A man in a white cloak emerged from the wagon, a waxed mustache and beard and perfectly slick black hair expressed the definition of elegance. His green eyes were charming as he expressed the utmost seniority of a kind physician as he stepped off from the passenger’s seat. The driver on the other hand was a woman with a large navy cloak draped across his shoulders. Her cold blue eyes pierced through his tranquility as she brushed aside strands of his brown hair that was fair as her skin. It was pale and porcelain but with a reflection like crystal in the morning sun glistening from some unknown treatment to her skin. Master Zoe knew all too well that this appearance was all for show, for she had met the man before and his facade could not pull the wool over her sharp eyes.
“Master Icarus, it’s a pleasure to see you.” Zoe bowed respectfully with a smile as pleasant as his own.
“Master Gaia, it’s a pleasure to see you too.” He bowed in a polite and courteous manner.
Anthony did not know what to make of this exchange, because while Zoe was being polite he could tell this was her best attempt to control the fury in her soul. Clio on the other hand did not hide her fear, she just stood still shivering as if a cold draft had touched her spine. Perhaps it was the stare of his associate or Master Icarus himself, but whatever the cause he kept his senses on high alert.
“I rarely see you this far out in the slums of Master Icarus.” Zoe continued. “If I may be so bold as to ask why, you’ve come here so suddenly?”
“I received a report from one of my healers that two of our regular patients might be in need of urgent care.” He looked at the bandaged man behind Zoe’s back. “By the looks of that gentleman there it appears the report was correct.”
“These MEN tried to threaten the very lives and properties of the residents of this farm.”
“Really? There was no mention of such an incident, I only know that it may have involved the ingestion of hazardous herbs. Not uncommon since many of these farms are unregulated by the Imperial decree. Still, it is not our place to judge the matter, but rest assured the proper authorities will be notified of their illicit behavior. I’m sure they’ll be fined and possible incarceration by the town magistrate.”
“Isn’t he also a regular customer?”
“Ha, ha, many are.” He laughed. “The Boreas Group is a well known provider of high quality medical assistance. Not everything can be solved with just soaps and tinctures.”
“Providing they’re willing to pay the price.” She sneered.
“Everything has a price Ms. Gaia.” He locked a cold steely stare that matched his assistant who was looking at Anthony intensively as if sizing up his authority. “It seems my assistance, Ms. Alcyclone, has taken a liking to your assistance. I was unaware you had any new employees as of late.”
“He’s just a hired hand, who’s willing to work for experience.” She shrugged off. “Not unlike your slaves that you call gaining a valuable experience?”
“I don’t recall you having a problem with that when we were working under Master Zephyr.”
Anthony could see the anger curl up in her fist as the mention of that name. He could only imagine what events transpired between the two, considering their established positions.
“If your hired hand would kindly assist. Ms. Alcyclone, please retried the heavily injured patient into the wagon. I’ll inspect the other patient who appears to have sustained some more injuries recently?”
Zoe simply nodded allowing Alcyclone to step forward and helped Anthony lift a gurney from the wagon and placed the injured Castor upon it. At the same time, Oceanus who was still dazed and confused from last night’s fight was busy looking at the lights in his eyes practically unaware of what had transpired. Icarus stepped up to him and started waving his hands to gather the air around him and started to wrap around him like a white shaw. Almost instantly he felt his eyesight get better, the fluid in his ears balance, and bruises on his jack and stomach began to clear up. Repair magic was a powerful skill, but one thing it could not heal was the memory he had from last night.
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The instant he saw Anthony returned from helping Alcyclone, he began to break out in a roaring fury. He completely ignored Icarus and started raving like a lunatic trying to break the bonds on his arms and legs.
“You demon, when I get out of these ropes I’m gonna...” Before Anthony could even notice, Alcyclone had rushed by the side of Oceanus placing her hand upon his head.
His eyes instantly rolled back and he was rendered unconscious in less than a second. This was the technique that Anthony had often heard about, the one used by adductors and pickpockets, to render a person unconscious by rushing blood to their head. It was effective but often risky as it was known to cause nose bleeds and could lead to severe damage. Without missing a beat she checked his ears, nose, and pulse by touch until she was certain he was in good condition. With a nod of her head Alcyclone signaled Icarus that he was good to go.
“The patient seems a bit hysterical, perhaps the drugs haven’t left his system yet.” He nodded to Alcyclone who dragged his unconscious body to the wagon. “Rest assured, he’ll get the treatment he needs as well.”
“He hadn't taken any drugs, he...” Before he could speak any further Zoe placed her aged hand on his chest and nodded.
Whatever grievances she had against this man and his connection to these renegades Master Zoe didn’t want to talk about them in public.
“You’ll have to forgive my assistant Master Icarus, he’s still new to the region and is unaware of your status as the leading health mage in Gourd.”
“It’s quite alright, I imagine as much since I haven’t seen his face before.” He looked at him as if examining his rough but still youthful features. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you a great deal young man, maybe we can have a private chat. You know our organization could always use a good hired hand, always on call.”
“...I’ll keep that in mind.” He simply shrugged off his words before standing by Master Zoe’s side.
They watched as Ms. Alcyclone loaded the injured men into the cart and Master Icarus got aboard the carriage as it drove off into the distance. Clio began to hyperventilate the moment they were in a safe distance as if she had been holding her breath this whole time. As she quickly took a knee, Anthony held her rise again brushing off the dirt on her dress as he held her stand.
“Are you alright, Ms. Clio?” He asked.
“I’m sorry it’s just...every time I’m around...that woman, it’s...a bit overwhelming.”
“It’s probably her spiritual force acting against your own, it’s common amongst Mages of the same natural quality, I’m actually quite surprised you stood your ground throughout the conversation.”
“How do you do it?” She caught her breath again. “How do you stand up to such tremendous forces, when you’re more sensitive than me?”
“Let’s just say, my father was very adamant about teaching elemental defense. It’s one of the few things I excelled at other than elemental theory.”
“Well, that could have gone a lot worse, but at least that’s two less passengers for us to carry back to town.” Zoe stretched out her limbs in a casual manner.
“Master Zoe, there was obviously some collusion between those men and Master Icarus. Why did you not interrogate him further about his involvement?”
“For the same reason my shop still stays in business, I know when to pick my fights. Since you visited the Hunter’s Guild you probably saw the large amounts of requests for the Boreas Group. It’s no coincidence, they got their hands in several enterprises, politics, trades, even in the Slums, although nobody’s been bold enough to prove it.”
“How does this continue under the Empire’s rule?”
“The Empire doesn’t mind so long as their trades keep running and their tributes get paid. That’s the reality of the Duchy, kid. It’s nothing more than a second state to the Empire since the great continental wars. Think about all the texts and books you’ve studied, when you were raised in the capital? Did you ever notice a bias in their interpretation of things? The Empire of Neoptolemus welcomed the Duchy of Aster as brother’s in arms’ but I’m sure you’ve noticed it’s far from the truth?”
It was true when Anthony started living in the Aster regions he had redefined many of his preconceived notions. People living in poverty desperation and in some cases indentured servitude based on who you were or where you were born. In the end, what had saved him was his strength, his wits and the wealth he brought with him from the Empire when he left home. Others were not as fortunate and had to rely on much less just to survive, meaning it was a perfect place for opportunists and manipulators, who operated in almost complete autonomy.
“Better say you goodbyes before we pull out kid. Clio, you’re driving.”
“Y-yes ma’am.” Clio quickly ran off to the farm house to get the family in waiting.
“There’s something we gotta talk about on the way back to the shop, kid.”
“Is it regarding our recent encounter with Master Icarus?”
“Also, that family knife of yours.”
It was true both matters needed discussion, but Anthony decided to simply wait until the time was right. First he had to say a proper farewell to the family of the farm he had protected.