“You look fine Teresa” Ray replied. “And your dress is having the desired effect, already I have given mean looks to all sorts of people”.
“Those were commoners though Ray” Teresa replied. “And I am stuck in this corner, you know mage girls are going to be here? So are other girls first in line for their own title. You have it so lucky, you have the mark, not many here will be able to boast that”.
“Teresa there are going to be a lot of boy mages here as well and others that also have the mark” Ray replied.
“Those marks are probably fake” Teresa replied. “Men just tattoo themselves to seem important. Speaking of tattoos, how do you like the outfit, I designed it to cover up all of your tattoos, even the one on your chest”.
“I didn’t need them covered up” Ray replied. “My mother gave them to me”.
“Do you miss her?” Teresa asked. “Your real mother?”
“I suppose I do but I don’t really remember her too well” Ray replied. “I know she wanted me to save our people from the Outsiders”.
“The Outsiders?” Teresa said confused. “You mean us? Save you from what, nothing is happening to you”.
“What do you think would happen if I decided to visit the great forest?” Ray asked.
“Why would anyone want to visit a forest?” Teresa asked. “I heard the Gaea there run around without hardly anything on and sometimes eat bugs for meat. Why would you want to go back there? Here you can have actual food and wear nice things. That ban is only so we can get our numbers up, there is nothing for you in the forest”.
“My people are in the forest” Ray replied. “I am sure there is a nice Gaea lady waiting for me there and I like the outdoors. And you don’t seem to mind Gaea food when you are eating it”.
“Some of it is tasty” Teresa replied. “But you need to get that crazy talk about going to the forest out of your head. Don’t look now but they are starting to announce the higher nobles, just look at them”.
Ray shelved the conversation and looked over as the Treacher children were announced. Gregory Treacher III was in line to become the next Baronet and was Teresa’s age. He looked like he was always sweating and it was obvious he was wearing something to hold in all of his girth as he looked like he could barely breathe without popping a button. Gregory had an actual mark though, that along with his title would ensure he matched up with someone, probably of a higher station. The twins Tyla and Twyla were Ray’s age and were shaped similar to what Teresa was shaped like before he started giving her his potions. They were square shaped with wide shoulders and no real hips or behind and had a slight belly. The potions he fed Teresa could only do so much but it did help her figure fit her bone structure.
“Looks like they have been sat at this table with us” Ray replied and looked at the other name plates. “Don’t let them bother you, they are just ordinary people and not very good looking. The clothes you have on costs just as much as theirs does and you have a carriage complete with drivers and your own guards outside.
“Those men aren’t guards” Teresa replied.
“They are guards, they are our guards” Ray replied with a smile. “You are staying at the Crow’s Nest and you look stunning. No man in his right mind would pass you up to go after them”.
“The Baronet can pay a dowry though Ray” Teresa said as her face fell.
“Your dowry is 500 gold” Ray replied quickly. “I can make more trips like this one and clean up, already in my pocket I have 78 gold of pure profit and I haven’t even sold one staff yet. The spineberries have been selling like crazy, I don’t even bother with my wagon and I sell them straight to the houses and brothels. Give me a good two months here and I think I can come up with that money”.
“You would pay 500 gold?” Teresa replied.
“Well not to just anybody” Ray replied. “They would have to be a landed noble with his own peasants”.
“Shh, here they come” Teresa said as she stood up.
“Cousins how are you doing” Teresa said with a fake smile and a cheerful voice. “It has been a year since we saw each other, that is too much time to go by”.
“That’s cause we don’t like to slum” Tyla said as she looked Teresa over and turned up her nose before sitting down.
“My you have filled out cousin” Gregory said as he stared at Teresa’s breasts.
“Did you have to mortgage the house my great grandfather gave you to pay for that dress?” Twyla said as she took a seat as well.
“Hardly, it only cost a gold or so” Ray replied. “And my sister looks better than either of you do, no man in his right mind would pass her over”.
“Gaea I just noticed you were here” Gregory said as he sat down. Ray could tell the man was keeping a straight back to avoid blowing out his shirt and sending his little buttons flying like projectiles. “When they said all nobles I figured you would know you really don’t belong. Did you have to steal the money to buy your clothes as well?”
“Dear cousin Gregory, you are as charming as always” Ray replied. “I bet the ladies can’t wait to be underneath your smelly fat ass. How long has it been, a year since I saw you last at father’s funeral. Next time let’s make it two”.
“You seem a trifle angry, a little jealous that I will take whatever fun you were planning to have away?” Gregory laughed. “What poor lady would pass on a landed noble mage who can provide children to take on an oversized Gaea?”
“You don’t even have your stave, just look at all this” Ray said as he stood up. “Women flood their small clothes when they see me walk by. I got the height, the muscles and good looks, any women stupid enough to choose you over me must be blind”.
“Ah yes there are plenty women dying to run off to that little shack you are inheriting” Gregory laughed. “Shouldn’t you be at home tending to it? How did you even make the trip here? I think even Tafarin is out of your price range so you must be staying some place farther and probably had to ride hard to get here”.
“Let’s not fight cousin” Teresa replied. “You would be quite a catch to any of the young ladies here and Ray you don’t even want any of the ladies here. Cousin we will be staying in town for a few more days, can we stave off the name calling until then?”
“What do you mean you are staying in town?” Tyla asked.
“We have rooms at the Crow’s Nest” Teresa replied. “They were all out of suites but the rooms are adequate and the food is to die for”.
“You are not staying at the Crow’s Nest” Tyla snapped. “We are staying at the Crow’s Nest and I haven’t seen you there”.
“We are on the third floor” Teresa replied. “I thought I had seen your carriage parked around back”.
“What were you doing around back, working for your stay?” Tyla asked.
“Oh no cousin, I was checking on our guards, making sure they were watching our merchandise and seeing to our new carriage” Teresa replied. “Our poor carriage driver had been driving all week, it was the least I could do to see to his needs”.
“You don’t have a carriage” Gregory said accusingly.
“I did not know you are an expert in my finances” Ray replied. “Fine if you want to believe we walked then we did. We walked all the way from home and I found someone else my size to steal clothes from and so did Teresa. In fact we stole the carriage, our guards and our wagon and are secretly sleeping in the street”.
“Now brother they are just curious” Teresa replied.
“No they are not” Ray snapped. “They are miserable little shits that have been insulting you since they sat down. Instead of welcoming you like family, they are attempting to tear you down so they can feel better. Well fuck them and the horse that brought them here, you owe them no explanation and if I were you I would just ignore them for the rest of the night. You went a year without having to put up with their bullshit, you can go a few more hours”.
“I don’t think I like your tone” Gregory replied.
“Whenever your fat ass is ready to do something about it let me know” Ray replied. “You are not the Baronet yet, you are just his fat piece of shit son. Right now you are 10 pounds of hamburger meat stuffed into a 5 pound bag. You need to keep your voice your down, before that shirt pops open and your buttons start impaling people”.
“I don’t know why you were ever adopted” Tyla replied.
“But I was” Ray replied. “And now my family are taken care of and it burns the shit out of you. Here is a gold piece, you all split it and see if you can hire someone who gives a fuck about whatever you think” Ray finished as he took out his coin purse and flipped a gold coin at Tyla.
“Brother you are causing a scene” Teresa whispered.
“Sorry sister” Ray replied. “I’ll mind my business now, I wouldn’t want to scare off the thousands of young men coming for Tyla or the princess when she comes for Gregory”.
“You really do have some money” Gregory said as he snatched the coin away and eyed it. “This is a real gold piece and it even looks new. Maybe we should start collecting taxes”.
“Go for it” Ray replied. “Mother wants to live in the city, part of the reason we traveled is to find a good place to live in. Of course nobles only pay taxes out of what they collect from their peasants and we have none, so looks like you won't be getting another copper. Now leave me alone, I made a promise to the most beautiful woman here and I don’t like lying to my sister”.
“Can you afford a dowry?” Twyla asked.
“500 gold” Ray replied. “That and a chance to work with me if they chose, but only to whoever I deem worthy”.
“500 gold?!?” Gregory screamed.
“Before you ask I can get my hands on that kind of money” Ray replied. “I know your father is paying out a thousand gold per daughter which is probably a nice chunk out of your money. I can’t match it and don’t need to, Teresa is a beauty in her own right”.
“Here comes the princess” Teresa said as everyone rose out of their chair.
Ray did not think the girl was anything to write home about, she was dressed nicely but so was every other girl at this ball. Her hair was in some fancy updo but every other girl looked the same. It surprised him that the princess was a mage however, her rosewood staff was easy to see and she wore a dress nearly the same color. Princess Melody took her position at a table against the back wall directly opposite the door. Food started coming out and servants started running around delivering food and drink. Ray looked over his food, it was beef along with vegetable and a tuber. He bit into it and although it was tender he thought it was a bit bland and wished he had something to season it with.
“What do you think of nasty Gaea food now sister” Ray teased as he thought he could do a better job with a worse cut of beef. “I bet you are thinking it is missing something”.
“I never said I hate your cooking” Teresa teased. “I still don’t think that forest is where you belong. If you want to see a bunch of half-naked girls I am sure you can get one of these servants naked inside an hour if you wanted to”.
“What you talking about?” Gregory asked.
“None of your business” Ray replied. “You’re so high and mighty don’t let poor people gossip concern you”.
“Why would you want to go to the forest?” Twyla asked.
“Why are you all pretending like we like each other?” Ray asked. “It should be obvious that I don’t like anyone of you and doubt I ever will. I think the feeling is mutual since all of you have acted like you have a giant stick shoved up your arse and the only way to get relief is to hurl insults at my sister. Let us finish our meal and when the mingling begins we can act like we don’t know each other. You three can run off and mingle with the mages or something”.
“As if we would mingle with a mage” Tyla laughed. “Most of them are sterile and the ones that aren’t have to marry other mages to keep the magic flowing. I bet it was a nasty Gaea trick is the reason more of our men can't have children”.
“Then you are right, it was a Gaea trick” Ray replied. “But everyone already knows that. Now stop trying to pull us into your conversation, we are happy without you”.
“Do you have a girl picked out” Twyla said ignoring his command.
“I do not and do not want one” Ray replied.
“Why not?” Twyla asked. “You could come out better than staying inside that building you call a home”.
“I like my home Twyla” Ray began. “It probably looks different than when you saw it last, so does the land it is on. Me and my family finally have some breathing room, worrying about some girl could jeopardize that. I oversee the finances now and have a mother and sister to support and I have many things I want to do first”.
“Ray has had it fixed up quite a bit since you last visited cousin” Teresa said smiling at Twyla. “It is nowhere near as opulent as your home but it’s a two story now with its own sitting room and dining room and he will probably add some more on it in a couple of years”.
“Sorry for my attitude cousin” Twyla replied. “I am trying to become a better person. I am happy you are no longer living in squalor and wish you well”.
“That sounds oddly sincere Treacher” Ray replied. “Did you bump your head or something?”
“No but I don’t want to sit here arguing in what could be the most important day in any of our lives” Twyla replied. “You look charming by the way cousin, you look bigger every time I see you although I do admit that is not often. I think this is only the third time I have seen you in five years, now I think about it”.
“Just good eating” Ray replied. “You look lovely as well”.
“Twyla don’t talk to them” Tyla snapped. “Someone may think you two are an item”.
“No they won't” Twyla replied. “After dinner is when the official meet and greet begins, the ladies are supposed to line up to meet the royal family. After that we will all stand next to the princess as the gentlemen come up, it gives us an opportunity to test out their marks and find out if they are real or not. We will shake everyone’s hand and check for the mark with a touch, the hard part will be remembering who has a mark and who does not. I am just going to remember fake marks but if any of those were here it would be big gossip. More than likely if someone has a fake one they probably have it covered in makeup right now to avoid embarrassment”.
“Just great” Ray said as he tossed his fork down. “You owe me big time Teresa”.
“You are a big boy, it won't be too bad” Teresa replied.
“Yes it will” Ray replied. “I tower over most of the people here and at least one of them is going to think I am staring at their cleavage. It is bad enough I stick out just by sitting down, when I stand up I expect to field any number of stupid questions from people you just say are curious”.
“How about this as a reward” Teresa said as she pulled out a small coin purse and emptied it in her palm. Out rolled three little oblong shaped seeds that were almost pink. “You make it through tonight without offending anyone else and I’ll give them to you”.
“What are they?” Ray asked.
“They are Rosewood seeds” Teresa replied and closed her fist as Ray tried to snatch it.
“Where did you get those at?” Ray replied.
“They are all over, somebody sold them to me for a gold but told me it was extremely hard to grow” Teresa said as she opened her palm. “I told them my brother can grow anything and that he is one of the Gaea”.
“You got ripped off” Gregory laughed. “Wherever you got that money from it won't last long spending it on junk like that. You all have spent a small fortune just by traveling here”.
“You got a deal” Ray replied. “I’ll play nice and answer a thousand stupid questions from a thousand stupid girls for those. I wish I could go home right now and plant them, do you know how much that wood will be worth? In a few years we will be able to triple the amount of land we have now and double the house size.
You and mother could really move out into the city if you wanted to”.
“Is rosewood that stuff mages are always going on about?” Twyla asked.
“It is supposed to make a good staff” Ray replied. “I just wish thing would hurry up and end, I want to go home now”.
“I lost my staff in our last hotel” Gregory replied. “If rosewood was so easy to grow I would have bought another staff already. Your rosewood seeds are beyond worthless”.
“I am glad you like your present brother” Teresa replied.
~
Ray stood in line and waited for his turn to meet the princess, dinner had been cleared away and the men were supposed to present gifts. Ray had no idea about this but luckily had some of his staves in the carriage, he planned on having a few of the mages try them out and tell him what they thought. The princess already had a staff but chances are she already had all of the other junk she was being handed as men bowed and kissed her hand before moving on to meet the rest of the women. Ray was a couple of people away from her now and wanted to get everything over with, he could see her stick out her right hand for them to kiss and gently touch below their ear with her left. Ray was finally up and took a knee and presented his gift.
“A staff” Princess Melody giggled. “Does it work?”
“Give it a try your highness” Ray replied as the princess held the staff over her head and a bright flash filled the room.
“This is pretty good work, whoever built it though favored functionality over beauty” the princess replied. “With a little help this could almost be as exquisite as the staff I normally carry”.
“I will keep that in mind” Ray said as he went to kiss her hand, the princess pulled away.
“Are you telling you made this?” Princess Melody asked.
“I did your highness” Ray replied. “I am just not a good wood carver”.
The Mage Slayer Page 3
