Blood on Bronze (Blood on Bronze Book 1) (11 page)

“He who decides bids you to sit, man of Zakran who
calls yourself Sharur,” he said, gesturing to the patch of floor where Arjun
stood.

Arjun did as bidden and sat cross-legged before them.

The G’abudim elder spoke again, at some length. When
he was done, the man on the right spoke again.

“You have come seeking things beyond those sold in
Umrub’s stall, and clearly intend things beyond those which might readily be
available in other stalls of our people in the bazaar. Therefore, before we ask
more of you, what do you seek?”

“Poisons, and the skill to use them rightly,” said
Arjun.

There was a pause, but the G’abudim did not speak
among themselves. The man on the right spoke one more.

“You ask for two different things, man of Zakran, and
even the former encompasses much. However, in the latter there is both
presumption and wisdom. We had expected such from you.”

Arjun felt disturbed at the G’abudim’s words, as they
implied more knowledge than he thought he’d given.

The G’abudim continued, “Before we speak more to you, it
is time you told us of your true name and purpose. You may fear to reveal it,
but we do not sell the secrets of those who come to us. The life, and much more
than the life, of this one you call Umrub would be forfeit if we did. You may
choose to trust my words or not. If not, leave now. If so, then speak.”

 What Arjun had heard of the G’abudim, and guessed of
their terrible blood oaths, led him to decide he would trust them, at least in
this matter. He spoke.

“I am Arjun dra Artashad, son of Ashur the bronze
maker, and I seek revenge upon Bal-Shim iru Shulggi, who brought ruin upon my
father, death upon my servants, and who now seeks my capture.”

“And in what form do you seek this revenge, Arjun?”

“His death, and the destruction of all he that he
has,” said Arjun.

“And would that include his wife, heirs, and
servants?”

“He has no wife or heirs, and of his servants… only
those who oppose me. No mercy was given to the servants of my father.”

The seated G’abudim watched him in impassive silence.
At last, the one in the center spoke to the one on the right, who in turn spoke
to Arjun.

“Then you are who we believed you to be, Arjun, and
will speak with you. What is your perception of the difficulties in
accomplishing your goals?”

“They are great, as Bal-Shim is cautious and
well-guarded. It will require skills beyond what I now possess.”

 “There are many to whom we sell the results of our
harvests and alchemy. Most who ask for them in fact to do not care, or think
they already know how to use them. In truth, they may, or their purposes may be
so crude that it does not matter. However, what you ask might well require such
skills as we can teach. However, we do not do so lightly. At present, you are
studying both arms and magic, yes?”

Arjun was taken aback. He was suddenly very glad
indeed for the secrecy of the G’abudim, and that those who hunted him must not
have spies of such skill in their service, or he would already be caught. He
mastered himself, and replied.

“Yes.”

“Then you do not have the time or attention required
for our teachings.”

“And once I have completed some aspect of my
training?”

“Even then, we must come to trust you better.”

“I… to be certain my cause is as just as I say?”

“We do not care whether in the sense that your people
see it, it is right and just, only that you believe so without reservation, or
hesitation to act.”

 “What can I do then?”

“Complete the training you are now under, and be free
of any other masters, then come speak with us. And, know that we do nothing
without price.”

“I have much gold, and will soon have more.”

“That may be, but we have ways enough to get gold. Our
price will be in other form, and you will only know if you can pay such price
when the time comes to visit us again.”

“I will be ready.”

“Perhaps. In the meantime, await word from Umrub, and
do not come here again unless bidden.”

“I will do as you say,” said Arjun, and he departed,
much disturbed.

11.
The Tale of Hidden Things

Inina and Arjun sat together with Lurshiga in a corner
of the common room in the House of Red. It was late at night and no one else
was there. Arjun looked different, he had cut his hair shorter and had grown a
beard, thick for one of his age, but still far too short to plait. Though he
was no longer working as a smith, hard combat training was building well
rounded strength to his body. Inina looked different in her own way. She was
wearing kohl on her eyes and henna on her hands, and a few pieces of simple
jewelry. For those who’d known the practical girl of the streets well, it was a
startling change, and for some of those who hadn’t known her well might not
recognize her now.

“These new taxes are going to be hard to pay,”
muttered Lurshiga over a cup of spiced wine.

“Besides paying for the new city guardsmen roaming
around, what are they going to do with it all?” said Inina.

“Perhaps they don’t expect people to be able to pay,
and so they hope to drive them into slavery, or service to one of the great
houses?” said Arjun, “I have heard Lady Mada dra Keshil has been adding to her
collection of mines, and miners”

“Even so, there will be enough, like me, that can pay
even if they hate it,” said Lurshiga, “and my guess is they are putting that
money away for something. Considering the shake-ups and replacements in the
council, it could be something big.”

“What about… Bal-Shim?” said Inina, her voice a
hesitant whisper.

Arjun’s face hardened, anger in his eyes, “Two more
bronze makers have failed, and after the city seized their operations, he
turned up owning them.”

Inina took his hand, “Arjun, they’re starting to
tighten the net, and sooner or later, we’re going to get caught. Are you sure
you can trust those ex-servants of yours?”

“Not infinitely, but what choice do I have?”

“Maybe we should find out more on our own, while we
can,” suggested Inina.

“I was thinking of raiding Bal-Shim again,” said
Arjun.

“Why don’t we combine both goals then?” replied Inina.

“Speaking of the net tightening, why don’t both of you
quiet down, and take this conversation to your room,” said Lurshiga, with
finality.

~

Shirin sat at a tall chair carved with many signs,
near the back of a stone room inlayed with thin geometrical shapes in gold,
silver, and bronze. Braziers behind him on either side burned with cedar and
incense. Around him a circle and many symbols in bright colors were inscribed
on the floor. Outside of that circle stood Arjun.

“Tell me now, apprentice, of the seven falsehoods and
the seven truths of magic,” he said.

“The first falsehood held by many is that magic
requires a special gift to be worked, the first truth known by few is that
anyone with sufficient will and wit may learn it, but that it is both difficult
and dangerous.”

“The second falsehood held by many is that magic can
foretell the future, the second truth known by few is that the future is a page
not yet written, and magic can but read signs left by those who intended to use
them to influence events.”

“The third falsehood held by many is that magic can
read minds, the third truth known by few is that the mind is both a sanctuary
and a prison, but that guessing the thoughts of another through external cues
and behavior is a skill both magus and mundane alike may learn.

“The fourth falsehood held by many is that magic can
control minds, the fourth truth known by few is that magic or any other means
can only weaken the resistance of someone, but that the only minds that can be
led are those who wish it.”

“The fifth falsehood held by many is that magic
operates by illusion or belief, and that clear mind or true faith may protect
one from its power, the fifth truth known by few is that magic may in some
cases counter magic, but that what one creates or wields by magic is as real as
what once carves or wields with one’s hands.

“The sixth falsehood held by many is that magic must
call upon higher or lower powers for its strength, the sixth truth known by few
is that magic comes from the very nature of the world, that they above and they
below wield it by the same means as mortals of the middle realm, and that
wielding magic is as draining as wielding one’s body.”

“The seventh falsehood held by many is that these
falsehoods give their believers some insight to contend with the powers of
magi, the seventh truth known by few is that the falsehoods give power and
advantage only to those who also know the truth.”

Shirin watched his apprentice as he spoke, and when
Arjun was done, he nodded, and then spoke again.

“Correct, apprentice, now repeat for me the three
methods of opening one’s minds to magic, and the means for which each may be
used…”

And on it went, through the six forms of magic;
conjuration, abjuration, transmutation, detection, transportation, and
illusion, the four elements of fire, air, water, and earth, the conjunctions of
each, and the infusion of each with life or of death, which magi knew as the
void. Finally he dealt with the ways in which magic could in practical ways be
called or imbued, from the easiest and by far most common, potions and
inscribed symbols, through the more difficult rituals using components and
temporary symbols, and then spoken spells, which were more difficult still, to
the most difficult of all, visualizing all that was needed, exactly, in one’s
mind and using it to bring forth the magic by one’s will.

In every case, Arjun’s answer was studied and perfect.

Shirin, seated on his chair, calmly watched as Arjun
spoke. When all was answered, he spoke in turn.

  “Well done, apprentice. Now is the time of decision.
It is customary for a master under such circumstances as this to deprecate the
apprentice, pointing out any flaws however small, and enjoining them to apply
themselves better to their studies. However, our time is short, and I must
speak plainly about several matters.”

“The first is to address questions which might rightly
be asked, though you yourself have never done so. You plan revenge upon your
enemies and the rescue of your father. Lord Kartam and I, men of power and
wealth, have aided you in your goals. He and I see your foes as dangers to this
city itself. Why then do we not act directly? As yet, the depth of our
opposition is not known, and that gives us an advantage. Your foes and those
who support them have great powers of their own, and will alas be ready to face
us when the time comes.”

“You on the other hand, so far as I can see, are
feared only by Bal-Shim, and seen as insignificant by the others. And in any
case, your whereabouts and powers are unknown to them. These things give you an
advantage. In addition, Kartam and I are both watched. You have come to my door
at odd times and in many different guises, but even now some suspicion may well
be growing as to who or what you are.”

“The second matter which must be addressed is your
desire to rescue your father. Much as I would wish otherwise, I do not see how
you will accomplish it. The citadel, and the tower in particular, are well
guarded by both men and magic. If such as I were to attempt it, I might well
break through the magical defenses, but the numerous men and their arms, and
the magi in service of the city, would almost certainly be my undoing. For such
as you, your only hope is in stealth. Even so, I predict ill results if you
try. However, it is not my place to command you in this matter, and you must do
as your conscience requires.”

“The third matter is of your training. I must admit
that you have mastered in weeks what commonly requires months. I caution that
you have not been subject to the long discipline of years which is the normal
lot of an apprentice, and thereby are of greater danger to yourself. However,
as I have said, the time is short, and I must trust in the discipline of your
mind to hold where training is lacking. Again though I warn you that to step
beyond what you have mastered in my presence and in the safeguards of this room
is fearfully dangerous.”

“Now then Arjun my apprentice, you will spend your
next three visits with me in study of tablets I have ready for you, discussing
a great many applications already devised by magi under the laws of magic,
without revealing how they may be done. You will read these tablets and find the
handful of spells you think most needful for your tasks, then on the fourth
visit you will discuss them with me and I will agree, or not, to train you on
their making.”

“Yes master Shirin,” said Arjun with another bow.

~

 It was late evening, and the noises of the city were
beginning to quiet down. A breeze was blowing with promise of rain, and it was
humid in Arjun and Inina’s room. They had been able to glean some information
about Bal-Shim’s operations of late. Since their attack on his warehouse near
the bazaar, he had become more cautious, consolidating as many goods as he
could in the newly expanded compound of his home. However the sheer amount of
goods he’d acquired looting two more bronze businesses and a half dozen smaller
ones in other trades had forced him to keep using storage elsewhere. However,
he had increased his guards, and according to rumor, was using magic wards on
his doors.

They were dressed in plain practical street clothes,
with a few tools strapped to belts and backs under their cloaks. Arjun opted to
wear his sword, strapped flat to his back, and trusted again to the folds and
hood of his cloak to conceal it. His bronze dagger, the one he’d made, with the
thunderbolt striking a serpent, was at his belt, as small weapons were common
enough.

“You know each time we go wandering the city with that
sword, it is another chance someone will notice it,” said Inina.

“I know, but I’d much rather have it in a fight than a
dagger alone,” said Arjun.

“That depends on how well you can use your dagger,”
she said with a smile.

“I might not match you there yet, but I’m working on
it,” he said, then grabbed her waist and pulled him to her with a kiss.

“Ready?” he said.

She nodded, and they set out for a warehouse in the
mercantile district between the Street of the Fortune Tellers and the middle
harbor. It was said that Bal-Shim had been visiting that particular warehouse
frequently of late, and had once left with slaves carrying boxes of clay
tablets. All went well as they crossed first the King’s Road, and then the
Street of Fortune Tellers. It was busy now, catering to revelers with coin in
their purses and wine in their bodies.  The number of city guards had continued
to increase, and patrols were everywhere. Something else was new; many of the patrols
were accompanied by one or two civilians.

“I’ve never seen anything close to this many guards on
the streets at night,” Inina whispered to Arjun, “even if there is a manhunt
out for you, you can’t be THAT important to them, and it seems heavy even for
some kind of crackdown on criminals in the city.”

He whispered in reply, “What if it isn’t a crackdown
on criminals in the city so much as a crackdown on the people of the city as a
whole?”

She clutched his hand.

“Arjun, those spotters and informers going around with
the guard make me nervous. I mean, the guards always have had people like that,
but usually guard informers keep a very low profile. Something is very, very
wrong when they can walk around openly with patrols, pointing out whatever they
don’t like.”

They were now passing through an area of merchant
shops and warehouses. Most of them were related to the traffic from the harbor,
but somewhere down here was that belonging to Bal-Shim. As they crossed a
larger street, they heard a voice shout.

“That’s him! That’s Arjun son of Ashur!”

Inina by long experience, and Arjun by her training,
began to pick up speed and headed toward the nearest cross street. Only once
they were in motion did they look briefly over their shoulders. Behind them was
a squad of twelve guards and a short, twitchy man Arjun recognized as one of
his father’s old customers, a merchant whom Arjun’s father had once trusted and
allowed to buy on account. He’d run into some kind of trouble and only
grudgingly managed to repay his debt over more than two years. Arjun had
thought the man was lucky his father didn’t believe in slavery, or he could
have been sold as a slave to make good that debt much sooner. It seemed this
was how he repaid the kindness.

They darted into a side street, which turned out to
make complicated twists and turns as it wound deep into a block of buildings.
In the center was a small courtyard around a well. From it ran two other small
alleys. Arjun pulled his dagger and flipped it around so that the blade was
hidden against his forearm. Behind them they heard clatter of metal, and the
guards yelling at them to stop for questioning. They chose the alley on the
left and went running as fast as they could go.

However, coming down the alley from the other end were
a pair of the guards.

“Boy! Stop you! We’ve got questions!” they shouted,
but they had swords drawn.