The Wand-Maker's Debate: Osric's Wand: Book One (20 page)

“Whoa, James, easy man! What's going on in there?” Both men were solid on their feet, but the expression on James' face looked as though he may knock over a tree, or the tent.

“How can such an incompetent man rise to such a high position? I've spoken with men of limited intelligence before, but none with his arrogance! If I never have to deal with that man, it will be too soon. Where is Osric, anyway…” James continued to rant as he stomped over to his cart and began wheeling it down the hill, in total disregard for Toby and his questions. Toby could only shake his head; he thought he knew who had caused the vendor such distress. He sighed to himself, pulled the tent flap aside and stepped inside.

The inside of the tent was dimly lit by a lantern on a small table. The three men standing inside looked up, startled by his entrance. Toby knew the two irritating Wizardly Union agents all too well, but he didn't recognize the third man. The stranger was very tall, his head nearly brushing the angled roof of the tent. Long silver hair hung down his back in a tight braid, in stark contrast to the black robes draped over his heavily muscled frame.

“Ah, Profice Toby, I am glad you are here.” The small wiry official spoke with a nasally drone. Toby doubted very much that he was happy to see him, but he kept a pleasant expression on his face.

“I need to know where the rest of the Vigiles that are supposed to be working on the palace are. They need more men to help excavate the survivors.” He noticed that the younger agent had turned away from him and was fumbling with a stack of paperwork on a desk at the back of the tent.

“Yes, er, all of the available workers have been assigned to their respective tasks, but I will look into reassigning some more men to assist them on that.” He pushed his spectacles up higher on his crooked nose and stepped closer to Toby. “I would like to introduce you to the Turgent's Konsult, Dredek,” indicating the tall stranger on his left, “he has come from Rowain with good news.”

“Good news is always welcome.” Toby shifted to his right in an attempt to get a better view of what the other agent was doing. “Konsult Dredek, allow me to thank you for coming, I regret to say that I was not informed of your impending arrival or I would have greeted you sooner.” He glared at the Wizardly Union official, bowing slightly to the Konsult and sweeping his arm gracefully before him.

Konsult Dredek acknowledged his gesture with a nod, and stepped forward, his height causing him to hunch slightly in the confines of the tent. His eyes were a pale grey, closely set above a sharp nose and a thin down-turned mouth.

“Profice, I have come to inform you that we have in custody the culprit responsible for the tragic attack on the Peace Ratification Signing,” there was a strange inflection to his voice that Toby couldn't place, “the Turgent will deal with him personally.”

“Well, that is good news. How did you apprehend the suspect so quickly?” Toby was amazed that they were able to find the person responsible before they had even arrived at the palace where the attack took place.

Konsult Dedrek stepped around Toby to the door of the tent without his intense gaze ever leaving Toby's face. “Walk with me, Profice, and perhaps we will find these men you need to assist you on the palace.” He stepped outside the tent and Toby had no choice but to follow him. The Konsult moved slowly, and his long heavy robes created the illusion that he was gliding over the ground, rather than walking. They crossed in front of the palace, observing the work still in progress, and veered off into the dense trees that bordered the east wall.

Toby stayed a pace or two behind the Turgent's advisor, not sure where they were headed, and not getting the impression that the strange man planned on answering any questions. They had been headed northeast into the forest for several moments, further from town with each step, when the Konsult suddenly stopped. Toby knew that there were men in the trees around them. He had too much experience from his years with the Vigiles, and hunting with his men, to miss the distinct sounds of footsteps on the soft carpet of pine needles nearby. For a moment, he wished he had Osric's ability to sense danger. It was an ideal situation for an ambush, and Toby was starting to wonder what exactly the powerful man had planned for him.

“I apologize if it seemed like I disregarded your question. We have men whose objective it is to locate criminals. They are good at their job.” It was not exactly an answer, but Toby understood it was the best one he would get. “How many of your recruits are surrounding us, Profice Toby? The ones you are aware of will be reassigned to assist you on the palace walls. Those that are beyond your perception will be assigned elsewhere.” Toby could feel Contege Thamas' journal rubbing uncomfortably against his lower back. All of those recruits had been ‘assigned elsewhere'. He suddenly trusted the man much less than he had when they were introduced. The Turgent's Konsults were men of great power and persuasion. They advised the Turgent on all matters of running his realm, from the allocation of treasury funds to the succession of Ryhains. One of them was responsible for secretly transferring dozens of incompletely trained Vigile recruits out of Stanton, and Toby didn't need Osric's ability to suspect which one. Fortunately, Konsult Dredek would have no way of knowing that the journal existed, nor that Toby had read it and had reason to mistrust him.

“Elsewhere, Konsult Dredek?” Toby was focusing all of his senses on the forest around him, seeking any sign of his men. He had no intention of allowing Dredek to reassign any of his recruits. He didn't want to miss anything.

“The Turgent's personal guard is always looking for good men. The ability to conceal themselves from you will earn them the opportunity for further training. They will return with me to Rowain.” The Konsult's pale eyes were boring into Toby's, seemingly daring him to challenge his explanation. Toby briefly wondered what the adviser's magical ability was, afraid that he could read his thoughts about the journal.

“We passed twelve recruits on our way here, but only eight of them are still south of us. Two of them joined five others in the woods to the east. There are four men on the ground to the west, and another three north of us. Six are up in the trees above us, and two are concealed beneath the pine needles near your feet. I count thirty recruits in all.” Toby made a silent plea to Archana that he hadn't missed anyone.

“I am impressed, Profice Toby, you are most perceptive. Those thirty recruits will return to the palace and assist your Vigiles. The two which you missed will be reassigned.” Konsult Dredek called out to the recruits and ordered them back to the recovery efforts. They emerged gradually from all sides, seven men dropping silently from nearby trees, and three rising from the humus at their feet.

“Andru and Belle, congratulations. You executed your concealment with efficiency and stealth. I was unaware of your presence, and your efforts will be rewarded. Report back to your unit leaders and await further instructions.” Andru shot Belle a wide grin, which she returned excitedly as she shook dirt and pine needles out of her short cropped red hair. Toby hoped that their excitement would not be short lived when they arrived at their new assignment. He had no idea what was in store for them. He certainly felt like he had failed them, but he showed no sign of it as he turned back to Konsult Dredek.

“They are both good recruits. The Turgent would be lucky to have them in his guard.”

“Yes, I am sure that he would.” Toby was growing tired of the Konsult's cryptic responses, and gestured that he should lead the way back to the palace. Dredek stayed where he was and regarded the Profice.

“We have been unsuccessful in contacting Contege Osric since the palace fell.” Toby nodded in response.

“His wand was lost in the collapse of the castle, I would be happy to contact him on his new one.” Konsult Dredek headed back through the trees towards the palace, not bothering to look back to issue the order.

“Tell him his investigation is no longer necessary and he should return immediately. I have responsibilities in Rowain that I would like to attend to as soon as possible.”

* * *

Toby found himself staring once again at the stone walls of the small office in the barracks. His head was reeling from everything he had learned. He knew he had to contact Osric, but he had no idea what to tell him. He cradled his pounding head in his hands. He slipped the journal from his waistline and laid it before him on the desk. He hoped that Osric had good news, because he didn't expect to have any himself with Konsult Dredek awaiting the Contege's return. He held his wand before him and focused on reaching out to Osric. A pale light started to emanate from the tip of his wand as he felt it link with Osric's. The image of a rocky mountain side appeared as the light became more defined. Toby could see Osric standing on a rock outcropping, and he couldn't imagine where he might be.

“Toby, I have been waiting to hear back from you. Did you uncover the rest of the palace yet?” Osric was smiling with excitement as he spoke.

“We are making slow progress. Osric, where are you? And why are you grinning like a little boy at harvest festival?”

“Well,” Osric grinned sheepishly at his surroundings, “it is a bit complicated, are you alone?”

Toby checked the corridor outside the small office, and closed the door. “Yes, what is going on?”

“We have discovered some interesting magical artifacts. One of them is a book, which has all sorts of spoken spells in it, and I used one of them to come up here.”

“Spoken spells? Osric, I don't know what you are up to, but the Turgent's Konsult arrived today and wants you back here immediately.”

“I am in the middle of an investigation; there is no way we are coming back yet!”

“Supposedly, they have the culprit in custody, but there are some very suspicious things going on here.” Toby wasn't even sure where to start in his explanation. “I found a journal written by Contege Thamas. It contained his suspicions that there is a corrupt Konsult transferring untrained Vigile recruits to Braya. I think I may have met him today.”

“Contege Thamas? Braya? Wait, how could they have a suspect in custody already?” Osric's face twisted at the words.

“I thought that seemed impossible as well. Konsult Dredek must have left Rowain at least five days ago. That means that the Turgent's men had only ten days to hear of the attack and apprehend a suspect. They hadn't even seen the palace yet. As far as I can tell, the only information they had was coming from those incompetent twits the Wizardly Union sent up here to
help
. But the Konsult is cryptically insisting that your investigation is no longer necessary.”

“Not necessary? Is he mad!? All of the suspects left Stanton after the collapse, and we still need to stop a war!”

“Actually, I think it may be worse than madness. The journal I found had a chronological log of dozens of recruits being transferred out of Stanton secretly over the years. The records are concealed somewhere, if they even exist. The transfer orders came from one of the Turgent's advisers. There could be a conspiracy in our own realm! That scares me more than the threat of a few weasels and irua trying to start a war. How close are you to the irua realm?”

“We were only a week out when our dragon was injured by an eagle attack. We are not even halfway yet, unfortunately. Are you sure the journal said Braya?” Osric appeared to be on to something.

“Yes, it said Braya. It didn't specifically say the Braya Volcano, but what else could it mean? Why?”

“It may surprise you to find out, but dragons do not act as our transportation for their own enjoyment; they are enslaved by us. Their oldest and most loved are in cages at that volcano. We only just learned this ourselves, a few days ago.”

Toby was stunned. How could that be true and no one know about it? “Osric, who told you this? Are you sure they were telling you the truth?”

“It is difficult to explain how I know the truth of the matter, but I assure you, it is true.” Pain covered Osric's face and his voice trailed off.

“I believe you.” Toby was confused by the apparent changes in the young Contege, but the blatant emotion in his eyes was enough to convince him that he had proof of the dragons' captivity. “If the leaders of our realm are transferring young, impressionable recruits to the volcano, chances are they are well aware of the enslavement. They must have the recruits working there, and they don't want anyone to know their destination, because no one knows there is work to do at Braya. No wonder they have kept the transfers secret.”

Osric's mood seemed to brighten. “There may be a way to discover what they are doing, and at least delay a war until we can figure out how to stop it, but we won't be flying back to Stanton. Where are you right now, this very moment?”

“Sitting in your temporary office in the barracks, the records room.”

Suddenly, the image of Osric in the light of his wand vanished, but the mountain scenery never wavered. Toby squeezed his eyes closed, thinking the stress of the past days was taking its toll on him. He opened his eyes, expecting to see that he had imagined it, and instead found himself sitting across the desk from the Contege. For the second time that day, he stood up so quickly that his chair went flying backward.

“Archana's Bones! Where did you come from?”

“Half a realm away, my friend.” Osric laughed at the look of dismay on the Profice's face.

“Maybe
how
would be a better question!”

“That book of spoken spells I mentioned; this was one of them. I am thinking of calling it the ‘Toby leap' after seeing how fast you can move.” He grinned mischievously.

Toby righted his chair and sat back down slowly, never taking his eyes off of Osric. Suddenly, he laughed loudly and reached over and slapped Osric on the shoulder. “Can you teach me?”

“Of course, but if I were you, I would not let anyone see you do it.” Osric winked slyly. “Until we have this mess sorted out, I do not want to give away our advantages.”

“I agree. I will take any advantage I can get. That damned Konsult used me to select two more recruits. He says they will be returning to Rowain with him as soon as you arrive. I will tell him you need three days for your dragon to heal, and another seven to make the journey back. I don't think I can stall him longer than that. That gives you ten days. You need to travel to the Braya Volcano and find out what is really going on.” Toby leaned across the desk and looked intently at his Contege. “So, what's the plan?”