I walked hand-in-hand out of the Circle of Druids with Iris and Umbra.
I should have told Tara what I was doing, but I honestly wanted to spend so ti with Iris. I couldn’t be bothered with the hassle of explaining that or dealing with the consequences if Tara insisted on coming along.
"The wizard has a shop in the city. Performs spell and sell magical goods there." Iris explained.
"What sort of spells does he do?"
"I’m not sure." Iris admitted.
Umbra, the ever sociable source of local intel, did, "He has chard Unseelie fae to act as cheap labour. I think that is where he gets most of his trade from. They work in the fields and he gets bread, or building dams. He can do the usual wizard tricks like form a light, make a fire, enchant a warm blanket and see and talk over long distances."
"So not at my level of magic." I comnted.
Iris laughed and tugged on my arm. "I don’t think anyone is talhead."
"Who can compare to you, Master?" Umbra asked rhetorically.
So, I was dragged in hand by two happy won through the weathered streets of Elkilbour. The actual urban space near the docks and connecting to the fort was only about the size of a town centre. The fantasy city was more farmsteads than urban sprawl.
The buildings in the city centre were jamd close together following urban logic where every inch counts. There were shops of sorts, really hos where specialists lived and traded their goods out of. Though, they did not use money like the Romans.
I did eye a few more nomadic traders who toured shops sotis going into a building with fish and coming out with shoes.
I noticed more guards and warriors about and moving towards the giant city wall.
"More guards." I pointed out.
"We missed the Romans’ attack on the walls yesterday." Iris said.
"Really?" I asked.
"They were repelled." Umbra said. "It looked to be a tough battle. I helped a few injured warriors after."
"It happened about the ti when Druids and us were attacked." Iris explained.
"While we were caught up, the Romans thought they could breach the walls." I reasoned.
"Maybe, they might have succeeded if Mars had joined them." Umbra said.
"He wasn’t there?"
Iris added, "Morgana heard a ssage saying Erec’s lot had been ravaging Roman supply lines further south. She thinks that he went after them. He can’t maintain the siege until he secures those supply lines again."
"Makes sense."
The Romans weren’t letting up. But, it sounds like their strategy is a bit all over the place if they ssed up because of positioning and timing. All their moves were right, but done at the wrong tis to break Elkilbour.
Lucky us.
"Here we are." Iris declared in front of what was obviously a magic shop.
It radiated a teal colour. So of the teal seed alive and spread. The colour splashed onto other buildings would shift and retreat. It wasn’t ’alive’ like an animal, but it was animated. Animated colour.
Cool.
The building itself was one storey and made of timber in the style of a roundhouse, but compact. The symbols on the outer wall had the habit of moving like a running stream.
We walked inside and the place was slightly obscured by thin, blue smoke. Rather than herbs the place was filled with magical knicknacks. It was a weird blend of toy and antique store along with the wizard’s holy items.
The wizard himself was a sight to see.
They walked to us backwards with their face at hip level. Heels, back and the back of his head faced us, it was like their face was where their bum was supposed to be.
"Good morning! I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure. I’m Dan Morslock. I’m no rlin nor Damian, but I can satisfy all your common magical needs."
"Hello, Dan." Iris introduced herself with a polite smile. "I’m Iris." She pointed towards Umbra, "This is Umbra." She waved towards , "This is Damian. I think you’ve heard of him. "
Iris seed calm. I on the other hand was trying to process looking and talking towards the guys hips where his face was.
How? What?
Neither of them ntioned his face?
He rushed over and clasped his hands over mine, thrusting his hips (and thus his face closer), "The Damian?"
"Yes, I am Damian." I smirked, "Not sure when I got a ’the’ added to my na."
The wizard said with an excited squeal, "The Sorcerer of Tomorrow?"
"The very sa."
"Oh, what a pleasure it is to et rlin’s equal. Nay, if the bard’s stories be true, rlin’s superior!"
He turned around, "Guests, I should brew a cup. Where are my manners?"
He had turned around and I saw the round cheeks that had replaced his face.
Is his face an ass?
That is one hairy bum. You’ve gone to the effort of dressing and moving like your head is at hip level, but you couldn’t be arsed hiding your bum-face?
The wizard rushed to brew sothing hot to drink.
"Think you can help him?" Iris whispered in my ear. She stood on her tiptoes. How cute.
I looked back at the bum-faced wizard. How ugly.
I consider myself pretty open-minded. I’m not going to sha the guy like I’m an idiot. But, damn that is one unpleasant curse.
I couldn’t hide my repulsed face, the downward turned carve of my lips peeling back. The wizard wasn’t looking our way thankfully.
"Maybe."
"Can’t leave him ass-faced forever." Umbra said with mocking sarcasm.
"Can you help him?" I whispered to her.
"Not in a way you would approve."
I nodded grimly. Best to stay away from human sacrifice.
"Maybe he can get back together with Ezsil when he cured." Umbra said.
"Are we here to get two boyfriends back together?" I asked.
"Yes." Iris confird. A rare instance of her and Umbra being on the sa page.
"Does he have any information on the traitor?" I asked.
"Don’t know." Iris shrugged and Umbra also shook her hand.
Ah well. What use is power if I am not helping people?
Dan bounced back over, and his butt faced jiggled. A sight that I never did manage to erase from my imagination.
"Here." He said and passed over a warm cup.
I took the cup, "May I hold your hand?" I asked.
"Emm...Sure?"
I grasped his palm and felt the cure and its body morphing effects. It would be simple to unweave the knots of magic and unravel the curse.
"I can lift the curse if you want." I told him.
"I daren’t hoped it be possible, but when I heard your na I wished for you to say those words...’
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes."
I sent two think trails of magic to pull away the cursed knots and another thick trail to erase the curse entirely.
In a minute he was uncursed and I reford his body in the next minute.
My cup was still rising with steam by the ti his body had been return to normal. I fixed so other internal issues while I was at it. His magical body allowed to make permanent alterations to his physical body.
"Thank you, thank you. Whatever you ask I shall give. My magic? My body?"
He clung onto , his eyes wide with devotion.
He was too close. A nice complint, I’ve been curious but learned myself to be straight as a ruler.
"That’s nice, and I’m flattered. But, I don’t feel the sa way. I hear there is an Eskil waiting on you."
"He left when I was cursed."
"How would you have reacted if his face turned into an ass?"
"I..."
He let go and he finally respected my boundaries.
I smiled trying to show kindness and evoke compassion, "It is up to you if you want to take him back, but I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t said anything to Iris. He never forgot you. Whatever that is worth in your eyes." I made it up, but it may have been true.
"I guess."
I winked, "No need to decide right away. Get used to your body’s change. I think that is more than enough to handle for one day."
He smiled, "I will, but is there anything I can do in return. Please let return the favour."
I shrugged. As far as I could tell there nothing much he could offer .
Iris, however, actually rembered why we ca here or at least the excuse she gave Morgana.
"Do you know anything about the attack on the Druids?"
"No, but I can tell you about so other disturbances that have been happening around the city..."
Maybe I could ask about the sick cows.
The door to the wizards house swung open and Tara charged into the room, "He’s dead....he’s dead."
"Who’s dead?" Dan asked.
Tara eyed at the stranger with a dismissive glance and then returned her focus to .
"What’s happened, Tara?"
"The Western King is dead. A ssage and his heart were delivered to the Great Hall at Elkilbour. The druid there confird the heart’s source. They are certain he is dead."
Speechless, I stared at Tara dumbly.
Another twist had hit us in the White City. The attack on the Druids, seduced, and the Western King assassinated. I had no clear insight into what was happening and who was behind the scenes. The Romans had to be involved sohow, but this couldn’t all be them. Right?
"What did the ssage say?" Iris asked. Her face was set into a grim frown.
"Does it matter? So rubbish that tells us nothing that we need to know." I argued, my eyebrows stabbing one another.
Iris placed her hand on mine, "I’d hoped today would be peaceful too."
"I..." I don’t know why I felt so confused. The shock, not because I was personally attached, but that a key pillar of this city was shattered. Our safe place until I built my City of Magic and our key ally was falling apart and I knew nothing about what was going on.
I bite my teeth with frustration, "Can’t catch a break before we are struck again and again."
"We’ve got this." Iris whispered. "I believe in us."
I nodded and let the warmth of her touch and gentle tone soothe .
"Master." Umbra said with sympathy locking eyes with .
"Can I tell the ssage now?" Tara asked.
"Go ahead."
"To the remaining Kings of Elikilbour your ti is nigh."
"Nigh?" I asked.
"Near, I think it ans." Tara explained.
"Should it not be end is nigh?" Iris asked.
"Makes more sense." I said.
"I’m only repeating what I rember from what I was told out of the mouth of a scarred and tortured ssenger who dropped off the hand."
I paled because the whole thing seed grueso and inhumane. For having not seen the event, but hearing it and knowing the place and people made it all the more horrible in my imagination.
"Sorry." Iris apologised.
"Not your fault." Tara said. "Can I continue now?" She asked crossly.
We nodded.
"The Western King is dead and here is his heart as proof. Your True Lord is dead, and his slayer walks through the Hier’s city. This cannot go unpunished. The Heir and future Lord of Albion draws near. Farewell, an unhumble servant."
"Heir of Albion?" I asked.
"Who’s that?" Iris asked .
I was asking, not stating!
I shrugged, "Could be a few people."
King Arthur and Mars ca to mind. Wait, what is the relationship between King Arthur and Mars are they at war?
"True Lord?" Umbra said aloud. "Perhaps a Fae lord?" She speculated.
"Morgana thinks it is talking about Clavile which makes you the Slayer." Tara explained.
I nodded, "Ah, yes. Slayer of Maradon. Makes sense."
Dan the-not-butt-faced-wizard stroked his chin, "Not Arthur?" he questioned.
"Arthur is all but a vassal to the Romans, though he puts up a few conflicts to rouse people’s support." Iris said.
I looked at her.
"Morgana said sothing like that."
I smiled, "What would we do without her."
"We would be headless chickens." Iris joked.
I laughed, picturing us clueless without Morgana telling us what was going on.
Not that either Iris or I were dumb, but political knowledge and social conflicts are damn complex to figure out.
"I wouldn’t be." Umbra sniffed. She did have a better head on her shoulders. Not quite the strategic, political or tactical mind of Morgana, I could imagine Umbra getting along with lots of people and rousing popular support. Without the desperate struggle to survive or et day to day needs, she might really begin to thrive.
"I know." I admitted.
"Either way, it seems we have no rest from the Unseelie, my oathsworn." Tara comnted.
Iris’ hand shook, a slight tremor, "Worse they will target you." Iris said to .
"We could go. You have your city to make." Umbra raised the possibility.
"A city of tal. I can’t even imagine it." Tara said.
I could. More pressingly they were having similar thoughts as I had back at Ferisdarm when things were going to crap. I wanted to run away. I pondered for a mont.
"If we do nothing, Elkilbour will fall. I can’t stand to fail again. Who will ever trust in the City of Magic, if we don’t try to save the White City. I won’t stand back and wait. Let us uproot the traitor and these Unseelie assassins. We will protect Elkilbour and lay the foundation for the security of our future. If we fail, we leave another ruin behind us." I said.
"Never again." Iris said.
"Ekilbour has given us hospitality, and hos when we needed it most. I’m with you." Tara assured . "I will protect your back."
"If it is your wish, Master." Umbra replied.
"I’m afraid I cannot help. Unseelie, Romans and Chiefs. Is all beyond my little corner of the world. Too much even for a wizard to handle. I’m afraid I’ve heard nothing about servants of Clavile in these parts." Dan the Wizard said.
"He’s the sneaky type from what I’ve heard. I’d expected his followers to be the sa."
Dan mused further, "So many strange goings on. All I can say is that it isn’t among the people. My master dealt with a Chieftain’s woman who bargained with Clavile once. Wanted the ans to bear a child for her Chieftain given they were both won. So she claid, but Clavile makes deals with the ambitious and powerful. They have malice in their hearts even before they bargain."
"We’ll keep that in mind."
Tara pumped her arms, "You’ll crush him like you did Maradon." She said with vigour.
I smiled, "I’ll do my best."
Reviews
All reviews (0)