She was beautiful, only a year or two younger than I was. She came in with her father to procure an enchanted something from Master Bertol. It was a big hush hush secrete and Master Bertol wouldn’t even let me look at the object. Her name was Danalise and I showed her around the shop while they talked in Master Bertol’s waiting room. I guided her through the tables explaining what things did when she pointed.

We wandered the tables chatting, her pointing out things that she deemed pretty and I would explain its properties. Eventually she asked about what I did for master Bertol and I showed her my work. I explained how my parents were cheated and thrown into the dungeon and that master Bertol was an old family friend taking me on as an apprentice Runesman. After my explanation she asked to see my work and so I showed her.

She picked out my best piece right away, it was a small amulet, also the best piece from my friend Ranan the apprentice jeweler a few shops down the street. I had worked hard intending to save it for the crafters festival next month. The amulet was by far my best work, I had expanded on the protection rune improving its properties slightly as well as making it a backup. After your usual enchantments faded it would kick in to be a final line of defense.

It was in the shape of a small locket, the runes were scribed into the inside of the locket and an insert covered them so it didn't seem to be an enchanted object at all. The wearer could easily place images of family or their love inside and claim that it was a keepsake. She liked it soo much that I gave it to her, I couldn't help it, her smile was so nice and I could always make another one. After helping her put it on I was awarded with a kiss on the cheek and fishing for another I also gave her a water ring.

It was a failure of sorts, I had intended for it to be worn on a necklace and when in need of a drink you would place it on your finger, after being activated a steady stream of water was supposed to squirt out from an impression in the ring. The ring had an additional loop added at my request so that it could stay on the necklace and still be worn for a drink. The rune I used was supposed to pull moisture from the air turning it into water for drinking but it wasn’t powerful enough and only made condensation build up on the ring. It would work if you were in dire need of a drink but you could only lick the condensation off it's surface while wearing it.

It was a simple silver band but she liked it so it was also added to her necklace to sit next to the small locket. This time after helping her get the necklace back on I was awarded with a hug. This hug happened at the exact moment that Master Bertol and Danalise’s father came into the room. A sharp reprimand from her father ended the hug quickly and she obediently moved to stand at his side, her father glaring at me as she did.

They finished their business quickly, the nobleman paying Master Bertol for his work and then they left. Her father shot daggers at me every chance he got until they left the building. I was kind of relieved when they had finally gone, I couldn't figure out why the man was so angry over a simple hug.

Once they had gone Master Bertol smacked me in the back of the head, he had never hit me before. As I turned to ask why he had done that I was bombarded with many names, a dolt, idiot, stupid and may other more colorful variations. Still confused since I had done nothing I voiced my disagreement and he finally calmed and explained.

"That man is a Duke, he’s Duke Gervais to be exact, second cousin to the king and the man in charge of death row. He is the last man anyone wants to get on the bad side of since he will send you into the dungeons quicker than you can blink".

"You'll be lucky if there isn't guards beating down my door by dinner time, get your satchel and keep your tools on you at all times. Since you're considered a mage, if you're taken you can keep your tools if you're sent to the dungeon. It's probably a good idea for you to start thinking of that now anyway. You are of majority now and can easily be imprisoned for any minor offense".

Weeks past with no guards and my worries had begun to fade, Master Bertol still kept on me to keep my tools with me just in case but I eventually decided that I was tired of looking over my shoulder. Duke Gervais wasn't coming for me or he would have already. That decision was the biggest mistake of my life. It was only a few days until the festival and I had to visit Ranan to get more pieces, especially since my best piece had been given away to Danalise.

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Halfway to the jewelry shop I was grabbed and drug into an alley, they beat me pretty good though I was lucky to not get seriously injured, I had on nearly half of the pieces I had made, as well as all of my clothing being protected. The thugs didn't know that or they would have searched me better. After beating me senseless they only took my coin purse and ran. Climbing to my feet and shuffling to the main street I was stopped by the city watch. Ignoring my complaints about having just been mugged they arrested me for disturbing the peace and hauled me off to jail.

I sat in jail all afternoon, no one would listen to me and they refused to tell my master where I was. My worst fears were realized when Duke Gervais strolled into the jail house. I'll never forget that meeting, he is a very odd man, scary but odd all the same. He paced for several moments in front of my cell, stopping suddenly he holds up a finger and says.

"You are a baker".

Confused I replied, "no sir I'm a runesman, I've never baked in my life. Though I did try once to make a pie for my mother, it didn't turn out so well, I'm most definitely not a baker".

"You ARE a BAKER he says again glaring at me through the bars, and you've just baked the greatest cake you've ever made. After placing it on the counter, you go to get your loved ones to show it off".

He began pacing again before continuing.

"Upon returning, with friends and family you arrive to the horror of rats. Rats eating your masterpiece, climbing all over it with their grubby little paws".

"What do you do"? He asked turning to face me with a look of pure rage. The anger on his face took me by surprise, so much so that I took an involuntary step back in my cell and was glad at that moment that the bars of my cell separated us.

"What do you do"? He repeated, stepping closer and pointing a finger at me.

"You kill them all" he said quietly, a smile appearing on his face.

"They are rats after all, no one misses a dead rat, especially when it has been pawing your masterpiece".

Having finished his rant he strolled out of the jail tossing a coin purse to the jailor, I couldn't help but think that it looked a lot like my coin purse that those thugs had taken.

I'm not stupid, I got the metaphor, to him were all rats and even though nothing happened, in his mind I spoiled his perfect daughter. I didn't even hug Danalise back, I had just stood there dumbfounded that I had made a girl happy enough to hug me in the first place. If I had known this was where I'd end up I would have at least hugged her back, maybe even grabbed her ass, something to at least deserve to be mugged and tossed in a cell.

The next morning Master Bertol found me, still stuck in the cell. He had a flyer with him, he didn't speak until I had taken it and read its contents. It was a list, it was THE list, the list of those who were scheduled to walk death row at the festival. The festival that takes place tomorrow.

"I'm only 19 I don't deserve this"! I cried aloud, thumping my head on the bars, the flyer falling from my hands.

"I know my boy, I know" Bertol said, patting my hand as I clasped the bars.

"I already talked to the magister in charge of this, he said there was nothing he could do since it was a direct order from the duke. I'm going to get your book and scribe, since you're technically a mage you should be aloud to bring them with you".

"You might be able to survive if you band with some of the others going in. Find someone strong and offer to enchant their equipment for protection, it's the only way you might survive. I will get your satchel to you as they take you down death row". With a final pat on my hands he kissed my forehead and was gone.

I spent the rest of that day and into the evening fantasizing about Danalise mostly, though a few other girls I had seen during my short time living with Bertol made appearances as well. Mostly I thought of all the missed opportunities, I could have done so much with my life but, due to a jealous noblemen my life once again was crushed just like when my parents were sent into the dungeon.

I'm not sure what I can do even if Master Bertol is able to get me my book and scribe, I could add some minor protection to what, the loincloths we are given, protected from a knee to the groin that’s about all that will do. There’s also the water rune I have nearly memorized, with a little trial and error I could probably make a rock that sweats water so at least I wouldn’t die of dehydration or contaminated water. With the core fire rune in my book I suppose I might be able to light something on fire enough to cook maybe but that’s about as useful as the core runes might be to me in the dungeon.

I thought about a lot of things, all wishful thinking I think but it helped to keep my mind away from what I knew was coming. I’ve watched several times as the prisoners were slaughtered while betting on the outcome in the tavern with friends. Now those friends are probably going to be betting on when I will die, I'm amazed I’ve lasted long enough to sit and write what I have thus far.

Well I should probably get on with the story or something might find me before I finish and that would be a shame.