Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #14 May 2015 | Page 44

One of the guards met her at the gate while the other remained back by the servant door.
“Business so late?” he asked.
Abrodail smile wearily. “Business never ends. My
husband is working on an urgent shipment for the
end of the week and wanted to double-check several
orders. But he left his ledger in the office and sent
me to retrieve it.”
The guard bowed slightly and nodded at the other,
who drew out a latchkey and opened the inner door.
Right as he swung it wide to admit Abrodail, Khellus shut his eyes and snapped the crystal between
his fingers.
The nullification spell contained within the crystal
activated and the gate’s magelights winked out.
Plunged into darkness, the guards shouted and
stomped about. Khellus opened his eyes, still able
to see perfectly, and dashed for the door. One guard
had Abrodail by the arm while the other had drawn
his sword and stared blindly out at the street.
Khellus slipped by them, unseen, and into the court
beyond. Nobody stood in sight. Marble columns
supported a covered walkway to his right while
empty stables occupied the left side, and several
doors ringed the wide court. According to Abrodail,
this gate protected the main staffing section of the
estate, leading into larger storage areas, a kitchen,
and workrooms. The estate proper thrust up in front
of him, a stately affair of four main towers forming
the corners of the enormous manor.
Taking this all in at a glance, he ducked behind
a marble column. A second later, the spell ended
and the magelights flared back into being, further
disrupting the guards’ sight. Once they settled,
they held a hurried conversation before admitting
Abrodail and slamming the door shut behind her.
No doubt they’d be adding fickle conjurers to their
list of nightly complaints. Khellus tapped a breast
pocket, making sure his second crystal remained
in place. This one held an enchantment that would

protect him from any scryers or divinations, as
Abrodail had assured him Asmoran had several
skilled mages in his service.
Abrodail waited until Khellus’s soft whistle drew
her over. She scowled as she joined him beside the
column.
“What now?”
He cocked his head at the main building. “You
know where Asmoran takes dinner and sleeps?”
“Oh, yes, of course. I often bring him a mug of
warm muckmilk and tuck him in at night.” She
sighed. “I have a general idea, but I don’t frequent
that part of the estate often.”
He nudged her into motion. “Best guide I’ve got for
now. Let’s keep moving.”
They eased out of the shadows. Dozens of windows
lined the estate’s stone walls, many lit from within
by faelights, magelights, and hanging lamps. No
smoking torches here to spoil the appearance of a
refined manor.
Abrodail led the way a few steps ahead, Khellus
using her slight frame to block immediate views of
himself. Entering the nearest door deposited them
in a long corridor lined by a variety of storerooms.
They passed pantries lined with dried herbs and
fresh produce, as well as sacks of grain, rice, and
beans. Abrodail noted one stairwell leading down
into a wine cellar, and another to the cheese and
meat larder. They paused outside the entrance to the
main kitchen as Khellus pondered the most expedient approach.
Even at such a late hour, staff and servants bustled
around, though none gave the pair any regard as
they hurried from task to task. In the kitchen, pots
boiled and the smell of cooking meat laced the air.
Khellus noted only one cook at work, toiling over
large clumps of floury dough. When the man’s back
was turned, Khellus darted in and snatched up a
small meat pie sitting on a counter.