Metal Mage 4

by Eric Vall

  “Is that true?” Foreg asked, and I could tell by his tone he was well pleased.

  “It is,” I assured him. “We suffered no losses. Only Deli, who was captured, is injured, but we expect her to make a full recovery. And the giants should return to what they had been before. I don’t think they will bother you again, unless you venture into their territory.”

  Foreg nodded as he listened carefully, and then he lowered his voice. “And what of this dark force you spoke of?”

  “We found evidence of this enemy in the fortress of the ice giants,” I told him. “He was using a strange gem, and a rune, to possess them. We’ve destroyed the gem, though, and the giants didn’t pursue us through the mountains. I think the threat, in that area at least, has been destroyed.”

  The dwarven elders thought through this before Agrokea spoke up. “A rune, you say?” he asked. “What is this rune?”

  I asked for a slip of parchment and did my best to give them an idea of it as I explained it out loud so the blind elder would understand as well. “We’ve found this carved or branded into the beasts and people who have orchestrated attacks in the southern nations. We even found it in the walls of the mines we built. We don’t know what it means, but it seems to be his calling card.”

  The elders studied the rune carefully, then Dogra turned to me. “This is an elvish rune, but I don’t recognize its origin beyond that. The elves once possessed a magic thought to be more powerful than even that of the mages, but this was several thousand years ago. Much of the truth of it has been lost to fables, however … ” The dwarf became thoughtful as he exchanged a glance with Foreg. “There was an elf who came to the capital, perhaps three hundred years ago. He still wielded the powers of these runes. If there are any disciples of his studies in Nalnora, they might be able to help you decipher this rune and learn of its power.”

  “Really?” I asked eagerly. “Do you know where I could find them?”

  “I’m sorry,” Dogra offered, “but I know nothing more of it. Only that the magic of the runes was still in use at that time, though not known to most.”

  This was more than I’d had to go off before, and if the magic of the runes was something known of by more than just the Master, maybe there was some way of using it to end him once and for all.

  “We plan to travel to Nalnora next,” I told the elders. “Maybe we can track down some information about this rune while we’re there.”

  “You travel willingly to Nalnora?” Foreg asked, and I didn’t miss the confusion in his voice. “Surely you have heard of the tensions that exist between their nation and all others?”

  “I have,” I assured him. “I was also told you guys would run me off a cliff. But I’ve found the dwarves to be a hospitable, courageous, and genuinely honorable race. I am willing to believe anything of the elves, so long as I go myself and make my own opinions of them.”

  Aurora threaded her arm through mine, and I looked down to see her face filled with pride.

  “Hmmph,” Foreg grunted before he continued thoughtfully. “An honest answer and a diplomatic stance. I believe you may fare well in Nalnora, though I wouldn’t guarantee it. As far as the dwarves are concerned, you have our allegiance, and anything else you wish. We are indebted to you, and to your mages.”

  “Thank you,” I returned as I bowed to the elders. “I do have one proposition I’d like to discuss with you.”

  “And what is that?” Foreg asked.

  “I wish to connect the rail I’ve built through the southern kingdoms to Orebane,” I replied. “As your allies, we seek to open trade amongst our nations, and the machine I’ve built could deliver goods between Serin and Aurum in a matter of hours.”

  “Hours?” Dogra asked with wide eyes.

  “Yes,” I answered, and I smiled as I imagined how wide they’d get when he saw the train in action. “It runs on steel tracks, and I’ve built mines throughout Illaria in order to forge them along the way. If we continued onward into Orebane, the tracks could travel north to Aurum, then circle back through the southern mines, and down to Serin.”

  The elders muttered amongst themselves in their native tongue, but when I glanced to Dorinick, he looked satisfied and sent me a wink.

  So, I stood a bit taller and waited for the elders’ decision.

  Agrokea let out a withered laugh, and whatever he said next must have ended the discussion, because Dogra rolled his eyes, and Foreg settled himself onto his throne with a serene smile.

  “Mason Flynt,” the white-haired dwarf began, “your innovation intrigues us, and your word has proven trustworthy. We accept your offer to build this rail and open a trade amongst our nations, provided that the goods of the dwarves not be bartered off at less than their worth.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it,” I assured them as I took the hand Foreg offered me and shook it heartily.

  “I believe you,” he chuckled. “Now, go and rest and prepare for the banquet. The dwarves may pride themselves on their sense of duty, but we have a bit of a flair for celebration as well if you hadn’t noticed. Tonight, you and your mages will join us in a feast to celebrate the allegiance of our nations, and our victory over the giants in the north.”

  I grinned. “I look forward to it.”

  We bowed to the elders and returned to the great hall to find Haragh and Thrungrig crouched over a gilded sculpture in the far corner. It looked like some sort of beast, with a lion’s body and a serpent’s tale, but its eyes were inlaid with such giant rubies the rest of it didn’t draw much interest.

  I let out a low whistle as I approached, and the two turned with unimpressed expressions.

  “Oh, aye,” Thrungrig grunted, “another ruby crusted trinket.”

  “You’ve been spoiled,” I informed him soberly.

  “I sure have,” the dwarf sighed. “But I’d take my workshop over this mess of gold any day. Can’t wait to be back down there, if I’m bein’ honest.”

  “Speaking of which,” I said with a smile, “I got the okay from the elders for the train.”

  “No shit?” the dwarf chuckled, and then he looked to Dorinick.

  “It’s true,” the general grunted. “Didn’t even need a damn word from either of us, how’d you like that?”

  “Oh, I like it just fine,” Thungrig said through his laughter. “Won’t catch me talkin’ to that lot if I can help it. But a train runnin’ past my mine and cartin’ all sorts of goods would be all that’s missing there.”

  “Well,” I chimed in, “how would you like to be my steel provider for the north? It’s gonna take a hell of a lot to get the train through these mountains. You and your dwarves could forge the tracks that take it there.”

  The dwarf’s eyes lit up at the prospect, and I could see the greedy glint return to his eye. “You’ve got a deal,” he assured me. “I’ll put my signature stamp on every damn track from here to Aurum. Dwarf made.”

  “I like the sound of that,” I chuckled.

  With the train finally set to run up through Orebane, there was only one thing left to worry about before I could enjoy the victory. I sent Aurora and Cayla off to get ready for the banquet, and the dwarves returned to the street fair and generous helpings of ale that awaited them there.

  Haragh and I turned toward the infirmary, and as we entered, I could see the healers had quarantined Deli behind a velvet screen in the furthest corner. I looked around uneasily, but a silver-robed dwarf sent me a reassuring smile and motioned for me to carry on with my business.

  We went to Deli’s bed, and I cleared my throat on the other side of the curtain to be sure we didn’t bother anyone. I heard a husky chuckle come from Shoshanne, and the Aer Mage invited us to join them.

  Deli had gotten some of her color back, and she smiled sweetly as we came to her bedside.

  “You look much better,” I told her with a smile, and I was relieved to see she looked more like herself already.

  “I feel better,” she replied. “The dwarves put me
over here, and it’s way less weird without them all staring at me … I don’t think they’ve ever healed a mage before.”

  Shoshanne smirked. “They thought she’d burn them if they touched her fingers. It’s been interesting.”

  The Ignis Mage giggled and twiddled her fingers in front of her. “They jump every time I do this. It’s hilarious.”

  “Well, Thrungrig would be happy to know you’re giving them hell,” I told her as I pulled a chair over. “He still hasn’t forgiven them.”

  “I’ll tell him all about it if I get to go to the banquet,” she said, but then her smile faded a little. “You probably want to ask me about everything, huh?”

  “Only if you’re up for it,” I told her gently. “I don’t know how much of this you’ve heard about, but usually the people possessed by the Master end up blown to pieces. You got away with only a trashed ankle. I know you probably don’t want to think about what happened, but anything you can tell us might help us figure out more about what we’re up against.”

  The Ignis Mage nodded and studied the edge of her blanket before she answered. “I get it, really. I’m just embarrassed. I came up here and got possessed, and I feel like the biggest idiot in the group. But I’ll tell you anything that might help.”

  “Hey,” Haragh grunted, and Deli looked at him sheepishly. “You missed me gettin’ possessed, but I bet it didn’t look so great on me as it did on you.”

  The girl’s eyes lit up, and she smiled. “Seriously?”

  “Aye,” the half-ogre sighed as he tilted his head toward me. “This one had to bury me in the damn mountain because of it. So, don’t be embarrassed.”

  I tried not to laugh at the memory, but the half-ogre had a good point. I didn’t even want to imagine what would’ve happened if he’d been the one in Deli’s position.

  “That actually does help,” the Ignis Mage laughed, and I was happy to see her finally relax. “So, what do you want to know?”

  “Well,” I started, “back in the cave, you said you woke up and felt a surge. What did you mean by that?”

  Deli thought for a moment before she responded, and her voice was low, like she didn’t want anyone else to hear us. “You know when you call your magic up, and it tingles on your skin and in your veins a little? But in a good way?”

  I nodded.

  “It was like that, but stronger,” she went on. “And it didn’t feel pleasant, the way our magic feels. It was hot and angry. Really, really angry. I felt like I wanted to rip your face apart and set your room on fire. I felt like I could run through the snow and not feel any cold, it was just this flaming hot rage.” She shook her head as if she wanted to forget the feeling, and then she took a deep breath and continued. “So, I did. I climbed out the window and just … ran, but then I felt this pull, right here.” She gestured to her temples, and Shoshanne furrowed her brows.

  “It was in your mind?” the Aer Mage asked.

  Deli nodded. “It was a voice, but I could feel it literally pressing on my head. Like it was pushing me whenever it spoke. It told me to go to the water source and freeze it up, and it sounded as angry as I felt. I don’t know,” she sighed and began to fiddle with the edge of her blanket. “It kept telling me what to do, and if it wasn’t talking to me, I just felt blank and really mad.”

  “Were you mad at anything specifically?” I asked.

  I hadn’t missed the comment about ripping my face apart …

  “Everyone,” Deli answered, and her eyes showed she meant it. “I hated everyone who was alive, even the giants, and I hated you worst of all. But I really, really wanted to see you and make you as mad as me. I wanted to make you furious, and then I wanted to rip you to pieces with my bare hands.”

  “I see …” I leaned back a ways in my seat as I realized the girl had leaned forward quite a bit while she threatened my life.

  Deli offered me an apologetic smile. “Sorry,” she muttered, and she sat back as well. “It was just really strong. Like, I remember how badly I wanted to hurt you.”

  “Yeah, I got that,” I assured her uneasily, and Haragh snorted at my side before I decided to change the subject. “What about the gem? What happened when you found it?”

  The Ignis Mage thought for a moment before she answered. “I don’t remember much about the gem, honestly. The voice told me to go into the mountains, and I killed some creature, I remember that. It was following me, so I ripped its throat open … ”

  “Ye’ what?” Haragh asked with wide eyes.

  “I didn’t eat it or anything,” she told him with a shrug.

  Haragh and I exchanged a glance, but we made a silent decision to brush that one under the table as the Ignis Mage continued.

  “He told me to enter the gates when I got to the fortress, too. I remember the giants didn’t touch me, and they led me straight to the gem. Then I was just … there. I stared at it for a long time, and I saw you guys in the mountains, but I remember how mad I was … ” she trailed off and furrowed her brows, and I could see by Shoshanne’s face she wanted me to cut the questioning off now, but Deli spoke up once more.

  “It was stronger there, though,” she said. “It was like … the voice didn’t have to try so hard to make me do things. It was easier to understand it when I was by the gem. There was no filter, only the voice in my head.”

  Her words reminded me of the effort it took for me to get Big Guy moving, and I filed the notion away for later.

  I was just about to ask her one last question when Deli’s eyes sparked to life, and a smile suddenly spread across her face.

  I turned to see Pindor appear around the velvet screen, and the kid stopped short at the sight of us all.

  “Oh … sorry,” he muttered as he scratched the back of his head. “Uhh … D-Dorinick told me to come check on Deli but I can come back--”

  “Nope,” Haragh grunted, and the half-ogre was already on his feet. “No need, we’re done here.”

  I stood as well and thanked Deli for going over things with us. “Rest up,” I told her as I turned to leave, and Shoshanne casually followed us.

  I clapped Pindor on the shoulder as I passed, and then we left the infirmary to get ready for the banquet.

  “Well, that was refreshing,” the half-ogre chuckled once we’d made it to the hall.

  “How do you mean?” I asked. I couldn’t stop thinking about the rage Deli had gone on about, and what this meant for the Master’s plans.

  “Well, for starters,” Haragh said, “I’ve never seen a girl look at ye’ like she wanted to fucking kill ye’ so often as I have in the last couple days. It’s a bit refreshing to know you’re only human.”

  I had to grin at this, and I knocked the half-ogre hard enough on the arm to send him off balance a bit.

  Haragh laughed and waved me off. “At least she doesn’t want to anymore, yeah?”

  “Maybe,” I sighed. “Did you see the way she looked at me, though? It was the eyes … ”

  Shoshanne slipped her hand into my own, and I turned to see a soft smile on her face. “She’s going to feel things very vividly after what happened to her. It’s just memories, though. I’ve been keeping a close eye on her, and she’s definitely our Deli again.”

  “I trust your judgment,” I told her. “It’s just unnerving. If she was that fucking angry, then the Master is full on obsessed.”

  “Aye,” Haragh agreed, and he met my eyes soberly. “And only fittin’ to be more so since you’ve bested him again. If I were you, I’d be careful going into Nalnora. You hear strange things about the lands there, and that’s not counting the sorts of beasts roamin’ them.”

  “What kind of strange things?” I asked, and my curiosity overcame my concern.

  The half-ogre leaned closer. “Thorns that’ll stick ye’ and hold ye’ there ‘til you’re bled dry and dead,” he informed me. “And lagoons that lull you in for a swim, then swallow you up in a flash.”

  “Those are just stories,” Shoshanne sighed. “
We heard the same things on the island when I was a girl.”

  “Did you?” Haragh asked with his brow cocked. “And you don’t wonder that the very same stories are known from the western foothills to the eastern islands?”

  I turned to the Aer Mage, and the woman didn’t seem to have a response as she turned to look ahead instead.

  “Uh huh,” the half-ogre grunted. “True stories tend to travel, that’s all I know.”

  “Well, either way,” I cut in, “it’s got to be done. So, whatever we come up against will most likely be trying to kill us. At least we’ll see some crazy shit along the way.”

  The pair of them looked at me like I’d lost my mind, but I just grinned back.

  “What?” I laughed. “I’m gonna look at this as the glass is half-full. I’ve only gotten to slay a few dragons. I’m ready for some beasties. Besides, anything’s better than the flaming scorpion, right?”

  Haragh raised his brows. “Careful what ye’ wish for,” was all he said as we made it to the stairs that led to the heights of the fortress.

  Chapter 20

  I entered the dwarven banquet hall that night with Cayla and Aurora on my arms, and Shoshanne’s hand looped in Aurora’s. The dwarven elders had ordered their own seamstresses to make each of my ladies a garment for the occasion, and I decided the dwarves were masters of every art.

  Aurora’s dress was a deep forest green, Cayla’s was a royal blue, and Shoshanne’s was a burnished gold that complimented her hair and skin enticingly. Each dress was expertly dotted with hundreds of tiny diamonds and had a slit that ran nearly the full length of their legs. The slit itself was lined with blood red rubies, and it drew every scrap of my attention straight to their exposed thighs.

  I nearly tripped over my own feet as I led them through the halls, and they’d laughed and teased me with kisses the whole way through the fortress. Still, I tried my best to focus forward once we got to the feast, and as we entered, I was finally distracted.