Thraxas and the Oracle

by Martin Scott

  “Deeziz the Unseen has by far the strongest powers of concealment I’ve ever encountered,” continues Lisutaris. “No one had an inkling she was in our midst. Even Horm the Dead was fooled. In the past weeks I’ve made efforts to develop my detection spells. I saw her aura that day in the tavern, and there’s a chance I’d recognise it again. Since we arrived in Samsarina I’ve been looking east for traces of her. Two days ago I thought I sensed something. It was the merest flicker, for a fraction of a second. I could be wrong, but...”

  “But she could be riding into town disguised as a tavern girl?”

  “Indeed. Her powers of concealment are so strong I’m not even sure she’d have to remain female. She might be able to take on the form of a man and join up with the army, or the mercenaries.”

  We fall silent for a moment. There’s no need to stress the damage it could do if the most powerful Orcish sorcerer is allowed to operate undetected in our midst.

  “I’ll keep working on detection spells. I can’t devote as much time to that as I’d like, with all my other responsibilities, but I’ve instructed several other sorcerers to work on it as well. Meanwhile I want you to take this in hand, Thraxas. I’ve made you my head of security. If Deeziz the Unseen arrives, find her.”

  “That sounds almost impossible.”

  “I know. But I need you to do it.”

  I nod my head. “I’ll think of something.”

  “If Deeziz attempts to infiltrate the army - or to assassinate me, another possibility - she might not be alone. Even for a woman as powerful as her, there has to be a lot of risk involved in straying so far from home, among so many enemies. I wonder if she might have some support. A network of agents, to provide her with shelter, perhaps. At the very least, I’d think she’d require another agent to send messages back to the Orcs. I doubt she’d risk sorcerous transmission herself. Our own sorcerers are checking for that sort of thing constantly.”

  “Do you have any means of identifying her? If I find a likely suspect is there some sorcerous test that will expose her?”

  Lisutaris shakes her head. “Not so far. My new Sorcerous Detection Unit is trying to develop a more advanced spell that might work.”

  “Who’s in this unit?”

  “Irith Victorious from Juval, and two of his guild. Do you know him?”

  “I knew him a long time ago. I met him again at the Sorcerers Assemblage.”

  I’m troubled to hear Irith’s name, though I don’t let it show. I first met him when I was a young soldier, fighting in the south. When he appeared in Turai at the Sorcerers Assemblage, a few years ago, we did a lot of drinking together. Then I robbed him when he was drunk. I was obliged to steal some information that was vital for our city. I didn’t feel very good about it at the time. I don’t know if he ever learned about it. He probably did.

  “They’re working in secret so don’t mention them to anyone. They haven’t come up with anything yet but I’m hopeful. Meanwhile you’ll just have to manage without magical assistance.”

  “It’s going to involve a lot of trekking round, looking for suspicious characters. I could use some help.”

  “I’ll be assigning you staff,” says Lisutaris. “Meanwhile, I’ve asked someone else to assist.”

  Lisutaris snaps her fingers, causing an internal door to fly open. A small dark figure walks silently into the room.

  “Hanama?” I make no effort to hide my displeasure.

  “Captain Hanama. New Chief Intelligence Officer of the Commander’s Personal Security Unit.”

  “Captain? Chief Intelligence Officer? You do realise she’s an assassin?”

  “Not relevant in the circumstances, Thraxas.”

  “Not relevant? She kills people for money.”

  “Well, we are soldiers,” says Makri. “You could say that about all of us.”

  “It’s not the same! Why are you employing her? Are you sure she’s even on our side?”

  I glare at Hanama. She’s quite a small woman, with short dark hair. She looks very young and her skin is very pale. Probably from spending most of her time sneaking round at night, assassinating people.

  “Of all the people I’d hoped escaped from the wreck of Turai, you weren’t one of them.”

  Hanama doesn’t deign to reply.

  “How did you get here?” I demand.

  “I walked.”

  “You should have kept on walking.”

  “Enough!” says Lisutaris. “I trust Hanama and that should be good enough for you. As Chief Security Officer and Chief Intelligence Officer you’ll work together, without argument, or I’ll have something to say about it.”

  I wish I’d had another beer. Hanama, number three in the Turanian Assassins Guild - maybe higher these days for all I know - right at the heart of the war effort. I can’t believe it’s a good idea.

  “I should get started right away,” I say. Partly because I’m keen to get started right away, and partly because I’m annoyed to find myself in the same room as Hanama.

  “Good. I’m assigning Anumaris Thunderbolt to your security staff. You know her, I believe?”

  Anumaris Thunderbolt walks into the room on cue. She’s young, recently qualified and without much experience. Even so, I’m reasonably pleased to see her, because I did encounter her on the battlefield outside Turai. For a young sorcerer, she did well. Didn’t lose her head, and fired a few powerful spells at the rampaging Orcs.

  Surrounded by Lisutaris, Makri, Hanama and Anumaris, I feel like asking Lisutaris if she’s planning on recruiting any actual men to fight the war, but I hold my tongue. Anumaris tells me that there’s an office upstairs we can use until the army marches. I follow her out. In the corridor outside there are a group of fair-haired Elves waiting to see Lisutaris. None I recognise, though from their clothing and insignia they’re important figures. Even if their numbers are fewer than we’d hoped for, it’s a relief to see the Elves. Without them we’d have no chance of defeating Prince Amrag and his Orcish horde.

  I climb the stairs with Anumaris. “It will be exciting going into battle with Elves,” she says.

  I nod. I wouldn’t call it exciting, but it’s re-assuring. “They’re more reliable than some of the lowlifes I’ve found myself sharing a phalanx with, anyway.”

  “Lowlifes?”

  “Turanian phalanxes weren’t made up of the cream of society. Dregs of the earth, half of them. They’d have collapsed in battle without a man like me in the middle, supporting everyone else.”

  “I see.”

  “If it wasn’t for me the Turanian infantry would have crumbled years ago. Turai too, I expect. Is this our office? Isn’t there somewhere bigger?”

  “It’s only for a short while, till we march north.”

  I look around. I’m not very impressed. “Where’s the couch?”

  “There’s a chair. Won’t that do?”

  I look sternly at Anumaris Thunderbolt. “A chair? Anumaris, what rank are you?”

  “Storm Class Sorcerer, Sorcerers Regiment.”

  I’ve no idea what Storm Class means. I let it pass. “Well, Storm Class Sorcerer Anumaris, if you’re going to be working in my security unit, there’s some things you need to know right from the start. Most importantly, your chief officer needs a couch. I can’t sleep properly in a chair. Find me a couch.”

  Young Anumaris looks perplexed. “Surely you won’t be sleeping in your office?”

  “Of course I will. The ability to sleep in difficult circumstances has carried me through more campaigns than you’ll ever see.”

  “But what about when we’re on the march? Out in the field?”

  “We’ll improvise. Or rather, you will. You’re a sorcerer. I expect you to be able to produce a couch when necessary.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  “Good. Stick with me and I’ll get you through this war. Lisutaris said she was assigning me staff. Where are they?”

  “It’s just me so far.”

  �
�Really? Well, you’ll have to do, I suppose. As well as a couch, I need beer.”

  Anumaris screws up her face and looks uncomfortable.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I’m not allowed to bring you beer. Orders from Lisutaris.”

  I stare at her suspiciously. “Lisutaris, Mistress of the Sky, War Leader and supreme Commander of the forces of the west, specifically instructed you not to bring me beer?”

  “Yes.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  “Very strange. You’d think she’d have better things to do. Like organising armies. It hardly inspires confidence.”

  Anumaris doesn’t reply. I get the impression that’s she’s someone who will not lightly ignore orders from out War Leader. That could become irritating. I notice her rainbow cloak is in good condition. So are the rest of her clothes. She doesn’t look like a young woman who’s gone through many hardships recently.

  “How did you fight your way out of Turai?”

  “I didn’t,” she admits. “I was outside the city walls when the Orcs attacked. I’d been visiting my parents on their farm. I tried going back but it was hopeless. All the refugees told me the city had fallen. So I headed west, looking for other Sorcerers. That’s what we’ve been trained to do.”

  “I see. I had to fight my way out in a bloody struggle, rescuing Lisutaris and Makri at the same time. After that I navigated our way here on a leaky old boat and helped establish Lisutaris as War Leader. Remember that next time you start criticising me about couches and beer.”

  I try the chair for size. It’s not satisfactory. Not built for a man of my size. “Were there any other Turanian Sorcerers with you?”

  Anumaris shakes her head. “No. And hardly any have shown up here.”

  That’s bad news, both for the war effort and for the City-State of Turai. Turai is small in comparison to many of our neighbours, but we’ve always had plenty of sorcerers. Our superior magic has protected us.

  “Perhaps we’ll find some when we meet up with the Simnians. They might be waiting for us.” I rise to my feet. “Now, about Deeziz the Unseen. We need to find her.”

  “Where will we start?”

  “The nearest tavern.”

  Anumaris looks concerned. “You’re really not supposed to - ”

  “Don’t you know anything about military discipline? We’re not going to get very far if you start arguing every time I issue an order. Deeziz’s last appearance in a human city was in the Avenging Axe, a tavern. Prior to that she’d been working as a singer in a theatre, also a popular drinking haunt. So it’s quite likely that if she’s arrived here, we’ll find her somewhere similar. We’ll start at the local taverns and work our way outwards. Does this office have any funds?”

  “There’s a safe in that wall. I’m not sure how much is in it.”

  “Do you have the spell to open it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then gather up the money and follow me. You’re about to get your first lesson in security work.”

  Chapter Three

  We’re in the wealthy part of town where there are mansions, villas and temples. We have to walk a few streets south before we come to a tavern. Anumaris hesitates. “What’s the matter?

  Haven’t you ever been in a tavern before?”

  She shakes her head.

  “Never?”

  “No.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-two.”

  I’m astonished. I hardly know what to say. Twenty-two years old and never been in a tavern? My first thought is that she might be suffering from some sort of mental deficiency. A fear of crowds, perhaps. However she joined the Sorcerers Regiment, so she can’t be all that scared of company. Perhaps her parents didn’t approve of her visiting Turai’s many drinking haunts. Young Anumaris is rather well-spoken. Not an aristocrat, but a daughter of the land-owning gentry. No doubt they were a respectable family. She looks very dubiously at the sign above the door. The King’s Shield.

  “Is it safe?”

  “Safe? How sheltered has your life been?”

  “Not sheltered at all!” Anumaris is offended. “I just haven’t had occasion to visit taverns. I grew up on the family estate. Then I went to sorcerers college. Everyone considered that quite daring.”

  I’m about to let go with some hearty criticism of her, her family estate, and sorcerers college, but I restrain myself. She did appear on the battlefield outside Turai, after all, and stood up to the enemy attack when plenty of others crumbled. She must have something about her.

  “Enough discussion.” I open the door and march inside. The young sorcerer follows me in. The tavern is crowded and noisy, the same as every other tavern in Samsarina, with mercenaries and off-duty soldiers taking the opportunity for some last minute revelry before we march off to war. There’s a contingent of market workers close to the bar. I’m obliged to use my body-weight to force my way through, pulling Anumaris behind me.

  “You see that? Take that as your first lesson in investigation. When there’s a crowd in front of you, preventing you from reaching the bar, there’s no point messing around asking them politely to step out the way. It’ll get you nowhere. Just look for their weak spot and force your way through.

  “What does that have to do with investigation?”

  “Haven’t you been listening to anything I’ve said? A tavern is the best place for gathering information. Whatever’s going on in a city you’ll find out about it here. Back in Turai I sometimes had to visit seven or eight in a day. Barmaid, two tankards of ale please.”

  “Could I have a glass of water?” says Anumaris.

  “Only if you want to mark yourself out as a hopeless outsider who will never be any good at security work, thereby letting down the armies of the west and probably leading to our ultimate defeat. Now take this tankard and try not to look like someone who grew up riding ponies in a frilly dress.”

  Anumaris Thunderbolt scowls at me. She sips the ale, and makes a face.

  “Once you’ve got that inside you you’ll be half-way to making a decent investigator.”

  “But Lisutaris said - ”

  “Enough about Lisutaris. There’s no need to talk about her continually. She has her job to do and we have ours.”

  “I really don’t see what we’re doing here!”

  “We’re looking for anything strange. Just keep your eyes and ears open. If we don’t come across anything untoward, we’ll move on to the next tavern.” I scan the crowd. “When Deeziz the Unseen came to Turai, she disguised herself as a popular singer called Moolifi. I’ll be interested to learn if any foreign singers have arrived in Samsarina recently.”

  “Surely she wouldn’t try the same thing again?”

  “Probably not, but it’s all we have to go on.”

  Anumaris is dissatisfied. “Deeziz could disguise herself as a tavern worker, or a market vendor. Any woman at all. Lisutaris thinks she might even be able to disguise herself as a man. How can we possibly find her? It seems hopeless.”

  I drink down a good portion of ale. “Investigations often seem hopeless at first. That doesn’t mean you don’t make a start. You do what you can, and keep going till something turns up. Maybe we’ll get lucky. Maybe Deeziz will make a mistake. Maybe Lisutaris’s sorcerers will come up with something. Either way, we keep on trying.”

  Anumaris seems reasonably impressed by my little speech. It doesn’t prevent her from looking at me disapprovingly when I grab a second beer from the bar. I tell her to stop complaining.

  “I wasn’t complaining.”

  “You were thinking about it. Save your anti-beer fanaticism for some other time. And try engaging in some conversation with people. We’re here to gather information.”

  “I’m not very good at talking to strangers.”

  “Then you’ll have a fantastic career as an investigator. If you can’t talk to anyone, listen to me, and learn how it’s done.”

  I
’ve never had any problem talking to strangers. Mostly I’ve made my living from it. At this moment, in this tavern, it’s easier than usual because of my Captain’s insignia, which does grant me a degree of respect. It’s obvious to everyone that I’m not one of those officers who’s been promoted due to family connections. I’m a man who’s seen plenty of combat. Hardened in battle, I like to think. I talk to soldiers, mercenaries, barmaids and traders, mostly about the approaching war. I learn a lot about the hopes and fears of the population though nothing that points to anything unusual. I have a feeling that if Deeziz the Unseen has arrived in Samsarina, there should already be some sign of her presence. What that sign might be, I don’t know, and I don’t pick up on anything.

  I do notice that the mood is reasonably optimistic, even though everyone knows we’re in for a tough campaign. Prince Amrag’s reputation as a military Commander has spread throughout the West. He’s hated, like any Orcish leader, but people aren’t making the mistake of dismissing his talents. He’s got his Orcish phalanxes well organised and his cavalry well trained. The various Orcish nations are displaying more unity and discipline than they ever have before. Not only that, the Orcish Sorcerers Guild’s control of dragons is more fearsome than ever. When you consider that our army won’t be as large as we’d hoped, you might wonder why there’s any optimism around. Partly it’s because the Elves have arrived, and they have a very high reputation. Partly it’s because for most people the war hasn’t really started yet. Samsarina, Simnia and Nioj have yet to suffer any casualties. Before their armies march out, it’s easy for people to imagine everything going well, with a swift victory and a glorious return. It rarely works out that way.

  “Or perhaps it just because we’re in a tavern and everyone is full of beer,” I mutter to myself. For Turanians, the war started some time ago, and it hasn’t gone well. I think about all the friends and comrades I’ve lost. I feel my mood worsening.

  In the second tavern we visit, Anumaris Thunderbolt flatly refuses to drink any more alcohol. She asks the barmaid for a glass of water, which causes some mockery to which I don’t take too kindly. I’m still sensitive about being placed in the Sorcerers Auxiliary Regiment. They don’t have a great reputation for fighting or drinking.