by Blink, Bob
“So, you went to this place and discovered the other two strangers,” the Saltique encouraged. “How far into the Wastelands was this place?”
“I estimate it would have taken five or six days by horseback to reach it,” Suline replied.
Her claim caused a sharp intake of breath by Delril. “No one has ventured that far. The corruption blocks magic. How were you able to go and return?”
“I could sense the corruption all around me, but the small patch where they were waiting was free of such effects. I do not know how they discovered it, whether they created it, or whether there are others like it.”
“Perhaps that is how the Baldari are able to cross the desert Wastelands,” suggested one of the Assistants. “If there are many of these patches and one knows where they are located . . .”
The speculations by the Assistant were cut off by the Carif. “What happened next? How did you apprehend the two remaining Casters?”
“Knowing the location and the fact they were alone, the rest was straightforward. I returned to Slipi, explained the situation to the Army, and told both Ferkle and Tanss what they were to do. Once a team was assembled, we made a Doorway back out there, surprised them, and quickly subdued them.”
“You found nothing in their camp that would suggest their origins?” Ensay asked.
“They had very little in the way of a camp. Some blankets and packs. Almost no food, which suggests they can return to their home base easily. The older man had several journals he was keeping, but the writing is nothing I recognize. I have brought them back for study. I also found this,” she said, and pulled the cracked and ruined remains of Rigo’s staff out of the wrapping she’d used to conceal it until now.
“They did have staffs!” Shym exclaimed.
“Not much of one,” Carif said as she peered closely at the broken object. “Was this damaged in the capture?”
“No,” Suline explained. “We found it laying discarded not too far from where they were taken. All reports indicate they hadn’t had the object with them when they attacked Ferkle and the Army. You will notice the wood is without any markings. There are no runes or glyphs to support casting, nor a focusing crystal to direct and magnify the spell.”
“Perhaps they destroyed the staff themselves so we could not learn some spell of importance,” Delril suggested, but none believed that. “If they needed the staff to function, why would they have destroyed it? They couldn’t have known capture was imminent.”
“You are certain there are no staffs hidden in the area?” Carif asked pointedly.
“We did not see any, but it is not impossible that others exist somewhere in the surrounding area. It would take time to search the area completely.”
The questioning of Suline continued for another glass. Finally, Carif said. “This is indeed disturbing. You were right to make it known to us as you have. We will have to discuss this among ourselves, but in the meantime there are several matters I would ask you to attend to. See the quartermaster and obtain a replacement staff for Ferkle. We will send someone to the village with you, but I want you to return to Slipi and from there to the place in the Wastelands where the strangers were captured. Take the Army with you, and have the area searched carefully. Return tomorrow evening with what has been learned. I believe we will want your prisoners brought here to Nals. We will decide that by the time you return. Do you understand?”
Suline nodded.
“Good. You may wait outside for a moment.”
Once Suline had left the room, Carif turned to her advisors.
“Do you believe her story?” Shym asked.
“We will send Kirin back with her. She is one we know we can trust. She will see if this place in the Wastelands is real. That alone would be a strong proof. I want that broken staff examined, and I want one of the rooms below prepared. Use one with the special facilities.”
The Guild had a number of rooms below the building which were designed to hold those with the gift. The same runes that Suline had had quickly painted into the inn were carefully and expertly incorporated into the walls of the cells below. Some of the rooms were holding pens, but several were designed for more intense sessions, including the ability to torture or magically withdraw information from a detainee.
“Do you believe the matter of Casting without runes?” Ensay asked.
“We have had indications that such might be possible. We have to assume these people might have such abilities. Have you ever known anyone who could destroy a staff of power, with or without the use of magical runes?”
The others solemnly shook their heads. That was indeed a concern. The staffs had been thought to be indestructible until now. Kirin would have to verify that part of the story. Perhaps Ferkle should be brought back and questioned carefully as well.
Chapter 29
Slipi
Western Sedfair
Suline had taken Senior Caster Kirin and over half of Slipi’s guardsmen out into the Ruins as Carif had directed. They had spent the better part of the day searching the small patch of green in the middle of the hostile Wastelands, and all were happy when they were able to return to the village.
“I would have never believed I would venture into that place at all, let alone so far,” Kirin said to Suline when they returned to Slipi. Kirin was a small brunette with short hair and a dumpy figure, but she was clearly skilled with her gift. Suline could sense her carefully checking the area during their searches.
“You will report our findings back to the Saltique?” Suline asked.
“Yes, of course. There was nothing there. No signs of a large group or even that they camped there very long. That leaves open the matter of where they came from. It is unfortunate that the language barrier exists. Otherwise we could extract what we want to know.”
Suline shuddered. She’d heard rumors of techniques that could be used, although no one officially acknowledged them.
“You will bring the prisoners to Nals in the morning,” Kirin directed. “There will be a place waiting for them at the Guild.”
“I understand,” Suline agreed. She wondered if that would be the end of it for her, or whether this situation would open opportunities for her. She knew only time would tell.
As she watched Kirin step through the Doorway that would take her back to Nals, Suline considered the minor task she’d been given. Apparently one of the young men who had first reported the strangers was scheduled to begin training at the Guild’s University at the end of summer. Kirin had learned of this and had made the decision that he should accompany Suline and the prisoners back to Nals. It would save the youngster the difficulties of the trip, and the Saltique might be interested in hearing what he had seen directly from him. Suline debated whether to send a messenger, or make the call informing the boy and his family herself.
Fen didn’t know whether to be excited or disappointed. He and his family were waiting outside the stockade until it was time to leave for Nals. Fen was disappointed that he wasn’t going to have more time in Slipi as he’d been led to believe, but he would be traveling via a Doorway. That was something special, and the idea of instantaneously leaving his home and arriving in Nals was exhilarating. Caster Suline who had stopped by the previous afternoon had told him he might be called upon to tell the Saltique what he had seen. The Saltique! He couldn’t believe he might soon be in the presence of the land’s most powerful Caster. He had to present himself well, for such an opportunity might change the very nature of his time at the University.
He wouldn’t have admitted it, but he was pleased his father would be going along with him. They needed a contingent of guards to watch over the prisoners, and his father would be in charge of them. Fen would have to remain out of the way, but he would once again have an opportunity to observe the strangers who intrigued him so much. Despite those who doubted what had taken place, Fen knew that magic had been employed in a manner that he had been led to believe impossible. The strangers had been able to call o
n powerful magic without a staff or any of the usual aides. Fen clearly wished he could talk with them, and learn how they had managed it. Sadly, that would not happen. His father had told him to keep his distance, and Fen knew firsthand that the strangers didn’t speak the local language.
“What will happen to them?” Fen asked as he watched the four captive prisoners being led from the stockade under guard.
“I don’t know,” his father replied honestly.
Three Casters were present, both Ferkle and Tanss who he knew well, and the Caster Suline who had visited his home the previous day. All carried staffs, so Ferkle had managed to acquire a replacement for the one Fen had seen destroyed. The Casters and their magic should not be necessary, as the strangers were still banded, but no one was taking any chances. Fen’s father had indicated the Mayor and the Army would be happy to have the strangers gone. It was unclear what they could do, but the village had enough to worry about with the frequent appearance of the Chulls.
Once everyone was in place behind the stockade, Caster Suline raised her staff, and as Fen watched with anticipation and admiration, a large glowing arch appeared off to one side of the courtyard. Suline was the first through, followed by the guardsmen leading the prisoners. Tanss and Ferkle followed after, and once everyone else had passed through, Fen’s father pointed the way. Somewhat hesitantly, Fen approached the arch, but knowing this was something he hoped to be able to create himself one day, he stepped resolutely into the opening, his father following just behind him. Even having prepared himself, Fen couldn’t help the elation he felt as he exited the other side, seeing the Guild buildings he only had seen in paintings before this. He was actually here in Nals! Much earlier than expected and he wondered what they would be having him do until the classes began, but he was here.
“We’ve moved east a considerable amount,” Ash’urn noted as they stepped out of the Bypass portal. He’d gotten into the habit of noting the sun as they entered and exited these magical gateways.
“This is a much bigger city,” Rigo replied, indicating the vast expanse of structures that filled the valley below the hill on which they’d appeared. “I have a feeling we are being taken to meet someone important.”
“I hope we find someone who we can talk to,” Orna added. “I’m tired of pointing when I need to take a piss.”
“This way,” their guard mumbled at them. Rigo followed the verbal instructions without conscious thought, moving automatically in the requested directions. When he realized the others hadn’t turned, he hollered, “This way guys.”
“You understood that guy, didn’t you?” Ash’urn asked when he caught up with Rigo again.
“I guess so,” Rigo admitted, thinking back on why he’d turned.
“How is that possible?” Ash’urn asked. “Is there something left over from Daim that is helping you interpret their language?”
“Not Daim,” Rigo said with certainty. “There’s nothing that says he ever had any awareness of this place or these people.”
“Then how?”
“I don’t know,” Rigo admitted. “But you want to know something else? I’m starting to recognize some of the symbols we see everywhere?”
“What? Do you know what they mean?”
“Nothing so grand. But I know I’ve seen some of them. We were right. They are linked to the magic. I’m certain of that. They can’t do magic without them.”
“How can that be?” Ash’urn asked. “Why would magic be so different?”
Rigo shrugged. He didn’t know either. He wished he knew how he knew what he did.
Ash’urn started to say something when one of their guards shouted out, “Silence!”
“He doesn’t like us talking,” Rigo translated quickly.
Ash’urn nodded. Even he had figured out that much.
Without further discussion, they followed their escort into one of the larger buildings, then down a long ramp to the lower levels. Lower usually meant bad, and they weren’t surprised when they were ushered into another room, which was obviously designed as a cell. The walls and ceilings were decorated with the same symbols Rigo recalled from the inn where he’d discovered his magic blocked. The symbols, and the magic behind them, was unnecessary. They were already blocked by the bands they still wore. Once again they would have nowhere to go, and like the stockade, they didn’t even have a view to the outside.
“I don’t like the looks of this,” Lorl added, the first words he’d uttered since leaving the cells on the far side of the Bypass used to bring them here.
Chapter 30
Brothers Nyll and Yori sat upon their horses, their bodies sore from several days of riding. Neither had ridden a horse more than short distances in many years, and they had found the trip difficult. At least they hadn’t been tasked with riding all the way to Ny’em up the great river. That would have taken a number of weeks.
Brother Nyll looked at the small village at the base of the hill below them. They had finally reached their destination. This was the first time he had been away from the monastery since he’d joined many years ago. He was older now, his hair receded to the point he had only the barest fringe around the edge. His ponytail was only the barest hint of its former glory, a thin cluster of gray hair. He was still overweight, and while he had advanced within the order, like Brother Yori his progress had been restricted. Brother Nyll had concerns about the order and its view of the world, but had been reluctant to separate himself from the monastery, hoping he might exert a small influence from within over time.
Wizard Atel was easy to locate. He was known by everyone in the village.
“You wish to go to the Outpost?” he’d asked when Brother Nyll awkwardly approached him.
“I don’t know about this Outpost. I wish to seek out a wizard named Rigo, or my brother Kaler who is a close friend of his.”
“I do not know where Rigo might be,” Atel explained. “He is frequently found at the Outpost, but he also travels a great deal. Everyone knows of the compound his friends Kaler and Daria have formed in Kellmore. Perhaps it is best to go there.”
“Could you do so?” Brother Nyll asked. “This is something he would know how to approach. We will wait for your return.”
“Wait?” asked Atel. “Surely you will come along. That would be the most expedient approach. I wouldn’t have to explain anything to your brother.”
“Go with you?” asked Brother Yori. “You mean through one of your magical travel gates?” He had known they needed to have one of the wizards involved if they were to make this happen in a timely manner. The ride to central Kellmore would have taken weeks and neither he nor Brother Nyll were in shape to tackle such a journey. He had never considered stepping into something that magic had created.
Brother Nyll didn’t seem nearly so put off. “If that’s the best way,” he asked. “What do we do?”
Atel smiled. “Come with me. I usually make the Bypass over here where we are out of the way.”
With no obvious motions or strain, the young wizard opened a glowing arch off to one side.
“Through there?” Brother Yori asked nervously, but with a secret thrill of anticipation. “How do you know where to go?”
“I’ve been to Kaler’s sanctuary before,” Atel said. “I took a young orphan girl there a couple of years ago.”
“What about our mounts?” Brother Nyll asked.
“Bring them along. You might want them on the far side.”
“The Archimandrite didn’t forbid us from going,” Brother Yori reasoned aloud. “Perhaps it would be the most expedient way to deal with this.”
Moments later the three men stepped out onto a grassy meadow. A short distance away was a very large structure. To their left was a large corral with a number of horses. Brother Nyll could hear the sounds of laughter that represented the combined happiness of at least a hundred children. He could also see that they had been noticed, and a tall, extremely fit man was headed their way. Brother Nyll realized i
t was Kaler.
Kaler walked toward the three men who had suddenly appeared on his property. He had caught them arriving, and knew they had come via Bypass, which meant one of them was a wizard. He was a little uncertain about what the visit might portend. Just the other day Jeen had visited, the happiness at seeing her after a long time quickly overshadowed by the terrible news she had brought. Rigo was lost, perhaps dead. No one really knew for certain. He had ventured back into the Ruins once again, and now he and his entire party had not been heard from for far too long. They had missed their return date. Worse, according to Jeen, the nature of his travels in the Ruins prohibited anyone from searching for him. Kaler didn’t entirely understand it, but he knew that Jeen would have moved mountains to locate Rigo if it were possible. Now, more surprise visitors. Kaler feared it might be more disturbing news. Perhaps they had found Rigo’s body, or worse. The only thing that gave him hope was he didn’t recognize these people. Surely Jeen would have come herself if such dire tidings were to be delivered. There was only one way to find out.