A Crucible of Souls (Book One of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence) (73 page)

“
I’m afraid so.
”

Caldan nodded.
“
Make yourselves comfortable, then. We have to wait, and I have work to do.
”
He turned back to his smith-crafted metal pieces.

Miranda took Elpidia’s hand and drew her into the other room, where they began a conversation about what to take with them.

Caldan felt Amerdan’s eyes on him as he returned to work. He attached metal rods to each other, tapping the ends with a hammer until they clicked in place. Each rod was as long as his arm from elbow to wrist and thicker than his thumb. He tested each joint, easing the rods back and forth to check they moved smoothly. Four of these joints lay in front of him as he began assembling a fifth, this one made up of shorter rods, five in total, each rod thinner than the last.

“
Why five in that one?
”
asked Amerdan of a sudden with a strange intensity.

Caldan spared him a glance as the last rod clicked in place. He laid it next to the others.
“
It’s a tail. When it runs, a tail is essential to equilibrium.
”

“
It… runs?
”
Amerdan stared at him curiously.

With a shrug, Caldan drew out more metal pieces from his sack and piled them next to the legs and tail.
“
It should, if I get everything right.
”
He turned to Amerdan.
“
Are you hungry? I’m starving.
”
He stood and rummaged through their food supplies and began preparing a meal of crusty bread and cheese.

They sat around the table, where they had eaten a meal of bread and cheese washed down with hot tea. Caldan had eaten twice as much as any of them, including Amerdan.

“
I thought Amerdan here did well, but you…
”
Miranda trailed off and shook her head.
“
I don’t know where you put it. Truly, you should be overweight.
”

Elpidia grinned then covered her mouth with a hand.

“
I’m still growing,
”
protested Caldan.

“
I doubt it.
”

Caldan opened his mouth to reply when there was a knock at the door. All of them froze and looked at each other. Miranda rose and wiped her hands on her pants.
“
It’s probably my contact,
”
she said and strode to the door.
“
Who’s there?
”

“
Bees,
”
came the reply through the thick timber.

Elpidia looked up.

Miranda opened the door and a dark-haired man entered. He looked at each of them in turn, raising an eyebrow at Elpidia, who returned his stare with a steady look of her own.

“
I take it you two know each other?
”
asked Amerdan, echoing Caldan’s thought.

“
We have had occasion to do some business,
”
replied the man called Bees.

“
He’s one of the best sources of information in the city,
”
said Elpidia.
“
And the most resourceful when it comes to finding things.
”
Bees gave a short bow in her direction.

“
Bees, glad you finally arrived. When can we go?
”

“
Always business first with you, Miranda. You should learn to relax.
”
Bees smiled to take the edge off his words.
“
I had a hard time avoiding the patrols the Indryallans have out looking for certain people. Luckily, they’ve not issued a reward for these fugitives, who might otherwise have been delivered into their hands quick smart.
”

“
Is that a threat?
”
asked Miranda.

Bees clasped both hands to his chest over his heart.
“
Goodness, no! I wouldn’t stay in business long if I made threats to my clients, would I?
”
His tone was half-serious, half-mocking.

“
Do we have a way out?
”
continued Miranda.
“
I assume that’s why you’re here?
”

Bees frowned.
“
You told me there would be two of you, and yet here I see four.
”

“
Circumstances have changed.
”

“
Still, it’ll be riskier. And taking such a risk will cost.
”
He rubbed two fingers together.

“
How much more? And don’t try to cheat me, mind!
”

“
I wouldn’t dream of it.
”
Bees made a show of thinking for a few moments.

Caldan was sure he had calculated a new price the moment he saw there were four people in the room instead of two and was dragging the negotiation out.

Bees gave Miranda a sly look.
“
I heard the invaders are searching houses and warehouses around the docks… Indeed, they’re not too far from here.
”

Caldan and Miranda exchanged glances. If this were true it meant the invaders knew their general whereabouts. It was only a matter of time until they were found, if they stayed put.

“
My thought is that the risk has increased since we last spoke. The new price is eight.
”

“
Eight!
”
exclaimed Miranda in surprise.
“
It was two for two and now it’s eight for four?
”

Bees spread his hands in a helpless gesture.
“
More risk, more bribes, more people need wages. I’m giving you a discount because I know Elpidia. Though I wouldn’t have thought she would leave the city. Perhaps there is a story there?
”
He gave Elpidia an enquiring look. She shook her head but refrained from replying.

“
Ah. Saying nothing is still saying something, is it not?
”

Miranda counted out six gold ducats. She held the coins up in a stack between forefinger and thumb.
“
Six and we have a deal.
”

Bees turned a glum look on her. He flicked a glance at Elpidia, hesitated, then slowly shook his head.
“
No. I cannot agree. It’s said they are looking for someone, a young sorcerer with short hair.
”
He looked pointedly at Caldan.

Caldan hissed through his teeth, and Miranda cursed under her breath.

The Indryallans who’d imprisoned him and Bells got a good look at him. It was likely he wouldn’t be able to roam the streets without being spotted.

“
Pay him,
”
Caldan said.
“
We need to get out before they find us. And the longer we delay, the higher the price will go.
”

“
Smart man,
”
said Bees, holding out his hand.
“
Eight for now, but only because I know Elpidia. I don’t know why she needs to get out of the city, but for her I can give a generous discount.
”

Miranda scoffed.
“
Not likely.
”
She handed over eight gold ducats, which Bees accepted with a grateful nod.
“
We have a deal, then?
”

“
Certainly. Are you ready to leave now?
”

“
It won’t take more than a few moments to have our gear organized.
”
Miranda looked at Elpidia and Amerdan.
“
Do you have everything you need?
”

Elpidia gestured to her belongings.
“
All I need is here. I’m sure if I need anything for my research I can find a substitute, depending on where we are.

Amerdan patted the belt which held his pouches and knives.
“
Ready,
”
he said.

Caldan noticed the shopkeeper also had a bundle inside his shirt and wondered what it could be. He shook his head. Probably nothing important.

“
All right,
”
she said.
“
Caldan, are you ready?
”

“
Yes, it won’t take long to pack up.
”
He shoved the metal rods back into his sack and accepted the blanket Miranda handed him.

Miranda disappeared into the next room, returning shortly with two sets of bulging saddlebags, one of which she handed to Caldan.

“
May I enquire as to where you are going?
”
Bees asked.

“
You may,
”
said Miranda.
“
But we aren’t sure ourselves. Away from here, until things settle down.
”

“
On the contrary, I find it to be very good.
”

“
Depends on what you deal in.
”

Bees nodded with narrowed eyes, as if Miranda had stated something wise.
“
Indeed it does.
”

Miranda gave one last glance around the room, her expression resolved.
“
It’s time to go.
”

After a nervous walk uphill through the southern area of Cabbage Town, Bees led Caldan and the others to the back of a nondescript building. A squat, heavyset man opened a gate in response to Bees’ coded knock, whispered words, and ducats. They entered an overgrown yard then passed into a stone building.

Caldan looked around at the bare room that greeted them, unimpressed. Two large windows high in the walls provided light, and the room was empty except for an open trapdoor in the center. A sharp-edged square hole penetrated the stone floor into darkness. Beside the hole sat an oil lamp burning with a flame.

Bees rubbed his hands together in the cold air.
“
I hope you don’t mind the dark.
”
He picked up the lamp.

“
I thought we’d need something,
”
said Caldan, drawing out some glass balls from his pocket and handing one to each of them. In the center of each nestled a stone covered in tiny patterns.

Bees gave a low whistle.
“
Expensive,
”
he remarked.
“
Better not lose them.
”

Caldan shrugged.
“
These won’t last long, and I can always make more.
”

Bees clapped him on the shoulder.
“
We should talk when you come back.
”

Elpidia examined hers and gave it a shake.
“
It’s not working. Is it broken?
”

They looked to Caldan.

“
No,
”
he said. What people didn’t know about sorcery still surprised him.
“
They wear out, so there’s no point having them working all the time when light isn’t needed. Here.
”
He accessed his well and linked to all four globes, connecting the anchors in the gems. Each one began to glow faintly, a clean white light.

Bees stepped to the edge of the hole.
“
I’m to be your escort. There’s a ladder down to a room.
”

“
What is this place?
”
asked Miranda.
“
The building, the quality of the stonework — this wasn’t made to smuggle goods in and out of the city.
”

“
Goodness, no,
”
laughed Bees.
“
It’s part of the aqueducts. An access hole for repairs, to clear blockages. No need to dig a tunnel when the emperor provided plenty for us to use.
”

Miranda nodded in comprehension.
“
Makes sense.
”

Caldan knelt above the shaft, saddlebags over one shoulder and sack in his left hand. His sword made it awkward, but he swiftly descended into the gloom.

“
Er,
”
said Bees loudly.
“
Didn’t you make a globe for yourself?
”

Caldan cursed himself for being stupid. He could see well in the darkness, but it wasn’t a talent he wanted known. He would have to watch himself.
“
No need,
”
he replied calmly.
“
There’s enough light to see by… and once everyone else is down, their globes will be enough.
”
He reached a room, from which led two open doorways, one at either end.