Chapter 41: Nature Mage

A novice spell-circle is made by having two concentric circles of runes. So then, you might ask, what happens when we include more than three runes in an apprentice’s single circle? “It’s impossible”, your average mage might say.

They’re lying.

The Karzian principle of Transformation/Stillness, Identity, Desire, is not the absolute they pretend. So what would a fourth rune look like, you might ask. Well, a connection of course. This is my gift to you, little sister, the gift that will turn you into an Archmage some day.

Below, I give you the symbol:

And

This will require practice, but here’s a simple spell, set to the corners of a diamond spell structure. Transformation, Ice And Space, Pierce.

A semi-novice spell, for your perusal. Please practice this in a private safe space.

It will take practice.

• Eridor’s Journal to his sister.

I make my way to the front of the line of slaves, and come to a stop under the shade of a large tree where the head of the caravan is stopped. The slave-merchant is currently talking to the pair of guards I’d seen pass by on their horses earlier. All three of them stop, turning to me as my boots crunch through the snow.

“Hello, honored…?” The merchant is put off by my clothes, but keeps a differential look on his face when he sees the color of my hair.

“Sorry to disturb, my name is Leo. I’m a mage from Kolas’s Stronghold.” My eyes flicker to where Lyla is keeping her head down.

The merchant bows low, “Honored Mage, what can this one do for you?” He glances over to the two guards, who haven’t left.

I paste a smile onto my face, trying my best to not turn it angry, “I’m interested in your merchandise.”

“Ah, I’m sorry sir, but my wares are already spoken for.”

“By who?”

“The Archmage.”

I blink in surprise, reassessing my already low impression of the current leader of the Arcanists. I frown as I force the following words out of my mouth, “I’m only interested in one. A Leifen girl with a torn ear.”

The slave-merchant shakes his head, “I apologize Honored Mage, only a Lord can take a slave that is bought and paid for.” He glances at the guards, and they give reluctant nods.

I perk up at his words, “What do you mean by that?”

One of the guards, an older gentleman, steps forward as the other holds onto his horse. He shoots the merchant a look, as if he’s a piece of dirt that he’d rather not deal with. He turns to me with an understanding look, and places his hand on my shoulder, “I’m sorry kid, you’d have to petition for their citizenship. No lord is going to go against the Archmage here.”

I turn to the guard, who has his hand on my shoulder, “If they’re a citizen, then…”

“That’s what my partner and I were just checking. No citizen is allowed to be in chains.”

I turn back to the twenty or so enslaved people. “No citizen? Even of another Stronghold?”

The guard gives me a strange look, then nods.

I hesitate for a long minute as I stare over the dirtied and beaten slaves, considering what I’m doing. Lyla waivers where she stands, nearly falling if it weren’t for the chains holding her to the others.

“Grant Citizenship.” I say the words out loud for their benefit as I mentally offer every single slave citizenship. It’s a stupid, overly dramatic move, that’s making me way too enemies.

Angels damn ‘em.

Every single slave accepts my offer of citizenship, and I bring up my Lord Screen to see the Citizens (Kolas) list, 21 names long.

I turn to the two guards, forcing my best noble persona to the surface, “Honorable guards, this merchant currently holds twenty one citizens in chains. Please assist me in fixing this tragedy.”

The two guards look over the gathered slaves, some kind of identification activating, then they slam their fists to their chests and turn to the merchant. “Merchant Sylvo Darton, you are under arrest for holding twenty one of Lord Leo’s-?” The older guard turns to me for confirmation, and I nod, caught off guard by the arrest. “Lord Leo’s citizens in chains. You have the right to a Scholar’s defence.”

The merchant sputters, completely caught off guard, then is forced to his knees as a supernatural force weighs down on his shoulders. A weak magical signal leaves him as he activates a small rock with runes carved into it.

I identify runes on the rock.

It’s meant to communicate with a paired rock, sending a simple vibration.

That could be bad.

He looks up at me from where he’s kneeling, the guards clamping his wrists together, “Do you have any idea who you’re angering?”

I let out a sigh, “Yeah, I think I do. Enjoy the chains.” I pat his shoulder, then grab a set of keys from his belt, as I walk over to the extremely surprised slaves.

“What are you doing, Leo?”

I look over to the Leifen girl who is watching me with confusion. “Akashir said it well. A debt owed is a debt repaid.” I look over the rest, “I’m here to help, give me a second as I undo your chains.” I kneel next to her, grabbing the chains around her arms and unlocking them with practiced movements. Legs are next. I hurry, worried about the runes the merchant had activated.

“I had this under control.” She mutters to me.

“Really? Cause you look like you’re barely standing.” I look up at her, noticing the bruises that cover body, and the shadows under her eyes. “You couldn’t use a skill if you wanted to, could you?”

She narrows her eyes at me, “Nonhuman slaves have been disappearing, their husks thrown out of the stronghold to be eaten by the wilds or taken by necromancers.”

I pause in my unlocking, and look up into her tired eyes. “Why are you here then?”

“To kill whoever’s doing it. I had an escape plan.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“But you can’t use your skills.”

Her lips move into an annoyed line, “Things didn’t go as planned.”

“Then it’s good I got you out of here while I can.” The chains fall with a thump, softened by the snow. I move onto the next one. “Keep an eye out, the merchant called someone, I don’t know who, but it’s not good. Actually…” I finish unlocking another set of chains around someone’s wrists, then let out a long, loud whistle.

Seconds later, a bird swoops out of the sky, landing on the branch of the nearby tree.

“Someone’s coming. Keep an eye out for them.” I tell Shar, turning back to continue my unlocking. Angel-damned merchant made these chains hard to take off.

I pause, then hand the keys to Lyla and reach into my pocket to pull out a pair of lock-picks.

Lyla understands quickly, and starts unlocking the others, as I get to work with the familiar tools.

Surprisingly enough, they work faster than the actual keys. Crazy that.

Snow starts to fall again, the merchant and the guards long-gone.

There’s two people left in chains, when Shar swoops down next to me.

“A Mage and two warriors.”

I pause, and look up to see a familiar mage with red hair swaggering through the snow. A swordsman, and a spearman follow a few steps behind him.

I stand up fully, someone’s leg-shackles falling to the snow, “Shar, lead them to the inn, then see if you can get the others here. I’ll try to hold out.” The inn should only be a couple streets away, and hopefully I can talk my way out of this one.

I have my normal sword at my waist, the builder’s sword is at the inn, not that it would do me much good here.

Pulling my gardener’s gloves tight, I step towards the mage. I haven’t tried both the wand and the gloves at the same time, I’m curious how much it’ll boost the effectiveness of my spells.

The scarlet mage looks us over with an imperious gaze before his eyes land on me.

“Leo, so you were more important than you let on.” Brandon, son of Archmage Kram, says without much emotion. “I had a small chat with Merchant Sylvo, on my way here.”