Do you remember any of the person’s memories?
No, I could only access them if I was still in his head, she explained.
So, essentially, don’t fall out of a tree is all the advice you have.
Best advice in my opinion, Cathy chuckled as I left the building to search for the quartermaster.
Chapter 29
The Evenawk set me down on the ground with surprising grace. I really thought I would have just been dropped without a care but this Evenawk had been gentle. He introduced himself as Garoks but didn’t mention the process the troops must have been through to determine who had to carry the Mage.
The flight here hadn’t been any more entertaining than my first flight. The only difference was everyone flew closer to the trees to not give away our position. This, of course, meant I was the victim of any high reaching branch.
I really didn’t think it was that sensitive down there, Cathy said. How there is not armour specifically designed for that area?
I’m sure there is, we’re not going to find it in the mountains though.
Bak gathered the platoon of about ten Evenawks for a quick word while I adjusted the messenger satchel I had picked up for my tome. It was nice to finally have the giant pack off my shoulders. I just hope the Evenawks don’t take the Staff and Demon’s Bane. I’d hate to have to go back and try to get more.
You should be okay, Cathy said. I don’t think they would understand the importance of that stuff. Your cookware on the other hand...
That’s okay. I don’t think I’ve used it since I smashed that bandit over the head at Aaron’s farm.
Ah, good times, Cathy said dreamily.
I don’t see why I had to leave my hat though.
So, you wouldn’t lose it during the flight here, she answered happily.
Seems like a weak excuse.
I know, it’s great, she said excited.
Bak approached me and nodded. “The boys are ready. We’ll wait for your signal before charging in.”
“I wasn’t expecting THIS small of an army,” I said. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”
“Don’t doubt us, Mage,” he responded. “These boys want their freedom and they will fight hard for it.”
“Very well,” I nodded. “Watch the skies. I’ll send something up to signal you.”
“We’ll be ready,” he said as he turned around to head back to his troops.
I turned and scanned through the forest. Every direction looked the same.
“Hey, which way to the Mine?” I asked.
All the Evenawks pointed into the same direction and I nodded in embarrassment as I disappeared into the trees. One day, I will be able to travel through forests without incident. Today is not that day.
A branch to the face and a stumble into a bush made me wish I could transform MY arms into wings. Luckily I emerged from the forest near the small mining camp at the base of a small mountain. I shook the leaves and twigs out of my hair and robes as a couple Mages approached me cautiously.
How are you going to play this? Cathy asked.
Guess I should have thought of something.
Well, they think you are a Keeper, she suggested.
Hm. Maybe there is a little lie that could work.
Work the ‘I’m more important then you’ attitude to really sell it, she said excitedly.
“Don’t move,” the older of the two Mages said. “Who are you and what are you doing out here?”
“I’m pissed off that’s who I am,” I said shaking my robe out. “And I think there’s a bug down my robe so I’ll move as I damn well please.”
“What’s a Keeper doing way out here?” the Mage asked pointing to my robe.
“Give the guy a cookie, he can recognize colours,” I said straightening myself out. “I’m here because the Tower wants a report on the entire Mine's records.”
“Why?” he asked confused but taking on a friendly stance.
“Because they hate me, that’s why,” I answered. “Make the new guy run around the freaking forest.” I scoffed. “Should have chosen Elemental, bah! ‘Learn the secrets’ my butt.”
“Well, is there anything I could get you, maybe?” the Mage asked showing his lack of spine around ‘authority’.
“A cold drink and the directions to the man in charge,” I replied already walking towards the camp.
“This way, Keeper,” the younger Mage said running to get ahead of me.
The camp was a simple place with wooden buildings and a guard tower in a small clearing. A small wall surrounded the camp to keep out the local wildlife. I can’t imagine it being used to hold back the rebels. Creatures that fly don’t really care about walls.
Most of the buildings were drab looking bunkhouses which were most likely home to the Evenawk miners. A fancy looking tall building must have been the Mages'. I couldn’t see any other building that they would consider using as their sleeping quarters so it was most likely to be on one of the levels of the fancy building.
The Mage ahead of me opened the door and I entered behind him. There was a sweet smell in the air, either from something burning or it being closer to dinner time then I thought. The aroma came from a kitchen close to the front door. Sitting on a table, ready for consumption was a large pie.
“Oh, I’ll take a piece of that pie too, when they begin serving it,” I said to my Mage escort.
“Yes, Keeper,” he responded.
Aside from the kitchen, the first floor was mostly storage. Crates of mined material occupied the floor while two Mages recorded information on their writing pads. Both the Mages stopped what they were doing to watch me curiously.
They are not trying to stop me so that’s a good sign.
Just keep acting like you own the place and nobody should get suspicious, Cathy said. That’s what I always did.
Didn’t you end up dying every time though?
Only because blending in gets boring, she answered.
At the base of a staircase, the young Mage turned to me and pointed up the stairs. “Mage Contee’s office and personal quarters are on the top floor past the sleeping quarters. I have to get back to my post. Good luck, Keeper.”
“What about the pie and my drink?” I asked.
“I’ll past it along to the kitchen staff,” he said nervously. “But I really should return to my duties.”
“Good,” I replied without looking at him as I started up the stairs.
The second floor was a long hallway with doors on each side. A few Mages stood in the middle of the hall talking but when they say me and looked down at my robes they broke away from each other and disappeared into their rooms.
That’s odd. Mage’s aren’t usually this docile.
Something tells me the man in charge isn’t a people person, Cathy said.
What do you recommend?
The rule of power is: ‘No matter how powerful you think you are there will always be someone more powerful then you’, she said.
So I need to be more powerful.
Or at least, create the...Illusion...of it, she said playfully.
I nodded slowly as I started climbing the last flight of stairs. Illusion is what I do best.
Mage Contee’s office was a small space just large enough to fit his desk and a couple of bookcases. I couldn’t imagine there being enough books on mining to fill one bookcase but here he sat with two. Contee looked up from the book he was working on and his face twisted in frustration.
His smooth bald head glistened with sweat as the look in his eyes told his whole life story. Overly ambitious, he had climbed through the ranks until he had stepped on someone’s toes. He was shipped away to this backwater post as punishment and now he takes it out on everyone around them.
He will still bow down to his superiors, Cathy said. As ambitious and beaten down as people can be, they always respect the chain of command.
“Who are you?” Mage Contee asked.
“Second Keeper Holcombe,” I a
nswered. “Are you Mage Contee?”
“Yes I am Jaramogl Contee,” he said leaning back into his chair. “What brings a Keeper out to my outpost?”
I grabbed one of the chairs closest to his desk and pulled it back so I could sit. “The Masters have noticed that the shipments coming out of the mines have been smaller than expected. They suspect that someone is stealing from them.”
“And they sent you here to me?” he asked amused.
“I am to check everywhere,” I smiled, “a little punishment for asking too many questions.”
He smiled weakly. “Well, this is their favourite place to send people. So what can I do for you?”
“I need access to all the records and to inspect the mine,” I answered.
Contee leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. “It is strange that the Masters would send a Keeper to do this. An apprentice Keeper on top of it.”
“It will be my job soon enough,” I answered furrowing my brow. “Keeper Anderson has grown old and can’t make the trip. You will treat me with the same respect as you would him.”
Contee laughed. “You are still young. You do not know the meaning of the word yet. Nor do you understand the Tower’s ‘respect’.”
“I am not here to discuss dictionary definitions,” I said growing in frustration as I reached out with my mind. “I am here to do a job. I was asked to secure your permission to search the grounds but I do not need it.”
Contee’s mind was protected with a simple barrier but I felt it waver as his face twisted in anger.
“The Tower already asks for too much,” he barked. “We do not have time to humour these accusations and still make quota.”
“Why do you try and stop me?” I asked. “What is it that you are hiding?”
“You dare to accuse me?” he bellowed dropping his mental shield. “I have done nothing but put up with the Master’s indecisive attitude for far too long.”
“Then perhaps you would like to explain it to them directly?” I asked standing up and entering his mind. “Master Pryce was very interested in this investigation. I think I will return to the capital and tell him I’ve found the thief.”
Through the simple act of standing up, I made myself loom over him and at the mention of Master Pryce; I influenced his mind to think of all the nasty things Master Pryce would do to him. I withdrew from his mind quickly before he could put his shields back up and discover what I had done.
“That will not be necessary,” Contee said leaning away. “These are tough times. The Evenawk rebels are a threat to every outpost and shipment. I believe it is possible your missing shipments have been taken by the rebels...but if it pleases the Tower, carry out your investigation and leave.”
Nice one, Cathy said. Look at him rambling trying to make it sound like it was his idea. They are all the same.
“You will, however, have an escort while in my outpost,” Contee continued. “Someone to help you get what you need.”
And make sure you don’t steal anything, Cathy finished.
“Very well,” I nodded before standing up. “I will begin immediately, so I will be on the first floor looking over those shipment crates. Send your escort for me so I may check the mine and grounds.”
“You will find this to be a waste of time,” he said returning to his paper work.
“Then I will be out of here quickly,” I said as I left the office and headed back down the stairs.
We’re going to need to get rid of this ‘escort’.
Good thing Mines are dark, Cathy said playfully.
Yeah, lots of sharp rocks you could land on if you trip.
This is going to be fun, she said eagerly.
At the bottom of the stairs, I walked towards the shipment crates and inspected them. The two Mages stopped to watch me again and I looked up at them.
“What’s in the crates?” I asked sharply.
“Ranix Dust,” the one answered. “You know, mix it with water and you have a bonding agent.”
I nodded and went back to studying the crates.
“I’m shocked you didn’t know,” the other Mage said.
I looked up and studied him. “Maybe I just wanted to see how much you knew. Someone is stealing under the Master’s noses. I figure anyone that knows a lot must know something about this. How much do you know?”
“N-nothing, Keeper,” the one answered nervously.
“Then perhaps you’ll let me work in peace?” I smiled.
“Of course,” the other said as the both hurried out of the building.
Cathy laughed. Having fun?
I pulled my ancient magic book from out of my pack and opened it. Tons.
I quickly started flipping through the pages to find if I had included anything with Ranix Dust. Aside from a design for a trap involving gluing the unsuspecting person to the ground, it looked like I would need to find something else.
As I neared the back of the book, something caught my eye but I quickly closed the book as the sound of footsteps drew closer. A Mage in a green robe and an exhausted look in his eyes approached me.
“I’m Mage Burns, Mage Contee said I was to help in your investigation?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you,” I said securing my book in my satchel. “You look like you just woke up.”
“Mage Contee couldn’t spare anyone on the day shift so I get the pleasure,” he replied deadpanned.
“An escort isn’t necessary,” I said. “I won’t tell Contee if you go back to your room.”
“I’m not going to go against his orders,” he said.
“Very well, we will be quick,” I said. “We need to check the grounds for anything suspicious then I need to check the Mine.”
“All the ledgers and paper work will be in the foreman’s office,” Burns said.
“That’s good, but I will still need to explore the depths for anything suspicious,” I said.
“You’ll have to talk to the foreman,” Burns droned.
“Then let’s get started,” I said motioning for him to lead.
Chapter 30
The search of the grounds revealed nothing that would be helpful to me when it came time to signal the attack. I was going to have to disable the main house and Mage Contee before signalling the Evenawks. First, I had to figure out how I was going to have to get rid of my escort.
We headed for the Mine which featured a small foreman’s office close to entrance. It was a simple wooden closed off area with a door that could be locked to prevent the Evenawks from messing with anything.
The foreman, like everyone else, saw me as a nuisance but let me into his office to study the ledger. Luckily for me, he was too busy to sit around and watch me read books but my escort didn’t seem to mind. I persuaded him to wait on the other side of the door because I was finding it ‘too cramped to read’.
With him gone, I quietly searched the office for anything important and found the spare key to the miner’s shackles. I pocketed it and pulled out my book to find that interesting spell again.
Rather than what I thought I had remembered, the spell turned out to be an ancient formula to make a mild, colourful explosion used for celebrations. It called for a small amount of Ranix Dust to be mixed with a mineral like Magnumese and a colouring spell. I don’t think colour is all that important but Magnumese is used in mines to burn away any tree roots they encounter.
If I mixed all that Ranix Dust with some Magnumese and launched a Fire Ball at it, it could be enough to destroy the building.
Could you throw in some colour for fun? Cathy asked. Pleeeeeeeease.
We’ll see.
She cheered as I closed the book and returned it to my bag. I knocked on the door to signal Burns. He opened the door and stepped back.
“Everything looks in order but I still need to see the tunnels,” I said to him. “Let’s do this quickly so I can get out of here.”
Burns nodded and led me into the brightly lit tunnels. I was expecting somethin
g a little darker so I could lose my escort but the Mages mixed together a lamp oil that burns brighter for longer. On the plus side it helped me plan my route back out of the mine.
Through the tunnels, Burns took on the role of tour guide as he started to explain everything to break our awkward silence. I tuned him out while I looked for some Magnumese. It seemed the miners had it in liquid form in small containers.
“Keeper!” a voice exclaimed and I snapped back to see Burns staring me down. “Were you listening?”
“Oh, yes,” I lied. “Riveting stuff.”
“I asked if there was something in particular that you wanted to check while we were down here,” Burns said.
“Oh, right,” I chuckled awkwardly. “Yes there was.”
Burns waited a second before motioning for me to continue. “Such as?”
Dark passages with dead ends, Cathy said.
“Dark passages with dead ends,” I repeated.
If anyone is going to hide something down here... Cathy started.
“If anyone is going to hide something down here, it would be in the dark in a passage no one travels regularly,” I continued.
“Makes sense,” Burns nodded before leading the way again.
Thanks.
Hey, someone has to pay attention, Cathy said.
We cut down a passageway and we passed a line of Evenawk miners working. A couple looked back in curiosity but they mainly kept their heads down to avoid any punishment. The passageway abruptly ended just past the workers and Burns explained that it was meant to be a new section but was cancelled in favour of another route.
I walked forward towards the rocks and studied them like I knew what I was doing. Occasionally, I would flick a small Dispel into the way and nod like it was what I expected.
I sure hope I’m not over doing it.
Well, you haven’t licked the rocks yet, so it hasn’t gotten weird, Cathy said.
“May I ask what you are doing, Keeper?” Burns asked curious.
“If we are dealing with a Mage as the thief,” I started trying to think quickly. “They would hide it using a simple enchantment, something that could be easily dismissed as background noise.”
The Tower Of The Watchful Eye: The Legend Of Kairu Book 1 Page 24