Chapter 2 - The Vass Karan Watch
“Treason, Summoning, Necromancy. The three greatest crimes a subject of the Empire can commit. For these scum there can be no mercy for they would threaten the very fabric of our society through their mindless selfishness.”
Two Thousand Years of Empire by Jahangir Amini
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“You don’t understand what we’re having to put up with here! Look at this! Look!” Ester winced slightly at the warehouse foreman’s wild gesture.
In front of her Sergeant Cino yawned as the man ranted on at him. The other Watchman, Laro, was leaning on his spear as he looked around in uninterested boredom. He wasn’t even making an effort to hide it!
“These gangs need to be brought under control! I can’t keep losing stock like this. I’m going to be put out of business and then what? What?! I’ll be out on the streets. And with four children to feed too!”
Ester tugged again at the rough, padded leather jerkin. It fit poorly, loose and tight in all the wrong places. Worse were the breeches and shirt that scratched against her skin. It wasn’t that she insisted on luxury, or had never worn breeches before. The normal laws of propriety were at least bent on occasion in the case of Chartered Mages, but not to wear things like this. Itchy, horrible things.
“You’ll be fine.” The sergeant’s laconic tone wasn’t what Ester would have expected. Surely it was his job to help this man? Their job now. “Don’t the lords look after you? You pay your rent to the Rutas don’t you?”
“Yes, but…”
Her arrival in Vass Karan had been a whirlwind of new sights, faces and smells. Most of them unpleasant. It was nothing like Trevayn, nothing at all! She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it hadn’t been this. ‘Training.’ That was what Lord… no, Commander Savate, he was very insistent about that, had called it.
“Well then.” Ester took a small step forward, surely the Sergeant wasn’t just going to leave it at that? She opened her mouth and then closed it. Her instructions had been very clear. She was here to learn, not to speak. She resisted the urge to scowl. Commander Savate hadn’t needed to put it so bluntly though. People were meant to respect Mages!
Sergeant Cino’s voice softened, just a notch. “Look, we’ll keep an eye out, but you know how it is. Not many of us and too many of them. That’s why the lords up there,” he glanced backwards and up, towards the lights of the Palatine Hill, “have their own guards down here. Speak to the Rutas about it.”
“Fuck all use they are.” The foreman spat and Ester winced at the disrespect. Sergeant Cino could arrest him for that, but the Watchman just shrugged.
“You have a good night, we’ll keep our eyes open.”
As they continued to trudge through the dark, damp streets Ester couldn’t contain herself, despite the frankly useless answers she’d had before. It was bad enough walking in silence, but how could she learn if she didn’t ask?
“Sergeant Cino,” she hated the hesitancy in her voice, “why are we not helping that man more? Is it not the Watch’s job to help Her Eternal Majesty’s subjects and protect them from crime?”
He came to a stop at her question and exchanged an unreadable glance with Laro. “It’s just the way things are milady.” His spoke carefully, but there was an undertone of poorly hidden irritation that made Ester bristle. She was meant to be learning though. She had to remind herself of that before she replied.
“But, why? Why are they like that?” She was sure that if she kept going and said what she was thinking, that that wasn’t how things were meant to be, she’d just confirm herself as a silly girl in the eyes of the grizzled older Watchman. Although he’d probably be too nervous to actually say that.
He hesitated and for a moment Ester thought he might actually say something useful.
“Things are different here milady. You wouldn’t…” He stopped himself. “We should keep going, wouldn’t do to be late back, there’s a lot of ground to cover. Maybe we’ll swing back round on the way home and have another look.”
That seemed to exhaust his willingness to speak to her and before Ester could reply he’d started walking again, the sound of his boots on the cobbles ringing through the quiet night.
As they had all night, Sergeant Cino and Laro walked in front, while Ester trailed behind them. No! While she followed, keenly taking in her surroundings. Annoyingly they didn’t even talk much to each other. Sometimes they’d mutter something and then one of them would glance back at her and go quiet. Surely they weren’t like this normally? It was because she was there. Of course it was.
Her frustration increased another notch at the thought and she had to suppress a growl as she eyed the back of the pair balefully. The two of them were nervous enough about her without her going and making things worse. She needed to remember how she’d have felt around a Mage, before she’d been picked out for the Academy. It was difficult sometimes. She’d only been twelve.
As the Watchmen ambled and Ester marched through the dark streets illuminated only by their lanterns and the moon, there certainly weren’t any witchlights in this district, she found her scowl deepening. It wouldn’t have been so bad if they were willing to talk to her, but even that seemed to be too much to ask. When she’d tried to make conversation she’d run into a wall of respect. Everything she asked was met with polite avoidance. How was she even meant to learn anything from this?! The only person she’d met in the whole bloody city who was actually willing to speak to her was Commander Savate and he’d barely bothered to conceal how unimpressed he was by her presence.
When she’d first been told she was being sent to serve in a Watch she’d thought her prayers had been answered. An escape from the rigid strictures of the Academy and Trevayn and an adventure all rolled into one. Now she was starting to think it was all some convoluted revenge for the time she’d set fire to Negin Miri’s wardrobe. It hadn’t even been worth the effort, the girl’s parents had replaced its contents within two days.
Ester’s silent grumbling came to a halt as the street widened out into a square, lit by torches and full of the sound of revelry. The buildings were still the same black granite that made up most of Vass Karan, but compared to the dark streets they’d been walking down it felt almost welcoming. What was more, she could smell food! Her stomach immediately rumbled. Great Spirits she was hungry! When had she last eaten?
Ester was about to say something when Sergeant Cino paused and looked back to her.
“If it pleases you milady, I had thought we could stop for some food, it can be hard work walking the streets all night.”
Ester didn’t hesitate, maybe something to eat would improve her mood. “Of course, I am just observing, if you wish to eat then we shall eat.” There, she wasn’t going to admit how hungry she was.
“Uh well milady, I’m not sure it will be up to your expectations, but if you don’t mind waiting…” He trailed off.
Absolutely not! She wasn’t going to be cheated out of her meal! “Nonsense, I am meant to be learning and the food must be part of that.” Sergeant Cino seemed to want to protest, but she held his gaze and hoped he didn’t hear her stomach.
“Of course milady.”
A minute later Ester found herself in front of a rickety looking stall. Of course Sergeant Cino and Laro had quickly ordered without explaining it to her. She didn’t recognise the food, long stringy ribbons frying up in a large pan over an open fire as the chubby street seller threw in various ingredients. Something green, meat, an oil, egg. There was something though, she could feel the fire even from behind the two watchmen…
Ester blinked a couple of times and then focused on the flickering. Yes… there were strands of magic to it. Crude, almost invisible, but when she really looked she could see them. The man must have a Knack. Not forbidden of course, but they were rare in Trevayn. There were so many theories about how they arose, she’d always thought…
“You gonna just stand there watching or do you want something to eat?”
Ester jumped, saw the outrage growing on Sergeant Cino’s face and spoke quickly, before he could intervene. “My apologies, I was just considering.”Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!
“Best you’ll find in Vass Karan young mistress.” The man spoke with evident pride in his voice, although she couldn’t place his sharp accent. It certainly didn’t sound like the others she’d heard in the city so far. Could he be foreign?! It hardly mattered, the Watchmen knew him and he was actually talking to her like a normal person. “Satisfaction and a full belly, that’s my promise. Eat Old Maral’s food, that’s me, and you’re golden.” He didn’t look particularly old.
“Maral…” Sergeant Cino’s voice held more than a hint of warning. He was going to ruin everything, this was the first time someone was actually talking to her like a normal person!
“I am persuaded, one bowl of your…”
“Egg and duck noodles mistress, best in Vass Karan.”
“Yes, those.” At least now she had a name for the strange ribbons.
“Of course, that’ll be two pennies.” That was cheaper than she’d expected. Was everything in Vass Karan cheaper than Trevayn or just this? She’d need to find out. It could make quite a big difference to her life one way or the other. She hadn’t really needed money for the last seven years. Actually thinking about it her two companions hadn’t paid anything. Did they have some kind of arrangement with Maral?
As Maral started to add ingredients to his pan, Ester reached for the purse on her belt and fumbled inside to pull out a denier. Maral reached out his hand without pausing in his pushing and shaking of the pan and held the small silver coin up at eye level.
“Huh, you’re a fancy one are you? Don’t have anything smaller?” Ester ignored Sergeant Cino’s wince and the way he glanced worriedly around them. She wasn’t sure she actually had any pennies.
“I am afraid not.”
“Hmm.” Maral made a noise of vague displeasure. “I’ll count out your change as soon as the food’s ready Mistress…”
“Mazar, Ester Mazar.”
“Pleased to meet you Mistress Mazar.”
In only a few minutes the food was ready, deposited into wooden bowls from the piles on Maral’s cart, along with a pair of thin wooden sticks on top. They were quickly followed by a large handful of pennies. Ester was left trying to fumble them one-handed back into her purse, at least she’d have some pennies now.
Then, finally, she was able to turn her attention to her food. Or more accurately, the pair of sticks on it. Maral was watching her, a hint of amusement on his face. Was she meant to hold them in her fist and poke them into the food? Ester shot a glance at Sergeant Cino, who seemed to be using them to shovel food into his mouth, but she couldn’t quite see how he was doing it.
Tentatively Ester grasped the sticks, very conscious that she was most likely about to make a fool of herself. So much for dignity. She was already half-regretting having bought this strange food and she hadn’t even tasted it yet.
“You’re not from around here are you?” Ester nearly dropped the sticks in surprise at Maral’s interjection.
“Is it that obvious?”
“There are signs. For sure.” He had an irritating smirk on his face. “Let me find you a fork, I’m sure you’ll have the hang of eating sticks in no time, but I can tell you’re hungry.” Ester flushed as her stomach echoed his words with a growl, but she took the proffered fork without complaint.
“Thank you.” Without further ado she stuck the fork into the food and started to copy Sergeant Cino, shoveling it into her mouth, dignity temporarily forgotten. It was good, better than it had smelt and it had smelt pretty good too. In no time she’d emptied the bowl and was almost tempted to buy another, but Maral’s amused gaze brought any thoughts of that to a crashing stop. Blushing again Ester handed him back the bowl and cutlery to add to his pile of used wares.
“Thank you, that was delicious.” She determinedly avoided the amused looks she’d been getting from Sergeant Cino when he thought she wasn’t watching.
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With a belly full of ‘noodles’ Ester at least felt a bit better about the world. It was hard to be quite so annoyed at the world on a full stomach. Their patrol had taken them down to the docks. Almost silent at that time of night, other than the sound of the Karan’s waters lapping at the piers and the creak of boats shifting against them. There was something almost peaceful about it, a pleasant contrast to the rest of the city.
Ester nearly walked into the back of the two Watchmen when they suddenly stopped.
“Something going on there Sarge.” At Laro’s words Ester pushed up onto her tiptoes to try to see past them. There was a boat docked on a stone pier, nothing interesting about that. But there was something more. In the dim moonlight she couldn’t make the figures out clearly, but they must have been unloading the boat.
Sergeant Cino sighed loudly and glanced back at her before squaring his shoulders. “I suppose we’d better check it out. Make sure you stay back milady.” He led them forward toward the boat, spear in one hand, lantern in the other, before raising his voice. “Ho there at the boat!”
The movement around the boat stopped at his call. After a long, pregnant pause a voice answered back in an accent Ester did not recognise. “Who’s that then?”
“Vass Karan Watch, who are you?”
Ester could just about hear some muffled whispers in the darkness, but nothing more. Then a group of men slowly emerged from the shadows. “We’re the Driftwood Wanderer out of Atheta.” The leader’s face was hard to make out in the dim light, but he was a big, bearded man. Ester was tall, for a woman, but she could see that he would tower over her. “In the service of House Velia. I’m her Captain. Captain Musa.”
The man folded his arms over his chest as if that would be the end of the conversation. The name sounded familiar, Ester thought she’d heard of a House Velia, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Sergeant Cino hesitated for a moment, glancing back at Ester again. He seemed far too tense. “And what are you hauling Captain? It’s pretty late to be out here unloading.”
The Captain reached to his belt and held something out to Sergeant Cino. Had she heard it clink? She wasn’t sure. “Just pickled fish, nothing special and all tariffs paid. I’m sure you can see that everything’s in order.”
The Sergeant reached out to take whatever it was that the man was holding. It definitely clinked. Surely not… Ester couldn’t stifle her gasp. He was trying to bribe the Sergeant! The sound pulled Sergeant Cino’s attention back to her. After a moment he sighed loudly and handed the purse back. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to inspect your cargo.”
“Are you serious?” Captain Musa sounded genuinely surprised. “Is the word of a servant of House Velia not enough?”
“Of course House Velia is above suspicion, but the law is the law.” Sergeant Cino couldn’t have sounded more reluctant if he’d tried. He glanced back at Ester again and the captain’s eyes followed his.
“Oh. I see. How inconvenient. Are you sure I can’t persuade you Sergeant? The docks at night can be quite a dangerous place, surely you have other things you should be worrying about? Criminals to catch?”
Had he just threatened them? Ester wasn’t certain. It sounded like he had, but surely no one would be stupid enough to threaten Watchmen like that. They were servants of the Throne! “Sergeant…”
She started to talk and was immediately cut-off by his, “Be quiet!” Ester’s mouth snapped shut, more out of surprise at the sudden harshness in his voice than anything else.
Sergeant Cino looked between the men in front of him, his shoulders were hunched and even without seeing his face Ester could feel the tension in him. Right up until it suddenly vanished and he stepped forward, his voice hard. “The docks certainly can be dangerous, but you don’t need to be worrying Captain, you’ve got men of the Watch here to protect you.”
“Heh.” The captain grunted as Ester and Laro followed the Sergeant towards the boat. “Two men and a girl. She going to protect us too?”
Sergeant Cino didn’t seem inclined to respond. Ester opened her mouth to give the Captain a piece of her mind. Then closed it again as several more men emerged from the dark. Even in the dim light she could see they were roughly dressed, big and armed. Great Spirits! The Captain had actually been threatening them!
“Fuck.” Ester doubted she’d been meant to hear Sergeant Cino’s muttered words. Regardless there was no way she could miss the worry, even fear, in his tone. Nor could she miss the way the men hefted the weapons in their hands. “Come on now, there’s no need for this.”
The captain shrugged. “You made your choice. Kill them and throw the bodies in the river.”
Ester froze. Were they actually going to attack the Watch?! It was unbelievable. That they would even dare.
Sergeant Cino and Laro hefted their spears. She wasn’t even armed! They’d told her it was inappropriate and unnecessary! Shouldn’t the Sergeant be trying to talk them down?
The thugs advanced, a certain amount of wariness in their motions. They didn’t have spears, but there were a lot more of them. Maybe she could order them to stop? Ester looked from grim faced man to grim faced man. She technically counted as nobility now. What a stupid idea. Why would they listen to her? They were murderous criminals! This was worse than the inn. Her bloody outfit meant she wasn’t even wearing the Schema-marked shift she’d prepared after that horrifying evening. She took a nervous step backwards. She could die as easily as any of them!
Sergeant Cino pointed his spear at one of the men who got too close, forcing him to take a step back before shooting a desperate look at her. None of that fear showed in his voice though. “Tell your men to stand down Captain. She’s a mage, if you don’t she’ll burn you all where you stand.”
“Course she is. Hurry up and kill them. I don’t have all night.”
The grim faced smugglers started to fan out. A man took a swipe at Laro with what looked like a stick with nails in it and dodged back to avoid the Watchman’s spear. Why did these people even want to kill them? Should they try to run?
Ester took another step back, trying to keep her eyes on all of the men at once. What was wrong with this city? Didn’t smugglers do things more discretely, not just brazenly unload in plain view and then try to murder Watchmen?
She suppressed a shriek when, with a yell, a pair of men leapt forward. Wickedly large knives flashed in the moonlight, but Sergeant Cino retreated in a flurry of movement, spear crashing noisily against the thugs’ weapons. She was too close!
Ester scrambled backwards, away from the chaotic exchange. Shouldn’t the sound of their combat have drawn more people in? They were going to be killed!
Her eyes flicked to Laro, who was jabbing his spear out to fend off the thugs as he retreated towards Sergeant Cino. At the same time Sergeant Cino’s attackers launched themselves at him again.
He batted one blow aside with his spear, jabbed at the other man. He was retreating towards Ester, barely holding them off with lightning fast thrusts and deflections. Another thrust of his spear and with no warning he jumped back, disengaging from them and almost bowling Ester over as he did so. She stumbled back, frantically trying to watch all of the smugglers at once without falling over.
“Fuck me girl, do you want to die?! Do something!”
Sergeant Cino’s shout yanked Ester out of her shock. Great Spirits what was she doing?! Was this why they didn’t let women learn combat magic? She shook her head to clear it as she stepped back once more, this time smoothly. She was being ridiculous. She was a Chartered Mage, not a clueless apprentice.
A breath to remember her training. One more to grasp for the cold focus she needed. The world slowed as she wrenched her thoughts into place. No fear, no weakness, just the clear, sharp purpose that would bend the world to her will.
Ester narrowed her eyes, meeting the Captain’s bored gaze.