Prologue –

Archwizard Lerrin Tocsell looked up from the work spread across his desk at the sound of the soft knocking. There, standing in the doorway was the portly shape of Stefan Ostwick, nervously ringing his hat in his hands as he looked into the tidy office. As the Arcane Brotherhood's Chief of Messengers, Stefan was responsible for the safe delivery of its goods, both magical and mundane, between its many buildings and outposts. Lerrin placed his quill in an inkpot with one gnarled and shaking hand, and affected his warmest smile.

"Please, do take a seat, Master Ostwick," The Archwizard rose partially from his own seat as he spoke, his back protesting slightly as he gestured to one of the chairs on the other side of his desk. "And many thanks for taking the time from your busy day to cater to an old man's needs."

"It is no bother, Archwizard." The jowly man went wide-eyed as he spoke. "It's an honor to be of service. How can I help you?"

"I have a rather important package to be deliv-" Lerrin began, and then narrowed his eyes as he was interrupted.

"Then you've called the right man, sir!" The Chief of Messengers blurted out, and then looked sheepish as the Archwizard tried not to let his annoyance show through. "I mean, I would be happy to personally deliver it wherever you might need."

"I am quite sure that won't be necessary." Lerrin spoke, shaking his head slowly as he forced his smile to return. "This particular delivery will need to be made tomorrow afternoon. Its carrier will need to be magically shielded from its contents, so I would need some preparation time with whomever you select in the morning."

"Of course." Stefan nodded. "I will rearrange tomorrow's schedule so that Timmons can be available for you all day. I will send him over first thing."

"Timmons," Lerrin pretended to think about the name for a moment, and then asked a question whose answer he already knew. "Is he your swiftest messenger?"

"No, Archwizard, though he's no slouch." Stefan shook his head. "He's been with me for nearly a decade now, though, and I'd trust him to deliver my children if the midwife went sick, if you know what I mean."

Lerrin laughed along with the chubby man at his little joke for a moment, and then pretended to look through some papers on his desk. Later, if the Chief were asked, it could be important that he believe the outcome of this meeting was his own choice, so the Archwizard was prepared to walk as slowly as possible through the exchange.

"I only ask, Master Ostwick, because the contents of the delivery will be very temperamental, and speed will be of the essence. The longer they take to make their journey, the less effective they will be upon arrival." The Archwizard looked up as he spoke. "If you feel that Timmons would be the best choice, I will defer to your decision. You know your staff better than I do."

"Oh, well, sure." The other man began, and then his face brightened. "If speed is so important, though, Ellywick might be the better choice."

"Ellywick?" Lerrin asked, pretending not to recognize the name.

"Yes, sir." Stefan nodded. "She is the newest to my staff, but gets through the city like no one else. It's how she got the job, actually. She just kept showing up every morning and beating my fastest messengers."

"Really?" Lerrin raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, sure. It was funny after a time." Stefan chuckled. "I'd hand out assignments in the courtyard, and she's be there listening. Then, she'd race off to the farthest destination, get there before whoever I'd sent, and tell the person waiting for the package that it would already be there if I'd hired her."

"That's very bold." The Archwizard smiled. "But why was she so intent on working for the Brotherhood?"

"Turns out she wants to be a wizard, herself, and hopes to attend the Academy. She figures that working for the Brotherhood might give her an edge while she saves up." The Chief of Messengers shrugged, and then added. "Of course, she's got an advantage over the rest of my boys when it comes to getting through the city."

"An advantage?" Lerrin asked.

"Sure, on account of her being a gnome." Stefan answered. "She can slip through places the others can't."

"I see." The Archwizard nodded, knowingly. "Well then, if you believe she is the fastest, then send her to me in the morning so that I can prepare her."

"Yes, Archwizard." The Chief of Messengers smiled as he rose from his seat. "She will be here."

"Thank you for your time, Master Ostwick."

Lerrin watched as the portly man bowed awkwardly and then left the office. He shook his head, not for the first time, at the complex plan that was laid out before him. Through painstaking use of Augury, after so many doors had been closed to him, he'd learned that the way to achieve his dreams would begin with this seemingly innocent step. He'd hired assassins, tried poisons and potions, and weaved countless curses; all to no avail. So now, he put his faith in the result of his magical inquiries.

Tomorrow, it would be done. This cryptic plan, the costly result of so many castings of such powerful magic, would be set in motion. He wondered, for a moment, what lay in store for the persistent messenger girl as he watched her boss close the door behind him, but then turned his thoughts to more engaging the more engaging matter of his future. Nothing and no one would stand in his way now.