20

I woke up the next morning feeling excellent, until I saw Maggie sprawled out on my bedroom chair. I hadn't told her any of what happened, she must have been panicking while I was dead to the world. I managed to pick her up, she was getting tall and heavy, and carried her back to her room. Tucking her in, the thought of how surreal it all was hit me. Not a day before I'd been facing off against a necromancer in the bowels of a temple, and now I was putting my daughter to bed. I didn't know how Michael managed the switch from family man to Fist of God so easily. I was grateful for the opportunity though, losing my friends had, still, hurt but getting the chance to raise my daughter was worth it. To keep her safe I'd fight a thousand necromancers, I was hoping there was only the one here though.

I didn't immediately leave to visit the Sealord, instead I made breakfast while waiting for Maggie to wake up. I didn't Listen but in the quiet house with the only noise being the crackling fire, her moving around before coming down was audible. "Are you alright?" I nodded my head, she inspected me for a moment as if to ensure I wasn't lying, then stepped forward and slugged me in the chest. I could only stare at her.

"What was that for?"

"For being an idiot! We're wizards, we're supposed to plan ahead and have plots, not march into temples with a bunch of red shirt guards. I heard half of them died!" Behind her anger, her eyes were bright, she was near tears.

"I'm sorry." Her lips were quivering now, she looked inches away from breaking down. "How did you hear about it anyways?"

"The whole city knows the Sealord raided the Red Temple and half his guard died. You come home exhausted and singed, it wasn't hard to put it together." She choked out the last few words and I enveloped her in a hug.

"It's ok. I'm safe, we're safe now, the shadow-binder is done."

"But what if you weren't? I don't want to have to live with someone else, I've already lost one family, I can't lose you too."

That shut me up, I didn't have a good reply to her worries. I hadn't wanted to fight, but I chose that over running. It had turned out fine so far, but should I have just acquiesced and left the city? I had the money and reputation needed to start over in Pentos for instance. It was like the Miami to Braavos's New York, warmer seedier and full of cartels, but Braavos practically owned it and had banned slavery. We could have been fine there. Had I let my pride overcome the need to protect Maggie? I wasn't sure, so I continued to hold her as she gathered herself.

The breakfast I'd been making had burned during our conversation, so we went to a little cafe two islands over. They served a very strong tea and egg sandwiches so normal they almost made me forget I wasn't home. Maggie ate hers in silence, resisting my attempts to draw her into conversation. We walked home and I agonized over what to say. Right when I was about to make a stab at it she spoke. "Just don't do anything dumb. You don't owe them anything." She glared at me to ensure compliance. "Good, go see the Sealord, and come back for lunch." I walked her to our door, and then followed her orders. I wasn't quite sure how that had happened, but if it made her feel better I'd do it.

This time I didn't need the coin to gain admittance, one of the guards from our ill-fated confrontation with the shadow-binder saw me coming and brought me in. I waited in a conference room for awhile, I wasn't sure what impact arresting the entire clergy of a major religion had, but I was sure it wasn't minor. The Sealord hadn't seemed worried at the prospect, but he had been a little preoccupied with avenging his brother. After seeing the wounds left by the shades I was pretty sure we'd gotten the man responsible, but a religion with shadow-binders serving it wasn't likely to take the humiliation lying down. Fortunately that wasn't my problem, at least not yet, and hopefully not ever, and the room I was in had a wide variety of cheese and fruit.

Two or three bells later, a servant finally came to get me. The Sealord's office was more crowded than I'd seen it before. Ferrego, pseudo-Hendricks, Syrio, another three men I didn't recognize, and the admiral of the city's fleet filled it. On of the unidentified three spoke. "Syrio has told us the broad strokes of what transpired, we would like you to tell us more about the battle."

I gave them a quick rundown of the fight, as well as all I knew and suspected about the shadowbinders, attributing my knowledge to books I'd borrowed from the other Voyagers. Admitting to consorting with another potential warlock didn't seem like a good idea now. When I finished all but Syrio had grave expressions, and the Admiral was having a fierce but whispered conversation with the Sealord. "Enough." The Sealord ended the argument, leaving the Admiral with a disgruntled face. "Dresden once again you have the city's gratitude. Your presence is likely the only reason my First Sword yet lives and half the city guard wasn't slain. But it is said the reward for work well done is more work. Your magic proved its worth against these shades, can anything be done to prevent them killing again?"

I thought for a minute, much of my obvious power was known to these men, the Voyagers knew I could control the elements and find things, and Syrio would have seen my shields and Soulfire. The fires of creation burned in a way that was difficult to forget and I was sure he'd mention the whips of it I'd used. I didn't have an easy answer for dark magic, if there was one I'd have used it in Chicago. I couldn't really prevent the shades from being summoned, but I could impede them. "To kill them, I'd have to be present as far as I know. I suspect they could only last a day at most, probably much less, but with their power a day is far too long. I might be able to set up defenses though. Not everywhere, and there are preconditions, but I think I have the spells to stop them." The Admiral looked a little relieved, downplaying my power tended to make a certain sort of person more comfortable, an expert soldier like him probably hated all his skill and experience being obsoleted by magic. "I can't say for sure though, the shadow-binder's magic is strange to me, we'll only learn if they work when something strikes them. Even then, if the shadow-binder gets inside all the magical wards will be useless."

The Sealord nodded. "What will you need to erect these 'wards'? The resources of the city are at your disposal." I managed to restrain a smile, I'd never been handed a blank check like that before.

"I'll know for certain when I've looked at the locations. I should warn you, the spells depend greatly on the character of the building. Your palace for example, its nature prevents strong wards from anchoring here. Your home, if you still keep one, would do far better. The Titan will probably be a strong anchor, and perhaps the Arsenal."

"Then erect what safeguards you can, Syrio will accompany you and ensure you are given whatever you need. If that is all gentleman? I intend to see to the questioning of the priests if any of you wish to join me." His face twisted at the last. I'd seen Mab inflict tortures and torments unmatched by mortal means on Slate, but seeing the mix of rage and anticipation on Ferrego's face chilled me. I left the office in a hurry, I wanted to get back to Maggie and forget about black magic, death, and torture.

It was not to be. The Admiral caught up to me and called my name. "Dresden, wait." He walked with the rolling gait of a sailor, for all that Braavos was built on the water, actual sailors rarely were seen in the nicer districts. The people there had either never lived on a ship, or had left their sailing days behind. "I've been meaning to talk to you for some time, please stay we have much to discuss."

I really didn't want to be there, but the Admiral was an important man for all I'd forgotten his name, his uniform was distinctive enough that it was the only thing about him I remembered. "Dealing with the Faceless men and priests has taken much of my time Admiral. If we could make this quick?"

I was amused to see him blanch at the mention of the Faceless men but he beckoned me into another conference room and a chair, no cheese sadly. "Our fleet has tested your compasses, we have also purchased maps from Hessler Oliva and the captains are impressed. In addition to your work on the 'wards' I would like to make a contract with you for four compasses and anchor blocks for every ship in the fleet."

"You know you only need two right?"

"I would prefer to know where my ships are at all times, as well as letting their captains know."

"Oh, ok then." I stood "Was that all?"

"Not quite. A mutual friend of ours, Mangini, has shown me a device he says you inspired. He claims that in your homeland it was used to move ships and wagons without winds or animals. Is this true?"

Well steam ships might be coming along faster than I thought. "Steam was used to power many things, I'm no craftsmen though, I told Mangini and few others much of what I knew, any refinement of their designs will be due to their work and diligence, not mine."

The Admiral nodded, I'm not sure how much of my story he knew, cared about, or believed in, but my stories about enormous ships that could sail upwind must have gotten to him. Keeping the premier naval power of the world in the lead was a difficult job, and he must have been constantly searching for the next big thing. "Mangini said as much, he and some blacksmith told me about the challenges they'd found you hadn't mentioned. When we first fit the engines to ships I would have your aid, often common knowledge can be lost in translation that would help a novice." I agreed, I didn't think they'd have anything ready for years, much less solve the problems of flames on boats made with wood and tar but it cost me nothing. "The last thing, in the temple we found stores of wildfire, do you posses the craft to make that concoction?"

"No Admiral, I don't have the skill or desire to make such a hungry flame. You'd be better off avoiding that substance when possible, it even burns magic." I said the last over my shoulder as I walked out, I was tired of interacting with the government and I was annoyed I'd been roped into making more compasses. I consoled myself with the knowledge that the threat of the shadow-binder was dealt with for now, and life could go back to a more normal state.