Lawrence Watt-Evans - The Unwelcome Warlock

“Do we know what happened?” she asked.

“That’s why I’m here, Guildmaster. We have received reliable reports that Vond did indeed follow Hanner and the rest through the tapestry Arvagan made.”

Ithinia considered that silently for a moment, swaying back and forth gently as her hands circled over the seven stones.

“Hanner had that tapestry made as a refuge from the Calling, I believe?” she said at last. She was not really asking Rothiel as much as reminding herself what Arvagan had told her.

“That is my understanding, Guildmaster.”

“But when he tested it, he was Called immediately.”

“So I was told, yes.”

“Warlockry should not reach through a Transporting Tapestry.” She frowned. “But I don’t think Vond would want to give up his magic even for a moment, and Hanner’s refuge apparently did not protect him seventeen years ago. Perhaps there is yet another source of magic on the other side, one that increased Hanner’s susceptibility to the Call.”

“We have no way of knowing, Guildmaster.”

“Don’t be an idiot, Rothiel. Dozens of Called warlocks went through that tapestry, and were then chased back to Ethshar by Vond’s hirelings – they would know whether there is a third source on the other side. We can ask them.”

“Oh,” Rothiel said. “Of course.” Ithinia glanced up from her work long enough to see that the man was actually blushing.

“Everyone misses the obvious on occasion,” she said. “Now that your oversight has been pointed out, perhaps you will make up for it by talking to some of these refugees and learning as much as you can about Hanner’s other world. What does Vond want there? Why hasn’t he returned yet? When will he return?” She paused. “You might want to talk to Arvagan about what return mechanism he provided when Hanner first purchased the tapestry. Talk to the refugees first, though. I’m sure you can think of the questions we want to ask.”

“Yes, Guildmaster.”

“Was there anything else I needed to know before you attend to interviewing the refugees?”

“Not about the general situation, but Lady Alris wishes to speak to you.”

“Then by all means, send her in.”

Rothiel bowed, then turned and left the room.

A moment later Lady Alris entered.

Ithinia did not know the Lady of the Household well; Alris’ duties generally kept her in the palace, while Ithinia had preferred to stay out of the seat of government. Still, they had met before, in passing.

“You will forgive me, my lady, if I do not bow,” Ithinia said. “As you can see, I am in the midst of a spell I hope will restore the palace to its proper place.”

Alris nodded. “Of course, Ithinia.”

For a moment neither woman spoke; then Ithinia asked, “Are you here on behalf of Lord Azrad?”

“I am here as his representative, yes,” Alris replied, “but I am also here on my own behalf.”

“Are you?” Ithinia’s tone was polite, but uninterested.

“Yes. But first, the overlord wishes to know what he might expect from you and this demented warlock.”

Ithinia nodded. “Please extend to Lord Azrad my apologies for allowing this situation to arise. I regret to say I am not entirely sure what he should expect. Emperor Vond has disappeared. He may return at any time, and when he does I expect he will lift the palace off this sandbar and once again suspend it over the city.”

“Lord Azrad has been given to understand that the emperor has done this because you attempted to deceive him in some fashion.”

Ithinia sighed. “Yes, we did. We had hoped to discourage him from using his magic recklessly.”

“Who is ‘we’?”

“Myself and certain other magicians, most particularly a witch named Kirris of Slave Street. I very much regret to say that Kirris is dead now; Vond killed her.” Ithinia allowed herself a sigh. “We meant no harm.”

“Yet here we are, in a palace that has been yanked out of the ground like a weed, dangled over the city for hours, and then flung aside.”

“I am aware -” Ithinia began.

“Lord Azrad is not interested in what you may be aware of,” Alris interrupted. “He has sent me here to express his very great displeasure at being caught in the middle of a feud between two magicians.”

Ithinia was startled; she was not accustomed to being interrupted. She said, “I -”

“Furthermore,” Alris continued, cutting her off, “he wishes me to convey to you his intense annoyance at the apparent hypocrisy involved. We all know your Guild forbids the overlord to interfere with magical business, yet you and the warlock seem to have had no compunction about interfering with the overlord.”

“On the contrary, I am appalled that Vond -”

“Heretofore,” Alris went on relentlessly, “Lord Azrad and his predecessors have allowed wizards a great deal of leeway, as have the other overlords. He would remind you that it was you and your fellow wizards who convinced his father to allow warlocks to live in this city in the first place. He would also remind you that while he knows wizards and warlocks are very powerful, there are other powerful magicians who would be happy to see your position in Ethshar reduced.”

“Yes,” Ithinia said. “I know.”

Alris glared silently at her.

“Are you done?” Ithinia asked.

“I have delivered the overlord’s message,” Alris replied.

“Good. Tell Lord Azrad that he has every right to be upset, and I can assure him that I will be more careful in the future. The spell I am working on, once completed, will allow us to keep the palace airborne for a month, even if Vond releases it. It will not, I regret to say, prevent him from smashing the palace in some other way, but at least if he drops it – if, perhaps, he were to die suddenly while the palace is aloft – it won’t fall, but can instead be lowered gently back into its place. Furthermore, I am doing what I can to make peace with Emperor Vond; I have sworn not to harm him, and I hope that once his temper has cooled we’ll be able to reach some sort of agreement to leave each other alone. I apologize for all this.”

Alris listened, then asked, “You’ve sworn not to harm him?”

“Yes.” Ithinia saw no need to explain any further, or offer any greater assurances than a simple statement.

“Does he know that?” Alris demanded.

“He heard me say it.”

“And yet the palace is still on a sandbar.”

Ithinia grimaced. “Obviously, his temper has not yet cooled. I would also guess that he is not necessarily sure my word is good, or that my friends and allies won’t take action against him without me.”

Alris nodded. “I see. I will tell Lord Azrad what you’ve said.”

“Thank you.” Ithinia frowned as she completed a tricky pass, then looked up from the table and asked, “Was there anything else?”

“Not from the overlord. For myself, though – have you seen my brother Hanner? Do you know whether he’s all right? He was staying in our uncle’s…at Warlock House, and that’s where Vond is now.”

“It’s where Vond was , certainly,” Ithinia said. “My friends and I aren’t entirely sure just where he is now.”

“Do you know where Hanner is?”

Reluctantly, Ithinia admitted, “I’m not sure. We think he went through that tapestry he commissioned before he was Called, but we don’t know for certain whether he’s still over there. You might consult another magician, though; I’ve been rather busy with other concerns.”

“I haven’t seen him since he was Called,” Alris said. “Nerra did – Lady Nerra, our sister – and he visited Mavi, who used to be his wife, but I haven’t seen him, and neither have any of his children. You did, didn’t you?”