I awoke with a pounding headache. The room I was in was white and square shaped. Some food lay in one corner and a cot in the other. Clothing and a bucket were the only other things in the room. I closed my eyes, wishing it was a dream, but when I opened them nothing had changed.
"Mithros! What did I do?" I muttered clutching my head. I tried to use my Gift to cure my headache, but the only thing that happened was the pain in my head increased. Forcing my tired, muddled brain to think, I remembered the rooms below the palace, which blocked the gift. Without my gift I knew I was helpless. I also knew a famous saying: `an emperor never forgives.' If this was true, my life was as good as over.
After what I judged was two or three hours, a click sounded on the other side of one wall. Quickly, I stood up; knowing there was little I could do. A door opened.
A soldier walked in. I had known him for years, his name was Kay. "Uh… I'm sorry Arram, about this whole thing. The emperor hasn't told us what he means to do with you, but I think you should expect the worst."
"I've accepted my death hours ago." I was surprised at how calm I felt. "The slaves? Have they been caught?"
Kay shook his head.
"Then at least I know I won't die in vain. Tell Varice goodbye for me, will you?"
"Arram…" Kay began. "I'm to take you to the throne room. The emperor his another soldier who's guarding the door, that's all. Only two soldiers. I'm going to tie your hands your hands behind your back, but the knots won't be tied well. Do whatever it takes to escape me. Bradley, the other soldier, won't chase after you any faster than I will. You're well liked in Carthak; few will betray you. Get on a boat, go across the Great Inland Sea to Tortall."
I stared in shock at Kay. "You'll be punished," I protested. "Why are you doing this?"
"Three years ago, I fell off a boat and couldn't swim. You saved me. A life for a life, it is the way it has always been."
Numbly, I allowed Kay to tie my hands. Sure enough, Bradley was waiting outside the door. He gave me a grim smile. Carefully, I loosened my bonds. When we entered a stairwell, I pulled my had up and gestured. Kay and Bradley immediately froze.
Grabbing Bradley's spear, I muttered a thank you and ran. With another wave of my hand I changed my face so no one would recognize me. Once I was effectively disguised, it wasn't difficult to leave the palace. The commoners in Carthak took no notice to one man hurrying along the road. No one knew I had escaped yet, so I had some time to leave the city.
The docks were dirty and filled with rats. I hardly took notice. A boat was preparing to leave, I located the captain.
"Sir," I said to him. "I need passage out of Carthak. I'm a mage, a good one and I can do something about the bad weather you've been having. I can also do most anything you need a mage for."
The captain's eyes narrowed. "You'd have to sleep with the cargo, I don't have any spare rooms." I nodded. "Can you keep the rats away with your magic?" I nodded again. The captain sighed. "You can come aboard."
"Mithros! What did I do?" I muttered clutching my head. I tried to use my Gift to cure my headache, but the only thing that happened was the pain in my head increased. Forcing my tired, muddled brain to think, I remembered the rooms below the palace, which blocked the gift. Without my gift I knew I was helpless. I also knew a famous saying: `an emperor never forgives.' If this was true, my life was as good as over.
After what I judged was two or three hours, a click sounded on the other side of one wall. Quickly, I stood up; knowing there was little I could do. A door opened.
A soldier walked in. I had known him for years, his name was Kay. "Uh… I'm sorry Arram, about this whole thing. The emperor hasn't told us what he means to do with you, but I think you should expect the worst."
"I've accepted my death hours ago." I was surprised at how calm I felt. "The slaves? Have they been caught?"
Kay shook his head.
"Then at least I know I won't die in vain. Tell Varice goodbye for me, will you?"
"Arram…" Kay began. "I'm to take you to the throne room. The emperor his another soldier who's guarding the door, that's all. Only two soldiers. I'm going to tie your hands your hands behind your back, but the knots won't be tied well. Do whatever it takes to escape me. Bradley, the other soldier, won't chase after you any faster than I will. You're well liked in Carthak; few will betray you. Get on a boat, go across the Great Inland Sea to Tortall."
I stared in shock at Kay. "You'll be punished," I protested. "Why are you doing this?"
"Three years ago, I fell off a boat and couldn't swim. You saved me. A life for a life, it is the way it has always been."
Numbly, I allowed Kay to tie my hands. Sure enough, Bradley was waiting outside the door. He gave me a grim smile. Carefully, I loosened my bonds. When we entered a stairwell, I pulled my had up and gestured. Kay and Bradley immediately froze.
Grabbing Bradley's spear, I muttered a thank you and ran. With another wave of my hand I changed my face so no one would recognize me. Once I was effectively disguised, it wasn't difficult to leave the palace. The commoners in Carthak took no notice to one man hurrying along the road. No one knew I had escaped yet, so I had some time to leave the city.
The docks were dirty and filled with rats. I hardly took notice. A boat was preparing to leave, I located the captain.
"Sir," I said to him. "I need passage out of Carthak. I'm a mage, a good one and I can do something about the bad weather you've been having. I can also do most anything you need a mage for."
The captain's eyes narrowed. "You'd have to sleep with the cargo, I don't have any spare rooms." I nodded. "Can you keep the rats away with your magic?" I nodded again. The captain sighed. "You can come aboard."