Hamilton Swoop, Wizard of Green Ridge (11 page)

Three of the Masters attempted to use the information in Dragonis Eliminatus to kill the beast. It took them a week before they even got a glimpse of it. The flaming arrows did nothing. They tried a freeze spell, which also had no effect.” Diamond paused and glanced about the room. “Master Citrine, they were all senior wizards. They all had strong talents, but not a single spell had any affect on the beast."

Hamilton sat and then asked, “Can I see their reports?"

"There are no reports from them. They did not survive the attempt."

"So what makes you believe that I will fair any better?"

"Because you are the best that we have. If you fail, the Guild fails."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. Does anyone else have anything to add?"

An acolyte half raised his hand. Hamilton looked at the boy. “Yes? You are?"

"Whimper. Anthony Whimper, Master Citrine. Level 2 wizard in training.” The boy looked nervous and fidgeted in his chair. He had difficulty meeting Hamilton's gaze.

"Yes, Acolyte Whimper. What can you add?"

"W-well, the d-dragon doesn't attack people or animals, just houses and, er, banks."

"Anything else?"

"N-no, sir."

"Thank you, Acolyte. Does anyone else have anything to add?"

The room was silent except for a muffled cough or two. Hamilton looked at the Acolytes and at the Senior Wizards. They all looked back at him. “Frankly, I was hoping that you can provide me with more information. Here is what I believe to be true. First, your Thermite is not a dragon. Dragons are, if nothing else, reptiles. Thermite is a bug, albeit a large one. Also, you can add a clock shop to your list of destroyed buildings although, were it not for my intervention, it would have been the King's Arms Inn instead of the shop. I do not tell you this to tout my abilities as saving the Arms as it was as much dumb luck as anything else that saved it."

Hamilton spotted the Alchemist seated to Diamond's left. “Master Hardension, what can you tell me about the items I left for you to examine?"

The Alchemist stood and placed a burlap sack on the table. He opened it and removed the cylinder. It no longer glowed. “This,” he began as he held the cylinder, “is made of base metals. A bit of gold mixed with some silver but mostly lead. I opened it. It was hollow and empty. The glow came from a magic charge of some sort but, even after consulting with the other wizards, I was unable to determine how it was so charged or what spell was used. As you can see, the charge has dissipated."

"Anything else about the cylinder?"

"Only that it was, at least physically, created by a talented metallurgist. The mix of metals is uniform throughout. Also, the machining of the parts comes very close to artistry in its precision. I would very much like to meet the man who created it."

"As would I, Master Alchemist. What about the material in the jar I left?"

Hardension brightened. “Now that was interesting. It is some form of oil. Quite flammable. Unfortunately, I can't identify its type."

The Alchemist removed the blackened jar from the sack and unscrewed its top. “There is something disquieting about this substance.” He took a stylus and inserted it into the jar withdrawing a small bead of it on the stylus’ tip. He then smeared it on the table and set the sample alight with a flint stick. It burned brightly.

"It burns,” said Diamond. “So does fish oil. So what?"

"Try putting it out using magic."

It was a simple spell. Diamond snapped his fingers. The flame continued to burn. The Guildmaster registered shock on his face. “It resists magic. How can this be?"

Hardension blew out the flame. An acrid smell filled the hall about the table as the smoke from the burning substance disappeared into the air. He then turned back to Hamilton. “I don't know, but what I do know is that this is the most dangerous substance, at least to the Guild, that I have ever examined."

"Because it resists magic?” asked Hamilton.

"No,” replied the Alchemist. “Because it nullifies it. The vapors that are left in the air from this infernal stuff will block all magic in the room for at least half an hour, maybe more."

"That's ridiculous!” exclaimed Diamond. He snapped his fingers. Then he did it again. And again. “My Gods!"

"Indeed,” nodded Hardension.

"Meow,” said Whiskers.

Hamilton looked down at his cat with surprise. “Meow?” He shook his head while scratching Whiskers behind her ears. Then he turned back to Hardension. “Thank you for your diligence, Master Alchemist. I wish that your news had been more positive, but knowledge is power and perhaps it will help lead us to a solution."

Hamilton turned his attention back to the Guild. “There are two other things that I have discovered that may help as well. The first is that the cylinder the Master Alchemist examined seems to be a lure that attracts the dragon. Considering that it was charged with a magic spell indicates that our enemy is a wizard, a perhaps a rogue wizard, and that person is controlling the beast. I found a similar cylinder in my room at the inn. I took it to the clock shop to open it which is where Thermite attacked.

The other thing I found, well, actually, Whiskers here found, was a few grains of sand left behind in my suite at the inn by the person who had placed the cylinder there. Whiskers tells me that the sand does not come from the ocean shore as it lacks the smell of salt. Also, I suspect I know who is behind all of this."

"Who is it?” asked Diamond.

"I believe that I met the man once before. If I described a person to you who wears a black hooded cloak and whose skin and eyes have a yellow cast to them, would any of you know such a man?"

"Topaz!” shouted Diamond. “You have described Master Topaz, but why would he do such things?"

Hamilton shook his head. “The missing wizard, huh? Right now, I have no idea, but I can tell you that he visited my shop in Green Ridge and, I believe, he expressed an interest in the items from Master Obsidian's trunk."

He turned to Argus and asked, “Runemaster, have you had any further luck in translating the runes from Obsidian's things."

Argus was examining his fingernails.

"Runemaster? Master Argus?"

The old man looked up. “Yes, I'm Runemaster Argus."

Hamilton repeated his question.

"No. Not yet,” replied Argus. “I believe some of them may not be runes, but rather text in an ancient language. I have requested books from the master library at Royal City, but they have not as yet arrived. I'm expecting them any day now."

"Thank you, Runemaster.” Hamilton looked at those about the table and asked, “Anyone know where I can find sand around here that doesn't come from the shore?"

Whimper looked up. “Er, maybe in the Dark Line Swamp, near the base of the Savanna Hills?"

An elder wizard wearing a gray cloak cleared his throat seeking attention. “Yes?” asked Hamilton.

"Name's Jade. Listen, we all appreciate the fact that you're here to help, but it doesn't seem to me that finding this drag ... this bug is going to do us much good ... unless you've got some idea as to how to kill it."

"I suspect that your thoughts are shared by many here. Is that so?"

There was muttered agreement from the wizards.

"Kill Thermite. That is the reason I was summoned, right?"

Again there was agreement.

"Well, fellow wizards, that is not the problem, but a symptom of it. If I snapped my fingers and Thermite disappeared, it would solve nothing."

Jade jumped to his feet. “What are you talking about? It would solve everything!"

In his calmest voice, Hamilton replied, “No, Master Jade and please, resume your seat. And here is why. The bug is not the problem. It is not a wanton beast, killing people at random and laying waste to the land. It is a tool, a weapon. Our challenge is not so much to kill this beast. The real problem, brother wizards, is to eliminate the Beastmaster."

Diamond looked up. “Just how do you expect to do that?"

Hamilton rubbed his beard drawing his hand down to its tip. “I don't know ... yet. First, I suppose, I'll have to figure out who he is, where he is and, with some luck, why he is doing this. In the mean time, I ask that you members of the Guild think about ways of killing this bug. Surely someone here knows how to kill a bug."

"Er, step on it?” offered Whimper and received an elbow stab in the arm from the wizard seated next to him.

Hamilton gave a cold stare to the wizard who elbowed Whimper. “Unless, you can come up with something better, I would be a bit less judgmental, if I were you. But, shy of constructing a two hundred foot long foot, the suggestion is a bit impractical, Acolyte Whimper. Still, it is a good start. As a dragon, this beast was imbued with mythical powers. As a bug, it's just a nuisance, albeit a large one.

But, as I said, I will leave finding a way to exterminate this bug to you for now. I, on the other hand, will try to find out first, where this Topaz can be found, and second, how I can stop him.

Are there any further questions?” The room was silent. “Good, then we will all meet back here the same time next week. In the mean time, I trust that the Runemaster and the Alchemist may be able to provide us all with additional information. Please have your records keeper send me any information they might have on Topaz. Where he lived, where he's from, and what kind of magic he specializes in. Anything, no matter how insignificant it might be.

Also, Master Diamond, I wish you to get out the word that should anyone find one of those cylinders, they should notify the Guild immediately."

"Meow!” shouted Whiskers.

Back at the inn, Whiskers got her voice back, but it came in stages.
That was most “
meow...”
Damn. Listen, Old Man. Whatever else you do, I want you to make sure that that “
meow”
stuff, damn, never sees the light of day again. You have no idea how it feels to lose your ability to talk.

Thalia, who was sitting on the couch, scratched Whiskers behind the ears. “Poor little kitty. I'm sure Hamilton will come up with something."

Whiskers produced a weak purr, but her tail continued to flick back and forth.
Think so? What about it, wizard? Got something up your sleeve besides old spotty skin?

Hamilton looked up from the chair and frowned at the cat. “I don't know. I kind of liked it when I didn't have to listen to your snide remarks. Maybe I'll collect a jar of the stuff to keep around here when I need some silence."

You wouldn't dare, you “
meow."

"Relax, cat. I was just kidding. I value your comments ... most of the time, but as to what I intend to do about Topaz ... I don't know, yet. Hopefully, the Guild can help. There're too many unanswered questions right now. Why is he getting this Thermite to terrorize the people around here? How is he doing it? That white stuff must affect his magic as well so how can he control the beast without magic?” Hamilton shook his head. “Too many questions right now."

He stood up and stretched. Then he sat down at the small table in the room and extracted paper and a pen from the drawer.

What are you writing? Your last will and
“meow"
, damn, testament?

"Cute. No. I'm writing up the danger of finding one of those cylinders and a description of Topaz. I'll drop it off at the local newspaper tomorrow. Maybe we'll get a lead on Topaz since I'm offering a 50 royal reward. Even if it doesn't help us find him, it may save a life or two. I'll notify the police as well, but I doubt that they'll be willing to face down a Master Wizard."

You'd better start practicing your own magic, Old Man. What's it been, four decades since you used it?

Hamilton looked up at the ceiling in thought saying, “I suppose that it has been almost that long, but as Diamond said, it's impossible to forget a spell."

Thalia looked up. “Really? You can't forget?"

"No, my dear. Learning a spell isn't like learning history. A spell, once learned, becomes, well, ingrained into your being. You're more likely to forget your own name than a spell. It becomes second nature.” Hamilton yawned and put down his pen. “It's getting late. I'm going to bed."

The next morning, Hamilton and Thalia set off to visit the local newspaper. Hamilton had debated whether or not to wear Obsidian's cloak, but had decided on his own coat. He was glad when he got outdoors as the weather had turned colder and a light snow was falling.

Following Roscoe's directions they traversed the half mile to the offices of the Norkon Gazetteer. The bell that tinkled when they entered sounded much like the one in Hamilton's shop. He was reminded that the two weeks’ protection fee he had paid was quickly running out. He fretted for a moment until he reminded himself that it was no longer necessary. A few brief words spoken under his breath and a quick gesture made his shop impervious to all unwanted visitors.

The newspaper office was not very busy. A lad of about 15 was cranking out copies on an old noisy press. He stopped when Hamilton and Thalia entered and asked if he could help.

"I'm looking for the owner."

At that point, an older man emerged from an office. “Someone looking for me? I'm Hendrick Corey, owner, editor, reporter, and advertising salesman. I suppose that you're here to cancel your subscription as well. Right?"

"No, Mr. Corey. I'm Master Citrine, from the Guild of Magic Users and Wizards. I have a story for you. This is Thalia, my assistant."

Corey bowed to the girl and then slid his gaze back to Hamilton. “A story, huh? From the Guild? Did that wizard who's supposed to kill Thermite show up?"

"That would be me."

"So why aren't you out slaying the dragon?"

"I am a wizard, not a knight. I don't slay dragons, but I am working on eliminating it. In any case, I have brought you some information on how Norkon citizens can protect themselves from Thermite. If you're interested?"

"Protection, huh? Let's go to my office. Stanley, that paper isn't going to print itself."

The boy went back to running the press as Hamilton and Thalia followed Corey into his office. He removed piles of newspapers from two chairs and then returned to his desk and sat down. “Sit, sit.” He gestured at the chairs.