The HaRT Knight Decaverse

Heir of Magic

Chapter 16

The Witch of the Wandering City

In the week that followed the expulsion of the four giants, Alexander found himself pleasantly surprised at how much simpler and easier life was at The Spider’s Den compared to the one he had always known. Days came and gone without him needing to fight for his life. Every night, he and Merrick spent some time talking about their separate past adventures. These stories soon became a bit of an attraction for The Spider’s Den. People from across the Wandering City came to hear the great stories the two men told.
Throughout this peaceful existence, Alexander soon came to experience something he had never known before. It began as nothing more than him realizing how much he enjoyed Rose’s company. He became so fond of her, in fact, that soon he spent most of his days helping her with all her chores.
On the eight day—which was a particularly hot day in the desert city—of his stay at The Spider’s Den, Alexander was helping her to carry buckets of water from the well to the stables, where they emptied them into a trough for the horses and camels that belonged to the patrons.
He was regaling her with the story of the time he and Bibi had ruined the constellation celebration on Lyra Island by accidentally getting a troll drunk. Rose laughed so hard when he came to the bit where Bibi had needed to seduce the troll, she spilled half the water in her bucket over herself. With Rose’s sheer blouse clinging to her perfect breasts, Alexander stammered through the rest of his story as he struggled to concentrate. It was only when the city began to shake violently that he was finally able focus on anything else.
“Shade, what’s happening?” Alexander asked.
“That’s right, the city hasn’t wandered since you arrived.” Rose grabbed him by the hand and pulled him after her as she said, “Come on, let’s watch.”
He followed her outside and allowed her to lead him to the railing around Linaria’s miraculous herb garden where she pointed at Talitha’s Tower.
Millions upon millions of glowing golden-yellow runes covered the massive structure. But these were not the Heart Tongue Runes of dhaesí magic, they were closer to the symbols used in Gate Magic.
Row after row, the symbols came alive and spun around the tower, every second row changing direction. Faster and faster they spun until they blurred together to make spinning rings of light. In the distance, walls of sand began to rise into the sky, creeping up before curving in and closing together to form a dome over the city.
The tower hummed for a minute or two, then stopped. Beginning from its base and moving up to the top, the illuminated symbols died out. When the last symbol went out, a beam of thaumaturgic energy shot into the sky. The Wandering City gave a jerk and the dome of sand exploded outward with a loud crack like thunder.
To the west of the city where minutes ago there had been nothing, now stood a large escarpment on top of which was a rock formation that looked like a rampant unicorn. The Wandering City had moved.
“I’ve seen a lot of things, but I’ve never encountered magic like this,” Alexander said in amazement.
“It loses its charm after a while, but it still has its perks at times,” Rose said as she leaped onto the railing of the herb garden and gave a sigh of relief as the sudden cool breeze passed over them. She used both her arms to lift her thick bush of black hair off her neck.
With her back arched, the wind plastered the wet, sheer fabric of her blouse to her breasts and Alexander could see her nipples hardening. She opened one eye, saw him looking at her, and smiled. She always did that when she caught him staring at her, but she never said a word—until now. “Would you like to say something?”
Alexander looked away and felt his cheeks redden. Rose burst out laughing.
“What?” Alexander said.
Rose shook her head. She smiled as she looked to the side, searching for the right thing to say. When she turned her amethyst eyes back on him, they sparkled. “I just don’t get you, is all.”
“What’s to get?” Alexander said.
“You’ve proven yourself fearless in the face of death, and yet, you seem terrified of me,” Rose said.
“What? I’m not afraid of you,” Alexander said with a nervous chuckle.
“Oh, come on, Alex. In the last week, you and I have spent almost all our time together. You’re obviously interested in me, and I’ve made it clear to you in every way I know how, except saying it outright, that I’m interested in you as well. You just—” she began to laugh, but not unkindly “—you don’t seem to have the first clue about what to do about it.”
“I—I, uhm,” Alexander stammered.
Rose laughed again. “See, this is what I’m talking about. You’re this big, strong, worldly man. You’ve been to places I’ve never even heard of and done things that bards write songs about. And yet, you act as if you’ve never been with a girl?”
Alexander felt as though his cheeks were on fire. He looked away as he mumbled, “That’s because I haven’t.”
“What? How is that even possible?” Rose squeaked. “Have you ever seen yourself? You’re gorgeous, you can get any girl you want.”
Alexander shrugged. “The life I’ve led hasn’t been conducive to romantic entanglements.”
“Those are some fancy words just to say you’re a maiden.” Rose giggled. “Have you at least kissed a girl before?”
“Of course, I have,” Alexander said. “I’ve kissed two.”
“Two,” Rose said, pretending to be impressed. “You really are worldly.”
Alexander didn’t reply. He felt sure he must have been blushing a scarlet the same shade of his phoenix cloak.
Rose leaped off the railing and grabbed him by the chin. She forced him to face her and said, “Well, did either of those girls kiss you like this?”
She rose onto her toes, placed one hand behind his head and kissed him. The moment caused cascading waves of warm and cold floods to pass through Alexander as he realized what was happening. Her lips were better than the honey, more nourishing even than the glass of water Jonah had given him after almost dying in the desert. Just as he felt certain nothing could be sweeter, her mouth opened wider and her nimble tongue proved him wrong. The unbearable tension of the last week exploded into sweet release and Alexander grabbed hold of her slender, firm waist to pull her to him with all his strength. There was a second where he was concerned that he might have hurt her, but then Rose answered him by grabbing a hand-full of his hair with her right and digging the nails of her left into his bulging triceps. She pressed her body to his and her hard nipples rubbed against his chest as she curled her left leg around his.
After that, Alexander gave up fighting it. He let the moment sweep him away as he allowed the one thing he had always denied himself, to be happy.
He lifted Rose into his strong arm and continued to kiss her as he carried her back into the barn.

Merrick stood at the window of the second-floor bedroom he shared with Alexander. He stared pensively at Talitha’s Tower, illuminated by the silver light of the waning moon. He had come to the wandering city intending to get into that tower. More than a month had passed, and he had yet to find a way inside it. As far as he could tell, no one had made it inside in several thousand years. Many had tried to get to the treasure on the inside, but none had ever succeeded. His time was running out. He couldn’t afford to be in the city for another full moon.
Merrick sighed and looked over his shoulder at Alexander’s bed. He had grown rather fond of the young man in the last week. There was something about him, and it had to do with more than just his name. Merrick felt drawn to him, as if there was something the other man needed from him. though what that could be he didn’t know. He had joined Alexander for a bit of sparring the previous morning and had found himself dumbfounded at the amount of skill the young man possessed. It had been so long since anyone had forced Merrick to fight seriously, and even when he did, the other man had been faster, more agile, and a lot stronger than him, none of which were supposed to be possible. Even as a wizard, Alexander should not be able to overpower me, and yet, that’s what he did.
A soft knock startled Merrick out of his pensive mood. “Come in,” he said, suspecting it to be the old woman. But when the door swung open, it was not an old woman who strode in, but a young and beautiful one.
Enemone had blond hair that fell in golden curls to the small of her back, which her long flowing red and black dress left exposed. Her eyes were dark and cold and the smile she gave him almost froze his blood. In her arms, she carried a package wrapped in red cloth.
“Found you,” Enemone said in a musical voice.
“Lady D’Lamkhar,” Merrick said, his muscles tense.
“Oh please, Merrick. I think we know each other too intimately for such formalities.” Enemone laughed a humorless laugh.
“Yes, well, it didn’t end well for me the last time I ignored formalities with you,” Merrick said.
She sighed. “I admit, daddy overreacted a little. I mean, it’s not like you stole my virtue.”
“It’s hard to steal something that doesn’t exist,” Merrick sneered.
“Oh, would you stop pouting, it’s not like you didn’t enjoy it. The sex I mean, not my dad sending his guards after you,” Enemone said.
“We both know I didn’t do it to enjoy it. you said it was the best way to establish a link between us so you could scry through me,” Merrick said.
“That might have been the reason for it, but it doesn’t mean you couldn’t enjoy it as well, and we both know you did.” Enemone smiled at the look on his face. “There is no use in denying it, my dear. I scryd you while you were inside me, which means I had a lovely view of all those dirty, naughty little thoughts and feelings you had in your head.”
Sounding more defensive than he intended, Merrick said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Enemone shrugged. “I don’t see why you’re so upset. I saw what you desired most. You’d think daddy was trying to do you a favor by having his men chase after you.”
“Sorry, my dear, but if that is your idea of favor I would prefer if you didn’t get me anything for my birthday,” Merrick said.
“The first one or the second one?” she laughed as his eyes widened. “Yes, I saw that bit too. That revelation surprised even me. But it explains—well, everything about you.”
Merrick clenched his fists and teeth as he said, “Why are you here, Enemone?”
“Two reasons. First, to give you these back,” she said and handed him the package wrapped in the red cloth.
As Merrick took the wrapped package, Enemone sat down on his bed. He pulled the red cloth off to revealed two sickle-swords made of a greenish metal and covered in old ruins that had almost rusted away to nothing.
“You’ll need those soon enough,” Enemone answered.
Unsure of what to say or do, he just said, “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” Enemone said with a smile. “Now, for the second part of why I’ve come. As you said, the very reason we slept together was so I could scry through you. I never got the chance to tell you what I saw before daddy set the hounds on you.”
Merrick almost dropped his reclaimed swords. “Did you see what I came here for?”
Enemone nodded. “I did, and I’m sorry to have to tell you, but it’s not here. It’s not in the tower, it never was.”
Merrick closed his eyes and sank onto Alexander’s bed as the disappointment weighed him down. “You’re certain?”
“Don’t be insulting, Merrick. Of course, I’m certain. In fact, I could have told you it wasn’t in the tower without scrying you if only you’d told me what you’re looking for.” Enemone leaned back and waved a hand as she said, “Talitha was my ancestor. Daddy has ledgers filled with detailed lists of the treasure in the tower, and in none of them is anything like what you want mentioned.”
“So I came all this way for nothing,” Merrick said.
“Ah, actually, that’s where I have some good news for you,” Enemone said. “When I scry someone, I read a map that details the path of that person’s river of destiny. I can tell you this, it was part of your destiny to be here in The Wandering City.”
“I don’t believe in destiny,” Merrick sneered.
“The leaf need not believe in the river to be swept away by it,” Enemone said. “And you are about to be swallowed by yours. Or, more accurately, someone else’s. Your stream, already powerful on its own, will join with a torrent so great it will change everything. It’s so powerful, it has even altered my path only because of the one night you and I spent together.”
“By the fires of Tartos, Enemone,” Merrick snapped. “I don’t care about any of this nonsense. There is only one thing I want.”
“And this path will give it to you,” she said.
“What?” Merrick sat up straight.
“You will meet someone soon, perhaps you’ve already met them. Whoever this person is, I’ve never seen someone so crucial to the plans of the maidens of fate. And you, Merrick, are a crucial part of this person’s path. Without you, he will fail. You will be drawn to them. Do not fight it, and they will lead you to what you desire most.”
She’s talking about Alexander, Merrick thought without a doubt. I don’t believe in destiny, but there’s been something about him I couldn’t put a finger on. Can it be possible that he can help me find what I want?
“Well, that’s all I have to say,” Enemone said, getting up from the bed. “Oh, no, wait. There is one last thing. About how I found you. A rather tall man who has it out for you came to see Captain Ninsun. He told him where to find you.”
“Your father’s men are still after me?” Merrick said in shock.
“It’s just Captain Ninsun. You’ve made an impression on him. It seems you or one of your accomplices killed his son. He’s out for blood.” Enemone turned to leave and stopped when she opened the door a crack. “They’ll come for you before the end of this week, like shadows with deadly intent. I would advise you to leave before the city wanders again in two—”
The door swung open and Alexander, grinning ear to ear, almost bowled Enemone over. He caught her and said, “Sorry. Sorry about that. I didn’t know anyone was in here.”
Enemone seemed to have frozen solid. She stared at Alexander with wide eyes and her breathing intensified. Slowly, she extended a shaking hand to touch him but stopped a few inches away from his chest. Alexander looked alarmed and confused at the woman’s odd behavior.
“It’s you,” Enemone said, out of breath. “You’re the one with the destiny so powerful it swallows everyone else whole.”
“Sorry, what?” Alexander asked in confusion.
“The destiny that surrounds you is so great I can feel it,” Enemone continued, ignoring Alexander’s puzzled look.
“Merrick, who is this woman?” Alexander asked.
“This is Enemone D’Lamkhar. The woman I told you about the night we met,” Merrick answered.
“I see conflict in your soul, the doubt in your heart, Heir of Magic. You yearn for an average life of love and simplicity. But I’m afraid that it is not a life you can have. Until you achieve your destiny, the Shepherd King will always follow you and take those you love. You will never know peace until you accept the path you must walk.” Enemone stopped, then narrowed her eyes and continued. “But I see a part of you has always known this. The part that wants to be what you were destined to become. Do not fight it, Heir of Magic, for it is the part of you that will make you the first Sorcerer Saint.”
“Sorcerer Saint?” Alexander stammered. “What on Anarchos are you talking about?”
Enemone just smiled at him and slipped out the door. Before leaving, she said, “I’ve told Merrick already that it would be a wise plan for the two of you to leave The Wandering City before she wanders again two days from today. I wish you both the best of luck. We’ll meet again, Heir of Magic.”
Alexander continued to watch her as she vanished down the stairs. He turned to Merrick with a confused expression still on his face and asked, “What was that about? Is she mad or something?”
“She’s insane, but she’s a little ‘or something’ too,” Merrick said.
“What did she mean we need to leave before the city wanders?” Alexander asked.
“She said those giants we saved Rose from went to her father’s men and told them where we are. That idiot whose neck you snapped when you first saved me, was the Captain’s son, and now he wants revenge. She thinks they will come for us within the next few days,” Merrick explained.
“Do you think she was telling the truth?” Alexander asked, looking concerned.
“Truth about what?”
“That it would be best for us to leave.”
“I honestly don’t know. Maybe she is just trying to get us out of her city,” Merrick shrugged.
“Well, it doesn’t matter what she said, I can’t leave yet. Dante still hasn’t shown up.”
Merrick grinned. He knew full well that the real reason he wanted to stay had nothing to do with some old man.