The Bowl of Souls: Book 05 - Mother of the Moonrat

by Trevor H. Cooley

  “It shouldn’t take but a second,” Justan said. Fist, will you ask John if I need to keep the story secret? A moment later he had his answer. He cleared his throat. “The prophet says that he trusts my judgment as far as who to tell the tale.”

  The wizard’s brow furrowed in confusion at first, but then his eyes widened. “Ah, I see. You asked your bonded and they relayed your message. Good. So will you tell me what he had to say?”

  “Well, I don’t know if this information would be of any use to you,” Justan said, hesitating.

  The wizard pursed his lips and chose his next words carefully. “You realize that I could use my position as your master to make you tell me if I so chose.”

  “Father!” Vannya said in dismay.

  “But I don’t want to do that, Edge,” the wizard continued, ignoring her outburst. “I hope you understand that I need every bit of information I can get with the situation we are in now.”

  Justan felt the old familiar dislike for Valtrek rise within him and frowned. He had thought he was over those feelings. Why did the man find it necessary to be so manipulative? “Alright, but before I say more, I must ask. What’s happened here at the school while I was gone? Why have you been acting so secretive from the moment I arrived?”

  The wizard’s brow furrowed and for a moment Justan thought he would blow the question off. Then Valtrek gave a slight shrug. “Being secretive is part of my job, Edge.”

  “Your job?” Justan said. Valtrek was on the High Council and was in charge of overseeing recruitment. Justan knew that ‘recruitment’ was just the school’s fancy term for gathering up all children that could use magic and forcing them to learn how to use it, but everyone knew that. It was an unfortunate necessity.

  “Well, it’s not truly a secret, I suppose. At least not among the people who know me, but I would ask you to be discreet about discussing this with others,” Valtrek said. Justan felt the hum of magic and switched to mage sight. He watched the wizard reach out with his magic and touch the nearly invisible listening wards which lined the walls of the office. Valtrek must have been satisfied with what he found because he nodded. “Edge, as part of my role as recruiter, I am also the school spymaster.”

  “Oh,” Justan said and gave a slight nod. It made sense. As Mage School recruiter, Valtrek would have contacts all over the known lands.

  Valtrek smiled. “That’s why I try to be discreet in my dealings and it’s also why I keep my offices where I do. It sets people off guard. When people are sent to visit me, and see these surroundings, they can’t help but underestimate me and that is an advantage.”

  “Yeah, but once people know your position, it’s kind of obvious that’s what you’re hoping for, isn’t it?” Justan asked. “I mean this place is so plain it sticks out.”

  Valtrek smiled. “Well, you have a good point. But think on this. There aren’t many people that think like you. However, those that do make that connection still let their guard down just a little if only because they think they have me figured out. Believe me, I have put this strategy to good use many times.”

  “Okay, Master,” Justan said. “I believe you. But what about the way you were acting on the walk down here? I don’t recall you being this careful in the past.”

  Valtrek sighed. “Yes, well there have been some changes since you left. Especially after the incident with Piledon and Arcon.”

  Justan frowned. He still felt guilty about Piledon’s death. “Was Arcon ever found?”

  “As a matter of fact, he has shown up,” Valtrek said. “At Ewzad Vriil’s side.”

  Justan’s brow furrowed. “What’s he doing with Vriil?”

  “My source says that Arcon is connected with the moonrat mother in some way. She led him to the dark wizard partially, I think, to keep an eye on Vriil’s doings. Arcon hasn’t shared all that happened with my source, but we know that he had been in contact with the moonrat mother for some time before he killed Piledon. Even worse, we know that there were others with moonrat eyes that remained behind in the school after he left.”

  “You didn’t tell me that,” Vannya said with a glare. “Who are they? Workers? Students? Wizards?”

  “You have been gone a long while, Vannya,” Valtrek explained. “This information is relatively new. Our source at the Royal Palace has only been reporting in for about a month. As for who exactly the moonrat mother’s spies are, our source does not know. All we know is that the moonrat mother gives Ewzad Vriil detailed information from within the school with some regularity.”

  “If you don’t know who her spies are, then how did you keep our plans to break the siege and escape here a secret?” Justan asked.

  “Master Latva and I had to plan it all very carefully. It was a struggle, but when your friend Sir Hilt’s wife showed up, it became much easier. The prophet told us of her abilities and I discreetly took a few of the people we trusted the most aside and had her, ‘listen to them’ as she called it. Once we had enough people to enact our plans, we made sure that all the preparations were done discreetly. We kept every person who came through that portal hidden until we knew it didn’t matter anymore.” He gave a chuckle. “You can imagine the uproar in the school just a few short hours ago when thousands of refugees began streaming out of the Rune Tower.”

  “Did Beth find any spies, father?” Vannya asked.

  The wizard’s eyes darkened. “Two. And both of them were heavy blows. We had to lock them away. Keeping their disappearance undiscovered has been harder than any of the other secrets we had to keep.”

  “Who are they?” Justan asked. “Are they people I know?”

  Valtrek raised a hand. “We can discuss them later. I need you focused on our meeting here and now. Are you finished eating?”

  Justan looked down at the mostly empty platter before him and though he wasn’t exactly full, it no longer looked appetizing. The unknown identity of the two spies was leaving a sense of unease in his stomach. “I suppose I am.”

  “Alright. Good,” the wizard said with a smile. He stood and walked over to the largest of the desks in the room. He pulled out several pieces of parchment and an odd looking quill with a long red feather and sat down in a high backed chair behind the desk. Valtrek gestured to two padded chairs that were planted in front of the desk facing him. “Well, come over here then.”

  “So this visit is about me telling you what the prophet told us, then?” Justan asked resignedly.

  “Well it’s likely information that I should know. Anything that helps us understand our enemies would be helpful,” Valtrek said. “But that’s not why I brought you down here. If that’s all I wanted, it would have been better for me to wait until he was finished.”

  Justan’s brow furrowed. “They why did you bring me out of the meeting?”

  “I wanted to see you when you first came through the portal, but the prophet asked me to wait until after dark to come and get you,” the wizard explained.

  “Then why threaten to force me to talk about it?” Justan asked in irritation.

  Valtrek paused and Vannya said, “He’s right, Professor. That was an unnecessary move.”

  The wizard chose to ignore their complaints. “The reason I wanted you here is so that I could go over the things that have happened to you in the time we spent apart.”

  “I thought Master Coal had kept you up to date on everything that happened,” Justan said.

  “He sent me regular correspondence, yes, but there is much that I don’t know. I would like to talk to you more about your bonds. I would like to find out what you learned about your powers. If fact, I would like you to tell me everything that happened while you were away.”

  Justan had a feeling that he was going to have to tell that tale a lot over the next few days. His mother and Professor Beehn at least would want to hear it. “Where do I start?”

  “Have a seat and start from the night you left the school,” Valtrek said, leaning forward and gesturing to the chair across from hi
m. “Leave nothing out. Tell me anything that prickles your mind about the events, no matter how small. Any bit of information could be important and from what I have heard, you have been places that none of my other sources have.”

  Justan moved over and sat down where Valtrek directed, wondering what the wizard would learn from his tale. Vannya followed him but paused before sitting.

  “Father, do you really need me here for this part?” She glanced at Justan and looked embarrassedly away.

  The wizard raised an eyebrow. “Come, dear, I know that what happened between the two of you was painful, but I need you to put that aside for now. You will understand why I wanted you here soon enough.”

  Justan watched as she sighed and sat down, slumping in the chair next to him. He swallowed. It sounded like she had told Valtrek everything. So far the wizard hadn’t said anything to him about it but Justan felt sure that he was going to bring it up sooner or later.

  Valtrek smiled at her and turned his eyes back to Justan. “Go on, then.”

  Justan told his story. He did his best to provide any details he felt that Valtrek would find relevant, while glossing over anything of a personal nature, but the wizard

  was sly and could tell when Justan wasn’t telling him everything. Valtrek would often stop him and ask targeted questions, invariably ferreting out the parts Justan tried to hide.

  By the time he finished his tale, Justan felt worn out. The only thing he’d been able to keep secret was his betrothal to Jhonate. That part had felt important to keep quiet if only because Vannya was sitting right next to him. Besides, he was pretty sure Jhonate would kill him if word got out.

  The other two were quiet. Valtrek was looking at him thoughtfully while Vannya stared down at her lap. “What?” Justan asked her.

  She didn’t look up. “Well, it’s just . . . I didn’t know all the things you’d been through since you left the school. It’s . . . a lot.”

  “Well, I didn’t get much time to talk to you about it after the way you . . . well, with the way things happened,” he said and swallowed. That kiss had derailed their friendship. The feeling of her lips pressed against his was still fresh in his mind. “Locksher did tell me all the things you went through on my behalf though, searching for Piledon’s killer and all. I never did get the chance to thank you. So . . . thank you very much, Vannya.”

  She managed a half smile. “You are my friend after all. I wanted to help.”

  Justan smiled back at her and for the first time in a while he was hopeful that she could forgive him for choosing Jhonate over her. Maybe things could get back to the way they had been between them.

  “Well, good,” said Valtrek, clapping his hands together. “I’m glad the two of you have patched things up, because I want you to work together.”

  “Wait, what?” Justan and Vannya said in unison.

  “I can’t keep spending all my time ferreting out the moonrat mother’s spies. They are suspicious that I am onto them already. So you two are going to do it for me.” The wizard leaned back in his chair. “Edge, you know how to use spirit sight to see moonrat eyes. I want you to be on the watch for them everywhere you go. Vannya, on the other hand, knows the students and staff of this school as well as anyone. If anyone is acting differently than normal she will be able to tell. I want you to get together fairly often to compare notes.”

  Vannya’s face had turned red. “I don’t know that I can handle that right now-.”

  “You can do it,” Valtrek insisted.

  “But Father!” she said and Justan realized from the tone of her voice that they still had a way to go before Vannya felt comfortable around him.

  “You will do it,” the wizard said firmly.

  Vannya pursed her lips and stood from her chair. “May I be excused now?”

  “You may,” Valtrek said.

  She turned on her heels and walked swiftly to the door. She opened it, grasping the handle with a white knuckled grip. She paused a moment while walking through and Justan could tell she was using a lot of restraint not to slam the door behind her. Instead she let go of the handle and strode out into the hallway, leaving it hanging open.

  Valtrek used a gust of wind to shut the door after her and slumped back in his chair. “Oh sometimes I swear that girl was born to fray my nerves.”

  We’re done, Justan. Fist sent and Justan caught a quick mental glimpse of everyone filing out of the Hall of Majesty while wizards came in to take the unconscious forms of Tolivar and his bonded away. Big John wants me to tell you everything you missed.

  Me too! said Gwyrtha.

  Good. I will join you soon and you can tell me all about it, Justan replied. He looked at Valtrek. “The prophet just finished his tale. The others are being shown to their quarters.”

  “You can join them soon,” the wizard said. “But we still have some items to discuss first.”

  “I suppose you want me to tell you the prophet’s tale, now?” Justan said wearily. He was tired and he really wanted to check in on Deathclaw. The raptoid had barely moved as far as he could tell at this distance, but all he really knew was that Deathclaw was still alive. “Can it wait until tomorrow? It has been an exhausting day and I still need to check on Deathclaw. I know that he is still to the north in the direction of the academy, but that is all I can tell from this distance.”

  The wizard pursed his lips, but nodded, “I suppose it can wait until morning. But since we are on the subject, we do need to discuss the matter of your bonded. What are you going to do with them while you are here at the school?”

  Justan frowned. “I suppose I haven’t had much time to think about it. I assumed that there would be a possibility of some uncomfortable moments until people got used to them, but-.” Justan frowned. “Is this about Gwyrtha? Do you think she will be in danger here? Even now that it isn’t a secret who she is to me?”

  “No, not at all. The rogue horse . . . Gwyrtha, will be taken care of. Master Latva and I have already arranged for it to be made known that no one is to experiment on her, and the elves are eager to see her again.” Valtrek assured him, but Justan couldn’t help but feel uneasy all the same. “No, it is Fist I am concerned about.”

  “Fist?” Justan asked. “Well, I suppose it will take a while for people to get used to seeing him around, but as soon as they get to know him things will be fine. People seem to find it quite impossible not to like him.”

  “I am not speaking about his being accepted by the students and faculty here. I am talking about his schooling,” Valtrek said

  “Schooling?”

  “Of course,” the wizard said, looking surprised. “He is a bonding wizard, is he not? Haven’t you tested him for elemental magic ability?”

  “I, uh . . . I guess not,” Justan admitted. “But why would he have any?”

  “It is a known fact that in some rare occasions ogres or giants or even orcs can show some small ability in magic. Usually it isn’t enough to matter much to us, but there have been times in history when a rather powerful magic user has come up in the ranks and caused the world quite a bit of trouble,” Valtrek explained. “You should at least have him checked for talent and if he has it, by all means he must be taught.”

  “But . . .” It was a crazy idea on the surface. The Mage School wanted anyone with magic talent to come and learn, but there were a few notable exceptions. Their refusal to admit half-orcs had been a gripe of his mother’s. “Are you sure the rest of the council would let Fist be taught here?”

  “It would perhaps be . . . unprecedented to have one of the dark races allowed entrance, but as the prophet has been reminding us, times are changing,” Valtrek said, giving him what Justan was sure was supposed to be a comforting smile. “Besides, most of us find ogres with elemental magic a fascinating subject and I think I can use that along with his relationship to you as an angle to get him admitted. I am in charge of recruitment after all.”

  “Well, I suppose I can discuss it with him tonight, see i
f he’s willing.” In fact Justan was positive he’d be willing. Fist would love the opportunity to learn magic.

  “Very good! I will expect you here right after breakfast then, Edge,” Valtrek said.

  “Alright. Good evening, Master,” Justan said and stood to leave.

  “One other thing,” the wizard added in an offhand manner. “When you come in, I should like to hear your side of what happened with my daughter. Also, along those lines, I expect to hear an explanation of the nature of your relationship with the daughter of Xedrion. Her father is a very important man and his reaction could affect the Mage School’s interests in Malaroo.”

  Justan swallowed and nodded. As he headed out the door and into the dusty hallway beyond, he wondered if he wouldn’t rather be fighting Ewzad’s monsters instead.

  Chapter Six

  And does Fist wish to learn this magic? Deathclaw asked from his position high in the fir tree. Despite how far away Justan was, Deathclaw could hear his thoughts clearly as long as he was willing to dim his other senses and focus.

  Oh, he loves the idea. He’s telling Squirrel and Gwyrtha all about it right now. Justan didn’t sound like he approved.

  This is good for us. Fist could become even more useful to the pack, since your magic skills are basically useless. Deathclaw was thinking of the power of the man Justan knew as Professor Beehn. Earlier that day he had seen the man hurl a large beast into the air so high that it was but a speck. If Fist could do that . . .

  Deathclaw, said a fainter voice that was not Justan’s, but he ignored it.

  Justan hadn’t heard the voice. What do you mean about my magic being useless? We’re talking right now, aren’t we, and we’re a week’s ride apart.

  Deathclaw realized that the man’s feelings had been hurt. He didn’t understand the way humans were so sensitive to words and thoughts. If something was true, why take offense? To add to his point he said, Yes, we can speak, but what of your other magic? Other wizards can cause lightnings or hurl fire or throw an enemy with the very air around them. Would it not be good if the ogre could do such things?