The Journeyman for Zdrell

by David K Bennett

  Eril wanted to be with Fil. They’d hardly had any time together for the last several days, but he was so tired.

  “I don’t know if I’d be any kind of company, I’m nearly asleep on my feet.”

  She looked him up and down. “You’re right, you look half dead. You should just get to bed. But I wanted to plan a picnic with you for tomorrow, if you’re done with that gate thing. Can we do that?” she asked hopefully.

  Eril smiled tiredly. He’d almost talked himself into the need to see her home, in spite of his bone-weary state.

  “Sure. That’ll be great. I don’t have anything solid I have to do tomorrow unless I have to go pick someone up on short notice, but I don’t think that’s too likely.”

  “Well, don’t let anyone give you other plans, Eril. I’m taking your time tomorrow for lunch, right?” she said, pointing her finger with mock seriousness.

  “Right. I’ll make sure Master Silurian or anyone else who asks knows I have a prior engagement,” he said, laughing.

  “I’m not feeling quite so tired. I can probably walk you home if you like,” he said, the conversation having perked him up considerably.

  “No. You get your rest. I don’t want you napping when you’re at lunch with me.” With that, she spun and headed off without a backward glance.

  Eril really did feel a bit less tired, but knew the effect was only temporary. He got some bread and cheese and then went back to his room. As soon as he’d finished eating, he lay down and was instantly asleep.

  Chapter 75

  Eril spent the next morning studying in the gate theory manual. The more he learned about gates and portals the more he was intrigued. Opening a portal was one of the simplest of magics, in fact, it was the definition of simplest magic. This was how anyone proved they were a wizard.

  What he was learning was that portals were not all the same in their creation difficulty. Portals to the demon realm were very simple. A portal to a random empty plane was equally easy. Opening a portal to a specific realm could be easy or hard, depending on the realm.

  Gateways were actually a pair of portals that passed the person from one realm into a different realm and then back into a different place in this world. The trick was twofold. First, the realm initially transitioned to had to be similar enough to our world that you couldn’t tell it was different, so no empty, or hot or cold realms would do.

  The second part was the tricky bit. For a gateway to exist, it had to have the portal held open and matched in both realms. Since portals didn’t want to stay open, either here or anywhere else, this was a fantastic work of magic and required special conditions. It was why the gates were always anchored into native stone, and why they took so much energy to power.

  Eril had read many references to this special in-between-realm that the gateways used in both the gate books. He could see that it was imperative to understand how to open a portal into that realm. He was looking for a reference into a spell to open a portal there when he realized it was nearly noon.

  Marking the book, Eril grabbed his sword and cloak and hurried up the stairs heading out. As soon as he arrived at the surface, he activated his invisibility amulet so he could fly unobserved to the inn.

  He arrived just in time to see Fil finishing with hitching Took’s mare to the wagon. To his surprise, Marta was sitting in the driver’s seat.

  Dropping his invisibility, he walked to the wagon.

  He greeted Marta and then caught up with Filora, who was just putting two loaded baskets into the back of the wagon.

  “What’s Marta doing here?” he whispered.

  “She’s coming to lunch with us, o’course, Eril,” she said, full-voiced. “It wouldn’t do for us to be sneakin’ off into the woods for lunch without a chaperon.”

  Marta, by this point, had turned around and was grinning at them. Eril was confused. “What do you mean, sneaking off into the woods? It’s just lunch, and why would we need a chaperon?”

  “Eril,” she said, sounding exasperated, “when young folks are a courtin’, certain rules must be followed, or tongues’ll wag.”

  “Courting? Since when are we courting? We’re just going to lunch,” he looked around suspiciously, “unless you have something else planned?”

  Now Fil was clearly annoyed. “Eril. Before, when we did things, I was workin’ for you. Now we’re going on a picnic. Sure’n, you can see how that’s different?”

  Eril’s head was spinning. It seemed like someone had changed all the rules of life on him and not bothered to let him know.

  “Fil, I’ve eaten with you dozens of times, how is this different?”

  “Eril,” Fil said, obviously on the verge of completely losing her patience. “Every other time we’ve eaten together, either you were eatin’, and payin’, at my father’s inn, or eatin’ with my family, or eatin’ with me while we were in the middle of workin’ together. This is none of those things. Do you not see?”

  “Uh, yeah. I guess. But courting?”

  “Eril, you big dolt. What do you call it when a single man and a single woman go to a social meal together?”

  It slipped out before he could stop himself.

  “Eating.”

  He hastily held up his hands in surrender.

  “Okay, okay, I get it. I guess I never thought of it that way and I never thought of myself as the ‘courting’ type.”

  “So, what type did you take yrself for?” she said, scowling dangerously.

  Eril sensed he’d better be careful with this answer. “I guess I just thought I’d be much older, or that courting really only happened between rich ladies and gentlemen in society, or . . . I don’t know. I’ve never done anything like this before.”

  From the look on her face, he sensed that he might have just barely exited the dangerous ground he’d been walking. He hoped so. He’d had no idea that just having lunch could be so confusing.

  They both mounted the driver’s seat of the wagon. Fil drove, both because she was better and the horse seemed to prefer her to Eril. They talked of the weather and things Fil had discovered in the cavern while Eril had been away.

  They rolled through the village, and Eril noted that every villager they passed marked their passing, though only one or two called out greeting to him or Fil. At the first break in the conversation, Marta started telling Eril all about the village gossip. She seemed incredibly well informed on the subject.

  Once she had exhausted the village gossip, she segued directly into all she had been doing and how she had practically been running the inn single-handed from her perspective. Eril couldn’t help but laugh at Marta’s unabashed high opinion of her work at the inn. She pouted when he did, which just made both Eril and Fil laugh harder.

  They stopped the wagon at a meadow beside the road, about a mile beyond the outskirts of the village. It was a beautiful sunny day with only the occasional puffy cloud passing to dim the brilliant sun.

  Eril laid out the large blanket Fil had brought while she fed and hobbled the horses. Marta brought the food baskets from the wagon, though she was still pouting slightly from the earlier episode. Fil had brought a cooked chicken, bread, cheese, and apricots which were just coming into season. They had water and weak ale to drink. There was also a smaller basket containing some of the amazing flaky pastries which Fil’s mother was famous for.

  After everything was set out, they sat and for several moments ate in silence, except for Eril’s occasional comments on how good all the food was.

  Fil broke the silence. “Marta made the pastries.”

  Marta responded indignantly, “You weren’t supposed to say anything until after he thought they were mother’s, Fil!”

  “Actually,” Eril said, licking his fingers. “I thought they were your mother’s, Marta. Aside from the pattern being different, I couldn’t tell the difference in the taste. They’re great.”

  Marta beamed. “I wondered if you’d notice the pattern change. Ma made me use a different pattern so
we could be sure mine didn’t get mixed up with hers.”

  “Well, you did wonderfully Marta. I’ve always loved your mother’s pastries, and these are every bit as good, if not better.”

  Marta began to go on about how long and hard she’d been trying to get these right and how it wasn’t fair that Fil could bake anything she set her mind to and didn’t have to work at it.

  At this point, Eril asked, “Have I ever eaten any pastries you made, rather than the ones your mother made?”

  Before Fil could respond, Marta laughed and said, “All the time. Ma makes her do the pastries anytime she’s around. And she’s the only one who can do the custard and honey ones right.”

  “Oh,” Eril said, “That makes sense. I never knew. Now I understand why those custard pastries are never around when Fil and I have been out working during the day. I always liked those best.”

  Fil said nothing, but was blushing slightly and smiling with pleasure that Eril had just complimented her handiwork. She then turned to Marta and said, “Remember what I told you? Now’s the time.”

  “What?” Eril asked, confused.

  As Marta got up grumbling under her breath, Fil said, “I made a deal with Marta that she could come along and be my chaperone if she would give us some space after we were all done eating.”

  Marta moved off to the wagon. Eril watched her go.

  “I guess you had a reason why you wanted to get out here and have lunch, this ‘date’ with me?”

  “Yes, Eril. I did. I haven’t forgotten that kiss. I haven’t forgotten the way you look at me. I just need to know what your plans are for us, you and me?” she said, glancing at him and then looking down to the side.

  Eril suspected that something like this might be coming. That suspicion had grown exponentially when Fil had made the fuss about having a chaperone. The problem was he had no idea what his feelings or plans were.

  “Fil, I don’t know. I already tried to tell you that being near me is probably a bad idea, and you wouldn’t have it. I get that, but, I don’t know how I can have plans for us when I have no idea what will happen with the demons and the new Great War that Master Silurian is certain is no more than two years away. For all I know, it might start tomorrow.”

  She looked intently at Eril and covered his one hand with both of hers. “Look, Eril. I understand that. I know it might be a long time before we can really be together, but I just need to know that you’re not chasin’ after other women when you’re not round here.”

  “Fil,” he began, “trust me. The last thing I’m thinking about when I’m away on missions for Master Silurian is chasing after other women.”

  The moment the words were out of his mouth, he suddenly flashed back to the two nights of revel when he’d won at Jull. Images of the various scantily clad, lovely women, in some cases, who’d thrown themselves at him. He’d resisted then, but more out of caution and paranoia than fidelity to Filora. In fact, he hadn’t even really thought of her those nights.

  As these thoughts raced through his head, he remonstrated himself. He really had held back because of Fil, not just because he didn’t dare trust any of those women. It was the memory of Fil that had helped give him the strength to resist their enticements.

  “What are you thinking about?” Fil asked.

  Just then, two things happened simultaneously, he felt very strongly that he should never tell Fil the full extent of what just went through his mind, and he felt a particular buzzing pull at his chest. For a moment, he thought this second sensation had something to do with his roiling thoughts, but then after another moment, he recognized it for what it was.

  Someone had opened a portal nearby.

  He jumped to his feet and scanned all around.

  “What’s wrong?” Fil asked, alarmed at the expression on his face.

  Still looking around, and then walking in a circle so he could localize the direction of the pull, Eril said, “Get Marta and the wagon out of here quickly. Someone just opened a portal within a mile or two. That means there’s a good chance a demon could be coming through before I can stop them. I need to know you both are safe.”

  With that, Eril activated his shield and jumped into the air and raced in the direction where he sensed the portal.

  Chapter 76

  Eril flew towards the portal, hoping against hope that he could get there before a demon could be summoned. He felt the portal beneath a dense grove of trees near the edge of the clear ground that still marked the border of the old ruins.

  He dove below the tree-tops and was greeted by his greatest fear. Not only was the portal open and large, but a huge demon was hovering just this side of the portal near a wizard.

  Frantically, he looked around for a pain table, or some other place a sacrifice could be secured. He could find none. As he got closer, he saw two things, first, the wizard wasn’t wearing a shirt, and bloody tracks were on his arm and chest. Second, he saw that the wizard was Carge.

  “What are you doing here, Carge?” Eril yelled. “And why have you summoned this demon?”

  “Why, oh master zdrell master? The answer to both your questions is, of course, you,” Carge sneered.

  Eril was confused. He didn’t understand what Carge could be talking about, unless somehow, Carge was really connected with the demon wizards.

  “I thought you wanted to be a battle mage, not rely on demons,” Eril said.

  “Bah,” Carge spat. “Only someone as stupid as you or your Master Silurian could think that a battle mage wouldn’t use demons. Turek understands. Why do you think he doesn’t rule out using demons? And, before you say it, just because I choose to use demons doesn’t make me weak. Even Turek said I was one of the strongest wizards he’d seen, until you came along. You ruined everything.”

  A horrible suspicion burst fully formed into Eril’s mind. “You weren’t there to help defend the city, were you? You were there to undercut the defenses when the armies arrived. You were working with the demon wizards all along.”

  The look of disgust on Carge’s face was all the confirmation Eril needed. He gave a slow, painful, clap, and then said, through gritted teeth, “And it was working perfectly, until you came along. Turek didn’t trust me, but he doesn’t trust anyone. But he was teaching me and had me fully involved in the plans to defend the city. They probably didn’t even need me there, but I was ready in case something unexpected came along. No one could have expected you.”

  The hate in Carge’s face was beyond anything Eril had ever seen before.

  “But my fortunes change, here, today,” Carge said, gesturing at the demon. “The demons and their allies have been looking for you for a long time, and now I’ve found you. And, unlike what you may have heard, not all demons are afraid of zdrell masters. This one, in particular likes them, he says they’re quite tasty.”

  Eril knew he had to act. He was only wearing his power ring at the moment, but it was more than enough to create an energy ball and throw it at Carge.

  Carge didn’t move. The demon drew the ball right to him, opened his sharp-toothed mouth impossibly wide and swallowed the ball whole. Then that horrible visage smiled.

  “That won’t work,” Carge said, smiling grimly. “He has only two charges, protect me, and kill you. His reward is he gets to eat you, and he’s very much looking forward to it. It’s been a long time since he’s had a zdrell master to eat.”

  Eril reached beneath his shirt to pull out his concealing locket that contained both his master ring and more importantly, his line cutter. As he was about to open the locket, the demon gestured, and Eril’s locket was ripped from his neck and thrown into the woods.

  “None of that,” the demon spoke for the first time. “Zdrell masters have little toys that bite. I care not for the silly concentrator ring you wear, but you’ll not bring something from that hidden box. You may have a line-cutter, or something else. I’ll not let you have it.”

  With that, the demon unleashed a force bolt of its own,
which slammed into Eril’s shield. The shield held, just barely, and Eril was knocked into the branches of the tree behind him. He immediately soared upward, so he would have room to maneuver.

  The demon followed, and they both raced upward until they were a thousand feet above the tree canopy. The demon then unleashed energy bolt after bolt at Eril, but he was ready and was able to dodge them fairly easily.

  “You fly well, little zdrell child,” the demon said. “many of those I fought in the past could not dodge even one of my bolts. This will make it harder to hit you and not kill you quickly.”

  The next thing the demon did reminded Eril of the display he’d seen back at the fair with Keltrode. The demon threw a series of lightning bolts at him. These were too fast to dodge.

  The first two were deflected by his shield. The third destroyed the shield entirely, but gave him an idea. As the fourth bolt came to him, he focused on using the power ring to suck the power into him.

  Eril screamed in agony as the power from the bolt was pulled into him. Had he been wearing his master ring, he could have simply stored the power. As he was not wearing the ring, all the power went right into him.

  It burned, and Eril would have looked like a small sun to any mortal watching. He managed to shunt a large portion of the power back into the fully depleted shield amulet. He also dumped as much as he could into his invisibility and portal detection amulets.

  With the shield amulet back at full power, he easily deflected the next several lightning bolts. Each time the shield took damage, he immediately refilled it from the overabundance of energy still coursing through his body.

  He had survived this series of attacks, but had done nothing to even annoy the demon. The thing was flying around and performing acrobatics as it continued shooting lightning at him.

  “This is fun, little wizard,” the demon roared. “I’ve not enjoyed myself like this in ages.”

  Eril knew that he couldn’t take another hit like the last one. He had to find a way to go on the offensive. Then he remembered how he’d taken out the charzen.