The congruent emperor, p.25
The Congruent Emperor, page 25
part #4 of Congruent Mage Series
“Really?” asked Belisaria. “There’s no understanding these non-Roma. Who is king of Dâron, then?”
“Dârio’s cousin, according to Umbrose,” said Pixo. “A man named Nûd with no military experience.”
“Better and better,” said Belisaria. “We’ll crush whatever ragtag resistance they muster to try and stop us.”
“Don’t get cocky,” said Pixo. “No plan—”
“—of battle survives confrontation with the enemy,” said Belisaria, finishing the maxim. “I understand,” she said, “but this doesn’t sound like it will come to battle. We’ll just overwhelm them.”
“I hope that’s so,” said Pixo. “All those extra mages assigned to us should help, too. Dâron’s mages are far to the east with their army, so we will control the skies as well as the land and river.”
“I doubt any mages will be necessary,” said Belisaria. “My legions will occupy Tyford and seize all the warehouses in a few hours. Do we have them identified?”
“No,” said Pixo. “We have an old map of the city, but it’s two decades out of date. Our mages should be able to tag any new warehouses away from the river, and my sailors will mark new ones with access to the river, which should be most of them.”
“Good,” said Belisaria. “I will organize smaller squads that can hurry to warehouses as they’re identified.” She regarded Pixo and rubbed her chin with a calloused hand. “What about the locals?” she asked. “Do we kill them or capture them?”
“The emperor wants slaves to help build new fortifications,” said Pixo. “She said we should work our captives but not waste much food on them, except the farmers.”
“Right,” said Belisaria. “Someone has to bring the crops in to keep the emperor’s forces fed.”
“Exactly,” said Pixo. “But there’s no need to feed most of the citizens of Tyford. The emperor said to consider them ‘surplus population’ and treat them accordingly.”
“We’ll take hostages to ensure the good behavior of the farmers,” said Belisaria. “Keeping the hostages on short rations will stretch our supplies and make them less likely to cause trouble.”
“Of course,” said Pixo. “That’s standard procedure.” He noted the pragmatic brutality showing in Belisaria’s face and posture. “Are you ready for guerrilla raids?” Pixo asked.
“I’m well prepared to follow Roma’s standard procedure against such resistance,” said Belisaria. “Start by executing one person in ten for each attack and hang their bodies from the city’s walls.”
“Let’s hope that doesn’t become necessary,” said Pixo. “I’m glad you’re prepared to take such action if it comes to that. I can see why Machaera thinks highly of you.”
“The emperor wants results, not excuses,” said Belisaria. “I deliver them.”
“Here’s our planned course,” said Pixo. He used a small silver stylus to trace their route from south to north up Moraría Bay and the Moravon river.
“Ah,” said Belisaria, noting their destination and stabbing the map with her finger. “And here is Tyford.” She shared a feral smile with Pixo. “By this time tomorrow, the city—and all its supplies—will be ours.”
“Barring any surprises,” said Pixo. He remembered previous missions where bad weather or incorrect intelligence reports had forced him to improvise.
“I think we’ll be the ones providing the surprises this time,” said Belisaria.
“Hope for the best…” said Pixo.
“And plan for the worst,” Belisaria completed. “Now let’s figure out what could go wrong…”
“And how we’ll respond if it does,” said Pixo. He smiled at Belisaria and she smiled back. It was good to work with a fellow professional.
Chapter 36
Faster and Stronger
“Slow down,” said Rōlin from his chair at the kitchen table. “I can’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Move the dust away from your throat,” urged Peregrína. “It’s distorting your speech.”
Eynon stood at the end of the long trestle table in his hosts’ comfortable kitchen. He moved his arm almost faster than the eye could see and wiped away the polychromatic magestone dust glowing around his head and throat. “Is this better?” he asked.
“Much better,” said Rōlin. “I think we’ve established that the dust can substantially speed you up…”
“But what else can it do?” asked Peregrína. She looked over Eynon’s shoulder and feigned surprise, then tossed half a dozen apples from a basket on the table toward him while the young wizard was distracted. Peregrína wasn’t surprised when Eynon turned around. His right arm blurred, and he caught each apple in mid-flight, directing them gently back into the basket in front of Peregrína.
“All my reflexes are accelerated,” said Eynon.
“So I see,” said Rōlin. “Are you stronger as well as faster?”
“How can I tell without breaking something?” asked Eynon.
“See if you can bend this,” said Peregrína. She rose and handed Eynon a fireplace poker from the kitchen hearth. It was made from wrought iron and thicker than Eynon’s thumb. Both of Eynon’s arms glowed with sparkling dust from hand to shoulder. He held the ends of the poker and effortlessly curved it into a tight arc.
“The wrought iron must have grown soft from so much time in the fire,” said Eynon. He looked at Peregrína apologetically, then straightened the curved poker and gave it back to her. “Sorry,” he said.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” Peregrína replied. “I asked you to do it—and it’s a brand-new poker,” she added. “Nûd made it for me a few months ago.”
“Nûd is a smith?” asked Eynon. His jaw dropped and his lips formed a circle.
“Nûd is a man of many talents,” said Rōlin.
“So I’m learning,” said Eynon. He shook his head slowly from side to side. “I wonder what else the dust can help me do?” Eynon asked.
“We know it can be passed along to others,” said Peregrína.
“Kârkingórēx proved that,” added Rōlin.
“I wonder how long the effect lasts?” mused Peregrína.
“And whether or not it can be shared more than once,” said Rōlin.
“You mean, can Kârkingórēx pass it on to the other dragons back at Dragon’s Tower?” asked Eynon.
“That thought did cross my mind,” said Rōlin.
“Would you like me to share the magestone dust’s magic with you?” Eynon asked his hosts.
Rōlin shared a glance with Peregrína. It reminded Eynon of the way his parents could communicate without using words. Peregrína nodded.
“I wouldn’t mind,” she said. “I’m starting to slow down these days, and it would be interesting to have the same energy I had when I was younger.”
“Give it a try, lad,” said Rōlin. “You can share dust with me, and I can try sharing it with Peregrína.”
“If you’d like,” said Eynon. He gathered more magestone dust to him. The valley south of Melyncárreg seemed to have plenty of dust suspended in the air for him to draw on. Eynon concentrated the extra dust into shimmering balls of powder around each of his hands. Rōlin stood and approached Eynon.
“I’m ready,” said the older wizard.
Eynon put his hands on Rōlin’s shoulders and willed the glowing dust to transfer. Soon Rōlin’s body glowed from head to foot. “Try to transfer the dust now,” said Eynon.
Rōlin replied, but he wasn’t easy to understand. His voice sounded like a chipmunk chittering. Eynon extended his dust to cover his neck and head again so he could understand Rōlin.
Peregrína seemed to understand Rōlin without dust to speed up her senses. She embraced her husband and some of Rōlin’s dust spread to cover her body. Her eyes grew wide and so did Rōlin’s as the two of them felt the energizing effect of the magestone dust.
“I feel like I could fight a wyvern, a gryffon, and a basilisk simultaneously—and win,” said Rōlin.
“I feel like I could toss in a couple of bears as well and match you blow for blow,” said Peregrína. She tightened her embrace.
Rōlin sighed and increased the pressure of his own hug. “I think we’ve established that the magestone dust’s magic can be transferred,” he said.
“I think it’s time for us to retire for the night,” said Peregrína. “Would you be a dear and finish cleaning up the supper dishes please, Eynon.”
“I’d be glad to,” Eynon replied. He recognized the look in his hosts’ eyes—he’d seen it often enough on his parents’ faces when they wanted to spend time in bed together.
Rōlin and Peregrína left the kitchen hand in hand. Eynon cleared the supper dishes, thinking of Merry. How am I going to face her when I get back? he wondered. And am I even ready to return? I still have so much to learn.
Eynon busied himself with washing dishes. He built up the fire in the kitchen hearth, poured himself a mug of cider, heated the poker he’d bent earlier in the coals, and stuck the tip of the hot poker in the cider to warm it up. Then he pulled a chair closer to the fire and watched the flames dance, trying hard not to notice the sounds coming from down the hall in the direction of Rōlin and Peregrína’s bedroom.
“I’ll have to return soon,” he said to himself and the crackling fire. “I won’t be much good against the emperor’s invasion fleet if I stay here.”
The flames didn’t answer and Eynon felt more and more like he wanted to be back with Merry and his friends in Nova Eboracum. Guilt over running away made him sad, but the thought of being back in Merry’s arms—if she’d have him—filled his heart with joy. Eynon wrote a note to Rōlin and Peregrína, stepped to an open spot in the center of the kitchen, and jumped to Melyncárreg by way of an ad hoc gate from one kitchen to another.
He walked upstairs to the castle’s library and located all three volumes of On Wizardry. Leaving strips of paper noting he’d borrowed the books, he put them in his backpack, then returned to the kitchen. In one of the larders, he located a small flour sack filled with ground rye that had begun to spoil with some sort of rot or fungus. He emptied the sack and cleaned it as best he could. Then, with books and sack in hand, he popped to the battlements on the castle’s western wall and began to call magestone dust from the dark sky around him.
Soon, he was surrounded by a cloud of sparkling dust even thicker than what had gathered around him in Rōlin and Peregrína’s valley. It felt like the stars had descended to gyrate around him. Eynon wasn’t overwhelmed by the dust this time and directed the multicolored specks into the flour sack, filling it and leaving some left over around his hands and wrists. He pulled the drawstring on the flour sack tight to seal it closed, put the sack in his backpack next to the books, and took a deep breath.
I hope Merry’s not too angry, thought Eynon. Here I go.
The pop of his departure echoed in the still night air.
Chapter 37
Rescue Tactics
Laetícia, Quintillius, Fercha, Verro, Inthíra, Mafuta, Felix, Nûd, Bonnie, and the Bifurlanders were discussing next steps for rescuing Valentius in Laetícia’s study at the top of her tower.
Bifurland’s senior mage spoke to Nûd. “Your Majesty,” said the amber-robed wizard. “I can transport us to Bucket Island, but I’m not sure how Viridáxés and Zûrafiérix would react to my sudden and unexpected appearance in their territory.”
“Don’t worry,” Nûd replied. “I’ll be glad to come with you and make the necessary introductions. Try to find Zûra first.”
“That sounds sensible,” said Bifurland’s master mage. “We should leave immediately.”
Nûd glanced to Bonnie. “Do you still want to join us?”
“I think I’ll return to the Institute in Bhaile Pónaire instead,” said Bonnie. “Along with finding candidates to help learn wide-gate magic, I know scholars there who are highly skilled in finding lost people and things. They may have suggestions on ways to locate Valentius.”
“Understood,” said Nûd. He smiled at Sigrun and Rannveigr. “I’m sure Rocky will be well cared for in my absence.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” said Sigrun. She didn’t stand, but she did offer a nod of respect in his direction.
“There’s no need for fancy titles—just call me Nûd.”
Bonnie grinned and squeezed Nûd’s hand.
“Yes, Uncle Nûd,” said Sigrun and Rannveigr in singsong voices.
“Better quit while you’re ahead,” said King Bjarni.
“Don’t worry,” said Rannveigr. “We’ll take good care of Rocky.”
“Thank you,” said Nûd. He turned to Bonnie. “Do you think it would be wise to bring Dârio with us in case Viridáxés wants to attack the Roma immediately?”
“I wouldn’t bother Dârio,” said Bonnie. “We can make up a story about why we need Zûrafiérix.”
“Like testing some boring new naval maneuver?” offered Grand Admiral Sónnel.
“Exactly,” said Bonnie. “Dârio and Jenet are busy organizing the evacuation of Riyas. We don’t want to slow down their work.”
“Thank goodness Duke Háiddon is overseeing the evacuation of Brendinas for you,” Bonnie told Nûd.
“And thank you, Fercha, for telling the duke about the extensive cave network west of the Moravon and in the mountains of the southern provinces,” said Nûd. “There should be plenty of space for the people of Dâron to hide from the invaders.”
“Wherever you find limestone, the odds are good you’ll find caves,” said Fercha. “I’ll be busy creating gates for people and supplies from the mustering points to the refuges, or I’d be glad to come with you.”
“Your talents can be put to a better use elsewhere,” said Laetícia, smiling at Fercha. “Your husband, on the other hand, would be quite welcome to join the rescue attempt. Wizards who can form ad hoc gates would be particularly valuable team members.”
“Now that I no longer need to transport Nûd to Bucket Island personally…” said Verro. He looked at Fercha and raised an eyebrow in a silent question.
“Go ahead, if it will help,” she said. Then her voice turned stern. “But be careful, my love. I’d hate to lose you now that we’re finally together.”
“I will keep an eye on him for you,” said Mafuta.
“You’re coming?” asked Laetícia. “I thought you’d stay here and assist Quintillius.”
“Quin is quite capable of looking after himself,” said Mafuta. “There are more than a dozen competent wizards on my staff who will soon be able to help him with gates to speed the evacuation.” The older wizard faced Laetícia. “Besides, I’m the only mage on this side of the Ocean who knows Umbrose and the way he thinks. I was a visiting instructor at the school in Lundinium in the Western Empire when the slimy toad of a man first poked his ugly head out of the mud. He showed his aptitude for deception and double-dealing even as a new apprentice.”
“In that case, you’re quite welcome to join our rescue expedition,” said Laetícia.
“Does Umbrose look like a toad?” asked Sigrun.
“Only on the inside,” replied Mafuta.
“Is he the one who…?” asked Felix.
“Not in front of the girls,” said Mafuta.
Felix pressed his lips together and hoped Sigrun and Rannveigr wouldn’t pester him for details after the meeting.
One corner of Laetícia’s mouth turned up but she promptly turned serious again. “You and Nûd should head north immediately to confirm Zûrafiérix can reach the invasion fleet in time to be useful,” she said to the amber-robed master mage from Bifurland. “We’ll want to confirm that part of our plan will work before putting things in motion.” Laetícia reached into a drawer and handed the amber-robed mage a gold ring. She whispered to the Bifurland wizard, who nodded.
“Understood,” said the amber-robed mage. After putting the ring in a pouch, the mage turned to Nûd and helped him to his feet. Nûd bent down and kissed Bonnie, then stepped to the other wizard and boarded the Bifurlander’s flying disk. The amber-robed mage put one hand on Nûd’s arm and the pair of them disappeared in a single pop.
“Do you have another one of those coins with Valens’ likeness?” Bonnie asked Mafuta.
“How many do you need?” asked the older wizard.
“One should be enough,” Bonnie replied. “There’s someone I know who might be able to help.” Mafuta tossed her another double-denarius and the younger scholar-mage left a few moments later, presumably to consult the academic wizards at the Institute. Her travels were so much easier since Verro and Laetícia had authorized a gate between Nova Eboracum and Bhaile Pónaire.
Laetícia cleared her throat. “I think we’ll need three teams,” she said. “Verro, you can guard Inthíra and protect her if she’s discovered.”
Verro nodded, while Inthíra shrugged her shoulders. She knew offensive magic wasn’t her strength.
“Verro,” Laetícia continued. “You’re also our reserve force in case anything goes wrong.”
“Understood,” said Verro. “But what could go wrong?”
Laetícia didn’t dignify that with an answer. “Mafuta, you and Felix can watch for the ship Valentius was in when he was captured. Grand Admiral Sónnel should be able to tell you what it looks like in general terms, though it will be hard to pick out from a fleet of other Roma vessels.”
“Don’t worry about that,” said Mafuta. “If it has a hold full of magestones, I’ll be able to locate it.” She smiled at Felix. “I’ll teach you the trick of it too, former apprentice,” she said. “Once you understand how it’s done, that many magestones, even raw ones, will shine like a beacon.”
“I look forward to additional instruction,” said Felix. He glanced down at Mafuta and grinned. His mentor made a mock frown and gently swatted the tall young mage on the hip with the back of her hand.
