The Heisenberg Corollary by C. H. Duryea

Author:C. H. Duryea [Duryea, C. H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-24T22:00:00+00:00

They rode well into the late afternoon. Their shadows lengthened as the sun sank closer to the high ridges to the west. The walls of the valley shortened and converged at the point where the river’s headwaters rushed from the highlands. Around that cascade, the Inverkethi settlement sprouted up and spread out. The road became more thickly traveled, and the locals gave the prince’s army a wide berth and quiet attention as they passed. As Qaant Yke walked by, many of the sightseers ran for cover. As they passed into the outskirts of the settlement, Feldspar rode up and fell in next to Zeke.

“This is Lankshale,” he explained. “It supports the trade routes through this province.”

“This isn’t your capital?” Zeke asked.

“No. Inverketh City is another three days’ ride to the north. But we will be stopping here. To see to the defense of this valley, and so that you and your people can go before my aunt.”

“Your aunt?”

“Her Regency, Lady Mica. She has ruled Inverketh since the death of her father, the king.”

“What’s she doing so far from the capital?”

“She is here fulfilling a—religious obligation. There is a temple here that draws its share of pilgrims. My aunt is one of them.”

“And you are not?”

“Her Regency and I do not see eye to eye on much. I’ve never been to this temple of hers. I’m a heathen in her eyes.”

“Do her religious practices include being welcoming and charitable to strangers?”

“It depends entirely on the stranger,” Feldspar admitted. “I must warn you, Traverser. Our recent adversities have made my aunt exceedingly cautious with her hospitality, and extremely miserly with her trust.”

“I’m hoping to enlist her help if I can.”

“You will have to earn it,” the prince said. “Just the same, I have sent Sergeant Scoria ahead to inform her of your presence and your predicament. He will strive to plead your case.”

Zeke needed a moment to process that. “Scoria? You mean Scar? You sent Scar to advocate for us?”

The prince nodded and shrugged. “Granted, he is not my most eloquent emissary. But his reputation has weight in the court. My mage went ahead as well, but that may or may not be to your benefit.”

“Why?” Zeke asked. “What’s wrong with your mage?”

“Nothing. He is among the most gifted in Inverketh.”

“Scar says your mage can control the dragons.”

Feldspar cast Zeke a sidelong glance, then smiled wryly. “It is a common skill among mages. Hardly remarkable.”

The mage had also apparently been familiar with high-tech weaponry. Zeke wondered how common that was.

“It is not his power or skill that is the issue,” the prince said. “The problem is with Her Regency. You see, her father, my grandfather, was assassinated by agents of our enemy—using sorcery.”

“Sorcery?” Zeke asked. “Magic?” There went that word again.

“Mica has of late learned a bitter disdain for magic wielders. Even the ones in her own service.”

“The Tozzk use magic?” Without thinking, Zeke touched the vambrace hidden under his sleeve.

“Pay heed, Traverser,” Feldspar said. “The lady regent may revile our native sorcery, but her faith in our legends is strong.

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