Hamilton Swoop, Wizard of Green Ridge (14 page)

"Master Diamond here seemed to think that I arrived because he had summoned me to the Guild. The truth is I was summoned, not by Diamond, but rather by Obsidian, a true Master Wizard. A week ago, I asked you for information. Aside from the acolytes, you produced almost nothing. In the last week, there've been three more attacks and two more people are dead. Half the population of Norkon has left and the people that remain have lost all respect for the Guild. I give you, members of the Guild, one more week. If you can't come up with some real information on both Topaz and Thermite within that time, I'll return to Green Ridge and you can deal with your dragon without me."

"But, but, you can't ... You've got to help. You m-must.” Diamond stuttered.

"I'm not going to do this by myself. It's either a team effort or you can go look for another fool. You've got one more week. I'll be back before that. But, if you manage to come up with something helpful, send word immediately."

Hamilton grasped Thalia's hand. “Come on. Let's go.” Whiskers jumped up on his shoulder and they headed out leaving the members of the Guild mumbling in their wake.

The next morning Hamilton got up early. He sketched out a diagram and gave it to Thalia to deliver to the baker they had met.

She looked at the sketch and asked, “It looks like a crossbow, but what are these?” She pointed out part of the diagram.

"Wheels. Note the dimensions. The bolts will be a twelve feet long."

"Do you think this will work against Thermite?"

Hamilton managed a feeble smile. “I hope so. Little arrows didn't work. Maybe a few big ones might. Anyway, give the sketch to that baker, what was his name?"

"I think it was Will, William Beaumont."

"Yeah, Beaumont, that's right. Tell him that the Guild will pay him to build it, but tell him he's only got a week to do it in."

Whiskers wandered in from the bedroom.
Breakfast show up yet?

Hamilton took the bowl off the table and put it on the floor. “Eat."

Whiskers walked over to the bowl and sniffed it. She ate a few bites and then looked up at Hamilton.
Are you going to take me with you when you go to Green Ridge?

"No. You can stay here along with Thalia."

Works for me. That wagon of yours is very uncomfortable.

"I'm not taking the wagon. I don't have the time. I'll ride Bethesda."

"Mast, er, Hamilton, what would you have me do while you are gone?"

"Well, you can take care of Whiskers, but aside from that, I want you to go to the newspaper and tell the owner that the bounty on the cylinders, the ones that glow blue, has been upped to 100 royals. Beyond that, use your imagination. Anything you can find on Thermite could be helpful."

"I think you frightened the wizards yesterday."

"I suppose I did. It was stupid losing my temper but they've got to help. I can't do this alone."

"Do you think anyone will find one of the cylinders?” asked Thalia.

"I hope so, but if they do, if they bring one to you, don't keep it in the inn. Bury it somewhere. Make sure no one sees you do it. I don't want Thermite flattening this place. I shouldn't be gone long. Two or three days at the most."

Whiskers looked up from her meal.
How are you going to manage that? It's a two day trip in either direction.

"It is, unless you apply a bit of magic. Thalia, please put your coat on. I want you to come out to the stables with me."

"Are you leaving now?"

"Yes. Just as soon as I get Obsidian's cloak and wand."

"Let me pack some food for your trip. It won't take a moment."

Outside, Hamilton could see his breath in the cold air. The stable doors were closed and when they entered he was pleased to note that the air inside was warmer. They moved to Bethesda's stall. He looked well fed and Hamilton noticed that there was a large sack of oats just outside the gate. “How has the stable master been treating you, boy?” The horse replied,
Much better. Food's good and I've been curried three times.

Thalia translated.

"Excellent. Feel like some exercise?"

Thalia translated the horse's response. “Bethesda said that he doesn't like pulling the wagon. He says that the harness chafes."

"No wagon, this time, boy. I'll be riding on your back.” Hamilton took a step back and examined his horse. He glanced at Thalia. “If you can understand Bethesda, I should be able to as well.” He extracted his wand and tapped the horse's head and then his own. “Horse?"

Yes, I am,
replied Bethesda.

"That's better. Can you understand me?"

I know what you're saying but understand you? Hardly.

Hamilton retrieved his saddle, bridle, and blanket from the back of his wagon and prepared Bethesda for the trip. As he was about to mount, Thalia kissed him. “For luck,” she said, but the kiss was more than just a peck on the cheek. This time it was Hamilton's turn to blush. He wanted to say thanks, but discovered that his tongue wouldn't work properly. Instead, he tied his little bundle of clothes plus the food Thalia had packed to the back of the saddle and climbed up on Bethesda's wide back. Thalia opened the stable door and Hamilton walked Bethesda out onto the street.

"Come back safe,” Thalia called as Bethesda trotted west.

I will
, replied the horse.

"Me too,” echoed Hamilton.

The sky remained gray and the wind was cold, but Bethesda seemed energized. In less than thirty minutes, they had cleared the outskirts of the Norkon and were once more on the road to Green Ridge.

Hamilton scratched his head as he tried to remember the trigger for one of the spells he had learned so long ago. While it wasn't possible to forget a spell, the words that triggered them were a different story. It was on the third try that he got the response he was looking for. “Ready to run, boy?"

Only if you want me to break my legs. There's ice under this snow.

Hamilton smiled. “That won't be a problem. Equus magnus transitum.” He tapped the horse between its ears. He snapped the reins and Bethesda picked up speed. The speed continued to increase. Soon they were going at a clip that would put a race horse to shame. Hamilton looked down and saw that the horse's hooves no longer touched the ground.

Wow! This is great. Can I go higher?

"Sorry boy, but I'm not a witch and you're not a broomstick. Besides, there are certain things that the public should not know. They'd believe a fast horse ... even a very fast horse, but a flying horse? It would require too much explaining. One of my mentor's rules was to never be obvious with magic unless there are no other options."

The landscape continued to fly by. Around midday, the sun came out from behind the clouds and the snow, which covered everything, began to melt. Thirty minutes later, they reached Mid-Post Station.

"Good, job, buddy! A day's journey in 5 hours. You deserve a break."

Heck
, replied the horse.
I barely broke a sweat.

Hamilton dismounted and fed and watered Bethesda after taking him into the stable. There were two other horses tied up in the stalls. While Bethesda ate, Hamilton walked up the path toward the station proper. He noted two sets of footprints in the melting snow after he passed the spot were the corpse had been. The prints showed they were made by heavy soled boots, not the kind a thief would wear.

When he reached the door, he drew his wand from his belt and opened it. “Hello.” he shouted.

"Hello, yourself,” responded a voice from inside. “Swoop, is that you?"

The voice belonged to Hiram Sloth, owner of the Green Puddle Pub in Green Ridge. Though he was a large man, there was little fat on him. “Hi, I haven't seen you in what's it been? Three or four years? How've ya been?” Hamilton returned his wand to his belt.

"Not as well as you. Hardly recognized ya. Gods, man, ya look great. What'd you do?"

"Did a deal with a wizard.” Hamilton sat down at the long table across from Hiram. “What are you doing so far from the pub?"

"Me and Izzy, you remember Izzy Bigarm, don't ya? He's the bouncer at the Puddle. Yeah, well me an’ Izzy are goin’ up ta Center City. Ah haven't had a beer shipment in three weeks and if ah don't get some soon, ah'll be in big trouble."

"Why didn't you just send a letter?"

"Mail service ain't runnin’ to the City no more."

"How come?"

"They lost a carrier a couple a weeks back. Also, they say there's a dragon menacin’ the City. They don't want to risk it. Imagine, a dragon. There ain't no such thing no more. Wanna a beer? There weren't nobody here when we arrived, but the place is well stocked.” Hiram got up and headed for the cold box.

"See if there's any stout. As far as the dragon in Center City goes, I've seen it. Thing almost killed me."

"Yer jackin’ me!” Hiram returned with a bottle of Pinky's Stout. “There really is a dragon?"

"Bigger then any I've read about. Half the people in Norkon have left and the rest are real nervous."

"So, that's where you been, Norkon?"

"Yes. Business. I'm on my way back to Green Ridge right now. I've got to check on my shop."

Hiram opened the bottle of stout and handed it to Hamilton. “Drink up. You think it's safe to go on to Center City?"

"Should be. The dragon doesn't attack people. Only buildings.” Hamilton took a long pull on his ale. “Where's Izzy?"

"He's upstairs doin’ some scroungin'. We figured, ya know, what the hell. If this place has been abandoned, it's fair game."

There was a sound from above and Izzy descended the stairs. “Look what I found. What d'ya think it is?” Then he noticed Hamilton. “Hey, ain't you the guy who owns the junk shop in Green Ridge?"

"That's antique shop,” Hamilton noticed what Izzy was carrying and his jaw dropped. “Where did you find that?"

"Yeah, that's right. Antique shop.” Izzy walked over to the table where Hamilton now stood and dropped the cylinder on it.

"Izzy, where did you find that and was it glowing?"

"Think it's worth somethin'?"

"Was it glowing?"

Hiram looked at Hamilton and asked, “So what is it?"

Hamilton ignored him. “Izzy. This is very important. Was ... it ... glowing ... blue?"

"Yeah. It ... was ... glowin’ ... blue. That's how I found it. Does that make it worth more? What is it anyway?"

Hamilton's eyes widened. “Death warrant for you. Maybe for all of us."

Hiram's mouth dropped open. “What are you talkin’ about, Swoop? What is it?"

"It's a dragon lure. That dragon that's been destroying buildings in Norkon is attracted to these things."

"So what do we do with it?” asked Hiram.

Izzy picked up the cylinder. “Dragon lure? What are you, stupid or something? There's no sech thing. What is it, really?"

"I wasn't kidding, Izzy. There's a real live dragon destroying buildings and killing people in Norkon. And, what you have there in your hand is the only known thing that attracts him. Give it to me."

"No way, peddler. I found it. It's mine."

"Well then get it away from us. Take it outside, hide it, bury it, but get it away from this building—now."

Izzy looked to Hiram for instructions with a touch of fear in his eyes. “What should I do?"

"Ah don't think Swoop's jackin’ ya ‘round Izzy. He told me ‘bout the dragon before you came downstairs. Ah think you'd better take it outside."

Now Izzy looked worried. He glanced about and then stuck out the hand holding the cylinder to Hamilton, “Take it!"

Hamilton grabbed the cylinder and ran out through the front door. He glanced at the sky, but saw nothing amiss. He ran fifty feet from the station. In the center of the field he noticed a hole. It was perhaps a dozen feet deep and a yard wide. It looked as if someone had started digging a well as there was a large pile of dirt next to it. Without hesitation, he flipped the cylinder into the hole and then pushed as much dirt from the pile into the hole as he could to cover it, all the while glancing over his shoulder at the sky.

The other two had followed Hamilton to the pit and stood there watching him with curiosity. Hamilton glanced at them, annoyed, and shouted, “Don't just stand there, help me.” Slowly at first and then more enthusiasm, Hiram and Izzy joined in pushing the mound of dirt back into the hole. With the majority of the dirt returned to the hole, Hamilton led the way back to the station. Even in the cold air, all three men were damp with sweat.

Hiram brushed dirt from his hands on to his pants. “Ya know, ah feel kinda stupid. Even if there is a dragon in Center City, what would it be doing out here?"

Hamilton ignored the question and watched the sky.

"See anything?” Izzy followed the wizard's gaze.

Hamilton turned and looked out over the field. “No, but the last time I saw one of the cylinders it was about an hour later that the dragon attacked. And we don't even know when this one was planted. How long have you boys been here?"

"'bout an hour or so,” Hiram said.

"See anyone on your way here?"

"Passed some guy on a horse headin’ towards Green Ridge, but that was a coupla hours ago,” replied Izzy.

"What'd he look like?"

"Couldn't say. He was wearin’ a black cloak. Couldn't see his face. Looked like he was in a hurry, though,” Izzy said.

"Look!” Hiram pointed skyward.

Izzy and Hamilton turned to see a huge shadow blot the land. They looked up and saw Thermite swoop within forty feet of the open field. The three men rushed inside the station and peered out through the open door. Thermite made three more passes over the field and then, as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone.

"Holy muther of da Gods,” Izzy muttered.

"Ya can say that again,” Hiram said.

"Still want that thing for a souvenir?” Hamilton smirked.

"Think ah'll pass on that. Ya think it's safe to go on ta the city?” Izzy stepped outside and looked up. He scanned the horizon with a worried look on his face.

Hamilton joined him outside. “You should be OK. Like I told Hiram, Thermite—they call him Thermite in the city—attacks buildings. Of course, if you dig up that cylinder, he might make an exception."