The Hidden Mask (Wizard's Helper Book 6) Read online

  Jack had one more question. “How dangerous will this errand be?”

  Fasher tapped his finger on the table for emphasis. “Like all the others, I’m afraid. You are heading into a foreign country without any real support except that which you bring. By yourselves the chances of failure are greater than if you rely on the others to help navigate through the power structure of the Bristone court. In Masukai, you needed to know the culture and the language. In Antibeaux, you will need to know all the undercurrents. I can’t say which will prove to be the more perilous.”

  Chapter Two

  ~

  J ack, Penny, Corina, and Fasher ate breakfast at a tea shop. Jack’s idea of breakfast was a little different, he thought as he bit into a pastry, the only food offered. Evidently, Duke Hestor hadn’t stocked the house with any food or other consumable items.

  “You might as well get started at the institute,” Fasher said. “Since classes don’t start for another week, your possessions might still be in your rooms.”

  Penny nodded. “I don’t want to buy everything over again, but I’m sure Jack is strong enough to carry all the boxes and bags.”

  Jack smiled, half-heartedly. He didn’t want to carry armloads of ladies’ clothing and accessories through the streets of Dorkansee, but he couldn’t see his way out of the duty. The only people he knew in Dorkansee were the three sitting at the table. Willet Barton didn’t count, yet.

  “Maybe I can get a better tour of the city than the one I did on my own yesterday,” Jack said.

  “When we are through,” Penny looked in her bag and lifted up the heavy purse her father had given her before he left for Raker Falls. “You could stand some new clothes. I’ll carry your bags if you carry mine.”

  “I don’t have a purse quite that full,” Jack said.

  Fasher laughed. “Yes you do, up in my room. I’ll hand it over just before you leave. Corina and I are visiting some friends of mine. It is past time they met my wife.” He smiled at Corina. “We will also take care of stocking the house with enough food and supplies to get us through the next few weeks. All you two have to do is take care of yourselves.” He rose from the table. “Time to get going.”

  Jack helped Corina with her chair, leaving Penny to fend for herself. He would have to show her that he wasn’t her servant, not that he ever really was. With Penny having lived in Dorkansee for two years, Jack felt he was at a disadvantage, and he didn’t want her falling back into the old rhythms of their Raker Falls relationship.

  As Penny and Jack walked to the institute a few blocks away, Jack still worried that the different environment of Dorkansee would change how Penny acted, but he hadn’t noticed it yet. She had made him wear his Masukaian sword, and she had shown him the throwing stars in her bag.

  “We go armed. I don’t know what I will do if I run into Peer Major. Please restrain me from killing him,” she said.

  “Perhaps I could do the honor of being your second,” Jack said.

  “The first, since I really don’t have any intention of harming him, but I’m still uncertain how I will react if I see him again. How intimidating can you look?” Penny looked up at Jack with questioning eyes.

  Jack had to laugh. He didn’t think of his appearance as intimidating in any way. Other than being fit, he didn’t see him causing anyone to cross the lane to avoid him. “I am as you see me.”

  “Tall and armed. That might be enough,” Penny said. She walked up the steps to the institute and turned back to make sure Jack was following behind. Jack gave her a little wave from a few steps back.

  They entered the entry hall. Penny stopped in the middle of the large foyer and looked around at the place. Jack could guess what Penny felt. He had gone through something similar when he stepped inside Alderach’s cathedral the previous day.

  She motioned him closer. “This is where I spent two years of my life. It doesn’t feel quite the same now.”

  “Perhaps you don’t belong here anymore,” Jack said.

  She nodded and walked to the front desk. For Penny, it had been less than two months since she was kidnapped, but Jack wondered if it felt much longer to her.

  “I’m back,” Penny said.

  The woman looked up, startled. “Miss Ephram! Your hair makes you look so different. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. Are you coming back to the institute?”

  “I’m afraid not. I came back for the possessions I left behind.”

  “No one has moved in, so your things should still be there,” the lady at the desk said. “Do you still have your key?”

  “I’m afraid it is far, far away.”

  Penny didn’t mention her abduction, but the woman asked, “Did the kidnappers take the key?”

  Penny had a hard time speaking. “Yes. I didn’t think to check when I was rescued.” She turned to Jack. “This is one of my rescuers, Jack Winder.”

  “Are you a healer like Penny?” The woman had to know better with a sword strapped to Jack’s hip.

  “I know a few things, but I’m more a wizard than I am a healer,” Jack managed a smile. “Can you give Penny a key to go check on her room?”

  “I don’t have a key to give, but the floor steward will let you in.”

  Penny sighed. “Of course.”

  Jack could see she didn’t want someone else with her when she entered her rooms. They had to wait for the steward to arrive, but the man had said he’d not entered her room.

  “Everyone expected you to return. We heard you were safe a few weeks ago.”

  Penny nodded. “I was taken to Lajia. My master probably let someone know in Dorkansee who notified the institute.”

  “That sounds likely,” the steward said.

  He unlocked Penny’s room. The curtains were open, and the place looked the same as Penny had left it until she entered her bedroom.

  “Everything has been gone through,” Penny said in a small voice.

  She picked up the clothes strewn on the floor. “They must have thought I had objects of power,” she said. “They took the rods you charged two years ago,” Penny held up an empty tubular sack that had held the healing rod and energy rod. “Everything else is here.”

  “Are you disappointed you won’t get a new wardrobe?”

  Penny smiled. “I will still buy enough clothes to embarrass you, Jack Winder.”

  Jack was happy she showed a little life after a few minutes of being morose.

  “Can we be left alone to pack Penny’s clothes? We have leased another place in Dorkansee.”

  “Certainly. Just let me know you are done, and I will have some house servants take your trunk and bags to whatever address you provide. I assume it is close by?”

  “A few blocks away,” Penny said. “I’ll leave the address downstairs.”

  The steward withdrew. Penny immediately turned around and wrapped her arms around a startled Jack.

  “This just makes it worse,” she said. “I could drive away the reality of it all until I walked in here. I should be stronger than this.”

  Jack patted her back, letting her cling to him. “You are strong enough. It is normal to feel shock. I had a taste of it myself yesterday. Things are changing. Look at your hair,” Jack chuckled. “Look at mine. We can’t say we are the same people who left Raker Falls.”

  Penny sniffed. “A proper lady can weep, just a little, Lin always said.” She took a deep breath and wiped her face. “No, but you have had a long time to get used to your situation. I’ve had mine thrust on me before I was prepared.”

  “I wouldn’t say I was prepared, but let’s get your clothes packed, and I think it would be appropriate to buy new things to celebrate the new you.”

  That brought a smile to Penny’s lips. She nodded. “I will focus on what I have to do going forward for the rest of the day. I can’t guarantee no tears tonight.”

  Jack began sorting through her things, and soon they were done. There was a pile of items that the intruders had abused enough not to take.<
br />
  Penny stuffed a few items in her bag and stood. “We are done here. I am done here. The institute is done with me. I learned a lot in the classrooms and in the hospital. I can’t bear to think what my future holds long term. Is that how you handle it? You just focus on the errand and don’t put too much worry into what happens when you return?”

  “That is how I handle it, but I don’t know what I’m handling. I always thought Fasher was training me for something, and he hasn’t said or done anything to contradict that. Between Masukai and Lajia, though, I’m beginning to get a little anxious as to what that might be. Scaring gods away is not something I thought I’d ever be doing.”

  “Me too,” Penny said. She put her arms around Jack’s waist again. “We will help each other, right?”

  Jack leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I don’t know of anyone else really capable of helping me if the going gets really tough.”

  He could feel a shudder go through Penny. “Let’s not talk about it and get out of here.”

  ~

  Jack hadn’t expected Penny to buy much, but she fooled him and burdened him with her purchases. They had to return to the house with Penny’s purchases before they went out to get him some clothes.

  “Do you know what they wear in Antibeaux?” Jack asked.

  Penny shook her head. “If we are going as Corandians, then we can wear Corandian styles,” she said. “When Lin travels, she doesn’t try to conform to the local styles because she can distinguish herself merely by what she wears.”

  Jack shrugged. “I suppose I can do the same until it’s time to blend in with the locals. For that, I can purchase clothing there, I guess.”

  Penny took Jack to a Second Ring market that had less ostentatious clothing than the First Ring. Jack appreciated that, since he didn’t have to buy much. After he had made his purchases, he did take Penny to a few First Ring weapon shops.

  “I want to see if they have any Lajian swords for sale,” Jack said.

  “You already have one,” Penny said.

  “But you don’t.” They walked into a shop. Jack held most of his parcels, but he still looked at the swords for sale.

  “Is that a Masukaian sword?” the shopkeeper said as he came from the back and watch Jack look around.

  “It is a special one.” Jack drew the black sword and handed it to the man.

  “This has seen some use. Did you buy it second hand?”

  Jack shook his head. “No. It was new when I got it. I’ve had to wield it more than I wanted,” he said. “I’m looking for a sword made in Underhill in the Lajian style. My friend needs a sword that is a bit lighter than the standard Corandian design.”

  “Ah, you know of those swords? I have four in the shop, but they are in the back. The maker makes more practice swords than he does presentation models.”

  “I have used them while I trained,” Penny said. “I even asked about them.”

  “You are the friend?” the shopkeeper asked.

  Penny nodded. “My personal sword was stolen quite a while ago, so I’ve used swords from my trainer’s collection.”

  “Collection?”

  Penny nodded. “My trainer is Gary Green of the Dorkansee police.”

  “You have a distinguished trainer. Let me get the swords. Each one is a bit different.”

  Jack smiled. “When I was given this, the master sword maker made every sword differently.”

  The shopkeeper returned with four long boxes.

  Penny tried each one out, and two appealed to her. “Which one should I choose?” she asked Jack.

  “Do you have a place where we can spar?” Jack asked the shopkeeper.

  The shopkeeper nodded. “I do if you will follow me.”

  Jack followed carrying his bags while Penny preceded him to a paved back garden.

  “You can use this. I will have to look on. I don’t want the sword edges damaged,” the shopkeeper said.

  Jack nodded and put his bags down.

  “A few minutes should be enough,” Jack said.

  “I don’t know.” Penny took the first and worked through a few warm-up forms, and then she duplicated those with the other. “I’m getting a bit of a better feel.”

  “That is why we have this back yard.”

  “Shall we?” Jack asked Penny. He touched the void, and they began to spar, but both of them were in enough control to keep the blades from touching each other.

  “I’ve never seen two people move so fast!” the shopkeeper said.

  “It is a Masukaian technique,” Jack said. “I taught it to Penny.”

  Penny switched blades, and they went at it again.

  “This one, definitely,” she said. “I can feel the difference when we spar.”

  Jack noticed it wasn’t the sword she had first used. Jack almost choked at the price, but he paid it, but he made sure she also came away with a long knife made by the Underhill craftsman.

  “We can see if you can imbue the sword,” Jack said as they walked back to their house.

  Fasher had returned. “I see you bought another sword, Jack. Aren’t two enough?”

  “This is Penny’s. You haven’t seen her duel. We will show you when we meet the rest of our group. I’m tired,” Jack said. “It has been a busy day. Penny can tell you all about it.”

  He left the pair of them together and went up to his room. He thought that Penny might need the soft shoulder of a family member, and it would be better for him to be out of the way. He would be with Penny enough once Fasher had left Dorkansee.

  Corina disturbed Jack’s nap. “We have a visitor,” she said.

  Jack ruffled his hair a bit before he descended the stairs. Penny stepped out of the sitting room.

  “One of our companions has come to pay a social call.”

  Jack entered the room and gawked at the beautiful woman sitting elegantly with her hands folded on her lap. Her beauty exceeded that of any goddess he had met.

  “I’d like you to meet the Lady Kanlinn Marker,” Penny said. “This is Jack Winder.”

  Jack blinked and noticed that Fasher was already in the room. Corina gave Jack a little push. “Be nice to her,” she whispered in Jack’s ear.

  Corina’s words broke the spell Jack was in. He sat down and smiled at the woman.

  “For the duration of our trip, you can call me Lin in private, but Lady Kanlinn when we are among other people.”

  The spell was broken even more. Jack pursed his lips. “Certainly, Lady Kanlinn. What brings you here when we are to meet in a day or two.”

  “I don’t like surprises, Jack Winder. Penny has told me about you, but I wanted to size you up before we met with Willet. You have met Willet, I assume?”

  “He shared the same philosophy about surprises. We met the day after we arrived from Lajia.”

  Lin nodded and smiled. She was complimenting Fasher and Corina about something, and that allowed Jack to evaluate the woman without her piercing him with those beautiful eyes. All Jack could perceive was calculation. The woman was an actress performing on stage, and she knew her audience well.

  He had always thought goddesses were like that until he met a few. Lin certainly had appeal enough, but he appreciated Penny even more for her resistance to act like Lin.

  The woman turned back to Jack. “I assume we will learn all about your capabilities when we plan for our journey to Bristone?”

  Jack nodded. “Penny and I have some hidden qualities that I’m sure will surprise even you,” Jack said. “She acquired them when her hair changed to white.”

  “I meant to ask you about that, Penny. I’m sure there is an exciting story behind that. Is it an emerging style in Reoja?” Lin leaned forward, with real interest this time.

  “I acquired some magical attributes from…” Penny looked at Fasher, who nodded. “…from Takia, Lajia’s goddess. She appeared to me and changed me.”

  “That is quite some change, if true.”

  “The change will become
apparent when we spar again,” Penny said. “The hair won’t take any color, I’m afraid.”

  Lin looked skeptical. “I’m sure Jack has met gods and goddesses as well.”

  Jack nodded, knowing that Lin wasn’t a believer at that point. He teleported behind her chair. “This is one of my qualities,” Jack said as he demonstrated his nightingale teleportation technique. “And that was another. I can move across a bed of glowing coals and not be affected. A technique I learned in Masukai.”

  “Those are impressive. You will use those in Antibeaux?”

  “If needed. Different circumstances call for different solutions.”

  Lin laughed and clapped her hands. It was a more natural reaction and less ladylike. “I love your attitude. Penny has been taught the same philosophy, haven’t you Penny?”

  “I have,” Penny said, “but in a different context.”

  “That is what a good philosophy does, it allows us to apply it to different situations in different ways. I am more impressed than I thought I would be. You will teach me how to do that?” she asked.

  “If you are strong enough,” Jack said.

  Lin chatted about Dorkansee social life. Jack had to listen in because he recognized Lin was starting to provide them with the Bristone context. He wondered if it was a test.

  “Do you agree that the clergy is always to be consulted?” Lin asked Jack.

  “It depends on what you want the clergy to do with the information,” Jack said. “If you are talking about manipulation, that always carries a risk. If someone feels manipulated, they are more willing to betray you than a person who you convinced you are asking them to do the right thing.”