Chapter 22

The cart came to a stop next to the pile of mock spears as the driver pulled back on the reigns of the single horse that was pulling it. Celeste and Lilith then appeared in a puff of mist next to the wagon where Lilith helped the runner unload the lengths of wooden poles. They then sent away the cart and cart driver leaving only the Sharl, the Private, Lilith and Celeste standing in the middle of the Drill Field with two piles of wooden poles. One set being very short while the other set was not quite long enough.

“Sorry guys I need you to head over there with the rest of the group this is for our ears only.” Lilith said in an even tone as she pointing a single finger between herself and Celeste.

“Understood” The private said as he took off at a jog.

Sharl on the other hand just crossed his arms giving her defiant look. “Look Sharl, Tany doesn’t want us involving anyone else with this magic. Its a bit different.” Lilith cautioned placing a bit of emphasis on the word ‘different’.

“Ya like demon magic or something right? I’m not afraid of man nor beast and that includes Tany. Besides you said Celeste here was going to be a great wizard some day. So you can’t expect me to miss this chance to see her in action.” Sharl said while thinking ‘Its time I watched her for a change.’

“Ok whatever. I kinda thought he was being a bit paranoid anyways.” Lilith swung her head around to look at Celeste. “Do you know what you are going to say? We just need to add 3’ to the middle of each spear. And don’t worry about adding too much magical energy I can cover all of this easy.”

“I understand.” Celeste went over the words in her head and then spoke again “Ok I’m ready.”

Lilith nodded then blinked her eyes a few times to bring up her codex. Calmly and quietly, she began reading the magical runes now in her field of vision. “Do Va Li Ma Pen Dek” [Pact Magic] “The contract is open. What would you have me do Mortal?” She asked quietly as a sudden wind began to swirl around them kicking up sand.

“I would like you to extend the length of each spear in that pile by 3’ by seamlessly adding material to the center of each shaft using the wood piled near by.” Celeste said in a calm voice just as she had been taught.

“And what will you give?” Lilith asked flatly.

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“I will give you 10% of my spell energy.” The wind continued to swirl now lifting a small curtain of sand about 5’ into the air.

“And I will contribute 5% of my pact energy to this effect.” Lilith said as her eyes began to glow brighter.

“Agreed” Celeste called out. The wind pushing her blonde hair back behind her shoulders.

“The contract is set. The fabrication shall begin.” Lilith extended a hand towards the spears and lumber.

A 20’ cube appeared over the work area encompassing the wooden lengths and the spears. But it was only visible to Lilith as she was the caster. The wood and the spears began to combine one at a time in series at a rapid rate. In only 20 seconds all 15 spears had been lengthened to 18’ with the remaining 2’ sections deposited in a neat pile.

Celeste began to jump up and down and clap rapidly while Lilith and Sharl walked over to inspect the spears. Celeste quickly caught up as she had been pretty close to the piles to begin with.

Sharl gripped one of the spears by the back 1/3rd and rotated it vertical. He then dropped it to horizontal and made a few thrusts. “It looks good. Perfect in fact. There isn’t even a mark on the shaft.”

“We do make a good team.” Lilith said while giving Celeste a wink.

“Hey Tany! Take a look at this. Get the men back out here we got a drill to run.”

They could both see and hear Sir Tanel send off a runner to the barracks as he walked over to the middle of the Drill Field.

“Hey Sharl, how did you come up with Tany’s nick name?”

“Oh you didn’t know? Its just his first name, Anthony.” he said in his Baldur’s Gate accent which was remarkably close to a Boston accent to Lilith’s ears.

Celeste and her both gave each other looks. And began walking back to where the other observers were as an agitated Sir Tanel walked past them going the other way. “You two with me.” He said without even breaking his stride.

Now a meeting of four, Sir Tanel began by laying into the two girls. “Didn’t I tell you to keep this Lilith magic localized to the tower where it can’t be scryed on.” Sir Tanel said in a serious voice as he glared at each of them settling on Celeste.

“Yes you did regent.” Celeste responded.

“And I distinctly heard them warn you using my name didn’t they.” He asked while staring daggers at Sharl.

“Yes Tany they did.” Sharl admitted in a deeper tone.

“And you just gave them that stupid line about not being afraid of man nor beast didn’t you….. Well do you know what ‘they’ will do if they get a whiff of demonic corruption in this city?” Sir Tanel exclaimed as he pointed to a distant mountain.

“Why don’t you go ahead and point out the demonic corruption then boss. Go ahead, point at it.”

Sir Tanel raised a finger and looked at Lilith, then looked at the neat pile of spears and scrap lumber. He then quickly looked back at Sharl only to point at him in an accusatory fashion. “You are right! I hate it but you are right.”

“Well don’t worry boss no one is shooting for your job. And I’m not always right. I just got lucky this time.”

“Hey Tany….” Lilith was interrupted by more yelling.

“Damn it why is everyone calling me Tany that is what my brother called me.”

Lilith cleared her throat “Sir Tanel….” She waited till he is looking at her. “I am still not clear on who you are worried about purging the city of demonic corruption. Is it some kind of paladin order that flies on griffons?”

“Don’t be silly Lilith... I was talking about Dragons.”

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**On Dragons:** Dragons are powerful and magical flying lizards that roam the lands of Faerun. Dragons come in two distinctive groups: metallic and chromatic. The metallic dragons are generally good creatures, while the chromatic dragons are generally evil. And just like the Devils and Demons there is a blood War going on between the two sides Good and Evil that has raged since the world was created.

A primer on dragons by Volothamp Geddarm.

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