Galen Vesa

That’s quite the reasoning, no? Blame the dirty deed on the outsiders and play it cool for the people of the empire. Almost as if I were back working at the company. All the backstabbing and secret politics. Haa, we humans suck regardless of the world and times we live in. Or so it seemed to me.

But then, I wonder, can I even count as a human?

“What was in the note you gave to the duchess? What made her so scared?”

The wolf continued to satisfy her own curiosity.

“I don’t know. I was not briefed on its contents.”

Fenella answered without a pause. Nothing to chase there then.

“What will happen to us after we are brought to the palace?”

“I expect you to be taken in for questioning.”

Again, an instant answer. How can she be so sure of herself?

“We have done nothing that would warrant a questioning.”

Altina huffed beside me.

“That is not for me to decide.”

Like a robot, the mage answered again in dry and monotonous voice. I may as well do what I did back then and cut off myself from all the plotting, drama and backstabbing. Just how should I go about it?

Let us play the cards we’ve been dealt. Let us use the shadows of their own making and slip by. The world has us for a vicious monster. Might we act like one.

Logic’s tone carried her usual cold calmness. If she went as far as to speak her mind to me, it meant she made her choice. I leaned back in my seat.

“Very well. This final time I shall comply with your demands, however, I will not stand for any more insults and mistreatment. If I feel wronged in any way, if we are not shown the respect we are due or if you threaten anyone I hold dear, your precious empire will pay for it in blood. Please do convey that to your superiors.”

“Merciful Shamu, child, enough! Do you understand what you’re implying?!”

The wolf’s claws were once again digging into my thigh. I could feel slight tremors through her arm. I put my bandaged palm over her hand.

“I am aware of what I said and I mean each word, guild master. You’ve been kind to me and I respect that but I will not leave a stone unturned in this empire if I were to suffer any more abuse. My kindness has its limits. Be it the emperor or his pawns, I have no mercy for those that name me their enemy.”

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That should do it. I hope. Either they buy that bluff, or they may try to eliminate me. In that case I will run away but if it works, I may stay here a bit longer. Having a roof over my head beats sleeping in the rain among the shrubs. Not that I have anything against rain. I like rain. I think. Can’t say the same about shrubs though. Too many creepy crawlies nesting in those. Eh, come on you dummy lizard. Wake up already. Your dolt needs you.

But the mighty dragon ignored my plea and snored undisturbed, the cursed mark glowing on her forehead.

“I’m done talking with her, guild master. If you have no more questions, it is best if you release her.”

The wolf stared at me. Shocked or maybe even angry. I never learned what she thought that day and I never asked. Silent, she unsummoned the water queen and released the mage from whatever magic held her. Aside from staring daggers at me, Fenella sat still and boiled within herself. Whatever plan she had for us crumbled a while ago. I as well had nothing to say so we rode in stone cold silence.

Oh, one more thing.

I aimed my thought at Water.

If there are some meddlers waiting to cause trouble along our route, have someone pick them up quietly and deliver them to whoever may be interested in such ~mangled~ gift. Call it a gesture of goodwill from my side towards the empire. Let’s see what they do with that.

The spirits said nothing but a chunk of my mana vanished signifying they granted my wish. I hope it was worth it.

With nothing better to do I closed my eyes and focused on what I could feel ahead of me. Aside from about fifty powerful mana signatures I picked up, a mass of smaller ones followed us close behind. I’m not yet proficient enough to distinguish them from each other but given the size those were probably fifty elite knights sent as our escort and second detachment of regular guards. They felt about the same as regular guards from Fenira while the elites, hmm, I’d say they were on par with Beatrice. I thought she was strong but to think she would match those knights, interesting. That or I could be horribly wrong about all of it. I’m not the most talented mage around these parts. Well, I don’t think I can classify as mage either. Rooth often compared me with toddlers so, yeah. Not the most proficient sort here.

An enormous blob of mana paused my musings. Thousands of people gathered before us in a curious spiraling pattern that climbed up into the sky. The city? If so, was it built around some lonely mountain? Who knows? Even after all that time with Rooth my abilities were far from polished. While both my dragon and the dryad could pretty much see by using mana, all I pick up was the odd concentration of power spread on the plain we were approaching. Whether this was a man-made structure or a natural one, I sensed a strong barrier hiding the peak of what lied ahead while down below, people of varying power gathered on, let’s call it levels. Yes, I think I counted about ten levels with the highest density being at the foot of the enormous structure and the scarcest just right under the barrier that blocked the top from my senses.

Close but not quite. There are twenty levels in total, my inept master. Five additional ones lie within the barrier and five more hide underneath the ground. An interesting place I admit but you should stop invading their privacy before they get the wrong idea. You are unnerving our future host, my not so sneaky master.

I dropped my focus and looked outside. Woods gave way to fields and sparsely built-up areas. The road we traveled changed as well. Cobblestones replaced packed earth and the drumming of wheels accompanied us right up to the first gate.