Chasing Magic (Hand Of Justice Book 2)

by Jace Mitchell

  “You’re pirates.” William was standing at the mess hall’s door as if he thought the two newcomers might rush out. “Your kind makes your life off raping and pillaging others. Ships like ours. Good people who venture too far out into this watery wilderness.”

  Erin smiled. Riley sensed no hatred from her, and no fear either. She wasn’t angry that she no longer owned her ship, and she wasn’t scared of anyone—as if she’d planned this, or had known it would come.

  “That was just a...Well, ‘bluff’ might be the correct term. Eric and I do that because we have to, or at least we did in the beginning. It was important for us to instill fear in the rest of the pirates on the seas, especially when it got to be just the two of us.”

  “Hell, Stormhandle, you’re gonna have to start makin’ sense.” William was not pleased with her answer.

  Riley remained silent, wanting to listen before she made a decision. Lucie, Worth, and Verith were all in the mess hall, too. The fight outside had set up a division of labor that everyone seemed pleased with—Verith ran the ship, and Riley made decisions that affected the mission.

  Erin was still smiling, William’s displeasure not affecting her at all.

  “Sure, sure. I’ll explain since we’re now part of your crew. Have you all heard of Irth?”

  William only glared.

  Riley shook her head. “We’re from New Perth. We do not travel the great seas. We’re content with what we have.”

  Erin’s eyes narrowed, the smile disappearing. “Interesting. I’ve never met anyone from New Perth. Never even heard of it, but then again, this is the farthest we’ve ventured from our usual shores.” She dropped the concerned look and smiled again. “My point is, where I’m from, certain places don’t approve of magic or those who can use it.”

  “I know,” Riley said. “New Perth has until recently been one of them.”

  “You don’t use magic?”

  Riley grinned. “We’re coming around to it, perhaps by force. Tell us more about you, though.”

  “Well, a class of Paladins started persecuting all magic users, and we bolted. There used to be a lot of us on that ship. Ten. My whole family left our city because Eric could use magic and they wanted to kill him. The city thought it was a curse to be eradicated, so my family and I simply left. This was fifteen years ago or so.”

  She turned around and looked at her son.

  “When Eric was just a little boy.”

  He remained quiet.

  “The sea isn’t an easy place, and we found that out quickly. Most pirate outfits don’t last very long. He and I have lasted much longer than we should, but it’s because of our tricks and his magic.”

  “What do you mean by tricks?” William asked.

  “We haven’t actually had to meet another pirate ship in quite some time, because we were smart in the beginning. When we first began, we were ruthless. We had to be. Using Eric’s magic and our sword training, we fended off a lot of attacks and killed a lot of people.

  “The flag you see on our ship is well known among pirates now. They don’t want anything to do with us, because they know our ship is more powerful than theirs. They run. You didn’t, which was when I knew something was different.”

  “Like what?” William asked.

  “Well, for one, we didn’t recognize your flag. We knew you weren’t pirates immediately. In this business, though, you have to be aggressive or you end up dead. Most of my family died over the years.” Erin looked down at the table in front of her. “The sea isn’t easy.”

  “Why didn’t ya just find another city?” William asked. “One that likes magic?”

  “Some people did. Not everyone died aboard our ship. Some left us when we went ashore, but I decided when I escaped the persecution that I wasn’t subjecting Eric to that again. We would not be run out because of his talents. On the sea, we’re a city to ourselves.”

  Riley leaned forward. “Then why are you here with us? If you don’t want to be on land again in another city that might run you out, why did you surrender?”

  The woman glanced at her son once more.

  “Well, I didn’t think we’d lose.” She laughed. “Eric’s never lost. He’s the best swordsman I’ve ever seen, and when you combine that with the fire he produces, there hasn’t been anyone who could best him. There’s a certain finality to this life that you can’t avoid, though. Perhaps if Eric had welched and run back to the ship, we could have withstood you. Our ship is powerful, more so than any other I’ve ever seen, but there’s only two of us, and that matters.”

  “You were going to let your son die?” Riley asked.

  “I wasn’t born to life at sea, but it’s something I adopted. I’m not lying to you when I say I’m the captain of that ship, and we are pirates. We’re not as evil as some of them, but we understand the rules of warfare at sea.”

  She looked at Riley.

  “You didn’t kill him, though. You’re not a pirate, and the bald man over there—I think he has some magic in him too, if I had to guess.”

  “Aye, Worth magic.” He smiled as he spoke, his eyes saying he liked the woman on the other side of the table...and not just for her beauty.

  Worth knew about being run out of cities, too. Maybe not for magic, but when you were unwanted, did the reason really matter?

  “You let him live. If you hadn’t, maybe I would have gone ahead and fought you too. I’m not as good with a sword and I don’t have magic, but I’m decent with my blade, and my ship could blow yours to shreds. I might have lived. I might have died.

  “But you let him live, so now I think we might have found a place where we can set down the pirate life. Where we can make ourselves at home. With you, with this New Perth kingdom, if you’ll have us.”

  William groaned and looked at Riley. “First the mutants, now magical outcasts from across the Great Sea. Just let ‘em take their ship and get the hell outta here.”

  Riley winked at the woman, then asked, “Worth, have you and your kind saved the rude man’s ass?”

  “Aye, betcha. Save many time.” Worth grinned from ear to ear.

  “Can you remind me who taught him magic?”

  “Aye. Worth taught. Worth still teachin’. He hard-headed, though.”

  “That he is,” Riley agreed. “So, William, the Prefect’s Right Hand, do you not think these two can teach us a thing or two about the sea, and maybe a thing or two about magic?”

  “He forgets how much he has to learn, doesn’t he?” Lucie chimed in.

  Everyone was grinning now—everyone but William. He continued looking pissed for a few seconds but finally started laughing.

  “Fine, smartass. Bring these two on. I ain’t responsible, though, if they steal all our stuff.”

  Riley turned to the woman and her son. “As Right Hand of Mason Ire, Assistant Prefect of New Perth, I welcome you as citizens. Your magic and your ship are welcome and will be treated with the respect they both deserve.”

  Chapter Five

  “I’m growing bored, Artino.”

  Rendal watched the slight man walk around his makeshift laboratory.

  “That’s not my problem, Rendal. I have work to do. So much work, and you’ve brought me out here on the ocean where my beakers keep sliding and breaking. And look. Just look, Rendal. Right there.”

  Rendal did. A bunch of broken glass had been swept into the corner.

  He smiled.

  Artino was a genius, but damn if he wasn’t neurotic.

  “Those were some good-looking beakers, weren’t they?”

  Artino stopped moving around, unable to understand that Rendal was toying with him. He stared at the beakers, looking sad.

  “They were. They really were.”

  Rendal stifled a laugh.

  “Okay, Artino. Soon I’ll get you all the beakers you could possibly want. When we get to New Perth, I’m going to set you up with a whole floor of that damned castle full of nothing but beakers.”

  “
What do you want, Rendal? I have work to do.” The man stopped staring and went back to his workbench.

  “I’m bored and there’s work to be done, so I need to know how we can go about it?”

  Artino shook his head. “I know there’s work to be done. I wonder if you know it. What is it, Rendal? Get to the point, please, for the love of all that’s holy.”

  Rendal smiled, knowing the man was reaching a breaking point. Rendal had to rein it in some, or the man might snap—and above all, that could not happen. Rendal needed his genius.

  “I need more people, plain and simple. We have enough to battle those coming, but that’s not what I’m preparing for. I’m going to turn the Right Hand, then we’re going to attack New Perth. I have to assume they’re building their defenses, and what I currently have isn’t going to be enough.”

  “What’s this have to do with me?”

  Rendal wanted to throttle the little scientist, but he kept his temper in check as he said, “It has everything to do with you. You’re the one who created this technology that’s allowing me to do it all.”

  “Oh, Rendal, all your power, and you can be so dense sometimes.”

  “What are you talking about?” Rendal asked.

  The scientist didn’t look at him as he opened one of the red necklaces.

  “You know what the green necklaces do, right?”

  Rendal nodded. “Yes. They create confusion among the nanocytes so that they can’t focus on the user’s directions.”

  “Partly correct.” He shook his head. “It amazes me how little you understand about all this.”

  “Well, enlighten me, then.”

  “I’m afraid if I tell you it’ll ruin everything.” Artino quit fooling with the necklace. “I know what will happen if it does.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Given our current location, I imagine I’ll be shark food before the night is over.”

  “Oh, Artino.” Rendal moved across the room and sat down on a chair. He swung his feet up on the table. “There’s nothing you could tell me that would make me hurt you. You’re safe with me, probably more than anyone else in this world. Now, friend, tell me what I’m not understanding.”

  The scientist sighed, clearly knowing he had no choice. “Some of the technology is because of me. Draining the nanocytes and uniting them with your blood—that’s technology powered by amphoralds. I invented the tech to make that possible, true enough. The necklaces that create confusion among the nanocytes, limiting a magic user’s ability, that’s my tech, too.”

  “So what am I missing?”

  “The army you’re creating. That isn’t technology, or…not completely.”

  Rendal grew very still. “Be careful here, Artino. I don’t suffer liars well.”

  “I’m not lying! I have never lied to you! You’ve never asked about any of this, just trusted me!” The scientist whipped around so that he was looking at Rendal, his eyes wide and sweat on his brow.

  Rendal smiled broadly. “Just kidding, Artino. You’re safe. No worries. Now finish.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  “Hey, Artino, is it going to stop me from doing what I want to do?”

  “It may.”

  Rendal’s eyes turned red, and he waved his fingers toward his chest. Artino floated slowly into the air, listening to his command.

  “You don’t have a choice in the matter, Artino. I hate to break it to you, but you don’t. Now tell me.”

  “The red necklaces. The red bracelet.” The man’s words flew from his mouth, running together, his fear great. “They’re focus mechanisms. They keep the magic user from using their own magic, but they allow you to focus harder than you usually would. They allow you to control the subject’s mind at a much deeper level.”

  Rendal put his hand down, and Artino fell to the floor. He was shaking.

  “Calm down, Artino. Calm down. You’re fine.” Rendal dropped his feet to the floor and swiveled his chair around so that his back was to the scientist. “So it’s not technology that’s allowing me to use them, it’s mind control?”

  “Yes and no. The technology is keeping them from using their magic, keeping their nanocytes from following their directions. But when you step in and command them to do something, the bracelets and necklaces light up and their nanocytes listen to you, not the host. Well, that’s not completely correct either. The nanocytes are listening to the host, but the host is listening to you. Does that make sense?”

  “It’s my magic that’s making this work?” Rendal asked.

  “Yes. The number of nanocytes in your bloodstream is higher than any concentration I’ve ever seen. You can control entire armies, but you need focus objects and a way to scatter the nanocytes until you’re ready.”

  “So I don’t have to go to Sidnie? I can take people from anywhere? I don’t have to take people who already use magic?” Rendal asked.

  “Yes. Anyone will work since everyone has nanocytes in their bloodstream.”

  Rendal smiled. “Why were you nervous, Artino? This is great news. You’re telling me I’m more powerful than I originally thought. There’s no downside here.”

  “Th-Th-That’s not true,” Artino stumbled out. “It might have been a placebo. You thought it worked because you were convinced of the technology. Now that you know it really rests inside you, maybe it won’t work anymore.”

  Rendal spun the chair around again. “Nonsense, Artino. The technology is there. This is actually a great gift. Do you have any idea how many pirate ships are on these seas? I can gather an armada just by floating around.”

  Artino nodded quickly. “Yes, that’s one way to look at it.”

  Rendal clapped his hands together and stood up. “Great news! Now, tell me what else you’re working on. You know I don’t like complacency, Artino.”

  The fear drained from the scientist as he thought about his work again.

  He walked back to the desk he was working at.

  “I’m working with the amphoralds, Rendal. I’m trying to engineer weapons that won’t rely just on your magical abilities but can also tie into them.”

  “Oh, Artino, you know the way to my heart, my dear friend. Please, please, tell me more.”

  “Harold, I had an idea earlier in the day.”

  Rendal lay on the upper deck. His chest was bare, and he was letting the sun tan his skin. He’d been working hard for a long, long time, and soon more hard work would arrive, so he was taking a few moments to enjoy himself.

  “Yes, sir,” Harold responded. “How can I help?”

  “Well, first, look at Mason over there. Excuse me, Assistant Prefect Mason. I want to make sure I’m using his proper title.” Rendal winked at Mason, who was leaning against one of the ship’s railings. He was dressed in the same clothes he’d been captured in, although they were dirty and holey now. “I asked him to join me in sunbathing, and he’s resolutely refusing. Can you believe that?”

  The Assistant Prefect refused to look over.

  “It seems foolish to me, sir,” Harold answered.

  “Yes, yes, to me as well. No matter. I learned long ago that my happiness can’t be tied to someone else’s. If he wants to be a sourpuss, I suppose I have to let him. Come, sit, Harold. Let’s discuss my idea.”

  Harold moved across the deck and grabbed a wooden stool. He put it next to Rendal’s chair and sat.

  “We’re in infested waters, Harold. Do you realize that?”

  “With sharks?”

  “With pirates. They’re everywhere. If I send my mind out even a little way, I can pick up ten ships. They’re like vultures looking for something weak or dying.”

  “I don’t understand, sir. I don’t think we have to worry about pirates, given what happened a few days ago.”

  “I’m not worried about them, Harold. I want them.”

  Harold’s eyes narrowed. “I’m still not understanding, sir.”

  “We’re going to New Perth soon. We’re going to show u
p and take the kingdom over. You’re with me that far, right?”

  Harold nodded.

  “We need more people. I want to take no possible chance that New Perth can repel us. I think we have a whole ocean full of killers, and I think it might be a good idea to enlist them.”

  Rendal saw realization dawn in Harold’s eyes.

  “How do we do it, though? How would we get to them?”

  Rendal reached forward and slapped Harold’s knee, laughing. “You still don’t have a lot of faith! I’ve got an idea for that too!” He looked at Mason. “Tell him, Assistant Prefect. You and I were just talking about it, weren’t we?”

  “He’s a lunatic,” Mason retorted, “and so are you for following him.”

  “Ha!” Rendal sat up, laughing. “I love this guy. Always with the insults! Come on, Mason. Tell Harold what we discussed!”

  Mason sighed and shook his head. “He’s going to throw up a distress signal. A firework.”

  “Exactly. It’ll bring them to us like a dead carcass brings vultures. From miles around, Mason.”

  “Sir, please don’t think I doubt you, but if we bring ten ships full of pirates, will we be able to handle them?”

  Rendal nodded, smiling. “Oh, yes. That won’t be a problem. By the end of the next few days, you’re going to be running an armada, Harold.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Okay,” Rendal said. “That’s all I needed you for. We’ll meet tonight about the distress signal.”

  Harold stood. “Thank you, sir.”

  Rendal’s second-in-command walked off.

  “You’ll never be able to rule New Perth.” Mason scoffed.

  Rendal looked at him. The young man was staring into the distance, watching the endless ocean slowly toss and turn.

  “Why would you say such a harsh thing, Mason? I should have been the first ruler, but I was robbed of that opportunity. I personally think I’ll make a fine Prefect.” Rendal wore a sly grin.

  “You rule this ship by fear. You rule that crew of zombie-like creatures with necklaces. My father doesn’t rule like that, and neither did my grandfather—”