By late afternoon they reached the town of Bramble. It was named for the six-meter tall, meter-wide wall of Rock Bramble hedge surrounded the city. Carefully maintained for decades, the dense shrubs had thorns as long as a finger and were as hard as a stone. Fireproof and devilishly difficult to climb or damage, they were an excellent natural barrier. As hardy as Rock Bramble was, it was difficult to grow in an organized way like this. The town probably employed some Nature Mage or Hedge Witch to maintain it.
They approached down the cart track that circled north of the town. Yacob had often been to Bramble on errands for the Holder, and he led the way. On the northern side of the town was a cobblestone road that led into the town. The entrance through the hedge was a large wood and iron gate that rotated on a hinge set into a wooden wall on the inner side of the hedge, reminding Wali of a dog door from Earth. Held up by chains, it could be dropped at a moment’s notice. There was a single bored-looking sentry dressed in iron shod boots, brigantine, and an iron pot helm. He had a short sword at his waist and a brass-capped baton in his hand. He saw Yacob and nodded, then turned to Wali. The man was middle-aged and looked fit by his build, “Yacob, nice to see you again. Who is your friend?” He asked with a smile.
“Oh, hello, Sergeant Strong, this is Wali. He’s a Colri that I’ve met on the way here.” Yacob said, recognizing the guard.
“Nice to meet you, Wali, don’t see Colri out this way too much. Is old Cohen still kicking around?” The man said to Wali.
“Good to meet you too, sir, and yes, Ancient Cohen is still around. I spoke with him only five days ago.” Wali replied respectfully.
“Hahaha, that old goat has some stories to tell. He and I got around to some trouble when I was you boys’ age. He was already an old guy then. I never met anyone who could swing a spear like him.” Sergeant Strong said, laughing. “I should share a drink with him before he’s gone.”
“I am sure he would like that,” Wali said with a smile.
“You on your Long Walk there, Wali?” The guardsman asked.
“Yessir, that I am,” Wali replied, surprised that the guard knew of the traditions of his folk. Then he realized that he and Cohen had history and that alone would explain his knowledge.
“Well, try to keep out of trouble. The world is getting more and more dangerous as late. Word that there’s war in the East and monsters coming up from the South.” He looked at Yacob, “You going with him? Finally got out from under Holder Cheesemonger?”
Yacob said, “Yeah, it wasn’t a good place.”
“That asshole, I hate having him in town, always up to no good. Well, you’re a good egg, and Wali here surely knows how to survive. You two have fun.” Sergeant Strong said as he waved them through. They entered the town, and Wali was fascinated. Most homes were a mixture of brick and wood, with a mix of thatch and clay roofs. It was not a big town, not much larger than the “Village” where he had grown up. He could see the far wall down the arrow straight cobblestone road. There was a lingering stench of human filth, oily smoke, and sweat. Wali saw that most townsfolk dressed much like Yacob and Ferd in simple browns, blues, and bleached linen. A cart clattered across their path, pulled by a tired old horse. The driver was a weather-worn old man who waved to Yacob. Yacob told him that the man on the cart was Holder Greene, a nice gentleman with large wheat and corn fields on his farm. Many farmhands that had left the Holder Mark had gone to Holder Greene. They headed toward the inn, a large brick and wood structure called the Brass Cock. An oversized brass rooster silhouette made from a hammered sheet of brass as tall as a man was nailed to the wall next to the door.
Inside the door, the place was similar to the inn back in the Colri village. A large open main floor with a bar and several tables. Stairs to an upper floor with several rooms to rent. There was a smattering of folks in the inn, a pair of elderly folks bickering at a corner table being the most notable. As they walked in, the conversation quieted for a moment as the regulars took in the newcomers. Behind the bar was a thin woman just past her middle age. Her skin was tight to her bones, making her look gaunt. Her chestnut hair was pulled back in a tight bun, her mouth scowling. The pall of old pipe smoke and spilled ale hung in the air. Yacob walked over to the woman, who stood up from a stool as they approached. “Yacob, are you here for Holder Mark’s weekly delivery?”
“No, ma’am. I’m no longer with Holder Mark.” Yacob replied.
“Good for you, young man. He is a terrible person, and that son of his is an absolute pile of shit.” The woman said bluntly. “The only thing good to come from that place was the cheese, and I think that had more to do with you than anyone else if the rumors are true. What can I get for you?”
“Umm, can we get dinner and a couple of rooms for the night?” Yacob asked, a bit apprehensive.
“Sure you can, dear. Who is your friend here?” The woman had started dry and cool but warmed to them now.
“I’m Wali, ma’am.” Wali introduced himself.
“You can call me Roxanne, dear. There’s no need for formality here. I know you Colri are all about respecting your elders and such but you are in my house now.” Roxanne said with a smile. Wali could see that the woman had been a beauty once. Now, years had aged and matured that beauty. “It’ll be five silver for the both of ya for the night and dinner. Ale is extra. Pay upfront, as usual.”
Yacob set down his bundle, a bit embarrassed, and started digging inside it. Wali said, “I got it.” He pulled six silver from the pouch at his waist and laid it on the counter. Roxanne swept it into her hand and dropped it into a box under the counter.
“Find a seat. I’ll bring some food right out.” She turned back to the kitchen while the pair found an empty table. Dinner was a peppery chicken and vegetable stew with a knot of bread baked with tomatoes. Roxanne dropped a couple of hand-length brass tubes on the table. “Keys for rooms two and four. Can I get you anything else, gentlemen?” They both shook their heads and soon headed up to their rooms.
Wali found the keys quite ingenious. The magical locks matched a sequence of markings inside the tube with those inside the lock. If they didn’t match, then the door would not unlock. This type of magic was known as “Inscription” and was an offshoot of the base form of Glyphs. Longtooth hadn’t known much about it. It was the primary way for people to enchant basic items with simple magics. It took only knowledge and skill and the right tools. A skilled practitioner was very valuable in a community.
Wali sat Yacob down and had the young man open his bundle to see what they would need to buy in the town before they headed deeper into the Harvest Kingdom. Yacob had the thick woolen blanket, a knot of twine, a knife, and a hatchet. He also had a lumpy pillow filled with rags, two wheels of hard flavorful cheese, and the wooden box. When Wali inquired about the box, Yacob was initially hesitant before opening the plain wooden box. Inside the box was a collection of stones, an old ivory comb missing some teeth, and a pouch with not quite a hundred silver. Yacob explained that the rocks were ones he had found in the fields that were interesting. Most of them were unpolished agate, and quartz, and one was raw ruby the size of Wali’s thumb. Yacob’s treasure was far more valuable than he knew. The comb, Yacob explained, was all he had from his mother. It was a treasure with no price. Wali didn’t pry further. Other than a single change of clothes, that was the entirety of Yacob’s life. They talked for a bit more before finding their beds.
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In the morning, Yacob led Wali around the town as they found various things to equip Yacob for the road. Another set of clothing, far better quality than the threadbare hand-me-downs he wore, was first priority. A used traveling pack was found at a second-hand store. An assortment of other sundries, and soon enough, Yacob was kitted for travel. They spent the night at the Brass Cock and departed through the gate shortly after dawn. A different sentry stood watching as the two boys stepped onto the road.
They had decided to follow Longtooth’s guidance and head west to the city of Belge and then to the elven kingdom. The two walked silently for a bit, enjoying the breeze and open air. Yacob asked Wali about his life in Colri, and Wali shared a shortened version of his life. Yacob talked about the farm, the cows, and the goats’ antics. Wali spoke of the spirits and his Totems. Yacob was fascinated by the idea of having pet spirits. Wali had to teach him about the nature of the spiritual bond and how they were partners and equals in the relationship, not pets. Gulli had taken an instant liking to Yacob days ago. Neferu was quiet, Noodle couldn’t be bothered with him, nor could Tag. Yacob asked Wali about the unique spear, which reminded Wali that he still needed to tame the Storm Elemental inside—the past few days had been very busy just dealing with Yacob’s entanglements. They agreed to find a spot off the road to allow Wali to attempt the feat. They found a clearing in a spot of woods where Wali and Yacob set up a camp to one side.
Wali had Yacob use his Earth magic to raise and level a circle of land five paces across. Using stones Yacob had called up to the surface, Wali marked them with certain glyphs and set them around the circle’s perimeter. He empowered the magic circle creating a ring of containment should the elemental get free. Wali sat down in the center of the circle holding the spear and entering a meditative state. He gathered mana as he had done so many times before, adding more to the growing volume of mana he held inside himself. He circulated mana through the spear and felt the elemental bound inside rouse. The head of the spear began to crackle with sparks of electricity.
Pushing his awareness into the spear , Wali heard the elemental's rage-filled screams. It instantly turned its focus on Wali. “Freee mee mortal!” It called to him with a voice of howling winds.
“I will not free you,” Wali replied.
“Free me, and I will destroy you and your friend!” It rumbled with threatening thunder.
“That’s not better,” Wali said calmly, unafraid.
“YOU WILL FREE ME, AND I WILL DESTROY THIS WORLD!” Screamed the elemental, the full fury of the elemental lancing out as lightning. Wali was prepared; drawing on the power of his Void glyph, he absorbed the magic. More lightning poured from the now berserk Storm Elemental. The Void drank it all in, rendering the attack as nothing. This was a battle between the elemental’s power and Wali’s endurance.
Outside the circle, Yacob saw arcs of lightning dancing out of the head of the spear. They flashed around the circle and struck Wali. Wali sat there unperturbed. He had instructed Yacob not to disturb him, no matter what happened. The worst possibility was that the elemental would free itself and kill Wali. The circle would only hold for so long if the elemental broke free. If that happened, Yacob was to be as far away as he could be.
The threats and anger of the elemental increased, and Wali felt the drain on his mana as he held the powers of the elemental at bay. Holding the power of the Void for so long was draining. It was very effective at absorbing the energy of the elemental, but it gave nothing in return. Wali held the glyph’s power for some time, trying to figure out a way to wear down the elemental’s power. It was fully engaged now, throwing wind, icicles, and lightning at him. Wali thought back through his life and pondered the wrath of the elemental. It was beyond insane now; its power was terrifying and seemingly endless. Wali had to break the storm somehow.
He began to piece together some glyph chains, first raising the temperature within the circle. He heated the space to an almost unbearable heat. He planted the head of the spear into the earth to ground the lightning; the wind still swirled around him. The lashing ice had been removed as all moisture in the air was driven out of the circle by the heat. Taking a breath, he could release most of the power he had been fueling into the Void. The air began to circle him faster and faster; the elemental was trying to form a miniature tornado.
Inspired by a sudden thought about cyclone vacuums, Wali formed a link between his Magic and Void glyphs. Using the Void to draw in the elemental’s power, he could remove the mana from the storm, draining the strength of the elemental itself. It was both sickening and invigorating. The mana he pulled from the elemental was intense, it was also tainted with its power, alien to his mana. Linking it to his Heart glyph and then back into the Void and Heart Glyph structure, he used the elemental’s mana against it. Longtooth had taught him about the nature of elementals. Creatures formed when a massive amount of strongly aspected mana somehow condensed or was forcibly compressed.
The elemental tried to react violently, “You will not tame me! I will destroy you and your entire species.” It threw itself against the circle as the spell drained its power. As Wali struggled to control the complex power structure, he began to shudder and sweat. If he released the spiral of power, it would go poorly. It was simply building and growing in strength. The form of the elemental had shrunk noticeably now. It screamed in a fury, and something else. Pain echoed in the thunder.
Wali held on, knowing that this was the only way to tame the creature. Binding it to his will, the idea of enslaving it was distasteful to Wali. Releasing it was unacceptable; destroying it would destroy the spear, a gift from his mentor and a powerful artifact. Perhaps he could come to an accord with the elemental. His totems empowered him; their partnership and bond were something he might be able to enable with the elemental. With an idea forming in his head, he carefully added the Spirit glyph into the power vacuum sequence he was already maintaining. He pictured in his mind the bond he held with his other totems but substituted the Storm Elemental. He spoke with the old Drill Instructor authority, “Storm Elemental! I name you Gale!” His voice boomed out and the elemental reacted as if slapped.
Everything stopped then; the lightning stopped, the thunder ceased, and the winds were suddenly still. The spiral of power that had sucked up all the energy of the elemental shattered, and a pillar of lightning shot from the ground and into the bright cloudless sky with a deafening crack. Gale was silent, and an exhausted Wali could feel its glare. He could also feel the beginnings of a bond there. “You would name me!?” Gale asked incredulously.
“I would, as I have named the totems that walk with me along my path,” Wali said, pulling the spear from the ground. The black glass spear tip came out of the smoking earth clean. A trio of brilliant points of light could be seen inside of it now, each equivalent of a welder’s arc. Wali could feel his four bonded totems gather around him; Gale regarded them cautiously.
“You are not the one who bound me in this rock, yet you would free me?” Gale asked.
“I will not free you completely.” Wali began, and sensing Gale’s rising anger, he placated it, “You have destructive strength far beyond what this world could survive. I will offer you a contract, but I will not enslave you. You know my strength.” He left the threat unsaid.
Gale twisted into itself, the roiling cloud form lit from within with lightning. The three brilliant pinpricks dimmed as the creature considered. “What is this contract you offer?”
“I would have you fight with me, empowering this tool of war you are bound into. In exchange, I would share a bond with you like I do Tag, Gulli, Neferu, and Noodle here. A bond of partnership.” Wali said.
“I want to be free of this artifact,” Gale replied.
“I will allow a spark of your power to flow through our bond, to manifest in the world when I allow. You will need to follow my direction when you manifest this way. I will also guarantee that when the spear is broken or our bond will break upon my death, and then you will be free to do as you wish.”
“So all I need to do to be free is to get you killed?” Gale asked, unwittingly pointing out a flaw in Wali’s offer.
“Yes. I think that you will gain much from a partnership with me. I seek to travel the world and find knowledge and kill monsters. Bonding with me will allow you to wreak havoc in ways you cannot as an elemental.”
“I tasted the blood of that lizard and of that man. I think I want to taste more of that.” Gale said.
“As a tool of war, I can promise you that you will do much of that,” Wali said.
“The lizard blood was not good,” Gale grumbled.
“So you agree to my terms?” Wali asked.
“We have a contract,” Gale replied. Wali felt the magic of the bond solidify into something more. It was far more rigid than his bond with the Totems, but he knew that the elemental was now bound. As he breathed a sigh of relief, Gale shouted, “I will bathe in the blood of our enemies and gorge myself on it!”
Wondering just what he had signed himself up for, Wali shakily broke the containment circle, to Yacob’s relief.