Elemix bid Aline and Theo goodnight and headed home. The tower had only recently been fixed up. Poor Harold, he did not deserve this. Worse, his killer is still on the loose. The Baroness promissed a new helper, but he had not arrived yet. Arriving at the tower, Elemix saw Giselle. Her horse was tied up and she looked very official. She tried to be formal, saying, \u201cMagus Elemix, a message for you from her excellency.<\/p>\n
To my loyal associate, the Magus Elimix Dungaroon of Uzec and Thalassa, Scion of Belladonna Dungaroon, Master Magus.<\/em><\/p>\n For myself and his grace the new Duke of Derrien, Arles, we owe you sincere thanks. Your quick actions and the daring follow-up by the Baroness, the Sister, yourself and others was nothing short of excellent. Your warning made the defense stronger. While I have no doubt Hugo\u2019s reign would have been brought low quickly though contingency plans, your actions prevented any need to activate such a dark scenario. The North will remember for many days. I personally have sent note note mentioning your actions, that of your cousin, and that of my dear sister to be placed in the Guild Dispatches and read thrice aloud in the Guild Square, the Guild Hall, and to the students at the Guild Academy. This is my gift to you and the best I can do to continue our plans to elevate your reputation.<\/em><\/p>\n The Duke has offered you a sum of two thousand gold in humble thanks for your actions plus your choice of any horse in his stables. Ms Aubrey-Alix has the sum. The Duke bids you to visit when you can, as do I as I have my suspicions about what became of Hugo. We can discuss further when you arrive. We have much to discuss.<\/em><\/p>\n Your benefactor and patron,<\/em><\/p>\n Magus Gillian Alix, First of the Tribunal of the North and Defender of Derrien<\/em><\/p>\n Giselle said, \u201cYou did good El. You did good.\u201d<\/p>\n Elemix clearly had not expected to get such a letter, and such a gift. <\/p>\n “Thank you Giselle. You also were a key player in our success that night. Who knows what the outcome would have been without you?<\/p>\n It is good to see you. Would your duties allow for you to stay for dinner? I recall where you cooked for me once. Perhaps I could do the same for you. It would be nice to have some company given all that has happened.”<\/p>\n \u201cThe success is a bitter one of ash. In truth we failed. In the end, the Duke died, stripped of any backbone or rage that kept him alive. Hundreds suffered, many died. My beloved sister died. We merely brought a quick end to a plan we should have anticipated in the first place,\u201d she said with directly with a touch of bitterness. \u201cThat said I do appreciate the offer and the thanks. True is that this is not a social call. Once I am done here I am to move quickly to Calder Keep and then to the old ruin. I could tarry as long as it takes for you to give me an answer for the Tribune. Perhaps a kaf\u00e9 or a simple glass of water as you compose it, or you could simply tell me. But I can only tarry for some minutes.\u201d She was hard for Elemix to read, but it was clear she was a bit uncomfortable for one reason or another about something.<\/p>\n “Very well then I’ll not keep you from your duties. You can tell Magus Alix I shall come to Derrien within the next couple of days. In fact, if you are not heading that way within a day or so I might beat you to it. I have some business here to finish before I depart but it shouldn’t take long.<\/p>\n Now – will you tell me what is wrong?”<\/p>\n She nodded, \u201cNothing is wrong per se. You proved to be able to do what I always thought you could do when others doubted you – and for seemingly the right reasons. Sister\u2019s plan for you seems to be bearing fruit. Contacts she made for you are looking in the right direction when you do things, and your cousin writes it all up and ties it up in a little bow. As far as you are concerned you are getting what you want. Respect, a little power, a little shop, and your name entering conversations of the mighty from time to time. Good for you. You obviously made the right choice.\u201d she said matter-of-factly. \u201cI even hear rumors of people trying to pair you with various noble daughters. Good again.\u201d<\/p>\n Elemix understood at once. He had conflicted feelings about that for a time as well, but he had forced himself to move beyond it. He could not be with Giselle, as she had a sworn allegiance to Archmagus Revan. A person he highly respected, but honestly did not entirely trust. He had learned to be somewhat skeptical over the past year plus. Much more so than he had been when he was green. How could Elemix ever trust that what he had with Giselle would remain between them alone when Giselle had told Elemix that if it was something the archmagus required her to tell him – she would. Elemix couldn’t live like that, and she shouldn’t be put in that position. The complexities with her sister and his formal understanding with her also precluded a relationship with Giselle.<\/p>\n “Please don’t hate me for the choice I made,” he said then. “It wasn’t easy, and in truth I came to despise your sister (and others) for a time because I had to make that choice. In the end it wasn’t fair to you – or me if I am being honest with myself.<\/p>\n I had hoped you and I could at least be good friends. I still hope that. <\/p>\n Giselle gave a shrug, \u201cmaybe.”<\/p>\n Ever since I became a wizard there were people trying to set me up with one person or another, and I found it unsettling and annoying to say the least. <\/p>\n However, over the past several months and having nearly died several times since you and I split. I have come to have affections for someone else, and she has the same feelings for me. She is not affiliated with the guild in any way, and we were not set up. I wasn’t even looking really. It actually started out of happenstance, but you don’t want to hear any of that I know.”<\/p>\n She nodded and then said, \u201cno I don\u2019t. I don\u2019t hate you Elemix. But you do disappoint me somewhat. I don\u2019t understand why you complain about people trying to set you up. They obviously care about your well being and happiness. Don\u2019t take that for granted as I have exactly one relative. Let\u2019s be truthful. You\u2019ve become a bit of a catch in two years where you were a nobody before. Remember though – I liked you before your were anyone. I stood up for you when my sister wanted to seize your Aquila and send you packing back to the Guild to study in anonymity as punishment for not obeying her. I convinced her to hear you out at the Conclave and I helped you in so many ways behind the scenes. I would have been an amazing partner to you.\u201d She shrugged, “But it is what it is. While given the recent days my sister might accept you and I together, the truth is you cannot trust me because you do not know everything about me, and you won\u2019t take such risks. It is who you are and thus we cannot be.\u201d<\/p>\n She curled her lip and added with a devilish smile, \u201cBut it would have been fun.\u201d<\/p>\n “Of that much I have no doubt,” grinned Elemix in return.<\/p>\n There was nervous tension in the air for a moment. Then she broke the uncomfortable silence, \u201cI suppose I should ride off now. I wouldn\u2019t want either of us to do anything regretful.\u201d She got on her horse and looking down to him she said, \u201cI\u2019m afraid our time together will only be a memory. We will not speak of it again. You will be a wizard, and I will be a redcap in service to the Guild. Perhaps in the distant future we can become friends. For now, we must be professional. You have a wife to woo after all, and I don\u2019t think she\u2019ll like it that one of her husband\u2019s collegues once lay with him. No that would not go over well at all. Good luck.\u201d<\/p>\n She gave a quick nod and spurred her horse, leaving Elemix there with his thoughts.<\/p>\n That was understandable thought Elemix. Things were as they must be. He hoped Giselle would find someone that would be better for her then he could have been. He hoped also that they would one day become friends.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Elemix bid Aline and Theo goodnight and headed home. The tower had only recently been fixed up. Poor Harold, he did not deserve this. Worse, his killer is still on the loose. The Baroness promissed a new helper, but he<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[3],"class_list":["post-3162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-thalassa","tag-elemix"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8aqU2-P0","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2328,"url":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/2015\/07\/20\/letter-to-archmagus-revan\/","url_meta":{"origin":3162,"position":0},"title":"Letter to Archmagus Revan","author":"Tom Welch","date":"July 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Achmagus Revan, As you may or may not be aware, Apprentice Emmiline and I have embarked on a dangerous journey to the East. To an area known as the Demon Hornes or the Hitari Gates. I know you are quite busy, so I'll not bother with the details. I wanted\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Thalassa"","block_context":{"text":"Thalassa","link":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/category\/thalassa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2380,"url":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/2015\/08\/22\/chains-of-command\/","url_meta":{"origin":3162,"position":1},"title":"Chains of Command (9\/12\/17)","author":"Illuminatus","date":"August 22, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Sister Lieutenant Typhon N\u00e9 of the Order St. Aria of the Just answers to: Any Justicar\u00a0Captain who answer ultimately to: Master Taran, Preceptor of the Order at Thalassa and Castilian of Antor\u00e9 who answers to: Master Alaric, Commandant of the Order at Thalassa who answers to: Master Elianor, Marshal of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Thalassa"","block_context":{"text":"Thalassa","link":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/category\/thalassa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3413,"url":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/2017\/05\/24\/four-weeks-later-a-letter-from-magus-alix\/","url_meta":{"origin":3162,"position":2},"title":"Four Weeks Later – A Letter from Magus Alix","author":"Illuminatus","date":"May 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"To Magus Elemix Dungaroon, Wizard, from Master Magus Gillian Alix, Tribune, I have been informed that you got into some trouble due to the whole teleportation episode. As you no doubt no by now, I have arranged a multitude of letters of your good intensions and general loyalty to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Thalassa"","block_context":{"text":"Thalassa","link":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/category\/thalassa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3055,"url":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/2016\/08\/17\/elemix-and-emmeline-reunite-in-uzec\/","url_meta":{"origin":3162,"position":3},"title":"Elemix and Emmeline Reunite in Uzec","author":"Illuminatus","date":"August 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Elemix had left for Uzek in great haste on order of Rivanon to protect Emmeline\u2026 When he and a half-dozen of Rivanon\u2019s troops arrived in town in the late afternoon of the next day, he felt there was a eerie calm among the people. Elemix had received no messages from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Thalassa"","block_context":{"text":"Thalassa","link":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/category\/thalassa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2515,"url":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/2015\/09\/16\/the-derrien-conclave-of-447-part-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":3162,"position":4},"title":"The Derrien Conclave of 447 (Part 2)","author":"Tom Welch","date":"September 16, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"With that dinner was called and Elemix ended up sitting near Vorn and Xavier, who carried on conversations. Vorn explained his plan to journey south. He and some old friends (as well as new ones) planned an adventure into the Southern Taurian Wilderness searching for some ancient Silurian outpost. Xavier\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Thalassa"","block_context":{"text":"Thalassa","link":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/category\/thalassa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2311,"url":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/2015\/07\/05\/epilogue-session-11\/","url_meta":{"origin":3162,"position":5},"title":"Epilogue: Session 11","author":"Edward","date":"July 5, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Overview Tiffanie joins the Aarithine Order of the Just, becoming Sister Typhon, Justicar of St. Aria. She is given a week to find a worthy task to take on as her errantry. Emmeline is nearly complete with her training and evaluation with Archmagus Revan. Save for three brief meetings with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Thalassa"","block_context":{"text":"Thalassa","link":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/category\/thalassa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3162"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3162\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}