The (sort of) Dark Mage (Waldo Rabbit) (55 page)

“So what do we do?”

“If you were willing, there’s a very easy way we could get the money we need.”

He was not surprised when he saw her glare or felt anger through their bond.

“Don’t even suggest that or I am going to kick you again. I wouldn’t do it for Elsa when I was single. I certainly won’t do it now that I am properly married.”

“That’s not what I meant. If you would just agree to use your Charm we could raise the funds easily. I’ll bet you could get it in a day or two.”

She shook her head. “I’ve already told you I am not going to do that. It would be wrong.”

“You said you would do it to help me get the ogre.”

“As a one-time thing, I am not going to steal from dozens of men.”

“So if we find one who is wealthy enough you’ll agree?”

“I am not doing it. It would be wrong.”

“That’s not how a typical succubus would view it.”

“Well it’s how I see it.”

“This would be so much simpler if you didn’t have these ridiculous morals of yours.”

“Its how I was brought up. If you have no problem with stealing why don’t you do it?”

“I would if I could get away with it, unlike with Roger though we can’t simply leave the area afterwards. Given the limits of my spells it wouldn’t be safe in a city crawling with armed guardsmen. I also lack mind altering magics, so I would have to resort to force.”

As he said this a squad of six guards went past on the other side of the street.

“No,” Alice agreed. “That wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“If only she had been a man.”

Alice nodded and gently patted his shoulder. “Yes, but she’s not. Too bad you can’t make her fall in love with you or something.”

Waldo came to sudden halt. He stood there with his eyes staring out into empty space.

“Is something wrong darling?”

Through their bond she could feel him being filled with exhilaration.

“Alice you are brilliant! That’s the answer.”

“What is?”

“I’ll make Carin fall in love with me and just give me the ogre!”

“Uh, darling, while I absolutely love you and think you’re the best, you may not be her type.”

Laughing he hurried down the street. “That won’t matter.”

When they arrived at the Inn Waldo ignored Tyrone’s greeting and went straight to the back kitchen. Looking about he snatched a small iron cauldron, a measuring cup, an iron pan, a spoon, a bowl, and a wooden pestle.

“Bring me some flowers,” he told Alice as he piled everything into his arms. “Roses would be best, but at this point I’ll settle for whatever you can find.”

“Darling, what are you up to?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” He headed toward the door. “I am going to make love potion.”

XXX

John Varlos sat back in his chair and listened as Jonas rambled on about what he had seen. The man smelled of alcohol and swayed a bit as he stood there.

“You know Jonas that I do not pay you to get drunk when you are supposed to be working.”

He held his hands up. “Weren’t like that mister Varlos, I swear. I didn’t go drinking ‘til after they was back at the Inn. An then I only did it to find out what one of them guards heard. Were just doing my job sir.”

“So you just had to get drunk to gather information?”

“It take more than two, three mugs to do me in.” Jonas said proudly. “I had to buy this guard some brew to loosen up his tongue. It look downright strange if I not drink right along with him.”

“Yes, I see you very diligent in maintaining your hidden identity.” Jonas smiled widely as though it were a real complement. “So this Waldo Rabbit really was trying to purchase an ogre? Not only that but he had his wife try to haggle the price, and didn’t seem to have enough coin?”

Jonas bobbed his head up and down. “Not just that now, he was threatening her. He did it real polite now, but Miss Carin went all white when he done it. It sound like he want to get the ogre real bad it does.”

“Just not badly enough to actually pay for the creature.”

Jonas gave an indifferent shrug. “That what the guard say. His wife ask for a few days, and Miss Carin say that be fine.”

“I hope you are not making any of this up or exaggerating. It would be easy enough for me to confirm by asking directly.”

“I know better than to be making up things. If anything be a lie it be on the guard, not me.” He placed two fingers over his right eye. “May Wotal strike me blind.”

Varlos gradually nodded. His agents knew not to bring false reports. He also doubted that Jonas had enough imagination to come up with such a bizarre tale. Varlos opened one of his desk drawers and took out a silver coin. Thinking about it, he took out a second and held them out.

“You’ve done very well. I want you to get a friend to watch the White Horse when you cannot. I want to be sure to know when Waldo Rabbit leaves, no matter the time day or night.”

The man eagerly accepted the two guilders. “I do that sir, no worries.” Bowing his head Jonas shambled out of the study.

As soon as he was gone Varlos began to drum his fingers upon his desk and consider the information.

A White Mage purchasing a monster, and a Great Monster at that, was contrary to their entire philosophy. They preached absolutes, in their view there was no moral middle ground. Everything was white or black, good or evil, they did not preach compromise. They moderated their actions only as much as circumstances required, and even then they never bent when it came to their principles.

All monsters were evil. There could be no co-existence. The world belonged to humanity and there was no place in it for any other sentient beings. In the lands they controlled all monsters were exterminated without exception. That one of their order would actually want to purchase an ogre simply did not make sense.

That he was apparently lacking funds was another discrepancy. As a rule, White Mages travelled with a good amount of money. They were expected to not only to pay for their own needs, but to be able to provide charity and assistance when it was called for. It was almost unheard of for one to be short of coin.

And he was staying at an Inn in the poor part of town.

And he was traveling with his wife, a wife who was actually working as a barmaid.

The man was one incongruity after another.

Is he really a White Mage
? Varlos wondered.

Normally you would never think anyone would dare to impersonate a white. That was an excellent way to make an enemy of one of the greatest powers in the world. Only a complete fool would do something like that. On the face of it, it seemed most unlikely. Yet if it were so it would explain all of the odd behavior.

How would I go about finding out? What would I do if he really were an imposter? Do I even want to know?

There was a knock on his study door.

“Come.”

The door opened and his loyal servant stepped inside. “Pardon sir, but I just got a messenger from the south gate.”

Varlos had eyes at each of the city gates, and standing orders that a messenger be sent to him as soon as anyone of importance entered the city. That was how he had originally found out about master Rabbit.

“Who has arrived Martin?”

Martin told him.

“Well now, isn’t that interesting?” He rose to his feet. “Get my cloak and my best clothes ready. I need to go.”

XXX

Melissa Cornwall was headed towards the baron’s palace. Like everywhere else the people kept their distance as soon as they spotted her white robes. She made a point to smile at them and try to let them know they had nothing to fear from her.

Only the guilty, like the man she was hunting, had any reason to fear.

She hoped that she would find some trace of where this so called Rabbit had run to.

Chapter 40

The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend

Melissa had last been in Middleton about two years ago, and had forgotten what the constant clanging was like. If she stayed here awhile the sound would fade into the background. She wasn’t planning on staying that long. Her only priority at the moment was tracking down this Waldo Rabbit before he caused any more harm to the Order’s good name.

First things first though, she needed to announce her arrival to the local court and arrange quarters for her stay.

XXX

The baron’s palace was not really all that impressive. Alice had travelled all over the northern half of the Shattered Lands and had stayed with kings and dukes and other rulers. The palace was really more of a fortress. It was stuck in the low area between Ardwin Hill and Spring Hill. Just a rectangular block with a tower at each corner and a small inner courtyard. The main building was only two stories, with the outer wall about ten feet higher, and each tower ten feet more. It was all built of granite and was kept in good repair. Good enough for local nobility.

The guards at the gate were noticeably better equipped than the men who patrolled the streets. Melissa was granted immediate entrance and escorted to a formal audience. She noticed that none of them had to rush off to inform the baron of her arrival.

Melissa didn’t need the single guard to guide her to the audience chamber, she remembered the lay out quite well. The rooms here were not that spacious, and the furnishings not overly lavish, but they would do. She didn’t plan to spend much time in her quarters anyway.

The audience chamber was about the size of a conference room in some of the castles Melissa had visited. The only furniture was a single gilded chair. Baron Gregorie Torrance was already seated, dressed in plate armor and with his blade belted on. He was surrounded by a dozen knights and officials

Melissa noticed one of the faces with interest.

“Welcome Mistress Melissa Cornwall of the Order of Mist,” the baron said. “I am most pleased to see you once more.”

She strode up to the baron and curtsied for him. “It is a great pleasure to again be in your presence Baron Torrance. May I request lodging within your home? As well as your protection of course.”

“Certainly,” he replied with a stiff nod. “When you left I was under the impression I would not see you again for some time.”

“My duty brought me back sooner than expected, but I likely will not stay long. I am happy for the chance for us to be reacquainted.”

“As am I,” he murmured as he shifted in his seat. His hand tapped restlessly on the hilt of his sword. “What sort of business has brought you back? Perhaps I can be of assistance.”

Melissa bowed her head. “That is most generous of you, but it is a very small matter that I prefer to take care of myself.” The absolute last thing she intended to announce was that there was a traitor to the order going about committing crimes.