Inexperienced Mage (Reawakening Saga) (10 page)

Now he just had to find a way to move around the palace unnoticed. It wasn't the first time he had tried find a way to go unnoticed and he had many ideas but he didn't have time to try them all. He needed something that would last a long time getting in and out of the palace was easy since he had followed Maria and to the secret passage. There would be a lot of people at the party, but few of them males so he would stick out like a sore thumb. Maybe an illusion to make him look female would work. He had thought of using it before but had never got around to doing it. Illusions didn't take a lot of magic and even without a ring as long as he kept his concentration up he could keep it going himself for hours, but keeping one's focus while moving around was hard and if anyone talked to him he wouldn't really be able to respond properly, and illusions took a vast amount of focus especially one on the scale he was thinking every detail had to be held in his mind, one small misstep and the spell would fall apart.

He had been working on an idea to allow him to use his spells fast with minimal focus. He had an idea but it required a very detailed enchantment, using himself as the core. Taking up one a small tile of wood covered in a thick casing of steel he began to work. The enchantment book had been specific that not everyone could enchant - it was an inborn talent where a person could infuse magic with objects and bend them to their will. So most of his enchantments only took as much magical energy as casting the spell placed on the item, aside from what he expended to shape the metal, as all he was doing was making the item memorize the spell. This time not only did the item have to memorize the spell but it had to take its magic from him which was a much more complex, but if it worked he could cast his spells the same way his rings did; quickly and continuously that is until he passed out from the strain.

After four hours of work it was finished, since he planned to make more of them for his different spells he carved a small design onto the tile. In the stories he read mages always used runes for their spells so he considered that it would be a good a name as any for his new toy. It still needed to be tested and what better place
than the city.

With his disguise on Thad made his way to the Double Dove inn with a letter for Monique in his hand. The letter was only a small reason for his visit, the main one being testing his disguise on the innkeeper. The woman he had remember as mean and cold greeted him warmly asking him if he would like a room. He politely decline handing her the letter along with three copper coins to keep it until Monique was able to make her way back into town.

Having lived off of smoked meat and fruit for the past few weeks his stomach grumbled at the smell permeating throughout the inn. He had little planned for the rest of the day so he took a seat at a table was promptly greeted by young sandy hair waitress. “What can I get for you miss?”

“What is the special for the evening?” Thad’s throat itched as he tried to keep his tone soft and feminine.

The waitress beamed happily at him. “We have a great beef stew served along with a fresh loaf of bread.”

“That sounds fine, I will also like a bottle of cold juice to go with my meal please.” He had thought about ordering wine but didn’t want to mix his magic with the effects of alcohol.

The food was brought out quickly and was good but made his stomach ache since it was a fair amount richer that his usual fare. Well-fed Thad made his way through the market stopping and chatting to various vendors. The experience was much different that his other visits to the market there were no sneers; vendors called out to him, and offered him fair prices, and everyone smiled at him. If nothing else his disguise would save him a fair amount of coin next time he needed supplies.

Wanting to test how long he could hold the spell before the backlash started to get to him he decided to see if they would let him in the school. He had purposely made his illusion of that of a fifteen year old girl thinking it would allow him the most freedom of movement.

He was happy that no one stopped him as he entered the school, having thought of no excuse as to why he was there. The library was easy enough to find thanks to little plaques on the wall pointing the way to various places of interest within the school.

The library was huge easily twice the size of that of the academy’s. He found the section on history and ran his finger across the book
’s spines as he read the tittles. All the books were organized by date so it didn’t take him long to find the few books on the Fae Wars, and imperial history.

He knew his time would be running out soon as he had already been in his disguise for over two hours, so he tried to make a mental note where the books were located and began to make his way back to the entrance in the
squatter’s district. Shortly before reaching the sewer grate his head started to throb slightly letting him know that his magic was starting to take its toll.

Looking around to make sure no one was around he dropped his disguise smiling. It had worked perfectly with any luck he would be able to make his way into the palace with little trouble.
Walking back to his lair he began to think about what he should do next. He still wanted to make himself a staff but for that he needed a lot more gold then he had but maybe he could make something that functioned in the same manner as a staff. The staff worked in much the same manner as his runes with the exception that it also worked as a conduit for the magic to lessen the strain of casting as well as strengthen of the spells. If he were to fuse cores with him the same way he did the runes he could tap them and channel them into the different runes allowing him to use then to augment his own strength. He wasn’t sure if it would work but the theory seemed sound. The only down side is that crystals wouldn’t be able to handle enough magic to make them worthwhile and gems were expensive, if he wanted to continue on with his experiments he needed more gold.

The next day he donned his disguise and once again made his way to the market the party was later that night and while he could make a illusionary dress everything he performed with magic increased the strain so if he bought one it would increase the amount of time he could hold the spell before he started to feel it's effects.

He had brought along two of his magic lights made to look like candles
that gave off a bright blue light to sell. While he had promised Monique to limit how many he sold, he needed gold, and it was the only thing he had of any value. He went to the most expensive looking jewelry store in the market. Inside the lady behind the counter gave him a questioning look, her eyes asking the question before her mouth, what was he doing there. “I’m from the Rose Trading Company and was here to see if you would like to buy some magical rings we just got in.”

The ladies eyes widened as soon as the words were out of his mouth. “Ah yes Lady Monique sold us a few of her magical trinkets when she was last in town.” The lady stopped as if waiting for him to say something then cleared her throat. “Yes well let’s have a look.”

Thad placed the two magical candles on the counter turning them each off and on, the lady not one to be fooled did the same. “I don’t know where your company is getting these but if you could get me some silver candles like these I would be willing to pay a hefty sum of gold. As for these I think five gold apiece would be a fair price.”

“I
apologize miss but five gold is not near enough, if I had the time I would sit here and haggle with you to my heart’s content but I don’t. Eight gold is my firm asking price and I still think you are getting the better deal I would normally try and get ten each but as I said I am in a hurry.” Thad said making his voice as bored sounding as he could.

The shopkeeper let out a slight laugh. “Here I was hoping you were some young kid on her first trip, ok eight gold each, though next time you owe me a good haggling.”

Sixteen gold richer Thad made his way to the dress maker. Inside the store was like nothing he had ever seen before, in all the shops he went to for clothing everything had been neatly paced on shelves, but here lengths of fabric hung all over the place. Making his way through the jungle of fabric he finally reached the counter where an old salt and pepper haired lady sat. She was busy sewing what Thad figured was some sort of dress decoration, so he politely cleared his throat.

“Can I help you dear?” She said looking up from what she was working on.

“Yes I just made it into town and I need a dress for the party tonight, as everything I have is not suitable for the engagement.” Thad said trying to make his face look abashed.

“Follow me dear, I’m sure we can find something suitable.” The old lady said as she headed toward the back corner of the store. Luckily there was a small changing room since his illusion didn’t cover some of the more pr
ivate areas of the female anatomy. After five different dresses he finally decided on a dark green dress with way too much frill for his taste but the seamstress had assured him would be perfect for the party. While he was there he also ordered five other dresses to be made for him for daily wear. If he was going to have to spend time as a woman he might as well have more than one outfit for the occasion.

Not wanting to overly stress himself before the party tonight he quickly made his way back to his home in the sewer. Even after the dress, and new outfits he still had
over fourteen gold.

The time for the party came around fast and he soon found himself making his way through the secret passage into the palace proper. The palace was abuzz with excitement as he came out of a small sliding section of wall that led to an unfamiliar hallway. Following the other party goers with his wrapped present under his arm, he was soon standing in the grand hall that was so packed it was hard to move around without bumping into someone.
Each person made their way to where the princess sat, handing her their gifts and making polite conversation for a few seconds as two guards one on each side searched the crowd for potential threats.

Shrugging his shoulders he got in line to present the princess with his gift. While waiting he started going through names that he could use as an introduction finally settling on stealing Clair’s name for the night.
The wait to see the princess was almost half an hour, but it was well worth it. She looked stunning with her hair done up, wearing a light pink dress that seemed to float around her like a cloud. She kept a smile on her face but it never seemed to reach her eyes, if anything it appeared to him that she was undeniably bored.

Once in front of her he bowed deeply holding the gift out in front of him. She took the gift and opened the box trying to make
herself look enthused, she didn’t have to act once the myriad of color lights sprung into the air to the gasps of the other party goes. While everyone else was watching the dancing light the princess looked at him and he gave her a sly wink wiggling his ringed hand at her. She got the hint and gave him a bright smile.

The princess closed the box. “It is a fine and wondrous gift I would like to know whom to thank and why.” She asked as if the question had been rehearsed, then again it most likely had been.

“I am Clair of the Rose Trading Company and we have recently started trading here in Farlan, we just wanted to show our appreciation to you and yours for the fine reception we have received.”

“Yes I have heard of the Rose Trading Company, they unloaded a fair amount of magical items in the capital the last time they came through. I would be most pleased to learn where they are getting access to such valuable artifacts.”
Thad nearly jumped up and ran when he heard the voice of the queen. “Though I sent a message to your headquarters in Rane I doubted it would be answered so quickly and with such fanfare.”

Thad bowed lower touching his head to the ground. “I was unaware of such a missive your Majesty, I was dispatched some time ago and only reached the city yesterday, I was surprised I was even allowed insid
e the palace. The original plan was for me to arrive days ago and petition for an audience, but due unforeseen occurrences I was delayed, I most humbly apologize.”

“And where has your company been able to get all of these magical devises, I must
say it has me intrigued.” The queen’s voice was kind, but Thad could feel the underlining thoughts behind her words, she suspected him and the Rose Company working together, and she was right.

“I don’t rightly know Y
our Majesty. The company is fairly new and I have not worked for them for long. There is a lot of gossip among the other members, that the mistress of the house found a treasure trove of magical items, and others that she had rediscovered magic herself, but in all honestly I do not know the truth of these rumors and just for speaking them I could well lose my place within the company.” That let some of his fear slip into his voice hoping that the queen would see him as a simple messenger that had would out of her debt.

“When you can get a message to your superiors I suggest you tell them I would love to have an official meeting to discuss the potential for some contracts. Now enjoy yourself I am su
re you and my daughter will get along well especially considering the gift you have brought her, but first I need to have a word with her.” The queen signaled for Maria to follow her.

Maria returned quickly flashing him a dazzling smile; she waved her hand asking him to sit beside her as a chair was brought for him. “Mother wants me to get to know you I am advised that building a friendship with you might be advantageous to the Queendom.” The princess whispered as soon as he was seated.