Conjuring the Flesh

by Brandon Fox

  Ander stiffened. Lucian was right. Whatever’s happening will be in Pella. His arms clasped Leif tightly. Excitement at the confirmation of the ghost’s warning made him shiver.

  “Pella’s a backwater,” Ander said. “There’s never been anything like this before. I think Sorel’s right about Lord Tolmin’s letter being a diversion. The zamindar wants his enemies in Fochelis while he does something in Pella.”

  Thane looked baffled by the outburst. Ander blushed but didn’t retract his statement. His discomfort grew as silence stretched, but he didn’t explain the real reason for his conviction.

  Sorel watched both of them with unblinking attention. His sensual appearance often led people to assume he possessed a shallow mind, but Ander knew better. Sorel had observed negotiations with some of the wiliest men in the kingdom before being disowned by his merchant father. He had a keen understanding of people and could sense deception like a cat smelled a mouse.

  Ander forced himself to relax. He shrugged and returned Thane’s gaze. “I grew up there. Believe me, this is remarkable. That’s why Leif rode without rest to tell us about it.”

  “It does fit together,” Sorel said. “And the sorcerers’ orbs make me curious. It’s as if they’re trying to tighten both military and magical protections around Pella.”

  “A new convoy with crystals might be arriving in Pella soon,” Thane said, beginning to look convinced. “After losing the last set, they’d want to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

  “Where do we go, then?” Ander asked. “Pella, or Fochelis?”

  They mulled the dilemma, pondering the disastrous consequences if they chose wrongly. Unexpectedly, it was Leif who broke the silence. He spoke softly, without opening his eyes.

  “One more thing. Lady Tay’s influential customers have been keeping their mouths shut. But one had too much to drink and babbled about gaining imperial favor. Lady Tay wanted me to tell you. She thinks the zamindar himself might be coming to Pella.”

  Lady Tayanita’s opinion was enough to tilt the balance. “We’ll go to Pella,” Thane said. “I’ll ask Anna to investigate in Fochelis.”

  Ander tried to conceal his relief. Thane had made the right choice and the secret of Lucian’s existence still held. As his anxiety dissipated, his attention returned to Leif, who seemed to have fallen asleep in his arms. He tightened his hug. “How are you feeling?” he asked softly.

  Leif’s eyes opened to slits. “The chill is gone. There’s no pain. Alred said that means there’s no frostbite. I just need to sleep now.”

  Thane leaned over Leif and kissed him on the cheek. “Welcome to the lyceum. I’m sorry your arrival was so painful. We’ll make it up to you after you’ve rested.”

  Leif gave him a tired smile.

  Ander stood, lifting Leif with him. “You’re going to like it here. But first you’re going to rest.” Leif didn’t argue. He started nodding off as they dried him. They wrapped him in a warm robe, then took him upstairs and laid him on the leather cushion in Thane and Ander’s room. Sorel fed the banked fire in the hearth while Ander covered his friend with a quilt.

  “Rest as long as you need,” Ander said, brushing hair from his friend’s eyes. “One of us will wake you when it’s time to eat.”

  Leif nodded, his eyes nearly shut. He was asleep before Ander’s hand completed its caress. They left him to his slumber, closing the door softly.

  Chapter 14

  THANE sat motionless, surveying the gray city and nearby encampment with foreboding. Rain beaded on the heavy gray wool of his cloak. Ander, Sorel, Nicolai, and Leif waited in the woods behind him. They had known something was wrong long before reaching Pella. Even Leif could sense the edgy tension in the air.

  He turned his horse to the shelter of the forest canopy. As soon as he was among the trees, he threw back his hood. Cool rain soaked his hair and ran down his face unnoticed.

  “You and Ander were right,” he told Sorel. “He’s here. There’s an encampment near the east gates. It’s hard to see in this rain, but there’s a tent flying the imperial pennant. And the stench we smell in the kei must be coming from the zamindar’s personal sorcerers. It’s far too strong to be the product of some backwoods wizard.”

  Ander pushed back his hood. “Are we too late? Does this presence in the kei mean the zamindar has already succeeded?”

  Thane’s eyebrows pulled down. “Maybe. But there’s no way to be sure from here. We’ll have to go into the city.”

  The anxiety in his friends’ eyes did nothing to bolster Thane’s confidence, but he held himself straight and pulled his hood back over his head. He turned his horse toward Pella and led them out of the forest.

  They approached from the west, the side opposite the zamindar’s encampment. The rain tapered off as they descended from the foothills, and the air thickened with a cloying tension. Thane recognized it as the taint of blood magic. They rode into the city without being challenged, though the guard at the gate was heavy.

  Once inside the city walls, they breathed easier. The streets bustled with merchants, children, animals—the usual noise and pungent scents of a rough city. Though the zamindar’s guards and sorcerers kept a tight grip on order, the imperial visit seemed to have been good for business.

  When they reached a wider avenue, Ander came abreast of Thane. “It’s strange. It doesn’t feel like Pella.”

  “It’s the kei, thick with spells. Can you feel the pain in them?”

  Ander nodded, his nose crinkling with distaste. A cascade of hair, unruly after their long ride, fell over his eyes. Thane felt a pang. He’s too young for this danger. Hardly older than Lucian was. But he knew that Ander, like Lucian, would have refused to stay behind.

  “We’ll have to be cautious,” Thane said. “Any use of the kei is sure to be detected.”

  “Then we’ll stop them without using magic,” Ander said, absently brushing hair out of his eyes. “You’ll find a way. You’ve beaten the zamindar before. You can do it again.”

  Thane looked away, his face burning. Am I being a fool, leading them in a hopeless cause? Doubts tormented him, but he concealed them with fierce determination. His friends were committed to the cause and had faced danger courageously many times before. Still, his lack of a plan made the desperate mission seem foolhardy.

  The zamindar’s personal guard grew more conspicuous. Worse, even though they avoided the marketplace where the zamindar’s sorcerers had stationed themselves, a nagging sense of being observed grew stronger as they rode deeper into the city. Thane brought them to a halt before they entered the gaudy precinct where Lady Tayanita’s House of Companionship stood.

  “I don’t like it,” he told Ander. “It’s been bad ever since we passed through the gates. But around here it’s enough to make you gag. Someone’s watching the kei.”

  “I feel it too. Like a guard dog ready to attack.”

  Thane made an abrupt decision. “It’s too dangerous here. We’ll find somewhere they’re not watching as closely and contact Lady Tayanita when it’s safer.”

  “It’s possible they’re watching her house,” Sorel said. “She’s been arrested before, on suspicion of treason.”

  “Where do we go, then?” Nicolai asked. He glanced around cautiously. “We’d best not linger in the street.”

  “I know an inn that’s not too far,” Leif said. “It’s popular with husbands cheating on their wives. The innkeeper asks no questions, pretends to be blind. Everyone knows better, so they don’t try to cheat him, but they’re grateful for the fiction.”

  Thane nodded. “Lead the way.”

  Leif took them around the long way to avoid the marketplace. But with the imperial entourage in town, even the side streets were crowded. Men and women dressed in rich robes, many of them accompanied by personal guards, pushed their way through the more plainly dressed natives. Thane kept as much distance as he could from the visiting aristocrats. The cruelty of their expressions, the arrogance of their demeanor,
fueled an anger he knew he couldn’t afford.

  They soon reached the inn. “Remember, pretend he’s blind,” Leif said as they unsaddled their horses in a livery stable across the street. They left their mounts in the care of an ostler, then threw their saddlebags over their shoulders.

  Leif opened an unmarked door, and they entered a dimly lit dining room. As he had said, the inn and its customers put a premium on discretion. The few couples in the room, whispering over tankards of ale, didn’t look up as Thane and his wet companions went to stand near the hearth. A few moments later, a slender middle-aged man emerged from the kitchen. He traversed the room without difficulty though his eyes were closed.

  “Greeting, Sergi,” Leif said. “I hope you’re well.”

  The man bowed. “Leif. Welcome.” He cocked his head sideways, as if listening. “You’ve brought many friends today. Four? How can I serve you?”

  “We’ll be needing a room,” Leif answered. “How about the one with the enormous bed? Is it available?”

  “You’re in luck. The room’s empty.” A merry expression filled his features. “Your popularity grows too great for the beds at Lady Tayanita’s house.”

  “We’ll go on upstairs, then. We’ve been traveling and need to get dry.”

  “I’m honored to serve you,” the innkeeper said with a small bow. “It’s good to hear you again.”

  Leif touched him lightly on the arm and then picked up his saddlebag. “I’ll show them the way,” he said. Sergi nodded and returned to the kitchen. Leif led the way up a narrow staircase to the second floor. A hallway provided access to a series of rooms. He opened the door nearest the stairs.

  Wavy glass panels filled two small windows, admitting silvery light. Plaster walls were painted a rosy gold, and a fire burned in the small hearth. A massive bed covered with blankets and furs occupied more than half the room’s space.

  Thane dropped his saddlebags and sank onto the mattress. “I see why you favor this room. Do you often need this much space?”

  Leif shrugged. “There’s a pair of boys who’re fond of me, both from musical families. They’ve been singing together since they were children. One of their fathers visits the ladies at Lady Tayanita’s. They don’t want him to know they’re lovers, so we come here instead. Sergi has an arrangement with Lady Tayanita.”

  Sorel grinned at Leif. “Now you’ve done it. You’ve given Thane a new idea. We’ve never tested musicians who perform together. They’d likely have deep rapport and make exceptional mages.”

  “I should’ve thought of it before,” Thane mused. Then he took a deep breath and shook his head. “It’ll have to wait. Sorel, Nicolai, see what you can learn about the zamindar’s encampment. Numbers, guards, patrols, anything else you can think of. The rest of us will try to find out why they’re here.”

  Nicolai looked at the huge bed and sighed. “A pity we can’t try out the furniture first. It looks so comfortable.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll wait till you’re back. This bed is big enough for acrobatics, and you’re the best of us at that. I think Leif will be amazed.”

  Nicolai brightened. “Then Sorel and I will be quick. Meet here for dinner?”

  Sorel put a hand on his partner’s back and gave him a push. “Dinner it is. Come on, beast. We’d best leave before you get hard and all your thoughts turn to love.”

  “Wise counsel,” Thane said. “I think Ander and I should start our search as well.” He turned to Leif. “Do you want to come with us? Or do you think your friend Sergi might have news he’d be willing to share?”

  “I might as well start with Sergi,” Leif said. “I can help him in the kitchen. He’ll tell me whatever he knows, as long as it doesn’t involve his customers.”

  “Good. Until dinner, then.”

  THE sun was still an hour from the horizon when Thane and Ander returned to the inn, cold and weary. They entered the dining room and found Leif sitting at a table in the back. He appeared to have retained the innkeeper’s favor; the table held a pitcher of hot mulled wine, five glasses, and a platter of bread and sliced meats.

  “Have you seen Sorel and Nicolai?” Thane asked. He settled onto a bench and poured wine for Ander and himself.

  “Not yet. But it’s still early. They’re probably waiting to see when the patrols are relieved.”

  “Did you have any luck with Sergi?” Thane picked up a slice of baked ham. He was ravenous but forced himself to eat slowly.

  “More than I expected. He seemed relieved to find someone to talk with. He’s worried.”

  “We noticed the same thing,” Ander said. “There’s a lot of muttering in the plazas, people whispering in the well houses. Everyone was cautious, though. I didn’t see anybody I know, and nobody wanted to talk with strangers.”

  Leif drank some wine, then put his glass down. “No wonder. Sergi says twenty of Pella’s most prominent citizens are being held in the zamindar’s camp. He calls them guests, but everybody knows they’re hostages. Their lives are forfeit if anybody starts trouble. And did you hear about the sorcerers walking the streets at night?”

  Thane’s appetite disappeared. “No. What did you hear?”

  “They’ve started barring the city gates at night, as if we were at war. Once the gates are closed, the sorcerers start walking the streets. Each has a guard, and each carries one of those silver orbs I told you about.”

  Ander stopped eating as well. “That’s all? They just walk around?”

  “Sergi says they stare at their orbs like they’re in a trance. The guards have to clear the road, otherwise the sorcerers would stumble over anything in their path.”

  “They’re searching,” Thane said. “They’ve probably been hoping somebody would try selling the crystals in the bazaar.”

  Ander nodded. “That’s where a thief would go to find a buyer. The sorcerers haven’t found the crystals there, so now they’re starting to search the rest of the city.”

  Thane frowned. “You could be right. But the crystals were in a shielded box. The sorcerers must know that. What if they’re doing something else entirely? Something in preparation for whatever the zamindar has planned?”

  Ander shrugged. “I admit I’m just guessing. There’s no way to know.”

  “Perhaps there is. If I get close enough to one of those orbs, I might be able to feel what it’s doing to the kei.”

  Ander didn’t say anything, but the entreaty in his eyes conveyed doubts as clearly as a functioning bond. “Don’t worry,” Thane said. “I won’t interfere. Just watch and learn. Besides, we don’t have much choice. We have to do something.” He turned to Leif. “Do you know what streets they’ll be on tonight? Do they follow a pattern?”

  “Sergi said they start from the city’s gates and walk all the main avenues. Even some of the back streets and alleys. If you’re near a gate around sunset, you’ll see one.”

  Thane straightened. “There’s no time to waste, then. It’s nearly dusk. Where’s the closest gate?”

  Leif looked smug. “The Minstrel’s Gate. We could be there before dark. And I’ve got a lair nearby, on a balcony overlooking a garden. Pavol and I sometimes meet there for a quick tumble when he can’t get off duty. There’s even a key to the garden hidden behind a loose rock in the wall.”

  Ander rolled his eyes. “You’re incorrigible. You climb into a balcony, near the gate, to fuck with on-duty guards? Does Pavol like danger?”

  “It’s not so dangerous,” Leif said airily. “The garden’s overgrown, and the doors from the house to the balcony are boarded up. It’s old Lady Trygvesson’s mansion. I doubt she’s opened the curtains for ten years. She prefers living at her country house.”

  “Perfect!” Thane pushed back from the table. “We should leave now.”

  Ander sighed, resigned. “I know I can’t talk you out of it. You’re sure we don’t have time to finish eating first?”

  Thane hesitated, not missing the phrasing of Ander’s question. Though he didn’t
want to show it, Leif’s plan wasn’t without risk. “Ander… I don’t think all three of us need to go. Someone should wait here for Sorel and Nicolai.”

  “Leif can do that. If he’s lucky, he might talk them into a tumble.”

  “But Leif knows the garden, how to get to the balcony. He knows where the key is.”

  Ander snorted. “You know you can’t fool me. I know exactly what you’re feeling. You think it’s dangerous. That’s all the more reason I should go with you.”

  Thane didn’t try to deny the accusation. “Please,” he said softly. “If you’re with me, I’ll fear for your safety. I’ll need to concentrate on the kei. Worrying about you would get in the way. As you say, you know my feelings. So you know I’m not trying to deceive you about this.”

  Ander flinched. After a few seconds, he nodded. “Be careful, then. I won’t rest easy until your return.”

  Thane hugged him. “Don’t worry. We’ve been sleeping on the ground too many nights. I’m eager to have you in a warm bed again.”

  Ander returned the hug before turning to Leif. “You be careful too.”

  Leif raised an eyebrow. “Me? I’m always careful. How do you think I’ve kept two steps ahead of Tannis all these years?”

  “Cleverness and caution aren’t the same thing. And Tannis isn’t the zamindar.”

  “True,” Leif admitted, turning serious. “We’ll take care.”

  LEIF was polite to call this overgrown. Thane peered at the ancient garden through an iron gate. The old mansion a short distance from the Minstrel’s Gate was in severe disrepair, and the garden looked as though it hadn’t been tended in decades. Trees had taken root in the flowerbeds and grown unchecked. Evening light slanted through skeletal branches.

  Leif pulled a loose piece of fieldstone from the wall and retrieved a key before opening the gate and letting Thane into the gloomy garden. “Pavol keeps the hinges well oiled,” he whispered. “Lady Trygvesson probably couldn’t hear a thunderclap in her own bedchamber. But you never know who might be on the street.”