The Archmage Unbound

by Michael G. Manning

  I hadn’t thought of it in quite those terms but I could see he was right. What at first had seemed like a simple spell was fraught with all sorts of major social implications. If I could impersonate someone I could do anything… and if people knew I could impersonate anyone I could be implicated for anything that happened out of the ordinary. Rumor and scandal could easily become the rule of my life. It almost wasn’t worth using the spell at all. I shook my head, “Let’s just finish this experiment. I need to test another spell, one that should provide a better imitation of someone’s voice.”

  “Anything would be better than that awful falsetto you used,” he jibed again. “Do you need me to do anything?”

  “Not much, just hold still,” I said and then I reached out and touched his throat while vocalizing my new spell. Then I opened my mouth and repeated what he had just said, “Anything would be better than that awful falsetto you used.” The words emerged in an exact replica of Marc’s voice… at least as far as I could tell.

  “Is that what I sound like?” Marc said, rather surprised.

  I started to reply, thinking it was an honest question but he didn’t wait for an answer.

  “Damn, no wonder the ladies find me irresistible!” he stated matter of factly.

  I repeated my disguise spell and a moment later he was staring at his own face as well, then I spoke up, “Damn, no wonder people think I’m a conceited ass!”

  “That’s not what I said,” he replied adroitly. “If you’re going to copy me you need to stick to the proper dialogue.” He stared at me for a moment longer before continuing, “That really is unnerving… like staring into a mirror that has a mind of its own. Hey! I don’t suppose you can use that spell on someone else could you?”

  I thought about it for a moment, “I think I can, why?”

  He grinned, “Make me look and sound like you. I have some things to tell you.”

  I could only imagine the mayhem that might ensue if we started an insult contest while disguised as each other. In fact the vision kept me spellbound for a solid minute before I replied, “No, absolutely not.”

  Marc glared at me, “Why not?”

  “This power is too great to be put in the hands of the feeble minded,” I told him solemnly.

  “Spoilsport,” he replied glumly.

  “Did you deliver Rose’s missive to her father?” I asked suddenly, changing the topic.

  He switched gears and leaned back in his chair and putting his feet up on the table, “Indeed I did. I left it with the doorman. None of them saw my face.”

  “That’s a relief then. Any luck with the research yet?” I asked.

  His face fell, “Not so far. Do you see how many books are in this place? It could be a year before I’ve checked them all.”

  “Well, keep your eyes open for interesting information, even if it isn’t directly related to the gods,” I reminded him.

  He gave me a look that told me I was restating the obvious again. It was a frequent flaw of mine. We talked for a bit more before I took my leave and headed into the city. I had a lot to accomplish and it wouldn’t do to waste any more daylight.

  I kept my senses alert as I left the house and stepped onto the common road outside. It would be a reasonable guess for the king to figure out I was using my father’s house as a means of ingress and egress to the city, but I didn’t need to confirm the fact for him. I didn’t sense anyone nearby so I relaxed and began walking slowly up the road.

  Before I had stepped out I had copied the features of Cecil Draper. I hoped he wouldn’t mind and in any case I hadn’t known him long enough to do a perfect job of it. I doubted anyone in the capital would recognize him anyway so I should be effectively anonymous.

  I spent the next couple of hours circling the royal palace slowly; paying particular attention to points where I thought the wall might be relatively unobserved. If I could find a good enough spot I might try to enter during the daytime. If not I would have to wait for cover of darkness.

  The palace had an outer wall that encircled the entire building and its gardens, providing privacy and security for both the king and those who enjoyed his hospitality. That outer wall was nearly as impressive as the wall that surrounded the city itself and likewise it was guarded by towers every fifty yards or so. The towers themselves were only fully garrisoned during an active defense. During normal, peaceful times there were only guards stationed in the corner towers, with regular patrols walking the walls between them.

  For a normal thief or assassin that would be just as formidable a barrier, but it made things much easier for me. With my senses I could easily find the locations of the guards patrolling and assure myself that there were not others waiting within the wall towers. That made it fairly easy for me to guess at whether I was actually being observed at any given moment.

  After my second full circuit of the perimeter I chose my point of entry, a shadowed portion of the eastern wall, near the middle of that side. I left the road and moved up near the wall where one of the towers bulged outward, using it to shield me from view in one direction at least. The afternoon shade made it more difficult to see me but it was by no means impossible. Any passerby would be able to spot me quite easily, as could the guard in the tower on the southern end of the wall I stood against… should he bother to look out and downward.

  I had made two plans to handle this situation. The first, which I had chosen before I ever sent Cyhan home to his king, was to use a spell to assist me in climbing the wall. With a bit of cleverness I could imitate the ability of a lizard to cling to walls. The main drawback would be that I would be very visible and exposed as I reached the top of the wall, which made my second option more attractive.

  I had only recently been inspired by this idea, mostly by my conversation with Moira Centyr… or her echo. I was having a hard time keeping the two separate in my mind. In any case her lesson with the stone had given me a new idea, the main drawback being that I wasn’t entirely sure I could actually make it work. I would need time, I couldn’t rush something new.

  I created a new illusion over myself as I stood facing the wall; this one was smoother and less detailed. Once I had finished I looked like a part of the wall, or rather it appeared that the wall possessed an irregular rounded protrusion. It wasn’t perfect but unless someone looked closely I should be able to remain where I was for a considerable amount of time without drawing any attention.

  I focused on the wall beneath my hands. My mage-sense told me that it was nearly ten feet thick at the base, solid stone for two feet on the outer and inner surfaces, with gravel and mortar sandwiched between. It might be difficult but it was entirely possible for me to make an opening using my power. The problem lay in the fact that I doubted I could do it quietly, and that I couldn’t remove the opening without leaving a lot of rather messy evidence afterward. Perhaps if I had a few hours and no one bothering me I could do such a thing, but I didn’t think I could do it unobserved.

  Closing my eyes I narrowed my attention until the wall in front of me was my entire world. I cleared my mind and listened… listened for the voice of this one small part of a much larger world. Unlike the stone I had held in my hand this wall was composed of many separate stones, and the material between the inner and outer surface was a complex amalgam of material. I didn’t let that distract me though; as I listened I began to hear it within my mind, a chorus of many voices. They were all part of the wall, separate and yet joined. Together they wove a harmony of existences joined together for a single purpose and the sudden beauty of it almost drew me in. For a moment I wanted to be a part of that melody, to join the stones in their quiet vigil.

  I caught myself in time, and refocused my mind, remembering my purpose. Instead I drew the stones into my own ‘self’, making them part of my own will. My body was no longer the boundary of my existence, now I also contained a significant portion of the massive stone wall before me. Then I moved, opening to allow another part of myself to pass thr
ough. Description fails me at this point, so I’ll resort to what would likely have been seen by an outside observer. As my body leaned forward the stones parted before me, flowing like water to let me pass. A moment later I exited the other side.

  I found myself blinded by the bright afternoon sun falling on the western side of the wall. My abrupt departure from the stone wall left me disoriented as I became less than what I had been, my sense of self changed and a moment later I was just Mordecai. I stood there blinking the sun from my eyes when a voice found my ears, “Pardon me my lord. I thought the garden was unoccupied this time of day.”

  My senses came into sharp focus as I realized a woman was staring at me. Mentally I cursed my stupidity but there was no hope for correcting my mistake. The area had been clear when I started but my travel through the wall had distorted my senses, I had been caught completely by surprise. Worse yet I hadn’t renewed my disguise, I was standing before the lady in question with my own face showing. My mind raced to make sense of her words and formulate a response. “Think nothing of it lady. I was caught in reverie of the afternoon sun. I hope I didn’t startle you overmuch?” I said calmly.

  Her reaction and attire had already told me much. She was garbed as a lady of quality, but not to a degree that made me think she was nobility herself, something about her features belied that assessment. Her deference made me think she might be a lady-in-waiting to one of the more notable peers. Luckily I was dressed in all my glory as one of the ranking peers of the realm. My garb was practical in design but expensive in cut and material, a black velvet cloak trimmed in ermine all but hid the expensive butter soft grey leather doublet I wore. My boots and accoutrements were equally opulent… I was here to meet a king after all.

  “No, you didn’t startle me. I just didn’t expect to find anyone here. Please forgive my ignorance for I don’t recognize your lordship and I have no idea if I may have given offence in my familiarity,” she said meekly, lowering her gaze, but not before I had caught a glimpse of deep brown. Her eyes had shown little of the humility that her voice conveyed.

  Having finally regained some of my balance I swiftly surveyed my surroundings with my mage-sight. The immediate area was still clear of any other people so I turned my attention to a more thorough examination of the woman before me. Her simple yet expensive dress could easily have let her pass as nobility but her attitude and musculature hinted at servitude. More surprising still she possessed several weapons cleverly hidden on her person. For a moment her armament reminded me of Lady Rose. “Fear not, you have done nothing to offend me,” I answered, making clear in my tone that my social standing was such that she was right to be worried. “If you will excuse me I should be getting back to my room,” I added with a touch of brusqueness.

  She stepped back lithely to let me pass and I was struck by her nimbleness. Unlike Rose Hightower this woman had more than a casual athleticism, as she moved I could sense the taut muscles under her dress, like steel whipcords, tightly controlling her every movement. I didn’t let my observation slow me down, I needed to be away from her quickly but before I got more than a few steps away she addressed me again, “Begging your pardon your lordship, if I might know your name?”

  I paused without turning, by now I was fairly certain she was no maid-in-waiting, more likely she was a bodyguard, hired to watch some wealthy noblewoman. Summoning every ounce of imperiousness I had I spoke coldly, “Tell me yours first and I may forgive your impertinence.” Benchley would have been proud of me if he could have heard me then.

  She answered promptly, “Ruth my lord, one of King Edward’s servants.” The lack of any honorific confirmed her common status, but her position as one of the king’s servitors was a surprise, especially given her weaponry. I revised my opinion swiftly. Whatever she did for the king involved staying in peak physical condition, and women were not highly regarded as bodyguards, so she must be something special indeed.

  “Shibal,” I said as I turned to catch her. My spell rendered her unconscious before she had a chance to question me further. Gently I eased her to the ground and pulled her back toward the wall where I had emerged moments before. A nearby bush helped to conceal her presence from any casual passersby that might chance along. Since I had been forced to put her to sleep I took the opportunity to examine the heavy blade she had strapped to her thigh. The weapon itself was over a foot in length and wickedly sharp, while the metal had been tempered with a bluish black finish. It was highly unusual in terms of hidden weapons.

  I carefully slipped it back into its sheath and then I spoke again, disguising myself as the woman sleeping on the ground before me. Then I touched her throat and used a second spell to imitate her voice. “Thank you for telling me your name, it would have been very inconvenient if someone had asked,” I told her. My ears confirmed that my vocal mimicry seemed to be functioning properly and I rose to continue onward.

  I smiled quietly to myself as I walked, careful not to move too quickly. I was supposed to be a woman after all. This should make things much simpler, I thought. Moments later I was passing into one of the archways that led into the guest quarters of the royal palace.

  Chapter 8

  I walked confidently down the corridors, heading directly toward the king’s chambers. My senses were on high-alert and I made every attempt to avoid encountering other people in the hallways. The one or two times it was unavoidable I simply nodded at them in passing and moved purposefully onward. Whoever Ruth might be I had a feeling she was moderately important and it was probably normal for her to be moving as if she had someplace to be. I only hoped I wouldn’t encounter anyone that knew her well.

  As I got closer to the king’s personal rooms I noticed a much larger number of guards. Men had been tucked into every available corner and at every doorway along the hall. It hadn’t been like this the last time I had come here. Of course on that occasion I had been slightly intoxicated, answering a summons from the king and walking with James Lancaster. It was entirely possible I had missed noticing them, but I doubted it. Cyhan must have delivered my message, I thought with a smirk.

  As I went I also noticed the guards stood straighter when they saw me coming and whatever small talk they had been engaged in ceased entirely. That gave me all the information I needed regarding Ruth’s possible role here. I put a bit more confidence in my stride and boldly met the eyes of any guard who dared to look at me. In every case they met my gaze calmly and without question. I had no more doubts, Ruth was their superior, or at the very least much higher up the food chain.

  I stopped before the door leading into the private audience chamber, the same one that King Edward had met me in over a half a year past. Two men guarded it and they seemed worried when I stopped. Protocol for a guest would have been to have them call for the king’s chamberlain and request an audience, or at the very least announce my presence. Ruth was not a guest however and I got the distinct feeling they had expected me to enter without pausing for permission or waiting for the chamberlain.

  “You!” I snapped at the man standing to the right, “Has anyone entered or left in the past hour?” I was hoping to cover my hesitation with questions.

  “No milady!” he answered loudly.

  I brought my hand up to rest a finger against my lips and the man visibly flinched. He thought I might strike him! Whoever Ruth was she clearly led an interesting life. “Very well,” I told him, “Open the door for me.” I wanted him to do it in case there might be a secret signal; one never knew when it came to guarding royalty. If I attempted to open it myself without following whatever the proper protocol was it would be a dead giveaway.

  He leaned over and opened the door. If there had been a secret knock or other signal I saw no sign of it, and I wound up feeling a bit foolish. I didn’t bother looking at him as I entered. I already knew there was only one person inside, the chamberlain unless I was mistaken. Let me correct that, there was only one person ‘within’ the room. Two hidden side doors had seve
ral guards waiting behind them, watching the area.

  The chamberlain started as I entered and rose quickly from the chair he had been resting on. “I hadn’t expected…,” he began.

  “Don’t bother,” I told him. “Is he in his rooms? I need to talk to the king right away.” I was already walking toward the doorway that led toward what I presumed was his Majesty’s private living area. That was my first mistake. Apparently Ruth didn’t outrank the chamberlain… I should have known.

  “Ruth! Stop! What do you think you are doing?” he exclaimed indignantly. I could sense the men behind the hidden doors tensing.

  The time for subterfuge was over. I had sincerely hoped I could reach King Edward without kicking up a fuss, but it seemed my wish was not to be. “Shibal!” I said loudly, putting a good deal of force into it. The chamberlain went down immediately, as did three of the men behind the hidden doors. The fourth was either a stoic or had something shielding his mind, for he never even faltered, the door he stood behind slid aside and an arrow was already in flight toward my head before I had finished putting his comrades to sleep.

  I hadn’t been in any sort of serious conflict since the end of the war with Gododdin two months past, yet it that time had left its mark upon me somehow… for I found myself enjoying the adrenaline. I smiled as the arrow shattered against my shield, savoring the look on the bowman’s face as he realized he was in more trouble than he was ready for. Since the man was immune to mind affecting spells I spoke again, sealing the door he had just passed through with another shield and as an afterthought I repeated the process to seal the doorway I had entered through as well.

  I walked toward the guard… still smiling. He tried another arrow and seeing that fail drew his sword. With a flick of my wrist and a whispered word my magic ripped the blade from his grasp and sent it spinning through the air, only to have it return, pointing at him, scant inches from his face. “Turn around please,” I told him calmly. “Put your hands behind your back, I’d really rather not have to hurt you.”