Chapter 11<\/p>\n
\u201cGreger was the investigator for these. He has a new mage, Borgny. Don’t know him,\u201d Gruthwin said, waving the paper, \u201cand I don\u2019t know his scrivener at all.\u201d He paced along beside Losian reading more. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t look like they\u2019ve got much to go on. We could talk to Greger, but I\u2019d rather not.\u201d Gruthwin muttered.<\/p>\n
\u201cFull of wind,\u201d Losian said succinctly.<\/p>\n
Gruthwin grinned. \u201cSince all we have here is a list of the shops which have been hit, let\u2019s try this Borgny first. Mages\u2019 House is on our way to the shop district. \u201d<\/p>\n
Losian nodded and turned left at the next corner. It didn’t take them long to get to the Mages\u2019 House. It had once been an imposing residence, but time and chronic under-funding had dimmed it\u2019s dignified presence. Losian and Scrivener trailed after Gruthwin as he ran up the stairs, pressing his hand against the door before opening it. The interior of hard marble was bare of any furnishings, decorations, or people. Losian had always thought that it reflected the nature of many mages, hard, cold, uninterested in anyone who had no magic. Gruthwin led them across the echoing hall to an entryway on the right. Here they found an apprentice\u00a0mage who was rubbing at a stain on the front of his grey tunic. He looked up, wide eyed at Gruthwin. Losian who had no illusions as to Gruthwin\u2019s capabilities assumed he was new and easily impressed by any mage.<\/p>\n
\u201cSirwan Mage,\u201d he said scrambling to his feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs Mage Borgny in? We need to speak to him,\u201d Gruthwin said.<\/p>\n
The boy pulled a large book towards him, scanning it, his lips moving as he ran through the list of names. \u201cYes, he is here. Do you want me to find him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll find him. His room is on the top floor?\u201d<\/p>\n
The boy nodded and watched with interest as they left. Gruthwin led them further down the hall to a set of stairs and ran up them. \u201cHe\u2019s so new that he still is on the journeyman floor. He has to wait for a room to come free,\u201d Gruthwin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long does that take?\u201d Scrivener asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a mage dies then he\u2019ll get that room, unless there\u2019s a mage with more seniority. It\u2019s one of the reason\u2019s I have my own place. It\u2019s free to live here but I didn’t want to wait for a room to come free and the journeymen\u2019s floor is not quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n
They came out on the third floor and walked down the corridor, peering at the door labels. \u201cHere it is.\u201d Gruthwin knocked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s there?\u201d called a quavering voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cGruthwin. We need to talk to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSpregman Losian and our scrivener.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a long pause before they heard the bolt sliding back and the door opened slowly. Scrivener pushed at Gruthwin and grabbed Losian dragging him down with her. The fire ball exploded against the far wall, glowing cinders falling onto the floor.<\/p>\n
Gruthwin had stumbled against the door frame, the fire just missing his shoulder. He brought his hands up, pushing hard towards Borgny who flew backwards, disappearing into the room. Gruthwin followed up with a spell, his voice shivering through the hall. Losian pushed Scrivener away from him, crawling over to peak around the corner of the door jamb. The second spell hadn’t been required. Borgny was lying against the far wall, his neck at an odd angle. Losian got up and moved into the room, keeping behind Gruthwin until he was sure they were alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that was an interesting welcome,\u201d Scrivener said. \u201cAre all mages that touchy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gruthwin shook his head staring down at the body. \u201cI don\u2019t know what he was thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat you wouldn’t expect an attack,\u201d Losian said.<\/p>\n
Gruthwin turned to look at Losian. \u201cBut why?\u201d<\/p>\n
Losian shrugged and started to look around the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Gruthwin asked, his dazed expression beginning to fade.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking to see if there\u2019s anything here which can shed light on why he would attack, or on our cases.<\/p>\n
Losian turned towards the door as he heard someone coming down the hall.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d demanded a mage petulantly. The\u00a0elderly mage, his pale face set in a frown,\u00a0stood in the door way taking\u00a0in the dead mage, Losian and Gruthwin. \u201cWhy is Mage Borgny dead Mage Gruthwin? It is Gruthwin isn’t it?\u201d He demanded coming in to the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cBorgny attacked me, Mage Hlner and yes I’m Gruthwin,\u201d Gruthwin said. \u201cWe wanted to talk to him about a case and when he opened the door he threw a fire ball at us. It was a wonder we escaped. I did what my training required.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mage glared at Gruthwin as if he was personally responsible for the problem then stomped\u00a0around the room, picking things up and putting them down, pulling out draws and rifling through them. When he got to the dead mage\u2019s work table he put his hands behind his back and carefully peered at everything on the table. He finally pulled a small piece of metal out of his pocket and very carefully opened up the grimoire on the edge of the desk. It was precariously perched and it fell off, hitting the ground with a solid thump.The mage jumped back and Gruthwin cringed. Losian noticed that the scrivener had moved to stand in the doorway, away from Mage Hlner and his rummaging around. The book lay on the floor, it\u2019s front and back cover supporting it. The mage after a moment bent down and lifted it up by inserting the rod through the centre and placed it back on the table as he did, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor. The mage picked it up, looked a it then dropped it. He turned away from the work table and walked back to the door. \u201cLeave, all of you. We must get a mage examiner in. This is most disturbing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Losian moved quickly to pick up the paper before following Gruthwin out the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is the problem?\u201d Gruthwin asked the mage as he trailed him down the corridor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the second time this has happened. The second that I know of. The first one had\u00a0also just passed being a journeyman, one of Mage Salner\u2019s students. He lashed out at a journeyman who came to deliver a message from Salner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Losian grabbed Gruthwin by the sleeve and pulled him back, letting the duty mage move away muttering \u00a0“this is very strange”, to himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Gruthwin asked.<\/p>\n
Losian held the drawing out for Gruthwin to look at. Scrivener came to look over Losian\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a scrivener did this, it\u2019s a little crude,\u201d Scrivener said disdainfully.<\/p>\n
Losian looked at the\u00a0circle bisected with a lightening bolt and shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s not as good as Notir\u2019s work and he wasn\u2019t the most proficient so perhaps Borgny did it. It fell out of Borgny\u2019s grimoire. I can\u2019t see his scrivener letting him have it,\u201d Losian said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wonder if the other new mage had one of these?\u201d Scrivener asked. \u201cCould you find out Gruthwin?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d He hurried up to catch up to the duty mage.<\/p>\n
Losian and Scrivener couldn’t hear the conversation as they followed the two mages down the stairs to the entrance hall. The duty mage left them there and hurried off to talk to the head mage. Gruthwin waited till he had disappeared down another corridor and then hurried back the way they had come. \u201cHis room is along the same hallway as Borgny\u2019s,\u201d he whispered. \u201cThe mage examiner will be up any moment to look at Borgny\u2019s room so we have to be quick. Here it is.\u201d He tried the door but it was locked. Losian pushed him out of the way and pulled out a set of lock picks.<\/p>\n
\u201cMage examiner?\u201d Scrivener whispered to Gruthwin as Losian worked on the door. \u201cThe mage who investigates untimely deaths of registered mages, accidents, that sort of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The door clicked and Losian stepped back to let Gruthwin open it. Gruthwin muttered a spell as he eased the door open. When nothing happened, Losian impatiently pushed him farther into the room and entered with Scrivener right on his heels. She pushed the door shut and leaned against it while the other two started to search the room. They froze when they heard the garrulous voice of the duty mage as he passed the door on his way to Borgny\u2019s room.<\/p>\n
\u201cHurry up,\u201d Scrivener whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing,\u201d Losian said in a low voice to Gruthwin. Gruthwin shook his head and the two looked around the room. Scrivener gave a deep sigh and walked over to mirror on the wall, pulled it off, turned it over and picked at the back. Losian took it away from her and using his knife pried off the back to reveal a piece of paper. He opened it and then passed it to the other two; a circle with a lightening bolt.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did you know?\u201d Gruthwin asked suspiciously.<\/p>\n
\u201cBorgny had it in his grimoire. I presume he felt that was the safest place. If they had found the drawing before, the old mage would have recognized it. So, if it was here then it must be better hidden. It looks like the room has been pretty thoroughly searched and neither one of you found anything so it was the only other place it could be. Well maybe not the only. I suppose it could have been on the top of the wardrobe or behind a wall, but I thought it unlikely,\u201d she said grinning impishly.<\/p>\n
Gruthwin went to the door and peered out. \u201cThey haven\u2019t come out of Borgny\u2019s room. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
The three crept quickly down the hall and silently down the stairs. They then strolled nonchalantly out the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere to now?\u201d asked Scrivener.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s see if any of the shopkeepers sold this medallion,\u201d Losian suggested.<\/p>\n
They spent the rest of the day talking to shopkeepers about the robberies and the medallion. The shopkeepers couldn’t remember anything about the robberies and didn’t know about the medallions, although Losian got the distinct impression that they had not been interviewed before.<\/p>\n
Chapter 12<\/p>\n
They talked over what they knew during dinner at the Red Bell and decided that Gruthwin needed to find out if more mages had attacked others, not just at the Mages\u2019 House but in other places. Losian decided that he and the scrivener would talk to the remaining shopkeepers in the morning. Losian left the other two as soon as he had finished dinner, wondering sourly if they were going to make dinner together a habit. Night had fallen and he chose to walk along the better lit route, not that it was particularly bright but some light was better than none. It was a wet and blustery night and a good portion of the street lamps had blown out. He couldn\u2019t fault the watchmen for not keeping up with the lighting. It was a cold and thankless job with them apt to be victims as much as the citizens who the light was supposed to keep safe.<\/p>\n
Losian was just passing the mouth of an alley near his room when he felt the blow coming. He managed to twist aside, but his assailant was too close. He was crowded against the wall and he couldn\u2019t get at his hip knife. He tried to get at his throwing knife but he was kneed hard in the groin, the pain making him loose focus. Then his head was slammed hard against the wall. \u201cNo more questions,\u201d a voice hissed in his ears. \u201cThe girl is gone. Leave it alone or you\u2019ll be gone.\u201d His head was once more slammed against the wall and he\u00a0blacked out.<\/p>\n
Losian woke shivering, his back on fire. He groaned softly as he turned over. He was still in the alley.\u00a0Well, that was exactly where he should be. Yet he was surprised, given the last two times he woke in more agreeable surroundings even if he didn’t know how he\u00a0got there. \u00a0And, as seemed to be the case wherever he woke,\u00a0\u00a0mostly naked; no shoes, no trews, no shirt and no cloak. \u201cDamn, damn, damn,\u201d he muttered. \u201cAt least they didn\u2019t stab you while you were out.\u201d He levered himself to his feet and tottered out of the alley. \u201cAlmost home,\u201d he whispered encouragingly. \u201cJust a few more steps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Losian got to the door between a butcher and a green grocer. He fumbled at the chain around his neck which had his key. It took him two tries before he managed to get it into the key hole, except that the key wouldn’t turn. Losian leaned his head against the door. \u201cNo, no. This can\u2019t be happening,\u201d he moaned. He was stiff, sore and his back hurt. He tried again but it just wouldn’t turn. He pounded on the door. Surely his landlady would hear. She was always watching, her door always ajar to hear anything and everything going on. He pounded more on the door but there was no sound, nothing. He sat down, exhausted. The butcher wouldn’t be in for a while and he couldn’t just sit here. He tried to think about where to go but his thoughts were sluggish. Home? No too far, way too far. His brother\u2019s house? He\u2019d die first. Gruthwin\u2019s then.<\/p>\n
Losian concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, resting every block or so, if leaning against a wall shivering was resting. He finally managed to reach the building where Gruthwin lived. How to get in? He just swayed there staring stupidly at the door. Try to open it, he finally thought. Miracle of miracles it opened. He dragged himself up the stairs. For a panicked moment he couldn’t remember which door it was. He had only come out of it, and that once. Then he remembered being able to look down the stairs at the ferwardens who had come to get him and Gruthwin. So the door at the top of the stairs. The rest became a foggy dream.<\/p>\n
Losian woke suddenly. He was lying on his stomach, his back still hurting. Where was he? Right he had been mugged, no he had been attacked and warned away from the Landgraf\u2019s daughter\u2019s case. He smiled. That was good. Somebody was worried. He frowned. Who?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re awake,\u201d Scrivener said. \u201cDon\u2019t move. I\u2019ll put more salve on your back. You’ve also got one big bump on the back of your head.\u201d Scrivener spread something on his back and the pain started to fade. He grunted in appreciation. \u201cYou can sit up now and drink this. It\u2019ll help your headache.\u201d<\/p>\n
Losian slowly sat up and realized that she was right, his head did pound and that he was in his smalls. He made sure the blanket was firmly anchored across his hips before he took the mug and drank down the concoction, bitter as it was. He looked slowly around the room searching for Gruthwin.<\/p>\n
\u201cGruthwin went to get us something for breakfast,\u201d Scrivener said, interpreting his movements. \u201cAnd some clothes for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Losian nodded, disliking the small smile that played about her mouth, and decided he\u2019d lie back down until Gruthwin came back. He must have slept because Gruthwin was talking quietly to Scrivener, the remains of a meal on the table when he sat up again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened to you?\u201d Gruthwin asked. \u201cI opened the door and you fell into my room, unconscious\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was attacked and robbed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not like you to get robbed,\u201d Gruthwin pointed out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is if you\u2019re already out cold,\u201d Losian muttered. Scrivener raised an eyebrow. \u201cI was attacked by someone who didn’t like it that we were still asking questions about the Landgraf\u2019s daughter. He knocked me out and when I woke up I had been robbed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re sure it was about the Landgraf\u2019s daughter?\u201d Scrivener asked skeptically. Losian glared at her and she held her hands up with a smile. \u201cJust checking, just checking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you find out anything more about mages attacking?\u201d Losian asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot enough. There are rumours that several of the newly initiated mages have become sick, delirious. But I can\u2019t get anything concrete. I even heard that Borgny contracted a fever and nearly died,\u201d Gruthwin shrugged. \u201cSomeone\u2019s hiding something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we hit a nerve when we talked to the shopkeepers. I think we should keep the pressure on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not talk to some of the silversmiths and traders?\u201d Scrivener asked. \u201cThe shopkeepers didn’t seem to know anything concrete.\u201d At Losian\u2019s skeptical look she continued. \u201cThey seemed barely aware of the robberies and none of them recognized the medallion. It was either made here or it was brought from someplace else.\u201d She started to play with her bracelets. The jangled softly as she seemed to consider something. \u201cThere was no makers mark on the medallions.\u201d Losian looked surprised at her noticing that, he hadn’t. \u201cHow likely is it that a reputable silversmith will leave off his mark?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gruthwin nodded. \u201cIt\u2019s illegal to make silver or gold jewelry without a mark or with a fake mark. But if the medallion\u2019s are in some way illegal there would be a fake mark.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo there must be a trader who is bringing them in,\u201d Losian said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOr a silversmith making them on the sly?\u201d Gruthwin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we ask both,\u201d Scrivener said.<\/p>\n
Gruthwin frowned. \u201cI don\u2019t think you should be helping. It\u2019s obviously getting more dangerous and the captain said you were an uncertified scrivener so you don\u2019t have any protection at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAsking questions?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat he means is that scriveners are part of a sprigner team and have some protection from irate shopkeepers,\u201d Losian said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019re not officially part of a team,\u201d Gruthwin pointed out.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd how would they know I\u2019m not? Not unless you told them.\u201d Scrivener grinned. \u201cI\u2019m having fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gruthwin goggled at her, causing Losian to laugh. \u201cBeing caught in a burning building or having a mage attack is fun?\u201d Gruthwin asked.<\/p>\n
Scrivener shrugged. \u201cThe wild is a little less tame,\u201d she murmured. She picked up the bag that Gruthwin had left on the floor and threw it at Losian. \u201cWe need to get going. If they know you\u2019re looking into things, they may cover their tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Losian struggled into his clothes. His back did feel better, much better. His head though still throbbed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you end up here?\u201d Gruthwin asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe lock was changed.\u201d Losian frowned. \u201cI need to find out what happened.\u201d His plants needed to be watered.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chapter 11 \u201cGreger was the investigator for these. He has a new mage, Borgny. Don’t know him,\u201d Gruthwin said, waving the paper, \u201cand I don\u2019t know his scrivener at all.\u201d He paced along beside Losian reading more. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t look like they\u2019ve got much to go on. We could talk to Greger, but I\u2019d rather … Continue reading Chapter 11 and 12<\/span>