Inexperienced Mage (Reawakening Saga) (19 page)

After a quick search though the different weapon shops in town he finally found a dagger that would work perfectly. It had a large handle made of wood with a metal cross guard, the blade was longer than normal being almost a foot long with a thick base narrowing down and curving slightly toward the point. It was a little awkward strapped to his leg but for his purpose it would work perfectly. He also stopped by the jewelry store and purchased two large diamonds for the dagger, cat’s eyes gems were good but the sheer amount of magic he would need to shape the metal in a moment’s notice was more than it could handle.

He didn't want to risk going back to his lair so he began working on the dagger at his home. He had both diamonds set in place before Shariel got home. She was in a good mood when she got in, carrying one of his magical tomes he had made for her. She had filled it some educational books but most of them were simply for fancy. He had made the tome especially for her, she had one of the original but she complained that once a book was copied it couldn't be removed; he thought the idea was a good one so made her one where she could exchange the books at will.

“
Shariel we need to talk.” His voice was serious leaving little doubt that what he was going to tell her was important. Her demeanor suddenly changed from carefree to worry, since the last time he had talked to her in such a way was before he went off to fight the bandits he could understand her concern. He explained what he had learned at that he was going to be present to help protect the queen and princess. “The queen really doesn’t like me, so even if everything goes right I might have to leave for some time.” 

She didn’t understand why the queen would want to do anything bad to him if he helped. “If you help her shouldn’t she give you a reward?”

Sometimes he forgot how innocent she was. She had been through so much already and didn’t want to pile any more hardship on her small shoulders but he couldn’t let the queen and princess die when he had a chance to stop it. Overall Shariel seemed to take it a lot better than he thought but late that night he could hear her crying from his room, each sob seemed to tear a little more into his soul.

CHAPTER X

Thad strapped his gear on hoping it would be enough, his new dagger sword, his mini staff, his rune necklace, his various rings, and a new shield plate that looked like a silver disk with small cat’s eyes gems circling a larger one. It would allow for area protection. It only worked ten foot squared box, but it should be enough to protect the queen and princess for about half an hour.

The palace gates were swarming with people waiting to get into the party. Many of them he knew from their orders, and everyone that saw him made polite conversation, casually bringing up how much they liked or couldn’t wait to get what they had requested.
It was maddening having to listen to them rattle on about each trying to outdo the others in every facet of their lives from how many slaves they owned to how much money they had spent on a prized horse. Thad could have almost screamed with relief when he finally made his way past the gates into the palace proper.

It didn’t take long for him to locate the princess who was surrounded by a group of giggling girls of all ages.
She was wearing a light blue dress that seemed to float around her, she was smiling but he could see a strained quality to it, noticing him the tension could almost visibly be seen draining away. Maria waved him over he could see her bouncing slightly on her feet as he made his way to her bringing, even though reason for his visit was a serious one the sight still brought a smile to his face.

Maria gave him a quick hug then introduced him to everyone, who instantly bombarded him with questions about the magical items he had been procuring for their mothers. He was starting to feel overwhelmed, everyone knew who he was, and many of them knew Shariel as well, but he was having a hard time putting the names with all the faces. Luckily the princess saved him by switching by switching the conversations away from him and into royal gossip.

The first few hours of the party was simply to allow the guests to comingle and talk, not Thad's favorite pastime but it did allow him to freely move around and look for anything out of the ordinary. He did learn that each member of the patronage who did not own local buildings had brought along a host of retainers who were staying with them in the palace for the night, most of whom were supposed to be preparing their ladies rooms for when she retired. Even those that did have housing within the city had brought along a half dozen to take care of the coaches they had arrived in as well as personal guard for the short trip to and from their residences. Every slave and servant was under suspicion in his mind and that made for a large number.

As soon as the opportunity occurred he pulled the princess aside and asked her how the night would proceed. She was a little pouty at first that he had not commented on her dress or the way she had done her hair, and after an apology smiled and started explaining the course of the night’s events. “First we mingle allowing anyone who has pressing matters with one lady or another prepare for the eventually of a meeting, this will be the time that they use to set up
such meetings, then we shall have a formal dinner where we will be seated by rank and privileges sadly you will not be allowed to sit next to me but hopefully Mother won’t have you seated too far down, finally we will have music and more mingling where my mother will pull different individuals into private meetings for one reason or another. The meeting room is in a small room at the rear of the ballroom, there is only one way in or out no secret passage, and the only guard allowed inside is mother’s guard captain.

Thad ran his fingers through his hair, if the captain is involved they will wait to attack until the queen is in the room, if not they will attack during the meal. It will allow for the most confusion as well as allow them to conceal the m
ost hostiles within the room. “I need to be as close the queen as possible during the meal Maria.”

Maria looked at him for a few moments as if her eyes were searching for something. “I’ll ask her to have you seated next to me, it might offend a few people but we can always play it off as trying to get reduce cost on magical items, believe it or not most the room is abuzz about you.” Maria flashed in a wry grin knowing that he hated all the attention.

Maria introduced him to many of the more prominent nobles, each who was fascinated about the magical arms he had procured for the queen. Most of them visibly cringed at the cost of outfitting their own armies and tried to get him to commit to a lower per item cost for a bulk order. He put each of them off saying that he would have to consult with his supplier and get in touch with them at a future point in time, they all took it well many of them smiling as if he had already agreed. In most cases a foreign merchant as he was pretending to be would be at their mercy, but he was the only known supplier of magical items so he didn’t fear they would cause him too much trouble in the future.

Maria finally led him to where the queen sat on an ornament chair, just like with his previous visit there was a long line of people who offered their greetings and gifts. Maria had forewarned him so Thad had prepared a gift suitable for the queen; it was a silver disk that filled the room with illusionary butterflies. He had gotten the idea from one of his orders that had wanted illusionary flowers to fill her dining room for one of
her parties.

It didn’t take too long for him and the princess to re
ach the front of the line. The queen gave him an approving smile as he approached and gave her a deep bow, holding his gift out in front of him. “You’re Majesty I humbly present you with this small token of my appreciation for allowing me to grace your party. Touch the center gem and your room will be filled with a display nearly as beautiful as your own presence.”

The queen wasted no time
on turning on the device and hundreds of butterflies filled the room fluttering around. There were plenty of gasps of astonishment and he noticed more than a few people reaching out toward the fake butterflies. He smiled as their faces turned to surprise as they landed on their fingers; he had worked hard to make them as real as possible, even to the touch. “You have outdone yourself again Lady Clair, It is a most wonderful gift. I shall have to invite you to more of my gatherings if you continue to shower me with such opulent gifts.”

As soon as he was out of line he was quickly and quietly pulled aside by the princess. “That was marvelous, I don’t think I will have any trouble getting you a seat next to me, but I expect that you will be getting a torrent of invites for every party thrown in the Queendom.” The princess giggled as she looked around the room. Thad followed her and noticed that all the eyes in the room were on him, and he could hear his name said more than once though with the noise in the room he couldn’t
tell exactly what was being said.

Maria wasn’t too far off the mark as soon as the commotion died down he was assaulted by offers to come visit various estates all over Farlan and some from visiting dignitaries that wished him to visit the kingdom, promising him the best accommodations and entertainment. Maria seemed to be enjoying his distresses as he tried to deftly dodge their invitations without offending anyone. When Maria disappeared from his side to attend to other matters the invitations got more insistent and
extravagant. When it was announced that the dinner would soon be served he could have jumped for joy.

Everyone was introduced to the room and lead to their s
eat by a personal servant. The queen and Maria were set at the head of the table and he let out a sigh of relief when he was sat at Maris left side. As the first course was brought out a small salad with fresh cheese and delicately carved tomatoes to look like flowers he watched the servers for any sign of weapons. Each wore plain dark colored clothing that hung loosely on their bodies, but he could detect no hint of any weapons being hidden within. He started to think that his fears were unfounded when the main course was brought in, a small fowl covered in a rich white sauce garnished with some sort of nut. As he took his second bite of the juicy white meat trying to discern what the sauce could have been made from a scream echoed though the hall.

Thad never got to see who had screamed as his vision was locked on the mass of slaves that were piling in from the servers entrance loaded with three or four swords each. Many of the servants rushed to their comrades taking a weapon and spreading out,
while others ran from the room. The two guards one each side of the queen drew their swords and took a defensive stance, one of the guards Thad recognized as the queen’s Guard captain who had soundly beat him back at the academy.

A few moments later the whole room was filled with queen’s guard and Thad was being to think his assistance wouldn’t be needed but decided to stay near the princess in any case. Then the situation turned for the worse as the guards at the back struck out at their fellow guards felling over half of them with their initial strike. As the guards fought against themselves the host of armed servants m
ade their way toward where the queen and princess sat. The queen’s personal guards were outnumbered twenty to one so sighing Thad pulled the sword from a hidden slit in his dress and with a flick of his wrist brought it to its full length.

The guard nearest him quickly noticed his action and pulled the Princess defensively behind him. Thad just gave the man a wry smile and moved on the servants who were cautiously advancing toward them. Thad quickly went through his options, he couldn't use his area paralyzing spell, it would stop everyone and he didn't honestly know who the good ones were and who the bad were. Most of his offensives spells would have to be limited to individuals in order not to accidently hit one of the guests. He had given his protective disk to the princess earlier and only hoped she remembered to use it.

Thad closed the last few feet quickly attacking fiercely his sword whistling as it cut through the air. The first two attackers went down quick as his sword cut threw their blades and bodies as if they were made of parchment, but then he had to duck and dodge as blows came from every direction. He thought about turning on his shield but it would cover everything including his sword making him useless in a close fight. Two more fell to his blade before one of the men got a strike through his guard cutting a deep slash across his face and sending a torrent of pain threw his body. He could hear the princess scream as he rolled back away from his attackers.

Blood flowed freely from his wound into his eye effectively blinding him in his right eye. Two of the men broke off from the group as the rest continued on to where the queen and princess waited. As he got to his feet he could see the attackers and the two defending guard's swords stop inches in the air from each other to the surprise of both parties. Thad's smile disappeared quickly as the men turned their attention back on him.

His options disappearing fast Thad reached for his miniature staff as he parried an overhead strike from one man while sidestepping a strike aimed for his midsection by another. With his staff free and the queen and Maria safely behind the shield he let loose a torrent of powerful lighting strikes felling over two dozen in the first wave. The few remaining backed away slowly watching and waiting for him to make his next move. He spared a glance over to where the guards were finishing off whoever the losers were. His nerves tightened as the fighting ended and the remaining guards advanced on where he and the attackers were at a stalemate. He didn't know which side they were on, but in the off chance they were the good guys he couldn't let loose another array of bolts without jeopardizing them as well, and he didn't want to do that if they were friendly.