Page 12 of Rune Assassin

Beringer bowed his head. “Thank you, sir. I have made it my life’s mission to learn to master my power.”

I edged closer to the line in the sand and brushed the tip of one foot against the filled-in fissure. Nothing stirred. “What else can you do?”

Beringer chuckled and strolled back to us. “I will keep that as my little secret.” He stopped in front of us and clasped the cane in both hands to lean forward on it. His attention fell on Fidel. “Now, young man, you know my secret. What of yours?”

Fidel sheepishly smiled at him. “I’m afraid mine isn’t quite as grand as yours, but-” He lifted his chin and whistled. The sound echoed across the beach and seemed to echo for miles.

Nothing happened for a long time but then my ears were pricked by a noise. The others and I looked around for the source as it grew louder. Tegan nodded at the cliffs. “There.”

Beringer and I followed his lead and turned to the stones. A strange shadow stretched up above the sloped top of the cliffs and arced into the air before flying toward us. The noise grew more intense and I realized the sound was of thousands of chirping birds.

The huge flock flew over our heads in a tight dark circle before Fidel whistled again. The creatures dispersed as quickly as they had congregated and the noise ceased. In a moment things were just as they were before.

Beringer clapped. “Bravo, young sir. I must admit I had no idea someone could control our feathered friends with such skill.”

Fidel blushed and shook his head. “It isn’t that rare, at least not where I come from.”

“Not uncommon among those with the gift of magic,” Tegan mused. “Families do tend to inherit the ability and multiply.”

“Like Glistnia and the broom riders?” I guessed.

“What of that wondrous place?” Beringer spoke up as he looked between us with piqued interest. “Did I not hear some extraordinary tale of a dragon discovered in the mountain?”

“We visited there some time ago, but we did hear about that,” Tegan lied as he cupped his chin in one hand and put on a pensive expression. “There was something about buried treasure, too.”

“Buried treasure and a dragon?” Fidel wondered with a smile. “That sounds like something out of a fairy tale.”

“I am sure the details have been embellished,” Beringer mused as he half-turned back to the house and studied the staves posted around the beach. “I wonder if the tales of the tournament are equally embellished.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “What tales?”

“That there are dangers to be had in the magics crafted by our host,” Beringer told me as he leaned against his cane. “There are stories of participants forfeiting not only the games but their very lives in order to overcome the tasks.”

I recalled the many doors with their various, and vague, depictions of past events. “Is the money really worth it?”

“Perhaps not, but the prestige one can garner from winning is worth even more, both for one’s pride and monetarily,” Beringer revealed as he cocked his head to one side and his face took on a faraway look. “I recall meeting a past winner of the tournament. He had won the contest some thirty years before and yet people still worshiped him as if he had achieved victory only the day before. A winner is immortal, at least for a time.”

“And that time is now for us to try our hand at our crafts and impress our host,” Fidel spoke up as he stretched tall and grinned. “I only hope my birds will answer the call better than your cane.”

Beringer chuckled. “Time will certainly tell us, though-” He turned to Tegan and looked him over, “-I wonder if you might tell us something of the young lady with whom you were speaking the earlier. The lovely Miss Blost, I believe Lusio said.”

Tegan smiled and shook his head. “I won’t play favorites but she did give up a hint herself.”

“The mention of a scent, I believe?” Beringer guessed.

Tegan nodded. “Just so. Her specialty is smells that do anything the imagination can conjure up, so try not to be in an airtight room with her.”

Beringer smiled and bowed his head. “Thank you for the advice. If you will excuse me, I have had a long journey and am feeling a little fatigued.” He slipped away and back to the house.

Fidel stretched his arms above his head. “I think I’ll take his cue and go to bed myself. Will you two be staying out here very long?”

A chill breeze wafted over us and I wrapped my arms around myself. “I don’t think so.”

Tegan set a hand on my shoulder and smiled at our new acquaintance. “But not quite yet.”

“Then I’ll see you inside,” Fidel replied before he left us alone.

Or so I thought.

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