AA3 35 - Invite III (Patreon)

“That was an interesting experience,” Verdan said softly once they were out and away from the Cor family Hall. “Magnus, any insight into all that?”

“I’m not sure,” Magnus said with an uncomfortable expression. “It’s not unusual for the Keepers within the Clan to host our brethren from Clan Menteith, but it felt odd to have both of you there at once.”

“That was my read as well,” Verdan said softly. “Anything beyond that?”

Magnus glanced away with a slight grimace that he quickly hid. “This isn’t my area of expertise. I can tell you that Aisling Corstar is known to be an incredibly loyal and hardworking Chosen. The same can be said for Keeper Merkstan, who is widely respected. Osran Merkstan is the Keeper Merkstan’s great-nephew, but beyond that, I don’t know anything about him.”

“I see,” Verdan said slowly, giving Magnus a moment to say anything else before nodding slightly. “Well, thank you for your assistance.”

Magnus opened his mouth to say something before thinking better of it and simply inclining his head.

“Verdan, are you free for more assisted meditation when we’re back?” Kai asked as they followed Magnus into the city.

“Of course,” Verdan said, looking over to see a serious expression on Kai’s face as he gave Verdan a meaningful expression behind Magnus’s back.

Verdan’s eyes narrowed as he gave Kai the slightest of nods before turning back to the city and asking Magnus a few inane questions. 

Verdan wouldn’t go so far as to say that he no longer trusted the friendly Kranjir, but he was clearly conflicted, and Verdan knew that his loyalty lay elsewhere.

Magnus seemed happy to answer Verdan’s questions about the city and Kranjir culture, and once they were back at the inn, he quickly bid them farewell.

Magnus’s quick exit only underlined Verdan’s concerns, and from the looks that Barb and Kai were sharing, he was far from alone in that.

They were still the only guests staying at the inn that they were aware of, but by unspoken agreement, they remained quiet until they were in Verdan’s room. It was a stretch to fit all of them in comfortably, but they just about managed.

“Tawel gward,” Verdan said, casting a spell to put a dome of silence over the room. “We can speak freely. No one can hear us.”

“Good. Barb, do you know more about those people than Magnus?” Kai asked, turning to Barb with a questioning expression.

“No, but I’ve not lived here in years. I will say that it’s very odd that Keeper Corstan received both sets of guests at the same time.”

“Agreed, he reminds me of some people I’d rather forget,” Kai said, scowling at something neither of them could see. “I’m not sure what his game was, but the old Keeper didn’t react the way he expected.”

“I saw that as well,” Verdan said, thinking back on the slightly frustrated look that had slipped onto Staran’s face when Garran wouldn’t engage further with Verdan. “I initially thought it would be about me trying to steal their magic or something, but that doesn’t seem to be it.”

“He seemed to be pushing Dirk’s involvement for some reason. I don’t know why, though,” Barb said with a growing frown. “I don’t like Dirk being involved in this, Boss.”

“No more than I do,” Verdan said, rubbing his face as he tried to make sense of what was going on. “Magnus was cagey about it all as well, which makes me wonder what Sebastian is up to.”

“The Keeper seems honourable,” Kai said with a slight shrug. “Ciaran as well, for that matter. It could be an act to get us to lower our guard, but I don’t know to what end.”

“If we start going down that route, we’ll end up doubting everything. Let’s assume that Sebastian is dealing fairly with us and Magnus is acting strangely for some other reason.”

“Agreed. I think that assuming that Keeper Corstan is acting against us is a safe move, as well.”

“As much as I would like to disagree, it’s the safest option for us,” Verdan said somewhat reluctantly. He disliked the idea of judging someone to be his enemy like this, but he had few other options. “Fortunately, we’ll be out of the city for a while soon enough.”

Verdan’s words made Barb stir with a concerned look. “What about Dirk? If they want something with him, we won’t be here to help.”

“True,” Verdan said, sighing slightly as he ran his hand through his hair. “I’ll see about bringing Dirk with us. If he does, can you make sure he’s okay?”

“No Darjee will lay a hand on him,” Barb said firmly, the conviction in her tone brooking no possible world where Dirk was injured.

“Good. Let’s leave all this for now, then,” Verdan said, bidding Barb goodnight before speaking up as Kai was about to leave. “Did you want another meditation session, Kai?” 

“I made good progress earlier, so another would be welcome. Would you be able to do the same with fire?” Kai asked as he got into a meditative position.

“Of course,” Verdan said, a slight smile creeping onto his face as he cast aside all of the political headaches and focused on pushing his Aether manipulation.

-**-

The next morning saw the messenger from Sebastian return to guide them to the meeting with Dirk and the other members of his Clan.

Magnus returned with the guide and offered to join them, but Verdan politely declined. If there was something going on, that was perhaps not the best move, but it was the best Verdan could think of.

Whether genuine or not, Mangus didn’t react negatively to Verdan’s decision, instead wishing them well with their meeting.

More confused than ever, Verdan put aside his misgivings as they moved through the city, eventually reaching the small house that Dirk and his mother had been given by Sebastian.

“Master, Barb, Kai!” Dirk opened the door before the guide could knock, a broad grin on his face as he beckoned them over. “Come in. We’re just waiting for the others.”

“I’m glad to see that you’re settling in well,” Verdan said with a restrained chuckle as they made their way inside.

“Yeah, it’s been amazing getting to meet so many other Kranjir,” Dirk said with a grin as he led them through to a small living space where his mother was setting out a tea service. “I’ve had a lot of questions about our magic, but I’ve kept quiet on most of it.”

“Wizard Blacke, welcome,” Dirk’s mother said respectfully, offering each of them a mug of herbal tea. 

Verdan had only met Dirk’s mother a few times, but even so, it was clear that she was much more at ease here in the north than in Hobson’s Point.

“Thank you,” Verdan said, taking the tea before looking over to Dirk. “I’m glad to hear it. I don’t know exactly how everyone will react to Wizardry, so that’s the right approach. Send them to me if they have questions.”

Dirk nodded seriously. “You can rely on me, Master. The Keeper said you were leaving soon. Will I be able to come with you?”

Verdan looked between Dirk’s hopeful expression and his mother’s worried one before nodding slightly. “I think that would be for the best. My condition will be that you stay out of the fighting where possible and that Barb guards you, understood?”

“Understood,” Dirk said, his eyes gleaming with excitement despite his attempt to seem serious.

A distant knock had Dirk back on his feet in a moment, and he rushed back to the entrance, returning a few moments later with an older man who was tall and whipcord thin, with a bald head.

The newcomer looked old and worn, with old injuries easily visible in the way he held himself. His caelin was interspersed with healed injuries, one of which went across his milky right eye.

Beyond the facial injuries, Verdan noted two missing fingers and a mass of poorly healed scar tissue along his left arm. This man had clearly seen more than his share of combat.

The scarred man stepped forward and inclined his head respectfully to Dirk’s mother. “Ara Svenstar, my name is Benlan Svenstan. I don’t believe we ever met, but your husband was my distant cousin. May Govannon guide both of you onward.”

“Thank you, Benlan,” Ara said, getting to her feet and gesturing towards Dirk. “This is Dirk, my son, who the Keeper mentioned to you.”

“Indeed, and it gladdens my heart that some of our family still live on,” Benlan said, favouring Dirk with a bittersweet smile before looking back to Ara. “I have brought together almost a score of our Clan, but we have no Chosen to lead us and no Keepers to guide us. Has Dirk been tested?”

“He was too young when our home was destroyed,” Ara said with a faraway look in her eyes. “He only gained his caelin when we met with Keeper Macstan.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” Dirk said, shifting slightly to draw Benlan’s attention to him. “I’m Verdan’s apprentice now. I’m going to be a Wizard.”

Benlan shifted uncomfortably at the declaration, seemingly unsure what to make of it. “I’m sure that comes with its own prestige, but our Clan is leaderless. I was a thearn, and so were many of the others I’ve gathered. We seek a Chosen to work with, to maybe one day reclaim our home.”

“I apologise for my lack of understanding, but what exactly happened to your Clan?” Verdan asked, remembering Dirk’s story about the settlement he’d lived in.

“Clan Mhorgain is one of the oldest of the Clans,” Benlan said, sharing a look with Ara before continuing. “Our strength has always been in the power of our Chosen, and we took great pride in it. We held an ancient fortress, an Enclave like this one, to the south. All the other Clans retreated north to these lands, but we remained.”

“From your tone, it didn’t last,” Verdan said, thinking back to the great expanse between Hobson’s Point and Glarn.

“No, it fell several generations ago in a bad Rising. What was left of our Clan settled where they could, but one by one, our settlements have been lost. We have been cast to the wind, but we are not broken. A new Keeper or Chosen from one of the families could bring us back together.”

“I hope you find someone to provide that for you,” Verdan said, understanding a little more of the situation now. “But I ask that you respect my apprentice’s choices.”

Benlan’s eyes flicked to Dirk for a moment before he nodded. “His choices are his own. I seek only a way to keep my Clan alive. A Chosen or Keeper being revealed would bring us vital supplies and goodwill.”

“You said that you and some of the others were thearns?” Kai asked, leaning forward as he spoke. “We will be moving out to deal with some issues at the border. Come with us and serve in that capacity with Dirk. Barb can brief you on what you’ll need to know. In exchange, we can source supplies for you.”