It took me a while, but I think I’ve found the man you are looking for,” he said. He wants to talk with you in person, but wont come here. He said it was better, if he chose to work for you, that he never be seen here.”

  I nodded, “sound thinking. When, and where does he want to meet?”

  “Tonight, at the tunnel entrance under the grist mill. He’ll be the gnarled man fishing off the pier.”

  “His name?”

  He shrugged. “Some call him ‘the beggar’, I’m not quite sure what his real name is.”

  I nodded. “I’ll meet with him, thank you.” He bowed and left. I went through the drain tunnels to the grist mill, arriving early merged in the shadows and waited. Just before dark a man arrived limping down the tunnel. As he walked past me, I looked inside him; he was indeed a gnarled man. At some point in his past, it seemed he had taken a bad fall from some height. Many of his bones had been broken and the side of his face crushed in. They had not healed properly, giving him his gnarled appearance. He sat down on the pier, baited his fishing hook, and dropped it in the water. I back tracked his insuring he was alone, finding no one I returned to him. I put on an illusion matching his clothes, with my own fishing pole. I sat just down from him, and the illusion began to fish.

  I cast a privacy spell around us, and another that would make anyone approaching us uncomfortable to be near us. Neither of us said anything for a time, just sat watching the river and listening to the night.

  “Fish much?” he finally asked in a slurred voice from his misshapen mouth.

  “Not often, tasks of my everyday life keep me busy. I am however, considering hiring someone to handle some of those tasks to perhaps free up some of my time.”

  “And what if I my ask, would those tasks be?”

  “Basically gathering and interpreting information, keeping me informed, and acting on certain information of your own accord when needed. Do you know of someone who might be seeking such a position?”

  He chuckled. “Not if they had any sense.”

  I smiled.

  “But as it happens, as you can see by the condition of my body, I must use my mind more than muscle to earn a living. Though admittedly when I was whole, I did seek out a like position. Which in the end left me as you see now. My former employer was not pleased with a miscalculation I’d made; in his anger he threw me off the castle wall to my death. Well, he assumed it was to my death, and nearly was.”

  I frowned thinking for a moment. “You were spy master to the former King,” I said.

  He nodded and we sat in silence for a while.

  “Are you interested in taking on your old roll?”

  He turned to look at me. “For you or for the crown?”

  “For me, the crown has its own network.”

  He nodded. “The thieves guild. Not very thorough, or reliable though.”

  “That’s the King’s problem.”

  He smiled.

  “Do you still have any of your old contacts?

  He shook his head. “When the old spy master died, so did his contacts. But I’ve developed others in due time.”

  “No problem, I have a list of contacts, spies if you will, in other kingdoms that I want you to take over. The list once belonged to Trunnion’s spy master, he no longer needs them.” He kept his eyes on his fishing line. “If you come into my service, it’s for life. If you accept, ‘the beggar’ dies tonight. In return, I’ll heal your body, and give you a new identity. You’ll be well rewarded for your service. I return loyalty with loyalty, but death for disloyalty. And I can assure you; I won’t make the mistake your former employer made.”

  He looked at me. “If you can heal this broken body, I’m your man ‘til my dying day. I swear it on my life.”

  I concentrated on him, and with Em’s help we reformed and healed his broken body.

  He stood, looking down at himself, then feeling his renewed face. “I never, in my wildest dreams, though I would be whole again.” He knelt before me, “I’m your man, my lord from this breath, to my last.”

  Chapter 24

  I watched the bridge site through the spring thaws, and the rainy season. There were no problems with flooding in the previously low-lying areas that I had raised. I felt it was time to begin building the bridge.

  My plan was to form the foundation and all the stonework under ground. Then, when completed, raise the complete bridge all at one time. My only concern was the force of the water pushing against it as it rose through the river’s current.

  After much consideration, I decided the risk was too great. I changed my plan and decided to build it and raise it in phases. The first thing I did was raise the bedrock up to support it he bridges foundations. It’s one thing to look at a working model of a bridge. It’s entirely something else to build one in real life.

  Even though the river narrowed at this point, it was still quite wide. Each side of the bridge would have five arches spanning 20 feet, requiring foundations, and then the huge center towers which required larger foundations. Each side of the drawbridge spanned 45 feet long. The whole bridge was three wagons wide. Once I raised the stone part of the bride, the wood works, and lines would need to be added to complete the project.

  I had originally told Wooten that the project would take months, thinking it would only take me two, three months at the most. I sorely overestimated my abilities and underestimated the time it would take to complete this massive structure. Well, it might still only take months...18 of them to be exact.

  After three months of going back and forth from the bridge site to the river estate, I moved out to the Lark country estate. I took a small number of staff, mostly to cook for me. I returned to the river estate on Saturday mornings to keep on top of the business issues, then I’d go back to the Lark estate Monday mornings.

  During that time a lot of people would ride out to look at the proposed bridge site. They wanted to see if I had started building a bridge yet. Or was preparing to build. They quit visiting after a month or so.

  I could only work on the bridge during the day and in person. I needed to recover and rest at night. Em continued my training, and discussed how the bridge project was progressing. She would critique my use of magic and mechanics. With her help, I improved daily.

  Six months of working with earth and rock everyday had improved my technique and skill. I began to rethink portions of my bridge design. I decided to use hardened earth instead of wood. Like the furniture I’d made in Port A.

  I started slow, testing to make sure it could stand the loads. It seemed like the hardened earth did better than wood, at the right thicknesses. The only thing I could not make from earth or stone, were the braided lines used to raise and lower the drawbridge spans.

  When I ordered 1000 feet of triple braided ship's line, that sent the rumors flying. Visitors returned to see what was going on at the bridge site. Nobles began to come, with armed escorts, some a few guards, some with a few squads. There was still nothing for them to see, so after a few weeks they stopped coming. I was being called the crazy mage that lived by the river. I just smiled and continued to work.

  Seeing the armed escorts started me thinking. If an invading force tried to use the bridge to cross the river, and they would, how would we defend the bridge?

  I changed my design again. To each end of the bridge, I added a large turret which enclosed the bridge's on-ramps that could house a short-company of guards. I added a portcullis, and a gap in the road with a drawbridge over it like a castle's moat. The turret’s drawbridges could be raised to secure the turret and the bridge. The guards would be supplied so they could hold the bridge until reinforcements arrived. I decided that the turrets would be the first thing I would raise. It would secure my location, and my investment. I finished the turret relatively quicky as they were much less complicated than what I had been working on.

  I was finally finished with the bridge and the turrets. All I needed now was the braided line. I took some time off while I waited for the line to arrive.

  I was sitting in the shade on the riverbank watching my fishing line when Weaver rode up. He dismounted and walked toward me with letters in his hand.

  "You know I'm on vacation, right?"

  "What's a vacation?" he asked handing me the letters. "Espada said to read the duke's first."

  I took the letters giving him my fishing pole. I looked at the seal, it belonged to Duke Herald. I broke the seal and read. "Come to my estate Friday morning at ten of the clocks to discuss the delivery schedule of your braided line."

  I raised my eyebrow, shaking my head.

  I opened Espada's letter, and read, "The below named merchants and nobles have aligned themselves with the duke against you." I scanned down the list of 16 names recognizing most of them. "Their intent is to hold the braided line hostage until you sign over the land the duke gifted to you.

  Also, you will sell his supporters all the additional land you bought for what you paid for it. The second list are the bank accounts of all those listed as well as those of their close relatives. Debt and relatives are always good pressure points."

  "Let them keep it, we don't really need the braided line. There's an alternative method," Em said.

  "Take a message back, have a scribe write: Thank you for offering to deliver the line, but I'm cancelling the order, it's no longer needed. Have it delivered to Duke Herald’s estate Friday at 10 of the clock."

  Weaver nodded and returned to the city to deliver my instructions.

  So, another design change? I asked Em.

  "A minor one. Use hardened earth chain instead of braided line. Change the line pullies to chain pullies. Everything else can remain the same."

  I shrugged. I concentrated and made the needed changes.

  * * *

  Friday afternoon I returned to the river estate and sent for Master Wooten. I hadn't heard anything about Duke Herald's meeting, but I was sure I would. I was waiting aboard our two masted caravel when he arrived. "Come aboard," I called to him. Nodding he came aboard. When he got to me, he tilted his head looking at me. "It's time," I said, watching his eyes grow. "Captain, take us upriver," I called out.

  "Aye," came the reply, and he started shouting orders.

  We arrived at the bridge site well before sunset I had the captain tie the ship off to the west bank, and I went ashore. I cast an illusion of Moss coming out of the forest to greet me and us talking. Moss went back into the forest, and I sat down as if waiting. Just before sunset I raised the west turret. It was interesting to watch the turret rise from the earth like the earth was water. I went inside the turret, raised the drawbridge, closed the portcullis and the gates.

  I went up to the rampart of the turret so I could watch as I raised the foundation and arches. I had to smile as the first one connected perfectly. I made sure the bedrock had risen with the foundation. Everyone aboard ship was at the rails or in the rigging watching. I moved out to the end of the arch and raised the next one, then the next. When I reached the end of the fifth arch, I stopped. This was the big moment, I felt Em with me, which gave me confidence.

  I raised the first massive center tower, with the bridge span in its up position. Water ran down it's sides and out of its large chain wrapped winching drum. I double checked the bedrock and foundation. I stood in the darkness staring up at the tower. Now that it had been raised, I had to admit it was an impressive sight. I tossed mage lights up on each raised portion of the bridge so the people on the ship could see them.

  I raised the second tower, as I had the first. The rest of the bridge pieces raised into place like a puzzle coming together. Lastly, I raised the east turret and sealed it closed. Now that it was all raised, I cast a spell that locked the stonework into place and added strength. Satisfied, I went inside the tower and climbed the stairs to the top. I stood looking around at the countryside, and the city. The city seemed a lot closer from up here.

  I went back to the ship and ate a huge meal. I had to smile as they were telling and retelling what they had seen as the bridge raising from the depths. It made no difference that they had all seen the same thing. It was the telling of it that gave them joy.

  "I don't think I'll ever see it’s rival," Master Wooten said." Thank you for bringing me along to be a witness."

  I nodded. "You're welcome, my friend. Master Moss is a powerful earth mage to be sure," I said.

  We were up with the sun, after a quick breakfast I made ready to inspect the bridge in the light of day. "Did you bring my flags?" I asked Keefer. He retrieved two bags and handed them to me. "Good, get the men to work inspecting, I'm sure we'll have company before long. You keep them working, I'll take care of the company."

  He nodded.

  I climbed back up to the top of the west tower and hoisted the Riverton royal flag over the bridge. I'd do the same on the east tower when we lowered the spans into place and crossed.

  We had no tourists that day as we inspected and tested the draw of the spans. Everything worked perfectly, which was a major relief. I raised the royal flag over the east tower at sundown. I sent the crew and ship to the castle with a message for the King, that the new drawbridge was ready for his inspection. I alone stayed behind to man the drawbridge until the King arrived. I climbed to the top of the tower to enjoy the view. When it was fully dark, I lay back and watched the stars as they moved across the night's sky.

  * * *

  I rose early and ate. I expected the King and his entourage to arrive well before mid-morning. Mid-morning arrived but the King didn't, which felt odd. Maybe they're organizing some special event to celebrate the opening of the bridge, I thought.

  "Maybe," Em answered.

  I shook my head, No they're not.

  "Nope," Em answered.

  Which means the nobles are involved.

  I felt Em's nod. I shrugged. Well, nothing to do about it. We'll just wait and see what their next move is.

  It was late afternoon when I saw a lone rider approaching from the west side. I knew it was Claudus before I could even see his face. "This should be interesting," Em said. I opened the portcullis, lowered the gap's bridge, and went out to meet him. He reigned up at the gap's bridge.

  I bowed. “Welcome, sire."

  He nodded looking up at the turret and bridge. "Where is Sir Moss?" he asked, looking around.

  I waved toward the forest, "Out there somewhere resting. He used a lot of power raising the bridge."

  He nodded. "I'm sure he did," he said looking back at the bridge. "It's an impressive sight."

  "Please, come inside," I said stepping aside. He walked his horse into the turret and dismounted. He said nothing as we walked the torrent, the bridge, and finally climbing the tower.

  Standing under the royal flag he looked back toward the city. I waited, wondering what he was thinking, and what he might say.

  "David," he started. It's never a good sign when the King calls you by your first name. "In the relatively short time you've been in the capital, you have done more to change it than anyone in living memory."

  "I hear a 'but' in there," I said taking a step back.

  He nodded not looking at me. "You've changed the status quo. To be blunt, you've turned almost every noble in the kingdom against you. They see you as a danger to their power, and wealth. You have grown too powerful and rich too quickly. Add to that the fact that you are a mage, to put it plainly, they fear you."

  "Ah, and they feel slighted because they didn't get their cut. So, they've sent you to deal with me?"

  He shrugged, turning toward me. "It's a problem. I need their support to rule. If it were only a few, I could deal with them––but not all of them. Their hatred of you is the only thing they can agree on."

  "And do you have an answer to your problem?"

  "It's more of an 'our' problem, but no I don't have an answer. Not any pleasant ones anyway."

  I needed to change the topic of discussion. "You've got bigger problems than whining nobles. Trunnion is preparing to cross the southern border again."

  He nodded, turning back toward the city. "So, my spies tell me." That surprised me, I was bluffing. "Which is all the more reason I need their support."

  "So, other than my head, what do they want?"

  He chuckled. "Everything you own; this bridge; all your lands south of the city; your businesses; and your properties in the city." My anger was starting to get the better of me. I sent a shudder through the bridge. He stepped away from the rampart, looking down.

  "Not happening. I'll sink this bridge back down into the earth before I hand it over to those hyenas. Then they'll have what they've always had, useless land. I can't imagine they'd like that." There was another shudder.

  "Wait!" Claudus said.

  I waited.

  "The kingdom needs this bridge."

  I just stared at him shaking my head. "No, your nobles want this bridge, they don't need it. The kingdom's been fine without it for generations."

  "Offer them a trade. This land, and bridge for Duke Greyson's holdings," Em said.

  "They want something, you want something, and I want something. Make a deal where we all get what we want."

  "And that would be?" he asked.

  "Well, they obviously want everything I own. You want their continued support. You made a deal with them that you could get what they want from me and get rid of me. So, make a deal with me, I'm not leaving with nothing."

  "What do you want?"

  "I'll sign over to you, and only you, this bridge, the lands I own south of the city, the businesses I own, and the properties I own within the city. The lands and businesses I’m partnerships in, go to my partners. In exchange, you give me all of Duke Greyson's holding, lands and titles."

  He was shaking his head. "They will never accept you being made a duke."

  "Oh, it's not me. David Slinger dies, after you recognize Duke Greyson's unknown son or lord protector, or whoever as the new Duke Greyson. Then I sign everything over to you. I doubt you'll ever see me again. The new Duke Greyson will live out his life in exile."

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24