In Treachery Forged (The Law of Swords) (21 page)

“Is there a magic shop or alchemist’s apothecary in this area, then?” Euleilla asked. “I’m starting to run low on some forms of my magic powder. That may prove... valuable if any of these people stop by.”

“Not much call for one, in these parts,” the innkeeper sighed. “Only humans have any significant success in the study of magic, and while a few of them – like Dr. Wodtke – are around, there aren’t enough to really justify a shop. I think the only place in the city likely to have your magic powder would be crazy old El’Rasi’s shop. He’s been the only Dwarven alchemist in Mar’Tok for the past two hundred years. I imagine the good doctor would know better than me. El’Rasi lives pretty deep in the caves, I fear, and it would take a day’s trip to get there.”

“Wodtke will be around this afternoon to check on you,” Maelgyn said to Euleilla. “We can ask her, then. If you want, I can loan you some of mine, though.”

Euleilla shook her head. “No, you need yours. And I’m not looking for black magic powder, anyway.” Maelgyn carried iron-based magic powder (sometimes called “black magic powder”) but not any of the nickel powder he often saw her use for “sight.” Or any other variety, for that matter.

“I guess that rules that out. So, when we see Dr. Wodtke, we’ll ask about any magic shops,” he said.

“Good. Now, I’m tired and hungry.” Euleilla said. With that, she stormed into their room, Maelgyn staring at her as she went. He blinked.

“What brought that on?” he asked himself aloud.

“Dunno. Was anything bothering her during your trip, today?” El’Ba suggested.

“Huh? Oh, not that I know of... outside of the fact she was having trouble walking through... what did you people call it? The ‘Path of the Ancients.’”

El’Ba gasped. “Oh. You went that way, did you? That’s a secret, you know – only the Dwarves are supposed to know of it.”

“Well, there were more than just Dwarves at the meeting, and I was told everyone there had walked the path in the past, so....”

“Wangdu!” El’Ba cried. “That’s the only possible Elf you could have met, today, if they’d passed through that. That was his name, wasn’t it?”

“Uh, yes, I believe so,” Maelgyn replied uncertainly. “Why?”

El’Ba was silent for a moment before nodding. “It was he who helped El’Mar reclaim Mar’Tok from the Elves. He foresaw a time when the Dwarves would be driven out of the plains as more and more humans learned to use stirrups and developed cavalry forces. He convinced El’Mar of the need to reclaim our homeland... and helped us do it by providing valuable intelligence which sealed the deal against the Elves of the time. Him, I would be proud to have here.”

Maelgyn raised an eyebrow. “Why did he do that, I wonder?”

“What, help us?” El’Ba asked. “Well, he was a young one, then. Story goes, he had a Dwarven friend who just happened to be one of the other Elves’ slaves. One day, after spending time with Wangdu, that friend was executed because he didn’t meet his quota mining. Wangdu was outraged, especially since he’d already told the masters just why that Dwarf would be absent.” The old innkeeper shuddered. “Nasty business, that. Wangdu believed the way his people were treating the Dwarves went against the set of ethics that their Ancient ancestors had established... and so, he set out to punish his own people the only way he could: By destroying them.”

Maelgyn’s eyes widened. “But then, doesn’t that mean he’s a traitor to his own people?”

“Depends on which group of Elves you’re talking to,” El’Ba replied. “A lot of them agreed with him that it was the only solution. Most of those, however, were the ones who were living in Oregal, a society much closer to the ideals of the Ancient Elves. The Elves who still lived elsewhere, like East Poros, were less happy – especially when they had to deal with the thousands of refugees who were expelled when we reclaimed Mar’Tok.” He shrugged. “Not that there are many Elves left anywhere. We Dwarves won’t mind when they finally go entirely extinct, but Wangdu proves there are still a few good ones.”

At this point, Euleilla returned to the room, an impatient look on her face as she said, “Come. Now. With Food.” And she retreated, not waiting for him to reply.

Maelgyn raised an eyebrow. “She’s in a rare mood. Well, we need to have long talk about a number of things, anyway. Any chance of getting a meal prepared, quick?”

“I’ve got a stew ready, and some bread the bakery made this morning,” El’Ba noted. “I’ll fix you a tray.”

“No tea today. At least, not for me; I need something stronger than that after the way this day has gone. Euleilla might want some, but I’d prefer an ale – a milder one. You Dwarves brew some stuff that’d be rank poison for most humans.”

El’Ba laughed. “You’re a bunch of lightweights. Don’t worry, though – we carry some of your watered-down Human brews for travelers such as yourself, and I know what Humans can drink and what they can’t. One ale, one tea, two stews, two breads. Coming right up.”

Maelgyn swirled the last of his bread in the remnants of his stew and chewed down. The ale was pretty strong, but not quite strong enough to get him drunk from a single stein full. It was enough to relax him, however, and prepare him for the coming conversation.

Relaxed he was, but he was still curious. Euleilla hadn’t said anything since they entered their room. In fact, she had been very quiet since Dr. Wodtke had come by that morning to check up on her, and it was starting to worry him. Was it just that she was still ill, or was it something else?

“OK, now that we’ve had lunch, lets talk,” he finally said, breaking the silence.

She didn’t say anything for a moment, choosing instead to calmly finish a bite of food and take a sip of tea. “Yes?”

Maelgyn blinked. “Um, well, is something on your mind?”

“History,” she answered. Maelgyn noticed that, once again, she was in her “reserved” mode, which worried him. She hadn’t really been acting like this since they were in Elm Knoll, and even then it was a bit more... playful than she was acting this time.

“What history? Of who, or what?”

“Ivari.”

Maelgyn couldn’t contain his surprise. “Your foster father was a former Borden Islander. Surely he’s told you something about that history?”

“Nope,” she answered flippantly.

He frowned. Why would Ruznak have failed to mention that story? That was the one thing most Borden Isles’ refugees agreed with the rebels on – that Svieda’s treatment of Sword Princess Ivari and Lord Laimoth was horrendous, especially when they had been so popular in their home province.

“That’s odd,” Maelgyn said, looking at her for any reaction. “It’s the sort of story every child is told at a young age. If your father didn’t tell you the story, I expected Ruznak would have.”

Euleilla just shrugged. “Sorry.”

“OK, I assume you want to talk about how their story relates to Borden Isles rebellion.” Maelgyn guessed.

Euleilla nodded. “Did the Borden Isles rebel because a royal married a commoner?”

“Well... sort of,” Maelgyn answered. “At least, that’s what Sword Prince Elaneth claimed. He said his parents had been so maltreated by mainland Svieda he no longer wanted to be a part of it. And that much, I’ll believe of him. But in truth, it was the work of Sho’Curlas that started the rebellion.”

“So, if we stay married, there is a chance someone could use that as an excuse for war?” she asked anxiously.

It took him a moment to collect himself before he could reply, since he now had some inkling of what was bothering her. It sobered him up quite a bit to realize she was scared, so his first concern was to reassure her. “Well... that is a possibility no matter who I marry, no matter how royal or how common.” he hedged. “Let me point out that Sword King Agaeb IV also married a peasant named Amberry, and she didn’t inspire any wars. Also, there have been wars started when a Sword married the wrong noble in some people’s eyes. The Duchy of Abindol – now the Grand Duchy of Abindol – rebelled for just such a reason. The truth is simply that there’s no way of telling.”

She sighed. “I see. Well, if that is the case, I understand why you wouldn’t want me as your wife.”

Maelgyn’s eyes widened. “But....”

“I suppose it’s good that I know, now,” she continued. “It isn’t truly your decision, is it?”

“Hold on!” he sputtered. “It sure as hell
is
my decision who I choose to marry and who I don’t. If it weren’t my decision, then I would have told you from the start! And, damn it, if you’re willing, my decision is to stay married to you!”

Euleilla gasped, and it was only after that Maelgyn realized what he’d just said. He hadn’t meant to tell her like that.

Euleilla shook her head, unable to bring herself to believe him. “You’re just drunk. You haven’t had time to make your decision, yet, or—”

“I’m not drunk,” Maelgyn stated firmly. It was true. His mind was reasonably clear, though perhaps the strong ale had loosened his tongue a bit. “I’d planned to talk with you when we got to Sopan, but it looks like we’ll be having this discussion now. I want to be your husband, Euleilla – for real, not just due to a stupid misunderstanding of local laws on my part. Yes, there may be a few things you need to understand about being a commoner married to one of the Swords, but if you’re willing to deal with it all, then so be it.”

Euleilla sighed. “Why?”

“Well, you are everything I would ask for in a wife,” Maelgyn noted softly. “You’re intelligent, and strong, and beautiful....”

“And?” she asked softly.

“And when I heard you had contracted some sort of plague, I was more terrified than I had ever been in my life,” Maelgyn admitted. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t recovered. Frankly, the possibility of you dying scared me enough that I now know I can’t stand the thought of living without you. Though I’m
still
going to visit my wrath on the idiot who created that stupid plague and damn him to hell....”

“Oh,” she said sadly. “I thought there might be something else.”

“You mean, do I love you?” he said, realizing what she was getting at. She didn’t answer, so he continued, “I would think the simple fact that I’ve said I want you for my wife would have answered that question.”

She smiled hesitantly. “Could you say it? Please?”

A knocking came from the other side of the door, and they both jumped in surprise. “Hello?” Dr. Wodtke’s voice called in. “Are you all decent?”

“Later,” he whispered, knowing she’d heard him as he darted to the door. “I’ll say it later. But we still need to talk of certain things first. You need to know what you’re in for, and it would hurt too much to say the words and then never be able to act on them if you decide you can’t handle it.”

“I can handle it,” she answered with a true smile. “And I’ll hold you to it.”

“Well,” Dr. Wodtke said as she magically studied Euleilla. “You seem mostly recovered. You’re probably a little below your normal magical strength, but you should recover the remainder with a good night’s sleep.”

“Thank you,” she answered.

“I hope I won’t need to see you again during your stay here,” Wodtke noted. “As much as I’d appreciate the business, I’d rather most of the people I’ve treated stayed healthy.”

“Actually,” Maelgyn said, “If you’re willing to keep up your role as tour guide, we might still need your help.”

She hesitated. “I have some business I need to take care of over the next couple of days, but I might be able to squeeze in an hour or two if it’s something nearby. What do you need?”

“Magic powder,” Euleilla said. “I use it to see, and I’m running low. My technique works well, but I tend to lose a lot of magic powder when I’m in damp places... like muddy caves.”

Wodtke blinked, then shook her head. “Oh, right – I had forgotten about your eyes. Well, if you want commercial-grade powder, you’ll have to go to old El’Rasi at the other side of town. He’s a bit crazy, though, so I don’t like dealing with him.”

“What do you do, then?” Maelgyn asked.

“I’m pretty close to the only mage on this side of Nir’Thik,” she answered. “There are only about two hundred humans in town, and only three of us have any magical talent at all.”

“Can’t Nekoji also become mages?” Euleilla asked. “There are thousands around us, and they’re all potentially quite strong....”

“Oh, yes,” Wodtke laughed sharply. “Nekoji make powerful mages. But not many of them
can
become a mage. Tell me, what is the first thing a mage must learn?”

When Euleilla hesitated, Maelgyn answered for her. “Meditation. A difficult thing for any child to learn, especially one only four years old.”

“I didn’t remember” Euleilla sighed. “It’s been so long.”

“The Nekoji can’t meditate,” Wodtke explained. “They’re too alert and have trouble tuning out the rest of the world. I’d almost say it’s the cat in them, but whatever it is they just lack the ability. Over the past two thousand years, their Winter Counts record only two dozen mages. There are no living Nekoji mages, right now, and there aren’t any attempting to learn, either.”

“I think you’re wrong,” Euleilla said, frowning. “I could have sworn I felt a Nekoji mage while we were traveling. I thought I sensed it again at the meeting yesterday, as well. Not from the Emperor, but there was someone else in the room....”