The next day Sawyer was left alone, he went to work at Janessa’s who was tactful enough to not mention the festival at all and only talked about hammering the steel into a workable shape. The sword she had tried to teach him to make came out poorly but Sawyer was proud of the blade, it was the first one he had ever made and it took his mind off of things. Someone had found out where he was and had dropped off high quality food, Sawyer ignored it and ate the simple soup Janessa had for herself and left the food where it was, right in front of the shop.
“I can smell that beef from here, you sure you don’t want it?” Janessa asked.
“Did you make it?” Sawyer asked.
“Well you know I didn’t make the damn thing” Janessa replied. “But it smells real good.”
“So does that other stuff piled by the door but I would rather starve than eat any of it” Sawyer began. “I know it wasn’t from Madeline who is the only other person in this entire city I can halfway deal with. Anyone else I don’t know enough to eat their food which was probably made by slave labor anyway.”
“It was made by Yesenia you dolt” Janessa said tired of playing games.
“If you are going to ask me to forgive her too then I am going to tell you to go try and break up two fell beasts while they are mating while three juicy steaks are tied to your body” Sawyer said as he stopped trying to put an edge of the sword.
“Sawyer her life is fighting, she couldn’t walk away from it” Janessa replied.
“Even though she knew it would make a friend extremely uncomfortable?” Sawyer asked. “Well I hope it was worth it for her, it is not like we really knew each other and I am happy I never got the chance to.”
“She knew she fucked it up when you saw her and when you didn’t go home with anyone last night” Janessa replied. “You didn’t even stay for the dancing or the food and it was a great feast. When she talked to Madeline and found out how you spent your night she was shattered she was a part of it at all. She wished she would have just walked away with me while the contest was going on and came back once the other festivities were getting ready to start.”
“She should have known she was in the wrong when I said it made me uncomfortable” Sawyer replied. “But I am over it sort of, I wish her no ill will but I have no desire to talk to her or see her ever again.”
“That doesn’t sound like you are over it” Janessa said. “But I’ll respect your wishes. I know this is not a subject you want to stay on but before we change the subject I want you to know Princess Penelope asked all about you since I have spent more time with you than anyone. She knew you didn’t get along with the High Mage or Candace and really only talked to me, Claudia and Yesenia.”
“What did she want to know?” Sawyer asked curious.
“Well she was shocked you didn’t stay for her to congratulate you” Janessa began. “She was going to give you some prized war horse from her personal stable and access to her personal blacksmith to get a sword made. She expected you to be in the crowd while some of the women there fawned all over you. When she heard you left rather angrily I could tell she didn’t know what to make of it, especially when the carriage that took you came back with all of your prizes inside. She asked if we were sleeping together and what kind of man you were. She was also shocked to hear you asked me to go because you didn’t want a friend to see you embarrassed and shamed. She thought the whole thing was silly at first until she heard how you ignored Mage Claudia and gave Yesenia a disappointing look. The High Mage told her about your interaction with her and she didn’t know what to think of you. The princess said you would be okay once you saw your new horse and I had to speak up and tell her you would never touch the beast, that I was certain that horse would never have another rider unless you were forced to be on it and that no sword in the world would make things better with you. The princess thought it was preposterous but I could see in her eyes that she was trying to convince herself at this point.”
“Well you were absolutely correct with that one” Sawyer replied. “That horse would stay rotting in whatever stable she had for it to stay in and I would rather fight a warthog with a twig than use whatever sword she is talking about.”
“She even talked about replacing your staff but decided against it for now since her staff maker is in the capital” Janessa replied. “Overall though she seems excited about having another mage around, with this war heating up I can tell you I am happy you are on our side.”
CHAPTER 6
“It is time to leave” Tabitha said as she walked into the shop. “We are to travel with the princess and the other mages to the capital. There you will meet the Queen and I will give you a master to study under.”
“It was nice meeting you Janessa” Sawyer said as he hugged the older woman. “Thank you for being a true friend when I was surrounded by vipers. Give Madeline my thanks as well, hopefully though the next time we meet it will not be in a place like this but I won't think any less of you if you never leave.”
Sawyer walked out the door and into the waiting carriage where he could see a nice robe was laid out along with his sword which now had a fine sheath and his staff. Candace was also there as Sawyer sat down and took his sword out of his sheath and tossed it along with the robe and held his staff. Candace said nothing until Tabitha came inside and shut the door, as soon as they were off she began talking.
“That sheath was especially made for your sword instead of that junk you had” Candace said. “And put on the robe, you look ridiculous in that outfit.”
“No friend of mine made this sheath or gave me this robe” Sawyer replied. “Wherever it came from that person can have it back.”
“It has been five days since the contest, are you still pouting?” Candace asked. “It is bad enough you threw back the reward the city was trying to give you in our faces. Now that you are leaving you still aren’t happy.”
“I don’t owe you any explanations, girl” Sawyer said putting emphasis on the word girl.
“I am not a girl” Candace growled and gripped her staff. Sawyer looked down at her hands and shook his head and looked out the window.
“Well why don’t we go back to learning magic” Tabitha began. “I think it was doing both of you some good.”
“I am not learning anything from her” Sawyer said looking at the high mage. “If you think I didn’t like you both before it has turned to outright hatred.”
“I am sorry for your treatment in Maduro” Tabitha replied. “It wasn’t my intention, it is like a rite of passage for all male mages and disgraced nobles set by the queen.”
“You know what you can do with your apologies” Sawyer replied. “I just want this trip to hurry up and finish so I can be done with both of you. In fact I can be done with any woman traveling in this convoy.”
“You mad because we saw you naked and you got a little humility” Candace said. “That was the princess’s idea not ours.”
“Yours was to have me in a rag while surrounded by slave labor” Sawyer began. “You know what I am not getting into this with you. I don’t care if you see my point of view or what you think of it. I don’t care if you apologize or see nothing wrong with what you did. I’m done with you both.”
“You only got a taste of what women go through everyday” Candace said angrily. “Any tavern or inn we stop in will have some young girl my age or a little older with her chest on full display while men slap her or the bottom or grab her in all kinds of disrespectful ways. If anything you should thank us for showing you first hand how bad the feeling is.”
Sawyer ignored her and said nothing for the rest of the day to both of them. They had talked about their time in Maduro and about the contest and about how Samson had some sense beat into him. Sawyer guessed it could have been worse, Samson was traveling with Penelope and if he was hearing it correctly the only reason Sawyer wasn’t in there as well was because Tabitha had told her that he was being trained. Sawyer though needed no favors from the woman, he co
uldn’t imagine hating the princess any more than he hated the women he was traveling with and was happy when a halt was finally called in front of an expensive looking inn.
The male mages were all in their robes at this point and sat at a table together as women fell over themselves to try to gain their attention, Sawyer assumed they had rooms somewhere as all of them but Samson took off with one of the serving girls or patron of the inn. Samson sat down with the princess and the high mage and looked like he was barely holding it together, the princess laughed and tried to talk like nothing happened but Sawyer could see Samson wasn’t letting her off the hook that easily. The other female mages sat together and cast glances Samson’s way and Sawyer’s way. The inn keeper went to kick Sawyer out dressed as shabbily as he was until Mage Guard Chews chased the man away with his sword and sat down at the table with Sawyer.
“You going to get something to eat?” Chews asked. “I have been here a few times and the food is good and the women are nice, young and plump.”
“Not my scene” Sawyer began.
“Is that why you don’t have on your mage robe?” Chews asked.
“I don’t want that damn thing” Sawyer replied. “I won't wear it until I am forced to. Do I have to stay here and eat?”
“I wouldn’t leave if I were you” Chews replied. “I don’t know much about the princess but I know she makes Mage Candace and the High Mage uneasy.”
“Sarlon” Princess Penelope said as she looked over at his table. Sawyer took a breath and got to his feet and walked over to girl. She looked him over and gestured for him to sit.
“You know if you don’t actually wear the robe you won't get any special treatment” Penelope said in a cheerful voice.
“I don’t need or want any special treatment Your Highness” Sawyer replied.
“You still angry about Maduro?” Penelope asked.
“I think I will be for quite some time” Sawyer replied. “I don’t think that is the kind of thing I will ever forget.”
“You do know the others are still angry as well” Penelope replied. “It is the reason they were brought here, currently I am sure they are spending their time with a girl willing to make them forget everything, at least for a while. Although as your rulers we can be heavy handed sometimes we also believe in not making any punishments last longer than they need be.”
“I don’t really see how that concerns me Your Highness” Sawyer replied.
“You don’t want to be in comforted by the girls here?” Penelope asked. “I am sure they would be more than happy to have you around if you changed your clothes, regardless if you were a mage or not.”
“No” Sawyer replied.
“Well then you can join me and Samson here then” Penelope replied. “We were just talking about our plans about when we reached the capital but Samson hasn’t been much conversation.”
“My ribs are broken” Samson said through his teeth. “It hurts to talk, hurts to eat and hurts to breathe.”
“I already told you when we get home you can see the royal healer” Penelope replied. “You shouldn’t have led me on and then slept with that…girl. I am a princess; I don’t share well with others. It was bad enough that you were flirting with Phoebe as well; competing against my sister and some mage are two different things. Once she learned about you she was angry as well. This trip to the palace should put everything in perspective for you. So Sarlon, I hear you need a master. It is too bad you and the High Mage aren’t getting along, I know she would take you on as a student if I asked her. Many mages would love a peek at some of her spells, Samson when he was a good boy got the chance to look at her book and learned some great spells like that lightning spell he used in the contest. Since the High Mage normally lives at the palace, you could have access to my mother, my sister and I. We are great allies to have but you can look at Samson as an example of when you make us enemies. I think Phoebe would like to meet you, if you are charming enough you may get in her good graces. The fact that you are not one to indulge in whores and loose women like some people can only be seen as a bonus in her eyes.”
“Whenever we get to the palace we can have you tested” Tabitha said entering the conversation. Sawyer could tell she didn’t like the princess talking about Candace and took a deep breath whenever the princess talked down about her. “We can find out your affinities and determine if your concentration level is any good.”
“This ought to be exciting” Penelope replied. “Once you have been tested you get a custom made staff made out of our finest wood. I think once you try what we have you will ditch that bone thing, if it important to you, you can keep it as a keepsake and display it somewhere.”
“Are you sure you would not like Candace as your master?” Tabitha asked. “I think she is the second strongest mage in Perdomo and she has an affinity.”
“Samson has three affinities” Penelope replied.
“Samson is a glass sword” Tabitha replied. “His first strike is tremendous, it takes a strong mage to throw up a strong enough shield to keep him out. But like a glass sword he will cut deep the first time then be almost useless if his opponent can withstand the first blow. Even if Samson is successful which he most likely will be in his first attack, what happens if he has another opponent?”
“I have my sword” Samson said through gritted teeth.
“Speaking of swords I hear you like swords” Penelope said looking at Sawyer. “If you ask nicely I can have one custom made for you, yours looks kind of plain. The royal smith can make anything you desire and I can have my jewel smith finely detail it for you.”
“I am happy with my blade” Sawyer replied.
“He is particular about that blade” Tabitha replied. “My mage guard assured me that the blade was expertly made, I found that kind of curious.”
“Curious?” Penelope asked.
“Well that sword was made by a master” Tabitha replied. “I was told a blade like that would cost at least two gold. Sawyer led us to believe he was a poor farm boy.”
“I am a poor farm boy” Sawyer replied. “I just married well, the sword was a gift.”
“You married a woman of some means then” Penelope said. “No harm in that, I bet you she saw that body and just melted. No wonder you are hung up on this woman, you can't go from having a rich and powerful wife to fucking barmaids in various taverns. You have had a taste of the good life and you are not trying to ruin it. Well you will have your own things now, you don’t have to worry about a bunch of hard work.”
“Hard work keeps people level headed Your Highness” Sawyer replied as he thought about Elena and the lie he just told. Sawyer should have known that a lot more than Yesenia would see his blade as being expertly made, now he just went from dumb peasant to someone who has had the good life before.
“Well I am sorry to break this to you” Penelope began. “But a hard body and big dick is easy to find, you just left a town full of them. I am guessing you were a guard or something that she noticed, right now there is probably another man there. The only thing she might regret is that she wasn’t able to have a child with magic running through their veins. Going from a rich woman’s plaything to Maduro shouldn’t have been a shock to you, you should have felt right at home. Unless of course you were one of those pampered trophies, in that case that was the worse indignity that you ever experienced. Well even if Phoebe is not interested I still think there is a nice noble girl out there if you are insisting on being with only one woman. Phoebe is the heir anyway so there is the chance she will get plenty of push back from any one of the dukes, but I am sure not even they would try to block it if one of the women of their household landed a mage for a husband. We are having a celebration when we get back so there will be plenty of them to pick from.”
“A celebration?” Tabitha asked. “Is it what I think it is?”
“Reginald had twin girls” Penelope beamed. “Both of them have the gift. The babies will be celebrated and the mother is getting
a sizable amount of money. We kept it secret for as long as we could but Dominic just had a baby boy. This war should be kicking off here soon and mother thought is would be nice to show people what they are fighting for.”
“They have been tested?” Tabitha asked.
“Mage Nettleton did the testing” Penelope replied. “Neither of the babies have any affinities which does lead me to another problem mother has talked about.”
“What problem is that?” Tabitha asked.
“Well all of our nobles are happy to see mages being born” Penelope replied. “But many babies tend to take the traits from their parents. I know you are a bit old but it is not unheard of for a woman your age to deliver a child.”
“Mages have a less than ten percent chance to have a magic born child” Tabitha replied. “Even then of those mage children there is less than ten percent chance that those children would be as strong as their mage parent.”
“We also read into magic Tabitha” Penelope replied. “You have a fifty percent chance of having a mage child if the father is another mage, a ten percent chance that those mage children is as strong as one parent and a one percent chance the mage child can surpass both parents. I think all of you women should do what is best for the kingdom and put yourself in the best position for a mage. Reginald, Dominic and even Andrew have proven they can father a child in the last three years. Right now we are at twenty three mages and that number should grow.”
The Mage of Mages 2 Page 9