Heglared up at the laboratory ceiling.
“Imagine,”Zaria continued, “we make some little children, some half-magic babes, and theygo around shitting fire, robbing the peasant folk, bringing a second Scorchwith teeth and wands.You want to loose beasts likethat upon the world?”
“I wantthis conversation to be over.”
Shegrinned.
“Stopit,” he said.
“You’readorable.”
“I amnotadorable.I am a journeyman of magical transmutation, trained toslay an ancient necromancer.”
“You’readorable, squire.”
Hecleared his throat, checking the corridor for threats.
“It’s afine moniker,” Zaria said, still grinning.“Might be I like it, in fact.”
“So,”he said, loudly, “how about those evil sorcerers?By the gods, we should dosomething about them.Right?”
“Oh,aye.Hero of ages, we are.”
“We’llhave songs committed to our name.”
“Webetter get castles, at this rate.”
“Yes,”he said.“Of course.Definitely.”
“Anytime you’re ready, then.”
“Yes,yes, onwards.”He rolled his shoulders, limbering his arms.“Stay behind me,Z.”
Shenodded and smiled.
Theyemerged into the corridor, crouched and hugging the wall, following thestampede of human footprints.It was impossible to tell how many thralls thepuppeteer had under their command—the dust was soheavily trampled that it often looked similar to the mud of a village street.
Isaacdid some mental math.
Theyhad seen two bodies before the necropolis.From there, they had watched Sorendefeat a full assault from the puppeteer, which had consisted of at least adozen thralls.Whoever this person was, they had already lost a sizablecontingent of forces, and, yet, it still did not appear as if they were lackingfor fodder.
How hadthey amassed such an army?
Moreimportantly, how did this sorcerer find thralls who were trained in magic?
Theymust have come from somewhere within the Diet of Nine.The supranationalorganization held a monopoly on all elemental magic, at least within the ninekingdoms of the region.With a vast desert restricting travel on one side, anda stormy ocean on the other, they effectively had total control of thediscipline.There was little other source for such a wealth of magicallyinclined flesh.
Werethese thralls apprentices and journeymen, like Isaac himself?Students oftransmutation who had been twisted and enslaved by a rogue sorcerer?None ofthem had been older than Isaac, and that suggested they had come directly froma college, while they were still in the midst of their studies.
Butwhere?
Fromwhich region of the Diet?
Moreimportantly, who would even have access to these students?
Isaac ledthe way deeper into the government laboratories, tracking the footprints like ahunter, stalking past empty checkpoints and libraries of rotted books.
Ofcourse, he might not need to worry.The vulnerability of every puppeteer wastheir own singular flesh.They were incredibly powerful, becoming far morecapable of withstanding the inherent attrition of magical combat, but, in theend, they were still just a person.People can die very easily.Once the casterwas neutralized, the parasite sigils would lose their power, and the thrallswould be freed of control.
