Wine of the Gods 03: The Black Goats Read Online Free PDF Page A

"Feel these, metal from the deep earth, let the power flow through you, from the pool to the copper."
    They each took an ingot and concentrated on it.
    "No, no, no! You are still shunting power, bouncing it off yourself and letting it fly anywhere. Let it enter you, and then guide it out, into the metal."
    Never couldn't see that they were doing anything but staring at the copper bars in dismay. When Likely fumbled hers, Never dunked herself and grabbed it. She shook the wet hair out of her eyes and looked at the copper bar. It seemed so full of potential, but her attempt to mentally twist it skittered weakly off the surface. She handed it back, scowling. I will not be weak. Even if I have to walk to Wallenton and pounce on some fat clerk.
     
    ***
     
    "Lefty, you're looking a bit odd." Bail eyed the scout narrowly. The wiry young Veronian could track a deer on stone, and an enemy through magic, or so he jokingly claimed.
    "I circled up 'round the north end of the valley, there was a funny smell to the air." he wiped a nervous hand through his tawny hair, so close to the tone of his skin and eyes it was surprising he'd never picked up the nick name "Lion." Probably the soft, high-pitched voice. No roar there. "Found some hot springs. Powerful magic there, and then these women came. Young ones. Pretty ones." He blushed, his eyes sliding toward the lieutenant. "Stripped off their clothes and climbed right in."
    "Did you join them?" Byson sneered.
    "No, sir. I don't have truck with witches. That's what they were, talking about the sun  and the moon. I came away quick."
    "Very sensible of you, Lefty." Bail dismissed him with a nod, and the young man slipped away from the fire. Bail stood up and wandered back toward the keep. They'd reached the Fort at sundown, and Bail wasn't chancing the interior until it had been inspected in daylight.
    As he'd expected, the sergeant joined him shortly.
    "Could they really be witches, Gruff? I haven't heard of a single one that escaped the Auralian War, but surely, here or there, some survived."
    "Nor me." The sergeant scruffed his boot through the thin grass that had rooted in the stony ground. "It's supposed to be a good thing, to have witches about." His voice was uncertain.
    "We're not used to magic, any more." Bail raised his face to the bright stars above. "It's something that happens in tales, not in real life. Well, except for the King's Mage. And I've never seen him do anything besides forecast the weather, and anyone can do that."
    "No wizards left in Verona either." Lefty piped up.
    Bail sighed. "Didn't I dismiss you?"
    "Figured you didn't want to talk in front of the lieutenant. Poor guy, they got him targeted."
    Gruff shifted uneasily. "How do you figure that?"
    "Ah, all the stories have a witch play a guy over, drive him up the wall, until he takes her, then they drop him cold." Lefty shifted his eyes toward Bail. "Good thing the king sent his nephew along. Otherwise you'd be the one they were stalking."
    Bail's stomach clenched. "Nonsense. I'm too ugly to chase."
    Gruff scratched his bristly chin. "There're a couple of the men that're pretty handsome. Maybe we'd better send them out the furthest. Just in case."
    Bail nodded, but turned to Lefty. "What else do you know about witches?"
    "They always come in threes. Or sixes or nines or even more. There were nine at the hot springs. Three that were probably in their thirties, damn good lookers though, like noblewomen. The lieutenant’s friend and two about her age, and three girls, just budding," he cupped his hands over his chest, “you know?"
    "Right." Bail rubbed his eyes. "What about mages and wizards; aren't they just the same, only male?"
    Lefty looked shocked. "Certainly not! Witches' powers are of the earth, mages are water and wind, wizards get their powers from fire. Of course, they all blend together, nothing is ever truly pure."
    "What do you mean, their powers come from earth, water, wind, and fire? What about blood