The Baldari (Book 3) (7 page)

Lyes increased the pace of his steps.  He didn’t want to appear too anxious or eager, which he was, but he didn’t want to arrive later either.  It was already dusk, despite the fact the days were longer and the hours of daylight extended more than two glass longer than they had a few short weeks ago.  The weather also signaled that winter had released its grip and that spring had arrived.  The trees showed their agreement with his assessment by the numerous buds that were forming, and a variety of early blooming flowers had already erupted in bright color along the path.  As he hurried down the walkway from the still forlorn looking Guild Headquarters, Lyes’s mind struggled to force his disparate thoughts into some kind of order.  Too many thoughts wished to hold his attention, and he bounced between topics as he walked.

The Baldari attacks, especially the carefully engineered attack earlier in the day, was a grave concern.  Not only were the crafty Baldari showing new aggressiveness and tactical planning, but they were probing ever deeper into the kingdom with their terror.  It appeared now they might be targeting Casters, whether for their staffs and the power crystals that they apparently sought, no one knew.  As far as Lyes knew, none of the staffless wizards had been taken, either in Sedfair, or across the Wastelands in the Three Kingdoms.  That suggested the staffs were at least part of the motivation for targeting the Casters, but Lyes reasoned that if all they wanted were the crystals that adorned the staffs, they wouldn’t have hauled off the people as well.  No, they had some other plans for them, and Lyes believed whatever was happening to the captured Casters, it wasn’t pleasant.

He and Ardra had dispatched an urgent warning to Casters and wizards alike, ensuring the message reached all of the Guild’s people wherever they might be in the kingdom.  Lyes believed none were safe.  The report he had received a few glass earlier confirmed a growing belief within the community that the Baldari were capable of using
Doorways
in addition to the protective magical barrier they had been displaying of late.  The fleeing band that had carried off the Casters had boldly ridden into an extremely large
Doorway
, just this side of the Great Mountains.  Like everyone else, Lyes wondered why they hadn’t triggered the
Doorway
much earlier.  While much of the Ruins they had ridden through had some restrictions they might not have a talisman to overcome, many areas through which they had ridden were clear zones, and they could have saved days of travel.  There was also the matter of the inability of his Tracking Caster to detect the end points, or even the fact a
Doorway
had been created.  There was too much they didn’t understand, but the fact that the Baldari had some form of
Doorway
at their disposal convinced Lyes that no place within the kingdom could be considered safe.

The attack and discovery of the route taken by the fleeing Baldari had brought to a head the matter of tracking the invaders back to their homeland.  Even if he didn’t feel an obligation to attempt to rescue the captured Casters, now that they had confirmed the enemy was coming from beyond the Great Mountains, he and Ardra were going to have to consider sending a force into the jungles to the far south.  Such a journey would be dangerous even without the threat of encountering an overwhelming force of the enemy warriors.  They would be operating blindly, without a trail to follow.  No one knew what could be expected in the jungles, and Lyes was concerned any who were selected to make the journey were at risk of never returning.  No one had attempted exploring more than a short distance into the region, and that had brought them only to the base of the far side of the mountains.  The wizards of the Three Kingdoms had come to a similar conclusion, and were considering an expedition down the Great River that split their lands.  There would be a coordination meeting in the morning to consider what needed to be done.

Then there was the matter of the strange people that his friend Mitty claimed to see in visions.  He knew that Mitty, and his friend Rigo, believed these people, at least the one woman who Mitty insisted was active and aware of her, were behind the Baldari in some way.  Lyes wasn’t sure if he could accept this or not.  How could one woman, who appeared unable to free herself from the odd chamber that Mitty had described, somehow control armies of the fearsome Baldari?  Perhaps he would have felt more willing to accept the idea if at least someone else had similar visions.  He had known Mitty for years, and he had trouble seeing her as someone with the ability to discern such things.

Lyes checked the village clock as he turned down the street that led to the cultural center of Nals.  He quickened his pace a bit more as he realized he was even later than he realized.  He straightened the cloak around his shoulders, the band of authority that hung from his neck still in place.  There had been no opportunity to change his clothes.  Besides, Nori seemed to be attracted to his position, and the symbol of his leadership, even if shared, would hopefully underscore her interest.  Lyes had taken to wearing more formal attire, mirroring the styles of the senior politicians he had frequent encounters with as part of his duties.  He had also grown out his beard, uncasting the spell he had initiated long ago to keep the facial hair from growing.  Now he had a thick brown beard, kept elegantly short and well groomed.  He didn’t want one of the long beards of many of the instructors, but something that helped him look a bit older and more authoritative.  If the truth were known, he was a little uncertain of himself and his sudden authority.  More than one had commented, some quite vocally, that he had no business being one of the co-leaders of the New Guild.  Some of this was simple jealousy, but a number truly questioned his preparedness for the position.  While Ardra had completed the University study, had won the staff through hard work and ability, and had served for several years in dangerous positions fighting the land’s enemies, Lyes had just become a senior, and had never even completed his studies, let alone earned the staff.  Now he felt he could lead the Guild, exercising authority over the true Casters, many with far more ability and experience than himself.

His closeness to the Queen was pointed to as the reason for his selection.  Favoritism, it was called.  Lyes knew in part they were right.  He was where he was because Queen Rosul knew and trusted him.  He hadn’t won the staff, and while he carried one, he was secretly still taking instruction from two of the Guild’s Senior Instructor Casters to fill in gaps in his knowledge.  He had learned a great deal on his own, and would have been a quick study had he continued through his senior year, but he didn’t know all there was to know.  His own realization of his limitations left him a bit uncertain at times.  If his private instruction became known, it would serve only to increase the number who questioned his leadership. 

Of course, there was another reason Queen Rosul had chosen him.  Well, a couple of reasons, Lyes corrected himself.  One, he was a man, and she had wanted to make a statement about that.  More importantly, he was the first, and as far as he knew, the most capable true wizard who had mastered inherent magic in Sedfair.  He had excelled at a skill that no one else had, and both the Queen and the Guild leadership wanted to bring that skill into the University.  The future of the Guild was to support both disciplines, and the Queen had wanted the leadership to represent that change.  His ability had made him the logical choice, although many didn’t yet understand what the different ability really meant.

There was a chance his detractors would get their way.  The future of the Guild, the means by which it would be integrated into the government, even the new facilities, were on hold.  The new Queen had just been announced, and once her month under Rosul’s guidance was completed and she was officially crowned, it would be her decision how many of these matters progressed.  One didn’t really know if the words spoken were a true indication of the mind of a leader, and the new Queen might elect to clean house and make her own appointees to run the Guild.  Lyes and Ardra had discussed the possibility.  If Lyes was honest, he hoped to retain his position.  He felt he could bring something to the organization.  Ardra didn’t seem to care either way.  

Even given he was the most gifted Caster/wizard in Sedfair, at least this far, Lyes wondered what that really meant.  Lyes knew his abilities fell short of those of others, especially Nycoh, the former leader of the Outpost.  While Lyes had been raised to a leadership position, Nycoh had turned away from a similar position, handing the control over to the strange wizard named Daim.  Lyes saw himself and Nycoh as colleagues.  They were almost the same age.  More importantly, both were skillful with inherent magic and the symbolic magic.  They had worked closely for many weeks as she sought to learn symbolic magic and he strove to master the new inherent abilities he had acquired.  Nycoh had an edge with the inherent magic, and Lyes knew himself to be better at symbolic magic, although that lead was becoming more tenuous all the time.  Nycoh learned fast, and had an inventive mind.  What really bothered him was the fact that Nycoh was becoming something more than simply the sum of the two skills.  She was developing abilities that were awesome to behold.  Whatever Lyes knew, she could seemingly learn, but it hadn’t worked in reverse.  She had explained she believed her growing abilities were tied to an understanding of both disciplines.  He had that, but it wasn’t helping him.  For a long time they had worked closely together, exploring the two sides of magic.  The growing gap in their respective abilities had resulted in some friction, and a falling out between the two.  Lyes hadn’t spoken to Nycoh in more than a month.

Lyes shook his head in annoyance.  He didn’t want to think about Nycoh tonight.  He forced his thoughts away from her, and the upcoming meetings in the morning, and tried to concentrate on Nori.  He was almost there, and it wouldn’t do to have his mind on another woman when he greeted her.  He was going to have to atone for arriving late as it was.

He had only met Nori a couple of weeks ago, but he had caught her eye, and she had indicated an interest.  Nori was the eldest daughter of the woman who had purchased Queen Rosul’s daughter’s shipping firm.  The loss of Yisa had left the firm without leadership, and the Queen had no interest in retaining the business.  It was just another painful memory at this point.  Lyes had noted that the drive and enthusiasm were missing from Rosul since both her family and consort had been killed, murdered really, by Carif and her followers.  Even the surprise return of Rosul’s surviving brother hadn’t managed to heal the deep wounds, although even Lyes had been able to see the eagerness with which the Queen had embraced her remaining family.

Nori had approached him during that initial meeting, and twice before she had invited him on brief dates.  Very different than himself, Nori was a finger or two taller, but slight and willowy as compared to his massive bulk.  While she was slender, there was no missing her prominent curves.  The narrowness of her waist emphasized both hips and bust.  Her hair was worn long, the blond curls hanging to the middle of her back.  Her eyes were a faint green and mischievous.  The last time they had been together he’d had perhaps a touch more wine than was advisable, and had daringly coaxed her into the shadows of the massive bantra tree where they had exchanged a few kisses and caresses.  She hadn’t seemed to mind his forwardness, and that promised something for this meeting.  The warmth of her against him had reminded him he had not been with a woman, since . . .

He pushed aside that thought as disloyal.  He had arrived at the agreed location, and with a quick look around he had spotted Nori speaking with another woman several years her senior.  They wouldn’t have time for dinner before the concert they had come to see.  With luck they would have a drink, then walk down the lighted strand toward the auditorium.  Dusk had turned into night as he’d walked from the Guild to the piers.  Perhaps afterwards they would have a chance for a snack.  As he walked toward her, she sensed his approach and looked up, a quick bright smile flashing across her face.  She held out her hand, and he eagerly took her small hand into his own massive paw, sensing the soft skin of her palm as they connected.  For the moment, all of the pressures and thoughts that had been plaguing Lyes were driven away.

“You expect me to decide what should be done in this matter?” Jusay asked, taken aback by the suggestion made just a moment before by Queen Rosul.  “This is only our second day together.  I haven’t even been officially crowned as yet.   This is likely to be a life or death situation.  I wasn’t expecting to have to decide such a matter so soon.”

“You had best get used to it,” Queen Rosul said unsympathetically.  “Such situations will arise more frequently than you expect, and decisions must be made.  You wanted to be Queen, and as such this kind of decision will fall to you.”

Jusay looked back at Rosul’s stern face uncertainly.  Forty-two years old, Jusay had long been a quiet supporter of many of Rosul’s policies, and had been considered an unlikely long shot to be chosen, but had in fact, won by a substantial margin over her closest adversary.  Her words had rung true to many, and because of her low profile, she had far fewer enemies than most other candidates.  It hadn’t hurt that she hadn’t been taken seriously by most of the others seeking the position, so they had focused their efforts at discrediting others.  Now she had been chosen to replace Rosul, and as agreed had begun the month of shared duty so as to quickly become familiar with the issues of importance affecting Sedfair.  The matter of the Baldari and their frequent attacks was obviously at the top of the list.

“I am still Queen, and as such, will decide the matter today, but you should decide for yourself what your decision would have been.  Hopefully before I announce my own and see whether we would have chosen the same.  This is a perilous time for Sedfair, and the people, especially those at risk, cannot be subjected to wavering or changing philosophy in such matters.  If you disagree with my decision, I expect you to tell me today, not after some of our best people will be sent into harms way.”

“You already expect to approve the expedition,” Jusay said insightfully.

Queen Rosul looked at the younger woman.  Jusay’s hair was light brown as opposed to her own steel gray.  It was cut short, but styled in one of the more popular current fashions.  The dark brown eyes studied her carefully and frankly, which Rosul considered a good sign.  Jusay’s figure was more stout than Rosul’s, and the younger woman’s face glowed with health and enthusiasm.  She was half a hand taller than Rosul, and showed more confidence than the current discussion would have suggested.

Jusay came from a merchant family in the lower half of the Hundred Families.  Her family had long been in disfavor with the former Saltique, and had been relatively quiet both socially and politically as a result.  Rosul had been quite surprised when the woman had announced her intention to enter the race to replace her.  The only daughter, with four brothers, two older and two younger, Jusay was consorted and had a pair of twin boys.  Her family had been quite prosperous, dealing in rare wines and cheeses that her daughter had shipped for them from remote locations around Sedfair.

“I have not yet decided exactly what is the best approach, but whatever comes from this meeting, our people will be placed at risk.  The question is whether the greater risk lies in a purely defensive stance, or in sending our people into unknown territory.  Whichever way I choose, some will most assuredly die.  We have already lost many, and the attacks from the Baldari are unlikely to simply go away.”

“I had envisioned my role as Queen to be one of rebuilding after the internal war with the Guild and the elimination of the dangerous creatures from the Wastelands,” Jusay said softly.  “There is a great opportunity to make the kingdom stronger, especially with the new friends that you have made.  I hadn’t expected more war to be the first order of business I would face.”

“The Baldari are not a new problem,” Rosul reminded her.  “They have been an annoyance for many years, but suddenly have become far more powerful and frequent in their attacks.  You will not have the luxury of several years of peace to settle into your duties.”

“So it seems,” Jusay agreed.  She looked at the clock.  “I believe it is time.”

Rosul nodded.  She had heard the arrival of the guests from the Three Kingdoms in the courtyard a short time ago.  They should have been escorted to the meeting area by now.  It was time to introduce Jusay to those who would be dealing with her for years to come.  As eagerly as Rosul had been looking forward to the end of her own duties, she felt a little melancholy knowing this would be one of her last official meetings with those from the Three Kingdoms. 

The meeting was to be held in a large tent erected just outside the temporary quarters area where Rosul had her rooms.  Not enough of the castle had survived to provide a room large enough to accommodate  the group, and Rosul had declined the offers to use several facilities in the town of Nals.  The tent would suffice, and with the grand weather Nals had been experiencing the past week, everyone would be quite comfortable. 

In addition to herself and Jusay, the Sedfair contingent consisted of Lyes and Ardra, several senior Lords that Rosul had come to rely on since Kall had died, and Mitty.  With Mitty was Rigo, who already was thought of as belonging to both sides of the Wastelands, in part because Sedfair was the land of his birth while the Three Kingdoms was the land where he was raised, but also because of his Binding with Mitty.  Also in attendance was a Senior Caster named Debi.  Debi was one of the Casters who was also a wizard, and had been in charge of the team that had witnessed the Baldari disappearance through the large
Doorway
after the last attack.

The Three Kingdoms were represented by King Rhory and Queen Mos’pera.  This was only the second time the King and Queen of Branid had crossed the Wastelands to visit Sedfair, and their presence showed both the solidarity that had formed between the lands, and the importance with which they viewed the problem at hand.  Jeen, long known to Queen Rosul, had accompanied the royal leaders, and would serve both as a representative of the Outpost and of the wizard community, but would also serve as translator, since the meetings would be held in the language spoken locally.  The Outpost was also represented by Daim, the current leader, and by Nycoh, who had led the wizards during the nastiness with Carif.  Next to Rigo, Nycoh spent more time in Sedfair than anyone else from the Three Kingdoms.  She even had her own small apartment in the city.  Finally, Burke was present. Like Debi, he had witnessed the
Bypass
portal the Baldari had used, and had been in charge of the last battle with the invaders in the Three Kingdoms.

It was fortunate that most of the participants knew one another.  That helped eliminate any initial awkwardness and unwanted formality.  Rigo made sure that Burke was quickly introduced, and Ardra did the same for Debi.  Queen Rosul formally introduced Jusay.  It was the first time that any of those present had met the future Queen in person.  All had heard the name, but this would be the first chance for everyone to make their personal judgements.  Jusay knew that those from both sides of the Wastelands were very interested in how she would present herself.  Those from Sedfair knew their future would be guided with this woman, and those from across the desert would be wondering if she would be as supportive of the new agreements as Rosul had been.

Not one to waste too much time on silly formalities, Queen Rosul brought the meeting to order after a modest amount of time appropriate to introducing the future Queen and allowing old friends to exchange a few words.  It didn’t take long before it was clear that all present were in favor of sending a force into the southern jungles.  Every effort must be put forth to locate both the homelands of the Baldari, and the site that Mitty had described holding the small group of oddly colored humans who most believed were somehow behind the Baldari attacks.  Being reactive, especially as the powers of the Baldari appeared to be growing, was deemed an unsustainable defense.

“We don’t know they come from the south,” Debi objected at one point.  “They come and go from the edge of the Great Mountains, but the
Doorway
they create is effectively masked.  We don’t know that it took the Baldari farther south.  That might be what they wish us to believe.”

Burke made a similar point, although he believed they did come from the south.  His instincts suggested the mounts were something that would be found in the jungle, and the Baldari themselves were darker, the coloration similar to the Karesh, and island people with a similar climate.  The fact that the Baldari who had attacked the Three Kingdoms had appeared and disappeared via
Bypass
at the mouth of the Great River as it flowed south, could be deliberately misleading.

Some time was spent discussing the matter.  Mitty was unable to provide any idea where her visions of the odd chamber with the lavender-haired woman might be located.  From her appearance, and the paleness of her skin, Mitty would have been willing to believe she came from the northern regions, perhaps beyond the Great Snowy Mountains that bordered the other end of the kingdoms.  In the end, they agreed they couldn’t know, but that’s why this was a mission of exploration.  Most believed the Baldari came from the south.  Decades of attacks from that direction supported the belief, as did the fact that
Doorways
had been made at the base of the almost unclimbable mountains.  It was a place to start.  Depending on what was found, the plan could be adjusted with new information.

Two independent teams were decided upon.  One team would be made up of Casters and wizards from Sedfair, and would cross the Great Mountains near where the Baldari had disappeared.  Debi was selected to lead the team, having had the most experience tracking the Baldari.  She would take with her eight additional Casters and a small force of fifteen guardsmen.  Rigo had emphasized the point that Daria had once made to him, that if magic failed, it was useful to have along someone who really knew how to use a sword. 

The team from the Three Kingdoms would be led by Burke.  This surprised Rigo.  Burke was older than Rigo, and Rigo was already finding such adventures more taxing than they had been when he was younger.  This was to be no easy journey.  The mountains would actually be the easier part.  They could be crossed by scanning for a distant location and making a
Bypass
to a chosen spot, a technique Rigo had used before.  As far as anyone knew, there were no dead zones to the south.  Of course, that was an assumption, since no one had gone very far, but Daim indicated the short explorations made in his time, had discovered none.  Once the jungle was reached, however, the visibility would be greatly reduced, and such tricks would be impossible.  The team would have to work their way through the steamy and viper infested area on foot.  Rigo was also surprised that Tara would agree, but Jeen had hinted that some kind of friction had developed between Burke and Tara.  Rigo would have liked to ask, but this wasn’t the time or place.  Burke would bring along a team of ten wizards, as well as a force of twenty soldiers, led by King Rhory’s old friend Major Loum. 

Other than Burke, none of the prominent individuals were directly involved.  Rigo had little interest in joining the expedition.  It hadn’t been that long since he’d spent months in the Ruins.  His past trips had been costly in lives, but more importantly he now had Mitty to consider.  Not only was she pregnant, but Rigo wasn’t convinced that she was entirely safe.  If the odd woman really could sense her, then might she not attempt to take action?  Mitty was a risk to the unknown woman.  Thus far, all of Mitty’s visions had taken place inside a closed room which provided little information where she was located, but Rigo wasn’t discounting the possibility the woman might have other means of discovering who and where she was.  The Baldari had been surprisingly knowledgeable of late where to attack.  Rigo had no intention of leaving Mitty unprotected.

Nycoh had indicated she was available if matters got out of hand, but was currently pursuing her own development of her magical skills, and opted out of the expedition.  Daim supported this, explaining that the skills Nycoh possessed were the most capable among them, and if she could get stronger or learn how to pass those skills, that would be the best use of her time.  Jeen had also been away too long from family, and while she sensed the importance, believed others could do as well, at least until the locations of the enemy were discovered.

Ash’urn had expressed an interest, having long wished to see the lands to the south, but Daim had overruled the older man.  Frankly Ash’urn didn’t look entirely up to the rigors of such a trip.  He was heavily involved in an effort with Daim, Fen - on a part-time basis, and several senior scholars from the Guild University, to sort through scrolls and artifacts taken from Ald-del.  These had symbols and markings similar to those discovered elsewhere, including on the strange artifact in the desert, and more importantly in the book retrieved from Carif’s hideaway in Yaul.

The travel approach used by the explorers would be similar to that used by Rigo’s teams in the Ruins.  The teams would advance as far as possible during the daylight hours, then use their magic to retreat to a base camp, chosen high in the mountains.  They could then jump back to where they had ended the previous day, and continue their explorations. Frequent reports were expected, and retreat back to Nals or the Outpost if anything unusual or threatening was uncovered.  All wizards and Casters would be equipped with Daim’s armbands, which could overcome all known blockages of their magic.  The arrows and spears used by the soldiers were covered with magic dulling runes and glyphs.  Great care was being taken to make this as safe for the participants as possible.