Wizard of Jatte by Rowan Erlking (librera reader txt) 📕

watched the constables wrap up the jeweled body, carrying it away. From here on, Theissen knew they would all have to wait for the verdict. Looking over at the jewelry masters, watching their nervous stares from one man to the other, he knew that things could go one way or the other. The one-handed magician stalked off the floor, exiting with his partner back to the gallery along with the constable who had spoken for Theissen, urged on by the bailiffs’ staffs.

“Can you really smell magic?” asked one of the bailiff standing nearby.

Startled, blinking, Theissen nodded.

The man held out a gold medallion on a chain that had writing on it. “This is a magic item. Tell me what it does. The writing is foreign.”

Theissen peered at the words, it not even Westhavenese. He shrugged and turned it over. “The spell is not activated. Lots of magic items are dormant unless acted on by a spell word.”

The bailiff snorted. He pulled out another item from his pocket. “What about this?”

He held out golden chain of fine links and ancient etching, connected like a sliding noose on one end.

Frowning, Theissen picked up the long chain from the man’s palm and turned it in his hand. “This is a demon chain. The magic on this is very cruel. It chokes demons if they are wearing it, pulling tighter if it struggles.”

The smug look on the bailiff’s face vanished.

“And this?” The bailiff held out a sheet of paper. On it were words in a foreign tongue.

“That is a shield spell for a doorway or some other flat surface. But it won’t work if you keep it rolled up in your pocket,” Theissen said.

Huffing angrily, the bailiff stomped away. He tucked all his items in his pocket, though taking care not to crinkle the shield spell.

The chief bailiff walked back in just moments after the exchange. The city elders trailed in after him, taking the high seats. As soon as they had settled comfortably, the chief elder peered over at the accused below.

“After looking at the evidence at hand, we the elders of Jattereen City have come to a decision.”

Everyone drew in a breath, anticipating the ruling. Theissen watched and waited, knowing either way, this could be the last trial he would have to attend.

“We find the accused, Leoner Yuld Scoran Jeweler, Forntbas Ludrik Lonse Jeweler, and Ruban Mukumar Koin Jewelerson, guilty of murder on multiple counts, as well as guilty of continuing to maintain their business through intrigue. As for the wizard…”

Theissen drew himself up, waiting for their verdict.

“We find you way too outspoken and cheeky. You ought to control your tongue. The witness of Rumi was sufficient to absolve you. That man rarely forms a good opinion without grounding it well in truth.” The chief elder did smile though. He nodded to Theissen. “You are acquitted of any harm and you are free to go.”

His side of the courtroom burst into a loud cheer.

Tippany climbed over the railing and threw herself at Theissen. Hugging him with all her might, tears ran down her cheeks. Theobold flapped over, wrapping his arms and wings around both friends, grinning and hugging the both of them. So many happy tears. So much laughter. And way too much hugging.

The bailiffs banged their sticks to get order.

Theobold flapped immediately back to their supporters’ area, his eyes on the staff with possible terror that it hid a spear. Yet Tippany remained with Theissen, not letting go no matter what.

Bang! Bang! Bang! The bailiff’s pounded their sticks together to get silence.

Finally, the chief elder spoke, giving the entire group a chiding glare. “Really. Decorum. Have some decorum. Now, Wizard, I have only one question for you before you leave.”

Theissen blinked in his gaze at him. “And it is?”

“Are you really the Lumen Carpenter’s son?”

Through a relieved laugh, Theissen nodded. “His fourth son.”

“And your shop is in the Ki Tai tower?”

Nodding again, Theissen met the elder’s gaze. “Do you want to place an order?”

Rising from his chair, the elder smiled. “I do. I’ll come by tomorrow. Case dismissed.”

“Dismissed!” The bailiff banged his stick again.

Chapter Forty-Nine: I Have Business to Discuss With You

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They walked from the court hall in parade. Emrit pulled himself out of the crowd as soon as the wizard’s supporters hit the crossroads, turning toward the road that would lead to the docks. He saluted Theissen with a parting smile.

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?” Theissen called to him, unable to break from the crowd of which he was the center.

Bowing in formal Westhaven style, Emrit lifted his eyes. “You safe. I go to ship.”

“No, no, no. You are not going back tonight. You’re coming with us to the tower to celebrate.” Theissen urged the others to part, now that they could see he wanted to speak to the large Westhaven man. The birdmen flapped, backing off with smiles.

Though smiling, Emrit shook his head. “No. I go. You no need me now.”

“Nonsense,” Theissen said, walking with Tippany at his side. She looked as if she had lived her entire life there and never wished to leave it. “I have business to discuss with you. I want to hire you.”

Emrit blinked. His smile vaporized from shock. “Hire me? For what?”

Facing him, Theissen chuckled. “You are a magister. I’m a wizard. I’ve been thinking about your situation for a while and about mine. I want to study more magic, along with continuing my carpentry. And you need a stable job situation without the threat of Angledons coming to bother you. Come and live in the tower, and work for me.”

The huge man stared wordlessly at him.

“I offer good pay. And our cook is excellent,” Theissen added, glancing once at Manda. The small woman grinned up with her children.

“But I no Jatte,” Emrit muttered.

“Like I care,” Theissen said, grinning wider.

Clearing his throat, Emrit narrowed his eyes at him. “What work you want?”

Nodding, Theissen listed on his fingers, “I need a translator for Westhavenese for starters, a teacher so I can read Jonis’s letters myself, a magister to help me teach at the magic school, and a bodyguard with more sense than I have—just in case I can’t protect myself. How is that for starters?”

“Magic school?” Emrit peered more pointedly at him.

Everybody else also stared.

Theissen’s grin broadened. “I already started planning the classroom set up. You and I can be the teachers. I was going to talk to you about this week. But since you are here now, I figured I should bring it up.”

Emrit lowered his eyes, thinking on it. A smile returned. He looked up at Theissen and extended his hand in a Jatte style shake. “Deal.”

Gripping his meaty hand, Theissen laughed. “Yes. Deal. Now come on up with us to celebrate. We’ll have Theobold collect your things tomorrow.”

Lifting his chest, Emrit nodded to the birdman.

Theobold grinned with pleasure at him and extending a friendly arm. The birdman wrapped his arm around Emrit’s shoulder, flapping his wings with a hop. “Welcome to the family, friend!”

Emrit broke into a deep laugh.

*

Out in Lumen Village, a fat envelope floated heavily on the wind then landed on the windowsill of the carpenter’s home. Doreen was in the yard with her husband the tinsmith, watching it fall with exhausted weight.

“Mom! You got a letter from Theissen!”

Jogging from the carpenter’s shop, Carpenterwife, the carpenter and his youngest son who was now sixteen and a journeyman all rushed to the kitchen window. The carpenter’s wife picked the letter up and unsealed the envelope, feeling the weight of all the pages in her hands. She folded them open with eager haste. Looking at the first page, she read it out loud:

 

Dear Mom, and all those who may be reading this with you,

I am well in Jattereen City, though settling here has been a bumpy start. I told you about how I met Milrina over here—well, her wedding will be this next month. I wish you could be here to see it. The merchant’s family that is across the street from the inn I opened, the one Milrina runs for me, has been a great help with all the marriage preparations. Tippany, their eldest daughter, will be her lady witness. Rumi Landownerson is a lucky man. I have never seen Milrina so happy.

As for me, I spent this last month settling the financial affairs for the various people I have been helping. The feather business is booming, and the molemen’s jewel and metal work business is kicking off with a good start. We had to register for more houses and expand the tower a bit on the other side for more shops, but the cost was worth it. As for my carpentry business, it has kept me quite busy. I have five apprentices now, three of whom are local boys. They have been good about taking care of the basic work while I get to focus more on the craftsmanship like I wanted. Besides that, I have been busy with the new magic school I just opened up with this Westhaven man I met in the docks. You would like him. He saved my life this last month. Long story. I won’t burden you with the details, but I can safely say that Emrit Yarran is a man of honor, and I would be privileged and happy if you could get to know him also when you come over for the wedding.

That’s the other thing. I’m engaged. Her name is Tippany Lillith Rosa Merchantdaughter, and she is the sweetest, strongest person I have met in all of Jatte. Please come and meet her. Hire a carriage. I’ll pay them when they arrive. The wedding is planned for during the spring festival. We wait for your arrival. Come to the Wizard’s Inn for room and board, and meet me at the Ki Tai tower as soon as you get settled in.

Thank you so much for being my family and for caring for me without condition. I think back on when I was a child and how hard it must have been for you to teach a wizard the boundaries for good conduct, especially since nothing seemed to be out of my reach. Thank you for never giving up on me. I love you all, and see you soon.

Your son,

Theissen Darol Mukumar Carpenterson

 

“Well, I’ll be,” his mother said, pulling out the other letter, which was written in a more feminine hand. “He actually fell in love.”

His father smiled, glancing at Doreen who also smiled with a look to her husband.

Kolbran sighed loud with a look to his father. “Does that mean we’re packing for a trip?”

The carpenter grinned. “I guess so. I guess so.”

“What about the rest of the letter?” Doreen asked.

The carpenter’s wife lifted it out and said, “It is from his fiancé, Tippany. It looks to me that she wrote more than Theissen.”

“Typical male,” Doreen muttered with a giggle.

The tinsmith playfully pinched her arm.

“Read it,” the carpenter said.

His wife smiled and nodded, reading the rest of the letter that informed them exactly of the events for the past few months of Theissen’s stay in Jattereen and how they had met. With every word, the carpenter’s wife gasped from alarm and cried for joy, several times hugged for encouragement and