In Pursuit Of Wisdom (Book 1) (25 page)

Kari took a slow step toward Magi.  “Maybe I wanted to join you because I’m tired of spending day-after-day in this dreary village.  Is it so hard for you to understand that maybe—
just maybe—
I’m ready to begin living my life?  There’s a world out there that I want to see, Magi.  I’m done with Brigg; I’m done with Fostler, where I was born.  These villages are all I’ve seen, where soap actually constitutes a prize worth fighting over.”  She closed her eyes and cast a spell against the far wall, a brilliant illusion of brightly colored rainbow across a city of marble, with stone roads and fresh water pouring from mountain streams, and marketplace bazaars where people were gathered en masse to haggle and trade and listen to bards playing music in the city square.  It was a breathtaking panorama of thriving city.  “I want to see Tenebrae, Magi.  Right now all I have is my imagination and illusion.”

Magi took her hands in his.  “You will, Kari.  I just don’t think it will be this trip.”  He looked up into her eyes.  “But I will promise you this:  when I come back, which will likely be in a couple months, we’ll go see Elvidor together.  We’ll both have our prophecies by then, and even though we won’t be able to share them with one another, we can talk about…the future.  We’ll leave Marik’s school and figure out what we want to do about the Staircase while we see the wider world.  Maybe even see the land east of the mountains—maybe we can travel as far as the Rookwood itself!  How does that sound?”

Kari smiled and gently withdrew her hands, as she took a step towards the doorway.  “And you are so sure you’ll come back.  Magi—you go have your adventure with my brother.  If and when you return, maybe I’ll be here.  Maybe I won’t.  I don’t need a prophet to tell me that my destiny lies outside this village.”  She turned to leave, but paused one last time framed in the doorway.  “And I don’t need anyone’s permission to stay or leave as I see fit, either.  My destiny is my own.  Maybe someone will tell you yours.  Goodbye, Magi.”  She pulled the door shut without a second look.

Magi just stared at the far wall, as the illusion of her ideal city slowly faded back into unremarkable grey stone and clay.

~Magi~

Magi, Kyle, Marik, and a Ranger named Venatus Carrion set out on horseback for the long journey to Shith to see Pilanthas.  Venatus was one of the most seasoned and well-travelled Rangers in the Three Fingers.  He lived in Brigg, and Marik sought him out soon after they returned from the Ol’ Shakoor.  Like most Rangers, the lure of gold directed the path they would follow.  “I know the way,” was all he said as Marik set a pouch of gold onto the table in front of him last night.

They left early the
next morning.  A former student, Serenity Hopewell, who had climbed the Staircase three years ago, would supervise the school while Marik was gone.  She was the last student of his to successfully do so.  After a few words to those students who were awake, they set out.  Nugget yelled to Magi, “Bring back something cool.  Something Elfish!”  Tarsh just waved, somewhat solemnly. 
Such a serious kid.

Kari was nowhere to be seen.

They headed out, following a mostly southeasterly course, with Venatus leading the way.  They ate from their packs until late afternoon, when Venatus suggested they hunt for dinner.  “These woods are full of game, and we should conserve our stores whenever possible.” 

H
e dismounted and let his horse roam a bit while he notched an arrow.  Marik and Kyle began making camp preparations.  Magi joined Venatus and also got out his bow.  Venatus raised one eyebrow.  “Magi-user, do not waste good arrows.  Surely you can cast a spell just as easily?”

“I can, but I prefer to hunt with a bow.”  Magi looked at Venatus.  He was built like Kyle
—fit, lean, but not particularly imposing, physically.  Though likely twice his age, Magi guessed he weighed at least 25 pounds more than his skinny guide.  “A fellow Ranger, Lionel, taught me the proper way to kill an animal with my bow.”

“Lionel would struggle to hit a deer if it was cinched to his boot.  Use your magic.”

“I’ll use a bow, if it’s all the same.” 
We follow, but you do not lead.

“Very well. 
Loose only on my word.”  Venatus slipped silently into the woods.  Marik, who overheard the discussion, just smiled to himself, chuckling quietly.

An hour later they returned, with a deer carcass levitating off the ground about a foot behind them, following them back out of the forest to camp.  Venatus was glowering; one arrow was lodged in the
deer’s chest, directly over the beast’s heart.  They roasted the deer and ate well this first night, packaging a lot of meat for the rest of the journey.  “Lucky shot,” was all the Ranger would add to the discussion.

They continued on for a week, mostly through thin woods and relatively easy terrain.  As the woods grew thinner and thinner, they approached the outskirts of a village, marked by a growing number of small farms.  In the distance they saw a rather large series of tents.

“Ma’am, what is this up ahead?”  Kyle asked as the four of them trotted past a woman digging a small trench by the road.

“It is the Fair, good son.  The travelling Fair has come to Fostler.”  She smiled and spread her arms wide toward the tents in the distance.  “I don’t pay much attention to it, seeing as it’s as good a place as any to lose your gold.  But on just such a night
, you can hear the music from there.  You’ll find whatever you need at the Fair.  Keep an eye on your gold, though, would be my advice to you.”  She went back to work.

A Fair.  Kyle and Magi exchanged a quick smile before Marik said, “We won’t be lingering long here, my
lady—I assure you of that.  Thank you for the information.”  Venatus put his boots to his horse’s sides, and they picked up the pace toward the Fair.

“One night, if only to sleep with
a roof over our heads, but no longer.  Venatus, find us a suitable room.  Magi and Kyle, stay close to me.”  They dismounted to walk their horses, given the crowds.  There was a jousting tournament that Kyle was keenly interested in seeing, and an archery competition caught Magi’s eye.  The alehouses were packed, and musicians were everywhere.  Street artists were sketching, beggars were crying for alms, and the entire spectacle smelled of mead, human waste, roasted goat, and sweat.

“A good rain would do wonders for this place.”  Marik clearly wanted to get past this as soon as possible.

“Master,” Kyle yelled ahead over the street noise.  “If we only stay one night, I won’t be able to visit my parents.  I thought we might be able to stop in and see them.  They wouldn’t have room for all of us to stay, but I’m sure they could provide a proper meal.  May we stay an extra day?”

Marik looked around at the Fair and
pulled his horse around to stand next to Kyle.  He leaned into Kyle’s ear and whispered, “No, Kyle.  This place is not safe.  I hope to see your parents on the way back, hopefully after the Fair has left town.  But getting Magi to Shith is our priority.  Please do me one favor—do not run off on your own.”  With that, he turned his horse and proceeded to fight his way through the crowds.  Kyle sighed and followed, with Magi next to him.  Venatus was already out of view.

Several makeshift gypsy tents dott
ed the landscape as well.  “Magi, why not just duck your head into one of these and get your prophecy read.  Save us a lot of time.”  Kyle winked.  “C’mon, let’s go watch the jousts. Is that ok, Master—if Magi is with me?”  They led their horses through the crowds.

“First, we must find the inn Venatus is procuring.  Follow me.” Marik led them through the crowds in the main
thoroughfare, bumping into people with his large horse as he cut through the revelry with a series of “pardon me, ‘scuse me, thank you, sir” and the like.

“Watch where you’re going
!” came the garbled rasp of a boy Magi had just plowed into with his horse.

“So sorry
,” was all he could say as he plodded along toward the inn.  They finally caught up to Venatus and saw him outside shaking his head.

“No room.  Here or anywhere.  Too many visitors for the Fair.  We shall need to find a patch of grass again tonight, I imagine.  There is a large stable with room, however.  We can put our horses here. They could use some tending.”  Venatus led them around back and they agreed to spend the afternoon here relaxing before meeting up for the evening.  “At sundown, let us meet at the Harpy cage out by the stables.  We’ll grab our mounts and find a spot to camp,
then leave in the morning.”

They all agreed.  Venatus was drawn to the common room of the inn, presumably for its cheap ale.  Marik wanted to see if Fostler had a mapmaker
, and began to ask around.  Kyle and Magi headed for the jousts, but despite Marik’s plea, soon split up as well.  Kyle wanted to visit a gypsy, while Magi was distracted by an archery contest.  They agreed to meet at the jousts in about an hour.

The archers were lined up roughly 20 yards away from their targets, each taking turns.  Silver was being exchanged in the crowd with every shot.  Magi walked up to the front.  “How does one enter the competition?” he asked one of the Rangers that had just sent an arrow flying.

“See the fletcher over there?  His name is Jacob.  Pay your entry fee.  If you win the match, you keep the fees, though I’m sure the fletcher charges a premium for his arrows.  Bloody criminal.”  The Ranger grinned and nodded toward Jacob.

As Magi walked over to talk to Jacob, he saw a nearby tent explode in flame.  A
rare unicorn galloped frantically down the main thoroughfare of the village, clearing a path with his horn and hooves.  People were screaming and the archers all turned to where the tent blazed.

A red-cloaked gypsy was running after the unicorn when a bolt of lightning struck the man square in the back and blew a hole in his chest.  The body convulsed a few times on the ground before lying still.  Guards pour
ed into the scene, shouting for calm while people began to scatter everywhere.  Before Magi could turn around, Marik was at his side in his ear.   “To our horses. 
Now
.”

They ran. 
Suddenly, Magi spotted Kyle, staring blankly ahead of him as he turned around and around, looking totally lost.  “Kyle!”  Magi shouted.  They fought through the crowd and Magi grabbed his friend’s arm.  Kyle just looked at Magi stupidly.

“To the inn.  We must find Venatus and get out of here.”  Marik was calm but insistent.

They found Venatus already by the horses.  “Your handiwork?” he asked Marik, who said nothing.  They mounted and began to ride, with Kyle between them.

“Let’s put some distance between this Fair and ourselves before we stop for the night.  Keep an eye on Kyle, Magi.  Now ride!”  Marik spurred his horse
ahead, catching the Ranger by surprise, who quickly pressed ahead.

It was then that Magi realized his ring was gone.

Chapter 9:  The Forging of A Team

~Trevor~

Trevor had built himself a comfortable campsite, well into the woods that eventually began to give
way to foothills as one travelled east toward the Crystal Mountains.  He was already on his way out of Fostler, just a dirty-looking gypsy boy that would pass by most people unnoticed.

Xaro had told him to utter a special word when he had the object in question.  Most of their updates would be at Xaro’s summoning, but he wanted to know
immediately
when the object had been obtained, and he gave Trevor the description of the young man, the object, and somehow he even knew that they would likely be travelling through Fostler.  All in all, this had been one of the easiest pickpocket assignments he’d ever had.

Getting himself comfortable, he stared into a small fire he’d built to reflect heat off a large rock in the forest, situated in a tiny clearing.  He was nibbling on fresh rabbit, roasted nicely in his little
fire pit.  At ease, he spoke the word:  “
Fennatulum.”

Minutes later, Trevor felt the same sensation he had felt the first time Xaro had summoned him—like he was being stretched a little.  It wasn’t uncomfortable or disorienting, but it wasn’t exactly pleasant, either.  Trevor began right away.

“I have it.  This what you wanted?”  He held up Magi’s ring.

He could see Xaro as if he was standing right in front of him, plain and solid and smiling.  “Indeed it is.  Bring it to
Sands End immediately
.
”

The image faded, leaving Trevor staring into his fire again, thinking how nice it would be to have one more rabbit.

~Xaro~

“Silverfist calls you special.  He never calls any member of your Guild special, and I’ve known the man for years.  What makes you so special, Veronica?”  Xaro asked, having conjured her image at the appointed time.  As with Trevor, Xaro was purposefully dressed in fine clothes, wearing a white shirt trimmed in royal blue, along with a matching royal blue cloak that added a little dramatic flair to his outfit.

“I’m not sure why Silver thinks I’m special, you would have to ask him.  As for me, I simply do not fail.  Most assassins have.  But I have never needed a second attempt at a contracted mark.”  Veronica came across proud, but not boastful.

“An Assassin who never fails is a dangerous thing.  Perhaps you are overconfident.  How will you handle adversity?  I won’t be asking you to kill overweight farmers—my needs will require someone special.  Why wouldn’t I want someone who knows how to deal with setbacks?”  Xaro probed.

“Xaro, who were your parents?” she asked calmly.

My parents?
  “A woman named Daphne and man named Orion,” he answered, somewhat vaguely.  “Why do you ask?”

“And when did you leave them?  You are a True Mage I’ve been told, though you conceal it well.  Surely your study led you away from them at a young age?”

She avoids my question to take over the interview. 
“I grew up in Raag-Kaan, with my mother, overlooking the Strait of Holstine on one edge of the peninsula and overlooking the Sea of Hate on the other.  I learned most of my skills on Oraz, but have travelled extensively.  What has this to do with my questioning of you?”  Xaro cocked his head to side, slightly annoyed.

Veronica looked Xaro through her soft, brown eyes.  They weren’t brown like Xaro’s, whose false eyes looked hard.  Veronica had puppy-eyes.  “I want to know if you’re the kind
of man who understands adversity or will need to have it graphically explained, that’s all.  Did Silver tell you much of my upbringing?”

Now, I see the passion. 
“He did not mention it.”

“I see.  I am the only child of Robin and Silvia Edgewild.  My parents were murdered in front of me when I was thirteen.  I was sent to an orphanage, where my life was…difficult.  My living conditions did improve, when I moved out to live under a tree at sixteen.  I began killing for revenge, and discovered I was quite good at it.

“So, when you ask how I deal with setbacks, I’m curious to know if you have ever been dealt a graver setback than having been sent off to an orphanage for three years after watching your parents slaughtered right in front of you.  Yet here I am, quite capable of not only surviving, but thriving in this Dark World.  Is that resilient enough?”  Her tone was quite pleasant.

Silver may have a point—she
is
special. 
“Quite.  So, you have been through a tough upbringing.  That makes you no different than many other children, most of who don’t end up Master Assassins.  Why do you do continue to do this?  You exacted your revenge.”

To Xaro’s surprise, Veronica laughed genuinely.  “You and Silver both.  Why is it so hard to believe that I simply enjoy killing for money?  I am exceptional at it, and it buys me nice things.  You do not look like a man whose hands are free from stain—I should ask you the same thing.  Why have you killed, Xaro?”

Again with the table-turning.  This one is not intimidated by anyone. 
“Maybe it is surprising because there are so few female Master Assassins.”

Veronica didn’t miss a beat.  “And that would make me special, would it not?”  She smiled and leisurely reached across her lithe body for a glass of dark liquid, perhaps wine, on a short table next to her.

Silverfist was right about one thing…she is special.  One of the most intriguing women I’ve ever spoken to. 
Xaro stood up.  “I guess the last question I have is simply this:  My terms are 5,000 silver pieces per contract, and you kill only for me.  Is this acceptable?”

“My contract rate is 5,000 in gold, Xaro.  I will take your contracts at that rate.”  She sipped her drink, looking about as agitated as if she was negotiating a price for a piece of fresh fish.

Everyone wants gold, it seems.  So be it.  My thief may have more work than he can handle when he returns from his first assignment. 
“Very well, gold it shall be.  We are agreed.”

Veronica nodded.  “Now, if I may, I have one question for you.  I have heard you are a Warrior/Mage, and Silver has even mentioned showing you some of our craft.  Why do
you
need an Assassin, Master?”  As she sipped the dark liquid, it made such a striking contrast against her pale cheeks.

Xaro enjoyed the blatant flattery. 
If she is as deadly as she is beautiful, my enemies don’t stand a chance. 
“I need an Assassin because the man you are going to kill is in Elvidor, and I am needed here at Sands End
.
  His name is Strongiron, and if he doesn’t already command the Queen’s army, he soon will.” 
And he’s the bloody heir to that oh-so-noble Knight, Peace-Arm, and the Tuitio riches. 
“I can’t imagine the Queen appointing anyone else, now that he’s a True Warrior.”

~Magi~

Magi was distraught.  How could he lose his ring?  To make matters worse, Marik was extremely upset.

“Where did you take it off?” he asked.  They had ridden through the night, Venatus wanting to put as much distance between Fostler and themselves as possible before resting.  Being familiar with the terrain, he had led them east, deeper into the forest along some game trails and across several creek beds.  As dawn was about to break on the other side of the Crystal Mountains, still shielded by a thick canopy of trees, they decided to make camp and give the horses some rest and time to eat.  Their magical glow balls gave some light to help the horses pick their way, but no heat.  It would be a cold breakfast, and all were exhausted.  “Where did you take it off, Magi?”  Marik asked pointedly again, chewing some salted pork.

Magi shook his head, still ashamed and crestfallen.  The only token he had from his father.  He didn’t even know what the man looked like.  Just a stupid tree and this
ring—that’s all he had to evoke any feeling about his Mom or Dad.  Marik was the only parent he’d ever known.  “I don’t know, Master.  I never take it off.”

Kyle was extremely tired, having almost fallen asleep in his saddle twice.  He looked terrible, and was struggling to stay awake.  “Could it have been stolen?”

Magi looked at his best friend.  “Right off my finger?  C’mon, Kyle.”

Only
Venatus looked as fresh as a sunrise, eyes alert.  “Marik, we cannot stay here long.  We must press on.  Tell me what happened, now that we have stopped briefly.”

“Apparently my two students lack the sense to stay together.  You visited one of the gypsies, Kyle.”  Marik was not asking a question.

“I did.  I thought they might be able to tell me something else about my Prophecy.  I thought they might be able to tell Magi something, too, saving us the trouble—”

“You fool.”  It was the first time
Magi had heard Marik call one of his students a fool.  It stung.  “Half the gypsies are pickpockets, the other half are liars, and they’re all charlatans.  The one you visited—the one wearing a red cloak—he was a second-rate illusionist.  But he was a first-rate hypnotist.  You fell under his spell, and he created the illusion that you were a unicorn, using the Fair as cover, where no one would suspect a unicorn as being out of place.  I’m sure he was hoping you wouldn’t be missed, so he could keep you, brainwash you, and eventually train you as an apprentice.  I, however, have a unicorn, as you know.  I could tell that something was odd—even for a Fair.  They are very rare.  Had I not sensed a deception, your life as the newest member of their gypsy clan would have begun last night.”

He turned back to Magi.  “When was the last time you remember seeing your ring?”

Magi was still processing what almost happened to Kyle. 
That close. 
“I—I don’t know, Master.  I feel naked without it.”  He looked up at Marik.

Marik narrowed his white eyes. 
How does he see with those things? 
The True Mage exhaled.  “Well, it’s gone.  You’ll have to save up enough money to buy a new one, if you care about such things.”  He finished his breakfast of salted pork and dried pears, and stood up to head out.

“Yes, it is time
, Marik.  Let’s head out, my young mages.”  Venatus took the cue and began to get the horses.  All Kyle wanted to do is sleep.  All Magi wanted to do was head back to Fostler and retrace his steps.  Yet they both got up and started to gather their things.   One thing was bothering Magi.

“Master,” he called out.  Marik turned around.  “Was my ring magical?  What was it?”

Marik stared at Magi for several seconds.  Finally, he smiled.  “No, Magi.  But it was an unusual and sentimental heirloom.  I’m sorry it’s gone.”  He turned around and kept walking.

I still feel naked.

~Magi~

The group continued, but began heading west. As they did, the terrain began to flatten, with fewer trees.

“Why are we heading toward the water, Master?  I thought we needed to keep heading South through the Finger.”  Magi was
happy Kyle was able to pay attention to their direction…he must slowly be getting his bearings back after a few more days of dreary travel. 
The gypsy had done a number on him, for sure.

Venatus answered.  “The woods south of Fostler are incredibly dense
—impassable for horses, and certainly impassable with speed.  There is a hamlet on the coast of the Sea here, hardly more than a dozen villagers grouped together.  But the miller owns a flat boat, large enough for the four of us and our horses.  He doesn’t advertise it, but for the right price, he’ll give us a lift across the inlet, skirting around the deep woods.  If all goes well, we should arrive a few days’ ride from Briz, the third village of Fingers.  We’ll have to cross Elf’s Bane Pass near the southern edge of the Crystal Mountains, but from there we’ll have a relatively easy ride to Shith.”

That seemed
like more information than Kyle wanted or needed.  He just nodded and kept following.  Soon the familiar scent of sea salt filled the air, and some smoke could be seen curling upward from crude chimneys.  As the sea came into view, so did a series of fields and a handful of farmhouses next to it.  A large smitty pounded a piece of metal out on an anvil—the sound did nothing to ease the throbbing in their heads from sleep deprivation.  The afternoon sun was high in the air, but it was getting cooler.  Whether it was the advent of a seasonal shift toward winter or just the cool sea air, Magi wasn’t sure.  But it was definitely getting colder.

They slowed
their mounts to a walk, and Magi saw Venatus nod at the smith as they passed.  A creek, shallow but fast moving, ran into the sea, and next to the running water was the miller.  “Wait here,” was all Venatus said.  Marik never took his eyes off him.

A large man, bald and red-faced, limp
ed over to greet the Ranger as he approached.  Venatus said a few words, and they exchanged a warm handshake.  After a few minutes, they both approached the three riders, and Venatus introduced his friend.