Olaf had a work shift from midnight to noon. Some hooligans painted slurs on one of the walls, so he was a part of a four-person unit that patrolled the poor neighborhood investigating the misdemeanor. It took them 4 hours to figure out who did it, a couple of hours to find their location, and a few minutes of intensive chase throughout the poor parts of the town and on the rooftops leading to arrests of all but one of the perpetrators.

Olaf wasn’t fast, but once he caught one of the young vandals they had no chance of running away.

After a shower at home, Ledas came with a parchment, asking Olaf to read it. That he did.

“Did you decide to do forgeries, or is this some kind of a joke?” he asked in disbelief after reading the text.

“It's real, I passed the test almost ideally. The only person who did better was the one who wrote it,” Ledas responded coldly.

“Oh, so…” Olaf stood up and made a medium bow his head low “Congraduglations, Court Mage Ledas Runeward”

“What are you joking about? It's a serious matter.” Ledas was defensive until he saw Olaf’s wet eyes and wide smile when his mate lifted his head.

“Are you alright?” Ledas looked furrowing his brows.

“I’m so happy for you,” he sniffled, a tear going down his cheek, laughing a bit. “Come, let me give you a hug.” He didn’t wait and hugged his young friend, in a firm bear hug.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Ledas’ voice was muffled as he was speaking into Olaf’s chest.

“What are you thinking? Are you drunk? It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! A one-way ticket to a better life! Why in the nine hells would you reject it?” Olaf was far more excited than Ledas.

“What if I can't do it? I never worked as a mage, let alone as someone important!” Ledas was conflicted.

“Dude, just take the job, you were offered it. I don't think they made a mistake. I took you in after a minute-long talk, forgot that?” With a smile on his face, Olaf shrugged, his eyes were still wet.

“And if I fuck it up? I’ll get hanged!'' Ledas retorted.

“No, the one who hired you will get fucked, not you” Olaf laughed from his belly. “If you can't, you can join the guards with me. Don’t believe in yourself. Believe in me, who believes in you.” Olaf was shining with confidence, and some of that confidence stuck to the young mage. Ledas was a poor decision-maker, he knew that he acting emotional sometimes, so he valued the opinion of Olaf way more than his own. If Olaf was confident, it meant it was the right decision.

In the evening Ledas decided that Ledas Runeward was a good enough name, and he went with filled parchment to the castle chancellery. The castle accountant looked at the paper, and at Ledas, and then at the paper again. After which, he raised his eyebrows while slightly shaking his head, and opened one of the drawers.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

“Welcome to the castle, Courtmage Runeward. Here is your front payment.” the castle accountant said as he put two small gold coins and thirty drahms on the table. That was a lot of money for single Ledas who now didn’t have to pay for food or accommodations. “Each week on the first afternoon you can come to claim the salary. Master mentioned that you might come. Follow Smoothy, he will show you the way.”

“Thank you, but what is smoothie?” Ledas gently put his newfound fortune in his inner pocket.

“I am Smoothy.” a voice rang next to Ledas’ ear making him shudder. Smoothy was a slim man in a brown cloak and leather armor, slightly taller than Ledas, and the way he stood made Ledas feel the grace and agility coming from him.

“Follow me.” They got to a ladder upstairs and Smoothy looked at Ledas. “Do you know how to survive here Runeward?”

“Survive? What do you mean?” Ledas asked.

“So you don’t,” Smoothy said with a grin like it was some game “Let me lay it out for you. I was spying on you for a few days, just so you know. From the moment you got into the Temple of Mother of Mercy”

“Oh. that explains why Wraith knew so much about me,” Ledas replies. He felt as if confusion was slowly waning. Though his heart skipped a bit when he thought that Smoothy could have seen manifestations of his cold blood, he then realized that if the spy had seen a thing, Ledas would have long been dead.

“Yeah, so listen. I am telling you this because I like you. That scene when you and your friend were drinking and confessing your feelings brought a tear to my eyes. The way you tried to decline what people were gifting you, and giving in just so they will feel better. So pure, truly heartwarming,”

Smoothy stopped and turned to shocked Ledas. “So I learned that you are a naive idiot. No one here is your ally, no one should know what my master knows already. I am not your friend, nor am your ally. This is not a park, this is a warzone. There is a hidden currency here - favors. But you can’t do favors to nobles, they will never want to owe you until you prove yourself. Focus on servants and staff. If you scratch their backs they will scratch yours twice because of your status.”

“Anything else I might need to know?” Ledas looked with an inquiring expression.

“I like you so, it will be 10 drahms.” Smoothy grinned as Ledas gave him one gold coin begrudgingly.

“Avoid the princess at all costs. Her staff is cool though. Hmm… One more thing, early birds live longer.” It didn’t look like Smoothy was going to explain, so they proceeded to walk forward. Ledas was not sure that he was scammed, but maybe knowledge to avoid the princess was worth it, so he didn’t complain.

In the office of Wraith was only one writing table with a few files on it. There were two people inside, Wraith and a familiar face: the well-dressed mage who suggested Ledas to take a second name in the registration line a few days prior.

“Oh, it's the Zanderian, right? What are you doing here?” the well-dressed man was even more stylish today. The red and blue military outfit of a battlemage highlighted his excellent physique.

“It's our new court mage,” Wraith answered before Ledas could. “Ledas, Let me introduce you to Baron Vahan Karian.”

“Honored to meet you again Baron.” He shifted his face towards Wraith “I decided to do as you suggested and changed to Runeward, sir. How may I be of service?”

“Can I challenge him to a friendly sparring in the Arena?” Baron Vahan was slightly agitated.

Wraith looked at the young Baron with slightly tired eyes.

“Do you want me to find a replacement?” There was no sarcasm in his tone.

“No, I will be gentle. I promise he will be fine.” Baron laughed. “Want to spar, court mage?”

A voice in Ledas’ mind played the recently heard phrase “No one here is your ally… this is a warzone”.

“It's better to try my first time with someone who is experienced and at least promises to be gentle,” It was only after he said that Ledas understood his mistake. “Oh, sorry, let me re…” Ledas was cut off,

“Wraith, why have you hired an idiot?” Baron looked at Ledas with slight contempt.

“You are lucky you said it here, not somewhere else. Come back after you are finished. Dismissed.”