Wizard's Call

by Luna Lais

  "And to what end do you see your marriage to me?" Her stomach was still queasy as she thought of him killing the woman, silently listening to their conversation.

  "To unite Hokaren, of course." He pierced her with his eyes. "Once we are wed no one would dare oppose my rule. Besides, I am looking for to the wedding night."

  "That would kill me." She gasped. "Truly a pity, but I have dreamed of it for so long. I will not be denied." He stood and moved closer to hear. "Once you and I have wed I will wait until the turmoil in the land has settled before having you, but make no mistake Allista the last thing you will feel in this life is me taking you." Alli hung her head so he would not see the hatred surging through her face. "Your cooperation is the only thing keeping Tia alive," he reminded her. "Will you agree?" She raised her hand to wipe the tears from her eyes, before silently nodding. "Good, I will make the preparations. As soon as the babe enters the world, you will become my wife."

  Alli sat in stunned silence as his footsteps echoed across the room. She cringed when she heard the door close and the latch fall into place. "Thank you," Tia whispered softly. "Thank you." Alli made no comment. What choice did she have? She could not let an innocent suffer and Alli had no doubt Tia was an innocent pawn in Moraken's plot. Even before their marriage he always had intended on setting her aside once she had delivered him an heir.

  "My lady," Alli heard Tia sit down in the chair Moraken had vacated. "I have no right to ask?" she started, but did not finish. Alli looked into her soft blue eyes welling with tears. "What?" she asked gently. "If anything should happen to me would you see my baby safely to my sister in Pearoandorn? I can not bear the thought of him raising it." Alli nodded. She did not know how she would accomplish such a feat, but she would see it done even if it killed her.

  * * *

  Cate knelt by the waters of the Blue River to fill his water skins while his horse drank greedily next to him. He had not slept in days, he could not afford to. He was close to Rorgrim now. She was putting her and her men's lives in Darien's hands. Cate did not know what promise Darien had made to Alli that she now asked him to keep. She had not shared her confidences with him. After reading her father's letter he understood why. He had always found it curious that she confided so easily with those in Calandoria. At the time they were the only people she really trusted. Cate rose slowly his muscles were stiff from the weeks of travel. He was at least still two days hard ride from Rorgrim. He hoped his horse could keep the pace. It would take Darien at least another two weeks to make it back to where Alli had gone. A shiver ran up his spine at what might become of her in those two weeks. "Sir," Cate turned drawing his sword at the voice. He had been so fixed on his thoughts he had not heard anyone approaching from behind.

  A scrawny boy with blond hair and smudges of dirt on his face took several steps back at the sight of the large man and his sword. Cate studied the boy for a moment before deeming him harmless enough and replaced his sword. The weather was turning colder, but the boy wore only a thread bare blue shirt and brown pants with patches on both knees. Cate also noticed the boy wore no shoes. His first assumption was that the boy was just cold and probably hungry judging by how thin he was. He had already moved to his horse and began digging into one of his packs for a coin to give the poor child when he spoke again. "Sir, you are going the wrong way." Cate stopped his search and looked at the boy.

  "What did you say?" Cate asked the boy.

  "What you seek is in Pearoandorn," the boy said timidly.

  "Pearoandorn, you say," Cate smiled thinking the boy might be looking for a ride. "And what is it you think I seek?"

  "To save your queen," the boy swallowed hard as he spoke. He looked as if he might bolt at the slight movement.

  "How do you know that?" Cate whispered in disbelief.

  "I am acumen," the boy said. Cate saw a single tear roll down his cheek.

  "Do not fear. I will not harm you," he said trying to stay the boy's fears. The boy looked so destitute. It would be a horrible fate for a boy so young to be acumen, especially if his family did not have the means to provide aid with his visions. Alli had been truly blessed in that.

  "It was supposed to be over," he said trying hard to hold back his tears. "I had a pinnacle; I am not supposed to have anymore visions."

  "Are you sure it was a pinnacle," Cate had to ask. This boy was much too young for a pinnacle. "I know the rules," the boy said angrily forgetting his fear of the older man. "Do you think I would not know the difference? Do you have any idea the pain a pinnacle has?" The boy seemed angry, but not at Cate. His anger was direct at the world in general.

  "What is you name?" Cate asked.

  "Horace," the boy said glaring. "Horace," he repeated softly when he noticed Cate was listening to his words and not dismissing them the way his parents had. They thought he had made up this vision to get out of doing his chores. Both had witnessed his pinnacle, they knew the rules as well as he. His visions should have stopped.

  "Horace I need to seek aid from the King of Calandoria if I am to save my Queen. I do not see how journeying into Pearoandorn will help." Cate said trying to explain the situation the best he could to the boy.

  Horace looked confused, but only for a moment. "I do not know either," he said. "Something has been stolen and you must retrieve it. It must be you. Any of the others would bring death to us all. The item is in Pearoandorn for only three more weeks. I can tell you where it will be in exactly one week. After that it will be lost to the known world."

  Cate was speechless. He did not know what the boy was talking about, but regardless if it was something he needed; he was running out of time. "I must get to Calandoria," he saw Horace wince at his words. "I will seek what you ask as soon as I deliver the message to the king."

  "Does the fate of the world mean so little?" The boy said angry now at Cate. "I will find Darien to retrieve the item. Your Queen will die and Calandoria will fall, but at least he will go. He would not risk the world for one woman. The fated ones are fulfilling other visions or I would have found one of them." Horace leveled his eyes on Cate, his tears starting to fall again.

  The fated ones, Cate thought. He had heard that before. Alli's vision that had taken them to Calandoria months ago had mentioned the fated ones. "Tell me where to find it?" he said hardly believing his own words. "You will take the horse and ride to Rorgrim." Cate pulled a ring from his finger. It was the Forestar Crest. It proclaimed his rank as the general of the royal guard. He handed it to Horace, then retrieved the letter Alli's father had given her and the dagger with emeralds on the hilt. He handed them to Horace as well. "The ring will get you an audience in the castle, the letter and the dagger must be delivered to Darien." Horace carefully placed both items in his pocket and nodded. Cate seeing the emeralds on the dagger visible he sighed and emptied the pouch tied around his saddle. He handed it to Horace and had him put the items in the pouch. He then hung it around the boy's neck. "Do not allow it to be opened until you are in the castle." Horace nodded at his warning. "Now where do I need to go?" Cate asked.

  Cate did just as Horace had instructed. He followed the northern most road in Pearoandorn towards the town of Beckett. The road was bordered to the north by the Blue River and to the South a low stone wall marking the boundaries of the Meandering Meadows. Cate constantly scanned the green fields just beyond the wall, but he never saw any sign of life beyond them. Still he was nervous being this close to the wall. He just like everyone else had grown up hearing tales of those who ventured beyond the wall, never to return again. At night he stayed as close to the river as possible and kept well hidden. Traveling alone, their was no one to keep watch as he slept.

  * * *

  On the very first day of his travels he had seen the woman traveling the road ahead of him. It had seemed strange that a woman would travel this road alone. It only when to one place and that was Beckett. What use to be a small fishing town had turned into nothing but a safe haven for cutthroats and thieves
in the last few decades. Pearoandorn not having been under stable rule in all that time had never sent the army in to clean the rift raft out.

  He stayed far enough behind to keep an eye on her without causing her alarm. He had only wished to insure that no one else accosted her on the abandoned road. On the second he had lost all sight of her and assumed she must have crossed the river, but on the evening of the third day he saw her again from a greater distance than before still heading towards the town of Beckett.

  When Cate arrived in the little town, consisting mostly of shacks and brothels on the evening of the fifth day, he knew without a doubt that the woman had arrived early in the morning. Assuming she had reached her destination safely he begin looking for the name of the tavern Horace had given him. He pulled the hood of the cloak he had donned that morning to hide his armor down further over his eyes as he scanned the passing buildings.

  He had almost missed it, The Faded Lady on the sign had seen better days. Cate dismounted and tied his horse securely to the hitch out front. He hated that he had to leave the animal outside of the tavern. There was a good chance it would not be there when he came out. He took a pouch containing his coins off the saddle and slid it over his neck before given the animal a gentle pat on the head. Sighing he turned and entered the tavern.

  The smell of rotten fish and bad ale assaulted him as he entered the door. A filthy girl with dark tangled hair smiled at him, revealing blacken teeth, what few she had as she approached. "Evening," she said looking him over. Cate pushed the hood from his head and returned her smile. "Are you here for food, drink, pleasure, or all of the above." She asked winking at him.

  "Food and drinks for starters," he said winking back, "then will see where the evening leads." Laughing she led him to a table in the middle of the room. Cate sat down and resisted the urge to wipe the table in front of him off with his sleeve. The lady who had greeted him leaned over providing him an ample view down the front of her stained red dress. "What's your pleasure," she whispered in his ear. "Anything," he said forcing the bile building in the back of his throat down. "As long as it's hot." She cackled loudly before turning and winding her way back through the tables to fetch his order.

  Cate scanned the crowded tavern. Most of the patrons where just as slimy as the waitress. All excepted for a man in black sitting at the back of the room in a corner. Cate looked him over briefly before continuing his scan. He didn't see a woman matching the description Horace had given him.

  "Here you go," the waitress returned and placed a steam bowl of stew in front of Cate and a wooden cup of dark ale. "Fish entrails and eel stew," she smiled "Cook's special." Cate winced at her words, but grabbed the spoon from the bowl and lifted a heaping portion to his lips. He stuck the revolting concoction in his mouth and smiled back at the waitress as he slowly chewed. Once he had swallowed he took a long drink of the bitter ale from the cup. "If you need me," the waitress said bending over again to whisper in his ear, "Just let me know. You won't find anyone better than me," she giggled. Cate nodded his head and watched as she went back to work.

  He pretended to eat his meal and drink the ale as he watched and waited. An hour later his patience paid off. A woman whose hair looked like it would burn to the touch entered the tavern. After having seen several of the serving wenches in the room, she was not what Cate was expecting. Despite Horace's description of the lady, he had been expecting a dirty tired looking lady, like the others. This woman was a breath of fresh air compared to those soiled doves.

  Her dress was made of the finest blue velvet, which served only to enhance her eyes. She kept her fiery red hair piled on top of her head and she walked like a princess attending court as she maneuvered her way through the crowd. Cate had been so taken in by her appearances he had not noticed the man walking next to her gripping her upper arm and pushing through the crowed.

  Cate could tell by the look in his eye he was ruthless, not by his dress. He too was dressed impeccably in tight black leather pants and a velvet black tunic. His knee high boots shone as if freshly polished. Cate did not over look the sword hanging on his hip and as the couple passed him he saw the small flash of a dagger pressed into the woman's back.

  Cate lowered his gaze towards his meal and took another swig of his ale. He continued to watch them under hooded lids as they sat down with man in black at the table in the corner. Blocking out the noise of the tavern the best he could, he focused on the conversation between the men and the woman. Straining to hear their whispers over the drunken crowd.

  "Well done, Lady Ashebourn," one of the men said. "I did not think to see you again so soon."

  "I brought it, just like you asked," the woman said with a shaky voice. "Now can I see him."

  "Let me see it," Cate glanced up slightly and watched as the man who had led the woman into the tavern handed a dagger to the man in black. Cate quickly averted his eyes. That was no ordinary dagger the man had handed him. It the King's dagger, the one belonging to Darien Raven, King of Calandoria. "What talents did you use my dear to obtain it so quickly," he heard the man sneer.

  "You have it," the woman said. "Now let me see him."

  "Not just yet. I have another little task for you Lady Ashbourne, once it is finished you can take the boy and be on your way." Cate looked up again careful to keep his gaze hidden from the men. He saw the man who had held the dagger against the woman's back force her back down when she tried to stand.

  "You gave me your word," she pleaded. "You said if I brought you this you would let us go."

  "Circumstances have changed my dear," He handed the dagger back to the other man. Take this and put it with the Maeorus's, but not yet. Stay and share a drink with us." The other man nodded and motioned for a waitress to come to the table.

  "Tell me Lady Ashbourne was your husband shocked that you gave birth to his son only five months after your marriage?" Cate heard the woman gasp. "I take that as a yes."

  "I have no idea what you are talking about," she said. Cate heard a hint of desperation in her voice. "Oh I think you do," the man in black said leaning forward. "The dagger is valuable," he said almost so softly Cate had missed his words. "Come now Lady Ashbourne it's no secret that the young Calandorian prince was in love with you before your marriage. I find it strange that with your red hair and blue eyes and your husband blonde hair and brown eyes that your son is dark haired with gray eyes, don't you."

  "You don't know what your talking about," she answered. "My mother had dark hair and my husband's father gray eyes." Cate heard the man laugh. "Of course they did. Why keep it a secret now? Why not tell the father. Surely he would see you well set for life and knowing his weak heart he would probably even accept the bastard."

  "Please," the woman begged. "May I see him, just for a few minutes."

  "No not tonight," the man leaned back and looked at the lady sitting in front of him. "Tonight I am going to give you the opportunity to earn a chance at seeing him. If I am pleased you may see him in the morning before you leave on your next assignment. If not," the man smiled. "If not Lady Ashbourne you may never see him again." The lady started to struggle against the man holding her, but quieted instantly when the man in black leaned and softly whispered something else to her. The words had been to low for Cate to here, but he could imagine. He lowered his eyes as the man who had led her into the tavern stood and hauled her to her feet. He escorted her up the stairs a short distance away to the rooms above.

  A few minutes later the man returned without the woman and joined the man in black. While he had been gone one of the waitresses had delivered their drinks. "Tonight, for the first time since arriving in this cesspool I think I am actually going to enjoy myself, Devlin," he said raising his glass to the man as he took his seat across from him. "I only hope she shows as much fire in bed as she does in her eyes when she angry. For her son's sake she better." The man he called Devlin laughed. The sound left a sour taste in Cate' mouth. "Do you think you will need her all night Lastern or
would you be willing to share when you are done with her." Devlin said laughing into his cup.

  "Next time," Lastern said tasting his own drink. "Tonight I have other business for you to attend to." Cate didn't have to look to know the man was disappointed. "I want you to take Williams' and Daniels dagger along with the boy to the ship. Get everything ready to sail. As soon as the Lady Ashbourne returns from this next mission I want to set sail. The time for us to leave is fast approaching. Soon the northern armies of that fanatic will sweep over this island and our Emperor will have nothing more to fear from this rabble." Devlin nodded and finished the contents of his cup. Cate watched as the man rose from the table in headed up stairs. The man Lastern sat a few more minutes finishing his own drink before he too left the table and headed to the rooms above.

  Cate relaxed his guard and released his hand from the hilt of the sword hidden beneath his cloak. He now understood what had been stolen that was so important. Sighing he sent a silent prayer to the God's to keep the woman safe until he could find away to save her. It couldn't be now. Tonight her would retrieve the daggers, both of them and the boy. He waited until the man Devlin headed back down the stairs carrying a young boy firmly in his arms. Cate was shocked at the resemblance the child held to Darien. Even though he had heard Lastern eluded that the boy might be his, Cate had had his doubts. Seeing the boy had changed that. He had met to many Raven's not to recognize the boy as one. He watched as the man walked through the door of the tavern before rising to follow him.