The Heart of Alchemy by James Wisher (e book reading free TXT) 📕

“Tell me everything,” Otto said.

Axel did so, the little he knew. Apparently, the scouts had tracked the kidnapper as far as the edge of the property then lost him in the city. No surprise there. Tracking one person in a city of tens of thousands would be beyond even the scouts’ considerable talents.

“Your wife is distraught and when I left the maid had awoken. According to the note, you’re to go to a cabin outside the city at midnight. It’s obviously a trap.”

“Of course it is. I knew that the moment you said they took Abby. Whoever did this is going to wish they chose someone else to threaten. I’m going to rip their guts out while using magic to keep them conscious through the pain. Before I’m done they will beg for death. If I’m feeling generous, I might grant their wish.”

“What do you want me to do, Master?”

“Keep an eye on Annamaria. I can’t imagine this is an attempt to lure me away to strike at her, but I’m taking no chances. Axel, if you’d deploy your scouts for the same reason, I would be grateful.”

“Of course,” Axel said. “If you hadn’t said anything, I would have suggested that very thing.”

The rest of the trip passed without conversation and soon they stood before the gates of Franken Manor. The guards on duty, both of them shivering against the cold, looked away as he got close. At least they had the good sense to be embarrassed. Otto had no idea what Edwyn paid them, but clearly it was more than they were worth.

They went in through the main entrance and Otto shrugged off his cloak. He’d barely taken a step past the entryway when Annamaria said, “Otto.”

She stood at the top of the stairs looking down at him. Otto sighed and turned to the others. “Give us a minute.”

He went upstairs alone, keeping silent until they were in her room and the door was closed. Annamaria stared at him, her eyes wide and pleading. “You have to get her back. Please. I’ll do anything you want; be the wife you’ve always dreamed of. Just name your price and it’s yours if you save Abby.”

Otto saw the truth of her offer, but he no longer cared. “You have nothing I want. I will save Abby and deal with the kidnapper. Not because you ask it of me, but because someone dared come into my home and make threats. That they took something of no value to me is irrelevant. It’s the unmitigated gall of the act that irritates me. Rest assured, that when I’m done, no one will ever dare threaten Abby again.”

Some of the tension went out of Annamaria. “That is enough for me. As to my thanks, you will have them whether you want them or not.”

“I’ll leave Axel and his men on watch as well as Corina. You’ll be safe until I return. There is something I’ll need from you.”

“Anything.”

“A little blood to guide me to Abby.”

“I don’t understand. Can’t you find her yourself?”

“No. You noticed in the note, the kidnapper mentioned a cabin beyond the city. Do you have any idea how many cabins there are? Whoever this person is, he knows enough about wizards to know that I should be able to trace my own daughter wherever she is. The problem, of course, is obvious.”

“She’s not yours.” Annamaria had trouble forcing the words out. That surprised Otto as she’d never had a problem with her cheating before. “You can have all you need, but not until midnight. If you don’t follow the rules, he might kill her before you arrive.”

Otto shrugged. A few hours more or less made no difference to him. “Axel said Mimi was awake. Did she tell you anything about the kidnapper?”

“No. Whoever did it hit her from behind. She never even saw him.”

Not a surprise, but Otto had hoped for some indication of who he was about to kill.

Chapter 12

As Allen and Oskar guided their mounts down the dirt road that led to the village of Blue Cove, Allen couldn’t help smiling. When Lord Shenk gave him this job, he’d assumed it would be a miserable slog. He’d forgotten just how much warmer it was in this part of Rolan in the winter.

Instead of a chore, the trip had become a treat. He hadn’t been this warm in months and beyond the small collection of stone houses, the sea was smooth and blue. Fishing boats bobbed in the surf and a dozen tiny figures carried parcels to and from them. He made a mental note to bring Sin here, assuming they ever got some time to themselves.

“Is this your first visit to the ocean?” Oskar asked, jogging him out of his thoughts.

“No. I went to Lux a couple times on business—my business, not Lord Shenk’s.”

“Do you like serving him?”

Allen shot him a look and Oskar laughed.

“No, he didn’t tell me to ask. It’s simply my curiosity.”

“Do you?” Allen countered.

“Oh, yes. I’ve had many positions in the military, but serving as Lord Shenk’s agent is the most power I’ve ever enjoyed. Even the local commander treats me with respect. I understand it’s not me they respect, but him. Still, it’s better than being looked down on and condescended to. Demanding though he is, Lord Shenk has always treated me honorably.”

“Well,” Allen said, surprised to hear Oskar’s enthusiasm for his position, “I serve in a more informal capacity, so I don’t get the reflected glory. That said, he’s saved my life twice. I believe if he had to, he would save it again. Having a wizard for a patron is no bad thing.”

Oskar smiled. “Agreed. Now, let’s see if we can learn anything that will make him happy.”

Allen grinned back then focused on the task at hand. If a noblewoman stayed here, there had to be an inn of some sort. Allen couldn’t picture her bunking with a local fishing family.

The town had only one street and that street had only