The last few members of the leadership team entered the Map Room and took their usual places, standing around the scale model of the city.

  “Thank you all for coming. I realize some of you were resting, but I wanted you all to know what happened at the Alchemist guild hall.” I began.

  Adriana asked, “Did the meeting go well with the Enchanters?”

  “Yes, that at least is good news. They will support us fully and will be in contact shortly about joining our mage rotations in the lower level. They had some additional ideas which we can act on, and we are green for the projects we have discussed.” I handed her my notes and looked at Red and Julianna in particular, since those projects were not known to the journeymen.

  “I take it the session with the Alchemists did not go well?” Bido asked to mirror Adriana’s question.

  Biff snorted. “You could say that.”

  “Well,” I answered, “it depends on your point of view.”

  Biff turned and said, “They put you on trial and then tried to murder you. How is that possibly good?”

  The room exploded in noise.

  I held up my hands for them to quiet down.

  “Where’s Sandor?” Wilma asked suddenly.

  I sighed. “If you will all settle, I’ll give you the short version of the story. If there is time later, I can elaborate.”

  They stopped their side conversations and listened attentively.

  “Ok. Yes, I was lured into a trap. Sandor is fine, I hope. He tried to talk me into leaving before I walked down into their trials room.”

  Biff snorted.

  “Not helping,” I said to him.

  “When I got down there and delivered my request from the Duke and The Tower that they provide the potions promised in our efforts to protect the city, they put me on trial for illegally making and sharing potion recipes.”

  The room exploded again with phrases like, “They had no right!” and “No jurisdiction,” or “Wait until Mage Council hears of this. There must be a Tribunal!”

  I raised my hands. “Please, will you let me finish? I promise you this is the short version.”

  They laughed, but there was not a lot of humor in it. The tension in the room had definitely gone up.

  “So, after we went back and forth a bit.” I started again.

  “And they tortured you a bit,” Biff added.

  I gave him a look and continued. “It became apparent that the conversation was going nowhere, so I departed.”

  Biff added yet again, “And they tried to murder you when your back was turned!”

  “Enough, Biff. You had the benefit of the Majordomo’s observations that I shared on the walk here. The others did not. Let me tell this so we can move on.”

  He crossed his arms, but it was clear he was not done with his say on this matter.

  The others remained silent, watching Biff and listening to me.

  “I had shared the meeting, thanks to Bella, with the Majordomo, who then shared it with the Duke and Master Draconis. They made observations that I had not during the thick of things. To bottom line this, the Alchemist Guild has been infiltrated by at least one necromancer, and we have a possible connection to the troubles in the Undercity.”

  I expected another explosion of sound, but instead the leaders of the team looked nauseous.

  Adriana said, “This is the worst kind of betrayal. What will we do?”

  “First, all alchemists in the city are being rounded up, and all others are banished to their tower. Second, we are sending a Special Services strike force into Undercity with the full knowledge that it isn’t just stray undead we may face.”

  “How about third?” Red asked. “I like symmetry.”

  Wilma smacked him.

  “And third, we clean them out.”

  Heads nodded around the room.

  Cecil said, “We should add to our forces.”

  Steven agreed. “I can check in with Brother Lee and see if we have some additional clerics handy.”

  “I was counting on it. Master Draconis has already pledged a couple more wizards. I had hoped for a couple more clerics,” and turning to Adriana, “a couple more elementalists won't hurt, either.”

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  When it came to raw magical attacks, wizards and elementalists were top of the list. Every mage had some strengths, especially if they had time to prepare, but those two guilds were always ready.

  Biff said, “The inquisitors will insist that they be in on this as well.”

  “Be sure they are thick in your guard group,” I said to him, and then turned back to the room.

  “Jakar and Wilma, I’d like you two to stay topside and coordinate with Red. We don’t know just how big or bad this could become, and we may need to act quickly. Bella communicates easiest when it is someone she knows and is here in the shoppe.”

  Neither the sage nor the illusionist looked happy about staying behind, but their combat skills against the undead were pretty thin. They nodded their understanding.

  “The rest of you, prepare your best spells, load up on rings and things, and bring spare potion vials.”

  I turned to Biff. “Hand out equipment to the guard and hand-pick who comes along. Bring two shifts but leave a third behind to protect the shoppe. This would be an opportunity for our enemies to attack us when many are gone.

  Adric said, “I would like to bring along some archers to try out our supply of arrows.”

  “I’m not sure that shooting off explosions underground is the best idea,” I said.

  He looked over at Adriana. “She’s coming, and she is more powerful than anything we can cobble together.”

  Adriana grinned at the compliment.

  “He has you there, Gwydion,” Biff said. “They know not to fire into a crowd when we are all nearby. But we may find an open space or need cover fire to retreat. I’ll kit them with swords or spears as well as their bows.”

  I wasn’t sure about it, but I said, “Melee attack and defense is your area. I’ll coordinate magical attacks and defense.”

  He nodded and turned to Adric. “Pick three others and wear double quivers.”

  Adric departed immediately.

  “Okay, each journeyman report to your guildmaster, explain what we are doing, and keep it confidential in case the poison of the necromancer has spread to other guilds. We know they operate by infiltration and secrecy, but we will let the guild leadership and Duke decide how this news gets shared outside of that tight leadership circle. Steven, see what support you can get from the Holy Orders. We depart in thirty minutes. Dismissed.”

  Everyone moved toward the door.

  “Red, Wilma, and Jakar, stay a second.”

  As the others departed, I said to my second in charge and two trusted journeymen, “This may be a rough mission. If I don’t come back, you need to make sure things continue to run smoothly. I am counting on you.”

  Wilma gave me a hug but didn’t say anything more.

  “Red, keep the crafters focused, we need to-”

  Bella interrupted. Gwydion, a messenger has just arrived with a note from the Watch Duty Officer.

  Send him in here.

  It’s a her and she is almost to the door.

  The others have learned to give me a moment when I go all still. They are used to the effect of Bella talking since it has happened to them on many occasions as well.

  I turned to the door as the Watch private entered. She scanned the room, saw me, and walked over and handed me the note. She waited for my reply.

  The note read:

  I turned to the patrolman. “Tell the duty officer to bring them all here under full guard. Explain to the journeymen and apprentices that they are safe as long as they do not try to run or disobey a command. If anything happens that appears dangerous, the guard is authorized to use any force necessary to subdue them. Is that understood?”

  The patrol officer saluted and took off at a brisk walk.

  I looked to Red. “We are about to have guests.”

  I spoke out loud so others could hear my words. “Bella, please inform Biff that I want all the alchemists to remain outside. I will meet with Sandor first. I want you to scan him deeply when he arrives. Nobody enters until Sandor and I have spoken, and even then, one at a time, only.”

  Bella appeared beside me. “It is being done.” And then she disappeared again.

  “Until they arrive, let’s get back to work on preparations,” I said to Red and the others.

  I walked out into the main hall and had a thought. Bella, can you reach the Gray Master? I’d like a few words with him. Tell him it is urgent.

  A few moments later, she said, He asked if it could wait; he has an urgent matter of his own to attend to.

  Tell him that a necromancer has infiltrated the Alchemists, and we are going to Undercity to deal with the threat.

  She paused. He is rerouting to come here. Two minutes until he arrives.

  Good. I replied. Send him to Meeting Room One as usual.

  I didn’t have long to wait in the meeting room, and I did not bother to sit.

  He entered, waving jovially to a couple of journeymen as he adopted his alias and a pretentious swagger, dressed in his bright clothing. As soon as he entered and the door closed, his face lost all humor. “Explain quickly.” He demanded.

  “The alchemist guild held me hostage and tried to put me on trial. I disagreed with them. Forcibly. One of their ranks, at least one, attacked me with a necromancer spell. The Duke and Tower have issued an edict to detain all alchemists. I have a group of journeymen and apprentices who I presume are runaways heading to me now. I also suspect a trap.

  “Who is it? Who is the necromancer?” He asked, the color draining from his face.

  “Master Dollum Jotter,” I replied.

  His face lost all emotion and set as if in stone. “He is one of my inner council and a thief of special talent. He called an emergency meeting of the inner council, as is the right of any of my lieutenants. I was off to go to that meeting now.”

  “Had you gone, even with your new ring, you would not have survived the meeting. He is uncovered and is making his move.” I said.

  “So I have gathered. What do you plan to do about it?” He asked.

  I raised my eyebrows.

  “You saved my life, and now you owe me a debt.” He stated.

  “I’m pretty sure it's the other way around,” I replied.

  “It’s negotiable.” He argued.

  “Or maybe you should just go to your urgent meeting and deal with this yourself,” I said dryly.

  “But you like me.” He said in his charming, once more jovial voice.

  “Maybe not that much,” I said.

  He laughed. “You already have a plan. What is it?”

  I told him.

  “I take it all back. You really don’t like me.”

  “Look at it this way, what do you have to lose that you would not have lost had you not trusted me enough to veer here for this little talk?”

  He crossed his arms.

  “How long until the meeting?” I asked.

  “We have thirty minutes to arrive or the meeting starts, regardless. It would not be a good idea for me to be late.”

  “You may have to be. I have something I need to do first, and the journeymen need to return. Make yourself comfortable.”

  I said out loud, “Bella?”

  She said, “Yes, Gwydion?”

  And the Gray Master, on edge, leapt to the side and threw his dagger behind him where she had appeared suddenly.

  The dagger passed through her and stuck into the door.

  “I truly wish you would not do that, Miss Bella.” The Gray Master stated as he pulled himself up off the tiled floor where he had landed behind a chair.

  I chuckled as I walked out.

  Bella, please inform the journeymen that our timeline has just stepped up.

  Done. Sandor and the others are here.

  I spoke loudly but in a calm and slow voice. “Everyone not on guard duty, please step away from the front half of the main floor. I need this area cleared of everyone not on guard duty.