A Spell Misplaced, page 3
part #4 of Gags & Pepper: Protection Agents Series
“Tonight?” Seppius said, looking at the navigator, who nodded.
“Then I need another round of healing,” Gags said.
The pirate ship was close enough to count the sails through the spyglass at sunset. Gags descended to the mess and asked the cook if he knew of any crossbow bolts he could use. The cook took him to the armory. The bolts were too big for Gags’s use.
The cook had another idea. “We have a cask of just the heads. They might work better than cutting these down to size.”
Gags followed the cook to another room, where the cook broke open a small casket. The heads were the same as the bolts, but without a shaft of any kind, Gags could use them. The cook found an herb pouch that he had emptied, and Gags filled it up with the bolts.
He showed Lucian.
“Why are you using these when you have another bag full of the ones you brought from Peria?
“I can’t have too many of these. If we are fighting another ship, I’ll need all of these and more,” Gags said.
They had a large dinner. The sailors were nervous, but Gags tried to put them at ease as they walked out of the mess. “Lucian and I fought in the magician wars. We know what to do.”
They walked up to the main deck. “What do you mean we know what to do?” Lucian whispered to Gags.
Gags laughed. “They are an enemy. If they try to get on the ship, we fight as we always have.”
“Your confidence is not helping me this time,” Lucian said.
“What else are we going to do? Retreat is not an option.”
Lucian looked out at the darkening seas. “I suppose you can walk to Oroia from here.”
Gags laughed, and Lucian did, too. “My magic would run out before I made it to the horizon.”
“Then why don’t we steal a lifeboat?”
Gags looked at the sailors stationed around the ship. “Seppius probably gave them orders to kill anyone who tries.”
They stepped up to the steering deck and gazed at the ship no more than five hundred paces away.
“It won’t be long,” Lucian said.
“I’m going to be right here,” Gags said.
As night descended, the air calmed. The pirate ship hadn’t bridged the gap. Lucian descended to the mess and returned with a few loaves of hard bread.
“We might need this,” Lucian said. “You more than me.”
The vigil lasted for hours, with hardly a breath of wind. Gags peered in the darkness as he used his night sight to see the pirate ship lowering lifeboats into the ocean.
“Get Seppius up here. The pirates are going to attack on rowboats.” Gags said.
Gags tried filling two sails, but it didn’t do much to get the ship underway. He turned to the oncoming boats while the sailors were awakened. Gags leaned against the railing and grabbed a bolt from the bag, sending it straight into the bow of the lead boat just at the waterline.
Shouting littered the air, so Gags began to puncture the boats with the bolt heads. With the lighter heads, his magic wasn’t declining. Before the boats could reach Seppius’s ship, the rowboats began to take on water, and they turned around and rowed as hard as they could to the pirate ship. Gags watched as the boats sunk halfway to the pirate ship.
Men cried out in the water, and the pirate ship slid back, slowing up to pick up the survivors.
~
The respite didn’t last long. The pirate ship caught up again as the sun rose in the east. The battle would be fought in daylight, after all. Everyone was rested on Seppius’s ship, and Gags had every expectation that the pirates were ready to fight.
The ship came closer and closer. Gags used his magic to luff the pirate ship's sails, and the vessel slowed, but not enough to end the chase. Gags began shooting the bolts into the sails. The distance was too far as a few bolts didn’t pierce the sailcloth.
As the pirate ship advanced, arrows began flying between the ships to little effect, but that would change in a few minutes as the ships converged.
“We are going to come about,” Seppius said. “See if you can get your bolts into the officers. The more men you hit, the easier the fight will be.”
“And our chances of survival go up,” Lucian said.
“Same thing,” Seppius said, his sweaty hands on a crossbow.
Gags knew it wasn’t the same thing, but it was not the time to quibble.
“Ready,” the navigator said as he began to spin the wheel.
The ship moved sluggishly, but there was enough wind to bring her about. The pirate ship didn’t react as Seppius’s ship moved alongside the starboard side of the pirate ship. Gags shot bolt after bolt into pirates who were yelling at them. He spotted three men dressed in mismatched uniforms barking orders. Gags silenced them with three bolts. The targets were getting out of range, so Gags shot bolts into the rigging, cutting lines down. A few spars sagged as the lines were cut.
“Get the lines from the sails,” the captain said.
Gags cut the lines holding the bottoms of the sails, and the ship began to slow.
“We are going around again,” Seppius said.
This time the pirates weren’t caught unawares, and fire arrows were launched as Seppius’s ship passed up the port side of the ship.
“Two can play that game,” Lucian said as he spelled long spears of flame into the sails. Most of his spears fell short, but enough were successful, so the rigging caught fire. Gags cut more lines before he chomped off a chunk of bread. He used his volcano spell to bring water from the sea and let tendrils splash against their burning sails before the fires spread.
The pirate ship was almost dead in the water as Seppius’s ship sailed past. They stared at the smoking pirate ship falling astern until a sailor began to cheer, and everyone joined in.
“It will take them a few days to get repairs and choose new officers,” the captain said as Gags, Lucian, Noria, Seppius, and the two officers stood on the steering deck, keeping an eye on the pirates.
“If they can get to the fires in time to preserve their sails and rigging,” the navigator said.
“All thanks to Gags,” Noria said, slapping Gags on the back.
“Always glad to help,” Gags said, “but Lucian provided the fireworks.”
“From now on, anytime you sail on my ships, you go for free,” Seppius said, looking much relieved.
The wind began to freshen, which wouldn’t be looked upon as an advantage by their pursuers. The pirate ship slipped back to the horizon until all Gags could see through the spyglass was a smudge of smoke, and even that disappeared.
The navigator re-plotted their course, and two days later, after following the coast for half a day, they entered Baxterton harbor.
~
The sky was bright and clear. Gags looked back at the calm waters of Baxterton Bay which met the western extent of the Southern Middlesea. The harbor was more protected than any port on the west side of Peria, with a large peninsula protecting the bay. Gags thought it was very picturesque. Lucian liked it because his stomach finally settled on the last day of sailing.
Seppius and the captain both were anxious to bring the ship into its slip without gouging the side. Having successfully negotiated that task, Seppius called Gags and Lucian to him. Noria stood at her father’s side.
Seppius looked up at the sails; with all the patches from the fire arrows, they were much more colorful than when they left South Pustule.
“Now, I will get down to business. If you are ready to leave for Peria when I have a cargo, I’ll be happy to take you back to South Pustule. I doubt I’ll be putting into Artport anytime soon,” Seppius said.
Gags turned to look at Baxterton. It was at least the size of Artport. “I don’t think we will be able to move that fast,” he said. “We must find the location of Lord Browning’s estate, but first, we have to….”
“Where is the captain?” a voice yelled from the dock.
“I own the ship,” Seppius said as everyone moved to the starboard rail.
“You are a Perian ship?” a man standing with four guards. All wore navy blue uniforms with yellow piping. The speaker wore a tri-cornered hat with a plume poking straight into the air and carried a black leather valise.
“We sailed from Artport via South Pustule,” Seppius said.
“I want a passenger and cargo manifest before you leave the ship.”
“And you are?” Seppius asked.
“I am the west harbormaster. There is a west, central, and east division. You are in a western slip.”
Seppius nodded. “I have three passengers, one of which is my daughter and the other two are Perian nobility.”
“The harbormaster’s eyes grew wide. “That is good fortune for Baxter. Bring the manifest down to your three passengers and me. We will have to inspect your ship.”
“Of course,” Seppius said with a smile that Gags could see was forced. He stepped away from the rail. “Fortunately, everything is documented.”
Gags shrugged. “I am clueless as to why they are so strict.”
“So am I,” Lucian said.
“And I’m along for the ride,” Noria said, slipping an arm through her father’s.
Gags laughed, but he was a little nervous, landing on an unknown continent with the intent of rescuing Miria from captivity and transforming her from a unicorn to her former human form. He had been close once before in Pakingoru in northern Atto. Then he didn’t have the means of breaking Eno Banban’s spell, but now he did.
Seppius left them and returned with a portfolio filled with papers. He walked down the gangplank and showed the portfolio to the western harbormaster before turning to Gags, Lucian, and Noria.
“Gags and Lucian, come down and meet the harbormaster. It appears nobility is treated differently in the country of Baxter.”
When the pair joined the harbormaster and his assistants, Seppius introduced them. “This is Prince Lucian Rapper of the Yellow River kingdom and Duke Vingus Gags, lord of Yearsend Vale, Karkle Cross, and Hardcastle, fiefs under the Hosandian king. I forget the king’s name.”
“Horius Linseed,” Gags said.
“You have proof?” the harbormaster asked.
Gags nodded. “I have a copy of the patent in my bags, but I don’t know what kind of shape it’s in. We took the ship south after fighting a war in Western Peria.”
The harbormaster turned to Lucian, “And you?”
“I have a signet ring, but I’m unsure that will mean anything to you,” Lucian said.
Frowning, the harbormaster said, “You must go to the palace. They keep records of such things.” He scribbled something on two forms from the valise. “One of my men will escort you.” The harbormaster turned to Seppius. “We can finish our work on your ship. Your other passenger can follow us and grab her bonafides. This won’t take long if you cooperate.”
“I didn’t sail through the Maritime Gap not to cooperate,” Seppius said.
“Quite right,” the harbormaster said.
Gags and Lucian took their bags with them, not knowing where they would end up.
“You look armed enough to be fighters, bandits, or pirates,” the harbormaster said, looking at Gags’s wrapped palm.
Gags raised his hand. “I tried to be a sailor and received a rope burn for my trouble.”
The harbormaster nodded after examining Lucian’s ring and Gags’s title patent. Then he chose one of the guards, gave the man the forms, and sent them to the palace.
The palace wasn’t hidden, perched midway up a rise from the harbor. The guard hailed a carriage.
“I’ll be damned if I’m going to trudge up there,” the guard complained, looking at the palace in the distance.
Gags didn’t disagree with him as they climbed in.
“What’s Peria like?” the guard asked.
“Much like Oroia, I understand,” Gags said. We have kingdoms and fiefs as you do.” Gags peered out the window. “Baxterton has a warmer climate, so I notice trees and plants I’ve never seen before.”
“Different trees,” the guard said, shaking his head. “I’m more interested in the women and the wine.”
“Ale is more commonly drunk than wine, except for the nobility,” Lucian said. “But all the women are beautiful.”
“Like the captain’s daughter?” the guard asked.
Lucian smiled and nodded, “Like her.”
Gags never considered Noria particularly beautiful, but he remained silent. “The architecture is different, but that could be Baxterton. More Perian buildings are made out of stone and less out of brick.”
“Brick is cheaper and easier to transport or make locally,” the guard said. “I have an uncle who works at a brickmaker in Largeton, south of here.”
“Still in Baxter?” Lucian asked.
The guard nodded. “I like Largeton better than Baxterton, but there are fewer jobs. I enjoy eating more.” The guard laughed. “It looks like you do, too.” He looked down at the forms. “You will use these to get into the Palace Auxiliary. It’s a big administration compound next to the palace. The country is run from the Palace Auxiliary as King David plays at being our monarch.”
“Isn’t that a dangerous thing to say to a couple of nobles?” Lucian said with a smile.
“I’ll take the chance. You two don’t look like the pampered fools that grace our king’s court.”
“We have shunned the pampered opportunities of our lives,” Gags said with a smile.
“Is that really a rope burn?” the guard asked.
“It is indeed,” Gags said, unwinding the bandage and showing the tender skin underneath. Gags turned to Lucian. “Maybe another treatment today?”
“Treatment?”
“Magical healing,” Lucian said.
“Magic?” the guard looked uncomfortable. “We don’t have magicians in Baxterton. You’ll have to watch your step,” the guard said to Lucian.
Lucian looked at Gags and pursed his lips. “I suppose I will. There is more magic in Peria than in Oroia?”
The guard nodded. “We didn’t have a wizard’s war here because they can’t enslave many minions.”
Gags raised his eyebrows. “Fewer magicians, fewer wizards, more reason there weren’t many Oroians on Atto.”
The guard gasped. “You were there?” he said to Lucian.
“I was. Gags knows all about it. Don’t you, Duke Vingus?”
“I do, Prince Lucian,” Gags said, narrowing his eyes at his friend.
The guard shrunk a little and went silent as the carriage began up the incline toward the palace. The roofs of mansions peeked above walls on the high side of the road while the view of Baxterton became more stunning as they climbed.
The carriage turned into a lane that ran around the back of a taller wall, and then they turned into a courtyard.
“Follow me. Don’t mention anything about magic!” the guard said.
“Here,” Gags said, giving the guard a golden Perian coin. “For your trouble,” Gags made sure he gave a tip out of sight, “and your silence.”
The guard’s eyes grew. “You are nobility, indeed,” he said as he slipped the coin into a pocket and looked around to see if anyone had seen the transaction.
They went in a side door to the Palace Auxiliary, which had one floor more than the palace.
“Visitors. They claim to be nobility.”
A woman chewing on a slim stick of bark made a pained face. “Don’t they all?”
The guard slipped her the forms, Gags’s patent, and Lucian’s signet ring.
“A ring?” the woman called a young man over. “See if this is listed in the Perian book,” she said before examining Gags’s document.
“Is everything in order?” Gags asked.
“Oh,” she said, sitting up straighter. “This looks real.”
“I assure you it is,” Gags said. “I’m the lord of the fiefs of Yearsend Vale, Hardcastle, and Karkle Cross.”
“And a duke besides.”
“Hardcastle is a ducal fief. I was awarded it recently. It might not show in your records.”
The woman consulted a large book and found Karkle Cross and Hardcastle. “Where is Yearsend Vale?”
Gags leaned over and pointed. “When my father died, the fief was split, and I was given Yearsend Vale. After a short time and special service to the king, I inherited all of Karkle Cross and Hardcastle.”
“I suppose it doesn’t matter,” the woman said, tapping the patent. Everything seems in order.”
The boy returned with the ring. “It is the royal seal of the ruling family. A nephew of the king is named Lucian Rapper.”
“Many pass themselves off as nobles to take advantage of Baxterian law; it is rare for real nobles to come through here.”
“What is the Baxterian law?” Lucian asked.
“You can secure a position in court. If there are no plenipotentiaries for your countries, you may claim that and are given a stipend,” the woman said. “You will get more details at the Ministry of Rites and Protocols.” She dismissed the guard, who nodded to Gags and left.
She filled out more forms while Gags and Lucian sat on a hard wooden bench. The young man researching Lucian’s ring was summoned again and given their new papers. Gags and Lucian followed the young man up six flights of stairs. The furnishings improved with every level.
As they exited the stairway, they realized that they had come up what might have been a servant’s passage in a castle and entered a floor with rugs and tapestries softening the sounds of the stone floors. They walked to the front, where the young man deposited them in a plush lobby.
“Sit here. Someone will join you,” their escort said before leaving them.
They didn’t wait long for a pretty woman about Portia’s age to pull a chair in front of them with their papers in her hands.
“Prince Lucian and Duke Vingus?” she said.
“Call me Duke Gags,” Gags said.
The woman made a notation on one of the forms. “I am Flora Baker, greeter to the Ministry of Rites. Welcome to Baxter and the city of Baxterton. As you might have been told, noble visitors are well treated in Baxter.”
“We were,” Lucian said.
“This is the Ministry of Rites and Protocols, and it is our goal to make all Baxterian and foreign nobles comfortable during their time in our country,” Flora said.
