Chapter 47
Forty-Seven
Aweek later, I got summoned to the market.
I stopped at the gate of the Fogo Embassy and identified myself to the enforcers stationed outside. “Ozwald Carnavon of the Academy of Outcasts, presenting myself as requested by Ambassador Dardick Argento.”
“Oh, it’s this fucking guy again,” said one of them.
He looked kind of familiar. “Are you all still sore about me setting the embassy’s roof on fire? I answer to Gaul Haddar. Take it up with him. Just tell Dardick that I’m here like he asked.”
The enforcers still didn’t like me, but they’d been expecting me, so grudgingly opened the door. “Right this way, your illustrious wizardship.”
Naturally, the nobility of my homeland were still rather sore about my skipping out on my contract.
By myself, I wasn’t that important, but that sort of behavior set a bad example which might cause the rest of the cadre folk to get unruly, thinking they might have options other than working themselves to death for the rest of their lives.
So the grumpy greeting was to be expected.
However, I wasn’t too worried about being back in Argento territory.
Gaul Haddar was Baron Argento’s most powerful and valuable wizard, so when he’d proclaimed he was opening a school and leaving me in charge of it in his absence, nobody—not even the baron’s own son—was going to give me any trouble.
Unless… Gaul Haddar had finally caught up with those pirates he’d been chasing, and the elf killed him, and with nobody left to protect me, the Argents would finally be able to get rid of a nuisance who’d made them look bad.
Sadly, I thought of that possibility just as the gate closed behind me. Oh well. I was committed now. If they tried anything, my last act of defiance would be to feed Dardick an activated snail grenade.
But it turned out this wasn’t an elaborate ruse after all, as Ambassador Dardick Argent was sitting in his black lava rock courtyard, reading letters.
He just shook his head, bemused, when he saw me.
“If it isn’t Oz Carnavon, crawler, trapper, and rank-one wizard. How’s the magical academy business?”
“The Outcast Academy is doing well, thanks for asking. Our numbers are growing steadily, we’ve got a tester, a marvelous facility, the blessing of our local…
nobility, and our own adventuring company.
” My people were sparse on the protocol nonsense, even our aristocracy, so I simply pulled out a chair and sat down across from him. “And I’m a rank two now.”
“Fancy.” Dardick shooed away his guards. “I thought for sure by now you’d have humiliated yourself and died poorly.”
“Surprisingly, not yet.” Even though Dardick once had me tortured, I really didn’t think he was a bad sort. His main concern was looking after his family’s interests in the Core, and by all accounts, he was a much more reasonable man than his cruel father. “So why’d you send for me?”
“This.” Dardick handed over an envelope. The wax seal bore the mark of Gaul Haddar. “It’s for you. It just came through the gate in a diplomatic pouch today.”
That made no sense. “Today’s not Fireday.”
“No. It appears your master wizard’s pursuit of the pirates who’ve troubled us so much has taken him to other realms. Go on. Open it. My mage says it’s got so many spells upon it to make sure only the right person reads it, that if I were to try, it would melt my face off.”
That certainly sounded like something Gaul Haddar would do.
Not knowing how the traps worked, I took my time, making sure the letter got a good look at me first, then I made sure to speak clearly.
“I am Ozwald Carnavon, and I take possession of this.” When I broke the seal, tiny glowing scorpions formed and ran across my hands.
I flinched so violently that I nearly dropped it.
They clung to me, stingers poised to strike.
They must have decided I was who I claimed to be, because they shimmered and dissipated into nothingness.
“I know Haddar founded your little school and saved you from the consequences of your oath-breaking, but frankly, that man terrifies me.” Dardick took a sip of his tea. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.” I pulled out the letter, unfolded it, and began to read.
To Oz Carnavon,
I have little time. I trust that you have managed my academy well. If you have brought shame to my name, I will be most displeased.
I write this because I have no one else I can trust in the Core. The threat I investigate is much greater than mere piracy. The theft of Red is merely the beginning. His reach spans all the realms and many kingdoms. I do not know his motives, but his plot threatens the Nexus itself.
The elf who destroyed Barge 519 is named Kayul Sakiel.
He was trained in the Core and achieved the tenth rank there fifty years ago.
Learn all you can about him for me. Tread carefully.
Trust no one. Neither Council nor watch.
He has sunk his hooks into the nobility and the clergy.
His forces are secret but legion. His magical power is far greater than mine.
I will return when I can.
– Gaul Haddar of Ashen Harran, wizard of the tenth rank.
The second my eyes passed the signature, the letter burst into flames.
“Fuck!” I dropped it as fast as I could, and still managed to burn my fingertips.
The paper disintegrated into unreadable ash before it even hit the floor. It was a good thing I had a sharp memory.
Dardick watched the last of the note burn itself into oblivion with one raised eyebrow, before asking, “So… how’s Haddar?”
There was a pitcher of water on the table, which I stuck my reddened fingers in to quench the pain. “He’s fine. He said you’d better be taking good care of the academy he sponsored or else.”
“Ah yes, of course he’d say that…” Dardick tilted his head, trying to decide if I was lying or not. “But to show how magnanimous my family is, I think I’ll send your school some complimentary Red.”
That would be useful. I was going to need all the help I could get, because I now had the name of the elf who’d killed my family.
Kayul Sakiel.
Haddar had taken the time to underline the word far several times when he’d said Sakiel’s magical power was far greater than his.
Last year, Haddar told me he’d estimated this pirate to be a rank fifteen or higher, which would make him one of the most dangerous wizards in all the realms. I was barely a rank two.
I had a lot of work to do.
I was so distracted by my thoughts of revenge, that I’d not even realized I’d turned my back on the ambassador of my noble house and begun walking away.
“Carnavon?”
I snapped out of it. “Yeah?”
“Congratulations on the promotion.”