Four Years Later…in the world of Ethshar.
Alexander and his family flew into Ethshar of the Sands, and made their way through the city toward the tavern at which the young mage had entered this world. While he didn't truly believe he could simply open a portal, in spite of consultations with the theurgists, he felt he had to make an attempt to contact his old home at least one more time. Tabaea and her husband Keldar of Dark Forest, had insisted on coming along, despite the fact that their first child was due in a couple of months.
They'd met the young Keldar during the campaign against the bandits. He'd been a huntsman, and had helped the wizards escape from some apprentice-level magic-users among the low-lives. Ever since, they'd been friends, and eventually won the former city girl's heart. Xander had been happy for the both of them, and had continued to intensively study from the book. In the third year, as they made their way to preempt some of the troubles Teneria and her warlock husband would go through, Xander had been forced to reveal that he'd maintained possession of the black dagger, and why. But as he'd determine the wand would serve the purpose of an athame, as well as a 'booster' of magic, then given it to her to train with, the girl had been thankful rather than angry. She'd learned long ago he thought of her as a little sister and apprentice. And when one's life is so much better than it had been before, or what the alternative would have been… gratitude was a better feeling.
Tobas and his wives had come along, thought the children had remained with the royal grandparents for safekeeping. The fact that Tobas, Alexander, and Karanissa all seemed to be Master Wizards, Witches and adequate in a couple other specialties had been of some concern to the various guilds when it had been discovered, but clearly as they all exhibited ability when tested, and refused to pass on secrets, kept the guilds from pushing the issue…especially when a few months ago, it seemed that the small group had begun to produce tapestries … the first since the War. Instead of complaining, the Wizards and Witches in each of the Ethshars had placed orders for tapestries that would connect their Houses in each. And so Alorria, Tabaea and Teneria in particular were on this trip as their skills had come to be focused on the tapestry side of things, and peaceful profits were to be earned.
"Not much to look at, is it?" Xander asked as they landed in front of the tavern, "But it might be my way to connect to my old home."
Tabaea looked around with a slight grimace; not much seemed to have changed in four years, but that was usually the case in the poorer sections of town. It usually took a disaster or clearance of slums for a public works edifice to change things.
Tobas looked at Alexander, his friend and effective brother for four years, and stared at the place.
"I guess it should be relatively cheap to buy, but as soon as the other tapestry orders are complete, I think we'll have to break down and actually buy something better."
Xander smiled as the two of them and Keldar entered the premises, "I expected that from Alorria, not you."
Tobas rolled his eyes, "I eventually agree with some things my wives pound into my head Xander. Maybe we can finally find you a wife while we're here."
The men chuckled, as this was usually the pastime of the women in their group, seeing who would hook up the young man eventually. They stepped through the dingy interior to the bar.
"Are you the owner?" Xander asked directly, off-putting the man server poor-quality beer, "We'd like to transact some business with him."
"I'll get him, sirs, um, please be seated." They heard him in the back talking to someone, eventually the bartender returning with a less-disreputable man.
"I'm the owner, sirs. How may I help you," he addressed them, clearly uneasy about a visit from at least two wizards.
"We're interested in buying a place like this; we've looked at two others in the City, though this one is a little closer to a warehouse we're also interested in."
"I'm not really looking to sell, but come in the back and we can discuss it."
Three hours later they were before a magistrate confirming the purchase of the seedy establishment at only twenty percent above its real value, everything included. They'd known going in they would pay more, but the convenience of getting it all out of the way made up for it. Alexander was leaving when he accidentally bumped into a young woman.
"I'm sorry," he told her, helping her up as a couple of guards came over, "I guess my mind was somewhere else."
The woman waved off the soldiers, and gave Xander a small smile, "That's alright, no real harm done. What brings you here?"
"To the city? Or just to the magistrates?"
"Either, both," she replied, dusting herself off as he tried to help with little success.
"Um, just bought an old tavern in the poor section of town; going to fix it up and turn it into something better, at least lodgings for friends and family when their in your city."
"You look like a wizard more than a merchant…"
"Is there really a difference except the Trade involved? We make tapestries, and have also gotten involved with introducing better plumbing." He smiled at her, "I HATE chamber pots and hope to sell many of our indoor systems as replacements."
"You're certainly not like any other wizard I've met…"
"Oh, Alexander, but you can call me Xander, Miss? Lady?"
"Sarai…" she responded, not inherently angry with this oddly normal wizard when the whole purpose she had declared a recess in her courtroom was because she was mad at wizards.
"Well, Miss Sarai, I hope I'm not keeping you from anything important," he smiled, "It's nice to speak to someone not in absolute awe or fear a magic types."
"I deal with them frequently enough," she admitted, Xander catching a bit of pain in her eyes before a practiced indifference returned to cover it.
"I hope nothing bad…"
The young woman found herself opening up to this friendly stranger as they sat next to a fountain in the courtyard, "My father is sick, and because he's of the nobility the local Wizard's Guild has forbidden any wizard to heal him. Guild Law."
"If his life is threatened, why can't he give up the nobility thing and become an average guy? No skills to get a job?"
Lady Sarai, Minister of Investigation, and in her father's stead Acting Minister of Justice just stared at the man that had given her a simple answer.
"Um, I'm sorry," he responded to her direct look that was close to a glare, "Not being a noble, it doesn't mean much to me…"
He watched as the young woman smiled at him and ran off.
"I'll never understand women…" he sighed and walked away.
They'd closed up the rather dank and nasty tavern as soon as they got back. And since the bartender and most of the staff were family, they weren't staying anyway and soon were packing their personal affects and evicting those still sleeping off hangovers. Luckily there weren't any people that had pre-paid for the following night, and so the new owners were free to begin using their magic to essentially restore every bit of the place except the attic, to new condition. And clean.
The effort was exhausting, but the place was livable by nightfall. Tobas had found a couple of tradesmen that could handle the exterior restoration at a fair price and begin work within a couple of days, so magic would not be used in that. The women proved to be thinking a little more of the moment, and so with Tabaea as the 'native guide' they had gone out and purchased supplies of both a food and magical nature, then found beds, linens and the niceties of life.
As dinner was almost done, Xander heard a knock on the door. He was quite surprised to find the odd girl, Sarai, standing there with an escort of soldiers.
"Don't take this the wrong way," Xander began, "But please tell me this isn't about some unknown Ethshar of the Sands courting ritual I broke by not running after you earlier? If so, I apologize."
Lady Sarai blushed and choked in embarrassment as the soldiers looked uncertain of the circumstances. When she regained her composure a bit more, she replied.
"No…nothing like that," she lightly blushed, "I came by because I've just come from meeting with the Guildmaster. I wanted to thank you for your suggestion."
He looked blank for a moment, "Oh, so the giving up the noble thing helps? You're welcome. Um, my family's having dinner, would you and your escorts care to join us?"
The sergeant of the guardsmen assured her they'd already eaten, but would stand guard outside.
"This time, I will. Thank you."
He led her inside, where tables were being set up, and a single place setting knowingly added to the others. Xander had given out only first names, easier for Sarai to remember. She commented on the quality of the interior, to which they admitted the use of some magic, but that after making it livable, the rest of the work would be done the proper way.
"Proper way?"
"There's nothing wrong with a man or woman actually doing some real work, Lady Sarai," Keldar answered, "I only started learning magic when Xander and Tobas promised me I wouldn't have to wear a man-dress and strut around. I was a huntsman before joining the family, and still enjoy work with all my faculties. Gladly something most of us enjoy."
Alorria mock-dramatized an arrow to the heart, "Oh Keldar, I am wounded mortally, O Grubby Woodsman…" She then smiled at him, then Sarai, "I like not overdoing things. Luckily, it turns out that I can do just enough magic to where I'm something more than the family accounts-keeper."
"That's right, princess," the hunter joked, "I mock you not in truth and you know it; there's nothing wrong with being a seamstress."
She rolled her eyes; she still couldn't believe they'd stumbled across someone whose humor was somewhere in the middle of Xander's and Tobas' enough that they mutually-corrupted each other. Sarai smiled, as Tabaea in amusement then turned to her.
"So Sarai, what is it that your family is involved in?"
"Oh, my father's the Minister of Justice…working nobility, but if everything works out, the overlord with strip him of it and pension him off enough to pay for the healing spells for him and my brother."
Tabaea frowned a moment, "Lord Kalthon? Is that the name?"
"Yes it is, why?"
"Hmm, no reason actually, I used to live here years ago and am just bringing my knowledge to date.
"Yes, he's my father; I've been acting in his stead for a while now, as well as being Minister of Investigation. The Overlord and Serem the Wise of the Wizard's Guild both have to determine if I will need to step down since my initial appointment was merit-based rather than hereditary."
"Wow," Xander smiled, "I hadn't realized that, no wonder you looked at me so oddly today when I suggested your father step down. I didn't know."
"That's alright, Xander. My father's life is much more important, as is my brother's. I'm sure we'll be able to find some form of work if need be."
"You can't keep working for the government as a commoner?"
"That would be like cheating; the Guild would not accept that we'd be nobles in all but name. And we actually believe in Justice, so we couldn't."
Xander looked at Tobas, who nodded at the unspoken question, "If you find yourself in need of work and home, feel free to come here Sarai. Our home is in the Small Kingdoms, but with these tapestries and other enterprises, we'll need factors here. This place will be one of our links we plan between the three major cities, home and perhaps one or two other places. So while our factors are responsible, it's more like we're on the other side of the city than not here at all."
"Thank you, Xander," she replied, then looked to Tobas and the others, who nodded with smiles, "Everyone. It takes a weight off my shoulders I've had for almost three years now."
"Not a problem, Sarai," Karanissa assured her, "If I may ask, what is your knowledge of magic or magicians?"
"Well, I haven't any known ability, but I know the names and general idea of the use of a hundred or spells, the names and specialties of a few-score gods and demons, and have a fair understanding of the spells used to investigate crimes that come before me. Mainly clairvoyance, contagion, locks, and wards."
"Impressive," Tobas commented, "I find myself almost hoping you have to seek employment with us, Sarai. Even knowing that much is a great head start."
Alorria spoke up, assuring her, "And with me, I don't really have much magical capability either, but their spells reinforcing my skill, I'm now able to do as much as many of the mages were during and before the War, though only in my skill. Though I have learned whatever I can…doesn't hurt to double-check…make sure they have the best ingredients for spells and get plenty of food and rest before the big stuff."
Sarai smiled at the comfortable interaction of this group, though she wondered about the quiet couple toward the end, which they noticed.
"I'm Teneria, and a fairly new member of this odd family business. I'm a Witch by original training, but now study magics that can help people live better and cleaner lives."
"Really?"
"Oh yes…" the woman began, and started extolling the virtues of developing plumbing systems, devices to help with the harder aspects of housework, and other ideas started by Xander's recollection of his home.
Sarai began to feel hope again.
