Free 4 City of Strife by William King Page B

mad artist’s illustration of a sorcerers’ study. The stuffed remains of a small wyvern hung from the rafters. On a workbench sat alembics and retorts. Ancient scrolls nestled in racks along the walls. Piles of leather-bound grimoires were stacked on the floor. Charts and astrological diagrams clung to the walls. In the centre of the chamber was a massive Elder Sign inscribed in multi-coloured chalk and in the centre of that was a large crystal sphere. As they entered the room, something small skittered across the floor and into the shadows. The place smelled of animal droppings and incense.
    Kormak walked in cautiously and walked around the sign being careful not to touch it. Tiny feet skittered away in the shadows. Glittering eyes watched him.
    “Is your curiosity satisfied?” Balthazar asked. Kormak nodded. It certainly wasn’t. The sign on the floor was like nothing he had ever seen before, and he doubted it was real. The amulet on his chest gave not the slightest sign that any magic was at work here. From what he could see here he doubted that Balthazar was any sort of sorcerer.
    How then had he known that the Silent Man would attack? It was a question that would have to be answered.
    “Well, it’s been a long night,” said Karsten. “I am sure we could all use some sleep.” He yawned ostentatiously. It was clear they were dismissed.

Chapter Eight

    JURGEN KRUGMAN, GARBED once again as a monk of Saint Verma, looked at the small garden. It lay in the Cathedral’s giant shadow and was quite barren at the moment. The branches of all the trees were leafless and covered in snow.
    “I was not sure whether to come,” said Jurgen. The voice emerging from the cowl was amiable enough. “I half expected you to try and stab me now that you have entered Karsten’s employ.”
    “That would be why those men with crossbows are on the scaffolding then,” Kormak said.
    “You have keen eyes.”
    “I have fast hands too. If one of them so much as raises his weapon you will be without a head before he can take aim.”
    Jurgen laughed. “We had both better hope that they don’t get ideas above their station then. Now would be a bad time for them to start acting independently of my orders.”
    “I see Dren gave you my message.”
    “Yes. He was very impressed. You quite confirmed his impression of your skill by the way you dealt with the Silent Man.”
    “I was lucky.”
    “You were clever and quick and you drove him off. Not many could do that.”
    “He’s not dead then.”
    “I would not say that.”
    “He is still in your service.”
    “Yes.”
    “Karsten’s pet magician Balthazar says the Silent Man is a product of sorcery.”
    “Even a charlatan like Balthazar can guess right sometimes.”
    “He guessed that your pet would attack the warehouse last night.”
    “Did he now? Was that why you were there?”
    “Yes.”
    “And why are we here now?”
    “Because Balthazar thinks he can duplicate the amulets Dren and his friends were wearing, and that might make their wearers safe from the Silent Man.”
    “My respect for Balthazar’s intelligence increases.”
    “Karsten Oldberg gave me five solars for defeating your silent friend.”
    “He is generous. I can be too.”
    “I have yet to see evidence of that.” Kormak decided it was best to give proof of his venality. If the principles in this conflict believed he was motivated by simple greed they would look no further.
    A purse of coins emerged from inside Jurgen’s sleeve. “There’s ten solars there. You see I knew to within a fraction of a penny what Karsten would pay you and I doubled it.”
    “Or you have several purses with different quantities in coins in them on your person.”
    “You are a cynic, Sir Kormak. But I can assure you that Karsten is quite predictable. It’s also quite predictable that you’re his favourite right now but that he will eventually turn on you. He’s like a child that way. He always casts his old toys aside