The Adventures of Solo Jones: Magus

Never heard of Solo Jones? Read the first book:
"The Adventures of Solo Jones: Genesis" 


Chapter 1, The Summons

I awoke with the dawn. For a moment I was disoriented, but then I rolled over and saw Mara lying beside me asleep, and everything came back to me. The night before had been our wedding night.

So I was surprised to find myself awake at dawn; for we had been up quite late. But I was awake, and I didn't want to return to sleep. I wanted to wake up Mara.

I lay there looking at her beautiful face for a long time before I decided that the right thing to do was to let her sleep. I got up as quietly as I could and went about my morning business in the bath; then I dressed in T-shirt, sweatpants and sneakers, picked up my staff (which I left assembled against the wall in the bedroom when not carrying it) and went downstairs to practice.

In the preceding month we had finished the second terrace, which was much larger than the first. We built a patio of sorts from square concrete blocks, some gray and some red, which I laid out in a pattern I remembered from the city of Gharu many, many years ago. This was where I went to practice with my weapon.

I worked out for perhaps an hour in the cool morning air before I heard the back door close. As I turned I saw Mara, dressed much as I was, coming down to me with two steaming mugs of xocholotl and a huge smile.

"Good morning, love," she said as she approached.

"Good morning to you. I didn't know how long you might sleep." I took the mug she offered and drank the hot liquid quickly. It was good, but for once I would rather have had water.

Mara sipped at her mug, looking over the rim at me with an unreadable expression. I was about to ask what she was thinking, but she spoke first.

"Teach me," she said, pointing at my staff, which I had laid on the concrete.

"You want to learn to fight with the staff?"

"It's been quiet the last month or so," she said, "but I remember the first weeks after you awoke, how many men and monsters you fought. I was there for some of the fights, remember? I want to be able to protect myself."

"How can I deny you?"

It was, of course, a rhetorical question, as I immediately picked up the staff and handed it to her. Mara is nearly as tall as me (and I am six feet even), and she is strong and reasonably fit, so this training seemed promising. I taught her the stances and the basic moves, which she learned easily; I was encouraged, but it's a long way from the basics to becoming a warrior.

Very quickly I found myself hampered by the fact that we had only one staff. I had to take it, show her a movement, then give it back over and over. I briefly considered making her a staff just like mine, but for training purposes a regular staff would be better.

Mara was practicing a sweeping movement, designed to trip one's opponent, when we both heard "Married a day and already fighting!"

Mark was standing on the back porch, soda in hand, watching us. We had both been so wrapped up in what we were doing that we didn't notice him.

"Good morning," we called out in harmony. Mara giggled, and I had to smile.

"You obviously can't hear the phone out here," he said. "There's a message on the machine to call Natomi Osaka."

"I guess I'd better do that, then," I said.

"Do you mind if I practice a while?" asked Mara.

"Go ahead," I said, and then I kissed her.

After a few moments I heard Mark clear his throat. "I'm coming, I'm coming," I said, pulling away from Mara. At the door I turned a moment and watched her. I think I could have done that all day, but a call from Natomi could only mean business.

Mark was dialing the phone as I entered the office. He handed the reciever to me, and I heard "Japanese Consulate, how may I help you?"

"This is Solo Jones, returning Natomi Osaka's call."

"One moment please," she replied. The hold music barely had time to begin before Natomi was on the phone.

"I need to speak to you in person," she said. "Something I promised you is weighing on me now. Can you come this morning?"

"Yes," I answered. "I'll be there right away."

I went out and told Mara where I was going. "You'd better change clothes," she said, reminding me that I was wearing sweaty exercise clothing. I went up to the bedroom to change, with Mara close behind; she sat on the edge of the bed and watched me silently. "Do you want this?" she said, holding out my staff after I finished dressing.

"I suppose I should go prepared for anything," I answered. I opened the top drawer of "my" chest of drawers and felt for the invisible clips Mark and I had engineered to hold the staff. We had thought to put them on my belt, but it turned out they worked better in the outside corners of my front jeans pockets.

"Shirak," said Mara, and hiss-click-hiss-click the staff collapsed and disappeared. I took the invisible sections from her and secured them in the clips. Then she kissed me. "See you later, husband," she said with a grin.

"I look forward to it, wife," I said, grinning back.

"Are you driving this time?" asked Mark when I made it outside. Mark had been teaching me to drive for about a month, and I had my learner's permit.

"No, we're in a bit of a hurry, so I suppose you'd better do it."

"Next stop, 50 Fremont Center," he said as I buckled my seatbelt.

The trip was uneventful. After doing some driving myself I found that Mark's driving didn't worry me so much; I discovered I was more afraid of my own driving.

We parked in a nearby parking structure and went in. The receptionist at the desk marked "Information" looked familiar, but I couldn't be sure if she was the same one I had seen before. We entered the elevator and I pushed the button marked 23.

The Consulate was something of a madhouse; there were people going in all directions. The only other time I had ever been here was well after hours, and now I wasn't sure which way led to Natomi's office.

Then Mark said, "There she is!" We plowed through the crowded entry area to where she stood talking to a distinguished-looking older Japanese man.

"Are you gentlemen looking for me?" he said as we approached, and Natomi, who had been facing away, turned and saw us.

"No, sir," she said, before we could speak, "they're here to see me."

He looked a little perturbed. "Take them back into your office, please. It might be best if they left by the back elevator." She bowed to him, and then led us to her office.

We sat in the indicated chairs as she closed the door, shutting out the noise and confusion of the hallways. "There is a visiting dignitary on his way," she said as she sat down. "I would have come to you otherwise. Thank you for coming, Solomoriah."

"It's no problem," I said. "What did you promise me which is weighing on you now?"

"You made me promise to keep the secret of Joseph Green's people. Now it seems they have killed an important mage, John Harkin, and the Conclave doesn't know who did it."

"The Conclave?" I asked.

"Remember I told you that there were a handful of mages in the Bay Area? They are all members of the Conclave, or apprentices to members. It's sort of a club, I guess; mostly they seem to bicker and fight under the cover of polite social interaction. The thing is, they do take care of their members when there are threats from the outside. Now they want to know who killed John Harkin, and I think it was Green's people."

"I've learned they call themselves Changelings," I said. "Tell me about this John Harkin."

"He was the chairman of the Conclave; a pretty good leader overall. His apprentice, Franklin Evans, found him decapitated in his study with no sign of who did it. He called the police, of course, and then he called the vicechairman, Ron Harris. He is the chairman now, and he has called a meeting of the full Conclave for tonight."

"This does sound like a Changeling murder, but why would they care about him?" I asked. "Do you think he knew their secret?"

"I don't know, but what other suspect is there?"

"I wouldn't know. I've only been in town two months."

"That's another thing I'm curious about, Solomoriah. You seem to have a lot of secrets... I hope you trust me with them someday."

"Someday, perhaps," I answered. "So you want to tell the Conclave about the Changelings?"

"I think it would be prudent. I'd like you to come along, and bring one of those swords you said you captured from them."

"The meeting is tonight, you said. Where, and at what time?"

"Eight PM, at the office of Ron Harris. He has a nightclub down in the SOMA area, near the Bay Bridge." She wrote the address on the back of one of her business cards and handed it to me.

"Ah, near the Ley line junction I've seen there," I said. "What can you tell me about the Conclave members?"

"They all wish to be called Magus, a title they were given when they joined the Conclave. With Harkin gone, there will only be four of them... Moses Rook, Phillip Silva, Schuyler Norton, and of course Ron Harris."

I sat back in my chair as Natomi continued. "Moses Rook and Phillip Silva are both professors. Moses teaches African History at Berkeley, and Phillip teaches Philosophy at Golden Gate University. Schuyler Norton is a musician, but he really lives off his generous inheritance; he is also very skilled at magic. Ron Harris owns a nightclub, as I told you, and it is very popular; he also has a hand in more local businesses than you can easily count. Ron is a master of magics of influence, control, and domination, and it is easy to understand why if you know his personality."

"Doesn't sound like you much like him," said Mark.

Natomi shivered slightly. "He worries me, but of all the remaining Conclave members he's the one most suited to leadership."

"Very well, I will attend the meeting," I said, looking at the business card. "Should I meet you at this address?"

"Why don't I pick you up?" she asked.

"Fine," I answered. I was about to say more when Natomi's phone beeped at her. It was someone informing her of a minor disaster she needed to attend to. Quickly I shook her hand, then Mark and I left, by the back way as the older man had asked. I wondered if he was the Consul?


Chapter 2, Risky Shopping

The meeting with Natomi hadn't taken very long, so I decided to do some shopping. "Mark, do you know where I might be able to buy practice staves for Mara and myself?"

"A martial arts store, I guess," he answered. "I drive by a place on the way to work every day that sells stuff like that." A few minutes later he had found not only the store, but a streetside parking space as well. We went in.

The establishment was much larger than I expected; evidently it was once a warehouse, and few interior walls had been added. Besides a fully stocked (as far as I could tell) weapons and equipment shop, there were also two large spaces outfitted for practice and training sessions. One such space was occupied by a group performing Tai Chi exercises, and the other was unused.

"Over here," called Mark, and I stopped gawking about and went to him. He was pointing out the varieties of bo staff on display there. The bo is tapered slightly at the ends, making it very similar to my extensible staff; so it seemed a natural choice.

I picked up one of a length similar to my extensible staff, and examined it, feeling its weight and balance in my hands. "This staff feels pretty good," I said. "Much more natural than my metal staff. I like it." As Mark nodded absently I picked up a second staff of the same size and headed for the checkout.

I saw then what had Mark's attention. A short, muscular Oriental man was leaning on the checkout counter, obviously trying to flirt with the pretty blonde clerk. She was just as obviously ignoring him, and she gave me a big smile (of relief I'm sure) as I approached. "Did you find everything you needed?" she asked brightly.

"Yes, I think so," I said as I handed her the staves. She quickly rung them up as I fumbled for my wallet.

"You any good with those?" asked the smirking stranger.

"I am," I answered. "I was trained in the use of the quarterstaff, but I also know the use of the bo."

"Bet you can't take me," he said. "A hundred dollars says you can't."

"You're on," I said immediately. I was looking forward to the workout.

"Hey, that's against the rules here, Cheng," said the clerk. "I could get in a lot of trouble!"

He turned to her. "Hey, it's just practice if you don't see the money, isn't it?" he asked. "I'll even pay his rental." He pulled out some cash and paid her, and reluctantly she rang it up.

It turned out that Cheng had his own staff there already; I later learned he was an employee. He led me to the unused practice area, and I sat down to remove my shoes and socks before stepping onto the mat. "What are the rules of this contest?" I asked him as I did so.

"Three falls. The first to put his opponent on the mat three times wins." He waited less than patiently for me to get up, twirling his bo like a baton. It was a longer model than I had selected, but that didn't worry me. Maybe it should have.

I picked up one of the staves I had just purchased, and faced off against him. He bowed, and I emulated him; he assumed a defensive stance, and again I did likewise. Then we began in earnest.

He was fast, far faster than I ever expected of such a muscular man, and it was all I could do to keep up with him. I'd like to say I let him take the offensive, but he took it whether I wanted him to or not. In a few moments I was on the floor, tripped by a very unfamiliar move.

He stepped away, smirking again, as I stood up. Again he came at me, but this time I was more aggressive, and the match became more even.

Shortly I was on the mat again. Mark called, "Hey, no fair!" as I fell. I had not considered that he might use his feet as well as his staff, so I fell easily when he swept behind my knee with his foot while bearing his staff down against mine.

Only my pride was bruised. I got up slowly, taking his measure as if seeing him for the first time. Behind that arrogant smirk was a true warrior, and I had to treat him that way.

As I stood up I saw that some of the other customers had gathered around and were watching us; it made me a bit self-conscious, but then I realized I couldn't afford to let anything distract me.

A third time we went at each other, and this time it was obvious that no quarter would be asked or given. I avoided the tripping maneuver this time, and he said a word in Chinese (I assume) which I took to be a curse word. We battled on for what seemed an eternity, with every strike by either of us blocked or avoided by the other.

Finally I saw a chance. He seemed weak on the left side; The more we fought the more obvious it became. I began to concentrate my attacks to his right, then just as he began to fall into a rhythm of block, attack, block, attack I ducked low and swept my staff to his left. I hit his leg just above the knee and he fell.

I stood up, and waited for him. He came to his feet with a maneuver I had seen on television and assumed was fiction; but by now I was ready for anything, so he did not surprise me. His pride was bruised now, I could tell, for he came at me like an angry lion. I decided then to play a game with him.

I pretended I was tired, and that his attack was so fierce that I could not deal with it. I let him drive me backward, and we circled the mat that way, with him savagely striking at me and me barely blocking his strikes.

This time I waited until he swung at me with the right end of his staff at a high angle, an attack he used infrequently but with bone-jarring power. Instead of blocking it I deflected it with the right end of my staff, stepping to my left as I did so, and then I turned and brought the other end of my staff into his legs.

Again he fell. Now the score was tied.

This time he got up slowly, taking my measure. In that long moment I realized I had learned several maneuvers watching him fight, maneuvers I would have to practice later. Now, though, it was time for the endgame; he came at me again.

He fought more thoughtfully now, his smirk forgotten, as we probed at each other's defenses. I didn't have to pretend to be tired anymore. To list all the strikes, blocks, and dodges would be tedious in the extreme, and it was more by chance than skill that I found an opening and felled him again.

I offered a hand to help him up. His smirk stayed away as he counted out the twenties to me, the clerk's view blocked by Mark. I folded the bills in my hand and looked him in the eyes. "Cheng, you are a true warrior. It could have been either of us on the floor that last time. I cannot take your money." I placed the folded bills in his seemingly nerveless hand, stepped back, bowed to him, and quickly walked into the now-dispersing crowd.

"What did you do that for?" asked Mark, looking irritated. "He cheated!"

"This was a battle, Mark, not a game. He fought cleverly."

"Whatever," he said, unconvinced. I sat down on a chair near the practice area to put my shoes and socks back on, and carefully checked my invisible staff to ensure the sections were not loose in the clips. Careless of me to forget them.

Before we left, I approached the clerk. "Say, miss," I said, "do you sell those practice mats here?"

"Yes, sir," she answered. "How many do you need?"

"Well, I have a patio fifteen yards square; I'd like to cover at least a ten by ten area of it." She worked some figures on paper, then consulted her computer.

"I'm sorry sir, we don't have anything in stock that will work. Would you like to custom-order?" I agreed, and made arrangements to have the large mat sections delivered. She told me that I could expect delivery in about a week.

As I turned around to leave I saw that Cheng was gone. I wondered if I had embarrassed him by returning the money; sometimes even now I forget how much customs change in thirteen thousand years.


Chapter 3, All The Right Moves

When we got back to the house it was almost lunchtime. Mark, as was now usual, was planning to eat with Valerie, so he let me out at the front of the house. "Gotta go," he said. "See you at one!"

I found Mara in the kitchen preparing our meal. I came in carrying the staves, and she said "Oh, good, now we don't have to pass yours back and forth. But why did you get two?"

I kissed her and said "Hello to you also." She returned my smile, and I said "I want to practice fairly with you. We'll be beyond practicing moves and into actual sparring pretty quickly."

"We need to find a different place to practice then," she said, "or we'll bust our butts on that concrete."

"Already taken care of, my love. I ordered some large practice mat sections, enough to cover a ten by ten yard area." She smiled, and kissed me again, then noticed the pork chops she was frying needed her attention. I put the staves in the utility room (which is across the hall from the kitchen, directly behind the office).

As we sat down to eat, Mara said "Tell me about the meeting with Natomi. What did she want?"

"She told me a mage has been killed, beheaded to be exact, and she suspects the Changelings. I have to say I agree in principle, for I have never fought a more dangerous opponent than the Changeling swordsmen, but there are so many things I don't know yet about this age... I don't feel safe saying it couldn't have been anyone else."

"Who was this mage?"

"His name was John Harkin, and he was the leader of a group called the Conclave. Evidently all the mages in the area are either members or apprentices to members, as she put it, except for me. The new leader, their old vicechairman, is a man named Ron Harris. He owns a nightclub near the Bay Bridge." I pulled out the business card and showed the address to Mara.

"AJ's Place. I've heard of it; it's supposed to be pretty popular. I wouldn't call it close to the Bay Bridge though."

"Close enough; a Ley line junction is in easy tapping range."

"What does the Bay Bridge have to do with the Ley lines?" she asked, looking perplexed.

"I don't know, but both the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate are directly under the lines."

"Wow. I wonder why?"

"I don't know; it's a puzzle I'd like to solve someday. Perhaps even people who can't see the lines are still attracted to them?"

Our conversation wandered off into other areas as I helped clear away the dishes. Mara shooed me out of the kitchen when she heard Mark coming in the front door, and I met him in the office. After a brief discussion of the upcoming meeting I went outside to try the moves I had seen Cheng perform; most turned out to be within my ability.

I was looking away from the house when I heard "May I join you?" I jumped a bit in surprise.

I said "Some warrior, eh?" as I turned toward Mara (for that's who it was). "If I don't pay better attention than that even this ring won't save me." I toyed with the Ring of Regeneration on my right hand; I still wasn't comfortable with it there, but tradition demands the wedding ring on the left hand.

I put aside my metal staff and took one of the practice staves from Mara, and then I spent the rest of the afternoon teaching her. It was a warm afternoon, warmer than I prefer for practice, but I was enjoying it too much to complain. I hoped that the exercise mats would arrive soon so we could actually spar with each other.

At least Mark didn't surprise me. "Quitting time, boss!" he called down from the back porch. "Gotta go home!"

I walked toward the house. "Any calls I need to know about?"

"Just the usual cranks and telemarketers. I'd come get you if it was important."

"Thanks, Mark," said Mara.

"For what?" he replied.

"Giving us the afternoon off."

As Mark left, Mara and I went upstairs for a much-needed shower. We took rather longer than necessary.

Though she had not said so, I expected to see Natomi around seven to seven-thirty. After I was dressed (finally) I went down to the small room in the basement to select a sword. I chose a straight-bladed sword, mainly because it seemed to have the most powerful enchantments.

I returned upstairs with my prize, and found Mara in the living room. "Are you going to walk into a crowded nightclub with a bare sword in your hands?" she asked.

"I didn't have the sense to take one of their scabbards, any of the times I fought them." I replied. "Have you a suggestion?"

"Invisible?" she half-answered, half-asked. I shook my head.

"No, I need to cover the blade. It's incredibly sharp, you know."

"Wait a moment," she said, and left the room. She returned with a piece of heavy drapery fabric left over from our renovation, a yard and a half by two and a half yards in size. Mara laid it out on the floor, and I folded it in half and then rolled the sword up in it. The blade could still cut the fabric, but the multiple layers at least made it safe to hold.

"Thanks, Mara," I said, kissing her. "I don't know if they are going to feed me or not at this club; perhaps I should have a sandwich?" Mara agreed, and followed me into the kitchen.

I can't cook, unless you count roasting game on a spit over a campfire, but at least I can assemble a cold-cut sandwich.

At seven sharp the doorbell rang. I picked up the wrapped sword and cast Invisibility on it, as Mara answered the door. "Natomi, welcome! Please come in!"

"Good evening," I said as she entered. She had changed from her business clothes into more fashionable clothing, and once again I was reminded that I didn't know how old she really was. Natomi is one of those women who ages so gracefully that you can't tell if she's twenty-five or forty-five. Her poise and bearing are such that I always assumed she was much older than I, but now she was in a sexy blue dress and more aggressive makeup, and she looked more like the twenty-five end of the spectrum.

In my usual dark jeans and button shirt, I felt a bit like a beggar next to her. Mara smiled a mischievous smile, and I knew she saw it in my face. "Don't worry, love, you'll be fine," she said, and kissed me goodbye.

"See you later, Mara. I don't have any idea how long this will take."

"I'll be waiting," she answered, and closed the door slowly behind me. I got into Natomi's car and we left.

On the ride to the nightclub I caught myself looking at Natomi's leg, exposed by the long slit in the side of her dress. As I made myself look away I realized she had caught me too.

She smiled a disarming smile, then said "I assume that thing you are holding is a sword?" Of course it was invisible, but I was still holding it in my left hand; I noticed how strange my fingers looked where they were pressed against the invisible fabric.

"Yes," I answered, relieved that she had not been offended by my attention. "I didn't think to collect a scabbard for any of the swords I captured, so Mara found some heavy fabric to wrap it in. I thought it best to carry it invisibly."

"I tried to think of anything I could tell you to make this meeting go smoothly, but all I can say is that I'll be with you all the way." She seemed lost in thought for a moment, then said "I've never had trouble with the Conclave before, but then I always got along well with John. I hope Ron is as easy to deal with."

"Aren't you a member of the Conclave?"

"No. I am already a member of a... parallel group. In my home country, that is."

"Ah. I didn't know." She didn't offer more details, and if I started asking questions she might expect me to offer answers also; so I left it alone. "You have said that Ron Harris is not your favorite person. Should I expect trouble?"

"As long as he gets his way he's no problem. I doubt you have anything to say that he doesn't want to hear, at least not right now." Her attention was commanded by traffic for a moment, and then I realized we had arrived. She pulled up in front of the building, and as we both got out a young man in a mostly purple tie-dye T-shirt approached us. I was puzzled, but when Natomi gave him her keys I realized he must be a valet.

The bouncer at the door wore an identical T-shirt, but he filled his with muscles. He was not as tall as Ghedi but he looked as if he could arm-wrestle him. He looked over his dark glasses at us, then said "Ms. Osaka, good evening. Is he with you?"

She hooked her hand around my right elbow and smiled, and the bouncer took that for an answer. He motioned for those at the head of the waiting line to move aside for us to enter, and I seemed to feel eyes stabbing into me from behind like so many daggers.

The noise (well, music) inside was deafening, and I had never seen so many people crowded into such a small place before. They were young and "hip" for the most part, and I felt even more out of place. True, many were as old or older than I, but most of my adult life has been grim and serious; as a consequence I often feel much older than my "peers."

A waiter in yet another purple tie-dye T-shirt met us. "Mister Harris told me that you should wait a while," he yelled. "The others aren't here yet." He led us to the bar, and told the tie-dyed, bald-headed bartender that our drinks were on the boss.

Natomi leaned close to me and said "You want to drink, or dance?" I looked at the dancers crowding the floor; it was no style of dancing I had ever learned. As I looked a moment longer I realized the traditional and tribal dances I was taught in my youth were really much more difficult.

A twinge of guilt stopped me; I had never taken Mara dancing, so how could I do so with Natomi? But I had to do something, or stand around looking foolish, so I nodded toward the dance floor.

As we moved toward the dance floor I suddenly remembered the sword; what would I do with it? I realized then that no one would hear me casting spells over the cacophony of the music, so I released a Spirit Servant spell. The Servant carried the sword aloft at my bidding, where it would remain until its energy ran out or I recalled it. Doing so little work, the Servant would last a long time, so I could forget about it for the moment. Just in time, I thought, as Natomi suddenly turned toward me and began to move and sway.

Let me say that I'm glad no one else I knew saw me. At least to start with, I was pitiful, and Natomi was so natural and graceful that I must have seemed even worse by comparison. I was just beginning to get things figured out when the waiter approached us, pushing through the dancers like they were so much underbrush in the jungle. "Mister Harris says it's time," he yelled, and we followed him out.


Chapter 4, The Meeting

The office was up a flight of metal stairs; the view over the dance floor made me even more aware just how many dancers there actually were. I recalled the Servant as we climbed, and took the sword from it at the landing. The door at the top opened into a reception area, though there was no receptionist present. As the "outer" door was closed, the sudden cessation of the loud music left my ears ringing. I chilled slightly as the cool air hit my sweaty skin, and I saw Natomi shiver also.

The waiter knocked on the inner door, and then opened it. He waved us in, and closed the door behind us; and I got my first look at the Conclave.

The room beyond was large and opulent, with an oak desk in the far corner and a large oak conference table closer to the door. Around the far end of the table were arrayed the men (why only men, I wondered) of the Conclave. The man at the head of the table stood, motioning us toward seats at the closer end.

"Welcome, Natomi. I assume this is Solomoriah Jones?"

"I am," I answered for myself. "I assume you are Ron Harris?"

"I am," he answered with a slightly forced smile. "This is Moses Rook," he said, indicating a distinguished, older black man with salt-and-pepper hair; "Doc Silva," waving toward a similarly distinguished, balding white man; "Schuyler Norton," a long-haired "rock star" right down to the torn jeans, boots, and tight black T-shirt; and finally indicating a casually dressed younger man, "and this is Franklin Evans, John Harkin's apprentice. Please, be seated."

Ron leaned back in his chair. "Now, Natomi, please tell the Conclave what you told me on the phone today."

"About a month ago I hired Solomoriah to investigate the rape of my niece. The circumstances of the rape were strange... she was held by one man while another raped her, but neither of them spoke, nor did they show any other interest in her."

"No taunting, fondling, or physical abuse?" asked Doc Silva.

"None," she answered. "As I said, it was very strange. I would have investigated myself, but you all know that my position doesn't allow for that sort of activity. I had... encountered Solomoriah earlier and was aware of his defeat of the Dreamwalker, and when I learned he was billing himself as a Supernatural Investigator I decided to hire him."

Moses Rook leaned forward, a puzzled look on his face. "So you thought there was something supernatural about the rape?"

"Not really; but when I encountered Solomoriah I did a favor for him. I hoped he would reciprocate, and he did."

"And what did he tell you about the rape?" asked Moses.

"I should let him tell you his story now," she answered.

All eyes were on me. I had laid the sword across my lap when I sat down, and now I laid it on the table, dismissing the Invisibility. I turned down the end of the wrapping and drew out the sword, and heard a sudden drawing of breath from several of those present.

"It was two weeks, about, since I defeated the Dreamwalker," I began. "I was in my backyard, doing maintenance to the grounds I had taken from him."

Doc Silva interrupted me at this point. "How did you defeat him? And how did you manage to legally acquire the house?"

"All I'll say," I answered, "is that his reclusive nature made the latter problem easy to solve. As to the first question, I must decline to answer."

"I see," he replied. "Go on, please. I believe you were telling us about your home improvement project?"

"Not the project, but rather the interruption. I was made aware of activity in the yard, and as soon as I released my Mystic Vision spell, I saw the outline of an invisible man sneaking about the yard. He must have been able to see the magic, for he dropped his cover and attacked me with a sword like this one, though it was a saber rather than a straight sword."

The members of the Conclave were passing the sword around as I spoke, examining it. All were impressed by the fine edge of the blade. Moses said, "So tell us, why did he attack you?"

"After I defeated him, which was no small matter due to his weapon and his magical protection, I interrogated him. I learned little. He claimed to believe I was Dreamwalker's apprentice. He lied a lot, so I was unsure of much else at that time. Natomi hired me later, and I didn't really think there was a connection to the case she hired me for, but I found myself fighting them repeatedly after that. I collected four more swords, of which this is one."

"So what was the connection?" asked Doc.

"I discovered them to be a different species than us." I watched as all present leaned in, looks of disbelief on their faces. "They call themselves Changelings, and they claim to be all male and half female. In other words, they need human females only when one of them produces an egg which is fertilized by another; they need a normal human female to implant it in."

"So they aren't human at all?" said Ron Harris. He hadn't had much to say up to this point, which struck me strange; he was supposed to be the controlling sort, after all.

"I don't know enough of the science to answer that," I said. "But they certainly aren't the same sort of human as we are."

"So the rapists were Changelings?" asked Moses.

"Yes, but not trained warriors with magic powers. It seems only a few are so gifted. I learned that the swordsmen work for a Changeling called Joseph Green, who is a sort of patriarch to them, if that term even applies. Secrecy is important to them, as I'm sure you can see, and they wanted to kill me before I learned about them. I forced them into a truce of sorts, but it can't last."

Moses leaned back, rubbing his chin. "Especially since you've told us now."

"Indeed. I am depending on your discretion and judgement."

"Okay, Solo, cool story," said Schuyler Norton, speaking for the first time since my arrival. "But how do we know these Changeling dudes killed John?"

"I don't," I answered. "I'm not saying there is any connection. The circumstances are suspicious, though; who else could kill a mage by beheading him?"

"There's something else I'm curious about," said Silva. "You've been in San Francisco, what, two months now? Why haven't you presented yourself to the Conclave before now?"

"I didn't even know about the Conclave until today," I answered. This got almost as incredulous a response as my assertions about the Changelings.

"How is that possible?" asked Silva. "How did you attain this level of skill without ever learning about the Society?"

"I spent my early years in Spain with my parents. When I came of age, I left with friends and 'bummed around' North Africa. We lived hand to mouth, as they say, but we enjoyed it. Then I learned of the man who would become my master, and after my remaining duties to my friends were discharged I entered his service."

I saw that I had the full attention of my audience. "I learned a lot from him, but we didn't see eye to eye, as they say, on a number of things, and I left him before completing my apprenticeship. I realized later how foolish that was, but at the time it seemed the only thing to do.

"I spent the next several years wandering around the coast of Africa, using the powers I had gained to fight on the side of the innocent and downtrodden. I found a lot of people like that in Africa, so I never lacked for something to do. Along the way I occasionally encountered mages; if they were good, or at least not evil, I would try to exchange knowledge with them. If indeed I met an evil mage, one who used people, or hurt or killed them for his own pleasure, I would fight them. Usually I won."

I noticed Moses Rook frowning, but I decided to ignore him. "Eventually I decided, pretty much on a whim, to cross the ocean to South America. I have an interest in archaeology and had heard stories of some strange connections between the ancient civilizations of Africa and the Americas that I wanted to learn about firsthand. It was after a brief adventure in the mountains of Columbia that I learned of my parent's deaths. I came to the United States, the curious homeland I knew very little about, to settle their estate. I wandered a while and discovered San Francisco to be much to my liking, so I found an apartment and stayed a while. Then the Dreamwalker learned of me, and I had to battle him. As you know, I won."

Moses was still frowning, but he did not question my story. After a moment Doc Silva said, "Interesting. It is true that the Society only extends partially into northern Africa, and is scattered at best in South America, so perhaps I can see how it is that you never heard of us. If you intend to remain in the United States, you had best see about joining."

A veiled threat? "I see. How is this done?"

Ron spoke then. "Usually you would be apprenticed to a Magus, a member of the Conclave of whatever city or district you are in; the Conclave would induct you at that level. Later, when you meet the requirements you would be considered for the rank of Magus."

"What are the requirements?" I asked.

"First, that you demonstrate your knowledge of magic by creating at least one spell of your own. Second, you must enchant an item; the more complex or powerful the better. Third, your master must nominate you for the rank."

"As to the first, I have not created any spells 'from scratch' as they say, but I have amended many of my own spells. For the second, well..." I slid the chair back and stood up, to ensure that no one was in the way; then I grabbed the sections of my staff and struck them together with a slight flourish. Clank-hiss-click-hiss-click the staff appeared and extended, and I was pleased to see that Moses and Doc appeared to be impressed. I laid the staff on the table beside the sword so that they could inspect it.

After a moment I continued. "As to the third, I have no master."

Moses looked up at me, and I realized I was still standing. "It is a formality really," he said. "I would be happy to be your master for a day. If you would tell me more about the spells you have amended, and I feel that they qualify, I would immediately nominate you."

Ron spoke up then. "I don't think there would be much problem with the examination either, if as Moses says your amendments qualify you. This staff is not a masterpiece, but it is a fine work, and certainly shows you understand the art of enchantment." He seemed pleased somehow... I wondered why?

"Thank you," I said, reaching out to take my staff. "Shirak." When the staff was fully retracted and once again invisible I put it back in the clips and sat down.

I looked at Moses. "I'll consider your kind offer. I can see the advantages of belonging to such an organization, but I'd like to talk with you more before making my decision."

As Moses nodded graciously to me Ron said, "We need to meet now in closed session to consider our actions in the wake of John's death. Natomi, Solomoriah, and Franklin, you are dismissed." As I stood up I noticed for the first time the papers in front of Doc Silva; he was making notes. I supposed he must be the secretary to the group.

"Solomoriah, your sword..." said Ron.

"Keep it. I have no use for it, and if I did I have others. If you don't want it, so far as I care you may drop it in the Bay." I held the door for Natomi and Franklin, then followed them out into the reception area.


This story continues on my regular website at:
http://jcg.freeshell.org/fiction/book03chap05.html