Fire And Ice (Book 1) (35 page)

             
That was what had happened the last time they came up here.  Coran and Devon had dragged a protesting Margery up here to sneak a look at the wizard’s home.  Katelyn was told to stay behind, but she tagged along anyway.  She was only ten at the time and not entirely old enough to be part of the group yet.  That came later.  Gelarus caught them and the boys had been switched for being where they were not invited.  Margery and she had had a stern talking to by their father, but avoided a switching.  Probably, because they were girls.

             
The round room beyond the door contained tables with glass bottles, and shelves attached to the walls with more bottles and jars.  Several of the bottles held liquids of various colors.  There was also a bookcase just to the right of the door, full of old looking volumes.  At the far side of the room another set of stairs went up to the top level where Gelarus had his bed chamber.  At least she assumed that was what was up there.  None of them had ever made it that far without getting caught.  She began to wonder how much they really knew about the man.

             
They entered the room cautiously, looking about for the wizard of Summerhall.  From behind one of the tables Gelarus stood up abruptly.  He fixed them with a penetrating gaze before his features relaxed.  “It is only you,” he dismissed their unannounced appearance.  “What do you want?”  He busied himself with something she couldn’t see on the table, bottles and stacked papers blocked her vision.  He had always appeared old with his white hair and wrinkles, yet there was a strength about him, a sense of his power.  Now he seemed frailer somehow.

             
“We were wondering...well...” she didn’t know how to start.  If he thought she was talking nonsense he might not tell them anything.

             
“We want to know if you think Coran is dead?” Devon said getting the conversation started.

             
“Does it matter what I think?  If he is dead then we all are, and sooner than later,” he replied in his usual fashion, never giving a straight answer and what he did say came without explanation.  She was surprised to hear him speak so despairingly, it was not like him. 

             
“What do you mean we are all dead?” asked Devon. 

Gelarus cocked his head to one side and peered at Katelyn, ignoring Devon completely.  “Do you think he is dead?”

              “No,” she answered decisively. 

             
He was surprised by the surety in her voice and looked down in thought.  “Why did I not think of that?  But is it truth or desire?”  He spoke low as if to himself.  When he looked back up some of the fire was back in his eyes.  “Tell me how you know.”

             
“I just do.  It is hard to explain, but when I think of him...gone, something inside me says he is not.”  She finished and waited for the same patronizing looks she got from her father and sister when she told them.  They couldn’t believe, or wouldn’t.

             
When he spoke there was no hint of mockery or disbelief.  “Are you completely sure that he is still alive?”

             
“Yes, I think.”  She shook her head trying to understand what she was feeling.  “It is so hard to explain that I can’t really describe it as a certainty.”

             
“You are unfamiliar with it.  It could be that.”

             
“Is it..?” Alys started and stopped when the wizard’s gaze was directed on her.  She swallowed and went on when he didn’t say anything.  “Is it like the stories?  You know, the ones about Soros?”

             
Gelarus answered slowly.  “Like the stories?  Maybe.”

             
“Are the stories real?” Alys asked.

             
The wizard barked a laugh.  “How would I know?  Do I look a thousand years old to you?”

             
Alys blushed with embarrassment.  It was Devon who couldn’t resist answering.  “No.  I would say you don’t look a day over eight hundred.”              

Instead of anger Gelarus showed amusement at the joke.  He didn’t reply but spoke to them all.  “You have given me hope when I thought it was gone.  Now I have work to do.  Leave me.”

              “But we want to know if her feelings are real,” Devon protested.

             
“Feelings usually are what you believe them to be.”  He turned back to whatever he was doing.  They would get no other answer from him now. 

             
Reluctantly they left the wizard to his work. 

             
“That was not very helpful was it?” commented Alys as they started down the stairs.

             
“Oh, I don’t know,” Katelyn said.  Gelarus did say a few things of interest.  One was reconfirmation of Coran’s importance.  “He didn’t deny the possibility at least.”

             
“That is true,” the brown haired young woman confirmed.

             
“Do you ladies have anything to do right now?” Devon asked.  “I thought of something that might take our minds off things for a while.”

             
“I am not busy until this evening,” Katelyn reported and Alys shook her head as well.

             
“Good.  Then I think the lady Alys should have her first lesson today.”

             
“Lesson?” Alys looked at him, confused.

             
Katelyn knew what he meant.  “That sounds like a wonderful idea.  I think I have something that might fit you.”

             
Alys’ eyes went wide as she realized what they were talking about.  “I cannot.  I do not know how.”

             
“That is why we are going to teach you,” she assured her friend.  “With enough practice, you will be a competent swordsman in no time.”

             
“Swordswoman,” Devon corrected her.  

              Coran went over the sketches Terk had provided that were spread out on the table in the trader’s back room.  One showed the harbor area, and marks on the paper told where the guards were usually posted.  The same notations were on the other paper of the administrators building.  What he saw was better than he could have hoped for.  Only a few men stayed on board the ships overnight and the guards watched for trouble from the city itself, not from the water side.  The only person watching the harbor was the mage on the cliff top.  That would be the tricky part.  That and slipping into the administrator’s office to get the information he needed. 

             
“Are you sure your men are up to it?” he asked Terk.  The four of them were sitting around the table as he explained his plans to them.

             
“Yes.  I made sure to pick the right men.  It should take them about two, maybe three hours to get to most of the ships.”

             
“All right, have them start about an hour before midnight.  Miko,” Coran turned his head to the heavy set man, “you can take care of the wizard?”

             
Miko looked doubtful as he answered, “If we catch him by surprise.  If not, then.....” he shrugged his shoulders.  If he didn’t get the mage quickly there was little doubt what would happen to him and anyone with him.

             
“Make your move an hour after midnight.  An hour later we will meet at the boat.”  He looked at all of them.  “Remember.  If I am not there don’t wait for me.”

             
“It will not work,” Shirri said.  “I do not mean your plan.  That is good.  It’s making them think the attack came from the Northmen.  These Sha’elt are pigs, but not that stupid.  They will know that someone from Lornth had to have helped.”  The others nodded in agreement.

             
“We expect as much,” Terk informed him.              

Coran didn’t want them to get hurt, and if Elthzidor thought that the town had given help in destroying the fleet, then a lot of people were going to get hurt.  “Leave that to me.  As long as no one is caught on board the ships it might still work.  It is at least worth a try to avoid repercussions.”

              “What are you going to do?” Shirri went on.  Her temper was on the rise again.  It seemed to be a trait among some Karands. 

             
Coran sighed.  She would push and shout until he told her, and he couldn’t think of a suitable way to put her off.  “I am going to let them see who helped.”

             
That she understood was obvious from the way she hissed at him.  “You fool.  You are going to let someone see you?  You will get yourself killed!”

             
“You shouldn’t do it,” Miko agreed.  “It is too risky, and if I have to leave you behind your father will kill me.”  He tried to smile at what he meant for a joke, but the situation wasn’t funny.

             
“They are right,” Terk added.  “I know the risks, and my men understand as well.  All have chosen to help.”

             
“I do what I have to,” Coran told them roughly.  He stared at the two men in turns.  “Tomorrow night.”  They acknowledged the decision with a nod.  He sat back in the chair.  It was all settled.  Tomorrow night they would finally be out of Lornth, with everything he came for, he hoped.  Whatever happened, it would be better than spending any more of his days in that cellar.  The place was hot and stifling.  He didn’t even know what day it was anymore.  Being stuck down there he had lost track.                

             
They stood from the table for a final night in the pit, as he affectionately called the cellar.  One more night followed by one more day.  He could hardly wait.  As they headed for the pit he heard Shirri calling him a fool under her breath.   

              Haltherin gestured with his hand vaguely and the door before him opened without any one touching it.  The guards to either side of the door kept their eyes staring straight ahead.  He often found that people chose to ignore what they feared, unable to face it. 

             
The room he entered contained a dark, cherry desk that sat before two glass paned doors that led to a balcony.  Dark red curtains concealed half of the view outside.  Bookcases were built into one of the side walls and were filled with books.  The floor was covered by a carpet of green and red. 

             
“Maji Haltherin.”  The administrator of Lornth looked up from the map laid out on his desk.  Z’Arize carried the extra pounds of a man who did not have to work very hard for a living.  His dark hair was touched with only a little gray. 

             
“Z’Arize.”  Haltherin greeted the man with his usual superior attitude.  It was only natural for one who had been raised among the highborn of Kuray, one of the principle cities in Makkura.  The feeling was made easier by the fact that these Karands were so backward.  He almost felt pity for them, or would have if he was capable of such a feeling.  “I have finished my inspection of the fleet.”

             
“I hope it met with your approval?”  Z’Arize said as he rose from his chair nervously.

             
“It is lucky for you that it does.  The Ra Majin will be arriving here within the next few days, maybe as early as tomorrow,” stated Haltherin.  He smiled pleasantly when Z’Arize  swallowed hard.  “I would suggest having the supplies for the army loaded as quickly as possible.  If the Ra Majin wishes to sail immediately upon his arrival, you should be ready to comply.”

             
“Of course, I will give the orders tonight.”

             
“That is good to hear.  Anticipating the wishes of those above us is an important responsibility.”  Haltherin stated the philosophy he himself tried to live by.  The problem with it was that he never got the recognition he deserved.  He should be one of the Majin instead of that whore, Selisk.  “Now tell me, have there been any problems during my absence?”

             
“Nothing really.  We had a little disturbance a short while ago.  One of those Anagassi entered the city and was confronted by two Makkurans.”  Z’Arize informed him as beads of sweat appeared on his face.  “They were killed.”

             
“The Anagassi?”

             
“Ah, no….the Makkurans.”  At Haltherin’s displeased expression, Z’Arize talked quickly.  “We had the city searched thoroughly, but he was nowhere to be found.”

             
“Dead soldiers?  My soldiers?  That cannot be tolerated.  Someone must be punished.  The people must realize the consequences of such insolence.”

             
“But we have been unable to find the one responsible,” Z’Arize protested, but not too strongly.

             
“Then pick out twenty people at random and have them executed,” Haltherin said, turning back towards the door to leave.

             
“I will see to it first thing in the morning.”