C7 Chapter 7: Surprising Discoveries

Next morning, Nikko had his work cut out for him just trying to get the snoring nobleman out of bed. He had all but given up hope of making it over the pass in a single day's march. It wasn't just that Danuwil's poor condition would slow them down too much, but that they wouldn't even be able to get on the trail early enough. When he had crossed over with Thorodos, they had left at dawn, and it had still taken them until midday to make it to the top of the western side of the pass, even with the pace the old man kept up. But this morning, the sun was already high in the sky.

Finally, though, Danuwil was on his feet, and Nikko's mother served them breakfast: bread and honey, boiled eggs, and fresh goat's milk. The pampered nobleman seemed to be making a great effort to hide the fact that the simple repast was hardly in accordance with his usual high standards.

“When do we have to go if we want to make it to the customs house up there by nightfall?” Danuwil yawned.

“The earlier, the better,” Nikko answered, rather peevishly, and could not hide the tone of complaint when he said, “But we'd be better off if we were well over the mountain by then.”

“Don't worry,” the nobleman encouraged him. “We'll just make ourselves at home up there for the night. A nice little fire will banish all fears, right?”

“You need wood for a fire,” Nikko said.

“Well, of course. And we'll store a few supplies in the hut up there, too. For the return journey.”

“And who's supposed to carry all that?” the lad asked reproachfully, already thinking he knew the answer.

Danuwil looked over at him and calmly replied, “We'll engage a few bearers, boy.”

Nikko, of course, had not thought of that. But now, considering the possibility, the nobleman's plan suddenly looked far more doable. He would certainly feel a lot more confident knowing there was wood and food waiting for them in the pass when they returned. Who knew how their bold adventure would end this time? It was not unlikely that they would once again have to retreat back over the mountains.

“Furthermore, it is incumbent on us—or more precisely, on you—to bury the dead envoy,” said Danuwil then, interrupting Nikko's thoughts. “He was also in the landgrave's service and certainly does not deserved to rot up there.” He turned to Nikko's mother. “My good woman, I need for bearers. They will need to bring up bundles of wood, plenty of salt meat, dried fruit and shovels. And of course, they will be adequately compensated for their efforts.”

“But sir,” she replied, “everyone is busy with their own work.”

“I am here in the service of his Serene Highness, the Landgrave of Hocatin,” the nobleman shot back, reverting to his imperious tone once again.

“Of course,” said Nikko's mother obediently.

Finally, some two hours later, they were ready to depart. Nikko's mother had called Rikko, another of Nikko's older brothers, and Tamo, his permanently curious younger brother away from their work in the stables. Two more lads from the westside farm, who were actually supposed to go off hunting, boosted the numbers of the reluctant group. None of them really had much interest in lugging wood all the way up to the pass, and the atmosphere among them was tense. But Danuwil had told them in no uncertain terms that service to the landgraviate was the duty of every one of its subjects.

“Farewell, my good woman,” Danuwil said to Nikko's mother when they were ready to depart. “Take these two pieces of silver for food and lodging, and for the wood and our provisions, too. Our bearers will be paid once they have completed their work.”

“Thank you, my lord,” she replied, her eyes wide: no doubt she had never seen a silver coin in her entire life. Then she turned to Nikko. “Goodbye, my son. Take care!”

“Farewell, mother,” Nikko replied. He threw his arms around her and held her in a long embrace.

The fractious group only reached the hut in the pass in the early evening. Arriving at such a late hour did nothing to improve their mood, because it meant they would not be able to risk descending again until the following day. But spending the night up there was not something they were looking forward to. Danuwil, whose slow pace was largely to blame for their late arrival, had to promise the group an extra day's pay to settle them down a little. They had had to take breaks repeatedly to let the nobleman recover. The two impulsive youths from the westside farm had exchanged foul looks several times, and Nikko had actually been afraid that the arrogant noble might take a sudden fall into the depths.

This time, at least, the weather seemed to be on their side. There wasn't a cloud in sight, and no more than a mild breeze blew through the pass. The snow, however, was still knee deep, and the night would very likely sink below freezing.

“Two clear the entrance, the others clear a space beside the house,” Danuwil ordered. “The envoy needs to be buried before nightfall, or would your rather spend the night with his corpse?”

The entrance was cleared in a few minutes and the grave already underway outside when Danuwil went into the hut to inspect it from the inside. Nikko, however, did not go in with him. His memories of the frozen gaze of the courier were still too fresh in his mind.

“Good,” said the nobleman when he emerged again. “The poor soul is still frozen solid. Take this, lad.” He handed Nikko a long dagger, still in its sheath. “I'm quite sure he won't be needing it anymore.”

“My lord, I'm not allowed to carry a blade,” said Nikko with concern.

“You are now in the service of the landgrave,” Danuwil replied. “Besides, we're practically in Hymal already. Who's going to forbid you from carrying a dagger up here?”

Nikko took the weapon and proudly slid it out of its sheath to inspect the blade. Carrying actual weapons—especially bladed weapons—was strictly prohibited among the common folk. He hoped that he would not get into any trouble, because he still did not know many details of what his service entailed. In the end, he threw caution to the wind and strapped the dagger to his leather belt. In Hymal, he reasoned, one could never carry too many weapons, and he thought of the powerful wand that had already saved his life several times.

Their bearers had great difficulty digging a grave, because the ground beneath the snow was still frozen solid. Again, it took some pressure from Danuwil to stop them from laying down their shovels. Nikko was beginning to fear a mutiny that night.

It was dark when they finally laid the unfortunate envoy to rest. While the others dug the grave, it was Nikko's task to clear the snow from the chimney inside the hut. But the effort would be worth it if they could then enjoy a warm fire inside the old customs station. And it went well. The fireplace worked a treat and after a few moments they had a fire blazing brightly, filling the rough hut with light and warmth. Only the partially collapsed roof still let a little cold in from outside.

The night in the old customs house was surprisingly pleasant. There was no comparison to the night Nikko had had to spend there when it was his only sanctuary from the snowstorm. The fire in the fireplace kept the chill mountain night at bay, and Nikko, tired from the long ascent, had slept soundly.

Next morning, they ate a quick breakfast and Danuwil instructed their porters to stow the remaining wood and provisions in the hut. Then he rewarded each of them with a silver coin and they set off back down the mountain, wanting to get back to their neglected duties in Vyldoro as soon as possible. Fodaj would no doubt do good business on his next visit to the village; the nobleman had brought some financial cheer to the poor village with all his silver coins.

“So, lad, lead us to Hymal!” said Danuwil when the others were gone. He seemed to have slept well himself and was in a good mood. Nikko, however, did not know whether the nobleman had had anything to drink the night before.

The weather was holding, the sky cloudless, no fog and only the faintest of breezes. It was almost as if the pass was giving its approval to the crossing. Perhaps their journey was truly being watched over by a more favorable star. So far, at least, everything had gone well. Although the deep snow slowed their progress, Nikko could easily make out his own footsteps as a line of depressions in the blanket of snow, showing them the right way to go.

Late in the morning, they reached the eastern side of the high pass and could see far out into the valley on that side. The nobleman took a tube-shaped object out of his bag and held it to his eye. He swept his gaze over the valley, then nodded with satisfaction.

“What's that?” asked Nikko.

“A telescope from the south,” Danuwil replied and handed it to him. “Try it.”

Nikko held the tube to his eye as he had seen Danuwil do. And he was amazed to see everything appear larger and much closer through it. “Is it magic?”

“I doubt it,” said Danuwil. “If it were, it would have been far more expensive. But I really don't know how it works.”

Nikko could have spent the rest of the day playing with the strange “telescope.” But now it was the nobleman urging them on.

A few uneventful hours later, late in the afternoon, they reached the sinister spot where Thorodos had met his end. Nikko would have much preferred to march on; his memories of that day were too painful. But the basin was the best place far and wide for them to spend the coming night; Nikko knew it from experience, and Danuwil seemed to sense it himself. Between them, they decided to set up camp there.

“Find some firewood, lad!” Danuwil ordered, once he had looked around.

“Do you really want to light a fire?” Nikko asked, his voice insistent. “We don't know what there is in this valley.”

“Hmm, I see what you mean,” said Danuwil. “But the trees here will cover the fire, and we are well protected in the hollow. But we can certainly wait until dark so the smoke doesn't give us away.”

Nikko was not entirely convinced that a fire was a good idea. But he complied, and set off in search of firewood, returning after a few minutes with a good load of dry brush and sticks. It looked as if no rain had fallen around there for several days. A little later, after they had both freshened up in the stream, they got a little campfire going and ate bread and salt meat for their evening meal.

Nikko felt that he could now gauge the moods of the peculiar nobleman better, but he still did not know whether he could trust him. Still, he was glad to have Danuwil there with him. He had been particularly impressed with the aplomb with which the nobleman had dealt with their mulish porters. And his idea to stock the pass with firewood and supplies showed that he already had some experience in the field.

Danuwil sat at the fire and nipped occasionally at a silvery flask. When he realized that Nikko was watching him, he held out the flask invitingly and said, “Try a little. Spirits from my homeland.”

But Nikko said “Thank you,” and turned the offer down. He wondered if Danuwil drank every evening.

“What do you plan to do after the message has been delivered?” he finally worked up the courage to ask.

“It depends on the situation,” said Danuwil. “But once I have all the information I need, I'll be heading back to Zundaj. Don't worry, though,” he said, reading Nikko's thoughts. “The landgrave has ordered his troops back to Hocatin. You'll be able to go with them.”

“Because of Rhobany?” Nikko asked, remembering their conversation in Vylrahdo three nights earlier.

“Exactly.” Danuwil seemed surprised. Then he said, “The young duke has renewed Khondharr's ancient claim to Hocatin. It looks as if we might soon go to war.”

“Khondharr?”

“You don't even know your neighbors, do you? Well, then. The Duchy of Khondharr borders Hocatin to the north. In the south, it's the Grand Duchy of Thordám, and in the east, as you already know, is the former Duchy of Hymal. All of them are part of one realm, the king of which has his throne in Zundaj, which also happens to be the capital of Zûldaján. Even Hymal is part of the kingdom, although no duke has ruled here in more than a hundred years.”

“Why not?” Nikko asked excitedly. He was not used to learning so much information.

“Boy,” Danuwil laughed, “don't you know anything?” He shook his head. “Hmm, sometimes I forget that you're just a lad from a poor village. But I'm sorry. It is simply not possible for me to relate the last few hundred years of the history of the empire to you. We'd be sitting here for days.”

Nikko, of course, could understand that, and contented himself with everything that he had experienced and learned in the past few weeks. Until very recently, his entire world had ended just outside Vyldoro. Now, he had been to Hocatin, and was already on his second journey into legendary Hymal.

“Get some sleep now,” Danuwil said abruptly. “I'll take first watch.”

Nikko woke with the first rays of the new day, which washed the eastern sky in a dim red. As soon as he had shaken off his sleepiness, he saw the nobleman snoring soundly by the still-warm fire, the silver flask in his right hand. Nikko shook his head at the sight, but was glad, at least, at not having had to sit watch half the night.

It was quite a while before Danuwil finally awoke. Once again, it seemed, he had spent a little too long with the bottle. But Nikko did not say a word about his lapse.

Refreshed, the two companions finally set off into the valley late in the morning, the sun already high and only a few small clouds to mar the sky.

In the middle of the afternoon, they reached the point from which one had such an excellent view of the forest and out over the plain. The air that day was very clear, and they could see far. “Try to find the place where the orcs attacked you,” Danuwil said, holding the telescope out for Nikko.

Nikko put the instrument to his eye and focused first on the distant, bare hilltop that jutted from the green plain. He was keen to know whether he had truly found the outpost there. Through the telescope, he could not say with any certainty, but he could clearly make out the ruins of a wall and a high tower.

“Is that where we're going? That hill over there?” he finally asked, to satisfy his curiosity.

“Yes,” said Danuwil. “At least, the expedition was supposed to establish a base in the old castle there. Can you see anything?”

“No, not exactly. How far is it to the castle from here? A day's march?” Nikko asked. He was not good at judging distances on the plain.

“Perhaps a little less,” said the nobleman. “Right, find the place where you first saw the orcs.”

Nikko first found the place where the mountain stream flowed into the river, then he followed the course of the road in the direction of the hills, though the route was not always easy to make out. Finally, he saw what could certainly be the hollow with the rocky outcrops, although he could not be absolutely sure.

“I think it was there,” he said. He tried to keep the instrument pointed at the hollow as he handed it back to Danuwil.

“Ah, yes. A perfect place for an ambush. You must learn to avoid such places, lad,” said Danuwil. After a moment, he continued, “But hold on … that has to be an hour or more from the forest.”

“More like two, if I remember right,” said Nikko.

“You expect me to believe that the orcs chased you over the plain for two hours?” the nobleman asked, his tone now demanding. “In the middle of the day?”

“Well, I took off at a run, and when I couldn't run any further, nothing was behind me. I only heard them again when I was close to the forest. I just made it into the woods before they caught up with me.”

“Caught up with you?” said Danuwil.

“Well, they were mounted,” said Nikko, feeling he had to justify his explanation.

“Mounted?” Danuwil almost shrieked.

“Yes. On black wolves,” said Nikko, not knowing why the nobleman was getting so worked up.

“Wargriders?” Danuwil yelled furiously. “Are you out of your mind? How can you keep something like that to yourself?” he snarled, hauling Nikko over the coals. “Are you just stupid, or some kind of enemy agent? Wargriders! Wargriders!” Danuwil grumbled to himself. “I can't believe it.” He turned back to Nikko. “What else have you been keeping to yourself?”

“I didn't know it was important,” said Nikko, in tears now.

“That's why!” the nobleman shouted. “That's why you're supposed to tell us everything. Because your dense little skull doesn't know what's important! Because people with more brains and more understanding can do a better job of assessing the situation. Idiot wretch,” said Danuwil, ending his tirade.

Nikko was bawling loudly, utterly distraught and terrified. He still did not understand what was so important about the wolves. But Danuwil was busy scanning the plain with his telescope.

It was some time before Nikko had dried his eyes, and Danuwil seemed to have recovered his temper somewhat. But neither had said a word since Danuwil's outburst.

“Right,” said Danuwil, breaking the silence between them. He did not even look at Nikko as he spoke. “Your story is rotten inside and out. You will now tell me the whole truth. If you lie, it will mean your death. I'm listening!”

Nikko gulped. “What do you want to know?” he asked in a tremulous voice.

“Orcs hate the daylight,” the nobleman said matter-of-factly. “So why were they so intent on chasing you across the plain?”

“I killed some of them,” Nikko answered truthfully. “One of the ones I killed was really big. Maybe they wanted to avenge him?”

“You? You killed orcs?” Danuwil asked, his expression dour, not believing a word the skinny peasant boy was telling him. “And a chief, at that?”

“Yes, my lord,” the lad replied meekly.

“With your bare hands, I assume?” Danuwil mocked.

“No. With the wand.”

“What wand?” Danuwil's face betrayed his sudden confusion.

Nikko rummaged in his backpack and took out the wand. The magical weapon instantly gave him both strength and his self-confidence. He felt fortunate to have it ready. If Danuwil actually did try to kill him, he would at least be able to defend himself.

“You beat them to death with that?” asked Danuwil. He sounded interested now.

“No,” said Nikko confidently. He stood up and pointed the wand at a small boulder not far away. A glistening bolt instantly shot from the magic wand, blasting the boulder to pieces with a loud report.

Nikko's presentation seemed to have robbed the normally so self-possessed Danuwil of the power of speech. The nobleman stood and stared at the shattered stone, his mouth open and eyes wide, completely at a loss for words.

After some moments of silence, Nikko grew even more sure of himself. He no longer felt that the nobleman could present any danger to him. “What was so important about the wolves?” he asked, wanting to break the uncomfortable silence.

“They weren't wolves. They were wargs,” said Danuwil. “Based on your statement to the seneschal, I had assumed that the orcs were no more than a small troop of bandits. But wargriders indicate a larger group. And not bandits, either, but a tribe … in the worst case, an army.”

“I'm sorry,” said Nikko. “If I'd had any idea that the wolves or the wargs were important, I would have said something about them.”

“No, I'm the one who should apologize,” said Danuwil then, to Nikko's astonishment. The proud nobleman stood and bowed low before the startled youngster. “I take it you have no idea what this wand says about you, my lord?”

The peasant boy was more confused than ever. “Why are you speaking to me like that?”

“A moment ago, you were nothing more to me than a simple farmer's boy,” the nobleman explained. “But now I see a true sorcerer standing before me. Being a sorcerer, of course, means that you are equal to the nobility.”

“Me? A sorcerer?”

“Do you think just anyone could use that wand?” Danuwil replied. “All I could do with it would be to use it as a tiny club.”

“You mean that not everyone could make lightning with the wand?” Nikko asked. He was finding this more and more interesting.

“No, boy … uh, excuse me,” the nobleman stammered. “There are very few people who are able to wield such magical implements. Those people are sorcerers. Or, to be more precise, only those people can become sorcerers. If I may be so bold, my lord,” Danuwil continued, “and I know I have no right to ask this, but it would still interest me to know how you came to possess the wand.”

“The circumstances are … complicated,” said Nikko slowly, wondering how much he ought to reveal to Danuwil. “I would like to get to know you better before I explain them. Then I think you might even be able to help me.”

“Good. I accept that,” the nobleman replied.

“Would it bother you not to call me ‘my lord’?” the boy finally went on. “It makes me nervous. It's almost as bad as when people call me ‘he’ to my face.”

“I'm afraid you will have to accustom yourself to the protocols, master,” Danuwil said with a smile. “But no one will speak to you in the third person anymore. Only high officials talk to lowly underlings like that.”

After a long time—it must have been several hours—in which both had a lot to ponder, the sun began to sink slowly in the west, painting the tips of the mountain summits with a fiery glow. But it was time to think about what they ought to do next.

“Orcs detest water,” said Danuwil. “I don't think they'll cross the river. We should follow it on this side until we get closer to the hill. Then we'll make a beeline for the base of the hill, straight across the plain.”

“All right,” said Nikko. “We can camp easily down by the river. We should spend the night there and get moving again early in the morning.”

“Agreed,” said Danuwil.

It was already dark before the two travelers reached the shore of the river and settled into their campsite for the night. They decided not to risk a fire, and after a quick evening meal, Danuwil produced his small flask again. This time, Nikko also took a swig of the fiery liquid it contained. He had a lot going on in his head, and he had to work it all out.

“What do you know about the Order?” the young sorcerer finally asked.

“The Arcane Order? Only what just about everyone else in Zundaj knows. Nikko, where am I supposed to begin? You probably haven't even heard of the Mage Wars.”

“Yes, I have,” Nikko said, proud to show he was not completely ignorant. “But I thought those were just fairytales.”

“Every story has a truth at its heart,” Danuwil said. “The Mage Wars were real enough. It was around six hundred years ago. The devastation back then was so great that the sorcerers of the north banded together to become the Arcane Order. Their job, then and now, was to make sure that no sorcerer ever got mixed up in the wars of humans. The sorcerers were forced to cooperate with the Order, most likely to be better able to keep them under control. I really don't know much more than that, I'm afraid, except that renegade magicians were persecuted.”

“The Order is based in Zundaj?” Nikko asked.

“They have their headquarters there. But from what I've heard, they have chapters in many of the big cities.”

“In Hocatin, too?” Nikko asked excitedly.

“Since when is Hocatin a big city?” Danuwil laughed. “But I know what you mean. You really should make contact with the Order. They'll train you to be a true sorcerer, I'm sure of it. Master Nikko. Doesn't that sound good?”

“What is the Council?” Nikko wanted to find out from Danuwil as much as he possibly could.

“The Arcane Council?” said Danuwil. “That would be the head of the serpent. The Council rules over the Order … and the entire realm, for that matter. My boy, sorcerers are powerful and usually very rich. Those who sit on the Council are the most powerful of all. Even the king, it is said, would never defy the Arcane Council.” He laughed and added, “You've certainly found yourself a profession with a future.”

“You asked me where I got the wand,” Nikko said, his tone serious. He felt a powerful desire to unburden himself. “Does the name Thorodos mean anything to you?”

“Peryndor's predecessor?”

“Who's Peryndor?”

“The Archmage of Zundaj. To get back to your first question, however, Thorodos was his predecessor, if I remember right,” the nobleman explained. “As I recall, he fell out of favor with the Order and had to leave Zundaj. But that was many years ago.”

“He came to Hocatin and settled in Vyldoro,” said Nikko, continuing the story that Danuwil had begun. “About three weeks ago, at the place where we camped last night, he was murdered by a group of men. One of the killers said that the Council wanted Thorodos dead.”

“You were there?” asked Danuwil in surprise.

“Yes. I'd been helping out the old man for a long time,” Nikko answered. “I had no idea that he was a sorcerer, though. But then, about three weeks ago, he suddenly received a letter. The next morning, we left Vyldoro together to come over to Hymal.”

“You didn't get very far,” Danuwil said. “Where did the old Master want to go?”

“To the outpost, apparently. But the old man did not always tell me the truth. I don't know where he really wanted to go …” He pondered for a moment before going on. “Peryndor, you said? Peryndor. Would you recognize his seal?”

“No. I don't know the Archmage personally. But you think he was the one who wrote the letter?”

“All that's left of the letter is a charred seal with a large ‘P’ on it.”

“Nikko, I advise you not to go poking around in that. I may not know much about the sorcerers, but I know enough not to get in their way.”

“I know,” said Nikko. “That's why it was so difficult for me to even talk about it.”

“I see,” said Danuwil. Then he laughed. “This is a very interesting anecdote, and you didn't breath a word of it to the seneschal. You were right not to.”

“Can't he be trusted?” Nikko asked.

“Who knows? But if he'd heard the full story, it would have complicated a lot of things.”

“If only I knew who I can really trust …” Nikko groaned.

“That's something we'd all love to know,” Danuwil laughed again. “But let's get back to what matters. If I've got this right, Thorodos gave you the wand but did not train you?”

“No. I found the wand in … the things he left behind. He didn't train me at all.”

“But it is abundantly clear why you of all people were assisting him,” said Danuwil. “No doubt he sensed your talent and asked your family to have you help him?”

“That's right. That explains some things. He must have talked to my grandfather.”

After a moment of silence, Danuwil said, “Let us get some sleep, my magical friend. The hill is a long way from here, and who knows what paths we'll have to take to avoid the orcs.”

End of Book I