The Mage

Chapter Four

Toying with the ruby she hugged the shadows making her way through the city streets. She tried to process what she had just learned and what the old man had said disturbed her. Their meeting had been interrupted before she could learn more. Soldiers had banged on the door demanding her to surrender. The old man had slipped her a piece of paper, before telling her to leave. The door burst open as she slid down the rope, cries from the old man shattered the silent night. 

Dropping into the alley way she noted two guards who were supposed to be making sure no one escaped this way, were not paying attention. Moving up behind them she drew her dagger. She struck quickly slashing their throats, dipping her fingers in the blood she drew the incantations on their faces. The soldier's shouted from the window upon seeing her. Knowing she didn't have much time she left it, knowing it would buy her time by slowing them down. She muttered the words as she fled. 

"Bindings of twine, razors of the line, come hardness of pain, make fast this place."

Tortured screams filled the night as the soldiers first to leave encountered her trap. The rest held back, seeing the twisted bodies of their companions writhing on the ground. 

Finding a safe place to hide she opened the piece of paper. It was direction's to a house in the City of Kings. She figured it would take her a day to get there, though getting into the house would be the difficult part. There was still the warrant out for her arrest. She would be walking into the lion's den. If it meant getting the answers she needed, it would be worth the trouble.




Half a day's walk from the king city, she found an old carter who was willing to give her a ride. She thanked him and offered payment but he refused saying a young ladies company would be payment enough. Letting the old man prattle on, she thought on how to move about in the city. There would be guards everywhere, the young King was always on high alert. The King, like his father, feared her power and after her usefulness had ended with the army he had issued a warrant for her arrest.

They had passed through the gate with ease, the guards she reasoned they thought she was the old man's daughter. The old man stopped the cart outside his stall. Reaching into her pocket she removed the ruby, the old man rejected her offer only to rescind after her persistent pleading. He examined the jewel knowing he would never have to work again. The knife slipped between his ribs penetrating his heart before he knew what had happened. Falling from his grasp the ruby clattered on the boards by his feet. 

"Agmae, forgive me," she whispered.

She propped him up to make it look like he had fallen asleep. Taking what blood she needed, she staunched the rest. Picking up the ruby she moved into a nearby alley. Drawing in the symbols on her face she spoke the incantation. 

"Come false spirits, come tricksters of light, castaway all likeness, and heart of life." The spell would only last until the blood dried and cracked apart. She could move swiftly now that the guards would not recognize her. 

Tobin's house was near the palace grounds. It was a small house, since Tobin spent most of his time with the king. She circled the house watching for any sign of movement. Whoever the current occupants were, they were not at home. Feeling the blood start to dry she decided not to wait. Moving to the servants door she entered, the note had told her she needed to go down to the lower chambers. 

The house was still, she was glad for this. She had her dagger drawn but did not want to shed any more innocent blood. Holding a lantern she followed the stairs down till she found herself facing a metal door. It was smooth with no handles, only a keyhole blemished the dark surface.