As the preparation of the army still takes a long time, I took Jet and traveled to Altdorf again, mostly because this was where the Wizards had their center.

Not so much the Amber Order, as they disdained living in a city of any kind, but the others.

The Emperor was glad to ride a Dragon again, and present his Imperial Dragon as a symbol of power and authority.

And then we hid in his study for more wine and plotting.

"Already got half the colors of Magic? Well, I can perhaps help with the Grey Order. They often work for me as diplomats. Or killers." Wilhem whispered in a secretive voice. Was this a big secret? Everyone knew the Shadowmancers worked in the shadows...

He took out a magical device from his desk and tapped a few brass keys. A minute later, a statue beside the door gained a new shadow, and a young man in a grey cloak emerged mysteriously.

"Immanuel, this is Pef..." The Emperor said in a mild voice.

"The Warden of the East. The Dragon Tamer. And the giant Club in your right hand, your Majesty." the young Wizard declared in a creepy whisper.

Did they train to speak like that? Most likely.

"There is a need for a young female Wizard of your Order to join my Warden's retinue in Waldenhof. Possibly for her entire life." Wilhem proposed in the same mild voice. It was fascinating to see soft power at work. The Emperor could tug a few strings, and a head would fall a thousand miles away.

The Wizard stood still for a long minute, likely considering candidates and skills. "There is no Wizard like that and available here in Altdorf. But I do have an Apprentice close to gaining her Journeyman rank. If the mighty Warden thinks he can avoid deploying Emmanuelle on dangerous missions for a few years, until she becomes strong enough."

I nodded gratefully. Young Wizards were rare. But a strong Apprentice would be enough. I had my ways to make her stronger.

"Also, I would request you investigate the Skaven citadel under this city. Their Grey Seers are dangerous, so don't go too deep. Just pinpoint entrances and connections with the criminals that trade with the rats. I'll deal with the massacre when it's time." I said in a level voice, and patted the Unbreakable club on my hip.

"As my Warden says, Grey Wizard. Reports from Marienburg and Nuln have confirmed the rats were infiltrating my Empire for decades." Wilhem added in a sad voice.

The man nodded and jumped into a nearby shadow, his spell quite reminiscent of the Grey Seer I had killed in Zhufbar. But far less speedy.

"So, I heard you visited Norsca recently?" the Emperor continued in the same collected voice.

"Only the shores and only a few ports. Destroyed a few Chaos temples as well. But they won't give up." I answered with a casual shrug.

The Emperor just sighed, sounding old and tired suddenly. Of course, medieval people rarely reached 50 years old. And Emperors likely never did. The Imperial Court was just as dangerous as any battlefield in Sylvania. Any Noble or courtier might plot to change the Emperor, even without the warp-plagues caused by the Skaven underneath.

"You would be the perfect Emperor, my Warden. Immortal and invulnerable. Just like the Dragons which rule Cathay." the Emperor suggested in a delicate voice. Was he testing me?

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"A perfect Orc Boss, you mean, your Majesty. If strength was the only requirement to lead a human country, we wouldn't need laws and roads. I think those old Dragons are far smarter or wiser than me. Even so, my strength will always be available when the Empire of Man is in danger. The big club behind the throne." I offered with a sad voice, then flew towards the window.

"I hope so..." the Emperor said in a low tone, then coughed into a towel, leaving a globe of green slime on it.

I landed beside Jet, who gazed upon the Imperial Zoo from the castle's rampart. "Miss the old place?"

"Not really. Just memories, some good, most bad. And there's a woman inside that wall." my Dragon pointed with his nose at a tower just behind me.

"You can come out, Emmanuelle. Don't worry, Jet is quite friendly." I called out to the shade hidden inside a wall.

Dressed like a musician, maybe a bard, even holding a lute on her back, the Grey mage stepped through a shadow in front of us.

"I think my Master already told you I am not that strong, Lord Warden. Emmanuelle Nacht, at your service." the new companion introduced herself, with a decent bow and a bouncy chest nearly popping out of her bodice. Good enough, her disguise would deflect any suspicion of magic. Not that she had much magic anyway.

"Her control over Ulgu is quite shaky, Warden. But her glands will feed your children quite well." Jet spoke in my mind, sounding bored.

Exactly my thoughts, dear Jet! Truly, having someone talking mind-to-mind was a great boon. Not only in battle, but also for other things.

"Now we only need the Lore of Heavens to start your training, little Jet. Or maybe a Tempest Maiden. " I spoke in a low voice, while placing Emma on the Dragon and flying up.

"I would have thought you were going to search for an Amethyst Wizard next, they use Shyish , right?" Jet asked as we flew towards Nuln at Mach 10.

"They can read minds though. I will avoid that until I get stronger." I answered with a reluctant voice. I didn't mind their Death spells nor their supposed association with Necromancy.

Any Wind of Magic had a few spells that neared the bad limit, simply because what their source was, the Warp. But if I knew my lore right, any mage could technically use any other Wind, or even all of them. Not easily or fluently, especially not if they learned magic in a certain system.

But my own experiment with the Book of Nagash proved I could cast those spells just fine. I mean, barely at all. But the rest only took practice and probably affinity with Dhur. Very likely, it would take decades of practice and a million spells casted just to get enough skill as the least Necromancer, but it could be done. And plenty fallen Wizards had done so.

This was the probable reason why Teclis had formed the Colleges of Magic this way. Keep the Wizards and their Winds separated and in conflict, such that they wouldn't work together and reach my conclusion. Uniting the Winds would bring back the High Magic used by the Elves and the Old Ones before them.

Well, they will unite soon enough in my bed.