The (sort of) Dark Mage (Waldo Rabbit) (49 page)

Mathew clearly wanted to keep talking to her, but Tyrone was at his back gently pushing him toward the door. Once he was gone the Inn was officially closed.

“He never tips.” Brieene said sounding unhappy.

Alice slid the coin into a pocket sewn into her skirt. It jingled along with the other tips she had earned. “Then I am grateful he was in such a generous mood tonight.”

The lighthearted answer only made the other girl look even more indignant. “Why are you staying here anyway? I always heard that White Mages stayed with the Baron when they visited.”

“My husband has his reasons.”

“You and your husband can stay as long as you like.” Tyrone told her. “I am right honored to have you both here.”

“Thank you,”

“Hmph.” Brieene swept the floor with added fury.

“Can I ask a question?”

“Sure now, you can ask anything.” Tyrone was eager to help her.

“Why do so many of the men here wear swords? I am from Stratford, and except for the city guard and the nobles no one else is allowed to have one.”

“Oh,” Tyrone sounded a bit embarrassed. “Well, that’s on account of the goblins. Sometimes we have some trouble with them.”

“Trouble?”

“Nothing you need worry about. They can get a bit bothersome is all.”

“What does that mean?”

“They’ll get it in their heads to just start killing people all of a sudden.” Brieene told her with a smirk. “One will be acting normal, obedient as you please, then bam!”  She slammed a fist down on a table. “They just go crazy and try to rip apart anybody close to them.”

“Really? There are a few goblins in Stratford, nothing like that ever happened there.”

Brieene shrugged. “We have thousands of goblins here; maybe you just got a few of the timid ones. They’re always dangerous.”

“No they’re not,” Tyrone said sharply. “There’s hardly ever trouble.”

“There are always some go crazy every year.” Brieene insisted.

“A handful.”

“But enough for most of the men here to carry swords.” Alice noted.

“The baron’s castle has plenty of guards.” Brieene pointed out. “I’m sure you and your man would feel safer there.”

“It’s safe enough here.” Tyrone said. “The place is clean enough; you can go home now, you and Nicola.”

“Fine,” Brieene said. She gave her employer a knowing look. “Try not to hurt yourself.”

As his two other barmaids headed to the kitchen and the back entrance he turned to Alice. “There really is nothing to worry about. The goblins are just dumb animals. It’s sort of the way from time to time dogs go mad. No one knows why, you just know to put them down when it happens.”

“Goblins aren’t animals. They can talk and think. Doesn’t that make them people?”

Tyrone’s eyes widened and his mouth opened and closed a few times. “People? Goblins? I grant they can talk and do more than a horse or a dog can, but no goblin is more than a beast. I am right surprised to hear you think that. You being married to a White Mage and all, don’t they say we need to get rid of all the monsters?”

“My husband is very enlightened.”

“I am right sure he is.” Tyrone said uncomfortably.

“I am going up to my room now,” Alice gave him a gracious bow. “Thank you for your great kindness.”

“You are more than welcomes Alice.”

XXX

At the top of the stairs Alice took out and counted what she had earned. Forty copper traks, almost half a silver dalter in just one night. That was not at all bad.

When she entered their room Waldo was already fast asleep. There was only a bit of moonlight coming in through the window. She could see in the dark though, and saw calk symbols scrawled all over the door, around the window, all over the floor, and much of the walls. The bed had a circle drawn around it with more symbols on the inside of it.

Waldo had explained to her about protective circles and defensive seals. He had spent quite a bit of time doing all this to help keep them safe.

She smiled at him. Unlike the false smiles she had kept plastered on her face all night, this one was genuine. She shut the door and slipped out of her skirt and blouse, leaving only her small clothes. Alice went over to the bed, making sure not to step on any of the chalk on the floor. She pulled back the scratchy wool blanket and slid in beside him.

Alice wrapped her arms around Waldo and rested her head on his chest, careful not to disturb him. He was very warm. The sound of his breathing was comforting. She closed her eyes and drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

Chapter 35

Protective Wards

When Alice woke the next morning she was alone in bed.

She sat up. “Darling?”

“Good morning.” Waldo was sitting on the floor with a wooden bowl in his hands.

“What are you doing? Is that breakfast?”

“No, these are ashes mixed with a little water. “I need you to take your clothes off.”

Alice’s face turned beet red and she pulled the blanket up in front of her. “Oh, so you’re done waiting and want to enjoy a husband’s privileges? I… I guess that’s all right. Please just be gentle with me though.”

“Well of course I’ll be gentle, I’m only going to use my fingers.”

“Ah, really? Just your fingers? I… I don’t mind if you use something, ah, bigger. You are my husband after all. I don’t expect you to be
that
gentle.”

Waldo blinked. “Alice, I am going to draw on your back to place protective runes on you. When we’re outside this room they will help keep you hidden from any scrying or detection magic.”

“Oh.” She said feeling embarrassed all over again.

“Now take your clothes off and turn your back to me. The wards are temporary so we’ll have to do this each morning.”

“Every morning?”

“That’s right.”

“Well… if you think it’s best.” 

She turned her back to him and pulled off her shift.

He sat down on the edge of the bed, and with one finger began to draw runes and symbols on her. As Waldo did so she couldn’t keep from twitching.

“Stay still.”

Alice was giggling. “Sorry darling, I’m ticklish.”

What a fun way to start the day.

XXX

“Why are there so many monsters in this city?” Waldo complained. “They’re everywhere! It’s like undead in Alter!”

Alice looked about worriedly, but no one seemed to have overheard. One of the advantages of people all keeping their distance. “Darling, you need to be more careful with what you say.”

They were walking along the endless, twisting streets of Middleton. Alice would not need to return to work until late in the afternoon. Right now it was getting on towards mid day. She was accompanying her husband as he searched.

He looked over to her. “Why?”

“Would a White Mage know anything about that?”

“Oh. Right. That just sort of slipped out.”

“You need to be more careful.”

“I know,” he turned away from her. “This place is annoying though. Everywhere you go you hear clanging, there is too much light, and I don’t just mean from the horrible ball of fire.” He waved a frustrated hand at the road. There were two wagons coming up it, both being pulled by goblins. “My spell makes the whole city look tinted with red; it might as well be on fire. There’s so much red light I can’t pick anything out.”

“I am sure you will find him eventually darling. There is no rush. I wouldn’t mind if we had to stay here a while.”

“Are you enjoying being a barmaid again?”

“Not especially, but we’re safe for now, and I am earning decent coin. It’s not so bad.”

“Plus you have all those commoners lusting after you. Being what you are you must enjoy that.”

“Are you jealous?”

“Certainly not, you belong to me.”

She liked hearing that. “Yes I do.”

“I am willing to admit it’s convenient.”

“I am glad you think so.”

“Now you can get your cravings satisfied without attacking me.”

“What?”

“You won’t need me to satisfy your hunger fo
r male lust. The way those men were staring at you I am sure you have enough to last you a month at least.”

“Hey! You can’t hold that against me. It’s not like I want them to.”

“I wasn’t complaining. It’s a relief not to have you constantly attacking me every night.”

Smack!

“Ow!”

“Once again, you need to be more careful of what you say!”

As Waldo rubbed the back of his head the wagons rolled past.

“It’s awful,” Alice said. “Why must they be treated so badly just because they’re not human?”

“How would you expect them to be treated?”

Alice frowned at him. “They’re slaves in your country, right? Your people are just as bad, doing that to them just because of what they are.”

“Everyone in Alteroth who is not a member of one of the Seven Families is either a slave or a serf. How well they are treated has nothing to do with whether or not they are human. In Alteroth the slaves receive different levels of consideration depending on how valuable they are. Unique and powerful monsters, like vampires, can actually rise to positions of great privilege. People with special skills, such as carpenters or engineers, are granted certain liberties. When a slave child is born who has the ability to cast magic, he or she will be adopted into whichever family owns them. If they prove strong enough in the Dark Arts, it’s even possible to be adopted into one of the ruling households.” Waldo looked proud. “In my country ability counts before everything else.”

“What if the parents don’t want their child adopted?”

“Why would that matter?”

Alice gave an annoyed shake of the head. Waldo could tell that she had failed to grasp just how enlightened his society was.

“What about the ones who aren’t special?”

“They are put to work in whatever way best serves the owner’s needs. Most goblins are trained to be soldiers. They are stronger and more aggressive than humans.”

“Well that sounds a little bit better I suppose, but do any of them get to choose what they do?”