Nature's Peril Part 1 (The Nature Mage Series) (6 page)

“
Drillmaster!” he called, getting the grizzled soldier’s attention.

“Gaspi?” Trask answered
, raising a bushy eyebrow quizzically. “What are you doing here?”

“There’s something I need t
o speak to Taurnil about,” he said in a rush. “It’s really important, and I was wondering if you would let him off rounds?”

“What’s this all about?” Trask asked
, folding his arms across his chest. He didn’t exactly look unfriendly, but it wasn’t the reception Gaspi had hoped for either.

“I can’t tell you,” Gaspi said, wincing inwardly even as he said it.

“Then I can’t let Taurnil off rounds,” Trask said. “If I take him off, someone else has to go on, and that’s hardly fair is it?”

“Sorry drillmaster
, you’re right,” Gaspi said, realising he was being pushy. He was so used to being listened to in the college - particularly by Hephistole - that he sometimes forgot it didn’t work that way with other people. “I’ll wait.”

“Good lad,” Trask responded. “The watch changes in an hour
. I’ll let him know you’re waiting.”

“I’ll be over there,” Gaspi said, indicating a tavern across
the street.

“Right you are,” Trask responded.

Gaspi walked across the street and took a seat outside. The serving girl came out and took his order, and within a couple of minutes he was sipping on a cup of tea, waiting for his friend. He dwelt on his unthinkable idea while Taurnil was finishing up his rounds, considering it from every angle. He was so absorbed by it in fact, that he let the tea go cold on the table in front of him, and didn’t even hear Taurnil’s footsteps as he approached.

“What’
s going on Gasp?”

“Taurn!
Sit down mate. I need to talk to you.”

“Sure,” Taurnil said, pulling another chair across and sitting down opposite his friend.
“What’s got you so worked up?”

Gaspi looked at his friend intently. “
We need to go to Pell.”

“Is that all?” Taurnil responded, clearly confused.
“I thought we already knew that.”

“No, I mean we
need to go
now
!” Gaspi said.

Taurnil leant back against the seat. “What makes you say that?”

“We’re just waiting around doing
nothing
!” Gaspi said. “We don’t know when the spirits will return, and you can bet your life that Sestin isn’t sitting on his hands letting the time pass! For all we know, the Darkman could already be loose!”

“I know what you’re saying
,” Taurnil said. “You know I’d prefer to act, but we’re waiting for the spirits. Hephistole didn’t want to send the girls into danger unless it was absolutely certain it was the right thing. Besides, Lydia isn’t in any state to travel.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Gaspi responded, leaning
forward. “There’s no real reason to think the Emmy and Lydia should come on the mission. Waiting for the spirits was Rimulth’s idea, but Hephistole has latched onto it. I reckon he’s using it as an excuse not to act. I went to see him earlier and he’s a wreck.

“A wreck? Hephistole?” Taurnil asked.

“He’s blaming himself for Everand’s death, and for Ferast’s choices too.”

“You what? Ferast too?” Taurnil responded incredulously.

“I know. It’s mental, but Hephistole is totally broken by it.”

“So what are you saying?” Taurnil asked.

“I’m saying we can’t rely on Hephistole, and we can’t wait for the spirits. It’s down to us Taurn. The quest is the most important thing right now, so I say we get on with it. We leave the girls behind. Rimulth isn’t a battle mage so I reckon he should stay too. We just take the warriors and Voltan, and leave without telling the others.”

“They
’ll be furious,” Taurnil said.

“Yes they will
.”

“I guess there’s no helping that,” Taurnil said
slowly, weighing it up in his mind. “And it would mean they won’t be in danger. Lydia can have more time to get better, and Emmy will be here to look after her.” Gaspi could see his best friend was talking himself into it. “We’d have to get Voltan on board,” Taurnil continued. “There’s no way the warriors would follow us unless he’s leading the quest.”

“So you’re in?” Gaspi asked.

Taurnil hesitated one more moment. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes I’m in.”

“Then let’s go see Voltan.
”

…

“So let me get this right,” Voltan said, his gaze switching back and forth between Gaspi and Taurnil. “You think Hephistole isn’t in a fit state to make this decision, and you think we should sneak out of the city without his permission?”

“Yes,” Gaspi answered. There was no point beating around the bush. “What do
you
think about Hephistole?” he asked. Surely Voltan was aware of how the chancellor was behaving.

The warrior mage
stared above Gaspi’s head for a moment, a far-off look in his dark eyes. “He is a great man,” he said after a while. “I never thought to see him like this.”

“No-one
’s perfect,” Gaspi said, sensing agreement. “Heppy’s like family to me, but no-one is more important than the fight against Sestin, and if the Darkman is loose then we are putting the whole city in danger by staying here.”

Volt
an sat back, frowning so fiercely it looked like his eyebrows were wrestling each other. He was silent for a good while, absorbing what Gaspi had said. Gaspi sweated it out, wondering if he’d crossed a line, and if he had, how far over it he was. Suddenly Voltan leant forwards, meeting Gaspi’s gaze once more.

“I have never done anything behind Hephistole’s back before, but you may
have the right of it.” Gaspi let out a sigh of relief. “The chancellor cannot be held responsible for his actions at the moment, and there is much more at stake than his feelings. I commend you on your clear sight Gaspi, but I want another chance to speak with him before we make such a drastic decision.” Gaspi opened his mouth to speak, but Voltan interrupted him. “Don’t worry, I will not give away what we’ve discussed.”

“Okay Sir,” Gaspi responded
.

“But Gaspi,” Voltan continued. “If we do this, we’re not taking your girlfriends.”

“Our thoughts exactly,” Gaspi said, and Taurnil grunted in agreement. “Rimulth should stay behind too.”

“Agreed,” Voltan said. “
Battle mages only, and we’ll need all the warriors.”

“Absolutely,” Gaspi said.

“What about the enchanted weaponry?” Taurnil asked. “Can we take some of it with us?”

“I feel bad enough planning to go behind Hephistole’s back!” Voltan said. “I won’t add theft to the list of offenses.”

“Sorry,” Taurnil mumbled.

“No need to be sorry,” Voltan said. “You’re just thinking of the quest. Even if I
was
willing to take something, Hephistole has surrounded the rack with a sensitive magical trigger. If anyone tried to take anything from it, he’d know straight away.” Taurnil grunted. “It’s time for you to go,” Voltan said, standing up snappily. Gaspi and Taurnil quickly joined him. “I will speak with Hephistole, but if nothing changes, we will leave tonight, at the turning of fourth watch. Pack light, and wait for me in Gaspi’s room. If we’re doing this, I will come and find you. We will need to leave quickly, so be ready.”

“Yes Sir,” Gaspi responded, turning to leave.

“Be careful,” Voltan said as Gaspi opened the door to the office. “No sorrowful goodbyes, however well-hidden you think they might be. Emea and Lydia will see through it.”

“Okay,” Gaspi said,
echoed by Taurnil, and the two of them stepped out into the corridor. Taurnil shut the door behind them and they walked to the transporter.

“Atrium,”
Gaspi said, so focussed on what they were planning on doing that he didn’t even notice the unpleasant effects of transportation.

…

Taurnil sat on Gaspi’s bed, fully packed and ready to go. He was wearing a chain mail vest beneath his cloak, belted at the waist and extending down to his knees. He wore a heavy knife at his waist, a baldric of throwing knives across his chest, and of course, he carried his staff. Along with all of that, he had a longbow harnessed to his back, and a thick cluster of arrows protruding from a separate compartment in that same harness. With the exception of the bow and arrows - a recent addition to his deadly armoury - it was the same gear he’d worn for the Measure. Gaspi had tested the magical strength of each piece, and was pleased to discover his enchantments had held well.

Voltan wasn’t due to collect them for another hour, and although Gaspi had his equipment ready, it was still laid out on his bed. Late spring was turning
into early summer, so he’d managed to get his enchanted cloak back from Emmy without any complaints, as she only used it in cold weather. It lay on his bed next to a set of sturdy travelling clothes, and the baldric of throwing knives he would also strap across his torso.

A
gentle knock sounded at the door. Emmy! Taurnil shot him a panicked glance. Gaspi held a finger to his lips and motioned for him to stand behind the door. Taurnil tiptoed over as fast as he dared, and Gaspi approached the door.

The knock sounded again
. “Gasp?” Emmy called quietly from the other side. Bracing himself, Gaspi turned the handle and pulled the door open.

“Hi Emmy,” he said, rubbing at his eyes in a fair imitation of
exhaustion. “What’s going on?”

“I was lonely,” she said with a winning smile
. “Can I come in?”

“I’m so tired Emmy,” Gaspi said, faking a massive yawn.

“I don’t mind,” she said sweetly, reaching out and bunching the loose folds of his shirt in her hands. “You can fall asleep while I talk to you.”

“Not tonigh
t Emmy,” Gaspi said. “I really don’t feel up to company. I just need to get some sleep.”

“Oh!” Emmy said with a look of surprise. She
let go of his shirt. “Are you okay Gasp?” Gaspi wasn’t surprised she was shocked - he always let her in normally, no matter how tired he was.

“Yeah. Honestly Emmy, I’m just
really tired.”

“Okay, if you’re sure,”
she said, stepping back from the door. She looked hurt, and Gaspi had to repress the urge to confess all and take her in his arms.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, pushing the door closed.

“Do you think she bought it?” Taurnil whispered.

Gaspi shushed him. “Wait a moment,” he whispered, listening intently
until her footsteps had faded. He slumped down on his bed and looked at Taurnil with a pained expression.

“I
hated
that!” he said, putting his head in his hands and tightening his fingers around his hair until it hurt. “I
never
lie to Emmy! She looked upset!”

“Sorry Gasp,” Taurnil said. “I’d hate it too. Just try and remember we’re doing this to protect them.”

“Do you still think leaving them behind is the right thing?” Gaspi asked.

“We don’t have a choice,” Taurnil said firmly. “Lydia definitely can’t come, and she’ll need Emmy here to look after her.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Gaspi said, sighing. What Taurnil said made sense. Lydia was in no state to travel, and if she couldn’t come then Emmy couldn’t either. “I guess we just have to wait for Voltan.”

“Better get ready Gasp,” Taurnil said. “Voltan might come early.”

“I guess,” Gaspi said, and started getting changed, but all the time he was thinking about Emmy, and how he’d just lied to her for the first time ever.

…

The Darkman stopped just short of the lamp-lit stretch of ground outside Helioport’s gatehouse, consumed by hunger for the kill. Its prey was so near it could feel its limbs trembling in anticipation. It looked left and right, up and down, weighing up its options. It could kill the guards and force its way inside, but that would alert the city to its presence, which might allow its prey to escape. Shirukai Sestin’s compulsion bound it tightly, forcing its mind to one thing only – the death of the Nature Mage. Even though it had only paused for the briefest of moments, the pain in its skull was already building up, compelling it to keep moving. Making up its mind, the demon raced to the right, staying within the cover of darkness, and approached an unmanned section of wall.

Using only its
heavily clawed hands and feet, it gouged its way up the wall, leaving a trail of shattered stone behind it. It reached the top and dropped to the streets below, spinning around and sniffing the air experimentally. Its eyes narrowed when it saw the tower, standing proudly at the highest point of the city. Hungering for the kill, the Darkman burst into motion, speeding through the streets as it raced uphill towards the campus.