Path of the Magi (Tales of Tiberius) (30 page)

“That’s an interesting ambition for a young lady,”  Darras observed.

“I know; everyone thinks I’m crazy,” Maci said ruefully. 

“I didn’t say that.  It’s a demanding job though.  It requires very hard work and dedication.  There is no reason a woman can’t do the job.  The old tales usually mention one woman about somewhere.  Orlando and Achilles both knew and respected women soldiers.  It’s a difficult life and not something you should do lightly.  Still, if you are a gifted athlete, if it is your heart's desire, and you work hard at it, there’s no reason you couldn’t find a way to serve your country in the army.”  He took another bite of his eggs, then continued.  “I’ve actually thought that having a few women warriors around would be a good idea.  After all, we need to search folks sometimes and we need a woman for searching other women.  I expect there are women who will only talk to other women too.”

Maci beamed at this unexpected encouragement from the famous knight.

“You know, I’m not busy this morning.  Why don’t you come out to the range and show me some of your archery?” 

Maci’s eyes lit up for a moment, then turned to Tiberius. 

“I think we can spare you from the furniture shopping,” he said smiling.  After that, they had to caution Maci not to gulp down her breakfast.  Darras found her a bow and walked her down to the range.  Then Darras watched in astonishment as Maci started putting arrows into the bullseye.

“Your technique’s a bit strange, but you’re astonishingly accurate for one your age.”

“Thank you, M’lord.”

“You know, if you keep training the way you are, you’re going to make it as a scout one day.  For someone your age, you show a lot of talent and promise."

She smiled, but she said he was too kind.  

“With Tiberius growing up around people like you it’s a wonder he turned to mystic arts.  He could have been a fine knight himself.”

“He was going into the army before the dragon attacked,” Maci replied. 

“Dragon?  What dragon?”  Darras asked, surprised.

“Didn’t you hear about the dragon that attacked Sherwood City a few years ago?” Maci said.  “I thought everyone knew about that.”

“Oh, that dragon.  Yes, I remember.  The army drove it off as I recall.”

“Yes, once they got there,” Maci said with a frown.  “Ti had to face it alone till they showed up.  He kept it from eating his girlfriend.”

Darras blinked.  “What’s that?  He faced the dragon?  Alone?!”

“Yes, well, his brother was with him, but Marcus is practical and had enough sense to duck after the dragon just laughed at their arrows.  Ti's the one who jumped up and tried to charge it with a stick to save his fiancée.  Didn’t he tell you anything?  He doesn’t talk about it much, I guess.  Attacking a magical dragon with a stick is not very bright, but it worked.  The dragon started shouting something about a prophecy and that he’d be back.  Ti started studying with the magi so he could keep his girlfriend alive.”

“He … he started this for a lady?”

Why Tiberius had started his studies was a question that had never occurred to Darras.  That he might have had a reason worthy of a knight was an eye-opener to say the least.  Doing something to protect a lady might not make it right, but it was at least chivalrous behavior.

“I didn’t know he had a fiancée.”

“Had.  She dumped him.  She didn’t want to be around dragons,”  Maci said scornfully. 

“And he’s still protecting her?”  Darras asked.

“Well, he doesn’t want her eaten by a dragon.  Besides, it’s not just her he’s protecting.  The dragon vowed he’d kill everybody in the city unless he met it in combat one day.  If it was just her, I wouldn’t mind feeding her to it.  Mind you, I’m not supposed to say that.  Christians are supposed to be forgiving, but I don’t think she was that nice to my brother.  Are you okay?”

“Yes.  I just didn’t know about any of this.  I may have misjudged him, is all.  Doing something to aid a woman who spurns your advances, is in some ways the height of courtly love.”

“I love my brother.  He’s a great man.  I’m a little surprised you don’t seem to get along that well,”  Maci stated.

“Not everyone hits it off right away,” Darras replied.  “But there’s no question that Tiberius has been a great help out here.  Now, come on, let me show you the horses.  We'll see if Smoke remembers you.”

With the help of his aunt and sister, Tiberius managed to get his room in better shape.  Ti noticed Darras seemed slightly friendlier too, though Ti didn’t know why.  Maybe he reacted better to people he knew had families?  Either that or he was just impressed with Aunt Min’s dancing.  She done a bit of her fan dancing for them before she left.  She’d been a professional before she had married.  Maci was picking up that skill too, but she wasn’t doing any public performances.  Maci never much cared for having a big crowd around her.     

Maci and his Aunt Min were not the only ones going visiting in the border lands that day.  Miles away and deep underground, the queen of the goblins was stirring.  She’d had much news of late and all of it bad.  The Rangers and this new wizard had become a positive nuisance.  It was getting so that her people could hardly walk above ground.  The ogres had been no help and she was running out of ideas.  It was time to pay her tribute anyway, so the queen herself had decided to visit her master.  

The goblin witch walked down the deepest winding passages in her caverns, accompanied by four of her guards.  They were guided by a faint light from her staff.  She stopped them and took a last look over her aides.  It was always a problem finding soldiers who were useful, presentable, and expendable.  She paused to strengthen a helmet, and glared at them long enough to get them to stand up straighter.  Better.  He might not be so ornery if he thought he was being treated properly.  He talked only about gold, but she’d yet to meet a man who didn’t respond to flattery. 

Signaling, they walked further along till at last the cavern opened out before them.  This was it, the cave of meeting.  Not his home, naturally.  That wouldn’t be permitted.  He didn’t trust her.   But this was enough.  She led her four guards forward.  They put the small chest of gold and silver coins down in front of them then stepped back and all bowed down. 

They felt him before they could see him.  The hall was warm and filled with a slight burning scent.  The sense of great power could be felt too.  They could hear his breathing.  When he looked up they could see the great two yellow eyes focus upon them. 

The queen spoke.  “Hail Barcharosias, the mighty and merciless.  Your loyal subjects come to you with tribute befitting your majesty.  We also humbly petition, no beg, for your aid, oh great one.”

The queen lifted only her head, but that was enough.  She could see at the other end of the chamber, the dragon was stirring.  It rose up and stretched its wings, then looked down with an unfriendly glance.  It raised one of its claws and niftily preformed an intricate gesture, drawing a mystical sign in the air.  One of her guards suddenly went flying up towards the dragon, floating in the air before it.  It screamed, naturally, but no one in that room cared if a goblin screamed.  The dragon casually gave it a blast of flame as it floated there before him.  First a long blast, then another quick blast.  The queen tried to keep from trembling.  She was glad she wasn’t wearing mail, or she’d be rattling like a tambourine like the other goblins she’d brought with her.  The first goblin quit screaming after the initial blast of flame.  Barcharosias bit the goblin’s head off next.  After a bit of chewing it spit out the helmet.  It didn’t speak though till it was done chewing and had swallowed his bit of goblin.  It did have some manners. 

“You call this tribute?” the dragon said.  “How am I to win the favors of the fair Amalewsia with this rubbish?  My rival Dontrumbill is pulling pots of gold from thin air, and you bring me this?  I should kill the lot of you.  Maybe when I turn out your warrens I’ll find enough gold to interest her.” 

The goblin queen shook with genuine fear.  “Be merciful, mighty warlord.  These humble pickings are all we can manage.”

The dragon finished chewing another mouthful.  “All you haven’t spent on booze for yourself, more likely.  Couldn’t you at least manage to bring me a few young virgins for my amusement?”

“Mighty Barcharosias, the Rangers thwart our every move these days.  The captain of the south scatters my soldiers like matchsticks.  They have their own wizard now too, a man they call Tiberius…”

The dragon spit out his remaining mouthful at that word.  “Pagh!  So you’ve noticed him at last, have you?”

“He’s a cunning opponent.  I’ve sent my assassins after him.  Cursed swords, and arrows.  Made offerings to the lords of power, and yet he lives.  Possibly with your aid we could…”  She stopped because the dragon had taken a menacing step forward.  Every part of her shook with real fear now. 

“Do you bother to read the signs at all?!  Don’t you know the minions of the enemy?  He already killed the night master of Port Elizabeth.  He’s coming for me.  What chance do you think your pathetic assassins have?”  the dragon raged.

“If you know about this enemy, why haven’t you taken care of him already?”  the witch asked. 

“You know nothing.  Dallen’s shadow still lurks behind him.  If I could trap him now before he’s ready … but no.  I have thought on this time and again.  I don’t dare face him and Dallen together.  Dallen is cunning.  We dare not draw him out here.  Tiberius will come to face me at the right time.”

The dragon became thoughtful, ignoring those with him.  He started speaking to himself.  “It’s too soon.  I will start my campaign when I know Dallen is dead.  That will be the time.  After that, the sleeper may yet awaken.  If I can best him my plans will be set.  No more of this pathetic tribute; cities will bow before me.”

At last he seemed aware of witch queen before him. 

“Go!  Read the signs.  On the next full moon slit open an unblemished male goat and read the entrails.  It is not our time yet,” he said.

“But what am I to do till it is your time?” the old witch complained.

“Use your arts!  You may get lucky.  The future always has secrets.  Kill him yourself and you’ll be richly rewarded.  Try your blackest poisons, your deepest secrets.  Find his weaknesses, hurt him, weaken him anyway you can!  Now, go! Before I decide I need another snack!” the dragon intoned. 

Bowing low, the witch queen and her surviving soldiers backed out of the chamber.

The queen was still shivering when she at last stood up. 

“I guess this means we get no help,” one of the guards grumbled.

“It’s worse than that, fool,” the queen snarled.

“Worse?  How?”

“We’ve just found out our master’s afraid of him,” she said.  She started back towards her chambers.  Something still had to be done.  She had a spell for poison she’d always wanted to try.  But she very much doubted it was going to work.

Back beyond the queen’s caves, Tiberius walked ahead of small squad of Rangers, carefully observing the hillside.   Aunt Min and Maci had finished their visit, and El Gato was back.  Now they were exploring the hills. 

“Here!” Tiberius called out.

El Gato turned to address his men.  “Remember, this is a diplomatic mission.  No one notches an arrow or draws a sword without my, or Tiberius’, express orders.  Understood?”

The men nodded assent.  El Gato nodded to Tiberius, who started giving instructions.

“Dismount,” he advised.  “We’ll walk forward slowly and casually.” 

They walked up the path and then Tiberius stopped and made a gesture.  A couple of large bushes parted as if blown by the wind, and the Rangers saw a small village ahead of them.  It was a rustic dwelling with small homes built from hides and wood frames.  The occupants were all about 3 feet tall and rather plain.  These were gnomes.  Their faces were oddly chiseled and their skin colors ranged from tan to brown to grey.  They were shorter and less broad than dwarves.  The whole village stopped to stare as Tiberius boldly walked up towards the center of town, then stopped and bowed. 

“We come in peace as representatives of the Steward of Elizabeth,” he said.  “We would like to speak with the mayor, or leader of this abode.”

One tall gnome with grey skin and graying hair stepped up to address him.  All around the villagers seemed to be trembling.  “Aren’t you Tiberius, the fairy slayer?” the man said.

“I am Tiberius the Magus.  I am a Son of Adam, but I’ve never harmed any one, fairy folk or Son of Adam, who wasn’t an outlaw.  I am a slayer of the servants of the Dark Master, not of fairies.”

“You come with armed men to our doors.  Do you mean to drive us out of our homes?”

“Men are foolish to walk without arms in these times.  We have no wish to disturb the residents of this lovely village any more than necessary.  Rather we would speak with your mayor about matters of mutual interest and governance,” Tiberius explained. 

The gnome looked skeptically at them, but he seemed resigned.  “Very well, I’m Mayor McQuartz.  Come along and talk if you must.”

He led them inside one of the larger huts.  Tiberius and El Gato had to stoop down to enter, but they managed to be comfortably seated around a round wooden table in the center. 

Once they were seated, Tiberius continued the talk.  “You know, by some curious oversight, your lovely village isn’t on the county books.”

McQuartz scowled.  “And whose fault is that, eh?  The elves.  They give all this land up to the river to the Sons of Adam, never asking so much as a by your leave of my people.  Mountain trash, they call us.  Never a bit of concern for our feelings.”

“An unfortunate oversight,” El Gato said.  “But no harm done, surely?”

“No harm?”  the mayor said.

“My good Mayor,” Tiberius explained,  “we want to make it clear to you that we are not making war on all fairy folk.  We know this continent is the fairy lands and we want the border lands to be a place where the Sons of Adam and the fairy folk can live together in peace.  All we want is to place your village on the county books.  Even the bogies could stay if they would lay down their arms and advance the Queen’s will.”

“Small chance of that!”  the mayor snorted.

“Quite, but we have to offer it,” Tiberius said.   As to your people, there might be some issues with regard to back taxes, but we’ve persuaded the senate to declare an amnesty.  You’ll have to pay taxes going forward, but I’m not requiring you to do anything I’m not doing myself.  It the requirement of every good citizen after all that…”

“Citizens?  You’re going to make mountain trash citizens, are you?”  the mayor laughed.

“There are no slaves in the Stewardship.  You’re born residents here and there is no other requirement that I know of.  Of course you would be citizens.  Any who choose to peacefully reside under the Queen’s laws can be citizens.”

The mayor stopped laughing.  He looked to El Gato.  “Is he serious?  If we declare our loyalty to the Steward we get to be citizens?”

“The magus doesn’t lie,” El Gato replied.

Tiberius pulled a small Bible out of his pocket and put his hand upon it.  “As God is my witness, I’ve been told any fairy folk who pledge their loyalty to the Stewardship are to be treated as full citizens.  All property claims will be respected.  I will personally stand with any fairy folk in our courts against any who say otherwise.”

The mayor hesitated for a moment.  His eyes were wide with astonishment.  Then he started trembling.  “No … no more mountain trash?  We’d actually be citizens?!”

Tiberius nodded.  The mayor then leapt over the table and out into the square.  “Everyone gather round!  We’re all going to be citizens!”

Their were a few moments of astonished whispers as the mayor explained what had happened.  Then whole town suddenly burst into a wild celebration.  The rest of the day and into the night, the villagers were dancing around in circles overcome with joy.  Tiberius, El Gato, and the rest of the Rangers they’d brought with them spent the rest of the night dancing and watching fireworks.

Later that month Tiberius found himself in the main room at Henry’s.  He saw Darras was here as well at another table.  Tiberius acknowledged him with a nod and proceeded to order dinner.  He noted a couple of gnomes walk in.  Henry greeted them politely and led them to a table. 

“Hey, what’s that mountain trash doing in here?” said a farmer, pointing towards the gnomes. 

Tiberius stood up and turned towards the farmer.  “Those gentlemen are citizens of the Stewardship.  I’ll thank you to remember that.”

The farmer took a step back.  “Figures a warlock would take the side of them queer folk.”

From the other table Darras stood up.  “He’s on the side of the laws of the Stewardship, sir.  Or maybe you don’t remember that part of our charter that says all men are equal under the law.”

The farmer started to reply without looking around.  “It says men, not mountain trash, you dolt…”  He stopped as he looked around and saw who he was speaking too.  His heart nearly went into his throat when he realized he was practically calling out a national jousting champion.  “Sorry, sir … M’lord, I meant no offense.”

“It’s not me you need to apologize to.  It’s the citizens over there,” said Darras. 

Henry, the inn owner, walked up to the farmer.  “You know, running this place I get a lot of strange folk come though wanting a bit to eat and something to wash the dust out of their throats.  I’ve seen elves, dwarves, gnomes, trolls, even a centaur once or twice.  And unlike you, Joe, they’ve all paid their bill.  So, at least till you’re paid up, maybe you’d like to shut your mouth and quit insulting the paying customers.”

Joe muttered an apology and tried to find some cash for his tab.  Darras gave Tiberius a wink and they both went back to dinner.                 

Later that night Tiberius woke up with a start.  His wrist was hurting, that meant danger and plenty of it.  The magic rubber bands that he wore were tight and tingling with alarm. He cast a light spell on a candlestick nearby and looked about the room.  It seemed very quiet and calm, yet there was an odd breeze. 

Then it hit him; his vapor shield was going full force, circulating new fresh air around him, cutting him off from the local air. 

Tiberius teleported though the door and slightly to the side of the doorway.  Only one person was there and she was in no condition to hinder him.  One of Henry’s staff had breathed in the deadly fumes and fallen.  Tiberius summoned a small air elemental, and gave it order.  Quickly the little whirlwind sucked up the gas and flew off into the night.

Thank God Darras had ridden back early.  The rest of the hall was unoccupied.  Tiberius bent down over the young lady.  He might not be too late.  Touching a hand to her chest he let off a small spark and suddenly her body gave a start and she started coughing.  He sat her up and gave her a drink from one of his healing flasks. 

Just then, there was a faint creak down the hallway coming from the steps.  Tiberius knew the layout of Henry’s pretty well so he risked a blind teleport down stairs. 

Coming up behind them, he saw two men creep up the stairs. 

“He must be dead by now,”  the first one whispered.

“Maybe we should give him one more just to be sure.”

“We already pumped enough poison gas into his room to kill an elephant.  You want to kill the whole house?”

“I don’t know; I hear this wizard can be pretty tough to kill,” said the second man.  He pulled out an odd sort of dark glass cylinder with a pump attached.  “Maybe just a few more shots?”

A blast of silvery webs suddenly wrapped around the man, tying the cylinder to his body and rendering it useless. 

“Bloody hell, he’s alive!” exclaimed the first man.  He dodged the magus’ force bolt, only because he managed to slip and fall down the staircase.  Trying to run for the door, he made the mistake of getting within quarterstaff range of Tiberius, who sent him crashing to the ground with a well aimed strike. 

A moment later Henry came out wearing a nightgown and holding a stout club. 

“What the blazes?!”

“Sorry, Henry, just a couple of blokes trying to kill me.  I didn’t mean to disturb your repose,” Tiberius explained. 

“You aren’t human!” exclaimed the bound assassin.  “You should be dead; we filled your room with poison!”

“Well, that’s a nice little admission,” Henry said. “I ought to string you up right here for trying to kill folks in my tavern.”

“Mary got a whiff, but she’ll be all right in the morning; I got to her in time,”  Tiberius explained.  “She’ll probably need a day or two of rest, though.”

“Praise God it’s no worse than that,”  Henry said.

“We’ll need to lock these men up for the night I’m afraid,”  Tiberius said. 

“As to that, I’ve just the spot over the stables.”