Into The Ruins (68 page)

She would have to move very carefully.  One step at a time, especially since her resources were limited and Rosul had powerful supporters.  A first step would be assassinations.  Rosul was certainly among those she hoped to eliminate.  That would take planning.  Her people had already informed her that the castle was now blocked.  She’d had an informant inside who’d brought interesting information, but who was now unable to return. 
Doorways
inside the castle would no longer form. It was doubtful that the informant would be able to sneak back in by conventional means, but Carif had given her orders to try.  It would probably be easier to proceed with assassinations of a couple of the leaders of the kingdoms in the western lands.  They wouldn’t be expecting attacks of such a nature there.

Carif fingered the amulet she still wore around her neck.  It was the one that had been taken from the westerner.  She had thirty of the copies still in her possession, but they failed alarmingly fast.  Unfortunately, they wouldn’t be making any more for a time.  Mande, the skillful Caster who had been able to make the only copies they had, had needed support from Shym to do so.  For now, Shym was in too much discomfort to concentrate, and Mande had found no one else who was able to provide the necessary skills.  That meant they had to use each one carefully.  Once they were gone, they would be unable to cross the vast desert wasteland.  Carif had hoped to acquire a larger number of the original devices, but the newer armbands couldn’t be used, and even Mande threw up her arms in frustration when she examined the devices.   

Carif’s most ambitious plan had been the possibility of bringing back the plague.  She had found that people knew how it originated and spread, but given that the Three Kingdoms had suffered a recurrence not so very long ago, she was told their immunity would be too great for the plague to take hold.  Individuals could be targeted, but that was all.  She’d given up the idea as unworkable.  There were quicker, easier ways to kill individuals. 

She’d also given up any hope of taking the two critical oases occupied by the westerners.  Fighting a battle and then holding the locations against a determined force would tax her resources.  That was especially true now that the westerners had shown they could overcome the blocking spells.  That meant the spells in place in the oasis would hinder her people, but not those from the west. 

The biggest chance appeared to be the Hoplani.  The Reading they had just completed validated her belief that the destruction of the barrier had been devastating to the Three Kingdoms.  They were fighting a battle that taxed their abilities.  Her earlier idea of shipping the Chulls into their cities seemed potentially the best idea to keep them at a disadvantage.  She would have to see what could be done to create truly large
Doorways
, so herds of the creatures could be passed quickly.  A second advantage to this approach was her people could operate freely in the Wastelands near the western lands, without requiring frequent use of the limited number of amulets they had.  The Wastelands weren’t blocked there as they were near Sedfair.

Carif thought about putting the plans in motion.  While they were being implemented, she would consider how to get at Queen Rosul, and the wizard named Rigo.  She cursed that she hadn’t killed him when she’d had the opportunity.  Carif couldn’t see how she could use what she had just learned about his friends back in the Three Kingdoms.  The fact he was close to Queen Rosul, and had apparently formed an attachment to a young woman named Mitty here in Sedfair might just be the key to inflicting her revenge on the troublesome outsider.

“Saltique?” softly questioned a pale looking Ensay.

“Yes?” Carif replied, turning toward her Specialist.  She hadn’t heard the woman come in.

“I just returned.  I thought you’d be interested in this.  Queen Rosul has appointed someone to head the Guild temporarily.”

Carif’s eyes flashed angrily at the very idea, but she took the piece of parchment that Ensay held out.  Quickly she scanned the document, her breath hissing between her teeth as she read.

“She dares to do this?” she asked.  “I know Ardra.  She is a capable Caster, and is probably doing what she sees as best.  She does not know of our plans.  Depending on her actions, I might be able to forgive her.  But to raise a man to be an equal partner in the leadership is unacceptable.  He has not even been formally awarded the staff, yet Rosul intends him to lead our people?”

Somewhat uncertainly, Ensay said, “At least you know where he is now.”

Carif’s eyes briefly met those of her wounded subordinate.  “Yes. Yes we do.  I have been wondering where young Lyes went.  Now we know just where to find him when the time is right.”

“Where’s your friend?” Ardra asked, when she greeted Rigo and Ash’urn as they made their way through the gathering of nobles and other important members of Nals upper society during the special event Queen Rosul had insisted must be held.  Ardra, a stunning redhead, looked as much at home here in high society as she had dressed in dirty and worn leather armor on the battlefield after encountering the Baldari.  Her long reddish curls were decorated in the local style, adorned with a number of colored crystals that caught the light and brought the highlights to one’s attention.  Her dark brown eyes watched Rigo openly as he spoke.  The dress she wore was a bit garish based on Three Kingdoms’ fashion, but fit in well here and certainly accented a marvelous figure.  Even Ash’urn, with his friend Shara in tow, couldn’t help but notice. 

“He was killed during the attack on the Saltique’s quarters,” Rigo said softly.  Lorl had sometimes been brash, but he and Rigo had traveled many days together, and he felt the loss of another who he had brought into his adventures.

“That is too bad,” Ardra said sincerely.  “He appeared to be a good man, and certainly was skilled with healing.  He saved many of the men that day with his efforts.”

“Too many have been lost because of the actions of the former Saltique,” Rigo replied harshly.  He felt the pressure of Mitty’s hand on his arm, cautioning him this wasn’t the time for such discussions.  He looked briefly at the woman who stood beside him, dressed even more formally than Ardra, with some of the same kind of sparkling jewels in her hair.  He had never seen Mitty look so beautiful, and despite his discomfort at having her back where Carif might be able to harm her, he was pleased to have her at his side.

The party was being held in an open area of the castle.  A great many wizards were on hand, including the full force of Queen Rosul’s private group of newly minted wizards from the secret society she had kept on the island for so long.  They were mixed in among the guests, ready to respond to any action from Carif’s Casters.  Rigo had tried to talk the Queen out of this public display, but she had overruled him.  It was important that she reconnect with the Hundred Families if she were to rule effectively.  Many were uncomfortable with the declarations she had passed down of late, and she needed to win their support.  It was important that she could align the nobles of Sedfair against the actions taken by Carif.  She needed to bring them in line with her ideas for the Guild, and bring those Casters who had been innocent of Carif’s actions back together.  She also wanted the military fully supportive of her new plans.  She was going against long established tradition, and without the full support of these people, her attempts at setting Sedfair along the proper path would be extremely difficult.  Many of the Hundred families also wanted to meet representatives from the Three Kingdoms, hence Rigo, Ash’urn, Jeen, and a few others were here openly.  Rigo had others here concealed in other ways that hopefully hadn’t been detected.

Entry to the castle was via a special corridor and all guests were monitored carefully for any sign of anything that could be used in place of a staff for Casting purposes.  Without such aids, Carif’s people would be unable to be very effective.  Most areas of the castle remained off limits, and the area where the party was taking place was fully blocked by the magical glyphs, which restricted Carif, but not Rigo’s people.  The special armbands had been given to the Queen’s wizards as well, so they would be able to call upon their newly acquired magical powers if needed.  There had been arguments about this among those back at the Outpost, but the armbands were made in such a manner that even if they were taken by one of Carif’s people, they had been Linked to the specific users when supplied, making them useless to anyone else.  In addition to the wizards, Rosul had ensured a large contingent of her personal guard was on hand, armed against any more standard type of attack.   It should be safe enough, but Rigo would be happier when the evening was over.

Returning to the previous subject, Rigo said, “You will have healers with the same level of skills to support teams in the field from now on.  Lyes’ people, those with ability in inherent magic, have been trained in the healing arts.  A number are quite proficient now.  If any call of an attack is received, at least one qualified healer will be dispatched with the combat Casters and wizards who respond.”

Lyes has said as much,” Ardra replied.  While she was a capable Caster, and skilled at fighting, she lacked the spark that would have allowed her to learn the inherent magic.  That meant she didn’t entirely understand what Lyes and his people could do after so little time.  It was one reason that Rosul had wanted the top position in the Guild to be manned by both Ardra and Lyes.  Their skills spanned both disciplines, in addition to having both a man and a woman as the top members of the Guild.  Rosul was sending a message to all with magical ability.  No longer would there be any favoritism driven by one’s sex.

“I think she and Lyes will be better leaders than Carif,” Mitty said softly as she and Rigo made their way across the floor after leaving Ardra. 

“Carif was interested in what she could extract from the Guild for herself,” Rigo said.  “Ardra appears to have the well being of those under her as a primary concern.  She and Lyes have a major effort ahead of them.  They have to spread the word about the changes in the Guild around Sedfair, while searching for any sign of Carif and her followers.  She has to coordinate the Army in its fight against the Chulls, and be ready to respond to any Baldari attacks.  There has been a bit of a lull since the last major attack, which might be significant.”

Mitty was silent as she considered telling Rigo about her dreams.  This wasn’t the time, she decided.  She had hopes of returning to the Three Kingdoms and speaking with Queen Mos’pera before revealing them to anyone else.  She planned to corner Jeen this evening and ask about going back to Sulen briefly with her.

“She’s going to be difficult to catch, isn’t she?” Mitty asked, referring to Carif.  As yet they had no idea where she was or what plans she might be formulating.  Rigo worried about actions she might attempt here in Sedfair, he couldn’t see her giving up easily, but also what actions she might be able to take back in his homeland.

“She is very accomplished, as are some of her key people.  That makes it difficult to find her, and hold her if we do.  I’d never considered the problems associated with a wizard on wizard confrontation.  Each of us possesses the power to destroy the other, but at the same time neither can block the killing power of the other.  We need to learn where she hides, and somehow block her power so she can be taken, or we need to lure her where we control the situation.”

“She is too clever to allow that to happen,” Mitty said doubtfully. 

“That is why it is likely many more will die before this is resolved.  Some of her magic I can overcome, but she controls a beam of greenish energy that is extremely destructive and which I cannot block.  That makes her incredibly dangerous.”

“I thought you said Ash’urn is looking into that?”

“He and Lyes are going through the materials in the library at the Guild Headquarters to see if anything that explains the magic can be found.  From what we know at the moment, only Carif and her most trusted Casters, probably only members of the Eight,  appear to have learned the secret.  We’ve wanted to capture one of their staffs, but thus far have been unsuccessful.  It makes me wonder if that secret was one of the reasons Carif destroyed the residences.  We might not be able to find the answer we seek.”

“If you capture some of her people, can’t you have a Reading performed on them to learn what they know?”

Rigo shuddered.  “That has been suggested, but I’m not comfortable with it.  It is a decision to be made if we acquire someone with the knowledge we want.  Maybe they can be convinced to reveal what we seek by the mere threat of such an action.”

“I was hoping to encounter you,” said a voice interrupting their discussion.  Mitty and Rigo turned toward the voice, and Rigo recognized Lord Chaten.  The elder noble’s eyes quickly took in Rigo’s wrists, which had been banded the last time they met.

Mitty bowed slightly, noting the nobleman’s position.  Rigo smiled, and said “I was hoping to speak with you as well.  Queen Rosul ensured me you would be present.”

There was no reason to be circumspect this time, and Lord Chaten broached the subject of Rigo’s possible heritage as soon as the formalities of greeting were accounted for.  He asked what memories Rigo had, and if he could recall any of his younger years.  While they talked, Mitty excused herself.  She had seen Jeen across the room, and took the opportunity to speak with her alone.  When she returned with Jeen in tow a short time later, Lord Chaten was just finishing up.  “I think you need to visit the estates,” he said.  “It might trigger more memories.  I am encouraged that you recalled what you did.”  He bowed, and made his departing remarks to the ladies, and then headed toward the Queen.

“You remembered something?” Jeen asked, having overheard the last of the discussion as she and Mitty approached Rigo.

“Most of what he described to me might as well have never happened,” Rigo said.  “But I might have vague recollections of my mother.  I recalled an eye patch in an otherwise striking woman.  Lord Chaten says my mother, or at least the woman who he believes was my mother, had lost an eye at an early age from a childhood accident.  It’s an unusual enough coincidence that it would be interesting to follow up.  I think I’ll want to visit the estates when the situation permits.  Maybe I can find some answers.”

Mitty examined Rigo carefully.  She sensed he was hopeful he might have found something that would tell him about his early life.  She took his arm and held it close.

“You have that look,” Rigo said to Jeen.  “You have something you want to tell me.”

Jeen smiled.  “I can make masked
Bypass
portals,” she said with a barely suppressed grin.

Rigo’s eyes widened. “How did you learn that?”

“Lyes,” she replied.

“First Ash’urn, and now you,” Rigo complained.  “How is it he can teach you and not me?”  Rigo was glad that more were learning the skill, but it was something he dearly wished to know.

Jeen laughed.  “He can now.  A few days ago you passed him the ability to ‘teach’ our magic to others, so any new prospects with the gift can be trained here rather than at the Outpost.  He discovered he could pass the masking skill to some of those he worked with.  It isn’t something everyone can do, but we have a half dozen with the ability now.  When he told me, I asked him to try with me.  It worked.  Tomorrow I’ll see if I can pass it on to you.”

“I thought you were going home tonight?” Rigo asked.

“Something came up.  I decided to stay until tomorrow.  We can make the attempt before I leave.”  Then Jeen looked past Rigo’s shoulder.  “Duty calls,” she said.  “The Queen has a new group she wants me to meet.”

It was very late when the party guests had all departed, and Rigo and the other wizards could relax.  The usual guard was posted, and finally Rigo was free to retire.  Mitty and he both had rooms in the castle, but they were in different wings.  Her quarters were closer, but Mitty indicated she wanted to talk with him, and they walked arm in arm toward his room.  She didn’t get around to leaving for her own room that night.