The President's Wizard Read online

  This was not the cold of winter. This was a wet cold. The only words he could come with this was crypt cold. He stood up and went to the window and looked out.

  It was full on dark. There is not even a bit of light from the moon. He turned to Thomas and said, “isn’t there something about being in the dark of the moon.”

  “It’s the dark of the moon?”

  “There is no moon outside.”

  Thomas joined his friend at the window. He saw for himself that there was no moon in the sky. “I assure you, my friend, it is a full moon night. Our friends the necromancers need the darkness, and so they hide the moon from us.”

  “They can do this?”

  “Yes, if they don’t mind the amount of energy being used. If they wanted no moon, they could have raised the mists. That would’ve been easy to do in this Maryland in spring. That means that we are going to be dealing with a larger number of necromancers. Remember what I said, Will. When you use your gun you must will the target to die. Don’t will to be maimed or hurt. Will it to die.”

  Thomas reached into his carpetbag of tricks. He pulled up two wands. Then he picked up his walking stick. He rapped the heel of it on the floor. William swore that he heard a hollow sound like a gong. The walking stick replied by causing the crystal to glow with an even brighter light than William had ever seen before.

  William took the hint from Thomas. He pulled out his Colt revolver and checked to make sure that all the rounds were good. is weapons, and they were ready. He adjusted his hat and set the frock coat on his shoulders correctly. Then he looked out of the window once more. This time he used the sight.

  William could see the fingers of cold working towards the locomotive. He knew that if they were able to get those fingers of cold on the locomotive they could probably freeze the fire elemental. William did not know if he could affect any change in the spell with his weapon, but he had to give it a chance. He let the window down pulled out his gun and aimed at the cold tendrils.

  He pulled back the hammer and touched the trigger. The pistol fired. In his sight, he could see that the pistol round flew true and hit the tendril of cold. The tendril paused and then continued its way towards the locomotive. Thomas joined them at the window with his glowing walking stick.

  “That was a good try. That’s one of the reasons spells are used. There is no memory once the spells cast. What you need to do is get the one who is feeding spell. They can’t hold the spell very long without needing a physical presence. When you see them remember to shoot to kill them.”

  Thomas teleported himself back to the locomotive. That was one thing that William liked about Thomas. He kept his word. He tried looking to see if he could see Thomas in the locomotive. He almost missed the apparition that tried to enter the room with him and Lincoln.

  For a moment William’s blood ran cold. This was something that he was not used to dealing, an apparition of death. It looked more like a skeleton with some of the flesh still attached. Then his innate ability to push aside horrific sights allowed him to raise his pistol at the apparition and discharged it. The anger he felt at the apparition for causing the momentary feeling of cowardice allowed him to will it to death.

  The thing simply disintegrated in the air. Now that he knew that it worked he looked for more.

  “I hate to say this Captain Hazard, but I could really use a weapon.”

  The only weapon that he had for the president was his backup, his old Army revolver . He reached into his bag and pulled it out. William handed his army revolver two Pres. Lincoln. William did not have any compunction about giving a man who lives with guns all his life the use of this pistol.

  He next saw an apparition of three ghostly riders. They all possessed a military saber. Somehow he knew that if he were touched by one of these blades, he would be frozen solid. They were at some distance so he tried to see if he could hit the targets. He pointed his pistol at the closest Rider. He took careful aim and fired.

  The bullet went through the apparition tearing it apart. Just like the first bullet, this bullet seems to be a bolt of lightning or light. Now that he knew that he could affect these riders he took careful aim at the second rider. The pistol discharged, and the second rider dissolved into nothingness. The third rider decided to have nothing to do with William and rode away.

  With the third rider routed, the attack upon the President faltered. The cold tendrils dissipated under the full moon that they now could see. Thomas returned to Lincoln’s sleeping car. He brought the good wishes of the fire elemental for saving his life. The fire elemental was so taken with William that he actually produced a fire elemental generated diamond.

  “I think I’ll have Mister Kravitz make a stickpin from it.” William held the diamond between his fingers up to the light. You always knew an elemental manufactured jewel by its lack of flaws.

  “I could probably work up something to make it a little bit more special. If you like?”

  “I will take whatever you can give me. What’s next?”

  “For me, this is the end. I only wanted to get the President-elect to Washington DC. I need to return back to Chicago and get it ready for the war. You may continue on with the president as his personal bodyguard.”

  They rode in silence all the way to Washington DC.

  Wages of Failure

  Uriah Prindle got off the train from Washington DC. He found himself in the middle of Preparations for war in Richmond. Horses, caissons, and guns were scattered about wherever he looked. He had been ordered to come to Richmond for a position. He did not even pack a bag. He did not expect to be staying long in Richmond.

  He walked down a street getting out of the way of horse-drawn buggies and wagons. He finally found his destination, Floyd, Floyd and Rigerson Attorneys at law. He stepped into the building that took up an entire city block. He did not understand how a law firm could take up so much space with just three partners. He entered the building through the main entrance.

  There was the scratching of pencils and Ink pens on paper. A woman was working at a desk that faced the door. She languidly looked up from her work. Uriah had only seen something like that in the London opium dens as a lad sailing on merchantmen.

  “Mister Prindle?” The clerk who acted as a receptionist spoke.

  “Yes.”

  “The partners are waiting for you. Go through that door. Up to the third floor, conference room A.”

  Uriah looked in the direction the receptionist pointed. At the end of the hallway was a door with the word STEPS stenciled on it. Uriah climbed the stairs. The stairs took him up to the third floor.

  Uriah noticed that the Conference room A was right in front go him. The walk to the door to the Conference room. The two biggest conference rooms were those that were not on the outer wall of the building. Uriah expected Conference room A to be bright and cheery. He knocked on the door. It was immediately opened. He walked through, and the door was quickly shut.

  “Forgive the lighting Mister Prindle. One of our partners has an allergy to sunlight.”

  Uriah stood before the partners. He took off his derby and held it in his hands. Uriah hoped that he looked okay. There was a heavy smell of incense in the room. It did not matter to him. It smelled like sandalwood, and he liked it.

  “Now Mister Prindle you understand that you are applying for the job of librarian.”

  “I understand that.”

  “Do you understand that you will keep and maintain our books, and ledgers, so that we may refer to them at any moment? Perchance do you know shorthand?”

  “I do and I do”

  “Excellent. Excellent. How fast can you take shorthand? “

  “I was recently timed at 200 words per minute.”

  There was a lot of positive comments on that. There was a lot of byplay between the partners. Some left and three stayed behind.

  “You see, you’re to become the private secretary to the partners.”

  “I see.”

 
“Do you have a family?”

  “No, sir I don’t.”

  “Then if you accept you need not go back to Washington DC,”

  “I don’t have much of anything. I can remain here.”

  “Better and better. My name is Roy Rigerson. I am the one that sent that peremptory note. I’m sorry if it seemed out of place.”

  Uriah took the offered hand. It was cold and dry. We have a bit of business to conduct would you mind staying and taking the minutes of that meeting?”

  “I’d be delighted.”

  “Pen or Pencil Mister Prindle.”

  “Pencil for Dictation. Several, sharpened well, Please.”

  One of the Floyds sent a runner for the supplies. It came back quickly. That Floyd ensconced him at the table to the room’s far left. They removed the dark shades. The conference room was brighter. The other Floyd used his fingers to put out the candles. He said nothing, but Uriah could see the red welt created by the candle’s burning. That Floyd did not cry out in pain was astonishing.

  Uriah was given a large record book to use for the shorthand. He had a dozen pencils. Uriah opened the record book. At the top, he wrote out the day and date. Uriah also included the partner’s in the meeting. Then he sat there waiting.

  Mister Rigerson nodded. He opened the door and spoke to someone there.

  “Bring him in.”

  Rigerson set out a chair. This was looking like a judicial proceeding. The door opened. A Man walked in. He immediately doffed his hat. He held it in his hands. He was so nervous that he was crumpling his hat in his hands.

  “This is Bilkinson, Donald J.”

  Uriah wrote that down as one of the participants. The man sitting in the chair was sweating profusely. Surely he was not going to lose his life?

  “You have much to explain,” said Rigerson.

  “I don’t have anything to explain.”

  “You were sent out with two others. The other two have died. And yet you lived. Still, you did not accomplish the task. Why are you alive?”

  “I am alive because I was able to know when we were defeated.”

  “You were a necromancer of the Concilium, and you fell before a common soldier.”

  “He wasn’t a common soldier. He wasn’t a soldier at all. He wore a black suit and had a black hat.”

  The three partners conferred with each other. During the conferences, Prindle did not keep dictation. When they returned to the subject., he continued his minutes.

  “Was there another who was with the President?”

  “There was some fool wearing a top hat.”

  “Then how were they killing you?”

  “All I know was that one of them was shooting a gun at us.”

  “Could it be ensorcelled.”

  “Yes, Jimmy,” said Rigerson I know the one in the top hat. He was the ArchMage of Chicago. He has friends in the Hermetic circles of the northeast. Some of them could ensorcel the gun and the bullets.”

  “That’s not the issue. It is cowardice.”

  “Yes, Cecil. Are we agreed?”

  Rigerson; paled at the two others. He nodded and turned to Prindle.

  “Write that we came to a conclusion concerning this case.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Rigerson pulled out a pouch of coins. He tossed them to Prindle. Prindle had a surprised look on his face.

  “That’s a signing bonus and a couple of months expenses. Now you need to get out of the offices. It is nearing five o’clock in the afternoon. You must always leave work at five o’clock. Return to work at nine in the morning.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “All of the other supplies will be placed in here. This will become the Partnership’s Library. See you tomorrow.”

  Prindle thought that he was lucky to fall in with the job. The pretty vacant looking secretary stopped him. She told him she would ask him to the boarding house. She was staying there. Then as she walked him home, she asked if he like sex. Prindle sputtered and said he did. She promised to make his nights magical if he wanted. She turned away before he could respond. Boy, he was a lucky guy.

  A low keening came from offices. Then there was a loud human scream, suddenly it cut off. The girl continued as if she had not heard it. He decided to play along. It was best that he not stick out.

  Presidential Orders

  After the train ride to Washington DC, things around the barracks seemed a little annoying to William. He set aside the frock coat, the red and black damask waistcoat, the leather holster, and the nickel plated pistol. It seemed like a whole lifetime away. Now he stood in his Union blue carrying a more appropriate weapon for a mounted soldier, the saber. He also had a Colt Army service revolver. By comparison to the Colt he actually owned and used, this service revolver seemed clunky and not very sophisticated. William guessed the only thing of this old uniform that’s was better was the hat. The hat was felt and had a wide brim. As part of his suit, he wore a case containing his binoculars.

  He spent his days waiting for orders from the war department. He thought for sure that someone who helped save the life of the president would have his choice of orders. Then something happened today that was about to change his life forever.

  Thomas came into the dining room of the hotel that was serving as visiting officers quarters in Washington DC. Thomas walked up to him and with a haughty expression said, “are you, ready Sir?”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “I told you to hold yourself in readiness. You may think you are an officer in the Union Army, but you’re more of an agent now. The President wants to talk with us.”

  “Are you telling me that I’m sitting here cooling my heels when all I needed to know was I was going to have an interview with the President?”

  “Didn’t I tell you that?”

  “No, you did not. Sometimes, Thomas, you think you are so intelligent. So, you expect everybody else to know what you know. Should I change?”

  “You are going to be commissioned in a different part of the service. So I would expect you to be in a different uniform. Besides, it was so stylish on you.”

  “And quite comfortable too. If you give me a few moments. By the way, did you make it back to Chicago?”

  “No, my announcement forced Lincoln’s hand. He told me to stay a few days. Now we have this interview. Now go and get ready.

  William dashed up to his quarters. He opened up the box in which he had lovingly placed the clothing that Thomas had given him. He put that clothing on with relish. The uniform he put in the box. If he knew the president and knew Thomas, he was no longer going to be Captain Hazard. He was going to be some other agency. When he came down from his room to the dining room, Thomas stood up at the sight of his friend. The other officers of the Union army stopped their talking and looked at the man in the black frock coat and wide-brimmed black hat carrying a nickel plated Colt Army revolver of an unusual make. The only thing that was the same between the two uniforms was the polished black riding boots.

  William came up to Thomas. “Are we going to have to walk all the way to the White House?”

  Thomas chuckled. He knew for a fact that William was in excellent shape physically.

  “No my friend. We are going to be riding style I have managed to procure a brougham with a pair.”

  It is evident that Thomas didn’t know what a pair was. He had eight black horse and a white horse pulling the brougham. William gave Thomas the credit. At least he could find eight horses to pull the carriage. It said something about Thomas’ authority that he was able to get nine horses in an area where a horse belongs in the cavalry.

  William walked up the line. He touched every horse. When he touched the black horse that was blacker than black and second in line to the White. That horse nickered and tried to push William. That horse stamped his hooves. The sound it made was as thunder.

  The last horse was the white horse. As the horse that made the thunder was blacker than black, th
e white horse was whiter than white. William laid his hand on the horses flank. He felt the hair on his arm rise. He lifted his hand up. Sparks flew from horse to his hand. William thought of the horse as Lightning.

  “I noticed you spending Time with the first two. Have you given them a name?”

  “Lightning and Thunder.”

  The driver was able to open the right side door from his position. Thomas entered the carriage followed by William. William pulled the door shut behind him. Thomas rapped on the roof and said, “the White House, Reginald. Oh, and here’s the money for those two horses.”Thomas took a stack of gold and gave it to the driver. There was no real hurry. They had an appointment.

  Within a short period of time, they pulled up to the White House. The Driver stopped at the entrance portico. He opened the door for them. Thomas and William stepped out of the carriage and walked towards the front door.

  The day was sunshine, and most citizens of Washington DC were out and about with their girl on their arm and her parasol above her head. It was almost as if there was no war at all. That was the only way that some people had of dealing with the carnage of battle. If they did not see it, it did not happen.

  Thomas yanked on the doorbell. The tiny tinkling sound came from the other side of the door. A liveried servant opened the door. He had an expectant look on his face.

  “I am Dr. Thomas Derek, and this is Capt. William Hazard to see the President. We have an appointment.”

  “Yes, sir. We have been expecting you both. The President will receive you in his office. If you both will follow me.”

  Thomas and William followed the servant up a complete flight of stairs to the second floor. On the second floor, they followed the servant to a room central to the second floor. The servant knocked on the door and then opened it for Thomas and William.