The three men walked back up the hill to the compound in easy silence. Micky was content to let this headache fade. The other two knew the feeling well and held their tongues in sympathy. They reached the compound quickly, Gwilym leading them into the canteen and over to a table.
“You two wait here, I’ll be back sharpish with some coffees. It’ll fix your head right up.” Gwilym’s lilting accent drew out the vowels of each word, falling and rising in an irregular harmony,
“Sounds class, cheers mate” Micky replied with a weary sigh, slumping into the chair and resting his head in his hands.
“The headache will pass quickly” offered Yan, hydration will help. As will a brief rest. You’ll be back to your sparkling best before you know it.
As Gwilym busied himself making coffees Yan scanned the room, obviously looking for someone.
“You alright mate?” Micky asked, seeing Yan’s actions.
“Ah yes, it’s not a problem, just a game Zofia and I play. Her Class makes her most adept at hiding, blending into shadows, and fading from sight. I on the other hand have several advantages when it comes to seeking such hidden things out. It is a matter of no small pride for one of us to outwit the other. She by sneaking up on me unawares, while I must endeavor to find her before she can do so. At present she holds a 5 point lead, being ahead 147 to my 142.”
“So you’re basically using magic to play hide and seek?”
“Well, yes.”
“That is absolutely brilliant mate. How can I help?”
Several fruitless minutes passed, as both Micky and Yan scanned the canteen for any sign of Zofia. This was somewhat hampered by the fact that Micky had absolutely no idea what she looked like.
“Still searching for our slippery friend byt?” Gwilym asked with a grin as he brought back four mugs of coffee.
“and very much searching in vain, poor things” piped a high, reedy voice from under the table. The surprise caused Micky to wobble unsteadily on his chair, his coffee mug waving perilously from side to side.
“Oh damn and blast” grumbled Yan. “How bloody long have you been skulking about down there Zofia?”
“Not more than a minute my dear dear friend” the voice replied. With that, a tiny woman sauntered out from under the table. Her three-foot height meant she neither had to duck or adjust her stride as she emerged, climbing into one of the available chairs. As she climbed Micky noticed her outfit, slashes of green and brown combined with clever pleats and embellishments served to break up her silhouette. The stealth effect was however somewhat spoiled by the bright blue streak dyed into her otherwise platinum blonde hair.
“I think you’ll find that makes the score 149 to 142,” she said with an easy grin.
“That time in the pub doesn’t count and you know it” Yan replied hotly. “I was fast asleep and you know it.”
“Children, please. You’re embarrassing me in front of our newest team member” Gwilym said with exaggerated slowness. “Micky, meet Zofia. She’s our rogue, cartographer a-“
“And the general bane of my otherwise civilized existence” interrupted Yan, a smile creeping over his face despite the indignation he was trying to project.
“Thank you for that generous introduction, Gwilym darling,” Zofia said as she mimed a courtly bow in his direction before continuing. “I hear you will be joining us in a supporting role Micky?”
Caught up in the banter between the team members it took Micky a second to realize he was being addressed, and longer than that to respond. “Uh, yeah. Gwilym has been helping me train a bit. So you make the maps for the group right?”
“It’s so much more than that. Convergences reshape the very fabric of our ‘verse. I lead our fearless team into unknown spaces. Mapping them for posterity and ensuring our safe entrance and exit. Just making maps, pah.”
Not seeing the mirth in Zofia’s eyes Micky rushed to apologize. Before he could speak Yan interrupted again. “Don’t fall for it Micky, she me apologizing for some damn fool thing, the first time I met her too. She’ll never let you hear the end of it.”
“Ah, you old spoilsport Yan” Zofia pouted.
Gwilym turned away from the harsh glares the two sent in his direction to face Micky.
“Micky, before these two drag you into this horribly extended courtship they have, let us turn to the matter at hand. We need to integrate Ability training into your schedule.”
“I reckon I can make some time in my day to practice chucking about the power of a storm mate” Micky replied with a broad smile.
“Not all of it will be quite so glamorous I’m afraid. Much of it will need to be focused on your less flashy Abilities.”
“Yeah, I figured that might be the case. I’m still totally in. What do we need to do?”
“I’d like you to continue with Ingunn in the mornings. Improving your weapon Skills and your physical Stats is important. I would like you to split your afternoons between Ability training with either myself or Yan and performance training.”
“That sounds like a shout” Micky agreed quickly. “Mattheo is coming back in three days, and I still want to pick up that Healing Chant. Other than that I’m free as a bird mate.”
“Excellent, then we shall alternate days, performance tomorrow then Abilities the following day. For now, though head back to your residence and get a good night's sleep. We shall begin anew in the morning.”
The next five days passed in a blur of knowledge, bruises, and development.
His time with Ingunn was spent focusing upon simple spear forms, and Micky grew both in confidence and fluidity. He practiced incessantly, striking and blocking until his arms ached. By the end of the fourth session, she was even willing to go far as to call him “not completely inept".
Mattheo returned and guided Micky through the Healers Chant while Gwilym helped him to get a handle on his other Abilities. One of his favorite training exercises was to hide a source of magic somewhere in the compound, challenging Micky to locate it with Enchanter’s Note. These items ranged from the fascinating, like the magically propelled flywheel, to the baffling. The most confusing of which was a blacksmith’s puzzle comprised of interlocking black iron rings and brass triangles. The puzzle seemed to serve no point other than to confound and frustrate the user at every turn.
However, it was Yan who provided Micky with his most interesting conundrum.
“Algernon promised to outfit you as a part of your contract Micky, but that means you’ll be getting bog-standard gear. Simple stuff an Apprentice or Journeyman Blacksmith might churn out. What I’m proposing is we spend a little more and kit you out in a bit more style. I’m thinking energy spear and armored under-weave clothing. Maybe a few more accessories to set you off.”
“I dunno mate, that sounds kinda pricy. An energy spear does sound sweet though” Micky replied. “How much would all of this cost?”
“Maybe 12-15 gold if we use the company making the purchases” Yan replied.
“I’ve got 19 left, that’s pretty much all I have in the world. I still have to ya know live, for a bit at least, before this job starts paying.”
“You’re on 4 gold a month, right? That’ll cover your bills and booze. Besides you’re on our team for the next expedition. Even one share of what we bring back should sort you right out.”
“Okay mate, you’ve convinced me. I’ll drop by the TRC in the next couple of days to grab the cash.”
“Most excellent, Micky. You won’t regret it. I’ll talk to a couple of my suppliers and sort you right out.”
“Good stuff. I’m gonna head home now though I reckon. Ingunn beat me fair black and blue this morning.
“See you tomorrow Micky,” Yan said with a smile and a wave.
Before Micky could leave the compound he was intercepted by Gwilym.
“Ah Micky, I’m glad I caught you before you headed out.”
“Hey Gwilym, what’s the story mate?”
“Good news byt, Algernon has been chatting to the rest of the team and he’s ready to make a call on your inclusion on the next mission.”
“Ah, that’s quality. So, what’s the play?
“Algernon wants to assess your competence himself. He wants you in his office first thing tomorrow morning.”
“That sounds dead ominous,” Micky said with a grin.
“No, not at all byt, he just wants a chat, then he’ll have Ingunn run you through some combat drills and Yan will work through some active Ability tasks.”
“Sounds good. I guess I’ll see you bright and early. Catch you tomorrow Gwilym” Micky said with a wave as he turned and walked back through the compound. The walk back to Ma Duke’s seemed to pass in next to no time.