Triss awoke with a scream as a deluge of ice cold water landed on her. "Good morning!" Reginald called in a cheerful tone that Triss believed should be illegal to use in the early morning. Triss sat bolt upright, ready to grab the impossibly enthusiastic lizard and give him a brief and violent lesson on proper morning etiquette. Reginald, however, was on the opposite side of the room, wand held forward towards the wooden bucket that floated just above Triss's head.
Triss leapt out of bed, nearly tripping as the blankets wrapped around her legs like a python. She grabbed the bucket out of the air and hurled it as hard as she could at Reginald. It made it nearly halfway before Reginald managed to catch it with a spell. "That was uncalled for." He complained. Triss strode towards him, a murderous look in her eyes. "It's not my fault!" Reginald protested, walking swiftly backwards. "I've woken you twice already!" His retreat was cut off as he backed into the wall. He started edging towards the door, but Triss finished closing the distance and caught the front of his black tunic in iron grip.
"First." She hissed. "You did not wake me. I would know if you woke me, because I'd be awake!" Her voice rose to a shout. "Second! If you ever dump water on me again to wake me up I'll drown you in the bathtub!"
Reginald's eyes darted back and forth, searching desperately for an escape. Then his eyes lit up. "I brought coffee." He said brightly.
Triss narrowed her eyes. "You think that's enough to save you?"
"I also brought some of those pastries you like so much." Reginald said hopefully.
Triss held the draconic against the wall for several more seconds. "Fine." She released him, but didn't step back. "Don't think you've bought your forgiveness with pastries. This is just temporary." She smiled at him. "Call it a stay of execution."
Triss sat at the small table in her room. A silver tray sat in the center of the table next to a matching carafe and a pair of large mugs. The warm smell of fresh, dark coffee wafted through the room. Triss grabbed both mugs, pouring the hot magical liquid into each in turn and pushing one across the table. Reginald sat in the other seat across from her, taking the lid off the tray and setting it aside. A stack of half a dozen circular jam-filled pastries were stacked in a neat pyramid. They weren’t quite donuts, nor were they a turnover or any other pastry that Triss had known back on Earth. Instead, they were some wonderful in between. Soft, yet flaky. Sweet, but not overly so. The sweetness of the jam offset the bitterness of the coffee perfectly.
They ate and drank their coffee in silence. Triss had long ago made it clear to Reginald that if he wanted to join her for breakfast in the morning, he would damn well keep his mouth shut while she drank her first coffee. She sipped it slowly, savouring the taste - and the growing look of consternation of Reginald’s face. She almost drank faster, but then she remembered the ice water. She began to drink with exaggerated slowness, staring Reginald in the eyes as she drank.
Reginald rolled his eyes. Then he pulled his wand from his robes, idly twirling it through his fingers and returning Triss’s gaze. She sighed, getting the hint, and finished her drink. “How long do we have to get ready?”
“Two hours.” Reginald said. “We really must get started.”
“I’m sorry, I must not have heard that right.” Triss said. “I could have sworn you said two hours. Which, of course would mean you really could have let me sleep longer. Or waited patiently for me to wake.” She glared at the lizard.
He raised a scaly eyebrow. “I’ve seen how long it takes you to get ready.”
“I could be faster if I could be faster if I had to be.” She snapped.
Reginald grinned, then stood and began collecting the mugs and stacking them on the silver tray. “I shall believe it when I see it, as you say.”
Triss snatched the last pastry off the tray just before Reginald put the lid back on, biting into it glowering at him. “Just for that, I’m not going to rush.” She said through a mouthful of pastry.
She didn’t rush, but she did try to be a little quicker. She ran the tub full of hot water until the bathroom was shrouded in thick swirling mist, then slowly lowered herself in. She washed with a soap that smell like lavender and roses, then used the same bar on her hair. Never in a million years would she imagine using one product for her whole body, but the soap Jonal had ordered in for her was simply magical. When she was finally clean and had mostly dried her hair, she sat on the bed and brushed it out. The brush ran smoothly through her once frizzy hair, pulling tangles apart like they weren’t even there. “If I could take that soap back to Earth, I would be the richest woman in the world.” She sighed.
She dressed in a pair of soft, dark pants and a thin white long sleeve shirt. Then she pulled on a pair of tall leather boots and threw on a long dark grey robe. A twisted runic design was embroidered in dark red silk over the heart, a symbol meant to show her rank as an apprentice. She arranged the deep hood so it sat flat on her back, then pulled her hair back to rest on the hood. Finally, she retrieved a leather bracer from her table, strapped it to her arm and slid her dark wooden wand into the special holder on top of the bracer. The blue leather bound handle rested just above her wrist, ready to be drawn quickly if needed.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Reginald was waiting for her in the hallway when she stepped through the door. "See? I can be fast." She said.
"Yes, you only took an hour and a half." Reginald replied.
Did I really take that long? She thought at Grounth.
No. The Draconic is exaggerating. You took one hour and twenty seven minutes. Grounth replied.
Triss sighed. "So we have an extra half hour?" She said aloud. "I could use some extra practice."
Reginald shook his head. "It would be best if we arrived early. I'm sure people would appreciate our presence. The Elder's death has been hard on them, and they seem to feel comforted by you."
Triss took a deep, calming breath. She didn't know why the townsfolk liked her so much - she certainly hadn't been that popular back on Earth - but she did care for them. If she had to draw the runes to cast the spell, it would be fine. "Let's go then." She said.
She practiced forming the spell in her mind as they walked, not empowering it but just drawing it properly. Grounth commented on her progress, telling her she was very close to getting it.
She nearly fell down the stairs, missing the first step in her distracted state, but managed to grab the railing just before she completely lost her balance. "Practicing?" Reginald asked.
"Yeah. I know it's fine to hand cast it, but I really want to mind cast it. I know the people are expecting it." She replied.
Reginald patted her on the arm. "It will be fine either way. One, request though, if I may?" She nodded. "Stop practicing when we reach the forest. I would prefer not to have two funerals today."
"Oh, uh yeah thats a good idea." She smiled sheepishly at him. She hadn't even considered the forest. She and Reginald traveled through the thin strip of forest between the castle and the town so often now she often forgot how dangerous it was. One step off the safe, enchanted path and you were sure to be swallowed up by one of the many dangerous creatures hidden within.
The village was quieter than normal when they finally reached the open gates. A few people were around, hurrying to do one task or another. Triss greeted those she recognized, and though none stopped to talk they all smiled and returned her greeting.
The center courtyard in front of the council building was packed with people, dressed in a riot of colors. Purple and green dominated, but Triss could see some blues and yellows scattered throughout the mass of milling townsfolk. "They don't wear black?" Triss asked Reginald in a hushed tone.
"Why would they wear black?"
"That's the color of mourning on Earth. Everyone wears black to a funeral."
"Really? That's quite odd. Here, we dress in the brightest colors we can." He replied.
Triss looked at her dark robe, then at Reginald's matching one. "Why aren't we wearing bright colors then?"
"We're wizards. The rules are different for us. Come, let's meet with the rest of the elders."
The crowd parted as they strode towards the tall, imposing doors of the council building. Jonal stood on the steps, the bright metal of the medallion on his chest glinting in the early morning sun. His wooden crutch was absent now, and he had rolled one pant leg up to expose the copper colored post that made up the bottom half of his left leg. He'd been thrilled when Percival had crafted that leg for him, and he hardly ever hid it. The knee joint was artificed to bend almost normally, and when he spotted them and began down the steps, he walked with only a slight limp.
"Triss! Reginald! You're early!" He boomed when he reached them. He threw his arms wide, circling Triss in a crushing hug.
"Easy!" Triss gasped. Jonal released her quickly, taking a step back.
"Sorry lass. Didn't mean to crush you." He looked a little chagrined. "Just happy you're here. It's...it's hard losing an elder."
Triss smiled sympathetically. "It's fine." She gave the man a much gentler hug. "No harm done."
He smiled warmly at her, then held out his arm for hers. "Let's go. There'll be others who want to talk to you before we begin."
Triss laughed. "Need the support?" She looped her arm in his, and they made their way up the stone steps, much slower than Jonal had made it down. His artificial knee clicked as he walked.
"Reginald has explained your part?" He asked.
Triss nodded. "He has."
"And you're good with it? I wouldn't want you to do something you're uncomfortable with."
"I'll be fine." She patted the big man's arm. "Don't worry about me."
"Hah! My other daughters always tell me the same thing." He suddenly seemed to realize what he'd said. "Oh, I mean, they tell me I worry too much." He seemed slightly embarrassed by the slip, but covered it well.
"I appreciate you worrying about me." Triss replied. "Even if I don't need you to." She felt a deep warmth inside at the Elder's words. Even though she lived at the castle now, no longer in the tiny bunk bed in Jonal's house, visiting him always felt a little like going home.
"Is it time already?" An old, wheezing voice asked as they created the stairs. Triss let go of Jonal's arm and ran to give the speaker a hug.
"Careful!" Nert cried as she wrapped him in her arms. "These old bones are strong, but brittle!" He smiled a wrinkled smile at her, not seeming to realize the contradiction in his words.
"You'll be fine." Triss said as she squeezed the short old man.
"What?"
Triss released Nert and stepped back. "That won't work on me. I know Reginald made those earrings for you." Reginald had indeed crafted a pair of enchanted earrings for the old man that were supposed to help him hear better. The expense had been significant, but the townsfolk had all chipped in. Now that Percival and Reginald had revealed themselves and saved the town, the people had become quite generous, sending food, clothing and even silver as tribute to their saviors. Percival, of course, had grumbled and complained that he didn't need charity. He also seemed to be vehemently opposed to the idea of taxes for some reason. The gifts kept coming regardless.
"Pah. Those earrings are useless. They don't work at all." Nert complained. Triss saw the silver and gold shimmering by his ear, and knew he was just being obstinate. She half suspected his original deafness was exaggerated so Nert could avoid talking to people.
"Quit holding her up." Jonal said with a grin as he limped up. "Come along lass. The body is inside." He headed past her through the double doors and down the dark passage into the building.
"Bye Nert. I'll talk to you later." Triss said.
"What?"
Triss's smile only lasted a few steps. She paused at the threshold of the council building, staring down at Jonal's disappearing form. Then, with a deep breath, she stepped inside.
What should I do when I finish editing book 1?
