The ride to Shoreland was surprisingly uneventful. The team stopped in a few towns along the way and interacted with the locals to get intelligence on the area. Apparently the coming and going of the Queen’s army cleared the path of monsters and bandits alike.
On the fifth day of travel the team stopped in the town of Cogshell. They entered The Bard’s Tap tavern and Inn. It was moderately full of locals drinking and singing to live music played on a small stage. Two men and a woman were playing stringed instruments like a fiddle and singing very adult themed songs.
Sophie approached the barkeep as the team grabbed a table in the far back of the tavern. Shortly after Sophie returned to the table the barkeep brought several mugs of ale and some sandwiches from the kitchen. The tavern was full of life with playful songs in the air. Uproarious laughter swept across the room as mugs of ale sloshed together.
Zack looked at Sophie and yelled above the noise, “Is this normal in Cogshell?”
Sophie shook her head, “I have no idea why people are celebrating.”
The barkeep came by with another round of ale.
Zack gently grabbed her sleeve and said, “We didn’t order another round of ale.”
The waitress smiled winked and said, “The ale, is on the house, we is celebrating!”
Marko put on his best grin, “I am not one to turn down free ale! Tell me, what are we celebrating?”
The barkeep looked at Marko like he was an idiot, “What do you mean, wait you don’t know do you?”
The team looked at the barkeep with blank expressions.
She laughed, “You must have just got to town.”
She sat down at their table and cozied up to Zack, “Where are my manners. My name is Salacious Sally, you are in my tavern! Welcome to Cogshell.”
Teesa politely smiled and said, “Um thank you, what exactly are we celebrating?”
Sally playfully bopped Teesa on the nose which did not go over well, “News from the capitol arrived about an hour ago. Mage Hogant was killed in battle.”
Sally quickly got up on their table with a mug of ale in her hand and yelled, “The mage is dead!”
The crowd collectively lost its mind as everyone cheered. Moments later the music started up again and the party continued. Sally jumped down from the table, winked at Zack and returned to the bar.
Sophie looked at Zack and then the team, “I think we should get out of here and get a room.”
The team nodded and they left the party for a room at the Inn.
Once they were settled in, they gathered by the fireplace.
Zack said with a chuckle, “Turns out Hogant was not a popular person.”
Sophie shook her head, “This is very strange, something is off here.”
Marko sighed, “I have seen people celebrate when a horrible leader is gone. I have never seen people celebrate the death of a mage. If anything, by rights they should be mourning.”
Teesa remarked, “At the very least not showing outward happiness at his death.”
Zack looked puzzled and said, “Why not, if he was as big of a dick as I experienced before his untimely end.”
Sophie interjected, “That’s the thing, normally losing a mage means major instability in the kingdom and real threat of invasion by another kingdom with a strong mage.”
Teesa spoke next, “Usually no one really knows the mage or have any direct experience with them. Typically, the kingdoms mage is revered as a mystical figure who helps with major events and deterrence. Most people will live their life without ever seeing the mage let alone having an opinion of them other than hero worship.”
Marko said, “For these people to celebrate his death means they have had first-hand experience with the mage and his followers. And, that firsthand experience must have been awful.”
Zack sat in the couch made of pillows deep in thought. Finally, he asked, “Was it weird the mage was on his way to Vinstra?”
Sophie replied, “Very much. If not for the legend of Zack the Wizard, I sincerely doubt he would have made the trip. That must be why he came out so far from the capitol.”
Sophie continued, “Were not going to get anymore answers tonight with the party and drinking. We should get a good night’s sleep and hit the road early. I think the next town is Shorelake. We can ask more questions there.”
The team was on the road before the first rays of sunlight peaked over the trees. As they left Cogshell, it looked like a stage three tornado ripped through the town.
Zack shook his head, “Give it to the Cogshell people, they know how to party.”
Ten hours later they arrived in Shorelake. Zack thought, I get this town is situated next to a lake, but ‘Shorelake’, really, that’s the best they could do?
They found Shorelake to be in slightly better shape. However, it was obvious they had a raging town party last night. The team pulled up to The Wharf tavern.
The sat down at a table in the back and noticed most people were moving at half speed and obviously hung over.
The barkeep came over with her eyes squinting and a half smile on her face.
She quietly said, “Welcome to The Wharf, looking to eat, drink, or both?”
Sophie spoke for the group. “Food and some ale please. We are just traveling through town.”
The barkeep nodded and headed back to the kitchen.
Zack looked around the tavern and saw a few people huddled over tables nursing hangovers. The room was quiet with low murmurs and the sound of a crackling fire in the hearth. Various large fish with giant fangs hung on the wall. Zack noticed out of the corners of his eye that some of them seemed to move.
Sophie smiled at Zack, “They have a magician in town who specializes in animating animals after they are dead. This way they people can show off their latest catch.”
Zack laughed and said, “Because of course they do. We have a similar thing back home, but the fish do not move. Well, some of the fake ones sing to people.”
Teesa said, “Why would people put fake singing fish on their walls?”
Zack laughed again, “That is one of many questions one could ask about strange behaviors in the world. Frankly, I would just say people in general are weird.”
Marko grunted, “Facts.”
When the barkeep returned with food and ale Zack asked, “Did your town have a big party last night?”
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The barkeep sighed, “Yes, and now we are all hungover and paying the price.”
Zack asked, “We heard the news late last night. Are there any details on how the mage died?”
The barkeep pointed to a large man at the bar, “Ask him, he was there.”
Zack sat up in surprise and took stock of the man.
He was a large, burly, and armed to the teeth. He was sitting with three other men who were noticeably smaller and better dressed. Zack nodded at the barkeep, “Thanks.”
Sophie put her hand on Zacks’s arm and said we don’t want to know that bad.
Zack smiled and leaned into Sophie’s ear, “He was not with the Mage or the queen’s army.”
He turned to the table and said, “This will take but a moment.”
Zack got up and grabbed a round of four beers from the bar. He brought them over to the four men the barkeep pointed out.
He set down the beer and said, “For your troubles.”
The three better dressed men grimaced as they looked up at Zack. The fourth did not look up and kept eating his food.
Zack said, “This round is on me,” and walked away.
A deep menacing voice said behind him, “Troubles for what?”
Zack turned around with a broad smile, “The barkeep mentioned you were there when the Mage tragically passed on. I wanted to buy you are beer for your troubles.”
The demeanor of the three better dressed men change to confusion. The larger man unexpectedly gave a broad smile back and said, “Did you know Mage Hogant or something?”
Zack replied, “Nope, just knew he was the Kingdom Mage. For him to have been killed it must have been a heavy fight. I have been in a few heavy fights in my life and know it can be shitty.”
The large man stood up and extended his hand, “The names Clyde, most people call me Clydesdale due to my size.”
Zack gave a good-natured laugh and replied, “Most nicknames are smaller than the real name, but there is nothing smaller about you so that checks out.”
Clyde gave a genuine laugh.
My names Cor glad to meet you. Clyde invited him to sit down at their table.
Sophie and the team watched with anxiety as Zack engaged the other men. One of the men turned sideways and she saw the Queen’s emblem on his shoulder.
She turned to the rest of the team in hushed tones, “At least one of those men are Queen Aadici’s personal handlers. Why would he be way out here?”
Marko stealthily looked over the men with a deeper interest and said, “All three of the well-dressed men are the queen’s handlers. That is odd indeed. Hopefully Zack gets some good info from the men.”
After half an hour and after another round on Zack, he returned to their table.
Teesa was barely able to contain herself as she half whispered half yelled at Zack to tell them what he learned.
Zack smiled and said with an innocent look on his face, “I didn’t learn anything. Just bought a couple of rounds for some hard-working Shoreland men.”
Zack shrugged his shoulder and said, “That’s all.”
Sophie eyed Zack for a few moments and then changed the subject before Teesa could protest.
In less than an hour the team was back on the road. Once they were clearly away From Cogshell Zack turned to the team like he was about to explode.
Zack hurriedly said, “Ok so that was really weird. Those men told me the craziest story about how the great and powerful Mage Hogant died defending Shoreland from a much more powerful mage invader. How he fought off the other mage for hours. In the end he bravely sacrificed himself to kill the other mage and protect us all.”
Zack then mimicked puking as the rest of team looked in shock.
Sophie said, “They said what?”
Marko said, “Clearly we have our answer to your wizard friend Paxton’s question on whether she openly announces her mage was killed by a wizard or try to cover it up.”
Teesa said questioningly, “If she was going to cover it up, why do it this way. It makes her kingdom vulnerable but does not unite the other mages and kingdoms to her side. Sure, the story makes him look brave and valiant. But don’t you think when the other top wizards are not missing the story falls apart?”
Sophie gave a sardonic laugh and said, “It is almost like she is low key inviting other noble houses to question what happened.”
Zack nodded his head and said, “I am not sure what the benefit is to this particular lie. I agree with Teesa, the story makes the Queen and her kingdom look defenseless. They are practically inviting scrutiny. It will only be a matter of time before others pick up on the lie.”
Sophie asked, “It seemed weird that three of the queen’s handlers were out with what appeared to be foot solider. Did they engage much when you spoke to them?”
Zack replied, “They only spoke when I asked them direct questions. They seemed more than happy to let Clyde speak. In a way, it seemed like they were his handler.”
Teesa said, “Maybe they were. Think about it. The queen has concocted this cover story for her dead mage. What better way to get it out to the masses? She sends out several giant soldiers out drinking in various nearby towns. They have handlers and the story rehearsed. Each telling whoever will listen how he personally witnessed the brave tale of Mage Hogant.”
Zack nodded in appreciation of Teesa and said, “I think you nailed it, I bet that is exactly what they were doing. If Clyde got off message they would step in and redirect.”
As Teesa, Sophie, and Zack were lost on the conversation Marko noticed a man in the road 300 yards ahead.
Marko came to a stop and got the others attention. They simultaneously looked at Marko and then followed his line of sight to the solitary man in a black hooded robe standing ahead of them in the road.
Zack grimaced like he was trying to hear a voice softer than a whisper in his ear.
He asked, “Did you hear that whisper? It sounded like it came from the trees.”
Before anyone had the chance to answer Zack heard it again, this time loud enough to understand the words.
“Zack the Wizard, please join me without your friends, we have much to discuss.”
He looked at his friends and asked, “Tell me you all heard that?”
They all looked at him like he was crazy, Sophie asked, “Heard what?”
Zack looked back at the team, “The voice that addressed me as Zack the Wizard asking me to join them for a conversation.”
Marko pointed at the man ahead in the road and said, “It is probably that guy. If he is throwing his voice, he is probably a mage. We should approach him together very cautiously.”
Zack held his hand up, “He asked me to join him alone.”
Sophie replied loud enough for the man ahead of them to hear her, “Tough shit, we are a team. He should come to us instead of using all this ‘being mysterious’ bullshit to communicate.”
As the word ‘communicate’ left Sophie’s mouth the man was suddenly right next to her. All their horses bucked back at the sudden appearance of the man.
Sophie had fallen off her horse and scrambled to her feet with sword in hand to find the mysterious man hanging thirty feet in the air, upside down above them. Zack had his hand in the air staring at the man. Oddly, the mysterious man was giggling. Despite being upside down, his robe behaved as if he was still standing.
Finally, they heard the man speak, “Good, good, you really are a wizard. That was amazing. You moved through my defenses as if they were not there. Most impressive.”
Zack sneered at the man, “I am not here to impress you. If you don’t stop behaving like a fucking weirdo, you will find out other amazing things a wizard can do.”
The man put his hands up, well down actually since he was upside down, in a placating movement.
He spoke again, “I am not here to threaten you, I am not your enemy. I am here to help guide you my young friend. Perhaps you might be willing to put me down.”
Zack smiled and brought him back to the ground; however, he had not turned him right side up. “This is as good as you get until you explain yourself better.”
The other four team members having collected themselves after their horse bucked them off surrounded the man with weapons drawn.
The man sighed, “Fine, I guess I am a little out of practice these days.”
He pulled his hood back and revealed his face. He was old, really old, Lines etched into his face and wrinkles for days. He had wispy grey hair and a long grey beard. He looked at least 120 years old. Zack knew his looks could be a cover. But the man looked so old and frail. Feeling a little guilty, Zack finally turned the man over and set him on his feet.
The man turned to Zack and said, “Thank you dear boy. Not just for setting me down but for showing me your magic. Centuries have passed by since I was surprised and delighted by magic.”
Zack did not crack a smile, he just stared at the old man with a blank face.
After a moment he said, “And you are?”
The man tittered and said, “Oh my, I am out of practice talking to people. My humblest apologies, my name is Ezra Stone, retired mage to the kingdom of Shoreland.”
Zack looked non-plussed, but the rest of the group lowered their weapons and tool a giant step back to give Ezra room.
Zack looked Ezra then at his friends, and back to Ezra.
He said, “My friends seem to know you, but I do not. What is your business with me.”
Ezra looked past Zack and stared at Sophie, “My my, a scent I have not smelled in decades. You must be related to Master Archivist Dunn. Am I right?
Sophie suddenly looked like a little girl in Ezra’s presence.
She replied, “Yes master mage Stone. My grandfather served in King Domihahn’s court with you for many years.”
Ezra replied with a glint in his eye, “Ah yes, I remember him very well. He was a brilliant scholar. It seems with Zack’s presence, I owe him a bit of an apology.”
Sophies eyes went wide, “What could you possibly have to apologize for?”
Ezra smiled, “Many years ago he came to me with a theory about the existence of wizards. Some of what he said was nonsense. But he came dangerously close to the truth. Particularly in the area of natural magic. I was impressed he deduced what wizards were and how they worked from texts of long dead languages. Anyways, before he left the court and moved to Shoreland we had a spirited disagreement about the existence of wizards and the use of natural magic.”
Sophie’s jaw dropped; she sputtered out a few words that did not make sense.
Ezra held his hands up and continued, “Turns out he was right, more right than even the acolytes of the system. He understood a few fundamental principles that have only recently been proven true.”
Sophie having regain some composure, “Proven true? Proof of what?”
Ezra smiled and let out a big belly laugh as he pointed at Zack, “He is the proof, we could not have found him and pulled him over if it had not been for your grandfather’s research.”