Magic Below Paris Complete Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 8): Trading Into Shadow, Trading Into Darkness, Trading Close to Light, Trading By Firelight, Trading by Shroomlight, plus 3 more

by C. M. Simpson

  “So much for washing the dark-assed mule,” Henri grumbled.

  “No time for that now,” Jakob told him. “Wolves want us to move.”

  More of the pack had appeared ahead of them, bouncing at the edge of the path into the ruins.

  “Henri, make sure they don’t fall off.”

  Henri watched as Brigitte walked the mule forward and groaned. “Stop, stop, stop. I’ve got a better idea.”

  Oh, yeah... Marsh thought moments later as she hung across the saddle. This is sooo much better...

  20

  Rest and Recalibration

  Marsh woke to the sound of boots stomping closer. Her head felt like it was stuffed with hot coals, and her mouth was as dry as sand. She tried to open her eyes and groaned as orange light lanced through her brain.

  The pain connected with her stomach and she rolled to one side, thankful for the bucket that materialized in front of her face.

  “I’m sorry. We found his notes, but we couldn’t identify the herbs we needed.” Master Envermet’s voice was soft with regret. “I should also kick your ass for taking such a risk.”

  “My mule,” she muttered. “My responsibility.”

  “I’ll be sure to remind Henri of that since he washed it clean when we arrived.”

  Marsh groaned again, wondering how many more dinners she was going to owe the man before she finally had a chance to pay. Master Envermet laughed.

  “Since you and Roeglin suffered instead of anyone else, he’s willing to forgive you—this time.”

  Somehow, Marsh doubted it.

  “You need to drink something,” Captain Envermet told her as Roeglin came to consciousness in the same way she had.

  Henri groaned. “How much longer?” he complained. “First the mule, now this.”

  “It could have been you,” Izmay told him, her voice far too sweet.

  Apparently, Henri thought so too because he sighed. “I’ll boil some more water, then.”

  “You do that, sweetie,” Izmay agreed, and Marsh realized the man was in trouble. She wondered what else he’d done.

  “I think Izmay disapproved of the way he transported you,” Master Envermet began. “And then there was the suggestion we stick you and your mules in the rain to be rinsed clean, and then he made Aisha cry and picked a fight with Tamlin...”

  Wow. Henri had been in fine form.

  “That’s one way to put it.” He wiped her face and eased her into a sitting position, keeping a steadying arm around her shoulders until the world stopped spinning. When everything was stable again, he lifted a mug of warm water to her lips.

  “Here, drink this...and try to keep it down. There’s only so much space in the bucket, and we don’t have any spares.”

  Marsh didn’t want to think about what that might mean, so she sipped the water cautiously. When that mug stayed down, Master Envermet had her drink another, and then a third. When that was empty, he had her sleep again.

  Roeglin’s mind brushed against hers as she faded. It was poor consolation that he seemed to be in as bad a way as she was. What the fuck had the assassin put in the dust?

  She thought she heard Master Envermet begin to reply as she faded, but she didn’t hear what he said.

  Roeglin was sitting beside her when she woke the next time. To her relief, she felt okay.

  No pain sliced through her skull when she opened her eyes, and her stomach stayed calm.

  “Hey,” Roeglin greeted her. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m...okay,” Marsh told him, surprised to find it was true. She pushed herself upright. “Yeah, okay. You?”

  “Better than either of you has any right to be,” Henri answered, coming over to hand them a half loaf of shroom bread each.

  “Where are we?”

  “Wolves brought us here. Master Envermet kept promising us ‘a big cave,’ and this is what they came up with. It’s even got a roof and enough rocks to block the entrance.” He looked around. “It’s even better than the raider base.”

  Following his gaze, Marsh could see he was right. The building was old, but it was remarkably well preserved. She looked for signs it had been repaired and found none. The floor had been cleared of rubble, and she got the impression that was recent since there was still plenty lying beyond where the team had laid out their sleeping rolls and stabled the mules.

  “How long were we out?”

  “A day.” Henri didn’t look impressed.

  Fortunately, Master Envermet chose that moment to intervene. “However, if you and Roeglin are up to it, we can hit the town tonight. The ch...teens tell me we’ll need to go over the wall. Aisha tells me ‘No trouble, we can go through.’”

  He did a near-perfect imitation of the child’s tone, and Marsh had to laugh. Her humor died as quickly as it had arrived, however, and she pushed herself to her feet, taking a bite of her bread as she did so. “Let’s not leave Gustav there any longer than we already have.”

  Master Envermet followed her to her feet, ready to catch her if she fell.

  Marsh was about to apologize for being the cause of the trouble when he reached out and pressed his finger against her lips. “You did what needed to be done. We couldn’t have been without the mule any more than you could have left it the way it was.”

  He looked over his shoulder. “Aisha is happy.”

  For a moment, Marsh got the impression that the little girl’s happiness was as important to him as the mule. He raised an eyebrow. “And it’s not to you?”

  That made her smile. “Don’t tell her.”

  He smiled back. “It may be too late for that.”

  Looking down, Marsh saw he was right. Aisha’s bright blue eyes peered up at her from behind the shadow captain’s legs.

  “You ‘kay?” the child asked.

  Marsh nodded, and Aisha’s face brightened.

  “We go get Gustav?” she asked hopefully.

  Marsh nodded. “Yes.”

  She looked at Roeglin, and he nodded too. “Yes,” he told the girl, and Aisha bounced on her toes, clapping her hands.

  “Yes! I’ll come too!”

  Marsh frowned, ready to say no, but the decision had already been made. Master Envermet rested a hand on the child’s shoulder. “Yes,” he agreed. “You’re coming, too. But, you have to do everything Tamlin and Brigitte say.”

  “’Kay,” Aisha promised, but Master Envermet wasn’t fooled.

  “Show me your hands.”

  She lifted her hands, and he caught her wrists in his palms.

  “Now promise,” he ordered. “Promise you’ll do everything Tamlin and Brigitte say.”

  Aisha scowled but Master Envermet didn’t let go, and she kept her fingers uncrossed as she said, “Bien! I promise. I promise!”

  “How long do we have?” Marsh asked, and Master Envermet looked around.

  “We still have to saddle the mules and let Mordan know we’re coming so she can warn the wolves. She tells me the remnant are hunting a half-day away and we can reach the town safely.”

  “And the raiders?”

  “Are all tucked up behind their walls,” Master Envermet answered.

  Marsh nodded and started sorting her gear. She dealt with some brief ablutions and found her armor neatly stacked at the end of her bedroll. When she’d pulled it on, she had Roeglin check it, then checked his in return.

  When they were dressed and ready and their gear had been packed and strapped behind their mules’ saddles, they assembled with the team. Marsh endured the appraising looks as her teammates studied her.

  They had every right to make sure she was okay. They were giving Roeglin the same looks, which was poor comfort since it gave her an idea exactly how sick her ill-advised washing of the mule had made them. The fact it had needed to be done didn’t seem to matter.

  She still felt guilty for holding them up.

  Gustav is fine. Master Envermet’s revelation came out of the blue, and Marsh couldn’t hide her surprise. He ign
ored her and started giving orders.

  “Let’s go. Marsh, you and Roeglin are with me. Henri, Izmay, Jakob, stay together and take care of the youngers.”

  Youngers... It was the first time Marsh had heard the term, and she had to admire Master Envermet’s attempt to avoid offending the kids. He kept speaking.

  “Brigitte, Gerry, Zeb, and Obasi, I want you working parallel with my team but keeping an eye on the rest in case they need help.”

  Brigitte snorted. “Are you kidding? That’s the strongest team, right there.”

  The adults of the team looked worried, and the youngers preened. With the team broken into units, Master Envermet led them into the night.

  Marsh glanced around as she left. The building appealed to her. It had all the makings of a secure waystation. The only thing that could change that was the approach.

  Roeglin touched her thoughts. If there’s an upper floor, we could add a monastery. The Deeps know the area needs one.

  His words made her spirits lift.

  Perhaps when this is over... he began, but let the thought drift as Master Envermet spoke.

  “Marsh, monitor the dark for life forces and see what the shadows can reveal about what lies ahead. Roeglin, I need to know what minds are nearby.”

  They bent to their tasks as Mordan and the wolf pack guided them close to the town and into the shelter of more ruins. Master Envermet dismounted. “We leave the mules here,” he ordered. “The wolves will keep watch.”

  Several of the pack arrayed themselves around the entrance and the outside of the walls as he tethered his mount.

  “We’ll return for them,” he told Aisha when the little girl gave him a worried look.

  She bit her lower lip and nodded, then her eyes flared green. After a moment, she said, “Bristlebear says if we do not come back by next sun-sleep, they will chew the reins and let the mules go.”

  Master Envermet’s eyebrows rose. “Does he now?” he managed as Henri snorted, Jakob covered his mouth, and Vi giggled. Tamlin just rolled his eyes.

  “That’s really rude, Aysh,” he told her.

  “Is not,” she argued. “The mules...”

  She scowled, as if at a loss for what she wanted to say.

  “Mules will be fine,” Master Envermet told her. “The wolves will make sure nothing hurts them, and they will make sure they are okay if something happens to us.”

  Aisha gave two sharps nods of her head. “Oui.”

  Master Envermet signaled for them to come closer. “The raiders reached town late in the afternoon. Gustav’s last contact showed he was okay, but that he was chained and gagged, and they were keeping a very close eye on him.”

  Basil frowned. “Does he have magic?”

  “Not that we are aware of.”

  “But they are very interested in him,” the boy protested. “That sort of treatment is reserved for only the most powerful mages.”

  “Or those who try to escape,” Vi added, and Basil gave her a scornful look.

  “No one had ever tried to escape that hard!”

  “How would you know?” she challenged.

  “Can you contact him now?” Roeglin asked, and Master Envermet shook his head.

  “Wherever they are keeping him now, I can’t reach him.”

  “More stone?” Marsh suggested, remembering Toya’s Trade Station.

  “I hope so.”

  “The cellblock is full of stone,” Basil told them helpfully.

  “May I see?” Master Envermet asked, and the boy nodded. Master Envermet’s eyes turned white and then returned to their usual blue as he caught Roeglin’s eye. “It’s the same color and look.”

  “That could be it, then,” Roeglin confirmed, picking the image from the shadow captain’s head. “The waystation was full of it.”

  The guards relaxed a little, but they still looked worried. Master Envermet turned back to the two older teens. “Can you show me what you had in mind?”

  “Me too,” Aisha demanded, and Master Envermet sighed. He glanced down at the little girl, his eyes becoming white once more.

  “Better?” he asked, and she nodded. “Aisha, I need your words.”

  “Do not,” she retorted and he blushed, realizing he didn’t.

  He shook his head and turned to Vi and Basil. “Are you ready?”

  They nodded, Vi white-faced, Basil more relaxed. Master Envermet concentrated for a moment, then his eyes cleared. “That’s...quite a climb,” he managed. “Why didn’t you go through?”

  Basil’s face reddened. “I wasn’t strong enough,” the teen admitted. “I could only make it easier to climb. I couldn’t get all the way through. We had to try two nights in a row because I passed out.”

  Vi patted him on the shoulder. “You did your best, and you got us out the second try.”

  “I nearly got us all caught,” he protested, and Jens crowded closer to him.

  “You are the reason we got away,” he reminded him, and Marsh caught a glimpse of what happened after they’d made it to the other side of the wall.

  She paled. That was too close.

  It is why they were separated. He created the diversion at the gate.

  Knowing the penalty, Marsh added.

  Knowing the penalty, Roeglin confirmed.

  Remarkable, Master Envermet remarked, and they came abruptly back to the present. He was smirking, and Vi and Basil were staring at them.

  “What was that all about?” Vi demanded.

  “Private conversation,” Master Envermet intervened, and Marsh and Roeglin ducked their heads.

  “We’re sorry,” Marsh added, but the teens still looked unhappy.

  Master Envermet continued, “Aisha can open the wall. Do you know which sections are most likely to open close to the cellblock?”

  The teens nodded.

  “You want somewhere out of sight of the towers too?” Vi asked.

  “And somewhere there’s no people,” Basil added, going pale again.

  “All that,” Master Envermet confirmed.

  “Here,” they chorused, and the shadow captain looked into both their minds.

  “Amazing,” he murmured, smiling when they looked at him. “You do agree on some things.”

  This brought twin scowls but didn’t dim his smile. He turned to the rest of them. “We’re going in here,” he informed them, and Marsh saw the map he’d taken from Basil’s and Vi’s minds.

  The team nodded, and Master Envermet glanced at Marsh. “Please ask Mordan to relay the location. I think the pictures are the walls facing sun-sleep closest to the down trail.”

  The directions made no sense to Marsh, but she relayed them, complete with pictures, to Mordan. The kat cocked her head one way and flicked her tail a couple of times, then tilted her head the other way. Finally, she curled her lips and chirped at Bristlebear.

  The wolf seemed even bigger than Marsh remembered, but he stared intently at the kat, then gave a soft croon, yipping to summon his pack. The conversation that followed was incomprehensible to Marsh, but the wolves trotted to the door and glanced back at Master Envermet.

  “I believe they’re waiting for us,” Henri commented wryly.

  Vi’s muttered, “Well, duh,” was nowhere near as quiet as the teen might have intended, and Henri poked her. She gave a yip and then giggled, which thoroughly spoiled the glare she attempted after. Izmay caught her gaze and raised an eyebrow, and the girl subsided.

  “Is everyone ready?” Master Envermet asked, and they all stared at him.

  Jakob’s “well, duh,” was an exact copy of Vi’s and caused a ripple of laughter.

  The shadow captain didn’t acknowledge any of it but stalked out of the ruins, trusting them to follow.

  They trotted after him, then trotted through the ruins until the wolves signaled they needed to be quiet.

  “The humans on the wall are not friendly,” Aisha relayed. “We have to be very quiet.”

  The shadow mages merged with the shadows,
taking their non-adept colleagues with them. The night was full of darkness to step through. Even the wolves were impressed.

  21

  Infiltration and Escape

  Henri’s team was first to the wall. Izmay deposited them in the shadows at its foot, leaving the youngers impressed but silent. He tapped Aisha on the shoulder and gestured at the stones.

  To Marsh’s surprise, the little girl grabbed Basil’s hand. “Like this,” she whispered, and Henri glanced nervously at the top of the wall.

  Everyone froze, waiting to see if the child’s whisper had carried to the guards. They relaxed when no movement followed.

  Master Envermet told Roeglin, “Link them.”

  Roeglin nodded and took Marsh with him when he slipped into the children’s minds. It didn’t take him long to construct a connection between them so Basil could see what Aisha was doing as she began moving the stone aside.

  The boy’s mouth formed a silent “Oh,” and he placed his hands on the wall just above Aisha’s. “Like this?” he asked and the stone melted from before him, forming an unsightly lump on either side of the gap.

  “Be careful,” Vi urged. “They’ll be able to see us from that section of the wall.”

  “Only if they’re looking,” Jens corrected, but Henri shook his head.

  “Movement attracts the eye. We need a way for them not to see us.”

  Aisha turned to Marsh. “We need shadows.”

  Marsh arched an eyebrow. “Where?”

  The child gestured to the space between the wall and where they needed to walk. “There.”

  Marsh thickened the shadows. “Now what?” she asked.

  “This,” Aisha replied, and the stone that had been flowing to the outside of the wall flowed to the inside and formed a second wall, blocking them from view.

  “Don’t overdo it, Aysh,” Tamlin admonished her. “Don’t be like Marsh.”

  Marsh drew a breath to protest and then closed her mouth. There was no point arguing with the boy, and this was not the time or place. She tucked the incident away and pushed aside her reaction. The kid was still mad at her, and she was only now beginning to work out just how many ways she’d upset him.