Thana Mourningjay

My feet were sore, I was tired of walking, and while these shoes fit really well and looked great, the leather in them hadn't been at all worn in. That was apparently an issue, and why I was in so much discomfort.

Three days in and most of the other people in the caravan were still avoiding me. It wasn't like I'd hurt the other guard, or even done something he'd not told me to. Perhaps sending him screaming out of sight had been a tad overmuch. That fact that the coward had taken nearly an hour to tome back hadn't helped either.

“See anything?” one of the drivers asked. He was letting me sit on the cart just below him, a rather kind gesture.

“Not a bit, though I'm not much of a scout,” I replied.

Over the next hour or two we finally approached the checkpoint that was the border of Liria. They still had influence outside, and were known to send folks over to deal with issues, but this was where their laws officially ended.

We passed by the guards in the colors of one of the local cities and they barely looked us over. It sounded like one had spoken to the caravan master, but the rest of us, nothing. The guards in Lirian uniforms on the other hand were checking documents, poking around in carts, everything.

“They not care if we're bringing in weird things?” I asked the driver. “I don't know, drugs or whatever?”

“Nah, we won't be checked for that until we get to the city gates themselves. Never been this way before?”

“Lived in Liria all my life,” I responded.

“The cities here are more independent. Each one has its own rules and laws, and almost all are very permissive. So long as you're not trying to destroy the city or hurting anyone they let you do pretty much whatever you want. It's part of why there are so many mercenary companies up here. In Liria you'd need permits to make a fortress, but in one of the cities you only need the gold for it.”

“I've heard they're pretty loose, but castles and stuff?” That was odd, normally a government didn't want anyone powerful enough to oppose them around.

“Pretty much whatever you want kid. Heck, there's even a cavalry company out in Lyton that rides undead horses. Some necromancer made them for them decades ago and the things are just tireless.” He looked off, pointing at one of the very far off mountains.

I snapped my head over to him. “Wait, necromancy? That stuff's legal here?” I was glad we were well past the gates when I spoke, or else I might have gotten more attention then was wise.

“On things that aren't people, and I think they put a bunch of other restrictions on it too.”

“That's awesome,” I said, smiling despite myself. The look he gave me told me just how bad that response was. “Most of what I can do is debuffing magic, which is all in the same school as that. In Liria many of the higher level spells would be forbidden you see,” I tried.

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The two of us didn't speak much after that, him just nodding a few times at comments. Eventually I found myself a new cart to walk near, when it became clear that I was no longer welcome.

Milo Greyson

The poor kid was not making friends, not at all. Arcanists were rare as it was, and she'd displayed a rather nasty fear spell as her tryout. That was all well and good, at least as far as our employer was concerned, but now I was dealing with something else.

“Some of the boys are a bit worried about your companion,” the boss explained. “You've known her for awhile right?”

“Yeah, what happened?” I asked.

“She got excited learning that some of the nastier magics were legal in The Free Cities. To be frank a fear mage is bad enough, but rumors are building,” he demurred.

“The kid's a bit weird, and likes things that are a bit on the border, but I've personally seen her use her powers to save hospital patients and waylay terrible things.” I was clearly going to have to speak with her about whatever happened.

“So, she's not going to kill us in our sleep to sacrifice us to evil overlords?” one of his nearby men asked.

“No, decidedly not. Do we need to break from the caravan at the next city?” I asked.

“I was debating that myself. Having a caster of any kind would be a boon if we run into bandits, but you know how people can be.” He looked away or a bit. “Of course I would pay you the full amount we agreed on.”

“You know caravaners talk, we'll have a time getting to Orean if you do that,” I observed, locking my eyes on him.

The man chewed on his lip for a few moments, considering. “Just Orean, no further, and I'll tell the men you're keeping her under control, if she stays with you they'll keep their peace.”

Two weeks later we finally made it, and sat in a tavern in Orean, waiting. Thana had been a bit mopey of late, though it was only her own fault for not schooling her emotions. She had her head resting lightly on her hands as the waitress, a cute young thing came by with a smile.

“Good afternoon you two, I'm Arisha, get you something to eat? Drink maybe?” She had a look that assured her good tips, if unwelcome advances.

“A round for all of us, and some of those roasted peaches if you don't mind,” a familiar voice said from the side.

I looked up to see an old friend walking over, armor creaking as I rose and we embraced.

“Rolond, long time,” I said, patting him on the back.

“You too Milo, didn't reckon I'd ever see you leaving Liria again. What brings you up this way?” He sat down with us, looking us both over.

“Honestly?” I said, a bit regretfully, since this was definitely not my idea of a good time. “Need for jobs, and someone we can trust.”

“Damn, things go that bad?”

“Highton is basically gone, and I may well never be able to return home,” I admitted, though it had been years Rolond and I had been like brothers, serving in the same unit our entire time.

“Liria is overrated anyway friend. Though... look, years ago I could have just assigned you a place, no problem, but you're older now Milo. If I did that now the men would complain. I can put you in the trials for new recruits, but you'll have to pass like everyone else.”

“No worries, I'm still here, and those green lads won't stand a chance,” I answered, clapping him on the shoulder. It was all I could ask for to get a go at one of the better companies in the city.

The waitress came back by, slipping our dish, which did smell delicious, onto the table with a round of frothing beers. “If you need anything else please let me know,” she offered as she moved out of the way.

She got to the next table over, where a man leaned in, taking a full grip on her backside. “You know, I wouldn't mind some peaches either,” he said with a crooked smile.

I thought about getting involved when the waitress gave her own answer, voice a mix of sickly sweet and burning acid. “You should look at things more in your price range, sadly we don't serve water. Now get out, and if you don't leave a good tip, don't come back.”

The man looked enraged for a second, and then must have realized the looks he was getting. Some were laughing, but a good few of the younger men looked like they were chomping at the bit to show the sexy barmaid just how manly they were. Hands were already moving towards blades as the offender threw down some coins and made a hasty retreat.

Rolond laughed. “That's why I come here, that and the food is great.” He didn't bother hiding it as he scooped one of the fruits onto his plate. “I'm guessing your friend needs a job too? I can maybe find an opening in the fortress for a domestic, or if you are any good at it, we can always use another scribe. Oh, and if any of my men pull something like that fool there, tell me, I'll cure them of it.”

“I'm a mage, and does that happen often?” Thana asked, nodding.

“Arisha gets them all the time, and never fails to put the guy in his place. Almost none of them ever do come back funnily. A mage though huh? Combat magic or something else?”

Thana flicked her eyes at me questioningly and I nodded. “He is someone you should trust.”

“Necromancy, though I can't raise the dead or anything yet,” she answered.

“And that explains why the two of you are leaving Liria. No worries kid, I can work with that. Someone will have to run you through the rules at some point, but we can always use specialists for certain monster types. We'll put you in the trials too, though as long as you can cast a few spells you'll pass, we can never have enough mages.” He seemed thoughtful.