The Sorcerer's Abyss (The Sorcerer's Path)

by Brock Deskins

  “Shut up, Elias,” Paullina snapped. “You know I cannot stand a sycophant. You are right, however. Ulric was a buffoon, and I gave him even odds of pulling off his coup. Fortunately, I had the good the sense to err on the side of caution and was able to distance myself enough to get away with my head attached. Still, Jarvin knows I do not care for him, and it will not do to provoke him or his friends. So, we shall appease North Haven and the King by not executing the girl, and we shall stave off The Academy’s demands for the Codex Arcana by reminding them that without the girl the Codex is useless to them. I expect they will make some pilgrimage here to see if the book will speak to any of them. Do you see that as a possibility, Fennrick?”

  “It is certainly all but immanent, but not one in which I would put great concern. Historically, the Codex is very particular and, as far as I have been able to learn, never spoken to more than one person at any one time. Even if we executed the girl, I sincerely doubt it would choose another from the stock available here or at The Academy. It is always a possibility, but it is more likely we would have to wait a few hundred years for another wizard to come along that the book deems suitable.”

  “That settles it then. Elias, remind The Academy ours is the only place suitable to imprison a wizard of her talent and, since she is the only way we have of utilizing the full potential of the Codex, the book must logically stay here as well.”

  “The Academy will not like it,” Elias said gravely.

  Paullina brushed away his concern with a flick of her wrist. “As if I care a whit what those bookworms like. Fennrick, have you checked on our young charge?”

  “I was going to awaken her after our meeting if she has not already regained consciousness.”

  “Do that. I cannot imagine sleeping for a fortnight is terribly healthy,” the Duchess replied offhandedly. “We will schedule her trial for tomorrow where we will certainly arrive at execution as her punishment.”

  Elias cleared his throat. “Your Grace, was it not your idea to not execute her?”

  “Of course, you idiot, but obviously we will not tell her that. We will offer to commute her sentence in lieu of her cooperation. I swear, I do not know whose boots you licked to achieve your position, but they should be beaten with a stick. Fennrick, you understand what is happening, do you not?”

  Fennrick ducked his head. “Implicitly, Your Grace. If there is nothing else, I shall attend to our prisoner and set things underway.”

  Paullina nodded to the wizard who then made to leave. Upon opening the door, a page stood just on the other side, apparently deliberating whether to knock. Catching the Duchess’ eye, the page stepped into the room and bowed deeply after Fennrick pushed past.

  “What is it?” Paullina asked waspishly.

  “Your Grace, your husband wishes to see you at your earliest convenience.” the page spoke with a pronounced tremor in his voice.

  “Did he say it was urgent?”

  “He did, Your Grace.”

  The Duchess smiled. “Tell him I will see him tomorrow after breakfast. Then reschedule his appointment for later that afternoon first thing the following morning.” Paullina looked at Elias. “I had his favorite horse put down after it came in third in yesterday’s race and he probably wants to complain. Ugh, he’s probably miffed enough to whine incessantly through dinner over it.” She turned back to the page. “Best fit him in this afternoon before dinner. I will not have my meal spoiled by his pouting. I swear that man is as stupid as you are, Elias, and twice as irritating.”

  “Indeed, Your Grace,” Elias intoned.

  “Oh and, boy,” the Duchess called after the departing page, “inform my chef I am in the mood for horsemeat kebobs with sweet and sour apples tonight.”

  Ellyssa stood and clenched her fists when she heard the door opening. She launched herself at Fennrick the instant she recognized his face. The wizard pointed his palm at her as if to tell her to stop and a force struck her in the chest hard enough to throw her back onto her cot.

  “That’s hardly any way to greet the man who saved your life,” Fennrick said casually.

  Ellyssa gripped the rail of her cot hard enough to whiten her knuckles. “What are you talking about?”

  “I think you know,” Fennrick said with a wry grin.

  Ellyssa thought back to final moments of her fight with the thief wizard. “It was you. You weakened his ward and distracted him.”

  “I couldn’t have him kill you. It would be inconvenient for us.”

  Ellyssa did not bother to stand again. She was powerless to harm the wizard and was not sure if she had the strength to hurt him if she could. Her head hurt and her body felt like a sack of mush.

  “Where am I? What do you want with me?” She gave Fennrick a defiant scowl.

  “You are in a holding cell beneath the Hall of Inquisition. I am sure you have already discovered your inability to channel the Source?” Ellyssa responded with a sour look. “Tomorrow, you will be tried for a multitude of crimes involving the illegal use of magic, most of which carries the mandatory sentence of execution.”

  Ellyssa’s head slunk dejectedly. Not from the threat of death, but because she would not be able to destroy Captain Jake and scour every slave ship and crew from the face of the planet. Perhaps her spirit would continue in this world like the banshee at the school. Then she could haunt Jake and his ilk for all eternity.

  Fennrick watched her lips turn upward. “Not many people smile when they learn of their impending death.”

  “Most people probably put more value on their lives.”

  Of all the responses the inquisitor had prepared for, eager acceptance was not one of them. He began to wonder if the girl really was insane. If she sought to use this as a defense, it would not do her any good. Insane wizards were executed immediately for the safety of the public no matter their crimes.

  Fennrick continued unabated. “We can however accept certain mitigating circumstances which could commute your execution to a term of imprisonment. I can likely get your cell upgraded to one a bit more accommodating as well.”

  Ellyssa smirked and let out a small laugh. “You can’t read the book. Not one of you high and mighty inquisitors, or probably Academy snobs either, can get the book to talk to them.”

  Fennrick’s face showed his displeasure despite his neutral tone. “As of yet, you are correct. However, The Academy is certainly going to be sending delegations to inspect the Codex. All it takes is for one of them to be chosen, and then you are no longer necessary.”

  Ellyssa mulled over her options and responses then nodded. “I want it in writing that if I help you use the book you will not execute me when I am no longer needed.”

  “I am certain I can get that assurance from the Duchess and inquisition council.”

  Fennrick kept stone-faced but inside he was elated. His ability to plumb the depths of the Codex Arcana would increase his knowledge considerably and guarantee him the highest position within the order, even it did require going through the girl.

  “There is a ritual to complete, but I will need you to get a few things,” Ellyssa continued.

  “I will ensure you have everything you need.

  “First, you need to get a rough-hewn staff. Length is not as important as girth. Then bend over at the waist and, you may need assistance with this next part…”

  The inquisitor turned red-faced with indignation. “We will see how amusing and defiant you are after your trial!”

  Inquisitor Fennrick stormed from the cell and Ellyssa listened to the thick bolt clack securely closed. A myriad of emotions warred within her as she pondered what appeared to be her imminent demise. First was fear, followed by a sort of numb acceptance. The most surprising emotion finally achieving dominance was relief and even some anticipation.

  Ellyssa had not realized how exhausting holding on to so much hate, guilt, and fear had been. Her entire body seemed to melt as her muscles relaxed for the first time in years. No more pain of abandonmen
t, no more guilt for Azerick’s death, and no more hateful eyes stabbing her with blame. Finally, there would be an end. Ellyssa slept more soundly that night than any other since her enslavement.

  Despite her peaceful sleep, strangely bereft of the usual nightmares, Ellyssa snapped awake the instant she heard the key fitted to the lock of her cell. As she expected, Fennrick emerged from the open door, but this time with two other wizards at his side.

  “I hope you had plenty of time to consider your situation last night,” the inquisitor stated.

  “I did.” Ellyssa met his look from where she sat on the edge of the cot.

  “You can save yourself this unpleasantness by cooperating,” Fennrick said once more. “My offer still stands.”

  A wry grin tugged at the corner of Ellyssa’s mouth. “So does mine.”

  Fennrick’s expression soured. “Stand up and extend your arms.”

  Ellyssa complied and the man snapped on the rune-etched shackles preventing her from reaching the Source. Fennrick grabbed her roughly by the elbow and pushed her into the dim passageway beyond her door. Ellyssa was not very familiar with dungeons, but this one seemed much cleaner than she imagined them to be.

  Fennrick guided her up a narrow, winding staircase while the other two wizards kept pace several feet to her front and back. After ascending perhaps twenty feet, the party came to a landing. The inquisitor guided her through a door, but the stairs continued upward into what Ellyssa assumed was a tower.

  The plain stone of the dungeon became polished red marble. The palatial décor of the place made Ellyssa wonder if she were in the Duchess’ palace. Wherever she was, it was large and heavily populated with wizards, nearly all of whom gave her stern looks in passing. The group finally arrived at what appeared to be an antechamber where one of her escorts detached from the group and vanished through a second set of doors.

  Despite her earlier acceptance of death, Ellyssa found the wait interminable. No one spoke or even allowed her to sit upon one of the padded benches stretching along the two opposing walls. Apparently, those inside were nearly as eager to finish this as she was because it was barely an hour before her missing guard returned and motioned them inside.

  Ellyssa felt the first pangs of fear, even panic, the instant she stepped into the room. It was a circular room made of multiple tiers of white marble, contrasting sharply with the three or four score of black-clad inquisitors seated within. Ellyssa’s heart hammered in her chest as Fennrick forced her to the center of a room that felt far too much like the training pits of Bakhtaran. Had the floor been comprised of sand instead of marble, Ellyssa was certain she would have lost her mind.

  She took several deep, shuddering breaths and summoned her focus as she was taught when working magic under stressful circumstances. It took several moments, but her head finally cleared and her heart returned to a more normal if still elevated rate. She met the eyes of the stern woman directly ahead of her and the only one seated on a throne instead of the endless circular benches ringing the arena-like chamber.

  “Ellyssa Jensen,” Duchess Paulina called down from her lofty seat, “I am Duchess Paulina, hereto referred to as Your Grace. As the head of state, I preside over all court trials whose significance warrants my attention within my demesne.”

  “Did you preside over your own trial when King Jarvin was hanging the rest of the traitors as well?” Ellyssa boldly countered.

  Several wizards shifted in agitation and faces burned red at Ellyssa’s effrontery. “Miss Jensen, such disrespect will not bode well for you during this trial. I strongly suggest you take this very seriously.”

  “I fail to see how it could bode any worse. I was already told I would be executed immediately after this farce of a trial, so why don’t we just skip all this pointless posturing and get on with it?”

  “Very well, Miss Jensen. You are accused of pursuing magic without the lawful guidance of an approved member of The Academy. On numerous occasions, you used magic during criminal activity that included assault, destruction of property, and murder. You also used magic to assault several members of The Academy and the Office of Inquisition while dutifully assigned to your apprehension. How do you plead?”

  “Guilty, and if you remove these shackles I’ll give you a firsthand accounting of a few of those bogus charges!”

  The Duchess set her jaw and steeled herself against Ellyssa’s blatant disrespect. This was the point in a trial where nearly all the convicted begged for mercy. The girl’s fearless hostility left her a bit off balance.

  “Then I have no recourse but to sentence you to death by hanging. Your sentence will be carried out at noon tomorrow. However, I am in a generous mood, and in light of your relationship to Lady Miranda and the North Haven court, I am willing to grant you leniency in exchange for your cooperation. Assist my inquisitors and The Academy in their study of the Codex Arcana, and I will commute your sentence to imprisonment. Prove yourself useful, and even those accommodations need not be uncomfortable. What say you?”

  Ellyssa glared balefully up at the Duchess. “I say you can share the same stick with Fennrick.”

  The Duchess narrowed her eyes and tilted her head slightly. “What does she mean by that, Fennrick?”

  The inquisitor shuffled his feet nervously. “It is in regard to her response when I proposed a similar proposition, Your Grace, one that is rather untoward and I would rather not repeat.”

  “Explain, inquisitor,” Paulina demanded. “I am not some blushing little maiden.”

  Fennrick cleared his throat and answered, “She told me to go fornicate myself with a rough-hewn staff, Your Grace.”

  A few stifled chortles broke through the indignant muttering echoing around the chamber.

  Paulina glared back at the girl just as fiercely. “We shall see if you hold such arrogant contempt when the rope is tightened around your neck tomorrow.”

  “I think we both know that’s not going to happen,” Ellyssa retorted with amusement.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “We all know you cannot afford to kill me. I had time to think about this last night, and it all became quite clear. Fennrick overplayed his hand when he told me I could live if I played nice. Obviously, none of you can access the book, a book I hear The Academy and every practitioner of magic has been coveting for more than a millennium. That pretty much makes me the most important person in the world right now, which really sucks for me because I was looking forward to my execution.”

  Duchess Paulina leaned forward and pierced Ellyssa with her glare. “Child, there are far worse things than death, I assure you. Continue this pointless obstinacy and I promise you will learn that very soon!”

  Ellyssa could not control herself. Every eye in the chamber went wide as her near maniacal laughter rang off the walls.

  The Duchess leapt to her feet, shaking with rage. “Fennrick, take her below and get her cooperation! I don’t care if you have to flay the skin from her body to do it!”

  Her same three guards marched her from the chamber and down the hall, her continued laughter masking their heavy footfalls. Fennrick shoved her into her cell with enough force to make her fall onto her cot. Ellyssa rolled back to her feet and sneered.

  “You insult the Duchess and make a mockery of us all!” Fennrick shook in outrage. “Do you really think we are bluffing? You said it yourself; there is nothing more important than unlocking the secrets of the Codex. certainly not the life or comfort in some willful, spoiled little girl who has found herself in the middle of something far bigger than herself.”

  Ellyssa’s body tensed and contorted under the sudden magical assault. There was neither a flare of light nor arc of electricity, but she felt as though lightning danced across her skin and resonated in her bones. She could not completely stifle the animalistic grunt of pain escaping her clamped jaws.