His head hurt. One more day and this would be done. One more day Elemix thought, but he couldn’t remember much about last night, maybe he slept longer. Who knew? He remembered Emmeline and the guide Hyacinthe guiding him home. Maybe. Elemix hadn’t drunk like that since that party at his grandmother’s two years ago. And that time he work up with a beautiful stranger next to him. Sure she turned out to be a little dumb, on the edge of crazy, with a penchant for lies, and a complete jerk of a father, but that had been the first since Euriell. Elemix thought whatever become of his first love? He supposed she was now Magus Euriell.
Elemix looked around and realized his clothes were missing, but his shoes were at the door. Suddenly paranoia hit him. His hand reached to the other side of the bed; hoping no one was there, and…
Nothing.
He was alone but he heard a female voice lightly singing in a language he could not understand coming from the adjoining room.
Elemix slowly sat up. His head stung and instinctively his hands went to his temples as the world shifted around him. After a few moments the initial pain subsided somewhat and he proceeded to stand. Again came the pain, but it was manageable. He needed a drink.
Ever since he had woken up from the explosion he had been in a constant state of pain. He had been able to look past it and carry on, but it was always there. His friends were certainly having a good time of it. Did they know he was hurting? Did they know drinking was the only thing that took the pain away? Unfortunately for him, he thought, it also clouded his senses. How could he let this happen? He hadn’t even wanted to stay in this city, amazing as it was.
He had hoped Vorn would be thankful for his efforts, and gladly return with him. He had spent nearly 6 months researching a way to get Vorn home. He had called in how many favors, and spent nearly 2000 gold – virtually every penny he had to his name in this journey. Not to mention the extreme sacrifice his friends had made in agreeing to come with him at all.
And what did he have to show for his efforts? An empty coin purse, burn scars over most of his body which resulted in most people shying away from him, and a lingering pain which could only be satiated by drink. And Vorn more than likely unwilling to return with him.
Elemix shook his head at the thought. What a waste. How could Vorn do this? Even if he was in love, he was throwing his life away fighting a lost cause and one that wasn’t even his to fight. Thalassa needed Vorn, even if Vorn didn’t know it. Elemix had to make him see that, somehow.
He winced at the pain he had caused by unwittingly shaking his head and stamped his foot on the floor in frustration.
He needed to get healed, but to do that he would have to get home. And once there he would likely need to borrow money to give to the church for their efforts.
Now what new hell does this day have in store, he thought. Not particularly caring who was there he said gruffly, “My clothes. My belongings. Where are they?”
He wrapped a blanket around him and proceeded to peer out the door.
The singing stopped abruptly. A young woman entered the room with her head looking down. She said in broken Common, “all of your things are in a chest under the bed. Your walking stick is in the closet. Your pet is sitting at the window. Mistress Hyacinthe and Master Josef said to take good care of you. When you are ready, Magus Milo would like to have breakfast with you.”
Elemix softened somewhat upon seeing the girl.
“Uh, thank you.”
He dressed then and cleaned up a bit. After checking to ensure Sang was well he proceeded to meet with Magus Milo.
The Magus Milo welcomed Elemix to his table, “Magus it is good to see you!” Milo wore classic mage’s robes of the College of Divination. “I have a package for you – a new robe. We can’t have you wandering about improperly dressed. I’ve also asked my cook to make you a breakfast of local foods. I hope you like it. Please enjoy and ask whatever comes to mind.”
Elemix was pleasantly surprised. Most of the wizards he had interacted with had not been nearly so kind. It made him a bit suspicious, but he was greatful none the less. Perhaps today would not be such a bad day after all.
“You are very kind magus. Thank you. Really,” he said as he accepted the package and sat down. “If ever I can return the favor please do not hesitate to ask.”
He demurred, “it is no trouble. The company is enough.”
“What brought you all the way out here? Not that Sarantium is a bad place to be mind you. This city is fascinating. It’s just so far from Thalassa.”
“I was originally an adventurer. My great-great-grandfather was part of the first Dahl expedition. His stories told of the wonder of this city. As a young man, your age I believe, I journeyed out here as wizard navigator on a trading ship. Once a year I came to this place for twenty years and made many friends. When Thalassa made a permanent presence here a decade ago, I and another volunteered to staff it. He grew homesick and went back a few years ago. I’ve remained. It could take a lifetime to explore this place. It grew dramatically with the fall of Eteria, but only recently has reasserted itself again after a century of barbarian and humanoid invasions from all quarters. Not to mention many self-inflicted wounds. That said, the people are beautiful, the city wonderful, and it is a place where all things are possible and all thing are available – if you know the rules and can play the game.”
“Then you certainly understand the life on an adventurer and the tolls it takes to be one.” Elemix discerned the plate of fruit before him and eyed something he had never seen before. It looked delicious but he decided it best to try only a small bite before committing. The taste was as good as he had hoped. He took a piece then and gave it to Sang.
“You certainly seem to have made a good place for yourself here. You wouldn’t by chance happen to know Arcadia Dahl? I have a book she wrote describing all kinds of dragons. It is quite fascinating. I would show it to you if I had it with me, but due to its size and value I chose to leave it safely at home. I have a keen interest in dragons as you might have guessed from my friend Sang here.”
“She’s the expert from what I understand. She is very old, over 90 I am told. Famous for her uncovering of the resurgent Imperial Order of Sorcery, and tales of dragons and dragon taming – oh and her near marriage to a barbarian prince of Kalgan on her lone journey to Eteria. I only met her once when she spoke at the Wizard’s School as an instructor on dragons many years after her journeys. So no I do not know her well.”
Elemix nodded. “I do hope to meet her one day.
On another note though, I don’t know if you have heard but my mother, a fellow Magus, Bella Dungaruun is now the head of the apothecaries guild in Thalassa. We have partnered and opened up a small shop which I run in Uzec North of Derrien. While it seems I am away more than even I expected, I do like to keep myself busy in my downtime, and running that shop has been very fulfilling for me.
I wonder if perhaps you and I would be able to make some kind of a trade agreement? With you being located here in Sarantium, you could no doubt acquire things for my customers that would seem quite exotic in the periphery. Nothing in mass or bulk mind you, nor would it be anything that would require much of your time. I am not even entirely sure what would make sense at the moment, but I know this city is full of things that might work. Fashion seems big here. I have a business contact that could likely provide exquisite perfumes which I am sure would go over very well here.”
“Little news gets here save what snippets we get from brief redcap sendings. Details don’t come for months and I certainly don’t know who or what is going on in other Guilds. First off though, congratulations to your mother. I know a few wizards who have taken the merchant route. It is rare, but not unprecedented. Second, while I appreciate your inquiry, I have no interest in trade or wealth or spending any time in that realm save in the rare magical acquisition. I study magic and spread the ideals of Thalassa. I watch for goings on and report what I see. But above all I work as a resource for the shipping companies and insurance guilds in predicting risks. A rare thing as Sidonian magic has few divination spells of longer duration. That is my role, my career, and it is successful.”
“Now, that said there are several trading companies from Thalassa that do trade here. They have very specific licenses granted by the state. You see, while on Thalassa our government regulates trade, our guilds pretty much run it with a good deal of competition from the various merchants within each. Here the government grants ‘concessions’ to trading companies to trade a particular thing, while individual nations are granted ‘rights’ to bring in a particular thing to trade with one or more of the concession-bearing companies who physically come into our Quarter to buy or pick up. This means we cannot sell directly. No apothecary can be supplied by you or your mother. You must supply an authorized rights-bearing Thalassan merchant, who sells to a concession-bearing Sarantine merchant who then makes any deals with stores or individuals. Anything else is illegal. As are any trade in weapons (magical or otherwise), potions, or foodstuffs. Those are completely controlled by the government. The punishments are severe.”
“But,” Milo added, “I could get you in touch with one of the rights-bearing Thalassan merchants, or their representative.”
Elemix nodded as Milo shared the information.
“That would be good. I am by no means a full time merchant. Far from it. Magic and the pursuit of knowledge are my primary interests, and adventuring has proven to help me grow in both areas. Alchemy has always been a hobby that has kept me busy and has kept my skills sharpened. Now that I have a small shop, I certainly wish to keep it busy and growing modestly. Making a trade deal while I am here would be a bright spot in an otherwise rather painful journey.”
“I can’t promise anything. Usually luxury goods go out to Thalassa and not the other way around. But the person who does that is Conan LeCarre of House LeCarre Imports. He of course is not here, but his representative is. Her name is Illyria Renault. She is a shrewd person to be sure. I could arrange something for later this afternoon?”
“That would be ideal. Thank you again,” replied Elemix as he finished his fruit. “What can I do to repay the favor,” asked Elemix. “Perhaps you would be interested in hearing about some of the adventuring I have been doing, what with you being so far from Thalassa? I am not a gifted speaker for that you must speak with my cousin Emmeline, but I’d be happy to share some of my experiences with you if you would like.”
Milo said, “that is of interest, but in particular I would like to know more about this situation with Magus Vorn, what became of him, and how you intend to get home?”
“Well he is a wanted man now here in Sarantium. He has fallen in love with a local woman who unfortunately is part of a rebel group, and he has fought along side them.
If you knew him like I do you would understand the very idea of it all is so out of character for him. He was under the influence of a spell when he fell for her but even when Emmeline broke him of that he was still in love.
On the one hand as his friend I am happy he is in love, but on the other hand I know if he stays here he will only be hurt or killed. And I suppose his siding with a rebel group doesn’t do much good in terms of even a shred of diplomacy with Sarantium for our guild and thalassa in general.
He could do so much good back in thalassa but he has become somewhat jaded. I think perhaps he feels there is nothing there worth going back to.
I hope to convince him to come back with me. His skills are sorely needed to help with the battles raging in the periphery now. If he is looking instead to retire he could do so there. He could bring his wife with him.
I just need to help him remember he is useful and that he matters. Not just to me, but to our school, to our local guild tower, and to all of those his experience and skills could help.”
“Absolutely. No this ‘love’ idea. A waste of time if you ask me, best left to poets and useless dreamers. To be honest, this lunacy called, “love” is a mad distemper that strikes down both beggar and king. You would be well to avoid it as it exposes weaknesses that can be exploited. If I were you I would simply remove the obstacle. Or perhaps use the love interest to convince him by convincing her. Else charm her to come back, charm her to betray him, charm her to leave him. Whatever works. Magus, he is one of ours and you must be ruthless to retrieve him. Mere convincing had little effect on those stricken by the disease called love. Logic is no cure.” Milo said.
Elemix was fairly amused at the prospect of charming her to come to Thalassa. Though he might have a point in trying to convince Vorns new spouse to come to Thalassa. “I suppose if I couldn’t convince him, I could try to convince her. I don’t know anything about her though. It would never work if she was too much of a zealot. She may be under their spell as well for all I know.” Elemix sipped some water.
“It is quite dangerous though. If the government knew you were on friendly terms with the rebels, the consequences would be severe. This place is not the eden some think. It is a maze of rules, traditions, religion, and magic. Only the most skilled can navigate its intricacies.”
“Of that I have no doubt,” replied Elemix. “I wouldn’t say I’m on friendly terms with the rebels though. Unlike the empire, they are not exactly in a position to kill or imprison everyone who may disagree with their views. Especially if they think there is a chance they could convert them. No the rebels just want to keep Vorn, and it is all a mess.”
“Yes it is a mess,” Milo said. “You have to solve it though. In the meantime I’ll make the other arrangements. ”