"There'll be maidens." Yorn gave Kedrik a shove.
Kedrik smiled. Maidens would definitely take some of the boredom out of the otherwise dull days sitting in class and learning spells.
After class, they changed out of their Wizard's robes and headed into town for the inn. Yorn chose the Winking Witch, as it was close to the Keep.
The sturdy but weathered inn was large enough to house a crowd of diners and still have room for a minstrel to perform for the townsfolk. It was a spot where the locals went to down a little ale and listen to whatever minstrel happened to be passing through. Yorn told Kedrik to skip evening meal so he would have room for dinner at the inn, because the cooking at the inn was far better than anything offered in the Keep.
"They make the most delicious fowl I have ever tasted." Yorn kissed his fingertips and snapped them in the air. "It's better than anything my ma ever made."
Kedrik wondered if Yorn missed his family, or was grateful to be on his own. Yorn talked about his ma as if she'd never learned to cook, but looking at Yorn, he couldn't have missed a meal in his life.
"I'm more interested in the maidens." Kedrik could take or leave the meal. He hadn't eaten, but he wasn't hungry enough to be tempted by the food alone.
As they approached the inn, the sound of a minstrel floated towards them on the chill night air. The singer was passably talented and had a gentle hand on the dulcimer. He sang of love lost and ready maidens.
The heavy wooden door opened on a rush of warm air carrying the scent of burning wood, spilled ale and roast kine. The noise of the patrons shouting and singing was almost deafening. Kedrik stood there taking it all in until someone behind him gave him a shove.
"You going in lad, or you just going to stand there blocking the doorway, sniffing what you should be inside enjoying?"
Kedrik turned to see a heavyset man attired in the style of a tradesman. He held onto the door and looked down on Kedrik.
"Sorry, Sir. I was just overtaken by the aroma of good cooking." Kedrik stepped inside and pushed his way through the crowd to where Yorn had secured a bench at one of the tables.
"What happened to you?" Yorn shouted. "You get lost or did you forget to make water before we left for town?"
"I was just taking in the aroma of good home cooking." Kedrik plopped himself onto the bench opposite Yorn. The cooking did smell great and it made his stomach growl.
"I already ordered for you. I hope you're hungry. If not, all the more for me." Yorn rubbed his stomach. "See those two over there?" Yorn pointed to two maidens sitting at a table close to the minstrel. One had sandy blond hair and wore a loose white blouse. She clapped along with the music and bounced up and down in time to the melody. The other had darker hair with a slight curl to it. She was dressed in a blouse that buttoned to her neckline and sat quietly beside her more vocal and active friend.
"The golden haired maiden is mine. You can have the mouse," Yorn said.
"The mouse?"
"Quiet as a mouse? The one sitting still while all this music is going on."
Before Kedrik could reply, the server dropped a pair of mugs on the table and slammed down a pitcher of ale. He slid a plate of dark bread and a pot of butter between Kedrik and Yorn. "Be back with the bird in a bit."
"Thank you," Kedrik said, but the server was already gone.
"See how she bounces?" Yorn asked.
"Who?" Kedrik turned back to Yorn, who smacked him playfully on the back of the head in imitation of the Head Master.
"Keep up, boy. If you were this slow in magic lessons, the Head Master would have you practicing all night. Pay attention. I'm trying to teach you something here."
"The mouse. I was listening." Kedrik rubbed his head, glaring at Yorn.
"Her name is Quinn. She's in here often. Watch what I do."
Yorn cupped his hands together and rubbed them. He placed his right hand over his heart and then his left, bringing them back together again almost in an attitude of prayer. "Vos vultis amoris" he said, winking at Kedrik. "She'll desire love."
Yorn blew on his hands. The light violet sparkles of magic from the spell made its way over to the maiden and settled on her.
"What are you doing? Everyone will see you cast a spell and you'll get in trouble." They had strict rules against apprentices using magic outside of class. Kedrik looked around, but no one seemed to notice.
"Don't worry. Only Wizards can see that. No one here is a Wizard." Yorn turned to watch Quinn.
Quinn had been animated and talking with her friend. Now she was staring at the minstrel with a far away dreamy look in her eyes.
"Looks like your spell didn't work."
"It worked, but I forgot to fixate her love on me."
Yorn repeated the process. This time he cast the spell to make her yearn for his love. "Vos vultis dilectione mea."
Again the spell wafted its way over to Quinn. The sparkles circled her hair glinting like a cloud of pixies until it settled on her. She instantly tore her gaze away from the minstrel and focused on Yorn.
Yorn stood up. "See you back at the Keep." He turned toward Quinn who was mooning over his every move.
"Where are you going? There's a bird coming and you haven't finished your ale."
"I'll be back before the food gets cold."
Kedrik was uncomfortable about being left at the inn all by himself. What would he do there without his friend?
"Back in a bit." Yorn winked at Kedrik.
"What am I going to do?"
"That's up to you." Yorn waved his hand in the air as he threaded his way through the patrons and took a seat next to Quinn.
Kedrik watched as Yorn spoke to the maiden. Before the end of the next song, the girl stood, took Yorn's hand, and escorted him out of the inn. Kedrik sat there in silence amidst the noise and rich scents of the inn wondering what it would be like to have a girl like that fawn all over him. He had never had a special lady friend, much less an assignation with a beautiful maiden like Quinn.
He looked wistfully over at Quinn's friend, the mousy one. The girl was watching the minstrel, but she was clearly uncomfortable being there alone. She glanced about the inn as if looking for someone.
Kedrik looked around. No one had paid any attention as Yorn and Quinn sauntered out of the inn. Kedrik probed for signs of a Wizard as he'd been instructed in his classes. He couldn't feel any magic at work in the inn. He should be safe.
Kedrik turned back to Quinn's friend. She still sat there, but she shifted around as she stacked the plates and utensils before her, as if she were preparing for departure.
He didn't want to lose his chance. Kedrik rose and pushed through the patrons, sitting down on the bench opposite the girl. He smiled his most charming smile. At least he hoped it was his most charming smile.
"I'm Kedrik."
"Nan." The girl smiled but quickly broke eye contact as she continued arranging the remnants of the meal.
"I've ordered the fowl, and now my friend seems to have gone missing. Would you like to share it with me?"
She glanced at Kedrik over the dirty plates. "I've eaten," was all she said.
Kedrik felt his heart beat faster. She was going to finish picking up the plates and be gone before he had a chance to talk to her. He tried to remember the spell Yorn had just taught him. Even Yorn had gotten it wrong at first. He wasn't sure he could remember it, but he had to do something as she picked up the plates and turned to leave.
He cupped his hands and spoke into them. "Ego dilectio vestra." A strange feeling came over him. He was light headed for a moment, but soon remembered what he was doing. Nan was going to leave before the spell had a chance to work.
"Wait." Kedrik grasped her hand.
"Let me go." Nan stood up and wrenched her arm free.
"Wait. Don't go." The thought of losing Nan suddenly overwhelmed Kedrik. He couldn't let her leave. Nan was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. He would die without her. She was his everything. Kedrik grabbed
for Nan's wrist once again, but someone seized him from behind. He twisted to get a look at his assailant. A large man dressed in huntsman clothes held Kedrik's wrist in a vice-like grip.
Kedrik tried to remember what he'd been taught, how to free himself from an attacker, but he couldn't recall the spell.
"What's the matter, boy?" the man demanded. "Didn't you hear the lady?"
"But I love her." Kedrik's heart ached at the thought of losing Nan.
"Well, she don't love you." The man wrenched Kedrik's arm, driving his face into the table. Kedrik twisted to see Nan step back from him in fear. His arm hurt. His face hurt. His heart ached. She was going to walk away and leave him there alone.
"Nan. Please don't go," Kedrik begged.
Nan stepped back farther as the man holding Kedrik's arm and it twisted until Kedrik was sure it was going to break. He screamed in pain, struggling to get free, but the pressure only increased.
"What's wrong with you, boy?" The man bore down on Kedrik's back. A thick arm pressed on the back of Kedrik's neck, grinding his head into the table, making it hard to breathe.
A woman spoke, but Kedrik couldn't make out the words. Whatever she'd said, must have been about him, as the pressure released slightly, allowing Kedrik to draw a breath.
Kedrik felt the touch of a hand on his cheek and a honey golden ponytail dangled before his eyes. The woman leaned over, placing her head on the table, looking directly into Kedrik's face. Her eyes were the deepest blue Kedrik had ever seen. He groaned.
It was Kimt.
"You're not doing the Head Master very proud tonight, are you?"
"What?" Kedrik tried to sound innocent.
"What indeed. Having problems with personal pronouns, aren't you?"
"Why do you say that?" The pressure relieved and Kedrik was free. He glanced around the inn, looking for Nan. She couldn't have gotten far. He could still catch her. He could make her understand.
"Kedrik!" Kimt grabbed his chin and turned his face towards hers. Her deep blue eyes pierced him to the core. "You put a spell on yourself to make you love that girl." Kimt waved her hand in the direction behind Kedrik. Was that where Nan was? He tried to turn his head, but Kimt held his chin fast.
"Let's see if we can't get rid of your ineptly crafted spell, so you can pay attention when I'm talking." Kimt waved her free hand over Kedrik and mumbled a quick spell. Kedrik flushed. What had he done?
"I see that's over," Kimt said. "Feel sort of stupid now, don't you?"
"What happened?" Kedrik felt ashamed. Especially in front of Kimt.
Kimt looked up at the man who stood nearby scowling down at Kedrik. He was easily a head taller than Kedrik and wore several large, sharp looking knives at his belt. Why a man would need more than one knife, Kedrik didn't know, but he didn't want to get on the wrong side of this man.
"He's fine now. I'll take care of him." Kimt beamed a smile at the man.
"Yes, Ma'am." The man turned and departed into the crowd.
"You could have gotten yourself into a lot of trouble." Kimt straddled the bench and sat facing Kedrik. Gone were the purple robes she wore in the Keep. She was dressed as any other local. If Kedrik didn't know she was a Sorceress, he would not have been able to tell from her attire or her demeanor.
She must have noticed his look. "Surprised to see me, or surprised to see me dressed like this?"
"Sorry, Ma'am."
"Kedrik. What were you thinking? I thought you were a decent young man who respected others. What were you going to do, bewitch that young woman and take advantage of her? And then what? What happens when the spell wears off and she realizes she has been mistreated by a Wizard?"
"I don't know." Kedrik hung his head.
"Kedrik. We live here. We have to treat these people with respect. You can't run around performing magic on townsfolk for your own ends. What do you think would happen if we allowed you boys to run free and enchant the townsfolk so you can take advantage of them?"
Kedrik kept his gaze focused on the bench.
"They'd storm the Keep with pitch forks and torches." Kimt raised Kedrik's face to meet hers. "If I hadn't been here to stop you, you could have caused a lot of trouble."
Kedrik's heart beat faster. Yorn had already left with Quinn before Kimt arrived. He must have, or else Kimt would have caught him, and none of this would ever have happened.
Kedrik looked at Kimt. He didn't want to tell her about Yorn, but she said Kedrik could have caused a lot of trouble. Maybe Yorn already had.
Kimt smiled. "Don't worry. Someone has already addressed your partner in crime. Yorn is back at the Keep, explaining to the Head Master why he broke the prohibition against using magic on the townsfolk."
Kedrik swallowed. What would they do to Yorn? And what were they going to do to him? The punishment for breaking the rule against going into town was mild compared to that for using magic on townsfolk. The only thing more serious than that was murder. Kedrik turned to Kimt. Maybe she would be lenient.
Kimt clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Lucky for you. You didn't perform magic on anyone but yourself. You won't get the same treatment as your friend, not that I won't come up with something suitably unpleasant, but I think we can keep this just between us. Can't we?"
Kedrik took heart. He was safe for now. She wasn't going to report him after all. Perhaps he'd escaped the wrath of the Head Master.
"You are going to have to answer to Lorit, though."
Kedrik's heart sank.
Treasury
Queen Ukina of Veldwaite was an unlikely monarch. Her dirty blonde hair had the consistency of straw and stuck out from beneath her crown in unflattering ways. Her beak-like nose was her most prominent feature aside from her bony arms. She'd inherited the throne when her father died and her brother was taken by the Priesthood. She never really felt comfortable on the throne, but she wouldn't give it up. It was her burden to bear.
Ukina waited in her private reception room amidst the rich wall hangings and golden lamp stands. The fire burned quietly in the hearth, throwing off a sweet scent of pine. It did little to chase away the chill Ukina felt as she waited for Sir Adane. The rich paneling, plush carpets and intricate tapestries were of little comfort in these troubled times. With the Nobility after her throne, she felt like she was fighting for her life at every turn.
Servants entered and exited her suite, attending to her needs, but she ignored them. They were no comfort and today she wasn't sure if she could trust any of them. How had things gotten this bad?
The Nobles demanded that Ukina open the treasury to them, so they could search for a precious amulet they said belonged to the people. She knew they were after something that the Temple coveted and that they were asking on behalf of her estranged brother. She had so far refused them and it had come close to triggering a full-scale rebellion. She had only managed to stave off the conflict by agreeing to allow them to inspect the treasury on the following day. That gave Sir Adane one day to find the amulet they sought using only the hints she'd been able to glean from their demands. She was not hopeful. Whatever they wanted, she knew she'd be better off if they failed to get their hands on it.
She sat on the edge of her chair, fidgeting. She restrained herself when on the throne, but in the comfort of her private chamber, she allowed herself this one vice. To release control over her impulses even for a moment was a comfort to her. It meant that, in this room, she could be her true self instead of the Queen of Veldwaite.
There was a rap on the door. It was light, in a pattern that she recognized as Sir Adane's. She hoped he bore the news she'd been waiting for ... news that might help her hold on to the crown.
She jumped up and rushed to unbar the door. Sir Adane entered, accompanied by his squire, and Ukina barred the door behind them. Sir Adane was tall, broad shouldered, and an impressive fighting man even without his formal armor. His ruddy complexion spoke of a man who spent much of his time under the sun rather than inside the castle, like some kn
ights.
He carried a small wooden box about a span on a side. It was made of weathered and unfinished wood with none of the gold fittings or gilt inlaid carvings one usually finds in the Royal Treasury, but the way he cradled it in his arm assured her that it was the precious object she sought. He placed the box on the small table beside her chair, and opened it to reveal the treasure that was responsible for so much strife in her kingdom.
"This is it, Your Highness," he said. "It's a dragon's egg."
The dragon's egg sat in a cradle of ancient silk that was almost as lackluster as the egg itself. For such an important talisman, it looked almost ordinary, as if a large river stone had been inexpertly covered in tarnished gold lace and embedded with tiny jewels. The thing was dusty, rough, and unimpressive, to the point that no one had thought to polish it for all the years it sat in the treasury.
Ukina reached inside and lifted the egg. It was heavy, but not as heavy as she'd expected. It felt a lot like a stone. She wondered if that was what it truly was. Perhaps it was just a simple river stone, covered in gold lace to make it appear valuable.
"Are you sure this is a dragon's egg?" Ukina examined the object, then peered into the box. Shards had flaked off the egg and coated the crumbling silk that lined the box.
"Quite certain," Sir Adane said. "It matches the description of the talisman they seek."
Ukina shook her head. Was this the thing that was causing so much trouble for her kingdom? This unimpressive rock was threatening her throne? If it were a dragon's egg, it certainly couldn't be viable after all these years, could it? But if it still contained magic, letting it fall into the hands of the Nobles certainly wouldn't end her troubles. What was she going to do with it? She couldn't hope to keep it hidden in the treasury and she wasn't going to hand it over to the Nobility.
Ukina reached to replace the egg in the box, but Sir Adane stopped her.
"Wait, Your Highness. I have an idea."
Sir Adane stretched out his gauntleted hand and took the egg from her. He summoned his squire over and opened the leather pouch the young man wore slung over one shoulder. Sir Adane placed the egg in the pouch and fastened it shut.
Master Wizard (Book 4) Page 3