“Right,” said Niu. “But how?”
“Any way we can move them?” Melissa asked.
“Not that I can see,” said Niu.
“Can we go over them?” Melissa asked.
“We just started training magic,” said Niu. “I don’t see a way, especially not with the hand cart.”
Melissa frowned. Thoughts of her past magic experience coursed through her head. Neither of them could jump or fly like Hadrian.
Niu bit her lip.
“We need to get past them as soon as possible right,” she asked.
“I'd say so,” said Melissa.
“In that case, we could climb.”
Melissa shook her head.
“They’ll be ready for that.”
Niu sighed.
“Then how?”
Melissa rubbed her chin.
Give me a moment.”
Saben
Saben looked across the street to where the wagons stood in the way, blocking everyone's path. He had observed the library the night and day after his thieving from the place to make sure nothing was left behind to jeopardize his identity and that of the others. He and Jaswei had decided he should do it alone, at least on the side of the street. On the other side of the library, Jaswei and Rond would be scouting together. Saben preferred to be alone.
He stopped as he's spotted two women moving away from the wagons in the middle-of-the-road, pushing a hand cart in the light rain. They appeared agitated and talked to each other softly, but intensely.
Saben approached them, wanting to ask what was going on but uncertain if his Tancuonese was up to a conversation with people so harried. Regardless, given they were locals or at least more local than him, he risked being caught by sharing too much. Too bad. He needed information.
They looked up as he approached. His bulky frame drew a lot of attention, no matter the land. Saben was a large man, but his usual quiet kept him from being as noticed as Jaswei, usually. He wasn't easily flustered, but thieving from the library of Soucot had left him on edge.
One woman was taller, more Tancuonese in appearance, with curly black hair and a slender build. She looked in his direction and frowned, seeming too preoccupied to notice him. She appeared distant, intent on something in her mind's eye. The other woman, shorter and curvier and at least partially Kanori in descent, saw Saben at once.
“Hey,” she said, “what do you want?”
“I'm looking to find out what's going on.”
“We don't know for certain,” said the curly-haired woman in the language of Tancuon.
The part-Kanori woman, Saben estimated her to be about a half and half mix shook her head.
“They blocked the road, the magister’s guild.”
“The guild? said Saben, “why?”
The curly-haired woman started to speak but hesitated. Her friend glanced at her, then turned Saben.
“We don't know beyond doubt, but we think they could be after us.”
“Why you?” Saben asked. And a curse on all of you for drawing me into a situation I should have avoided, he thought,
“We’re members of the governor’s new mage guard,” said the curly-haired woman. That phrase drew a glance from her friend.
The half-Kanori woman said.
“Melissa, are you sure we should tell him?”
“He’s not with the guild. Besides, everyone in Soucot will know us soon.”
“I'm new to the city,” said Saben. “I don’t know much.”
Melissa nodded.
“For now, don’t worry about the situation. We need to get past those wagons.”
Saben folded his arms.
“There could be a way around,” he said.
Melissa glanced at her friend.
“What do you say, Niu? Do we have time to circle around?”
Niu shrugged.
We can't just enter in here, she said. Saben gazed at the wagons. He took in their heavy bulk, their weighted axles, and their covered beds. He understood from his travels that wagons such as these did not normally come so far into the center of a city of Soucot’s size. They had not been brought in by accident, which might confirm the women's suspicions.
Saben turned to Melissa.
“I think we’d be better off going through them, even if we cause a scene.”
Melissa raised an eyebrow.
“We?”
Saben folded his arms.
“I'm willing to help for coin or two, I'm new in town.”
“So you said.” Melissa turned to Niu.
Niu looked back and forth between the two of them and then turned to Melissa.
“I think we can trust him. And he's got a big sword.”
“All right,” said Melissa. She glanced at Saben. “Where exactly do you hail from?”
“I come from a place far to the east,” said Saben, “I haven't been there in a long time. He remembered his village with its burning buildings, ruined gardens, and destroyed tranquility. “My people aren't there anymore”
Melissa narrowed her eyes.
“Fine,” she said, “If I trust you and betray us, I’ll make you sorry.”
“I'm not some magister’s guild agent,” said Saben, “I’ve no reason to turn against you.”
“We’ll see that you get paid,” said Niu. “We don't have the money here, though. Is that all right?”
Saben unfolded his arms.
“If the governor is as good with her gold as you are with your words, there should be no problem.”
Melissa turned and glared at the wagons.
“I suppose the governor won't mind if we tangle with the magister's in her service,” she said, It’s half of our purpose.”
Niu nodded.
Saben drew his sword, dropping the sling on the rainy street. He picked up the baldric and replaced it on his back.
“No killing,’ said Melissa, “all right?”
“No killing,” said Saben.
“This is a magic dispute,” said Niu, “one between the guild and the governor. We should not get our hands too bloody over it.”
“But we must defend ourselves,” said Saben.
“Right,” said Melissa, “and the best way to do that sometimes is to not escalate. I've been a caravan guard for long enough to know that if someone pulls a knife and the other draws a bow, they're going to continue escalating until someone runs out of options.”
“Magic is on the table then?” Saben asked.
Melissa glanced at him, eyebrows raised.
“You’re a mage?”
“I have some talent,” said Saben.
“Well,” said Niu, “then maybe you should lead.”
Saben shrugged.
“I'm not a wizard,” he said. “I only have the hedge magic of my land.” And a little extra, he added mentally. They needn’t know about my voice.
Melissa, Niu, and Saben approached the wagons. A voice from within called to them, tension in his tone.
“Go back,” he said, “we can't let you pass.”
Saben raised his sword.
“Sounds like a problem for you.”
He hefted his sword in both hands and marched straight toward the wagon closer to the library’s side of the road. He swung the weapon over his head and brought it down on the axle of the wagon, reinforcing the strength of the weapon with as much power from his sprites as he dared reveal. He cleaved the wheel from the axle.
The wagon tilted to one side and spilled its passengers onto this the rainy pavement. The stones, slick with water from the growing downpour, greeted a pile of young guild mages, most of them wearing thin cloaks over their novice uniforms. They hit with groans and cries of pain.
Saben stepped backward, and then paced past them, shoving the side of the wagon. He pushed hard twice. The wagon swung to one side, allowing Niu and Melissa to hurry by with their covered handcart. Saben backed after them. As he emerged in the gap onto this street of the library, he turned to follow the women and
found himself face-to-face with one of a youth who jumped down from the wagon’s driving board. The boy stared at him, eyes fierce with anger.
What are you doing?” he yelled, “foreigner?”
Saben slipped the sword back into the baldric, cold and calm. He reattached the sling to his back. He faced the boy and folded his hands together. He said nothing.
The boy gritted his teeth.
“I won't let you pass.”
Saben cracked his knuckles. The boy's stare faltered. His eyes went watery. He backed a few paces away and then turned and fled toward the wagons and his fallen friends.
Saben marched after Melissa and Niu toward the library, hoping his actions would not draw undue attention to him and his team. Jaswei was usually the one who went out of order and did things as he’d just done. Saben did not like the helpful side of himself.
He had a mission and he needed to continue it.
Elaine
Elaine watched Melissa and Niu approach with the handcart. A big man followed a short distance behind them. The man caught her eye as one of the novices from the magister’s guild turned and fled back to the wagons. The man let the boy go despite his massive size and ready weapon.
Elaine waved from the doorway of the library. Melissa and Niu brought the handcart to her. The big man followed them at a slower pace, taking up more room than necessary to block the path of any other novices from attempting to go after Niu and Melissa.
Elaine met them near the doors. The three of them started to load scrolls onto the handcart.
“Who is he?” Elaine asked.
Melissa shrugged.
“A helpful someone,” she said, “foreign.”
Niu glanced at the man.
“I didn't get your name.”
“I’m Saben,” he said.
Elaine said, “if you helped them I owe you one.”
“In that case,” said Saben, ‘I suppose you’re not the only one.” His voice was soft, quieter than she expected from such a large frame. He was not necessarily an obvious mark for a foreigner either, though his skin was tawny and he appeared to be of some sort of eastern descent.
Elaine folded her arms as they finished loading scrolls into the handcart.
“The magister’s guild blocked our away back,” said Melissa, “so it might be difficult to get back to the governor's palace.”
Saben glanced at the rooftops, through the falling rain to a woman across the street. She was watching them.
“I can help you get back, for a small price. In addition to what we already covered.”
“So you're a mercenary?” Elaine frowned.
“I guess so,” said Saben, “fresh from Naje.”
“Fresh from Naje,” Elaine said, “You’ve come a long way.”
“You could say that.” The raindrops almost kept his voice below audibility.
Elaine and the others started into the street, keeping the cover of the handcart pulled down low to protect the scrolls. They would get wet, but rain could not destroy the ancient scrolls beneath the covering. None of them were demon scrolls. None of them belonged to the sacra forms wizards used to claim that title. Unlike those scrolls, these contained information that was safer and altogether less esoteric, but also less durable.
The group made it six blocks before the novice magisters got the nerve to follow and caught up with them. A group of swift-running magister students pursued from behind, while more circled ahead at an even faster clip, accelerated by their sprites, to block the road ahead of them from passage.
Melissa, Niu, and Saben glanced at Elaine.
“You’re the leader?” he asked.
“I guess so,” said Elaine, flustered by the situation.
“You know,” said Saben, “if you let me, I could scatter them all like so many sheep.”
“Do you know much about sheep?” asked Melissa, “because I don't.”
Saben shrugged.
“I know sheep,” he said softly. “I grew up around them.”
“Give it a shot,” said Niu.
“One shot,” said Elaine.
“Well, well, well,” said a voice from ahead of them. The voice belonged to a man Elaine did not recognize. He wore a heavy mantle that looked like too heavy for the summer. He looks to be about seven hands tall, a giant. Elaine realized that was a false impression as she noted the mantle flowed longer than his legs. He made no footsteps as he floated above the ground. He positioned himself between the novices ahead of them and the group.
“I am an elder magister of the guild. It is offensive to me that the governor has chosen to abandon our contract as the keepers of magic in the city. It is time to punish those who would help her defy our order.”
Melissa snorted.
“What happens if we don't simply roll over for you?”
“We will punish you harder.” The novices behind him glanced each other laughing and then advanced to join their master.
Melissa and the others joined Elaine at the front of the handcart. Saben unsheathed his greatsword. He set the baldric on top of the handcart, allowing its weight to hold the cover in place.
Saben whispered to Elaine, “we should smash through them,”
“How fast can you run,” asked Melissa in a soft voice.
“Pretty fast,” said Saben, “With my sprites.”
“Me too,” said Niu, “but not as fast as Melissa.”
Elaine nodded.
“You three keep them away from me and I can get the cart through.”
“If their magic isn’t too great we should be able to get past them,” said Melissa. “I'm not surrendering either way.”
“Me neither,” said Niu.
Saben chuckled, simple and resonant. Elaine glanced at him. He didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he kept his sword in both hands and advanced quietly toward the novices and their elder guild mage.
The three women behind Saben formed around the cart. Elaine pushed while Melissa and Niu took either side, preparing with their weapons to defend in case of any trouble. Melissa still carried her spear. Niu held her staff with both hands. The novices before them framed the street.
Saben broke into a run. Elaine pushed the cart as fast as she could. They raced toward the line of students. Melissa and Niu started lashing out with the blunts of their weapons, knocking the young novices over one after another.
They might be mages, but they weren’t trained yet. Between Saben scaring his path through the center without having to swing his sword and Elaine following him, the four made their way toward the governor's palace, though it still seemed miles away.
In reality, Elaine thought, it must be a few hundred yards to the citadel. Despite the presence of Saben, the novices proved bolder and bolder. She didn't want to see him swing that sword.
The wind shifted, taking the rain into some sideways flurry. A shadowy shape touched down ahead of Elaine.
Melissa glanced at the figure, then shouted, “Deckard, Hadrian!.”
Deckard Hadrian turned to face the guild mages.
“Anyone who dares broach the subject of surrendering the scrolls shall answer to me.”
Elaine flushed. He was here to help them.
Melissa grabbed the corner of the cart to move Elaine faster. They all ran for the palace
Deckard
The table in the palace was set for a feast.
Deckard Hadrian led the way into the room. The Great Feast Hall, not the same as the throne room, but adjacent to it, was intended for parties and feasts in honor of different members of society. Today, the feast was for the guards and sailors. Kanor had never succeeded in reaching shore during the last war.
Not long enough ago in Deckard’s memory, the room would have been used to stockpile resources for a siege. Over forty years had gone by. The governor then had been prudent. Tandace Lokoth, unlike her predecessors, was more ostentatious. Deckard did not doubt Mother Mercy had chosen her partially for that reason.
Melissa, Elaine,
and the large mercenary Saben led the way. Hadrian followed them into the room. Niu trailed behind, looking at the bright lights and fine food everywhere. Hadrian circled back to talk to her. He let Melissa approach the governor by herself. The woman, not much more than a girl needed to learn to deal with power if she was to survive on her own. Deckard lacked the time for every stray and sob story. He was, of course, the Lord of Demon Hunters, the Lord of Glass, and many other titles besides, and Mother Mercy's favored tool for scourging rogue demons.
Even so, he approached Niu.
She wrung her hands. She was not much older than Melissa, but her confidence seemed less. Granted, being of foreign descent in the land of mercy could be a cause for concern for oneself. The girl looked up at Deckard. He smiled gently.
“You better hurry or the governor won't have a chance to thank you for bringing the scrolls with the others. You don't want to inconvenience anyone do you?”
She sighed.
“The governor doesn't want to talk to me,” she said.
“Why do you think that?” asked Hadrian.
Deckard knew all too well the Kanori feared reprisal for their people's invasion, of this land. However, the people of the land of mercy prized clemency, at least when the foe was defeated.
“Don't fear,” said Deckard. “Be brave, that befits a mage.”
“She chose me, didn't she,” said Niu.
“Yes,” the Deckard.
Niu unfolded her hands, with visible effort.
She paced past Deckard then glanced at him.
“Thanks,” he said, “I'll do what I can.”
He nodded.
She set off to join the others as they approached the governor's chair. The governor sat at the head of the table. Deckard followed Melissa, Niu and Elaine and the mercenary to meet with her. He stayed some distance away to one side of the great hall. The feasting of the soldiers and sailors and officers certainly took him back to different times in places with different people. He had been a general, commanding troops in the valley to the north. He had seen many battles against the Kism and other foes. The only one he truly regretted was Kanor.
Kanor was a battle he supposed all who remembered it regretted. The intensity of the conflict had been limited to the sea, but that limited nothing. Strife of that kind resounded for generations. Deckard might be the only man alive in Tancuon to still remember it yet everyone in Lowenrane was affected, and likely everyone in Kanor, as well.
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