by Ben Hale
The southeastern corner of the kingdom was shaped like a dagger’s tip, culminating in a pointed butte that overlooked a river. A large castle sat on the end with an unparalleled view of the surrounding region, a Talinor village filling the breadth of the narrow plateau.
The castle’s position bordered Griffin, Barbarian, and Amazonian lands, as well as a sliver of the Evermist. The other nations had built their own villages on the unique border, and over time they had grown until it resembled a single city. Like pieces of different pies on a single plate, the city of Wedge contained districts from each kingdom.
To the north, the Griffin Wedge sat between the plateau and a river, while on the opposite side of the river, the Barbarian Wedge dominated the base of a hill. Adjacent to the hill the ground sloped into the northern edge of the Amazonian jungles, and the powerful women maintained a village at the juncture. Between the Amazons and the plateau, a strip of the Evermist pressed against the south side butte that contained the Talinorian Wedge.
Originally intended as a fortress to prevent attack from its neighbors, the city of Wedge had grown to incorporate each of the five sections. The oddly disparate city was governed by four different sets of laws, and unwary travelers were known to unintentionally break them. Despite the divided nature of the city, Wedge had become a haven for merchants from the region and rarely saw conflict escalate into bloodshed.
Jack had timed his return well, and only had to wait for a few hours before he spotted Inna and the others appear on the road. Turning his steed, he made his way to join them. Inna smiled at his return, the relief palpable on her features.
“I wasn’t sure you were going to make it,” she said.
Gordon, too, looked relieved, and Jack noticed the distance between him, Gwen, and Ursana. Gwen threw Ursana a look, but she did not return it. The silence between them was telling, and uncomfortable.
“It feels like I never left,” Jack said dryly, and Gordon forced a laugh.
Jack pulled the reins, bringing his horse in line with Inna. Then he lowered his voice. “I thought they would have worked it out by now.”
“Is that why you escaped?” Inna asked sourly.
“I did not escape,” Jack said, indignant. “I had work to do.”
She grunted, the sound tinged with disbelief. “Next time, I get to be the one to leave.”
“That bad?”
“Ten days with hardly a word spoken,” she said, looking back over her shoulder. “Gordon keeps trying, but I’ve never seen a man sweat so much at the prospect of conversation.”
Jack groaned and wheeled his horse around. Gordon, Ursana, and Gwen reined their steeds in, their expressions confused at the abrupt halt. Jack stabbed a finger at each of them.
“Whatever you must deal with, bury it before it gets you killed. We have assassins tracking us and yet the dissension between you three will be the death of me.”
Ursana coughed. “There’s no dissension—”
Jack glared at Ursana. “Do I have to put you in the stocks?”
The absurdity of the suggestion made her laugh. “As you order, Guildmaster.”
Gordon echoed the sentiment, and Jack turned on Gwen.
“Why are assassins tracking you?” she asked uncertainly.
“None of your concern,” Jack said, and sniffed. “Now tell us about your guild, and I want to know what made them place so many guards around you.”
She shrugged. “I suspect it’s due to my recent mastery of the convergence spell.”
“That’s very high level,” Inna said in surprise.
“It’s very impressive,” Gordon said. “Especially for one so—”
“Gordon,” Jack said. “Stop talking. It’s time for the adults to speak.”
Gordon was twice Jack’s age, and he guffawed at the statement. Before he could respond Jack turned his horse back onto the road and motioned for Gwen to join him. After a moment’s hesitation, she did.
“What does this spell do?”
“It allows mages to combine their energies with other types of magic. When we do, we come close to what the oracle can accomplish in terms of raw power.”
“Why hasn’t Skorn just taken the oracle?” Gordon asked. “I would think she would be the first he would attempt to capture.”
Gwen flashed a wry smile. “I think they tried a few weeks ago, but Siarra tore them asunder.”
“Sounds like my kind of woman,” Jack said with a laugh.
When the humor subsided, Jack was left with a lingering doubt. Inna had said that Skorn took the remains of the beacon after the battle of Margauth. If Skorn intended to rebuild it, the beacon would need power. A few hundred mages would be a massive source, and would only require a handful with a convergence spell to merge the magics into one. When he voiced his thoughts, Inna’s expression darkened.
“If that’s true,” she said, “he wouldn’t need someone with Gwen’s skills until the end.”
“What does that mean?” Gwen asked.
Jack met her gaze. “It means he’s almost finished.”
Chapter 19: Wedge
Jack guided his horse down the slope to the Talinorian gate. A great wall curved across the end, preventing access to the village on the plateau. Jack reined in his mount at the gate and raised a hand to the guards in greeting.
“Griffin merchants seeking entry.”
The man looked between the four riders. “I don’t see goods.”
The other guard snorted in agreement. “Unless you have goods for trade, you can go to the Griffin district.”
Jack made to retort but Inna smiled at them, drawing their gaze. She flipped her long red hair over her shoulder.
“Our apologies,” she said with a smile. “Our goods were delivered in advance of our arrival. We intend to inspect the shipment before they are sold to merchants in the city.”
The first guard thawed at her words. “You must present your papers . . .” he caught sight of Gwen and blanched. “Gwen? I thought you were taken.”
Gwen swept a hand at Jack. “I was rescued.”
The guard stepped to the portcullis and called, “Let them through!”
The portcullis began to grind upward and the two guards ushered them in. “I’ll send word to your mother,” the guard said.
Gwen smiled at him. “You have my gratitude.”
When they had passed into the city Gordon turned to his daughter. “A friend?”
She nodded. “The guards rotate through posts at the academy, and many are close in age to the senior students. We get to know each other.”
“Is anyone more than a friend?” Gordon asked.
He tried to keep his voice casual, but Gwen glared at him. “Not the time, father.”
Jack laughed. “That means yes, my friend.”
Inna joined in his mirth, but when it subsided the silence persisted among them. Irritated at their continued tension, Jack turned his attention on the city. The Talinorian Wedge was shaped like an arrowhead that pointed to the castle. The city had grown far beyond its original intentions and space was at a premium. With nowhere to grow outward, enterprising artisans had grown upward.
Fashioned of stone mined from the south of Griffin, the buildings rose several floors. In such a confined space the crowd should have been packed shoulder to shoulder, but the upper levels of the city boasted bridges and paths that connected the buildings. The upper roads allowed shoppers, tradesmen, and workers a path to walk, avoiding the wagons, carts, and horses on the ground. As soon as they were inside the gates, they left their steeds and Gwen led them to a set of stairs winding up a building. Reaching the roof, she took them across the highest paths.
The vantage point allowed glimpses of the Griffin Wedge to the north. Sprawling and disorganized, the Griffin section of the city abutted the arrow-shaped plateau. Thatch-roofed homes were scattered at the base, while shops and wealthier homes lined the upper steppes of a nearby hill. A large fort straddled the top of the slope, its fortif
ications facing the castle on the Talinor Wedge. Jack examined the Talinor castle, and spotted the tip of a trebuchet behind the wall and several ballistae mounted on the battlements. Inna followed his gaze and gestured to the castle.
“Griffin and Talinor might be allies,” she said, “but they both prepare for war.”
“What about the gate?” Inna asked, pointing north.
Through a gap in the buildings Jack spotted a large gate in the exterior wall. The portal led to a roadway that descended to the Griffin Wedge, allowing merchants and travelers easy passage between the two city sections.
“That section of road is held aloft by a long bridge,” Gordon said. “Its dwarven made and built to collapse.”
“Why do the dwarves have to rig everything to self-destroy?” Jack asked. “You’d think they hate their own handiwork.”
Gwen laughed at that. “We have a couple of dwarves that teach at the academy. They teach a class on detonation that all the students enjoy.”
Gordon raised an eyebrow. “You have instructors from other races?”
“Several, in fact,” Gwen said. “We even have a rock troll.”
“Sirani?” Ursana asked, speaking for the first time.
“You know her?” Gwen asked.
Ursana reached up and flicked the crossbow slung across her back, causing it to emit a dull whine. “She’s the one that added the wind charm.”
“I’ve heard of her,” Inna said. “She was cast out by the rock trolls of Astaroth a century ago. When Tryton became their king she was permitted to return, but she’s a born wanderer.”
“She has a way of setting you at ease,” Gwen said.
“For a rock troll,” Ursana added.
Gwen and Ursana shared a tentative smile. Gordon had told Gwen about his occupation, and his partner, but the information had only served to distance the two girls further. Not wanting to strain the positive moment, Jack changed the subject to the academy.
Gwen launched into a description of the academy, its classes, and her studies on magic. Jack listened with only half an ear and kept his focus on the people. Several times he spotted someone staring at him and wondered if assassins lurked in the city. Wedge bordered the Evermist, making it one of the closest cities to the thief guildhall. Tales of guild-trained thieves were abundant, and news of the bounty on Jack’s head would be well known. Apparently thinking the same thing, Inna accelerated her pace.
“We should get inside,” she said. “Before the crowds learn Jack’s identity.”
Gwen looked to him. “I’m sorry, I still don’t understand your role in all this.”
Jack grinned and bowed to her. “Jack Myst, Guildmaster of Thieves.”
Her eyes widened and she glanced about in sudden fear. “But there’s a bounty on your head.”
He sighed. “Everyone wants me.”
Inna snorted and turned down the path leading to the guildhall. “They don’t want you, they want the coin.”
“Same thing,” Jack said with a smile.
They reached the guildhall and Gwen nervously spoke to the guards. Jack’s eyes lifted to the academy, surprised to find it resembled a spired castle. Smaller than the Talinor castle at the end of the plateau, the academy boasted six towers in a semi-circle, each rising in height to the last, which abutted the city wall. Spiral staircases wrapped around the turrets, allowing students to ascend to the classrooms on each level. An arena sat in the center of the spires, its benches enclosing the turrets.
The guards allowed them through the gate and Jack descended to the arena floor. He lifted his gaze to the great turrets around the arena, wondering if anything of value lay in its halls. Then he spotted the varied spheres sitting atop pedestals around the arena. The balls of energy represented each of the types of magic, and were sources of power for mages.
“How many types of magic does the academy teach?” Jack asked.
“I’m one of four students with water magic,” Gwen said. “Most are earth students, but there is a smattering of other energies taught here. The elves and dwarves have their own guilds, and specialize in the magics common for their respective races.”
“So why display all the sources of magic?” Gordon asked.
“They’re just for show,” Gwen said.
As they approached the gates to the largest of the turrets, the door burst open and a woman sprinted into view. She engulfed Gwen in a crushing embrace, her words inaudible through her tears. Jack looked to Gordon, but the man seemed like he’d taken a blow to the skull.
“Rista?” he breathed.
She finally noticed Gwen’s companions and straightened. She froze as she caught sight of Gordon, her relief turning to shock. The seconds passed and Jack shifted his feet, wondering if it would be rude to escape again. Inna cast him a warning look that answered his unspoken question.
“Mother,” Gwen said, “Father saved me.”
Rista tore her gaze from Gordon and looked down at her daughter, then back at Gordon. Abruptly she wiped at her tears and sought to fix her hair.
“I’m sorry,” she said hastily. “I look terrible.”
“No,” Gordon breathed. “You don’t.”
Rista flushed and turned to Jack and Inna. “Please come in. I’m sure you could use a rest after your journey.”
She led them inside and Jack looked about with interest. The main hall of the central turret contained several offices. Unlike the other turrets, this one contained an interior staircase that disappeared to the upper floors.
As they began their ascent a bell chimed, and the hallway flooded with chattering students in colored robes. They cast curious looks at Jack and his companions but passed them by. They fell to whispering, and Jack heard notes of curiosity in their voices.
Gordon and Rista said nothing, but their posture speaking volumes. Although they strode together, waves of tension seemed to pass between Gordon and Rista, prompting Jack to step to Rista’s side.
“I know you have a great deal to discuss, but we don’t have much time. We’d like to know more about Gwen’s captors.”
“You aren’t the only one,” she replied, her features darkening. “But we don’t know who took her. She was taken from the city when she went to visit a friend.”
“Surely one of you knows something,” Jack said, and noticed the woman had not released Gwen’s arm since their embrace in the arena.
“Speak to Sirani,” Rista said. “She always seems to know more than the headmaster or the professors—if you can understand her.”
“Why don’t you enjoy a meal in private,” Jack said. “Inna and I will talk to Sirani and join you after.”
“I’ll come with you,” Ursana said quickly, stepping to Jack’s side.
Rista’s eyes flicked to Gordon and her features twisted as if in pain. “Sirani’s classroom is on the top level of the white turret,” she said. “We’ll join you after we eat.”
Jack met Gordon’s gaze and raised an eyebrow. Gordon offered a slight nod in return, and although he looked like he was about to enter battle, he nodded to Rista and forced a smile. Then he followed her and Gwen higher into the tower. When they were gone, Ursana released an explosive breath.
“Let’s find Sirani and get some answers,” she said.
Turning on her heel, she strode down the stairs and back into the arena. Students milled about but they parted ways for them. Many of the young women eyed Jack with thinly veiled desire, prompting Inna to grunt in irritation.
“Can you not look so smug?”
Jack smiled, sending a group of girls into fits. “I’m just walking.”
Ursana blew out her breath in disgust. “You’re smug-walking.”
“It’s almost a saunter,” Inna agreed, “but not quite so arrogant.”
“A swagger, perhaps?” Ursana asked.
Jack sniffed. “I don’t like the two of you together.”
They laughed and then ascended the tower which bore white banners. As they neared the top they
passed through a group of students laughing and chattering about their lesson with Sirani. Their hair was plastered to their faces, driven to the side as if they had been through a storm.
Jack reached the topmost floor of the turret and entered to find a spacious classroom. Windows on opposite sides had once held glass, but bore evidence of countless repairs. Apparently giving up on windows, someone had fastened steel bars into the stone.
Jack glanced out the northern window and saw the Griffin Wedge almost directly below them. Through the window on the opposite side, the high paths of the Talinor Wedge were just visible.
The space lacked desks, and aside from a handful of chairs facing a giant stool, the room was mostly empty. A handful of magical sources were bracketed in the walls, the suppressed magics swirling in place. A private section of the room was walled off, and through the open door Jack spotted a female rock troll bent over a desk.
“Sirani?” Ursana called.
The troll perked up and rose to her feet before squeezing through the door. With white and grey hair, she was the oldest troll Jack had met, and wore simple clothing of brown and deep red. As she exited the door, Jack spotted a large greatsword hanging in her office and recognized it as made by the same dwarven smith who had made his dagger.
“Hello, little dove,” Sirani said. She smiled at Ursana and leaned down to embrace her.
“This is Jack and Inna,” Ursana said. “They’re friends of mine.”
Sirani loomed over Jack, her eyes twinkling with delight. “I’d like him to be my friend,” she said, and giggled. Then she reached down and caught his shoulders. Before he could react, the troll picked him up and held him aloft.
“Hello, handsome,” she crooned.
And kissed him.
Chapter 20: Sirani
Sirani placed him back on the ground and he stumbled back, sputtering. The rock troll released a cackle of laughter.