A Sorcerer's Fist

by Guy Antibes

  Ricky and Pira stayed back as a line of well-wishers sought out Jac to speak a few words of praise, mixed with solace. An hour later, Jac found Ricky, Pira, Mattia, and Nania sitting in an open-air part of a restaurant.

  “You don’t need me to march your soldiers back to Dimani’s capital,” Mattia said. “I suggest keeping a good-sized detachment to restore order. There are enough of your father’s rabble to terrorize the countryside if you don’t.”

  Jac nodded. “I had thought of that. Are you going to return with me?”

  Ricky shook his head. “We found a ship that is stopping at the port of Vitacci in southern Naparra. We’ll be boarding at twilight. Give my regards to King Courer.”

  Jac smiled and sat down. “I hear that Ducri Wamia suffered a fatal battlefield wound,” he said to Mattia.

  “Might have. Things can get very confusing in the middle of a war,” Mattia said.

  Ricky remembered Mattia dispatching another villain, Antino Pacci, in Applia. Perhaps he repeated his gift to humanity. Ricky and Pira had previously agreed that neither would push Mattia for the truth.

  “I’m taking Father’s body to the manor for burial in our family plot. Ticco is buried there. They can be reunited,” Jac said. “Don’t worry about my mother. She will endure. I’ll leave you here. I must travel north and then return. I have much to do in the family domain. I can’t say how much I appreciate your help. I would have never made it this far without all of you. We will talk about it later once things are settled in Dimani.”

  Pira leaned forward and gave Jac a written message. “I am afraid I have ordered the ship which brought us from Amarine to stay in port until we returned. We won’t be going to Amarine, so this will release the captain to pick up a load and sail away.”

  Jac grinned. “I can do that. I’ll be sending mounted men north with a message of my own to the king. I’ll be going, now.”

  The three men rose while they all watched Jac walk across the square and mount his horse. A few Dimani officers and troops followed him out of sight.

  “A good deed,” Nania said. “You three are to be commended.”

  “And what about you?” Mattia said.

  “I acted as support,” she said, smiling.

  “For us all,” Pira said. She leaned over the table and took Nania’s hand. “I do well in picking my bodyguards.”

  “Thank you,” Nania said, visibly touched by Pira’s compliment.

  They had waited for Jac before they ate, but he wouldn’t be joining them, so they had their last Dimani meal. Ricky looked forward to returning to Samira. Jac deserved a better chance than he had been given. He likely wouldn’t be king, but he had recaptured the domain his father had thrown away. Ricky hoped that he could re-establish good trading relationships with Vorria.

  ~~~

  Chapter Ten

  ~

  V itacci was a sleepy port with two piers extending out into the ocean, room enough for four ships. Only one small ship tied up at the dock. Ricky looked around at the fishing boats dotting the bay. The beaches were white, and the weather was nice. The port was small. Only a few warehouses fronted the small dockyard.

  They debarked and paid the captain a bonus for getting them to Naparra in two days. The man said they were at a lull. Naparran produce and wool were not in season at present. They hired horses to take them to Samira. It didn’t appear that King Leon was interested at all in the place.

  Pira smiled. “It seems so calm,” she said as they rode through the low-lying plain around the bay and then climbed to higher ground. “Too good to be true.”

  “Too boring to be true,” Nania said. “I grew up in the country. It may seem serene, but it is too calm for my taste. Give me Sealio any day.”

  Mattia smiled and nodded. “I’d like a retreat in a place like this, but I wouldn’t want to live in the country all the time.”

  Pira looked at both of them. “I can’t make a determination, never having lived away from Sealio.”

  “No broomball matches. No performance sorcery. No palace intrigue or victims of your evil pranks,” Ricky said.

  Pira laughed. “Where there are people, there are victims,” she said. “But I behaved myself in Dimani.”

  “For the most part,” Ricky said. His comment earned him a playful swat from Pira.

  Far ahead on the grassy plain, Ricky saw a plume of dust that could only come from a group of riders.

  They stopped to loosen their weapons. “Forgive me for saying it’s too boring,” Nania said.

  “How could King Leon know we had arrived in Naparra?” Pira said.

  “He doesn’t,” Ricky said, sheathing his sword. “Look more closely.”

  “Ciara!” Pira said. “She leads them.”

  “I did link to Hemo and say that we were returning via Vittaci,” Ricky said.

  They proceeded towards the rushing horses. Ciara did lead a group of soldiers. She raised her hand, and the troops stopped. Behind, Ricky could see Wedo and Greda catching up to the group.

  “She rides too fast,” Wedo said.

  “Hemo said you succeeded in ridding King Courer of the curse.”

  “More than that,” Ricky said. “How far to the castle?”

  “We will be there tonight,” Ciara said. “When I heard you were coming, we hoped to be waiting for you at the docks, but alas.”

  “I’m sure you would like to spend some time with Pira and Nania on our ride back to Samira,” Ricky said. “I know I’m glad to see you.” Ricky sang the counterspell to compulsion and was glad that his protection spell had held up.

  “What did you do?” Ciara asked.

  “Checked that no one violated your free will.”

  She glared at Ricky, but recovered. “I’m sure your intentions were honorable.”

  “Very honorable,” Pira said. “Let’s get going. I’m excited to hear how you escaped Sealio and found our little hideout.”

  Ciara snorted. “Little hideout? Your current quarters are quite a bit better than your rooms in Sealio.”

  Pira reddened just a bit. “I know we all have to suffer. I slept on the ground in Dimani, did you know that?”

  Ricky had heard enough and began trotting ahead with Mattia. The three women talked behind them.

  “Wedo, are you settling in?” Ricky said as they moved at a more sedate pace.

  “Not into this saddle,” he said. “I’m going to need Sorcerer Bespa’s help tonight.”

  “As am I,” Greda said. She blushed a bit after a moment. “With Siria in the room, of course.”

  “Who are these troops?” Mattia asked.

  “Duke Noacci sent them from Firali. We already tested them. They were clean of enchantment,” Greda said. “We can use you to train our forces. Men are coming to the castle for training, but we lack a really good training regimen.”

  “I can help with that,” Mattia said. “A citizen militia?”

  “More than that, probably,” Ricky said.

  ~

  Ricky slept soundly and woke up much refreshed. He looked forward to seeing how everyone had done in his absence. After a day of review, he linked with Jac.

  You made it back safely?

  I did. How is your mother faring?

  Better than I am, it seems. Jac said. Enchanting her with the compulsion spell was the final blow to their relationship. She looks like a rejuvenated woman.

  What do you hear from the south?

  Vana Rasso and her mother have put up a stink in Port Lajakal. The citizens of Rassoport are expecting an invasion. Can you help me out? I don’t want to leave my domain at this time. We are still fighting remnants of my father’s rabble.

  Ricky thought for a moment. I still carry a commission from King Courer as an ambassador. I will travel to Okansil and talk to King Ranoka.

  But you just arrived, Jac said.

  And I can leave as easily. I’ll fly there and back, so I won’t be gone too long.

  Let me know what happens. You ha
ve my permission to negotiate as you see fit. At a minimum, we will offer the same contract terms for one year. I would like to sell some of the products to Dimani and maybe Naparra. Ha. Ha.

  Of course. I will represent you and King Courer, but make sure you let King Courer know what I am doing.

  Ricky had to break the news to his staff, as he began to think of them. Pira would want to go, but Ricky wanted her here. He’d rather take Wedo or Hemo, both native Vorrian speakers. He’d have the discussion at dinner.

  “I called you all here,” Ricky said before food was served in his lower dining room, “to tell you I am leaving for a little while. It appears our task in Dimani isn’t quite finished. I need to negotiate a treaty with King Ranoka to replace whatever agreement the Rassos made with the Vorrian merchants.”

  “I can’t go with you, not yet,” Greda said.

  “I thought I’d take Wedo or Hemo.”

  “I’ll go,” Hemo said. “There are family members I haven’t seen for decades.”

  “That suits me just fine,” Wedo said. Ricky noticed that his beard was lengthening. “I am still a little leery of the Vorrian Sorcerer’s Guild.”

  “Just give me the address of your metal and dark dimani sources, and I’ll order more supplies.”

  Wedo beamed. “Gladly.”

  “Then it is settled.”

  Pira stood. “Is it? I can speak Vorrian.”

  “I’d like you to be here,” Ricky said.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you commanding a princess?”

  “I will give you reasons for my command after dinner,” Ricky said.

  Pira folded her arms and sat down. Now Ricky would have to make good on his comment. He didn’t really know what his reasons were other than he wanted her at the castle rather in harm’s way.

  “When do we leave?” Hemo asked.

  “Tomorrow. Let’s eat.” Ricky signaled to Eddo Toracci, dutifully waiting by the exit to the kitchens.

  After dinner, Ricky walked into the living space. Pira was ready to pounce. She stood up and cricked her finger. She wanted their confrontation to take place in Ricky’s study. They walked into the room. Ricky shut the door. He hadn’t had the time to do anything with the space. None of his belongings were there.

  “Why can’t I go with you? Aren’t we supposed to be a team?”

  This was Ricky’s first hearing of their being a team, although he had thought of them that way in Dimani.

  “I need someone here to run things while I’m gone. Who else can do that?”

  Pira moved her lips. “Everyone got along while we were gone. You can have Nemo Mattia ‘run things’ as you put it.”

  “Okansil is not a nice place. You have to abide by their rules,” Ricky said.

  “I’ve had classes on how to act in Vorria’s capital. Are you aware of that?”

  “But,” Ricky couldn’t think of an excuse, so he told her what he thought. “I don’t want to put you in danger.” He raised his hand to forestall an objection. “You’ll be in peril often enough in the future. Just learn to live with everyone. Come up with some ideas on how to run the castle better. I have no idea how to do that. If Minnie were here, we could split the functions up, but you have your bodyguards.”

  “You don’t want me to be in danger?” Pira said.

  Ricky nodded his head.

  She came up to him and put her hands on his shoulders. “That’s what I wanted to hear. You care about me.” She pulled him down and gave him a kiss on the lips. “I can stay here knowing that you want to protect me.”

  “I won’t be able to all the time,” Ricky said.

  “I know that. We have to do what we can, don’t we?” She put her head on his shoulder. She was barely tall enough to do that, Ricky noticed.

  “I don’t anticipate the usual Vorrian negotiation period of weeks. We don’t have the time; maybe two weeks will do it. Hemo doesn’t strike me as a master negotiator.”

  “And you are?”

  Ricky felt his cheeks burn. “I’ll make do.” He leaned over and kissed her again. “You’ll have to wait for more,” he said.

  “I was supposed to say that,” Pira said, smiling.

  ~~~

  Chapter Eleven

  ~

  W edo helped Hemo dress properly for Vorria. Styles had changed a bit since the Tower sorcerer had been to his home country. They took off in the morning, hoping to arrive in Okansil before dark. Ricky had to consult with a map of the general area that someone had left in the castle. It was accurate enough, for they reached the capital city of Vorria before the sun set.

  They walked through the gate into the city. Hemo used the same estate agent that Wedo had, and they spent the night waiting for their delivered food to arrive before eating and collapsing into bed.

  In the morning, Ricky dictated a letter to Hemo. They both walked to the palace and dropped the letter off. They waited for an acknowledgment that the message was received. The chamberlain from Ricky’s visit from before came out.

  “The king has an opening in his schedule. He can see you immediately.”

  Ricky raised his eyebrows and looked at Hemo. “Shall we?” he said.

  They followed the chamberlain. King Renako sat behind a desk filled with paperwork.

  “Valian, come in. I needed a break from all this. Who is with you? He looks like a Vorrian.”

  Hemo stepped to Ricky’s side and bowed. He spoke to the king in Vorrian. Their conversation went on for a bit. Ricky couldn’t understand a word.

  “So I have two distinguished Tower sorcerers in my office. I don’t know when that has happened before. Congratulations, young Valian. I have heard of your travails in Sealio.” The king looked down at the message and then up again. “Wamia is dead?”

  Ricky nodded. “A casualty on the battlefield. Lord Griama was as well. Jac Griama is now Lord of all South Dimani. Which leads us to our visit.”

  “Worried about the Ladies Rasso?” the king asked. “They are on their way to Okansil. You are still an ambassador at large for Dimani?”

  “I am acting as such. With Rasso attacking the Dimani army, he committed an act of treason; his lands and possessions are forfeit to Lord Griama.”

  “The new Lord Griama?”

  Ricky nodded.

  “Is it the intent of the Crown Prince to continue to offer dark dimani to Vorria at current prices?”

  “It is. Rasso had developed a special strain of sheep; the wool production will be included, as well. Lord Jac will honor current contracts for one year. He would like to sell the wool to Dimani and to Naparra but at negotiated terms.”

  King Renako nodded. “I will discuss your proposal with the council. You know how we do things in Okansil, but I will try to push them along. I don’t want the Rasso women hanging around here any more than is necessary. They do not run the Vorrian military, and it appears the new Lord Griama is a man we can deal with.”

  “He is, King Renako. He most certainly is.”

  Renako rose from his chair. “You may leave me now. There was a Hemo that was a friend of Blink’s. Are you the same person?”

  Hemo nodded and spoke in heavily accented Parantian. “I am. I understand he has changed, but I will visit him.”

  “See the chamberlain to arrange an audience. My son currently resides in the Okansil prison.”

  Ricky and Hemo left the palace with instructions and authorization to visit Blink Renako. They spoke Duterian on the streets of Okansil until they stood in front of a dark stone building. It certainly looked more utilitarian than any other building in Okansil. They ducked inside. Hemo took the authorization to a counter.

  They sat in the lobby for a few hours before they were called back to the counter. Ricky shook his head. He would never be able to live in Okansil. The delays drove him crazy. He shared his thoughts with Hemo. His friend laughed.

  “Of course you couldn’t. Why do you think I left? I have a few family members to visit. Frankly, I thought we woul
d be waiting for three or four days before an audience with King Renako, and that only because you have met him before.”

  The guard finally sat at his station and scribbled. He gave the pass to Hemo, who led Ricky to another desk. They were told to go to the third floor, the top of the building, and the guard would show him to Blink’s cell.

  Ricky could hardly call Blink’s room a cell. It was furnished. He had a carafe of wine on a table covered with a blue cloth. The walls were painted a light yellow. The bars to the cell let in the light from a good-sized window on the other side of the corridor.

  “Valian, what are you doing here?” Blink said, sitting in an overstuffed chair reading a book.

  “I brought a friend.”

  Blink looked more closely. “Hemo?” He put his book down and walked up to the bars.

  Hemo talked to his friend in Vorrian. Ricky stood aside as the two continued their conversation. He thought it was interesting to listen to the flow of the language. At times they were relaxed, but as their discussion progressed, Blink became more guarded. Hemo seemed to scold Blink, who eventually looked at Ricky.

  “Your friend is not my mother. You may take him away.”

  “Do you think I do not know Parantian?” Hemo said, shaking his head. “I am sorry for your incarceration, but you deserved it and worse. We will not speak to each other again.” Hemo looked at Ricky with sadness in his eyes. “We can go,” he said in Duterian.

  Once outside, Hemo shook his head. “It is difficult to return. Blink has changed too much. He was a rogue when we were young, but he was lovable. That is not the case now. He is worthy to wear a noose around his neck. The man has no remorse. I am afraid what my family visits will produce.”

  “Do you want me to accompany you?”

  Hemo put his arm around Ricky’s shoulders. “I do. If things become too painful, you will be my excuse to retreat. Let’s get them over with, since we have most of the afternoon.”

  They walked across town for half-an-hour to a modest neighborhood. Hemo entered an ironmongery. Pots and pans hung from racks. Kitchen knives were displayed on one side of the store and utensils on the other. All kinds of other metalwork suitable for kitchens and fireplaces were displayed in the store.