Arcanius (16 page)

“Impressive,” Pytor said.

“That was a stupid thing to do,” Tiberius said. “You could have died.”

“I had a feeling you were up to the task,” Ennis said with a chuckle. Then he turned to Pytor. “I think we’ve seen enough.”

The other man nodded.

“I’ll fix us something to eat,” Ennis said. “Then we can leave to meet the brotherhood.”

“What brotherhood?” Tiberius asked. “I don’t mean to be impatient or ungrateful, but I need to know that you have information that can help us.”

“We do,” Pytor said. “But we can’t share it outside of the brotherhood. We were sworn to secrecy, but I will propose that you be allowed to hear the truth tonight when the brotherhood meets.”

“What truth?” Tiberius asked, his frustration making him irritable. “I need to know more about magic. Do you have the rest of the book that you sold me?”

“No,” Ennis said. “Those fragments were never meant to survive the purge.”

“But surely you have other books on magic.”

“No, we have no written knowledge of magic. Those writings were destroyed so that they could never be used to unleash the dreadful power of the cataclysm again.”

“So why are we here?” Tiberius asked.

“There are other ways to preserve knowledge,” Pytor said cryptically.

“What other ways?”

“The old ways,” Ennis said.

“Our knowledge has been passed down orally, from generation to generation,” Pytor said. “Only a small group of people know the truth. And we must protect both the secrets and the identities of the brotherhood.”

“We must ensure that our knowledge survives,” Ennis said. “You will be the first to hear the truth outside our order in over a century.”

“So what are we waiting for?” Tiberius said.

“We must give the brothers time to gather,” Pytor said. “Then we will take you—just you.”

“I’m not going anywhere without Lexi,” Tiberius said.

“Then I’m afraid we can’t help you.”

“Why can’t you just tell me what you know?”

“Ti,” Lexi said. “It’s okay. I’ll wait here.”

“We will do what we can to help you,” Pytor said. “Just be patient.”

Chapter 18

Rafe

He couldn’t get off the war ship fast enough. The warriors from the earl’s war band weren’t skilled at working the sails of the small vessel. Unlike the large sky ships, the war ship didn’t require the crew to climb out on the thick masts that protruded from the sides of the floating boat. The sails were instead manipulated by thick ropes, and it hadn’t taken long for the disciplined soldiers to figure out how to maneuver the small craft, but they were not skilled sailors.

The war ship rose back up out of the mists, which was a relief to the small group of men, hand-picked by Grentz. They had been afraid to drop below the cloud bank and into the blighted lands, but Rafe had assured them that it was safe. Then they had been amazed at what they saw. The amber color of the mists, the bright light, the green fields of the prairie far below. There were even a few small herds of animals visible, although they were so far away that they were unidentifiable.

The men were still relieved when they rose back up through the mists and saw the towering walls of Avondale again. They would follow Grentz into any fight, but most had never expected to ever leave Avondale, and Rafe knew that none had any desire to venture down into the blighted lands. Still, they had done everything Rafe had asked of them, and now he was anxious to get down and see Olyva again. But first, they had to sail the war ship back to the watchtower. The other war ship, now unmanned, still hovered there, which only made maneuvering the vessel into position more difficult.

Grentz had taken command of the ship, standing on the command deck, shouting orders at his men. There was laughter and cheers as the ship finally glided over the tall watchtower. One of the men tossed the rope ladder down to a group of soldiers standing watch. They caught the ladder and secured it to the tower. Rafe didn’t wait while the other men tossed down additional lines to tie the ship in place. They would also need to secure the war ship to its twin so that the wind wouldn’t blow the ships around and make them collide with one another.

Rafe felt a tremor of fear as he climbed down the rope ladder. He focused on the ladder, not the wind or the city far below. Once his feet were on the solid stone of the watchtower, he sprinted away, running down the steps of the tower and out across the wall’s wide parapet until he reached the palace. He made his way up to the roof of the palace, where a group of servants were beginning to tie down the thick ropes lowered from the Hamill Keep sky ship. It was a huge vessel, long and boxy, but well crewed. For a moment Rafe thought that a huge, fat dragon was settling over the city.

The servants turned large ratchets that coiled the ship’s ropes around the thick stone pillars that secured the ship to the palace, slowly lowering the huge vessel until the stairs could reach from the lowest deck of the ship down to the rooftop.

Rafe saw a few of the servants casting curious glances at him, but he ignored them. He had been afraid that something might happen to Olyva while he, Tiberius, and Lexi made their way into the city. He wasn’t sure if he had been more afraid of finding the vessel smashed to pieces by some huge creature from the blighted lands or simply gone when he went to find them. Now, as the stairs began to slowly lower toward the roof, Rafe felt a huge sense of relief.

Olyva was the first person down the wooden steps and she fell into his arms. He kissed her, then led her quickly back into the palace, away from the eyes of the many servants working on the rooftop. They passed the earl’s chief steward, who was leading a delegation of servants to meet Olyva’s family.

“I missed you,” he whispered as he pulled Olyva into a small doorway.

“I missed you,” Olyva repeated. “What has happened?”

“Not much,” Rafe said. “Tiberius healed his father, although I haven’t seen the earl come out of his rooms. My father and I captured both of the king’s war ships. So, when we leave, we’ll have a fast ship to take us wherever go next.”

“That sounds good, although I’m glad to have my feet on solid ground again,” Olyva said.

They watched as Countess Mauryn and Olyva’s sisters were led inside. It was no use trying to hide that Rafe and Olyva had returned to Avondale. The rumors were already flying, and Rafe could do nothing to dispel them. Still, he felt relieved that Olyva’s family was now safe. Whatever happened next, he wouldn’t have to worry about them anymore.

“So what happens now?” Olyva asked.

“Let’s see if we can find Tiberius.”

“He wasn’t with you?”

“No, he went to rest after healing his father.”

Rafe led the way back down to the earl’s personal quarters. Olyva’s family would be given well appointed rooms on the floor below. The earl’s residence had many apartments; some were entire suites with several rooms combined into one single space, while others, like Tiberius’ quarters, were simply a single room.

Rafe knocked gently on Tiberius’ door, then opened it. Robere was asleep on the bed, still wrapped in the cloak that Tiberius had stolen from Leonosis’ quarters.

“Who’s that?” Olyva asked.

“It looks like Ti’s old man servant. I think his name was Robere.”

“Why is he sleeping here? He’s a servant, right? He shouldn’t be in the earl’s quarters.”

“No, but I’m sure there’s a reason.”

Rafe went over and shook the elderly servant lightly. Robere jerked away, bringing his hands up to protect his face.

“It’s okay,” Rafe said. “We’re not going to hurt you.”

“Oh, Master Rafe. I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.”

“We’re looking for Tiberius. Have you seen him?” Rafe asked.

“Yes, he rescued me,” Robere said. “He saved me.”

“That sounds like Ti. Where is he now?”

“He and a young lady were going to see someone in the city. I can’t remember the name, though. It seemed important.”

“I’m sure it was,” Rafe said. “If he comes back, tell him I’m waiting for him in my father’s quarters. Can you do that?”

“Yes, Master Rafe. I’d be happy to.”

“Rest now. We’ll let ourselves out.”

They left the room and closed the door. Olyva looked at Rafe.

“I guess we have a little time to ourselves,” he said with a grin. “Unless you want to check on your family.”

“No, I’m sure they’re fine,” Olyva said. “But I wouldn’t mind a hot bath and some clean clothes.”

“I can arrange that,” Rafe said.

There were bathing houses throughout the city, but also a very nice private bathing house for the people fortunate enough to be quartered in the palace itself. Rafe led Olyva down to a room full of steam and muted voices. There were large public bathing areas for the men, but also smaller rooms with tubs for the ladies of Avondale’s court. Rafe got Olyva towels and helped the servants fill her tub with hot water. Then he stripped down and bathed quickly in one of the public baths. There were a few city officials relaxing in the hot water, but they were in deep conversation and paid Rafe no heed.

As soon as he was finished, he toweled off, got dressed again, and then went to find Olyva a clean dress. His first stop was to Olyva’s old quarters. She had a small suite, with a comfortable sitting room and a spacious bed chamber. The room was unlocked, the fireplace swept clean. Rafe looked in the wardrobe, but it was empty. He hurried back out and found one of the palace servants. She was a young girl, probably only fourteen or fifteen years old.

“Do you know what became of Lady Olyva’s clothes?” he asked.

“She was banished,” the girl said shyly. “Her clothes were taken back to Hamill Keep by her maid. At least most of them.”

“What about those that were left?”

“I’m not certain. I heard they were going to be given to the palace maids, but I’ve not seen them.”

“Thank you,” Rafe said to the girl, who hurried away.

Rafe decided his best bet was to ask someone down in the servants’ quarters. The palace workers had rooms under the kitchen. They were small rooms, with plain furniture, but there was a large sitting room that the servants all shared. It had a large fireplace and several well appointed sitting areas. Rafe found a bundle of old clothes.

“Are these the clothes from Lady Olyva’s room?” he asked a servant sitting nearby.

She was an elderly woman and she was squinting to see the spindle she was working.

“It is, and some of the earl’s daughters old dresses,” the woman said.

Rafe dug through the bundles of clothes until he saw something he thought he recognized. There were four dresses in the bundle, and he hoped it was the right clothes.

“Thank you,” Rafe said as he hurried back out with the dresses.

“Any time,” the old woman said.

When he got back to the bath house, he had a serving girl take the clothes into Olyva’s private room, and then he waited. After a short while, Olyva appeared. Her hair was wet, and she was wearing a plain, cream-colored dress that hung down to the floor and covered her feet.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

A group of serving girls giggled from behind a pillar where they were watching. Olyva smiled, and Rafe extended his hand to her.

“Why don’t we find something to eat?” he suggested.

“Okay,” Olyva said.

Rafe knew that Olyva didn’t need food the way he did. Since her transformation she only nibbled at food occasionally, and then usually just to make him feel better. But Rafe was hungry. He led the way to the feasting hall, where food was being served. They had just gone in and sat down at the end of a long table when a servant came rushing in.

“Lord Brutas is returning,” the servant cried. “His sky ship approaches!”

The servants jumped to their feet and went hurrying out of the feasting hall. Many of the city officials did the same. Rafe felt a stab of fear and looked at Olyva, who seemed just as worried.

“What do we do now?” she asked.

“We make ourselves scarce,” he said. “And hope Tiberius gets back soon.”

Chapter 19

Tiberius

Ti followed the two older men through the dark streets. It was the first time Avondale felt truly foreign to him. The lights were few and far between, the narrow streets shrouded in gloom. There was a sense of anticipation in the air, but also of danger. Tiberius wanted to know more about magic, and he was willing to risk almost anything to know more about his craft, but he was acutely aware that he could be walking into a trap.

Magic wasn’t just illegal in Avondale, it was reviled. If people knew he was a wizard, they might riot, just like the people of Hamill Keep did. For all Tiberius knew, the two old men were leading him to mob who were waiting to kill him. Still, the risk was just to himself. Lexi had stayed behind at the old man’s home. If something did happen to Tiberius, she could still escape. She knew the city better than any of them, and now she knew what to expect outside of the city.