Welcome to science and dragons, where the dragon eats the laptop. Interesting stuff will happen at some point, so read it and see if you can find it. Have fun and beware, here be dragons and bombs.
Another? Getting rid of some of the back log I see. May I say that it is about time!
Couldn't agree more.
Chapter 11
July, 28, 1949, The Roast Hog, Leacon
The sun rose, warming the chilled bricks that the buildings in Leacon were built of. Edward stretched, staring out of the window over the table he was working at; books, papers, photos, and maps lay in piles, neatly assorted, a cup of cold tea next to one elbow. He pulled the blanket firmly around his shoulders, before continuing writing. Far away a bird of prey called and the pen scratched it's way across the paper, pausing now and again for Edward to check a detail. The cook started the morning meal, ordering the sleepy maids about. The guests had not yet begun to descend down from their rooms.
Across the commons room a door slammed open, Retin stood, her dressing gown wrapped tightly around her, her quick steps brought her to the Mage who gave her a cold look before she demanded: “What have you done to Jarro this time?” she thumped the table, “Last time I saw him he was talking to you, and this morning I can't find him anywhere!”
Edward shot upright, “Jarro's not here?”
“I just said that you idiot, and don't try to play dumb, I know you did something!” her hands tightened into fists.
“Oh yeah go on blame me straight away, couldn't you at least pretend to think about it first?”
“You almost got him killed before, why shouldn't I suspect you?” Retin sneered.
“I was not my fault that he followed me! If anything you are to blame for not keeping an eye on that dimwit.” Edward shot back.
“Unless you are blind as a bat you would have seen him straight away, he is as stealthy as a rampaging bull.”
“I wasn't expecting anyone to try tailing me.”
“Sure you weren't, but that isn't the point - what matters now is finding him, so spill the beans!”
“I already told you, I don't know!”
“Do!”
“Don't.”
“Do!”
“Now, now children, what is going on here?” Spode stood arms folded, glaring at Edward and Retin as they stood, teeth bared at the other. A startled Lunarious and a impassive Kayle were standing behind him. “Come on, you'll wake the whole house at this rate.”
Retin began, before Edward could say a word. “Jarro's not here.”
Spode raised an eyebrow, and Loony let out a loud groan, “Is that what you two have been yelling your heads off about? He might have just gone for an early morning walk or-”
“His bed was not slept in, I did look..” Retin snapped, eyes still fixed on the Mage.
“Oh,” Loony paused, reconsidering, “Well in that case, where would he have gone last night?”
Kayle growled, “He better not have caused any trouble, if he starts a war I will make sure that he is the first casualty.”
Spode rubbed his forehead, “Who saw him last?”
“I was talking to him last night, after that he left saying something about wanting some fresh air, that was about ten-ish.” Edward volunteered.
“That your story anyway.” Retin muttered under her breath.
“It's the truth.” Edward, exasperated.
“Your truth.” she shot back.
“Break it up you two, I don't know what is going on but the sooner we get our lost minister back the better. First I'll check with the palace to see if they can help ferrite him out. Next-”
A door slamming outside resounded though the building, Grycite and Brilsion voices were heard raised in argument.
Rosie opened the inner door, “Anyone lost a minister?” Jarro stumbled through the gap, pushed by someone behind him, his hair was plastered with dirt and his clothes needed a wash, but he was unhurt. “The corporal says they picked him up after curfew last night so he spend the night in their cells. He was delivered along with the post just now.”
The mage and assassin reached his side simultaneously.
“What did you think you were doing?”
“Didn't you know about curfew?”
“If you ever do such a darn silly thing again I am chaining you up!”
“If you want fresh air get it from a window, not an unknown street, you were lucky it was only the guard!”
Jarro defended himself as best he could, before giving in. He was grateful when breakfast was served to distract his well meaning torturers.
Though, with Retin and Edward on either side of him it made for a tense meal, both spent it snarling at each other like a cat and dog. It would have been funny, Jarro decided, if he wasn't sitting between them.
He was about half was though breakfast, a runny porridge with bread sticks, when the owner of the Roast Hog oiled his way in and announced that the palace car had arrived. The remaining food was stuffed down his throat at an amazing speed and soon the train of cars were honking their way though the packed roads. Beggars tapped at the windows before being swept up by the masses, vendors screeched theirs wares at anyone within ear shot, a few of the wingless dragons, jippers, plodded past.
As they past though the second set of gates he inquired as just how many there were.
“Five, each time the city needed to be expanded due to population expansion another wall was added. The first king to expand the city outward was a lazy guy and very much a penny pincher, so he left the old one were it was. After that it become more or less a tradition” Edward explained
“The other reason given is that this was the original plan for the city, but the treasury ran out of money so the construction had to be halted, until such time as they had the funds, so each extension of the walls is just a continuation of the plans already made.” Retin countered, smiling as sweetly as a lemon.
“Well excuse me for learning my history correctly.” Edward gave a very good impression of someone who's nose had just been put out of joint.
“You thought you were right? Alright then I won't argue, I might hurt your poor feelings.” Retin adopted a highly patronising tone.
This polite and calm argument continued, Jarro sat wincing as verbal barbs and daggers flew over his head, he wish heartily that they would both just shut up.
The cars past through several more gates before finally stopping before two massive golden dragons supporting the Golden Empire Gate. The jewels that encrusted the golden hide made the whole structure shimmer. The doors themselves where carved, one side with a sun and other the three moons. A guard blew a horn and the doors retreated, and an explosion of green hit the eye.
“Someone over did the garden.” Lucuse announced. “Is there even a palace in here or is it all bushes?”
“The palace and its grounds are relativity new, in the last hundred years or so, the old ones were destroyed when the current rulers' great great grandfather disposed the previous ruling family. He used mages to melt the very foundation - by the end a puddle of molten stone was all the was left.” Senic sounded a little wistful, Jarro thought, but then again melted stone sounded far more interesting then a garden.
“History lesson over yet? Lets get this over with then.” Lucuse had had enough of talking.
“It would not hurt you to take an interest in what is going on around you, now and then, you know.” Kayle said in a deadpan voice.
“Why? I don't mind ignorance.” Kayle narrowed her eyes but kept silent they were led by a servant though the maze of conflicting paths.
Jarro let himself fall to the back of the group where Lucuse was slinking, hands sunk in pockets.
“If you hate being a Seirions so much why haven't you quit?”
“I can't.” Lucuse snapped, he caught himself, and continued in a calmer voice, “I can't. All the clan leaders have to enrol at least one son as a Seirions and as the eldest must remain to carry on the family business the second son is the logical choice. No matter their view on the matter.”
“Oh.” Jarro walked silent for a few steps, “Can't you be dismissed or something? Expelled for bad behaviour?”
“What does it look like I am try to do?” Lucuse glared ahead, “When I was first assigned I tried to strike a deal so that Lady Kayle would say I am unfit for duty, but all I get is lectures about how hard some people had to work to get in and that I should thank my parents for the short cut. She says I have 'great potential', I disagree strongly, but unfortunately she is the only one who can release me from the contract, so I am stuck here.” He finished, shrugged and lengthened his strides so he was a few feet ahead of Jarro. Jarro pondered, staring at the snake changers back, as far as he could tell the lady Kayle was just wasting her time, Lucuse was a man after few things in life, and none of them involved a high ranking career. He did feel a sort of sympathy with Lucuse, he knew what it was like being pushed into a job you didn't want to do.
The servant announced loudly, “Behold the palace of the Childa!”
The building itself was white marble, it's gleaming white walls contrasting the multiple colours of the garden. It was simple, no gaudy ornaments or golden statues. Jarro decided that he liked it.
However the same could not be said of the inside. Jarro gaped, every surface glittered with gold, gems, silver, copper, the value would have astounded the richest man and emptied the largest vault. Turning slowly he surveyed the fortune around him, and almost walked into Retin as she stood, her foot tapping.
“Coming?”
Jarro laughed a little, embarrassed, and followed after, still staring in awe at the decorations.
They were ushered into a waiting room were they found hard benches to park themselves upon and listen to the chiming of a distance tower clock, before a short Grycite with a very loud voice announced, “You may now enter.”
Jarro jumped up, relieved the wait was over, Retin hissed in his ear, “Do not make an utter fool of yourself.” The doors opened onto the Throne Room. Guard in uniforms that looked like they had been designed by a hyper four year old with a box of coloured pencils lined the walk to the throne itself. Behind them various house representatives stood, curious to see the first officials to visit the Chillda himself in many years. Jarro could feel the tension as a hundred people held their collective breath.
The Chillda sat on an ornate but nevertheless wooden throne, it looked out of place among the gold, the man also looked plain, hair dull and clothes a simple linen robe. To the Chillda's right was a woman, who despite looking close to thirty, was almost bouncing with enthusiasm. Across from her a man who made a morgue look cheerful, he stood, gazing chillingly as the aliens approached.
Loony curtseyed deeply, before beginning a lengthy introduction through Senic who was interpreting.
Jarro tuned her out after a few minutes, his eyes briefly met those of the Chillda's right hand woman. She made point of glancing toward Loony, rolling her eyes, and touching her lips gently in a pretend yawn. Jarro smiled slightly, tapping his fingers and thumb together to agree that he thought is was mostly boring chitchat - holding his arm at chest level so it wasn't easily noticed.
They continued exchanging signals until Retin gripped his arm and whispered, “How old are you again?” Jarro gave an annoyed glare at his shoulder, but he stopped. The woman gave a slight shrug and returned to gazing at nothing, Jarro followed her example.
It was another two hours until they were dismissed, and guided to the guest house. Jarro glanced around the rooms, the main was a combination sitting and dinning room, off to one side was a small bathroom and the other a bed room, he collapsed onto the bed, while the maid told him that food would be brought up soon and that the feast this evening would start at eight. She left in a flurry of skirts and wings. Jarro stretched, kicking off his shoes, and flinging his arms out, he still had a few hours before he needed to do anything but relax, and he planned to put it to good use.
Chapter 10
July, 27, 1949, Outskirts of Leacon
The bruised and battered Hoverer landed off to one side of the gate in the outer wall of Leacon. Bag gripped in one hand, Jarro dropped onto the sand and stood for a second breathing deeply. A distance away the sister craft had arrived sometime earlier, Rosie the Captain sprawled on the wing. She pushed herself off onto the sand and started toward them.
A shove to the small of his back sent him sprawling forward, “You make a better wall then a door.” Retin stepped down behind him.
“Now was there any need for that?” He gave her a hurt look.
To his surprise the assassin sighed, “Not really, sorry. I just think that I would rather spend a year on a boat then go on that hoverer again.”
“This time I agree heartily with you.” Edward sighed following after.
As soon as Beladine was with ear shot she called out, “What happened? One moment you were chuffing along behind us then, Poof!” She gestured wildly with her arms, “You weren't!”
“You did not see the fire?”
She looked blank, “What fire?”
“You didn't see it.” Jarro started laughing, the danger that his majesty had been so concerned about had happened and the guards never even noticed. Oh the fun he would have when they got back. No one else look particularly amused however.
“Why did you think we were not there? Sightseeing maybe?” Edward stood, arms folded, glaring at the sheepish Captain.
“No! We circled for an hour around the area we last spotted you, but we saw nothing.”
“Well, the mage did cast a glamour to hide us. That the only explanation I can think of.” Edward stated, puzzled.
“Lets just get to the citadel.” Lunarious walked over, a shuffling Ellen behind her.
“We're not allowed to go there until morning, but I found a high class inn, The Roast Hog, and it is not too far.” Beladine cheerfully announced, relieved that no one was blaming her.
Loony groaned, “I hope my poor legs can make it.”
“They will!” Beladine slapped her back almost sending the Loony to her knees.
It was a quarter of an hour before they reached the aforementioned inn. It was everything he hoped for, a slab of rock for a bed and food a chemist couldn't have identified.
Loony glanced at the food and announce she was not hungry, Retin and Edward ate without comment. Jarro gloomily stared at the stuff on his spoon, maybe that bit of orange could be carrot? The only thing that stopped him from throwing it out was the smell, it wafted promising and sweet. Maybe if he closed his eyes...
Eyes squeezed shut Jarro felt someone slide opposite him. He ignored them and kept spooning the creamy goo into his mouth.
“So your the new recruit. Younger than I imagined.” Still blind to the world Jarro creased his forehead, the voice was melodic, and a heavy with a Grycite accent. “High in the Brilsion government too or so I hear.”
“Huh?” Recruit? What for? He decided to plead ignorance for now and try to find out what is going on.
“I do not think so, six foot tall, hair looks like you crawled though a shrubbery, part of the retinue from Brilsion I assume? your eyes are brown too, sounds like you does it not?”
“Apart from my position you could have described any one of a hundred people.” Oh great, so she knew about him but he knew nothing about her, this was not fair.
“But you are him. Stop playing dumb, and open your eyes.”
“Shelia? What are you doing?” Edward voice conveyed no small mount of alarm.
“Ahh, Edward nice to see you too, your friend is playing hard to get.” She knew Edward, who is part of the Reformers, and she kept on about him being a recruit. Jarro almost felt a light switch on.
He opened his eyes, Edward looking pale, stood stunned. Jarro took the initiative - if he played along Edward would have no choice but to let him in on his plans, or so he hoped anyway, the mage played his cards very close to his chest.
“Oh - is she a friend?” Jarro turned back to the woman, she wore an red evening dress, with gold trim at neck, wrists and waist, and her near-black skin shone, “Are you our contact? Sorry about not answering before - I did not want to risk it if you were one of 'them'.” he lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper at the last word.
She blinked and her eyes flicked to the mage who was standing one hand over his face, “One of 'them'?”
“Oh yes, it would give the whole game away, and nasty people would hunt me down and cut my throat.” This really was the most fun he'd had in days, both Edward and the Grycite woman looked like people who had just stepped into a paddling pool, and ended up in over their heads.
The Grycite woman turned to Edward, “You really recruited him?”
“No, he's having you on,” Edward took a deep breath, “She's a friend, you can drop the act. I told the reformers in Merka that I recruited you so they wouldn't kill you, the story must have spread, but not that many people could have heard of you.”
“Good luck with that, everyone was talking about it down at the base.”
Jarro blinked, and Edward sunk, his head buried in his hands, Shelia paused, “Either let him join for real or be ready to find a dead body.”
“In that case I'll join now if it is all the same to you I would like to live to see tomorrow.” Jarro folded his arms, determined.
“I don't like this, what happens when he slips up?” Jarro felt this was a little insulting, but given his track record , a reputation for messing things up was to be expected.
“Slips up what? So long as he doesn't go about announcing that he became a member by accident he'll be fine.” Shelia waver aside Edwards worries.
“But...” Edward, hovered, uncertain.
“It will be fine,” Shelia reassured him, from across the bar a man waved at her, “Got to go, listen out for me! You tell him whatever you think he needs to know.” She bounded across the crowded room, whirled before exiting through a side door, winked and disappeared.
Jarro stared at the door for a moment before asking Edward, “What did she mean, listen out?”
“She's a singer.” The mage vaguely replied, his eyes focused on table.
“Oh, okay.” Jarro shifted, uncomfortable. “So um, are you going to tell me what this mission of your about?”
“I am just debating how best to explain it.” He push his hair back, “Alright, now this is by no means all that is happening but it is the basis. The Reformers are made up of multiple factions, each one has it's own leader, and it's own rules. Now this treaty between Brilsion and the Ignatumlands is causing a lot of controversy among us, some are for it, nevertheless there are a lot who are against it.” He stopped, pondering how to continue.
Jarro asked carefully, uncertain as to whether he would be answered, “Do they want us to go to war, or stay the way we are?”
“Some want war, others don't, really everyone has there own view of this treaty.”
“So... any chance you could tell me why Retin hates you quite so much?”
“I am as far as everyone else knows, so far against this treaty that I would rather start a world war that would last another twenty years than let this it be passed. It was the only way to get in contact with the Reformers here - if I was for the treaty they wouldn't tell me anything.”
“That would do it, um, so do I need to do anything special so I won't get shot?”
“Huh?”
Jarro clarified, “To join the Reformers.”
Edward sighed, defeated. “This is going to end badly. No, there is nothing you have to do, I'll inform my friends in Brilsion about you and they will do the rest.”
“Can I tell Retin?”
“No.”
The lights dimmed and a spotlight highlighted Shelia standing, her delicate wings unfurled. A hush filled the room, and her voice rose, haunting and dark. Jarro excused himself leaving Edward slouched at the table alone. He walked past four of Rosie's guards sat in the outer room, mugs of beer and cards on the table. They barely glanced up as he rambled past. Outside on the streets the only visible life were moths bouncing off the windows, vainly trying to get to the light inside.
Jarro started down between the stone houses that lined that road, the dark rarely bothered him, however there was something off about the night, he ignored the sensation, putting it down to nerves. He just wanted to walk, he often did when thinking, it helped to have the scenery go by, it cleared away the unnecessary thoughts.
Jarro finally halted a couple of blocks away from the inn, contemplating whether or not to turn back, when a hand covered his mouth. Panicking he bit down and the bitter taste of leather made him gag.
From somewhere close a female voice drawled, “Now what do we have here?”
A guttural voice next to his ear said something in Grycition and sniggered, then a light blinded him, an exclamation followed.
“Human eh?” the voice came closer, Jarro found his self staring up into a pair of yellow-grey eyes in a ivory face, a wisp of pale blond hair caressing her cheek. As their eyes met she let out a slight out take of breath. “You! How can you possibly be here?”
“Hi to you too.” Jarro answered coldly, “Though you'd seen to us good and proper with the slavers?”
Therry smiled, “How did you know I took part?”
“I listened, you were hardly quiet.” he shifted, “Are...are you going to kill me now?” he avoided her eyes, clenching his fists to stop the shacking.
She ignored his question, “Did you tell Edward about me?”
Jarro laughed shortly, “Oh yeah, I did, he didn't believe me though.”
“Really?”
“Don't worry, I'll talk him round, seeing you here, and your reaction to such should help tremendously.” Jarro knew provoking her was borderline insane, but he could not help himself.
“You won't say a thing. A simple spell will see to that.”
A vibrant glow lite up the street, Jarro squinted at her, last time someone cast a spell on him he ended up with wings; and Edward didn't want him dead.
“W-what are you doing?”
“Doing a simple memory wipe to see that your tongue doesn't flap, you'll lose ten minutes at most.”
Yellow-grey eyes met his, “Sleep.” the command sunk into his subconscious, “You'll wake up tomorrow without a memory of me. Won't that be nice?”
Chapter 9
July, 25, 1949, Merka outskirts, border town of the Ignatumlands
The sun rose over the tree tops, drenching the shadow with light. Jarro collapsed onto the wing of the hoverer, pulling the bandage around his head back into place.
The hoverer was about ten meters in length and five wide, built of reflective glass and ceramics - its power source was two anti-gravity crystals. These man-made crystals repel the ground though a mage called a gravotron.
It felt like hours since Retin dragged him from the warmth of his bed and down to this strip of open grassland, surrounded by the swampy tree land that dominated the west coast of the Ignatumlands. The loading of supplies now completed, Jarro rested his aching arms - why his presence had been need he could not say, he certainly did not provide much help.
Spode circled around from where the storage sheds stood, feet squeaking on the wet grass, “Any sign of the renegades?” he asked.
“Nope, better send out a search party if you want to see them before lunch.” Jarro replied cheerily. “My best guess is Lucuse is off sleeping off his hangover, you would have a better idea where Senic is then me.”
Spode laughed, “If I knew were he was, he would be inside tied to a chair.”
Jarro lend back on his elbows, “If that's the case...” He trailed off, tilting his head to one side, “Can you hear a car?”
A distant roar rose above the sounds of crickets, “It just might be, and what do you know, only an hour late.” Tyres screeching under pressure could now be heard, only moments later the black taxi skidded around the final corner and toward the hoverer ships. Lucuse and Senic falling over themselves to get out as fast as possible.
Spode stood, legs apart, arms folded, “What time do you call this?”
“I don't know, you tell us, mum.” Lucuse drawled.
Spode's lips tightened, he turned to Senic, “I believe I gave you a watch to avoid this happening again.”
Senic winced, “Uh, funny story about that.”
“You lost it didn't you.”
“Sorry.” He tried to smile, “I think it is somewhere in my house.”
“Get in the damn ship.”
“Whatever.” Lucuse climbed into the hoverer.
“Yes sir.” Senic breathed a sigh of relief and followed Lucuse.
Spode sank down so he was sitting next to Jarro, “I ask my self why I haven't fired that boy yet.”
“Because no other Grycite would work for you?” Jarro supplied helpfully, he added after a moment, “Why does he work for you?”
“Not a clue, although I did hear a rumour about-”
CRASH! Jarro yelped and threw himself away from the sound. Dazed, he turned his head, Retin, a frying pan in one hand, lid in the other, glowered down at them.
“I want to leave now, stop gossiping and get inside now!”
Jarro began hotly, “Was that really necessary-”
“Yes, now kindly get a move on.” She spun on her heel and stomped back in.
Jarro growled, picking himself up “I think she's forgotten that I'm suppose to be her boss.”
“Well if you treated her like an employee she might act like one.”
Jarro rubbed the back of his neck, “I guess that's the problem really, I'm not really employing her per say, that is to say I am, but it's only until she finishes her job.”
Spode paused before answering, “What?”
Jarro waved hand hand vaguely, “It's complex.” He stepped up into the hoverer, “Now can we get in? I don't want to tempt her into hitting me with that pan, not with the headache I've already got.”
Sunset followed sunrise.
Jarro leaned back dropping his book into his lap. He did not much like desserts he decided, sand, rocks, shrubs, and sun did not a great view make. However, he decided as his eyes strayed toward the horizon, the sunset was magnificent.
The sun fell though a rainbow of colours, dark blue and violet dominated the sky, speckled with stars. A little green and yellow merging them though to the bright oranges and reds that danced about the sun. The clouds, before so white now burned with the suns' dying fire.
Jarro stood and padded down to the cockpit, Tenion the pilot, and Nept the co-pilot were working on some flight charts. The hoverer ships, he been surprised to learn, ran off magic, so the pilots were usually low level mages. Tenion glowed faintly, the only sign that he was keeping the ship airborne.
Jarro opened his mouth, but before he could say a word Tenion announced, “We are an hour closer then when you last asked.”
Jarro sagged against the high back of the pilot's seat, peering out into the dimming desert. The darkness crept over the expanse of wasteland. Tenion reached over and hit a switch, Jarro blinked as the cabin filled with light. Odd how the dark only became noticeable when the lights came on.
Jarro stared vaguely out the front for a few moments, before a thought crossed his mind, “Where's the other ship?” Beladina and the guard had traveled about within sight all day, but now there was no sign of them.
Tenion glanced up crossly, “They're right...there?” he trailed off.
“So this isn't normal?” Jarro asked.
Tenion shook his head, bewildered, “No, no it's not.”
Spode stepped up beside Jarro, “What's the problem?”
A light flared in the darkness, flames leaping twenty meters into the air, Jarro shielded his eyes, Spode gasped, the Hoverer shuddered slightly, before Tenion regained control.
“What is that?” Spode demanded.
Lady Kayle, silent as always, appeared at his side. “A trap.” She announced, watching the dancing flames with interest.
Jarro jumped at her voice, how did she manage to be so quiet?
“It's the other Hoverer!” Tenion said, voice shaking a little.
“We have to get down there now.” Spode voice was urgent.
“How does something like this just explode into flames? It's bait.”
Tenion growled, “I've seen it happen before, one faulty wire, a defect in one of the crystals, these ships may not look it, but they can burn really easy.”
“I still say it's a trap.” Kayle calmly stated it, like it was impossible she was wrong.
“We're going down.” Spode repeated.
The angle of the floor increased, Jarro braced his feet so as not to fall over. Edward came up, “I saw the fire, and there is hundreds of people down there, what is it?”
Five pairs of eyes turned to him, Spode spoke first, “How many people are down there?”
“Couple hundred at least, is it a town or something?”
“It would seem I have been proven right, take us up please.” Lady Kayle said primly.
“We can not be certain that everything is okay down there...”
Tenion interrupted, “I...I can't, I've lost control...we're going to crash, everyone sit down and brace yourselves!”
Jarro felt a grip on his collar, Edward pulled him round and gave him a shove toward his seat.
“I can sit down on my own!” Jarro complained.
“I sure you can but the question is, would you? You have an unhealthy tendency to ignore safety instructions.” Edward replied grimly.
The hoverer shuddered it's way down to earth, landing heavily, shaking the cabin and people. Even before they fully stopped, something scraped across the roof. Lady Kayle rushed to the door, pushing against it with all the force she could muster.
“Trapped. I told you so.” She growled, giving the door a kick.
“This is going to be fun.” Lucuse said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
Loony stood, “Now what?”
Her maid, Ellen Doolittle wailed, “We're all going to die!”
Loony pushed her back down onto a seat, “Don't be silly, we are not going to die. Just take a few deep breaths and calm down.”
Spode asked Tenion, “Can we, by chance, take off some how?”
“No, something is blocking out my magic, we're stuck.”
Edward added, “Mine too.”
“And without magic this hoverer is grounded.”
“Can you jump start this ship or hook it up to some sort of power source?” Spode asked.
“Nothing strong enough to get us off the ground, we would just end up throwing up dust. Whatever is holding us down is really heavy.” Tenion said gloomily.
“Unless...” Nept froze when everyone looked toward him.
“What is it?” Tenion asked.
“Um, I was just thinking...What if we get the back up generator to get us off the ground.”
“How? I've already said that it doesn't have enough power to do that.”
“I mean it's got enough power, which when released at the proper rate could last days, what if we rearrange the circuits so it produces all it's power at once? I know it was a stupid idea, forget I said-”
“No! It's, it's brilliant! But if we release it in one go the forces would at best, kill us.” Edward said.
“At best? What's the worst?” Retin demanded.
“It would trigger an explosion big enough to liquefy the sand in a 5 kilometer radius.”
“...That's worse.”
“This isn't impossible, all we need to do is calculate at what speed the power must be released at.” Tenion said.
“Can you do it?” Spode looked from one man to the next.
Edward shrugged, Nept stared at the ceiling, deep in thought, Tenion nodded slowly, “Yes.”
“Then do it.”
Jarro pressed up against the window, the raging infernal was now no more then a camp fire, shadowy figures where outlined by the light. Jarro push an ear to the glass, raised voices filtered through to him, however they were in the wrong language. He sighed, then brightened.
Jarro stepped carefully though the mess of wires and gizmos that had been spread over the floor, and grabbed Senic by the arm, “I need your help, my knowledge of Grytion consists of me being about of say 'hello'.”
“...Okay?”
“Great, come on.”
Back next to the far window Jarro pressed his ear to the glass, motioning Senic to do the same. After a moment Senic copied him.
“What are they saying?” Jarro asked in a muted whisper.
Senic shushed him, then in a low voice began to translate.
“Kill them now.” Therry, insisted, skin white in contrast to the black night, her yellow-grey eyes flashed as she turned sharply.
General Huri scowled, killing in self defense was one thing, but he did not intend to murder his victims in cold blood, “No.”
The sickly eye narrowed on him, “It was the deal, we work together and eliminate both our problems. You want the distrust to continue, it's good for your business. I want them out of my way.”
“I do not murder.”
The pale mage threw her hands in the air, “I hire the only black marketers with morals, wonderful.”
Huri stared at her impassively, behind him his second in command, captain Gerd, shifted nervously.
Therry paced a few time before halting directly in front on him, “Fine if you're so weak I shall kill them myself.”
She strode toward the secured ship, Grycites solders stood around it, watching her warily. Captain Gerd started forward.
Huri held out an arm, “Stay.”
“But sir..!”
“Stay.” Huri repeated in the same level voice.
Therry's interlocked her fingers and stretched them out in front of her. Gerd said urgently, “She's going to use magic!”
“No she's not.”
Five seconds pasted, ten, twenty.
“What..?”
“You know the anti magic field we set up so the hoverer's captain couldn't fly the ship away?”
“Oh...”
Therry's arms dropped to her sides, for a brief moment in time nothing dared breath. She turned slowly and walked back to the two men, her gaze thoughtful and calculating.
“You would seem to have me at an advantage, I am forced to ask, what now?”
Huri took a deep breath, and answered with another question, “You are aware of the slaver who works in Codron?”
“You want to sell them?” She, asked, surprise written all over her face, “You don't want to kill them but you're fine with selling them into slavery?”
“Even slavery is better than death.”
“Huh.” She smiled slightly, “I can't really object can I?”
“No.”
“Fine, do what you will, make sure they reach their destination.”
He inclined his head toward her. Therry nodded back, turn heel and vanished into the night.
Senic stopped translating, and sat back, Jarro followed suit. Somewhere in the background Edward said, “-If we shorten the conductor and line it up with the-”
“Good news!” Jarro announced startling everyone, “They're not going to kill us, they're going to sell us as slaves, oh and Edward? I think your niece is out there.”
Brief silence reigned for a moment, before frantic action took over again, Edward though remained frozen, “My...niece? You mean Therry? But what the heck is she doing out here?”
“Trying to kill us.” Jarro answered helpfully, “Don't worry, the black marketer she was working with stopped her.” He looked at Edward's incredulous face, Jarro continued, uncertain,“I might be wrong though, I've only met her once before, and the voice was a little muffled...” He trailed off.
Edward shook his head, trying to clear it, “I'll think about this later, right now I have work to do.” He walked back to the dismantled generator.
Jarro winced, he had no doubt about who the woman outside had been. However, it looked like once again, no one would believe him. Wonderful.
Out of everyone's way Jarro found a chair and sat watching the bustling of pilots and mage. Retin was sorting though a draw of cutlery, listening to Tenion's hastily yelled instructions.
“Would this do?” Retin asked, holding up an butter knife.
“Yes.” Replied Edward snatching it from her hand, “Thanks.”
“He's putting cutlery into an advanced power generator, we're doomed.” Retin said sadly.
Ellen started to wail, Loony sighing heavily patted the sobbing maid on the back, “Thank you so much,” she said sourly to Retin. “I'd just calmed her down.”
A yelp from Edward heralded a shower of sharps from the mutilated power unit. Edward asked, nursing his throbbing fingers, “You sure about your calculations?”
Tenion look up from a sheet of fine equations and notes, there was an infinitesimal pause before he nodded.
“Then we have nothing to wait for. Please brace yourselves people,” He added in a louder voice, “We're getting out of here!”
Jarro, eyes closed heard a clunk...and silence.
“Ok what did you guys mess up....!”
The pressure on his body would have made an elephant seem light. Everything was shaking, someone screamed. Then it was over, Jarro opened his eyes.
“Ow.” The grey carpet met his eyes. He must have fallen off his chair, he decided. Jarro picked himself up, holding one hand to the side of his head. His fingers came away tinted with blood. Jarro groaned, the force of departure must have reopen the cut. No one else looked much better, but, Jarro thought grimly, he was the only one bleeding.
Tenion was at the control panel, back in control, the faint glow of magic surrounding him. Edward was also on his feet, leaning against a chair, “Is everyone alive?”
A brief check proved that everyone was breathing and well.
Spode pulled out his watch, “And only an hour behind schedule, not bad.”
“We could have been killed and you're judging how long we took?” Retin exploded.
Jarro knew that voice, she was about to go in to Lecture Mode, he made an attempt to distract her. “What about the other hoverer? The one with Captain Roise in it?”
“I'll bet that... the mage,” Edward kept both eye fixed on the wall, “Made an illusion to separated us from them, if I'm right they should be waiting for us in Lecona.”
Spode nodded, “It would make sense, the fire dimmed soon as we landed.”
“I hope this trip doesn't get any more exciting, I've had all I can take for one day.” Loony said wearily.
Jarro ducked out the door, and skid to a stop, Edward stood a meter away, surveying the street scape. Jarro tried to breath quietly, across from him the doorman gave him a suspicious glare. Jarro smile maniacally at him, while watching the reflection in the glass doors, Edward started down the steps and turned right. Jarro tailed him down the street walking much like a man stepping on eggs, sliding behind walls, jumping into shops, and basically acting like a lunatic.
Edward walked slowly drinking in the surroundings, smiling contentedly. However, despite the lack of speed, his rambling steps all headed in the same direction. Jarro having got his initial enthusiasm out of his system followed him more carefully. That Edward was familiar with the city he was now certain.
Edward halted abruptly, and Jarro dove behind a handy dustbin, landing knees first into a puddle. Cursing under his breath, he peered around the the edge, Edward was staring back toward him, Jarro pulled him head back abruptly, and waited a few moments before looking again. A leg was just disappearing into the side alley. He scrabbled up, and tripped over the gutter. An old Grycite woman sniffed, and folded her leathery wing primly, two little girls giggled. Jarro nodded an apology toward the lady, and scuttled after into the alley after Edward.
Next thing he knew his face was slammed against a wall and one of arms being twisted in a most unpleasant manner. A low voice growled in his ear,”Make a noise or try to move and I will brake your wrist.”
He tried to moan quietly,”Ow, ok, I'm not going to. Just please stop dislocating my shoulder.”
The presser eased,”So it was you, I thought as much.” Jarro turned his head as much as he could.
“Yes, you often accost people in alleys?”
The mage freed him and gave a bitter laugh, “Of all the times you could have chosen to play at spying.”
He hated it when people refused to get angry, he could deal with shouting, but Edward wasn't acting angry, just...worried. “Um, what are you going to do?”
The mage smiled sourly,”Try and keep you alive despite your best efforts otherwise. I really can't trust you to go back on your own, and I certainly can't leave you here.” He shook his head, “Guess this means I'm bringing you along, first to make you blend in a little, take off that jacket of your and I'll do the rest.”
“B-but-” Jarro stuttered.
“Now!” Edward barked, Jarro bit back farther protests and did as he was told, shrugging off the coat and folding it over his arm. Edward was starting to glow.”Now shut your eyes.”
Darkness filled his vision, fingers dug into his arms and a tingling started around them, and swiftly spread like pins and needles all over his body. He shifted his feet, “Don't move, You will disrupt the spell. I'll try and explain what I am doing. I am here to gain some rather important information from the Minor here, and no, I am not about to tell you what. You will pose as a servant and if we are lucky we might get though this without any blood shed. Oh and try not to freak out when you see your body, it is only an illusion.”
Moments later he was released, Edward collapsed, back to the wall, panting. Jarro moved to see if he was ok, but his legs felt wobbly. He yelped and reached out his hands to catch himself, the skin was rather darker then it was a minute earlier. He stared, then held them both up to his face. As he tensed he felt something scrape the wall behind him, he craned his head around to find that he now had a pair of wings.
“You did you do to me?” To his shame it was almost a shriek.
“I only changed your appearance, in appearance at least you are now Grycite, I can undo it at any time.” Edward straightened his robes.
Jarro still was near panic,”B-but, why?”
“Did you not listen to a word I said? This way is the easiest way. Now stop whining, keep your mouth shut at all times, and follow me closely, I am already late.”
“But-”
The mage held up a finger, ”I'll tell you all the details later, for now come with me,”
Jarro held up his coat wordlessly.
“Just throw it in a corner,when we come back this way, we will get it then.” Edward push himself up and started to walk off, leaving Jarro to stumbling along after him.
They finally stopped outside a door two Grycites every muscle in their body said bodyguard. Jarro, still trembling slightly, watched a complicated set of hand movements between the two parties. At last satisfied, one the guards opened the door and said something in Grycition to Edward . One of the guards entered and the other moved to stand in the door.
Edward whispered, lips barely moving, “Sit near the wall no matter what they say avoid eye contact , and on no account speak. Sure you look like a servant but if you at any point open your mouth and say something best you can hope for is that they kill you quickly.” Jarro nodded his ascent. “In that case good luck.” after flashing him a reassuring smile, Edward followed the other guard into the house.
The third Minister shuffled over to a wall and let himself fall onto it, something, better let unnamed, squished as he sat on it. The only man left sniggered something at him as he scraped it off.
Jarro growled, the sniggering stopped, a shadow stepped between him and the sun, the man snarled out a few words. Jarro crouched, uncertain and lowered his eyes trying to remember what Edward had told him to do. The guard repented himself, Jarro glanced up, the bodyguard was drawing back a fist like a couple of bricks. Jarro threw himself sideways, ducking away. The guard merely smiled cracked his knuckles, a couple of people leaned over the edge of flat topped roof.
Jarro wondered vaguely whether paper work was better than getting shot at in an alley. He sighed, maybe if he made enough noise he could get Edward back out here, he would know how to fix this...
Edward was sitting cross-legged deep in conversation with the district Minor when the commotion outside filtered though to him, even then it was a few seconds before the significance of it dawned on him.
Excusing himself he dashed outside where he was in time to see Jarro get knocked unconscious by a wood club to the back of his head, as he fell the spell faded. Jarro, once again human, lay awkwardly, the crowed around him stood stunned for the moment.
Edward cussed venomously aloud, hurrying toward him, a few heads turned toward him. He had little if any medical knowledge but there more blood then he liked. from behind him the Minor Hepin clicked his tongue.
“Who is that man?”
“He...he is...” Edward was momentarily lost for an explanation.
“His appearance was your doing?.”
“Yes...I was, a little concerned so I, uhh, cast an illusion so he would blend in.”
“He isn't blending in now, so kindly stop dodging the question and tell me who he is.”
“He's the Third Minister from Brilsion.”
“Really? You do move in high circles, what's he doing here?”
“I-I-” I need to get Jarro out of here now, Edward decided, before anything worse happened. As a rule he disliked lying but he couldn't see any other way, “I recruited him.”
“Excellent, you are efficient, getting information as it happens, eh?.”
“Thank you, now would you mind if I left while he is still in one piece?”
“Certainly not, I hope to see you again, bid a fond hello to the Major when you see him in the capital.”
The mage nodded in accent, and hoisted the limp Jarro over his shoulder. The people around him parted, with many a hostile glare. Edward firmly ignored them all and started his way back to what he thought of as safe ground.
When Jarro woke the first thing he noticed was pain, throbbing though his head like someone opened his head and was sandpapering his brain. The next was the movement, for a brief moment the image of a ship flash though his mind, but this was quickly discarded. He was being carried awkwardly over someone's shoulder he decided.
The person was growling under his breath,”Sit still and be unobtrusive I told him, don't annoy anyone, and what does the idiot do? He starts a fight. Typical!” Through his pounding head Jarro identified the irritated voice as that of Edward. He cracked his eyes open and the sight of ground moving past giddily greeted them, his hands, he was glad to see, were once again there normal colour.
He moaned and shut his eyes again. The mage stopped, and slid him off his shoulders until Jarro was sitting, back was against the wall. Edward shook him, and pried a reluctant eye lid open. Someone must have turned the sun up, the light jabbing into his brain couldn't be the same as the one which shone earlier in the day. Content that he was concious Edward let him close it again.
“Are you alright? That was quite some bang to the side of your head, thankfully it seems to have stopped bleeding. Do you think you can walk at all? I don't think I can carry you any farther.”
Jarro ran his tongue around his mouth, trying to wet it enough to talk.
Edward continued, ”You were knocked out by the guards, not sure what you did but what ever it was kept you alive.” He chuckled and Jarro felt him sitting next to him.”You certainly gained a reputation from that.”
Jarro coughed and in a horse voice asked,”I'm human again?”
Edward shifted,”The spell failed soon as you were knocked out.”
“Ho-how did you explain that?”Silence answered him.”What did you do?”
At last the mage replied uneasy,“Um, well, it was a bit tricky but nothing you need to worry about.”
“What you say to them?”he pried his eye open again.
“Don't concern yourself with it.” Edward avoided eye contact.
“...If you say so.” The mage gave his a surprised glance, but Jarro felt in no condition to argue the point, he was too busy trying not to vomit everywhere, ”Lets just get back to the embassy.”
“You think you can walk?”
“No, but I don't want to stay here any longer then needed.” he finally worked out where they were, the orange jacket was defiant clue,”Can you pass me my coat please?”
The trip back seem ten times longer, Jarro's arm hung over the mage's shoulder, while the other supported his waist. Still nauseous and now dizzy too he was ready to drop long before they got back.
The doorman gave them an odd look, as he let them in.
“Where you taking me?”Jarro asked blearily.
“Your secretary, she can clean your head up.”
“Retin?” Oh no..he forget about her after seeing Edward sneaking out, “She will kill me!”
“Good, that means you won't do such a daft thing again.”Edward said unfeelingly.
“What did you do to him?”Retin appeared like a ghost stepping though a wall.
“Nothing it's all his own fault, which he will now spend spend some time trying to dissuade you of.” Edward told her.
She hauled Jarro off the mage and started to walk him toward the lift. The many protests from the minister were ignored completely. Edward nodded, satisfied, the young idiot was in good hands now, and was unlikely to escape them any time soon.
He walked toward the bar, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Just make contact with his friend in the Reformers, easy. But that stupid boy had made what should have been easy the exact opposite.
Edward entered the dinning area, and headed over to the bar. He glanced over the menu before ordering a lemonade. Technically he was over the drinking age but few bartenders saw it his way. It was by far easier just to accept it, and to stick to lemonade.
Lucuse was playing the piano over the other side of the room, Senic perched on a high stool, legs crossed, sipping something out of a glass.
Edward watched a woman prowled over and slide down beside the changer. She was young, her skin tanned from sun, long golden hair flowed down her back, a pale green dress set off her forest green eyes. Her fingers joining his increasing the complexity of the song. A sly smile challenged him to match her. He ascent with a grin.
Edwards looked back at his drink, sugar was hard to get here and drink was sour for lack of it, he had asked more out of habit then any real desire to drink it. It was an hour or so later that the clicking of shoes came to his ears, and Jarro came into his vision and spotting him dropped on to the other chair. He leaned back and closed him eyes for a moment. A bandage was tied around his head, hair sticking though and around it.
“I finally got away from the harpy, what are you drinking?”without waiting for an answer he picked up the glass, sniffed it, sipped it gingerly, and made a face, it was more then a little warm by this time.”Needs more sugar.”
“I know.” The mage said distantly, he watched with surprise the antics of Jarro, most people treated him with disdain, respect, or a with a touch of fear. But not, apparently, Jarro, he was sitting there, stealing his drink for goodness sake. He had been certain that as soon as the shock wore off he would finally listen to what his secretary kept telling him and say away.
Jarro still looked pale, and Edward doubted whether he would be able to get back to his room alone, though Miss. Berlia would be happy to drag him back when she found him.
Jarro took another mouth full,”It grows on you though,” he held up the glass before his eyes and swirled the liquid in it.”Like mould round a drain.” The whole man was a puzzle,”Mm, it was ok I guess.” His eyes moved from the glass and focussed on Edward, “Those people who you were seeing, they were part of the Reformers yes?”
Edward winced, “You guessed huh?”
“Hard not no really.”
“I guess.”
“So what are you doing here?”
“Just here helping, the King told me to use my connection to help in the negotiations.”
Well that was part of it, but by no means all, Jarro was certain of it. However right now the mage was tight lipped and his head was still throbbing. He tipped back his head and downed the last of the drink. “Could you get something more interesting next time?”
“Oh yes, I shall certainly take your views on drink into consideration next time I buy one.” Edward resorted to sarcasm, it work just how he expected.
“Thanks!”it was completely ignored.
Chapter 7
July, 24, 1949, Merka customs and immigration office, border town of the Ignatumlands
“If I ever see another boat I will scream.” Lunarious announced primly as they waited for their credentials to be inspected by immigration, she had spent the majority of the voyage below deck seasick.
“You'll have to if you want to get home.” Lucuse dropped his and Lady Kayle's bags and lounged on them. The Lady herself was over arguing with the customs man about their diplomatic immunity.
“Do not remind me.” Retin pulled her bonnet over her eyes and leaned back in the rickety chair she had found in some dusty corner.
“I found the trip was most restful.” Edward was clearly in the minority with this opinion. The stares the woman gave him would have burnt toast. The man in charge of the import and export of magical goods had given Edward rather a lot of trouble over a ring, it fit to no known standards for such object, and Edward had refused to state its purpose.
“Good day, I'm Arther Spode, the ambassador sent to down to welcome you. Hope the delay in landing didn't course any problems?” The speaker was middle aged, with glasses, smart white shirt and pants with a tie and striped knit vest. “And this is our interpretor Senic. I can only speak a enough of their language to get everyone confused.” Senic nodded in greeting, five foot, dark skinned, black horns peeking out of his fluffy chocolate hair, and the bat wings that were the hallmark of his race.
“You're Grycite aren't you?”Lucuse propped himself up look with interest at the newcomers.
“Oh my, whatever gave me away?” The interpretor retorted sarcastically, he didn't take well to people pointing out the blooming obvious.
Spode snapped at Senic, “I didn't bring you here to pick a fight, go help the madam over there with the inspector.”
The Grycite made his way through the crowded room, followed by Spode. Lady Kayle didn't seem to take the offer of help kindly. Much waving of arms later Kayle took a reluctant step back allowing the power of paperwork to triumph over shouting.
Jarro turned back to hear Lucuse asking, “Can they actually use those tiny wings to fly?”
Edward replied, “No, they use them as a frame, and magic power is channelled into them. Please don't ask how, it is, from a science and magical point of view, impossible, however that doesn't stop them from doing it.” Edward looked annoyed, Jarro suspected that he had been one of the people who had failed to discover it.
Spode returned, rubbing a damp hand threw his hair,”All sorted, come on we'll get you set up in the embassy for tonight, tomorrow we'll start on our way to the capital. The taxies are outside” he turned and waved at the other end of the building where Beladine was standing with the honour guard, she half marched, half strutted over,
“Where will we be staying?” She demanded roughly.
“You and your troupes will be staying in the military barracks on the other side of town, my assistant will take you there.” A skittish girl with a clipboard bobbed her head in ascent.
“If you'll follow me Miss,”
“I am Captain Roise, I am not, nor will ever be, 'miss',” ice formed on her words.
“Sorry, Captain Roise.” her eyes fixed themselves to the ground, and her voice trembled. Beladine thawed slightly, “Oh don't be so upset by it, I'm just a little cranky from having to deal with so many idiots today,” she shot a nasty glace at the customs men.”Come on now, what is your name?”
“Linda baker.”
“Well Miss. Baker let us travel to the oases of calm, e.g. the barracks of your.”
“Oh it's not mine, it's the governments.” This was stated with absolute sincerity.
Lucuse snorted, Captain Roise ignored him. “In that case take me to the Governments barracks.” Linda gave Lucuse a puzzled glace, and started outside, Beladine behind her.
A few minutes later Jarro, Retin, Lucuse, Senic and Edward sat slowly cooking in the taxi. Lucuse and Senic glaring daggers at each other, they quickly tired of this however, and started to trade insults instead. Retin sat as far from them as she could, staring out the window. Jarro turned to Edward, carefully ignoring his secretary, and the rowdy pair opposite him.
“How many active mages are there at the moment?”
Edward raised an eyebrow, “In the whole world?”
“Yes.”
The mage leaned back the let his breath hiss between his teeth, “I honestly have no idea, most university these day teach magic these days, and a number never get any sort of formal training. I'd guess.... over the whole world...hundred thousand? Maybe more.”
“Oh..”
“Why do you ask?”
Might as well ask anyway he decided, maybe Edward would have heard of her anyway, “Met a mage in Perll, she was rather... odd, I just wondered if you had ever heard of her before but guess it is pretty unlikely, called herself Therry.”
“Therry?” this was clearly unexpected.
Jarro's head shot up, surprise fleeting across his face,”You know you she is?”
“She is my grandniece, one of the few in my family who can do magic. Never had any self restraint, parents spoiled her rotten, she fell in with the wrong people. But I thought she was still back in Brilsion.”
“Well she is not.”
“Oh dear. I shall have to see what the child is up to.” The mage rubbed his eyes.
“Child? How old is she?”
“Seventy four I believe.”
“That is what you call a kid?”
“When you are over two centenary old almost everyone seems young.”
“Oi, get out of the car, I don't earn any money staying still.” The driver more or less pushed them out of the car. A stone staircase rose to the front doors of the embassy where a porter stood smoking, where they entered.
Lucuse beelined for the bar room, Senic on his heels. Retin announced she was going to relax on a bed that didn't move.
Jarro was toying with the idea of going to the library when Edward returned down the stairs, he made for the door but once outside paused, glancing up and down the road. Jarro wavered uncertain as to what to do, he really wanted to see where Edward was going, but people tend to get cross when they find out you followed them.
What the heck, he decided, he would do his very best not to get caught, that's all.
Chapter 6
June, 6, 1949, the harbor in Perll Yenall
Jarro gasped as he walked into the wind, it streamed around him as if fleeing some unseen foe. He shoved his gloved hands into his pockets and hunched his shoulders. Lucuse beside him yelped and turned to go back into the warmth of the ship.
Jarro grabbed his shoulder and yelled above the wind,“Come on, it isn't far then we will be back inside and you can warm up again.” Seeing his quarry hesitating he continued,”Please! It will be boring on my own and Retin refuses to walk up there.”
The snake changer hissed something under his breath about no one sane going outside when it was this cold, but relented and followed Jarro, who was bouncing down the ramp to the shore.
The dock was deserted and the two men headed toward the heavily inclined road that lead along it. It was like walking halfway up a cliff, drop on one side, rock wall on other. Jarro stood on the edge, red eyes streaming, breathing deeply, peering out to sea. Lucuse trudged up beside him, leaned over the side, grunted, and resumed walking the partially sheltered road.
“I asssume the path up, and in particular the drop, iss what put your girlfriend off coming with you.”
“Yeah, Retin really hates heights.”He paused for a moment before adding, “And she is not my girlfriend!”
“Really? Heh, what ever you ssay.”
“Retin would only marry me over my dead body, she told me so herself.”
“Ohh, nasty, and you believed her?”
“Well yes, an attempted assassination make people eager to tell the truth.”
Lucuse paused, brow creasing,”How doess Retin trying to kill you make her willing to talk?”
“It was her that almost got killed not me,”Jarro stated this as if it was obvious. ”This was after she gave herself up, her employers were scared she would reveal who they were, and sent one of her associates after her. Shortly after that she admitted that she originally meant to kill me but changed her mind, and made that statement about love having nothing to do with her reason.”
“So why did sshe let you live then..”
“That is something I still do not know.” Forehead crinkled, Jarro stared straight ahead.”And it worries me a bit. I have done my best not to overly annoy her, and I know she can't leave my protection with risking her own life, but still...” He shrugged, “I just don't know how far I can trust her, that's all.”
Lucuse snorted,”You have a ssecretary who you do not trust, and one that, at leasst at one time, tried to murderer you? Ha, you are either very sstupid or very brave, and I do not favour the latter.”
The massive stone pillars supporting the overhang to the gates were coming slowly into view. All was glazed in ice, giving a blue tinge to the door which carved out shells reminded him of blood running into water. Swells and ripples caressed the rock and danced before the eye. Looking up as the pair walked under them the ceiling dived into sections, each showing some scene from the mythology of the local changers.
Jarro's eyes widened and he grinned, voice going from neutral to full speed in a second. Lucuse stayed quiet. It puzzled him how Jarro would go from unnervingly perceptive to playful within seconds and without any discernible reason.
“-I wonder how they carved the gates?” Jarro mused.
Lucuse, who's teeth could have been heard chattering twenty meters away, growled,”I don't know and right now I don't care, letss just get out of this wind.”He strode ahead of Jarro, disapearing throught the gates.
“Hmm, well they might have used magic to- hay! Wait for me!” Feet skidding on the icy ground, Jarro slid though the door after him, and straight into Lucuse as he stood waiting. Both went into a crashing heap - momentum and ice is a recipe for disaster. He finally stopped sliding after his head hit something hard. He stared blearily up into the face of one the guards. Somewhere near by Lucuse was swearing venomously, Jarro tried to grin up at the guard,”Having a nice day?”
A few minutes later they were sitting next to one of the open fires placed at intervels along the underground street, shops and homes lined the walls, with a number of elevators to the lower levels in between them. This level stretched for a hundred or so meters, and he heard from the guard that this was the smallest of them. Lucuse was almost sitting in the fire; after toasting his hands for a few minutes Jarro's attention wondered away from the warmth and with it his eyes, curious in he started toward a small shop who's window was filled with hundreds of little statues.
The Minister paced slowly up and down, a small glass cat pouncing on a bird, a aqua whale diving into the air, seals surfing on an iceberg.
“Are you just going to pace there all day or will you come in?” Jarro halted mid step, he looked about himself but no one was close enough to have spoken that clearly to him, “Just come in to the shop will you?” the voice echoed oddly, he opened the door carefully, the shop glowed from a million different surfaces, down the back of the shop a woman perched on a little stool. Her hands glowed, a block of ice sat on the table between them and she was running her fingers over it, streams of water coming away with them. She was somewhere between thirty and forty with white blond hair reaching the middle of her back, skin pale as death, fingers nail-less.
“Sit.” Her lips never moved but the words still rang in his head. Glancing about nervelessly Jarro lowed himself onto the other chair.
Eyes still darting, hands griping the sides of the stool, Jarro spoke,”Are all these made from ice?”
“Yes.” The words bypassed his ear, turning up in his brain all on their own. The glow around her hands hands dimmed a little as the water ran off into a dish.
“So why don't they melt? I mean here it is cold but when someone buys one... ” \
Her hand now normal, she let out a breath and opened her silver eyes. “This is not normal ice, it is an ancient technique that renders the water solid and unable to melt, at least by any conventional means. I heat it though magic thereby getting it to melt where I want it to.” Standing, she glided past him and moved a kettle onto a heating plate.
Jarro shifted to watch her,”What's your name?”
“Thereidona, but most call me Therry. I'm an ice artist, as should be abundantly obvious, nothing as grand as the entrance you would have seen out there, but the same basic technique.”
“You are a mage?”
“It would seem that way.”
“How did you, um,” He pointed at his ear uncertain.
“The talking into your mind? When a mage is channelling magic thoughts are easy to manipulate. I can see peoples thoughts, and send my own into their head.”
“You can hear what I think?” Jarro shot up, he may not have any secrets to hide, but still it was his head. “That's not very nice!”
Thereidona gave a amused smile,”Don't worry it's only the words you are thinking right now. It really is interesting though,” A dreamy look passed across her face, “People so rarely say what they think. It is so funny to catch some high and mighty duchess growling internally while keeping a sweet smile on her face the whole time. Everyone lies to some extent, motives may vary however, manners, fear, personal gain-”
Ok, she is creepy, Jarro watched the sickly woman prattle on, trying to sneak toward the door unseen, but grey eyes fixed upon him again.
“And you my dear boy are one of the worse cases I have ever seen. You adapt your reactions to suit your audience, rarely, if ever, does the real you say anything.”
“Huh?” What was the crazy woman blathering about now? He said what he though far too much, that was why he kept getting into trouble.
For a moment her eyes flashed with fire, “I am not crazy!” her closed her eye momentary, trying to regain her calm, “Be careful what you think, I can still hear you.”
Now he was a little scared, mind reading was not something he had any idea of how to deal with, how should he react to someone who could see his thoughts?
“Try sticking to the truth.” her smile was cold, and her eyes bright.
“Um, why am I here?” He voiced that thought at the front of his mind.
“You walked through the door, what you meant to ask was, why did you ask me ask me to come through the door.”
“Yes?”
“Simple, I was curious.”
“Right, you don't mind if I leave now?” his back was flat against the door, his hand pressed on the handle.
“No, no, I won't stop you.”
“This feels too easy.” Jarro bit his lip, uncertain.
A silver laugh came from the white woman, “If this was up to me it wouldn't be, however my goal here was, how did he put it...Oh yes, to merely make an 'impression' upon you”
“Who is he?”
“Tut tut, now that would be too easy, good bye, Third Minister Jarro.”
Moments later he was on the other side of the door, breathing hard, he clenched his fists tight trying to stop the shaking. He glanced behind him at the shop he had just been sitting in, the window which before had been proudly showing its wares was now cloaked by curtains. The door too was obscured by red velvet. A flash in one corner might have been a pair of grey eyes, or just his imagination.
Jarro turned on his heels and marched off, determined to put as much distance between himself and the shop as possible. He forced all fear away as he came up to Lucuse who was most reluctant to leave the flames.
“Come on! Let head down to the level below.”
The snake groaned, but followed him anyway, “It had better be warmer down there.” he warned.
“I'm sure it will be.” Jarro grinned cheerily, and lead the way. Just before he stepped into the lift he glanced back one last time, a cloud pasted over his face momentary before vanished from sight. He didn't much like that woman, but with luck he would never have to see her again.
From inside the shop someone started giggle.
