by Tracey Alley
flights of stairs and into a large, well appointed room set at the very back of the inn. Walking inside the knight saw it was actually two rooms. The outer room had a smaller version of the fireplace downstairs, large, comfortable armchairs, a small writing desk against one wall as well as the obligatory bookcase. Where would The Republic of Malerok be without its books Michael wondered? There was also another round table obviously intended for private dining. Leading off this room was the very luxurious looking bedroom, complete with all necessities. It was quite a change from his sparse set of rooms in The Tears of Belenus headquarters.
“Thank you, I'm certain it will be more than comfortable,” Michael said with a small smile as he pressed a gold piece into the elven barkeeps hand, “By the way what is your name?”
“Extremely difficult to pronounce in the Common tongue sir, so everyone calls me Sam,” the elf replied.
“Sam, short for Sammellarenus?”
“How,” Sam began in shock, “how did you know? And your accent… it’s perfect?”
“I've spent a lot of time around high elves over the years. I've even been invited several times to Specularum. With your dark hair, purple eyes, skilled at illusions, you’d have to be a high elf, and the name Sammellarenus is a fairly common.”
“I'm very impressed sir. And you’re quite correct Sammellarenus is indeed my name, though I was actually born in Biazzan. Unfortunately I have not been home for a very long time.”
Sam was actually more impressed with this tall, imposing looking human than he would publicly have admitted, “I will show your guest up immediately upon arrival Lord Michael, and may I say it has been a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“Sam, the pleasure has been all mine, but don’t trouble yourself looking out for my guest, I'm quite certain he will find his own way here. However, I should appreciate it if you could send up some mulled wine, two glasses, and some cheese, bread and fruit.”
“Certainly, I will see to it immediately.”
Michael removed the leather gauntlets from his belt and threw them carelessly on the writing desk. He walked to the room’s single window throwing it wide open in spite of the chill outside. Although he was wearing only his riding armor of leggings, long tunic and chain shirt, the knight still felt stifled by the room’s heat. It had been some time since his last trip to Malerok and he had, quite simply, forgotten how sensitive mages were to cold. The slightest drop in the temperature and mages immediately stoked the fires.
He stood looking out of the window, drinking in the fresh air until he heard the tentative knock at the door. It was one of the inn’s employees, a human female, delivering the wine and food he had ordered. Michael thanked her and tipped her a silver piece, about twice the value of the food. Then he turned back to the window, wondering how long he would have to wait for his guest to arrive.
“Not long, Lord Michael, not too long at all if you’re wondering when I would arrive,” said a low and pleasant male voice from behind him. Michael turned and looked at his guest. He had heard so much about Lord Nexus, who was, without doubt, the most powerful wizard in all The Kingdoms. They had communicated on many occasions but this was their first face-to-face meeting. Nexus was human, or at least he appeared human but he was also rumored to be in excess of two hundred years old. Whatever his age the mage was surprisingly hale and seemed only a little older than Michael was himself, a mere fifty summers.
Lord Nexus was of average height, slim built but lacking the frail appearance many mages seemed to acquire. The mage was completely bald and had piercing dark eyes, but it was his hands that drew immediate attention with their long, slender fingers and very sharp nails. Nexus wore an unadorned black cloak over a pair of black trousers and a long tunic, which was embroidered with his own personal symbol; a single eye with a huge black pupil.
“Reading my mind Lord Nexus?” Michael asked.
“No, not at all, mi’lord in the circumstances that would be,” he paused, “inappropriate, don’t you think?”
“Quite. Please sit; I have mulled wine and some food,” Michael indicated the overstuffed armchairs near the fireplace, anticipating the mage would want to sit in the warmth.
“Thank you,” Nexus untied the long cloak, removed it, poured a glass of mulled wine and sat in the armchair closest to the fire. When the knight had his own wine he sat down opposite Nexus and waited for the mage to speak.
“This is something of a unique occasion would you not say Lord Michael?”
“I most certainly would, but perhaps it would be best if we dispensed with the formalities, don’t you think?”
“I am not complete sure I agree with you, however, I shall endeavor to be less formal … Michael.”
“As will I Nexus, as will I,” Michael paused for a moment before continuing, “May I offer a toast… to friends and allies.”
“Indeed. So we are then to be… allies, Michael?”
“As strange as it may seem Nexus, yes, I do not believe we have any other choice. It is my firm belief that The Kingdoms only real chance lies in our working together.”
“I agree with your assessment of our current situation, Michael,” Nexus said before falling silent.
“I had been informed of your intelligence. I had always doubted it; however, even I can be wrong,” the mage eventually continued.
“Not very often I would imagine.”
“No, not very often. Do you know Michael; I am about to do something I do very, very seldom. I intend to be, what is the term? Yes, completely straight with you. I believe the time has come, for us both to fully understand each other.”
“I appreciate the candor Nexus.”
“Not yet, but you will. I do not profess to support your… affinity for Belenus, it is not a path I, myself, would have ever willingly chosen. I imagine my loyalty to the blood god Bhaal is likewise incomprehensible to you. However, these are differences of,” he paused again; Nexus’s conversations were littered with these strange pauses Michael was discovering, “faith, divergent religions. These differences need not always separate us, although in the past, I fear they have done much more than simply separate us. Such differences have generated… fear, loathing, enmity. I do not wish that state to continue, and neither, I believe do you.”
“True enough. My opinion, for whatever it’s worth Nexus because I give it to you as a man; not priest, or knight, not warrior, not even a simple servant, just a man, but my opinion is that the time has come to forget the absolutes of black and white, embrace the grey.”
Nexus gave a small smile but did not reply immediately. Instead he walked to the small, round table, refilled his glass, and returned to his seat, the tray containing the food and the wine bottle trailing behind him in midair. After he had made himself comfortable the mage selected a large slice of bread, spread it with soft cheese and with a small flick of his long fingers sent the airborne tray towards the knight. Michael refused to be awed by the display; he already knew the mage was an extremely powerful wizard. Instead he simply refilled his own glass, and selected a small piece of hard cheese. The tray and the wine bottle floated back to the table.
“Embrace the grey, it is an… interesting phrase and yet, strangely suitable. I would venture to suggest, Michael, that both you and I have become the grey, over the course of our long careers.”
“I would say you’re probably right. I'd also say that we may very well be the only ones who have. The lines between good and evil remain firmly entrenched in many minds throughout The Kingdoms, but I no longer believe they apply in many cases.”
“Once again Michael, with… unnerving sensibility you have clearly and succinctly outlined the very difficulty which we will face.”
“Patrick and your second worked extremely well together,” Michael spoke slowly, he was not sure exactly where Nexus was heading with this conversation, and he was beginning to wonder whether the mage still intended to help.
“Yes, s
urprisingly, certainly to Nikolai, he discovered he quite liked Sir Patrick and that they did, as you say, work… well together.”
“Then I'm afraid I don’t understand Nexus, you seem,” Michael paused, “almost as though you are now reluctant to continue?”
“Oh no, Michael, you misunderstand me. I believe, very strongly, in working together. In our… alliance. However, I am, like you, only one man with one man’s opinions. I have come here directly from a Council meeting. It did not… go well.”
“They refused to listen?”
“On the contrary, they actually possessed new information of which I had been previously… unaware. No, listening is not the problem. Convincing them of the threat, that is the problem. I'm afraid that the Council, at this stage, can see no immediate… benefit to our association, nor can they be persuaded that the threat itself is immediate.”
“Damnit,” Michael spat out angrily, he had not expected this. In fact he had been counting on the cooperation of the mages, far more than he had realized. There simply was no possible way this threat could be turned aside without the help of the arcane mages. Michael had hoped and had truly believed that Nexus would be influential enough with the Council to convince them to join the fight against Shallendara.
Throwing himself out of the chair, Michael stormed to the still open window and leaned onto the sill. It