The Watchmage of Old New York (The Watchmage Chronicles Book 1) (23 page)

Jonas

“Good idea.”  I tumbled behind Pop’s makeshift battlement and pointed my gun at the nearest Dweller.

“We have to get the baby away from that fella with the sword.”  I fired, missing the Dweller by inches.

“I’m aware of that,” Pop said. One of those creatures changed into a giant wasp and tried to fly over our defenses.  Pop whispered something in his queer magic language, and suddenly the wasp was trapped in iron chains.  The iron’s weight brought the bugger down.  He changed shape before he landed, becoming a giant asp and slipping his bonds.

“God’s wounds, what the Hell are these things?”

“Eshu,” Pop said as he shot a creature in the chest with a lightning bolt.  “Like our Dwellers, but not.”

The giant snake crawled to the top of our barrier. Behind it skittered a giant scorpion and even more Dwellers behind him.

I never had what one would consider an average childhood.  I grew up surrounded by magic, playing with Gnomes and Pixies as a kid, drooling over Sidhe ladies as a young man.  Floating tea sets and brooms with wings were nothing unusual to me.  This, however, was a damn mess.

“Is this a normal day for you?” I fired, my barker almost touching the snake. I hit it in the torso, and I quickly cocked and fired again.  The enchanted bullet struck the asp in the head and it faded from view.

“No.”

The scorpion crept forward.  I fired at it, but the bullet bounced off of its hard shell.  “I need to reload.”

Pop mumbled something, and the air shimmered yellow around me.  “This’ll protect you for a time.  Shout when you’re ready.” Without taking a breath, he brought a great stroke of lightning down on the scorpion, boiling it inside its shell.  It faded away with a pitiful shriek.

A trio of spears soared toward us. One would’ve skewered me if not for Pop’s shield.  I dropped to one knee and did my best to reload as fast as possible.  It was rocket’s red glare all around me, and loading a pistol looks easy until you try it in the middle of a fight.  I fumbled with the bullets and dropped one in the sand.  The Patterson doesn’t load as fast as a lot of the newer models.  A gun like that, it can get you into trouble, but it can’t get you out.

I stood back up to see desolation around me.  Huge pits ruined the tent floor.  One of the silk walls was smoldering.  Dwellers lay on the floor, writhing in pain.  Through it all, Pop worked his magic without fail or folly.  “Reloaded, Pop!”

“Good.  We have to move.  Find the baby, find McGuirk, and find the exit.” He waved a hand and I felt the shield fall.

“That’s what I said.”  I cocked and fired, taking a Dweller in the breadbag. “And grab Hendricks too.”

“Agreed.” Pop spoke a word, and Hendricks floated to the top of the tent.  He shouted something and drove his cane into the sand. Like Moses parting the Red Sea, the sand barrier rose up before us and split into two waves twenty feet high.  They rolled left and right, driving the Dwellers out both sides of the tent and ripping the tent in half.  Pieces of silk floated to the earth.

“Hurry,” said Pop.  “They won’t stay buried for long.”

We trudged forward, avoiding Dweller heads poking out of the sand.  Running in deep sand is one of the most exhausting things I’ve ever done.  Maybe I’ve had an easy life.

I recognized a head and arm trying to pull itself out of the sand. “Hello, Hendricks,” I said as I took his hand.  Hendricks coughed and sputtered, but with my help, he was able to get out.

“My apologies,” said Pop.

“I’m glad that you’re here, Master Nathaniel.” Hendricks looked around.  “Do you see Shadow?”

I looked at where Shadow was before Pop worked his magicks.  I found a waggling foot wearing a hobnailed boot.  “He’s here.”

Hendricks and I pulled the Shadow out of the sand.  Sand poured from his barker.  He coughed and cursed as we sat him up.  His eyes didn’t focus.  “You’re a lucky man,” I said.

“You got me, leather’ead.  I give up.”

Hendricks grabbed the cross from around Shadow’s neck and took it from him.  “This is not yours,” Hendricks said.  He put it around his own neck.  It glowed blue, as if it missed its master.  He paused, and then hit Shadow in the sniffer with a right cross, knocking the rogue flat on the sand.  It was the best punch I ever saw him throw.

Pop cleared his throat to get my attention.  “Shall we, son?”

“Yes,” I answered.  “Let’s.”

The three of us entered the last tent.  Behind the silks was our victory or our death.  I cocked my Patterson and led the way.

Nathaniel

This time we were on the attack with my son leading the charge, me trying to get in front, and my apprentice on our flank.  This tent was enormous and near-blinding in its brightness.  In the distance, I saw a large collection of pillows and lithe figures. I presumed that whatever was at the end of this palace of silks had an impressive harem.  What an odd life these Turks lead.  I’d give a hundred beautiful women for my lost one, and it’d be the greatest barter ever sealed.

The guards came on as a pack, Eshu with some commoner Xi.  The commoners lacked the shapeshifting powers of the noble Dwellers.  They were, however, able to create small illusions, doubles of themselves.  Jonas already wasted one bullet firing through one of them.

“Jonas, look carefully.  If they sparkle, it’s a mirage.”

“Not so easy, Pop,” he said, but his next shot pierced a Xi guard’s chest.

I saw Hendricks draw the runes for lightning in the air, and a bolt flashed from his fingertips.  It struck one guard and arced to another, knocking them both to the ground and fading them across the Veil.  It was a clever interpretation of a basic spell, one he must’ve discovered on his own.  Well done, apprentice, well done.

I conjured a wall of ice, floated it in the air, and brought it down on a trio of Eshu.  I couldn’t tell if they faded away, but it would hold them.  The Earth energy beneath me was free to tap, and I drew in as much as I could. Archers in the rear fired on us, but I took control of the wood shafts and sent them back to their owners. With a whispered word, great roots and vines—things that hadn’t seen the sun in time incalculable—burst from the sand and grappled the guards in their thorny vice.  They squeezed, the guards screamed, and then they disappeared.

Still the guards outnumbered us.  Jonas called for another reload, and I put a wall of solid air before him.  Hendricks was fighting well, but I could sense his powers starting to fade.  Two Eshu morphed into scorpions and advanced on him.

“Hendricks,” I called.  He backed away from the creatures and took the moment to look my way.  I tossed him the Watchmage’s Cane. 

His pupils turned white as the power coursed through him, more power than I’d ever seen a mageling control.  He pointed the cane and unleashed a bolt of Chaos that ripped through a line of Eshu and the tent wall beyond.  Hendricks split the ray, and three lines struck other guards.  The rest facing him took a hasty retreat.

It stunned me.  A mageling channeling Chaos?  Even with the Watchmage’s Cane, Hendricks shouldn’t be able to focus those magicks.  Yet here he was, loosing Chaos bolts at the enemy. 

Hendricks passed the cane back to me. “This is too much. It’s…too much.”

There was something odd about him.  Perhaps it was my influence and training.  No, there’s something about him that fits no mold.  He deserved more attention than I’d given him.

Beshir stepped forward.  He raised his sword and pointed at me.  “We must finish what we began.”  His scimitar glowed white as he approached, ready to sever my soul from body.  “I will send you through the Veil.”

His words sent my memories back to the Veil. His words gave me the answer. “Advance then, my dusty friend, and we shall end this.”

He spun his blade and shuffle-stepped forward. I gave ground, parrying his rapid strikes with my cane and dodging what I couldn’t block.  I filled my body with Aether energy, waiting for my moment.

He slashed high and from my left.  I stepped in with a downward block, reversed the motion, and touched him on the head with the cane’s handle.  As soon as metal struck skin, I shouted a phrase and released the Aether.  It coursed through the cane and pierced Beshir’s mind.

Veil Dwellers are very resistant to mental attacks.  I couldn’t shut down his mind or put him to sleep.  Only days of onslaught would let me probe his thoughts and memories.

But I could give him mine.

I shared what I saw in the Veil, the emptiness, the despair, and the love forever waiting for me.  It was something an immortal like him could never understand.  How could someone that lives forever imagine a world without himself?

He staggered back, stunned, leaving himself open.  I slashed down on his sword hand with my cane.  He lowered his sword, and I crouched, lining up for a final strike.  One, two, three jabs to his solar plexus.  He dropped to one knee, gasping for breath.  I stepped back and loosed a bolt of Chaos into his chest, as powerful as any I had ever conjured.  He flew backwards and skidded along the sand.  Smoke rose from his chest, and his sword landed at my feet.

“That is enough, Watchmage,” boomed a voice from beyond.  It was like a steam engine exploding, a voice that was used to obedience or eruption.  “Come closer and present yourself.”

I found my legs moving of their own accord.  I looked to my sides.  Jonas and Hendricks were similarly compelled.

“You are far from home, Watchmage.”  A great smoky shadow approached us.  It reddened and took a solid form. I despaired.

The creature was over ten feet tall and as broad as an Ogre, with skin smooth and black. Glowing molten stone outlined its muscles.  Its hair was tangled flame, its eyes like lava pools, its face like chiseled onyx.  In one great hand was Stewart Vanderlay.

Elemental creatures are queer.  Usually the summons to our world drives them to lunacy, but there are some that are strong enough of body and will to overcome the madness.  They grow in power, transforming into something beyond what they once were.  I have met two while helping Master Sol form a tenuous truce between them.  Sailors on the Hudson know them as the Storm King and the Spitting Devil, a Water Elemental—or Aquiis—and an Air Elemental—or Strathorat— respectively.

Those that were once Fire Elementals are called Efriit.

“Why have you come to the realm of Abdrahim uninvited?” the Efriit boomed.

I tried to gain my composure, but being in the sight of such a creature set my insides on edge.  “You have a stolen child, a citizen of New York.”

“Stolen?” said the presumed Abdrahim.  “You do not understand.”

“What’s there to understand?”

“The boy is my son.”

“What?” shouted Jonas, finding the strength to speak.

“I do not have to explain myself in my own realm or any realm, but out of respect for your Star of Nine, I will do so.” His body wavered and shifted, once again becoming smoke.  The figure shrunk until he was no bigger than I, and features began to form.  When it was over, Abdrahim was a magnificently handsome man: swarthy skin, aquiline nose, ebony eyes that twinkled with power.  He was dressed in fine robes of silk, and wore a checkered turban.   “This was the form I wore when I met the lady’s barter in the bazaar,” he said.

“The Coat of Many Colors,” I said.  Hendricks gasped.  I realized that this was the first he had heard mention of the ancient relic.

“Twas nothing more than a trinket to me, but it was the sun and stars to her.  I traded it for a few moments of passion.  She was more than willing.  She carried and birthed my son.  My men,” he gestured to the remaining Eshu, “came to your city to claim him.”

“He belongs to the Vanderlays, not you,” said Jonas.

“No, human.  He is my son, the part of the barter she did not expect.  Barter met is barter sealed.  A son belongs with his father.  He is not part of your world, he is part of ours.”

“Bugger tha—”

I sensed Jonas tense, like he was going to raise his pistol.  I held up my hand to ward him off.  “He’s right, Jonas.”

“What?”

“Stewart Vanderlay is half Efriit.  Someday he might learn to control his powers, but not without his father to teach him.  Left with the Vanderlays, he would destroy Harlem, New York, and everything in between.  He needs his father.”

“So he gets away unpunished?”  Jonas’ hands went in the air.  I felt the rage coming from him.  “What about Molly Hyde?  She deserves justice.”

“You are far from your city,” Abdrahim said.  “You have no power here. I apologize for any damage that my servants did in retrieving my son.  However, you have more than equaled it here.”

What do you do when the Law is wrong?  How do you defend the indefensible?  For too long I let a body of laws be my compass instead of my own soul.  But the soul and body are not one.  The body is fallible.  The Law is wrong.

I cleared my throat. “The mageling, McGuirk, murdered a young woman.  He must face the Star of Nine.” 

“Agreed,” said Abdrahim.

I looked around at the remaining Dwellers. “To seal this masquerade, I need a child to bring to the Vanderlays.  Without one, they will never rest.  They are quite wealthy, have many contacts, and no scruples.”

“What do you propose?”

“One of your servants can pose as the child.  One human childhood is not so long for an immortal.  After twenty or so years, he can return to you.”

“This is a bold barter you offer me,” said Abdrahim.  “I need give you nothing.”

“If it pleases you, my Pasha, might I speak?” I heard Beshir’s voice behind me, and my Chaos Seed bloomed.  I faced him. My fingers tingled and shoulders squared.

“You may speak, my most favored servant.”

Beshir dropped to both knees.  His body was bruised and battered. It stunned me that he could move at all. 

“My Pasha, please allow your humble servant to go with this wizard and take your son’s place.”

Abdrahim rubbed his chin.  “This is no small duty.  You will be gone until the boy becomes a man.  You have wives and children yourself.”

“They will understand,” Beshir said. “Tell them that I am serving my Pasha, as they will someday do, as we all do.”

Pasha Abdrahim stood in silence for some time.  Even in his human guise, great waves of heat rolled off of him.  “Your wish is granted, Beshir.  You will take the place of my son among the humans.  A great feast will be held upon your return, and I will shower you with gifts of silver and gold.”

“My thanks, great Pasha.”

“And the mageling?” I asked.

“Barter met is barter sealed.  Take him.”

Jonas nodded in satisfaction.  I knew that he wasn’t happy with the situation, but there was no other choice.  Justice runs a crooked path.  Would it be justice to take the child from his father and return him to his mother?  Would it be justice to allow a magical creature to mature where his own nature might drive him mad?  I’m still young in the eyes of immortals, but I’m old enough to see folly.

I knew then that I wouldn’t report the misdeeds of my magelings.  It was my leniency that led them astray.  They deserved a second chance, this time with my eyes upon them.  Let the Star of Nine judge me as they will.

Jonas, Hendricks and I gathered up Shadow McGuirk, and together with Beshir, we left the Pasha’s chambers.  We slipped through the portal, and returned to the world I knew.

I turned us invisible before passing through and we slipped by the crowd that gathered around the wrecked hotel wall.  I wasn’t concerned with the damage.  The Astors had more money than I could count and would likely use the damage as an excuse to renovate.

We left Astor House and stepped onto Broadway. Street cleaners were brushing away the last of the rubbish from the parade.  The smell of horse and cow feces were a normal part of life in the city, but the camels and elephants were an unexpected misfortune.

“I expect no trouble from you,” I said to Beshir. “Our feud is ended.”

Beshir nodded. “Our feud is ended.  You defeated me fairly, wizard,” he said.  “I feel I know you too well now. How could I fight a man when I’ve seen his soul?”

“You’ve made quite the sacrifice for your Pasha.  I admire you.”

“I love my Pasha, and would do anything for one that I love.  Would you not do the same?”

I looked at my son and my apprentice, and then took a long look down Broadway. “You know the answer.”