Dirk and the Mhorgain were quartered outside of the Thrain Hold, which Verdan had been somewhat opposed to initially.

There was a lot of interest in Dirk, mainly because of how he straddled the line between Chosen and Wizard, and Verdan would have preferred to keep him close.

If one of the Clan’s Keepers was going to force the issue, Verdan wanted to be on hand to act as soon as possible.

Currently, as far as anyone was aware, Dirk was the only Chosen remaining in Clan Mhorgain. He was a self-determined Chosen, having used an old law to declare himself as such, but it still counted.

Any argument of that fact had been curtailed when the Thane publicly put his support behind Dirk and recognised his status as a Chosen.

Verdan was sure that there was a political motivation there, but he wasn’t going to question it too much.

Clan Mhorgain was a shattered and scattered thing, and had seemingly been doomed to a slow death until they had been completely absorbed into the other clans.

Now, however, Dirk offered them a chance to keep their Clan alive.

In practical terms, that meant that Dirk, and his Thearns, was being housed in an area that had been specifically set aside for the Mhorgain refugees when the Clan first fell.

It also meant that Dirk had a full complement of fifty Thearns now, with Benlen acting as his Blade, and a growing number of Mhorgain Kranjir from the surrounding area had gathered in the city.

Clan Mhorgain had been based further south, closer to the mountain range that cut across the narrow link between the north and south, and Clan Thrain was one of the most southern of those remaining, so it had naturally picked up a lot of the survivors and refugees.

Verdan had a feeling that the amount of Mhorgain Kranjir in the area had been particularly underestimated, and that was also causing an issue.

If Dirk’s presence was bringing them together, it would follow that they’d want him to do something.

Exactly what Dirk could do, Verdan didn’t know, but hope was a hard thing to reason against.

Making his way through the streets of Glarn, Verdan ignored the curious looks his lack of scars brought and soon found himself knocking on the door of the building where Dirk was staying.

An unfamiliar man opened the door, but he clearly recognised Verdan, and invited him inside as he sent someone to fetch Benlen.

The old veteran arrived quickly and gave Verdan a respectful nod. “Wizard Blacke, good to see you.”

“And you, Benlen. I was hoping to speak with Dirk.”

“He’s speaking with someone at the moment, I’m sure he’ll be free shortly,” Benlen said with what Verdan almost took to be a touch of unease. “If you take a seat in the common room, I’ll let him know.”

Verdan nodded and followed the man who’d opened the door over to what seemed to be a general space for everyone in the building.

A few of Dirk’s Thearns were present and someone had brewed a pot of herbal tea that they were sharing out among those present.

Verdan took the mug he was offered with a smile and sat down off to one side, not wanting to intrude and well aware that to most Kranjir he was a strange sight indeed.

Magnus took the seat opposite him, while Barb propped up against the wall, but Magnus shifted and fidgeted while glancing at Verdan.

“What’s bothering you?” Verdan asked directly. Normally Magnus was quite direct about things, so this seemed a little unusual.

“Well, we’ve not really talked about it,” Magnus said hesitantly. “But I wanted to ask if I’d be able to come south with you when you go. I know that you’ve tolerated my presence here, but I’d like to stay with you.”

Verdan leaned back, a little surprised by the abrupt question. “What has brought this on?”

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“Well, I know it won’t be long now, and I wanted to ask before everything gets too complicated.”

“I see,” Verdan said, considering it for a moment before nodding. “Alright, I don’t see a problem. You’d be joining my guards, though, and would have to follow orders and work with the others, understood?”

Magnus nodded, his eyes bright as he fought down a grin. “Yes, of course.”

“Good. Barb, once we’re back, could you introduce him to Ruan and the others?” Verdan asked, knowing that it was weeks away, but also aware that he’d forget between now and then.

“Of course, I’ll make sure he meets everyone once we’re back,” Barb said with a nod to Magnus. “You’ll like the others, they’re all pretty solid.”

The two of them started to discuss life outside of the Clans so Verdan let his attention wander for a time.

Unsurprisingly, his thoughts went back to the hidden facility and the Automaton, but this time he focused on what he’d found when he explored the huge storage area.

Past the cradles, storage and scaffolding, Verdan had found a fortified entrance to the Druinn.

The Druinn was the sprawling underground world that lay beneath them. According to Kranjir legend it was filled with monsters of all varieties, though sadly, those legends were founded in truth.

They’d fought a Gormagyr down there, and from the ancient fortifications he’d seen in the facility, that was only the start.

Unfortunately, all those fortifications had been long since expended and destroyed, with only the damaged sigils and broken pieces of machinery lingering behind to show what had once been there.

For that matter, that entire section of the facility was damaged, and Verdan couldn’t help but wonder what had breached such a seemingly formidable defence.

Well, he assumed they’d once been formidable based on the Automaton they’d fought.

The sound of Dirk’s voice brought Verdan’s attention back to the present and he got up before heading back into the hall, assuming that Dirk was coming to get them.

Instead, Verdan saw Dirk speaking with Garan Merkstan, a Keeper and representative of Clan Menteith.

Verdan believed that Staran, the Keeper who had betrayed the Clan, had been aiming to cause an issue between Verdan and Garan regarding Dirk’s apprenticeship when he invited both of them to dinner.

Dirk had undercut much of the issue by becoming a Chosen directly, but Garan disliked Verdan and had become determined to get Dirk to leave him and either joining Clan Menteith, or otherwise spread his knowledge.

“Keeper,” Verdn acknowledged the older man with a polite nod.

“Wizard,” Garan made the word into a curse before turning and leaving, his head high and his back stiff with controlled anger.

“Everything alright, Dirk?” Verdan asked once they’d closed the door behind the Keeper.

“Yes, Master, just the usual,” Dirk said wryly, and Verdan resisted the urge to sigh. He’d been hoping that Garan had given it a rest now that Dirk was technically a Chosen.

“What’s he been trying to do now?”

“Well, it seems he knows about Maeve and Ciaran, and was trying to work out if I could teach others the same thing,” Dirk said with a shrug. “So I told him the same as I always do. I’m not a fully trained Wizard, and while I’m your Apprentice, I’ll not share knowledge without permission.”

Verdan noted distinctly how that didn’t account for anything after Dirk had finished his apprenticeship, but that wasn’t really a shock.

He’d underestimated the devotion to Clan and kin that the Kranjir had, but now that had been rectified, he knew full well that Dirk would share his knowledge.

Bit by bit, Wizardry was edging back into the world, and Verdan was becoming less and less concerned about that.

The corruption of the Automaton had been a death knell for Verdan’s resistance to the idea really. After all, if such relics were still in the world, they could be exploited regardless of what he did.

Focusing on Dirk, Verdan gave him a half-smile. “Well, you’ll be pleased to know that I intend to head south again soon. We’ve been here a lot longer than anticipated, and I’m keen to return to the city. I’ll bring it up tonight with the Keeper.”

Dirk nodded, relaxing a little. “I’ve had an invitation to that as well. I’m glad to hear you’re ready to head south as well, things are starting to get a bit harried around here.”

“How so? Anything I can help with?”

“Not really, it’s a Clan thing. Now that I’ve established myself and one of the Thanes has backed me, well, there’s a lot of pressure to do something. The problem is that no one can agree on what we should do.”

“I can see that being tough,” Verdan said, it sounded as bad as he’d feared. “Perhaps some time away will help then.”

“Perhaps,” Dirk said glumly, seemingly not convinced.

“Some distance will give perspective,” Verdan said, more firmly this time. “Besides, we will have to head through your Clan’s old holdings to get back, so we can take a closer look.”

“That’s a good point, I’ll have to speak with Benlen about that and see where he’d recommend we go,” Dirk said, perking up a little at the idea.

“Excellent, now, how about you tell me where you’re up to with your Words and your spiral?”

“I’ve mastered all the Words you’ve shown me,” Dirk said, lifting his chin proudly as he led the way out to the small courtyard at the rear of the building; it was just isolated enough to make a good training spot for them.

“Oh?” Verdan arched a brow at his apprentice, sensing that there was something else as well.

“Yes, and I’ve started to learn a new Word, but one that has come to me naturally.”

“Interesting,” Verdan said, fighting down his excitement as they stepped out into the courtyard. “Have you been able to cast it yet?”

“Thella!” Dirk turned and lifted a hand sending a blast of Aether out in a cone that was centered on his palm.

It was a neutral spell, one lacking any element that would give non-magic users the ability to see it coming. Very useful, and most definitely a variant on Verdan’s own understanding of the word.

“Impressive,” Verdan said honestly. “Now, why don’t we refine your technique somewhat. You should be able to hit both a small and large area with that spell.”