A Crucible of Souls (Book One of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence) (68 page)

“
Suicide? That doesn’t make sense.
”

“
Yes. Some slashed their wrists, hanged themselves, poison. What is strange is they all did it at the same time, or close enough.
”

“
That’s weird. Who were they? Anyone important?
”

“
Most were. High-ranking nobles, commanders of the Quivers in the city and the surrounding districts, some of the chancellors. Of the merchants, I’m not sure. I don’t know any of them. I didn’t hear Izak, Lady Felicienne or Sir Avigdor mentioned, which I hope means they’ve also escaped capture. Felicienne would have some idea what to do, and I think we could trust her. But I don’t know how we can possibly find out where she is or contact her.
”

“
If they haven’t been named, then we have to assume they’re alive. From what you told me of the Lady Felicienne, I doubt she’d be one to take her own life. The emperor would have punished the nobles for what’s happened here — their lack of resistance and the loss of the city. There would have been demotions and possibly banishment, but I don’t think suicide would be preferable.
”

“
I agree. I think that…
”
Caldan stopped. A sudden thought came to him. If the Indryallans had used coercive sorcery on the nobles and merchants, then it stood to reason, after their usefulness was over, they would be disposed of. While he had no doubt some of them were corrupt, no one deserved to have their mind used then body disposed of like garbage.

Miranda gave him a concerned look.
“
What is it?
”

Caldan placed his mug on the table and kept his eyes averted.
“
Nothing. Maybe… they might have been dealing with the Indryallans and decided they didn’t want to face the emperor after this. We will probably never know, though the Protectors might. This makes it more urgent I find them.
”
He couldn’t look Miranda in the eye. Lying to her felt wrong.

“
Do you need help with anything?
”

“
No, thank you. With the materials I have, I won’t be able to craft much, but I should be able to put a few things together, and I want to try and finish my project as well.
”

“
Do you think this is the time for projects?
”

“
It’ll help us, so if I have time I want to finish it.
”
Caldan looked out through the doorway to the barrels and crates of goods Miranda had stockpiled.
“
If you have coffee somewhere in there, I could use some, it’s going to be a long night.
”

Miranda nodded and went to rummage through the crates.

Caldan turned to the rickety table and his sack of
crafting
materials. He tipped the sack out and spread the materials across the table. Paper, ink, pens, a few scraps of wood, two wire spools and the metal pieces he’d acquired from the clockmaker. It wasn’t much to work with.

Chapter Fifty-Two

“
I wish we could forget this crusade of yours, Caldan. Can’t we forget about the Sorcerers’ Guild and Protectors and find a smugglers’ tunnel out of the city?
”

Caldan gave Miranda an annoyed look. After working through the day and night he was tired and not in any mood to be arguing.

“
You know I have to try,
”
he said sternly.
“
You don’t have to come. Actually, it would comfort me greatly if you didn’t.
”

She shot him a dark look and narrowed her eyes.
“
Really?
”

“
For your own safety, I mean. I can’t bear the thought of you being injured.
”

“
Well… if that isn’t the sweetest brush-off I’ve ever received I don’t know what is.
”
She laughed, blushing.

“
It’s not that,
”
stammered Caldan.
“
I don’t want to take you into danger, and it is going to be dangerous.
”

“
It’s my decision. And two are always better than one. I’m not entirely defenseless. You don’t survive long on a ship if you can’t take care of yourself.
”
She patted her loose pants. A while ago, before they left the warehouse, Caldan had seen her strap a dagger to her leg.

Again, he found himself wishing for a sword. He didn’t think any Quivers would object to it now. One of his priorities had to be to acquire a blade of some sort.

He pulled on a wide-brimmed hat and lowered the brim to hide his face as best he could — Miranda’s idea, in case the Indryallans had soldiers out looking for him. It wouldn’t stop someone recognizing him up close if they had a description but would serve to screen him from casual observers.

Surprisingly, the streets appeared normal. The lack of Quivers had led to an increase in crime the last few days, but most of the population continued on as if nothing much had happened.

Caldan eyed people as they passed.

“
It’s too soon yet, and nothing much has changed,
”
said Miranda.

“
What do you mean? Everything has changed.
”

“
Not for these people it hasn’t. So what if the emperor loses power here and is replaced by someone else? Life goes on. And it might be a better life for a lot of people. The only thing that will upset the stability now is the city being closed to supplies. Shortages will begin to bite soon.
”

Caldan grunted noncommittally then waved towards the river to the west.
“
Let’s go along the river.
”

Already, this early in the morning, the sun had warmed the River Modder’s scummy surface enough to reek and sting their nostrils and eyes. The thought of what it would smell like in high summer made him gag.

“
It stinks, but fewer people will walk this way,
”
said Miranda.
“
Which means less chance of us being spotted.
”

They continued in silence. Roaches scuttled away from their movement into nearby buildings and down the bank along the water. Rats stopped and stared as they passed.

“
Go over again why we’re doing this in daylight?
”
Miranda scratched her head.

“
Anyone wandering around will look less suspicious. We shouldn’t be bothered too much.
”

“
It makes sense, and at the same time it doesn’t.
”

“
Just make sure, as I said before we left, if there is any sign of sorcerers, hang on to me. I can protect you.
”
He wouldn’t let what happened to Senira happen to Miranda.

Miranda nodded and chewed her bottom lip.

They passed children on the other bank, dressed in filthy rags and dragging sticks through the shallow water. Two old men sat further along ahead of them, smoking pipes and gossiping.

“
I can’t show you here, and I didn’t think to before we left.
”
He rubbed his weary eyes.
“
Too much to think about. But once we get to the guild and find a safe place I can show you something.
”

“
Sorcery?
”

“
Yes. I need you to believe me when I say I can protect you.
”

Miranda nodded.
“
Let’s get going, then!
”

Caldan smiled and shook his head at her enthusiasm. They continued walking, the morning sun warming their backs.

“
I want you to keep close.
”

“
I get it. You’ve said it three times since we left the river.
”
Irritation tinged Miranda’s voice.

Caldan gritted his teeth, more in frustration at himself than at Miranda. Since escaping the cells, he couldn’t help but blame himself for Senira’s death. She’d been in his care much as Miranda was now. He clenched and unclenched his fists.

They crouched behind a rain barrel, down an alley on the south side of the Sorcerers’ Guild. Directly opposite the alley they were in was a locked door in a side wall.

On the way from the river they had avoided two patrols of the Indryallans, but in the time they had been hiding, no one had passed down the deserted street running along the guild or the alley. Caldan figured they should try to get the door open as quickly as possible then leave it open in case they needed to escape.

He nibbled a thumbnail as he thought about the problem and weighed his options. Using destructive sorcery would open the door, but the unleashing of so much power might alert anyone who had their well open and was searching for anything untoward. He had an idea, though, one which stemmed from his experiments with moving
craftings
.

Searching through the contents of a pocket, he drew out a piece of white chalk. He decided to try his idea. It was logical — they probably taught it in the journeyman classes.

“
Let’s go,
”
he said, grabbing his sack and taking off across the street for the door.

Miranda hesitated a moment then followed.

Caldan knelt on one knee, eyes level with the lock. Miranda hurried up beside him, eyes darting up and down the street to make sure they were alone.

“
Whatever you’re doing, do it fast,
”
she hissed.
“
We’re exposed here.
”

Caldan nodded and with swift sure strokes drew two patterns on the lock with the chalk, one on the left side and one on the right. He closed his eyes and opened his well. Visualizing the internal workings of the mechanism, he linked his two patterns. With a shriek of grinding metal, it twisted and broke.

Surprised by the sound, Miranda turned to look.
“
It’s open?
”

“
Ah… yes.
”
He grinned sheepishly.
“
I just wanted it to open, didn’t mean for it to break.
”

They slipped through, and once inside he closed the door behind them.

Miranda breathed a sigh of relief.
“
That was easier than I thought.
”

They found themselves in a dimly lit corridor, the only light coming from the far end, where it opened onto the central garden. Apart from their own breathing, not a sound reached their ears. Gone was the usual background noise of a busy guild going about its day to day activities. No signs of life at all.

Moving with exaggerated stealth, they passed doors on both sides. Outside, the garden remained green and lush, unchanged, though conflict had raged around it.

“
Wait a moment,
”
Caldan whispered, waving Miranda to a halt. He pulled a sheet of folded paper covered in patterns from his pocket and placed the bird on the ground. Opening his sack, he drew out a pile of metal rods the size of his fist.

Miranda frowned at the paper and metal.
“
What are you doing?
”
she said softly, scowling.

Caldan sensed the impatience in her tone, tinged with puzzlement.
“
Now is as good a time as any. I said I’d show you how I can protect you.
”
He held his hand out to her, palm up. Miranda hesitated then reached out to grasp it.

Caldan gave her a reassuring smile.
“
Don’t be alarmed with what you see. Trust me.
”

A pale blue light enveloped Caldan. Miranda gasped and pulled back, and would have lost her grip if not for Caldan’s firm hold.
“
See, there is nothing to be afraid of.
”

She swallowed.
“
It’s a shield, isn’t it? What does it do, I mean… how effective is it?
”

“
It’s been pushed to its limits. Through… testing. It can stop a sword thrust or a knife, even protect from heat. It’s withstood a lot already, and I’m confident it will guard us from most things.
”
He gave her a reassuring smile.

“
But this is only good to shield one person. How are you going to protect me?
”

“
Since I made the
crafting
and I’m attuned to it, the amount of concentration it takes for me to maintain the shield is small. I can almost do it without thinking.
”
Caldan squeezed her hand harder so she wouldn’t pull away.
“
With the runes I put in the
crafting
and more concentration, I can shape the forces like this…
”
In the blink of an eye the shield enfolded Miranda.

She let out a strangled yelp and tried to pull her hand away.
“
I can’t see,
”
she hissed.

“
It’s all right,
”
Caldan said, trying to reassure her.
“
You can see. It’s just your view is obstructed by the shield. Stop squirming.
”

Miranda had squeezed her eyes shut and was breathing rapidly. After a few moments, she opened one eye.
“
I can see a little. Everything is blurry.
”
She opened her other eye.
“
How are we going to move around if we can’t see properly?
”

“
We won’t.
”
With a faint popping sound, the shield blinked out of existence as Caldan closed his well.
“
If I’m using sorcery all the time, someone is bound to sense it. We have to keep it in reserve in case we run into trouble.
”

“
And we would be much more noticeable and suspicious.
”

“
Yes, anyone who saw us wandering around shielded would want to find out what we were up to.
”

Caldan became conscious they were still holding hands. Her skin felt warm and soft. His cheeks grew hot and he released his grip. Miranda gave an impudent grin, cheeks dimpling as she smiled and looked away.

He turned towards the opening to the garden.
“
Now you know why you have to stay close to me, close enough to grab me if there is any danger. If I think we are in trouble, I’ll grab you.
”

“
Grab. Yes, I will do that.
”
She sounded amused.

Caldan gestured at the paper bird and the pile of metal rods held together with wire.
“
These will be our scouts. They can move ahead and let us know if anyone’s around. We should be able to keep moving quickly, as long as we don’t encounter someone.
”

“
A paper bird and a pile of… metal sticks?
”
Miranda said, disbelief tingeing her words.

“
I know what I am doing. The shield should have been proof of that.
”

“
Of course. I’m not used to sorcery. I’ve no idea what it can or can’t do. Go on.
”

“
I forget I’ve spent years studying and performing
crafting
, and that most people have no idea what it can do.
”
He reached out to touch the bird and opened his well, linking to the
crafting
. The runes covering the bird shimmered in the dim light, and it flapped its wings, rising from the floor. With a thought, he sent it through the doorway and into the garden. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Miranda watching it fly away, a look of wonder on her face.