man held fingers to his lips, pointed behind him. The newcomer nodded, whispered pointless questions about the old man being sure he had not been fol owed. That did not matter, unlikely though it was. “What brings you out, then?”
“The Queen has recruited the sorcerer Babeltausque. She means to take immediate advantage.”
“Real y? The Duke never bothered.”
“And he’s in a cel .”
“True enough.”
“She has assigned the sorcerer five immediate tasks. Find the missing treasury money. Find Josiah Gales. Find Michael Trebilcock. Find General Liakopulos. Find Kristen and her children.”
“Can he accomplish any of that?”
“The Queen thinks so. I trust her judgment. She’s known him a long time.”
The younger man sighed. “Complications. But it’s never easy, is it? We wil cope. You’d better get back. Haida wil have your order ready when you go out.” He gestured toward the front of the shop.
The old man nodded. He began to move. “The sorcerer’s most important mission wil be to find the money.”
“Maybe we should let him succeed.”
“You haven’t found it, either?”
“No. Those two did a hel of a job of leaving no clues.” The doorbel rang as Haida’s customer left.
The old man said, “I’m going now.” He had to get back to the castle. He tarried only moments acquiring a package from Haida.
The younger man began to consider how best to respond to the news.
Respond he must, before the sorcerer became a threat.
The matter of the treasury, though. Working that made sense.
Why had those two hidden the money somewhere other than where they were supposed to have?
...
No one chal enged Wachtel when he shuffled into Castle Krief. He went straight to the Queen’s quarters. He told the maid, “Inform Her Majesty that I’ve final y gotten the medicine for Prince Fulk.”
“That’s good news. She’l be thril ed.”
Inger appeared while Wachtel was preparing his philter.
“You found blue asparagus seed?”
“I did. Everyone watch how this is done. You’l have to do it yourself in an emergency.”
“Including the grinding?”
“Including that. The seed needs to remain whole til you have to use it. The oils evaporate.”
“How did you find the seed?”
“I went to the chemist myself.” His tone was harsh. “I’m getting a little frail for that.”
Inger was flustered. “I’m sorry. There just isn’t money…”
“Never mind. The deed is done. I got enough to keep you going for three months. And so my fortune grows as feeble as my flesh.”
“I’m sorry, Doctor. Truly I am. You’l be the first one rewarded when our fortunes shift.”
Wachtel’s skeptical expression told Inger al she needed to know about his faith in her promises.
“You’l see.”
She had made a too-grand emotional investment in her new wizard.
...
The wizard sat with head in hands, sweating. He was overheated despite the breeze flowing through the open windows. He had made promises. Those had seemed reasonable in the heat of the moment.
Now he had to execute them.
He did not know how to start. There were no threads to pick up. Everyone knew that those who had executed the treasury raid had died in the riots. Michael Trebilcock had fal en off the edge of the world and was presumed dead, too.
But, wait! Finding Gales would be a coup! Gales had left some threads. The night of his disappearance was wel -
documented.
That would be the scab to pick, if only to prove that he was on the job. Whatever he stirred up would lead to something else.
It seemed reasonable to think that those who had taken Gales might be associated with the treasury raiders. And al those people had been associated with Michael Trebilcock.
It could al be connected.
Gales it was, bal s to the wal .
Babeltausque grinned, drenched in cool relief. “Toby, I need you.” He had been assigned one servant, a boy of twelve, total y reliable according to Inger. Babeltausque was not prepared to bet his life on the boy, whether or not he was a descendant of the apolitical Dr. Wachtel.
“Sir?”
“You know Mr. Wolf?”
“Nathan Wolf, sir? The new Colonel?”
“Yes. Go tel him I need to see him as soon as possible.” Would Wolf respond? He might fear a restoration of that curse. Toby was waiting for something more.
“Go, boy! Tel him it’s important.”
“Yes sir.” Toby went, fast.
Babeltausque brooded about having the boy underfoot. But Inger would not like it if he ran Toby off. And Toby’s family would be offended.
Better to be careful than to make enemies needlessly.
Toby returned with stunning quickness. “Mr. Wolf wil be here in a few minutes, sir.”
“You found him that fast?”
“I ran into him on my way to the guardroom to ask where to look for him.”
“Al right. Prepare whatever refreshments we can manage.
After you’ve done that you’re free til suppertime.”
“Thank you, sir!”
Toby did love his free time.
Wolf arrived as Toby set out weak tea and a few overage biscuits. The soldier was uneasy.
The wizard said, “Forget the past. I have. Thanks for coming so quickly. Speed may be essential. Go on now, Toby. Have fun.”
The boy bowed himself out.
Nervously, Wolf asked, “What’s going on?”
“I want to pick your brain about Gales’s disappearance.”
“I’l do my best. I did my best. I’m sure he was kil ed right away.”
“I expect you’re right. Unfortunately. Evidently he was a great buttress for Her Majesty.”
Wolf leered slightly.
Later, Babeltausque asked, “Anything else questionable happen around this Twisted Wrench?”
“Nothing obvious. But everybody is careful around my people. And now you’re wondering how they know which men are mine.”
“I am.”
“Only men I trust visit the place anymore.” The Twisted Wrench had fal en on hard times.
“Mr. Wolf, why don’t you and I visit this place?”
“That could be dangerous.”
“Yes. It was for Colonel Gales. A visit could stir up al kinds of excitement. We’l do it tonight. We’l take two men to watch our backs. Don’t tel them we’re up to something.”
“They wouldn’t need to be told.”
