Silver Mage (Book 2)

by D. W. Jackson

  “Then what about the merchant guild? Will you have the right to set the rates that the tower must abide by?” Phena asked, with a haughty voice.

  “How did you know I was planning to talk with the guild?” Bren asked surprised.

  “I knew that it would come up sooner or later. The council has tried many times to discuss trade agreements with the guild, but they refused each time. The fact that you haven’t scheduled a talk with the guild yet only means that you are lagging on your duties.”

  “To answer your question, the rates I negotiate with the guild will be for the entire kingdom and that includes the tower.”

  “And I am guessing that we are not going to see any of the profits from the tax on items that the tower sells to the guild.”

  “In a way you will,” Bren replied. “You get the profits from the sale, and you will see the return of the taxes in the stipend that is given to the tower by the palace on regular intervals, or do you think that the gold that the tower gets from my coffers is earned in some other way?”

  “Enough,” Sae-Thae said laughing, cutting Phena off from a sharp retort that Bren could tell was sitting tight on the edge of her tongue like a dagger aimed at him.

  “If you have accomplished your goal, I would suggest you leave before the guards start to get suspicions and investigate, and find us all sitting here chatting happily,” Sae-Thae said with a hidden smile. “I do have my bad reputation to uphold as a villain.”

  When they left Sae-Thae’s room, the guard checked to make sure that the head master was still in good health before allowing Bren and his friends to leave. “I need to get to my next class,” Faye said, as soon as they were out of earshot of the guards.

  As Bren watched her rush down the hall, a pang of regret flashed through his mind. “When he had left Farlan, he had hoped to spend a few years in the carefree study of magic. He wanted to make friends and spend his time idly laughing among them, but that had been brushed aside for other duties.”

  “What now?” Cass asked as they made their down the long winding staircase.

  Looking at Cass, Bren smiled to himself. While he might not be spending his time studying magic, he had found some good friends. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted, but it had its perks. “There is not much we can do, but head back to the palace and prepare for what might or might not happen next.”

  “What do you expect to happen next?” Cass asked, an odd look on his face.

  “I think the council will reach out with an individual person sent to discuss things with me. They might even suggest that I take on an advisor. A lot of kingdoms have taken on Katanga soldiers as guards as well as mages as advisors.”

  “What will you do?”

  “If they offer, I will take on an advisor, but one that I choose. I want to make sure the person who is spying on me is at least reliable,” Bren replied with a small chuckle.

  CHAPTER VI

  It was only four days before the council did as Bren had expected and sent over a mage to act as an intermediary between him and the tower.

  Bren had the mage wait in a small room that they had sectioned off, from what had once been the common room, to act as a waiting area. It was still sparse, but it at least offered a comfortable place to wait.

  Bren understood the importance of making a guest wait. It was a show of power and resolve, but he still didn’t like playing the game. Sitting on his throne of wood, staring at the walls doing nothing as his guest did the same thing seemed pointless to him.

  After nearly a half hour, Bren signaled one of his guards to escort the mage into the throne room. The mage was a young, good looking female, who wore robes that clearly showed off her more desirable traits. Bren was sure that the council had chosen her more for her looks than her abilities. It was a common practice to use seduction against male rulers, and Bren had to admit that it worked more often than not.

  “Your Majesty,” the mage said, bowing low. “I am Karin, a fourth class mage from the tower and I have come to extend our gratitude for the recent funds that you provided for the towers use. I would also like to give our apologies for the tragedies that have taken place due to the head masters misplaced judgment in the past and we vow that no such thing shall happen in the future.”

  Bren’s eyes flashed over to where Lillian stood in the corner of the room, her face pinched in anger. Though the elves and Vathari have never had good relation, she had a strong view of right and wrong and she didn’t take too kindly that Sae-Thae was taking the blame for the wrongs of others. “I am glad to hear it,” Bren said softly, his eyes still on Lillian to make sure that she wouldn’t do anything rash. “Surely though, you did not come here just for those trifling matters.”

  “You are very perceptive my lord,” Karin said with another low bow. “The council would like to offer me as an advisor as well.”

  Bren moved his hand up to his face and acted as if he was deep in thought, the same way his mother did when she knew what she wanted to say, yet wanted to act like she didn’t. It was an old tactic to make the other person feel like they had more control than they did. “I don’t think having you as an advisor and intermediary for the tower would be good, as your duties might conflict with each other. If you could ask the tower to get a number of possible advisors for me to choose from, I would be most pleased.”

  “I will relay the message as requested majesty,” Karin said, though her face showed her displeasure with his decision.

  “I would also request one thing further from you before you leave Miss Karin,” Bren said, holding up his hand to keep the mage from leaving.

  “What would that be majesty?” Karin asked, her face twisted in curiosity.

  “When the snow breaks, I will be having a meeting with the merchant guild and would like to know what the tower’s view on any agreement would be,” Bren said with a shallow smile.

  “As you wish majesty,” Karin said, her face showing her shock.

  As soon Karin had left, Bren slumped down in his chair and let out a heavy sigh. He had sat through many of his mother’s meetings with visiting dignitaries, but he had never had to hold one himself. When he had visited the council, he had been rash because of the tensions, but now that he was trying for a fresh start, he had to pick and choose every word with care. He started wondering how his mother was able to keep her sanity, considering how many of these meeting she had daily compared to him. For the first time in his life, Bren felt sorry for his sister, who had to take the throne.

  “Would you like something to drink my lord?” Lillian asked, her voice crisp and dripping venom.

  “Please,” Bren replied, trying to ignore the anger in her voice.

  “Are you really going to allow one of the tower’s spies to reside in the palace?” Lillian asked, slamming a large glass of water down on the table next to his throne so hard that a small amount of water splashed onto the dark wood. “A dressed up strumpet whose only job is to get as much information about you as possible.”

  “If I don’t want a hidden war with the tower, then I will have to,” Bren said, letting out another sigh. He had wondered how long it would take for Lillian to voice her objections. In truth, she had been brooding for days and he had expected it long before now. He was just glad that she hadn’t exploded while Karin was in the hall.

  Lillian gave him another stern glare and stormed off. Bren tried his best to hold back a laugh, knowing that it wouldn’t help matters at all, but he had to admit, he enjoyed the fiery look in Lillian’s eyes when she was mad.

  With no other meetings for the day, Bren decided that it would be best if he headed back to his study to get some more work done. With winter full on now, very few reports were coming in, giving him the perfect chance to catch up and get a hold on current affairs within the kingdom.

  To Bren’s surprise, it didn’t take long for him to receive an answer from the tower. Within an hour a letter was delivered, alerting Bren that tomorrow the tower would send over six candidates
to be his advisor. “They must have been ready for me to request a different advisor,” Bren mumbled to himself under his breath.

  He had expected the tower to be ready for his decision, but in the end it only changed things a little. A part of him was even a little happy that they were ready. It meant that this business could be over even sooner, though it reduced his chances of finding an advisor to his liking.

  Why don’t you just choose one at random and just keep them far enough away that they can’t learn anything.

  “If I could do that, I would, but it’s not that simple.” Bren replied to Thuraman. For a staff that had been in his father’s care for years, living in the palace, the subtle politics of a palace were lost on it. “If I keep the advisor too far away, it will make the tower curious and they will send more people to watch me. I have to find someone who is malleable to my position, at least in some way, so that they will report what I want, when I want. If I can’t find anyone suitable, I will have to take great care that they only learn what I want them to.”

  Sounds like more trouble than its worth.

  “In a way it is, but that’s life at court…Everything is more complicated than it should be,” Bren answered, chuckling to himself.

  The next day when the mages arrived, Bren didn’t make them wait overly long. He had been given ample warning of the meeting, not to mention his waiting room was a little small to hold six people comfortably for more than a few moments.

  Bren paid close attention as the mages came into the throne room. Four female and two male mages, all much older than him, entered the hall confidently.

  The males Bren quickly dismissed, not because of any desire for a female companion, but because he was sure that the tower had limited the number of males because they were sure he would pick one out of fear of seduction.

  “If you please, each introduce yourselves as well as your magical attributes and skills that I might find useful.”

  Bren listened closely as they named off their skills. One of the females was an internal magic user, putting her quickly off the list for advisors. Internal magic had too many ways that could make them more of a hindrance because it was near impossible to tell if they were hiding any powers.

  That left only three candidates. All three were skilled in various areas that could be useful to him, so he narrowed it down in his mind by their controlling element.

  Fire, wind, and earth were their controlling elements. Fire was strong willed and combative, but they were also known to be fiercely loyal to their masters. The only problem was who the mage would view as their master, him or the tower. Wind was flippant and very curious, but tended to forget things as fast as they learned them. Earth was sturdy and tended to think about every decision, but they were annoying stubborn. In the end, Bren decided on Elyse the fire mage. She might cause trouble, but if he could sway her to his side, he would have the upper hand over the tower.

  Once he voiced his decision, the other mages quietly left the palace without further word. Bren was amazed at their composure and manner, though it did make him slightly wary that he had made the wrong choice.

  Elyse was short, standing only a little over four foot tall and had a very thin body. Her hair matched her element and looked like a long flowing flames hanging behind her.

  “My lord, where would you like me to set up my quarter?” Elyse asked as soon as the other mages were out of the hall.

  “There is a room to the right of my own on the bottom floor, or you could take the room next to my study where I end up spending most of my time. I sleep there most nights as it is,” Bren added the last part, laughing to himself.

  “Then I will take the room next you’re your study majesty,” Elyse said, bowing her head slightly, but not far enough that Bren didn’t notice the fire behind her eyes. “After I settle my belongings, I would like to discuss my duties with you, if that is advisable my lord.”

  “That will be fine Elyse, you can find me in my study,” Bren said, standing from his seat.

  Bren didn’t wait for a response, but headed straight to his study. Most of his work was done, but he still had a lot of preparation left to do before the coming spring.

  Shortly after Bren set down a large group of papers about the size and yield of the previous year’s crop yields, a knock came at his door. “Come in,” Bren said loudly, knowing that it was Elyse, as no one else seemed to feel the need to knock on his chambers.

  “My lord, if we could discuss my duties,” the mage said, bowing her head slightly.

  “Yes your duties, but first we need to talk about the manner in which you will address me,” Bren said, his voice calm yet sounding cold and distant.

  “Do you wish for me to get on my knees my lord…or should I call you master?” Elyse said her voice cold and hard, each word harsh and dripping with venom.

  “No, anything but that,” Bren said, trying to hold back a laugh as he imagined Elyse doing just what she had offered. “If at possible, I would much prefer if you stopped with the, your majesty’s and my lord’s. If you would please, call me Bren.”

  “That would be hardly proper Majesty,” Elyse said, staring at him coldly.

  “You might think so, but having grown up in a palace, I can assure you that people who work closely with the royalty only use formal titles when others are present,” Bren offered. “More than once my mother’s guards would admonish her like a child for acting foolishly. It is quite a sight to see a queen blush when she is getting scolded. Not that I am asking for you to scold me.”

  “If that is your wish…Bren,” Elyse replied hesitantly.

  “Great,” Bren said laughing. “Now about your duties. It would seem straight forward, you are to be my right hand in all domestic affairs and offer advice where you deem necessary and in the case of my absence, you will aid whoever I assign as my steward as you would myself. Is there a problem with that?”

  “Aren’t you afraid that I will act in a manner that will be in the best interest of the tower?” Elyse asked, earning a surprised cough from Bren.

  “I must admit, the idea had crossed my mind more than a little, but no matter who I chose the outcome would be the same. Still, I must make the best of what I have available so I will listen to your advice, but that doesn’t mean that I will abide by it, and should I find that you are working against the best interest of my people, I will relieve you of your post and have you replaced.”

  “Good, I am glad to have that out in the open,” Elyse said, her contempt still thick in her voice. “I don’t like the idea of moving around in the dark. I prefer being straight forward in my actions, so I will tell you this. My job is to make sure that you are not planning anything that would be harmful to the tower. If I find that you are, I am supposed to dissuade you in any manner I can. If that is not possible, then I am to report it to the tower. Other than that, I have been ordered to keep all else private as the masters are worried that if you think I am a spy, you will release me of my duty and refuse to take on another advisor. I have taken an oath on this and I will carry it through to the best of my ability.”

  Unable to control himself, Bren started laughing. He tried to stop, but he couldn’t until tears started rolling from his eyes. “Do you find something funny?” Elyse said angrily.

  “I just never expected you to be so open about it. I just found it funny that I chose the perfect candidate. I am sure that none of the other five would have told me what they were planning to do.”

  “I could be lying,” Elyse said, blushing slightly.

  “People who have the fire element might be a lot of things, but liars are not one of them. No, when you make a pledge you mean it. Now, if you don’t mind, could you look over those papers and give me your opinion on my plans for the first planting.”

  The rest of the night went along quietly with Elyse reading through different documents and giving her advice. She was not very knowledgeable on farming, but she had a keen knowledge of numbers and was good at picking o
ut patterns that escaped Bren’s notice.

  That night as Bren settled into bed, he smiled brightly, knowing that he while he might not have made the best choice, he could be confident in the one he had. It was a rare thing when things worked out in a favorable manner when someone was working for an unknown position, but at least this once it had gone well.

  *****************************

  He is his mother’s son,” Humanius said, laughing as he watched Bren talk to the young mage who had become his official advisor. “At least he doesn’t let everyone walk all over him.”

  “I didn’t let everyone walk all over me,” Thad said defensively.

  “You could have fooled me,” Humanius said with a smirk. “You forget, I took a good interest in you during your younger days. It always surprised me how you let the women in your life lead you around like a pet.”

  Thad turned his attention back to his son and tried to ignore the god’s comments. After spending a lifetime with Thuraman, Thad knew when he was getting baited and refused to fall into the god’s trap. It was true that he had not always exerted himself when he had to deal with the women in his life, but that by no means meant he was nothing but their well-trained pet. Though a part of him was glad that his son seemed to have a much stronger will when dealing with people of the opposite sex. As soon as those thoughts crossed his mind he heard a smug laugh come from Humanius and for a brief moment was sure that the god was listening to his thoughts.

  CHAPTER VII

  The rest of the winter moved along without much of an event, and before Bren knew it, the snows had begun to melt. The passes hadn’t cleared enough for a messenger to safely reach Rane yet, but it wasn’t far off. Bren knew that he could use one of the elven messengers, but that wouldn’t impress Monique. In fact, it was more likely to annoy her since she wouldn’t be able to send a message back the same way. His best choice was to wait a few more weeks until the snows had completely melted in the more remote regions of the country.