Their new workshop reminded Pax of the nice Taming set up Turgan had built for them back at the academy in their team headquarters. But this one was much bigger, and the organizers had partitioned it into a lot of separate areas.
The first, and most obvious, central area contained what looked like a communal gathering area. Three couches sat on a rug with muted colors, providing a cozy place to sit and talk or just relax. Along the back of the couches, half-height storage shelves provided a place to store supplies or other personal gear. Finally, to the side of the couches stood a long wooden table with enough chairs to seat more than a dozen people.
Branching from the central gathering spot were areas obviously built for them to work on their various tasks. A row of individual cubicles stood along the left with simple desks and chairs in the ones Pax could see. Behind the cubicles, doors were spaced out along the side wall, with enough room between them for the private rooms to be the size of bedrooms or medium offices.
Tyrodon let out a breath of excitement. Pax saw he stared past the lounge section to a crafting area built along the distant wall. Workbenches, tools, a furnace and plenty of equipment Pax wasn’t sure about was making Tyrodon drool.
A low growl drew Pax’s attention to the far-right wall where cages of various sizes had been stacked and placed haphazardly. Someone had set up a handful of chairs and tables for Taming. Disappointingly, Pax saw only a few of the cages were occupied. He spotted a few juvenile and baby beasts, but no adults. Then he caught a smell wafting their way that hinted at neglect.
Incedis looked apologetic when Pax turned to find him. “I tried. Apparently, the committee prioritized the clearing and renovating of the ruin before acquiring beasts for you to Tame. Second, they’ve been ramping up crafting and forging. There is a tremendous need for equipment to outfit all the recruits. Since they didn’t know exactly when we’d arrive, they didn’t want to capture beasts and waste resources caring for them indefinitely while waiting for us.”
Before Pax could protest, someone cleared their throat loudly behind them. Pax spun to see an officious-looking elven man stride in through the doors they’d left open behind them. He surveyed the surroundings with a critical eye from a height at least an inch taller than Incedis.
Impeccably dressed, he looked as if he were in the wealthy section of the capital instead of an ancient ruin not quite in working order. Deep scowl lines creased his face while silver hair hung down behind him in perfectly even braids.
With no mage tattoos or warrior presence, Pax assumed he was a crafter or merchant. Pax didn’t dare Identify him despite the temptation. This looked like a situation he definitely didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot.
"Ah, the newcomers," he said in a voice that brooked no questions, his tone laced with a hint of condescension. "I am Thaladir Nightblade, the committee member in charge of overseeing the operations of this base. I make everything run smoothly by efficiently allocating resources.” He paused to aim a more respectful nod toward Incedis and Eldan.
“I have your schedule for today here, which in the future will be posted on the board behind me.” He waved a negligent hand behind him toward a medium-sized wooden board mounted to the wall just inside the door. Looking back down at the paper in his hand, he said, “You have several appointments with mages before lunch to attempt some kind of unlocking of additional elements. Tomorrow, the prefects managing the youth here will select suitable candidates for you to work with for possible Awakening.” Disbelief dripped from Nightblade’s words.
Pax bristled, but clenched his jaw and kept quiet.
“There will also be a handful of junior mages who’ve agreed to be your test subjects for the beasts we’ve captured for this experiment.” He tipped his head toward the cages. “And finally, we expect to see results from the crafting area generously given to you within a week or else we will remove the resources and give them to those who can get better results.”
Tyrodon made a squeak of distress from where he’d moved behind Tasar.
“Don’t be a bully.” Eldan scowled at Nightblade, but held herself back at a look from Incedis. “Just be lucky we’re letting the kids learn to handle problems on their own.”
Nightblade looked taken aback at the senior mage’s rebuke, but when Eldan said nothing else, he seemed to dismiss her words.
Pax spoke up, trying his best to keep his tone respectful and even despite his instant dislike of the flick. “When can we expect to have adult beasts to work with?”
Nightblade turned to him, pursing his lips and letting a moment of silence draw out long enough that his displeasure was clear. “If the committee decides that this taming business is something that will help our troops, then we’ll see about acquiring some.”
Pax opened his mouth to object. Could the idiot not see their own pets sitting around them? Did he need a demonstration of the damage they could do? Pax was more than happy to provide one.
Nightblade held up an imperious hand and spoke before Pax could. “I don’t think you fully appreciate the difficulties involved in fighting fully adult beasts without killing them. Add in the transportation and feeding of the injured beasts to get them to these cages, and it represents a significant drain on our current resources. Currently, it’s more important that our recruits have basic armor and weapons, don’t you think?”
“Merchant Nightblade—” Incedis objected.
Nightblade gave Incedis a polite but firm shake of his head. “You claimed this young mage was in charge of these new magical methods. If that’s true, then he can speak for himself, can’t he?”
Incedis aimed a questioning look at Pax, who waved off his help.
“Of course I can speak for myself. And if what you say is correct, that the largest expenditure of resources is getting the beasts back here and caring for them, my crew and I have a simple solution.”
Nightblade narrowed his eyes. “I hardly think a boy—”
“We’ll go out to the beasts.” Pax spoke over him this time. “We can Tame them right at the battle site, while they’re injured and helpless. No extra effort or expense necessary.”
“You can’t just go outside the base to fight beasts like that.” Nightblade sounded affronted at the idea. “You’re just students, practically children.”
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Pax took a step forward, and his voice came out low and angry. “We are not children. We’re mages, warriors, a crafter with our bound beasts fighting to overthrow an empire. Killing those trying to hurt us is what we do, and we do it well.”
Nightblade flinched back at Pax’s fury and almost took a step back before he recovered and stiffened.
Pax didn’t let up. “How do you think we developed these new magics and advanced so fast? We’ve put our lives on the line fighting for all of it. Where do you think we found our companions? We went out into the Wilds and found them. You don’t even have any idea what they can do in a fight, do you?”
Nightblade looked flustered, shaking his head at Pax’s ideas. “I don’t need to. Others do the simple fighting while I make sure all this and the entire rebellion doesn’t fall apart.” He waved a hand in a gesture that encompassed the base.
But Pax wasn’t done. He didn’t care for the officious merchant’s attitude, and he’d lay out each step that needed to happen. His Charisma pushed him to start with a compliment and rein in his temper. “I’m sure everyone appreciates all you do to keep everything here running smoothly. And we’re happy to make things easier on you. So, here’s how we’re going to do that.
“First, you’ll have one of your clerks take the appointment list you have for Tamings and tell the mages and warriors involved to meet us at the base exit three hours before dawn. Have them bring everything they have that helps with stealth. We’ll scout until we find suitable individual beasts. Together, we’ll take them down and Tame the beasts for the candidates, right then and there. This solves all your logistic and expense problems.”
Nightblade’s head had started shaking halfway through Pax’s explanation, but at least he didn’t interrupt. “That’s an impossible idea, and too risky by far.”
“Oh, you’re concerned about our safety?”
“Well,” he said, his tone hedging. “The rest of the committee considers you too valuable to risk, so they won’t let you leave the base now that you’ve made it here.”
“Let us?” Pax’s voice trembled with his effort to stay calm.
Rin put a hand on his shoulder, which helped keep him from losing it. The rest of his crew fanned out in a semi-circle facing the man. Danger and tension spiked in the room, almost palpable.
Nightblade blinked, his eyes traveling over the crew as he suddenly seemed to realize they weren’t the young students he’d expected.
Hey everyone, why don’t we give him an example of the powerful advantage Tamed companions can be? Pax sent to his friends, the fury at dealing with more idiocy here making his teeth clench. He switched over to send his companions a message. Whisk and Talpa, why don’t you show the idiot why companions are to be feared by our enemies?
Just don’t actually hurt him. Incedis’ droll words helped splash some cold water on Pax’s fury.
In an instant, the playful and bored demeanors of their companions changed. Talpa stalked almost silently to the side of Nightblade, obviously heading behind him. Horrid took the other side, moving with a sinister gait that was just as quiet.
Eris screeched from her perch on one of the cubicle walls, spreading her wings and giving them a couple of menacing flaps. The stonepaws split to either side, joining Talpa and Horrid in surrounding the man. Even Scorch got involved, moving to Tyrodon’s shoulder and letting out a small but powerful jet of flame.
Nightblade’s eyes widened, gaze shifting quickly from one pet to another as he took an involuntary step backward. He stopped immediately when he found Talpa and Horrid blocking his exit with their ominous sizes.
He turned back to Pax with a dangerous mix of outrage and fear swirling in his eyes. He opened his mouth to object, only to stop and stare.
Whisk had impeccable timing. He oozed out in a full body suit of brown slime that bulged away from Pax’s body and flowed down to the ground in a movement both horrifying and fascinating. He had everyone’s attention.
This little man thinks he can bully my friends. I’ll show him a bully.
As soon as all of Whisk’s body had reached the floor, he bulged up and expanded into a mass taller than everyone around him. Appendages formed, pushing out in dangerous shapes, hammers, clubs and even one thinned and sharpened into a sword-like shape.
Whisk moved forward at a slow pace that was more ominous for how unstoppable he seemed. Then the hissing started from his entire body, making everyone watching flinch. It was suddenly very obvious that Pax’s usually easygoing companion truly was a beast, a dangerous one.
Nightblade’s mouth gaped open and closed. Only a sputtering noise came out.
“After hearing how little you thought of their usefulness and strength, our friends here wanted to show you how much they can help boost the strength of their partners.” Pax stepped forward, moving up next to Whisk and placing a hand gently on his friend’s body.
Nightblade let out a small gasp and clapped his mouth shut.
“They will double our forces and our strength. With their help, we have an actual chance to win this thing.” Pax tried to put it into terms the merchant would understand. “You’re a numbers man, right? What are our chances against the empire? Our actual chances? Surely, you’ve helped the rebel leadership calculate our odds. I’m guessing they’re not good.”
By the stricken look on the man’s face, Pax could tell he’d hit pay dirt.
Nightblade sputtered again, trying to find his composure.
“Take a look around.” Pax motioned toward their companions and their threatening circle. “What if all of these were adult beasts instead of babies and juveniles? What if every rebel mage and warrior had one?”
Something changed in Nightblade’s eyes as he seemed to look at the pets with fresh eyes. His head began nodding slowly, though he still had his papers clutched protectively to his chest.
“I’ll take the schedule for today, so you can get busy implementing Mage Vipersworn’s new procedures for Taming.” Incedis stepped through the ring of beasts with no fear as he held out his hand to Nightblade.
Nightblade fumbled with the papers before finding the correct one and handing it to Incedis. The familiar actions seemed to help him find his voice and courage again. “I’ll need to report this to the committee first. I expect they’ll still object to these valuable rebels risking their lives unnecessarily.” The look he gave Pax and his friends was much more respectful than his initial one.
“Let them try,” Amil growled.
Their companions seemed to agree with his sentiments as they flared fur, teeth and claws, ratcheting the danger in the confrontation to a new level.
Talpa, you and the others need to move and give him a way out. Pax heard Whisk’s order a moment before the other companions did as asked.
Whisk pushed forward in a sudden attack, his bulk swelling as his appendages all swung forward in a whirlwind of angry hissing lashes. From his angle, Pax could see they weren’t close to hitting Nightblade, but from the front, it had to look very scary.
Nightblade took two quick steps back before suddenly remembering the beasts behind him. When a quick glance showed an open path to the door, he practically ran away, only slowing once he’d made it through the doorway.
He looked back and said, “The committee will make the final decision about what you’re allowed to do.” He didn’t wait for them to respond before scurrying out of view.
Amil was the first to let a chuckle slip out. It was contagious, and a brief bout of laughter diffused the remaining tension from the standoff. Everyone made sure to give their companions treats and pets for their fine showing.
“You lot can be quite scary when you get going, can’t you?” Eldan broke in, running an evaluating glance over their group before turning back to Incedis. “I hate when you’re right.”
“Right about what?” Rin looked over from where she was scratching back along Eris’ crest the way she liked it.
Before either of the older mages could answer, a timid knock came from the doorway.
Pax tensed, only to relax when he saw it wasn’t Nightblade returning. Instead, two young mages stood in the doorway aiming cautious looks in their direction.
“Um, we’re supposed to come about an attempt to gain a new element?” The first woman, a water mage, gave him a hesitant look. “But we just saw Merchant Nightblade almost running away. Is it safe to come in? We can always come back another time.”
Pax smiled and rolled his shoulders and waved at them. “Come on in. We’re just getting set up, but we’ll get you taken care of in no time. It won’t be an attempt. You’ll both walk out of here with a new minor element, along with a new spell slot today.”
The two women’s eyes lit up, and they suddenly looked more than happy to come in.
Pax let out a long breath, pushing his tension out with it. This next part would be much more fun than dealing with politics. Remembering how amazing it had been for him when he unlocked his first additional element made him smile at the two mages. This was going to be fun.