Chương 10: Chapter 9 - Thorburn's Story

"I got a call from Both," Thorburn said. Both? I thought. Both of what? Both who? But Jacky didn't seem confused. Dafna and Reynell had excused themselves when they realized they weren't needed. We were left alone with the men of the Torr. The priest continued, "She said that a man named Trevon Wayde had come in with an item purporting to be an ancient Egyptian scroll written by the magician priests." Thorburn paused for a moment, but Jacky didn't feel the need to interrupt him. He went on.

"Since it was a religious text, it fell into my domain, but there are so few of us, I didn't have anyone I could send out."

"But you did send someone out?" Jacky asked. Thorburn opened his mouth, but Uhler spoke over him.

"His current handler is a sorcerer by the name of Joel Aubert." Jacky turned to Ashworth.

"I'll need his contact information." The sorcerer nodded.

"Did he tell you about the murder?" Jacky asked. Ashworth said, "He may have tried to tell me, but I've been busy recently—I might have overlooked the message. When was Wayde murdered?"

"Three days ago. The body was found two days ago."

"Then Aubert might not even know."

"He wasn't keeping a close watch on the professor?"

"Not a close one. He stopped by regularly, but all his reports said that Wayde was harmless."

"A man in possession of a scroll written by history's greatest sealing magicians was murdered and his soul is missing. Perhaps Wayde was harmless, but someone around him was not."

"Yes, but there were no warning signs. Wayde was a skeptic. Aubert said that he didn't seem all that interested in it."

"Was any attempt made to purchase the scroll?" Ashworth glanced at Thorburn.

"Not to the best of my knowledge." The father said, "No, Jacky. I thought it'd be safe with him."

"It would have been safer with us," Jacky said.

"It wasn't a straight-forward matter."

"Straight-forward?" The priest scooted to the front of his chair.

"Jacky, go talk to Both. She'll be able to tell you about the scroll, and she actually met Wayde. We've only heard of him. Standing on this side of the problem, I know it looks irresponsible of us to have left it there, but if you hear what she has to say on the matter, it'll make more sense."

"I'll do that. Do you mind if I try to take possession of the scroll?"

"Given the circumstances," Thorburn said.

"I would feel much better if it was in your house." Jacky turned to Ashworth.

"The contact information." While Ashworth gave Jacky the information, Thorburn and Uhler stood up. I stepped back as they gathered their things, but when they left the table, they didn't walk past me. They stopped. The witch stuck out his hand.

"Emerra Cole?" I nodded and shook his hand.

"I'm Cosmo Uhler."

"The witch, right?"

"That's right." Based on his sheepish grin, he knew it would surprise people. That should have been a clue for me to be considerate and keep my mouth shut, but after staying mostly silent through a whole meeting, I thought I might burst.

"So. Male witches." I waited, hoping he'd give me some kind of permission to continue being a twit. He looked resigned.

"Yes?"

"Are they called witches?" This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work. He smiled and tried to push up those glasses that didn't need any pushing up.

"There are a few male witches out there that prefer the term warlock—they think it sounds cooler—but I'm not sure any title with the word 'war' in it would suit me very well." Innocence and humor beamed out of his face. Thorburn put his hand on Uhler's shoulder.

"And that's the way we like it, Cosmo." How did this man become the representative for all the witches in the territory? He couldn't be less like Olivia if he tried. A figure walked up behind them.

"I think it's my turn now, gentlemen." Cosmo and the father moved aside so Ashworth could get to me. As he closed in, his attractiveness increased exponentially. I wasn't sure if I should shake his hand. Physical contact might trigger his ascension to godhood.

"I'm Owen Ashworth, sorcerer." It had to get through the haze of handsome to reach me, but then my brain registered his full name. Owen Ashworth. Owen, who Dafna didn't think needed to know that I was with Jacky. That was thought-provoking.

"I'm glad to meet you," I said.

"Any special powers?"

"Would that be normal?"

"Very normal around here. I thought that might be why you were here. If Father Thorburn found you, he would bring you in to meet your torrman." I glanced at Thorburn to see if he was going to correct Ashworth, but the father only smiled. Maybe he had heard Dafna. I said, "That'd make me a witch, though, wouldn't it?" Ashworth cocked his head. I went on, "Sorcerers are learned magicians. So are alchemists. If it had been faith-based, then Thorburn would have been my torrman, so I'd have to be with Cosmo over here."

I motioned with my head to indicate the man to my right. Owen smiled at me.

"Traditionally, yes, but let me assure you, if you wanted to be a sorcerer, we'd take you."

"You'd take witches?"

"We prefer them! They're so naturally gifted." He waved his hand.

"All that obsession with territoriality and isolation died out hundreds of years ago. Now we work together. It's much better that way." Cosmo said, "Yes, but you can take anyone with a talent. I actually need my witches."

"So you're claiming her?"

"Well, no."

"Why not?"

"First of all, because I respect people's right to choose—" Ashworth grinned in triumph.

"—secondly, she's not a witch." The grin faltered. I turned to Cosmo.

"You can tell?" Uhler's hand went to his glasses again. Father Thorburn answered for him.

"Cosmo doesn't like to brag, but that's a special talent of his. He's very good at sensing magic. He can pick the one witch out of a crowd of a thousand when he's standing on the edge."

"Which is where I'm usually standing," Uhler said wryly.

"Thanks to him, they've managed to bring their numbers up for the first time in a hundred years." That's why he was their torrman. Those witches were clever. Jacky stood up from his chair.

"Emerra?" I pushed away from the wall.

"Ready when you are, Jacky."

"Let's go." As I followed Noctis toward the door, I waved back at the three torrmen.

"It was nice to meet you all." Thorburn and Uhler both waved, happy and unconcerned. The surprise was still clearing from Ashworth's face, and for a split-second, I wondered if he was going to come after me. But then he called out, "Will we see you around?" I gave him a shrug and let the door fall shut behind me. We returned the key to Lane and made our way back to the parking lot. I waited until we were in the car before unloading on Jacky.

"Okay, so, is Ashworth really that good looking, or is he using magic?" Jacky put the car in gear and pulled out of the parking spot.

"I didn't realize Ashworth was considered good looking." I stared at him. Maybe my eyes were magical because Jacky seemed to feel it. He glanced over.

"I can see him, but I don't perceive human attractiveness. However, you would have seen his true face, even if he was using magic." Ah, yes. Jacky and his perfect confidence in my eyes. I sat back in my seat.

"So he's just that good looking?"

"I have to assume so."

"That's cheating. Trying to wile away people to his side with that smile of his."

"He is known for being friendly."

"Are the torrmen elected?"

"Each group is responsible for choosing their own representative. If they take too long, I choose for them."

"Was Ashworth elected?"

"He was put forward to the council of sorcerers and approved."

"What about Reynell?"

"I chose Klara Reynell." That startled me. I had assumed Jacky making the decision was mostly a threat used to get the groups to move faster.

"Is that…normal?"

"I usually wind up picking the representative for the alchemists. They're a diverse group that barely fit under the same banner, and few of them are interested in the politics of the Torr."

"Did you pick any of the others?"

"I chose Father Thorburn."

"No!" Thorburn was so sweet, I would have bet good money he'd been elected. Heck, I would have voted for him.

"Deciding a thrismage representative is a time consuming and grueling process. They have to volunteer, then be interviewed by their religious leaders, then be interviewed by the leaders of the other major religions in the area—I really don't know why they bother. They were debating over five different candidates when I came in and chose for them."

"Was Thorburn one of the five?"

"No. He seemed rather puzzled and upset that I had chosen him."

"But he did it?"

"Mages don't often refuse my requests." I grinned.

"Imagine that."

"He's been serving as a torrman for thirty-six years." I let out a low whistle.

"Any other questions?"

"Oodles. Do you have lots of magic relics and artifacts at your house?"

"Not really. Three or four—not including any tools that Olivia makes."

"But you buy them, don't you? You're going to buy the Egyptian scroll."

"The Torr usually buys them, but the scroll is of special interest to me. And I said I would try to buy it. We do our best to keep tabs on the loose magic in the world—that's why someone was sent out to watch Wayde—but we don't go around seizing other people's property."

"Not unless you have to?"

"When that happens, the owners are usually glad we've shown up."

"And who or what is a both?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Thorburn said he got a call about Wayde—""Ah. Natalie Both. Both is her last name."

"Who is she?" At first Jacky didn't answer. I wondered if he was too busy driving, but then he said, "Would bookkeeper be the right word? It's not exactly a book store, and yet…it is."

"Huh?"

"Natalie Both runs a store that occasionally sells books. She's also an expert on antiques. Over the years, she's acquired a reputation among both magicians and mundanes. People bring her things to evaluate. She's one of those people that don't fit easily into any category, but she's been an asset to the Torr for a long time. From what Thorburn said, I'll have to go see her. Soon." He paused, then added, "You should come with me."

"Do you need me to look around her shop?"

"Not really, but I think you'd find it interesting."