Mari frowned as well, taking a step to the right so she could get a better look inside. “That’s a very tall ceiling. It would take a ladder or a very long pole to reach the beams.”
“Right?” I scratched the back of my head in confusion. “I would expect this kind of speed from a magician, but if he were a magician, he wouldn’t have to use any kind of accelerant. This whole thing doesn’t make any sense. If he’s magical, why use oil? If he’s not a magician, then how in great magic is he setting the fires so quickly?”
“And how did he get his hands on that much oil so quickly?” Mari added in a disgruntled fashion. “It would take a lot of oil to set a building that big on fire.”
A point I hadn’t considered, but it was a good one to think about. “It’s not just regular vegetable oil, either, but paraffin oil. Surely buying that much oil would raise an eyebrow or two.”
“Paraffin?” Mari quirked an eyebrow. “You didn’t mention exactly what type before. Hmmm. Well, if he bought a decent quantity from several different shops, no one would think anything of it.”
That might be part of the delay in between fires. It took him time to find a good target to light up, buy enough oil to do the job, and then more time to prepare for the fire itself. It had almost been four days in between fires, which would have given him enough time. Arghhh. This whole thing gave me a headache. Right now, it was late, and I wanted nothing more than to take a bath and climb into a warm bed. “We’ll think about this more tomorrow. Chief, if it’s all the same to you, my bed is calling me. Can I come make a formal report tomorrow?”
He gave me a nod of permission. “Of course. You know where to go?”
“No,” I glanced at Mari and caught her wry smile. “But Mari does.”
“I’ll bring him over,” she promised the Chief.
“Then you both get a good night’s sleep,” he wished upon us before turning back toward the cleanup. I didn’t envy him the job.
Chapter Eighteen: Instincts and Information
The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, I met the Firefighting Coordinator of the city of Mohr.
His office actually wasn’t far from the inn, only two blocks away, and sat on the corner in an unpretentious way. Mari’s office had two stories to it, although she only really used the ground floor. This man had just a ground story building, barely big enough to hold three offices. When we arrived, the door had been propped open with a brick, apparently to let fresh air in. It was unseasonably warm today, even this early in the morning.
Mari didn’t skip a beat, just strode through the open door as if she owned the place. I followed after her a little more hesitantly. Surely we should call out a greeting or something.
“Enri!” Mari said casually, going straight into the first office. “We have a report to make.”
“Thank the guardians for that,” a deep voice boomed out, followed by the sound of a chair scraping against a wooden floor.
I turned the same corner and into the office. For some reason, I’d pictured this man to be a scrawny, quiet person that could barely lift a piece of paper without getting winded. But instead, I came face to face with a bear of a man that could make two of me and I’m pretty bulky. He towered over me, dark hair wild and wiry around his head, beard bushing out over his chest, wearing the tan uniform of a city official so casually that it took me two seconds to realize it was a uniform. He grinned at me in greeting, his teeth a narrow glimpse of white beneath his black beard.
“Are you the mage?”
His manners were as rough as his appearance, but he didn’t strike me as a bad man. I held up a hand in greeting, coming close enough for him to touch palms with me.
“I’m Haikrysen. Ainlie.”
He put his hand against mine and I knew instantly this man didn’t spend the majority of his time behind that massive desk.
“Enri Mordan, Coordinator of the area. Ainlie, Magus, and we’re glad you’re here.”
“Thank you.” I took a chair he waved me to, sitting side by side with Mari. The office barely had room for the two chairs because of that desk. It almost looked like a long counter, really. But it had to be that big to fit Enri. I’d never seen a bigger man in my life. Even Jarod wasn’t that big! But in every other aspect, the office could be a stamp of Mari’s. Nothing about this place was decorative. He had a single massive map pinned to the far wall, a shelf on the far end loaded with reports and books, and little else.
Enri resumed his seat with a creak of wood. “I’ve heard the gist of what happened last night from Tsai. But I need it in your own words. Start from how in the devil you knew that there was a fire.”
After reporting to Mari for a full season, I knew more or less the details Enri needed. So I reported the events of last night as succinctly as I knew how, speaking slowly enough so that Enri had time to scribble notes. He grunted now and again at some point I made but never interrupted with a question.
When I finished, he finally looked up, dark eyes unfathomable. “You think the same man is responsible for both the temple and the forest?”
“Yes.” I splayed my hands in an open shrug. “That’s a hunch, though, I have very little evidence to support it.”
“I’ve got another hunch,” Mari said, speaking for the first time. “I think he’s leading us north.”
She hadn’t mentioned anything to me about that. I turned to her sharply. “Why do you say that?”
“It’s something that occurred to me just now,” she admitted. “But think about it. The first fire happened at Mhazzaekul, which is actually quite a few miles south of Mohr. But the temple is also a few miles outside of the city, north of it. They’re also both landmarks for the area.”
She had a good point. Two of them, actually. “I’m not sure if we can assume he’s targeting landmarks, though. Both of those places just happen to be the largest things to set fire in this area.”
“You’ve got a point as well.” Mari looked me in the eyes and I could tell she didn’t like the conclusions her mind made. “A hunch, like you said. But Krys, I still can’t shake off the coincidence.”
Two high profile targets might just be a coincidence but I didn’t think so. I instinctively knew that Mari was right. “We’ll keep it in mind as we go.”
“Enri, we’re going to Merton next,” Mari said, tone clearly not asking for permission. “We need to check their records, see if we can’t find some sort of background for this man.”
“Probably the best course,” Enri agreed thoughtfully, stroking at his beard. “Have you been there before?”
“No, not at all,” Mari admitted.
“Then let me write up a list of where to go and a good place to stay. Hate for you to get caught by some paper-pusher with no sense.” He rocked forward into his chair again, making it squeak horrendously, and reached for a clean sheet of paper. It took mere seconds for him to scribble out in a cramped hand a set of places and then he handed it over to Mari, who took it with a grateful nod. “Best of luck, you two.”
~*~
It wasn’t that simple, of course. Travelling never was with Kaya. When I told her we needed to leave, she started wheedling me into staying a little longer so she could play with her new friends. When I put my foot down, she then insisted that she had to at least say goodbye to everyone. Mari was no help at all, either. When I looked to her, she gave me a smile that said, your dragon, your problem.
Thanks for that, partner.
We didn’t get back into the air until after the city’s clock had chimed out the noon hour. Even flying, Kaya sulked, not at all pleased to be leaving her playmates. I shook my head and refused to acknowledge her pouting.
As none of us had ever gone to Merton before, Mari had to pull out the map and navigate. It lay a city-state away, so we actually flew over the small state of Hera first, which was mostly mountains and forest. I knew we had to have reached Merton once we left the mountain range behind us and saw the vast, sparkling ocean ahead. After a day and
a half in the saddle, we were all ready to land and put our feet on the ground again.
Merton was very much a trading city-state, the only one in the whole of the Empire, really, that did major trading. Actually, the city spread out as far as the eye could see, even on dragonback, seemingly taking up every inch of land in Merton’s borders. Because it sat right on the edge of the Arapeen Sea, facing the same gulf that connected to Hain, it hosted a sea-faring populace. That was to say, almost every nationality could be found in this one city, all of them brought on the massive wooden trading ships lining the harbor.
I’d never seen the place before, just read about it and heard rumors, and the reality of it spread out in front of my eyes was far different than I’d imagined. I’d lived in cities practically my entire life (aside from my schooling at Strae) and I was quite accustomed to being within close proximity to my neighbors. But this place looked stacked in on itself in a ramshackled way, as if people were practically living and working on top of each other. ‘Crowded’ didn’t do the place justice.
As we came in closer, Kaya started lowering her altitude so that we had only a hundred feet of air above the buildings.
“We’re getting a lot of attention from the ground,” Mari noted behind me.
“Hmmm?” I hadn’t been paying any attention to the people, trying instead to find some sort of clear space to land in this overly crowded city. At her observation, I leaned forward, looking over Kaya’s shoulder. A lot of people were gaping and pointing upwards. “Ah. I’m so used to that reaction I don’t really notice anymore. Everyone’s astonished the first time they see Kaya.” More importantly, where to land?
Mari let out a sigh. “I think the docks have the only clear space available.”
“I hate to get that far away from the inn Enri recommended, though.” Although it might come down to that. But I didn’t know how Kaya would navigate through these narrow streets.
“Wait, what about that roof there?” Mari leaned around me and pointed. “See it?”
Kaya’s nose shifted about. “See.”
The roof she’d pointed out lay almost directly ahead, and it looked remarkably flat and large. From here, I couldn’t see what building it was for, though. Too many other structures in the way.
“Um…ladies? Are you sure it’s strong enough?”
“We’ll soon find out, won’t we?”
Not quite the reassurance I was looking for. Still, with a building that big, the support structure should be enough to handle Kaya. I hoped. “The question is, is it closer to the inn?”
“According to the directions he gave us.”
I’d take what I could get.
Kaya banked left slightly, coming around in a short curve and gliding in for a gentle landing. I had my ears straining for any sound of cracking or creaking from the roof, but it seemed to handle the extra weight without strain. Phew. I hadn’t been looking forward to a repair bill. Unbuckling, I asked Mari over my shoulder, “So where is the inn exactly from here?”
“Well, if this is the city library—and I think it is—then it should be one street up and two over from here.”
Remarkably close, then. “And the Hall of Records?”
“A good ten streets away from here.”
Not so close. I looked up at the sky. It was about mid-afternoon now. “I think by the time we get checked into the inn and walk over to the Hall, it will almost be closed for the day.”
“Basically.” Mari stood up and started climbing out of the saddle. “I say we check in, stow our gear, and find a good place for dinner. Work can wait until tomorrow.”
“I vote for that.” Although I wasn’t particularly looking forward to tomorrow. It would be a full day of dusty, illegibly written reports. Ugghhhh. I hopped down from the saddle as well, looking around the top of the roof. It looked quite barren up here, but I didn’t care about roof top decorations. I just wanted…and there they were. Stairs leading down. Perfect. “I bet we can unload her right here and carry everything over there.”
Mari looked up at our packs and the saddle with a judicious eye. “If you can handle that saddle, I can take care of the rest.”
“Then let’s do that. Kaya.” I pointed at the rooftop inn. “See the building with the smoke coming out the back? We’re going to be staying there. Why don’t you go deep sea fishing for dinner and meet us there later?” I didn’t dare just show up with her in tow and not give the innkeeper warning.
Her eyes lit up and sparkled. “Have big fish?”
Uhhh…by big fish, she didn’t mean a whale or something…did she? “Sure?”
Putting a paw to her heart she promised solemnly, “Only eat one.”
I decided right then and there that I didn’t want to know. Quickly stripping everything off her, I gave her a quick pat on the neck. “Go fish now.”
In a flurry of wings, she took off and sped toward the shoreline.
Mari watched her go, worrying at her bottom lip. “I hope she doesn’t get tangled in a fisherman’s net out there.”
“Naw. She’s used to avoiding them after fishing for so long in Paswaters.” Shouldering the saddle with a single heave, I led the way to the stairs.
~*~
The innkeeper turned out to be an easy-going sort who took in the idea of a Chahiran Mage as a Solian firefighter and a dragon familiar with nothing more than a blink and a chuckle. The inn was spacious as well having plenty of room in the stable yard for Kaya. Enri had recommended the perfect place.
Mari and I threw our gear into a room, cleaned up quickly, and then went back down to the main room for a very scrumptious, if very sea-oriented, dinner. But with that done, we were rather at a loss of what do with ourselves. After so much time in the saddle, the very last thing we wanted was to sit around leisurely somewhere. Since we had two hours or so until sunset, I pitched the idea of getting some custom-made gear made by a wizard or witch, if we could find one.
Agreeable to this, Mari and I set back out into the city.
It took us a good half hour to get out of the heart of the city and into the right neighborhood. I looked out over the docks, the strong smell of salt and sea in my lungs, the wind whipping through my hair hard enough to throw a few wayward strands into my mouth. Absently spitting them out, I looked further inland. The serving girl at the inn had told me that a Wizard Chadron Grosvener had set up shop somewhere along here. She’d rattled off directions on exactly where, but they only made sense to someone who actually lived here and knew the area. Still, I felt reasonably sure I could find the place. Every witch’s or wizard’s shop had certain elements to it, making them all look alike.
Aha. And there it was. “I see it.”
“How can you possibly tell?” Mari asked in bemusement. “I swear that every shop down there looks the same.”
I pointed at it. “See that wind vane up top? The one shaped like a large wand?”
“Ohhh.” She narrowed her eyes against the sun’s rays. “You’ve got good eyes. I can barely see that.”
“All magicians who set up shop have a vane like that,” I told her, setting off down the cobbled streets. “Don’t ask me why. I have no idea why they do it. I just know they all do.”
“Maybe to make their shop easily recognizable?” she suggested, matching my pace.
“Maybe,” I agreed.
We rather lost track of the conversation as the roads through here were very winding, narrow, and sometimes treacherous because of the clogging traffic. Every Solian city I had ever stepped foot in had been built upon a grid system, with a very rigid layout. Whatever this city’s original design had been now lay buried under generations of renovations, expansions, and downright building code violations. It didn’t help that everyone from traders to housewives wanted to go up the street while we tried to make our way down. I felt like a fish swimming against the tide.
I had just started to regret not flying here and having Kaya simply drop us on the roof when we suddenly arrived. In between th
e chaos and the press of people all around us, I almost passed by it completely. Fortunately, the door to the shop stood open, and the smell of simmering potions wafted in the air. No one, after experiencing that strangely medicinal scent, could ever forget it. I grabbed Mari by the arm, maneuvering her in front of me so that I could block the flow of traffic long enough for her to safely make it inside. I had to muscle off two impatient dockmen who were trying to get past me before I could follow.
Once I crossed the threshold, I took in a breath of relief and looked around. Yes, definitely a wizard’s shop. It had a long counter blocking off the back half of the room, with shelves taking up every inch of available wall space, all of them stuffed to bursting with every conceivable potions ingredient. Things were hanging from the ceiling, too, in bunches as the herbs dried. It made the room feel almost uncomfortably small. And my nose itched because of that potion brewing somewhere in the back.
Mari stepped forward and knocked her knuckles against the wooden counter. “Excuse me! Anyone here!”
From just out of sight around the corner, a few thuds and thumps could be heard, as if a person had just hastily set something down. Within seconds a man appeared that simply had to be Hainian. Tall, wavy brown hair, with a rather homely face that looked very weather beaten. He didn’t have on a wizard’s robes, but a simple shirt with sleeves rolled up, pants that had seen better days, and a protective black apron that wouldn’t be out of place in a smithy. He greeted us with a smile and said in perfect Solish, “Hello! What can I do for you?”
“We need something custom made,” I responded, also in Solish—mostly for Mari’s benefit.
For the first time, I think he really looked at me, and then he did something of a double take. But I’d been getting that a lot in this city. No one expected to see a Chahiran in a Solian uniform. His eyes flew to the patch on my left shoulder that had my Fire Mage crest on it, and he looked a little dumbstruck for a moment.
Dragon's Mage (An Advent Mage Novel), The - Raconteur, Honor Page 20