Hamilton Swoop, Wizard of Green Ridge (16 page)

Hamilton woke up with a start. The nightmare that had plagued his sleep faded slowly. He could almost feel the snake-like eyes of Topaz boring straight through him while he flailed at a black-cloaked figure with a paper sword. Topaz slashed at him with bolts from his fingertips, all the while laughing and berating him and his abilities as a wizard.

As the reality of his surroundings replaced the terror he had felt in his dream, he shivered. The air in the room was almost freezing and his sweat soaked bed sheet and body chilled him to the bone.

He got up and dried himself with the blanket that he had thrown off during the night. The rank smell of the damp blanket gagged him. Still shivering, he turned on the light and pulled on his clothes. There were no facilities in the room and he worried about using the public ones at the end of the hall. He had almost decided against using them when the familiar wave of weakness from the wards at his shop indicated that they were under a serious assault. The assault was not a physical one. It had to be Topaz and if Topaz was at his shop then he was safe here for a while.

Hamilton let out a sigh of relief, headed out into the hall, and found the facilities empty. He entered, locked the door and rinsed himself in the cold water. Then he used the toilet, put his shirt back on, and looked at himself in the dirty mirror. Though his hair was still damp from the night's terrors, the face that looked back at him amazed even him. Since casting the rejuve spell, he hadn't looked at his reflection as he hadn't been so much concerned with his appearance as with physical strength and endurance when he had cast it. No wonder Morty and the rest had reacted as they had. He looked great. He stared at his reflection for another few seconds and then feeling embarrassed about his vanity, turned and headed back to his room.

He packed up his belongings and checked out of the inn. The clerk assured him that Topaz had not inquired about him and he gave the clerk the promised ten royals. He was hungry, but passed on the Munchwell in favor of an eatery somewhat more distant from the inn. He found one several blocks away that looked like it was, at least, sanitary.

Twenty minutes later he arrived at the stables where he had boarded Bethesda. After paying the stable hand and preparing Bethesda for the trip, he mounted and headed back toward Norkon.

Bethesda asked,
Fast?

"No. At least not real fast this morning. Tonight, however, we will be going fast."

I don't like running at night. It's hard to see.

"You let me worry about that."

I don't want to bump into things.

After a quick stop at the police station to extend the protection on his shop, he remounted Bethesda and soon, the man and horse had reached the outskirts of Green Ridge. Hamilton decided that arguing with his horse was just futile. “Do you want to go fast?"

At night?

"No. Now."

Yes. Very fast.

"We'll see.” He pulled the wand from his belt and tapped his horse. They accelerated through the morning sunlight.

As they raced along the snow covered road, something nagged at Hamilton's mind. He went over the dream, but it had faded from his consciousness. There was something he had missed though, something important.

When they were within ten miles of the Mid-Post Station, Hamilton concentrated and called, in his mind,
Whiskers?

You back already? Where are you?

I'm on my way, but I won't arrive until later this evening. Maybe five or six hours after dark. Is Thalia there?

Your little sweetie? She's at the library
.

She's not my little ... Can you mind talk to her?

Yeah, I guess I can. What's in it for me?

How's being able to live another day?

Are you threatening me?

Yes. Come on, cat, this is serious!

Okay, okay. What do you want me to tell her? A proposal? Shall I send the message of your love to her?

How would you like to be an outdoor cat?

OK, already. What's the message?

Hamilton related the message and a few minutes later Whiskers confirmed that Thalia had received it and confirmed that she was on her way back from the library.
She said she misses you, Old Man,
added Whiskers.

Thanks, cat. I'll get you something special to eat when I get back.

Yum.

Hamilton and Bethesda arrived at Mid-Post Station a lot earlier than he had planned due to the magically accelerated clip. There was little to do aside from stabling Bethesda and then waiting for nightfall.

In the mean time, he located the last bottle of Pinky's on the storage shelf, got a fire going in the fireplace and relaxed. Something still nagged at his mind. He retraced the previous day's events, checking each one off. Nothing seemed to jump out at him until he got to the very end of that day. He had been in bed wondering about ... then it came to him and he sat bolt upright in his chair. Topaz knew he was coming to Green Ridge. Someone from the Guild had to be working with him, but who? He worried whether it had been Thalia for a few moments, but she didn't have enough talent. Besides, he thought, she wouldn't do anything to cross him. After all, she liked him, maybe even loved him, didn't she? Didn't she? Of course she did, but then, who? Argus? Argus couldn't remember his own name half the time. No, not Argus. Diamond? But Diamond had summoned him. Why would he do that if he wanted him out of the way? Unless he knew Hamilton was coming and it was a ruse, but Diamond didn't seem smart enough for such. Perhaps then, one of the older wizards? Maybe Hardension? Obsidian knew. Even way back then, Obsidian knew, but he was gone now. And he possessed everything that Obsidian had left for him, including the fourth rune.

A log in the fireplace popped and he looked up for a moment. He sighed and finished the last of the Pinky's in a single swallow. Obsidian knew, but what did he know?

Hamilton remained in the Station until dusk. Then he walked to the stable and prepared Bethesda for another trip, but left him in the stall.

It's dark out. Are you sure about this?

Don't worry, boy. Have I ever steered you wrong?

Well, there was that time when you drove me into a marsh.

That was because a wheel came off.

And the time you almost drove me off a cliff.

But we didn't go over.

And that time that...

Oh, shut up. Everything will be fine. Just wait here.

Well, you asked,
the horse muttered as Hamilton left the stables.

Outside, he walked to the filled-in well. He waited another twenty minutes until all traces of the sun had disappeared beneath the horizon.

Then he took the shovel he had found in the station's tool shed and started digging. Foot by slow foot, the hole reformed. Sweat ran from his forehead even in the cold night air. Slowly he made headway. Good thing they hadn't tamped down the earth when they'd buried the lure. Still, another hour passed before a glint of blue light leaked from the depths. He extracted the cylinder from the dirt, its blue aura bright in the darkness. Carrying the cylinder, he glanced furtively upward as he hurried to the stables.

He stuck the cylinder, wrapped in an old shirt, into his pack, untied Bethesda and soon they were on the road to Norkon. After a tap of his wand, the horse was once more flying, although this time, with much less enthusiasm.

Please, a bit slower, I can't see where I am going,
the horse pleaded.

Don't worry, I can.
His wizard's sight was working well. In front of him was a black and white world, almost as clear as day, only slightly hampered by tunnel vision.

He calculated the speed and distance to Norkon and figured he'd arrive before midnight. Twenty miles closer to Norkon, Hamilton had to readjust his calculation. The stars had disappeared, occulted by ominous clouds. They continued racing ahead until a chilled damp wind swept over them. Still, they managed a few more miles before the damp air became rain and the rain became a torrent. Hamilton's wizard sight was blinded by the falling water smashing into his face. He slowed Bethesda's pace as they touched down on solid earth now covered by two inches of slush.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was sure you were going to get us both killed.

Hamilton frowned. He wiped the water from his hair and eyes as he steered Bethesda under a lone tall fir tree near the road.

The rain continued for hours. Every time it seemed like it was about to stop another squall line rolled in.
Whiskers?
queried Hamilton.

You in Norkon now, Old Man?

Nowhere near it. I'm stuck on the road and it's pouring. Did Thalia take care of what I asked her to do?

I think so. She's out in that field you told her about with a couple of the locals. Want me to check up on her? See if she's messing around?

No. I mean just find out how they're coming with the hole.

You sure you don't want to know if she's messing around?

Cat!

Okay, okay. Just wait a second.

Hamilton, while he waited for the cat's reply, did his best to wipe the water from Bethesda. Then Whiskers’ words came through.
She said the hole's eight feet deep. The other four feet will be done by midnight.

Good. Tell her to have the men she hired wait for me. I'm not sure when I'll get there, but it will have to be before dawn or I'll be in big trouble. Tell her to offer another two royals each to entice them to stay.

That all you want?

What do you mean by that? Did I wake you up or something?

As a matter of fact, you did.

Well, sorry about that, but this is important. Ask her if that baker is making the weapon.

After another short delay
, she said it will be done in two days. What weapon?

I'll tell you when I get there. Thanks, for your help, cat.

You owe me for this. What do you think I am, a carrier pigeon?

You're right, cat. I do owe you. Go back to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow.

Hamilton stared at the water cascading down from the tree branches. Everything had been going to plan and now this. In addition he worried about Bethesda. The cold rain was not good for him.
How are you doing, horse?

Bethesda's tail swished sending droplet's into Hamilton's face.
How do you think I'm doing? You know, I voted against this trip.

Yeah, I know, but I didn't plan on the rain.
He wiped the water from his face.

You know, Thorn wouldn't have let this stop him.

Sure, but...

But what?

Hamilton felt very stupid. Of course Thorn wouldn't have let this stop him. Thorn was a wizard, but then, so was he though a bit out of practice. He had to stop thinking like a shop keeper. “Ignius,” shouted Hamilton and a pile of damp fallen branches flashed into fire. The warmth washed over him and Bethesda.

How's that?
asked Hamilton.

It's a start, but fire makes me nervous. Best be careful.

The light from the fire illuminated the drops falling from the edges of the tree branches around them. Hamilton stood next to Bethesda inventorying spells that he knew. He rejected his actual weather spells as he didn't have the items to do them. In addition they required too much power to perform. Then after a few moments, the answer came to him. He felt like someone dying of thirst discovering that he had been sitting on a water bottle. “So simple,” he thought and mentally kicked himself. He spoke the proper trigger words and they were surrounded by a hemisphere of white light almost a hundred feet in diameter.

How's that?
he asked the horse.

Just in time,
replied Bethesda as he started to move.
I think we'd better leave now!

Huh?

Look up.

Hamilton looked above them. Flying embers from his fire had ignited the tree which was now producing as much light as his light spell. He jumped up into the saddle and once more they were off. The hemisphere of light moved with them as they accelerated. The rain still stung his face and once more, Hamilton felt like a child. He muttered another trigger and the rains before him parted as if a wedge was being driven into them.

Much better,
Bethesda said.

An hour passed and the rains let up. Hamilton lowered the shield spell. Once on the ground again, Bethesda paused for a drink of water. Hamilton realized that his mouth was dead dry as well and sipped some water from the bottle he carried. Apparently, the shield permitted no moisture whatsoever to enter.

He wasn't quite sure how far they had come. Traveling with the light illuminating fifty feet ahead had been helpful, but it didn't permit full speed, as his wizard's vision had been blocked by the rains cascading off of the shield. Well, he thought, with the rains gone, his wizard's vision would work fine again so he wouldn't need the hemisphere of light. He snapped it off and then looked to the east. There, he saw the first signs of dawn. “Break time's over, horse.” He geed Bethesda into full speed and once more they flew over the road.

Just as the sun's rays crept over the horizon, Hamilton arrived at the field he had told Thalia about. He spotted a makeshift lean-to in the middle of the field. Bethesda carried him over to it and, with the sound of the horse's hoof beats, Thalia emerged followed by two men. When Thalia spotted Hamilton, she waved at him. Before she could speak, one of the men shouted, “Two royals each, if we stayed! That was the deal and you'd better pay up.” The man was shivering, despite his gruff tone.

"You'll get your money in a few minutes. First let me see the hole."

"Over there.” The other man pointed.

Hamilton rode Bethesda to the hole and dismounted, making sure the horse was between the hole and the men. He slipped the shirt wrapped cylinder from his pack, shielding the blue glow and then dropped the cylinder into the hole. It splashed and then disappeared beneath muddy water at the bottom of the pit.