The tower rose straight into the sky many hundred yards. It was a square structure, evenly spaced on all sides. The white stone blocks that formed its walls were massive, four yards wide and two tall. The stone of the tower gleamed in the day’s light, and he was unable to look at it for too long or else risk getting blinded. He did not see any windows, nor did he see any banners or flags flying from it. The only feature to the shining tower was a softly shedding blue-white glow from the roof of the tower high up in the sky.
“Ah!” Ethan exclaimed, seeming to appear from nowhere. Endrance nearly fell over as he was startled out of his reverie. “That my friend, it the tower of Talos. Sure is tall, isn’t it?” he asked, smiling coyly as Endrance smoothed out his clothes.
“That’s its name?” the young wizard asked. He stared up at it in silence another moment before looking at Ethan again. “A building that thin should not be able to be that tall.”
Ethan shrugged. “And yet, there it is. It’s been here maybe thirty years or so.”
“I have to wonder how long it took to build.” Endrance pondered, scratching his head and staring up at the tower. “How many years and men did it take?”
“Eh,” Ethan shrugged as he turned to wave the last of the wagons past. “Took about sixteen days, from what I heard.” He turned back to the young mage and held his hands up apologetically. “It was before my time.”
“What!” Endrance exclaimed, snapping his gaze on Ethan. “That’s impossible!”
“And yet,” The soldier repeated, “there it is. Fact is, no building or structure here was ever built in less than or more than sixteen days. Big, small…” Ethan shook his head as he shrugged again, frowning. “Doesn’t seem to matter.”
“What about the workers?” Endrance asked.
“Don’t know.” Ethan admitted. “You’d have to ask the steward in charge of that or a mason, I guess.”
Ethan drew a small sack from his belt pouch and held it out to the young mage. “Here”
The sack held a few gold coins and a handful of silver pieces. It weighed practically nothing in his hand.
“Me and the men were talking, and we all agreed you should get Geralt’s cut. You more than earned it helping us out like you did. “Ethan explained, his expression somber. “I have to go report to my superiors now, but look me up in town and we’ll share a drink again, okay?”
Endrance stared down at the sack but nodded dully.
“Good. Before I go, it looked like Ked was looking for you; you should go see what he wanted.” Ethan said. He gave the young mage a mock salute and a grin. “Good luck. Be seeing you again.”
Endrance only nodded again as the soldier, his friend, departed. The little pouch of coins felt a whole lot heavier in his hand.
The caravan master was waiting for him at the head of the wagon train. He waved the young man over and shook his hand heartily as men and women all around him were unloading goods and loading in others. Men stood huddled around scales and officials with tally books.
Ked smiled broadly as he shook the wizard’s hand. “I wanted to say thank you again for helping us on the trip here. I know we agreed upon some coin for being useful, but I don’t think simple coin would be enough.” He admitted, pressing a coin purse into Endrance’s hand. He winked at the mage. “Tell you what, I’ll let my people know who you are and they’ll give you a little bit of a discount should you stop by their shops.”
“I am very grateful.” Endrance responded happily. “I’m glad we made it.”
“So where are you headed next?” Ked asked, scratching his belly.
“Well, I have to acquire my guide, and then I’m off to the kingdom of Balator.” He admitted.
"Ba...Balator!" Ked sputtered, shock registering on his face. "Why in the world would you want to go there? No mage, no matter if they were archmagus, ever willingly goes to Balator!" He tried his best to get himself under control. "Even the holy circle of magi refuses to send emissaries there!"
Endrance shrugged. "I have an invitation. A job offer, of a sort."
Ked blinked at him incredulously. "And here I thought you had run out of surprises for me."
"I do try to keep people on their toes." Endrance admitted jokingly.
Ked shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "So how are you planning on finding your guide?"
"I am not entirely sure." Endrance admitted, scratching his head as he looked at the throngs of people moving about their business. "I suppose a barbarian would stand out a bit in Ironsoul."
"True, Endrance." Ked responded. "But Ironsoul is a large place, and I think there are many miles of ground he could be coming in from."
Endrance sighed. "I knew I should have asked for more clarification from my master." He shook his head, wiping his face with a hand. "I bet he's cackling away at home."
Ked frowned at him for a moment. "What happened to your hand, son?" he asked, gesturing at the young mage's right hand.
Endrance looked down at his right hand. The markings across his skin had faded, but never completely disappeared. They were like scar tissue, nearly the same color as his skin, but didn't change color like the rest of his skin did. The jagged markings faded away at his wrist, but were noticeable enough to someone who knew him.
"Ah," he began. "I overdid myself when those goblins attacked. That's just a reminder to be more careful next time."
Ked's frown deepened. "I wish you had told me about that, sir mage."
"It's fine." Endrance reassured him. "No permanent injury, just some scars."
"No no..." Ked replied. "I wish you had told me because I need to pay you for injuries suffered while contracted to work with me." He bustled over to his cart and hauled out a strongbox from behind the driver's seat.
"Uh... what?" Endrance asked, confused. "I don't remember that being in our agreement."
Ked unlocked the box and plucked a few more coins from the box. "I know, but the circle of magi has very specific laws about the matter." He plunked the coins down into the young man's hands. "I don't want to get blacklisted because I didn't pay their mages properly."
"I'm... not familiar with those laws." Endrance admitted, looking at the gold pieces in his hands. "You probably could have gotten away without paying the extra."
"I know," Ked said with a shrug. "But I'll know, and that means that they could know, should they want to." he placed the last coin into his hands. "And that is why I am concerned."
"Where can I find the cathedral of magi?" Endrance asked. "I would like to learn more of these things my master had apparently decided to not instruct me on."
Ked shook his head, hauling the strongbox back into its place after locking it again. "I haven't the slightest idea. The cathedral of magi is somewhere in Ironsoul, but most of us without the blessing of magic haven't been able to find the place, much less enter without a wizard to escort us."
Ked turned back to the young mage. "Well, good luck on your journey, and I pray to the gods and the great magic you make it through alive. I like you well enough, son. I hope to do business with you again in the future."
Endrance pocketed the money and stepped back as the caravan master bustled past to yell at a few loaders. He found a bench to sit on and wondered how to proceed from there. He had no real clue how to find his guide, and sending a message back to his master for details was inefficient. He didn't know the first thing about the next stage of his journey.
He was unsure when the guide he was supposed to meet would show up, nor where. He had no real way of finding him, nor did he have a way of getting to Balator on his own. Whatever he ended up doing, he would have to figure this out soon.
He settled on making his way to the north half of the city. He would most likely come in from the stone gate in the north. If he stayed near the gate he could keep an eye on the traffic flowing through the area and try and spot the barbarian from there. Endrance picked himself up and made sure he had all his things with him before beginning the trek across the ci
ty. It was going to be a long day, and he hadn't even been a hundred yards into the city yet.
Feline eyes watched the young man from the alleyway across the main street from him. The dusky skinned figure remained concealed in her cloak despite being under shelter. The guards would have turned her away at the gates or even attacked upon seeing her, but she took it upon herself to gain admittance without their observations. Her kind was not readily welcome in Ironsoul. Most elves weren't.
A large-nosed, gangly young man leaned on the wall of one of the buildings that made the alley. He leered at her with interest, either trying to get a glimpse of what lied below the cloak, or just imagining what was beneath all the same. She looked to him and he snapped his eyes up to meet hers just a moment after. "So." the young man said, jerking his head at the hopeful young man burdened with travelling gear marching steadily north. "Tha's de mark?"
The Sha’hdi said nothing, but turned to look back at the young wizard who all but declared he was new to Ironsoul with every step and everywhere he looked. "I don't want him killed." she whispered.
"Whut?" the young man said, leaning forward. "I idn't ear you."
She turned her predatory gaze upon him again, and he shrank back against the wall. "Do not kill him. I just want him... inconvenienced." she looked back down the road, but the young man had disappeared into the crowd. "He still has a long ways to go before then." she whispered, the last remark unheard by her thuggish companion.
"A'ight," the man said, slinking away deeper into the alleyway. "I'ma let the boss know. You paid good money, you get good work, he says." The man turned a corner and vanished.
"Sniveling rat among men." The Sha’hdi muttered scornfully. "I'll make sure this goes how I want it, should you fail."
A guard in Ironsoul's signature breastplate armor walked past the alley right then. Either he caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye, or he felt the threat of her eyes upon him, his step faltered, and he turned to look down the alley. It was empty.
Endrance eventually made it across most of the city. He had hoped to have more time to look around his first day there, but the city was far bigger than he anticipated. For someone who had grown up in a small town, seeing so many people in one place amazed him.
There were men and women of innumerable size and color moving about, doing an innumerable variety of things. Most of which he had no idea what they were doing or how. People moved on foot through the city, and carriages with horses were seen carrying passengers from one place to another. The whole mess of people, the size of the city, and the amount of noise it all made was fascinating but also overwhelming to him.
He found an inn near the north gate just before the suns set that day. He had to squeeze through a pair of people arguing about some ridiculous taxes they had to pay in order to get inside.
The innkeeper sighed and rolled his eyes as the young man approached. "I'm terribly sorry about the mess, ma'am. Those two won't move no matter what I say."
Endrance cleared his throat before speaking, and looked around the lobby before continuing. "It's sir, sir. I’m fine, I got past them anyhow."
The man squinted down at him, frowning. "You look awfully slight for a boy."
"Man." Endrance responded. "I'm fifteen."
"Uh-huh." the man responded. "Whatever you say. You need a room for the night? We have some high quality rooms left, and there's always the shelter room, you just rent the key to the trunk you lock your stuff in for the night."
"Shelter room?" Endrance asked. "What's that?"
The innkeeper laughed "You must be a first timer to Ironsoul, ain’t you?"
"That I am." the young mage responded. "What of it?"
"Nothing, nothing." the innkeeper said kindly, holding up a hand as if he were warding off a harsh look. "Look boy, things work differently here in Ironsoul than most other cities. Definitely different than the satrap townships and capitols beholden to Ironsoul."
He held up a finger. "Few rules you need to observe while here. First is that there is a curfew. Be inside before midnight; don't come out for a few hours." He held up a second finger. "Next you pay your taxes." He held up a third. "Lastly, do not deface the buildings."
Endrance nodded warily. "Okay I understand the rules, but why do we have to be inside at night?"
The innkeeper leaned over the counter and looked him in the eye. "The city cleans itself up at night, boy. Anything left on the streets that ain't a fixture gets swept away, never to be seen again."
"The city itself?" he asked.
"Aye," the innkeeper nodded sagely. "Some say it's the spirit of the city, keeping itself clean. Some people say the wizards of old had bound the souls of the men who built the city to its very stones." he shook his head. "Either way the city does respond to attempts to damage it, and people wandering out after midnight aren't ever seen again."
"I see. So the shelter room?" the young man asked.
"The shelter room is free bedding for people to rest that can't afford it. Only a copper a night for a key to a trunk you can lock your things in while you sleep. It's not private, and there's some odd folk who come in, but it's enough to keep you safe. And every inn in Ironsoul has such a room."
"Ah. That's rather kind of you to have them then." Endrance commented.
"Nothing kind about it." The innkeeper replied. "One of the first High Kings ordered it when the city was founded. People used to get caught out at night all the time, even those who weren't vagrants or too drunk to know better."
"Interesting. I would love to examine that magic someday." Endrance mused.
"Just don't stick your head out the window at night, boy. Not a pretty sight." The innkeeper warned. "So you want a room or just a key?"
The mage looked behind the innkeeper. There was a wooden board with pricing carved into its polished surface. "I am not sure yet, what's the current conversion rate today?"
The innkeeper responded immediately with a tone of surety in his voice. "Eleven coppers to the Silver piece."
Endrance pulled a few coins out of his pocket. "And for gold?"
The innkeeper's eyebrows went up, but he responded just as swiftly. "Ten and a half silvers to the gold piece. Meaning one hundred fifteen copper and halfpence per gold piece."
"That sounds reasonable and your math is impeccable." Endrance began. "Do you have a room that overlooks the stone gate? I am waiting for someone to come in from there."
The innkeeper to his credit knew his place well. "I do in fact have a room. It's on the third floor and has an unobstructed view of the road leading in from the stone gates."
"Excellent!" Endrance smiled. "How much for the room for a night?"
"Well, it's a high quality room, and comes with a meal and mead." The innkeeper turned to his side and pointed at the board. "The room's eight copper a night."
Endrance flipped a coin from his hand into the air in front of the innkeeper. The man deftly caught it out of the air and opened his hand to see the shine of gold. "I would like to put in for two weeks worth then." Endrance said smartly. "I trust that if I should not need the full duration of my stay I can have the rest returned?"
The man put on his best smile. "But of course, sir. Come this way, I'll show you to the room!" he pulled the key from behind the counter and led the young man upstairs to the room. Along the way he asked a few basic questions, most about his preference of food and drink, and what times he would be out so his wife can clean the room.
The room was small for Ironsoul standards, but considerably spacious as far as Endrance had ever lived in. It was as far across as his father's home, yet there was less space inside due to elegant furniture. There lay a large four poster bed with plush crimson coverings and red curtains around it. The carpeting lain over the polished wooden floor was thick and the exact same color of red. It smelled faintly of lavender, and faint wisps of incense came from a small tray over the fireplace.
"I trust the room here is satisfactory?" The innkeeper as
ked.
Endrance dumped his pack and most of his gear on the bed on his way to the window. The wooden sash was polished and had a latch lock on it. The exterior shutters were open. He looked out the window before responding. The view covered the road pretty effectively, and in the distance he could see the stone gates themselves. The detail was hard to make, but he could see the traffic coming through and out of the gates. It was the closest inn to the gates, so it would have to do.
"This is fine. Thank you sir." Endrance responded. "I'd like my meal in about two hours, if possible."
"Absolutely sir." The innkeeper responded. "My wife will bring it up then." he quietly closed the door as he left.
Endrance sat on the bed. The first step of his journey was successful, and he was on his way to the next. He couldn't help but feel excited, but he also couldn't avoid worrying about everything that could go wrong. He drifted off to sleep wondering how in the world he was going to find his guide.
In the back rooms of the inn, a man in a handsome red coat and slightly crumpled matching hat sat in the innkeepers' chair. He was lean and attractive, a faint smirk on his face as he watched the innkeeper with dark brown eyes. His smooth black hair was clipped close to his head, and the hat hung at a rakish angle. The innkeeper stood across from him, wringing his hands. A gold coin danced in the newcomer's fingers, flipping over his knuckles and between deft fingertips.
The room was otherwise silent, but had a tension in the air that could be cut with a knife. The person's intrusion into his personal chambers would normally have the man shouting and possibly reaching for a weapon, but the presence of the man in red instead put him in an uneasy silence as he waited for the man's message. He wasn't even sure when the guy had pilfered the gold he got from the young man out of his pocket, but it wasn't there now.
The man in red stopped the coin between his forefinger and thumb as he looked it over. "So this young man you found paid in gold, eh?" The man in red prodded.
Spellscribed: Provenance Page 9