Here's the next chapter. Hope you like it.
Walker and Ingothold stopped in their tracks. They glanced at each other and each knew what the other wanted to do.
You're a bad eavesdropper. Don't try to deny it. said Ingothold.
Like you're any better. bit back Walker.
Ingothold prepared to defend but there was no defense to be taken. You're right.
They crouched near the wall and continued to listen to the conversation around the corner.
"I understand where you are coming from, Rhylite," replied a woman's voice that Walker had never heard before. Her tone was a monotonous calm even as she spoke to the rattled-up Rhylite. "But if we kill her we could upset him. And no one wants an upset Rider."
"I said nothing about killing her. What I meant was detaining her until we can be sure that she won't cause any trouble."
"Do you really believe that you can change her ways if she does prove dangerous?"
A pause. "No."
"And what is to be done to someone that is dangerous and refuses to change their ways?"
"They are to be executed."
Can that be right? thought Walker.
It makes sense if you think about it. said Ingothold.
But it seems a bit wrong, doesn't it?
"Right," said the woman to Rhylite. "Are you really sure that she is even the source of the magic we have been sensing?"
"Yes. I met her at the presenting of the egg and then the next time I saw her she was a magician. I swear that I sensed magic in her. I felt that she is strong too."
"What day did you sense that she is a magician?"
"The 28th."
"That's the same day the magic showed up on our reading."
"Really?" said Rhylite in a mocking tone.
"Rhylite." The woman's tone broke its calmness and peaked with shock as she reprimanded him by merely using his name. "I am not your enemy." She sounded hurt.
Walker heard Rhylite let out a big sigh. "I'm sorry, Elvenia." His voice was softer now. "I'm not mad with you though it may sound like it. I'm angry at the people you work with. Those magicians in the Du Vrangr Gata are educated beyond their usefulness in the area of consequences. They are too educated to act and take a chance for the good of the people because they are so wrapped up in the consequences the action might cause. Sometimes the benefits of a rash action outweigh the consequences. But they don't see that, do they? And they never will." His voice filled with bitterness.
"I agree. But I can also see eye to eye with the Du Vrangr Gata. What happens if this is one of the many rash actions that does have consequences that are catastrophic? And I feel that this could well be one of them."
"Pray tell what catastrophic consequences there are lurking in the future."
"Well, since her magic has just opened, it is very unstable. It could be triggered easily by a very strong emotion, like fear for instance. If she discovers that we are about to confront her she could panic, trigger her magic, and end up killing herself along with others.
"Secondly, her brother is a rider," she continued. "And as I said before no one wants to upset a rider. Need I go on with this point?"
"No," replied Rhylite.
"Lastly, you have no substantial evidence that the one we are looking for is she and the Du Vrangr Gata will not act without that evidence."
"Not even if one senses that he or she is a magician with their own mind?"
"Not even if one of our own senses it. Their word may be taken if it is one of the highest and most educated officials among the Du Vrangr Gata or if more than three competent magicians among our ranks sense it. But an outsider's word is never taken as valid.
"I'm sorry, but there is nothing that the Du Vrangr Gata can do."
Rhylite did not reply.
"Rhylite, this girl has worked you up more than anything I've ever seen do this to you before. What is so special about her?"
For several seconds he did not speak. He heaved a sigh and answered her question in a slow tone. "I've told you before that she is strong, and she is. But what I really mean from that statement is that she is . . . evil."
"What?"
"There are some people that are born into this world with a dark," Rhylite struggled to find the right word, "aura around them, a black spot in their hearts. Everyone is born with an evil part in their mind but these people's evil part of their brain is larger and stronger than normal. They are born to be evil."
"Is that the little boy who grew up in Kuasta that I hear speaking?"
"There is nothing wrong with having a little superstition. Angels and demons do exist. They are what make strange things like this happen. If you would believe, you would see the reality in superstitions."
"Some of your superstitions may be true but I refuse to believe that certain people are to be evil and nothing else. Everyone has a choice on which path they take."
"It's still not right leaving something as dangerous as this to chance."
"Try to start having more faith in your angels," said the woman. It was meant to be a joke but Rhylite didn't laugh.
"Don't worry. Things will seem better in the morning," said the woman.
"We'll see. Goodnight," said Rhylite.
"Goodnight."
When Walker heard Rhylite's footsteps getting closer, he picked up Ingothold and ran into the nearest room with an unlocked door. Luckily it was a storage room empty of people. Once Rhylite passed by, Walker counted to sixty before he opened the door to steal a peek outside. No one was there so they emerged from their hiding place.
We didn't get founded out this time. said Ingothold.
Let's not have a third time. replied Walker.
Like that'll happen.
What?
You're a compulsive eavesdropper.
That's not true.
Suit yourself.
I am not.
ཕ༹ བ༹
"I'm guessing that you are wondering why I told you to be wary of the people here," said Thomas.
You guessed right. said Ingothold.
The company wouldn't be leaving Yazuac until the next day so Walker and Ingothold had decided to use this free day to catch up on much-welcomed rest. Walker had especially been enjoying himself. No training, no hidden secrets, and no near death experiences. If only every day could be like this. But not only could several days not be like this but also no day could be completely like this.
No one had disturbed them until around noon when Thomas knocked on their door. He stood in the hall with the glint in his eye that told he was preparing to relate something interesting.
"Come in," said Walker. Walker would have rather spent the rest of the day as he had spent the morning, without any strange interruptions, but he couldn't really say 'no' to Thomas.
He would have come in even if you had said 'no'. said Ingothold to Walker.
Thomas came in and they sat down in some chairs surrounding the empty hearth in Walker's temporary bedchambers.
"What all do you know about the Growers?" asked Thomas.
"I know that their religion is centered around nature, and they usually don't mix well with people, and that they don't believe in violence of any kind," replied Walker.
"I was sure you wouldn't know much about them. Hardly anyone knows anything anymore," said Thomas.
"And how did it happen that you seem to know everything?" asked Walker.
"If someone didn't know everything how would everyone else not know anything?"
Beats me. said Ingothold.
I don't think I heard that correctly. said Walker.
So what do you know about the Growers. Ingothold asked Thomas.
"For one thing they are great actors. Or should I say liars," began Thomas. "That precious act of 'welcoming you' is a perfect example."
"Why wouldn't they want to welcome us?" asked Walker.
"As you know the Growers love nature and growing lively plants. From their point of view dragons are creatures of fire and nothing else. Fire destroys nature. Because of this they hold deep enmity in their hearts for fire and anything that has to do with it, including dragons. They hate dragons enough to refuse to have the dragon eggs presented here."
"Then why did they let us come into their city at all?" said Walker.
"Refusing to present a dragon egg to their city is one thing and denying hospitality to the company is another. If a rider does come from one of the northwest cities, Carvahall, Therinsford, and Daret, their journey to Ilirea includes a pit-stop at Yazuac. Not many riders come from those cities so the company hardly ever has to stop here anyway."
"So they only act friendly because they don't want to get in trouble with the Empire?"
"Yes," said Thomas. "Oh, and there are the dragons and riders also. They would feel down right insulted if the Growers kicked one of the newest additions to their order out into the wild like vermin. And no one wants to insult them."
Walker cringed. What Thomas had just said was very similar to what the woman Rhylite had been talking to last night had said. The dragons and riders were powerful but they were good too. Their mission was to keep peace and balance throughout all of Alagaësia. They worked toward the good of the people. Then why did it seem that people were intimidated by them?
Serves them right if they did that. said Ingothold. His comment shocked Walker and Ingothold felt it through their connection.
What? said Ingothold.
Don't you think that whatever you are implying that they might do is a bit too harsh? They're supposed to be the peacemakers. replied Walker.
But people can't be allowed to do something like that and go unpunished. Punishments help restore order which is what they are supposed to do.
Walker couldn't argue with that but he also couldn't help but to be unnerved by the idea.
"We live in a world of gray," said Thomas. "People try to see it like it is black-and-white, but not me."
Neither Walker nor Ingothold said anything in reply.
It must be depressing living in gray all of the time, thought Walker.
Thomas turned his head slightly to the right as if he was listening to something. Thud. Something smashed against the door. Walker rose from his chair but Thomas motioned him to sit back down as he himself got to his feet. Thomas grasped his thick wooden walking stick and stood in a firm stance with his feet apart like he was ready to pounce at the least provocation. For the first time Walker saw the older man as a formidable fighter.
There was a quick blue flash and the doors burst open. A small man in his twenties who looked half-starved hurried into the room. He stopped mid-step and his gaunt face paled when he saw Thomas.
"Brisingr!" he yelled. A ball of bright blue light appeared in front of him and flew toward Thomas. Thomas drew his staff right out in front of him and spun it like a windmill that dispersed the fireball into thin strips of light that faded back into nothingness.
He then spun his staff over his head and hit the intruder on the side of his head with it knocking him down. Thomas pinned him onto the floor by pressing his staff in-between his shoulder blades.
Whoever knew that the superstitious storyteller could do that. said Ingothold in amazement.
Walker was so surprised that he could only manage nodding his head in agreement.
"Brisingr," the man yelled again but this time nothing happened.
"Good try," said Thomas. "But I'm afraid your magic has left for a while so those fancy words you call the Ancient Language will not be able to help you out of your current predicament."
A woman came hurriedly through the door. She looked to be in her mid-forties. Her black hair was pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck and was graying at the temples. Underneath her cloak Walker saw a fierce-looking blade with sharp nicks all along one of the sides.
"Thank yo-," she began to say but she stopped when she saw whom she was talking to. "Oh. You." she said with sudden prejudice in her voice.
Ingothold. That's the woman Rhylite was talking to last night. Their voices are the same. said Walker.
You're right.
"So much for a 'Congratulations', Elvenia," said Thomas to the woman.
"Thank you," she forced herself to say.
"You're welcome." Thomas gave her a slight mocking bow.
The woman, Elvenia, mumbled a few words in the Ancient Language and the intruder, still lying on the ground pinned under Thomas's staff, went rigid against the floor. "That should do it," Elvenia said. "You may release him. I can take care of him from here."
Thomas drew away. Elvenia leaned over the man and shackled his hands together behind his back with a pair of manacles she had taken from under her cloak. She rolled him onto his back. He couldn't move on his own or speak. The spell Elvenia had cast had completely incapacitated him.
"What did he do?" asked Walker.
Walker was sure this was the first time Elvenia had noticed him in the room but her face betrayed no surprise. But he could see that she hesitated before answering his question.
"Illegal use of magic. He has been casting spells without the proper permission of the Du Vrangr Gata. He belongs to a filthy class of people that can be found in most cities, but not all, that are called street magicians. They act under the Law and use their magic skills to meet their own selfish ends. And the Law takes care of them."
"The Law meaning the Du Vrangr Gata," said Thomas.
"The Du Vrangr Gata specializes in everything magical so it makes sense that they should be the ones to take care of these street magicians," said Elvenia.
"What happens if you have to use magic in self-defense? You wouldn't have time to get permission then," said Walker.
"They would have to be judged by the five Du Vrangr Gata justices who would rule whether or not they had the right to use their magic in desperation," answered Elvenia. "And others have special certificates that allow them to do magic whenever needed without having to go to the council first." She eyed Thomas.
Thomas held up his hands in defense. "I have my certificate."
"But what about your mentor? That herbalist, Angela." said Elvenia.
"The Du Vrangr Gata and the Magic Codes are only accountable to those in Alagaësia and she no longer lives here."
"Really? Lately I've been hearing rumors that she's back in the Empire."
"You can't always trust rumors," said Thomas.
Ingothold snorted.
Elvenia looked over at Ingothold and then back at Thomas. She smiled and shook her head.
"Well, I best be getting this intruder where he belongs and out of your hair," she said. She mumbled some more words in the Ancient Language and the man's body lifted off of the floor and floated out of the door and into the hallway. "Good day." She nodded her head toward them in goodbye and walked away with the intruder floating along with her.
"I'm guessing she has a certificate," said Walker.
"All of the Du Vrangr Gata officials have them," Thomas said bitterly. "If you ask me, the Magic Codes deny people rights that should never have been taken away. But you won't have to worry about such things because all riders get certificates at the end of their training."
Another reason for people to feel intimidated by Riders, thought Walker.
ཕ༹ བ༹
Walker and Ingothold watched as the river-going ship was loaded with supplies for their trip down the Ninor River. They would take the river to Lake Isenstar, past Gil'ead, down south past Bullridge along the western edge of the Hadarac Desert, and then west where they would stop at the small docking city of Nucwae a few miles north of Ilirea. If they were without any serious delays they would make it to the capital in the first few weeks of winter when the first snowflakes would be starting to fall in the sub-North (all land in-between the Northern end of the Ninor River to the Northern border of Surda) while the North would already be covered in blizzards.
Most people were focused on preparing for the long journey ahead, but the one person Walker wanted to see was not there, Rhylite. He scanned the crowd but could not find him.
You would think that one of the most important leaders of the company would be here to supervise the packing. said Walker.
I don't see why you want to see him. said Ingothold.
I just want to ask him a few questions about street magicians.
He's not going to tell you anything concerning this mysterious street magician he was discussing with Elvenia.
Walker was getting annoyed by how Ingothold always knew what Walker wanted to do even when Walker didn't want to admit it to him. I wonder how many riders get annoyed with their dragons, he thought.
I wonder how many dragons get annoyed with their riders. said Ingothold.
I only want to ask a few questions. said Walker.
Walker stood up and started walking around looking for Rhylite. Ingothold came up behind him and climbed up his back and onto his shoulders.
You're getting heavier with each day. said Walker.
Maybe you're just complaining more.
The appearance of Rhylite walking into the stables kept Walker from replying. What is he doing? Rhylite had looked around suspiciously before ducking under the doorway into the stables. The company wasn't taking any horses since most of the journey from here would be done by water. Walker followed him into the stables to find him saddling a brown mare.
"Walker. Ingothold. What brings you to the stables?" Rhylite said without turning around.
Walker jumped in surprise and his tongue fumbled to find words. Ingothold recovered quicker from the surprise and said, We should ask the same of you.
What are you doing? said Walker just to Ingothold.
Getting answers, unlike you.
Rhylite turned from the mare he was saddling toward them. He looked uneasy. "I have business to attend to so I will not be continuing with you to Ilirea."
"What must you do?" asked Walker after being prompted by Ingothold.
"I cannot say."
"Oh. So this business is very urgent," said Walker.
"Yes. I may be gone for quite a while. May you two have a safe journey." Rhylite finished putting the saddle and saddlebags on and then he mounted the horse. "May you take some of my advice?" he said.
"Of course," said Walker.
"Reductio ad absurdum."
"I'm sorry. I don't understand."
"It means 'Reduction to the absurd'. It's when you take a saying, like 'stealing is always wrong', and then name a situation where the right thing to do is to steal. What I'm really trying to say is that something that is usually right can also be wrong and when it is so, do not be afraid to break a few rules."
"We see what you mean," said Walker.
We'll remember that. said Ingothold.
"Until our next meeting. Walker. Ingothold," said Rhylite before riding out of the stables.
I told you he wouldn't tell you anything. said Ingothold.
Walker sighed.
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