"I will, sir." With that, Mrs. Mimms became our cook.
I grew her a three-room apartment for her and her daughter to stay in our alley. I made sure she had everything in the kitchen she needed to cook for us. The wards started taking turns working in the kitchen, helping to serve and cook. I gave Mrs. Mimms money to buy food to feed us. When thugs would pass our alley, I would take a coin or two from their purses to help support my wards. I never realized how much food children eat!
It didn't take long for word to get around that I was a wizard that could also heal. People started bringing the hurt and sick to our alley, asking for help. I healed all I was able, but some were beyond my abilities. I had no problems fixing broken bones, but I could not help the sick. I felt bad that I couldn't do more for them. I needed to learn more about the healing arts. Even a little would help. At the very least, it would make me feel better that I tried.
I knew where the Healer's Guild House was, and I was sure they would have a library. I needed to see those books. I'd borrow them, study them, and then return them. Well, unless they were really good, then I might keep them to study. Who was I kidding? I would keep the best ones.
***
I sat in the house's wall across the street from the Healer's Guild House, studying the building. I could see they warded it, but the wards did not seem very strong. I wasn't going through the front door anyway. I went down into the earth and walked over to the Guild House. The place was closed for the night, and no one was in the building.
I came up inside the building's wall and moved to the library. There was something in there that had a magic feel to it. I studied the room but could find no wards. Needing to be careful, I stepped out of the wall and walked slowly around the room. I was cautious of wards, as I had little experience with them.
There were a lot of books and scrolls on the shelves—more than I thought there would be. As I walked around looking at the books, the magic feeling got stronger. I followed the feeling to a stack of books on a bottom shelf, still no wards on any of them. I ran my finger along the books in the stack and finally found the one that had a magic “flavor" to it.
I pulled it slowly from the stack of books; nothing happened. It was a small, thin book with no title on the cover. I opened the book; it was written in mage script. It looked strange, but the more I looked at it, the more I could read. It was a book of spells—dark spells—so it said.
Pages opened on their own accord, and they were titled: “The Gathering of Knowledge.” I read through the spell; it didn't seem like dark magic to me (at least not to the Red Wizard's memories). I read slowly at first, but it became easier and easier the more I read.
The book, or at least this part of it, was a series of closely related knowledge-gathering spells. Once the spells were mastered, it allowed the user to read a book once and completely understand and remember everything taught therein. The downside was it took a high-level wizard to master them all.
The next part allowed for the taking of information from a person, and the last part was about imparting information to someone without him having to read or study a subject. These last spells were the hardest to master.
I took the book and stepped back into the wall and sat down. I didn't want someone to walk up on me while I was engrossed in the book. I started reading the first level of the spell and the explanation of its casting. I meticulously studied the spell, reading through it several times until memorized. Rather than cast the spell, I let it settle in my mind.
It was now morning, and I was hungry. I put the magic book in my bag, and it became one of the cards. I left the Guild House and headed toward an inn. I came up in the alley, went inside, and sat in the back like normal.
A serving girl came to my table. “Good morning, Sir Wizard, what will you be having?”
“Ham, eggs, fried potatoes, and hot tea to drink.” She took my order and nodded.
I didn't have to wait long. When she brought my food, I paid her. The innkeepers liked it better when you paid right away. Plus, they didn't watch you so closely when you did.
I ate slowly, enjoying the flavors and hot tea. The innkeeper had a poultice held in his mouth. “Toothache,” I thought to myself. That type of poultice smelled terrible.
He was in a foul mood but was taking care of business. As he came past my table, I “viewed” his tooth. It wasn't rotten; it was cracked. That was an easy fix—painful, but easy. The medicos usually just pulled it.
The serving girl came back around to check on me. “Ask the innkeeper to come by, please.” Her eyes rounded. “You have done nothing wrong,” I reassured her. “I'd just like a word with him.” She nodded and delivered my message.
He came to my table. “Is there a problem, Sir Wizard?”
“Yes, it looks like that tooth is painful.”
He sat down: “Gods above, I’ve been stabbed and beaten many times, but this kind of pain is the worst.” I nodded, concentrating on his tooth.
I imagined his tooth in my hand, and the next moment it was. I just hoped it was the right tooth.
“I know what you mean, and the medicos always want to grab it and start yanking,” I said.
“Exactly. That's why I haven't been yet, but I may have to break down and go. I think it's getting worse.”
“It should get better now,” I said, handing him his tooth. He took the tooth and stared at it. He stuck his finger in his mouth and felt around. He looked at me but said nothing. “I can't bear to see someone in pain and do nothing about it, especially when I can do something so easily.”
“What do I owe you?” he asked, frowning.
I shook my head: “Nothing.” Then a thought occurred to me. “There may come a time when I might need some help. Perhaps you can return a kindness.”
He nodded. “That I can do, and when you eat with us, you will have the best we offer.” He held his hand out, and I shook it. “Cross is the name.”
“Oh, now the name of the inn makes sense: Crossroads.” He nodded and smiled. I had to smile too. There was a new gap in the side of his smile, but at least he wasn't hurting anymore. He certainly approved of the trade. “Gray,” I said, “they call me Gray.”
“Master Gray, may you never need a favor, but if you do, you know where to find me.” I nodded.
“One can hope, but life happens,” I said smiling. He nodded.
I left the inn and went around the corner and dropped into the earth. I needed to rest, as I planned to go back to the Healer's Guild House tonight.
***
I sat in the wall of the Guild House and studied the spell again, making sure it was locked my mind. I concentrated, preparing myself. Once I was sure I was ready, or as sure as I could be, I cast the spell.
“Give me your knowledge.” I don't know what I expected, but as far as I could tell, nothing happened. I felt no different. No power left me—nothing.
I sat there thinking and looked over the spell again. As far as I knew, I had done everything right. I put the spell book away and stepped out of the wall. Then, I took a book on anatomy off the shelf and sat down at the table.
“Give me your knowledge.” I began to read.
After reading a few pages, I closed the book and sat staring at it. Nothing. I remembered what I had read, but I had just finished reading it. That was no test. I'd have to think on this for a while and wait to see what tomorrow brings. I put the book on anatomy in my bag, and it joined other books on the card. It was time to get some rest.
***
Morning found me in my normal routine of stretching and meditation. I took the cards from the bag and found the one that showed a drawing of books.
“Book of Knowledge Gathering Spells.” It appeared in my hand, along with the card that showed the other books. I put the cards back in the bag and looked over the knowledge-gathering spell again. I had it down cold; I knew it backward and forward. Even still, I didn't understand why it had not worked. I put the book back in the bag.
&nbs
p; An addition had been added to my morning routine. I now checked to see if anyone had come to our alley for healing. There was one man waiting. He had twisted his knee. I viewed it. My mind reached for information about the knee, and it was there. I saw the drawings from the book I had read, and it was all perfectly clear.
“Good morning, Master Wizard,” the man said.
“Good morning,” I answered. “Nasty twist there.”
“Aye, hurts like the devil, it does.”
“Mend.” “That should help some. It will still be sore, but it’s healed now.”
“Thank you, Master Wizard,” he said. I never charged for healing, but they always paid something to my wards.
I was already thinking of the anatomy book I needed to finish reading, but I went up to the kitchen where Mrs. Mimms fed me.
“Do you need anything, Mrs. Mimms? Do you have enough coin and supplies?”
“Yes, Master. We are doing fine. Though I was talking to the baker's wife. You know the bakery down the way? She asked if we'd be interested in contracting for our breads with them. I told her I would talk to you about it.”
I nodded. “You are the mistress of the kitchen; what say you?”
“Oh, it would take some work off of us to be sure,” she replied
“Well, if they satisfy you with their quality and price, go ahead.”
She was smiling: “Thank you for saying so, Master. We'll do it; they make good bread, and their prices are reasonable.”
“What about the children, do they need anything? I don't see each of them every day, but you do.”
“No, Master, all is well with them.”
“Let me know if you, or they, need anything.”
Her eyes teared up. “You're a good man, Master.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Mimms.”
She hurried back into the kitchen. She was a good woman, and all the kids loved her. She had become their mother, and she loved each one as if they were her own. I guess, in a way, they were.
***
I stayed in my hide the rest of the day and read the anatomy book. Still nothing unusual happened as I read. I would have to wait and see how much of what I was reading took hold in my memory. Hopefully, all of it did.
The only thing I noticed was, after I finished the book, I was tired and needed to rest. I lay down and sank into the earth.
So started my medico education. I retained everything I read. It was an amazing thing—all that information absorbed so quickly. I could see why it took so long to become a doctor. There was so much to learn. And the more I learned, the more I realized how ignorant I was. Not stupid, just ignorant of the world and all its knowledge.
I visited the healer's library every day or so and traded one book for another. It took me less than a month to gain the knowledge from the library. I had not read every book, as some of them covered the same information and referenced each other.
The Healer's Guild included the apothecary. I read them as well and found them very interesting. I began visiting apothecaries and bought herbs to make simple remedies. Once they knew I was a wizard, they asked few questions about my purchases.
There was an inn nearby that had an outdoor seating area, and I decided to go there. I knew my reputation as “The Wizard that Lived in the Area” was spreading, so I wanted to see how people reacted to me.
When I arrived at the café, I took a seat close to the wall away from the entrance. I seated myself so I could see everyone. A serving girl came to the table.
“What will you have, Sir Wizard?”
“A fruit tart and pot of tea.” She nodded and left to fill my order.
There weren't many people here, as it was between meals. Everyone seemed to make it a point to avoid looking at me. That suited me just fine; I wasn't here for the conversation. However, some part of me remembered enjoying doing this. We were not hermits to hide away from the world. Our kind—wizards—ruled the world.
“What would I do with the world? I have enough to do taking care of my alley,” I thought.
The server brought my tart and tea, pouring my first cup. “Three coppers, please, sir.”
I noticed the owner standing in the door watching. I got the feeling wizards also had a reputation for not paying. I lay my hand on the table. When I moved my hand away, four coppers lay there.
“Thank you, miss.”
She took the coins. “Thank you, sir.”
The owner, satisfied, went back to his business. The tea and tarts were good, and I enjoyed being out. This was a new feeling—not worrying about having to escape from some danger at any given moment.
I took a roundabout way back to my alley. I knew this whole area, but now I saw it from a different point of view. I looked at the businesses, the people, and the comings and goings of their daily lives. I began to see a pattern. Each one, in his own way, moved from one escape route to another. Or more accurately, one safe or familiar place to another. I knew people were creatures of habit, but I had never really seen it so plainly.
People took care of who was close to them, who approached them, and where to move to stay safest. Everyone was predator or prey. I was tired of being prey, but neither was I a predator. I was something in between. I could not really put a name to it—guard, guardian, protector. I didn't know what category I fit into. I had changed.
My prey instincts were still there. I knew when anyone approached me or followed me. Now that they recognized me as a wizard, they sensed I was not prey. The predators knew I was a danger to them. The thing about predators is they only attack the weak. They don't want to take a chance of getting hurt. That would make them weak, and they would then become prey.
The area around my alley was a poorer area, but there were some businesses here—bakeries, butchers, and small shops of all kinds. The shops were downstairs, and the owners usually lived in the rooms above.
Of course, where money changed hands, there were always thieves and thugs. Gangs and guilds ran the thieves and offered protection to the shopkeepers for a price. I recognized the thieves and thugs right away; I used to be one. The closer I got to my alley, the less gang activity there was, and I wanted to keep it that way.
Chapter 6
One afternoon, a greedy man with a dark heart came to our alley's gate. I met him there.
"They tell me this is your alley, Blind Wizard." I nodded. "Then you owe the King's tax. You can pay for three months or six months.”
I saw into his purse. "How much for the year?" I asked.
"Two silvers."
“Coins.” I ported two silvers and a gold out of his purse and into my mine. I made a show of taking the silvers out of my purse and handed them to him.
“I'll need a receipt for those, please." He gave me a sneer and a receipt, and I sent the gold to Mrs. Mimms.
The tax collector must have said something to someone because, in less than a day, another gang leader came into our alley demanding his tithe. I went out to meet him as well.
"You owe me money. This is my district, and you owe me a tithe."
"You must have replaced the one-handed man,” I said.
He nodded: "I did; now pay up."
"Did he tell you how he lost his hand?”
"No, why?"
I pointed to the wall where the hand still hung. "He came demanding a tithe too. I'll make you a better deal than I made him. I'll let you leave with both your hands, but that's only a onetime offer. If you come back, you'll leave something on my wall also." He left with both of his hands.
Apparently, he wasn't too smart though. He returned the next day with six crossbowmen. I stood out in our alley, waiting for them.
"Let's see how you do against steel, wizard."
All six crossbowmen fired at once. Out of reflex, my mind grabbed the bolts, circled them around me, and flew them back, striking each crossbowman through an eye. All six fell dead.
My anger flared; I could feel the Red Wizard’s memories coming to the forefront of my mind.
I looked at the stone at the leader's feet.
“Hold.” His feet became locked in place by the cobblestones, and he grabbed at them.
“Hold.” His hands were held in place on his feet.
"You didn't listen very well, but you won't miss this,” I said. His knife lifted from its sheath and cut one of his ears off. Then, I sent his ear to take its place beside the hand. "I told you if you came back you would leave something on my wall, but I don't think an ear is enough payment for the trouble you've caused. You people are big on tithes, so you now owe me one gold per month in payment for sparing your life. If you miss a payment, I will collect the debt. Do you understand?” He nodded.
“Collect.” Everything of value from all seven men came to me and laid itself at my feet—coins, jewelry, weapons, and a folded parchment. I left the bolts through their eyes; I had plans for them.
“Send.” I sent the bodies of the crossbowmen to the tavern I knew he used as his headquarters, pinning them to the outside wall of the tavern. I used the bolts through their heads as hangers.
I looked at the parchment. It was unusual for his type; I was surprised he could read. It floated up to my hand, and I read it.
"It seems I have enemies. Now who would pay you two golds to kill me?" He said nothing. "I'm sorry. Maybe you thought I was talking to myself. That was actually a question for you. Who would pay you two golds to kill me?" I demanded. He remained silent.
I took his other ear. His knife was rather dull, so it tore the ear rather than cutting it. Now there were two ears on my wall.
"How many more pieces are you willing to leave on my wall before you answer my question?" Again, he said nothing. The dull knife began to saw at his wrist.
"The Healer’s Guild…it was the Healer's Guild that paid me," he said through gritted teeth.
"Why?"
"You are not a member of their guild, and you are healing people for free. That's taking money, power, and prestige away from them. They wanted to make an example of you."
My anger turned darker. "If it's an example they want; it's an example they'll get."
“Release.” He stood up.
Wizard's Alley Page 5