A Crucible of Souls (Book One of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence) (45 page)

Avigdor’s gaze grew curious.
“
What do you expect me to find?
”

“
I really don’t know, but it might have led to my family being… killed, when I was young.
”

“
I’m sorry to hear that. Though this makes it more interesting.
”
He placed his hand on his heart.
“
I promise whatever I find will be shared with only you. And my mistress, of course.
”

Reluctantly, Caldan nodded. The truth was, now that Avigdor knew what his
trinket
looked like, he could find the information anyway, no matter what Caldan wanted.

“
Do you need a sketch or a rubbing of the design?
”

Avigdor tapped his temple with a finger.
“
It’s all here. I have a knack for remembering details. Give me a few days. I can send a message to Izak?
”

Though Izak was friendly, Caldan wasn’t sure he trusted him yet.
“
To the Protectors would be better, addressed to me.
”

“
They might wonder why I would send you correspondence.
”
Seeing Caldan shrug, he continued.
“
Is there anything else you can tell me about its origins?
”

How much to tell?
“
All I know,
”
Caldan began,
“
is that my parents and grandparents may have worked for the empire, though in what capacity I have no idea. Other than that, I have nothing to go on.
”

“
A few days and you’ll hear from me. Then Lady Felicienne’s debt to you will be paid.
”

At that moment, Izak appeared at the table with a steaming pot of coffee and three glazed mugs. Beside him, a serving girl placed a tray holding two jars on the table. Both had the handle of a spoon poking out the top. Izak thanked her with a smile then shoed her away when she inquired if they needed anything further.

“
Well, I hope you two have been getting along while I was gone,
”
Izak said.

“
We were,
”
answered Avigdor, nodding.
“
Coffee, I trust?
”

At Izak’s nod, Avigdor helped himself to a cup, then went to place the pot back on the table, stopped, then poured a cup for both Izak and Caldan.

“
Sorry, not used to serving other people,
”
he said.

Izak waved his apology away.
“
Quite all right, my friend. Who is?
”
He laughed.
“
What was the topic of conversation before I rudely interrupted?
”

Avigdor reached for both jars.
“
Your friend Caldan here was telling me he has become apprenticed to the Protectors.
”

Izak looked quickly at Avigdor and blinked a few times before his gaze moved to Caldan.
“
That’s…
”
He cleared his throat.
“
Could you pass the honey and salt, please? This coffee isn’t to my taste.
”

Avigdor passed the two jars across to Izak, who opened both and sprinkled a pinch of salt into his cup and stirred in a generous dollop of honey.

“
I wasn’t aware this was anything out of the ordinary,
”
said Caldan.
“
There are a lot of apprentices in the guild, and I assumed a fair few were apprentice Protectors. What’s wrong?
”

Izak shook his head slowly.
“
Nothing. It’s just surprising.
”

“
Very surprising,
”
added Avigdor.

“
Hush,
”
said Izak and frowned at him.

“
Don’t hush me.
”

“
Just drink your coffee while I explain some things to young Caldan here.
”

Avigdor muttered into his cup as Izak glared at him. To Caldan they sounded like two old friends grumbling at each other. He took a sip of his own coffee. His stomach rumbled. Despite eating with the apprentices, he was already starving, but both Izak and Avigdor looked like they had no interest in eating yet. He sighed.

Izak sucked in a breath and turned to Caldan.
“
Are you sure you’re an apprentice Protector?
”
he asked.
“
Not just an apprentice in the Sorcerers’ Guild?
”

“
Yes. I spoke to Master Simmon at length, and he asked me to become an apprentice Protector. Those were his words. What’s so strange anyway?
”

“
The Sorcerers’ Guild has many apprentices, and all of them have talent in
crafting
, am I correct?
”

Caldan nodded slowly.
“
Yes, to varying degrees. Though they all have other talents, too.
”
He’d heard some talented apprentices went to study in the capital, paid for by the guild.

“
Tell him how the Protectors choose their members,
”
said Avigdor.

“
I was getting to that,
”
snapped Izak testily, glaring at him again. He looked at Caldan.
“
From what I understand, the Protectors choose from the apprentices recently promoted to journeymen, but not just the ones who are the most talented in sorcery or
crafting
. They also choose people who have other skills as well, including sword fighting, smith-crafting or alchemy. Not much is known about who they choose or why, to be honest. What happened with you? What did Simmon say?
”

His questions were casual, but Caldan could sense a sudden intensity to his gaze, and Avigdor’s posture straightened as he asked, and he leaned slightly forward. Just interest, or was this information of more value than curiosity?

“
What department did you say you were in? That Lady Felicienne runs?
”
he asked Avigdor.

The man smiled, his pasty face shiny with a thin sheen of sweat.
“
I didn’t. And that’s the best question you’ve asked so far.
”
His eyes glittered with amusement.
“
Probably the first question you should have asked.
”

“
Lady Felicienne is Third Adjudicator, that much I know. But what does that mean?
”

“
By itself,
”
said Avigdor,
“
not much. The ‘department’, as you put it, isn’t well known. Our role is to keep our eyes and ears open, keep our fingers on the pulse of what is happening around the empire. Whether it’s the local populace and their mood, delegates visiting from other nations, even to visit other countries and assess their disposition when it comes to us. Same with the guilds and other organizations.
”

Caldan thought quietly for a moment.
“
You deal in information, spying?
”

Avigdor shook his head.
“
Information is part of it. Spying certainly is not. And would I admit that anyway?
”
He waggled a finger at Caldan.
“
I think not. No, essentially we gather information on all sorts of things, but the real challenge is to interpret it, to make sense of the information, to piece together facts from different sources and see patterns… conceptual reasoning, if you will.
”

Patterns, thought Caldan.
“
Hence Lady Felicienne’s interest in me, and yours. Playing Dominion is hard enough. To be good you have to be able to see patterns where others cannot.
”

Both Avigdor and Izak nodded.

Caldan’s stomach rumbled again, reminding him he needed to eat.
“
Can we order some food?
”
he asked.
“
With the training I’ve been doing I need to…
”

“
It’s coming,
”
interrupted Izak.

“
I could use some, too,
”
said Avigdor, patting his belly.

“
You could lose some weight,
”
commented Izak.

“
And you should eat more,
”
replied Avigdor.
“
All skin and bones, no meat on you. Anyway, back to what I was saying. A good Dominion player is likely to excel at what we do. I say likely, not guaranteed. You see, some people…well, they see the patterns in Dominion but have a hard time applying the same skill to human interactions and events. Mostly, these are the same scholars you would find spending their days in a library or secreted away doing their own research. We need people that can see patterns but also are able to relate to the world outside their window.
”

“
And how did you and Izak become friends?
”

“
Izak and I do business sometimes, in rumor, information.
”

Izak looked pained.
“
I’m not so low as to sell rumors.
”

Avigdor grinned, showing a set of surprisingly perfect teeth.
“
Call it what you will. But knowledge is power, and there are people that pay good ducats for a nice morsel.
”

A serving girl appeared, bearing another tray. She placed covered dishes on the table, along with a plate and a fork for each of them.

Avigdor peered at the dishes.
“
I hope you ordered enough for us, not as if three of you were eating.
”

Izak’s face broke out in mock pain.
“
Please,
”
he said.
“
Give me some credit. I know what an active youth and an… overindulged adult can go through. Luckily, you’re paying.
”

Avigdor raised his eyebrows and sighed.
“
As usual.
”
He lifted the lid off the dish closest to him.
“
What have we here, noodles?
”

“
Should be noodles, almond eggs, fish with onions, rabbit in wine and some fried spinach with garlic,
”
said Izak.

Avigdor gave an approving nod and set to with a will, taking a good portion of each before waving them to do the same. Izak waited until they were done before taking a portion of a couple of dishes. While he watched Avigdor and Caldan hungrily attack the food, he chewed a bite of rabbit. They ate in silence for a while before Izak spoke.

“
You see, Caldan,
”
he explained through a mouthful,
“
I’m part of several circles, nobles, merchants, businessmen and the like… and, well… if a harmless piece of information comes my way, I let Avigdor here know. As a friend.
”

“
As a friend,
”
repeated Caldan.
“
Of course.
”

“
Good! I see you understand. And friends help each other. That’s what friends are for.
”

“
I guess, but…
”

“
Shush, Caldan,
”
admonished Izak.
“
We’re all friends here now. It’s a shame you’re with the Protectors, though.
”

“
I might have offered you a job otherwise,
”
Avigdor said.
“
Yes, too bad.
”
He eyed his clean plate and the empty dishes sadly. With a sigh, he sat back.

Caldan looked at them both then ran a hand across his short hair.

“
Gentlemen,
”
he said.
“
I think I shouldn’t leave the Protectors after all they’ve done for me so far.
”

“
Oh, I wasn’t suggesting you did,
”
said Avigdor.
“
And you probably couldn’t. You see, no one leaves the Protectors.
”