Chapter 19: Mage glimmer

I was using a wash cloth to clean the drakes. The one in my hand was sprawled out on its back while I washed its belly. I looked at Ash as the stuffed cat shifted and the stuffed elephant lifted its head. My daughter would not go to sleep if the two were not with her. She was the reason I was washing the drakes.

Some of the street children outside had been playing in the basins around the god statues. She thought the drakes should play to, only she used her mother’s dirty wash water. Thankfully Melody and her companion had been out with her grandmother. I finished the drake and turned to set it on the table as the back door opened.

Silver walked in and smiled as I picked up the next drake, “Busy I see.”

I looked at Ash and he hesitated, “Sorry.”

I nodded and gestured to another chair as I began washing the small creature. I whispered as he sat, “She used the dirty wash water on them.”

He grinned and whispered back, “It could be worse.”

I gave him a dirty look, “Do not curse me.”

He smiled and then sighed, “I need a favor.”

I shook my head, “Wait until Jasmine is back.”

He touched my hand, “Duke Albert and his little group of merchant followers has returned.”

I looked from his hand to his face and he pulled his hand back, “He once thought Jasmine his and now he has a mage glimmer.”

I waited and he sighed, “It will entrance any mage into obeying. He has made a few comments that soon the city would be his, including my daughter.”

I sighed and finished the drake and set it aside before reaching into my shirt and touching a small amulet, “Jasmine return.”

I looked at him again, “What do you want me to do? Steal his mage glimmer?”

He nodded and pulled an amulet out of his pocket, “And replace it with this.”

I looked at the amulet while I turned the drake in my hand, “That is what the glimmer looks like?”

He nodded, “And he probably sleeps with it on.”

I snorted as I finished with the drake and set it on the table after a caress, “And has guards around the bed and outside the door with mage traps and wards everywhere.”

He grinned, “Probably.”

I looked at the next drake as it landed in my hand and stretched out, “Set the amulet on the table.”

I started washing the drake, “Remember I told you about the unseen manor?”

Silver nodded and I grinned, “I was thinking of moving.”

He looked at me and then grinned, “So I can not find you.”

I kept grinning, “Something like that.”

I sighed, “Actually with the large grounds inside the walls it would be nicer and the girls would be able to play.”

I was just finishing when Jasmine walked in, “Something wrong?”

She looked at our daughter in her cradle before looking at me. I went to dump the water and finished cleaning up. I gestured to her father, “Have Silver tell you.”

I started for the door and Jewel and the drakes were suddenly filling the air. I had to ask around before I headed into the noble section of the city. One look at the huge estate and I knew he had already used the glimmer on mages. I slowly made my way around the estate before returning to the house.

Jasmine was sitting with her mother when I came in and Ash was playing with her two stuffed friends. I could hear Melody in the other room and Gloria smirked, “Silver is watching her.”

I snorted as I crossed and bent to give Jasmine a kiss. She caressed my face and sighed, “I am pregnant again.”

I shook my head as I headed for the basement, “For a mage you are very forgetful when it comes to that.”

Her laugh followed me, “I did not say I forgot anything.”

I grinned at that thought and checked and loaded my pack. When I came up I grinned at Silver’s purple beard as Jasmine murmured a spell to change it back, “You should make him keep it that color.”

Gloria snickered as Silver glared and I headed for the door, “Do not wait up.”

I waited in the darkness of an alley as slowly the day turned into night. I had gone up onto a roof to look at and watch the estate and now I moved. As twilight began I left the alley and crossed to the wall before turning to follow it. I had to walk quickly and reached the large front gates when I knew the guard was furthest away.

I jumped and rolled over the wooden gates before I began walking towards the front entrance. Just before I reached it I turned in at the stables and ducked inside. I slipped into the shadows and listened to the grooms in the tack room. The guards walked past the stable entrance and I moved again.

This time I passed the tack room and went to the side door. I was careful when I opened it and then slipped out. I walked straight to the side door and checked it before opening it and stepping inside. I looked through the doorway to the right and into the busy kitchen before walking straight ahead.

I stepped back and into a hanging tapestry as servers hurried out of the kitchen and went to the dining hall. Once they were gone I followed as far as the rear servants hall. I went into it and down to the servants stairs before going up. On the second floor I peeked out and looked down the hall.

Strands of magic and mage traps stretched the entire length of the hall. I shook my head and shifted my pack to pull out the small silver pen knives. I took my time as I began shifting strands of magic and pinning them to one side or another. When I reached the large double doors of the study I started on the door.

I used picks to unlock the door and opened it to look in. I blinked at the treasure everywhere and shook my head. I opened the door a little wider and froze when I saw the gargoyle. I gestured as it crouched and rumbled before suddenly moving. Jewel hissed as she spread her wings and mantled on my shoulder and the drakes appeared from shadows.

I had not even known they were here but the gargoyle slid to a stop. I stared straight at Jewel and ignored the drakes as I hissed and gestured to them. I looked the gargoyle over carefully before reaching out and turning the creatures head. I growled when I saw the collar and shifted forward while Jewel kept its attention.