The Laws Of Elios (Book 2) (3 page)

“Ava,” greeted Laura in her normal enthusiastic fashion.  “What a pleasant surprise.  You remember Kaysee, Kaysee you remember Ava.

Ava smiled at Kaysee, taking in her porcelain complexion and jet black hair; at the same time seeing that she was perhaps a few years older than she had first realized; somewhere between hers and Laura’s age.  “It’s so nice to meet you again.”

“Likewise, I was in such a rush last time.  Laura has told me so much about you.  I am so happy to hear that you have recovered from the attack at Valee.  I hear you are also one of the Glyph Mage’s that have been relocating many of the refugees from Infin.  That is so amazing to me.”  Turning to Laura she said,” Your son is truly a lucky man.  Hopefully I will be so lucky one day,” she added wistfully.

“I should introduce you to some of the mage techs that are working for Shane
with the war effort,” offered Ava.  “Most of them are eligible bachelors.”

“I don’t know,” Kaysee said
visibly withdrawing into her-self.  “I have had a couple of bad experiences with men, I’m not sure if I’m ready for a relationship.”

“Now, now,” Laura patted
her arm as she placed a cup and saucer in front of Ava and then poured for Ava and warmed the other two cups at the table.  “Those men that harmed you are nothing like the gentlemen here in Yllyan.”

Ava sat down with Laura after she placed the kettle back on the stove top.  “The reason I dropped by,” Ava said changing the subject.  “Is that I have been doing some research and I believe I have located one of the lost city locations.  I also believe that the Elios left a way to restore or repair it if it isn’t too
badly damaged.  I’m planning to search it out and see what shape it is in and to reestablish the overland.  If it isn’t too badly damaged, that is.  It will add a great fishing port and harbor to the northern coast and allow more relocation space for the overflow of refugees in Infin.  I also need to know if you have any additional mage tech’s that Edward doesn’t have working for him that I can hire.  Doctor Wetz is working more hours than is healthy; so are the rest of my group.”

“I’m not sure that you should do this on your own,” Cautioned Laura.  The north is covered in
forest and rugged wilderness and there may be dangerous animals.”

“I don’t plan on going romping thru the woods,” Ava said dismissively.  “Shane has provided me a hand held portal device that he created that will allow me to scan the pathway of the overland as well as travel safely to
Coh Y Nord.  Besides I don’t plan on going anywhere at all until I get some relief for my teams at the research and training center.”

“Is there anything I can do?” asked Kaysee hopefully.  “I know
a little about glyphs; I studied mage tech at Jehhet University before my parents passed away.  I am self-taught beyond that and have a fair bit of skill in operating mechanical devices, appliances, and the vending artifacts, at the overland station in Valee, and I learn fast?”

Ava glanced briefly at Laura who nodded knowingly.  “Absolutely,” exclaimed Ava with enthusiasm; glad to see Kaysee seemingly reemerge from her shell of shyness.  “But I’m warning you, you will be surrounded by good looking guys,” She added laughing.

Kaysee blushed, “Ok, I could stand seeing a handsome guy or two - if they are nice – But I’m not promising to date any of them and absolutely no fixing up or blind dates,” she declared;  “unless I ask you too.”  She then laughed out loud and soon all three in the room were laughing together.

“Here’s to cute guys,” said Ava lifting her teacup holding out her little finger with exaggeration.

“Here, here,” echoed Kaysee and Laura.

The kitchen door opened unexpectedly and Soaris walked in taking in the levity.  “What’s so funny,” he asked.

His wife smiled and looked him up and down mischievously and said, “oh nothing.”  The three women laughed even louder.

“Women,” Soaris shook his head and left the room.

Ava put down her cup, “I need to get back to the research center.  Kaysee if you would like to come I’ll introduce you to the group and see about finding out what you can do.  I’m thinking that Professor Wetz could really use an assistant.  If you are good at taking notes and don’t mind working for someone that focuses on research like it is more valuable than gold then have I got a job for you.” 

~~~~~

“Here’s the plan,” outlined Ari.  “We still need to get some detail on guards, troop movements within the city, and around Infin. Once we see what is most guarded then we will know what is most valuable to Allion and we can start looking.  It would be helpful if we a bigger screen than we have on the handheld portal maker”

“I can build a larger global viewer for the conference room but it will take a couple of hours,” commented Shane.

“A couple of hours that we don’t have,” reminded Ari.

“Perhaps I have a solution, “interjected Roger.   All eyes were on the unusually quiet former tavern owner and Luion intelligence agent.  Perhaps we could go to the sloop and use the Nav viewer that Monsieur Shane made for the ship.  It has a
pair of very large viewers.”

A few minutes later they were in Lu Y Onton and onboard the glyph cover ship that they had used to search out Ava when the war with Infin had first begun.  Shane mentally inspected the ship for vandalism and any possible damage in their absence
; the only glyphs active were those he had used to seal the craft.  As he was inspecting the various other glyphs they all suddenly activated with lumen.  Searching the source he saw that Ari had re-infused the ships glyphs with lumen and he and roger were busy configuring the large global viewers to zero in on Jehhet in order to see what the situation was.

Finding no damage Shane cast off the lines and walked to the bow to ready the tow unit.  As he pulled the tarp off he felt air rushing thru the output side of the tubes. 
What in the world
, he pondered.  He immediately deactivated the lumen from the tow device and hurried below deck.  Stepping around Ari and Roger he looked for the tow controller.  It was not on the console where he had placed it.  “Hey Ari, Roger, did either of you put the tow controller anywhere?”

Both men looked up from their reconnaissance and shook their heads.  “Did you leave it on deck or in your cabin?” asked Ari, his concentration back on the images of Jehhet.

“No I set it here on the console.  I knew I should have glued it down.  I also thought we sealed the hatches before we left.”

“You may have sealed the hatches, sonny, but you
evidentially didn’t seal the deck access way to the forward stores. We picked up a rat,” Shew said, as  he shoved a raggedly dressed young man into the wheelhouse from the doorway that led down into the hold.  “I found him snooping around down below.”

Shane saw the lumen radiating from the imbued controller stuffed into the young stowaway’s back pack
but it was what he saw on the young man’s wrist that caught his attention.  Whether or not it was because of the attempted theft of the propulsion system; one of his first major enchantments or because he was upset that the theft could have significantly injured him or one of his friends - if he hadn’t felt a bit angry at the youth before, the hauntingly familiar wristband angered him now.  Using his repel glyph he flung the teen to the wall and stuck him fast to the bulkhead pinning both arms.  Walking calmly he reached into the pack and retrieved the controller.  Sure enough the device was set to full speed.  While the wild eyed youth squirmed ineffectively, Shane slid the controllers to the all stop position and then put it back in its place on the console.  Shane then walked over to the youth and deactivated the wristband, then pulled it from his immobile arm

All activity came to a stop.  Ari and Roger turned to see what Shew had found and Shane’s reaction had been so quick and abrupt they were all speechless.  Shane walked to the pale you
th looking him up and down.  “What’s your name,” Shane said almost conversationally.

The youth stammered for a moment and then hoarsely whispered, “Nuekirk.”

“Well Nuekirk, I want to show you something.”  Releasing the enchantment that had the boy stuck to the bulkhead Shane pulled him so that he was standing in front the doorway that led to the stairs descending to the galley where he stuck his feet fast to the floor.  The entry disappeared and a view of the water just off of the bow appeared.  “Have you ever heard what pirates due to stowaways?”  The young man shook his head negatively.  “They make them walk the plank.  Now we’re not pirates but we are people that don’t like to be interfered with.  Additionally I don’t like it when people mess with my things, especially when messing with my things put me and my associates in danger.  Shane reached for the tow controller and held it up to the youths face.  This is a controller for a very powerful propulsion artifact. Had it been in the water, your messing with it could have been harmful and caused a lot of damage.  I’m not blaming you this time I’m blaming myself.  I should have never left it activated and where it could be used by those that don’t know how to use it.  On the other hand you did come on board a ship that wasn’t yours and was locked up pretty tightly.  What really has me concerned is the fact that you were wearing something that is not easily obtained and incredibly dangerous.  The fact that you were wearing while activated, tells me that you were using it; people that use these are not good people – I
do
blame
you
for that.  Take a look through the portal in front of you.”

The portal
that opened out on to the water suddenly fell away as if they were rocketing skyward.  After a few moments the climbing of the view ceased.  The view was now from an altitude of nearly nine thousand cubits. The difference in air pressure from inside the sea level wheelhouse and the sky level where the portal exited was causing suction from the differences; causing the captured stowaway to be pulled toward the opening.

“I’m sorry,” screamed the youth nearly in tears.  “I was only trying to find a place to spend the winter.  A locked up ship is usually a safe place.”

“Where did you get this?” Shane held the Allyant wristband under the boy’s nose.

“I stole it, “the youth nearly sobbed as he looked frighteningly from Shane to the harbor far below.

Shane pulled him clear of the opening and closed the portal.  “What about this.” he held of the controller.  “You don’t even know what this is.  You could have killed someone.”

Nuekirk hung his head.  “
It’s magical; it looked valuable so I took it.  I was hoping to sell it.”

“How do you know it’s magical,” demanded Shane, his anger
not subsiding.  “It could be like ninety percent of the junk people are always digging up.  Did someone tell you it was magical?” 

The tee
n paused and stammered out his answer.  “I figured the artifact dealers would know what it did and it would be enough to see me through the winter.”

Shane
did not quite feel sorry for the youth.  He doubted that his suspicions were correct - that the boy was not a spy.  He had probably grown up in the streets and was doing what he had learned was necessary to survive.  To the boy he wasn’t so much stealing as he was merely being an opportunist.  He looked at Ari and mouthed “what do we do?” from out of the lads line of sight.

Ari
gave an unobserved nod then cleared his throat. “Nuekirk have you ever had a job before?”

“Yes sir since I can remember, mostly temporary jobs delivering equipment on the wharf or running messages, nothing more than seasonal or just enough to eat and sometimes get a cot.  With the war on a lot of ships
are not sailing so I haven’t been able to get anything for the winter.”

“It appears that we need a guard on this boat while we aren’t using it.  How good are you at keeping secrets?”
Ari asked sternly.

“Really, really good, Sir, I’ve been trusted with lots of secrets.”

“Like what, Sonny,” piped in Shew.

Nuekirk fidgeted a little.  “I promised I wouldn’t tell.  I promise that they were important
though.”  The lad shifted his eyes back and forth smiling as if at a private joke or memory.

“Heheh,” chuckled the old spy.  “I guess you can keep a secret.  But never tell anyone you know secrets especially if they are important ones.  The question now is how good you are at acting like you don’t know any secrets?” Shew said, his smile vanishing as he glared suspiciously at the teen.  If someone thinks you know secrets they just capture you and torture em out of you or worse feed you wrong information so that those that you do tell things to get bad information.”

“Tell you what Nuekirk,” spoke Ari. “We will let you live on the ship but as a guard not as a stowaway. We will probably need you to run errands for us from time to time as well but you need to keep your mouth shut and even more importantly you need to appear to not know anything.  Do you think you can handle that?”

The youth nodded his head
vigorously. 

“Good, I’m
Ari; this is Roger, Shew and Shane.  You will get to know us more later, right now we are in the middle of something important. Shew take him below and teach him how to be a good guard and what we expect from our employees.  Keep him below until we are finished with what we are doing.”