Chapter 28

They were in another quarter of the city Riley had never been to before.

Here, the cobblestone lanes were narrow, but the sidewalks were wider. Quaint shops, with their hanging wooden signs, hung over window displays, full of high end items.

Toys, shoes, and general goods were each arranged in artful ways so as to entice buyers, as finely dressed people strolled upon the lane.

At the corner, a brightly lit painted sign showed a cockatrice, wearing a top hat and biting a cane, reared back on its hind claws.

Riley had been glued to the window of the door the whole ride, prompting a dilemma for the footman as he went to open the door.

"Oh, sorry," she said to herself, hopping down and scooting back into the cabin as the door opened.

"Enjoying the view?" Justinian asked, exiting first, causing the footman to bow.

"Oh, come on, man, I'm not as stuffy as all that," Justinian grinned as Riley, and then finally, Tobias emerged.

"As you say, Sir," The footman deferred while Justinian handed a few coppers to both him and the driver before they moved off to find another customer.

"So what is this place? Favorite hang out?" Riley asked, scanning around, "We seem to be in a fancy part of the city."

"It's a place where the noble set and sorcerers hobnob," Justinian grinned wider, showing teeth, "as we will be among their auspicious ranks soon, I thought it only fair we get acquainted."

"So we're crashing a noble establishment?" Riley's eyes went a bit wide.

"Well, I technically have a right to be here, and they serve companions, so who's to complain?" He shrugged.

Justinian began to walk towards the door. Faintly, Riley could hear something like guitar music gently playing and the murmuring voices of dozens of conversations.

They moved along, pulled by his gravity.

"So you did this because of me?"

"Nah, there's plenty of places in Ashenvale that serve companions, but this seemed fun. It's not really forbidden for us to be here. I've got title, and we're each of the magic, so relax, trust me."

"The last time you said that, I ended up in the infirmary with a broken nose," Tobias sighed, shaking his head.

A hulking brute of a man was waiting on the other side of the door, towering over them. Riley balked as she stared up at the nearly seven foot tall man, dressed in a simple, leather armor, with a golden torc around his gargantuan neck.

His right hand glowed blue for a brief moment, then she detected a flash.

"May I announce you, sir?" He boomed with a deep bass voice that Riley felt like an earthquake.

"The Margrave of Solstheim and his entourage," Justinian replied, putting on airs of regality.

The load bearing wall of a man turned on his heels in a slow motion about face before calling out to the room.

"The right honorable Margrave of Solstheim and his Sorcerer Entourage!" His voice boomed, drowning out the music as everyone stopped and as if one entity all turned to look towards the entrance.

"Good evening," Justinian called out and took off his hat, bowing with a flourish.

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Curiosity satisfied, everyone went back to what they were doing.

"This is so weird!" Riley exclaimed as they made their way towards a table near the back.

Across from them were scarred and battled hardened soldiers, all wearing black armor, carrying swords with an obsidian hilt.

They watched from the corner warily as if expecting danger at any moment.

Justinian pulled out a chair, "M'lady."

"I'm allowed at the table?" She balked.

"By the dead gods, you're strange. Of course, you're allowed!" Tobias exclaimed.

One soldier at the table regarded her with a brief but passing interest.

Riley, fearing an angry manager, took her seat, perching on the chair, letting her forepaws hang down as she scanned about for danger.

Music still gently played all around her, though no musicians were on the stage, leaving Riley feeling a bit scrambled. This place reminded her much of the restaurants she remembered from her previous life.

Everything was clean and well polished. The scent of castile soap and a minty cleaner hung in the air. The greatest oddity was that she was both allowed inside and seated like any other guest.

"Riley, the health code violation," She giggled to herself as she caught notice of a woman wearing an apron who was making a beeline toward their table, causing her to perk up.

"Good evening, loves; here for dinner, mead, or perhaps an ale? We also have tea if that will suit," She smiled broadly.

"No menus," Riley thought, talking to herself, watching with interest.

"Dinner and ale sounds lovely," Justinian smiled back, showing buckets of charm, "but cut us off after two, would you?"

"And for the companion, sir?" She asked.

"A bowl of water, tenganut, and some clover, if you would," Tobias answered.

"Dinner and an ale. You've come on a good night. We're serving henlan roast with vegetables fresh from the Varanlands, and for your companion, I've just the thing," She said with a bit of gentle pride before scurrying off.

"Wow, no one cares," Riley boggled, relaxing all the more, bouncing on her hindpaws.

"You're more nervous about being here than I am," Tobias said.

"You better get used to this; after next week I bet you'll find yourself in places like this often," Justinian chuckled.

A look of nervousness spread across Tobias' face.

"I might be able to cast, but passing my trials is not a foregone conclusion," he cautioned as the waitress reappeared as if by magic, setting two ales down on the table from a tray followed by a bowl of water for Riley.

Tentatively, she lapped at it, ready to be yelled at, yet nothing happened.

"Are you kidding? You're the scholar of our class, and now you can cast. They're going to sandbag you in some stuffy research or scholarly position, and you'll spend your days boring everyone to death in esoterica. That, or you're going to get drafted," Justinian shrugged as

Tobias laughed heartily.

"Oh yeah, like I'm cut out to be a soldier," Tobias replied, leaning back in his seat and taking a long sip off his ale.

"Well, here's to our destiny and to our friendship." Justinian raised his glass as Tobias, and he clanked theirs together.

"To destiny," Tobias echoed.

"What's the drinking age here?" Riley wondered aloud.

"What's a drinking age?" Tobias and Justinian both said in unison.

"Uh... never mind," Riley blinked in surprise, then went back to her water.

Tobias settled down in his chair, taking another long pull of his ale, letting his body relax, "You know, it's strange; it felt like this day would never come, yet here we are."

Justian shrugged, "I don't feel like things will change that much for me. Sure, my aunt is arranging my future, but I'm only good for one thing in the eyes of the realm. Luckily, I love doing it. I'll be in some forge somewhere, pounding out items until I'm too old to swing a hammer, then I'll teach."

"I'm hoping for something in alchemical research or maybe a scriptorium," Tobias mused, "it would be nice to stay in Ashenvale, near the family. Granda isn't getting any younger, but I doubt I'll get that lucky."

"Why's that? Where do you expect to go?" Riley asked; both seemed much older than eighteen at that moment.

"Valenheim is the premier magical academy in the realm, Riley, so we're in demand. With my grasp of theory, I'm almost certain, I think, to end up in a more scholarly position. Still, I'll probably be in an academy out in one of the other cities for a while. People work their whole lives to end up instructing in Valenheim," Tobias explained.

"That's going to be hard," Riley knew a thing or two about being alone.

"With my monthly pay, I'll be able to take care of them from a distance and even stay in touch with the occasional message, but this was always going to happen. As sorcerers, we are born to privilege, but that privilege comes with a duty to the people. We go where we are needed, we serve as we're needed; it's the trade off for what we were gifted with at birth," Tobias explained.

Riley nodded, pondering.

"Ok, man, lighten up. It won't be that bad, and you know I've got you covered if you ever need anything, and you know that goes for your family, too. When your Granda takes ill, I'll see he gets the best care," Justinian assured.

"Thanks, friend, but you're right; let's cheer things up a bit; I want to enjoy this night while it lasts," Tobias affirmed, taking another long sip.

The music stopped before being replaced by something more lively, and a dancer walked out upon the stage.

The crowd erupted into cheers as Justinian held up his mug of ale.

"Alright, this is more like it!" He cried, pulling his coin purse off his belt.