Drought and Downpour 1.1

  Atropa

  “Fear is a weapon. Wield it well.”

  -Korina, Archmage of Blood

  It was autumn in that part of Astoria. The trees the first settlers had brought to this planet responded curiously to the weather. They dropped their leaves, letting them scatter to the winds. It created a somber and somewhat eerie atmosphere. The leaves acted as a curtain, concealing the secrets of this place. I walked through the bustling city streets, taking in the sights. This region used somewhat older methods of building-favoring skyscrapers over the shorter buildings used on other worlds I’d been to.

  The city was also unusual for having personal transit rival public transit as the primary mode of getting around. The sounds of small electric cars going by on the road was a constant in the heart of the city. I found it somewhat charming, despite the obvious dangers. As I walked down the street, I took out my data pad to re-read the briefing for this mission.

  ***

  Briefing:

  Waker Claret. You are tasked with hunting down any and all rogue sorcerers present on the world of Astoria. As per normal protocol, you are to make them ready for transport back to Magos. You have full jurisdiction to decide if an individual is beyond training. In the case of such an event, you are to kill the sorcerer.

  The conclave has reason to believe that at least two sorcerers are present on the planet. There have been a series of arsons in the capital city of the world. Given the lack of any leads on the part of the local authorities, we have reason to believe that sorcery is the cause.

  There have also been an unusual series of deaths due to cardiac failure in the capital city. Again, no leads have been found. We believe the local authority may be connected with the sorcerers to some extent. You are to investigate the strange occurrences. You are also to determine if there are any links between any potential sorcerers and the governor of the planet. Good luck on your first mission.

  ***

  I put the data slate away. No matter how many times I read the words, the order to kill anyone I judged unredeemable was disturbing to me. I was sure that years of experience with wild mages had created such a harsh policy. I probably just didn’t understand the weight of what I was being asked to do just yet. I only hoped that this hunt wouldn’t come to that.

  I’d opted not to wear my full mage’s regalia, at least not yet. A woman walking down the street wearing the full power armor and mantle of a Conclave mage would draw massive amounts of attention. I’d prefer my targets had no idea I was here. Better yet, that the local government didn’t know I was here. Instead, I chose to dress in warm clothes for the season, a long red coat, warm pants, and a scarf. I would-I hoped-look like any other worker. I at least wouldn’t be a walking alarm signal.

  I’d been assigned to Astoria for the foreseeable future, apparently there were reports of several rogue sorcerers hiding out on this world. I had been eager to begin my first hunt before getting the news that this was a long-term posting. Figures, they assign the task to the new waker. I suspected it might be a setup to get me to fail. No matter, I’d complete the job and head home to Magos. I’d show them.

  I passed by a group of four soldiers. They were equipped in much the same way as most of the occupying forces on worlds like this one. Full body armor, an armored long coat, full face helmets, and outdated plasma rifles. I could see damage on their armor and the places where they’d painted it violet. A flagrant violation of the new protocol about displaying civil war colors. I don’t think they cared. To them this was just another former monarchist stronghold that needed watching. I could see as they made their way through the pedestrian zone that passerby shot them dirty looks. No one here was welcoming their “liberators.”

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  A voice in my ear startled me out of my daze. “Waker Claret, is something wrong?” A woman's voice resonated through my earpiece. I blinked a few times before realizing I had been standing still. I responded “Sorry HQ, just observing the surroundings.” The woman on the other end responded with “That’s alright, Astoria is apparently a popular tourist destination. Just try not to pass yourself off as one.” I nodded, before resuming my walk.

  My destination was city hall. I was given reason to suspect it was there that I could find my first lead on where the current target was hiding. The report didn’t give any idea of what element the first mage was attuned to, but I had my suspicions. After a few minutes more of walking, I caught sight of it. City hall was undoubtedly built long before the civil war. It was a strange combination of castle and temple. As I approached it, I felt as if I might be entering some archaic king’s domain. Very silly indeed.

  I joined the crowd of people coming and going from city hall, blending in fairly well, at least as far as I could tell. I made my way into the lobby, where more soldiers were present, only a handful, but enough to notice. I approached the front desk. Sitting behind it was a younger looking man wearing professional clothes he looked deeply uncomfortable in. I spoke to him. “Excuse me, I am a reporter here to speak with the local governor about the recent arson attacks. I have an appointment.”

  The man behind the desk didn’t respond but looked at the console in front of him. He seemed to find what he was looking for. “Ah, Odetta? He is expecting you. Head down the hall and make a right.”

  I nodded and headed down the way he pointed. To my knowledge, the governor hadn’t reported any mage activity on his world. If he knew-and I suspected he did-he could be a collaborator. If that were the case, things could get very bad very fast. I had assigned myself the secondary goal of preventing any interventions. I shuddered at the thought. No, I’d figure this thing out. Ventriloquist would not come here.

  Making my way into the office, I could immediately tell this guy wasn’t doing his fair share of the work that running this planet would entail. I could see a vast array of awards and certifications. I could not find anything relating to his work. No data slates, no office supplies, nothing. He looked up from his computer and flashed me a very fake smile. “Miss Odetta, I presume?”

  “Yeah, that’s me. Pleasure to meet you, Governor Augbert. You have a beautiful planet.”

  His fake smile changed into a real smile at that praise. “Thank you! We try very hard here on Astoria to keep the beauty of yesterday. It can be difficult to preserve what is beautiful. But that is not why we are here today. You had some questions about the recent string of arsons?”

  I nodded and took a seat, taking out a data pad to record him. I needed his testimony as evidence, for the event that he was involved somehow. He raised an eyebrow at my failure to ask permission. My master’s teachings about taking control were difficult to override. I brushed it off. “So, when would you say the arsons began?”

  “The arson began several weeks ago. We have yet to determine any pattern.”

  I nodded. “Right, do you have any suspects?”

  It was here that I took a deep breath. I focused my senses. I could feel my own blood as it coursed through my body. I could sense my heartbeat, calm and even. I felt that the spell work I’d placed on my legs this morning was still working well. The blood flowed evenly, the runes keeping things steady. I began to expand my sense outward, beyond myself. To feel the blood of the man sitting across from me. To feel the blood of everyone in this building. I could sense all of it. It threatened to overwhelm me, to drown me in a red tide, but I wouldn’t let it. Focus in, focus on just this room. I zeroed in on his heartbeat. I needed to know if he was lying. I needed to know if I was making him nervous.

  He pondered for a moment before responding. “The guard have not identified any suspects as of yet. Whoever this is, they seem very good at evading surveillance.”

  I could feel his heart rate increasing. He was lying. His facial expression betrayed nothing. A career politician, to be sure. But his blood could not lie to me. I needed to handle this carefully. If he learned who I really was, it would probably turn into a full confrontation. I needed to avoid losing my cover too soon.

  I asked my last question. “Interesting, I can only hope they are brought to justice soon. My last question. There have been rumors that these arsons were perpetrated by a sorcerer. Have you seen any evidence to disprove this?” His heart rate skyrocketed. It felt to me like the heartbeat of someone in a fight or flight situation. He Knows.

  The governor responded immediately. “Those rumors are false. Forensic analysis revealed the arsons were performed with improvised incendiary devices, not fire magic.”

  I gave my best attempt to feign interest in the lie. “Oh? This is new information. I was under the impression that the method was not known. I’m sure the public will appreciate the update!” I pretended to make a note in my data slate. I could sense his heartrate relaxing. He thinks he’s safe. He just smiled at me.

  “Will that be all for today, Ms. Odetta?”

  I nodded. “Yes, that will be all. The Pyzaria Times appreciates your comments. I wish you luck with the case.” I stood up to leave and headed out. He simply smiled and waved at me as I left. I felt his heart relax substantially. There was little doubt he was involved with the sorcerer. He inadvertently gave me information, the sorcerer was a wielder of elemental fire. Great. At least they weren’t a death mage.