A Crucible of Souls (Book One of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence) (63 page)

“
My apologies for the abrupt appearance.
”
The man’s voice rang through the clearing, though his accent was strange to Aidan’s ears.
“
But I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation.
”

Aidan and Chalayan exchanged a quick look. There was no way someone could have overheard them, not without being close enough to be seen.

Aidan took a step towards the man. If he’s a sorcerer then he wouldn’t have a chance unless he was closer.
“
Who are you?
”
he demanded.

“
You may call me Mazoet.
”
He bowed from the waist.
“
Mazoet Miangline, at your service.
”

Chalayan took another step back and flicked Aidan a warning look. Sweat spotted the sorcerer’s face, and he clutched at his
trinket
.

Aidan spoke.
“
You’re a sorcerer.
”

Mazoet Miangline frowned then tilted his head in acknowledgement of the statement.
“
That’s what you would call me, yes. Though I must say, it’s not what we call ourselves.
”

“
You’re one of them, the sorcerers?
”

Mazoet shook his head.
“
No. Well, yes, but no.
”
He waved a hand in dismissal.
“
They have strayed.
”

Strayed? What does that mean?
Aidan noted all his men had stopped whatever they were doing and stared at the three of them. The stranger noticed him noticing.

“
He’s opened his well,
”
Chalayan said quietly.

“
My…well?
”
Mazoet said, puzzled, then realization came to his face.
“
Oh. Of course. A mere precaution only. You can understand my provisions to safeguard myself.
”

Aidan held a hand up to his men, gesturing them not to approach.
“
What do you know of the sorcerers we’ve been following and what they did to the women they captured?
”

Frowning, Mazoet ran a hand through his graying hair.
“
What women?
”
he said.
“
What use would they have for…
”
He broke off and a horrified look came across his face. He hissed under his breath.
“
What happened? Tell me everything,
”
he demanded.

“
Wait a moment. We don’t know who you are and…
“

“
Listen to me,
”
interrupted Mazoet, voice commanding.
“
You will tell me. Now. I need to make a decision quickly.
”

Chalayan and Aidan exchanged looks. Chalayan gave a short nod.

Aidan wasn’t sure what the man’s business was, but he seemed to have an interest in them and the sorcerers they were following. He came to a decision.
“
We were following some men who we suspected of… something. They killed one of our scouts with sorcery and also a number of other men. They led us to a town, where we were attacked by sorcery.
”

“
Quickly, boy,
”
said Mazoet. His eyes scanned the grass to the west.

Aidan bristled at his tone but continued.
“
We found a building near the center of the town. There were women inside, tied to beds. They were breeding them against their will.
”

A hard look came into Mazoet’s eyes.

Chalayan gasped.
“
What are you?
”
he whispered.

“
Do you swear this is true?
”
Mazoet said, the calm of his words belying the storm in his eyes.

“
I do.
”

Mazoet turned to Chalayan.
“
And you?
”

The sorcerer only nodded.

Mazoet shook his head, jowls wobbling, his shoulders slumped, deflated.
“
Fools,
”
he said softly, so quietly Aidan almost didn’t hear him. He pointed at Chalayan.
“
You, you’re what they call a sorcerer?
”

“
Yes.
”

“
Stay well out of the way, please.
”

“
Out of what?
”
asked Aidan.

“
The sorcerers you were following are on their way here. They knew you were trailing them. I wasn’t sure what they were up to, but now I know. You’re in danger.
”
He gestured to the whole camp.
“
All of you. And I need you as witnesses. You have to tell the First Deliverer what you saw.
”

“
We aren’t defenseless…
”
began Aidan.

“
You are. I’m going to have to reveal myself. This could get… troublesome.
”

“
I can help,
”
offered Chalayan, oddly subdued.

Mazoet looked at the sorcerer for a few moments.
“
Ah… Perhaps you should stay out of this. If it comes down to fighting, and I hope it doesn’t, then you can make sure no one gets hurt. I’ll be fine. Look to your men.
”

Chalayan nodded.

“
They’ll be here soon,
”
continued Mazoet.
“
Round up your men and make sure they stay behind me. It’ll be easier if everyone is clustered together.
”

Aidan took a step in the direction of cel Rau, who stood with a few of the men, hands on swords, ready for trouble, then stopped.

“
What decision did you need to make?
”
he asked Mazoet.

“
Whether you lived.
”

Aidan gathered the men together while Chalayan drew a circle around them, using a spade to scribe a line in the hard earth. Mazoet raised his eyebrows at this then stepped outside the ring. He turned his back and fixed his gaze to the west, where the sun dipped towards the hills in the distance.

Aidan, Chalayan and cel Rau had engaged in a heated argument in front of the men, something Aidan disliked intensely, but there was no helping it. They needed to discuss what was going on, and the men needed to know. In the end they had reluctantly agreed to, if not trust this strange man, then to see if he was right about the sorcerers coming after them.

Chalayan kept glancing at Mazoet.

“
What is it?
”
Aidan asked.

“
It’s… him. He feels like one of the sorcerers we were following. He did say he was one of them, then changed to say he wasn’t.
”

Cel Rau spoke.
“
From what I heard, I think they are at odds. The ones we’re chasing are bad apples. And this guy is here to clean up the mess.
”

“
It certainly looks that way. Chalayan, what do you think?
”

“
I think we’re in over our heads. This… Mazoet… his well is powerful. I’ve never felt the like before. I need to keep preparing, though I doubt it will do much good.
”
Chalayan busied himself with his circle, taking four flat stones from his pack and placing them around the circle at even spaces. Each bore runes etched into their hard surface.

Cel Rau eyed Chalayan warily.
“
He’s spooked,
”
he said to Aidan.
“
He has seen what they are capable of and knows his sorcery can’t stand against it.
”

We place ourselves in the hands of this strange sorcerer,
thought Aidan
.
“
Yes. So we are to rely on this stranger. Can’t say I’m happy about it.
”

Cel Rau shrugged.
“
Unless we run, there isn’t much we can do. This way we see if he can be trusted. If we survive.
”

With a grimace, Aidan eyed Chalayan, who sat inside his circle facing Mazoet.
“
Let’s hope he can shield all of us.
”

“
Let’s hope he doesn’t have to.
”

A murmur rose from the men surrounding them, and they both turned to see two shapes standing at the edge of the clearing. Mazoet and Chalayan were staring at the figures. Mazoet stood relaxed, but Chalayan’s hands clenched into fists, and his face glowed with a sweaty sheen.

Both of the newcomers were thin, unlike Mazoet, though they stood a good foot shorter than him. With a start, Aidan realized they were young, barely out of childhood, and one was a girl.

She called out in a high-pitched voice.
“
Mazoet. Leave here.
”

Wind blew through the leaves of the trees and the grasses surrounding them as Mazoet remained unmoving.
“
I will not. The First Deliverer will hear of this and of what has been uncovered.
”

Holding a hand over her mouth, the girl tittered. For such a young girl, she had an odd bearing. She held herself with a confidence only age could bring. She turned to her companion and words were whispered between them.

The girl raised her arms high in the air. Aidan heard Chalayan take a hissing breath through clenched teeth. Pale blue light sprang up around Mazoet, covering him like a second skin.

“
Do not do this,
”
he boomed.
“
You will be excised.
”

The girl smiled and laughed again.
“
Join us. Come, we offer more than that fool Gazija could ever imagine.
”

“
We cannot travel down that path.
”

“
We can. We will.
”

They both quietened, and the girl, arms still raised, clenched her fists. Air crackled, and a vibration filled the space around them. Two blue glows joined Mazoet’s as shields surrounded the girl and her companion. A dark cloud formed and enveloped them.

“
Oh crap,
”
breathed Chalayan, and thrust a hand out to touch the stone.

Lightning arced from the girl’s fists, slamming into Mazoet. Strands weaved around him towards Aidan and his men, stopping suddenly as they crashed into a barrier surrounding them, revealing a transparent dome. Thunder roared. Aidan’s hands clamped over his ears in a vain attempt to block the deafening noise.

Chalayan keeled over in a faint, and the stone he touched cracked in two. With a faint popping sound, the dome surrounding them winked out. Filaments of lightning streaked into two men, igniting them like torches. Screams of agony pierced the night. As they rolled in the dirt, others attempted to smother the flames with their coats.

“
Do not leave the circle!
”
boomed Mazoet.
“
On your life!
”
His shield glowed brightly as strand after strand of lightning arced from the girl into him. He stepped back to the edge of the circle.

As the girl’s attacks continued, her companion remained motionless.

Another dome appeared around Aidan and his men, this one glowing a pale red. Steam rose from the bodies of the two men who had been hit by lightning. Aidan stared in horror at the corpses.

Mazoet grunted with effort. Glowing red balls trailing sparks sprung up around him and shot towards the girl and her companion. Corkscrewing through the air, they slammed into her from all directions, and she fell back on her ass. The look on her face was pure fury.

Her companion picked her up, clothes smoking even through her shield. He kept a hold of her hand. She drew herself straight. Lightning flashed from her free hand, redoubled in ferocity. Around Mazoet, his shield grew in brightness as it absorbed the lightning. Soon he glowed brilliantly, white light hurting Aidan’s eyes, a keening sound filling the air.

Aidan clamped his hands over his ears. Around him, most of his men were on their knees with their eyes closed. Some were praying.
This is where we all die,
he thought.
I’m sorry, Caitlyn.

Mazoet knelt and thumped a fist into the ground. A wave of dirt rose up and burst out. It hit the girl and her companion like a runaway horse, sending them both tumbling back.