Velvet nodded and pointed out another turning ahead. “Take the next right,” she said.
They turned down the road, which was narrower than the last one, though just as clean and empty of traffic. However, the snow returned in the next street. The houses here were smaller and far less grand that the ones on the main avenue, although they were still well built, rising two or three stories and painted in the same pastel colours as the larger ones. The buildings had small gardens in the front, but most of these reflected the season, lying under blankets of snow. Several had paths cleared to the front door, and this clearing was far too regular and thorough to have been done by a man with a shovel. More magic.
“Does Rumpold live here?” asked Nurn.
“The next street,” Velvet said, and then frowned, suddenly unsure. It had been several months since she had delivered to the wizard, and things looked different in the snow. “I think.”
“You think?” Nurn raised eyebrows.
“Don’t worry, I’ll know it when I see it.” Velvet waved a hand.
“Will he remember you?” he asked.
She nodded. “I think so. He’s always been quite friendly when I’ve done deliveries, in a detached sort of way. These wizards don’t mix much with commoners if they can help it, but he’s polite enough. Down this road here.” She pointed. “He lives in one painted pale blue.”
“Mmmph.” Nurn made a peculiar sniffing noise. “I don’t think any wizards I know of in my… area would live in a house painted in pastel shades.”
Velvet noticed the pause in the Grey’s sentence, but before she could comment further Lord held a hand up.
“Does Rumpold live over there by any chance?” he asked.
She looked and nodded. “How did you know?”
“Because the door’s open and I can hear sounds of fighting,” the big man said. “And I don’t believe in coincidence.”
Velvet barely heard the last part of his sentence, as he’d spurred on his horse and was trotting over to the house.
“Come on, but stay behind me and be careful,” said Nurn, kicking his own mount in the sides.
Velvet managed to keep up somehow, jolting about in the saddle until she managed to get the rhythm.
Lord slid off his giant beast in one easy movement, dropping to the floor like some giant mountain cat. He slid the smaller sword at his side from its sheath and stalked forward, up the path and towards the open door.
Velvet dismounted more carefully, but still landed in the snow with an unbalanced stagger. “Will he be alright?” he asked Nurn in a low voice. “It’s dangerous to go into a wizards’ house unannounced.”
“I’m more concerned for the wizard,” the Grey replied.
They both crept forward, up the path after the large warrior. Nurn pulled a sharp and wicked looking dagger out from somewhere within his robes. “Just in case,” he shrugged when Velvet looked at him with raised eyebrows.
As they reached the open door, which was a dark blue, there was a sudden shout, followed by the sound of metal on metal. A small explosion quickly followed, and then Nurn pushed Velvet roughly to one side.
Just in time. Two men dressed in black tunics ran from the door. One of them looked at Velvet as he passed, two pale blue eyes staring over the mask that covered the lower half of his face, noting every detail. Long hair was braided in a ponytail that ran half the length of his back, and he had a belt slung over his shoulder. Velvet thought she glimpsed several daggers hanging from it.
She stepped away, but apart from the look the men ignored her, racing past in a swift, silent gait.
“Come on,” said Nurn, pulling her into the house as the assailants fled.
She followed him in, and found herself in a pleasant parlour, furnished with comfortable seats around a low wooden coffee table set in the middle. Several landscape paintings hung on clean white walls, and a cabinet was to one side. A cup and teapot had been knocked off the table and were now leaking their contents onto the plush blue carpet that lined the floor.
Another door on the left was closed, but Velvet heard talking coming from a narrow spiral staircase opposite. She moved cautiously to the bottom of it and looked up, Nurn close behind her.
“If they’re talking it’s probably safe,” the Grey whispered.
“So why are you whispering then?” Velvet replied.
“Just go!” Nurn pushed her, ignoring the comment.
Velvet went, climbing up the staircase slowly and as quietly as possible. The plain wooden stairs had been recently varnished, and she held onto the rail tightly, afraid she’d slip. She didn’t though, and reached the top with no incident, stepping hesitantly forth into a small room.
Within the room the Lord of All was squatting over a body, dressed as far as Velvet could see, in a similar fashion to the men who’d run out of the house. The short round figure of Rumpold was also there, sitting down in a chair and panting hard. He was wearing his navy blue wizard robe, decorated with yellow moons and stars, but his head was bare, exposing thin greying hair, which was tousled and untidy. After a moment Velvet saw his hat, lying on the floor in the corner.
“Is it safe?” asked Nurn, peering around Velvet.
“They are gone,” said Lord. He plucked something from the body and stood up, filling the small space with his presence, completely overshadowing the wizard.
“Are these people with you?” croaked Rumpold.
“My assistant, Nurn, and a friend of ours,” replied Lord, examining the thing in his hand.
“I know you,” said the mage. “You’re from the supply shop. I don’t remember ordering anything recently.” He frowned.
“Sorry sir,” Velvet replied meekly. “These gentlemen needed to speak to you urgently. I showed them where you live. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Considering your large friend here probably saved my life, I think I’ll forgive you this time.” Rumpold made an attempt to smooth his errant hair and looked about for his hat.
“These men attacked you?” asked Velvet. “Who are they?”
“Assassins,” Lord answered for the wizard. “Do you know this symbol?” He held up the thing he’d been examining, which turned out to be a pendant, fashioned in the shape of a question mark.
Velvet shook her head. “Sorry, but then I try and keep away from these sort of people.”
“How about you, wizard?” asked Lord, dangling the pendant in front of the man.
“I don’t recall seeing one before,” said Rumpold, bending down to retrieve his lost headgear.
“Mmm,” said Lord, narrowing his eyes.
“Why were you being attacked?” Velvet asked. “I thought no one dared to attack a wizard.”
“You’d be surprised how wrong you are my dear,” said Rumpold. “These ruffians were no doubt sent by an enemy of mine. They caught me off guard, I admit, but that’s all.” He waved a hand dismissively.
“Oh,” said Velvet, but something in the man’s tone didn’t fully convince her.
The wizard placed his hat carefully on his head. “There, that’s better.” That task done, he turned to look at Lord. “This young lady said you wanted to speak with me. You’ve done me a favour, so how may I help you?”
“It’s a delicate matter,” said Lord. “I must ask you for your full discretion.”
“We wizards are known for our discretion. Never fear, I can keep my mouth closed.”
“Very well.” The Lord of All, stood still for a moment, considering his words. “We have a small problem. An enemy of mine has managed to exile me from my… home. To return to where we came from, we need to locate a portal.”
“A magical portal I assume,” Rumpold said. “Which one is it? The Portal of the Dragon? Fools’ Gateway? The Threshold of Beyond?”
“Are they all magical portals?” asked Velvet, fascinated by this insight into the occult world.
“Some of the better known ones at least,” said the wizard, pulling his belly up and trying to look important.
“Ah, no, not those. I believe it’s called… The Everywhere Door,” said Lord. He winced slightly as he said it.
Rumpold’s eyes widened. “The Everywhere Door? What… I mean where…” he stopped, took a deep breath and started again. “Are you sure you need that one? There must be another…”
The Lord of All shook his head. “No, it has to be that one. So you can see our problem, and why we came to you.”
Velvet watched as a look of realization passed over the mages’ face. “Oh. I see, of course. Oh dear.”
“Oh dear?” said Nurn. “What does 'oh dear' mean?”
“You must know that no one knows where the door is at any one time. It always moves, and never to somewhere easy to find.”
“That’s why we need the Eye,” said Lord.
“Yes, I thought you’d say that,” said Rumpold. He took a deep breath. “I don’t know where you get your information from,” he went on. “But it’s wrong. I have no idea where the Eye is. I’m afraid you’ve come all this way for nothing.”
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