The Reluctant Mage

Chapter4

Scouts brought word that another boss was indeed planning a move in Jili's absence. Karla schooled Picard on how to handle his hidden phaser so as to appear a spell caster. Neither sorcery nor wizardry had anything comparable, but it was very much in line with mage craft. Therefore, Picard would present himself as a tier five mage from Eolca's school of magic. The test came sooner than expected. Karla's gang had intercepted a rival gang in the boat district. The others had an apparent advantage, being in control of the wide plaza outside, while Karla's group seemed penned in an alley. There followed a brief exchange of thrown daggers and fired quarrel bolts. Then Picard's phaser took down the quarrel man on heavy stun.

Sudden quiet set in. The enemy leader, a shaggy ruffian in furs, pointed at him. "A spell caster? Where'd you dig him up?"

Picard delivered his prepared speech, having noted the other side had a sorceress with a weak spark spell. "That's only the tier three version. The full tier five spell will cut you in half. Care to try it?"

The others had already lost two to Karla's stilettos. They melted away with muttered curses.

Karla signaled for a move ahead. "Keep to the canal side. You all know where the sewer taps are. Jili is out on the coast waiting to hire a boat."

Catching up with her, Picard pressed his case again. "I still think it wise for me to go along. Not into the temple, of course, but to arrange passage out."

"Jili won't like it," Karla said. "She's big on being a lone wolf. She'd only have to rescue you."

"Look at it this way," Picard countered. "Can you afford to lose her? She might barely make it out, and not be in condition to make a quick escape. That's where my weapon comes in handy." At least Karla didn't say no as the gang passed under the towering ramp leading up to the Dragon's Horn tavern. Wives were coming down from the rope-bridge markets with purchases for dinner. They weren't overly worried about Karla's group, since it was clear the gang was just passing through. The clang of a pile driver made it hard to hear, so no one spoke until they cleared the boat yards.

At length they came to the headlands, where charter boats were for hire. Jili was nearby with a boy who gathered a white flower from steps that led down into the canal. Karla explained the flowers as an ingredient in healing potions, a source of meager income for the poor. Spotting them, the master thief jogged over to join them in gathering gloom.

Karla reported results of the fight; their turf was secure for the moment. But Jili didn't like Picard's idea.

Picard walked a short distance with her along the pier where boats bobbed at their moorings, redolent with fish odor and seaweed. "Try to see my dilemma, Jili. You're the only one who can deal with these Green Tip assassins. If you fall, so falls Sisra, and thereby my own universe. We've come to depend too much on Ardra, especially against an enemy called the Borg. It's only a matter of time before they discover Ardra is missing."

Jili was fearless of heights, owing to her magic cord that could instantly make and break connections like a spider's web. She stood on the raised sea wall, balanced in a relaxed way on one leg, with one foot atop the other. "And what happens in your world if you get yourself killed?"

"Me?" Picard grinned. "There are hundreds of academy grads dying to command a starship. They're a threat and I'm an obstacle. But I assure you I intend to captain my ship for years to come." He spread hands. "I'm also aware that this is your show. Simply show me a secure spot to await the outcome of your mission."

"You've got passage?" she asked, the breeze ruffling her brown hair.

"Karst gave me some operating capital. The boat captain can have it all if that's his price."

Jili had chosen her mark by now. "I think they'll be reasonable. Come with me." She went farther along the pier and simply jumped across onto the fantail of a fisherman. The grizzled captain came out of the midship house ready to rumble—until he saw who it was.

"What do you want," he growled. One of his mates appeared with a spear.

"It's not out of your way," Jili said. "The Inquestor grounds just past the breakwater." She motioned for Picard to pick his way up the gangplank. "My mate and I have business there."

The captain laughed uproariously. "Your business! Somebody is gonna die! Ha ha!" His mate joined in, lowered the spear. Now serious, he went on. "Nobody sees you get on this boat. We know nothing."

"How much," Jili said patiently.

"Because it is frightful bad luck having a woman aboard, four hundred noummion."

Picard had no idea how much that was, but it was nearly all that he had. He gaped as Jili threw her black and gray shawls about her and shrank to the deck, no longer there. Actually, as he understood it, her magic cast a strong suggestion she wasn't there. Wise to that, he followed a faint aerial distortion as it moved behind the two fisherman, where she arose and came in view again. The men jumped.

"I can sail this boat all by myself," she said.

"Well and good!" the captain grumbled. "Two hundred. Final! And don't ask me to bring you back!"

Jili tossed him a small sack, then joined Picard aft as the two men made ready to said. "The Inquest will expect a seaborne attack. So we'll come back through the royal district, then the Montfort holdings, and across the bridge to the Old Quarter. I assume you're up for walking for hours." She leaned elbows against the stern as the boat edged away from the pier, its crew shouting directions.

"That," Picard said, using a hand to steady himself, "is the least of my worries. First is seeing you come out of that temple. If I have to use my weapon, it will only by a little time. The Inquestors can bring a large force to bear in a short time."

Jili watched a half moon peek in and out of clouds. "If you have to use it, then use it on yourself, because it will mean I'm not coming back out."