“You are Gaea” the princess said as she grabbed his chin and looked into his eyes. “I didn’t know I had any Gaea nobles”.
“I was adopted by a poor noble and made his heir your highness” Ray replied. “Ray Riverdale the fifth at your service”.
“Why are your eyes violet?” Princess Melody replied.
“A gift from my mother” Ray replied wishing to hurry up and leave.
“You are pretty big for a Gaea” the princess said as she stepped forward. “You are practically my height while you are on your knee”.
“I get that a lot your highness” Ray said as the princess brushed her hand over his ear.
“You may leave Lord Riverdale” the princess said as Ray kissed her hand then stood to hurry down the line.
Ray only said hello and moved on quickly, he only made brief eye contact and answered any question given with one or two words. He was nearing the end of the line and could see his sister, some mage had buried his face into her cleavage and was blowing on them as his friends cheered him on. Ray stepped out of line and grabbed the mage by the back of his neck and flung him ten feet into the tables. One mage raised a staff which Ray snatched before backhanding the much smaller man to the ground. The mage he flung was getting up and was angry as Ray closed the distance on him.
“You were out of line and that was my sister” Ray whispered. “You would have done the same thing, now just walk away”.
“I am a mage, I am not scared of you” the mage said boldly.
“You don’t have to be but that changes nothing” Ray replied. “You are here looking for a woman, what woman will want you after what you just did? Now you are making a scene, walk away and let us both forget about it”.
Ray turned around and could feel something heavy slam into his back. Ray stumbled and could feel something drawing into him, he turned around to see the mage holding his staff and trying to drop it. It was magic Ray knew, he was made to stop mages but this was the first time he had the chance to see if his real mother was successful. The magic poured into him as the mage started sweating, a look of horror on his face. Ray snatched the staff away from the mage and broke the connection, the mage looked relieved just for a second as Ray picked him up by the throat.
“I told you to walk away you little” Ray began. “You are lucky I won’t finish that sentence around all these pretty ladies but if you try that again away from this place I will snap your neck like a dry twig”. Ray could see the man turning blue from the lack of oxygen and tossed him to the floor then stood back in line. All eyes were on him as he ignored it and shook a stunned girls hand before moving on down the line.
“Thank you brother” Teresa whimpered when he got close to her.
“Anyone do that again and I am going to fucking kill him” Ray said just loud enough for those around him to hear. “You should have said something, just because he is a mage doesn’t mean he won't get a good ass whipping”.
“I was in shock” Teresa replied. “He asked me if I was a landed noble and when I said no he just threw his face in there”.
“Well you have nothing to worry about” Ray replied. The egg is on his face, not yours. At least you can see who the real men are, I am the only one that came to your aid but to be fair I am almost at the end of the line”.
Ray kissed her forehead and continued on, he stood tall to avoid most of the hands reaching for his mark then returned to his seat to find Gregory there talking to another boy.
“That was quite a show Gaea” a blond boy said. This boy looked a few years older than the sixteen years Ray was and wore fine clothes with an insignia. He was obviously the son of a landed noble, maybe another Baronet since he came to sit with Gregory and not the other way around.
“My name is not Gaea” Ray replied as he took a seat.
“Oh calm down Gaea” Gregory said in annoyance. “Someone was pitching you a complement and your little savage brain can’t even except it. Jeffrey this is my adopted cousin Ray, he recently came into some money and now believes he has elevated his station somewhat. One of my relatives adopted him and made him his heir is the only way he even got a title”.
“You done with my life story or are you going to tell him how long my cock is too?” Ray asked. “You can follow that up with how many shits I take a day or how low my balls hang”.
“No need to get crude” Gregory replied. “Look alive lads, I think we have some women coming over”.
“For you maybe” Jeffrey replied. “I am not my father’s heir and I can't have children. Sure I will get a boat load of money but it is not the same”.
“Oh quit whining Jeffrey” Gregory whispered as the girls got closer. “At least you can run out and have all the free sex you want without any consequences”.
“Hello Lord Gregory” one of the women said as Ray kept his eye on his sister who had just shaken her last hand.
“Hello” Gregory replied. “I am sorry but I don’t remember your name”.
“I am Tabitha and these are my sisters Roni and Crystal” the woman replied. “Do you mind if we join you?”
“Of course not, take a seat” Gregory replied. “My sisters shouldn’t be a problem, I am sure they have their own tables to visit”.
“Why thank you” Tabitha replied. “You said you were seventeen Lord Gregory?”
“I am, so is my friend Jeffrey” Gregory replied.
“And what about you Lord Ray” another woman asked from Ray’s left.
“Sixteen” Ray replied as he watched his sister mingle around the tables.
“That girl, is she your beloved?” the same voice asked.
“That is just his sister” Gregory replied. “Nothing to worry yourself over, she is probably used to the treatment”.
“I dare another man to try that here” Ray said as he looked Gregory in the eye. “I will cave his face in like a smashed egg”.
“Oh my” the woman to his left said and Ray still didn’t make eye contact with her but instead watched his sister.
“Watch your language Ray” Gregory replied. “I am sorry for my adopted cousin’s outburst but it is in his nature. My family took him right out of forest when he was but a boy but the wildness is still in him”.
“I think it’s sweet he is looking out for his sister’s honor” the woman said. “Don’t you think so Tabitha?”
“I think that mage met his match” Tabitha laughed. “But enough about all that, we came over to see you gentlemen”.
“Do you want me to make the angry Gaea leave?” Gregory asked.
“I think he looks just fine where he is” the woman behind him spoke. “My name is Roni”.
Ray turned around and shook the girl’s hand instead of kissing it. She looked embarrassed for a moment until Ray gave her a smile.
“Forgive me Lady Roni” Ray replied. “I am in a horrible mood and hanging around Gregory is doing nothing to calm me down. I would have left already but my sister has been talking about this night for a solid year. I am going to move some place out of the way so you can enjoy your time without my attitude bringing everyone down”.
Ray got up and moved near the door, he stood next to a guard and grabbed a drink from a passing servant. Teresa looked to have been having a good time, she was currently talking to a mage but had two other boys around her and the twins. Whatever negativity they had before seemed to be put on hold.
“What is a big strapping lad like you doing hanging out by the door” the guard to his right said.
“This is too many people for me” Ray replied. “Ray Riverdale” Ray finished and stuck out his hand.
“Oh I know who you are” the guard replied. “I thought you were going to have a rough night when that mage blasted you but you took the hit and had him shaking like a freshly shorn sheep in the snow. Me and the boys thought we would have to get involved but you handled it and well. The name is Malins, Joe Malins” the guard finished and shook Ray’s hand.
“That mage was just lucky he was around th
ese people” Ray said with a laugh. “You see him kicking and yelling like a new babe fresh out the womb? I wish I had a bottle or something I would have given it to him”.
Malins started laughing but tried to stifle it and lost the battle. The man had a hard laugh, he was barely breathing and Ray had to slap him on the back to get breath in him. Their commotion raised a few eyes and Ray could see Tyla start to walk over in his direction.
“I think you have a live one” Malins said as he nodded to Tyla.
“That is my snobby cousin” Ray replied. “She just needs to find a man desperate enough to crack her open, maybe her bitchiness will drain out”.
“Why are you standing by the door near the guards?” Tyla began. “Why don’t you move and let this man do his job, there is space at my table”.
“I’d rather be the guest of honor in an all male orgy then follow you anywhere” Ray snapped. “Now kick rocks, me and Master Malins are just having a bit of a chuckle”.
“Well your chuckle is disturbing people” Tyla replied as Ray could see she was trying to hold in her anger.
“Fuck them” Ray replied. “If they got something to say they can take it up with me, but I don’t follow your orders”.
“Your sister needs rescuing from the man she is talking to” Tyla said softly.
“Excuse me Master Malins” Ray replied. “I have some business to handle”.
Ray walked over to where his sister was and could see she was in a conversation with a man that probably was 19 but looked closer to twenty five due to his big bushy beard. He had on clothes that were clean but not brand new and wore a simple sword.
“Might you introduce me to your guest?” Ray asked as he tapped his sister on her shoulder.
“Ray this is Baronet Brownlee” Teresa replied. “Milord this is my brother Ray Riverdale the fifth”.
Ray eyed the man as he got to his feet, Ray gave him a slight bow which the man returned. The table had three other people seated, Tyla and another woman and man who looked to be related. Ray took a seat and turned to face Baronet Brownlee.
“Are you having a decent time Milord?” Ray asked. “The ladies here are pretty are they not?”
“You found someone pretty?” Teresa said as she turned around. “Tell me the girl and I will go get her for you”.
“It looks like your sister is eager to play the matchmaker” Baronet Brownlee replied. “Either that or she is tired of my company”.
“Oh you have to come with Milord” Teresa replied. “Who would turn down a Baronet?”
“Many people would” Baronet Brownlee replied. “My father left us destitute when he died, a lot of gambling and drinking. Whatever was left my oldest brother spent until he was found face down in a gutter. My second brother caught a sickness and passed and now the title falls to me. Unlike many here I have just a sliver of land, my peasants are even poor and the taxes I collect are barely enough to get by. My mother eventually ran off with some merchant, I don’t even have a mark, who would want to live out their life like that when there are plenty rich people floating about?”
“Trust me there are plenty here” Ray replied.
“Don’t you change the subject” Teresa replied. “Where is this girl you have been eyeing?”
“Ray I would like you to meet Demi” Tyla said and pointed to the other girl at the table. This girl was cute he supposed and had a light dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose and strawberry blonde hair. She was sitting down so it was difficult to tell her size as she wore flowing robes and had a mage’s staff behind her. But it did not escape Ray’s notice that Tyla called him by name when she was normally a total bitch. This had all been a ploy, his sister was having a good time but whoever this girl was, was the odd person out and had probably kept too much attention from the man Tyla was attempting to talk to.
“Hello Demi, I am Ray” Ray said and stuck out his hand across the table for her to shake. “Pleased to make your acquaintance”.
“You are huge Gaea” the man Tyla was talking to said irritating Ray.
“I get that a lot sir” Ray replied. “Along with the disrespect of people failing to use my name”. Ray could see his quip was not lost on anyone at the table as Teresa started clearing her throat.
“So Mage Demi are you having a good time?” Ray asked lightening the mood. “This really isn’t my kind of party, I am more content to stay home”.
“You are not having any fun because you have not left from talking with the guards” Tyla said as Ray could tell it was killing the girl not to yell. “Perhaps if you sat down and talked to someone new you could have more fun”.
“Who wants to talk to a smelly old Gaea” Ray replied. “Your brother said it himself, I am just wasting my time here. I am just moving around so no young lady here will miss a potential suitor, besides unlike the rest of you I have to go to work tomorrow”.
“What do you do?” Demi said in a soft voice.
“I sell mage staves” Ray replied. “The princess said I wasn’t a complete idiot at the skill but it was the ugliest thing she had ever seen”.
“I don’t think she used those words” Teresa said and gave him a light punch in the shoulder.
“She told me it at least it works” Ray replied. “Then said it favored functionality over beauty”.
“My family sells staves as well” Demi said as she perked up. “Your cousin Gregory is supposed to come by tomorrow to buy one. Do you want to compare? I wouldn’t mind testing out the competition and I’ll give you an honest assessment”.
“That sounds like a deal” Ray replied. “I have a couple more in the carriage, I’ll have them brought in”.
“So selling staves is your only source of income?” the man talking with Tyla said as Ray got an idea. “Tell you what, I’ll bring you my other items and hand you one so there are no hard feelings”.
Ray could hear Teresa gasp but he did not care as he left the main room and found Sam who was on standby with the servants of others already inside. Each person could bring one and Ray knew Sam switched out with the other two in a rotation. Sam returned with three of the staves and a tied up leather bag. Ray took the items and returned to the table with his sister who looked beet red.
“Here you go Sir” Ray said as he sat down the bag and put his hand inside. “May you have a great night” Ray finished as he rolled the berry across the table.
“This is a strange fruit” the man said as he picked it up and bit into it. It is juicy and sweet, is this from the Gaea?”
“Oh it certainly is” Ray replied as the man finished the berry.
“Can I have another?”
“Of course Milord” Ray said as the man chewed another one down.
“What was the name of that fruit?” the man asked as Tyla looked like she was piecing something together.
“In Gaea speak it is known as Spe’ber’nal” Ray replied as he ate one himself. “In Holyan they call it spineberry, I hear it has some weird effect on people with no Gaea blood”.
“That was a spineberry?” the man said shocked.
“Sure was Milord” Ray said happily. “That probably would have went for at least two silver what you just ate, consider it a gift from a friend”.
Ray ignored the shocked look from the man he assumed was Demi’s brother and handed over one of his staves. Demi grabbed it and looked shocked for a moment before chanting something under her breath. A small horse appeared made out of light and ran around the table then disappeared. Demi looked the staff over and her brother started squirming in his seat from the effects of the spineberry and looked it over as well.
“Her majesty wasn’t lying, this is an ugly staff” the man said as he held it out to look down the length of it. “It still needs to be properly sealed or it will dry up, where would you rank this staff Demi?”
“About an eight on the scale to ten” Demi replied. “This matches up with anything we have to offer, how much are you selling these for?”
&
nbsp; “So the business woman in you comes out” Ray replied. “I don’t know yet, I plan on looking around and pricing things first”.
“I will give you ten gold a staff provided you sell me all you have here” Demi replied. “If you make any more of this quality I will buy it as well”.
“Well that is a big turnaround in attitude” Ray replied.
“Can you duplicate this?” Demi asked.
“Of course I can” Ray replied. “The money from my items is what I am using to pay the 500 gold dowry on my sister” Ray finished, letting the amount slip so he can judge Baron Brownlee’s reaction.
“You have a mother?” Demi asked as a man walked up and stood over Ray.
“Can I help you?” Ray asked.
“Her Royal Majesty would like to make your acquaintance Lord Riverdale” the man replied. “Right this way please”.
“Watch my things Teresa” Ray said as he got up.
Ray followed the man through a side door in the big room then into a smaller room. The room had little more than a bench inside and another set of doors. When Ray sat down he watched Gregory open the door smiling, Ray giggled a little as his so called cousin had lost at least two buttons. Gregory eyed him for a second but said nothing as the man who brought him here led Gregory out.
“Lord Riverdale so happy to see you again” Princess Melody said as she appeared at the door. Won’t you come in and meet your Queen? It is a great opportunity that many will never get”.
Ray walked inside and could see a woman who looked around forty sitting at a small table holding her eye. There was another chair on the Queen’s side of the table which Melody took and directed Ray to sit in the remaining chair across the table from them both.
“You are one of those growers from Gaea” the queen said more as an accusation than a question.
“I don’t follow, Your Majesty” Ray replied.
“You know exactly what I mean, I can see it in your eyes” the Queen replied sharply. “Don’t take me for a fool”.
“I am, Your Majesty” Ray replied.
“Good, now we can get down to business” the Queen replied. “What do you know of the cull and is there any way to reverse it?”
The Mage Slayer Page 4
