by Guy Antibes
“I imagine the stew is barely edible after three days.”
The man pursed his lips. “Forgive me, the serving girl is new. But you have a point. I can have a chicken fried up for you.”
“That would be nice, if you could wrap it up. We travel rather light.”
“You aren’t mounted?”
Ricky shook his head. “We are fast walkers. Tossa is stirred up. I was wondering about opinions concerning the current political situation in eastern Paranty.”
“We try to ignore it all. King Leon has left us alone as long as we pay our taxes. When we ran the nobles off after the king’s grandfather set up the Council of Notables, life was much better. With the king appointing a new Council from his circle of cronies, we worry our lives will change for the worse. Is that how they see it in Tossa?”
“A new duke is coming, another of the king’s cronies, unfortunately,” Ricky said.
The man made a face. “Perhaps it is time to start sharpening our swords.”
“Don’t do that,” Pira said, “unless it becomes necessary.”
The man laughed. “Don’t mind us provincials. At least Firali is an honest town. Most of our trade that doesn’t get gobbled up locally goes there.” The man straightened up. “I’ll get that chicken started.” He left them looking at each other.
“If he is representative, then Duke Noacci doesn’t have anything to worry about as far as eastern Paranty is concerned,” Pira said.
Ricky looked around the restaurant. “As long as their interests are aligned with the Order’s.”
Pira smiled. “Just like you and me, right?”
“Not quite like you and me, but Botoyan rule would definitely cause an uproar,” Ricky said.
“Revolution,” Pira said softly.
~~~
Chapter Eighteen
~
R icky linked with Mansali as soon as he reached Samira.
We made it safely to Samira. Is Duke Noacci there?
He is. Did you forget to ask him something? the baron asked.
Dari Calasay said that King Leon has sequestered his battle sorcerers somewhere close to Paranty, Ricky said.
I’ve heard that. Why do you ask?
Perhaps we should free them.
What if they are pledged to King Leon?
Ricky thought for a moment. We can interrogate them and free those who are willing to join the Order. That will mean fewer battle sorcerers arrayed against us and more on our side.
I will speak to the Duke about it and get back to you. That is something we can only do when Duke Noacci is ready to commit, the duke said.
It doesn’t hurt to do some planning now.
I understand. You will hear back from me. Mansali cut the link.
Ricky sat back, feeling unable to move forward. It was easier to act by himself, but he had to become more flexible now that he needed to coordinate his activities with Baron Mansali and Duke Noacci. If he ran the Order, he’d rescue the Sealians and the battle sorcerers as his first priority.
He wished he could talk about this with Saganet. His brief visit didn’t allow much discussion about working with others. Saganet did say the effort to train new soldiers was paying off. Effie used the old gymnasium and Saganet did the same in the fencing studio that Merry funded after the ancient library was removed.
He walked out of the castle and made his way to Nemo Mattia, drilling Naparran troops.
“We haven’t had a chance to talk,” Ricky said.
“Perhaps that is a good thing unless you are willing to lead the troops. You did an exceptional job of that in Applia.”
“I barely have enough time to train on my own. Do you have promising recruits?”
“Half and half, but they are older than the Applian inmates.”
“Would it be better if you split the group? Maybe Nania could work with those who aren’t as proficient. She has experience at the University.”
“She needs to be a bodyguard to Pira, now that Ciara is gone. We could make progress with the more advanced group if we did that, now that I think about it,” Mattia said. “Where did you get that idea?”
“Saganet and his wife, Effie Asucco, another ex-bodyguard of the princess, have split the training of troops at Doubli Academy. I thought we could do the same.”
“Talk to Pira, and then I’ll talk to Nania.”
Ricky nodded and sought out the princess.
“Do you still need Nania?”
“Less and less,” Pira said. “She has resumed piling more and more duties on me.”
Ricky reminded her of their visit to Saganet and his idea to increase the effectiveness of troop training.
“That sounds like a good idea. I need someone to help me with the work. Can you do that?”
“I might, but I will ask around for suggestions,” Ricky said.
Ricky thought Minnie would be ideal, but she was far away. He sighed. “In the meantime, maybe I can be some help. I’m not very skilled in doing what you are doing, but maybe I can help a little.”
Pira beamed. “I can’t think of anyone better to train! I’ll talk to Nania.”
“That would be best, I think,” Ricky said.
~
Ricky sat at a table set up in Pira’s study, going through various kinds of requests. Most of them were from Eddo Toracci, the steward. Eddo was a competent person, but he had a lifetime of answering to his recently departed wife, who had served as the castle’s housekeeper. He hadn’t had much chance to make decisions on his own. Ricky would have to work with the man to see if he needed replacing.
He felt a link engage.
Ricky? It was Baron Mansali.
I’m here.
Duke Noacci approved your idea. His sorcerer, who should be arriving any day, is aware of the location. You can make plans, but you are not to do anything precipitous. I’m sure you understand that word, the baron said.
I do.
The duke is putting more money into your Firali account. He trusts you to use it wisely.
I will, Ricky said.
That is all. I have alerted my son in Sealio to be aware if anything happens to Duke Noacci. Dino takes a great risk, as you said.
The link died. Ricky nodded.
“Talking to yourself?” Pira asked with a smirk on her face.
“Duke Noacci is still going to Sealio, but the sorcerer he is sending knows where the battle sorcerers are kept. I’m going to talk to Siria.”
“Your paperwork?”
Ricky smiled and bowed to Princess Pira. “If you don’t disturb it in any way, I will return to where I left off. I won’t disturb you further.”
Siria and Mirano were talking to a small group of local sorcerers in the sitting room of the cottage they had taken over. Ricky made a sign to Siria and gave Mirano a little wave.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I need your help planning a mission.”
“Are we going to Hessilia?” Siria said.
“No. We are going somewhere close to Sealio to recruit battle sorcerers who King Leon has sequestered. I wanted you to think about how we can persuade them to join us. The time isn’t right to extract them now, but I’d like a plan in place to do so as soon as it makes sense.”
“You know where this is?”
Ricky shook his head. “Duke Noacci is sending a performance sorcerer so we can link with Applia. He says the man is powerful. Maybe Mirano knows him and can vouch for his power, but Hemo and I will be able to assess that once he arrives in Samira. He could show up at any time.”
“I’ll do some thinking about it. You can’t expect all the sorcerers will come to your side,” she said. “How will you sort the Order supporters?”
“They will have to be willing to undergo interrogation. If they don’t, they will get left behind.”
“Or killed. This is a war, you know.”
“We will see what happens. Perhaps we will have to fight them. That makes it easier for me than killing King
Leon’s supporters, unless they are Botoyan fanatics.”
Siria looked at Ricky with skeptical eyes. “The idea is good, no matter what we do to the king’s sorcerers.”
~
Two days later, Eddo interrupted Ricky at his work approving the steward’s endless requests.
“Four men to see you from Applia. They said you should know why they are here.”
Ricky nodded. He rubbed his eyes. King Leon had sent twenty men south from Sealio to confront General Farlotti’s new Naparran recruits. They had fought a few hours north of the castle. It was the first real skirmish, and Ricky had spent much of the night helping Mirano and Siria tend to the casualties.
He had to take Mirano away from his healing duties in the large throne room that now served as a makeshift hospital to meet with the visitors. Hemo joined them as they walked into the castle foyer.
“Bocca!” Mirano said as he embraced one of the men. Bespa looked at Ricky. “I know them all.”
“Good,” Ricky said. “Who sent you?”
“The Duke of Applia, of course. You are Valian?” Bocca gave Ricky a bow. “I was one of your competitors in Dimani. You have grown up well, in my estimation.”
Ricky nodded. “I’m sorry if I don’t remember you. My life was somewhat hectic at the time. We had a fight with the king’s troops yesterday. I am sorry to inform you that I will require an interrogation session to make sure where your loyalties lie. I learned the spell while I attended the Duterian Rings.”
Bocca looked at his fellow travelers. “As long as you don’t ask for any embarrassing information, I will gladly submit.”
One of the sorcerer’s eyes began to shift from Ricky to Bocca and back. He ran towards the still-open door. Ricky put him to sleep. “I won’t ask for his permission,” Ricky said.
The three sorcerers were interrogated. Ricky was very specific with his questions, and they all passed. The fourth sorcerer was securely tied to a heavy chair before Ricky wakened him.
“What is your name?” Ricky asked as the man came out of his sleep. He ignored Ricky and struggled with his bonds.
“What is your name?”
The man responded. Bocca nodded. As Ricky continued his interrogation, they learned that that man had been converted to fanatical Botoyan through his University of Sealio contacts.
“Who sent you to Applia?”
“No one,” the man answered.
“Who encouraged you to spy on Bocca?”
The sorcerer struggled with his answer. “Lenno Estrella.”
Ricky had heard that name before. He was on the list that Petrolo Garini had eventually given.
“That makes sense,” Bocca said. “Estrella has been Master Sorcerer Golitto’s secretary for the past while.”
“Golitto is the head of the University sorcerers?”
Mirano nodded. “He is and was the one who introduced Pira’s Tower sorcerer to King Leon.”
Ricky took a deep breath. “Does King Leon know that the Duke of Applia leads the Order of the Curled Fist?”
“He does. He learned it from an old man who was cast out of Applia.”
“What was that man’s name?” Ricky asked, seeking verification of what the sorcerer said.
“A funny name, Gobble Bangatelli. We were in a gathering when Gobble was brought in.”
Bocca stood in front of his erstwhile companion. “What shall we do with you?”
“Kill me! I don’t want to tell you any more.”
That wouldn’t happen. Ricky found out that the battle sorcerers were kept in a different place than what he had told Bocca.
Ricky had to link with Baron Mansali. Duke Noacci was headed into a trap. He linked with Mansali and learned that the Duke had left for Sealio two days prior. There might still be time to stop him, Ricky thought.
“I’ll have to head to Sealio,” Ricky said. “I will go alone to make better speed.”
“What do you expect to accomplish in Sealio? By the time you get there, the Duke will already be captured,” Bocca said.
Ricky looked at Hemo. “Teach them to fly our way, and then begin on the principles of power-linking.” He ran to the kitchens to grab a bag of food and then retrieved his sword and wand case.
~~~
Chapter Nineteen
~
R icky looked down at the Five Towers of Sealio. He traced his way from the Eastern Gate back towards the road to Tossa. There were plenty of travelers, but no one matched Duke Noacci’s description. Mansali had said he had used a carriage with the Applian coat of arms.
He was halfway to Tossa before he had to give up Duke Noacci for lost.
As he sat at a little inn to have a solitary dinner, Mansali linked.
You were too late, Ricky. King Leon has already announced that he has captured Noacci and branded him a traitor. General Farlotti is taking over the Applia branch of the Order, as we speak. If you can get Noacci’s sorcerers up there, we can get two lines of communication with them.
Ricky told Mansali about the four sorcerers, including the Botoyan. Tell Saganet that Gobble Bangatelli left Applia under strained circumstances and ran directly to Sealio to reveal Duke Noacci’s participation in the Order of the Curled Fist. We have to assume the Order is no longer a secret organization, no matter how we wish it were otherwise.
We are prepared for this. I will leave immediately to see Crabacci. Mansali broke the link.
Why did everyone underestimate Gobble’s traitorous behavior? Ricky had warned Duke Noacci about his ‘grandfather.’ The duke thought he had uses for Gobble, but Ricky had no doubt that Gobble running to King Leon wasn’t one of them.
His food could have been better, but Ricky shoveled the last of it into his mouth before he returned to Samira. He sped through the darkness, landing from time to time to get his bearings, until he dragged himself into his bed in the lower level of the castle.
He woke and ran to his window to see that it was barely sunrise. He quickly washed, dressed, and assembled his friends and the three sorcerers in his conference room. Pira was among the last to arrive.
“You disturbed my beauty sleep.”
“I’ll disturb you some more,” Ricky said, as he gazed at the group. “The duke was taken before I could catch up to him. It has been verified by Baron Mansali.”
“You had a slim chance to get to him,” Bocca said.
“Not that slim,” Hemo said, “but that doesn’t matter now.”
“No,” Ricky said. “We’ve already begun our plans to extract loyal members of the Order. Now we will adapt them to retrieve our leader. Any ideas?”
“We will help,” Bocca said.
“We need you to help free the battle sorcerers; then you can fly to Applia.”
“Have you made any progress?”
“Some, but you are the better teacher of deflection,” Hemo said.
“Then we will get started. We know where the battle sorcerers are kept, so we will split our forces and do both.”
“Our capabilities will be thinly stretched,” Mattia said.
“Pira, Mirano, and I will free Duke Noacci. She knows the passageways better than any of us. The rest of you will free the sorcerers. Hemo knows the interrogation spell and can teach those who will join him. I will need Mirano to assist with the duke, in case King Leon has begun his revenge.” He looked over the table. “We will start to prepare now.”
The room emptied. Ricky, Pira, and Mirano stood with Nemo and Nania.
“What can we do?” Nemo asked.
“Help with the other group. Their efforts are more like a military operation where your background will help. Nania, stay here.”
Nemo gave Nania a kiss. She didn’t flinch or move away. That was more confirmation their relationship had been repaired during their time at the castle.
“I’d like you to stay and manage the castle with Nemo,” Ricky said. “I know you would rather be at Pira’s side, but carrying you will slow us up.”
Pira nodded.
“He’s right.”
Nania took a deep breath. “I don’t know what is more dangerous, saving Duke Noacci or putting up with Eddo’s incessant requests.”
Wedo stood in the doorway. “What about me?”
“Do you have any wands made?”
“Ten or so.”
“I’ll buy them,” Ricky said. “Give three to the Applian sorcerers and train them how to extend the blades. The others will go with Siria and Hemo. I’d like you to stay here so we can link with Nania and Hemo.”
“I’ll get right to it,” Wedo said. He bowed, then hurried off.
“Can Greda help Siria?” Pira asked.
Ricky nodded. “She can help transport sorcerers away from their compound.” Ricky thought for a minute. “No, she won’t be going. I just thought of something more important. Would you bring her here, Nania?”
Ricky pulled out a chair for Pira and sat in one himself. He was very tired, but he couldn’t rest.
Pira jostled Ricky awake as Nania and Greda entered.
“I have an important job for both of you. Greda knows that discordant music saved the world from the Botoyans centuries ago. If we can find out how to do that, the sorcerers on both sides will be neutralized from any conflict.”
Greda smiled. “Ah, the boy has learned a lesson.”
“I’m no longer a toddler?” Ricky asked.
“Alas, all little things grow,” Greda said. “I think I am better suited for what you will have me doing. Can Wedo help?”
“I was going to suggest it.”
“Of course you were,” Greda said. She curtseyed to Ricky and Pira and left the room.
“When do we leave?” Pira said.
“As soon as I get a little sleep.” He stood up and patted Pira on the head and did exactly what he said.
~
Ricky pushed Mirano and Pira, often flying a hundred paces ahead of them as they headed north to Sealio. They reached the city of the Five Towers soon after dusk. Pira knew an ideal landing spot, but it was too early in the evening to invade the castle, so they used the woods in a natural park on the northern side of the palace that bordered a large training field.