Techromancy Scrolls: Adept (20 page)

It was so frustrating! Why would nobody tell me the truth of what occurred that day in York? Was Celeste really the hero of York and they were hiding it for some reason? Or was it truly Sir Edwin that stopped the Reaper that day like everyone in Wexbury was told?

I huffed in exasperation which only put a smile on Celeste's lips. Graaah! But then I grinned, imagining the sight of my Lady going through her igniting on the field of battle, it must have been a sight to see.

It was exciting really, this was my first adventure. I had been to Flatlash once when I was very young. It was a two-day ride in our old wagon with Tulip pulling. I'm not sure why we visited, I was too young to remember much except the excitement of traveling to another realm. We never went in the keep. Instead we did something at Flatlash Minor, outside the gates, before returning home.

But now, I would be traveling through the lands of five realms. We would be in Far Reach, where the temperatures never fluctuate more than ten degrees and they get over thirty rainfalls a year.

I drifted back along our ranks when Brenda did. We took some time looking at the supply wagon and coach wheels for damage, pausing with the archers in between. Then trailing the caravan for a few minutes, scanning the horizon in all directions.

Sir Bowyn told us that this would be the norm for the next thousand miles. If we stayed on the flats of the Fringe of the habitable lands, we could get approximately one hundred miles in each twelve-hour day. Figuring ten miles per hour with two breaks for the horses to rest, and a midday meal for us less durable humans.

By diverting through the Black Forest below Flatlash and into the mountains, we would add two, possibly three days to the journey in the rougher terrain. We'd be in the realm of the Mountain Gypsies though, so the mountain pathways should be clear.

As we rode, I wondered how sore I was going to be by the end of the first day. I had never been on a horse for so long. The knights and archers kept everyone entertained with their stories of their own travels, encounters with rogues, marauders, and Gypsies. Some of them clearly embellished and some quite humorous.

Sir Marrin, a tall rakish knight who was always three days unshaven and flirted with any woman who walked past him, got us laughing as he shared the time he was relieving himself into a stream. He was patrolling on the Fringe, close to where the Hawktail river flowed into the uninhabitable lands.

He heard a noise beyond a bush and he leaned forward to look around it. On the other side was a marauder, in the same state as he was. They looked at each other then down at their business and Marrin held up a finger, and they nodded to each other. They both finished then rapidly fastened their trousers and drew their weapons. Then Sir Marrin nodded at the man and said, “Alright then, let's be about it,” They fought. He said they did joke about it as the knight rode the then injured marauder back to the keep in chains.

As the novelty of being on the road and seeing something new, started to wear off as we moved steadily south toward Cougar Deeps and Flatlash Keep I grinned at myself. I was bored. Come on Laney it's an adventure! I looked east to the mountains, that is somewhere I longed to see.

So maybe it was just that the flats of West Wexbury, where the Whispering Forest dwindled into the lower grasslands, weren't very interesting to see. I chuckled at myself. I passed the time listening to the stories and realized now why the Knights did it, they were bored too. I looked at Celeste's sash with the crossed sword and lightning bolt.

I asked a question that has always been on my mind to nobody in particular. “So why Techno for magic users? As in Techno Knights, and Techromancers? Weren't they wizards and mages in the Before Times? I've always wondered.”

Celeste grinned off into space, not really looking at me as she explained. “When the old magics reawakened, people found they could manipulate the elements. It was found that with all the seeming variety of magics that could affect the earth, fire, air, water, and nature... there was one commonality.”

She looked at her hand. “No matter what kind of magic you wield, your magic can be converted to electricity and you can manipulate technology to some extent. Whether it is operating a manual pump or, or turning an electric motor, or even peeling back the ravages of time on relics from the Before by reversing oxidation and decay.”

Then she turned in her saddle to me. “So since technology is the common denominator, that is where the Techno comes from.”

I smiled at her then squinted in thought. “But what about Mountain Gypsy magic? I hear it is something... else... and they are not considered rogues.”

She looked to think of that for a moment to determine the best way to explain, but we were surprised by Duke Fredrick's voice. He was looking out of the coach. I grinned, he must be bored too. “What they wield is something different, we think it may be the magics the Wizards of the Before possessed. It cannot be converted to energy and they seem to weave it in spells, charms, and potions that can be imbued into items and persist. It even gives some, the sight, the ability to see the future.”

His brow furrowed a little. “They had their magics long before the first Techromancers and have always kept to themselves. They are peaceful and have never turned against any realm like the rogues have done. They never disputed the claims all of the realms made on their mountains. Even though they were clearly there first, long before the people of Highland Keep crossed The Gap in their explorations, and started settling the great expanse of the new world. But the mountains are recognized as their domain and they have autonomy and free range to travel them in all the realms, that is an undisputed fact.”

He smirked a little. “That and I'm sure nobody really wants to anger them enough to find out just what their magics can really do. I know Wexbury doesn't.” Everyone chuckled with that. I was learning more just then than my random stumbling in the Library of the Scrolls. Though Emily was far too much fun to speak with, as she herself was quite random.

We had finally settled in for the night with the small settlement of Sleepy Creek on the horizon. The Duke and Duchess retired into a tent and the rest of us sort of made a ring around the large campfire and electric space heater. The porters cooked a hearty beef stew and biscuits. Verna told us Squires to enjoy it because, “Tomorrow night will be the last night we will have an open campfire. We will use the electric space heater after that so there are no open flames to pinpoint our location to marauders or rogues.”

Bex asked why we didn't just overnight in the town. It was a good question, I was curious too. Kristof said, “Too many places to hide, and too many chances of an ambush outside of the keeps. Odds are nothing untoward will happen the entire mission, but with the Duke and Duchess at risk, it is always safer to err on the side of caution and have a defensible position.

After the meal was over and checking on the horses, we spread out our bedrolls. An archer named Peter, and Celeste took first watch. Us squires were not needed for the watch since we were not experienced enough. But they would always have at least one knight on watch in three-hour shifts and an additional man to watch our six. This way everyone got at least six hours of sleep.

I shivered in the cold and pulled the cloak, which was fitted for me, out and wrapped myself in it, pulling up the hood. Then I walked Celeste's over to her on the small rise above the camp where she watched the night. I knew not to speak to give her position away.

I smiled and handed it to her and she smiled back and draped it over her shoulders with practiced ease. I shivered and was about to retreat when she held an arm out, her cloak open. I sat with her and she wrapped her cloak around me, holding me and keeping me warm while her eagle eyes scanned the night.

Next thing I knew she was nudging me awake. I looked up at her, safe in the nest of her cloak, she was smiling. I looked over to see Verna, who winked at me. We left her to her watch and made our way down to the small blessed cone that was heated by the tall space heater. Before I could slide under my blanket on the pad on the ground, Celeste again held her blanket open invitingly.

I didn't need more of an invitation and I slipped in and she held me tight to her to share her body heat. And she protected me, like every night since I moved from my home into her chambers. I've never asked why, because I feared she would stop if I did, and I had become accustomed to lying with her, with my Lady.

She whispered, “You don't need to sit with me on watch Laney.”

I turned and the light of Earth's ring and the three sisters glittered in her eyes. “I know, but I want to. I... enjoy your company.” She gave me an indecipherable smile and hugged me and kissed the top of my head proprietorially and whispered, “Get some sleep, big day tomorrow, Flatlash Keep.”

The next day felt like a replay of the previous day, with the exception of a few of us gathered around Bex. The previous night he had taken a couple of reed thin extendable tubes that attached to a ring over his canteen cap. They were splayed out and held a taut sheet of green silk between them with a lot of surface area like a sail. When we asked what silly contraption he was working on he told us, “Wait until morning and I'll show you.”

We watched as he shook the silk sheet to get the last few drops of morning dew to funnel down into his now almost full canteen. He grinned as he retracted the tubes and rolled the silk up on it. It fit in the palm of his hand.

He grinned at the archers and knights that had looked at him in confusion. He said, “The silk catches the morning condensation, there is moisture in the air everywhere, even the desert. So I am able to fill my canteen with fresh water without using our supplies, nor drawing it from a river or stream and boiling it.”

One archer, Linus I think his name was, said, “Well that's just silly boy. There is water within a four-hour ride anywhere in Wexbury, especially in the mountains where you can't fart without tripping into a stream.”

Bex replied with pride, “Yes here, but in the Great Desert, and Burning Desert, this would be a great boon to extend water supplies. Imagine draping a couple hundred square yards or so along the perimeter of a camp. You could extend your water supply greatly for only the infinitesimal weight of a bolt of silk in your gear. Or reduce the amount of water you would need oxen to haul on an extended mission in the desert.”

He was grinning and I grinned too. It was useless here, but actually pretty brilliant in an instance like he described. A chuckling Kristof walked up to his tinkering squire and slapped his back jovially. “But my stalwart squire, have you not noticed...” He looked around at everyone then back to Bex with a fond smile. “This isn't the desert.”

Everyone got a good chuckle and he was a good sport about it. The poor boy's head was always in the clouds. Celeste spoke up after joining in the laughter, “What Kristof says is true. However, I believe you should share your experiment with Hell's Gate and New World Keep scholars. I think it has great potential for them. Keep coming up with ideas, never stop thinking, you never know what could be found useful, knowledge is never something to be wasted.”

The other knights and the Duke, who was getting back into the coach, all chimed in with a “Here here.” Then we started moving out.

Things on the cobblestone highway were uneventful except after our mid-day meal, Tennison and Celeste pulled ahead to speak for a moment. When they returned, Celeste made some eye motions to the other knights, then moved beside the coach and whispered into the Duke's ear when he hung his head out. He nodded.

We picked up the pace to get to Flatlash before mid afternoon. They had us squires, drifting to the back at irregular intervals about twice as often. I rode beside Bowyn as I rotated back along the line. “What is it?”

He just kept looking forward and said, “Do not look around.” That, of course, caused a need to look around. You don't just tell someone not to do or think something, then that is stuck in their head. I saw a wry smile on his face as I tried not to look all around me.

Then he said, “We've picked up a ghost. It may be nothing but a merchantman heading to Flatlash, but they are keeping their distance, using the terrain to obscure themselves. Though when we picked up the pace they did not. However, Celeste picked up another shadow to the west.”

He shook his head. “She's always had a knack for getting an itchy feeling when she is being watched.”

I asked, “Who could it be?”

He shrugged. “Could be nothing but a coincidence, could be marauders keeping tabs on us.” He paused. “Could be rogues. They could have found out that Far Reach is worried and is asking for talks of a renewed defense pact against them. Too many possibilities.”

Then he grinned. “In any case, we believe that some sort of game is afoot. Just keep up with your position changes until we are in Flatlash Keep. If their delegation hasn't left yet, we can double our numbers, and that alone would deter all but a war party. We wouldn't be as agile, but we would trade off that agility for better security.”

I nodded in understanding then peeled off to continue my movement around our group. The Duke nodded once to me as I passed the coach. I tried to track the various knights eyes as they flicked in different directions without turning their heads. Celeste, Verna, and Bowyn were all concentrating on the west by the Fringe.

I saw nothing of course but knew these Knights of the Realm did. My mind wandered as I thought of what mother had taught me about the Fringe, and why it is the inhabitable lands were called the Lands of Sparo... the Lands of Hope.

Every year, water seeps farther and farther out into the rocky landscape of the uninhabitable areas, and wind and rain erosion slowly builds up the land; grasses slowly spreading outward. The inhabitable lands on the Fringe are continually growing by about a hundred yards a year all around the perimeter of the realms.

That is thousands of square miles of inhabitable lands added each year. This gives hope to the idea that one day, life will return to the entire planet and will be like the Earth that Was one day. When the great expanse of the new world was discovered by Highland Keep almost fifteen hundred years ago, The Gap was over one hundred and twenty miles across and The Grasslands between the Hawktail River and the mountains were almost non-existent.

Now The Gap is just over forty miles across and shrinking. Just in my lifetime, almost a mile of new grasslands have appeared as the two lands come closer to merging.

With the idea of the Great Bridging that Prince George has, I may see the two lands connected before I die instead of it occurring naturally in about eight hundred years. He wants to excavate soil from the mountains on either side of the gap and run an irrigation canal, to build a grassland bridge over a mile wide between the lands. It would be an engineering marvel and would take almost forty years to complete.

Most of the keeps see it like Bex's ideas. Pie in the sky and pointless since The Gap can be crossed easily on horseback in less than a day now. But he sees it as a boon as it would increase the grazing lands for both lands and allow wildlife to migrate between the lands. It is one of those types of selfless and noble thoughts that makes me respect the man, no matter what his critics or detractors say.

Celeste moved over to my side. “Your head is in the clouds.” I looked down bashfully. She added, “It isn't an admonishment. I just think the look of wonder you sometimes get on your face is a marvelous thing.”

I shrugged and gave her a little smile. “I was just thinking about the fringe since that is where our shadow is. How it is steadily growing. It would be a sight to see when the Earth is alive again.”

She looked out wistfully before returning her gaze to me. “That would be something wouldn't it?” I nodded then she jutted her chin down the road. “Cougar Deeps, we're almost upon Flatlash Keep. We'll be in their realm when we cross the Great Viaduct over the Cougar River just east of the Deeps.”

I smiled as I saw where the grasslands gave way to the forest that surrounded the lake of Cougar Deeps. It is said that the Flatlash scholars have dropped a line over five hundred feet into the deeps, before the weight snapped the string and they still didn't find the bottom of the lake. They postulate that it is an impact crater from debris from Mother Luna. Flatlash Keep is tucked into the southern crook of the gourd-shaped lake.

We entered the thickening forest and came out on an overlook over Cougar Deeps. A myriad of sailboats and fishermen dotted the lake. Father Sol reflected off the mirrored surface of the black lake. I knew it to be a trick of the depths, that the water was not black. Sunlight couldn't penetrate far enough to illuminate its secrets.

Brenda pointed with a smile. “Look!” This was one thing I had a vague memory about Flatlash. The Great Viaduct! When The Ring, the cobblestone highway that connected the Ten Keeps of the Lower Realms, was built hundreds of years ago, great bridges were constructed over all the waterways.

To avoid the marshes west of the Deeps, a grand engineering marvel was constructed. On the smaller, north side of the gourd-shaped lake, before the drop off into the crater, a bridge like no other was built. Spanning the half mile wide neck of the lake and ending in a great clearing before Flatlash Keep.

It was constructed of seven large stone arches on the first level, rising out of the lake. Then on the backs of those arches, fourteen smaller stone arches that support the grand promenade of the cobblestone bridge deck. The Viaduct is so broad that ten horses could ride abroad and still have room to spare. I was too young to have appreciated it as the modern marvel it was before, but now I looked on in awe as we saw people, horses and wagons moving along it like ants from our vantage point.

I looked back the way we came and was met by another spectacular sight from our position on top of the rise. Across the canopy of trees and into the grasslands of the flats, was a huge heard of bison, maybe a mile away that stretched most of the way to the horizon. Small herds of whitetail deer and elk dotted the landscape closer to the trees.

I looked from the Viaduct to the bison, not knowing which was a more majestic sight. I glanced over as Celeste settled in beside me. She cocked her head at me with a wistful smile full of question. I said in a voice full of reverence. “Sights of wonder I never thought to see.” Then added as I tried to hide a smirk. “It almost makes the last two days of tedium worth it.”

She tilted her head at me then looked at the Viaduct and the big herd of buffalo. “This is only the beginning Laney. The sights you will see after this are almost humbling in comparison. There is a whole world out there just waiting for you.”

Then she held an arm in the air and let it fall forward and our company started down the hill toward the great Viaduct. She didn't leave my side until we were on the mammoth causeway. I looked back in my saddle then forward again, knowing that as soon as we had set foot on the Viaduct, we had left Wexbury and entered the realm of Flatlash. Celeste winked and took point again and I melted a little and fell behind to her left.

The looks we were getting from travelers and merchants as we passed over the gorge, high above the waters of Cougar Deeps, were those of curiosity mixed with excitement and a little wonder. I knew the look well, I had worn that same look every time I saw knights. I pondered that a moment and wondered when I had started getting used to being in their company.

True, whenever I thought about it or saw larger groups of knights, I still felt the familiar awe. I just hoped I hadn't started taking them or anything else for granted. I knew where I came from and the heights I had risen to by pure happenstance and luck. I looked to my Lady and smiled knowing that it all began with her, that morning on the lanes of Cheap Quarter. The day I ignited.

We proceeded off the causeway to a large clearing that was possibly a quarter mile or so in diameter. There were roads in three directions from where we sat, one to the mountains in the east, one to the southwest, around the keep to Flatlash Minor, then the short three hundred yard approach to the grand portcullis of Flatlash Keep and its forty-foot high rough stone walls.

I knew the Keep to be one of the oldest, and twice the physical size of Wexbury, but it hosted almost three times our population. It was designed in the days of old before anyone thought of sustainability in times of war or siege, so I knew they possessed no internal gardens or livestock herds except what little their castle grounds had.

It sat on the southern shore of Cougar Deeps and the Cougar River. The only water they had internally was from the network of groundwater wells inside the keep. That was about all I knew of them from what mother had shared over the years.

Now Celeste held up a fist to stop our company and she called back, “Verna, Laney, you are with me.” The rest of the company surrounded the Coach and waited as we rode up to the grand portcullis in a purposeful manner. I noted a couple windmills fitted with electric turbines on the ramparts of the castle looming in the distance, and smiled. Information sharing was improving the tech level of all the realms, and this one began in Wexbury.

We paused when we were fifty yards from the gates, and a group of men and women on horseback came out to meet us, weapons drawn but held lazily in their grips. I recognized four as Knights and the other four had uniforms I assumed to be Guards of the Gates.

My Lady was all smiles as she sat almost casually with her reins and hands relaxed across her lap as the riders approached.

The knights saluted Celeste and sheathed their weapons. One man with a scruffy salt and pepper beard rode up to my Lady and they grasped arms as the man said, “Salutations Wexbury. What brings you to the keep today?”

She smiled and said, “Salutations Flatlash. We seek respite for the night in our long journey to Far Reach.” The words seemed too rehearsed to me, this must be the formal greeting between knights of differing realms. Maybe since each Knight represents either realm they are addressed like that? I'd have to ask Celeste or Verna later.

Then the two chuckled and they tightened their grips and gave slaps on the back as the man ground out in his gravelly voice. “Of course Celeste, how many? And how have you been? I haven't seen you since...” He trailed off then finished in a haunted voice, “York.”