Silver Mage (Book 2) (16 page)

“I think we should get back,” Bren said quickly changing the subject as his face turned slightly red. “No reason the let the others worry about us for too long.”

Bren didn’t wait for Cass to answer as he headed back toward where the others were camped. It was a short walk before he caught a glimpse of the small fire of their camp in the distance. As he drew near Bren noticed that everyone sat close around the fire in a relaxed atmosphere.

As soon as he neared the camp Lillian rushed over to him carrying a plain wooden bowl full of a thick stew that smelt strongly of garlic. As soon as the smell of the food hit his nose Bren suddenly was aware of how hungry he was. “Where have you been My Lord? The food has grown a bit cold but it should still be good. If you wished it heated up it shall only take a moment.”

“It is fine as it is,” Bren answered taking the bowl with a smile. “It is my own fault for being late.”

Bren dug into the bowl of stew hungrily as he walked toward the fire. The night air was still slightly cold in the small valley surrounded by mountains. It wasn’t cold enough to make him shiver but it was enough that he enjoyed the small warmth emitted from the fire.

It didn’t escape Bren’s noticed that Cass moved away from him taking a seat near Phena. He was still slightly worried about what would happen between them but quickly shook it off knowing that it was truly none of his concern.

You should be concerned. If she gets her fangs into him then your friend will be nothing more than a puppet for her to move at her whims.

Bren dismissed Thuraman’s comments as Avalanche nudged his leg bring his attention to the large rock hound and
to Faye, who had moved over to where he sat.

Bren suddenly felt uncomfortable. With Lillian on his right and Faye on his left it felt as if he was being smashed between two rocks even though there was ample room for him to move. To take his mind off the feeling that had overcome him, Bren reached down and ran his right hand over Avalanche’s head.

As soon as his fingers brushed Avalanche the rock hound jumped back as if bit by something and moved away from his hand. Not knowing what was wrong Bren called Avalanche in a worried voice as he stretched his hand out to the creature.

Avalanche moved slowly toward his hand and nudged his fingers with his nose then jumped back again.

Seeing Avalanche’s reaction Bren pulled back his right hand and then reached out his left hand. Avalanche repeated her last action but this time when her nose touched the tips of his fingers, she pushed forward and retook her seat at his feet.

Bren knew that Lillian and Faye were watching him closely with looks between worry and amusement on their faces not completely understanding what the creature’s actions were about.

Shortly after Bren finished his meal he moved over to where he had placed his bedroll. As soon as he was alone Bren pulled off the thin leather glove that cover his right hand.

What had once been a thin silver scar on the back of his hand had now grown like a weed covering his entire hand and his arm halfway to his elbow. He had often looked at his hand but lately the spread of the scar had slowed to a near halt but now suddenly it had jumped forward. The only thing he had done differently was using magic. His arm didn’t feel that much different but Avalanche’s reaction bothered him.  “Thuraman
, is there something wrong with my arm?”

If anything there is something wrong with the rest of your body.

“What?” Bren asked in a confused voice.

Whenever you are drawing in magical energy
, it is your right hand and arm that pulls in most of the magical energy. The rest of your body pulls in some but not nearly the same. It is like the difference between a cup and a barrel trying to hold water.

That night as Bren drifted off to sleep He thought about what Thuraman’s words really meant. If it was true that his right hand was the reason for his ability to control massive amounts of magical energy and each time he did so more of his body turned silver, then would that mean that soon his whole body would be silver?

CHAPTER XVI

The rest of the trip to the Rane capital was mostly uneventful and passed quickly. They met many travelers along the roads and with each day they passed more and more. With the snows melting and the passes clear, it was once again time for the merchants to make their way across the face of Kurt for their yearly rounds.

At first, each night when they stopped Bren and Cass would move away from the others so that he could practice his magic, and it didn’t take long for Bren to be able to not only quickly pull in magical energy and use it but he was also feeling less of a strain from pulling in too much, but there was a downside. Just as he feared after each night more of his skin started to turn silver and now it had spread all the way to his shoulder.

The past few days however there had hardly been a night that other travelers had not been camped nearby. Even in a country as well traveled as Rane, there were bandits and creatures out in the wilds so whenever possible travelers would camp near each other for safety. It was nice to have that extra bit of security but it made it impossible for Bren to sneak away to practice his magic.

Bren paid close attention the change in his body, doing his best to keep it from those around him. He noticed some other things as well that came along with the change in skin color. The muscles in his right arm were much stronger than those in his left and the silver skin was nearly impossible to cut. He had not purposely tried to harm himself but one time while walking along the road Bren was cutting pieces from an apple when Avalanche bumped into
him causing his dagger to jerk forward stabbing into his hand. Lillian had been frantic, but even though he kept his knife sharp it had done no more than cut through his glove. Lillian had been adamant that she check for herself but Bren had tactfully put her off though it had not been easy. 

The changes in his body bothered him but in the end there was little he could do to stop it with the exception of never touching magic again and even then Bren suspected that it would only slow the spread. Late at night
, Bren found himself wishing that his father was around to give him advice, but in the end he had to settle for Thurman who spent most of his time rambling on about how Lillian and Faye had some malevolent plan to turn him into a pet of some kind.

When he was younger Bren always thought that Thuraman simply hated women but now that he had grown older he was starting to understand the staff better. Thuraman was bitter or more to the point jealous. The staff had the same thoughts and feelings as a human yet no body or mouth in order to communicate with those around him except Bren. Bren tried to imagine how frustrating it must have been for the staff when his mother had taken his father’s time away from Thuraman. As much as the staff annoyed him at times
, he found himself sympathizing with in since he felt the same way since his sister had done the same thing with his mother.

After nearly two weeks of travel
, the capital came into view. It was a grad city built near the top of a mountain with large walls surrounding the entire city.

As they approached the city gate they were stopped by two large armored guards who looked
intimidating. “What is the purpose of your visit?” One of the guards asked his eyes shifting between each of them, his eyes lingering on Phena longer than the others.

“Simple business,” Bren said
, stepping forward.

“Do you have anything to declare?” The man asked eyeing Bren wearily.

“No, we do not plan to do any trading nor do we plan to cause any trouble,” Bren replied in a businesslike manner.

The guard stepped aside and let them pass but the look on the man’s face showed that he didn’t trust Bren’s words.

As soon as they passed through the main gates of the city Bren noticed a large difference than what he had expected. Unlike in Torin or Farlane the building were built so close together that it looked as if they were holding each other up. Besides the cramped feeling of the buildings the streets were incredibly wide.

The closer they got to the market district the air filled with sounds and smells that assaulted them. Individually the smells might have been welcome but with them all smashed together it stung his nose and made his eyes water. Bren was able to keep his stomach under control but a few of the other members of his group were having less success. Lillian covered her mouth and nose with her small hand and kept squinting her eyes and coughing, while Phena kept gagging as her upper body kept lurching forward. Before Bren could offer her any aid, Cass handed her a thick cotton handkerchief that he often carried with him. Bren watched the exchange carefully and couldn’t help but smile to
himself when Phena took the thick cloth and placed it over her nose and mouth.

Bren felt sorry for his Vathari sister who had far more acute sense from her races extended time in the Underearth.

It didn’t take long to reach the merchant guild building which was located close to the capital and center of the large city. The building was massive and had large double doors that were guarded. Just like at the city entrance the guards quickly blocked their path. “”Sir we need you to place your weapons in one of the chests,” The guard said pointing to a large row of double iron bound chests that lined the outside of the building.

Bren stripped off his sword and daggers and placed them inside one of the empty chests. The others quickly followed his lead and once they were all disarmed Bren closed the lid of the chest and locked it with the key that was provided and placed the key within his pocket. Even though the guards had watched them disarm they still patted them down lightly to make sure that nothing was hidden below their clothes. Once the guard was happy that they held no secret weapons he placed a large key in one of the doors turning it and opening the door.

Once inside, Bren could hear Phena let out an audible sigh of relief as she removed the cloth from her mouth. “How can people stand the stench?” Phena asked her face slightly pale.

“I would guess they just get used to it,” Bren replied without hesitation. “I once visited a fishing village with my mother and the smell of rancid fish left me sick for a fortnight, yet none of the locals seemed to notice the smell at all.”

As they advanced further down the hall, it opened up into a large area with five different large desks. Each desk had a large sign hanging over it telling what each was for. Bren didn’t want to waste time as the sun was already halfway through its arc in the sky so he headed straight for the desk with the sign official audiences.

“Can I help you?” A young lady with light sandy brown hair asked in a bored sounding voice.

“I would like an audience with Monique Torin,” Bren said, making the young woman’s hand jerk slightly making a small blob of ink on the piece of parchment she had been writing on.

“Sir I can inform madam Torin that you wish an audience
, but I doubt that she will be able to see you on such short notice. It takes an average of twenty days to be granted an audience with one of the council members,” the young lady said her face wavering between a look of surprise and annoyance. 

“Then would you please inform her that Bren Torin has come to visit her on official business,” Bren said
, causing the young lady’s hand to jerk again. She didn’t say anything in return, she simply stared at him as if he was sort of rare beast put on display for her pleasure.

“Yes sir,” she said after she recovered from her state of shock. The young lady range a small copper bell and immediately a young page no more than twelve years of age came running from the back of the building. She handed the young boy a folded piece of parchment and whispered something in his ear. The boy looked at Bren for a brief moment, his eyes widening before he dashed off into the interior of the building.

“I would suggest that you take a seat,” the young lady said directing Bren and the others to a long row of padded benches that lined the walls. “Even if she is free it will take lady Torin a few minutes to receive the message and form a proper reply.”

Bren thanked her and took a seat on one of the benches near the door. Phena and the others followed suit with the exception of Cass who remained standing, positioning himself between Bren and the door.

Bren knew the formalities of making people wait. It was a popular and mostly useless practice. Since Bren was a foreign king normally he wouldn’t be made to wait long, though with Monique, there was no telling what she would do.

To his surprise
, Bren didn’t have much time to think about what he was going to say to Monique as her light voice filled the large room as she ran into the room from some hidden door that he didn’t see. “Bren…What are you doing here?”

“Aunt Monique,” Bren gasped as Monique wrapped her arms around him squeezing him with enough pressure that he could feel his ribs bending. “Please…I can’t breathe.”

“Wimp,” Monique said, releasing her death hold on him. “Now what brings you so far away from your tower?”

“I think that it would be best to discuss this in a more private setting,” Bren said looking around. Every eye in the place was on him and Monique. He knew that most of them had never heard his name but they all knew of Monique. He figured that right now there must have been over a dozen small conversations each one dedicated to just who he might be.

“You might be right,” Monique said, her voice sounding slightly disappointed. “I don’t think I have many pressing matters left that can’t be put off until tomorrow. Why don’t we retire to my house and talk about this in a more relaxed manner?”

“That sounds agreeable,” Bren replied happily. “I haven’t seen Jayden since last time you both came to the capital.”

“Oh that’s right,” Monique said, bringing her finger to her chin thoughtfully. “It has been over twelve years since our last visit. I am amazed that you can even remember his name.”

“I can only remember a bit about him,” Bren admitted. “I think the only thing that really stands out is how he threw me up into the air and then caught me. Mother about had a fit when she caught him.”

“Ah I think I remember that,” Monique said with a short laugh. “Your mother was always a little overprotective of you ever since your father…” Monique trailed off as her eyes seemed to focus on something that only she could see. “Anyway let us be off. The longer we stand here talking the more likely that someone will think of some pressing matter that needs my personal attention.”

Monique led them through the same doors they had entered and waited patiently while they removed their belongings from the large chest. Cass and the other guards relaxed noticeably once they had been rearmed. Once everyone was ready
, Monique continued to guide them through the streets of the city pointing out small points of interest. When the smell of mixed spices once again grew to the point that the forced Phena to cover her mouth, Monique stopped and gave the Vathari mage a knowing look. “Unpleasant smell isn’t it?”

“Very,” Phena said only removing the cloth from her mouth long enough to reply to Monique’s question.

“Monique pulled a small vial from the small cloak that hung from her shoulders and handed it to Phena. “Put a small dab of this below your nose and it will hide the smell,” Monique said smiling. “It’s an old merchant trick. Sometimes you have to travel to places with very unique smells and you can offend your customers if you walk around as if you’re sick.”

Phena took the small vial and opened it. After taking a small sniff of the stopper she dabbed it under her nose and held it out toward Monique. “Thank you.”

“Keep it,” Monique said refusing the small bottle. “I keep a large stock of it.”

Phena gave Monique a stiff bow then turned to the other women in the group offering them the use of the bottle. The each took a turn dabbing a bit of the lightly blue liquid on their upper lip. “It smells like a garden after a warm summer shower,” Lillian said taking a deep breath.

Monique’s house was close to the market district in the rich part of town. Bren had never seen so many large houses in one place before. Each one they passed was easily the size of a noble’s estate in Farlan and Monique’s residence was no exception. On the contrary it was far larger than any of the other houses he had seen.

As they approached the house
, two guards opened a set of large double iron bound gates. Each guard bowed to Monique as she passed but their gazes turned to ice when they saw Bren and the others passing through so heavily armed.

One of the guards began to protest but he was quickly silenced by one look from Monique. As soon as they were past the iron gates and out of earshot of the guards Monique turned to Bren and gave him a warm smile. “Don’t think too badly of them,” She
said apologetically. “A few years ago a rival merchant tried to abduct my son in an attempt to force me to sell my shares of the guild to him at a low cost. The guards at the time took no real notice when the merchant arrived at my house for a meeting with armed guards of his own. Ever since then they have taken great care not to repeat the same mistake.”

“I can understand,” Bren replied looking at Cass. “My own guards can be quite bothersome at times as well, though they always mean well.”

The front door of the mansion was simple in design with two elegant panes of stained glass situated at the top of the door. It was a little different than Bren expected but even though it looked like a simple door the dark purple hue of the wood left him speechless. Simple and elegant…It seemed to fit Monique.