by Jordan Baker
"Hello, Borrican," she said. Clearly she already knew him and Aaron got the impression that the princess might not be all that fond of his Kandaran friend. Ariana sighed. At least she was no longer trapped at court. "Duke Boric has been kind enough to rescue me from an audience with my uncle but I grow tired of this place. Shall we escape the palace and see what the city has to offer?”
"If you would like to visit the city, I would be most pleased to escort you," Borrican said enthusiastically. You need not worry for your safety, either. Both Aaron and myself are armed and we are also in the First Division at the Academy."
"Good," Ariana said, glancing briefly again at Aaron. "I will return momentarily, once I have changed into more suitable attire."
"But Princess, have you forgotten about the surprise?" Duke Boric asked.
"The surprise? I thought introducing me to your nephew for the fifth time was the surprise."
“Five times? No, I was positive the two of you had not yet met," Duke Boric lied, obviously feigning the innocence of an honest mistake. “Anyhow, that is of no import. You know each other. That is good. Now, this is the surprise."
The duke picked up a long, glass bottle from a nearby table and showed it to everyone present in the room.
"Mountain spirits," he announced proudly. "Very strong. Only for the bravest of the brave, it will put hair on your chest.” He turned to the princess. “Would you care for some?”
Ariana shook her head and could not help but laugh at the ridiculous offer.
“Hair on my chest? I think I will pass on that offer. You boys enjoy your drink and I will return momentarily."
She nodded at Borrican and his uncle, but completely ignored Aaron as she turned and exited the room. Aaron did not even notice the snub as he hardly thought he would warrant any interest from a princess and he was fairly excited at having met her as well as at the proposition of spending the afternoon with her and his friend Borrican, who had turned out to be a prince himself. And now, Aaron was about to shared a toast of Kandaran spirits with a Duke as well. His day had certainly turned out to be far more interesting than he could have imagined.
Duke Boric proceeded to uncork the bottle and pour some of the drink into several small cups, which he then handed to Aaron and Borrican. Aaron sniffed the liquid and found it to have a smell of oak and moss but in a way that burned the insides of his nostrils. The Duke raised his cup.
“A toast to her highness’ beauty!” he exclaimed.
“I’ll drink to that," said Borrican and he tipped his cup back and swallowed the contents of his cup all at once, Kandaran style.
Aaron did the same and nearly choked as the liquor burned its way down his throat and into his stomach and he shook for a moment as a tremor rattled its way up his spine. It truly was strong stuff. Through the tears in his eyes, he noticed that both Borrican and his uncle were completely unaffected by the drink and Duke Boric was now pouring more of it in each of their cups including the one in Aaron's hand.
“Aaron, is it?” the duke said and scratched his head. “You look like one of the local gentry. Got a trace of the north in you though, I'd say.” Aaron was about to reply but the duke cut him off. “No lad, don’t give it away! I know the rules of the Academy. Enjoy them while you can. Its kind of nice not having folks bow and scrape to you, or having to bow and scrape to them conversely. Bowing and scraping! That’s all there is in places like this.” Boric gestured around the room then threw himself back on one of the large chairs and sighed deeply.
“Am I glad that audience is over. Cerric can be the most dreadful bore, and stubborn too. Can you believe that he wants to close the trade route through Fallhammer Pass? Hell, that would all but stop communications with Kandara. And, he’s convinced that every Kandaran merchant is a spy. He all but accused me of being one, myself! I don’t honestly know what kind of secrets Maramyr’s got and what we would want with them but apparently there’s some problem on the eastern border with the Xallans. They’re complaining that Kandarans are raiding them from the eastern mountains, sneaking down from the mountains and burning their villages at night. It’s totally preposterous. Even the worst kind of Kandaran wouldn’t burn a village full of innocent people, and second of all, there’s almost no way through that side of the mountain range! Who knows what’s going on, but I suppose I’ll have to go and find out before this turns into a diplomatic mess. But listen to me rattle on. Frankly, I’m really not cut out for all this courtly nonsense. Give me a battlefield and an opposing force! That’s more my element.”
Duke Boric took another deep breath and his massive shoulders relaxed. He looked at the two young men standing and listening respectfully to him. He had said enough to give Borrican an idea of what he would face as an ambassador in a few years when he was older. Now, it was time to be family again. He grinned at his nephew.
“Enough business! So boys, what do you think of Maramyr?” He sipped his tea. Borrican spoke up and Aaron noticed that his accent was a little thicker than usual. He wondered if his friend was nervous.
“Well, I haven’t seen much but the Academy. Aaron has little experience of the city as well, although he knows a few of the shops. We will go explore the city today and maybe I can tell you about it when we return,” he said. His uncle laughed lightly.
“Borrican, my boy. You really have got to work out that accent.” He looked over to Aaron. “Take him drinking won’t you. That always helps.” Aaron grinned as the duke winked at him. “So they still don’t let you out of that place?” He brushed a few biscuit crumbs from his collar. Aaron thought Borrican’s uncle he was looking far less Ducal than he had moments ago and wondered what Boric would be like if he to meet him in a tavern. “The Academy, I mean,” Boric clarified.
“Almost never, sir Duke, except for the major holidays,” Aaron answered. The duke snorted and laughed.
“None of that ‘sir’ business, Aaron. Is this the royal court, or the battlefield? Neither. We're sitting and drinking, so call me Boric, or Duke if you have to, just no bowing and scraping and that includes ‘sir’!” He raised an eyebrow, chuckling. “Well, you lads drink up. I have a feeling that Ariana’ll be back soon.” he looked over Aaron’s head to the entrance of the room. “Feisty thing she is, you boys watch out when you’re out there today. No city is kind to the inattentive.” Suddenly, Duke Boric jumped from his chair. “Princess!” he exclaimed as she entered the room.
Borric's surprise at her appearance seemed feigned and Aaron thought the Duke might have said those last things for her benefit as well. Borrican and Aaron rose respectfully as she walked up to where they had sat. She wore a much more serviceable outfit of riding leathers and a dark green silk blouse. A small, jewelled dagger at her side was the only adornment she wore and to Aaron it looked more practical than decorative. Her hair was tied back tight revealing her high cheekbones and her face looked fresh and smooth.
“Well, boys. Are we ready?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips. Borrican strode over to her and linked his arm with hers. The princess did not seem overly enamored with walking on Borrican's arm but she did not resist.
“Shall we?” Borrican said and glanced over at Aaron.
Duke Borric called after his nephew and the princess. “Have fun and be careful!” Aaron hurried to catch up with them and waved at the Duke who smiled after him.
As they strode out of the palace, Ariana freed herself from Borrican and stretched her arms above her head, taking a deep breath.
“Free at last,” she said with a sigh as they passed out into the city.
“Princess?” Borrican inquired.
“Just Ariana, please. I am just as tired of the formalities as your uncle. Besides, we’re not supposed to attract too much attention out here. You’re Borrican, you’re Aaron and I’m Ariana. That will be perfectly adequate.” She folded her arms and stared at the two friends who both shrugged and looked at each other in agreement that she was most definitely a princess. Ariana caught the lo
ok and shook her head, spun on her heel and headed toward the centre of the city. “Now we have one stop to make on our way. Follow me.”
Not willing to argue with the wilful princess, the boys followed.
Seeming to know her way, she led them through a maze of streets and finally stopped at a small building with a heavy wooden door bearing the carving of what looked to be a star. Not bothering to knock, she pushed it open and the boys followed her in. Inside what seemed to be some kind of curiosity shop were numerous shelves with small devices on them, scrolls and books lay in an almost haphazard way on many of the room’s tables. It was darkly lit and a kind of dusty silence hung in the air. Almost immediately, Aaron felt the tiny hairs on his neck stand up. This place contained some sort of magic. Aaron could almost feel power humming in the air and he felt a strange twinge in his head as all the muscles in his neck tightened up. He hoped they would not stay long.
A young man was sitting at a desk by a window, bent over a scroll, and it was a few moments before he looked up. “Ariana! Good to see you.” He rose from his seat and Aaron could see that he was very tall. “It’s been a long time. What can I do for you today?” he looked over at her companions. Ariana gestured a thumb at Aaron.
“Calthas, I need you to check something. I tried to read this fellow here, Aaron is his name, and my sight wouldn’t work.” Aaron took a step back, feeling a little uneasy as he realized that she was talking about magic. Borrican looked at his friend questioningly and Aaron avoided his gaze. Calthas looked uncomfortable for a moment, scratched his head, then turned to look at Aaron with a penetrating stare. The tall mage’s eyes turned a dark black for a moment and Aaron felt a momentary spike of pain in his head. One of his legs buckled a bit and he steadied himself with his other. The pain stopped as the mage’s eyes returned to normal and he abruptly moved to the door of his shop and turned the bolt.
“Come,” he motioned as he crossed the room. “Into the back, we mustn’t discuss this here.”
“What is going on?” Borrican asked. “Princess, who is this man? I assume he is a wizard of some kind. He looks like a wizard. And Aaron, why are…” Ariana cut him off.
“Relax, Borrican, you always were a little uptight,” she said. “This will be quick, and I’m sure it is nothing, but how much do you know about your friend here anyway? ”
“What do you mean?” Borrican asked.
“Don't be dense. Use your power,” she told him. Borrican frowned.
“I'd rather not.” Borrican folded his arms but glanced over at Aaron with a suspicious look.
“There is something about you that repels my magic,” Ariana said to Aaron. “Why is that?”
“What is she talking about Aaron?” Borrican asked. Aaron could feel the pain in his head increasing and he could feel an intense power emanating from Ariana, Calthas and now Borrican, although Borrican's energy was somehow different. He hoped they would stop whatever they were doing and tried to explain as quickly as possible.
“I’m not sure, but I don’t like being around magic,” he told them “It has always made me ill, for as long as I can remember.” Calthas noticed Aaron's face begin to wince and he let go of his power and looked at Aaron thoughtfully.
“Princess, stop. You too, ” he said, glancing at Borrican. They both hesitated for a moment, but then Aaron felt the power subside and so did the pain.
“Do you understand this?” Ariana asked the mage.
“Perhaps,” Calthas said, pondering for a moment. “I read something about this in one of my texts, but I will have to conduct a few tests to get a better idea of what is going on with this fellow.” Calthas turned to Aaron. “If you do not mind, I would like to take a look at you, magically. It doesn't just make you ill, does it? It causes pain, a great deal of pain, I believe. I could see that, plain enough.”
Aaron nodded. “Yes, it does,” he admitted. He saw his friend's expression turn from suspicion to concern but Ariana maintained her skeptical view of him.
“Not to worry young sir, I will be careful and you will not come to harm. The princess has some power and is merely concerned that she cannot read you. It is something we mages do when we want to know more about a person. Not being able to read someone usually means they are hiding something, although most mages choose what they allow another mage to sense about them. It is something we all do, and makes for complicated socializing, but that's another matter entirely. This is something that concerns me as well. As I said, you will come to no harm. May I proceed?”
Aaron figured he might as well cooperate rather than push his luck. Something about him had already gotten the princess upset and maybe it would be better if he did what she said. She was a princess, after all. Calthas led them through a doorway into the interior of the building. They stepped into a room that was strangely bare except for a large table in the centre. As Aaron passed through the doorway, he felt a sharp spike of pain then it faded back to a dull roar. Inside the room, there were no windows or other doors, and Calthas closed the heavy door through which they had passed.
“I am sorry for the precautions, but the priesthood have become a little intrusive of late. This room has been spelled with protections so that I can work undetected,” he explained. “So, the reason you brought this young man here is that your sight doesn’t work on him. I tried mine as well and could see very little. Either this young man is a magical anomaly, which is highly unlikely, or perhaps something like this room has been done to him,” he explained. “I will try again, another way.”
“Why all the fuss, anyway?” Borrican asked, clearly deciding that Aaron was just Aaron and not some kind of threat. Ariana rolled her eyes at him
“Who is to say that this friend of yours isn’t a spy or even an assassin?” Ariana objected. “It isn’t widely known, but I have had three attempts on my life since Summerfest alone.” Calthas nodded, confirming her story and Borrican shook his head, half in disbelief. “Why can’t I see his thoughts Calthas?” she asked, looking at Aaron. Cathas turned to him.
“First of all, it is poor etiquette not to submit to a direct mind-seeing when your sovereign requests it, but I suspect you didn’t ask him did you princess?” He glanced suspiciously at Ariana who looked away a little guiltily. Calthas shook his head and turned to Aaron. “She never asks,” he said and let out a sigh as he explained that which Ariana should have done so in the first place since Aaron was purportedly a friend.
“A mind-seeing is much more intrusive than simply sensing someone with your power. It is direct, incisive and almost like being interrogated. If you refuse, it means you don’t trust the caster and you have something to hide. By the way, Aaron, it is a pleasure to meet you” he said, extending his hand. “ Now, would you permit me to do a mind-seeing? I don’t like doing them. It’s too much in the style of the priesthood. They don’t ask either,” commented Calthas, casting a dark look at Ariana’s. Aaron was a little worried since he had never reacted well to magic. He hoped whatever Calthas was going to do wouldn’t give him another headache. Still, considering that he was lucky enough to accompany the Royal Princess of Maramyr he figured it would be best to cooperate if it would make her more comfortable. Besides, he didn’t have much of a choice at this point.
“I apologise if I have offended the princess,” Aaron said, glancing at the two others. “I had no idea that she was doing a ‘seeing’ or whatever it is called. If she wants to try again, I a willing.” The princess muttered something about him having no idea and then paced about the room.
“I am sorry, Aaron,” Calthas said and Aaron nodded. “Ariana has not been long learning the craft, especially since the palace is riddled with those damned Priests and well, anyone using magic gets to read from their little book,” he said sarcastically and more than a little cryptically. “It is better for all, and particularly for you if I perform this task. Shall I begin?”
Aaron shrugged. “Okay,” he said. “But magic always gives me horrible headaches. I might not be ab
le to accompany you to the city if it doesn’t go well”
“Don’t worry. I will be careful,” he reassured Aaron and then reached a hand toward him. Calthas muttered a few strange words under his breath and looked deeply into Aaron’s eyes. Aaron saw that the young mage's eyes had again turned glassy black. Aaron stared straight back, and felt his head begin to throb behind his eyes. Calthas’ brow furrowed as he concentrated and Aaron tried to ignore the pain that was now reaching all the way around to the back of his skull. Ariana and Borrican both watched Aaron as Calthas began chanting again. The princess gasped and from the corner of his eye, Aaron could see Borrican’s face go pale.
The pain in Aaron’s head increased more with every moment and soon Calthas was beginning to sweat. Aaron felt that the room was getting warmer and his chest began to tighten, leaving him short of breath. Suddenly the room started spinning and Aaron’s vision swam with waves of darkness. Aaron lost consciousness and crumpled to the floor. Calthas tore his own eyes free of the seeing and gasped. He reached for a chair and sat in it taking a few deep breaths. Borrican rushed to help his Aaron off the floor as he came to. Rising to his feet, Aaron noticed that the pain in his head had once again faded quickly to its usual persistent ache. After a few moments, Calthas stood as well.
“Very bad. This is not good at all,” he said between breaths. “Ariana, Borrican, your friend Aaron here is not hiding anything from you, not intentionally, but there is definitely something hidden about him. From what I can tell, there is some kind of block on his mind, kind of like when one of us hides our power, but more complete. From what I could tell, he wasn’t even doing anything to stop me and I still couldn’t get through. I think there is some a magical ward on him and it is not of his own making. I managed to glimpse his aura and, while the ward is similar, it doesn't completely match. This suggests to me it was placed there by someone else. It is a powerful ward, too, far beyond my abilities.” Calthas cast an inquisitive eye at Aaron, who now sat up with the help of his friend Borrican. “Do you know how you came to have a magical ward placed upon you?” he asked. Aaron shook his head. He had only a vague idea of what Calthas was talking about. Ariana gave Aaron a suspicious look then shot a disapproving one at Borrican.