Inexperienced Mage (Reawakening Saga)

by Jackson, D. W.

  As was their morning ritual Thad turned around as Monique roused Shariel from her slumber usually by tickling the poor child until she was near to tears. “Yes the headache is finally gone, and I already tested my magic, seems I’m completely healthy again.” He could hear Monique and getting dressed and he had to fight the urge to peek over his shoulder. She had warned him that if he did they would be giving the horses a break and he would be pulling one of the carriages for the day, and he was not altogether sure she was joking.

  "We should be reaching Shiel sometime this afternoon, and since we have to keep up the facade that you're a woman you will have to have your own room, Shariel can sleep in a room with me. Do you need anything from town, I need to see if I can sell some of the wool and meats I picked up in Tremon. I heard about the attacks on the farms while I was down there and I figured I could make a hefty profit." Thad gave her a sad look. "Don't give me that we're merchants, I understand people are hurting but I'm not running a charity, don't worry I won't charge them too much just enough to make a fair profit."

  Thad understood what she was saying, but it just didn’t feel right to him to charge any more than necessary when people were in need. Though that might have to do with his upbringing, the academy not only prided itself in making the best slaves but at making ones with a good moral center. They were forced to read histories of what the worst of men could do with great power, and of what the best of men could with little.

  As soon as they got to town Monique and Shariel disappeared leaving him alone for the first time in days. Wearing his disguise he found Brand along with a few of the other guards sitting in the common room of the inn drinking. As soon as Brand had learned of his disguise he hadn’t wasted any time in teasing Thad. Before he had the chance to take a seat Brand jumped from his chair and made a lavish show of helping him sit. “My lady to what do we owe this glorious honor.” Brand said bowing at the waist, Thad could see the smile twitching at the corners of Brand’s mouth.

  After a few ale's, a lot of laughs, and more than a few jokes at his expense he went back up to his room and kicked back on his bed. Though his magic power was slowly increasing he had to find a better way to fight, the battle back at Avael proved that. His rune necklace worked well but still only had its limits; he would have to link hundreds of gems for what he wanted but there was no way he could wear that many, if there was a way for him to access the power remotely it could be done, but how? If it had a massive core it could work, but where would he find something large enough."

  His thinking was shattered as Shariel ran in the room twirling around in a new dark blue dress, with Monique following behind her. “Do you like it Thad, Monique got it for me, and look,” she said pulling back her hair to show off two small earrings.

  “You look beautiful.” He said as she twirled around the room.

  “Monique bought me a lot of new dresses wanna see them?” Shariel said rushing over to poor Collin who stumbled into the room laden down with packages. For the next few hours he was tortured into watching as Shariel changed from outfit to outfit showing off her new wardrobe.

  The nest day as they left on their way back to the capital, Shariel rode with Collin at the front of the coach, as he and Monique discussed what they were going to do once they reached their destination. “First thing is we will have to get an audience with the queen, we can send Shariel with a letter of our interest of a visit, with what you have said they shouldn’t let us wait for more than a day or two. Have you decided how to get the initial money for the house and tuition for school?”

  “No, I just figured I could sell some of my items for the needed coin, though honestly I have no idea how much a house will cost in the capital.” Thad said honestly.

  “It depends on how big of a house you want and what part of the city you want to live in. I would suggest a three bedroom in the nice district, it would cost you around four hundred gold, I don’t know how much tuition for the school is but I doubt it will be over twenty gold a year.”

  Thad’s eyes widened in surprise four hundred gold, that was a lot more than he figured. “Unless I sell most the stock I have made up for you I don’t think I can come anywhere near that, I might have to find a place to rent for the time being.”

  "You could do that, but I would suggest that you borrow the money from a lender. You will have to make a scheduled payment and I can write you a writ of partnership which should allow you to borrow what you need. That is if the queen allows it, since you will be petitioning to purchase as a non-citizen, I would also suggest you put the house in Shariel's name just in case."

  Over the next two days they went over everything from how they would dress to what they would say to the queen. As far as the magical items went they would try and skip over the details only saying that they had met up with a contact that had agreed to allow them to sell the items. It wasn’t a perfect plan, but unless he wanted to expose himself it was the best they could do.

  When they reached the city Monique checked them into the Double Dove inn while he made his way down to his sewer lair and collected the bags of magical items he had prepared for her. The bags were heavy and full with items ranging from simple glowing candlesticks, rings that kept you dry in the rain, knives that would cut though steel, and his favorite a magical wand that cleaned clothes.

  Once back at the inn and secure in Monique's room he laid out everything and began explain them to her. "I made about fifty of the light rings, forty magically blades, eighteen magical boxes each with a two command codes, the individual ones are inside the boxes while the master code is your name. Those are all my earlier work with crystals and some cheap gems I came across later that are extremely well suited to magic and much stronger."

  Monique picked up one of the new rings and examined it closely. "A cat's eye gem I never understood why people don't use them more often, I think they're beautiful."

  "Yes, cat's eye gems are almost cheap compared to anything else that matches them in magical potential. With those I made around thirty magical candle sticks, a few magical boxes that light up when opened, a dozen more shield rings, fifty magical cleaning wands, and a host of other smaller thing you had me make for you last time, here is a list of everything and how it works." He said handing her a handful of butcher's paper with charcoal writing.

  Monique shook her head laughing slightly. "Seriously you have to get some proper writing materials, but I must say this is much more than I thought you would have ready for me. At this rate you can make these I wish I could send another caravan as soon as I got back to Rane but I will have to hire more people." She gave him a soft kiss on his cheek and placing a small bag into his hand. "Here, I wish I could give you more but I just can't right now, next time I see you though I should have enough to keep you well enough for some time."

  As soon as the sun rose the next day they sent Shariel to the palace with their introduction letter. It took three days for them to hear back, they were invited to dine with her Majesty for supper. Though Monique had warned him of the delay she still didn't seem to enjoy wasting time from the road. While they waited she sold some of his magical items, and procured some other goods to sell on her way back north.

  Shariel begged to come along with them to the castle and after an over an hour of telling her no, she finally stalked off to her room to pout. Watching her cry made him feel bad but they had no idea what the queen would say and he didn’t want to give the poor kid any false hope.

  They were greeted at the palace gate by Kris the friendly older gentleman who had been his companion the first few days outside the academy. He was glad he looked well, he had often wondered at what had happened to the old man after the attack. The old man looked over their gift which was just one of his shield rings with a cat's eye gem. Kris led them to a small dining hall that while richly decorated didn't flaunt wealth like the one he had eaten in during his previous visit to the Palace.

  He had expected for there to be a large group of people
attending but was astounded to find that it was just him, Monique, Maria, and the queen. They present their gift to the queen who graciously took it, handed it to one of her attendants.

  “Let’s enjoy the meal first, then we can talk business, I believe that is the custom in Rane is it not?” The queen said motioning to the table.

  The meal was simple but served on the most elegant dinnerware he had ever seen. They talked of simple things, when the news of the battle at Avael was brought up the queen suddenly took a great interest. "So you were there for the battle is it true that a male mage fought them back single handedly."

  “No your Majesty we arrived a few days after the battle, but that was the general story around town. A male entered the town wounded by an arrow, he told the town guards of the vast horde of men coming to attack the town, from what I heard he killed the bandits leader before making his way to the town. When they attacked the militia was hard pressed and defeat was certain, then the man emerged from his bed and rained down fire and lighting forcing the bandits to retreat.” Monique did a good job of telling the story emphasizing all the exciting parts.

  Thad noticed that Maria was staring daggers at Monique and him the whole time; he wasn’t sure what it was about, but wished he could have a few moments alone with her to find out.

  As soon as the meal was cleared away the queen wasted no time and launched right into the discussion. "It has come to my knowledge that your company has come into a vast quantity of magical items, what I really want to know is where they're coming from."

  "Your Majesty all I can say is that we have a deal with an individual for the sold rights to the sale of the magical artifacts he has, if I say more than that I might as well cut my own throat." He had learned from Monique the saying 'cut my own throat' was a polite way of saying that it was a protected subject.

  The queen gave a slight frown but quickly recovered putting back on her impassive face. “I feared that would be the case, then may I ask if I can make an order for specific magical items, or is there only a limited selection.”

  “We have had mixed success with requesting specific magical items, but my source has been known to procure most anything we have asked them to acquire.”

  "Well while having magical lights or these emergency shields would be handy, I was thinking more along the lines of swords. I have heard of magical swords so sharp they could cut through metal, do you think an order of one hundred at a cost of let's say fifteen gold apiece for testing would be agreeable."

  “I can’t give you an answer right now but as long as my source is able to procure the items I believe we could have them ready for you in let’s say two months’ time. To help facilitate our business I would be willing to leave Clair here to help.” Monique replied after a few moments of thought.

  The queen's eyes widened considerably. "Two months, is the Rane calendar different from our own I didn't know you could ever reach Rane and return within a span of sixty-four days."

  Thad’s mind began reeling as their story fell apart, but Monique never seemed to miss a step. “Your right your Majesty it would be impossible by normal means but our source has given me means in which to communicate with him and transfer good over long distances. I apologize your Majesty but we are encroaching on protected territory again. I have already said more than I should have.”

  "Well I think leaving Clair in town readily available would be a great idea, I believe she and my daughter have already struck up a friendship."

  "There is just one problem your Majesty Clair has a younger sister who is traveling with her due to the tragic loss of their father. They would need permission to purchase a house; as well I think Clair would like to get her sister into school in the near future."

  “That can be arranged, I will send a letter to the proper channels, so you need not worry on that end, but the new term will not start until after the first of the year, but I would still advise you visit with the school administrator.”

  Shariel was excited when they told her that she would be living and going to school in the capital. They allowed her to go with them when they went to the capitals housing authority. They looked at a lot of houses but finally decided on a three bedroom house near the market district. Thanks to the queen the price wasn't extravagant but was set at a low three hundred and fifty gold. After a stop at the local lenders guild they got a loan for the money to be paid pack over five years at seven gold a month, with thirteen months a year it added up to over a hundred gold in interest but Monique told him it was a fair rate for that large of an unsecured loan.

  Chapter VIII

  The school administrator was an older woman easily in her late fifties with dark down hair with traces of light silver shining through; she was slightly plump with a bright almost radiant smile. “Miss. Torin as you are already aware the term for this year has already started, but if you are truly serious about your sister attending here I would suggest a tutorship with one of our older students. Now while most would believe we only cater to the rich we have a fair amount of children who attend here on scholarship from the queen, who would be more than willing to help your sister catch up on her studies. If that sounds acceptable then have her here before first bell in the morning. Now as for tuition it is ten gold a year that includes food if she requires lodging it will be an additional five gold. As for the tutoring for the rest of the term I believe four gold will more than cover the cost.”

  After a quick stop by the schools accountant, he made his way back home, where Shariel was making lunch. Though still young she was handy around the house, he guessed one of the benefits to having grown up on a small farm where everyone was forced to do their part, thinking back Joan’s farm worked much the same way.

  As they ate Thad told Shariel of her of the tutoring she was to receive starting on the morning. When she found out that the school would take up most of her day she was none too pleased. "Now listen, you're there to study, and right now you're pretty far behind in your schooling. You will have to go six days of the week but that still leaves you three days of your own, if you work hard I'll even give you a silver each week that you can spend on anything you want."

  Shariel completely forgot about school and began talking about what she would get with her first allowance. After the meal he decided to head down to the local blacksmith to see about some swords. Shariel tagged along as far as the first trinket stand, smiling he told her to be home by supper and continued on to the blacksmiths.

  The inside of the shop was clean and after a quick talk with the lady running the shop a bald six foot giant of a man wearing a thick leather apron came into the room. “Margret tells me you have a specific request.”

  "Yes I need an order of one hundred long swords; I need them made fast and cheap. I don't need them to hold an edge long, but I do need them to be well balanced, and I don't want plain hits on them either I would like something pleasing to the eye."

  The man scratched his chin. “If I made a molding I could put them out fairly quickly would still take about three weeks to get them all done, but they won’t be as strong as forged steel and as you said won’t hold an edge long, will that be acceptable.”

  “That would be perfect, how much to have all hundred made.”

  “Well first we will have to make the first sword and hilt, then the moldings for a hundred swords we will need about four of them. After that my apprentice can do most of the work, I would suggest to Margret a sum of around a hundred and twenty gold.”

  He had brought all his gold with him, but even with everything Monique had left him he only had a little over eighty gold, and if he wanted anymore gold he was going to have to have materials in order to make more magical products. “I will give you half down, and will pay the rest when the first quarter of the product is delivered. If you can turn them out as fast as you say and they are what I need, then I would suspect making more orders in the future.”

  The woman behind the counter who had stayed silent during the discussi
on had a big smile. “That would be fine miss. Now why don’t we let Bruno get back to work while we settle accounts.” Thad counted out to gold to the greedy eyed lady, who practically salivated over the gold, then gave her directions to his home for the delivery.

  After buying enchantment supplies, food and a few other household items, his gold pouch was near empty. If he wanted to make his house payment along with having the gold for his order of swords he was going to have to work hard. After a quick stop at his house Thad made his way to the familiar sewer entrance in the squatter’s district.

  The next few weeks passed by in a uniform manner with Shariel headed to school and him to the sewer to work. He had already made a fair amount of items half of which he sat aside for Monique. Had had made nearly forty gold but the deadline for his payment to the blacksmith was closing in fast.

  Rubbing his head from the stress of the day’s work he made his way back to his house. Inside the house he was greeted by Shariel who introduced him to a young lady in her early twenties with round chocolate-colored eyes with silky, straight, medium-length charcoal-colored hair that she wore in an exotic, yet attractive style. “Clare this is Willow, she is one of the senior students at the school, she heard that you had contacts with a magical dealer and wished to talk to you.” Shariel hedged about looking guilty, she wasn’t telling the whole truth but he saw no harm in the current situation.

  Straitening his dress he sent Shariel to grab them some tea. “I guess asking how you found out I have contacts with items of magical significance is moot, it’s no secret that our company has been selling them, as to where I live I can take a guess as to how you found out, but the main question here is what do you need?”

  Willow didn't strike his as the type to mince words and with his head aching he was glad he was right. "I am in need of a book that will allow me to carry a variable library around with me. This is my last year at school and there are quite a few tomes I wish to have copies of. While I could hire someone at the scribes guild to copy them, toting so many books back home would prove troublesome."