Chapter 1

It was a beautiful late summer day. The sun shone brightly and the sky was clear. The air was warm with the barest hint of autumn in the breeze. Lia A'leck walked briskly down the main street of Anvil, making deliveries for her father's shop. She'd already stopped by Lelles's Quality Merchandise, The Foc'sle, and The Count's Arms, dropping off their weekly supply of alchemical supplies and restoring potions. She had one more stop to make before she was finished.

The passing years had changed Lia drastically. Gone was the skinny, frail child. In her place was a healthy, graceful young woman. Her hair had darkened from the bright red of her youth to a more copper color. Her blue eyes were as bright as ever and her smile appeared far more readily. Her slender figure was covered with a neat blue and green dress she had sewn herself. The fresh sea breeze gently blew her hair around her shoulders as she hurried to her destination.

The door to the Mage's Guild Hall opened before she got to it, a special enchantment Carahil, the local chapter head, had designed. Carahil herself glanced up from her desk as the young Imperial walked in.

"Good afternoon, Carahil," Lia said with a nod. "Is Fellen available?"

"Good afternoon, Associate," the Altmer said haughtily. She waved a hand in the general direction of a doorway to Lia's left. "I believe he's in the storeroom taking inventory."

"Thank you," Lia said. She went to find Fellen. The Dunmer alchemist was far more friendly than Carahil and was one of her favorite people in the Guild Hall.

As she knocked on the storeroom door, a shout and footsteps caused her to jump. She looked up in time to see a small imp flutter overhead, carrying a cloth bundle. As it disappeared around the corner, a young Nord ran into view. The boy saw Lia, but couldn't stop in time and ran into her. They both fell to the floor.

Lia rubbed the back of her head where it had hit the wall and punched the boy in the arm. "Einar! Watch where you're going!"

Einar was a good friend of Lia's and a fellow Mage's Guild Associate. He was also a very talented, very powerful Mage. He was the same age as her, nineteen, but had nearly mastered all six schools of magic already. However, his talent for the arcane often led him into overconfidence.

Then his overconfidence led to disaster. A few years previously, he had attempted an Illusion spell that was far too complex for him. The spell had backfired, leaving him with permanently white hair and glowing eyes that changed color based on his emotions.

Right now, his eyes were glowing bright red, betraying the anger he felt. The intense color faded a bit when he saw Lia. "Sorry, Lia. Sparky stole my lunch again."

"So I noticed," Lia said. Sparky was a pet imp owned by one of the other Mage's in the chapter. The mischievous little thing loved making trouble, such as stealing things, dropping items on people's heads, and making messes. His owner was warned on an almost daily basis that his imp was going to end up stuffed one day.

Einar blew out a sigh to relieve his frustration, and some of the red when out of his eyes. He stood up and helped Lia up. As he retrieved her basket for her, his eyes took on a purple hue. "Well, since I have nothing to eat now, how about you and I go to The Count's Arms and have a late lunch there?"

"I have to finish making deliveries for Father."

"Dinner, then. After the shop closes."

Lia shook her head. "Sorry, I can't do that, either. I'm leaving early in the morning to go to the Imperial City. Father received word of a shipment of pitcher plant that's supposed to arrive the day after tomorrow. He wants me to get some before the University buys it all up. You know how hard that stuff is to get."

Orange leaked into Einar's eyes. "How long will you be gone?"

"Three days, hopefully. It depends on if the ship comes in on time."

"Can I come?"

Lia was spared having to answer by Fellen finally opening the door. "Sorry I took so long, Lia. That winged nuisance of an imp decided to relocate my supplies all over the storeroom. I had a devil of a time trying to find and replace them all, and my potion bottles are still out of order."

Lia smiled at the older elf. "It's no problem, Fellen. Here's your delivery." She reached into her basket and handed him a large bundle of ingredients. "I'm going to the Imperial City tomorrow to pick up a supply of pitcher plant. Do you want any?"

Fellen looked up from double-checking the bundle. "Sorry, what?"

"Pitcher plant," Lia repeated patiently. Although he was a decent alchemist, Fellen's attention tended to falter when it came to other matters.

"Pitcher plant? Of course! Given how rare it is, one can never have too much. And I also need two extra portions of clanfear claws and mandrake root next time. My alchemy class is making cure disease potions next week. Here's some money for the pitcher plant."

Lia smiled and took the coins he handed her. "All right. I'll tell Father and bring the pitcher plant with next week's delivery." She tucked the money in her basket and turned to leave. "Be seeing you, Fellen."

As the storeroom door closed behind her, Einar stepped in front of her again. "So, can I come?"

Lia put a hand on his arm. "Einar, think about this. You're uncomfortable enough walking around Anvil where everyone is used to how you look. Think about how much worse it would be in the Imperial City."

"I'll wear a hood."

Lia shook her head. "I think it would be better if you just stayed here."

"But it's a long trip. You'll need someone to protect you," Einar protested.

Lia rolled her eyes. "I may not be the mage you are, but I'm not helpless, you know."

"I know, it's just-" Einar sighed as his eyes turned blue. "I never get to see you anymore."

"What do you mean? We see each other in class practically every day."

"I mean we used to spend time together all the time as kids. Now we don't."

Lia sighed. This conversation was going nowhere. "We grew up, Einar. It happens. Now I've got to get going."

Einar put a hand on her shoulder. "At least say you'll have dinner with me when you get back." Seeing she was about to protest, he quickly added, "You can tell me all about your trip. I want to hear what the city is like."

"Alright, fine," Lia finally agreed. "I'll see you later." She escaped into the street outside, where she took a deep breath to calm herself.

She'd been aware of Einar's infatuation with her for some time now. At first, it was sweet and flattering, but lately, it had gone past flattering and into annoying. She liked him just fine, and they were good friends, but that's where she wanted to leave it. As much as she liked him, she didn't love him. She didn't feel that spark that her father, Galen, said he'd felt with his wife before she died eleven years ago.

For over a month now, she'd been trying to gently tell Einar that she wasn't interested. But he was persistent. Maybe a few days away from him would help.

Lia continued to ponder her conflict with her friend until she reached the home and shop she shared with her father. The bell over the door jingled merrily as she walked in, causing Galen to turn around from his place behind the counter.

The years had been kind to him. Although his dark hair was now liberally sprinkled with grey and his face was more lined, he was still the same large, powerful mage Lia had met on the docks. If anything, he was more powerful today than he was all those years ago.

"Deliveries done already?" he asked as he continued grinding something with a mortar and pestle.

Loa nodded and set her basket down beneath the counter. "I wanted to get back as soon as possible so I could get more done around here before I leave tomorrow." She reached to adjust the flame under Galen's alchemy set. "What are you working on?"

Galen set the pestle aside and checked the consistency of the powder in the bowl. "Poison cures. I never realized we would go through them as fast as we do."

Lia grinned. "Well, like you've always said, poisons are just as easy to brew and often easier." She finished adjusting the flame. "Do you need any help?"

"We need another pound of powdered redwort, as well as two bottles of boiled ginseng. And we need to make labels for the new batch of potions. Which do you want?"

Lia made a face. "I'll take the grinding and boiling. Making labels is tedious. Oh, and Fellen asked for two extra portions each of clanfear claws and mandrake root for the next delivery. He gave me some money to pick up some pitcher plant for him, as well."

Galen nodded and handed the mortar to his daughter. After noting the additional request in his record book, he sat down at the kitchen table to write out the labels needed. Lia spent the rest of the afternoon grinding redwort petals, simmering ginseng, and helping the customers that came in every few minutes.

When the chapel bells tolled six, Galen locked the front door and turned the wooden sign in the window to show the "closed" side. While he cleaned his alchemy set and wiped down the counters, Lia made dinner. A couple of women in the neighborhood had helped teach her the more feminine arts, such as cooking and sewing. As a result, Lia was considered one of the best cooks in town.

After they ate and cleaned up, they retired to the upstairs living area. They spent the next few hours reading or talking and Galen helped Lia with a new spell she was learning. When they heard the ten o'clock bells, Galen stood up.

"I'm going to bed, Lia, and I suggest you do the same. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow," he said.

Lia closed the textbook she was studying and gathered up her notes. "Yes, Father."

"And do not stay up reading or practicing spells."

Lia rolled her eyes. "I know, Father."

Galen grinned. "Good. Sleep well, dear." He kissed her cheek, then went to his room.

Lia slid her notes and textbook into the bag she used for her guild classes. She banked the fire in the hearth, then summoned a small flame in her palm and checked all the locks on the first floor. Once she was sure the house was secure, she went to her own bedroom.