Chapter 401 - Cage of Ice

Book 5 of The Hedge Wizard is out on Kindle and Print editions as of the 4th, so depending on your timezone it'll be live already. If any of you have a minute to drop it a review or download a copy if you have Kindle Unlimited once it's live in your region, it's a massive help on launch day and very appreciated!

Here's the link for the US site, though it would be live here for a few hours: HW5

Thanks in advance, and enjoy the chapter!

The scent hit Hump first—a mingling of fresh fish and saltwater carried on the breeze. It clung to the air, sharp and unmistakeable, letting him know they were close. The fishery itself was unassuming at first glance. Workers bustled around the yard, hauling crates of fish packed in ice, stacking them in neat rows. In a market space by the street, stalls overflowed with the day’s catch, displayed atop beds of crushed ice.

Nothing about the place screamed suspicion, but Hump knew better than to trust appearances. His eyes wandered to the back of the warehouse where a door hung slightly ajar, leading to a shadowy interior.

Then it hit him. “The ice. Where do they get the ice? There isn’t a source of ice near Elenvine, and it’s only autumn. They must be creating it somehow.”

“You’re thinking magic?” Celaine asked.

“Oh, you should see it, lady! They’ve got a wizard working here.” Mav’s voice dripped with admiration. He gave Hump a mischievous look. “A proper wizard, too, with a real staff, and robes. He makes the ice.”

Hump frowned at him. “That right? Does he have a hat too?”

The kid shook his head. “Wizards don’t really have hats.”

“Met a lot of wizards, have you?”

“Maybe.” Mav met his eyes with a challenge in them.

“And this wizard that makes the ice, does he work here?” Hump asked. “Where can we find him?”

The boy shrugged. “Not my problem.”

Hump sighed. “Don’t try and be too helpful.”

“You told me to show you the place, now pay up or I’ll scream. Anything else costs extra.”

Hump blinked, catching the glint in the boy’s eyes as he opened his mouth dramatically. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me rich boy.”

“Rich boy?” Hump said, turning in exasperation to Celaine who was struggling very poorly to hide her amusement. “Alright, alright. No need to scream.” Hump handed him two more silver coins, which disappeared into the boy’s pocket in a flash. Hump held up another coin. “Answer my question and this one’s yours too. Deal?”

Mav squinted at the coin then shook his head. “I know you can afford more than that.”

Hump sighed. For a few seconds, he considered just going into the place to find out for himself, but he kind of liked the kid and wouldn’t miss a few more silver. Hump took out a couple more coins. “Three silver then. That’s it though.”

A grin spread across the kid’s face, revealing a missing tooth. “Deal.”

“How do we find the wizard?”

The kid looked at him like he was an idiot. “Look for the fat guy walking round with a staff. Can’t miss him.”

Hump stared at the boy, deadpan. “And the extra coin also means no more attitude.”

“Too late for that,” Mav quipped. “Next question.”

Hump exchanged a glance with Celaine, who raised an amused eyebrow but said nothing.

“Fine,” Hump muttered. “How long ago did you escape?”

“Right. How long ago did you escape?”

Mav’s expression darkened, his bravado dimming. There was something there, but Hump wasn’t sure what.

“Week ago, maybe,” Mav said. “Haven’t been back since.”

“And how long were you here?”

Mav shrugged. “Don’t know. Tunnels were underground.”

Hump let out a frustrated breath, feeling like he was trying to squeeze blood from a stone. “Give me your best guess.”

“Like a week. Maybe less. Wasn’t long.”

“And where did they keep you when you were here?”

“They didn’t keep me,” Mav snapped. “I just slept here for a few nights and got some food.”

“Right, my bad. Where did you sleep then?”

“There’s a cellar in the back.” He nodded toward the one that was ajar at the rear of the warehouse. “Go through that door, and you’ll find stairs leading down. The place is like a maze though—tunnels all over.”

“And what was it like down there? Did you speak to anyone? Or were you told anything?”

Mav frowned, looking up at the sky in thought. “Talked to a few people. There were other kids—”

“—How old?”

“Younger than me mostly.”

“Younger people would be easier to indoctrinate,” Celaine said beside him.

Hump nodded. “What about adults?”

“Two women looked after us—Syla and Cern. They were pretty, like. And nice. Or, I thought they were, but…”

“But what?” Celaine asked.

Mav fidgeted. “They gave me this… feeling. Like they wanted something. You think they would have eaten my soul?”

“No,” Hump said. “They didn’t want you for that, don’t worry, even if they were warlocks, which sounds quite likely based on what you’ve described.” Hump stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Hard to picture them babysitting a bunch of kids though.”

“They will have servants and workers,” Celaine said. “Not everyone can become a practitioner.”

“Either way, not my problem,” Mav said, holding out a hand. “Now pay up. I don’t like it here.” He was trying to look confident again, but Hump could see that something about the conversation had made him unsettled.

Hump felt for the lad. Whatever he’d seen here, it must have really freaked him out. He handed over the remaining coins with a smile. “Thanks for your help, Mav.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Mav snatched the coins and backed away, slipping them into a pocket. He paused a few paces off, his gaze dating between Hump and Celaine. “What are you gonna do now?”

“I suppose I’ll check out the wizard,” Hump said, turning to Celaine. “You check the back and see what’s there? We’ll meet up after.”

Celaine nodded, her hand instinctively brushing over the hilt of the dagger at her hip. “Want your staff?”

Their equipment was in her belt if they needed it. Hump shook his head. “No need. I’d rather avoid a fight, and walking in with a staff will give my intentions away. I don’t think we’ll find anyone that’s a threat to us here.”

“If you do, just make some noise and I’ll come running.”

“I’m not some damsel in distress!” Hump said. “If anything, that’s your job.”

Celaine laughed, a playfulness to her eyes. “That’s sweet, but they won’t even know I was there.”

Mav, who had been watching the exchange intently, scrunched his face in confusion. “You’re just gonna let her go in on her own?”

Hump gave a nonchalant shrug. “I’d only slow her down.

“But she’s a girl!” Mav’s tone was laced with disbelief.

Hump turned to Mav, crouching slightly to meet the boy’s gaze. “Listen, kid. There’s something you’ll figure out when you’re older. Let me save you some time: not all girls need protecting. And with some,” he added, jerking a thumb toward Celaine, “it’s easier to let them do their thing and stay as far out the way as you can.”

“Not my first time sneaking into underground warlock lairs, Mav,” Celaine said with a smile. “Don’t worry.”

Mav crossed his arms, his scepticism plain. “Your funeral,” he muttered, his eyes trailing after Celaine as she slipped around the side of the warehouse and disappeared into the shadows like smoke.

“Right, you should get out of here,” Hump said. “Hear anything else, head over to the Rike Estate like I told the other lads and they’ll get you in touch with me, okay?”

“No way I’m going there,” Mav said, already turning to leave.

Hump chuckled. “See you around, Mav. And don’t spend all that silver in one place.”

Mav gave a dismissive wave over his shoulder and disappeared into the winding streets. Hump watched him go for a moment, then turned his attention back to the fishery. The warehouse was full of workers and customers. Somewhere in that maze of activity was the wizard. The challenge was how to flush him out.

His eyes lingered on the icy counters and the melting shards of ice shimmering under the midday sun. His hand drifted to the weight of his coin pouch. No need to overthink things.

Hump approached the market stalls near the warehouse. A burly fishmonger greeted him with a friendly but harried smile, wiping his hands on a fish-slick apron. “Afternoon, sir! What can I get for you? Brought in some lovely sturgeon just an hour ago—freshest you’ll find. Crab, mussels, oysters—it’s all here.”

“I’m actually interested in ice,” Hump said, leaning casually on the counter. “It’s not easy to come by in these parts, especially this time of year.”

The man frowned, his eyes narrowing. “We sell fish, mate. Not ice.”

Hump smiled and pulled out his coin pouch, casually spilling a handful of silver coins onto the counter. The metallic clink cut through the chatter of the market. “It would be a big order,” Hump said smoothly.

The fishmonger’s frown deepened, but his hand hovered near the coins. He took a breath, glanced around as if to make sure no one was paying attention, then swept the coins into his pocket. “Lara!” he barked over his shoulder. “Go get Ced. Tell him there’s a customer.”

A girl darted into the warehouse, her small figure vanishing into the shadows.

The fishmonger turned back to Hump, his tone gruffer now. “Ced’ll be with you when he’s with you. Go on inside. And try not to get in the way.”

Hump tipped his head. “Much appreciated.” He stepped away from the counter, his pulse quickening with excitement. After so much time fighting demons, it was nice to do some regular investigating work.

There was no missing Ced. The man strode toward Hump, thick gnarly staff gripped in a chubby fist. He looked to be about sixty, heavily built with a beer belly and the kind of worker’s muscle one gets from lugging around crates all day. He was entirely bald, showing off an impressively round head, but for a mess grey beard around his mouth.

“Are you the one?” Ced’s voice was gruff, his tone thick with derision. He sized Hump up with a scowl, the kind reserved for strangers who disrupted routine. “Lara said you were young, but gods above, should you even be out on your own?”

Hump’s eyebrows lifted, unfazed by the man’s tone. “Is that how you speak to all your customers?”

“What do you want, boy?” Ced snapped, leaning on his staff with a deliberate show of disdain. “Ice? Fine, I can give you ice. But it’ll cost you.”

Hump studied him closely, keeping his expression neutral. While Ced exuded confidence, it didn’t take much for Hump to see through him. The man’s essence was faint, the flicker of his soul weak and unrefined. At best, he was a Tier 2 wizard.

“Ah, no. Sorry about that,” Hump said, smiling faintly. “The ice was just a pretext to get your attention. I’m actually here about some… mutual acquaintances.”

Ced froze. His grip on the staff tightened until his knuckles went white. His eyes narrowed, scanning Hump for signs of deceit. That tension told Hump everything he needed to know. He’d struck a nerve.

“They ran into some trouble a couple of days ago,” Hump continued, keeping his tone light. “I’m here to collect the goods.”

“Found some trouble, did they?” Ced’s voice turned sour, his words slow and deliberate. “Knew it’d happen sooner or later. What’d you say your name was?”

“I didn’t,” Hump replied evenly.

“That so,” Ced muttered. For a moment, his gaze flickered, and he hesitated just long enough to confirm Hump’s suspicion: he was trying to decide if Hump belonged or if he’d made a mistake. He cleared his throat and plastered on a thin veneer of nonchalance. “Well, it’s about time someone came. I’ve had no clue what to do with them, and I’ve got a business to run.”

The hesitation was telling. Hump caught the faintest hitch in his voice, a moment of uncertainty that hinted there might have been a code or phrase he was supposed to know. Whatever it was, Hump didn’t care. He would continue to play along until the situation changed.

The old man grunted, clearly suspicious but too cautious to act just yet. He turned and trudged toward a metal door at the back of the warehouse. It wasn’t the one Hump had noticed earlier, left ajar, but a heavy door secured with a simple latch. Ced unlocked it and began descending a flight of narrow, steep stairs. Hump followed, his senses sharpening as they descended.

The temperature dropped sharply, and the air grew dense and clammy. Hump could feel the chill seep into his skin even before they reached the bottom. The faint hum of magic lingered in the air, mingling with the scent of a winter morning. They stepped inside a cellar room. The walls shimmered with frost, lined with shelves packed high with blocks of ice. A spell formation covered the room, humming faintly with leaking essence—it was of poor quality, but it kept the room cool. The chill was biting, twisting up Hump’s ankles like the tendrils of a predator.

It was the perfect trap for an ice wizard, if only the power discrepancy was not so great. Behind Hump, more footsteps sounded and three burly men arrived, small clubs in hand.

“Who are you really?” Ced asked. His staff was glowing now, a cool blue within that lacked all the beauty of Bud’s Frostfire.

Hump smiled tightly. Against a weaker wizard, they would surely be in trouble. Ced clearly thought he had the upper hand, but he had no idea what kind of animal he’d locked himself in with.

“Think of me as a concerned citizen,” Hump said. “I hear you’ve been working with warlocks and I’d like to know more about it.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“So when my associate checks the cellar in the back, she won’t find anything?”

Ced’s eyes darted toward one of his men by the stairs, a silent command forming on his lips.

Hump raised a hand. Essence surged through him. “Stone Wall.”

The room rumbled as a thick barrier of stone erupted from the floor, sealing the stairway with an earthen slab. Dust swirled in the chilled air, the sound of grinding rock echoing through the room. The path was completely blocked, trapping everyone inside.

Ced’s eyes widened, his confidence faltering as he stared at the newly formed wall. It seemed he recognised the Tier 3 spell, and what the ease with which Hump had cast it meant.

“Get him!” Ced roared.

The three men charged, clubs raised high. At the same time, Ced thrust his staff forward. Spears of jagged ice coalesced in the frigid air, their razor-sharp tips aimed directly at Hump.

Hump didn’t move. He didn’t flinch. Instead, he reached deep within himself and unleashed his soul.

The world turned violet to his eyes. A surge of raw, unrelenting power flooded through him, filling every fibre of his being. His essence erupted outward like a tidal wave, the sheer force of it driving the icy mist back, the rumbling of a dragon’s roar filling the chamber. The frost clinging to the walls and floor melted under the pressure of his presence, the spell formation turning to disarray.

Ced’s spears of ice shattered mid-air, falling harmlessly to the ground in glittering fragments. The essence that had formed them was torn from the air, siphoned into Hump’s control.

Behind him, the three men stumbled. The oppressive weight of his soul bore down on them, crushing their resolve. They staggered back, losing their footing, and tumbled down the steps in a chaotic heap. Their clubs clattered to the ground, forgotten.

Ced froze. His staff slipped from his hand and clattered against the floor. His face was a mask of terror, his lips parted in silent disbelief. He barely managed to stay on his feet, trembling as he faced the force of Hump’s unleashed soul.

Hump stepped forward, his violet aura casting long, jagged shadows across the frosted room. “Right,” he said, his voice calm but cutting. “Shall we try this again?”

Ced swallowed hard, the fight drained from him. He said nothing, his wide, unblinking eyes locked on Hump, now fully understanding the mistake he’d made.