by Bob Blink
“Mostly ranching. They have, probably had now, a large herd of bison. A few horses. Did pretty well overall.”
“They’re probably all right. Even Ale’ald knows that they’ll need such people to keep the army fed. They’ll probably lose most of their stock, but I doubt Ale’ald would start killing non combatants. That makes it even harder to take over a country when the word gets out.”
Ronoran nodded, but he wasn’t convinced.
“I told you they sent me off to the College, didn’t I?”
Jolan indicated he had.
“They could’ve sent me off to the army. That’s the one place a person with the power can get by in Kimlelm. They didn’t want me to have to go to war. They said it wasn’t fair to put someone in danger just because he had the ability. They said I’d have a chance to be somebody in Angon.” He smiled wanly. “My parents were nervous about what I could do, but they still tried to do right by me. I often thought they hoped I’d be someone special. Someone to make them proud. Maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part. Not much chance of that now is there? I’m still just a three.”
When was the last time you went home?”
“A long time ago. I could tell they were a bit disappointed, and still a little uncomfortable with my ability. Kimlelm had done too good a job at making people distrust those with the power. I always wished I could do something that would impress them. Now I might never get the chance.”
Jolan wasn’t sure what to say that didn’t sound patronizing, so he let the conversation drop. He’d just learned more about Ronoran and his family than in all the time they’d known each other.
* * * *
Burar had grown considerably since the last time Jolan been here. Areas that had been open fields now supported large factories, and new housing was being built everywhere he looked to support the labor force that was being attracted to the area. A constant flow of wagons loaded with goods and raw materials moved in both directions as they rode their horses down the street. He’d known the tunnel they had been making would transform the city, but hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.
Before too long he could see the water ahead, and knew they were nearing the port. That helped him become oriented, and he turned at the next intersection and headed toward the tunnel complex that had to be no more than a couple of miles away.
“This place isn’t a secret any longer,” observed Ronoran as they neared the factory complex that had been the disguised entrance to the tunnel works when Jolan had been here before.
The area had been completely transformed, and while the factory building still remained, the area around it was now a staging area for the traffic that was slated to make the trip through the tunnel. A series of train tracks led into the yard where a switching network allowed the horse drawn trains to be directed onto one of the pairs of tracks. Fully loaded train wagons now came from outside the city, passed directly into the switch yard and into the tunnel. In addition, a long line of wagons waited their turn to use the conventional path that also led through the tunnel. A large fence had been erected around the works, and only a couple of guarded approaches allowed the wagons and people to pass. Guards, who patrolled the double fence with leashed dogs, were also watching the perimeter.
“To use it effectively, it couldn’t be kept secret forever. It looks like they have some serious security in place at least.”
They rode along the sides of the road, passing the loaded wagons that waited in line for their turn to make the passage. Jolan figured he would try and find the official that had shown Shyar and him around last time he was here and see how to get Ronoran a ride into Carta. There had to be a number of official wagons going that way.
They were almost to the gate where they would have to talk with one of the guards when he spotted a familiar looking wagon in line up ahead. It couldn’t be, he thought to himself. What are the odds?
“Aren’t you getting a bit old for this kind of work?” Jolan asked as he reined in his horse next to the driver of the wagon that he’d spotted a few moments before.
A rugged face that he remembered turned at his words and started to reply angrily, when suddenly a huge grin split the face.
“By the Dragons,” he shouted. “Jolan! What brings you down this way. I thought you’d be in Cobalo like you planned. I kept meaning to look you up, but with the war and all I’ve been going day and night.”
Morin looked around quickly, spotted Ronoran, but let his eyes continue searching.
“Asari?” he asked when he failed to find him.
“Not here,” Jolan answered.
“Is he all right? Are you two still traveling together? I really like that lad.”
“I left him about a week ago. He has to go up into the mountains for a few days. I’ll be seeing him again in a couple of weeks.”
“The mountains? That’s a bad place right now. He must know that Ale’ald has taken control of his home in Trailways. I hope he’s not going there.”
“He knows. He’s going into the wilderness for something. Don’t worry. He’s a smart lad. He knows his way around and will stay clear of the Ale’ald army.”
“You say that straight out, but I sense you aren’t as confident as you sound. The boy’s doing something that worries you a bit as well I suspect. Dragons, I would have liked to see him. My Yashy still talks about the boy. Wait until she hears I ran into you. You still didn’t say what brings you here. Are you a mage now? That’s what you were going to Cobalo for.”
Jolan was getting an idea. A lot depended on where Morin was heading and his good will, but it might be the best way to handle this.
“Is there a place we can stop? Maybe have a drink? We can catch up briefly and I might have a job for you.”
“Well, now there ya are. I can always take a moment for a drop or two. There’s a comfortable little tavern just up the road a bit. Owner put it in just the right spot. Man gets tired waiting in this line all day. What do ya think of this tunnel man? Have ya been through it? Think of all the weeks I spent on the road before just to travel between Angon and Seret. Now I can do it in an afternoon. With the war I’ve made fifty trips this season. I’m getting rich. I’d like to thank the man who thought this up. I’m worried about that railroad though. It’s gonna cut the business right out from under us free merchants one of these days. Maybe I kin make enough before the war is over and retire.”
Jolan could see that Morin hadn’t changed in the months since they had parted. He learned that Morins’ wife and daughter were back in Slipi. They didn’t travel with him these days, partially because of the war and partially because his wife wasn’t feeling too well. The boys had taken a load on ahead a couple of days before. They were thinking about joining the army, something Morin was trying to discourage. The country needed the brave men who fought and died, but he wasn’t sure he wanted it to be his blood out there facing the wizards. Jolan had been right when he’d said war was coming.
Jolan waited until they were settled into the tavern with a drink before he brought the conversation around to his current needs.
“This is Ronoran,” Jolan said introducing his friend. “He’s been a good friend to both Asari and me for as long as we’ve been in Cobalo.” He turned to Ronoran. “This is Morin. I’ve told you about the family Asari and I traveled with when we went into Seret from the mountains. Morin and his family took care of us on that trip.”
“You’re both mages,” said Morin after handshakes had been exchanged. “I can sense it somehow. And you, ya look so much more confident and sure of yourself. Whatever was causing you trouble is gone now, isn’t it?”
“Yes to both questions,” answered Jolan. “I’ve become a moderately successful mage. I’ll never be one of the really powerful ones, but I have some abilities and have made a place for myself.” Jolan could see no advantage to telling Morin about the current political situation in Cobalo that had led to his leaving the city some months before.
“You’
ve had a hand in some of this, haven’t ya?” Morin asked.
“What do you mean?”
“This tunnel, the trains, and the telegraph. All new ideas, all of a sudden. It had to be from someone that had a means of knowing about them from somewhere else. I always wondered if it was you.”
“I had some input, but others have done the work and really expanded on what I suggested.”
“It’s too bad the enemy’s caught on to some of it,” Morin said.
“What do you mean?”
“The telegraph. They’ve apparently figured out how all the messages are being sent. They have started searching out the lines and tearing them down. Lines into what remains of Kimlelm hardly ever work, and even in Seret there are a lot of outages. Once Ale’ald soldiers even forced some of the operators to send false messages that led a bunch of Kimlelm soldiers into an ambush. People are starting to be distrustful of the system now. Maybe there’s something else you can think of.”
Jolan had known it was only a matter of time before the secret leaked out or was discovered. Too many people had to know about the system to make it effective, which also made it vulnerable. Hopefully the redundant lines reduced the outages, but lines could be taken down far faster than they could be erected. It was too bad they couldn’t have simply gone to radio.
“You said ya could use my help,” Morin said after taking another swallow and getting right to the point. “I got to know ya well enough to sense when you’ve got something on yer mind. Tell me about it, then we can get down to telling lies like old friends should.”
Jolan nodded. “Okay. First, where are you heading with your load?”
“I’ve mostly been taking goods into Chuk, or all the way down by the sea to Belth, but this load is for Carta. It’s to be the last one this season, then I’m staying home with my family. Probably going to move them before winter. The war is coming too close. If Kimlelm really falls before winter, then first thing next year Ale’ald might come charging across the river. Slipi would be one of the first to fall if that happened.”
“That works well for what I wanted,” said Jolan. “I need someone to take something to a friend in Carta. His name is Tomas, and he is influential in the government. I have a letter for him, and a map of where to go. Could you take it to him for me? I had planned to send Ronoran, but now I wonder if he should go on with me.”
“Dragons, I’d have taken it even if I wasn’t going there anyway. Just give it to me when we finish here. I was sorta hoping ya might be riding along though.”
“I wish I could. I need to go to Seret for other business, but the first demand on me is to get back to Cobalo.”
“Done,” said Morin. “I’ll see it there safely. But in return, you and Asari have to promise to visit us before too much longer.”
* * * *
“I see you still have the ring,” Morin said much later when it was clear business was concluded and they’d returned to swapping tales. “Did you ever figure out what it does?”
“It heals,” Jolan said. “You wouldn’t believe what it can do. It saved the life of one of my friends. He should have died on the spot, but it healed him. I’ve used it for more minor things several times, but I learned about its abilities that first time when it saved a life.”
“It’ll cure anything?” Morin asked, suddenly curious.
“Nothing rooted in magic, but normal damage and illness. As far as I can tell, it’ll cure almost anything.” Jolan sensed Morin’s sudden interest was based on more than simple curiosity. “Why, are you ill?” asked Jolan.
“Not me. My wife. She has something inside her. They can’t figure out what to do. Causes her some pain, but they say it’ll get worse. I’m really worried.”
“Why didn’t you say something before?”
“I couldn’t see where there was anything you could do. A man doesn’t always put his burdens on his friends. But if you have something that might help her, then that changes things.”
Jolan had almost decided on having Morin take the pairing-crystals to Tomas alone, but now he knew for certain it was best for Ronoran to go along with him. Not only had Ronoran some experience with the process of activating the portals, but he could go with Morin through Slipi on the way and use the ring. Jolan would lend it to him and get it back later when the portal was open.
“I’ll send the ring with Ronoran. He’ll go with you. It takes a mage for the ring to work, but one mage can use it as well as any other. It doesn’t rely on the mage’s skill, just as an access to the power. You and Ronoran can make a detour through Slipi on your way to Carta and he can use the ring on your wife. I’d come myself but I have to get to the Council of Mages again. If Ronoran doesn’t have any success, I’ll come see her myself and bring whatever experts the Council has.”
“Don’t you need us to get to Carta as soon as possible?”
“A few extra days to help your wife won’t change things that much. Remember, once you get to Carta, let me know if it worked so I can bring help if needed. You might bring her to Carta with you so she would be able to get help that much quicker.”
“I appreciate the thought, but it would take you weeks to get to Seret from Angon,” said Morin. “I’ll hope that your friend is able to help her.”
“Once you get to Seret, you might be surprised how quickly I can join you,” said Jolan.
* * * *
Morin and Ronoran had headed off together from the tavern, both of them talking at the same time. He knew they would be best of friends by the time the journey ended at Carta. Both loved to talk.
The next morning Jolan set out alone, heading north along the road he and Shyar had considered taking when they visited Burar last year. For the thousandth time he wondered where she might be and how she was.
To be concluded in Wizard’s Blood Part Two
Important Names
Gaea's Moons
Serine, largest
Kinor
Zeirr, smallest
Jolan's Friends and Team
Asari
Luzoke
Nerila(f)
Rifod
Ronoran
Shyar(f)
Tishe
Altz
Cheurt's Initial Band of Wizards
Kalnd
Ryltas
Toran
Cerkin
Phit
Ranul
Deild
Paril
Morin's Family
Yashy, daughter
Iart, nephew
Kinar, nephew
Ingari, wife
Polas, son
Senior Mages At College in Cobalo
Chancellor Vaen
Mage Dibon
Mage Bloor
Mage Demilo(f)
Mage Lonid
Mage Quas
Mage Vukag (f)
Mage Ward
Mage Buris
Carta's Parliament Members
Lord Abely
Lord Athseringold
Lord Kimir
Lord Lerhon
Lord Or'ine
Lord Roth'bel
Lord Teyw
Lord Tonak
Lord Torpol
Lord Yeren
Key People in Trailways
Aldom: Innkeeper
Dinal: Sheriff
Lorem: Stablemaster
Crikel: Storekeeper
Capital Cities in the Settled Lands
Cobalo: Capital of Angon
Seret: Capital of Seret
Yermo: Capital of Kimlelm
Iss’ess: Capital of Ale’ald
Royalty
Otar: King of Angon
Mojol: Son of Otar
Sayusta: Daughter of Otar
Therasi: Daughter of the King of Seret
Iril: Queen of Seret
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Once again I owe more than I can say to Robert Fahey, my primary reviewer. Untold hours were spent on the phone going over ideas and issues, r
esulting in a number of changes to the original story line. Special thanks is also due to Doug Burr and Bill Maggiora, who contributed great insights for the characters and plot, and to Margaret Luebke whose many inputs made this a far better book. I also need to thank my long time friend and astronomer Bill Luebke for a refresher on moons and their orbits. Finally, my sincere appreciation to Connie Goshgarian, Monika Gutridge, and Laurie Buss who spent countless hours doing the tedious work of finding the hundreds of errors in the draft as well as providing story-line feedback.