Martin Scott - Thraxas Under Siege (ARC)

I curse them all, and drag my attention back to investigating. The idea that Borinbax's oddly shaped wound might have been caused by a crossbow bolt, subsequently removed, isn't much to go on, but I have a feeling for these things and my feeling is that Sarin is connected to this affair. She's quite capable of killing anyone who gets in her way and she wouldn't have any scruples about selling a vital sorcerous item to the Orcs. I know from experience that she's a resourceful opponent. She once killed Tas of the Eastern Lightning, a very powerful Sorcerer who had the misfortune to form an alliance with her.

I have two days off from my duty on the walls, which allows me to devote my full concentration to investigating. The day is again mild and I let my cloak slip open as I stride through Twelve Seas. I pass several companies of soldiers marching down towards the harbour. Cicerius is making good on his promise to reinforce the defences around the sea walls. A few ragged children cheer as they pass. I also notice Harmon Half Elf, an eminent Turanian Sorcerer, talking with a shopkeeper outside the candle shop. It's unusual to see Harmon in Twelve Seas. At a guess, I'd say he's looking for the Ocean Storm. Now that news has leaked out, there's no need for anyone to do their investigating in secret. Harmon won't be the only one currently scouring the city. I'll be surprised if any of them find it. Investigating is a specialist art. Besides, Harmon is not what you'd call smart. He once called me an imbecile, thereby proving he's a man of poor judgement. When it comes to investigating, everyone knows I'm as sharp as an Elf's ear.

I get the sudden feeling that maybe it's all a waste of time. Perhaps the Ocean Storm doesn't even exist. Maybe Captain Arex was just a conman, hoping to wrest a few gurans from the Sorcerers Guild. Still, there's nothing to do but keep on looking.

I walk towards the southern end of Moon and Stars Boulevard, looking for a landus. I'm out of luck. They can be hard to find south of the river, and I end up walking all the way up to Pashish. I'm planning to visit Astrath Triple Moon. Astrath's an old friend of mine. Since being sacked from his position as Sorcerer at the Stadium Superbius, Astrath has eked out a fairly poor existence. Now the Orcs are causing trouble again, he's been brought back into the fold of the Sorcerers Guild. Turai needs all its Sorcerers at a time like this, honest or not. If Astrath has a good war he'll be right back in business and he's been going all out to show his worth. When the Orcs attacked he arrived early on the battlefield, and since then he's been so busy that I've hardly seen him.

I strike lucky. Astrath is home and he invites me to join him for dinner. His table is better provisioned than it has been for some time.

"How's life in the investigating business?"

"Better than rowing a slave galley, or just about. How about you?"

"I'm close to being a full member of the Sorcerers Guild again."

Astrath has a thick grey beard. When he's in a good mood it makes him look benevolent, jovial even.

"It's good to be back," he says.

I nod. It was tough for Astrath, being cast into disgrace. I load up with a good-sized portion of venison and half a bottle of wine before I mention the reason for my visit.

"I'm looking for the Ocean Storm."

The Sorcerer isn't surprised.

"Everyone is."

"Can you fill me in on some more of the background?"

"Astrath rings for more wine. I notice he's engaged a few more servants, a sure sign that things are looking up. He must be one of the few people in the city whose life has been improved by the war.

"There's not a great deal to tell. No one knows much about it. Even if we find it I doubt there's many people in Turai who could use it. Lisutaris, I expect. Maybe Coranius the Grinder."

"What about the Orcs? Could their Sorcerers use it?"

Astrath considers for a moment.

"I don't think most of them could. Not at short notice anyway. An item like that takes time to get used to. A few of their most powerful adepts, perhaps. Horm the Dead, maybe, or Deeziz the Unseen. Though Deeziz doesn't seem to be with Amrag."

"You really think it might be powerful enough to cause a storm to batter down the city walls?"

"Possibly. Our own Storm Calmer is an extremely powerful sorcerous tool. It can bring a hurricane to a standstill. If there's some sort of equivalent item for starting a storm, it could be strong enough to break through the sea wall. Remember, the Orcs have a lot of sorcery already. Even if the Ocean Storm only cancels out the effects of the Storm Calmer, it might allow them enough time to force their way through with their own spells."

Astrath pours more wine. It's some time since I've seen him so convivial.

"Firing spells on the battlefield. Made me feel alive again."

"My phalanx was wiped out," I remind him.

Astrath acknowledges this.

"A lot of people died, I know. But Thraxas, I've been expecting the Orcs to overrun Turai for the past thirty years. I've never thought we could hold them off for ever. I'm just glad to be back in the thick of it for the last battle."

"You sound like you're looking forward to it."

Astrath shrugs.

"I don't mind. It's not such a bad way to die."

"You're right, it's not. But I sometimes get the feeling I could have died for someplace better than Turai."

I ask Astrath if he's heard any war news through the Sorcerers Guild that hasn't been released to the public. He tells me that the Guild thinks they might have detected a large force of Orcs some way to the northeast of the city.

"Coming from Soraz, possibly."

"You mean Rezaz the Butcher?"

Astrath nods.

Rezaz the Butcher, Lord of Soraz, was one of the leaders of the Orcish army who almost captured Turai seventeen years ago. He wasn't with Prince Amrag when he attacked and no one knows for sure if he's pledged his allegiance to Amrag. There has recently been some sort of cooperation between Turai and Lord Rezaz, on economic matters which were beneficial to both sides, but that's not to say the Butcher wouldn't welcome another chance to march into Turai.

"We don't know for sure. The whole area is blanketed with Orcish spells of concealment. It might be Rezaz or it might be Amrag's army."

"I'd guess Amrag's army's gone south," I say. "There have been sightings of his fleet along the coast."

"It's possible," agrees Astrath. "Though we're fairly sure Queen Direeva in the Southern Hills hasn't joined up with him, which makes his going south less likely. But really, it's impossible to say what's going on."

I drink another goblet of wine, and take a small bolt out from my bag.

"A crossbow bolt?"

"It's the one that Sarin the Merciless once fired into Makri."

Astrath grins.

"How is Makri? Still tantalising the clientele?"

"If you call walking round almost naked with a permanent frown on your face tantalising, then yes."

I produce a small scrap of cloth, stained dark with blood.

"This is part of the tunic of a man I think was killed by Sarin. She wrenched a bolt out of his chest, which means she's touched this cloth. Can you use these two items to locate her?"

Astrath picks up the bolt and the cloth, one in each hand, as if weighing them. He studies them for a few moments.

"Maybe. I think they've both got some of her aura on them. Is it urgent?"

I tell him it is.

"Do you want to come back in an hour, say?"

"It's more urgent than that."

Astrath shrugs. I've done him some favours in the past and he knows I wouldn't press him if I didn't have to. He instructs a servant to provide me with anything I want, and takes the crossbow bolt and the scrap of cloth through to his private workspace at the back of his house. He scoops up a half-full bottle of wine before leaving the room. I finish off the venison on my plate, take the rest from the silver salver in the middle of the table, and ring for the servant.