by Brian Keller
Cooper ducked his head, “Maybe, sir. And about that… um, Lukasi ships are entering the bay flying Caldori flags. They’re carrying slaves chained in the cargo bays of those ships and bringing them into the city. I’m sure you already know something about this, or the Assistant Harbormaster would not have been targeted, right?” Master Worthan leaned forward as he spoke, “We knew that slaves were being brought in, but didn’t know the specifics of who or how.” He paused, then continued, “You know this for a fact?” Cooper nodded, “That’s why I Channeled to use shadows, sir. I boarded a ship that the Assistant Harbormaster visited earlier, to receive a payoff. It was displaying a Caldori flag, but had one from Lukasi concealed on board, They also had rings bolted to the floors identical to those in the warehouse”, Master Worthan took a breath to speak but Cooper kept talking, “and human excrement inside, all over the floor of the cargo bay, sir.”
Master Worthan was stroking his beard, apparently deep in thought. He reached a decision in moments, “Alright. Rayna will look further into these ships. I’ll ask Felis to gather more information from the University. I may need to tell him about you. He may feel that his intelligence is being insulted if I continue avoiding his questions. If that happens, expect that he may come looking for you to discuss the matter further. Just be prepared for that conversation. Tell him however much you’re willing to divulge about yourself, but don’t mention that there may be others in the Guild with similar backgrounds… As for you, you have an assignment that requires completion. How close are you, do you think?” Cooper thought for a moment, “Perhaps tomorrow, but certainly within the next three days, sir. Unless something completely unexpected happens.”
The old man looked thoughtful, “I hear that you’ve been spending quite a lot of time with our Scenarios instructors…?” Cooper nodded, “Yes, sir.” The old man gave him a look of appraisal, “If you’re planning on playing a role to get close to a target, the ‘unexpected’ is often the rule, rather than the exception. It’s impossible to plan for every contingency, so enter into the task with simple expectations and be prepared for things to go awry. Still, Mister Ysel and Miss Eiler are extremely good at what they do. Take heed of their lessons.” Cooper smiled, he hoped it looked like a reassuring smile, “I know, sir. And, I will. Thank you, sir.” Master Worthan stood, signifying that their meeting was over, “Well then, I need to get back to my students, and you need to get back to your preparations! Hurry along, now.” He gestured Cooper to leave the room ahead of him.
When he entered the Scenarios classroom, both teachers were involved in the lessons. Mister Ysel noticed him and pointed to the back of the room, then pointed at an hourglass on the table. Cooper knew that particular hourglass actually marked a two hour duration. It looked like it had about thirty minutes of sand remaining.
*****
Chapter 22
Iona had questions. The only person she’d ever really spoken with at any length were her teachers. She didn’t want to talk with them about these questions she had now, she needed a friend or at least someone she thought would listen. Her thoughts quickly centered on the Nature mage, “At least she was aware, when no one else seemed to be”, that the mages often saturated their surroundings and masked her ability to sense anything beyond them. Iona’s Talent rivaled those of her “escorts”, and surpassed them in many regards, even if one ignored her detection ability. Yet, they all looked down on her, due to her status. She was a subject to be studied, rather than a mage. The female mage seemed to acknowledge her as a person. That was something, at least.
Iona wanted to look for her, but didn’t know where to begin. She’d cast her net around to try and sense her but there was so much interference from the others nearby that she’d have to be in the same room almost before Iona would be able to center on her. Besides, the female Nature mages Talent still felt “off” somehow. She had speed but she was also able to conceal some of her Talent somehow. Iona wanted to study her more, but she couldn’t, not without explaining why. Iona knew what it felt like to have no privacy, she surely didn’t wish that on another.
That evening they patrolled the Waterfront district again. Iona asked if the Nature mage could stay close to her, since Iona “didn’t feel as safe anymore”. Two of the other mages stepped forward, Fire and Earth/Air stating that they might be able to provide her with better protection. Iona had predicted this response and shook her head, “No thank you. Your Talent will fill the space around us and then it’ll do us no good to be out here.” She jerked a thumb towards the female Nature mage, “Her Talent is different somehow. It’s powerful, surely, but it doesn’t fill up the space around us in the same way.” Iona hoped that by phrasing it this way, it would smooth ruffled feathers as well as make the Nature mage curious enough to ask her what she meant. She was half right; the other mages stepped away feeling flattered and powerful, but the Nature mage seemed resentful and distant. Iona still saw an opportunity, “If I embarrassed you, I apologize. My name’s Iona.” The Nature mage flashed her a look of irritation, “I know very well what your name is. And I’m not embarrassed. If it weren’t for the fact that we have no previous arrangement or agreement, I’d feel betrayed.” Iona looked at the ground, “I’ve hinted at something that you wanted to keep hidden…?” The other woman said nothing. Iona took that as silent agreement and continued, “My reasons for wanting to separate you from the others actually had nothing to do with your Talent, or my safety.” The Nature mage suddenly built up an impressive amount of power as she said, “I’m not a lesbian.” Iona was shocked and her tone showed it, “Nor am I. Now please release that energy you’ve just prepared.” Iona no longer needed to ask any further questions about the other woman’s Talent, or why it felt so obscure. She could store, or pass energy. It was the speed at which she could pass it that made her dangerous. She was nearly the opposite of a Gifted person. She could release her energy into something nearby, and control the speed of transfer. In this way she could either power someone else’s Talent, with practice; or she could send them flying. Iona simply asked, “It’s like Lightning, isn’t it?” The other female’s shoulders sagged, “Complete with thunder-clap if I release enough all at once. My name’s Wen.” Iona was impressed, but still she asked, “When? Like a young man trying to convince you to lay with him, you always tell him ‘Later’ and he always asks ‘When’?” Wen smiled, “No. Wen. W-E-N.” Iona raised her eyebrows in an unasked question but Wen shook her head. Iona gently pressed, “C’mon, who am I going to tell anyway?” Wen took a breath to retort, but instead let her head hang in acceptance, “It’s short for Wendelia.” Her head snapped up as she looked intensely at Iona, “Tell anyone and I’ll blast you into whatever wall is nearby.” Iona chuckled, “Or through it.” Wen’s expression became quizzical and Iona explained, “Have you forgotten? I can not only sense Talent, I can also feel how powerful it is. I’m even more impressed that you’ve been able to conceal it from me for so long.” Wen ducked her head, “My Talent is pretty unusual. I have no desire to become some professor’s lab rat. No offense.” Iona couldn’t blame her.
Iona started talking about what she’d been told about the Gifted person. Almost like a mental accounting, but out loud, “Our prey’s name is Cooper, I’m told. A young man with dark eyes. Apparently he had a gold sash at one point, which implies some kind of association with the Scribes…” She let her voice trail off. Wen picked up on it, “-And what, you don’t believe it?” Iona shrugged, “I suppose I believe it well enough, but I think there’s more. I’d like to know what you think, if you care to hear about it.” Wen was silent for a moment before she spoke, “I suppose it couldn’t hurt, if you think it might help catch him. Then we could get back to our normal lives again.” This realization actually made Iona question what she was doing. “Why would I want things to go back to normal?” She even paused long enough that Wen asked, “You were saying?” Iona wasn’t sure whether she wanted to continue the discussion anymore but voiced her suspicion
s anyway, “I think I might have seen him once. He was dressed like he’s in the Guild.” Wen nodded her head, “That makes sense. I’ve heard that the Scribes are part of the Guild too many times from too many people for it to be just a rumor. Have you told the professor about this?” Iona shook her head, “No. And I’m not likely to. Anyway, it won’t change anything we’re doing.” Wen didn’t appear so certain.
*****
During dinner that evening, Cooper sat next to Birt, “Heya. I haven’t seen you in a while. What have you been doing?” Birt’s forkful of salad stopped just short of his lips, “You don’t know? Well, I’ve been helping out up front, in the Scribe’s storefront.” Cooper felt some confusion and more than just a little shocked, “What’re you doing in there?! I thought you were doing well in your tests and studies?” Birt nodded, “I am. I’m not there permanently. I’ve been directed to assist with cataloguing.” Cooper still wasn’t convinced, “Cataloguing? That doesn’t sound like a job for a Thief.” Birt chuckled, “You might not know this, but the Guildmaster oversees only half of the duties of the Scribes. He takes care of operations and staffing. Everything else is the responsibility of the Master of Coin.” Birt nodded as if that explained everything and began chewing on his salad. Cooper tried to reply but realized he’d need to chew and swallow first. Once he’d done that he replied, “But what are you doing in there?” Birt threw his fork down onto his plate. It made a loud enough clatter that most nearby conversations stopped and students turned to see what had caused the noise. Birt continued in a hushed tone, “Because Rolan is still trying to get a handle on our accounts. He thinks they’ve been recorded in a convoluted manner, deliberately. I’ve looked at the ledgers and I agree. While he sorts his way through all that, I’m helping out up front.” Cooper considered this, “Hmm, I’m actually a little impressed.” Birt chuckled, “If that impresses you, listen to this… all message contents are recorded, chronologically, in a log book.” Birt paused a moment to let that sink in, “While this falls under the responsibilities of the Guildmaster, the maintenance of each ledger, once it’s filled and replaced, falls to the Master of Coin.” Cooper understood, “That’s how you’ve become so well-informed, isn’t it?” Birt tilted his head to one side, “Yes, but it’s also one more way that you tripped up and got caught when you slipped out to chase Jarell. You took down a message, then delivered it yourself… no duplicate. Nobody really cares about the pouch of coppers that the Couriers earn every day, sure coin is coin; but those message and document duplications… those are the main reason why the Scribes are important to us. Cooper shook his head, “Wait. What document duplications?” Birt chuckled, “Our scribes also draw up a couple hundred legal documents every quarter. Deeds, contracts, Bills of Sale, that kind of thing. Our knowledge of who owns what, who is indebted to whom… how would you assign a value to that?” Cooper decided that he still had a lot to learn.
*****
“Are you certain of this?!” the tone of Iona’s teacher’s voice indicated that his patience was short. This wasn’t an unusual occurrence but Iona’s sores across her back hadn’t healed yet, and she wasn’t prepared to accept a new set. Obviously, she had been unwise to entrust Wen with her suspicions. “No, sir. I can’t be certain”, she replied, “I was just speaking with Wen about some of my thoughts. I had hoped she might help me shed some light on some of my questions. She had very little to add, but apparently she felt she had much to say… to you, anyway, sir.” The professor looked at her suspiciously, “Are you concealing information from me?” She shook her head, “No, sir. Not concealing, but I don’t pass information to you until I know it’s correct.” The professor pulled himself to his full stature, cleared his throat and said, “Well, if the Gifted person is a member of the Guild, then there are other people and organizations better suited to face them. We will continue to hunt this boy, since he seems to travel about the city with impunity, but if we’re not able to corner him somewhere to kill or capture him, then we might need to pass this responsibility to someone that might penetrate the Guild.” Iona was concerned that this might happen. It was the first step towards her return to obscurity. His words were surely a prelude to curtailing her efforts as a Hunter and her return to being merely a subject of study.
*****
Mid-morning the next day, Cooper was knocking on the large wooden doors of Lord Talmet’s house. Miss Eiler’s response to what she called his ‘dress rehearsal’ was enthusiastic. Lord Talmet’s gate guards had taken one glance at Mister Ysel’s immaculate letter of reference and had waved him inside with a chuckle, “Coming from Lord Galen’s employment? Oh, they’re gonna love you in there.” Cooper had bowed his head as he passed them.
Lord Talmet’s butler pulled the doors open and inspected his attire with a practiced eye before asking, “And who might you be?” Cooper couldn’t help thinking, “Well, I could be King Argravel’s Lord General, but I’m not.” He managed instead to simply say, “I come from Lord Galen’s employ. I am seeking employment here.” He paused to extend a rolled up parchment, “My letter of reference, sir.” He was quite certain he’d been unable to conceal the twinkle in his eye but he hoped the butler would assume it was due to the irony of seeking a position from his previous employer’s rival. The butler raised his eyebrows, “Truly?” He unrolled the parchment, scanned the first few lines and then skipped to the bottom to inspect the signature. He re-rolled the paper and handed it back to him, “I am quite certain his Lordship will wish to speak with you personally. Certain enough, in fact, that I am prepared to take you to him even now. Step inside and wipe the dust from your shoes, then follow me.” Cooper stepped in and heard the large doors being closed behind him. He was careful to kneel down, rather than bend at the waist, to brush a cloth across his shoes. Bending too far at the waist might reveal the long, flexible blade he had hidden above his belt.
As he stood the butler asked, “Why is it that you have left Lord Galen’s employ? Your letter gives no indication of poor performance.” Cooper sniffed the air, pursed his lips, then replied, “Circumstances occurred such that I could no longer remain in Lord Galen’s residence. However, I told Lord Galen that my older brother was recently trampled by a runaway horse. He died of his injuries and I now stand to inherit. I requested a letter of reference in the case that the value of the estate is unable to support me.” The butler gave him a look of appraisal, “And what were the conditions that actually caused you to terminate your position?” Cooper shook his head, “Begging your pardon, but that is not a conversation I am prepared to have with you, sir.” The butler gave him a “hmph”, then added, “I expect that will be a conversation Lord Talmet will insist on having with you.” Cooper bowed his head, “That would be his prerogative, sir.” The butler turned stiffly and spoke over his shoulder at him, “Very well. Follow me.”
As they crossed the foyer and entered the hall, two of the maids entered the hall from another door, further down. They were speaking in hushed tones, but still loud enough to be heard clearly, “I swear, that boy can do no wrong in his mum’s eyes.” “Oh, yer right ‘bout that. Why, at breakfast today he threw his plate from the table, complainin’ that his eggs was cold an’ his bacon too spicy. Well, I c’n tell ye, I nearly burnt my fingers scoopin’ up his eggs an’ his bacon di’n even have one speck o’ pepper on it. But his mum sends me to fetch him a fresh plate. He does it just fer spite, he does!” The other maid agreed and raised the ante, “Ye think that’s bad? Jus’ an hour ago, he kicked his sister’s puppy, makin’ both the puppy and his sister cry. His mum tells the girl ta’ keep better control o’ her pup an’ that kinda thing wouldn’t happen!” It was then that the ladies saw the butler approaching. They immediately became silent and backed themselves against the wall with their heads bowed until the butler had passed. Cooper followed closely behind, “Interesting” he thought, “Lord Talmet has only the one boy, Penton, and he’s older than me by a couple of years. And, according to what Master Vorni said, he’s m
y client!”
The butler paused in front of a closed door. He turned to face Cooper, “Wait here. I will come back here for you when Lord Talmet is ready for you.” As the butler closed the door behind him, Cooper glanced around for a chair. He decided almost immediately that he’d be expected to remain standing. He was not here as a guest. He didn’t have long to wait. In less than two minutes the doors opened and the butler poked his head through to look at him, “His Lordship eagerly awaits within.” Cooper bowed his head and followed behind at a discrete distance. The butler bowed and announced, “Sir, this young man wishes an interview with you, as a prospective employee.”
Lord Talmet was dressed in several layers of the latest fashions, or that was the conclusion he reached as the man stood upright following Cooper’s respectful bow. The man was dressed in blues, reds and golds. Cooper thought he almost looked like a playing card come to life. Cooper managed to clear his throat and call out, “Thank you for seeing me, your lordship. I am truly honored.” Lord Talmet smiled, “Yes, of that I am quite certain. Now let us get right to the matter at hand. Before I will consider you for a position here, I must know why it is that you’ve left Lord Galen’s employment.” Cooper kept his eyes on Lord Talmet, but he couldn’t miss the smirk that crossed the butler’s face. Cooper bowed his head, “Of course, sir.” He stood erect and spoke in a clear voice, “I am sure you are aware that Lord Galen has a ward by the name of Avaline? A young and pretty girl, not quite fourteen years old…?” He paused and Lord Talmet leaned forward, waving his hand indicating that Cooper should continue, “I would have not thought it possible, but I have knowledge that he pressed himself upon her and she was unable to repel his advances. I could not remain in his employ, knowing that.” Lord Talmet was almost clapping his hands with glee, “This is delightful information!” Cooper placed a look of poorly concealed disapproval on his face, then quickly wiped it away as if he realized it would not be well-received by his host. Observing that, Lord Talmet recovered himself and responded in a stuffy, proper tone, “This is horrible, of course. That such a young and innocent girl should be victimized in such a way. Especially by the very one charged with caring for her.” He appeared to consider his next actions, “Yes, I believe we may find a place for you here in our hou-”. He was interrupted by a guard bursting into the room. The man’s eyes had a wild look and his hand was on the hilt of his sword as his eyes searched the room. Lord Talmet bellowed, “What is the meaning of this interruption! Speak!” The guard tore his eyes from the corners of the room and looked at his employer. He realized immediately the position he found himself in and quickly bowed his head, “Sir, we’ve just received a most urgent word that there will be an attempt on your life!” Both Lord Talmet and the butler blanched to a sickly shade of yellow. The butler recovered while the lord was still sputtering, “Sir, I shall collect all the staff in the kitchen, if the guards wish to perform a room by room search.” The lord tried to respond but only squeaked, instead he nodded his head. Cooper looked around him as if he were uncertain as to whether he should accompany the butler or remain where he stood. He shuffled his feet as the butler rushed off, with most of the guards on his heels, leaving him no option but to remain in place as he awaited whatever orders would follow.