Delver Magic II: Throne of Vengeance, Jeff Inlo [graded readers .TXT] 📗

on the townspeople as they trained. It was amazing to see what they were thinking. In a strange way, most of them really want the dwarves to attack, almost as if they want to prove something. Anyway, when I sensed the goblins, I probed their thoughts. They are not here on a raid. They are here to investigate what’s going on. From the hills, they’ve seen our people on the wall. They saw the group of elves enter through the south gate. They know we are preparing for something. Apparently some serp, named Sazar I think, has sent them to find out more of what’s going on behind the wall. By his order, they are not to attack us.”

“You have learned to read thoughts from that distance?” Holli asked with her surprise evident.

“Yes,” Enin happily acknowledged. “Yes, I have. It’s easier when the person is up close, like you are right now for instance, but if I use the magic to lock in on their position and I focus the spell, I can read thoughts of any one that I can sense. You are surprised by this? You didn’t think I was going to just sit around and sulk all day? No, I can see by your thoughts now that you didn’t, but you didn’t expect this either. I can read your thoughts right now. This doesn’t make you comfortable. You’re thinking if I can do this, I would be a dangerous enemy if the humans and elves ever went to war. Why do you think this, especially at this moment?”

Holli replied quickly, but uneasily. “I am an elf guard. I must always think of the protection of my camp.”

Enin pressed her as he wore an almost smug grin of satisfaction. “But we’re not in your camp now. You’re here to protect us. Why do you worry so much about a conflict between the elves and the humans? I thought the dwarves were our common enemy?”

“That’s enough, Enin,” Sy spoke in the tone of command. “You have no right to ask her such questions.”

Enin laughed. He found the moment entertaining. “Maybe I do, and maybe I don’t. It was she who first mistrusted me. I’m not doing anything more than returning the favor. If she feels uncomfortable with this, well now she knows how I feel.”

Holli flashed a glare of anger. “How can I know how you feel? I can’t read your thoughts like you can mine.”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it,” Enin rebuked the elf. “Remember who you’re dealing with here. I can read your thoughts now. Very clearly. Oh, you can keep secrets from me, things you truly wish to conceal, but your reactions, no, you can’t keep those hidden. You don’t like me questioning you any more than I appreciated you telling me I was useless. Well, it seems I’m not so useless anymore.”

“I never claimed you were useless. I said your power was dangerous. I still believe that.”

“I know you do,” Enin grinned. He took delight in reminding Holli he could read her thoughts before she spoke of them. It was not so much out of revenge, but more out of redemption. His spells would help the town, as he just revealed the goblins intentions, and her doubts would not stop him. “You spoke of my potential and that if I realized what I was capable of that I might be frightened myself. I can see now what you think I might become. It doesn’t scare me. I know how I want to use that power. What did you think? That I was going to take over the land? Chain your race?”

“No, I never doubted your intentions, but even now, I doubt your ability to fully control what you can do. You need time and guidance. There is little of the first and none of the second.”

“And yet, I have revealed the intentions of the goblin party. Do you doubt this?”

“No, I can see that you have control over this spell.”

“Is that why you were so worried about how I might use it against the elves?”

“I have already answered that question,” Holli replied.

“Then answer this one, do you think my magic can now be used against the dwarves?”

“I would still advise against it.”

“Why?”

The elf answered honestly, knowing that any lie would be immediately sensed by the probing wizard. In truth, it did not change her answer. She would have spoken the same reply even if she could close her thoughts to Enin. “Because the dwarves are different than the goblins, they are different than the elves. They are resistant to magic. You would not be able to sense them. You probably wouldn’t be able to read their minds. Even if you could read their intentions, how would that help us? We know why they are attacking. What else could you do?”

“I could capture some. I have already proven that.”

“Only a handful and you would exhaust yourself in the process.”

“I don’t know about that,” Enin challenged. “I’m growing stronger. I know how to capture and hold more energy. I won’t tire like I did the first time.”

Sy intervened. At first he was uncomfortable with the debate, but now he noticed his soldiers watching with interest. He did not like the message being sent. The argument spoke of division. He could not have it continue. He spoke with authority over both wizard and elf. “That’s enough from both of you. I can’t have this, won’t have it. You are both needed to help protect this town. Your bickering is counter-productive to that goal. Enin, I don’t know why you’re doing this. You’re acting like a child. You’re mad because she thought you might be a danger if you started experimenting with the magic. That’s her opinion and she’s entitled to it.” Sy then turned to Holli. “But I don’t agree with it. I don’t know how the magic works against dwarves. It may put us in danger, but I also know we can’t ignore a single advantage just because it may prove risky. If he can capture a few dwarves in a force field, well that’s a few less we have to deal with. That in itself is worth something. As a soldier, you should know that.”

“It will be as you will,” Holli replied stoically, not offended by the captain’s lecture.

“You’re damn right it will.” Sy then turned back to the wizard. “That goes for you, too. No more outbursts because someone mistrusts you. Godson, I mistrusted you the first time I learned of your power. Does that make me any less your friend? I don’t think I rely on anyone more than you.”

Enin could not help but read the captain’s thoughts. He smiled with good humor. “You rely on Ryson more. At least that’s what you believe. That’s alright. It’s not so bad to be the second most trusted man in your command.”

Sy rubbed his head, first in frustration. Suddenly, he laughed. He could not hold it back. He shook his head in disbelief as he gazed at the wizard. “Are you going to be doing this to me all the time now?”

“Not all the time,” Enin joined him with a chuckle, “just most of the time.” The wizard’s delight allowed him to face the elf with less antagonism. “I offer my apologies to you. I was, like the captain said, acting like a child. In regard to my spells, I will also try to defer to your judgment. I have to admit, I also practiced my mind reading spell upon you while you were training these people. I know you are sincere. I did not wish to accuse you of anything. I just wanted you to understand my feelings toward your mistrust.”

Holli answered as if the event never occurred. “Your apology is accepted. Let us put that behind us. For now, we have other concerns. I still sense the goblins. Do you?”

Enin lifted his head, stared up over the wall to the west. He turned slightly to the south and continued until he faced the southeast corner of town. “Yes. They are circling the town, but they still have no intention of entering. They know that most of our people are preparing for war, not just the soldiers. They have spotted some of the battlements by the south gate. They find this all very interesting.”

Sy searched for answers. “What do you think they’re really up to?”

“It is like I said,” Enin revealed, “they are out here because the serp wants more information. I can see little about this serp. They seem very confused about him, like they can’t think straight.”

“That is not surprising,” Holli offered. “The serps have the ability to manipulate the thinking of most of these creatures. If they could think clearly around the serp, they would probably not follow it.”

“What do you think the serp wants?” Sy posed the obvious question to Holli.

“I imagine the serp is interested as to the reason for the increased activity in your town. They are opportunists. Perhaps, it thinks it can gain something from our trouble.”

“Can it?”

“I doubt it. Look at your walls. They are filled with archers ready to test their new found skill. Have you ever been more prepared for a raid?”

“No.”

“I’m sure the serp will also realize this. My guess is that it will wait to see what happens next.”

#

Sazar waited on a hilltop far to the west of Burbon. His scouts would return soon. Most of the puzzle was coming together. A few pieces were missing, but nothing which would make him question the inevitable. The war he wished for was at hand.

The only thing that truly bothered him at this moment was the departure of the delver. He went north, left quickly and alone. Why?

He would have to wait for this answer. The goblin scouting party made their return known. They struggled through the tall grass to make their report. They said nothing which he did not expect. He sent them away.

He stood not so alone, his shag waited close-by, hiding in the hill grass. He spoke, however, only to himself.

“The alliance is firm. More elves join the humans, train them. They will fight together against the dwarves. They expect an attack, expect it soon. They also expect it to be large. They are well prepared. Their defense seems clear.

“I wonder how much the dwarves of Dunop would pay for such information. They may already know much of this. If so, they would not reward me. I am certain they must know of the alliance between the elves and humans. They would be foolish if they didn’t. As for the preparedness of Burbon, they can find out much by tunneling underneath. I doubt they would be willing to pay for anything I could tell them.

“I could offer them an alliance. If they fight alone against two races, they might accept joining with my goblins. We could offer ranged attacks with crossbows. That would certainly help against the planned defense. But the dwarves are so stubborn. They will believe themselves superior regardless of the planned defenses.

“And I still do not know the position of the algors. The dwarves may already have an ally. The elves and the delver came back from the Lacobian alone. It is quite possible the algors refused them. The question is did they join the dwarves instead. Now, I come back to the delver. Why did he leave? Is he against the war? If so, why did he go with the elves to the Lacobian? If not, why did he leave just before battle?”

Sazar flipped his tail back and forth with his thoughts. He agonized over details now, trying to find the most lucrative means for taking