by R J Hanson
Although spring was on her way, there was still a strong taste of winter in the air.
“I will need to get some rest,” Clairenese said. “After tonight I should be able to get us back to Modins.”
The group camped in the forest that night around a large fire. They rose the next morning for an uneventful breakfast amid the early frost. A breakfast of freshly taken rabbits provided by the ever silent Kodii. After their meal, Roland, Eldryn, Pala, and Tindrakin packed their equipment and checked the load on the wagon. Tindrakin and Eldryn tied the horses to the wagon and hooked up the team of mules. Roland checked the campsite to make sure the last of the equipment was loaded and helped Clairenese onto the wagon.
“Give me a few minutes,” Clairenese said.
She began to speak quiet words of ancient syllables as the familiar vapor poured out between her lips. The dark cloud continued to build and swirl around her as she bound their power to her will with the intricate movements of her hands and fingers. Her words resonated into the crisp morning air with authority as she commanded the forces of nature and energy. The cloud grew to encompass the wagon and its passengers. It rolled out around the horses and mules. Then the entire forest twisted and blurred. The arcane powers pulled at the world around them. The smoke drifted away from them and the small group found themselves in the same field outside of Modins.
Roland shook his head and Tindrakin stared around in amazement. Eldryn nearly fell out of the wagon.
“There is no question that traveling like that is much more efficient,” Eldryn said. “But it makes me dizzy and unsettles Lance Chaser.”
Clairenese was the only one to laugh. Roland and Tindrakin were still struggling to separate the sky from the ground. Their vision finally cleared and Roland and Eldryn climbed down off of the wagon and untied their horses from the back of the wagon. Roland and Eldryn mounted and Tindrakin started the wagon with Clairenese sitting beside him and Pala on the other side and Kodii rode on the back. They headed for Modins and Roland’s shop.
“It’s a bit more of a rough ride when there’s so much to be teleported,” Claire said to Eldryn. “When you have to account for several people, the animals, and the material of the wagon and its contents it strains the powers of the arcane.”
“So, large troop movements would be impossible?” Roland asked.
“Not exactly impossible, for nothing really is, but very difficult,” Claire said. “And not without risk.”
“Risk?” Eldryn asked.
“Well, there is always the chance that you’ll end up in the middle of an ocean or in the deserts of Tarborat,” Claire said. “A slight chance.”
Her reassurance did anything but reassure Eldryn, and Tindrakin was suddenly not so fond of this form of travel.
As the group approached the city gates Roland noticed that Kodii hopped off the back of the wagon. Kodii gave Roland a nod and Roland returned it. Kodii then jogged off to the open lands to the east.
After a few tight turns in the wagon and maneuvering the small caravan through the traffic of the streets of Modins, the wagon creaked to a halt behind the shop. Facl pushed open a heavy iron bound door wearing a broad smile.
“That was very quick,” Facl said.
“It was at that,” Roland said giving Clairenese a grin. “It seems that my bride to be is very good at traveling. Give us a hand with this load.”
Facl called back into the shop and Bjor and Tyll came out and began helping unload the weapons. Roland carried four swords and two suits of armor into the shop. He looked around in wonderment at the work that had been done. The windows had been fitted with iron bars and the mortar of the stone walls had been repaired. Roland also saw that someone had built a stone kiln in the back room with a large anvil next to it for indoor blacksmithing.
Roland sat his armload down on a sturdy table within the back storage room. He walked through to the front room of the building. Two counters had been built along the side walls of the front room and several display racks for armor and weapons had been put up. The windows in the front had also been secured and work had begun on the roof. Someone was replacing the thatch with heavy wooden logs.
“You men have been busy,” Roland said.
“Yes, we have,” Facl said as he placed an armload of axes on the counter. “It turns out that Tyll is skilled with mortar and stone. My father was a carpenter, so I know a little about wood working.”
“I didn’t know how you would feel about it,” Tyll said as he came in with a suit of chain mail. “But several people have been in to see the sword over the front door. We didn’t have much to start with, and we have sold most of that. Several others wanted to place orders for weapons so we starting taking them down. We have a few pages of names and orders already.”
“That sounds good,” Roland said. “You may want to hire some help for the trips back and forth to the Stonebeards. They know to watch for you. Take those orders with you when you go.”
“It takes more than iron and stone to keep certain thieves at bay,” Clairenese said as she walked into the building in her graceful manner.
Each man in the room gave her a blank stare.
“Iron bars and walls of stone would do nothing to secure this place from a mage,” she said.
“Are you suggesting something?” Roland asked.
“I am,” Claire said as she walked along the stout walls of the shop. “Facl, you said your father was a carpenter. Would you be able to make some intricate carvings into some boards that would run along the floors and the ceiling? I would trace them with chalk or grease, but they would need to be carved into the wood.”
“Yes, I could do that,” Facl replied.
Roland and the others continued to unload the wagon and set up the weapons and different armors in the front room of the shop.
“These were made by the dwarves,” Bjor said with reverence. “How did you ever come by so many dwarven blades?”
“They are friends,” Eldryn replied.
Clairenese and Facl began their work on several boards that would be set in the corners formed by the walls, ceiling, and floor. As the last of the suits of armor were being placed on a rack in the front room a thin man, carrying three thick books, came through the front door.
“Sir Roland,” Facl said. “This is Adis. He is the bookkeeper we hired.”
“I am Roland,” he said as he approached the small man.
“It is my pleasure to meet you, Sir Roland,” Adis said. “It is also my pleasure to be in your employee. My, this is quite an inventory. I should get started on cataloging things right away. What percentage over cost would you like to apply to the price?”
“Just enough to keep this shop going and keep each of you paid,” Roland said. “Keep in mind that you will need to hire on a few more men, and that the dwarves are to be supplied with the best stores available.”
“Very well, my lord,” Adis replied.
Adis began making his way around the shop examining plate, shield, and blade. He started recording the inventory in one of the books that he carried.
Several hours of work went by as each man did his part to make the shop more secure. Claire and Facl’s work went well. They had seven of the twelve boards they would need installed by the time the sun began to set in the west over the ocean.
“Tin,” Roland said. “Take Tyll with you and bring back some food. I think we should all remain close by here until we get the roof finished and Claire has a chance to finish her runes. I’d hate for the shop to be robbed of its entire first inventory.”
“Yes, sire,” Tin said as he and Tyll headed for the door.
The work continued until Tindrakin and Tyll returned with the meal. Everyone, accept Adis, took a break to eat. Then they all went back to work. It was shortly after the midnight hour when the thatch roof was completely replaced with heavy logs. Facl was finishing the last board and Clairenese was double checking the other eleven for any errors.
Clairenese sprinkled
a red dust behind the base boards as they were put into place. The twelve boards were all secured and the last of the pitch was being added to the log roof to seal it. They were done with the modifications and the sun would not be up for another two hours.
“What is that stuff?” Tin asked gesturing toward the red dust.
“A means of protection,” Claire said. “That is all.”
“So, it keeps someone from moving in here magically?” Tin asked.
“Well…yes,” Claire said.
“It sounds like there’s more to that,” Roland said.
“It does prevent magical penetration,” Claire said.
“No secrets,” Roland said.
“Fair enough,” Claire said. “If someone should try to teleport within the walls the dust re-directs their point of arrival to a plane of existence occupied solely by fallen champions cursed and imprisoned by the gods.”
None know what to say to that and the whole group was silent for several moments.
“I’m kidding,” Claire said with a laugh. “What you all must think of me.”
After a moment the rest of them joined her in the laugh.
“So, what does it do?” Tin asked.
“Oh, it kills them,” Claire said as a matter of fact.
That statement choked off the remaining laughter and Roland thought it best to re-direct this conversation.
“You men may want to hire a few more to help you run the place,” Roland said to Tyll, Pala, and Facl. “It would probably be a good idea to take turns staying here so that there is always a man here.”
Roland treated everyone, accept Adis who insisted he stay behind and finish the detailed inventory, to a large breakfast at one of the finest taverns in all of Modins. The food was marvelous and each ate until they thought they would burst.
The group returned to the weapon shop where they found Adis hovering over one of his books. Sir Roland, Clairenese, Sir Eldryn, Pala and Tindrakin were all tired. They had just come back from a long journey only to work all night on finishing the changes necessary at the shop. They took their bedrolls into the back room of the stone building and built a fire in the blacksmith kiln. The room warmed against the last tastes of winter and all within slept soundly.
The next morning the group ate breakfast at the shop and, as they were finishing, Marnie arrived with a ledger of her own. The clear sense of purpose and being assigned a task she was well suited for had certainly had their effects. She moved with more confidence and no longer carried that air of a young girl lost in a world she didn’t understand.
She was also discovering that she had a talent for information gathering and was learning to apply that to her new found position.
“I have news,” Marnie said as she entered.
“Yes?” Roland said.
“The dock is secured,” she said. “It is a slip large enough to handle a three master. Anything larger than that is not going to be a trading vessel anyway but more likely to be a warship of one type or another. I’ve arranged to rent it out to local fishermen when not in our use so the investment continues to earn. I’ve also taken the liberty of investing in a few other ventures locally and with a trading ship whose route takes them to Thorvol, Degra, Lavon, and Vanthor. Another, more risky venture, I’ve decided to take a chance on is a vessel that trades as far away as Wodock.”
“That is good news,” Eldryn said.
“That is not the news of which I spoke,” Marnie said, enjoying the fact that she had piqued Eldryn’s interest. “The Black Fly. They operate out of Dalloth, Modins, Janisport, and Degra. They have paid a high price to see your head on a pike, Sir Roland. You apparently caused them some embarrassment, and thereby some business, when you managed to capture some of their agents some months ago. Furthermore, I understand that you took the eye of another, and that one is particularly vexed.”
“They attempt a robbery and have the audacity to be angry at us for foiling it?” Roland said.
“I think you may have much to learn about assassins, thieves, and their ilk,” Claire said. “Please, go on, dear.”
Marnie nodded and thought of her growing like for Lady Clairenese. She had been kind to Marnie from the beginning, even when Marnie succumbed to a childish jealousy of her when they first met. Claire had always seemed to consider Marnie’s words and thoughts with serious contemplation. Furthermore, she seemed to be a calming influence on Roland, increasing the likelihood of Eldryn’s continued survival.
“They are limited to those cities, for now,” Marnie continued. “I believe Peterion is safe for they would be foolish indeed to move against the Silver Helm Academy. Your other business ventures should be safe as well, for any attack on them would be seen as petty by their detractors. For them to properly avenge themselves on you it must be you that they kill or harm directly.”
“Good to know,” Roland said. “How did you come by all this information?”
“I have learned to listen,” Marnie said. “From my short time in Skult, I have learned to listen well, and who to listen to. It is surprising what men will say when then only person around is some young girl.”
“Not just some young girl,” Eldryn said. “Quite the young lady, with a very good head on her shoulders.”
Marnie fought the urge to blush as she felt the giddiness begin in her stomach and rise up her throat. She would lose all credit she had won if she swooned over Eldryn’s words now. She braced herself and managed a short, business like, nod.
“You seem to have the length and breadth of it,” Roland said. “What do you advise?”
“I’m not sure how you would counter them, not yet,” Marnie said. “Continue with your plans in Lawrec. Make them come to you in a land where they have no support and no scouts. That is where you would have the greatest advantage.”
“Worthy advice,” Roland said. “What do you think, dear?”
“Mandurelle offers sound advice,” Claire said. “The wisdom of it is clear. Although, I think you should give me a token of their leaders. With a lock of hair or oft worn piece of clothing or jewelry and a few carefully chosen words I could see that they never trouble anyone again.”
After purchasing a new wagon and loading it with more supplies that Claire had insisted on, Sir Roland, Clairenese, Sir Eldryn, and Tindrakin made their way out of Modins toward a familiar field near the road. Kodii joined them in the field with a freshly harvested pheasant in one hand and his spears in the other. Clairenese performed her magic and all found themselves on the road two miles outside of Skult.
Sir Roland, Clairenese, and Sir Eldryn veered north from the road and started toward the small plot of land that would be Roland and Claire’s home. It would be the end of summer or beginning of fall before the other supplies they ordered shipped would arrive. However, they brought enough with them to furnish the two-room dwelling they intended to build before winter set in again.
Tindrakin headed toward Skult to hire the additional laborers they would need. Construction began on the first two rooms of the log house and planning began for the wedding. Kodii kept himself busy in the nearby forests and plains hunting and scouting.
The guest list for the wedding was long and distinguished. It would invite kings and criminals. It would invite nobles and commoners. It would invite knights and villains. It would invite warriors and wizards. It would invite friends and family. Bolvii himself might prefer to stay sober and near the door for this one.
Epilogue
Deception? Aid?
“The map you planted on Yorketh, did Roland deliver it to the Prince?” Lynneare asked.
“Yes,” Ashcliff said.
“And he has no suspicions about why Yorketh would be carrying it, or anything else?”
“He does not, my lord,” Ashcliff said.
Lynneare walked out onto his balcony that overlooked the infamous marshes of Lawrec. He breathed in the night air and looked out across that dangerous swamp that protected his home. Ashcliff followed him onto the b
alcony and noted, out of habit, that the door did not have a lock and the balcony was no more than forty feet from the ground. A dark elf followed not far behind them.
“You are confident you were not detected while gathering the information?” Lynneare asked.
“Confident, my lord,” Ashcliff said. “He possesses and controls a few demons but I waited until they were in the field. Magic could have detected me, I suppose, but there were no spells active there that did.”
“His man, the Zepute, I think he knows something,” Maloch, no longer of the Black Lance, said from behind them. “He is very good in the wilds. Sharp.”
“You are all heirs of vanity,” Lynneare said as he looked out over the lands of Lawrec. “My vanity and the vanity of others.”
“My lord?” Ashcliff asked.
“Never mind,” Lynneare said. “Is your payment adequate compensation for your time and efforts?”
“Yes,” Ashcliff said.
“Have you any ambitions regarding the Masters of your profession?” Lynneare asked.
“My plans in that regard I do not share with anyone, no offense.”
“None taken,” Lynneare said. “Allow me to say this, if one as capable as you were to have ambitions, then I would be interested in investing in those plans.”
“Understood,” Ashcliff said.
“I will also pay well for updates about Lady Clairenese,” Lynneare said. “She is dear to me, of course, but I worry for her. Her love for Roland, and his for her, has been very good for her. If anything should change or threaten that, I would like to know.”
“Understood,” Ashcliff said.
With that, Ashcliff backed away from Lynneare and Maloch into the study of the castle. A few short moments of concentration later and he was gone.
“Can you really trust one of his ilk?” Maloch asked.
“He is skilled,” Lynneare said. “He and his master, Jasper to some and Ashdow to others. But I have probed his thoughts. He might be hired to act against Roland, but I doubt it. He likes the boy, and for one of his profession that is an asset in and of itself.”
