A Crucible of Souls (Book One of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence) (12 page)

“
It can’t hurt to try anyway, can it?
”

“
I… don’t know if I will.
”
Images from the duel with Marlon flashed in his head. He couldn’t help but remember his last sword fight with apprehension.
“
I couldn’t bring myself to join in when the crew were exercising. I don’t think I will be practicing anytime soon.
”

“
You should still do some training, forms, exercise. In the city it could come in handy. Some sections are not exactly the most law abiding. You could say they are downright dangerous. Though carrying a sword is forbidden in the city without special dispensation, some men carry sturdy walking sticks instead.
”
She tapped the side of her nose.
“
Of course, you could always take on the life of a treasure hunter. Outside of the empire and surrounding kingdoms there are lands in which leftovers from the Shattering flourish, jukari and the like. Brave, or foolhardy, treasure hunters can make a living searching old ruins in hopes of finding valuable
craftings
or
trinkets
. Not many make the famed fortunes they seek, but enough do to keep them returning. Someone like yourself, having been trained by the monks in sorcery and bladework, could do well at such a venture. A slice of luck and you’d be a rich man.
”

Caldan laughed and shook his head.
“
I’ll think on what you’ve said.
”
He could see from her expression she saw straight through his evasion.
“
All right,
”
he relented.
“
I’ll take your advice seriously, I promise.
”

“
You’re an intelligent young man, and I wouldn’t want to see you maimed or dead because you were too stubborn.
”
She smiled at him.
“
If I were ten years younger…
”
She trailed off.

Again Caldan blushed, and she laughed at his discomfort. She’d managed to put him off balance a few times today. He decided to make a polite withdrawal and stood.

“
I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’m sure you need to get on deck and make certain everything is well.
”

Charlotte stood, unsteady on her feet.
“
Yes, with the breeze strengthening I’d better see they put more sail on. Go on, have something to eat and think on what I said.
”

Caldan thanked her and exited the cabin, closing the door behind him.

Captain Charlotte stared at the Dominion board.

A polite knock on the door woke her from her reverie. Miranda poked her head in.

“
How went the games?
”
she said, frowning.
“
You were playing for a long time.
”

“
Not bad. If you think being defeated three games in a row is not bad.
”

Miranda’s expression brightened.
“
Ha ha!
”
she crowed.
“
Did you win any coins off him?
”

“
No. He beat me.
”

“
What? That’s…
”

“
Enough.
”
Charlotte glared at her.
“
You asked to play sailor on this trip, so act like one. Get on deck and tell them I’m coming up for an inspection. Ancestors help you if anything’s out of place.
”

Miranda swallowed and nodded.
“
Aye.
”
She withdrew her head and closed the door.

Captain Charlotte paused to glance ruefully at the Dominion. She collected a light woolen cloak from the back of the door and headed up on deck.

Chapter Ten

Vasile cursed as a fist pounded on his door, dragging him from a dreamless sleep.

He sat up, coming blearily awake, and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, feet touching the greasy floor. His patched woolen blanket fell from him and knocked over an empty bottle. He blinked sleep from his eyes and drew a deep breath of the stale musty air as he tried to dispel the grogginess of being woken far too soon. His mouth was dry and his teeth were coated in a thin layer of something unpleasant.

The pounding continued, on his door and in his aching head.

“
Wake up and come out!
”

By the ancestors, my head hurts.
What his door had done to deserve this eluded him, although jealousy was always a good bet, if you didn’t know the why of someone’s actions.

He rubbed his scratchy eyes then grabbed a half full bottle from the floor and took a slug of rum. Torchlight speared through the cracks of his poor door. A fist hit it again. Words murmured by someone else behind the destroyer of doors, the clinking of armor, the predawn awakening. It seemed he was needed again. Forgotten until needed, like a seldom used tool put away in a box.

Vasile Lauris, once Head Investigator for the Chancellor’s Guard, once Chancellor’s Advisor, once husband, took another deep breath and gathered his thoughts, shuffled to the door and dragged it open.

No slums guard, this one.
The guard wore a black jerkin made of leather, a layer of stubble, and carried a sword, not a club. Carrying a sword in public was forbidden in Anasoma without special dispensation from the emperor, even for the harbor watch. Of the three, his dark blue cloak made him the senior. In one hand he held a lit torch, black smoke twisting up into the still night.

“
Excuse me, Magistrate Lauris, we were sent to fetch you. Sorry to bother you at this time of night, but orders are orders.
”

The guard was hesitant to meet his eyes, while the others looked around, ostensibly scanning the shadows for trouble. He glanced at the bottle of rum.

“
Breakfast,
”
Vasile said, voice flat and without a hint of shame.
“
Let me get some things and I’ll come.
”
He coughed up some phlegm, only just stopping himself spitting the gluey mass out the door, past the guard and onto the street.

He stepped back inside and swallowed. A few quick strides to his rickety table, avoiding the puddle on the floor caused by a leak in the roof, he scooped up his lucky silver ducat, which he squeezed once before slipping it into a pocket.

Vasile glanced around his disheveled home then stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

They set off at a brisk pace up the cobbled lane. Dawn wasn’t far off, and as they turned onto another street he could hear a baby crying, and across the way at the local communal oven, smoke poured from the chimney. He would miss his steaming fresh loaf this morning, crusty and salty with plenty of butter.

As they walked, he wondered why the early summons, and why guards from the keep had been sent instead of the usual messenger. A guard caught him staring.

“
Sir, we don’t know much. Just that we were sent to fetch you.
”

“
That’s all right,
”
he replied with the hint of a smile.
“
I got used to waking at all hours a long time ago. We’ll get this over quick and we can both go back to getting some rest, eh? Still, nothing like a brisk walk before breakfast to get the appetite going!
”
He had an inkling who wanted to see him, and he wasn’t someone you wanted to disappoint.

The guard who had spoken gave a half laugh while another snorted.
“
After our shift, we’ll be having a plate of sausages and a few ales.
”

“
Aye, that we will be,
”
Blue Cloak chimed in.
“
And off to bed after. They got us working long hours the last few weeks on account of the recent spate of deaths. Not much free time if you want to stay alert on the job. The time you aren’t alert is the time you get your throat slit.
”
He raised his eyebrows and gave a meaningful look to both the other guards.

“
Right you are, sir,
”
one said as they both split up, taking positions a good dozen paces in front and behind Vasile and their leader.

Vasile looked up into the sky towards the west, where he knew they would be taking him. Outlined against the grayness, tops of buildings obscured any possible view of sunrise and stretched for miles. The city of Anasoma had come a long way from its humble beginnings as a fishing village in a sheltered natural harbor. Situated in a wide verdant valley that ran down to the sea, two rivers flowed through the city, merging close to Dockside and emptying into the sea. Massive rock falls on either side of a deep water bay created natural breakwaters, ensuring the bay was safe in the harshest storms. The fishing village had prospered, and it wasn’t long before a few traders realized the village made an excellent safe haven for their ships. A few turned into many, and the village became a town, then eventually a city.

It was to the city’s keep that Vasile and his escort were headed. The guards strode purposefully along the streets while Vasile trudged between them. A soft glow lit the horizon. They were not the only ones abroad this early, Vasile was sure. The guards’ banter had ceased and their eyes moved constantly, alert for the first sign of potential trouble, but the flickering light from their torches only picked out a few scurrying rats. They wove down a few lanes until they reached a main street. The guards relaxed as they turned right and headed towards the High Road.

A century ago, the city’s districts had developed haphazardly and the emperor decided to relocate hundreds of families and businesses and build the High Road. One wide cobbled avenue that ran from Dockside all the way to the city’s gate in the west. Everyone was pleased with the result, apart from the people whose forced relocation had cost them their home, and in many cases their livelihood. As the emperor at the time stated,
“
Progress, for the good of Anasoma and the empire, can sometimes be painful.
”

Words among the guards were scarce for the whole trip, restricted to a few quick words, grunts and a nod or two. Major intersections along the way were lit by crafted sorcerous globes, one of the many services the Sorcerers’ Guild provided for the city.

At the High Road, the group started uphill, past shops and businesses, whose goods increased in quality as they approached the keep. Vasile could see a few lights on inside through cracks in doors and windows.

Outside the keep’s entrance, four sorcerous globes attached to cleverly crafted mirrors directed their light into the square, leaving the doorway cloaked in darkness.

Vasile and his escort marched through the opening and the dark hole swallowed him.

Through the narrow windows of one of the keep’s questioning rooms, blood-red dawn light spilled across the ceiling, vivid stripes crossing the bare walls. Only a stained table surrounded by a few chairs and a stool gave any indication of what the room was used for. And the stink of stale sweat and fear.

Vasile sat on a chair, facing away from the light pouring in. He had been sitting for a while, left by his escort and waiting on whoever had a use for him. Let them have their theater. He didn’t care.

The thick oak and iron-banded door opened. Two burly guards entered carrying between them another man, whose feet dragged across the floor. Grunting, they deposited him on the stool opposite Vasile and took up positions on either side of the door.

Vasile studied the man, whose head remained bowed, face averted from the light streaming onto it from a window. A deliberate positioning, as he knew. His gaze took in the crumpled clothes, lank brown hair, unkempt graying beard, and a number of rings still in his ears; on one hung a blue star sapphire. Spittle drooled from a corner of the man’s mouth. Meer Orlaith, unless he missed his guess. And it didn’t look like he had been having a pleasant night. But he still had his earrings, which meant his guilt was in doubt.

The room had an obnoxious smell, and it was a few moments before Vasile realized Meer Orlaith must have soiled himself. Not pleasant treatment for Meer if they weren’t sure he was guilty. Whatever had happened, it must have been something significant, something that meant they didn’t care about the consequences if innocent people were ill-treated. Even a noble as powerful as Meer Orlaith.

With a bang, the door opened again, slamming against the wall and narrowly missing the guard on that side. Meer Orlaith flinched at the sound. He lifted his head and slurped at the drool on his lips. Hollow brown eyes looked at Vasile then the door, through which limped the shrewd Chancellor Gelyn, leaning on his ever-present blackwood walking stick.

Vasile and Gelyn appraised each other, then Gelyn gestured Vasile outside.

Until a year ago, Vasile had practically lived in the keep, assisting Gelyn and the other chancellors. Once, he had even helped them with a problem the emperor had, on one of his rare visits. Then something had soured. His responsibilities had slowly been taken from him, and visits from the chancellors had trickled to a halt with no explanation, leaving him to wonder why. Eventually, he decided they were scared of what he might unearth.

Gelyn sighed and rested his weight on his stick.
“
It’s good to see you again, Vasile.
”
He held out a liver-spotted hand for Vasile to shake, which he did after a slight hesitation.
“
It’s been a long night, and I want to get this over with as quickly as possible. Sorry to have you dragged up here without any notice.
”

“
It’s no problem, really.
”
Vasile replied.
“
I wish I could be of more use.
”
Discard me like a broken tool then call when it suits. Now why doesn’t that surprise me?

Gelyn’s eyes dropped to the floor then lifted back up to Vasile.
“
Of course, I understand. There has been much happening the last few months. We’ve hardly had time to draw breath, things have been so busy. Still, you are here now.
”

“
It’s been almost a year.
”

“
Has it now? My, my.
”

“
I’m at your service, as always.
”

“
Good. I heard you have taken a position as a magistrate.
”

“
Yes.
”

“
That’s excellent. A man like yourself would be invaluable in the role.
”

Vasile didn’t respond, and an uncomfortable silence lengthened. After a few moments, Gelyn coughed discreetly into his hand.
“
Despite us… not calling on you more often… an unfortunate turn of events. I want you to know that if there is anything you need, anything at all, you can ask me.
”
The old chancellor chuckled, a dry rasping sound.
“
Not anything, of course.
”

“
Of course.
”

“
I’m being genuine. I…
”
Gelyn broke off and looked around.

If Vasile thought the man wasn’t being serious it would have been comical. But he was serious. What would cause the most powerful chancellor in Anasoma to be afraid?

“
I want you to know it was the other chancellors and nobles. They have a great many secrets, and some of them bent the emperor’s ear before I could intervene.
”

“
The emperor? But I helped him when—
”

“
I know,
”
interrupted Gelyn.
“
But many of them argued that someone with your ah… talents… shouldn’t have access to the emperor and his business. That is to say, the chancellors and nobles’ business. You can see how they would be alarmed.
”

Not daring to speak, Vasile only nodded.

“
I know things have been hard these last months, but I’d like to think of us as still friends.
”

Vasile began to shake his head then stopped. The chancellors were too powerful a group to cut all ties with. He wanted to burn away everything from his past life, but some things were too valuable to let go.