by Martin Scott
When the assorted generals file out I’m left with Lisutaris, Anumaris and Makri. Lisutaris looks at me for a moment, then turns to Anumaris.
“Nice tidying spell. You’ve almost made Thraxas presentable.”
“There was really no need for it,” I protest.
Lisutaris apparently has other things on her mind because she doesn’t pursue it. She hesitates for a few moment. “Thraxas, I’m going to need your help with a delicate matter. This mustn’t be spoken of to anyone else, is that clear?”
“Of course.” I wonder what sort of trouble Lisutaris has got herself into. Probably thazis-related. Lisutaris is a very heavy user of the drug and it’s caused problems before. I have noticed she’s been smoking less since becoming War Leader but it wouldn’t surprise me if she’d run out of the illegal substance and needed me to find some more.
“Have you heard of the Vitin Oracle?”
“Yes. Used to be a famous place, back when people consulted oracles. Before the True Church declared they were all sacrilegious.”
Lisutaris lights a small stick of Thazis. A flicker of disapproval flickers over Anumaris’s face but disappears quickly.
“Some people still consult the oracles,” says Lisutaris. “Even though the church condemned them.”
The True Church, dominant religion in the West, doesn’t like oracles. I don’t really know why. Probably because they had their roots in earlier religions. Anyway, they forbid their followers from consulting them. They have done for at least eighty years, and as the True Church has a lot of power, the oracles have mostly faded away. The Oracle at Vitin, sacred to the Goddess Vitina, was the most famous.
“We’ll be passing quite close to the Vitin Oracle just before we meet the Simnian army,” continues Lisutaris. “A few of my senior sorcerers would like to consult it. Obviously, it’s something that would have to be kept private. The True Church wouldn’t approve. That might create problems, particularly with Nioj.”
I’m sure it would. Niojans are all religious fanatics. Though we’re not due to meet up with their army for some days, their senior Commander, Bishop-General Ritari, is already here, along with Legate Apiroi, another high ranking diplomat. If they got wind of such a visit, there would be trouble. Angry messages would be sent back to their king, Lamachus, and there’s no telling what might happen then. It’s not only Nioj we’d have to worry about. The True Church doesn’t hold quite as much sway in other nations, but it is influential. Too influential for our War Leader to offend, at a time like this.
“Why do your sorcerers want to consult this oracle?” asks Makri, speaking for the first time. “Do they believe in it?”
“Well...” Lisutaris makes a depreciating gesture with her hand. “Not really. It’s more of a tradition. A sort of leftover from older times. The Sorcerers Guild did used to be quite strongly identified with the Goddess Vitina and her oracle. Sorcery’s roots still run deep into the past. There are a few members of the Guild who still hold a passing interest in the old religion.”
I’ve been waiting my turn to speak. “When you say 'A few members of the Guild still hold a passing interest in the old religion,' might it be more accurate to say that the Sorcerers Guild actually contains a large, well-organised group of devotees, including yourself?”
Our War Leader looks alarmed. “I wouldn’t put it like that.”
“Really? Even though you secretly led a delegation to the Oracle right after you were elected as Head of the Guild? A delegation which included young Anumaris here who, I notice, isn’t looking very surprised.”
Lisutaris’s eyes blaze. “How can you possibly know that?”
“I’ve been in your mansion in Turai. You shouldn’t leave private correspondence to other sorcerers lying about. Not on sensitive matters anyway.”
“I never left any private correspondence lying about!”
“Well you shouldn’t leave it in easily-accessible drawers.”
“How dare you examinethe contents of my private desk!”
“I’m an investigator. I get curious. Particularly when I’m kept waiting for hours because you’re busy doing your hair.”
Lisutaris shows signs of imminent eruption. Fortunately for me, she controls it, and lights another thazis stick instead.
“Is this true?” asks Makri.
“It is. And if it were known it would bring Lisutaris and the rest of her Guild into conflict with every church and bishop in the Western World.”
Lisutaris sighs. “Most of them, I suppose. They do tend to be intolerant. Especially the Niojans. Bishop-General Ritari would be down on me like a bad spell if he learned I was off to consult the oracle. The Niojans would probably withdraw their support from me as War Leader. I’m on fairly thin ice with them as it is.”
“The simplest solution would be not to go. Just leave the oracle alone.”
Lisutaris shakes her head. “That won’t satisfy my senior sorcerers. We’ve never gone to war without consulting the Goddess Vitina, and making the appropriate offering. It’s an important part of our beliefs, albeit a secret one. At least it was secret before you started rummaging through my private correspondence.”
“Do you actually believe in this oracle?” asks Makri, who’s sceptical about anything supernatural.
“It’s proved very accurate in the past. And helpful too. I intend to consult it. I need to do that without anyone knowing. That’s why I’m taking you into my confidence. Thraxas, I need you to help me slip away unnoticed, and if anyone does notice, I need a good cover story. That seems like something you could manage.”
“Certainly. If you’re set on it, it shouldn’t be too difficult. How far off our route is it?”
“About half a day’s ride. I’m planning on going with Ibella Hailstorm. She’s the head of the Abelasian Sorcerers Guild. They’re a small group but she’s powerful, and a specialist in the old religion. Coranius the Grinder will accompany us.”
“How is Coranius?”
“As anti-social as ever. He’s billeted on the far side of town, as far away from everyone as he can get. It’s still good to have him around.”
“I hear he arrived with Tirini Snake Smiter.”
Lisutaris looks troubled at the mention of Tirini’s name. “She’s in a bad way. The spell she used to get people out of Turai was too dangerous. She shouldn’t have done it.”
“It saved Gurd’s life.”
“I know. But it’s almost wrecked Tirini’s. She can hardly function. You can’t travel instantly through the magic space without some bad effects. I’m worried about her but I don’t have the time to devote to her that she needs. I’ve asked one of the Abelasian medical sorcerers, Saabril Eclipse, to look after her till she recovers.”
Lisutaris extinguishes her thazis stick. “Time to get back to work. Captain Thraxas, have you made any progress?”
“None, Commander,” I admit. “But I will.”
“I’m assigning two new recruits to your staff. Anumaris will introduce you. Make sure you’re ready to leave tomorrow.”
The meeting ends. I return to my office upstairs. In an ideal world I’d get back on the couch and go to sleep, but my world hasn’t been ideal for about thirty years and there’s no reason for it to start now. Almost immediately Anumaris ushers two people inside.
“Our new members of staff.”
Chapter Six
I regard my new members of staff with suspicion. One young male sorcerer, not tall, quite dark-skinned, from somewhere south I’d say. The rainbow motif of the Sorcerers Guild is embroidered on his cloak in a curious fashion I’ve seen before but can’t remember where. The other is a pale young Elf, even younger, with spiky yellow hair, a dull green tunic, and small bow slung across her back.
“This is - “ begins Anumaris.
“I know who this is. Sendroo-ir-Vallis, from Avula. Commonly known as Droo. One of the most intoxicated young Elves ever seen in these or any parts.” I glare at her. “You’ve been assigned to my secur
ity staff?”
The young Elf beams at me. “My Commander recommended me for special work!”
“Probably to get rid of you. You do appreciate we’re engaged in dangerous war business here? Apart from drinking wine, writing poetry and falling out of trees, do you have any other qualifications?”
“Sendroo has an excellent record in her Elvish unit,” says Anumaris, briskly. For a young sorcerer, Anumaris does conduct herself with an air of confidence and efficiency. I’m not sure I like it.
“I believe Lisutaris placed her here because you know her already, and it’s good to have a contact with the Elves.”
That may be, but Droo isn’t the contact I’d have chosen. She’s around eighteen, and from what I remember of my visit to the Isle of Avula, she was a friendly enough Elf, but I never saw any sign of an aptitude for intelligence work. If the wartime situation wasn’t so serious, I’d think that Lisutaris was mocking me.
“What rank are you?”
“Junior Ensign, Elvish Reconnaissance Regiment, temporarily seconded to the Sorcerers Auxiliary Regiment.” Droo is still beaming. Anumaris moves things along. “This is Rinderan, from the Sorcerers Guild of the Southern Hills. He’s a Senior Ensign in the Sorcerers Regiment.”
I remember where I’ve seen the curiously embroidered motif before. Princess Direeva wore the same device when she visited Turai during the great Sorcerers Assemblage at which Lisutaris was elected head of the Guild. I’m interested to learn that Direeva - now Queen, and ruler of the Southern Hills - has sent us a sorcerer. Direeva is an ally of the West, but she’s in a very exposed position. Her realm lies in the southern part of the wastelands and faces continual threat from hostile Orcish nations. Direeva and her Guild are renowned for the power of their sorcery. It’s kept them safe till now, but I doubt she’d be able to withstand the full force of an attack from Prince Amrag’s army.
“What’s the situation in the Southern Hills?”
“Orcish forces are nearby but have not yet attacked. Queen Direeva will not give in to them, or allow them free access to the coast.”
That’s good to hear, for the moment anyway. Were the Southern Hills to fall, the Orcish navy would have access to a lot of good anchorage. I look at Rinderan. I often find it irritating meeting new sorcerers. They tend to remind me of my own past failures in the magic arts. Still, if he’s been sent by Queen Direeva he’s probably got a reasonable amount of power. That will probably be useful if we’re to find Deeziz.
“Have you ever been in combat?”
“No,” he admits. “I was too young for the last war.”
Another young rookie. My so-called staff have probably never seen a war dragon or a hostile Orc. If my regiment ends up advancing towards the enemy, I hope I’ve got some more experienced warriors by my side. I may be one of the most renowned fighters ever to buckle on a sword and march east, but I can’t do it all myself. I take a seat at my desk. With my three members of staff in front of me, I’m briefly reminded of my days as a Senior Investigator at the Imperial Palace in Turai. That seems like a very long time ago.
“Commander Lisutaris believes that Deeziz the Unseen is on her way here to spy on us. We can’t allow that to happen. If she manages to infiltrate our senior command there’s no telling what harm she’ll do. At the very least, she’ll pass information about our plans to the enemy. At worst, she might assassinate our commanders, or sabotage supply lines. We have to find her and stop her.”
“Surely no Orcish Sorcerer could arrive in secret?” says Rinderan. “Our sorcerers would detect her.”
“She’s already proved she can do it. She came into Turai and no one spotted her. Completely fooled the Turanian security services, which admittedly wasn’t all that difficult. But she fooled Lisutaris too, which is difficult. She fooled me too, which is next to impossible. We’ve underestimated the Orcish Sorcerers Guild for a long time.”
“Then how can we find her? She could be anywhere.”
“Good point.” I reach out for a beer. I realise there’s no beer on my desk. I look at Anumaris. “What happened to my beer?”
“What beer?”
“The beer you should have brought me as part of your duties.”
“That’s not part of my duties. Lisutaris told me - “
“I’m your commanding officer. I say what your duties are. Where was I?”
“The Orcish Sorcerers Guild.”
“Right. They’re powerful. Foul Orcs, but powerful. Their army is a lot better organised too. I saw their phalanxes outside Turai. If we’re going to defeat them we need everyone to pull their weight. Not, for instance, refuse to carry out orders from their commanding officer when he requests a ready supply of beer.”
My three members of staff are looking confused. I realise I might have strayed off course a little. “The point is, we need to be well-organised in our search. Deeziz might be anywhere but I think she’ll try and infiltrate our ranks at the highest level possible. That means everyone at headquarters is a suspect.”
“Everyone?”
“Yes. Apart from me. And Lisutaris and Makri. I’ve been with them constantly since Turai fell. I know they’re actually who they say they are. For everyone else, I want a background check. The guards on duty, the junior ranks, the senior ranks, everyone. Everyone who’s close to Lisutaris needs to be checked out. Make sure they didn’t suffer any mysterious disappearance on the way here, or have any time they can’t account for. Any one of these people could actually be Deeziz.”
“The people we’re meant to check on - does it include the commanders? General Hemistos? Bishop-General Ritari?”
“Yes. Droo, you’re to question them about their movements in the past month. Anumaris and Rinderan, you use your sorcery to probe for anything suspicious.”
“They’re not going to like that,” says Anumaris.
“Probably not. Be discreet if you can. But if you can’t be discreet, don’t worry about it. I’m in charge of Lisutaris’s personal security so I have the authority. Any complaints, refer them to me. Or I should say, try and get rid of them first. But if you can’t get rid of them, refer them to me.”
Junior Ensign Droo grins, and salutes, enthusiastically. Rinderan and Anumaris, rather less so.
“Meanwhile I’ll be conducting searches around town, looking to pick up information in places of interest before we leave. Any further questions?”
There being no further questions, I send my staff out to begin their work. I place a minor locking spell on my door, and settle down on the couch to complete my unfinished nap. I’m satisfied with my day’s work. It doesn’t take long for me to get things moving. Thraxas, number one chariot at investigating. I’m just drifting off when there’s a heavy knock on my door. I attempt to ignore it. It comes again, louder.
“Thraxas, I know you’re in there.”
I curse. It’s Makri. I know from experience there’s no point in trying to ignore her. She’d only break the door down. I drag myself off the couch and haul the door open.
“Is this important? I was engaged in some serious work.”
“You were sleeping on the couch.” Makri strides into the room, smiling broadly. She doesn’t smile broadly all that often.
“What are you looking so happy about?”
“Gurd and Tanrose. I didn’t think we’d see them again. I missed them.”
“I missed them too. I thought old Gurd might have finally handed in his toga, without me there to protect him.”
“And we’re finally ready to march! We’re going to kick these Orcs out of Turai!”
Makri grew up as an Orcish gladiator, in effect a slave. She hates them bitterly. “Do you think the Orcs will come out and fight? Or will they hide in Turai?”
“I don’t know. Whatever they do, they’ll make life difficult for us. Prince Amrag’s a good Commander.”
Makri looks at me quizzically. “Did you just compliment an Orc?”
“Maybe. There’s no point pretending he�
��s not a good Commander. He’s given us the runaround so far. Are you going to tell Lisutaris that you’re related to him?”
“No.”
Makri is Amrag’s sister, or half-sister. She has a complicated ancestry which she’s never fully explained. Amrag is older than her, and lacks her Elvish blood, but they’re related. No one knows that except me. I’ve told her she should inform Lisutaris but she refuses. Understandable, I suppose. She’s had a tough enough time without giving people an excuse to be even more suspicious of her.
“Makri, do you have to keep grinning like that? It’s unnatural.”
“I thought you’d be happy too. You’re always going on about what a great soldier you were. Aren’t you looking forward to some fighting?”
“I might be, if I wasn’t stuck in the Sorcerers Auxiliary Regiment with a bunch of callow incompetents.”
“Callow incompetents?”
“You know Lisutaris assigned Droo to my unit? What am I meant to do with an eighteen-year-old Elf who’s only life experience is sitting in trees writing poetry? As for Anumaris Thunderbolt, she has some sort of mania against alcohol. Hardly a minute passes but she’s lecturing me about not drinking so much. I suspect Lisutaris has deliberately assigned me the most unsuitable staff out of spite.”
Makri laughs. “Or perhaps she just doesn’t want you rolling around drunk when you’re meant to be investigating. You should follow her example. She’s really cut down on her thazis intake since she was made War Leader.”
“So she claims. She’s probably still sucking it up in private. Anyway, you wouldn’t catch me and Gurd going into battle without a few ales inside us. Ale is the bedrock of a good phalanx. Not that there’s any chance of me being in a good phalanx while I’m shepherding these untrained youths around the place. She’s sent me this sorcerer called Rinderan from the Southern Hills and he’s never even been in combat. Probably flee at the first sign of a dragon.”
“We’ve all got to make sacrifices. We’re engaged in important business.”
I glower at Makri. “Since when did you become the voice of wisdom?”
“Since I became Ensign Makri in the Sorcerers Auxiliary Regiment, bodyguard to our War Leader, Commander Lisutaris, Mistress of the Sky. I’ve put aside all frivolities for the duration of the war. Nothing will affect my concentration on the job in hand and I advise you to adopt the same attitude.”