Chapter 5: Mordecai
"Aim for the sky, but move slowly, enjoying every step along the way."
- Chanda Kochhar
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I sat up from the bed, looking at the man sitting in the corner of our small room. He had neatly cropped brown hair and green eyes, with a tanned complexion more common with those in the south of the kingdom. As he chatted with Duncan, I noted the ease with which he sat on the little chair; the posture of a warrior. That was when I realised it - the chair was normal-sized, this man was just absolutely massive. He wore white plate armour everywhere bar his face and looked over at me, feeling my gaze on him as high-level people often did. He didn't say anything, despite his obvious look of surprise at me seeing him, he just watched me.
"Ah, you're finally up! Good morning, Daniel. I know it's early, but we've still got to meet Mordecai, my contact, and then set off. I'm hoping to get to Ateria by the end of tomorrow." Duncan said apologetically. I was going to have to get used to rising very early with Duncan; the old man seemed to sleep very little despite always looking tired.
"Morning, Duncan. Would you care to introduce me?" I asked, thinking the man was a friend of Duncan.
"To whom?"
"To the man sat in the corner..."
"Wait...what?" His head suddenly swivelled to face the brute looming over us both. The stranger still looked completely calm, despite Duncan having drawn both of his knives in one fluid motion. I'd have been calm too, if I were 250 pounds of pure muscle and was protected by what looked like armour of the gods.
Your eyes can pierce veils of deception
New Skill Gained - [True Sight]
Uh oh. If I had gained [True Sight], it probably meant that the man was invisible. He didn't look like he had magic, but I guess you can't judge a book by its cover. As I was about to tell Duncan, he did the last thing I'd expect - he put his knives away.
"Mordecai, old friend! How on Earth did you get up here? Last I checked, I'd always been able to see through your little spells before now!"
"Good morning, Duncan, and Daniel is it?" The man named Mordecai said in his baritone voice, getting up from the chair. Anyone on the other end of the giant sword strapped to his back would've lost control of their bowels. Hell, I was terrified and he was meant to be on my side! This man was Duncan's contact?
'Though Duncan is an Archbishop, so I guess he must have some pretty powerful friends.' I thought.
"It's rude not to reply to people when they speak to you, Daniel," Duncan admonished, turning around to look at me.
"Sorry. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." I said in the most pleasing and decorous manner I could muster. It was almost sickly sweet. He was made distinctly uncomfortable by my reverence, so I counted that as step one of my petty revenge.
"No need for formalities. I'm here as a favour for Duncan, so you can just call me Mordecai. He also told me that I could teach you some weaponry skills on our journey to Ateria. It'll be fun to see the capabilities of an illustrious Saint." He said excitedly. Fighting must've really made the man happy, though that should've been obvious by the sight of him.
"Can we go downstairs and get some breakfast first? Duncan promised me a few more answers and I'm starving!"
"Growing boys," Mordecai said with a chuckle.
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We made our way downstairs and settled at the same table as last night, though it felt a lot more cramped now that our hulking friend was seated beside us. There were a few more patrons than there were yesterday; many must've had the same thought as us, that earlier meant fewer crowds and less danger. Hilda, the first non-human I'd ever met, came over and took our order. True to form, Mordecai ordered half of everything they offered at the sleepy inn.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
A few minutes later, I was tucking into my salted porridge when Duncan cast a spell called [Confession].
"This will allow us to speak freely with one another without the chance of being overheard by others," he said.
"Wow, that's handy!" I exclaimed, "What tier is it?"
"2nd."
I moved that to the top of my list of magic to learn when I was finally anointed. I loved how quickly I was levelling my skills, but it annoyed me that I still had no access to magic, no matter how hard I tried. And believe me, I've tried.
"So...I only have two questions left - Firstly, that Priest's magic. It felt wrong on so many levels. Is that because Umbrael is evil? Surely a mistress of shadow and chaos isn't a 'good' god?"
"There are no good gods and bad gods, my boy, only gods. There are 6 gods for a reason, they are even, they are balanced, and therefore they are peaceful. That priest's magic felt so wrong because Umbrael is the direct opposite of Luminaris, like how Marina is the opposite of Vulcanar, and Terranus is the opposite of Aerion." He replied succinctly. It was as if he'd rehearsed it already, or heard it a million times before.
Throughout all this, Mordecai continued to stuff his mouth with every food he could get his hands on. Now I knew how he maintained his body, watching him eat felt downright sickening. Focusing back on Duncan, who didn't seem to be eating out of need but as a way to occupy himself, I asked my last question:
"I heard somewhere that I'd be going to a Wizard's academy in a few years, is that true? And do opposing magics mean that I'll be enemies with the Saint of Umbrael?"
"That was two questions, we'll have to get you a math tutor as well when we get to the Cathedral." The giant beside me let out a booming laugh while I scowled at Duncan, who was trying not to grin. "On a serious note, it is true that you will be going to the Academy at some point, though I don't know where you heard that piece of knowledge..." Uh oh. He looked suspicious.
I looked directly at him, trying to convince him of my innocence. Of course, Aurora had told me that tidbit of info last night, but he didn't need to know that.
Deception comes as easily as breathing when you need to lie for your god.
New Skill Gained - [Deceive]
That was perfect timing, Duncan still looked suspicious, but he let the matter drop. Aurora would be my little secret for the time being, I didn't want to be interrogated about her and, to be frank, I loved a good secret or two. It just made life interesting!
"As for not liking the Saint of Umbrael, don't worry about that. You are both human at the end of the day, despite representing such powerful gods. In fact, it states in some of the old scriptures that Umbrael and Luminaris themselves used to be lovers. They say 'opposites attract' after all! When you do go to the 'Gallian Academy of Wizardry', you'll probably meet the other Saints as children instead of as gods, and you should try and befriend as many as you can. They will be powerful allies and churches united are more powerful, after all."
"That makes a lot of sense, thank you!" I said sincerely. Duncan was back in my good books now that he seemed to be truthful with me. I still felt him holding back sometimes, but if he answered my questions, then there was no reason that he couldn't keep his own secrets.
We sat in contentment, my mind still whirring over everything he'd said and everything I'd gained and learned last night. When Mordecai had finally finished inhaling the rest of his food, Duncan paid and we made our way out of 'The Dwarven Beard' much happier than when we'd entered.
I for one, was excited to get on the road and start learning how to defend myself from Mordecai. Magic was cool and all, but nothing beat the fluid, swift motions of a sword or a couple of knives. I'd once gotten into my father's stash and stabbed myself in the foot. I winced as I remembered the pain and blood.
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As we entered the stables, there was a small group of people gathered around one of the pens. Lo and behold, it was of course Dawn, our horse, that had caused such a commotion. The people turned to look at us. And when I say 'us', I mean myself and Duncan. Mordecai stood right beside us, towering over everyone, yet nobody batted an eyelash at him. I assumed he'd become invisible as he'd done earlier. I vowed, again, to add that spell to my already massive list of magic to learn when I was finally anointed.
"Is this your horse?" a portly man asked us. He looked more gold than man, with how much jewellery he wore, which explained why he had 4 guards and a few servants around him. I had a bad feeling about this.
[True Sight] has levelled up - Lv2 (+1)
'I guess reading intentions and body language also count towards [True Sight].' I thought as the man casually strolled over like he had all the time in the world. I hated this kind of person the most - someone who thought they were above everyone else.
"Is this your horse?" The man asked, not bothering with any introductions. He just pointed a pudgy finger behind him towards Dawn, who was looking suspiciously uninterested. 'Yep, she's definitely more intelligent than she makes herself out to be!'
"Yes, she is, sir, how can we help you?" Duncan asked calmly.
"Your...beast...bit me. She bit me, do you know who I am?" The man said with way too much self-importance.
"I'm sorry, but how did she get close enough to bite you? She's too far from the walkway and you shouldn't have been near her stall."
"I- I- I am Baron Pordona." He stuttered, taken aback that Duncan had questioned him so assiduously. "I was going to take her out of her pen because I liked her colour and she'd have a better life with me than with the likes of you, but she bit me! I demand that you pay 100 gold for the cost of a healer and the inconvenience, immediately. Then I might be inclined to let this whole matter go."
The nerve on this man! A noble was trying to blatantly rob people, and most would just roll over and fork over their life savings. I guess he didn't know who he was talking to, as Duncan promptly said "No. That won't be happening."
He was taken aback.
"GUARDS!" the little man screeched. Duncan pulled me back with him and Mordecai stepped forward, popping into existence in front of us. An unspoken word seemed to have passed between the two men.
'Wait...can telepathy be done with magic?' I wondered. 'No, now's not the time! I've got to watch a pompous ass get beaten up first.'
The guards stopped for a second. Mordecai was almost twice their height and width, but the Baron kicked them forward. Despite it being a 4 vs 1, I still had complete confidence in the grinning man.
"This can be your first lesson, Daniel," he said, looking back at me.
And then it all kicked off.