by Bill Ricardi
I had to chuckle as I closed the door and quickly refreshed the Light spell. “Honestly, I miss old 214 sometimes. There was more of a sense of community, of belonging. I feel isolated up here.”
Parsnip’s eyes were distant. “I wouldn’t know, I never really got to feel at home in my quarters.”
I took off my summer robe and shucked my boots. “I’m sorry Patricia. I heard about the ruling that came down this morning.” I used my friend’s real name, mainly to remind her that there were still people who knew her and cared about her.
The half elf laughed, humorlessly. “Not enough evidence. Well, hypnotism and charm spells don’t leave a mark. Nothing physical anyway.” Parsnip tried to shrug it off.
After folding my robe, I gestured for my friend to raise her arms, and helped the half elf slip out of her own. “People are aware now at least. They’ll be watched closely for the rest of their academic lives.” I folded her robe and put it into one of the drawers that we had emptied for her use.
Parsnip kicked off her boots, and then tucked them under the bed with the tip of a toe. Her Arcane University anklet glimmered. “That’s something at least. I’m hoping they’ll consider allowing me to room with Titan next quarter. It would solve both our problems.”
I sat next to my friend on the bed. “I hope that happens, Patricia. He’s a nice guy. Until then, this place is yours. We’ll pull any strings we can for you, you know that.”
The half elf glanced down and her eyes widened. She looked over my thin summer shirt and breeches. We had been like this with each other a dozen times before bedtime, even snuggling close together before falling asleep. Perhaps this time, the high level of privacy changed things, made her mind go down paths that she was trying to avoid. “Sorch, maybe I should… I should probably let you have the room tonight, y-you have to leave in the morning and need your rest.”
I admitted, “Ames said you shouldn’t be alone tonight, and I tend to agree with my love’s assessment. Did you want to be alone?”
The word came out of her mouth immediately. “No!” Patricia took a deep breath and steeled herself for a confession. “Listen, I love and respect Ames. That’s what makes this so hard. I would never do anything to c-come between the two of you. But I feel something for you Sorch. I have a crush on you.”
I said, “I know. Ames appreciates your love and recognises your respect. That’s why you’re here, hon.”
Parsnip stared at me for a moment, before blurting out, “Did you hear what I said? I love you Sorch. M-more than as a friend.” the half elf squeezed her eyes closed, as if blocking out the world would help her get this confession out. “I know it’s stupid and I know you’re taken. Call it infatuation. But I spend an unhealthy portion of our time together imagining all of the things that we can’t do together!”
I took the opportunity to strip off my shirt. “Because you respect my relationship with Ames, and you know at the end of the day I’m always going to go back to my mate.”
The half elf opened her eyes. “Yes!” Her eyes widened as she stared at my bare, scarred green flesh. Whatever the half elf was about to say next was robbed from her mind and lips.
I reached out to tip her chin up with two of my calloused fingers. “Patricia. Those are the criteria that Ames and I insist on. As long as you understand that, the two of us can be more than just platonic friends. If that’s what you want.”
The half elf’s mouth was working, but no sounds were coming out. Sometimes the really smart people don’t know what to say when they’ve been given what they want.
I laughed softly. “I’m saying that if you understand that we’re sharing an act of friendship, there’s very little we can’t do together. Can you live with that? Is that what you want?”
Parsnip nodded, mutely and eagerly.
It was up to me to finish undressing the both of us. I allowed my friend to examine my body. Warm, soft digits traced over my scarred flesh, even as my rough hands explored every sensuous curve of the lovely half elf lass. She leaned in for a kiss, and given that my experience was mainly with felines, I just tilted my head and let the half elf dictate the terms. Her lips and tongue were soft , delicate. After nearly a minute of this new heaven, Parsnip leaned back, smiling.
I murmured, “Light on or off?”
“Off.”
I threw her thin breaches at the little wooden nub on the wall. My accuracy was rewarded. The discarded pants hung gracelessly over the source of my Light cantrip, blocking out 90 percent of the illumination.
Any aspect of Parsnip that had once been restrained was released in this new darkness. Throughout the night, I tended to my friend’s needs. If nothing else, I pride myself on being able to take instruction, particularly when the instruction was this pleasurable.
Chapter 13
Patricia was gone by the time I awoke, her classes starting earlier than my meeting. On the writing desk, there was a nice note wishing us luck. There was even a cartoonish doodle of me and Ames at the bottom. ’Someone was chipper this morning.’ I thought to myself.
There was a second note, this one slipped under my door. It was from the Transport Guild. The last pair to arrive was going to be Toby and Tara, in some 40 minutes time. I cleaned up, swung by the kitchen to get a large tray of buttered bread and sausages, and carried said breakfast to the potion lecture hall in the East Wing. There was a mobile chalkboard outside that simply read ‘Private Event’.
Rick, Will, and Ames greeted my arrival with enthusiasm. Or I should say, they greeted the arrival of food with enthusiasm, wiping out a third of the platter in minutes. I had to defend the remainder fiercely until our minotaur companions could join us and lay claim to their share. Tara gave me a kiss on the cheek for my troubles, which made it all worthwhile.
As we all munched on what breakfast remained, Ames closed the door to the hall and then started their presentation.
“The western province is in a chaotic state. The Duke’s former lands are now in full open revolt, his former armies refusing to repatriate to Royal Moffit and many of his vassals declaring independence. There’s a level of organization between the factions and the armies, however it’s unclear who is giving the orders. We thought that it could very well be top members of the Koroth cult, but the major official church leaders are accounted for and claim no involvement.”
That grim account of open rebellion quelled any sense of mirth in the room. King Wensley Rosen and Queen Ginger Rosen were our friends and patrons. They had trusted us with not only the welfare of their family, but ultimately the salvation of the royal city itself. To hear that they were just shy of full scale war was somber news indeed.
Ames continued, “Increasingly, undead have been seen among the rebel forces; not attacking the rebels, but working alongside them. Recently longships made of bone were seen crossing the bay to the northwest of Royal Moffit. That makes the most likely culprit someone working out of the Ruins of Castle Gray or somewhere in the vicinity. The good news is, we know how it’s being done.”
The were-cat relayed the confession of Prince Klovis Monteeg, the Pandemonium lordling that we had captured. It was the same information that Max had handed to me earlier.
“The bad news is, we don’t know what mortal forces are in charge of directing this wave of negative energy along the ley lines. We’re one of many groups investigating the source of these undead waves. Reports have come in from places as remote as Glasson and The Shore. We’re only responsible for finding out what in the heck is going on near Castle Gray.”
The feline passed a small, hand drawn map to Will. He glanced at it and then passed it around. Each of us was careful not to get any sausage grease on it.
Ames said, “A small detachment of the Royal Moffit navy can ferry our group across the bay, but then we’ll be on our own. As soon as we find out who is calling the shots and eliminate them, one of our mages will use the Max’s Message spell to contact General Coleton. Then we all get back to the beach for pick
up. The Queen has approved compensation of 2,500 gold. Each.”
“Holy lizard crap.”
Everyone turned to stare at me, even as I realized that I had been the one to make that exclamation.
Toby turned back to Ames and agreed, in a more eloquent way. “Sorch is correct in his, rather succinct, assessment. This must be both incredibly risky and incredibly important to warrant such a massive bounty.”
Rick chimed in, grimly, “We’re being asked to investigate the source of an undead army in one of the most hostile parts of Panos. I would expect a king’s ransom as a reward, and that’s what we’re being offered.”
There was silence for a while. We each contemplated the massive bounty and the potential for disaster.
Ames paced, slowly. The were-cat started thinking aloud. “This kind of reward could draw an even more experienced team of adventurers. That means they’re being paid a greater sum elsewhere, potentially on a mission of even more importance.”
I cleared my throat, “Or they thought it was a suicide mission. Master Max told me in no uncertain terms that we had the right to refuse this mission. It was his way of warning me that this would be exceedingly dangerous. He may be many things, but Max doesn’t want to get us killed.”
Tara spoke up, “It’s starting to sound like the longer we wait, the more likely it is that undead overrun the southlands. I’m not sure our personal safety can factor into this. A wave of bone and rotting flesh is rolling across Panos. Eventually there will be nowhere left to run.”
We all started looking at each other. There was one nod, then another. Tara’s wisdom could not be denied. Silently, we all came to an agreement.
Ames started to gather up their things. “I’ll sign the charter and drop it off with Max. We’ll have a priority teleportation available within 20 minutes.”
We changed into travel-appropriate clothes and gear, right there in the potions classroom. There was no modesty amongst adventurers. We engaged in small talk as the five of us headed back towards the reception hall. Rick bemoaned the fact that he wouldn’t be here to see ‘his’ students’ final efforts. I promised to let him ride around on my Flat Mule on Midterm day. Will giggled at that.
Toby and Tara seemed quite close now. It was an easy union, unlike that of myself and Ames. And yet it was a demonstrative relationship, very unlike that of Rick and Will. The two had a healthy dynamic, though I wouldn’t enjoy it myself. It was slightly too sweet for my tastes. I wouldn’t trade the kind of fire-and-ice relationship that I shared with my were-cat for anything in the world.
Speaking of my were-cat, Ames joined us at the Circle of Transport a few minutes after we arrived. The feline said, “We’re all set. Word is being sent ahead. Apparently a familiar face will be waiting to escort us to wherever it is we need to go.”
Toby asked Ames, “Does that mean Ginger is bringing us peaches?”
The feline snorted. “I doubt it. But if she does, I get first dibs.”
Our party was announced, allowing us to cut the queue of visitors and vendors awaiting a transport home. The six of us stepped onto the inlaid copper plate. We had barely come to a halt before we were suddenly elsewhere.
The last time that I had arrived at the Temple of Omi-Suteth in Royal Moffit, it was dark and overcast. I didn’t get to see the stark beauty of the arrival area. Rather than a green garden, seen at so many other teleportation destinations, this temple had opted for a rock garden. Stunning boulders and rock spires could be seen all around us, with origins spanning the entire face of Panos: Volcanic glass, white granite, elven crystals, stately pumice, petrified wood quartz, even perforated sandstone. The large displays flanked a marble path that led to the temple’s back gate.
Will reminded me, “Sorch.” He gestured to my neck and mimed pulling something. It took me a moment to register the suggestion, but finally I tugged my hood up to hide my orcish features. My hands were covered as I was already wearing my new gloves, eagerly looking for an excuse to use their special ability.
Toby laughed when he saw who was waiting for us, and embraced the large, ebony skinned human warmly. Archie Lee, now a Lieutenant, was on hand to escort us to the Royal docks. We walked as the guard talked. After the big man and the minotaur had caught up, Lieutenant Lee told us about the aftermath of the battle that had led to my capture, and the ongoing rebuilding efforts in and around Royal Moffitt.
“It was hell for the first few weeks. I shouldn’t say that. I know that your actions literally prevented hell on Panos, but the short term suffering was pretty bad. We lost a lot of people in the Guard, but three times as many citizens were killed, and thousands injured. I honestly thought that the pain would never end, that this was our world now. But the people of the royal city did not break. They rallied. The dead were buried, and then came the masons. The woodworkers. The priests and nuns for healing. And the bakers and butchers helped to feed us all. Soon every man, woman, and child was pitching in. In all my days, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Royal Moffit was certainly not the same city that I had left a few months ago. Although the rebuilding efforts had started soon after the magical assault feeding the Arcane Syphons had ended, they were by no means complete. Brand new stone work lay next to the ashes of a home or business that had yet to achieve restoration. Once-fancy inns had responded to the tragedy by opening their doors, and some of them decided to remain more humble establishments, at least until the rebuilding efforts were complete. Everything was still two stories tall, but memorial flags fluttered high above several of the structures, showing support for both the city and the royal family.
Duke Harrington’s betrayal and the massive arcane damage that had followed was just one of the factors at play. There were a lot less people in the streets now. Lieutenant Lee explained why.
“The people were angry, and they needed someone to blame. We had thought that the Duke’s people had been routed and would scatter after their plot failed. But that wasn’t the case. Armies that were meant to protect his lands and the lands that he granted to his loyal followers banded together. They stood in open revolt. The people of Royal Moffit were enraged. Now we take hundreds of new recruits into the militia every day. Most of them end up serving in defensive regiments closer to home, but they’re out there. Tens of thousands of our people, standing up to the bastards that did this to them. Makes me proud to be part of it all.”
We made our way through the sketchy part of the city just outside the docks. Although nobody in their right mind would try to hassle a full adventuring troupe escorted by an officer of the royal guard, we still maintained a high alert. I pulled down my hood to have better visibility. Ames took the lead and disappeared around a corner. I caught a quick glimpse of my feline on the rooftop of an abandoned warehouse, and then they were gone. We didn’t see the were-cat again for ten minutes, until the party was clear of the area. When the last of the run down buildings was behind us, Ames casually strolled out of the adjacent guard shack and fell back into stride with the rest of the party.
We were standing in front of the restricted section of the docks, serving only military and royal ships. Lee held a brief discussion with the gate guard, showed him some official papers, and we were allowed inside of the fenced perimeter. I received a scowl from the guard. I hadn’t pulled my hood back up. Rather than doing so, I offered the grizzled veteran a broad smile and a bob of my head. That didn’t seem to help matters, so I moved on quickly.
The grand caravel that we were approaching was called the ‘Bishop’s Mishap’. She was a three masted ship, probably displacing around 70 tons. She was a troop transport and heavy recon ship. The Bishop’s Mishap sported no guns, but had four light ballista mounted on the main deck, two to port and two to starboard. By foregoing the weight of cannons, cannonballs, and blackpowder, the ship would have speed on her side. Not to mention that some fraction of the soldiers that the ship was carrying would be trained archers. I had seen similar configurations back when I h
ad my dockside apartment in Limt, and they fared quite well. I imagined that as long as she was not under direct assault by a warship of some kind, the Bishop’s Mishap would be just fine.
The ship departed at around noon, and the six of us were shown to our quarters. It wasn’t a surprise that we would be sharing a single cabin. In fact, the cabin in question would be considered generously sized for six humans. But not so much for four normal sized creatures and two minotaurs. We cleared out everything except for some of the bedding, in order to make enough space for our big friends to slumber. As the crew hauled away the extra cots and hammocks, we mocked up the sleeping arrangements. Even with our packs hanging from the hooks that used to host hammocks, Toby and Tara had to serve as pillows in order for us all to fit. It was going to be a ‘cozy’ voyage.
We mages managed to get some rest while Toby, Tara, and Ames made themselves useful on deck. Despite being a feline, Ames secretly loved the sea. The cat once admitted to me that they were a top notch swimmer. I wasn’t too surprised, my mate excelled in activities that required physical grace and sustained concentration.
After my midday memorization and intellect enhancement, I took a turn up on deck. Sadly, the horizon was getting foggy. The sailing master mentioned that he expected the fog to get worse rather than better. Upon seeing my disappointment, he pointed upwards towards the crow’s nest and offered to let me have a look from there. I passed.
The man said, “Ain’t no way this fog should be happening, not this time o’ year. My fathers and their fathers charted wind and weather in the bay fer sixty years. What yer seein’ here is an abomination. Means the water’s far too cold fer this time of year. And she’s risin’. Ports all over Panos are raisin’ their docks because of it. Ain’t natural. Maybe you adventurin’ types can look into that instead of yer silly quests fer some lost skull of some stupid critter nobody’s ever heard of.”