lack a trainer at the moment, I thought I might help you in your training in the way of the knife." He handed the bundle over to Raven. "These should help you gain a greater understanding and skill."

  Raven unwrapped the bundle and sat there a moment. There were a few knives of unusual shape in sheaths and also rolled papers.

  "Please leave them all sheathed for now, out of respect for the local law. But know that each knife is of the highest caliber. The papers go along with the knives, showing how they are to be used and all of their history. This should be the next level of skill that you will be working towards, correct?"

  Raven nodded and moved the knives around, looking at each handle. "I still have a few more steps before I reach this level."

  Zack nodded, "I figured as much. This way, no matter where you go, you may continue improving. We need more masters in our ranks." He stood. "I must be on my way. There is also a few things that will help you reach your mastery in the bundle. Take your time to look through each paper." He nodded to the rest of us and left.

  Raven bundled up the knives and papers again and tucked them into her sack. "Should we get moving?" Her voice was gentle, the tone she used when emotional.

  Stain stood and nodded towards the guard beside the door. "We should since our business is at an end." He led us to the doorway and the guard followed us out. "We are ready to leave." Stain told Mavish.

  Mavish nodded, "I will see you out of the gate. I am glad your visit has been mostly uneventful." He turned and led us through more crowds, heading down through the city back to the gate we had used to enter the city. The crowds parted around us like water and we were a boat. People looked at us but paid us very little attention. Soon we arrived at the gates. "Here we part ways. The guards on top of the wall will protect you if you are set upon within reach of the wall. Past that you must rely on your own defenses." He bowed gently and then ordered his men away.

  Stain nodded, "Time to leave." He stepped through the gate and we left Shadow's Edge. The cleared area was empty of any people. We made our way up the path and into the woods. Soon we would be back at the campsite.

  ***

  "It is about time you all showed up." Tulip exclaimed as we entered the camp. The wagons were packed up and all the animals harnessed. "We were ready a while ago." She shook her head and climbed aboard her wagon.

  "We did hurry you old goat." Stain called up at her as he walked past her wagon. He sounded upset, but the smile on his face belied that idea.

  "Old goat huh?" Tulip leaned around the side of her wagon. "I believe you might be more of an old goat than I am." She had a fierce grin on her face.

  Stain turned around and laughed. "I guess we can move out now?"

  "Everyone is ready. We just finished harnessing up the last animal." Amelia came around the back of her wagon. "Where do we go from here?"

  "Back down the main branch and on past Shadow's Edge. There is a tavern down a ways that is popular with the kind of merchants that we need to seek out." Tulip sat back down and her wagon started moving slowly.

  Stain walked over to Tag and Evins to talk for a moment. Raven and I climbed up onto the driver's seat. Raven checking the goats before getting the wagon underway. Within moments of entering camp we were leaving once more. We drove the rest of the day, enjoying the scenery. As time passed we grew ever closer to the mountains and soon rode in the shadow of one of the peeks that loomed high above us. The road wove through patches of cleared land and forest. Occasionally we would drive past a farmer working in his field. Some waved, others just watched. The wavers always smiled. The watchers seemed worried. It was one such watcher that suddenly waved and put both hands up in complex shape. Tulip called out a halt and climbed down from her wagon. The farmer walked up to the road.

  "A healer is with your group?" The grizzled old man asked in a voice that could have risen from the very earth itself.

  "Yes. Do you need healing?" Tulip asked the man.

  He shook his head. "Not me, but my son's wife. She is in a bad way." He pointed off across his fields towards a small cabin. "They live there. She needs help beyond a farmer's knowledge." He looked around at our group. "We are poor farmers with no gold. What can I do to gain your help?" His voice shook, full of emotion and despair.

  Stain walked up to the farmer. "What is your name sir?"

  The old man looked at Stain, "Errock. You are the healer?"

  Stain nodded, "I am. Let us talk to the young lady. Mayhaps we can provide some help." Stain motioned our group to divert down a path towards the cabin. Soon we pulled up beside the small wood and dirt structure. "Raven, Ott... join me please." Stain requested as he followed the farmer. "If the rest of you would prepare to camp for the night?"

  Tulip looked surprised but nodded. They started moving the wagons into a circle and setting up camp.

  Stain led us into the cabin, where suddenly it was very crowded.

  "What have you done?" A young man stood barring the way, despair in his voice. "You have ruined us!" He grabbed his father by the shoulders, weeping loudly.

  "Silence son. Have faith in me once more." The farmer gently pushed his son to a set against the wall. "These are Wanderers. Not any of those from the city." He turned to Stain. "She is in here." He led us deeper into the cabin, through a doorway that guarded a stairway downwards into the earth. The son stayed sitting, crying into his hands. The farmer headed down the stairs. "I hope you might help her. She has been bad off for so long." He finally stopped and turned. "We have to keep her in here. Those of the city would lock her up or kill her." He opened the door and led us into a stark room. It was lit by lanterns secured to the ceiling by chains. Only a chair and a bed sat in the room that had obviously been a root cellar at one point. Sitting on the bed was a woman. She looked up at us and smiled.

  "It has been a long time since I have had guests." She stood and raised her hands. We could feel magic leap into the air, dripping from her hands. "Now you will stay forever." The magic lashed out at us, attempting to pin us against the wall. Our shields lit up and sparked as her magic flew around us. The farmer stood there, untouched by the magic. He looked at us and nodded.

  "I thought that might be the case. She was stricken with the sickness when her magic awoke. It has been three long years. She sees everyone as a danger. Only myself can come and go. I am a null." He looked at her, still trying to harm us. "I believe the magic is what caused the sickness. Is there anything you might do?"

  Stain looked surprised and walked over to the woman. He placed his hand upon her brow and spoke gently. I could feel his magic wrap around her gently and she suddenly passed out and fell to the bed. "A simple sleeping spell, so we might figure out how best to handle this situation." He turned to the farmer, "Would you fetch your son?" The farmer nodded and climbed the stairs. Stain looked at us and shook his head. "If the farmer is right then there are very few options. I have seen this before, when someone's mind is lost because of the magic. It occurs sometimes, but usually they destroy themselves before anyone realizes what is occurring" He looked down at the woman, "In very few instances a cure does work. I will need you two to help me shield, to work any magic upon her will risk opening my shields." The farmer returned with a shocked son.

  "She did not kill you? Did you kill her?" He was shocked and terrified still.

  "She simply sleeps. Now, I have some questions before we can help her." Stain sat the young man down. "Perhaps it would be best for you to tell us how this all occurred?"

  The son took a deep breath, "I guess so. When we first were married we were happy. No magic had yet shown itself. With our parents help we built this small cabin and established a small farm. Just enough for us to get started in life." He looked up at us. "We might be poor, but we had a good life. Then one day Ta
bby told me she was pregnant. We celebrated. We had talked about having children. I made arrangements to get a milk cow, to help Tabby be strong and the baby grow big and healthy." His expression grew haunted, "She was halfway through the pregnancy when she fell down the stairs. A loose board caught her heel. She lost the baby the next day. We cried, Tabby was devastated." He looked at Stain. "I blame myself, I had put off fixing the board so long. It was my fault that she fell, that the baby died." Tears flowed down his cheeks. "Weeks went by and Tabby grew quieter and more withdrawn. She stopped talking on the day the baby would have been born. That very night things started moving by themselves. We figured earth tremors were the cause. Soon things would fly off shelves and strike near Tabby. Eventually we had to face that Tabby was causing all the destruction. For her safety I keep her in this cellar. She has yet to hurt herself, but anyone who tries to help dies. We had a healer come by who claimed to be able to heal her. I buried his body behind the cabin, beside the baby. Only my father is able to enter. She threatens me when I try. She screams that she is death, that all around her will die. It has been that way for three years." He leaned back and dropped his head. "I have given up all hope."

  Stain kneeled down in front of the son, "I might be able to help her. Magic can cause these kind of problems. What was she like before her pregnancy?"

  The son smiled wearily, "She was a strong woman, quick with her wit. Not gentle but not mean."

  Stain nodded, "I need both you and your father to stay upstairs while I help her." He helped the son rise. "You might hear nothing or a lot. No matter what do not come down until called." The son nodded and left.

  Stain stood up. "Basically what has happened is the pregnancy and the loss of the baby has caused her magic to manifest. For it to be ripped loose in such a way caused damage to her thinking. If we can heal the damage and take away the magic she can possible heal." He looked at both of us. "This is going to be like cutting off a limb that has no chance of healing. I will burn her magic out and turn her into a null. Then her body might be able to heal." He turned towards Tabby. "Be ready to shield me if she awakens."