by Kyle Belote
She turned to the stairs, taking them two at a time but without haste. His words came back to her as she climbed. “‘I do not mean to be indelicate, Julie. Only two other would-be wizards lived long enough to form bonds with the fairies, but they did not last long. One went mad with power, all raw and unrefined.’”
She reached the top of the stairs. The words tumbled through her head, furthering her anticipation of misfortune. Would she too, pass?
What was the look he gave Staell? she wondered.
Something troubled him, and she desired to find out what it. Perhaps she could broach the subject when they arrived wherever they were going. She yearned to trust him; he seemed like a nice man but was leery. What did she really know about him? He vexed her by holding back.
She held her wand up, and a smile spread across her face. For a moment, happiness returned, drowning out her worries. With alacrity, she complied with his wishes and started to pack.
***
Chapter 11 : Dlad City
Dlad City, a stark dissemblance from the crowning jewel of Ralloc, was rarely visited by Judas. Dlad, though smaller, increased every time he returned, and he marveled at the growth and development. Ralloc wallowed in its rigid ways whereas Dlad City adapted to change. Collectively, Judas considered himself Rallocan by nature, and while he was not as pretentious as most in the capital, he was more like them than he cared to admit. He found comfort with his choice, and like all Rallocans, lacked conformity during changing times. Private matters should remain in confidence.
Julie walked beside him, her eyes round, her head swiveling back and forth, taking in the sights. Dlad City was the first metropolitan area she visited and kept ogling at the size.
He smiled. If she only knew the size of Ralloc.
People moved from the capital to the flourishing urban, but for every family leaving Ralloc, ten more arrived, hoping to lay claim to a more prosperous life. Judas, with Julie in tow, walked down the main road and compared it to the opulent metropolis to the north, he noted the foot-traffic was scant.
Wide buildings of white stone and wood hedged the main thoroughfare, something else you would not witness in Ralloc. Lack of space required architects to build up not out. Light, merry music trembled through the early morning air, clumping dirt churned in their wake, sticking to their boots. A few robes from his home fit Julie’s small frame, and he was glad she was not as small as Meristal, but he would need to buy her a few before the journey.
While Julie took in the sights, her head roving, he did, too, but searched for something else entirely. On the Other Side, he had been tracked down and attacked, and someone either planted or let a sheol slip through. The surprise attack, in hindsight, was difficult for Judas to ward off; from lack of need, he hadn’t fought since the Wizard’s War. But they–whoever they were–managed to track him down in Ralloc, too. Arriving any later might have spelled doom for Julie if she was the intended target. In that regard, he was still unsure. To keep them both safe, they set to the road.
Off to the east side of town, Judas spied newer buildings in the distance, a progress proceeding at a crawling pace aimed at the center of town. The ingenuity of progress created many jobs for younger men of the city, a prosperous cycle.
The air was warmer than Ralloc’s, a city which snuggled against the Vikal Mountains, swathed in a constant, cool breeze coming down from snow-capped mountaintops. Judas’ stomach grumbled, the scent of breakfast reaching his nostrils. The aroma of eggs, bacon, bread, and various fruits like oranges and bananas caused Julie’s stomach to echo his.
“We’ll break our fast once we reach our destination,” he promised.
Julie smiled. “I can wait for food. I wish we were in Ralloc, and I could see it.”
“It may be some time before that happens,” he cautioned.
“Tell me about it.”
His eyes remained forward, locked on their destination. A few dozen people milled about through the street, ghosts for all it mattered. Judas, used to traveling through the packed streets of Ralloc, weaved through with ease.
“There is a long sloping street leading straight from the external gate to the front doors of the castle, home of the Kothlere Council. While a straight line forms from the inner gate to the castle, the gates can be closed between tiers, the outer roads and gates winding serpentine through the city. The entire city lays in a valley and against the Vikal Mountains. Over the years, as the city prospered, it stretched further up the mountain before turning its expansion into the valley. Every few legends, they construct a new exterior wall, sometimes as brief as half a dozen Ages because Ralloc waxed beyond its borders.” He smiled and peeked over his shoulder. Julie walked behind him, her eyes on him, her expression a mix of interest and waiting. He turned to the front and continued.
“The original outer gate, which is now the innermost gate, leads directly to the castle. This wall represented a line, and about five to seven percent of the city’s current population lived enclosed by the inner wall, noble and minor noble houses. The outer limits of the city–relative to the castle–expand in a massive two hundred and seventy-degree arc, almost an entire sphere. It’s a sight to behold.”
“Sounds like a plague,” Julie snorted, derisive.
Judas chuckled at her dark sarcasm. An interesting perspective laced with a tinge of truth. The warlock heard the titters of women and glanced in that direction, aware that Julie mirrored him. Prostitutes waved at a younger gentleman walking in the street; he dipped his head, waved, and promised to frequent their establishment later. The beautiful, tantalizing ladies blew him kisses. The elder turned his face forward, a frown forming. Try as he might, he couldn’t help holding his nose up to the wenches, his pretentiousness creeping forward. He never understood how a women could stoop so low, but as the adage went: prostitution was the first profession.
Judas continued with his recounting. “Ralloc is a towering city with stacking shops, hotels, brothels, and apartments. An unfortunate side effect of rapid and continuous expansion required engineers to build up. The outer wall still lays incomplete and with the culmination of the Wizard’s War, I doubt we will ever see it finished. You never realize how much two-thirds of a completed wall is an eyesore.”
They passed storefronts hugging the broad street to the left and right. Hammers clanked in the distance, pinging off armor or weapons. Shops of cloth and other fine fabrics, groceries and bakeries, and other outlets hedged Julie’s vision as she drank in every detail.
“Ralloc is not beautiful, such a word would be unjust; it’s majestic. Steeple roofs and spires reached for the sky, daring to soar where the birds fly. Each spring, the few, daring-brave climb atop the spires and paint the clay shingles after the long, hard winters. You will not find finer manicured lawns; the hired help turn gardening into impeccable artistry. Stained glass was all the rave two Ages ago and you will find many colored windows. The Ralloc Library is massive; a monolith seemingly chiseled out of one piece of marble, a vast distinction to the rest of the sweeping city.
Judas glanced back at Julie, her eyes intent as she painted the picture in her mind, marveling at the magnificence of his recounting.
Without stopping to shop or visit the businesses, she did see much as they headed for the north end of town. The muffled tap-tap, tap-tap of horse’s hooves pattered on the hard packed roads. Men dressed in the finest robes meandered down the road, and merchants stood on porches hugging their emporiums, awaiting patronage, hoping for coin. Julie’s wandering stares took in the pedestrians, noting the absence of any race other than wizardkind and voiced this to Judas.
“Pedestrians in Ralloc are of every race; far more common in larger communities than here in Dlad City. I am sure a few goblins are here, maybe even some centaurs but in this part of Ernrul, wizardkind is predominate. When we make it back to Ralloc, prepare to get jostled a bit. Navigation can be difficult at best with all the pushing, running, and people squeezing through the press of bodies, cracks
, and avenues. Because of the difficulty in navigating the crowded streets, Ralloc constructed multi-tiered skywalks of stone between buildings to accommodate for so many citizens.”
“Sounds a bit too busy for me,” she admitted.
Judas understood the sentiment, exhaustion a constant companion in Ralloc.
“How many people live in the capital?”
“Last census was about an Epoch ago–a hundred years. The city alone is two million, but we broke five million for the entire Domain, from Ralloc to the Corridor of Cruelty and all the way to the Golden City. The census did not include children under the age of fourteen as they are not the Age of Maturity.”
“Please, please,” a call came from in front and to the right of her. She glimpsed a gray skinned goblin hobbling in her direction. “Look at my wares! I like, you buy!” He held a vase up to her for inspection. Judas kept walking, but Julie’s steps faltered, a mistake Judas made in his youth. Once you slow down, you will be lucky to leave alive. But she slowed not for the goods but to inspect the goblin.
“No, thank you.”
“So cheapest; I like, you buy. Best wares anywhere, you ask satisfied customer!”
“No, thank you.” Julie pushed past him. The creature tried to grab her robe sleeve but she brushed him off, and the goblin stumbled, almost dropping his vase. He shouted something at her in his language. She continued to follow Judas but glanced back at the little being with intrigue.
They reached Traveler’s Respite moments later, the door opening at their approach, a young boy opening from the inside. “Oh, thank you,” Julie said as she entered behind Judas, granting him a smile. A front desk of hickory and brass greeted the travelers, the latter shined from the ample candlelight. A fire crackled in the room to the left; chairs and tables crowded the chamber and two dozen patrons ate their meal. A dark carpet of cobalt with narrow, crisscrossing crimson lines throughout, covered the floor.
With the front counter lacking staff, Judas rang the small brass bell. He turned to regard Julie. “Best if we don’t use my real name. I’m Willem Fossard, and you will be my daughter. Willem and Cynthia Fossard.”
“Why not use your real name?”
“I’d rather be safe.” A plump, short woman with curly orange hair and light, golden freckles came from the back room.
“Greetings this morning, good sire. Welcome to the Traveler’s Respite. The two of ya’? No Mrs?”
Judas shook his head. “The two of us, no Mrs. We would like two rooms, please.”
“Very kind of you, sire, allowing your daughter her privacy.” She opened a ledger and dipped the calamus in ink. “Your names?”
“Willem and Cynthia Fossard.”
“Oh!” the lady squeaked. “Minor Noble, how lucky we are! I hope you enjoy your stay with us. It’ll be two bits a night and comes with two meals a day, breakfast and dinner. How many nights, Lord Fossard?”
“For now, let’s do two.”
“Warlock Lakayre?” a strident voice called out. Judas froze, his shoulders tense. He turned his attention away from the plump woman, seeking out the voice. Todd, the writer, stood with his mouth gaping open. “I didn’t expect you until closer to midday.”
With a tight jaw, the warlock greeted him. “Morning, Todd.” Judas glanced back to the woman at the counter, her mouth agape. He gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I didn’t want to concern you, dear. If its any consolation, I’m still Minor noble.”
She paled further and nodded. Reaching between the outer and inner robe, procuring his coin purse, he pulled it free. He pushed eight copper bits forward. “For the rooms,” and pushed five silver chips forward. “For discretion.”
Her eyes flickered from his to the coins and back half a dozen times before she smiled and scooped up the money. “Lord Fossard, your rooms are on the second floor, first one on the right and last one on the left. Sorry, these two rooms are the closest together.”
Judas flourished a kind smile. “Those will do fine, my dear.” She passed two keys across the wood surface, careful not to make contact with him. The warlock ignored this, used to it by now.
He discovered Julie’s fallen expression when he followed her glower to the dining room and the patrons inside. The warlock gleaned what she speculated. She thought the staring and talking was meant for her. Their gazes were placid at first, neither friendly nor scowling. Once the shock abated, suspicion and wariness greeted them, remiss to how the healthy regarded the contagious and infirm.
The looks of disgust were meant for him.
The stares riled her, a flush coming to her face. He sensed the bud of resentment. A titter of half-hidden laughter coming from a cluster of young women, a soft, breathy laugh. Others hid their whispers and smiles behind well-placed hands. Once, Judas felt much the same as Julie, but he learned to let go of the anger. It ate him up and turned him bitter. He would never be able to influence people or their way and wished closed minds came with closed mouths. Then again, he couldn’t talk.
Julie took a step in the direction of the dining room, her intentions clear, but he held out a hand, snatching her by the arm.
“Pay no heed, my dear. Their laughs and whispers are for me, not you.”
“Why would they do that?” she asked, her face dark with anger.
“Because they are young, rich, and foolish.” He smiled and winked at her. “Because they can.”
“I don’t understand it!” she glowered at the group. She turned her attention to Judas but kept casting glances at them. “There is nothing wrong with you! They are afraid, they’re cowards!”
“Fools often are. Only a fool can choose to abandon his folly, and a wise man would waste his breath trying to show them a path they are not ready to walk. Forget about them.” He waved them off. “It has to do with who and what I am, with the war. You are guilty by association, unfortunately, and therefore receive the same treatment.”
Julie mulled over his words and regarded the young man in their presence. The mentor moved to stand beside her, both facing Todd. “Todd, this is my apprentice, Julie. Julie, this young man is Todd, a columnist for the New Suns Times. He’s been hounding me for an interview for nigh a year, and I promised him I would. His patient persistence is coming to fruition.”
Todd smiled, nodding absentmindedly, eyes darting between the two when he gave Julie his full attention. The two locked eyes and she gave a polite smile, Todd melting before her like ice in a hot skillet. Judas felt the ripple of allurement between them, the faint, unseen stirring within his youthful entourage.
The magelust.
The longer his apprentice and the scribe stared at each other, the stronger the pull. What passed off as infatuation would turn to full-blown lust for both of them, and quicker than they realized.
Judas spotted the glittering in Todd’s eyes, the silent exchange between them, and sidled closer towards Julie, a protective gesture. She was his apprentice, and he needed to look out for her best interests. She was not ready to face this burden.
Knowing this would be a good time to break the two up, he reached into his coin purse and pulled out a gold coin. He handed it to her.
“A bright eye?” she exclaimed, her eyes going wide. They narrowed just as quick, concern on her face. “What is this for?”
Judas smiled at her. “We passed, at least, four tailoring shops on the way here. Have your measurements taken, and two sets of robes made. Todd and I will need some time to at least start the process. We’ll have more made when we reach our destination.” He glanced at the young man. “In installments, okay?”
Todd shrugged, his blue eyes sparkling, happy the moment was coming to pass. Julie beamed and thanked Judas. He gave her a key to her room, the one closest to the stairs while he took the one at the end of the hall. Both watched her go.
“I think I am in love,” Todd whispered.
“No, probably not,” Judas said in a low, firm voice. “Lust, that’s all. If you’re not careful, she might inadvertentl
y destroy your mind and make you think you’re a pretty little girl with pink bows in your hair. Come on, let’s get this over.”
Judas climbed the stairs to the second floor with Todd in tow. He pushed open the door after throwing the bolt and entered the snug room. Nothing was ever like home and judging from the modest bed, he had to agree. He tossed his pack on the thin turquoise quilt with gold stitching. Two pillows stuffed with feathers sat like pregnant sows at the head. A low flame flickered above a feeble bed of coals. The would-be fire lacked a comforting warmth.
“This is cozy,” Todd said behind him, eagerness in his voice. He pushed past the threshold, taking a seat in one of the brown, leather-covered chairs. He ripped open his small satchel and pulled out his supplies.
Why did I agree with this? Judas asked himself, and not for the first time.
The warlock’s eyes flickered to the mantle and the crystal filled with a light brown, almost golden liquid. Though still the hour for breakfast, it was a good time for a drink. He hoped a strong, stiff brew lay within. Pouring himself a cup, he sniffed, a small smile coming to his face. He recognized the vanilla and peach scent, one of his favorites. It was as expensive as it smelled. Even the name, Parlaquay, exuded a cultivated allusion.
Parlaquay came from the south of Ralloc’s control. The Domains of Ralloc and Marcoalyn fell under the sway of the Kothlere, an influence ending at the Melodic Mountains in the south. On the other side was the Giem Domain, where Parlaquay was made. He had a portend that if today didn’t go well, he would be reimbursing the hotel for a devoured bottle.
Being in the same room with the kid agitated Judas’ nerves, his presence dredging up feelings, thoughts, and memories best left buried deep in the recesses of his mind, or in the past where they ceased to exist. But the young man breathed life back into a haunted past. Todd scratched the parchment behind him.
Too late to back out now.
Judas reached down to the small sleeve next to the fireplace, pulling out two logs and setting them on the bed of coals, the dry bark catching fire with ease. Todd shifted, setting himself up, oblivious to the warlock.