The (sort of) Dark Mage (Waldo Rabbit) (27 page)

“So? I also killed the squirrels and fish we ate. You know, since you've never killed anything, does that make me more evil than you?"

“I guess I’m surprised that you could kill so easily.”

Alice smiled at him. “It’s just a rabbit. I think you’d be surprised at the kinds of things I am willing to do for you. A good wife takes care of her husband even if it means doing things that are unpleasant.”

Waldo took a good look at the lifeless rabbit.

“Good to know.”

Chapter 18

Shopping Trip

Alice borrowed one of his knives.

She slit open its belly then reached in with her hand to yank out its guts and other organs. She then
skinned it. hacked off its head and cut off its skin. When she was done she tied the animal’s carcass to her hip.

All the while singing a happy tune.

Waldo was no stranger to bloodshed or sudden death. The fact Alice had killed an animal disturbed him less than the casualness of it. Somehow, given her shyness and innocence, he had come to assume she would have a very delicate nature about such things.

Clearly he’d been wrong.

As they continued down the road he whittled the piece of soulwood as his mind wandered. Even if it had surprised him, having a succubus who didn’t mind killing could only be a good thing. There was no doubt that there would be killing in his future. That was something every Dark Mage took for granted. He was unusual in that he had never taken a life and never felt the desire to do so. (With the exception of Enver.) That didn’t mean he was unwilling. He wouldn’t take any pleasure in it, but he would do it when it was called for. Just as he was willing to steal should the opportunity arise.

As his knife sliced off another thin sliver of wood he thought about just what it would be like and how it would happen.

The spells currently at his disposal were a long way from lethal. Even if he still had his spellbook and his full complement of magics it would not have been much better.

That meant he would have to use Alice as his weapon. He remembered the long lethal claws she’d displayed when in her true form. Recalled just how easily they had sliced through his robe and straps. He could easily imagine what they would do to flesh.

“You’re really good at that.”

“Hmmm?”

“Your carving, it’s starting to look like a wand. How did you learn to do that?”

“Making magical items is another of the skills I was taught growing up. It’s really not hard, so long as you have a steady hand and patience. I have always been very good with my hands.”

“Maybe I’ll have you help me in the kitchen some time.”

“Kitchen work is for servants.”

Alice pretended not to have heard him. “So will you be able to make it work? Even though you don’t have your spellbook will you be able to make it work like a regular wand?”

“Probably, wands are just focus items. They don’t require a specific enchantment to activate.”

She looked at him questioningly and it was obvious she had no idea what he meant. Sighing he began to explain.

“Most magical items are divided into two types; focus and effect. Focus items such as wands, rods, and staves act as an extension and magnifier of a mage’s own power. They focus magical energy much the same way a lens will focus light. They tend to become very personal after a long period of use. They will match their master’s mana exactly, so that another mage may not be able to use the item at all, or else use it only a fraction as effectively.”

“Sort of like having a favorite carving knife that fits perfect in your hand?”

“I suppose. The same way only certain people can use magic, only certain materials can be used as a focus.” He frowned at the piece of wood in his hand. “To be honest, I’m not sure why I’m even bothering with this. Soulwood is ideal for White Mages. They say in Avalon they keep whole groves of soulwood trees just for that. I could barely use the wands my mother gave me, so I don’t imagine I’ll be able to use this at all.”

“Why are you making it then?”

“A mage is supposed to have a wand, just as he should have robes and a spellbook. Even if it’s worthless, I’d at least want it for appearance sake until I can make a proper replacement. That may take a while, until I can get my hands on the necessary material.”

“Is it hard to get?” Alice asked. “As hard as soulwood?”

“In Alteroth no, here it might be more difficult.”

“What is it you need to get?”

“It requires a bone from someone who was able to cast magic, preferably a thigh bone.”

“Ick! You use human bones?”

“Usually, but not always, any creature able to cast magic will usually work. Elven, half elven, okuri bones will all work just as well. Obviously sprites and fairies are too small to be practical. It has to be a creature able to actually cast spells, monsters with magical abilities like medusa or unicorns won’t work. Wands made from dragon bone though are said to be the most powerful of all.”

Alice stared at him. “The wand you had before. Where did it come from?”

“My mother gave it to me as a gift, she carved it herself. It was made from the thigh bone of Caston Poisondagger. He was an old rival of hers and she saved his bones especially to make wands for me and some of my siblings.”

“And you were all right with that?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? He was a powerful wizard and his bones made excellent material.”

“But… but… how could you be okay with touching a dead person’s bones? Didn’t it disgust you?”

“Doesn’t it disgust you to have a corpse tied to your hip?”

“This is just dinner.”

“Well it was just a wand.”

He went back to carving.

Alice did not think to ask him about the other sorts of magical items.

XXX

At last they arrived at Fall River.

To Waldo it reminded him of the villages he had passed through on his way to Stratford. The main difference was that the locals here did not show him the reverence he was due. Most of them were staring at Alice and didn’t seem to notice him at all. Since he wasn’t in his robes he could understand that.

There were a few dozen homes scattered about like toadstools. He recognized an Inn and a blacksmith shop slapped up against it. Near it was a squat store front with a faded front porch and a sagging straw roof. In front of the door was a crude wooden sign with no words but the images of a barrel and hammer carved into them.

Alice promptly pointed to it. “That will be the general store. I’ll go and buy what we need. I should be able to trade my rabbit fur while I’m here too.”

“Taking care of the supplies is the master’s responsibility.” Waldo held out his hand. “Go ahead and give me the coins and I will take care of this.”

Alice smiled at him.

“No,” she said flatly. “Darling, don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re not very good with people, and I don’t think you’d know how to bargain. I’m used to dealing with all sorts of folk. Just wait here and I will take care of this.”

“But I…”

“Don’t talk to anyone, and for goodness sakes don’t tell anyone that you’re a Dark Mage or what your last name it. The river here isn’t too deep, but I’d rather not have to rescue again.”

“But I’m the…”

“Just stay here and don’t cause any trouble, I should be right back.”

“But…”

Alice began to sashay towards the store, putting a very deliberate swing to her hips. The men who were out all stared at her, oblivious to all else.

“But I’m the master.” Waldo said to no one.

XXX

He waited for about twenty minutes or so.

A couple men came up to him and politely inquired about the woman he’d arrived with. When he told them that she belonged to him that pretty much ended their interest. Waldo managed to keep his annoyance under wraps and to avoid telling anyone who or what he was.

When Alice at last came back out she was half buried under a pile of goods. She had bought two back packs, a pair of blankets, water skins, sacks, rope, smoked meat, nuts, and other travel food.

“Did you get any vials or glass bottles?”

“They didn’t have anything like that; this is just a little village after all. I was lucky they had as much as they did.”

She gave a heartfelt sigh. “This cost me two silver dalters and twenty copper traks, but it was worth it. The store owner tried to charge me five dalters, damn thief, but I smiled and told him how handsome he was and I got the price lowered as much as I could.”

He wasn’t familiar with what things cost, but he had to admit she’d gotten most of the things they needed and if she had paid less than half of the original price she had done well.
Of course it helps being able to Charm.

“Good job, I suppose you can make the purchases from now on.”

“You’re too generous darling. Can I also do all the cooking? Please?”

“Most familiars would be more appreciative when their master grants them a privilege.”

Alice rolled her eyes. “Oh, but here’s the best part, they had a wizard’s robes!”

“What? In a place like this?”

Alice nodded. “A travelling mage left them here to be mended and never came back for them! They are in great condition and I am sure they will fit you!”

Reaching into the pile she had brought out she produced them. Sure enough, they were clearly a mage’s robes and about his size too.

They were also as white as snow.

“What do you think?”

He looked at her. “From now on I am doing all the shopping.”

Chapter 19

A New Name

They had stopped and made camp a little ways off from the road. Alice had gone through the woods and found some rosemary and sage. While she’d been in the general store she had also bartered some salt. She borrowed one of his knives again and cut the rabbit into pieces and then massaged the herbs and salt. She found a couple flat rocks, set them on the edge of the fire, and put the pieces of rabbit on top of them. The rocks heated up and cooked the rabbit quite nicely.

The savory scent made Waldo’s mouth water and he devoured his share. Alice ate hers just as quickly and licked her fingers after she was done. “Walking all day sure builds up an appetite. I’m still hungry.”

“That’s not because of the walking,” Waldo said absently.