Dragons of Summer Tide (The Dragons of Hwandor) (42 page)

Jolss walked toward the woman and as he opened his satchel he thought that he saw her give it a look of familiarity as if she recognized it. He took out some letters and documents with wax seals on them and handed them to the woman. She took them from the boy with a nod and she broke the seal on the first one and began to read while everyone waited.

The woman finished the letter and looked at Jolss for a long time and then without taking her eyes off of the boy she spoke to the other mages. “It would appear, according to Partonius, that this young man is a natural apprentice and that one of the books has started to train him.”

“Poppycock, responded the mage named Carabice who shook his head in disbelief, the bells in his beard and hair giving a slight ring to the movement.

The woman continued. “Partonius also reports that the web through which mages access magic is being restored in every place that this child visits and so we are urged to open all of the doors and grounds of the tower for the child and his bird.”

The mage with the bells began to laugh out loud. “The man is crazier now than he ever was. Ah Tornissa how could Dratarion have ever thrown you over for this silly, silly man. Except that Dratarion was crazy too; always on about dragons.”

“Enough,” shouted the woman as she turned to face the laughing mage. “Carabice you are as unpleasant now as you have always been.” The woman turned back to Jolss and then continued to speak. “Partonius also reports that the boy may choose to explain the agency through which he restores magic but that the knowledge of how he accomplished this is his own to share if he should so choose.” The woman continued to stand and give Jolss a quizzical look and he could see that she was mentally summing him up.

Jolss shifted nervously and his face was a bit reddened by anger at the words that Carbice had spoken about Partonius. Jolss was trying to quiet his mind as his book had taught him to do.

The obnoxious mage with bells laughed again and spoke. “Well then boy, show us some magic.”

As soon as Jolss heard the words and the taunting tone he flicked his hand toward the still smiling mage casting a harmless cantrip. Suddenly every bell tied into the beard and hair of the old man fell to the floor. Every snap, belt, tie and buckle on the man became unfastened and a moment later the man stood there in just his tunic bare from the waste down with his trousers down around his ankles. With another flick of his hand a small wind blew all of the tiny bells across the floor and into a fireplace. Prin leaped into the air scolding at the old man as another wave of Jolss’ hand caused the cold fireplace to burst into a nice roaring fire.

Carabice stood there utterly shocked and the other two male mages shared the expression of complete and utter disbelief. A few moments of silence hung in the air broken only by the crackling of the new fire and the flutter and scolding of the bird as it settled back on the shoulder of the boy.

Finally the woman spoke. “Nice to be rid of those damned bells.” The woman glanced at the nearly naked mage. “There is a sight that I could have happily gone to the Ferryman having never seen. Carabice, please… your trousers.” The woman pointed to the floor at the man’s feet.

The stunned man realized that he was standing there with no secrets and bent to grab his trousers and pull them back into place as his face began to redden.

Tornissa turned back to look at the boy and she arched an eyebrow as she cocked her head slightly to one side. Then she turned to look at a set of unlit candles and said. “It is getting a little too dark now that the sun is going down.” She motioned gently toward the tapirs and the wicks sparked into life. She turned back to Jolss and said. “So, what Partonius writes is true… that will do very nicely.” She then eyed the bird for a few moments which made Jolss a bit uncomfortable. “Dratarion and I were once very close friends and he had certain theories.”  The woman then smiled and motioned toward the empty chairs around the room and said. “Tarian, everyone please, sit while I read the rest of the news from Deelt.”

The other mages found chairs in which to sit as did Tarian, Cralnar, Jolss and Cyerant. The woman began to break the wax seals on several other documents from Partonius. As she read the documents she looked up occasionally at Jolss. “An orphan?” She said quietly. Once she looked toward Cyerant and said. “Sorry for your loss.”  To which Cyerant nodded. “Elves, then?”  After Tornissa had read all of the documents she looked at Cyerant and said. “You and your party are welcomed to stay here in the tower while you take care of your business in Verat City. We certainly have enough rooms empty and there are stables in back of the courtyards and gardens. Partonius’ letters explain some things about who you are and what you need. But not everything,” she added as she once again glanced at the bird sitting on the boy’s shoulder.

“Thank you,” Cyerant said. “You are very kind.”

“It isn’t just kindness,” said the woman. “The child is a mage and should be here rather than running around the city. And frankly we need him to restore magic to the mages.” The woman turned to Jolss and said. “Partonius wrote that you have multiple names. What shall we call you?”

“Daralce Dwal Reez,” the boy answered.

The woman nodded and turned to the other three mages and said. “Gentlemen young Daralce and his companions are to be our guests.” Turning back to Cyerant she said. “Go and bring your companions here straight away.” Turning to Daralce she spoke. “And you may come into my study and speak with me more.” She turned away and walked from the room. “Carabice, bring the box.” She called back over her shoulder.

Soon Cyerant, Tarian and Cralnar were outside moving through the streets as twilight descended. The streets were clearing as people went inside to their families and their suppers and so the trip back to the docks was very quick. As they got back to the Gardenia they did not know that someone was watching them from a short distance away on the deck of a nearby floating tavern.

Cyerant explained what they were doing and that they would be staying at another mage tower. Then Myalnar took Tarian aside to discuss the future of his nephew Devron. Soon everyone was packed and ready to move. Myalnar motioned Cyerant over to join into the conversation with Tarian. After a short time of speaking to Myalnar and Cyerant Captain Tarian took Devron aside and spoke to him privately. The boy became excited soon he rushed to the cabin to gather his things.

“Talyat, did you hear?” Called the boy. “Uncle says that I am to stay at the mages tower with the rest of you.”

Dalnt and Cralnar turned to their father with concerned expressions but before they could speak he held up his hand to silence them. “It is for the best and he will be safer there. Cyerant has agreed to see to him at least while we get the Gardenia ready to travel back upriver. There are still those about who followed us down the river and we know what they are looking for. So Devron, and his little pet will stay at the tower with the others.”

“Xave,” the boy interrupted ass he walked back out onto deck. “His name is Xave.”

“Alright then, Devron and Xave will be staying at the tower. Now we will have to get going because we can’t take the stairs with a horse.” The Captain nodded toward Corth. “So we have to go along the wall a bit farther to the loading ramp where horses pull up carts with heavy loads.”

“Can I stay the winter with the rest of them Uncle?” Devron excitedly asked. When Xave was on the boy’s shoulder Devron acted and moved as if he could see through his own eyes. But the child’s eyes remained unfocused and were clearly sightless. The effect could feel somewhat eerie to others and took some time to get accustomed to.

Tarian looked at the boy, and the old captain had the first sparkling of tears rimming his eyes. “I don’t know son, I know you’ll be safer here with the rest but I’ll miss you so much if I go back upriver without you.”

“But it is no different than when you left me with my harp master. Besides, Talyat is still teaching me harp so I have a new harp master.” Devron said.

Tarian held up his hand to stop the boy continuing. “Enough for now, child. You will stay at the Mage Tower for the week that we get ready to go upriver and I will think about allowing you to stay with the others for the winter. Now we must go.”

With those words Tarian stepped up onto the dock and led the way as the others lifted their packs and fell in behind him.

****

Thank the gods for the loud voices of children Barroon thought to himself. Now he was sure that the ones with the dragons would be staying here for the winter. He had been unable to hear what was being said until the child started speaking but now he had heard enough. Barron had been preparing to follow the little band through the city but now since he knew that they would be staying at another Mage Tower there was no need to follow them. He would just ask directions to the tower on another day.

Now, it was time to make his own plans for the coming winter. Barroon had quite a bit of gold which should easily last him through the winter and beyond. But there was not enough gold to provide for the remaining half dozen men that he still had with him. They were now of no use to him and would just be expensive to provide for. They were as useless now as was the boat in which they had travelled. Barroon quickly returned to his boat and found it empty and he could hear his men in a nearby floating tavern singing. After a month of days and nights on the river his men had been certain to celebrate the first chance that they got.

Barroon quickly gathered his things together and the extra gold that he had hidden in his boat and walked away to find a floating inn. He soon found a floating inn which was on a converted barge and which had a few small rooms and a small dining room. Barroon paid for the next week and stowed all of his property in his room and to be sure he paid the inn keeper an extra bit to insure good security. Soon he was back out on the docks with a bow in his hand.

Barroon found a floating shop which was closed but since the shop keeper lived on the boat it was easy enough to coax the man into allowing Barroon to buy a small barrel of lamp oil. The man laughed as Barroon explained how they had just arrived and that his wife had let them run dry of lamp oil instead of buying any at the last stop.  The shop keeper thanked Barroon for the purchase. “I know how it is to run out of something that someone else should be keeping track of, and good luck with that wife.”

Barroon then returned to his boat and set about making preparations for a short mission for his men. Moving quietly so as to not draw attention in the dark, first he pulled out six shirts of chain mail and sat them right on the bow of the boat where his men could find them and put them on easily enough. Next he opened all of the packs and supplies and spread them around the bottom of the boat. Then he opened the lamp oil and poured it all over the clothing and supplies scattered in the bottom of the boat. When all was prepared he lit a lantern and went toward the sound of his singing men.

Barroon found his men sitting around a table in a nearby floating tavern. He soon settled the debt for their meal and ale and had the men follow him out onto the docks. He led the men back to the boat and he saw that they were all bit unstable on their feet just as he had expected. He pulled them close around him and explained what they were to do. “I have found one of them alone with his dragon, he has gotten angry and left his companions. We can easily take him but there may be a fight. You will all put on your mail shirts because I don’t want to lose any of you.” Barroon paused as he men murmured and nodded in appreciation and then he continued. “You will then row away from the docks and let the current carry the boat downstream for a mile or so until you see me signal you with this lantern. When you see the signal you will row to me and we will take the boy and his dragon and be gone away back home.” Again his men nodded in appreciation of the idea of returning home heroes.

The men climbed into the boat each one putting on his mail shirt as he entered and then taking a seat at an oar. When everyone was situated Barroon untied the boat from the dock and gave it a shove with his foot sending it back away from him an out into the river. He watched as his men pulled at the oars and the boat slid away from the docks and into the river. Barroon walked along keeping pace with the boat as it pulled farther and farther way from the docks. When the man judged that the boat was far enough away that the current would carry it away from the other boats and the docks he stopped behind some wooden crates which had been stacked on the docks. Quickly he lit an arrow from his lamp and nocked it to his bow string and sent it out arching into the night toward the boat with his men. He saw the arrow fall into the boat and saw the boat begin to brighten as the oil soaked clothing and goods rapidly caught. With a satisfied nod Barroon extinguished his lantern and dropped his bow into the water and turned and walked away. By the time the fist of the screams of the men could be heard he was already vanishing into the night. He heard some splashes as some of the men tried to get away from the flames by jumping into the river but he knew that the chain mail would not let them swim.

As Barroon walked back toward his room at the inn he felt a deep sense of satisfaction and he began to whistle. As the whistling man passed on his way he seemed very happy to the people on the boats around him. When he passed the boats of river gypsies some of the old people seemed to recognize the tune that the man was whistling. It was clearly an old gypsy dance and it sound familiar but not exactly like the version of the tune that they remembered from childhood.