Huan screamed, and when the little monster reached for his throat, he stumbled backwards from the window, his voice sputtering into hoarse gasps. Still screeching, the monster climbed in through the window, her makeup flaking off of her pale grey skin and fluttering down to the floor.
Huan stopped screaming but kept his mouth open. How had I thought she was human?
Tiger had a sage response. A predator who hides with their prey will soon be very full.
Liraya’s voice cut through the screams. “Zeya, Fo tespearta.”
Retching and coughing, the wraith like assassin rose out of the box, opened its eyes, and charged. Huan tried to roll out of the way, but a cold hand grabbed his collar, threw him against the wall, and pinned him there. Leaning in close, the assassin snarled, her breath filling Huan’s nose with the smell of flowers, pickles, and magic.
Huan turned his face away, the nausea and pain almost too much for him.
“Zeya, Fo daryl le vielta.”
The wraith peeled Huan off the wall and forced him to face the Vanurian. When Huan tried to break free, the wraith squeezed, and he cried out from the pain.
Liraya scrutinized Huan, shook her head, and spoke to the little monster. “Melany, Fo deya te kreeta i empeka.”
Melany stopped screaming, closed the window, then knelt to collect the papers scattered across the floor.
Even through the pain, Huan noticed that Liraya’s lyrical spells sounded different from both Dwayne’s punctuated castings and Magdala’s muddled invocations. They all sounded like sentences, just ones that all started with the syllable Fo.
“So,” Liraya switched to Souran, “who are you?” She took in the armor. “Did you steal that?”
Huan pushed away the pain and tried a rakish grin. “No, they gave it to me.”
“Hah! Someone must have pulled some strings.” In one movement, she’d stepped in close and grabbed his chin. Turning his head from side to side, she said, “You’re full blooded Tuquese if I’ve ever seen one, possibly even from decent stock.” She released his chin and examined his eyes. “Not from the north or west of the Empire, I’d bet.” She scoffed and stepped back. “Common. Just common. You’d make a good laborer back home, but that’s not worth keeping you around. Zeya, Fo mehtahyo.“
Zeya’s hand closed around Huan’s neck and tightened.
Huan flailed. “No, no, no! I’ve got something you’d be interested in.”
The Vanurian raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Zeya, Fo tedenar.“
Zeya released Huan’s throat.
Liraya inspected her nails, which were painted a deep red. “In case you were wondering, money will not pay the price of your life.”
“Look under my scarf,” said Huan.
Liraya’s eyes dropped to his neck. “Zeya, Fo konziguelo.”
When the wraith slid its hand under Huan’s scarf and touched Tiger’s mask, sparks flew, and suddenly Huan was flying through the air, the wraith’s screams following him.
As he hit the far wall and slid to the ground, Liraya ran to her creation. “Zeya!”
The wraith was lying on the ground, twitching.
Huan coughed and got to his feet. Unexpected, but I’ll take it. He slipped Tiger’s mask on and allowed himself a growl. “Get out of the way, witch.”
Chapter 5: Fouiaccuyitem, body shamble
Standing in an actual armory filled with swords, hammers, and dozens of other weapons, Magdala knew she was in heaven. She picked up a stout wooden shaft with a spiked iron ball and chain hanging off it and gave it a swing, compelling the iron ball to arc down, around, and up back towards her face.
Taylor caught it right before it hit. “Every time I see someone use a flail they end up with a broken nose. Every time. I thought you knew weapons, milady.”
Ears reddening, Magdala set the flail back on the rack. “Well, it’s probably effective once you get a hit in. If you don’t…”
“Broken nose for sure. What do you think, Mei?” Taylor looked around. “Mei?”
Magdala and Taylor looked at each other then split up to search the armory. While checking each aisle, Magdala walked past shelves full of spears and pikes, noting the plain and competent construction of each weapon. These wouldn’t win any beauty contests, but they wouldn’t break either. She’d resolved to spend the rest of her life here when she found Mei at the back of the shop, surrounded by soot-streaked weapon smiths who were all marveling at the rifle. Mei’s gaze looked cloudy as if she couldn’t focus on what was happening. Pursing her lips, Magdala rushed forward.
“See how the trigger mechanism strikes the flint and sets off the powder in the pan?” A stout, blonde-haired smith peered at Mei’s rifle with her magnifying glass. “Clever stuff.”
A burly smith sized Mei up. “She’s from Tuqu, right? They came up with the crossbow trigger after all.”
A third smith shook his head, rubbing his soot gray beard. “Naw, it was them Wesen chaps. Can we keep this for study?” He reached for Mei’s rifle.
The hunter recoiled, clutching her rifle to her chest.
The old man’s hand didn’t stop. “Ah come on-“
“Enough.” Magdala knocked the hand away and stood beside her friend.
The old man sneered. “Who’re you?”
When Magdala flashed her ring, all but one of the smiths stepped back.
The old man bowed. “Ah, so sorry, milady.”
“You lot get back to work,” said the blonde smith, the only one who hadn’t stepped back. “Enough gaping. We’ve got orders to fill.” After the other smiths disappeared into the forge, she addressed Magdala. “I heard you went up to Walcrest with your uncle. What are you doing down here with us common folk?”
Magdala raised an eyebrow. “You are?”
“Allison Langseth, Guildmaster, milady.” Langseth drew close, her lips curled. “Is it nice up there, right up next to the wall? I’ve never been.”
Magdala raised her chin. “It’s nice enough.”
“There you are!” Taylor emerged from the shelves, patted Mei on the shoulder, and then looked between Langseth and Magdala. “What’s going on?”
Langseth grinned. “Oh ho ho, Swordbreaker returns!” She pulled Taylor into a bear hug.
When both Magdala and Mei gave her quizzical looks, Taylor blushed. “It’s just a nickname.”
Langseth released the corporal. “You were supposed to stop by for that refitting. What have you been up to instead?”
Taylor pointed a thumb at Magdala. “Helping milady with her mission and… recovering. From the incident.”
Langseth’s grin faded and she nodded. “Yeah, that was rough stuff. I’m glad you came out of it with all your bits. What are you doing with a noble and a foreigner?”
Taylor glanced at Magdala, who sighed. “We’re looking for something.” She patted her pockets. “Where is that vial?”
Mei stepped forward and said quietly, “I need an axe.”
Vial forgotten, Magdala grabbed both of the hunter’s hands and grinned. “By the cups, yes! That is far more important. Considering how you fought yesterday-“
“Right? She’s a born axe fighter.” Taylor ruffled Mei’s hair.
“Well you came to the right place.” Langseth grinned at Magdala who felt her face heat up. “Well well well, Lord Gallus’s daughter is a weapons enthusiast. Like father, like daughter, eh?” She clapped Magdala on the back. “I like this one. Bring her around again, Saundra.”
Taylor grinned.
“In that case,” Langseth gave Mei a conspiratorial wink. “Taylor, show this young lady where we keep our finest wares. You’ve been here so many time, Swordbreaker, you should know where we keep the axes.”
Taylor nodded, and she led a bemused Mei into the shelves.
Langseth turned to Magdala. “Saundra isn’t easy to impress. If you want something special made just for your friend-“
“What did you have in mind?” Magdala leaned in.
Langseth winked. “I’ll show you.”
She led Magdala to the front of the shop, giving Magdala time to find the vial that she’d been looking for before and pull it out of her cloak.
Glancing at the stock on the shelves, Magdala frowned. “Mei is a hunter… Most of the stuff you make here is for soldiers, right?”
Langseth stepped behind the front counter. “They are our primary customers, and, because of your father and his fancy swordplay, the soldiers here don’t go much for axes. Hammers sure, because not everyone’s got the skill to handle a blade, but not axes.”
Magdala tilted her head. “Hammers?”
Langseth’s eyebrows came together. “Those things them Vanurian sorcerors make? The best way to stop them is to smash in their heads. You can try to cut them off, but if you don’t swing right, your sword’ll get stuck in their necks and then they’ll be all over you like rust on iron. I fixed up the armor of the soldiers who survived that last attack, and I saw the teeth marks. Whatever those things are, they ain’t right.”
Magdala shivered but focused on the main question. “Mei needs a good axe, one she can use out in the forest, maybe even throw in a pinch. Do you have anything like that?”
Langseth sat down behind her counter. “What we have in stock will serve but…” She pulled a huge book out from under the counter, flipped through it, and showed Magdala a page. “Is this more what you had in mind?”
Perfect. It was made of a single piece of worked steel with a curved handle and some beveling to reduce weight and it was perfect. Although the design on the page was too long for Mei, Magdala could already see it in her friend’s hands, and since the axe head couldn’t break off, the weapon would last for a long time. If it was as balanced as it looked…
Magdala shook herself and looked up from the page.
Langseth’s grin widened. “The last order of these I made was a matched pair for a wedding. For you, I’m thinking a trio.”
Magdala frowned. “A trio?”
“One for your friend of course. That light in your eyes tells me it’s perfect for her. And then one for you and one for Swordbreaker. A friendly trio of axes.” Langseth winked.
Magdala blushed. “Would… would they take long to make?”
Langseth chuckled. “I have some advantages in that department.” She pulled a glittering ring on a chain out from underneath her shirt collar. A single tall mount was etched on it, Cueller mountain.
Watching the ring twist on its chain, Magdala knew that it was made of an incredibly light metal that only Qe magic was able to extract from its ore. “You’re a Qe mage. I’m nQe. I haven’t graduated yet though.”
Langseth’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? nQe? With your lineage? Wow.”
Magdala hid her dismay with a cough. “So how long?”
“About a week if I have the time,” answered Langseth, “longer if I don’t. I expect we’ll be getting a lot of orders soon. For some reason, Ole Harvey is biding her time for now, but she doesn’t like sitting around waiting. She’ll make her move soon.”
“I agree.” Magdala shut the book.
Mei, a small axe with a varnished wooden handle in her hands, walked up to the counter with Taylor in tow. After glancing at the book, she placed the axe on the counter. “This one.”
Magdala inspected the weapon, which was fine. It wasn’t beautiful, but the forge on the metal was good, and the tempered iron oak handle wasn’t going to break anytime soon, and so, it was fine. Magdala tried to push the perfection of the other weapon out of her mind.
“How much?” Mei asked Langseth.
“5 counts.” Langseth whisked the book back under the counter.
Taylor reached for her belt. “I’ll pay.”
Magdala stopped her. “No, I will.” She took out her purse and counted out coins. “I have more money, and anyway this is my lord uncle’s responsibility.” He’d be paying for that perfect axe too. She put the money on the counter.
Taylor’s face fell. “Oh, right.”
Langseth slid the coins into her palm. “Since I anticipate further orders, I have something extra for you.” After rummaging for a couple moments underneath the counter, she dropped three bronze medallions in front of them, each etched with an image of Cueller’s Cup.
Taylor’s eyes lit up. “I thought you sold all of these!”
Langseth leaned onto the counter. “These are the last ones. You want them?”
“Yes! How much?”
“6 earls each.”
Taylor paid immediately and then handed one each to Magdala and Mei. “These are from when Langseth became Guildmaster.”
Magdala rubbed the metal, and warmth flowed into her fingers. She nearly dropped it. “You made these with magic.”
Langseth winked. “It’s part of my guarantee.” She gave a sly smile. “As for that other thing, you interested?”
“Yes, I am,” said Magdala.
Taylor nudged Magdala with her elbow and Magdala felt her enthusiasm drain away. “Right, I have a question about something else.” She produced the vial of diluted red ichor and uncorked it. allowing a sweet cloying scent to fill the air.
Gagging, the smith covered her nose. “Put that away.” After Magdala had recorked the vial, she answered Magdala’s unasked question. “That’s Vanurian for sure. I visited a count back when I was an apprentice and the place was full of the stuff. I don’t know how they make it and I don’t want to know. You’ll have to go to the Jungle to find out.”
Magdala raised an eyebrow. “The Jungle? You mean the other side of the Southern Line?”
Mei shook her head. “There’s one in the city.” She tucked the axe into her belt. “I can take you there.”
Taylor squirmed. “Ah, it’s… not the best place for someone like you, milady.”
Before Magdala could respond, Langseth asked, “Why do you even have that stuff?”
Magdala gave a quick curtsy. “I can’t tell you, but thank you very much. I’ll stop by later.”
“You’d better bring that one next time,” said Langseth, pointing to Taylor. “We have some weapons we’d like her to try out.”
Admaeus Speaks 