Kazin's Quest: Book I of The Dragon Mage Trilogy (22 page)

“You better get those injuries looked at,” said Kazin, shaking the dwarf’s hand.

“It’s nothing,” said the dwarf.

“Nonsense,” said the bartender, joining them. “Samantha, get me some ointment.” The serving girl ran into the kitchen. “As far as I’m concerned, your meals and drinks are free tonight.”

“That’s not your decision!” said a voice from the doorway.

“Shut up, Harry,” said the bartender. “If it wasn’t for these guys, you’d have a lot more damage on your hands. Here.” He tossed Chuck’s pouch to the little man in the doorway. “That should more than cover everything.”

The short man looked into the purse. His eyes widened momentarily and he turned and left the room without saying another word.

“My boss,” stated the bartender, pointing over his shoulder. “He lets me talk to him that way because if I leave, he’s got nothing. Nobody’ll work for him for the peanuts he gives me and my daughter.”

“Then why do you work for him?” asked Kazin.

The bartender grinned. “Who else gets to order their boss around?”

Samantha returned with some ointment and bandages.

“Thank you, dear,” said the bartender. “By the way, I’m Jim.”

“Kazin,” said Kazin.

“And you are?” asked Jim, applying ointment to the dwarf’s wounds.

“In pain,” said the dwarf, wincing in pain. “Harran Mapmaker, at your service.”

“A map maker, eh?” said Jim. “You dwarves are known for never getting lost. Which prompts me to ask, what brings you so far from your homeland?”

Harran looked uncomfortable. “I thought I’d explore some new territory for a change. Ow!”

“Sorry. That should do—for now anyway. If you need anything, just ask,” said Jim.

“Thanks,” muttered the dwarf.

Samantha placed two mugs of fresh ale on the table in front of them. “On the house,” she said, smiling. “Thank you.”

Harran looked up at her and she blushed. “Not at all,” he said.

“Samantha, let’s get this mess cleaned up,” called Jim from across the room. The girl quickly obeyed.

“So what do you do for a living?” inquired the dwarf, looking at Kazin.

Kazin knew from stories he’d heard that dwarves wouldn’t call you by name unless they got to know you. This dwarf was obviously no different. Kazin also thought about what Krendal had said about keeping a low profile. However, he didn’t say anything about lying. “I’m a black mage,” said Kazin, trying to keep things general.

Harran almost choked on his ale. A mage! A mage helping him out of a jam, no less! “You don’t dress like a mage,” he managed after a moment.

“That’s right,” said Kazin. “It’s easier to travel that way.”

“I see,” said the dwarf. “Why didn’t you drive those hooligans away with your magic?”

“First of all,” said Kazin, “I don’t use magic for every situation that comes up. That would be a waste of energy. Secondly, I felt that justice would be better served if primitive force were used in this instance. Bullies are more shamed when they’re beaten on their own turf and by their own rules. Thirdly, I had no doubt that you and I could easily handle them together.”

Harran stuck his chest out proudly. “Yes, you’re right there. Those thugs were no match for the two of us! Let’s drink to our victory!” He held out his mug of ale.

Kazin tapped it with his mug and they drank. The dwarf seemed to be warming up to him.

“Where are you headed?” asked Kazin.

“Arral,” said Harran. “Maybe they need some stone masons there. You?”

“I’m off to Sorcerer’s Isle. I go as far as Arral and book passage from there by ship.”

Harran nodded. “I hope I get there in one piece. More humans resent dwarves than I expected. I’ve already been robbed once. And now this,” he said, indicating the broken chairs nearby. He downed the rest of his ale in one gulp and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.

“You’re welcome to join me,” said Kazin, “at least as far as Arral.”

Harran looked up. “Normally I resent mages. I had some bad experiences in the mountains with some lizardmages. But, heck, if I can travel with a minotaur, why not with a mage?”

“You travelled with a minotaur?!”

“Oh, yes, and a royal one at that!” Harran signalled the bar tender for some more ale. “You see, it all started one day while I was…”

Chapter 20

A
rral was bustling with activity when Harran and Kazin arrived around dusk several days later. A few vendors were closing their shops but a majority of them continued to call out to the thinning crowds in the hopes of making one last sale. Foot patrols were about, ready to intervene if there were any commotions or signs of trouble.

Kazin and Harran stopped before the Lambchop Inn where they prepared to say goodbye to one another.

“Good luck, Harran,” said Kazin. “I hope you find work in this city.”

“Thanks,” said Harran. “Have a good voyage back home.” He held out his hand. “Sure you don’t want to stop for an ale or two?”

“No thanks,” said Kazin, shaking his hand. “I’d better find that contact of mine and book a ship as quickly as possible. I’m sure they’re waiting for me at the tower. I’ll be sure to mention those lizardmages you told me about, too.”

“If they’ll believe you,” muttered Harran. “Most people are inclined to ignore stories like that, you know.”

“I won’t know unless I try,” said Kazin. “It might be important information.”

“Suit yourself,” said Harran, dismounting.

The two friends parted and Kazin located his first contact, who took care of his horse. From there he only had to go two blocks to reach the bridge leading to West Arral. At the gatehouse a guard, wearing polished chain mail and a shiny silver helmet with a bright blue plume protruding from it, stepped forward and barred his way.

“Entry is forbidden without the proper documents,” said the guard in a formal tone.

Kazin pulled out the documents Benjamin had given him and handed them to the guard.

The guard examined them and handed them back to Kazin. “Everything seems to be in order.” He stepped aside and opened the gate leading to the bridge. “You may proceed.”

Kazin nodded and stepped past him and climbed the gentle slope of the bridge. Near its apex some children were hanging onto the side rails and looking down at the ships in the harbour. Kazin stopped and had a look himself. Despite the large number of ships present, many docks were still vacant. One ship, called the ‘Dartlash’, was heading into Skull Lake and two were just arriving from downstream. The closer one was named ‘Farrow’ and the one behind was ‘Quinlan’. Several smaller vessels bobbed nearby, waiting for the larger ships to maneuver into their docking positions.

The sky was beginning to darken and Kazin tore his gaze away from the scene below to make his way down the other side of the bridge. A patrolman was stationed at the bottom. As Kazin approached, the patrolman turned to him.

“Good evening, sir,” he said.

“Good evening,” answered Kazin. “Which way is it to Frode Street?”

The patrolman pointed. “Six blocks straight ahead. Turn left at Range Street and go three blocks south to reach Frode Street.”

“Thank you,” said Kazin. “Good night.”

“Good night,” answered the patrolman.

Kazin was awed by the size of the houses on this side of the river. The mansions were enormous, easily reaching up to four floors. The further he got away from the waterfront, however, the smaller and shabbier the houses became. When he finally reached Frode Street, the houses were a typical two stories and their construction was relatively simple.

Kazin turned right and followed the numbers until he finally came to the one he was looking for. He stepped up to the door and rapped with the knocker. A lantern was lit inside and someone opened the door slowly but not too far.

“Yes?” came a raspy voice.

“I’ve come to speak to a mage called Andron regarding booking passage to Sorcerer’s Isle,” said Kazin.

“You don’t look like a mage,” said the voice.

Kazin wasn’t sure how to answer. He stuck with the truth. “I’m traveling in disguise.”

The door opened wider, and then narrowed again. “What’s the password?”

Now Kazin was stumped. “What password?”

The voice swore. “First they use passwords, and then they don’t. How am I supposed to do my job if they keep changing the rules?” The door opened completely. “Come in, come in,” said the voice, irritated but friendly.

Kazin entered a small, dark hallway and closed the door behind him.

“What’s your name, son?” asked the owner of the voice.

Before Kazin was a short, shaggy man wearing a plain, low rank robe. The man’s wrinkled face looked almost eerie in the flickering light of the lantern. “I’m Kazin,” answered Kazin uncertainly.

“Just Kazin?” asked the man. “What is your rank?”

“Master mage,” said Kazin. “What is your name?”

The short man sighed. “Just plain old Andron. No master mage or arch mage or any of that baloney.”

Kazin didn’t know what to say.

“Who sent you?” asked Andron.

“Master Mage Benjamin of the Tower of the Stars,” answered Kazin.

“Benjamin, eh?” said Andron. “Of course he’d forget to give you a password. He’d forget his brain if there was one. How someone like that could pass the test is beyond me.” Andron shook his head. “Come with me.”

Kazin followed Andron down a hallway to a room in the back. Four chairs and a table with some books on it were the only furnishings in the room.

“Have a seat, Kazin,” said Andron. Kazin sat down. Andron pulled a book from the pile and rifled through its pages. “Here we go.” He held it closer to the lantern. “The Dartlash, commanded by Captain Gilmar, should be in port and preparing to sail for Sorcerer’s Isle within the next day or two. We’ll go and see him at first light.”

“I’m sorry, sir—Andron,” said Kazin. “I just saw the Dartlash departing as I crossed the bridge on my way here.”

Andron looked up from his book. He swore softly. “So he’s ahead of schedule this year, is he? Typical!” Andron rifled through some more pages. “The Quinlan is due to hit Arral in a couple of days. We’ll have to wait until he gets here and book passage then. Maybe he’ll stop at the island on the way to Warral.”

“We won’t have to wait long,” said Kazin. “I saw that ship pulling in this evening.”

Andron looked up from his book and blinked. “Bloody sailors. Don’t they know how to follow a schedule?” He sat down. “I’ll make a note to get a more recent schedule from her captain.”

“Is that how you decide which ship to book?” asked Kazin.

“Essentially,” said Andron. “When your job involves booking passage for the tower, you become very acquainted with the ship’s captains. After a drink or two, they’re more than willing to give you a copy of their shipping schedule for the next six months or so. This situation is a little different in that many of them are arriving for the first time since spring thaw. It’s hard to tell when they’ll get here, and when they do, I need to be ready to get their schedules in case they’re needed. After a while you can tell exactly when some of them are going to show. Take the captain of the Dartlash, for example. For the past ten years he’s come and gone on exactly the same dates. Until today, that is.”

“It sounds difficult,” remarked Kazin. “Surely that’s not all the tower needs you to do. Don’t you have any magical tasks?”

“Very little,” said Andron. “At the very least, I magically make it look like I’m drinking as much as the captains do when I’m trying to get their schedules from them. Sometimes I have to drink them under the table for it. Beyond that, I have very little need of magic. My station doesn’t permit it.”

“What do you mean?” asked Kazin.

“I’m a failed mage, my boy,” said Andron, “no more powerful than an apprentice.”

Kazin was surprised. “So the tower sent you here to work for them?”

“That’s right. Actually, I’ve lived here all my life. My father ran a business here. He wanted me to take over from him. I had other ideas. I wanted to be a mage so I ran away from home and took a shot at it. When I failed, my father disowned me, and the tower stepped in and gave me this job. I’ve been at it ever since.”

“At least the tower helped you out,” said Kazin.

“That was their promise,” said Andron. “I would have held them to it regardless.”

Kazin and Andron talked a while longer and finally Andron led Kazin to a spare bedroom.

The next morning they rose early, had a light breakfast, and left for the docks. A large number of residents were crossing the bridge back to East Arral on their way to work. This was a different bridge from the one Kazin crossed last night. This one was for eastbound traffic only.

Andron led them to the pier where the Quinlan was docked. “Ahoy!” he yelled.

“Ahoy!” answered a sailor from the deck.

“Where’s Captain Bentack?” asked Andron.

“I’ll get him,” answered the sailor. “Whom should I say is calling?”

“Andron!” yelled Andron.

The sailor disappeared from sight. Within moments another man appeared over the rail. He had no hair except for his long red beard. “Well, well, well! If it isn’t my old drinkin’ buddy! How’s the ale supply this year, Andron?”

“It still needs agin’,” said Andron. “You’re early!”

“I know,” said Captain Bentack. “One of my customers wants his spring shipment early. He’s offering double the price if he gets it within the next couple of days!”

“Have you got time to make a quick stop at Sorcerer’s Island on your way to Warral?” asked Andron.

Bentack frowned. “It’ll be cuttin’ it close. We’ll have to cancel our drinkin’ binge to pull it off.”

“That’s O.K.,” said Andron. “We can make up for it on your return trip.”

Captain Bentack smiled, displaying a missing tooth. “Whad’ya got in mind?”

“I’ve got a passenger needing a ride to the tower. Can you do it?”

“If you got the coins for it,” said Bentack.

Andron jingled a pouch at his side.

Bentack chuckled. “Let ‘im aboard. Lower the plank!”

The plank was lowered and Kazin and Andron climbed up to the deck.

Andron paid Bentack and winked at Kazin. “I’ve got to go. I’ve spotted a new ship in the harbour. It’s time I got acquainted with the captain of the Farlow.” Andron slapped Kazin on the back. “Have a good voyage, Kazin.”