to examine it more closely. Master Ash also looked awfully familiar. He kept racking his mind for some memory as to where he had seen the man, but Samuel could not remember any clue or recall anything that could be of help.
Samuel returned his gaze from the window and back to his lap, where he turned a page. Here were his recent notes on history, as droned by Master Sanctus. Samuel raised an eyebrow in curiosity, for he really could not make head nor tail of anything he had written. The words seemed almost nonsensical poetry, as if he had dozed off in class and started jotting down gibberish. Samuel shook his head at himself. He had talked shortly with the two Erics about what he had heard from the Grand Master’s room, but they knew even less than he did.
Another movement caught his eye and Samuel spied a glimpse of a tall figure just vanishing from view behind the apprentice bathhouse. Samuel damned himself for his lapse in concentration and threw his book onto his bed as he vaulted the balcony and ran down the stairs. He had to pull himself up short in the doorway, for the lofty man he had seen had paused to talk to another-Master Sveld. The tall man had his back to him, but Samuel was sure now it was Master Ash. His aura was now unmistakable.
The two soon finished their conversation and continued past each other, with Master Ash heading out through the school gates and into the city. Samuel followed, straining to keep his pace to a casual stride, for he itched to burst into a trot and follow the man more closely, but that would be far too obvious. He remembered his days in the streets of Stable Canthem, when he was as agile as a mountain goat-those days seemed so long ago now, almost as if from another life, and he was not nearly so nimble as he used to be.
Samuel spied his quarry turning right towards Endlen Street and could stand it no longer. He sprang into a dash to catch up to Master Ash, skidding to a halt just before the street branched. The old blacksmith on the corner looked up from pumping his bellows and smiled curiously. Samuel peered around the bend, where Master Ash was entering the crowded confines of East Market.
As Samuel reached the edge of the crowd, the people began to part around him and give him their greetings, much to his horror, for they were doing the same around Ash, leaving a bare path between the two of them. The man only had to turn his head to see Samuel trailing so blatantly behind him and Samuel nearly choked when Ash did exactly that, looking directly back towards him.
Samuel leapt aside, bringing up his arm to hide his face, as if scratching his head.
‘What can I offer you, Lord?’ a merchant asked at his side.
Samuel realised he was standing before a basket stall. ‘I…ah,’ Samuel stuttered. ‘I would like one-’ he began, scrutinising the merchandise. ‘-of those,’ he finished and pointed to a long wicker container.
‘Very well, Young Lord,’ the merchant stated and plucked up the container, dropping it into Samuel’s arms. ‘That will only be half a crown for one of the Order.’
Samuel patted at his pockets and realised he had not a coin on him.
‘Please, allow me,’ came a voice at his side and an old woman pressed some money into the merchant’s grateful palm. ‘It’s my pleasure, Young Lord,’ she grinned at him.
‘Thank you, Madam,’ Samuel replied with relief and racked his mind for some way to thank her. She was as healthy as could be and as tough as an old goat, yet she had a number of sizable sacks tied together and leaning against her legs while she perused the basket stall. ‘Perhaps I can help take some of the load off your legs in return.’ He raised one finger and cast a spell of Lifting. At once, the sacks raised themselves from the street and began floating effortlessly by the old woman’s waist.
‘Goodness!’ she exclaimed, putting her hand to her breast in surprise. A gasp rose from all around and several men clapped their hands in appreciation of the spectacle. It made Samuel shudder with regret as all the people began to crowd around to see what was happening.
‘Astounding!’ people called out. ‘Wonderful!’ and children began jumping and up down and shouting with joy beside him.
‘Thank you,’ the old woman said, nodding and smiling, although she looked somewhat unsure of her levitating goods. ‘Thank you, good Lord. What a blessing you are to my old bones.’
Samuel glanced between heads and was both relieved and alarmed to find no sign of Master Ash. ‘Thank you!’ he called behind as he stepped away from the stall, holding the wicker vessel on his shoulder. Master Ash could not have gone too far, so Samuel pressed on down the street.
A bobbing head appeared further on, easily above those around him, and Samuel knew he had not lost his man, for Master Ash now seemed to be taking his time, chatting with some fellow beside him. Samuel put his container down for a moment and quickly pulled his shirt over his head, stuffing it inside the wicker vessel. Black trousers were not so uncommon, and workers went bare-chested all over the city. He hoped it was an adequate disguise to not get him noticed.
When Ash started off again, Samuel followed closely and he smiled with some satisfaction as the crowd now failed to separate around him. In fact, they seemed to actively begin jostling and bumping him most uncomfortably. Samuel was glad he was not a commoner, for he would not enjoy the city half as much if he had to put up with this every time he went out.
Ash was alone again and Samuel was confident in staying only mere steps behind, for they were soon nearing the central markets and the people were pressing shoulder to shoulder now, making the going difficult. He could follow in the wake of Master Ash’s presence, but he still had to deal with the crowd as it surged back in behind the mage, which was bad in itself, as people rushed all the more to take advantage of the free space.
Samuel followed Ash out the other side of the markets and past Saint Veddum’s Cathedral, where crowds of people were lined up to make their daily prayers. Finally, Ash stepped aside and entered a tavern, leaving Samuel standing perplexed before the open doorway. The sign above the door named the place ‘Dargill’s Tavern’. He peered in through the doorway and could see that Ash had started up a set of stairs. Samuel considered entering after him for a moment, then noticed a narrow alley to his right. He hurried down it and set his container down, inspecting the tavern wall. There were several windows set up high to let fresh air into the main room, and several others, smaller, towards the rear of the building, presumably for the guest rooms.
Samuel wandered along the alley, gazing up, when something caught his attention-pulling at his senses. Another magician of some description was nearby. In the rear-most room, there was most definitely another magician, and Samuel could just bet that he and Master Ash would be meeting.
Samuel hurried further around to the rear of the tavern where some tattered, old animals were roped and he was pleased to note a balcony above him. He took a step back, then vaulted up, leaping against the wall and then up, grasping the balcony beam with one hand. His grip held and he swung his other arm up, took hold and then carefully lifted himself up, stepping over the handrail and tiptoeing onto the deck to crouch beside the rear entrance to the guest room.
‘Did you hear something?’ Master Ash’s voice came from inside.
‘No,’ came another voice. A spell formed and Samuel felt the tickling presence of magic as it washed over him. The man, whoever he was, was powerful. His very magic sizzled upon the air. Samuel went to throw up a concealment spell, then realised he had no need, for no magician could sense him while his magic was dormant. ‘There’s nothing there. Let’s get this over with.’
‘When does Balten arrive?’ Ash asked.
‘Soon,’ the other replied. ‘With Cang and the others.’
There was a moment’s silence as if he was contemplating, and then Ash spoke again. ‘Hmm. Very good.’
‘Have you been given everything you requested?’ the gruff voice asked.
‘You’ve been most helpful,’ Ash answered. ‘Men are already at the site and I understand it looks promising.’
‘My master pays well-remember that. Be sure that your services meet their price. There are many others who can do the same for less.’
Ash laughed. ‘There is no one else and you know it, Kalen.’
Master Ash chuckled softly and Samuel had to shift his weight-his thighs were beginning to burn from squatting in the same position for so long. ‘You’re right. Just don’t make any mistakes. If your promises make good, you and Jarrod will get your reward, but if this turns out to be another waste of time-you’ll pay.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Ash stated calmly. ‘I’m sure this time our information is true. It’s taken a long time to gather
