Defiant Peaks (The Hadrumal Crisis) (53 page)

The Archmage pressed his palms together, fingertips to his bearded lips, lost in contemplation for a long moment.

‘Wizardry has precious few friends among the realms and rulers from Ensaimin to Tormalin at present. We’ll have fewer still once bodies begin drifting ashore. The noble lords and guild masters will hardly thank us for wrecking whatever faint hope they cherish of restoring trade with the Archipelago.’

He shook his head slowly. ‘Do you suppose that they imagine fear of these consequences will have us trembling so cravenly in our shoes that we will hand over these artefacts which they covet, simply to put an end to their scheming against us?’

‘Are you still determined that the Soluran Orders shan’t have those artefacts?’ Jilseth decided that she might as well ask the questions which were plaguing her. ‘Is that because you don’t want them discovering how to use Artifice through such instilled elemental spells, as Usara and Guinalle have done in Suthyfer?’

Planir lowered his hands and leaned back, smiling. ‘I will certainly make that argument, most forcefully, if the Council does contemplate giving in to Soluran menaces.’

‘Meantime, Suthyfer will still have that coffer of Khusro artefacts which I don’t suppose you’ve seen fit to mention to the Council,’ Jilseth observed.

Planir spread innocent hands. ‘There has been no Council meeting where I could have told our fellow eminent mages of these fresh discoveries. Besides, were anyone to call us together, I am sure they would wish to discuss far more urgent matters. I hear that Flood Mistress Troanna is currently seeking allies for the day when she finally proposes a vote demanding that I surrender the Archmage’s ring. I’ve yet to learn if she also intends seeing me stripped of the rank of Stone Master.’

He didn’t sound overly concerned. Jilseth could only hope he had good reason for such confidence.

‘Are any Council members giving the Flood Mistress a hearing?’

‘They’re mostly too busy to listen.’ Planir smiled wryly. ‘Those who haven’t already worked themselves to a standstill are still intent on cracking the mysteries of the artefacts they already hold. Even those who talked of abandoning the challenge for the sake of their other duties keep finding reasons to hope that a few more days will bring success.

‘I don’t propose to bother about Troanna until she approaches Kalion, since she must know that she cannot succeed without the Hearth Master’s support.’ He shrugged. ‘Sannin is now working in a nexus with Ely, Galen and Canfor so I’m hopeful she’ll be one of the first to hear when that happens. Then I will consider how best to respond.’

Jilseth didn’t find that as reassuring as she would like. ‘Are your supporters countering Troanna? Velindre and Mellitha must surely command a hearing in any hall?’

Planir’s face hardened. ‘Velindre and Mellitha are helping the mercenary shipmasters of the Carifate who have made common cause with the mariners of Maubere Inlet who used to serve the Dukes of Parnilesse. Magecraft will shape their rough harbour into a safe haven where Archipelagan traders can offer their goods to Tormalin merchants and both sides will profit from not having to deal with intermediaries.

‘In the fullness of time, I’m confident that ports such as Attar and Claithe will welcome wizardly help to improve their anchorages and approaches to accommodate Aldabreshin galleys. With this recent peace in Lescar looking ever more likely to hold, there’s also every chance that more new ports will flourish at the mouths of the Dyal and Annock rivers.’

So the Relshazri were going to rue the day when they decided to turn on wizardry for the sake of their ties to the Archipelagans. Though Jilseth wondered how many of the Council would consider seeing that city beggared was sufficient retribution for Kerrit’s death. More urgently, what good was such long-term scheming when this far more immediate threat hung over the wizard isle?

‘When will you warn the Council that Hadrumal is likely to be attacked? At the moment, barely a double handful of us know that Jagai Kalu intends to send shiploads of mercenaries against us, still less that these Soluran Orders who covet Anskal’s loot are behind such scheming. Surely there are other wizards in Solura who owe favours to Hadrumal and its halls? The Flood Mistress and the Hearth Master have acquaintances among eminent Elders who could command King Solquen’s attention. Couldn’t they help us put a stop to this?’

‘Perhaps, but doubtless their price would be either the ensorcelled artefacts or the secrets of quintessential magic. I am in no mood to surrender any such thing through gratitude, any more than I will yield them to threats. But I will tell the Council and all Hadrumal,’ Planir assured her with a glint in his eye, ‘when I am quite certain that such an attack will actually happen. Usara tells me that Baron Halferan intends to undermine the Solurans’ plans by turning these mercenaries against the Aldabreshi.’

Jilseth looked askance at him. ‘Do you really believe that Corrain can somehow disrupt an entire Archipelagan domain’s plans for an assault?’

The Archmage shrugged. ‘Surely we have learned not to underestimate the good captain? He has a remarkable capacity to do something so wholly unexpected that it forces those around him into actions they would never have contemplated. A year ago, would you have imagined that you would have helped wizardry to demolish an entire Aldabreshin island?’

Jilseth had no answer to that. Planir reached for the book which he had been reading and opened it.

‘We also need to know if it is merely Jagai Kalu and his shipmasters and swordsmen who have been shown the way to our waters and convinced to attack us. If this malice has spread more widely through the Archipelago, we will find ourselves playing a very different game of white raven. Once we know how our enemies are arrayed against us, we will be able to see what stratagems lie open.’

‘How do you propose to find that out?’ Jilseth asked.

‘By waiting to see.’ Planir looked up from his page, mildly surprised.

Once again, Jilseth found herself with more urgent concerns. ‘We agreed to meet this evening, the Col mentors, the Caladhrians and I, at the Prefecture, to share what we’ve discovered and to inform the city’s authorities of the Soluran’s connivance. What shall I tell them?’

‘Whatever you think they need to know. I trust your judgement.’ Planir shifted to ease stiff shoulders. ‘See what else you can learn from your dead Soluran in the meantime and share your discoveries with Mentor Garewin and his adepts in return for whatever they can tell us.’

The Archmage settled to his reading once again. ‘Please close the doors on your way out.’

Jilseth stared at him for a long moment before rising to depart. Planir surprised her by looking up with a smile.

‘I look forward to learning if Corrain has indeed contrived some useful mayhem among the mercenaries and the Archipelagans.’

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY-
E
IGHT

Red Library Square, Col

33rd of Aft-Winter

C
ORRAIN DRUMMED THOUGHTFUL
fingers on the rail around the gig’s seat. Would he fare better challenging the mercenaries who had already taken Archipelagan gold with the truth or should he warn off those still waiting to test their mettle against the Aldabreshi swordsmen?

He decided to confront those who’d already taken the
zamorin
’s coin, catching them before they left the Spice Wharf to enjoy their windfall. Dissuading some hopeful who didn’t pass muster would be wasted effort. Convincing swordsmen who’d just been hired would most likely repay him and Hosh twice or thrice. Each mercenary would surely tell his trusted friends how he had been duped. No warrior worth the name would let his allies stick their heads into a hangman’s noose.

However greedy or desperate these mercenaries might be, surely they would have lingering doubts about taking Archipelagan coin to voyage into the unknown? Even if they didn’t believe Corrain today, they’d have a double handful of days to kick their heels in idleness and reflect on his warnings. Surely a good number would think better of turning up when the Jagai galleys arrived? Especially now that the Soluran adept was dead. As long as the Col mentors could scupper his malicious enchantments.

The gig halted, taking Corrain completely by surprise. He leaned forward to poke the driver in the back only to see Hosh had a silver penny ready in his hand.

‘I told him to stop here.’

‘Why?’

But Hosh was already climbing down from the gig, forcing Corrain to follow. The lad waited for the grey mare to pull the gig and its driver out of earshot.

‘If we’re going to persuade these swordsmen that aetheric magic has deceived them, we need more than just our word. We need a mentor to prove that Artifice is real.’

‘That’s a good point.’ Corrain’s thoughts had already gone a step beyond Hosh.

If they couldn’t convince the mercenaries that this attack on the wizard isle was folly with reasoned argument, perhaps Artifice could do their work for them. Corrain was fully prepared to use the Solurans’ own weapons against them.

He looked up the steps. ‘How do you suggest we get in without a scholar or a wizard to vouch for us?’

The black-liveried guard by the library’s door wasn’t the man who’d escorted them out. Would he carry a note to Mentor Garewin? Perhaps but that meant finding paper and pen in one of these taverns. Corrain didn’t begrudge spending the Archmage’s money but he didn’t want to waste the time.

‘This way.’ Hosh headed around to the side of the building. ‘That’s the study window.’ He threw a coin at it, only for them both to see it fall short and roll away unseen to delight some beggar or street-sweeper.

‘Watch your head.’ Corrain reached for his purse, letting coins trickle through his fingers until he felt a copper penny’s smooth edges. Only Col’s silver coins were milled to foil clippers. Now all he had to worry about was breaking the glass instead of merely getting the mentors’ attention.

His aim was true. Unfortunately there was no response.

‘They might not even still be in there,’ he warned Hosh.

His second copper struck the window so hard that he did fear he’d cracked the pane. No matter, the casement was opening and a cautious head peered out.

‘Mentor Lusken!’ Hosh shouted and waved a hand. ‘We need your help.’

‘Wait there,’ the scholar called.

‘Well done.’ Corrain led Hosh back to the front steps, trying to curb his growing impatience as they waited for Lusken to appear.

The mentor hitched up his long scholarly gown as he hurried down the steps from the doorway. ‘We thought we were to meet at the Prefecture this evening,’ he said apprehensively. ‘What’s happened?’

‘Nothing untoward,’ Hosh assured him.

‘No more untoward than the two dead men we already have on our hands,’ Corrain said bluntly. ‘The lady wizard has used her magic to learn this is part of a plot contrived by the Archmage’s enemies beyond Col. She’s gone back to Hadrumal to tell Planir. Lady Guinalle helped devise an enchanted scrying to show us this man from Wrede with his allies. You mentors can put your skills to better use now.’

Lusken’s face cleared. ‘That is good to know. We were having no success finding him even after following Lady Guinalle’s advice. That’s to say, we could pick up the echoes of Micaran’s questing enchantments but—’

‘Perhaps you should tell Mentor Garewin?’ Corrain interrupted as politely as he could. ‘And please tell him that while we wait to learn what the Archmage advises, we want to dissuade at least some of these mercenaries who are taking Aldabreshin coin. Will you help us with your Artifice?’