Free Magic (complete)

Chapter 14

Jak wandered the halls of Whitethorn, memorizing the layout. Several times he had passed patrolling soldiers and strolling mages. None of them gave Jak a second look. Jak's motto has always been if you act like you belong there, everyone will think you do. There were something like eight hundred mages in Whitethorn, and with the number of reclusive ones there were, you couldn't expect to recognize them all.

He passed studies, sitting rooms, privies, and the soldiers' mess hall. He knew roughly where all the most powerful mages slept, and where the guards spent their free time. He could locate the officers' meeting rooms, and the bunks for the kitchen staff. He made sure he was very familiar with everything, then he drew out the map he was given to steal the journal.

He looked at the parchment, letting his mind picture the corridors it had him travel down. He recognized a hallway of bedrooms for some of the more powerful or influential mages. Knowing where he was going now, he took a quick route to the room. Being early morning the room was likely occupied. He listened at the door, but heard no sounds. The mage could still be sleeping though, and he certainly didn't want to wake them while breaking into their bedroom. At least he knew the place enough to tell Anders where it was, and he brought the map this time. He headed up the stairs to the now familiar secluded hallway.

"Are you awake?" Jak wasn't trying to be quiet. A groan from in the room was his answer. He waited several minutes before asking again.

"I know you're in there." Jak was frustrated by the fact he couldn't safely knock or pick the lock. Finally the door creaked open.

"What?" Anders asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Is this a conversation you want to have out here?" Jak asked hotly. Anders blinked, then let Jak through the door.

"I'm starting to forget you don't belong here." Anders said.

"What is wrong with you today?" Jak asked, taking a seat.

"I was up all night working. And on the roof. Did you find what you were looking for?" Anders yawned.

"The roof? Never mind, I've got some news that complicates our plans." Jak drew the translations Anders gave him from under his cloak. " The man who supposedly hired me to steal that book? He's been dead three weeks. No foul play suspected."

"He, what?" That woke Anders up. "Then who wants that book now?"

"Hells if I know, the house footman I turned it over to didn't act like anything was out of place. So either he knows what's going on, or someone back at the castle is still pretending to be Hughes until his people here in Cliffside learn the news. I'm betting there's a runner in a ditch somewhere that was gutted for having the luck of the message."

"Gods." Anders breathed. "Where is the book now?"

"Gone. I went to the house again, to snoop around. Its empty. Not even the neighbors saw anything or anyone unusual leave."

"What if, what if this mage has it again?" Anders asked.

"Well, that isn't impossible lad. All the more important we find out who it is. I can show you the room, but I haven't gone inside yet. Didn't want to risk a run in with the inhabitants you know." Jak scratched his chin.

"Alright, show me the room and I'll find the journal's author." Anders took the parchment map that Jak handed him.

"I think, what we need now is a trip to Raastad." Jak said. "I need to find out more about Hughes, who was close to him, who would know if he dabbled in those old tales of life restoring potions and other nonsense. We have three weeks until the assessment tests. I think we can assume the mage either wants to present this research to the assessors..."

"Not likely." Snorted Anders.

"Right, or he's going to start using this newfound knowledge as soon as he gets out of here. So we may be looking for a mage who hasn't won his purple robes yet." Jak added.

"We have to consider the possibility that our mage needs the crowd of people for some of the spells. The amount of life energy that needed to be drawn for some of those was incredible."

"And again he may just away to hunt down his journal again, if he has a clue that it was Hughes." Jak murmured. "Too many possibilities, but let's hope regardless that we have until the assessments. I should be back with days to spare. Take time to build your notes back up if you can."

"I suppose there isn't much else to do." Anders nodded slowly. "And I'll see what I can find in that room. or rather who."

"Shadow's luck lad, I'll see you in a couple weeks." Jak left Anders's room, slinking down the stairs. With any luck, he could find a trace of the missing household still, or someone close to Hughes. He dawned his cloak and headed towards the cliffside windows. If he kept climbing ciffsides soon his arms would be too bulky to squeeze through the narrow windows of Whitethorn. He'd have to either solve this business soon and clean his hands of the keep, or find a new way in.

Anders decided to eat and think on the problem before staking out the room. The eating hall was full of its normal chatter again, which was a relief. Anders stood in line for his bowl of porridge, and found an empty seat. It wasn't long before a familiar face joined him.

"Anders! I haven't seen you in days." Ghilda joined him with her own bowl in tow. "You look a bit pale, you aren't getting sick are you?"

"No I just didn't sleep much last night." Anders stirred his breakfast.

"Well that's good." Her face relaxed. "Something nasty is spreading through the keep, take care not to catch it."

"Goo to know. Those late spring colds run through here like wildfire." Anders took a spoonful of his porridge and grimaced. "You'd think after making the same breakfast every day it would taste better by now."

"Here." Ghilda pulled a small pouch from her robes and sprinkled something in his bowl. "Its a spice that grows in southern Unays."

"Oh wow." Anders took a small bite of his food. A sweet, peppery taste coated his tongue.

"Good isn't it?" She winked putting some on her own food.

"Thanks. Much better." Anders had no problem eating his meal after that. "So have you found out more about your Heldrich the Kraken?"

"A dead end I'm afraid. I might just have to leave Whitethorn someday to continue my research." She sighed dramatically. "Anders, what are you planning to do when you win your freedom?"

"I want to travel. Not in Selstad, maybe Nummelin to start. Somewhere mages aren't treated like criminals." He took another bite.

"Travel hm? Would you consider taking this old woman as far as Linmead to finish her work?" She smiled. "I'm too old to travel alone, but of course if I would be a burden I understand."

"Of course you can come Ghilda." Anders smiled. "Get ready to leave then, because I promise you it will be in three weeks."

"I know you can do it." She took a bite of her own breakfast and turned to him again. "So your presentation is ready? You can try for your purple robes?"

"No." He answered darkly. "I... misplaced a few of my notes. I don't think the assessors will accept the device without my research as well."

"Do you need help looking for them? Or maybe re-writing them?" She offered.

"No, I don't want to keep you from your own works. Don't worry about me Ghilda, I'll think of something."

"Well, alright then." She gave him a funny look. "Just don't make things harder on yourself than they need to be. There are people who would help you."

"Thanks Ghilda, I'll be fine." He smiled and they finished off their bowls in silence.