Alchemy's Child (The Mindbender's Rise Book 5)

by D J Salisbury

  “He’s pissed.” Lorel frowned at the empty doorway. “My luck to get a wizard pissed at me.”

  “Not Lynx.” Jroduin led them toward the hallway. “He is the sort of person to say exactly what he means. I’ve known him all my life.”

  Viper nodded absently and gazed back into the room.

  “My lady?” called one of the instructors. “A word, please?”

  Jroduin sighed. “Excuse me a moment.” She limped over to the desk.

  “Thanks for the rescue,” he whispered. “I couldn’t think of a believable reason to say ‘no’.”

  Lorel grinned. “I figured it was too big a temptation. And you’re right, we saw that tall guy before. He was staring at some starved babies like they was candy. Something weird is going on in this joint, kid.”

  Blast, he’d barely noticed the hungry children. What was wrong with him?

  Bess shuddered and crept closer to the outer doorway.

  Tsai’dona subtly herded Lorel and himself after her.

  “Most of the students act like slaves, for one thing.” He twitched his chin toward the little group in the corner. “Those guys with our friend are the only ones with any magic I can sense.”

  Lorel stiffened. “You suppose old jolly belly felt magic in you?”

  “I’m sure of it.” He glanced at the door Lynx had used. “If he can read auras, he read it in mine. But I think all he felt was I have the talent, not the training. As long as I don’t use magic within his range, he won’t know.”

  “How big is his range?”

  “In a wizard? I don’t know, but mine is only as far as I can see.” He smiled at a sudden notion. “I think Kyri is simply panicky.”

  “The toad sure is acting strange.” Lorel looked up and offered a sickly grin. “Here comes your girlfriend. I’m ready to get out of here.”

  Jroduin smiled broadly on overhearing that remark. “I imagine you are, after having Lynx try to steal you partner away. Let me show you the way outside.”

  The building was even bigger than he’d thought, or they’d wandered deeper inside instead of toward the exit. They meandered down a couple of long, door-lined hallways before they finally reached the wide steps and the street.

  Bess hissed out a long breath.

  Tsai’dona mumbled to Lorel, “It’s such a relief to get out of there.”

  “Yeah, your hair ain’t standing up as much.”

  Her hair stood up around magic? It was the first he’d heard of it. He turned to confront the girls, but noticed Jroduin was frowning at him. Blast, had he annoyed her? “Is something wrong?”

  She turned and walked in the direction of their inn. The school’s outer wall extended so far their lodgings seemed a hundred miles away. “I heard a rumor you were staying near here.” The edges of her lips tipped upward as she glanced at him.

  Where on Menajr would she hear that? From the snoopy stableman, most likely. Or from someone he’d yakked to.

  Blast. Now there was no way he could avoid showing her the wagon, not even to protect her. Kyri would have conniptions. “You’re right. We’re staying at the inn next door.”

  They finally rounded the far corner of the wizard school.

  Jroduin ogled the rundown building. “Why, in Altrada’s name, would you stay in such an awful place?”

  He shrugged and decided to tell the truth. Or most of it. “It’s cheap, they had four rooms open, and it wasn’t in the tanner’s district, which is where we started.”

  She shuddered delicately. “It is a gruesome area. I wish I had more influence over my father. I’d convince him to outlaw the murder of sentient creatures. But until I’m stronger, I must choose my battles carefully.”

  “I know the feeling.” There was much in the world he’d like to change, but even if he had that kind of power, he wouldn’t know where to start.

  Jroduin walked a little closer to him. “I also heard you have the most amazing wagon.”

  Oh, that. It wasn’t surprising a magician’s wagon was the talk of the neighborhood, especially since he hadn’t put on any shows.

  He forced himself to grin. “Wait until you see it.”

  Lorel groaned aloud when he guided Jroduin into the courtyard. “Um, kid?”

  “I know.” He wrinkled his forehead in her direction and hoped Jroduin wouldn’t notice. “They’ll be mad at us.”

  Jroduin leaned her shoulder against his. “Who will be angry?”

  “The owner.” With any luck she’d think he meant the owner of the inn, rather than Kyri, who essentially the owned the wagon. “We aren’t supposed to bring guests here. Or put on a magic show here.”

  Lorel’s jaw dropped. Tsai’dona’s eyes got big. They both jerked their chins up and put on their warrior faces.

  Bess just nodded.

  “But surely you could put on a show for me.” Jroduin paused and smiled directly at him. “I’d like it very much.”

  Of course he’d put on a show for her. What was there to stop him? “I’d be happy to.”

  Lorel’s eyes grew huge. Tsai’dona’s jaw clenched. It took a few seconds before their warrior faces reappeared.

  Was something wrong? No, they were being silly. He could do card tricks all day if he had to. He’d been practicing.

  Jroduin looked inside the stable and froze. “Altrada’s tears. What a… spectacular wagon. Are those real starfish?”

  “They are.” He grinned at his bodyguards. “You wouldn’t believe the trouble my crew went to to glue them on.” Including using up a cask of expensive wine vinegar.

  Tsai’dona’s face turned bright red, but she kept her warrior expression in place.

  Jroduin strolled around the wagon, shaking her head occasionally. “How amazing.”

  Lorel crossed her arms and scowled.

  Bess looked up at his turybird, grew even paler, and backed toward the stable door.

  After completing her circuit, Jroduin shrugged and smiled at him. “You promised to show me a trick.”

  “I need a couple of tools. I’ll be right back.” He clambered into wagon before anyone could stop him.

  Kyri lifted its head and peered at him.

  He held a finger over his mouth, pinched his lips together, and pointed at the blasted cub.

  The serpent blinked, but nodded.

  He grabbed his cards out of the drawer, glanced at the bottom one (the Empress of Stars), and hustled back outside. “One more thing. My tricks work better if I have a table.”

  Jroduin leaned closer to him. “Don’t you have a table inside?”

  “You wouldn’t believe how crowded it is in there.” With blasted serdil cubs and magicked boot-toys and Dreshin Vipers, not to mention his new books still piled all over the floor and Lorel’s dirty clothes piled on her bed. “It’s why we stay in hostels.”

  His turybird crossed her eyes and stalked away.

  “And it’s not particularly clean,” Bess muttered. “You know how teenagers are.”

  Jroduin cleared her throat. “I know how my brothers are, even though they are older than I am.”

  Lorel rolled a squat barrel over to him. “Will this work, kid?”

  “It’s perfect. Exactly the right height.” He wouldn’t have to reach up to it at all. “Here, let me show you a trick.” He hoped he remembered all the moves. Normally he used magic to hide his blunders.

  The stable backed directly against the wizard school wall. It should hide his magic if he made a mistake.

  From the fierce looks on his bodyguards’ faces, he better not make any mistakes. Even Bess looked stern – and worried.

  Not a problem. He could do card tricks without magic.

  Now, which one to choose? The one that looked easiest required a mirror, but there wasn’t one in the stable.

  He’d have to try the first “Guess the card” trick from Frederick’s old magician book. That one usually worked. He eased the bottom card slightly out of the deck. “I’m going to move the cards one by one. Stop
me whenever you like.” He started walking cards out of the pack with his fingertips.

  Jroduin raised one eyebrow and stopped him after seventeen cards. “That one.”

  He grinned at her. “Very good, my lady.” When her eyes met his, he tugged on the bottom card, slipped it under her choice, and held up that part of the deck. “Now, please note the card without telling me what it is.”

  Both of her pale eyebrows went up, but she nodded.

  He gathered the pack together, shuffled it twice (Praise the Thunderer, it didn’t scatter all over the place either time), and set it on the barrel head. “Please cut the deck or shuffle it, as you please.”

  She cleared her throat and cut the deck twice.

  Hmm. All that wasn’t part of this trick. Oh, well. The trick was too short without the rigmarole. He turned the cards face up and spread them across his table. “There it is.” He spun one card free with two trembling fingers. “The Empress of Stars.”

  “That’s it.” Jroduin clapped softly. “Well done. Is that the sort of trick you usually do?”

  “More or less.” Usually with less success unless he fudged with magic.

  She nodded. “How old are you?”

  Blast. He’d been dreading that question. “Nearly fifteen.”

  Lorel coughed.

  He glared at the traitor.

  Jroduin smiled indulgently. Blast, he’d been reduced to a child in her eyes.

  Not a problem. He’d earn his way into her regard. He’d just have to work harder.

  Chapter 16.

  Since Tsai’dona and Lorel were anxious to continue fighting lessons, the three of them hired a carriage to take them back to Jroduin’s magnificent home.

  Bess, praise the Thunderer, stayed at the inn, claiming there was mending she needed to finish. Now he’d have more time alone with Jroduin. There must be some way to convince her he wasn’t too young for her.

  The same servant led them through the same labyrinth of hallways, but now that Viper knew the way, it didn’t seem terribly far.

  Chainmail jangled as the girls proceeded him through the last door.

  He tipped the man a silver patron – by accident; he’d meant to give a bronze common. But it was worth the extra money to see the surprised look on the servant’s face.

  He ducked into Jroduin’s office before the man could respond.

  “Welcome, my friends.” Jroduin walked around her desk with both hands extended toward him. She nodded to his bodyguards. “I assume you wish to continue your lessons.”

  Both girls nodded. Even Lorel seemed at a loss for words today. That was rare.

  No, Tsai’dona had her boot pressed against Lorel’s calf. That would slow the turybird’s mouth. For a few minutes, anyway.

  Jroduin led them all to the armory.

  Dondarik grinned when Lorel strutted into the room. “You’re back for more bruises?”

  “I ain’t got that many.” She jutted her chin out. “The kid gave me more lumps the first time he gave me sword lessons.”

  Dondarik stared at him. “You taught her to fight?”

  Viper laughed. “Not likely. I only taught her the basics. She passed me long ago.”

  One of the soldiers snickered. “Seems the runt is good for something after all.”

  Wind-blasted sandcrab. He wasn’t that much taller to call anyone a runt. “I’m no good at practice sessions.” Viper shrugged as casually as he could, given his ears were steaming. “I fight to kill.”

  The soldier gaped at him and looked to his bodyguards for confirmation.

  Tsai’dona dipped her chin solemnly.

  Lorel nodded. “Two of them corpses were his.”

  Not exactly true, but it was kind of her to say so. At least, he didn’t think he’d killed both of them.

  Several soldiers whistled. “I bet he fights dirty,” one said.

  “If somebody is out to kill me, I fight as dirty as I know how.” He spread his hands. “You might notice I enter a fight at a disadvantage.”

  The soldiers laughed. “You start out short, and the other guy ends up shorter.” Someone snickered. “Sounds fair to me.”

  The others clapped. A few saluted, grinning in open friendship before returning to their work.

  “He’s gotta be something, killing two assassins so easy.” Chattering faster than a magpie, a young soldier led Tsai’dona away.

  “Let’s go, Blackfire.” Dondarik bowed to Lorel. “I want to add some bruises to your collection.”

  The female soldiers giggled. “Watch his hands,” one girl called. “He’s got fast hands.”

  Lorel glanced at the girl blankly, but she followed Dondarik to the practice yard without comment.

  Jroduin wrapped her arm around Viper’s elbow and led him out to the hall.

  “That girl is a walking hazard,” he said as they left the room.

  Jroduin nodded to the soldier who shut the armory door behind them. “I would wager she is virgin.”

  He giggled. His turybird was only fifteen, and had spent the last few lunars in the wilds of the Dragon’s Eye mountains. Where would she find a boyfriend, other than her beloved stallion? “That’s one wager I won’t touch. I wouldn’t dare ask her.”

  “She’s shown no interest in you?”

  “She treats me like a brother.” He grimaced. “A baby brother.”

  She shook her head. “A walking hazard, indeed. How can you stand to travel with her?”

  “We fight a lot. She even hit me once.” He grinned at the memory. Maybe he’d finally forgiven his turybird, even if he still didn’t know why she’d punched him. “Took us ages to get it straightened out. But she’s reliable in a pinch, and she’s good company. She’s so different.”

  “She is that.” Jroduin nodded to the servant who opened a door into the gardens. “Ah, another bright day. Perfect strolling weather. Would you care to walk with me?”

  “I’d love to.”

  She led him down a winding path, through a fragrant, brilliantly-blooming rose garden, and into a beautifully-trimmed boxwood labyrinth. Eventually she sat on a marble bench and patted the seat beside her. “We need to talk.”

  Good. She’d decided his age didn’t matter. They were meant to stay together. Lorel could carry on the quest without him. He wasn’t needed anymore.

  She gazed into his eyes, exactly the way a lover should. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You couldn’t ever hurt me. I trust you.”

  She nodded and smiled. “You know I only want the best for you.”

  “Of course.” But his face began feeling numb.

  “There is much in life you need to accomplish. And more you need to learn.” She took his hand in hers.

  He nodded dumbly.

  “If you won’t join the Wizard Academy, you can’t learn it here in Shi.”

  He couldn’t join the academy. Magic was twisted here. Perverted, Kyri said. He’d promised to never use magic here.

  Acid boiled up his throat. His forehead throbbed.

  Jroduin stroked his hand. “If you don’t join the Academy, you must leave Shi. You must continue your travels.”

  Vomit crept into his mouth. He swallowed agony.

  “Wherever you go, sent wizards here to Shi.” She squeezed his hand. “We need more wizards as teachers to create the enclave.”

  There were already eight wizards in Shi. And a Mindbender. Could the Mindbender be the real founder of Jroduin’s academy?

  Lynx. It had to be Lynx. A wizard without an aura, who claimed to be the founder, as well.

  He had to get Jroduin away from the monster. “Come with me. Leave Shi. It’s not safe for you here.”

  She cleared her throat and patted his hand. “I’m safe here. I’m well protected. And my family won’t let me leave.”

  If she didn’t use magic, the Mindbender wouldn’t bother her. She’d be safe here. He didn’t need to worry about her.

  “Unfortunately, my father noticed our friendship.
” She put her arm around his shoulders. “He doesn’t approve.”

  Her father? One of the lords of the city? Was mad at him?

  “Father wants you to leave Shi.” Jroduin hugged him. “But I won’t be powerless forever. Go back to your travels. Learn everything you can. Send wizards to me. And when you’re older, come back to me.” She placed a heavy pouch on his lap. It clinked like gold coins. “To help you with your travels.”

  “No, you don’t need to– You can’t– Don’t–” He didn’t need money, he desperately needed her.

  “Hush.” She hugged him again, stood, and limped out of the labyrinth.

  Agony roared through his gut. A thousand thunderdrums hammered the inside of his skull. His heart tried to explode.

  Jroduin had abandoned him.

  He scuttled to the nearest bush and puked up yesterday’s breakfast.

  ∞∞∞

  It was years before he reached the armory door. Viper wiped his mouth again, smoothed down his hair, and straightened his back. No one needed to know how miserable he was. How ashamed.

  He’d driven off the girl he’d dreamed of forever, all because he wouldn’t break his promise to a snake.

  Trying to project the confidence her soldiers would expect, he strode into the nearly empty room. He looked down the long hall toward the practice yard’s door.

  But Lorel was sitting in front of him, alone, polishing her long sword.

  Tsai’dona stood at the far end of the armory with her arms crossed. She nodded to him and strolled in their direction.

  Lorel glanced up and him and shrugged. There was fresh blood on her new jacket.

  “Blast. Who’d you kill?”

  “I didn’t kill him.” She stood and sheathed her sword. “I just messed up his face.”

  “Who? Dondarik?”

  The turybird nodded.

  “Why? I thought you were friends.”

  “We was, until he tried to steal my trousers.” Lorel waved Tsai’dona closer and turned to glare directly at him. “I wanna leave this fraying city. Today.”

  Good, he wouldn’t have to explain. Anything.

  “I suppose we could. We can’t–” Blast, he didn’t dare talk about the quest here. Too many people could be listening.