Wizard's Blood [Part Two] (9 page)

Jolan nodded. “In Seret. I sent Ronoran to activate a portal there. I need to be able to travel to Seret and back quickly, and a portal is necessary. It is on the private property of Lord Yeren. My friend Tomas will be aware of what it can do, and I trust his discretion, especially after I have a talk with him. I suspect a merchant, also a long time friend, will be there and understand what we have. It might have been better if he didn’t know, but I suspect that bridge has been crossed. I want to bring him into the fold, and by doing so I am certain he will not be a risk either.”

“
The number of people grows alarmingly,” observed Wylan. “A secret is hard to keep with such numbers.”

“
There are two secrets,” said Chancellor Vaen. “We must strive to keep both. First is the existence of the portals and what they can do. If that secret were to become known, it would not only be destructive to our plans, it would give our enemy access to the system. The second secret, which is the manner in which the portals are activated simply must not fall into their hands. I agree with Major Wylan that we must not allow the crystals to exist except in extraordinary conditions.”

“
How different are the activation and deactivation spells?” asked Ward.

“
There are a few common items since they both deal with the portal, but the spells are surprisingly different.”

“
A clever wizard wouldn’t be able to deduce one from the other?”

“
I’m certain that is the case. Maybe it would have been possible in the past, when the symbolic language was very well understood, but not now. Why?”

“
I’m just thinking ahead. It may be we will want to have portals activated in the contested area. It would take time to send a mage there, and leaving him in a place where he might be captured and forced to reveal the activation spell would not be wise. However, once activated, if we could assign a person with no knowledge of how it works to have a deactivation crystal to shut down the portal in the event the enemy was approaching, it might have advantages. Even if the crystal were compromised, it wouldn’t give the enemy any access.”

“
I think that might be a wise approach, but again, it needs a lot more thought,” added Wylan.

“
The only crystal outstanding at the moment is the one in Seret?” asked Dibon.

Jolan nodded. “I probably shouldn’t have sent that one, but Ronoran isn’t that strong with the power and I wanted to be sure. Once the portal is open we can retrieve it.”

“
One aspect we haven’t addressed is the library in Ygooro. There is good reason to want to investigate what is there, but anyone doing so would have to have knowledge of the system. That could greatly increase the number of people involved.”

“
I think for now we will limit those with access and awareness to Nerila and Rifod,” said Vaen. “They already know about everything, and having them there will keep them away from any potentially dangerous encounters. I don’t want them on any more of your adventures. They can start cataloging the find, and next spring when we know our plans, we can reconsider if others will be allowed access. It will slow progress down, but I think that will be essential if we are to maintain secrecy.”

“
There’s another place I’d like Buris to help” said Jolan. “We have had good luck out there, but it might be wise to reinforce the tunnel walls with the power. He could look and see what might be advisable. We might want to check the map book and see if one of the portals closer to the library is available.”

“
Any objections to bringing Buris into the group?” Vaen asked even though it was her decision.

No one objected, and she nodded. “Okay, Buris is in. We are lucky the portal here is in a little used part of the building, but I want to set up a ward that we can all use to obtain access, but which will keep others out. Placing guards would just draw attention to the place. Ward, I’m putting you in charge of the portal. You figure out the best way to keep it secure.”

“
When are you planning on telling the Queen?” Jolan asked.

“
Right now,” she replied. “I think you should do the same with Buris. I know he’s aware you have returned and will be wondering why you haven’t visited.”

* * * *

As Jolan hurried through the buildings toward Buris’ lab, he passed a number of people he knew. Some simply waved, and others looked surprised to see him back. He didn’t take the time to stop and talk. There was too much to do, and he was getting a bit uncomfortable that neither of the other portals had been opened as yet. If there were problems in Seret, he would have expected a telegram, so Ronoran and Morin probably simply had not arrived in Carta yet. He was mostly worried about Asari and Luzoke, who’d had to sneak behind the enemy lines to reach their goal. Could something have gone wrong?

“
Wondered when you would show up,” remarked Buris when Jolan strolled into the lab. “What do you think of this?”

Buris handed him a very nice looking lever action rifle. It was well made, with a slim barrel and good balance.

“
They’ve gotten better. Did they learn our secrets for the steel?”

Buris shook his head. “This is one of ours. We took their design and started making copies, but with improvements. We also are making them with the same ammunition, so we can use any of their ammo we capture. Seems like we should have the same firing rate. Ours are more accurate, lighter, and we still have the accurized versions of our own design for the snipers.” Buris looked over at Jolan. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

“
Not exactly, but some clues. We did find a few things I need to tell you about.”

“
That’s incredible,” said Buris after Jolan finished a half-hour summary of their adventures. “You have one of these working here on the campus?”

“
Just the one over in the Council building,” Jolan explained. “Chancellor Vaen thought the one out back was a bit too public.”

Jolan was about to suggest that they go over for a demonstration, when Ward came hurrying into the lab.

“
Asari’s here,” he said. “They are taking him to the infirmary.”

“
What happened?” asked Jolan, immediately concerned.

“
He was shot,” said Ward. “It was well over a week ago, and it’s not too bad. He and Luzoke apparently killed all those involved so there is no concern that the enemy knows what is going on. He can tell you when you see him. His leg is sore because he has been abusing it since he was wounded, and it might be a bit infected. They are taking him to the infirmary so the medical mages can have a look at it.”

Concern for his friend warred against the relief that he was here safely. “Let’s go,” he said to Buris, who was already standing and ready to follow.

Asari gave him a sheepish grin when he walked into the room. The mage examining him had finished up a few minutes earlier and, after dosing the area liberally with a stinking concoction and ordering him to stay off of it until otherwise directed, had left.

“
I told you to be careful,” Jolan said, but his smile overshadowed his censure.

“
You should see Luzoke’s beams,” said Asari, shifting the discussion from his wound. “He can do things you wouldn’t believe. Hi Buris,” he said as he realized that his former employer was standing off to the side behind Ward.

“
Where is he?” asked Jolan. His concern for Asari had made him forget about the other member of his band.

“
Dibon took him to talk with the Chancellor,” Asari explained. “We kind of popped into the portal area unannounced. When we activated the unit up by the lake we saw the new location, and assumed it was most likely here in Cobalo, so we gave it a try. Dragons, but he looked surprised when we came walking out of the portal.”

At Jolan’s prompting, Asari provided a compact summary of their brief scouting of the area around the lake.

“
You don’t think the tunnel you found is an entrance to Tilano?” asked Jolan.

Asasi shook his head. “It was too dark and small. Besides, wouldn’t they have had the portals? And I can’t see it being a tunnel used in the construction of a hidden city either. The tunnel heads to the lake. We had to be getting close to the water down there. There wouldn’t be room for the city.”

“
Any ideas?”

“
Luzoke thinks it is some kind of a drain to let water out of the lake. It could be used for that, but how would it be controlled and why?”

“
Another mystery. What about the rest of the lake?”

“
We still have to search. As soon as they let me out of here, Luzoke and I can have a look.”

Jolan shook his head. “I’ll talk to Luzoke, and we’ll see how we want to do this. Until that wound is healed, you aren’t to go climbing up there.”

“
Use your ring,” Asari said, impatient to be moving again.

“
Ronoran has it,” Jolan explained, and then told him about Morin and the problem his wife was having.

“
Do you think she will be okay?” asked Asari with concern. If anything, he’d been closer to the family than Jolan.

“
I hope so, but until they get to Seret and open the portal or send a message we won’t know. Until then, you need to take it easy as well.”

Asari looked uncertain, but he’d had a rough week on the leg, and agreed to stay put.

“
I’m going to go and find Luzoke, and we’ll see what makes sense. You tell Buris exactly what you found while I’m gone.”

Luzoke verified the details of Asari’s story and explained how they had slipped out of Angon, and then had been seen on the trail by the Ale’ald troops. It was pretty clear that Vaen was unhappy about how easily they had been able to bypass the border guards, although at the same time glad they had be able to. Wylan was tasked with looking into the problem. He was also concerned about Jolan’s plans to scout the lake.

“
It would be better if you had a bit of support while you are up there. I have some special troops that I could send, but already that would compromise the portals. I trust these men, but I’m not sure it is wise to send them if it means revealing what we can do.”

There weren’t enough people to do everything, and it was going to take far too long if they restricted their manpower. It didn’t have to be decided immediately, but Jolan was beginning to think he would want some of Wylan’s people to help.

The next afternoon Jolan was in the portal room on one of his frequent visits when the structure emitted a small chime. Ronoran had told him it had done that when they’d opened the oasis portal. He walked over and into the opening. There were now four possible destinations shown. Two were the portals far to the south, one was the portal up by the lake which he’d now logged into memory, so the last one, actually the third one showing, must be Seret. No time like the present he said, and selected that destination.

As Jolan emerged from the portal he couldn’t help but enjoy the looks on the faces of Tomas and Morin, who stood a few feet away. After a quick nod to Ronoran, who wasn’t particularly surprised to see Jolan come strolling out of the entrance, he walked over to Tomas and took his hand.

“
It’s been a long time my friend,” he said.

Tomas took his hand in return, but before he could speak Morin interrupted.

“
You’ve been here all the time? If you were coming to Seret anyway, why did you ask us to come?”

“
I was in Cobalo until just a moment ago,” explained Jolan. “What you have here is the greatest secret you’ve ever known.”

Jolan realized that Ingari was there as well, and walked over and gave her a hug. “How are you?” he asked, not knowing whether the ring had been of any help.

“
Your miracle has cured me,” she said with a warm smile. “It appears you have several miracles to share.”

With everyone gathered together he spoke to them all. “This is indeed a bit of a miracle, but it is not one to be shared. Not for now. This discovery of the old technology could well change the course of the war. I need to impress on each of you the importance of what you have seen and the absolute necessity of not telling anyone. I would like to ask each of you to come with me right now. I’d like you to meet with some people in Cobalo so you can understand what we are doing.”

“
Cobalo?” asked Tomas. “You are serious that this will take us to Cobalo?”

“
And much further than that Tomas. We can go to Cobalo and meet, and then come back for a bit of a celebration afterwards. Is that acceptable?”

A bit nervous, the others agreed. Jolan explained about the symbols that would appear, and what the symbols for the Cobalo station would look like. He led them inside the entrance and watched as each disappeared, then made his own selection.

Tomas, who had been in the Council building once before several years ago, recognized where he was. Morin and his wife were somewhat confused, realizing only that they had somehow transitioned from outside to inside by going into the stone pedestal.

“
Dragons, that’s amazing,” said Tomas. “We really are in Cobalo.”

“
Let’s go up and see the Chancellor,” suggested Jolan. “We can explain what we have found and how you might fit in.”

Jolan turned to Ronoran. “Could you go over to the infirmary. Asari is there. He was wounded. A bit of time with the ring should make him good as new. Bring him back here with you.”