Stranded Mage (10 page)

“Yes, everything is fine,” Thad replied, his voice shaky and uneven. The elf looked skeptical but bowed and left the room. As soon as he was gone Thad lit a candle on one of the small tables next to the bed and sat down. He didn’t know how long he had slept but he could still feel the grip of sleep grabbing at him. Not wanting to revisit the world of dreams, Thad picked up the candle and left his room.

Thad let his feet carry him back to the library. It was dark inside but the stack of books over the Brotherhood was still sitting where he had left them. Thad hunched over the books squinting in the candlelight. Thad rubbed his eyes after a few moments, his eyes starting to hurt. The diamond on the end of his staff began to light up filling the room with a soft luminescent light.
Do you enjoy doing things the hard way? Half the time you should use your magic, you don’t.

“I am not in the mood,” Thad replied.

Thad wasn’t looking for anything special as he read, he just wanted something to occupy his mind until the sun once again graced the sky. Thad continued to scan a book written by an elf named Esmaloria until he ran across a passage that caught his attention.

No one is sure when the Brotherhood first appeared, but it is certain what their purpose is. In order to learn more about our enemies we have sought anything that might tell of their origins, and how they came across the abyssal swords. Over the years we have come across many hints and though many still argue over the implications it is widely believed that Humanius was the one who has aided them. Those of us belonging to the race of gods pray that this is a simple misunderstanding, but if it is true we should expend every resource we can in opposition of the Brotherhood of the Fox.

The powers of the Brotherhood’s swords are a mystery but once again there are many theories about how they unravel magic. I fall into the theory that the swords are somehow linked to the abyss, the dark center of the void where nothing can escape. If this is true then it enforces the thought that Humanius is behind the strength of the Brotherhood. That might be the reason so many contest this view.

Thad sat back in his chair and thought about what he had learned. He still knew little about the truth behind Humanius and Belaroan, and at the moment that seemed to be a disadvantage. The Magical races had been told the stories since birth and when he had asked about them he only ever got a quick and usually simplistic answer in nature.

Thad started walking up and down the long isle of books. Thad had no clue how the library was set up but he was sure Emeriss wouldn’t have it in disorder, especially not considering how fast the elf had been able to find the book on the Brotherhood earlier.

The spines of the books were clearly labeled with metallic flowing text. The section Thad was currently in had to do with the history of the elves. Thad picked up one of the books and flipped through it reading only short passages that caught his attention. From what Thad gathered from the stories most of Elven history had to do with great tragedies and stories of profound loss. From the collection of stories Thad started to understand what Emeriss meant by his own story striking at the heart of the elves. They were near immortal beings, with a love for the dramatic.

Replacing the book on the shelf Thad continued his search. Thad had thought the library was large when he had just looked but now strolling down section by section it seemed massive.

After a good search Thad found a hint of what he was looking for in a book named “A Time Before The Elves.” It told of the war between Humanius and Belaroan. The story was much different than the one Sae-Thae had told him. In this version Belaroan had taken the field directly against Humanius after her lover’s death. In a final struggle she had cast both herself and Humanius into the deep of the void. The book went on to tell that the void was a place of nothingness, a place born as a buffer between the realms of god’s and man. From what Thad read it was clear that the elves believed that Belaroan had given the last of her power to rip a hole into the void large enough to entrap Humanius, and that she had warned that it could not hold him forever.

Though the story was different from what Thad had originally been told he was sure that each carried some of the truth. Stories tended to be warped and changed to the taste of one’s own liking.

Thad continued to search the other books until well after the sun had risen into the sky. When his head started to bob and the weariness from lack of sleep threatened to overtake him Thad decided it was time to get some fresh air.

Thad hadn’t spent enough time among the city to know his way around but at the moment that didn’t seem overly important. As Emeriss had said, when he returned to his room dozens of invitations awaited him from almost every noble house, including one from the house of Reinwood. While he wasn’t sure who most of the houses belonged to he was fairly sure he could find the Reinwood estate again easily. It was hard to forget a place where one had thrown a man or elf through a wall.

Of all the paces you want to visit, the first is the place that has the largest reason to see to your demise.

“I doubt that the Reinwoods will do anything to me,” Thad replied tartly. “I am the head of the house.”

Can you not see that is what makes them so dangerous? If something were to happen to you then the head of the house would fall to the person you would be meeting.

“I have my magic” Thad said defensively.

In Farlan that might have been true, but you seem to forget you are not the only being in the world that can use magic. If you don’t start using that thing you call a brain for more than parting your ears I don’t see a very bright future ahead of you

Thad cursed lightly but didn’t retort back. How could he when he knew that his staff was right? “Just be ready.”

That’s the brightest thing you have said in days.
His staff replied dryly.

The front of the Reinwood estate where Thad had opened a hole had been repaired to the point one could not tell anything had happened. Thad knew it was still early in the morning but putting things off would not make things any easier. Walking up to the main door Thad rapped hard on its surface and waited patiently.

The door was opened quickly by a poorly dressed Elven child. Thad stared at the golden eyes of the child mesmerized. She stared back at him with a confused look on her face. “Lillian don’t just stand there like a statue if it’s not the grocer have him come in and we can sort it out dear.” An older lady said coming up from behind the child. When she saw his face she quickly hit her knees and pulled the young elf to do the same. “I wasn’t aware the new Master would be visiting so soon,” she said, her voice frightful and full of worry. “Please pardon Lillian she is only a child.”

It wasn’t hard for Thad to see and understand the fear in the woman’s eyes. Thad smiled gently and reached down lifting the child to her feet. “Your name is Lillian?” Thad asked gently.

Lillian started to tremble as she nodded her head. The woman who was still on her knees lifted her head slightly her lips quivering. “Lillian I really need to talk to the person who is in charge.”

“I will see to it my Lord,” the female elf said, her face slightly pale. Thad nodded his head to her and she quickly stood and walked off every so often looking over her shoulder at him and the small elven child.

Once the elf was gone Thad looked down at the small child and smiled brightly. “Would you be so gracious as to show me to a nice place to wait?” Thad asked, holding out his hand.

“Yes, My Lord,” Lillian said meekly as she took his hand and led him to the same room where he had met with the previous head of the Reinwood family.

Thad took a seat at one of the normal chairs and then turned to Lillian. “I haven’t had a chance to eat this morning. Do you think it would be possible to get some food and maybe a tart or two from the kitchen?” Thad asked, giving the little child a sly wink. Lillian nodded her head than darted off.

Thad wasn’t sure which one would return first; the young child with his food, or the female elf with the new house head. He didn’t have to wait long to find out as the little girl came running back followed by three other elves who carried large trays of meat, cheese, bread, and tarts. As soon as the silver platters were placed on the table the elves turned to leave. “Lillian, hold on for a moment,” Thad said loudly, stopping the girl in mid stride and getting concerned looks from the other elves. Thad gave them a smile and waved his hand dismissing them.

Thad reached over and picked up one of the fresh tarts and took a bite. The taste of fresh raspberries filled his mouth along with the crispiness of the pastry bread. Whoever was the new head of the house must be favorable to sweets if such things were already made and on hand. Thad picked up another tart and held it out toward the child. “Would you like to have a tart Lillian?”

Lillian looked at him wearily but took the offered tart, quickly biting into it. Thad was so engrossed in watching Lillian that he never noticed his other guests enter the room until the female elf cleared her throat. “May I introduce her Ladyship Salina Reinwood?”

Like most elves Salina had deep emerald eyes and long flowing silver hair. The only thing that stood out from any of the other elves he had seen was that she barely stood six feet high, and it was that fact that instantly made Thad like her.

“My Lady,” Thad said, bowing slightly.

Salina gave a small smile and returned his bow dipping just a bit further. “My Lord, to what do we owe the honor of your visit?”

“Well, when I heard I was the new lord of Reinwood I figured I might as well meet the person who would be looking after the affairs of my house,” Thad replied politely.

Salina leaned over and whispered something to the Elven maid, who quickly bowed and disappeared. Seeing Thad’s confused look Salina gave him a bright smile. “I thought you might wish to know more about your own house so I have sent Elena to retrieve some documents from my study,” She said in explanation. “Do you mind if I join you while we wait?”

Thad waved his hand to the seat next to him. Salina took the seat, patting Lillian lightly on the head as she passed. The little girl looked up and Thad noticed none of the fear in her eyes that he had noticed in the other servants on his last visit.

“Before we get down to business what would you prefer to be called? Master Reinwood might seem odd to you so I thought it would be easier on both of us if we got this little matter out of the way. As for myself I would be delighted if you would simply call me Salina.”

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble I would prefer to be called Thad,” he replied, smiling. “I must admit you are not quite what I expected when I knocked on the door.”

Salina laughed musically. “I can understand, but unlike my cousin I haven’t forgotten that not long ago we were barely above the lesser elves. A few hundred years ago my cousin started producing much sought after sundries and elevated us into the top forty houses. Never liked the elf much, he tended to look down on the rest of the family, and anyone else who he thought was below him.”

The maid returned carrying a large stack of parchment as well as a thick leather-bound book. Salina pushed the silver platters aside and spread the parchments over the table. “Our artisans work on the north side of the island though my cousin sold a few of the better ones off to raise his position over the years. We have deals with a few human ship captains that carry our wares into the other lands and in return they bring us things that are hard to find.”

Thad looked over the papers but the numbers meant little to him. If he was planning to live in the elven city the rest of his life it might have held some meaning but Thad couldn’t see beyond his trip to Rane. “What I really wanted to know was who you would chose to send with me on my journey, as well as to make sure the servants were well taken care of. I see now that my fears on that end were misplaced, and I am glad of it.”

“Yes, your journey,” Salina said, sighing. “I received news of that yesterday evening shortly after I arrived at the estate. I would be able to better choose people to send with you if I knew just what you would need them for.”

Thad picked up another random sheet of parchment and gave it a quick glance as he contemplated what to tell Salina. “I will be traveling through hostile territory to track down certain people. It will be dangerous, extremely so. I will need people who can fight, and who can also move around undetected.”

Salina’s eyes took on a cold glint as Thad spoke. “I see,” she replied, folding her hands in front of her, resting her diminutive chin on them. “Any elf is at home in the woods, but I am guessing that you will need people who can move around the stone jungle.”

Salina leaned in and lowered her voice to a light whisper. “While we prefer to humiliate our enemies, every great house trains certain people for darker purposes. We never speak of these people out loud and they are never seen but they exist. As our house has risen in stature, the number of these individuals has also increased. Only a handful are fully trained but I will send as many as I can with you. Other than that I will select the better of our hunters, though I will lament their loss.”

“Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated,” Thad said, standing.

“I see it is time for you to leave already,” Salina said as a sad smile graced her lovely face. “I should be happy that you will be headed into danger, as your death would elevate me to the head of the house, but I cannot make myself see it that way. Humans live such short lives even the great mages only lived a fraction of our lifetime. I am still young and a few hundred or even a thousand years waiting would not harm me, so I can say this without reserve. I wish you only the best Thad, and I hope that one day these halls will once again be graced by your presence.”