Tinkermage (Book 2) (10 page)

Chapter Twelve

She felt their eyes on her as she bundled up for the second time that day. Niksabella hadn’t planned on revisiting the stonekin so soon, but it didn’t seem like she had much choice. Her brother wasn’t speaking up about his relationship with the stonekin and their sneaky deal to get her to divulge her secrets about the recursive mirror, and Seether had clearly left it up to her.

Smart of you, human — or whatever you are. Make it my idea.

It was clear that Seether and Jontuk were working together, and it had been the right thing to do (her speaking up), because it was also clear that she’d need to start getting ahead of these decisions. Otherwise, choices were going to keep getting made
for
her rather than
by
her.

She pushed past the waiting gnomes, taking Jancy’s hand to pull her along behind. She glanced back once and it appeared everyone was coming. Certainly would be crowded inside the rock, but who knew, maybe it would bring them all closer together (so to speak). Niksabella grinned at the thought of her brother and Etty at each other’s throats when she opened the door to almost walk straight into Fritzy, her plump fist raised and just about to knock.

“Nika?” Her friend wore a simple coat, the fringes of a plain white dress showing below. Her hair was hastily thrown back in a bun and spotted with flour. Certainly dressed-down, as if she’d just come from her father’s kitchen.

“Fritzy?”

Her friend hesitated an instant, staring at the imposing crowd gathering behind her, then she grabbed Niksabella by the shoulders and pulled her through the doorway into a strong hug. “I missed you, Nika. Since you’re not at your workshop anymore, I didn’t know where to find you. I searched all over, thinking maybe you’d left Hightower for good until father mentioned someone seeing you at the Golden Cog. Now here I am!”

The plump gnomestress let Niksabella go and gazed at her from an undecorated set of eyes. Her face went red with embarrassment. “I look frightful, I know. I didn’t have time to make myself up. I just came as soon as I heard!”

“You actually look rather nice, Fritzy. It’s good to know I have a beautiful friend beneath all that war paint.”

Fritzy smiled at the remark, then raised herself on her toes and glanced into the room. “Hello, Miss Jancy.,” she said, looking past them both. “So what is this all about?”

Niksabella thought about telling her friend to go home and she would contact her when she could, but something stopped her. Fritzy would be stubborn, and Niksabella didn’t have the time (or the energy) to explain. And why keep Fritzy in the dark anyhow? “We’re going to see a rock giant.”

“A… rock giant?”

“Yes. Are you coming along?”

“Sh… sure. Yes. A rock giant.” Fritzy nodded. “Yes, Nika, I would be delighted!”

Niksabella grabbed Fritzy’s hand (still grasping Jancy’s in the other) and led her two closest friends down the winding steps into the Golden Cog’s great room. She ignored the patrons’ curious looks. After all, she was traveling in the presence of the precisor general and first cleric. And she wasn’t in chains. Let them stare.

First Officer Roweiga announced everyone should keep a respectable distance form Precisor General Dillwind or be carted to Hightower jail.

What a complete and utter nuisance,
Nika thought.
A nuisance with a sword at that.

They moved beneath the high-timbered ceilings and sea-themed decor hanging from the walls: ship wheels shaped like cogs, fish plaques, and nets draped between the beams. Being the evening rush, the seats and benches were full, the smell of cooked seafood thick in the air. A hearth against the western wall blazed, and directly across from that the bar buzzed with the Cog’s serving staff as they swarmed about with heaping plates and sloshing mugs.

A contingent of five sturdy dwarves took up an entire table, their stout shoulders squeezed together into a wall of leather and muscle. Judging by the amount of empty cups in the center of the table, they were running through ale at a record pace, drawing knowing smiles from those nearby. A group of elves and humans sat near the dwarves, also comfortably lounging in furnishings made for their height. Niksabella ignored them all and headed straight for the front door, her party of followers in tow.

Outside, she looked sidelong at the Hightower docks and the iron gray waters of Seacog Harbor. For the third or fourth time this month (and each time getting better at it) she identified the ships of the other races. The wide-hulled dwarven ships sulked low in the water, their squat decks weather-worn, the rails and prow carved with the blunt figures of their gods or forefathers or multi-faceted stones or whatever else dwarves found valuable. The sleek elven vessels, like proud peacocks in the sea, were darkly stained, elegant, and sleek with orderly decks fitted with the finest rigging. And two human vessels. She could tell those right away. Powerful brutes muscled in between the others, their decks disorganized and covered with stains. Filled to the brim with as much as they could carry, filling every square foot of unused space that might increase a profit margin—human vessels emanated a sort of angst, much like their crews. Thankfully, Nika rarely crossed paths with those kinds of humans.

The walkway resolved into a cobbled, south-leading path that went off to the south. The others gathered on the porch in various assemblages. Dale, Roweiga, Etty, and their two armed precisors, who assisted Elwray, who seemed intent on being unaffected by his old age and waved them off, saying, “I’m old, but not that damn old. I can come down from a porch.”

“You’re pretty old,” Dale chided. “Wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself before the coming storm.”

Elwray lowered his tangled brows. “Speaking of storms, I’m not too old enough to tickle your arse with a featherbolt from above.”

Dale chuckled. “I don’t doubt it.”

Termund, Flay, and Uncle Brit came next, talking quietly amongst themselves, no doubt trying to take some position on the matter. Thankfully, Termund did not seem at all concerned with the fact that she had just admitted to being in cahoots with a supposed ultraworlder. Oh, and never mind that she’d also admitted to somehow being a major player in some magnificent plan to save a race of stonekin. She could only imagine his shock. Did he think she’d been harboring secrets? None of this was fair to him. Not one bit.

And then, of course, her brother came out, looking glum, as Lili and Fara flanked and doted over him. No doubt he still had a long road to recovery, but there was also a good chance he was faking some of it for their attentions. She knew her brother well enough that it wouldn’t surprise her. As if on cue, he emitted a long, pitiful moan. “My every muscle is screaming. Don’t let me fall, Fara. Both of you should stand close… yes, pin me between you to keep me upright. That’s right, lean in. Yes, much better. I feel bolstered. Supported! What caring gnomestresses…” Seeing him alive and vying for
breastly
affection actually lifted her spirits, despite still being furious at him.

Lastly came Seether, guided by the ever vigilant Terrence, down the steps and around through the snow. Terrence had a nose for stragglers, runts, and outcasts and took them in like a kind-hearted older brother. Still, the old fireborn handled the snow and ice just fine and needed little help—and was it her imagination or was the snow and ice melting wherever he stepped?

Niksabella led them up the rise, thinking it must be the strangest thing any gnome in this town had ever seen. She even glanced around to see if anyone was watching. Aside from a few of the Golden Cog’s normal patrons—who’d either followed them to the porch or were just entering the establishment—no one seemed to care enough to be out in the cold.

Fritzy, of course, bombarded Niksabella in her usual way. “How’s your brother, Nika? You know, everyone in Hightower is talking about the wizard duel. A lot of folks seem angry the First Wizard lost, but behind closed doors, they love your brother. Father says he’s a real
slinger
, and the First Wizard got what he deserved. There’s even a new council started, made up of regular middle workers! Can you believe that? They’re saying Raulnock’s been doing some preposterous things behind their backs, mostly
businessy
stuff.” Fritzy lowered her voice. “Councilor Stormcranker is giving them a listen, too. When I told Pa a crowd of Iron Industry workers had gathered in front of Raulnock’s throwing rocks at his front door, he just chuckled. Don’t understand why. Why Pa chuckled, that is. It’s certainly a perplexing situation, wouldn’t you say?”

“First of all,” Niksabella said as she walked, “my brother is fine. At least I think he is. He seems to be getting back to his old self. As far as Raulnock…” Niksabella thought about the blackjack Raulnock had taken to her; her bones still hurt even though she’d recovered (for the most part), and although her brother had given Raulnock a solid beating on Crater Field, she hoped more than a few of those rocks found their way to the foul wizard’s head. “… it seems he’s getting
exactly
what he deserves.”

At the top of the rise, Niksabella turned. “We’re here.” The others gathered around, low murmurs of anticipation about what might be inside the rock. Dale and Termund pushed their way to the front, no doubt expectant. They weren’t pressing, but she could see the anxiety building inside them both; while Dale seemed to possess some patience, she knew Termund was used to being in charge of things. She interrupted his intense gaze by going to him, putting her arms around his neck, and pulling him to her in a hug. She hoped the quick squeeze would make a difference. Pulling back, she saw his face had softened and it made her feel a little more at ease with their relationship.

“Inside this rock is an ultraworlder,” she announced. “A being made of stone, taller than any human I’ve seen, and very powerful…” she gulped, thinking of his size “… more powerful than you can imagine. I just… I wonder if it is wise for so many of our city’s leaders to be here at the same time. In case…”

“Ah, yes.” Dale nodded, measuring her with a new level of respect. “You must mean in the event this stonekin decides to smash us all into a collective pulp.”

Elwray elbowed Etty and Dale aside. “Nonsense. If we are too afraid to deal with one ultraworlder, then what does that say about our chances overall?”

“No one said they were afraid—”

“It doesn’t matter, Dale. Let’s go inside and get this over with. Time is wasting.”

Fritzy nudged Niksabella in the shoulder, and she saw her friend’s teeth were chattering. “We’re standing next to a rock, Nika. And it’s cold out here. We’ve come all this way…”

“Not just any rock. This rock is special.” She drew her hand along the rough stone. “Inside here lies adventure.”

“Strange place to start an adventure.” Fritzy’s expression sank further, and she hugged herself in a sudden breeze, her long ears shaking and turning blue in the cold.

“Very well, Fritzy. You want to know what I’ve been up to. Here it is. And I assure you, the last thing you’ll be is bored. Come along, everyone.”

Chapter Thirteen

Jancy started to hoist Niksabella, but Termund stepped in. He grabbed her around her waist and lifted her up onto the ledge. Niksabella flashed him a smile as Jancy climbed up beside her, then offered a hand to Fritzy, who scrabbled for purchase as Termund pushed her up by her backside. Soon, half the group crouched in the strange and murky tunnel, their eyes—even as good as gnomish eyes were—forced to adjust to the light.

Jancy led the way, saying, “Follow me.”

Niksabella warned Fritzy of any cracks or uneven spots where her friend might twist an ankle.

“This is eerie,” Fritzy whispered.

Niksabella chuckled. If there was a handsome gnome at the end of this tunnel, it would be a completely different story. Fritzy would be yanking Niksabella by her skirts just to squeeze by.

“You don’t know eerie yet. Wait until you see Jontuk. He’s big and dreamy… and
big
. Who knows, Fritzy? Maybe you’ll fall in love.”

Fritzy snorted but kept on, and Niksabella smirked in the darkness. It was good having her friend by her side again. A creeping excitement began to thrum inside of her chest.

Ahead, Jancy had gotten the lantern going.

Was Jontuk still here?
After all, she’d gone without giving the stonekin an inkling of what she might do. Well, she couldn’t say yes to everything placed in front of her these days. It was her lack of preparedness that had caused her enough problems already.

She listened to the others in the narrow passage behind her, all grunts and mumbles and shuffles in the darkness. She heard Termund and Flay say something about having swords at the ready and were pushing their way past the others to get to the front.

Suddenly it opened up to the large chamber and Niksabella dropped down into the hollow. She nodded to Jancy, who had taken a seat on the same rock as earlier. Her colorless hair had a fiery tint in the lantern light and her eyes glinted.

But Jontuk was nowhere to be seen.

Fritzy landed heavily behind her and Niksabella put a hand out to keep her friend from stumbling. “This reminds me of a hiding place me and cousin Gretzelda discovered in Hightown Park. Did you know you could crawl inside the statue of Founder Nurthrik. There’s a small crack in the base of the statue and we could just fit inside. No one ever found us when we wanted to stay hidden.”

Niksabella found the heatstick they had used earlier and twisted the adjoining sleeves, but it was dead—the chemicals inside fizzled out. She put the dead stick in her pocket and rubbed her hands together while looking about for any signs of the stonekin.

Termund and Flay hopped down, hands on hilts, their faces tense. Dale and Roweiga arrived next, then the other two guards. They stepped all around the chamber, heads turning wherever the shadows shuddered. The rest of the group came down with the precisors’ help. Uncle Brit was big enough it took no less than four gnomes to help him down, all of them grunting unceremoniously beneath his weight.

“A ladder might have been nice,” Uncle Brit observed, once down.

“Not sure a ladder exists that could hold up all that… abundance,” said Flay.

“And I had no idea we’d be having a grand meeting in here or I might have made better arrangements,” said Niksabella before Brit could fire a retort at Flay.

“Some ale would hit the spot, no mistake.” Her brother shuffled closer, more or less on his own, and stretched his arms above his head. “Sister.”

“Brother.”

“Appreciate your help coaxing me back to life.”

Niksabella threw him a sardonic look. “Fara and Lili can take all the blame for that.”

“I’ve been awake just a few hours and you’re already starting in on me, I see. No surprise.”

“Oh, I’ve hardly gotten started on starting
in
on you. I thought it might be good to give you a little recovery time, but clearly you’re ready to started in on from the looks of you.”

Nik grunted at her and started to open his mouth when Etty brushed by, the cleric’s shoulder giving her brother a jostle.

Etty circled the chamber as Nik glared at him. The cleric made a show of looking around. “Well, where’s your giant?”

“
Here
.” Jontuk’s boulder-grating voice startled everyone.

Niksabella turned to find Fritzy white-faced and gawping. She followed her friend’s gaze and saw Jontuk emerging from the wall, scattering everyone, stepping through solid stone like someone might step through a waterfall. A stone foot thudded down, the rest of his body following in a slow grind of rune-etched stone, seams glowing where his molten insides blazed through. Another moment, and Jontuk’s carmine-colored eyes scanned the entire group. Swords gleamed in the fiery light. Flay pulled his flail from his belt, and Niksabella felt the stirring of wellspring magick churn in the air.

Niksabella stepped between Jontuk and the wary group. She folded her hands across her stomach and addressed the giant as cordially as she could. “Greetings, Jontuk.”

“Hello, little Nika.” His voice boomed in the small space, vibrating the hair on her scalp. And this was but a whisper! “I did not expect you back so soon, and with so many of your kin.” He bowed his stony head. “To whom do I owe the honor?”

Niksabella ran through the introductions quickly. She skipped her brother, noticing he had faded to the back of the group. She introduced Dale last: “And this is Precisor General Dale Dillwind, the leader of Hightower’s military.”

“You honor me with your presence. I’d hoped for a more discrete approach, but I appreciate the attention you’ve brought to the issue.”

Dale gave a slight nod, but did not lower his weapon. His face had turned grim, a heat kindling in his eyes. While Etty and Roweiga wore their emotions on their sleeves, Dale’s fire clearly came from deep within. “The
issue
, as far as I can tell, is that you’ve led a vicious enemy to our very doorstep. We’ve lost soldiers and families.”

“Regrettable.”

“Regrettable? How dare y—” Etty stepped forward, but Dale put a hand on the cleric’s chest before he could get another word out.

Jontuk lowered his head, as well as his voice. “It was a last, desperate hope for my people. We would never have attempted such a thing unless there was no other choice.” The giant looked at Niksabella, then over to Seether. “I assume, my fireborn friend, that you’ve revealed our plans?”

“Aye, I’ve told them the better part of everything. About the Prophetess, as well. And that we require their help. As they do ours. I can’t say they’re happy about it.”

The stonekin looked at the precisor general. “I give you my word, when the battle is won and the Baron vanquished, the stonekin will honor your fallen with a memorial on our world of Rockholm. And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure no more of your people are lost. I fear, however, that much time has been wasted. Every second keeps us from our objective.”

“Master Seether has given us a great deal of background on this objective. Liberating you stonekin seems to be the key to all this, but how do you propose to do this? How can Miss Nur help? Other than the fact that some strange gnomestress, who you call a prophetess, set your nose to her?”

“Little Nika has fashioned a device.”

“Yes. The infamous device. The one First Wizard Raulnock tried to wrest from her?”

“Unlawfully wrest,” Niksabella added.

“The very one,” Jontuk rumbled.

Etty cut in. “So could it be the First Wizard was right? This device is indeed the product of a criminal mind? Perhaps we should offer her a jail cell. And Mister Seether along with her.”

Dale looked cross, but he addressed Niksabella with a level tone. “As I mentioned before, Zook spoke in great length about his involvement with your device, and this only reinforces my opinion that your device is much more than you testified it to be…”

“I told you, Dale,” Etty hissed. “The Nurs have ever been suspect. Elwray, to me.”

The wizard didn’t move.

But Roweiga rounded on Niksabella, her sword poised threateningly.

How dare this little sword-swinging tarnish top!
she thought, but remained calm, standing firm against the precisor general. “You say you know everything now, or most of what matters in this grand story anyway. Can you then blame me for withholding the full truth? If you think you can whisk me off to jail again you’re all more than welcome to try.”

A veiled threat to the precisor general now? What’s gotten into you?

Dale lowered his weapon, rubbed his stubbly jaw. A wry smile played across his lips. “Stay your swords, everyone. No need to be hasty. Besides, she has a rock giant.” He looked sidelong at Jontuk. “You’re on her side, am I right?”

The great head nodded. “I’d not let any of you take little Nika or Seether against their will.” As if for emphasis, the stonekin flexed, making a sound like rubbing rock, and the chamber grew uncomfortably warm within the span of a breath.

The thought of the stone giant stng just a few feet behind her was unnerving, but the sight might also have an even greater effect on Etty and Roweiga, so Niksabella smirked and crossed her arms, daring them to move toward her.

Roweiga retreated, eyes wide at the seething creature at Niksabella’s back, and Etty seemed to have lost some of his enthusiasm.

“I did not bring any of you here to put me through another unjust trial. As far as any wrongdoing, I’ve been completely exonerated by your… by
our
own court prior to Hightower’s so-called First Wizard Raulnock being completely trounced by my brother.”

Fara stepped alongside Niksabella. “And let me tell you something, my Brother of Light<‘ she addressed Etty. “If you think to align yourself with Raulnock’s cause, you’ll be looking for a new acolyte.”

Fritzy anchored herself at Niksabella’s other elbow, and Niksabella noticed Jancy pressed against the stone, working her way behind the rest of the group. Niksabella caught the woman’s eye and was rewarded with a wink.

Her brother then clapped his hands together with one colossal
smack
. “Seems like you’ve roused the wrong ladies, oh purveyors of misdirected judgment. As far as I’m concerned only Dale has the right to seek the truth of things, since he is the only one not playing favorites. But these other two… one has to wonder if they think they’re in charge instead of you.”

Termund stepped forward and gave Dale a firm look. “I’m with the lady. But I won’t speak for my Thrasperville kin.”

“We’re all together,” Uncle Brit said, and Flay nodded beside him, arms crossed.

“Together indeed!” Elwray shouted from where he’d been sitting on a rock. “It’s hard to blame Seether and Jontuk for what they did, especially when there was reason to believe they could make it through the gate undetected. How many of us would have done the exact same thing, eh? Certainly you would, Etty, so don’t even argue the point.”

The cleric reluctantly nodded as Dale sheathed his sword.

“I was hoping we’d all come to this conclusion,” the precisor general said. “As far as I’m concerned, Nika, you’re completely innocent of any wrongdoing. To be honest, I don’t really even care. But you know how important it is to trust one another right now. You have assembled a great many powerful friends, both you and your brother, but the fate of Hightower is still my responsibility.”

Assembled? I’ve hardly done anything at all except build my invention and try to survive.

Dale went on: “… And no one can blame you or your brother for mistrusting anything I say, especially after what you’ve been through with Raulnock and the academies.”

Elwray said from his rock, “I was one of those who doubted you, I admit. I believed everything Raulnock presented. But you have to understand he was once a promising young student of mine. A bit spoiled, perhaps, but ambitious and proficient. Hardly needed seeing after at all. I suppose that’s where I made my mistake. I should have seen his callousness. I should have been more diligent.” The old wizard shook his head, his disappointment evident. “No, your misery is every part my fault as it is his. And for that, I apologize.”

Niksabella was taken aback by this revelation, moved by Elwray’s willingness to admit fault. Etty was still scowling, but apologies from two out of three Hightower leaders wasn’t an unpromising beginning. Niksabella cautiously chose to ignore the uncomfortable tension and focused instead on one simple truth. “I thank you, Elwray. And you, Dale. Now, with all of us together now, what is the overall opinion about Jontuk taking me away?”

Termund pushed by Roweiga and stopped in front of Niksabella, his eyes filled with questions.

She stared back. She had no answers.

“Take her where?” Termund said, his gaze not leaving her.

Niksabella felt the shifting of rock behind her, and then Jontuk’s deep reply. “The Prophetess did not give us a great amount of information to go by. She said, ‘Through the ether and to Sullenor you will find an inventor. Niksabella Nur. She will set free the stonekin hearts.’“

“Those were her exact words?” Termund asked.

“Exactly her words.”

“That is quite vague.” Termund still had not looked away.