Into The Ruins (48 page)

“He’s like me,” Rigo said.  He could see no reason to play games, and he was certain they wanted to know if he could tell.  They also had wanted to show him something.  He was certain this was Queen Rosul’s doing.

“So you could tell?” she asked, eliminating any doubt she had known.

“It’s quite obvious to one like me.  I didn’t know if these bands would block the awareness, but it appears they don’t.”

“He couldn’t sense you,” she said.

“That’s because his power hasn’t been unlocked.  He’s a novice level wizard.  Unskilled and with his full potential yet to be released.”

“Will that happen someday?”

“Not usually.  It takes someone who knows how.”

“And you know how?”

Rigo nodded as he took a drink.  “I do.  How many more are there like him?”

“We have a few.  We don’t know how many others there are.”

“There is a special crystal that can be created.  It would alert you to the presence of those with the gift.”

Mitty took in a sharp breath.  “That would be useful, yet dangerous.  If Carif learned of the existence of those like Lyes, she would be able to seek them out with such a thing.”

“So the Guild doesn’t know about them?”

“No, and I’ve probably said enough.”

“Lyes?” Rigo asked, realizing she’d used a different name for the young man.

Mitty blushed.  “Slip of the tongue.  Please forget that name.  He is being sought by your watchers.”  She nodded toward Delril and Kimm across the way.

Mitty was about to slip away when Rigo asked her, “Do you know a Lord Chaten?”

A small twitch at the corner of her mouth gave her away.  “He thinks he’s related to you,” she said, watching his reaction.

Rigo had wondered if that might be it.  He and Ash’urn had discussed the possibility, but the odds had seemed so remote that he would accidentally encounter someone here who might detect a resemblance to someone they knew.  Then he realized it wasn’t an accident.  Someone had suspected.  Perhaps this whole party was a ruse to check these matters out.

“We might be,” Rigo said easily, watching Mitty in return.

“Just like that,” she said surprised.  “You admit you are from Sedfair.”

“I don’t know.  I have wondered about it when the language came to me so easily.  I don’t know where I came from.  An event when I was young stripped me of my memory and dumped me in a place where I was a stranger.  The story would take some time telling.”

“Which we don’t have,” Mitty said, and started to slip away.  “Your guardian is coming back.” 

Rigo looked up and saw that Delril and Lorl were returning.  The entire conversation with Mitty had taken place without his looking back at her more than once or twice.  A quick glance at Delril verified she had not detected his conversation with Mitty.

It was considerably later when they finally were escorted back to the cottage. 

“Did you sense anything about him?” the Queen asked Lyes when they were alone in her private quarters.

“Nothing,” Lyes replied.  “I had hoped with his greater ability it would be possible, but I couldn’t tell a thing.  Maybe that’s because of the bands.  Maybe it’s because I’m too weak.”

“Maybe it’s not possible,” Kall suggested.  “I don’t know why you expect to be able to do so.”

“Because he knew about me,” Lyes answered.  “That’s what you wanted to see, wasn’t it?  He could tell.  I saw it in his eyes the moment he looked at me.”

“Are you certain?” Rosul asked.

“He’s right,” Mitty said.  She was late getting to the meeting, and had just entered the room.  “He told me right off that he could detect that Lyes was gifted.  He wanted to know if there are others.  He was quite interested.”

“Did he tell you anything else?” 

“He told me Lyes’ abilities are locked somehow, whatever that means.  He claims he can unlock them, and then Lyes’ strength would increase greatly.”

Rosul and Kall looked at one another.  “We’ve got to bring him to our side,” Rosul said.  “Did you learn anything else?’

“He says he can make a device that would show who has the gift.”

“That would certainly aid our search for more like us,” Lyes said.

“He also confirmed that Lord Chaten might be right.  He didn’t have time to tell me the background, but he also believes he might be from Sedfair.”

“How can that be and he not know?” Kall asked.

“Even more importantly, if it is true, how did he get to this place he calls the Three Kingdoms?” Queen Rosul asked.

“We must find a way to free him from his bands and convince him to help us,” Mitty pleaded.  “Time is running out.”

Queen Rosul knew that better than anyone.  In a month she would be replaced.  Once that happened, she would no longer be in a position to thwart Carif.  The Saltique would be able to direct the new Queen as to how the prisoners were to be handled.  Given the way Rosul had impeded her, it was likely her approach would be to move quickly and harshly.

The Baldari attack in Fernwah was by far the worst that Sedfair had endured up to this point by a wide margin.  A mounted force of nearly five hundred determined Baldari had struck the inland city, located far to the south of Nals.  Five of the Guild’s Casters had been killed by the invading force, as well as three lesser skilled Army Casters.  One Army Caster had been abducted and carried off by the surviving Baldari.  Over two hundred Army soldiers had been lost as well, not to mention the countless civilians who had been slaughtered.  The number of wounded far exceeded the number killed. 

“Why are we being brought here?” Lorl asked as they stepped through the
Bypass
, or
Doorway,
as the Sedfairians preferred to call it. 

“The Queen asked that we be shown the results of the attack and have a chance to see both the attacking enemy and the odd creatures they ride upon.  I’ve explained to her that we have never encountered the Baldari, and she wanted me to see them firsthand.  I have described the
Duneriders
, and she wondered if they might be related, although from the description I’ve been given, they don’t sound at all the same.”

“I’m surprised that witch that is in charge of their wizards agreed,” Lorl observed.

“It would be too blatantly disrespectful for her to refuse an order from the Queen,” Ash’urn said.  “The request was made quite publicly, and despite the bad blood, the Saltique is bound by law to follow the demands of the Queen.”

Lorl looked at Ash’urn.  “You’ve become quite schooled in the local politics,” he observed.

“The players and the specific issues are somewhat different, but at the heart of the matter the situation here is no different than everywhere else,” Ash’urn noted.  “It’s all about who pulls the strings.”

They were coming in force.  Rigo had learned that nearly a thousand guardsmen had already been sent into the area from the northern territories, which had to have left some of the western border exposed to possible Chull attack, but the Baldari were actually the more formidable problem facing Sedfair.  In addition to the Army forces already in place, they were making the trip with ten Guild Casters.  Kall, the Queen’s consort, had come along as well.  Their minders for the day, in this case Ensay and Bonn, were among the group and not looking too happy about it.  In addition, Rigo recognized Suline and Kirin.  One other of the Casters he had seen before but never learned her name.  The rest were all new to him.  As usual, he found that all of the Casters involved were women, despite the Guild having a significant number of men.  Carif only used those she trusted to attend to matters involving Rigo’s group, and that meant no men.  In charge locally was a Caster named Ardra.  She was apparently out of the loop politically, because she didn’t seem to mind the presence of Rigo and his two friends.  They had been sent by the Queen, and she was quite willing to show them what had happened.  She had shown momentary surprise when she recognized two of the arriving Casters as members of the Eight, as well as the presence of the King, but had said nothing, only acknowledging their arrival with a slight bow.

The cleanup was already underway as they stepped into the main plaza of Fernwah.  Smoke still rose from the ruins of several nearby buildings and the smell of death was ripe in the air.  The human remains were mostly hauled away, but the bodies of the Baldari and both human and enemy mounts still littered the road.  The buildings had been destroyed by collateral damage from the defending Casters, their magical fire igniting the wood that was the primary building material, as they strove to mow down groups of the attackers.

“Who won?” Lorl asked sarcastically as he surveyed the damage.

“That is hard to say,” Ardra replied after Rigo translated Lorl’s remark.  A veteran of many battles with the Baldari, she had no illusions about what they could do.  “The village stands, although almost half of the population was killed.  All of the Army guardsmen who were stationed here were killed, and the village survived only because the Baldari were detected and reinforcements were sent via
Doorway
to be able to resist them.  When it was noted how far from the Wastelands they were and what cities were nearby, it was guessed they were headed here.”

“Why here?” Rigo asked.  He could see nothing that distinguished Fernwah.  It appeared to be a small mining community.

Ardra tapped the end of her staff.  “The power crystals are mined here.  One of the largest deposits of the crystals in all of Sedfair exists here.”

“Did they destroy the mines?” Kall asked, “or were they after the crystals?”

“The latter,” Ardra answered.  “We don’t know how many they were able to get away with since everyone at the mine was killed.  From the look of the storage area, a significant number of the crystals were taken.”

“I thought they didn’t use magic,” Rigo asked.

“That’s what’s odd.  They don’t.  At least we’ve never seen any indication they can.  Their intent cannot have been to deny us the use.  It would have been better to have gone after the mine directly if that was their intent.”

“I assume they were able to get away?” Kall asked.

“Survivors estimate between one and two hundred mounted Baldari escaped.

“Are they always willing to accept such losses?” Rigo asked.

Ardra nodded.  “Frequently the entire attacking force is wiped out.  It is as if they are driven somehow and their individual safety is largely irrelevant.”

“How come no one followed after them?” Ash’urn asked.

“The only surviving Caster was unconscious at the time, and there were no remaining mounts.  By the time the Caster was revived and able to create a
Doorway
to pass the word, they had disappeared toward the border.  Later investigation showed they eluded pursuit partially by unexpectedly heading north until they crossed into the Wastelands.”

“What happened to the mounts of the defenders?” Rigo asked.  “From your description, many of the defending soldiers still lived.”

“Wait until you see the Baldari mounts,” Ardra said.  “They are vicious and the bite from the creatures is venomous.  In the middle of the battle, the surviving Baldari somehow were able to command their mounts to attack.  Even those mounts rider-less and well away from the battle were somehow made to participate.  They appear to be able to command the creatures from afar.  The strange creatures began attacking and biting horses and men wherever they could find them.  The mounts became the graver threat for a while, and all energies had to be expended to stopping them.  When any Baldari was killed, his mount immediately joined the others in attacking.”

“I have never heard of the like,” Ash’urn stated with a shudder.

They had come to where a number of Baldari had fallen with their mounts in the middle of the main roadway.  The trio gazed upon the small fighters and the mounts with their razor-like teeth and scales.  The Baldari fighters were quite unlike the
Duneriders
.  The mounts were unlike anything any of them had seen.  They did not appear artificial.

“Have you checked them for crystals?” Rigo asked.  It was the obvious question.  If they were related to the Hoplani and Duneriders, who like the Baldari, seemed comfortable in the Ruins, then one would expect them to have embedded crystals.

“There are none,” Ardra stated flatly.  “The idea was considered long ago.”

Rigo glanced at Ash’urn and Lorl.  Both shook their heads.  The bodies were chopped up enough that it was quite obvious that they were much like any other human, if somewhat smaller and darker in color than most. 

“Come,” Ardra prompted.  “I will show you the mine which appears to have been their destination.”

The group started down the street, but halfway there encountered dozens of badly wounded guardsmen who had been pulled off to the side in the shade.  Unlike other groups of wounded, no one was tending to these men at all.

“Why aren’t they being helped?” Ash’urn asked, aghast at the callous treatment of men who had risked their lives.

“They have been bitten by the Baldari mounts,” Ardra explained.  “There is nothing that can be done for them.  The bite is invariably fatal, and there are many others who can be saved who are taxing the skills of the physikers.”

Ash’urn glanced at Rigo.  “Healing should overcome any poison, shouldn’t it?”

“Any that we have encountered.  I’m surprised their healers can’t deal with this.”

Kall had overheard the discussion, but not understanding the interchange between Rigo and Ash’urn, asked.  “Is there something you believe can be done?”

“Our magic must be different than yours.  Usually any such wounds are within the capability of our magic to repair.  Poisons are usually cured as well.”

“Do you have such power?”

Rigo shook his head.  “I have proven myself quite inept at healing.  Your Guild killed our most effective healer.  Orna would have been a wonder at this.  But even Lorl has demonstrated some skill in the past.  It would be interesting to see what he can do.”

“Would he be willing to try?” Kall asked, looking intently at Lorl.

Rigo translated Kall’s question.

Lorl held up his hands showing the bands that blocked his magic.

Kall turned to Ensay.  “Release him at once.  If he can help these men he must be allowed to try.”

Ensay shook her head.  “That is in direct contradiction to the orders of the Saltique.  I cannot obey.”

Kall started to reach for his sword.  “As the King I order you to release this man to help.”

Ensay stood her ground.  Others watched the encounter with interest.  Suline was surprised at the hostility showing between the King and the member of the Eight. They were supposed to have common goals.

“Even the Queen could not order this,” she hissed.

Rigo spoke up.  “Use me as hostage, then release Lorl to try.  I guarantee he won’t attempt either to flee or to take any action.”

Lorl shot him a look.  Clearly he’d been thinking of doing just that, but Rigo shook his head.  Lorl’s shoulders slumped, but he nodded.

Ensay wasn’t willing to bend. The Saltique had given her orders and she wasn’t about to violate them.

A sharp crackle of energy shot from Ardra toward Lorl.  Almost instantly, the bands that had encircled his arms and neck fell away.  Ensay looked toward the Caster who had dared to do this, her staff starting to glow brightly.

“How dare you do such a thing?” she hissed.

“These men and hundreds like them have fought and died for Sedfair.  If this man can possibly help a few of them survive, they deserve the chance to be saved.  Whatever the politics surrounding these men might be, it has no place here.”  She stared back at the senior member of the Saltique’s cadre unflinchingly.  She was prepared to repulse any attack from the older woman.  She had noted the bands worn by the men and had wondered what they were about, but had decided it wasn’t her place to question.  This was different.  She knew she was risking her future, but that was secondary to the lives of her people.

Lorl had already moved toward the first of the moaning men.  He knelt next to the man and let his magic flare.  The glow flowed from his hands into the man, and then sharply intensified in color.  The Casters watched, wondering what would happen.

“It’s incredibly virulent,” Lorl shouted back toward Rigo, “but it can be neutralized.”

A few moments longer and the glow of healing magic began to subside.  As Lorl removed his hands from the arm of the man he’d just saved, the soldier opened his eyes and looked at him.

“May the Guild be praised,” the man said.

Lorl had heard the phrase many times since being imprisoned in Sedfair, and Rigo had told him what it meant.  “The Guild had nothing to do with it,” Lorl said caustically even though the man wouldn’t understand him, and quickly moved on to the next ailing guardsman.  Over the next quarter glass he was able to purge the poison from all of the men on the ground even repairing a badly cut and broken arm of one of the victims.  When he was finished, it was impossible to tell the arm had ever been damaged.

“I have never seen such skills before,” Ardra said as she observed the results of Lorl’s efforts.  “You say he is less skillful than another of your group?”

“There are many that are more skilled than the three of us,” Rigo replied.  “Our best healers would be faster and even more effective.”  He stood between Ensay and Bonn, whose staffs glowed against any need to attack.  One of the Guild’s guards had his sword firmly planted in Rigo’s back.  Any unexpected action by Lorl would result in his being killed.

Ash’urn was similarly surrounded.  The rest of the Casters had their staffs ready and watched Lorl’s every move.  Suline was one of these, but she was more interested in what Lorl would do when he was finished than she was in attacking him.

When the last of the wounded men had been helped, Lorl turned and walked back to the group.  He stared purposefully into the eyes of Ensay, then he held out his hands, making it clear he was surrendering and she could replace the bands.  No one present had any doubt his magic was strong and he could have caused trouble, and all without a staff or any preparation.