the mouth of the Linney, in the middle of the salt-marshes.'
'What do you see?' the wizard prompted.
'Three corsair ships.' Halfern rested his hands on the table, peering into the bowl. Blue magelight from the ensorcelled water cast eerie reflections on his face. 'A substantial encampment. Timber buildings within a palisade. A sizeable midden and the fen despoiled.' He swallowed hard.
'I'd say they've over-wintered there,' observed Minelas. 'They've a foothold on your land, my lord.'
'This summer's raids will be ten times worse if they have a forward base.' Halfern slammed his fists on the table. Sapphire light slopped over the bowl's rim to sink into the wood. He snapped his head around to find Gefren waiting patiently at the side of the dais. 'Bring that weasel Scavarin up from the dungeon,' he snarled. 'We'll learn what he knows about this if we have to skin him alive to loosen his tongue.'
'No,' Minelas said forcefully. 'If he suspects you know they're there, he'll send a warning. You know there are traitors in your household.'
Bitterness twisted Halferan's wrathful expression. 'Can't magic unmask them?'
'No,' Minelas said evenly. 'But my magic and your men can destroy this nest of vermin. That'll send a message to the other corsairs.'
'Telling them to raid our neighbours instead.' Halferan said unwillingly.
'Your first duty is to your own,' Minelas reminded him. 'We can help your neighbours as and when raiding ships come.'
'Burning these scum might delay the first raids,' ventured Gefren.
'Leave them and they'll launch their own attacks any day,' Minelas pointed out. 'They needn't fear any late storms out on the open ocean.'
'Those salt-marshes run all the way to Lord Ermeth's borders,' Halferan said thoughtfully. 'We could ask him--'
'No.' The wizard was adamant. 'We must leave now, with just the men present in this hall. As long as you can swear they're all loyal.' He raised a hand and every door glowed with ominous blue light. 'Any man you doubt must be locked in a dungeon until we return.'
'Every man here is true as Gidestan steel.' Gefren was outraged.
Minelas ignored him, intent on Halferan. 'If these corsairs get a hint that they're threatened, they'll disappear into the mosses. We must leave at once, and you must hang this envoy you have chained below, and all his men too, so we can't be betrayed after we've left.'
'How are we to attack a camp in the middle of these marshes?' Gefren appealed to his lord. 'The corsairs will post sentries. They'll know we're coming before we're within three leagues.' He risked a fearful glance at the wizard.
Minelas vanished without so much as a hint of magelight. 'I can hide your men from corsair eyes.' His voice was calm in the empty air. 'As long as they haven't had word we're coming.' The wizard reappeared, that half-smile lifting the corner of his mouth.
Halferan stared down into the scrying bowl, gnawing at his lower lip. 'Very well,' he said with sudden decision. He surveyed the men waiting motionless in the hall. 'Get your gear and weapons from your barracks and muster in the outer ward. Go nowhere else. No farewells for wives or sweethearts or whores. Do I have your oath?' he demanded harshly.
'Aye, my lord!' The fervent shout shook dust from the high hammer beams.
Minelas nodded, satisfied. 'And order that corsair envoy and his men hanged before we leave. Just to be certain.'
'Their crimes doubtless deserve death.' Halferan waved a dismissive hand as he strode towards a door at the rear of the dais. 'See to it, Gefren.'
'My lord.' The captain bowed obediently.
'I shall want the bay stallion, captain, and a man to see to my needs.' Minelas passed a hand over the silver bowl, quenching the sapphire light before following Halferan.
'As you wish, master mage.' Gefren regarded the scrying bowl with misgiving before looking down the long hall.
Troopers were shoving at each other in their haste to reach the doors, eager to embark on this campaign against
'What do you see?' the wizard prompted.
'Three corsair ships.' Halfern rested his hands on the table, peering into the bowl. Blue magelight from the ensorcelled water cast eerie reflections on his face. 'A substantial encampment. Timber buildings within a palisade. A sizeable midden and the fen despoiled.' He swallowed hard.
'I'd say they've over-wintered there,' observed Minelas. 'They've a foothold on your land, my lord.'
'This summer's raids will be ten times worse if they have a forward base.' Halfern slammed his fists on the table. Sapphire light slopped over the bowl's rim to sink into the wood. He snapped his head around to find Gefren waiting patiently at the side of the dais. 'Bring that weasel Scavarin up from the dungeon,' he snarled. 'We'll learn what he knows about this if we have to skin him alive to loosen his tongue.'
'No,' Minelas said forcefully. 'If he suspects you know they're there, he'll send a warning. You know there are traitors in your household.'
Bitterness twisted Halferan's wrathful expression. 'Can't magic unmask them?'
'No,' Minelas said evenly. 'But my magic and your men can destroy this nest of vermin. That'll send a message to the other corsairs.'
'Telling them to raid our neighbours instead.' Halferan said unwillingly.
'Your first duty is to your own,' Minelas reminded him. 'We can help your neighbours as and when raiding ships come.'
'Burning these scum might delay the first raids,' ventured Gefren.
'Leave them and they'll launch their own attacks any day,' Minelas pointed out. 'They needn't fear any late storms out on the open ocean.'
'Those salt-marshes run all the way to Lord Ermeth's borders,' Halferan said thoughtfully. 'We could ask him--'
'No.' The wizard was adamant. 'We must leave now, with just the men present in this hall. As long as you can swear they're all loyal.' He raised a hand and every door glowed with ominous blue light. 'Any man you doubt must be locked in a dungeon until we return.'
'Every man here is true as Gidestan steel.' Gefren was outraged.
Minelas ignored him, intent on Halferan. 'If these corsairs get a hint that they're threatened, they'll disappear into the mosses. We must leave at once, and you must hang this envoy you have chained below, and all his men too, so we can't be betrayed after we've left.'
'How are we to attack a camp in the middle of these marshes?' Gefren appealed to his lord. 'The corsairs will post sentries. They'll know we're coming before we're within three leagues.' He risked a fearful glance at the wizard.
Minelas vanished without so much as a hint of magelight. 'I can hide your men from corsair eyes.' His voice was calm in the empty air. 'As long as they haven't had word we're coming.' The wizard reappeared, that half-smile lifting the corner of his mouth.
Halferan stared down into the scrying bowl, gnawing at his lower lip. 'Very well,' he said with sudden decision. He surveyed the men waiting motionless in the hall. 'Get your gear and weapons from your barracks and muster in the outer ward. Go nowhere else. No farewells for wives or sweethearts or whores. Do I have your oath?' he demanded harshly.
'Aye, my lord!' The fervent shout shook dust from the high hammer beams.
Minelas nodded, satisfied. 'And order that corsair envoy and his men hanged before we leave. Just to be certain.'
'Their crimes doubtless deserve death.' Halferan waved a dismissive hand as he strode towards a door at the rear of the dais. 'See to it, Gefren.'
'My lord.' The captain bowed obediently.
'I shall want the bay stallion, captain, and a man to see to my needs.' Minelas passed a hand over the silver bowl, quenching the sapphire light before following Halferan.
'As you wish, master mage.' Gefren regarded the scrying bowl with misgiving before looking down the long hall.
Troopers were shoving at each other in their haste to reach the doors, eager to embark on this campaign against
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