Hamilton Swoop, Wizard of Green Ridge (27 page)

"I doubt it."

"I would have preferred a ‘No'."

Hamilton smiled. “The truth is I don't know what it is. That's why it's going to the alchemist."

He paid the messenger and he left for the Guild.

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Hours later, and an hour after dark, Hamilton, with Thalia seated behind him, left the inn's stable atop Bethesda.

After riding for few minutes, Thalia asked, “Why are you having them dig that hole again? What's the point?"

"When I came back from Green Ridge, I brought a dragon lure. You remember the cylinder?"

"Like the one from under the bed?"

"Just like it. I dumped it in the hole that you directed Boff and ... and..."

"Dewie?"

"Right. Boff and Dewie to dig. And now I need it to coax the dragon out into the open."

"What makes you think it will work?"

"Because it was still glowing blue. The dragon attacked at Mid-Post Station, but because I managed to bury the lure, it retained its glow. It was still glowing when I dumped it in the hole."

"Even if the dragon doesn't deactivate it, what makes you think that the glow doesn't just dissipate over time?” asked Thalia.

"Er,” began Hamilton and then he realized that he didn't have an answer. He sighed. “Blind hope, I suppose. If it's lost its glow, this whole attempt to take the dragon down is dead before it even starts."

"Well, I'm sure that it will be glowing when you get it,” Thalia said with confidence.

"Yeah,” agreed Hamilton with somewhat less confidence.

An hour later they arrived at the field where the two men were digging. A lantern sat next to the excavation cast a meager light. Hamilton helped Thalia dismount and then he climbed down as well. He tied Bethesda's lead to a clump of sicle fern. Then the wizard and the girl joined the men who were digging. Clods of dirt popped out of the hole intermittently to land in a ring around it.

"How's it going?” called Hamilton to the diggers, who were down about three feet in the hole.

Dewie's head appeared above the hole. “Jest started. Ground's purdy hard, but we'll be there soon.” He wiped some sweat from his forehead which left a dirty white smudge on a face otherwise covered with mud.

"You're sure that this is the same spot as the first hole?” asked Hamilton.

"Purdy close. Rains made it kinda hard ta find the exact spot."

Boff stuck his head up. “What difference does it make? A hole's a hole, ain't it?"

Hamilton looked down at the diggers and shook his head. “It makes a difference to me. A big one. For five royals each, I expect you gentlemen to follow instructions."

"Listen, mister,” said Boff. “If'en the spot were so important, ya could'a left a marker ‘r somethin'. What'd ya ‘spect? Ya send us out in the dark an’ tell us to dig a hole. I mean, once a hole's filled in, it ain't a hole no more, is it?"

Hamilton felt foolish. He should have left a marker. The remains of the hole he'd left at Mid-Post was easy enough to find because he hadn't filled it in completely, but this one? Mr.'s Mildew and Boff had done a professional job of filling in their hole. Too professional.

Boff and Dewie climbed out of the hole and looked at Hamilton. “So what'll it be den? Ya want us to keep digging ‘r what?” asked Boff.

Hamilton frowned. “No. Yes. Here's why I needed you to dig in the same place. Before I asked you to fill in the hole the last time we were here, I dropped something into it—for safe keeping. Now I need it back."

Boff wiped his nose on his sleeve. “Well, dat makes some sense, leastwise, but how did ya expect us ta find the spot in da dark? Wouldn't ta been no problem in da daylight, but after dark ... we ain't no cats, ya know."

"What wrong with your lanterns?” Thalia asked.

"Missy, these here lanterns don't give out near enough light. Daylight, that would a worked."

"How about if I provide you with more light? Could you find the spot then?” asked Hamilton.

"Dependin’ on how much, I ‘spect we could, but I don't see no lanterns.” Boff shook his head.

"Look down,"said Hamilton.

"Huh?” questioned Boff.

"Look down at the ground. I'm going to arrange for some light over your heads and it will be quite bright."

Boff had a confused expression on his face. Dewie whispered to him, “Just humor the guy, Boffy. He's footin’ da bill, ain't he?” Boff shrugged his shoulders and complied.

Hamilton turned to Thalia, “Would you care to do the honors?"

"The honors? What do you mean?"

"Surely you learned a light spell in your studies. It's one of the first spells they teach at the Guild."

She looked confused for a moment, but that expression was quickly replaced with a grin. She closed her eyes and rubbed her palms together. Then spread her hands and intoned, “Darkness swirls about the night, at my command, give me the light."

Thalia clapped her hands three times, and Hamilton, who had not heeded his own advice, was temporarily blinded by the ball of white light that hung above their heads.

"How was that?” asked Thalia whose grin broadened.

"Very good, very, very good.” Hamilton tried to blink away the after images behind his eyelids.

Dewie backed from Hamilton and Thalia. “She's a witch!"

Hamilton, who was almost able to see again, said, “Don't be stupid. She's not a witch. She's a Guild wizard."

Boff looked at the two wizards and mumbled, “And that's better, is it?"

Hamilton heard him and frowned. “Listen, you wanted light. You've got light. Now find where the first hole was and dig it back out. You
do
want to get paid, don't you?"

With some trepidation, Boff and Dewie searched the ground beneath the glaring white orb.

"Over here.” exclaimed Boff.

Hamilton looked at him. “Well? Start digging."

Dewie challenged, “We already dug one hole. How much fer the second one?"

"How about you get to avoid becoming an amphibian?"

"Huh?” asked Boff.

"If you dig the second hole, I won't have to turn you into a frog."

"Oh.” Boff acknowledged with obvious disappointment. Soon he and Dewie were back at work. The dig progressed. The dirt was not packed as densely as where they had dug before. After five hours, Dewie emerged from the hole and asked, “What exactly are we looking fer, anyway?"

"A silver cylinder, about a foot long and a couple of inches thick."

"Silver, huh? What's it worth?” asked Dewie.

"How about your chance to avoid living on a lily pad and eating flies for the rest of your life?"

Dewie winced and then looked down the hole. “Pass it up, Boff.” Dewie bent down and, while supporting himself on to the edge of the hole with one arm, raised his other hand which held something covered with mud. “This it?"

Hamilton, who was sitting just outside the ring of light produced by the orb, rose and walked over to where Dewie's head and shoulders protruded from the excavation. He took the object and brushed the dirt and mud from it. Silver metal glinted in the bright light. “Pune.” Hamilton frowned.

"What's the matter?” Thalia asked.

"They found the cylinder. It's not glowing."

"Are you sure? Bring it over here."

Hamilton carried the cylinder to where Thalia stood. Outside the orb's range, the cylinder's blue glow was obvious. He looked down at it and breathed a sigh of relief. “Guess I was expecting the worst.” After wrapping the cylinder in a cloth he brought with him, he glanced up. “You can turn off the light now."

An instant later they were in the darkness lit only by the stars and Boff's Lantern. The two diggers climbed out of their hole and ambled over to Hamilton and Thalia. “That'll be five royals ... each,” said Boff. “And if'en ya want the hole filled in, it'll cost ya more."

Hamilton reached into his pocket, extracted 2 five royal notes, and paid the diggers. “That's it, gentlemen."

Back on Bethesda, Hamilton and Thalia passed through Norkon on their way to meet with Will. He had been worried as he wasn't certain where Shelly's place was although he had a general idea. His worry evaporated. Crowds of people were moving through the street with a purpose even though there was at least an hour to go before dawn. Hamilton followed the crowd and fifteen minutes later arrived at a large open field with an old house in the center of it. The field was covered with milling villagers and several vendors were selling hot food and drinks. There were at least a dozen campfires illuminating large pods of people. It was evident from the sounds of the crowd that many of the people were already drunk.

Hamilton surveyed the throng as he and Thalia dismounted. “Look at all the people!” Thalia said.

Hamilton looked at the crowd. “I wasn't expecting a circus.” He sent Bethesda back to the stables and the horse trotted off.

As they moved closer to the edge of the field, they were stopped by a large man, holding a fist full of money, who demanded a royal from each of them to enter the field.

"Don't you know who this man is?” Thalia pointed at Hamilton.

"Some guy who wants to see the nutty wizard get fried? One royal each."

Hamilton looked up at the man. “I
am
the ‘nutty wizard’ and this is
my
show. Who the hell are you?"

"Winston Shelly. My grandfather owned this place. So what do you want, a piece of the take?"

"No, I want you to get these people away from the building. Don't they know that the dragon might show up?"

Winston grinned. “Course they do. Why do you think they're here? Rumor has it that you and Will Beaumont are gonna kill the dragon this morning. That
is
why you're here, ain't it?"

"Idiots.” shouted Hamilton over the noise from the crowd. “Listen, Shelly, you've got to get everyone at least fifty feet back from the house."

"Just how ‘em I gonna do that?"

"Your land, your problem."

"What if I don't? What can you do?” asked Shelly.

"Me? How about nothing? Will and I will just leave and then you can refund all of the money you've collected. How's that sound?"

"You wouldn't."

"Oh, but I would. If you think I'm going to allow you to risk hundreds of lives just so you can make a few royals, you've got another thought coming. Fifty feet back from the house, Mr. Shelly. I am quite serious. I suggest that you get started now. Just tell them the truth. No show unless they move."

Shelly looked disappointed, but moved toward the house.

"Shelly,” called Hamilton after him. “Can you tell me where Will Beaumont is?"

"Over there” He pointed to the west. “Behind that stone fence."

"Thanks.” Hamilton turned to Thalia, “Let's go and see how he's doing.” They made their way through the crowd as Shelly disappeared in the direction of the house. The crowd grew denser as they approached the wall. People sat along the length of it.

Hamilton glanced at the people on the wall. “Premium seating. I wonder if Shelly charged them extra for the privilege."

They were able to elbow their way to where Will worked on his bow. When they were within a few yards of him, Hamilton shouted over the noise of the crowd. “Will, are you ready?"

"Will be soon.” he shouted back. “Glad you showed up. I was beginning to wonder. Did you find your lure?"

"Yes. Where did all these people come from? It looks like the whole population of Norkon."

"More than that,” Will said as Hamilton and Thalia got close enough to speak without yelling. “There are people here from all the surrounding villages. Word travels faster than I thought."

"I've a mind to call it off. This is just too dangerous. Too many people could die—even if we
are
successful."

"Can't turn back now. If you try to call it off, you'll have a riot on your hands."

Hamilton looked about. In the distance he spotted Shelly trying to push people back from the house with little success. “Pune. Thalia, you stay here with Will and do whatever you can to give him room to operate. Use magic if necessary."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to place the lure and then see if I can help Shelly get the people away from the house.” He moved back into the crowd as the first light of dawn appeared in the East. The crowd was becoming denser and noisier. It took him ten minutes to make it to where Shelly was shouting at the crowds to get back.

"Keep trying.” Hamilton shouted to Shelly as he passed him and entered the house. There were half a dozen people inside. It was apparent that they were all drunk.

"Get out!” shouted Hamilton. They stayed where they were. One offered Hamilton a bottle of rum.

Hamilton took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He blanked out all the sounds around him until he was able to calm his mind. He exhaled a word, “Vocabulous."

Then he opened his eyes, looked at the people and shouted, “Get out of this house—Now.” The words roared out of his mouth at ten times their normal volume. This time, the people in the house moved to the door.

Hamilton glanced about the interior and selected a spot to place the lure. He put it against the wall closest to where Will had set his bow. Then he covered it with some dirt least any of the villagers return to the house. He left the now deserted house and hurried to where Shelly still shouted at he crowd. He put a hand on Shelly's shoulder. The big man turned suddenly, his fist poised until he realized it was Hamilton. “Sorry. They won't listen to me."

Hamilton pushed him back. “Stand by the house for a moment,” and took his place. A few of the people looked at him, but for the most part he was ignored.

"People,” his again amplified voice echoed back to him from the buildings surrounding the field. The crowd stilled, amazed at the huge sound. They watched him with expectation.

It was at this point Hamilton realized that he didn't know what to say. The crowds’ silence lapsed into murmurs.

He took a deep breath and shouted, “I am Master Citrine from the Guild of Wizards and Magic Users.” This was followed by an equal number of cheers, boo's and catcalls.