The Baldari (Book 3) (27 page)

Rigo looked at Jeen who nodded her agreement.  She had been learning the symbolic language, and was now reasonably proficient at a number of spells.  Nycoh wasn’t here at the moment because she was already with Lyes and Fen, learning the new magic.  Rigo knew he had become lax.

“When I come back tonight,” he agreed.

“Good,” Daim replied.  “By then we will have a number of staffs with the appropriate symbols on them.”

He looked at Jeen.

“Are you planning on going with Rigo?” he asked.

Jeen nodded. 

“What about the artifacts Daria found?” Daim asked.

“They are in the small storeroom down on the first level,” Jeen explained.  “Daria brought them to the Outpost a few days ago.  A lot has happened since then.  I haven’t had time to examine them.”

“Well, have Ash’urn and his team have a look at them.  Show him what you have before you leave.  Have him look to see if there is anything that should be hidden away just in case we are attacked here.”

Rigo looked at Jeen as they prepared to part ways.  She was going to see Lyes and Fen with the intention of learning the new magic.  Rigo knew her well enough to know she’d practice diligently and would have it mastered in short order.  Nycoh had added it to her array of weapons, and Ash’urn, the elder scholar had learned it as well.  Rigo didn’t know about Daim.  He had been an accomplished wizard in his day, and was responsible for the majority of the magic the wizards knew today.  Rigo didn’t know if he had been practicing symbolic magic.  He would have been surprised to learn Daim hadn’t been doing so however.

Rigo felt the familiar reluctance to put forth the effort to learn the new skill.  Despite his best intentions, and frequent promises to himself, he had yet to make any attempt to understand the symbolic magic that the rest of them were adding to their capabilities.  For a while, Rigo had been the most powerful and knowledgeable wizard in the known world.  That wasn’t the case any longer.  He was well aware of the fact.  There were many who were stronger and more knowledgeable than himself.  No small number of those he had once taught were now mages, masters of both disciplines, or at least capable in both. 

A part of him was disappointed in himself.  Look at Ash’urn.  More than twice Rigo’s age, and eager to learn any new skill that was presented.  Nycoh was more capable than any of them, and yet she eagerly added the new ability.  Rigo suspected that part of his reluctance to learn was the consequences of being the best and most capable.  That usually meant being in charge, and he had experienced the result of having that burdensome responsibility.  How many had died following his lead?  How many had he been forced to kill?  He was more interested now in a more sedate existence with Mitty, and before too long, their child.  Unfortunately, he wasn’t to be allowed his preference.  He understood that his reluctance to become as capable as possible was irresponsible given the current state of affairs.  The Three Kingdoms needed him.  More importantly, Mitty needed him.  Mitty had told Rigo enough for him to understand that the strange woman in her visions was aware of her, and had reason to wish her harm.  That meant he needed to be prepared to protect her, which meant the time for procrastination was past.  He knew he was too focused on the matter of Koess, perhaps because part of him wished to be able to bring the man back to offset others he had lost.  He would go see Daria, but when they returned he promised himself to begin learning the magic of the Casters.  This time he wouldn’t falter.

“Suline’s going with you?” Jeen asked when they reached the split in the tunnels.

“That’s the reason she came along,” Rigo confirmed.  “That she was able to help check the site where Burke’s team was captured was simply an unanticipated benefit.”

Jeen nodded.  She knew that Suline and Daria had become close, and that it was Suline who had taught their friend how to make
Doorways
. 

“Tell her I’m going to begin going through the stuff she recovered.  I’ll let you know what is there.”

Rigo nodded.  “What about your kids?” Rigo asked.  Jeen had a pair of daughters at the Outpost for wizard training. 

“My consort will be taking them to his family estates in northern Branid in the morning,” Jeen said.  “I don’t consider either the castle or the Outpost secure enough for them to stay.”

Mitty and Jeen hugged, and Jeen nodded to Suline.  Then she turned and headed toward Ash’urn’s lab where she expected to find Lyes and Fen.  Rigo led his small group to the area used for making a
Bypass
inside the Outpost, and a short time later they stepped out of the portal onto the grass just a short distance away from the familiar main structure of the orphanage. 

Jeen had been correct when she had commented that Daria and Kaler had started raising horses.  The pasture to the far side of the buildings had been fenced, and now several hundred horses roamed freely in the open area.  More than a dozen small colts and fillies could be seen, more than likely only recently born.  Three of the older boys were hard at work in the nearby corral, which adjoined the newly added fencing.  One was riding a large black mare, while the others encouraged him.

As usual, the squeals and shouts of laughing children could be heard coming from all directions.  It was obviously free time, and the children made the best use of the warm spring day as they went about the games that only they understood.  Rigo couldn’t remember ever being at a place where there was so much laughter and happiness. 

They had been spotted, and one of the children ran into the nearest building shouting a message.  Before they had reached the structure, the rear door opened and Nyll stepped into the warm sunshine.  Rigo recognized him immediately, despite the changes in appearance.  To begin with he had put on considerable weight.  He had also gone bald, or nearly so.  He might be shaving what remained of his hair, but gone was the ponytail.  He recognized Rigo and Suline, but had not yet met Mitty.

Rigo made the introductions, and after the usual small talk, inquired about Daria and Kaler.  He was not surprised at the answer.  He had half expected it, and when they hadn’t appeared with Nyll or shortly afterward, he had become certain of it.

“Gone,” Nyll said.  “They left almost two days ago.  A couple of young girls from the Wanderer wagons have yet to be recovered.  They were sold as slaves by the bandits who attacked the wagons.  Daria had some information as to what happened to them.  She intends to get them back.”

Someone was soon to be very sorry they had ever had any dealings with the bandits, Rigo knew.  If Daria was after them, it was simply a matter of time.

“Do you know where they went?” Suline asked.

“Not really,” Nyll replied.  “Somewhere in Lopal, but exactly where she didn’t say.  I would expect it would have to be somewhere near Fontin, where the attack on the Wanderers took place.  They took their best riding horses, however.”

The name meant nothing to any of the three visitors.  Mitty and Suline were from Sedfair and had only the smallest familiarity of the Three Kingdoms, and Rigo had never heard of the place either. 

“It is somewhere near Bertrack,” Nyll said.  “She mentioned that Torusk and the Wanderer camp was there at the moment.  If anyone knows where Daria and Kaler have gone, it would be him.  He helped them bring back the items that had been taken from the Wanderer wagons when they were attacked.”

That told Rigo that Torusk was probably familiar with the cave where the artifacts had been recovered.  It made sense to find him, and proceed from there.  Unfortunately he didn’t know where Bertrack was either, but almost certainly someone back at the Outpost would.  More importantly, someone must have visited nearby, at least close enough to get them within a couple of day’s ride.  This was not going to move along as smoothly as he’d hoped.

“Did either of them indicate how long they would be gone?” he asked.

“Kaler implied it might be as much as a month.  I gather they have only the barest clues to where the men they seek might be.”

Rigo silently cursed.  His chances of finding Daria were fading by the moment.  She could be anywhere, and not even a wizard would find her easily if she intended to be invisible.

He thanked Nyll and turned down an invitation to stay the night. 

“There is business back at the Outpost,” he told the former monk.  “I also want to find someone who has visited this Bertrack you mentioned.”

The threesome returned to the Outpost, and after getting Mitty settled in, Rigo and Suline went to find Ash’urn.  Lyes and Fen had already left, but Ash’urn was back at his desk, gazing at the most recent addition to his personal power staff.  Rigo knew this meant he had fully mastered the new magic.

“Rigo,” Ash’urn said as he smiled.  “Suline,” Ash’urn added when he saw the Caster who had come along.  Rigo couldn’t help but examine his friend.  Shara had spoken to Rigo earlier, and he could see she was right.  Ash’urn was looking even thinner than Rigo recalled.  Something was not right.  He’d have to find Nycoh and ask her, but she wasn’t easy to find.  Perhaps he’d have to see if Jeen knew anything.

“Nycoh thought you would be back,” Ash’urn said.  “She made this for you.  She says there is more here than you can use at the moment, but she expects you to grow into it rather quickly.”

Ash’urn reached behind the desk and retrieved a tall dark black staff that resembled the one Nycoh carried.  He handed it to Rigo, who felt a flash of something as he wrapped his hand around the shaft.

“She says this one will align itself to you much as your original staff.  It incorporates some of Daim’s designs, but is far more resistant to almost everything, including the effects of the Ruins.”

Rigo examined the black staff.  It felt good to hold, and once again he wondered why he kept setting aside the staffs that came his way of late.  A wizard really should have a staff.  This one was engraved with literally hundreds of fine symbols, small and intertwined around the shaft.  Unlike the power staffs of the Sedfarian Casters, the runes and glyphs wrapped around the shaft, rather than being arranged in careful rows along the axis.  He tested the heft, and realized the skill that Nycoh had used in crafting the piece.  It was balanced and felt perfect in his hand.

“I thought I should try and learn the trigger for the green power beam that has been such a problem for us,” Rigo said.

Ash’urn nodded enthusiastically.  “Both of you should.”  He handed Suline one of the small wooden wands of which several were sitting to one side of his desk.  “I’m sorry this is so poorly done,” he said to Suline, “but once you have learned the phrase, you will want to add the symbols to your own staff anyway.  Nycoh said the necessary symbols were already incorporated into Rigo’s staff.”

Suline accepted the small wand with a smile.  “These were made quickly.”

“We learned a technique when we had to train a small army to deal with the Hoplani,” Ash’urn explained.  “Come, we can go outside and test it.  I doubt either of you will have much trouble learning the spell.  Suline is well versed in such spells, and Rigo has a command of the Sedfarian language, which makes it easier.”

They returned to the test area, and Ash’urn taught Rigo the phrase in sections.  Each was a bit of a tongue twister, but Rigo was surprised how easily they became comfortable to him.  Once he had mastered each piece, Ash’urn had him attempt the full phrase.  Rigo stumbled a couple of times, but then the words seemed to link naturally, and he had it mastered.  Suline learned it even faster, knowing most of the phrase already, and having only to modify it with the recently learned  additions.

“I thought as much,” Ash’urn said smugly.  “You both had little trouble with that.  Rigo, you need to spend some time and you will be a Senior level Caster.  It’s about time you showed some interest.  Now, let’s try it with the staff and see what results.”

Rigo was surprised at the power of the beam he created.  There was little doubt that Carif or any of her followers would have been unable to match him.  Suline created a respectable beam of her own, but nowhere near as powerful as Rigo’s.  Even so, he felt that something was missing.  He knew he should be able to do better, but wasn’t sure what needed to be done differently to tap the power he sensed lurking inside.  When he returned to Mitty, he carried the staff with him.  He didn’t know if the new ability would be sufficient to protect Mitty should the need arise, but he felt more capable than he had just a short while earlier.  He hoped he would see Nycoh in the morning.  There were several things he wished to speak with her about, and to thank her for the staff.  He compared his staff to the wand that Suline was using, even if temporarily, and realized Nycoh had made sure he had something far more special.

Rigo had a rather spartan room at the Outpost where they could have stayed the night, but instead he and Mitty
Bypassed
into Sulen where he had his personal quarters and which were far more private and comfortable.  Suline took one of the guestrooms at the Outpost.  With the number of Casters who were making their way across the Ruins from time to time, Daim had set aside an area for their use.  Initially she had planned to stay with Daria at the orphanage, but now that they were going to have to go in search of her, Suline was considering going along on the expedition.  Rigo didn’t mind at all.  He had a theory that might require someone like Suline to test.

The next morning they returned to the Outpost and made a point of locating Daim to tell him what they had learned.  It was clear that Daim was disappointed, but Rigo wasn’t able to decide if it was because Daria and Kaler weren’t available for whatever task Daim had in mind, or because of Rigo’s expressed plans to take off and go in search of her.  Daim had sent someone to inform Tara about what had happened to Burke, and she was now here at the Outpost, but uncertain what action she could take.

“This isn’t the best time to have everyone wandering off,” he said unhappily.  He pointed to the staff that Rigo had by his side.  “Nycoh made that for you?”

Rigo nodded.  “There’s a lot of stuff on it that I have no idea what to do with, but she indicated maybe my having it would motivate me to try and learn more.”

“Insightful of her,” Daim agreed.  “Did you have any luck mastering  Lyes’ new discovery?”

Rigo smiled.  “It is actually surprisingly easy once one knows the key.  Both Suline and I are now fully qualified.  I just hope it is effective against the shields some of the captive Casters are using.”

Suline was sitting next to Mitty.  She had her Caster’s staff, which Rigo had seen she had already modified with the new set of symbols.  There wasn’t much room for any more additions, but this way she wouldn’t have to deal with both her staff and the small wand.

“Where is Nycoh?” Mitty asked.  “We hoped to see her before setting off today.”

“She and Ash’urn went off somewhere earlier.  It appeared as though she had something on her mind.  Might have just been she wanted to get away after seeing Lyes.  I can’t decide if he was pleased with being able to be in a position to teach Nycoh something, or peeved that he had to share something he could do and she couldn’t.  Those two can’t seem to be around each other very long these days without some kind of issue.”

Mitty looked at Rigo.  The tenseness between Nycoh and Lyes was not much of a secret anymore.

“Where is it you are going?” Daim asked.

Rigo told him what Nyll had relayed. 

“Bertrack,” Daim repeated.  “I think that Tomas knows that area.  Look him up and see if he can’t help you get right to the Wanderer camp.”

That was good news.  Rigo had hoped that someone might know the area as he had never been there, which made opening a
Bypass
impossible.  They had planned on seeking out Nycoh or Jeen to see if they knew of anyone who could help, but Daim may have provided them the answer.

“I want you to stay in contact,” Daim said.  “With the current uncertainty of what might happen, we need to be able to alert one another should something unexpected occur.”  He handed Rigo one of the special contact bracelets.  He set another labeled with Rigo’s name onto a pole which already contained a number of similar devices.  “If I alert you, I expect you to come back immediately.  If you run into trouble and need help, trigger that one.”

Rigo slipped the device over his wrist.  It was a cumbersome way of signaling, but as yet nothing better had been discovered.  At least they could know whether everything was all right without having to make constant trips back to check.  Daim handed Suline one of the bracelets as well.  As a Caster, she wouldn’t be able to detect a signal, but if she activated the one she wore, Daim would know to send help to her.  Since Suline was actually a mage, even if her wizard abilities were vanishingly small, she might be somewhat sensitive to Daim’s signals.

The meeting with Daim concluded, the threesome went in search of Tomas.  Daim had indicated where he usually spent his time, and within a short while, they had encountered the older wizard.  Rigo had considered looking up Jeen, but Daim had said she had gone with her consort to relocate her children.  She would be back in the morning.  Once he confirmed that Tomas knew Bertrack, there was little reason to delay, so the four of them set off.

The Outpost maintained a medium sized stable of horses.  Many times the wizards were headed places where they would need to have transportation.  After selecting four mounts and filling saddlebags with a few days food and water, Tomas created the
Bypass
that would take them into Bertrack.  While he knew the village, he wasn’t familiar with where the Wanderers might camp.  They would have to ask someone once they arrived.

They rode through the
Bypass
and exited into mountainous countryside under clear blue skies.  The mountains were thick with trees, and the village nested in the valley between two ranges of tall peaks.  A large river flowed through, and what flatland was available was used for livestock.  Rigo couldn’t see any signs of farming.  Bertrack was larger than Rigo would have guessed, yet Tomas knew where they wanted to go.  Suline carried her staff in her left hand as she guided her mount with the right.  She looked comfortable doing so, as though she had spent many days in the saddle before.  Rigo had his staff in a special holder strung over his back, much as Kaler often carried his broadsword. 

Within a short time they had ridden into the center of the village where the town leader had his office.  The office of the chief constable was immediately next door.  It took only a few moments to discover where the camp was located and that the Wanderers were still in residence.  Rigo thanked the constable, and as they walked back outside to their mounts, thanked Tomas as well.  There was no need for Tomas to stay with them any longer, so he would be returning to the Outpost.

A quarter glass later they rode into the Wanderer camp, and asked where they might find Torusk.  Over the years Rigo had visited any number of Wanderer camps with Daria, but even though he could guess where the headman’s wagon was likely to be, he knew it was considered proper to ask.  The young woman they had questioned, smiled and led them into the center of the parked wagons, and pointed to a colorful wagon.

Torusk was in his mid fifties, a short but heavyset man with a beard that was losing its battle with gray.  He wore the usual colorful clothes common to the Wanderers, yet Rigo suspected he had spent some years away from the group pursuing a lifestyle that wasn’t condoned by the People.  Something told Rigo that Torusk had seen a bit of fighting, and that the powerful frame would serve him well in an altercation.

“Who is it you are seeking?” Torusk asked. 

Rigo had asked about Daria, not knowing if she would use that name among the People. 

“I don’t know anyone by that name,” Torusk replied after rubbing his heavy beard and watching Rigo as he replied.  Torusk didn’t know Rigo, and Rigo didn’t see anyone he could recognize from visits he had made with Daria to various camps in the past.  Torusk might honestly not know the name, or he could be playing dumb because he didn’t know Rigo.  The Wanderers were notoriously close with information to outsiders.

“You might know her as Nuiz,” Rigo said.  “Daria is a name she uses outside the camps.”  He thought he saw a slight flicker in the man’s eyes at the mention of Daria’s birth name, but still he was getting no help.  “
KalaBhoot
is another name that she goes by,” Rigo said finally, wondering if he should reveal this secret and how Daria would react when she learned of his indiscretion, but knowing that a number of leaders within the Wanderers were aware of who she was.  The Wanderers had always been her information network.

The mention of the
KalaBhoot
had caused Torusk’s eyes to widen noticeably, but still he wasn’t willing to say anything.  He shook his head slowly, and was about to deny knowing who Rigo was asking about when Rigo spotted someone he thought he knew walking toward the campfire.

“Nadine,” Rigo shouted, and was reassured to see the old woman’s eyes raise up and seek out the origin of her name.  She saw Rigo and the two women speaking with Torusk, and walked over to greet him.

“Master Rigo,” she said formally.  “What brings you to visit the Wanderers?”

“I need to find Nuiz,” Rigo said, remembering when he had met Nadine and knowing that she was one who had always used Daria’s birth name.

“She’s not here,” Nadine said. “She completed her business and has gone in search of those who kidnapped several young women from her stepfather’s caravan.  I have no idea where she has gone.”  Nadine looked at Torusk as if asking him what he knew.

“You know these people?” Torusk asked brusquely. 

“This one,” Nadine said, pointing at Rigo.  “He came to a Wanderer camp with Nuiz some years ago.  I do not know the others.”

Rigo pardoned his poor manners and introduced Mitty and Suline, explaining that Suline was a Caster, a different kind of wizard than himself, from across the Ruins.  That earned the interest of both Nadine and Torusk.  They had heard of the land that had been discovered so far away, but had yet to meet anyone from there.  The Wanderers were very curious people, and the opportunity to meet someone from so far away was an opportunity to be savored.  When they learned that Mitty was Rigo’s consort, and was also from far off Sedfair, they were doubly interested.

Torusk looked upon the unexpected visitors more kindly, and offered them a seat by the fire. 

“Why do you seek Nuiz?” he asked.

Rigo explained the unusual
Bypass
that Daria had created, and the vision of the man within.  “I think the man she might have seen is a fellow wizard who became trapped many years ago.  It is important that I talk to Daria about it.”

Torusk shook his head encouragingly.  “I recall it,” he said.  “I was there when she made the attempt.  I have little experience with your special travel arches, but I have never seen one like that one before.  There was clearly someone inside already.”

This was better than he could have hoped, and Rigo questioned Torusk about the
Bypass
.  Unfortunately, Torusk was telling the truth about the portals, and he had only seen a couple in his life.  He couldn’t really tell Rigo anything useful.

“Do you know where Daria went?” Rigo asked finally.  “I need to speak to her about the
Bypass
.  Perhaps she can duplicate the strange effect.  There may be a chance to rescue the man you saw.”

Torusk shrugged and shook his head.  “After we moved the artifacts that the bandits had taken, she returned us to the camp here.  She told me there were two men who had purchased the missing girls and she would seek them out, returning the girls when she found them.  She did not say where that would take her or what their names were.”

“Would there be any who knew what she had learned?  Do you know anyone who can tell us where she might have gone?”

Torusk looked around to see if there was anyone close who might overhear.  “The
KalaBhoot
would not have allowed those responsible to live.  I am certain whoever revealed such information is now in the spirit world cursing his encounter with her.”

Rigo wasn’t surprised.  Daria would have extracted the information, and sent the men responsible to their deaths.  That would have been the case normally, but with the death of her stepfather on their hands, the bandits would have had no chance at surviving.  Torusk explained the bandits had been located outside of Fontin, which was a considerable distance from here, and she could have traveled in any direction from there.  Finding her was a task that would take considerable time.

“You personally saw the
Bypass
,” Rigo confirmed.

When Torusk nodded, Rigo asked, “Would you show me this place?  Perhaps I can learn what I need to know without trying to find Nuiz.”

Torusk nodded.  “If you can make one of your arches, we can go there now.”

“I’ll need your memories,” Rigo said, explaining what he would need the other to do.  “I have never been there, but your memories of the place can allow us to go directly to the place.”

Nadine wished to come along, and moments later they were all standing around the fire as Rigo laid his hand on Torusk’s shoulder, locking in the vision of the cave entrance, formed the
Bypass
.  They would not need horses this time.  They wouldn’t be going very far.

They stepped out of the
Bypass
onto the rocky ground at the base of one of the hills bordering the flatlands that extended into the distance.  Torusk pointed back toward the farmhouse a considerable distance away, which was now a blackened heap of burned wood. 

“That happened after,” he told Rigo.  “When I was here last time, the house still stood.  Someone has chosen to burn it down, perhaps so more bandits don’t elect to move in.”

Rigo looked back at the collapsed jumble of burnt out walls.  He wasn’t really interested in what had happened there.  The cave held his interest.  He could see or sense nothing unusual about the place, and peered into the darkened entrance.