TST (45 page)

Azerick’s face flushed at her observation. Fortunately, Azerick spied a large ruin where a tall tower and crumbled walls and outbuildings still stood on a hilltop about two miles out of town.

“What are those ruins on the hilltop?” Azerick asked, quickly changing the subject.

Miranda shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand and looked at what her aloof companion pointed at even though she knew precisely to what he was referring. Everyone in North Haven knew about the ruins and knew well enough to stay far away from them.

“That was once the keep from where the lord of North Haven ruled with his family before it became a major port of commerce, back when it was just a small trading town and a stopover for ships that sailed the northern sea on their way to Southport. The keep was the first attempt at bringing a certain legitimacy to North Haven and to bring it into the kingdom as a serious city worthy of having its own duke. However, those were very tough times and hard people roamed the land and the seas. Pirates controlled everything north of Southport and resisted any attempt from the kingdom to expand its influence into what they considered their territory.”

Miranda took a shuddering breath as she recounted the tale. “One night, several shiploads of pirates landed down the beach and made their way on foot to the walls of the keep. Over the previous months, they had been able to instill several of their own men in the keep as guards. Those men left a sally port open and the pirates rushed unimpeded onto the keep’s grounds. The pirates attacked the guards and overwhelmed them due to surprise and their superior numbers. The lord of the keep was said to have stood in front of his barred bedchamber where his wife and five children hid. Wave after wave of pirates charged up the stairs only to be hurled back by the lord of the keep.

“Finally, the leader of the pirate band ascended the stairs himself and challenged the lord to single combat, promising that if he won that the pirates would leave him and his family alone for now. The lord accepted and even though he was exhausted from defending the door to where his family hid, the pirate captain knew that while this man fought for the lives of his family he could best him in a fair fight. So the pirate captain maneuvered the lord so that his back was to the stairs and on his signal, one of the pirates threw a dagger at the lord’s back. The blade struck him low in the back and pierced his armor and flesh. The lord stumbled from the injury and the pirate captain ran him through the heart, killing him instantly.

“The pirates broke the door down and gained entry to the room where the lord’s wife and children huddled in the corner begging for mercy. The pirate captain was so furious at the number of men the lord had killed and who had very nearly defeated him as well, that he ordered the children thrown from the top of the tower. One by one, the Lady of the keep was forced to watch her children thrown from the balcony, their cries echoing all the way down until they abruptly ceased when they struck the courtyard. The pirate captain then forced the Lady to the same spot where his men had thrown her children to their deaths and offered her a chance at life. The Lady was still a very beautiful woman and the pirate captain promised her that she would live in comfort for the rest of her life if she agreed to be his.

“When she suddenly stopped wailing and smiled, he thought that the Lady was going to agree but her smile turned into a hideous manic laughter. She dug her fingers deep into the pirate’s flesh with inhuman strength and pulled them both over the edge, cursing him all the way down. It was after that time that my great grandfather tried to claim the keep and build North Haven into what it is today, but the Lady still haunted the tower. Ever since, any living person that dares to go near the tower is killed, driven mad, or forced to flee in terror. So my great grandfather built a new keep that eventually became the castle of North Haven.”

“Interesting,” Azerick mused.

Miranda looked incredulously at the sorcerer. “Interesting? I tell you a horrific tale of murder, deceit, and eternal haunting and all you can say is interesting? I would hate to see what you would actually find terrible.”

“That you certainly would,” Azerick replied cryptically. “You seem to know an awful lot of detail of the event.”

Miranda smiled at the wizard’s skepticism. “The pirates loved to talk. The story was recounted many time in inns and bars and on ships for years. I’ll admit, the bards and scribes that took up the tale likely romanticized it but the outcome is the same. Pirates stormed the keep, murdered the lord, lady, and children, and she haunts the tower and its grounds to this day.”

“Interesting,” Azerick repeated with a smile.

As they drew near the gates of North Haven, a large contingent of armored men was riding out. They were soon spotted by the approaching force and several of the lead riders put their spurs to their horses and brought them galloping up the road. The riders brought their thundering mounts to a halt a few paces away and gave a sharp salute to Captain Brague and Lady Miranda.

“Captain, Lady Miranda, thank the gods you have arrived! The duchess just sent us out to find you when your carriage did not arrive yesterday. What happened to your coach and the rest of your guards?” the soldier asked the captain.

“We were waylaid by bandits just three days north of Southport. The coach was ruined and though we slew or drove off the villains, we were the only ones to make it,” Captain Brague told his subordinate.

Lady Miranda saw the sergeant cast a glance at Azerick and spoke up for him. “This is Magus Azerick. It is because of him that any of us survived the attack.”

Azerick could hear Captain Brague grind his teeth as the sergeant replied, “Then we all owe you an enormous debt, my Lord Magus. I am certain that Her Grace will wish to see you all as soon as possible.”

“Of course, Sergeant,” Miranda responded, “lead us home if you would be so kind.”

The other mounted soldiers had caught up to them by now and parted to let the distinguished party take the lead as they followed behind. Captain Brague and the sergeant headed the vanguard as they passed through the heavy gates and into the city of North Haven.

The castle was spectacular with four large towers and numerous minarets all topped with blue clay tiles. Nearly everyone on the street waved joyously to Lady Miranda and her passing party with many more rushing out of homes and businesses to welcome her return.

As much as Azerick disliked attention, he found the spectacle heartwarming and allowed himself to believe that he may well be able to finally call someplace home. First, he needed to secure an actual home and he already had a plan for that. He just hoped that it would work. If it did not, it might just kill him.

CHAPTER 11

Lord Beaumonte paced restlessly across the carpeted floor of his study like a caged animal. He was expecting someone but it was after midnight and the longer he waited the more restless he became. He became weary of his own constant pacing so he sat down and poured himself another glass of amber whiskey. Lord Beaumonte brought the glass to his lips and nearly spilled its entire contents down the front of his silk smoking jacket when a voice suddenly spoke from behind him.

“You requested my services,” said a soft voice just over his left shoulder.

Liquor sloshed onto his chest as he bolted up out of his seat and spun around to face the intruder.

“Who are you?” he gasped at the dark cloaked figure standing barely an arm’s length behind the chair he had just forcefully vacated.

“You know precisely who I am, you sent for me. Now gain control of yourself so that we may conclude our business transaction without wasting any more of my precious time with stupid and pointless questions,” the Rook insisted.

Lord Beaumonte tried to regain his composure but the ice-blue eyes that practically glowed beneath the expanse of darkness inside the cloak’s hood unnerved him.

“How did you get in here past my guards?” the nervous lord stammered.

The Rook sighed as if he were forced to explain a most rudimentary of concepts to an imbecile. “If I could not get past your pathetic guards unchallenged then I would hardly be worth the exorbitant sum that you are going to pay me.”

“Ah yes, of course not. Very well then let us get down to business,” Lord Beaumonte agreed, speaking far more calmly than he felt.

For all of his bluster and arrogance, Lord Beaumonte had never actually hired an assassin or had any dealings with the criminal element beyond the typical tax evasion and trading of illegal goods, and if the assassin standing before him now was typical of his kind, he never would again. It was like standing in the same room with the goddess of death herself.

“I wish to hire you to kill somebody.”

“That would be obvious. Had you sent for me for anything less I would have been greatly disappointed, and much like having my time wasted, I do detest being disappointed.”

Lord Beaumonte swallowed hard as he imagined what happened to those who disappointed this man, if a man was what he really was.

“My son was murdered and I want his murderer to face justice.”

Lord Beaumonte retreated as the Rook unexpectedly stepped towards him. “I am not a constable or watchman to administer
justice
. I kill people, and not just anyone. There are lesser assassins about that will perform that task for a fraction of what I charge. You had best pray that you have not wasted my time coming here.”

“My son was killed by another wizard while attending The Academy two years ago,” Lord Beaumonte hastily explained. “For two years I have paid various men to find out where his murderer has been hiding but to no avail. I want him found and I want him dead no matter the cost!”

“Your son’s killer was a teacher?”

“No, another student but do not underestimate him. He is exceedingly clever, or so I am told. When he killed my son there were pieces of him scattered about for yards in every direction. I do not think we ever found all of the pieces,” Lord Beaumonte croaked out as his throat tightened up on him.

“Very well, I will find this wizardling for you and kill him. You have my fee?”

“Of course, it is right here.”

Lord Beaumonte crossed the room and pulled a carved wooden box the size of a small loaf of bread from a wall safe hidden behind a portrait. The small chest’s contents gave off a metallic clink as he handed the small fortune over to the assassin.

The Rook took the chest and started to walk backwards towards a shadowy corner of the room when all of the oil lamps suddenly flickered as if being assaulted by a strong wind. The room was cast in harsh, wavering light and dancing shadows for only a moment before the lamps once again burned brightly. In that half second of wavering, flickering light, the Rook had disappeared.

Lord Beaumont cast a glance around the room, but as far as he could tell, he was once again alone. The lord wondered if he had just made a deal with a demon and prayed that it would not cost him more than the gold he had just handed over.

One thing was for certain, he would have to move his study into another room. The Rook had left such a powerful presence that never again would he feel safe or alone in this room. He knew his fears were ridiculous. There was no room in the entire kingdom that a person could be safe in if the Rook wanted them dead.

*******

Azerick followed Lady Miranda and Captain Brague down the marbled halls of castle North Haven. The ringing of the captain’s boot heels was the only thing that broke the tranquility of the place as they stopped before a pair of ornate double doors guarded by a pair of pikemen in brilliantly gleaming full plate armor.

The two sentries came to attention and opened the doors wide to permit the trio into the room beyond without challenge. Another room lay between them and the throne room with another set of double doors complete with halberdiers was furnished as a waiting room for those who sought an audience with Her Grace. Felt-covered benches sat against the two walls between large planters from which small bushes and plants grew.