III. Stolen Voice
The girls set a brutal pace and Vahn felt it especially well when his adrenaline ran dry, leaving his entire body aching from the fall. Mostly. While everything certainly did ache, his wrists hurt the most of all. The fabric of the sash rubbed his skin raw the more he struggled to free himself. Not to mention his jaw with the belt shoved around his mouth. He’d already tried thrashing to get one of the two loose, but that only got him a fist into the stomach and two angry girls. They reminded him of hornets, honestly.
He just had to play it safe and be agreeable. They couldn’t keep him bound and gagged forever if this Jake person needed magic.
At least the girls had deigned to give Vahn their names after he’d garbled the question at them. Dagger Girl was Mar and the other girl was Mel. Twins, Mel insisted. Her sister had glared at her for likely giving too much away. Although, Vahn had already guessed as much. Nearly identical, but upon closer inspection, Mel had a mole underneath her left eye whereas Mar had none, although she did have black spikes piercing one ear all the way around while her sister did not.
Beyond introducing themselves, Mel and Mar didn’t talk to Vahn. They bickered between themselves about inconsequential things unrelated to their capturing of Vahn. Instead, Vahn concentrated on what he had on his person should the possibility of escape appear.
No coat—he’d left it inside when he’d gone out to the balcony—and that left him with a white linen shirt much too thin for the crisp air blowing across the road. Every gust sent goosebumps down Vahn’s skin. Unlike his usual shirts which had magic pockets aplenty, however, this had maybe one not very magical pocket on the inside. His wand was delicately tucked in there, at least, and Vahn was glad the girls hadn’t thought to frisk him. If only he could get his hands free, he could use the wand for a quick spell. Unlike incanting, wands used fluid hand movements to conjure spells. Great if one had no voice or had to be quiet. He just needed his hands free.
Other than his wand, there were the gemstones the girls had found earlier. Sure, some of them were abandoned back in the pines, but Vahn still felt subtle magic from those remaining in the pocket they hadn’t harassed around his thigh. They were primed with Solar and Lunar Magic. Good for recharging in a pinch or maybe a quick spell, but for either, Vahn needed his hands or voice to activate the magic within and something to augment.
All in all, that was it. Everything else had been left behind. Next time, he was going to keep a knife on his person. Then again, the girls would have taken that once they’d had him bound. He sighed through his nose, frustrated, and Mar shot him a look. He quickly went back to being agreeable and happy they hadn’t left him dead in a ditch.
Their Jake wanted magic and that was what he waited for.
Mel and Mar trailed off and Vahn picked his head up. Once they’d left the valley of pines, the girls had quickly found the road, and helpfully, it was smooth. Unhelpfully, no one else was traveling this late and could save Vahn from them. On one side, there were a line of lit lamps with magic sparking against the glass enclosure. Not a surprise; they were near Westin Spire City and wherever there was a Spire City, there was technology from the Floating World.
The magic in the lamps was some fusion of Solar and Time Magic, making it so the magician who cast it only had to come out every month or so to check on them. And of course, the girls were in no business letting Vahn stop to study the magic and how it reacted (or didn’t) to the Wild Magic outside.
In the distance, Westin Spire City glimmered like starlight against the evening haze. Vahn doubted that was their goal and instead, peered to the bright light much closer. A campfire sat off the side of the road, practically hidden against the brush and weeds no one had culled. The fire was a pleasant blaze of orange against the growing twilight and behind it, practically glimmering, was a colorful caravan that reminded Vahn of a tiny house. It had a bowed roof of red painted wood, the sides were done in soft creams and oranges with gold flecks sparkling across the color, and there were colorful stained-glass windows. The sturdy wheels were a dark burgundy and enchanted, which meant no need for horses. There was a short staircase unfolded at the back that led up to the opened door. Definitely settled in for the night. The caravan wasn’t particularly large, but not small either. Vahn could definitely see two travelers fitting neatly inside, assuming the top half was its own segment for perhaps a third.
Mel walked faster, excitement renewing her energy, and Mar pulled Vahn after her. A man sat at the campfire, tending to a cast iron pot hanging over the flames. Mel waved at him with both arms and a smile broke across the man’s face as he waved back. It held until he noticed Vahn trailing after Mar. Exasperation replaced his smile as he stood.
“Jake!” Mel said, oblivious to the shift in mood as she ran up to him. “We’re back! See? You had nothing to worry about!”
“Mmhm.” Jake nodded, but his eyes never left Mar and Vahn bringing up the rear.
Jake was a tall man, lanky limbs taut with muscle. His skin was tanned and freckled, bearing the weight of days traveling beneath the sun. Short black hair sat in waves around his head and it was sprinkled with white and gray strands, betraying his otherwise more youthful face. His gaze was intense despite the lazy way he stood, one eye a clear hazel while the other was a milky white. It felt like there had been magic there once upon a time, but Vahn bit back from asking to look at it closer. Only vestiges remained now and followed the scar along the white eye. It was a wonder the eye had survived. Despite the scar, there was a handsomeness to Jake with his prominent cheeks and his scruffy jaw. Like the girls, he wore colorful traveling clothes, although his were more muted as though not to draw attention away from Mel and Mar.
He drew a hand to his chin thoughtfully and tilted his head. His hands were decked out in colorful rings imbued with magic and black tattoos reminiscent of sigils and glyphs. His gaze drew to Mel whose exuberance quickly tempered and she shared a worried look with her sister.
Mar sighed, drawing all eyes to her. “So, well.” She jerked Vahn beside her with a huff and set her shoulders straight. “You see…”
Jake smirked and he raised his eyebrows. “You brought me a magician.”
“Yes!” Mar’s voice lifted. “We—uh.” She shot her sister a look but Mel shrugged. “We figured why pay an exorbitant amount for a mage when we could…” She trailed off, glancing at Vahn. She winced. “Uh.”
Jake’s smile softened and he approached. “Let me guess, you went after his bracelets before realizing he was a mage.”
“Yup!” Mel said, chipper even though Mar groaned. “Those bangles weren’t budging and then he tried casting at us? The nerve! We just had to bring him to ya.”
Vahn glared at her, but she didn’t look back. The nerve of them for kidnapping him and not simply asking for help if that was what they needed. He sighed sharply through his nose instead of speaking, drawing Jake’s attention back to him.
“Well, I suppose this is a little more preferable.” Jake came even closer and Mar happily handed him the sash. Vahn watched Jake expectantly. Someday, someone had to ungag him. “Oh, you didn’t have to rough him up so much.” Jake brought Vahn closer and reached around to unlatch the belt.
Vahn knew the exact incant he was going to use. Air, I beseech you: howl. Blast the three of them one direction and himself the other to start running. The belt was removed, but as Vahn’s lips shifted to speak, Jake’s hand caught his throat so fast, making him bite back the word. Vahn pushed Jake off and continued his incantation, but nothing verbalized.
His voice was gone.
A gasp left Vahn’s lips, but there was no sound. He tried the incantation again, but nothing. Silenced.
“There,” Jake said and drew a step back to consider the belt. “Much more comfortable without this, wouldn’t you say?” He smirked as Vahn tried and failed to voice anything. “Now, now. Don’t look so shocked. My girls brought you here under duress.” He stressed the word and shot Mel and Mar a look. Both of them turned away sheepishly. “So, it would be remiss of me not to protect them from a decidedly accomplished magician’s ire.” He gently touched Vahn’s chin to get him to look back up. “To the world, you have no voice, but I can still hear you plenty.”
Oh. In that case. Vahn drew in a breath to scream—blow out the man’s eardrums if he could—but Jake immediately clapped a rough hand over his mouth. The other quickly gripped the back of Vahn’s head to hold him still.
“No,” Jake growled. “You do that even once, I will treat you worse than what you have been so far. Do you understand me? I don’t want to hurt you, but I will not have you hurt me.”
The easy, smooth talker Jake had just been was buried so quickly beneath this clearly dangerous individual now. Vahn swallowed and nodded. Jake took his hands away and Vahn did not try screaming again. When nothing happened as they stared at one another, Jake’s demeanor shifted back to the lazy stance he’d had before as he considered Vahn.
Silencing spells weren’t unheard of. Professors were quick to use them in universities to stop unruly students. Vahn, much to his annoyance, had been on the other end of such spells plenty of times. Mostly because he would constantly ask questions. Nothing more nefarious or serious except maybe a few times.
In any case, those spells were never quite as complete as this. Magic melted through his throat, leaving a soft tickling sensation exactly where Jake had touched.
All right, Vahn said, unable to hear his own voice. Jake smiled nonetheless and urged him to continue. I won’t scream. Vahn acquiesced and that made Jake’s smile broaden. I promise.
Voice didn’t matter in the end; Vahn still had his wand. He just needed his hands free.
“Good,” Jake purred and bent deep into a bow. “My name is Jake.” He straightened just as fast, still smiling. “You’ve already met my girls, Mel and Mar, but try not to dislike them too much. They’re actually rather sweet.”
Somehow, Vahn doubted that, but kept it to himself. The girls gave him the same kind of bow, drawing their hands around themselves with a flourish, and came right back up.
My name’s Vahn, Vahn said and gave Jake a slight bow. He didn’t trust going any further down. It’s… nice to meet you, I suppose.
“You don’t have to lie.” Jake glanced back at the girls. “Me and Vahn are gonna talk privately. You two eat and watch the road for me.”
All tension seeped out of Mel first, leaving Mar alone as she watched them with concern. It was another moment before she decided whatever it was she was concerned about wasn’t worth it. She quickly joined her sister in descending on the pot. They elbowed each other out of the way, trying to get first dibs, and squabbled. The aroma of beef, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and garlic heaved into the air once the top was taken away and Vahn’s stomach gave a sad rumble when Jake steered him away from it.
Jake kept one hand wrapped around the end of the sash and the other against the small of Vahn’s back as he took him to the other side of the caravan. He had a featherlight touch as though politeness mattered at this point.
“Wayfarer Magician, huh?” Jake murmured as he looked at Vahn’s bracelets. “Well, I apologize for the… kidnapping. Here, let me untie this as a show we’ve no plans to hurt you.” He deftly untwisted Mar’s crushing knot, likely familiar with it, and left Vahn’s hands free.
Vahn feigned relief and pressed his hand against his chest, exactly where his shirt dipped down to allow access to its lone interior pocket. As quick as he could, he gripped the wand inside. His magic ghosted across the elder rosewood, like the greeting of an old friend. He flung it out, but Jake was already diving for it. The spell went right past his head and as the gust of wind rocked the entire caravan, Jake’s ankle swept behind Vahn’s. Vahn fell backwards, yelping silently, and Jake dove on top of him.
Vahn thrashed, one hand tight around his wand and the other closed into a fist as he swung it as hard as he could. Jake withstood the assault and no amount of flailing roused a spell. Jake smashed Vahn’s hand into the ground, and for one moment, Vahn’s grip slackened. Jake yanked the wand away and straightened his back, but he made no motion to get off Vahn. As Vahn snapped upward to get the wand back, Jake gripped it with both hands, like he intended to snap it in two.
Magic cycled over his fingers—that was exactly what he was going to do—and Vahn fell back into the dirt with his hands up.
Wait! Don’t! he shouted.
Jake released the tension, leaving the wand in one hand. “Will you play nice then?”
Vahn swallowed. Yes, he said. I promise. Just don’t break it.
Wands were incredibly valuable and not easily replaced. Vahn had chosen what went into his wand as part of his initiation ceremony at the Floating University and there’d be no other kind like it. Even a Wayfarer Magician like him wouldn’t easily be able to procure a replacement should he lose his.
Jake slipped the wand into his coat—making sure to show Vahn exactly where it was, like an act of good faith—and then helped Vahn to his feet. Vahn could try to get the wand again, but even he knew it was bait. He resisted the urge and watched Jake instead.
“I need a spell,” Jake said evenly like they hadn’t just thrashed over a wand.
I can see that, Vahn snapped and Jake chuckled. You’re a magician too, aren’t you? Why don’t you do it?
“It can’t be traced back to me. ‘Sides, my power is woefully shallow when compared to yours.” He grinned with the compliment, but Vahn didn’t smile back. “I’m a trickster, not a well-bred mage like you.”
Not that Vahn was one either, but he refrained from saying so.
“Definitely not strong, believe me.”
Except your silence spell.
“Learned that from my previous station,” Jake said, almost proudly.
Vahn pursed his lips in thought. What station would need such a powerful silencing spell? He considered Jake again and was drawn back to his milky white eye. There was something obvious Vahn was missing and he wished he knew what it was.
“If at all possible”—Jake lowered his voice immensely and leaned in—“I’d like not to have the girls involved.”
Vahn snorted. They could have simply asked me for help if that’s what you’re after, he insisted and Jake snickered. Not thrown me over a balcony railing to mug me. I might have said yes if asked.
Jake’s smile turned mocking as he raised his eyebrows. “So… you would have said yes to helping me rob a High Magician?”
The words stunned Vahn so completely, he simply froze. He couldn’t have heard that right; no one in their sound mind would attempt to rob a High Magician. They were part of the council of magicians responsible for protecting the Floating World and were also revered by most magicians. It wasn’t a position given out lightly and many stayed there for life.
Vahn finally managed to shake his head, but Jake’s self-serving smile didn’t wane.
“Thought so,” Jake murmured.
You can’t make me, Vahn said as panic coiled in his gut. You’re asking to be killed doing this. He’ll see whatever I can do and then you’ll be caught and then I’ll be caught.
“Some things are worth doing.”
Why?
Jake sighed and his entire playful demeanor dropped. “The one watching Westin? He took something of mine. ‘Sides, I need to provide for my girls and anything he has is worth so much down here.”
It’s not worth it.
“Yes, it is.” Jake drew closer and as Vahn attempted a step back, Jake gripped his shoulder to keep him still. “The way I see it is, you can say no. That’s fine. But I can’t let you go running off like a good Wayfarer Magician to tell him my plan. Liabilities need to be buried. If you get my meaning.”
The threat hung between them and Vahn had no idea what to say. The High Magician posted to oversee the Westin area was a brutal man and wouldn’t think twice dispensing his own judgement if Jake was caught. He was a simple nobody and no one would miss him. Vahn couldn’t in good conscience agree and be responsible for Jake’s death when the plan inevitably went sideways. His lungs squeezed in panic. If he said no now, though, Jake would get rid of him.
Without his voice, without his wand, he had no way to protect himself.
“Uh… Jake?” Mar interrupted them and Jake withdrew his hand. “Someone’s coming up.”
Jake sighed. “Then smile politely and wave them on.” He slipped his hands into his pockets. “A night traveler won’t stop. They’d be too afraid of getting robbed.”
Mar chewed on her lip, eyes darting back toward the road. “Well… see, it’s this bard we saw at the tavern.” She met Vahn’s gaze so suddenly, he flinched. “I think our magician here might know him.”
Vahn couldn’t have hidden the smile on his lips even if he’d tried. Mar chuckled and tilted her head back.
“Mel—you owe me a silver! Totally a thing.”
Jake sighed again, this time louder, and Mar quickly became professional again. “I’ll keep him back here. You go smile politely and he will keep going.”
Vahn’s legs were running before Jake finished speaking. He caught Mar by surprise by throwing himself into her. She flailed backwards with a shout and Vahn kept on running. He would have kept going too if Mel hadn’t been ready to dive on him as soon as he cleared the caravan. He fell over top of her, slamming into the dirt beside the campfire, but he saw Hawke. More importantly, Hawke saw him.
The bard’s pace quickened, his face hardened, and by the time Jake had Vahn dragged back to his feet, fingers tight around the nape of his neck, Hawke had arrived. Mel and Mar had Vahn flanked like two angry hornets.
“Why, hello there,” Jake said. He drummed his fingers softly against Vahn’s neck. “Given the way you’re glaring at me, I’m going to guess this is your magician.”
Hawke studied Vahn, up and down, likely looking for damage. He glared at Jake. “He’s my friend. Mind letting him go?”
Jake snorted. “And why should I do that? My very own magician, all tamed right here.”
“But you’re also one, right?” Hawke said and Jake stopped. “Ladies at the tavern said so. Solar Magic. You do pyro stuff for your shows, right?”
The air became uneasy between them and Jake tilted his head. “Ah.” Jake forced a smile. “Yes, I do believe I did a small show back there earlier. But you see, I need more magic than what piddly I’ve got for tricks. You understand.”
Hawke narrowed his eyes and glanced at Vahn. He nodded toward Jake and Vahn shook his head. Nothing he could do as he was. Finally, Hawke’s jaw dropped in realization. “Wait,” he said, alarmed. “You… you took his voice, didn’t you?”
As if Vahn was simply standing there to be pretty. He nodded quickly, glad Hawke finally clued into the situation at hand. Jake shrugged, amused, and Hawke released a heavy sigh. He settled his and Vahn’s bag at his feet, slipped off his lute, and finally drew his coat back to reveal his sword.
Well, Vahn would have liked to get out of this without any more threats, but they were out of options.
“Give him his voice back and let him go,” Hawke said and magic sparked behind the hum of his voice. Unlike the easy flow it had been at the tavern, this had barbs.
Jake drew in a breath, his eyebrows high, but he was amused. Not a good sign. His fingers drummed against Vahn’s neck again.
“Maybe the girls are right,” he murmured. “You don’t know what I am, do you?” He raised his voice and Hawke didn’t react. “Mar, bring it out, would you?”
Mar’s eyes practically sparked with delight as she rushed into the caravan. The sound of her footsteps thumping around inside punctured the tense, silent air between them. She returned soon enough with a sword wrapped in fabric. She happily trotted up to Jake and handed it over.
Vahn’s jaw dropped first, immediately feeling the power across the hidden blade. Hawke was confused until Jake uncovered the sword.
The emblem at the hilt was a brilliant gold and inlaid with moonstone. Nothing extraordinary on their own, but within them was a specific spell to keep the blade honed and sharp. It would never dull and could slice through any barrier a rogue magician conjured. It was to keep the peace.
Jake had been a Spire Knight.
“Ah, shit,” Hawke whispered.
Jake tapped the scar along his milky eye. “Ex-Spire Knight. Kept my sword after I ripped out the eye sigil. It’s come in handy.”
All Spire Knights had sigils imprinted on their eyes as mark of what they were. It blessed them with immense magical power they would normally never have access to. In addition to the power, however, the magic was linked to the High Magician overseeing the Spire City and they could see through the sigils should the need arise. The Floating World liked the sigils because it kept Spire Knights on a leash they could control, but many down here thought the whole practice was invasive. Many Spire Knights didn’t care one way or another; most of them were in it for the power.
Tearing it out must have been painful.
“Well?” Jake asked when Hawke didn’t reply. “I’ll duel if you want me to, I just figured you should know what you’re up against before you do.”
Hawke’s body tensed, like he really might, but Vahn shook his head as quickly as he could. Hawke was passable with a sword, yes, but Jake was in a league of his own. Spire Knights had specialized training and even though Jake may have been years out of the job, he would win. No doubt about it.
No one moved, thankfully, and after a moment of a tense stare down, Jake handed Mar the sword. Back under the blanket and inside it went.
“I’m not here to spill blood—yours or anyone else’s.” Jake plucked Vahn’s wand from inside his tunic and gently slid it back into Vahn’s shirt, exactly where he’d had it before. “You cast anything with that, I will break it, you hear?”
A show of trust. Vahn nodded, smiling at Hawke to show him everything was okay, and Hawke looked a little more relieved, his shoulders relaxing. Jake slipped his hand back into his tunic and out came two dice. He rolled them over his fingers, watching them intently, before tossing them in the air.
And right there, Vahn felt magic tumbling within that made his back straighten. Strong magic; not a paltry trick. Jake caught them in his palm and looked at the results. Magic ghosted across the entire camp, flowing from the dice, and Vahn shivered. Runes inscribed all sides of the dice and at one angle, they looked like regular dice, but at another they seemed to morph into more sides and runes.
Rune Magic was the antithesis to Arcane Magic, at least that was how the Floating Universities explained it, although it was more complex than that. While Arcane saw and guided futures, Rune showed what was a stringent, stubborn future. Unchanging. Vahn never liked runes much—not enough wiggle room for him—but Jake must have been adept at it if the dice reacted so.
His eyes stopped tracking the magic. “What do you know…” he whispered. He peered up at Hawke, smiling. “Name’s Jake and those two girls are Mel and Mar.” Hawke glanced over, but Vahn doubted he could tell them apart. “What’s your name?”
Hawke’s eyes narrowed. “Hawke.”
“Hawke.” Jake said the name with purpose and Vahn felt a shiver in the Rune Magic around Jake. “Do you like cards?” Away went the dice and out came a pack of playing cards. Mel and Mar watched with absolute delight, shooing at each other to keep one another quiet.
“I’m a bard,” Hawke stressed. “I know cards.”
Jake’s eyes crinkled. “What about a wager then? If you win against me by morning, I’ll give you back your magician complete with his lovely voice.”
“And if I lose?” Hawke asked when Jake didn’t immediately provide it.
Jake drew Vahn closer, arm tight around him. “Then our little magician helps me rob a High Magician.”
🙡🙢
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