Hand Made Mage

by James Haddock

  Once I had everything placed on the groundsheet, I change out of my Dragon Armor. I put on the plain but good clothes and my new runed high quality light armor. I folded the groundsheet and put the backpack back in my pouch. I let the earth refill the vault I created. Taking a last look around, I let the dogs go back into the earth.

  Satisfied I had accomplished what I had intended, I headed back to our river side camp. I stopped at a produce stall on the way back. I took a bushel of apples and poured them in my pouch. I left money on the table paying for them. I made sure no one could see me and came up in the alley. Walking to our wagon, a guard nodded to me as I entered our area.

  The horses looked at me but made no sound. I pulled my ground sheet and blankets out of my pouch and spread them out on the ground. I sank down into the ground and opened a vault. I opened the backpack and got the Prince's new light armor out and lay it to the side.

  I folded the backpack and put it back in my pouch and filled the vault. I took the Prince's armor up and lay it beside the wagon. I lay back down and slept soundly under the wagon knowing either the horses or my hand would wake me if anyone approached.

  ✽✽✽

  I rose early with the rest of the camp. I put my blankets and groundsheet back in my pouch. I took care of my morning needful, then took my horses down to the river to drink.

  I gave them each an apple and rubbed them down. I looked at the war horse's flank wound. I pulled out a paper of wound powder from my pouch and poured the powder over the wound. Maggots were present eating the dead flesh. That was a good thing, they would not eat living flesh. They would leave the wound clean. The powder would help with the healing.

  My horses taken care of I washed myself off in the river. As I was getting dressed, I noticed a large skinny wolfhound was sitting beside the war horse. He was watching me. "Friend of yours?" The dog looked at the horse and lay down. My hand tingled, I shrugged my shoulders, and finished dressing. As I walked by I threw the dog a meat pie, which was about one bite for him. I left the horses grazing, I knew they would not stray. I was also sure no one would bother them, as the dog stayed with them.

  I stopped at the wagon; Captain Drake already had a plate of breakfast. "Do you need anything?"

  "Not at the moment, Thatcher is seeing to me."

  I nodded and went to the mess wagon. I ate what the men ate at the same servings. No doubt they took notice. I took my plate to the side and ate. I looked over the troops. The state of their clothes, and boots. Most were in good repair. The morale seemed good, and why not? They were being fed, and no one was trying to kill them.

  I saw the Mess Sergeant, and stepped over to him, "Good morning Mess Sergeant."

  "Good morning, sir."

  "Tell me, could your stores handle a whole beef, or a half?"

  "A half easily Sir, but if I had the salt, we'd portion out the whole and salt it down."

  I nodded, "the men need meat to help their healing, I'll have it delivered to you."

  "That they do sir, thank you Sir."

  I turned my plate in, that conversation would make the rounds. The men would know I didn't scrimp on food for their wellbeing. I walked over to the Master Sergeant's wagon.

  "Good morning Sir Draugur."

  "Good morning Master Sergeant."

  "We have the lists you asked for, estimates of cost, and our contract cost through the winter." He handed me the list, I read through it. It was a well thought out list. Of course, it would be, they did this for a living.

  I nodded my head. "Agreed, add twenty head of cattle to your list, for more meat on the way. Also, for those that need them have new boots, and wool blankets for anyone. I'll not scrimp a few coins on the health of the men."

  "Yes, Sir."

  "Do you have a merchant house you usually buy from?" I asked.

  "It varies, depending on what we need."

  "Are you familiar with the Williamson Trading House?"

  "We are, they are one of the better ones, competitive prices."

  "Let's go see them."

  "Very well Sir."

  Master Sergeant Miller, Quarter Master Sergeant Birch, and I headed to the merchant’s warehouses district.

  "Tell me Master Sergeant, when must you renew the Mercenary Companies Charter?"

  "If not on contract usually mid-winter."

  "Cost?"

  "One thousand gold."

  I nodded, "you spoke of disbanding this winter. Would you sell the charter to me and divide the money among the survivors of the company?"

  He didn't answer right away. As we walked, he chewed his lip thinking. "What would you do with it, sir? Planning to go to war next season?"

  "No, at least that is not my plan. The charter would let me keep an armed force without getting everyone around me wound up. When your neighbor builds an army, it makes people nervous."

  "Would you keep the company's name?"

  "No, I would change the name to The Black Stag Mercenary Company."

  "The name change will cost you an additional one thousand golds." I nodded.

  "What price would you give us?"

  "Name me a fair price."

  "Each man gets fifty gold. Each Sergeant gets one hundred gold."

  "Agreed, but you will get two hundred gold. Put all of this in our contract."

  "Agreed. Let's go see the Provost and Magistrate and make it legal for you."

  ✽✽✽

  The Provost and Magistrate office gave less trouble than I had thought. I guess as long as you had gold; you had no problems or at least less of them. That seemed the way of the world.

  We left with all the correct seals and signatures for the Black Stag Mercenary Company Charter. Baronet Captain Sir Draugur de Crypta, owner and charter holder. I was also two thousand golds poorer, but worth the price. Besides, I could afford it.

  Once outside Master Sergeant Miller turned to me, "May I be the first to congratulate you Captain de Crypta," and saluted me.

  I returned his salute, "thank you Master Sergeant, I will lean heavily on your experience to keep me from screwing up to badly."

  He gave one of his rare smiles, "That's a given Sir."

  ✽✽✽

  We entered the Williamson's merchant warehouse, "Good afternoon Gentlemen, how may we help you?"

  I stepped forward, "I'm looking for Arthur Williamson, is he here today?"

  "May I say who's asking Sir?"

  "Captain de Crypta, from Black Stag Keep."

  "Of course Captain, a moment, please."

  Arthur came out strait away, "Captain, how good to see you." He kept it plain not knowing how to play this situation. He looked a lot better than the last time I saw him. Clean shaven, haircut, and his cheeks where getting their color back.

  "And you, as well Arthur."

  "What can I do for you?"

  "I have just bought my Mercenary Company Charter, and we need supplies. naturally I came to you."

  "We are honored that you have."

  I gave Arthur the lists he looked over them. "Yes, we can cover this. If you would come into my office, my clerks will start filling your order with your men."

  I looked at the Master Sergeant; he nodded.

  I followed Arthur into his office. "How else may I serve?"

  I took off my money belt and handed it to him. "I'd like to open an account with you for Black Stag Keep, and the Black Stag Mercenary Company."

  He nodded and opened the money belt, pulling out the currency. "There is much more here than what your list will cost, much more."

  "We are headed to Black Stag Keep. In all honesty I don't know what I'll find there. In one month, I want a supply caravan to follow us with six months' worth of supplies for a keep of two hundred men. You will want to have plenty of guards to protect it, as winter is coming on. I'll gladly pay the additional cost for the guards. Anything left you will keep on my account, anything less; I will pay your caravan when they arrive at Black Stag Keep."

  "Ther
e is also a Captain Jon Wester of the Bonnie M. He will be doing business with you. I own a percentage of his ship."

  "I know of him and the Bonnie M. A good reputation."

  "If there is ever an imbalance with him, I'll cover it."

  "Yes, Sir."

  "Also, send one butchered beef to my Company Mess Sergeant, down by the river, with enough salt to cure what we don't eat before we leave."

  He nodded, "we will do it as you say. Please call on me for any service."

  We rose, he bowed, I nodded, "Thank you Arthur."

  "Thank you, Sir."

  Master Sergeant Miller was waiting when I came out. "I've sent for the wagons to come to be loaded."

  I nodded, "everything is paid for here, I have some other stops to make. I'll see you back at the company area."

  "Yes, Captain."

  I walked down the street to an apothecary and gave him a list to fill. Which he did when he saw my gold. When I left there, I went around the corner and down an alley. Once out of sight I dropped into the earth.

  I fast-travelled to Top-man's Guild house. The gate had more guards, and inside the walls was an armed camp. Inside the Guild house was chaos. They would not have time for us.

  I fast-travelled back to the alley at the dock camp. When clear, I walked out and on to my wagon.

  I saw Captain Drake had gotten a crutch and was limping around. "Let me get some clay and repair that cast." He nodded and sat down. I went to the river and reached into the earth and got a double handful of clay. As I walked back by my horses, "Come on, time to come up." The two horses and the hound followed me back to the wagon.

  I knelt by Captain Drake's leg and started repairing his cast. "A lot of activity today."

  "I bought the Mercenary Company's Charter and changed its name to the Black Stag Mercenary Company. I'm now Baronet, Captain, Sir Draugur de Crypta."

  "Oh, is that all?" He chuckled.

  Well, we bought supplies too," I said smiling.

  He turned serious, "I'm guessing your visit was successful?"

  "Yes, we'll have no more trouble from them. I don't think there is anyone left that knows about us, or cares."

  He nodded.

  "Our unknown enemy is still out there, but he'll have more trouble finding us, and finding anyone to look for us. Hopefully, this move will break all contact with them. At least for a while. I also brought you a set of light armor. It's by the wagon." He nodded.

  The company Medico came up," Where did you learn to do that, Captain?"

  "I read about it in a medico book. It's supposed to support the bones better with less pain than splints."

  He nodded his head, "Do you have the book?"

  "I do, let me finish this and I'll get it and let you read it."

  "Thank you, Sir. Oh, the reason I came over was one of the newly arrived Companies has a large Command Wagon they are looking to sell. It would give you more room and be more comfortable as we travelled."

  "Thank you, I'll go look at it." He nodded and left.

  "We could use more room."

  "I'll go look at it." I said smiling. "Come on hound let's get you fed too." The dog followed me over to the mess wagon. "Mess Sergeant."

  "Yes, Captain?" News travels fast.

  "If this beggar comes around, would you give him the scraps? He's a bit thin."

  He nodded smiling. "Yes, Captain we've seen him before."

  "Thank you, Mess Sergeant."

  I went to find the company who had the Command Wagon for sale. I found them, and they showed me the wagon. It had a work desk inside that folded closed, an outside folding table, and would sleep two. It came with a good two-horse team. After I bought it, they showed me where there was a hidden strong box build into the wagon. They said they had told no one of the strongbox and me only after I bought it. I believed them.

  I drove it back and parked it beside our other one. I opened it up and put a sizable bag of gold in the strongbox. As soon as Captain Drake saw it, he moved right in. "Now this is more like it."

  "I'm glad you approve. I tossed him a key. I showed him the hidden strong box. There is a large bag of gold in there for your expenses, and more if you need it."

  He looked serious, "Thank you my friend."

  "Don't worry about it, it's coming out of your pay." We both laughed.

  "Captain?" The Master Sergeant called.

  "Yes, Master Sergeant?"

  He stuck his head in the side door, looking. He nodded, "good buy, it'll serve you well. When did you want to leave Sir?"

  "As soon as everything is in order, and you are satisfied, we can move out. We want to get to Black Stag Keep before the rainy season sets in."

  He nodded, "sunrise, day after tomorrow then."

  I nodded, "sounds good, we'll travel at the pace you set for everyone to recover."

  "Right, sir."

  The quartermaster's wagon stopped by, "do you want your saddles and tack for the mare in your other wagon sir?"

  "That will do nicely Sergeant." They unloaded saddles and tack.

  "You forgot about saddles, didn't you?" Captain Drake asked chuckling.

  "If I did, I'd never admit it," I said laughing.

  ✽✽✽

  Before sunrise, I came out of our new wagon to take care of the needful. That done I led the horses back down to the river. The hound stayed with us.

  It turned out to be a busy day. Everyone checking equipment, taking care of last-minute things before the company move-out.

  Mid-morning, I saw a mounted cavalry officer talking to Captain Drake. When he rode away, I went over to him.

  "Trouble?" I asked looking after the officer.

  "I don't think so, not directly anyway. He recognized me. I told him I was traveling incognito and asked him not to say anything. But you know soldiers and rumors."

  "Do you want me to make sure he's not a problem?" My face showing no emotion.

  He thought a moment, "no, not his fault, let him go. Maybe he'll keep quiet. But this forces an issue, I want you to take a message to the Royal Spymaster."

  "You think that wise?"

  "maybe not, but... Nevertheless."

  We went into the Command Wagon.

  The Prince wrote his message. "I'm telling him that Sir Edwin is dead, and I'm traveling incognito to Black Stag Keep. Hopefully, I'll lose my enemy by moving."

  “Do I leave the letter or deliver it?”

  He thought a moment, "leave it."

  He wrote a second one to his father and sealed it. "Leave this one for my Father." I nodded. "Be careful."

  "Always." I took his letters and left, heading for the Royal Castle.

  Chapter eight

  I fast-travelled to the spymaster's office. There was no one there, so I left the letter in the center of his desk.

  I moved over to the Kings office, no one was there. I started to leave the letter there but didn't. I went to his bed chambers; He and the Queen were sleeping. I started to leave the letter on table beside the bed, when he woke up and went to take care of the needful. I placed the letter on his pillow and waited.

  When he lay down his head landed on the letter. He looked at it in the low light. He rose and went into his office. He turned up the light and opened the letter and read it.

  He looked around the room, at every shadow. He read the letter again then burned it. He sat down thinking. After a while he nodded his head he went back to bed.

  I fast-travelled back to my wagon and lay on the ground under the wagon by the horses. Hound came over and lay down beside me.

  My mind would not stop trying to think of anything I may have missed.

  I sank down into the earth and opened a vault. I took out the backpack and opened it. If there was going to be trouble, we might need our armor. Better to have it where we could get to it.

  I would wear the light armor, Captain Drake the heavy. The heavy armor turned out to be surprisingly light. There was also a dragon scale design shield I had not no
ticed before. I emptied one of the larger crates of books and put the heavy armor, shield, sword, and dagger in it. I hoped everything fit him well enough. I did the same with the light set of armor sword and bow. I raised the crate up through the earth and through the bottom of our extra wagon.

  I folded the backpack up and put it back in my pouch. I refilled the vault and raised back up through the ground. Hound was still laying there; we both went to sleep.

  ✽✽✽

  Before sunrise the camp became a beehive of activity. They assigned drivers to our wagons, and they hitched the teams up. I saddled my mare the warhorse would follow behind the Command Wagon.

  "We need to warn Master Sergeant Miller there may be trouble." The Prince said,

  "Are we expecting trouble?"

  "Better to be ready, and it does not happen, than not ready, and it happen."

  "How much do we tell him?"

  "Just enough for him to prepare."

  I nodded. "I'll take care of it." I went to find the Master Sergeant. He was at his wagon issuing orders.

  "Good morning Captain."

  "Good morning Master Sergeant. I need a word."

  He nodded, "Alright you lot get to it." They all left on assigned tasks.

  "What is it, sir."

  "I wanted you to know of the possibility of trouble."

  "What kind and how bad?"

  "I had a disagreement with someone, they sent people to teach me a lesson. Blood was spilled. They took offence that I didn't bow and take my beating. More blood was spilled, quite a lot actually. I thought it was over, now I'm not so sure. I've been followed and watched. They know where I am now, but I don't know if they will push it again. I don't want you blindsided. Better to be prepared, just in case."

  He nodded thinking. "These people have troops?"

  "So far, they have only used the Criminal Guild, but I don't know for sure?"

  "Wise you are telling me, as you say, just in case. How bad did you bloody their noses?"

  I shrugged my shoulders, "I left more than a few bodies on the floor."

  He nodded, "right then, we'll be ready." He turned and started shouting orders. From day one we travelled like we were moving through enemy territory. Scouts ahead flankers out. We moved slowly, not pushing the men or the horses. Everyone either was on a wagon or mounted, so we were doing ok. It was an education for me watching how a mercenary company worked. I rode my mare but stayed close to the Command Wagon.