Traitor for Hire: Mage Code

by Max Irons

  Galeron shook his head. "He has all the advantages. Powers and a group of rebels at his disposal. It's just us against all of that."

  "Maybe."

  Galeron frowned. "What are you talking about?"

  "You've just listed his advantages." Iven flipped the piece of wood he'd been playing with into the water. "How do we avoid them?"

  They couldn't. It was an impossible feat. Any attempt to take on Atreus would automatically run into all of his strengths. He gritted his teeth. Iven was asking the impossible.

  "Galeron, stop thinking like a sell-sword. You aren't one." He grinned. "You're an informer. How'd you kill the necromancer?"

  Galeron sighed. "I've told you a hundred times. I just snuck into his camp and killed him in his sleep."

  Iven chuckled. "Exactly. This isn't a problem we can just hack apart with a sword. Like your necromancer, we need to use stealth. Once Tondra's told us where it is, we sneak into the Drake camp, free the prince, and get back out. No combat required."

  "What about Atreus?" asked Galeron.

  "We wait on that one," said Iven. Galeron opened his mouth to protest, but Iven held up a hand. "Atreus wants the prince for some reason. Whatever it is, he'll want to get him back, and that's where we get an army. Bring the prince back here and use the city's soldiers to lure him into a trap. We have reinforcements, and you can kill Atreus, thus completing our job."

  Galeron frowned and mulled it over in his head. Two frontal attacks had failed against Atreus, but if they could be stealthy enough, if they could get the prince out, then it might work. He smiled. After all, finding Prince Lattimer had escaped, who would Atreus suspect but the men who'd been chasing him for two months?

  He nodded, some of the tension draining out of his muscles. His shoulders relaxed and exhaled. "Sounds like a good plan to me."

  They went back to Lonni's shop in silence. Galeron's whole body ached as he laid himself down next to his things under the lean-to. Some days, being a mercenary produced very strange results. He bundled his cloak up and laid it over his shield, using the combination for a pillow. Despite his physical exhaustion, his mind raced through possibilities. Even Atreus hadn't known all of this at the start, else he would have ignored Kyra altogether. What was his goal? There had to be one, some overall plan that Galeron hadn't found.

  He turned over possibilities in his mind, but nothing really fit with what they knew thus far. Galeron's eyelids slid shut. He could consider these things more in the morning. Atreus could--

  "Get out! Get out!"

  Galeron sat bolt upright, drowsiness vanishing like morning fog. Lonni burst from her workshop and grabbed his arm, pulling him along.

  "Come on, you big oaf, move," she said.

  Galeron stumbled after her. Iven, also dragged up from the depths of sleep, followed with his back bent and head hung. They ran into the street, and Lonni shoved them to the ground. Galeron skinned his elbows on the cobblestone before a shattering eruption rang out behind them. Splinters of wood ricocheted off his back and leg, stinging like a hornet's attack. As the shock wave of the explosion wore off, and wood ceased to drop from the sky, he could hear fire crackling behind them.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Galeron rolled over and looked back. Flames clawed their way from the remains of Lonni's workshop window. A massive, glowing orange hole gaped in the side of the building next to the remains of the lean-to. Galeron took a deep breath and looked at Lonni.

  "What happened?" he asked.

  "An experiment," she said, breathing heavily.

  Galeron stared at her, vaguely noting the naval fire crews rushing a horse-drawn wagon to pump water on the fire. He blinked and tried to understand what she had said. "What did you do?"

  Lonni gestured to the burning workshop. "I was making a few calculations regarding projectile velocity and..." Her voice trailed off, and she narrowed her eyes. "You have no idea what I'm saying."

  Galeron shook his head. "Not a clue."

  Iven shifted positions on the ground to get a better view. "What's the short version?"

  "I was modifying one of my pistolette barrels," Lonni said. "A stray spark jumped from the drill and hit the ground. Apparently one of the dust kegs wasn't sealed properly and...well, you get the idea."

  Iven pointed at the fire crew. "Do they need to know this?"

  She shook her head. "No. It would have been burned up quickly in the fire, and we only keep a small sampling of dust in the shop because of fire risks. Most of our it is now in a warehouse at the waterfront." Lonni bit her lip and watched the crew frantically work the hand pump on the carts water reservoir.

  "I don't think Rand's going to be too happy," said Iven.

  Lonni gave him a half-smile. "He won't mind as long as I turn my experiments into something we can sell. It isn't the first time I've set fire to the shop."

  "How comforting," he said.

  Galeron lay back down, breathing a sigh of relief. For a moment, he'd thought Atreus had come back to finish them, but it was just Lonni's experiments. She got up and walked over to the fire crew, engaging in an animated conversation with one of them. Her arms flailed as she and the man discussed something, but he couldn't hear over the ringing in his ears.

  "I think I'd like to be a bored farmer about now," Galeron said.

  Iven laughed. "Let's hope the king pays us double, then. I'm starting to lose count of the times we've almost died."

  Galeron shut his eyes. Rogue mages, life-altering books, and a firespeaker who was far too fond of experimenting. What next? "This one is easily the most dangerous of all the jobs we took."

  "I thought our trip to the Han was more dangerous," Iven said.

  Galeron cracked one eye and looked at him. "No one tried to punch their way through stone to get us."

  Iven shrugged. "True enough." He fell silent for a few minutes, watching the crews do their work, and then said, "It doesn't look like we're going to get any sleep tonight. Let's go check on Tondra."

  Galeron grunted his consent. Sounded as good a plan as any. They walked down the dusk-lit street to the naval yard gatehouse. The soldiers on duty waved them through, and they emerged on the other side of the stout wall into a circular stone harbor. At least twenty double-decked warships rested at port, all sporting shimmering bronze drakes mounted to their bows. Their oars rested in their slots, and masts towered in the air, making the area look more like a floating forest. A huge chain stretched across the single entrance into and out of the naval yard.

  Galeron and Iven walked around the edge of the harbor, passing barracks and supply depots built into the guarding wall before arriving at the infirmary, helpfully identified by a wooden sign hanging over the doorway. Soldiers stood guard outside the door. One opened it for them as they approached.

  "You've been expected," he told them.

  Did this mean Tondra was awake? Galeron nodded his thanks and proceeded inside. Lanterns lit the rows of beds, most of which were empty. A contingent of eight other soldiers stood or sat near one of the bunks on the far side of the room. The medicus who'd taken Tondra and another man with a bushy mustache stood toe to toe, glaring at each other and shouting as Galeron and Iven approached.

  "She's a mage, and a Drake at that, Orson," said the unknown man. He waved a hand at Tondra's form. "Explain why you want her to get well. There's only one punishment for mages: death."

  "That isn't the point, commander," said Orson. "If she doesn't get well, she won't tell you or anyone else anything of value. A little kindness might build some trust. She may help if you don't treat her like an animal."

  "She's a mage," said the commander. "She's as good as an animal." He paused as his gaze fell on Galeron. "Who are you?"

  "Galeron and this is Iven Porter," he said, gesturing in turn. "May we ask who you are?"

  "Commander Frontino." He drew himself up, puffing his chest out. "What are you doing in my naval yard?"

  Galeron pointed to Tondra's bed. "She's our prisoner
and, with luck, our key to finding Atreus Luccio."

  Frontino glared at him. "Do I look like a fool? Go back to your tavern and ply your trade elsewhere. I'm waiting for the Deathstalker. We have important business."

  "You found him," Iven said, elbowing Galeron in the side.

  Galeron glared at Iven but drew his sword and flipped it, extending the weapon hilt first. "Would you like to make sure it's real?"

  Frontino said nothing. He stared at the black blade for a moment, and then considered Galeron's face. "You're taller in the songs."

  He sighed. Bards. "I've heard. What did you want to discuss?"

  The commander jabbed a finger in Orson's chest. "This man is wasting valuable medical supplies to care for a mage who isn't going to live long anyway. My marines need those supplies."

  Galeron glanced around the infirmary. Aside from Tondra, only three other beds were occupied. He frowned and sheathed his sword. None of them looked grievously wounded. "Orson, what are these men here for?"

  "Scurvy," Orson said. "They were on the Edgeworld, and she arrived a scant two days ago."

  He nodded. "How do you treat it?"

  "A great deal of fruit, lemon drink, and rest," Orson said. "Jacques needs a bit of poppy milk to help him sleep. He has it worst of the three and complains of pain."

  "I see." Galeron looked at Tondra. "Do you use the same supplies to treat her?"

  Orson snorted. "Certainly not. I can't even give her poppy milk. She hasn't woken yet."

  Galeron turned to Frontino. "The supplies he needs for the marines can be bought at the marketplace. I need Tondra alive to find the Drakes. Unless you see wounded marines that I don't, she doesn't seem to be inconveniencing anyone."

  He snarled. "I will not have one of those...things...in my naval yard."

  Things. Tondra might have tried to kill him, but she was still human. Galeron bit back a smart reply. Kyra's information had to be kept secret. He took a breath. "This is your naval yard, and I respect that. My orders come from the king. I'm sure the watch captain has filled you in. I'm not trying to seize control or order you around. I just want to do my job, and then I'll leave."

  Frontino met his gaze for a while, but Galeron didn't blink. The commander looked away and grunted. "Do what you must, but as soon as she is ready, I want her on a convoy to Harracourt." He stormed out of the infirmary.

  Orson exhaled and wiped his brow. "He means well, and he's the best fleet commander Azura's had in a long time, but he is picky where mages are concerned."

  Galeron approached Tondra's bedside. Her face was whiter than a cloud, and her shallow breaths came in long intervals. "How is she?"

  Orson put a hand to her forehead. "Still feverish, but her bleeding stopped just before sunset. I set her leg and applied two poultices. One for the fever itself and one to prevent infection in her leg."

  "Shouldn't you have chains ready?" asked Iven. "In case she wakes up."

  The medicus shook his head. "No. I've treated several mages in my time. Magic, according to them, is as much physical as mental. The weaker the body, the less they can use their power. In this state, she wouldn't even be able to move. We probably have a few more days before worrying about that." Orson stopped. "What is her power, exactly?"

  Galeron shrugged. "She never said, specifically, but we gather it has something to do with the earth. She could manipulate stone, punch through anything, and harden her skin when she wanted."

  "Once she's stable, we'll bind her and suspend her in the chains," Orson said. "I hope it holds until I can procure the lymegrass to knock her out."

  Galeron nodded. Standard directions for housing a mage prisoner.

  "Why?" asked Iven. "The binding makes sense, but suspending?"

  "In the wars, mages who drew their power from something like steel, iron, or even the ground had to be kept separate from it," Orson said. "However their magic works, it needs a physical connection with the earth. Suspension robbed them of it, and without that practice, the drugs wouldn't take effect."

  Galeron looked at her, and a chill raced up his spine. She looked more like a child than a woman from this angle. His gut clenched. Tondra was barely older than he'd been when the Delktian Wars started. "Will she live?"

  "I will not speculate," Orson said. "The young are more likely to recover from such wounds, but I can't account for the strain of using magic. Drawing lots or casting dice would have as much accuracy."

  "There's nothing we can do?" asked Galeron.

  "I'm afraid not." Orson gestured to one of the empty beds. "Feel free to spend the night here, if you wish. The worst we might deal with is a marine who drank too much." He yawned. "If there's nothing else, I'm going to retire for the evening." He pointed at one of the guards. "Wake me if there is a change in her condition."

  The soldier nodded, and Orson walked into the back rooms and out of sight. Galeron sat down at the foot of an empty bed. He took off his sword belt and stretched out across the clean sheets. The pallet was lumpy, and certain sections were devoid of straw altogether, but it was still a vast improvement over sleeping on the ground.

  Iven watched Tondra for a bit. "I think we should send her to Arlana."

  Galeron propped himself up on an elbow. "I don't think she'd appreciate that."

  "You wouldn't send her Elrik," Iven said. "Maybe she'd like a live one instead. What says 'thinking of you' more than a living and bad-tempered mage?"

  "Assuming she wakes up," Galeron said. He rolled onto his back. "Just lie down."

  Iven hopped on the bed next to him and yawned. "Is this a real bed? I've forgotten what it's like to have one of those." He lay his head back and shut his eyes. "Feels real. Maybe I'm still asleep on the carriage roof, and I've dreamed of lying in a bed." Iven cracked one eye. "Do you think I could do that?"

  "Do what?" Galeron asked.

  "Dream of sleeping," Iven said. "Is it possible? Dreams are supposed to be strange or exciting, but surely a man could dream of sleeping or a better bed."

  "Iven, you're tired," Galeron said. "Sleep."

  Iven chuckled. "Aye, sleep. Forgotten what that's like, too."

  "Does he always chatter like this?" asked one of the soldiers.

  Galeron nodded. "It's worse when he hasn't rested."

  He shut his eyes, enjoying the sensation of straw against his back. His breathing slowed, and he let himself drift into the blackness that beckoned him.

  "She's awake!"

  Galeron rolled out of bed at the shout. He lay on the ground, dazed for a moment, before he collected his wits and stood. One of the soldiers hurried to Orson's quarters, and Galeron rushed to Tondra's side. Her eyelids fluttered, even with the dim lantern light, and she squirmed and reached for the bedside when her gaze fell on the soldiers standing around her.

  Galeron put his hand on her shoulder. "Stay down."

  Her head snapped to his voice. "You."

  Iven shuffled over. "Your ability to state the obvious is truly amazing." He sat at the foot of her bed, and she tried to kick him. Her breath caught in her throat for a moment, and then she screamed. Iven nodded. "Yes, your leg is broken. Now that you've established that, try not to move."

  Tears streamed down her cheeks as Orson rushed out, liquid sloshing over the sides of a small bowl he carried. He pressed it to her lips and forced it down. "For the pain, young one." He pulled back with half the contents still in its container. He drew close to Galeron and said over the noise, "I didn't give her a full dose. This will dull the pain and make her more pliable. Give it a bit."

  True to his word, a few moments later, Tondra's screams lessened to half-hearted wails until she moaned and fell silent. Orson took her pulse, checked her temperature, and nodded to Galeron.

  "She's stable for the moment." He left Tondra and went to check on the scurvy patients, who had been woken by Tondra's cries.

  Her mouth had gone slack. Had Orson given her a stronger dose? "Do you know where you are?" he asked.

  She nod
ded. "Azura."

  "What is your name?" He had to be sure the stones hadn't caused other issues. Some men sustained head wounds in combat and were never the same.

  "Tondra Voreaux, apprentice to Atreus Luccio," she said.

  "Good." Galeron sat on the edge of the bed. "Do you know who I am?"

  Her gaze met his, and a weak growl escaped her throat. "Galeron Triste, scumbag and sell-sword."

  Iven laughed. "At least her sense of humor is still there."

  Galeron held her look. The poppy milk might make her pliable, but she still had her grudges and some of her mental capacity. Time to play a few games. "Why were you left behind?"

  Tondra frowned. "I wasn't left behind."

  Galeron raised his eyebrows. "Oh, really? That's not what it looked like." Don't oversell it. "From where I stood, you were left. Why didn't Atreus take you with him?"

  "He left me to make sure you couldn't follow him," she said.

  "So he did leave you behind."

  "I..." Her face contorted as the poppy milk did its work on her mind. She was silent for a while.

  Galeron glanced to Iven, who shot him a quizzical look and mouthed, "What are you doing?"

  "Trust me," he mouthed back. The games would only work if Iven didn't question the reality of his next few statements.

  "He did...he left me..." Tondra's voice sounded small in comparison to her bellows at the academy. She sniffed. "There must be a reason. He took me in. He taught me to control my power." She choked. "After everything I'd done..."

  Galeron raised an eyebrow. Maybe this detour was worth taking. "And what was it you did?"

  "They tried to burn me," she said. "My own people. After I got out of the quicksand, they were sure of what I was. My father tied me up...my friends tried to burn me."

  Galeron nodded. This wasn't what he was looking for. However, pushing directly for answers would do no good. He had to take the path of least resistance so she wouldn't get wise and clam up. Tondra wasn't completely out of it. "And then what happened?"

  "The magic...I could feel it," she said. "It welled up. I felt...I felt the strength of the earth...I broke the ropes like twigs. Strength felt so wonderful." Tondra swallowed. "Then...I don't know what happened. I got so angry. They tried to beat me with shovels and rakes, but I broke those, too. I...I destroyed every building in the town."