The High-Wizard's Hunt: Osric's Wand: Book Two (25 page)

“Irua, weasels?” Gordyn inquired with a sardonic smile.

“You didn’t believe that either?”

“I believe that story about as much as I believe in the Paun,” Gordyn laughed. “I suspect the Turgent is behind all of this.”

“Make sure you watch who you say that around.” Toby frowned at Gordyn. “Here you are among those you can trust, but I don’t want to have to send Macgowan to save your ass again if those words reach the wrong ears.”

All eyes turned to Gordyn, but Osric and Kenneth’s expressions portrayed confusion.

“Do tell.” Kenneth smiled at the serious tone in the room.

“That can wait.” Toby turned back. “Right now we need to know who is behind this.”

“Well,” Kenneth looked at Gordyn, “you are in for two surprises. The first is that the Paun do exist, and Osric cut the head off of one before it could kill us. I will let you wait to hear the next.”

“Wait, what?” The shocked faces of the other three men echoed the statement.

Osric peered back nervously trying to avoid the sudden attention. “We need to focus, men.” Osric hardened his gaze to bring the conversation around. “It appears as though the Turgent is under the influence of another man. I am not sure how he managed to do it, but Konsult Dredek is the one making the decisions in Rowain.”

“That skinny, murdering rat of a man that fled in such a hurry?” Gordyn stepped forward.

“Yes, but that’s not all.” Osric prepared himself for the objections he knew would come with his next statement. “We need to contact all of the Vigiles and flee Stanton. The Kallegian have been ordered to eliminate all of us.”

“The Vigile don’t flee. They are going to have a surprise in store for them when they arrive!”

“No, Toby. We need to get out while we can. We can come up with a plan and come back later.” Osric pointed a finger at him, but he could sense that the argument was not over.

“Have you seen our people? Every man, woman, and child in Stanton is broken.” Toby raised his voice above a whisper for the first time as he hammered his fist on the table. “Their hearts have been ripped out of their bodies and it was your leadership that brought them hope. Your men have been working to bring them food and shelter since you left, and they won’t leave these people now!”

“After these last few weeks, I don’t think our people will stand by and watch the Union try to take us out,” Gordyn said.

“Look, I don’t want to get people killed. We need to get out and come up with a plan,” Osric pleaded with the men.

“I have news for you. We are at war,” Toby placed a hand on Osric’s shoulder. “Whether we go to war with the irua, or we fight for our lives here, it’s still war. I would rather be fighting for the right reasons.”

“Me too.” Gordyn smiled.

“And I,” Macgowan spoke in his low rumbling tone.

“I’d do what he says. Do you see the size of that man’s hands?” Kenneth broke the moment’s uncomfortable silence with a joke.

Osric’s eyes glazed over as his mind raced. He could not imagine a way to convince them to leave Stanton. He had no idea what to do after they had disarmed his entire argument. Uncertainty began to cloud his mind as, even deep within the barracks, the chill of the new snowfall pierced through the heat of the flames in the hearth.

“You still have the dragons and eagles on your side. We may stand a chance if we all join forces.” Kenneth sat up and turned slowly on a pivot.

“I cannot ask the dragons to fight for us after all we have done to them, and the eagles have no reason to help us either. I think we are on our own in this,” Osric said stoically.

“Then we will do it on our own. There are hundreds of people in this town, including the Vigiles, that have been waiting for a reason to fight and someone to lead them. We can communicate with them without the Kallegians knowing, if we are careful.” Toby’s voice was filled with conviction.

“And who better than the High-Wizard to lead them?” Bridgett’s voice startled Osric, and he spun around to see her standing in the doorway, accompanied by Eublin and Gus, with Pebble on her shoulder. She walked straight to him, reaching up and tenderly touching the cuts and bruises on his face. He couldn’t tear his gaze from her eyes, and Macgowan smiled sweetly, the suspended tear finally streaking down his cheek.

Preparations

Osric paced the length of the small room. He held his wand in his right hand and Legati in his left as he turned to face the door at every sound. Osric looked at the chair in the room and fought the urge to sit down while he waited for Bridgett. Footsteps were approaching in the narrow hall of the Vigile headquarters. Osric stepped close to the wall near the door so he could defend himself if indeed it turned out to be unwelcome guests.

“Osric, we brought Machai back with us. He wants to see you, and he has some news.” Bridgett’s voice echoed down the corridor. A smile found its way onto Osric’s face at the sound of her voice and the rough grumblings of Machai. He could make out the footfall of several others as they grew close.

“The stone that be forming these walls should have been being cut against the lines. It would be creating more color. This dull, grey hue be drawing all the joy from me heart.” Heavy, rapid steps gave Osric an idea of Machai’s mood, as if his complaining wasn’t indication enough.

“I have never been in this building, but I agree.” The voice of a strange woman reached his ears.

“I don’t know, they built this place for function, not for beauty.” Yet another unfamiliar voice of a man pierced the air.

Sheathing his sword and raising his wand, Osric stepped through the door. “What are you doing bringing others here?” Osric’s whisper carried as much authority as he could force when addressing Bridgett.

“These two need to speak with you as well.” Bridgett arched an eyebrow and smiled. “This is Margaret. She has been helping get clothing and blankets to the citizens who lost family members in the palace,” she indicated the petite, black haired woman following her, “and this is Tobias. He runs one of the many hunting parties that have been providing them with food.”

Osric motioned for Bridgett to follow him into the room to discuss the new arrivals. She complied, and Osric shut the door behind them. Fighting back the urge to attempt another kiss, he forced her to the wall.

“Why would you bring others here? I don’t need vendors’ and hunters’ deaths on my hands!” Osric forced the words out through grinding teeth.

Bridgett pushed back and Osric found himself bracing to avoid a fall against the desk in the room.

“If you would only listen to them, you would find out that they have a great deal to offer. Besides, they came to us, we did not go to them!” She backed him up even further as she tapped his chest with a finger. “There are a great deal of
your
people who want to fight. You need to start trusting those who surround you. I have been using my Empath gift my entire life, and I know how to tell if someone is genuine in their intentions.”

“Trust is not the issue.” He sought to express his frustration while suppressing his desire to embrace her. “They could die if they are found out, and it is my responsibility to protect them.”

“I have news for you.” Bridgett laid her open hand firmly against his chest. “They have been protecting the people too, but they have been doing it with food and blankets. A sword is not the only weapon that can kill. If the Kallegian have their way, Stanton may become a ghost town from starvation and the harsh winter. These people have been seeing to it that we all survive.”

“And all of their efforts will end in bloodshed should the Kallegian put a sword through their gut for not turning me in!”

“And their lives may end due to an empty gut if they do nothing.” Lowering her hand to take his, Bridgett looked into his eyes. “Osric, this is a pointless argument. These people are the ones who informed the Vigiles to go into hiding when the Kallegian started rounding them up. They sought us out because they are tired of being herded around like animals, and you inspired that in them. They will fight whether you let them or not. People are going to die, but if you lead them, a lot fewer will end up in a grave.” Sympathy adorned her face and she stepped even closer to him.

“I don’t know how to lead them,” Osric said painfully.

“Osric, you have everything you need within you to be the greatest leader this world has ever seen. Use the gifts you have been given, and everything you have learned, and the rest will come. They look to you for guidance, not for guarantees.” She traced her fingers down his cheek, her breath catching in her throat as she looked into his eyes, and she turned away quickly. “I believe in you,” she added, opening the door and beckoning for Margaret and Tobias to join them.

“I hear that you have news,” Osric greeted the newcomers awkwardly as he sat on the edge of the desk.

“Yes, Contege,” Margaret answered. “The Kallegian have been harassing the vendors and demanding free food from all of the carts in the market. We are tired of their treatment and want to join in the fight to free ourselves from them.”

“What is it that you think you can do to help? The Vigiles are trained to fight, and we have sworn an oath to protect the city and its residents. What can vendors and cooks do, other than get in the way?” Osric felt a bit guilty as Bridgett’s eyes bored into him for the tone he used with them.

“We may not have been defending Stanton as long as you have,” Tobias jumped into the conversation, “but we have been living here for as long as your family has. We are the people who built Stanton. We plant the fields, hunt the land, and serve our community because we love our home. We have something to fight for!”

Osric raised an eye at the passion in his speech. “We have no doubt that you want to fight, but what we need to know is how you plan to help. This is a battle that can easily be lost if we have to come to the rescue of citizens who are in over their heads.”

“You are a hunter, correct?” Tobias inquired.

“Yes.”

“Have you ever had trouble while hunting?”

“Of course, you never go hunting without the possibility of trouble.”

“You have to think on your feet when a half dozen dragmas are out for your blood, don’t you?”

Osric smiled. “Yes, and you have to have luck on your side, too.” Osric shrugged, admitting defeat with the hunters. “I still do not understand how we can use the vendors and shop owners in an effective manner.”

“Then you obviously have never gotten to know many shop owners,” Margaret answered. “The Vigiles are not always three steps away when someone wants something they don’t feel like paying for. Thieves are not known for asking politely if they can steal our wares, and none of us would stay in business long in a trade center like Stanton if we didn’t know our way around a wand and a blade.”

Sighing, Osric looked at the two of them. “That is all well and good, but we already have plans in the making, and there is no way we will have time to inform all of the citizens who want to help of what we need them to do.” He placed his hands on the desktop and leaned in. “How are we going to coordinate with them with so little time to organize?”

Tobias grinned and folded his arms across his chest. “Funny thing is, the Kallegian don’t think to question us too much when a battle is looming. We can simply walk around, visiting stores like we are shopping, and spread the word. All we need from you,” he leaned in, “is orders.”

Osric scratched his head, looking at the map of Stanton spread out upon his desk. He had to find a way to keep them out of trouble or he would never forgive himself for their deaths. With their determination to fight, he could also see no way to keep them out of the battle. The trick was in finding a way to make them feel useful, but to also keep them out of the path of the major battle.

“All right.” Osric accepted that they could use all the help they could get, but he sighed at their excited expressions. “Give me a moment to think about the logistics and then you can spread the word. But please, be very careful who you choose to speak with. If any citizen decides to tell the Kallegian our plans, it would mean many, many people of Stanton would die. Do you understand?” They nodded somberly and assured him they would be cautious as they stepped back out into the hall.

Osric called to Machai to join him and then realized that there was another man he didn’t know standing with the dwarf in the hall. He feared he would never get used to the mental strain of leadership as he waited impatiently for Machai to explain the unfamiliar guest.

“Osric, this be Aridis. He be a friend to the dragons, and I expect he’ll be of great use to ye.”

Osric greeted the old man warmly, if hesitantly, and sat back in the chair heavily.

“I am glad to see that you are welcoming the contribution of good people who share in the belief of your cause. Archana needs men who can lead hearts as well as swords.” Aridis took the chair across from Osric’s desk. “I would like to show you a book. I think it may help you in the upcoming battle.”

*

Machai walked away from his dwarven kin, confident in their ability to carry out their part of the plan. He stepped outside of the small shack that James used to store the supplies for his cart and scanned the surrounding area. Two Kallegian were walking away from him but didn’t bother to turn around. He wouldn’t chance the possibility of them watching him
travel
so he walked into the space between the buildings. After the spell was spoken, he found himself in the forest a short ways from Stanton.

Machai was glad that Kablis and the other dwarves had been true to their word. When he contacted them, they were still waiting in the caves outside of Rowain. Machai had
traveled
to them before continuing on to Stanton. It took some convincing, but he managed to make them see the wisdom in supporting Osric in the upcoming battle.

Thamas, Aridis, Machai, and the eleven other dwarves had arrived shortly after Osric, and Machai knew they had very little time to prepare. Most of the day and night had already passed since their arrival, and they expected the attack to begin as soon as Aron arrived. Machai had one more stop to make before he took his position for the fighting, and he had a bit of a search to find his man.