CH7
The next morning, though she had gotten in late she was one of the first to awake. She delicately crawled around the sleeping bundles. Back in the great room there were more sleeping bodies. Apparently the boys slept out there. Only Susan and Hazel were awake. She was stoking the coals of the fire from the night before. A dog that wasn't there yesterday noticed her first and jogged up to her tail wagging. She scratched behind its ears.
"I hope last night wasn't crazy for you."
"I guess you have seen Bran."
"Don't worry he has come home in a much worse state than today, much to my dismay."
"If it's any consolation it wasn't his fault."
"That's a change, was it Finn?"
She didn't say yes but her tight smile betrayed her.
"And we're back to form." she sighed.
May pulled out her potion book and read it in the growing light of the fire. "You wouldn't have any woundwort or camphry , a chicken bone or a spare pot?"
"I think so, why?"
"It's for a potion, it will help Bran's bones mend faster, I can make some extra if you want."
"In this house definitely." She handed her the ingredients.
May left the house. It was a smelly potion to make and she needed one more ingredient. From the porch was a spiral stairway to the yard which had two large cast iron vats filled with water. Anchored to the railing stretched out four drying lines that reached all the way to the house on the other side of the alley. She went down the wetherd steps to the grassless yard. Chickens pecked the dirt inside their wire pen. A smattering of toys dotted the open space. She searched uncertainly but did find the last item needed. Up against the house grew a sapling. She felt a little sad picking it after it had struggled to establish in the barren yard, but it would never be allowed to grow to a full tree next to the house. She shook its roots free of dirt and flipped over a crate to make a table for her pot.
Ready she made the potion. She filled the pot with water and chanted the first line. Her bird excitedly watched, for it was the first time in a while that she made a true potion. The chicken bone went in first and ground itself into a powder in the water. Then each herb was added at each new line changing the liquid's color to earthy green. Lastly she stirred with the sapling. As the mixture bubbled she knew the enchantment had taken hold. She continued to stir till the sapling had dissolved completely and the potion was still. She poured it into a glass jar and the potion was now clear as water. She put the excess in one of her own vials and returned inside.
She handed Susan the jar. "Put a spoonful in tea or milk or something and the bones will be whole in a week. She sniffed the potion. "Don't put any more or the bone will heal too quickly and not be straight or grow back too thick."
"Is that all?" said Bran
"You don't have to take it." she said.
"What do I have to lose, my nose can't get any worse." it currently looked more like a potato than a nose.
She squinted her eyes "you are probably right."
He held out his tea anyway to get the potion and drank it all. "Let's go figure out what we need to do today."
"Oh, what are you going to do? Will you be back for dinner?" she asked.
"I don't know, that's why we're planning," he walked away.
May gave a sympathetic smile but followed. With no one else awake yet they sat at the dining table.
"What do you need to do for casting? I am assuming here is not the ideal place."
"No, but you shouldn't be doing much so I can find Tam or Ruth."
"I'm fine, I have gone on assignments worse than this."
"Maybe but the potion will stop you."
"I feel fine."
"Say that again in about half an hour."
"You shouldn't go around the city by yourself, and it's you who will be doing all the work."
"Yeah, but you will have difficulty staying awake."
"You could do a bunch of harmless spells here."
"Harmless is hard to define, when I get drained I could misfire even on simple spells. And you saw what happened last time. I don't want to hurt anyone."
"Please don't leave me here."
"What's so bad about staying with your family that you haven't seen in forever."
"I'm just not the stay at home type."
"If you really can't stay here and the potion doesn't affect you like I think it will. Then you can meet me at the warehouse but I don't want to be walking there when the potion hits or this time I really will be carrying you."
"Fine." he said "whats the point of a healing potion is if it just knocks you out there are plenty of other things that can do that."
"It diverts your energy into healing, so you will be weak for the day but bones that would take months to heal fully are sound in a week."
She got up ignoring his muttering about how he would rather have broken bones. She tiptoed back to retrieve her books, money and a scarf. She didn't trust the strong gust of wind in these northern reaches. She left the room and could see the potion was taking effect. He was yawning and leaning on the table. Before she moved for the table a grizzled man came out of the other back room. He had a stubble beard and close shaved hair. His nose was crooked and flat and accompanied cauliflower ears. A limp gave him an unusual gate but not the impression of being infirm. He looked very different from Bran with his wider shorter stature and dark hair. but as he sat down with a bruised face and the way they held their sides the same way it was clear he was Bran's Father.
He glanced at Bran. "You finally get back in town and manage to get in a fight before I even see you. I hope you at least won." his laugh was horse
"No."
"What happened?"
"Ask Finn."
"Well if it's not one it's the other." he gave him a side hug "I'm glad your back."
"Did you win your fight?"
He sighed and rubbed his arthritic hands.
"I got paid, we are good till Rowan."
"I can support this family," he snapped, then softened "you don't need to worry. I have got a big fight coming up, it's a good purse."
"That's if you win," Bran mumbled.
He tightened his jaw. Then he saw May "Who are you?"
"Hi, I'm May."
"She is my friend"
"Friend, eh?"
"From work."
He walked close and he inspected her "I didn't realize your work hired anyone other than thugs."
"She has her own skills," he hopped up but his dad was quicker.
He held out a sinewy hand which May took "Pleased to meet you May. I'm Ulric. If you are working with him, try and keep him out of trouble."
"I will try."
"Let's go." and he pulled her out of the room.
"Is your dad a fighter?"
"Yes, what let you on. He should have retired years ago."
Sensing the topic was touchy and wanting to get him somewhere before he was too tired she changed the topic. She rushed him to the warehouse. Several times along the way he wanted to stop. She managed to keep him moving for all but one time where he switched out a sleeping man's pipe with a flower. She couldn't help but smile looking at the man lightly snoring now with a primrose luling out of his mouth.
To her dismay Bran's actions truly slowed before they had even reached the river; she had to find a place for him to rest before he fell asleep on his feet. Maybe she was miss remembering but the potion seemed to be acting faster than she remembered. They weren't far off the main road and to her relife she saw a small cluster of trees behind a building as she approced she saw it was a courtyard for a teahouse. Probably the best place she would be able to find for him to rest. She helped him onto a bench under a tree that surprisingly hadn't lost its leaves yet, perhaps it was a type of evergreen she was unfamiliar with. Bran plonked down with a loopy smile. He would be fun to deal with.
"May," a silky voice from the murmuring background, "what are you doing here?" She smiled but didn't say anything. She didn't know if Reah was happy or not. She came closer and saw Bran. "What's wrong with him?"
"I gave him a potion to heal, he will be fine." He was still inspecting his fingers like they weren't his."
"Oh," She couldn't hide her confusion but put back on her smile. "Well since this is a rare occasion of him being silent, would you join me for some breakfast."
"I should probably stay with him."
"He isn't going anywhere."
She walked off expecting her to follow. She almost didn't. Reah's air of self importance put her off, but she wasn't sure if her mistrust was from what Bran and Tam told her. Her curiosity won out and with a last glance at Bran she followed. Inside was a quaint tea shop busy with its morning crowd. Reah sat at an unoccupied table and a server quickly set down a plate full of toast with jam and took her order. She ordered for both of them. Fine with May, she had a feeling Reah came here often. She seemed quite at ease and the people working there knew her by name. It took no time for a tiered display of breakfast pastries and mini egg tarts to arrive at the table along with a steaming pot of tea served in elegant porcelain.
"So what do you want to know?" May asked as she ate some toast.
"Very direct, I hope Tam hasn't rubbed off on you too much," She poured May a cup of tea and took a sip of her own. "I was thinking I could help you. I have a better understanding of the city and the storm than most."
She seemed genuine and she might as well get some answers. "How discreet should I be with magic? I understand that here the only place to learn magic is through the green tower?"
"As far as I know there are no explicit rules banning casting in public, and if you happen to see a Green Wizard they more than likely will be casting. People are hardly likely to call the guard on you. However, magical knowledge is tightly controlled. You have the defense of being a foreigner but higher ups would not appreciate a caster not under their control. If you must, cast. Still, I would hide your abilities in general." It relaxed May that her answer was unambiguous.
"Then is there somewhere I could practice unwatched."
"The great hall is empty enough during the day."
"Some of my spells are," She didn't know why she was guarding her own information, "destructive, especially when I am learning them."
"Geoffry would be your man, are there some more general questions I could answer."
"Do you like working for the storm?"
"On the whole, yes." her smile faded "I am going to give you some advice and I hope you take it. You can't let anyone disrespect you even if it gets you in trouble. For people like us especially us must set boundaries and keep them."
"People like who?"
"People who can't earn respect by punching hard. They won't understand that you are more powerful than any of them. All they will see is a little girl. It is up to you to change their minds. You are lucky you are here, Geoffry, for all his faults cares only for loyalty and utility. Any other boss I would not have this place and neither would you. You have the advantage of magic, don't let him forget that. Don't be passive or you will be used as a tool and nothing else."
"Thanks" she trusted what she said was honest but she wasn't sure how or even if she should act on it.
"Look out for yourself, I don't know where you were before but Ricosia has a habit of trampling people."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I'm not a complete bitch, and you seem sweet, the type to follow orders a little too readily."
She always considered her amiability a good thing, "I have done fine so far."
"Because you are part of Tam's crew, he takes care of his people and everyone knows it. You may be different but I find it risky to depend on others."
"I'm nobody, what would they want?"
"They would want a piece of the little mage, use you for power."
"If that's so, why aren't you? Surely the lead liaison could manipulate the little mage."
Her face soured. "I prefer what my power is my own, like I said I don't like depending on others."
"Then why are you being so nice to me?"
"Because I am a fool, and don't want anyone else to see the dark side of the storm like I did."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be I can do what I want now, not everyone can say that. If you play it right the storm will be good to you."
"What does the storm do anyways."
"That is both easy and impossible to say, let's just say we are smugglers. Smuggle things from across the kingdom and the four lands. Smuggle items from one noble to another and such. Which reminds me I need to know what you can do so I can look for the right jobs."
"Oh, I'm not particularly strong. I can do the basics. Conjure light, small illusions, elemental stones, how familiar are you with magic?" She relaxed as she was back in her wheelhouse of data.
"A passing knowledge, I have met a few wizards."
"Ok, so I can d temporary enchantments like magical locks, turning one inanimate thing into another, turning someone invisible, a charm to put someone to sleep. My most powerful spells aren't the most reliable but I can throw fire and freeze things. I need some time but hopefully soon I will be able to disintegrate stone."
"What about the plant thing that you did to the roc?"
"How did you know about that?"
"I was at Tam's debriefing."
"Oh, I don't know what that was. I can't control it."
"Interesting, you are more powerful than you think you should have more confidence in yourself."
May stood, "I should go." She was unsettled by the praise.
"Of course, thank you for your time." She passed May a pastry she had been eyeing.
When she was at the door, Reah asked, "Did Tam say anything about me."
"Not really," She said.
"Oh never mind," She sipped her tea with a frown as May shut the door.
Back in the courtyard, Bran was passed out where she left him in a puddle of drool. She shook Bran awake to see if she could get him to the warehouse. He moved limply and didn't respond. She shook harder with both hands and there was still no response. This was not right. She felt his pulse. It was normal but he was sweating. She peeled back one eye and his pupil didn't respond to the light. She had forgotten all about Reah, and was shaking Bran till she started to think straight. She knew the potion was right. She had made it since she was five and it only became clear when it was right. But it was the only thing that could cause this, what other magic had he come in contact with. She needed to do something, but she didn't want to make it worse. She started to panic. Telling herself Bran was dieing, had she killed him. Her chest tightened. Areon bit her finger, drawing blood. She looked at her familiar. They hopped on the table and lowered their body. Right, she smiled and calmed down.
She knew the potion was fine, but she had never given it to someone who had been under someone else's spells. She didn't think any of the hex remained on him, but she wasn't familiar with every nuance of magic. The hex was also a host powered spell; maybe some of its effects still remained or affected the potion to draw more energy. How could she help him? She somehow needed to impart energy to him. But she didn't have a spell for that. Then she remembered the bestial strength potion. That would give him strength and it didn't rely on the host at all. She dug through her satchel looking for the items she needed. She didn't have most of the needed components with her. She had basic herbs she always kept with her, and thank goodness the epona hair still was on the lapel of her cloak. At least the herb she did have was betran to stabilize her magical input slowing the release so she knew she could add some of her own energy it would stay in long enough for Bran to get it.
It wasn't quite a potion but she fed him the herb and held out the epona hair as the focus of her spell. She glanced around the empty courtyard then she called forth her magic. She used the words of the potion like a chant for a spell hoping the bertan would draw her energy to Bran. Something was happening, she felt magic begin to run out of her. The gentle warmth of the flow of magic calmed her. Of the defused haze of magic she let out, only a small portion was captured by the bertan. At first the rest hung in the air but then it too was drawn away. It panicked her at first it seemed to be vanishing to nowhere.
Then a soft conscience came to her thankyou for the offering, child. It was a strange voice only she could hear like at the witch's hut. Was it the tree they were sitting under speaking to her? It had helped her last time, maybe it would again. "Can you heal my friend?" she asked it in her mind. There was no response but she could swear the tree rocked like a wind had moved it. She waited in suspense, but nothing changed. She settled for the small amount of magic she was feeding to Bran. The draw from the tree did not change but it wasn't a large flow and she relaxed as she let the bertran transfer the magic.
The slow flow of magic lulled her into a hazy consciousness just above sleeping. The relaxed state let her magic flow more easily and gradually more and more flowed through her not only to Bran but also to the tree. In the fuzz of her magic people and objects blurred together. She didn't realize how much she was giving. She had already channeled a great deal into him. But she relaxed and the magic flowed more easily and she was able to use stores she couldn't consciously yet. She didn't know the amount of magic she poured into Bran was enough to make most wizards and witches jealous. She almost nodded off and jolted awake as her head tilted forward shutting off her magic.
She checked on Bran. He didn't wake up but shifted away. That was enough for her. She had no idea what caused such a strong reaction. It was very safe. Her mother had prescribed it with many other potions, even ones that also used the host. She knew she wasn't a potion master and was very careful with what she made. How had she been so cocky and given it to him and not remembered his past enchantments. Her mom always went over a person's past before giving a potion. The misfire while fighting the trenchend and now this. She hardly felt she deserved to practice magic anymore. Or more she needed to dedicate herself more to the practicing and less rash using of magic. She was ashamed that she was so careless. Or so she thought, but she had yet to realize there was always risk with magic even for the most practiced. But her dedication to caution was good. She wouldn't let anyone push her too far. It also held her back, if she knew her true ability she wouldn't doubt herself and she could do far more. She watched Bran sleep. Gently she draped her shawl around his shoulders. He had stopped sweating and long even breaths stymied her worries.
"Goodness, he is still asleep?"
She saw Reah walking towards them. It had been less time than she thought if she was only just finishing her breakfast, "Yes," she looked down. "He had a bad reaction to my potion - he is better now I fixed it."
"I should say so, he looks much better than before."
"He does?" she looked back at Bran, and sure enough his nose was a small potato rather than a large one. Her mother had told her magic was good for inflammation.
Reah smiled, "Would you like some help getting him to your destination?"
"Would you?" she asked with relife.
"Yes, just keep this between us. I don't make a habit of manual labor."
With Reah's help May managed to escort a half conscious Bran to the wearhouse where he promptly fell asleep again. Reah had left them with the guard at the door to carry him into the common room and as she settled Bran into a less awkward position she heard a call.
"Miss Mage!" she spun to see Geoffry "how did you enjoy last night's festivities?"
"It was a new experience." was the most positive thing she could say.
"Good good, what can I do for you."
"Well, I just was looking for a place to practice."
"Ah, yes." a young boy walked up and whispered in his ear. His brow furrowed "Sorry I have some urgent business."
The boy scampered off and Geoffry stomped to his desk. She took her seat back with Bran but continued to watch him. Hardly a person looked up as a roughed up man was dragged in chains before Geoffry. His hair was plastered to his swollen face. He cowered on the floor as he was thrown down.
"Are you ready to talk?" he commanded
"Yes Yes, but"
"Do you want to go back?"
"No" he squeaked
"Then tell me everything."
The menace in his voice shook her from across the room. The man hadn't just been beaten he had been tortured. She shook Bran awake to ask what this was. He only semi woke up mumbling something before going back to sleep. She heard the poor man cough as he spat up blood. Smugglers Reah had said. Ruth had made the storm sound genteel on the way up, but now she wondered what she had gotten herself into. Geoffry watched the man emotionlessly, even as he kneeled before him crying for mercy. With a simple wave of his hand he was dragged away again.
What kind of man was she subservient to? She trusted Tam and Ruth and Bran. They were good people, but they answered to Geoffry. Sadly she realized it probably was the only place she could work as a mage. In sudeland she was the child of the closest advisor to a traitor and beyond that others looked for her there because of her fion descent. And here she needed the discretion and protection of Geoffry. Reah made it clear no one but the Green tower could cast here. She would find out what sort of place it was. She thought about being a maid, but she knew she could never leave magic whatever it cost her. She just hoped she was mistaken about Geoffry, how could someone like Bran work for him if he was bad. Maybe she was mistaken. Richosia was so different, their penchant for violence was more than her home. What was her home? She continued to wander.
Then She saw Ruth eating at one of the tables by herself. "Ruth!"
"May, I was hoping you were here."
She smile wided "I'm glad to see you too."
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, just happy to see a familiar face."
"Well I think I have something you would like.'' She handed May a ripped out page of a book. She inspected the writing in Sibyl. It was a charm of peculiar nature. It paralized a person with fear. It was a compex spell. "Can you use it?" she looked expectantly
"No, this is beyond me."
"Oh, but you could eventually."
"I think so, but I don't know if I would have used this. It is an unusual spell."
"I just hoped it would be useful to you."
"Oh it still can be, every spell has its place."
"Then you will tell me when you can do it."
"Absolutely."
"Good, I never thought I would find a spell so fast."
"Where did you get it?"
"I found it in a bookshop."
"Could you take me there?"
"Maybe later"
"That's probably for the best. I am here with Bran and as soon as he wakes up I need to get him home."
"What is he sleeping for?"
"He had a reaction to a potion I gave him to heal."
She laughed.
"He is better now," she said.
"I'm sure he is, you are a good girl but you worry too much. People are hardier than you think."
"I hope so." she paused, "Do you like working for the storm?"
"I guess, I don't really get the luxury to be picky. At my age you work where they take you."
"But they treat you well."
"They pay good."
"I mean, today they brought in a man in chains."
"Oh, that. That is just a ploy Geoffry used to ensure loyalty, you saw how little everyone reacted. Don't worry Geoffry wouldn't do anything to his mage as long as you stay a good loyal man and follow all his orders." she nodded, but Ruth gave her a shake. "Don't look so serious, you have got me to watch you back. I will protect you from Him."
"I will be fine, like you said. I am a mage. He won't hurt me." If he did she would defend herself.
"No, well I will let you get back to your work, I was just here for the food."
"Alright,"
"I'll be here for breakfast pretty much every day if you need me."
"Thanks."
She went back to Bran. The bertran was doing its job slowly distiributing magic from her. The steady pulse was like a warm blanket around him. She leaned back and watched the room. Absently she stroked her bird's feathers. She dazed off thinking about home the first time she called her magic. Even now every time she cast, she felt the strange thrill of that power. She felt energized, not drained like using magic normally made her. She rubbed her eyes to see Bran awake alert not at all under the effects of the potion. Not only that all his bruises were gone, the swelling too. Looking at him, she couldn't tell he had been in a fight before.
"Did you take the potion too?"
"What"
"You were zoned out"
It registered that he shouldn't be so normal. "You had a weird reaction to my potion so I had to fix it."
"Is that common?"
"No, I have no idea what went wrong. I think it may have been after effects from your hex."
"I'm still affected by that?"
"I don't know, I'm sorry that happened."
"I'm fine now, actually I feel great."
"You're not healed yet."
"I feel better now than I ever have after a fight, whatever you did it worked."
"Good."
"Let's go, you haven't seen much yet."
"I want to see the green tower."
He tensed "you don't want to mess with those wizards."
"I just want to see it," but there was fear in his eyes. The one who hexed him after all was from the green tower. "but I'm sure there are closer things to see."
"Yes, you will like the market."
He led her away from the river and up the main thoroughfare. She still wasn't used to the volume of people. She couldn't look anywhere and not see someone. It didn't bother her so much, but she missed being able to run off into the forest. That was the thing she missed most of all in the tower, and she would have to live without it a little longer.
She did like the market. It was the most crowded place yet, somehow that made it better. All the people jostling past the tent stalls haggling for goods made for a festive atmosphere. It reminded her of May day. Every stall had colorful flags or painted signs. The smell lacked the crisp smell of the holiday. The mix of many types of food being prepared, incense vendors and live animals being sold made for a scent that was confusing at best. Bran knew the place well, moving through the maze with purpose. She took in the varied sites as they cantered past.
He stopped in an opening where rickety tables stuck in the mud. He had her sit at one of the tables promising to surprise her with something. She wanted to see where he went. If she would be getting a prank or not, but his smooth movements blended into the crowd. She repositioned her chair as it sank lower into the ground. Looking around all the vendors it was an unusual mix. Whole roasted chickens, a flower shop, and bulk linen were only a sample of what she could see. Exhausting all the shops she could see she turned to people watching.
She noticed people were also watching her. She reflexively made sure her clothing wasn't out of place, discreetly as she could her ears were covered. She was fine but a pair still stared at her. Well, more correctly, they were staring at Areon. She was still used to the solitary roads they traveled on for so long. She hadn't hidden her familiar in her pocket, but perched on her shoulder. She felt a slight tremor of fear as they came towards her. They smiled and joined her at the table.
The woman closest to her said "You are a friend of a witch too?" she opened up her cloak and a purple snake slithered into view.
May smiled, "Yes."
"You must be new here," said the other.
"I came from Sudeland, I just arrived Yesterday."
"That is a long way away," said the woman, "do you practice?"
"A little," she said.
"We should exchange potions sometime, I would be interested in how different they are in the south."
"That would be amazing," she always struggled more with potions than spells. It would be wonderful to have someone to practice with.
"A word of advice though, Do not let others know you are a witch so easily."
"Why are witches not liked?"
"No it is not that, but recently someone has been hunting witches. Or at least people have started disappearing."
"It's the green tower, those stuffy wizards can't stand any magic they don't control."
"Hush, we don't know that for sure." said the woman. "I don't mean to scare you but, I wouldn't advise walking around with your familiar so visible."
She nodded
"Oh, I am Elise, and this is Osmund."
"Nice to meet you, I am May." She smiled, "Thankyou for letting me know."
"No problem, you should come visit my shop sometime, it's not far from here." She stopped talking as Bran approached.
He trotted up holding something wrapped in paper. His smile said it was a trick, he offered the bundle unwrapping fried chicken feet. His smile fell as he saw the others, they weren't smiling anymore either.
"What do you want with us?" she said voice pitching higher.
"Oh this is my friend Bran," May said brightly. What was with her reaction?
"You are his friend?" Osmund asked.
"I think we should go." They both got up and scurried away like they were being chased.
Bran slumped into an now unoccupied chair. He ate chicken foot, crunching on it slowly.
"Why did they run away?"
"Sorry," he said.
"I'm sure it's not your fault," she said, "they were witches. They told me someone was hunting witches. I'm sure they were just jumpy."
"No it was me."
"I hate to break it to you but you aren't that scary." she laughed, "Maybe it was your face."
He held up his forearm, it had the same tattoo as Tam. "You don't mess with the storm."
"So that's what that mark is. I don't have to get one do I?"
"No, I hope you don't get this. It's… um ...for surviving a situation for the storm."
"What kind of situation?"
"a dangerous one, let's get out of here in case they felt like getting any friends," he smiled, "let's go see Tam."
"Alright,"
They trotted out of the alley. They didn't just leave the market, Bran led us out of the city. He went down the street into the collection of wayward buildings huddled outside the wall. The street, more a trench of mud, kinked and wandered in a canyon. There were no colorful walls, just bare timber and daub. Mobile food vendors added a pop of color with their umbrellas. The bumped out upper floors blocked out the sun and looked ready to fall down. May found herself walking in the middle of the street to miss the overhang and the worst of the mud. They stopped at a building like all the rest.
"After you" he pointed to a knotted rope hanging down. At first she thought he was pulling her leg, but he wasn't. She gripped the course line and hoisted herself up. Scrambling over the banister she landed on a balcony painting. Bran hopped up just after and opened the door. He called out and entered. The room was dim. When her eyes adjusted she saw a sparse room. The table chair and fireplace were no more than utilitarian. The one thing that drew her eye was a striking wall hanging. It had the most vivid colors woven together that they shone even in the low light. A great battle was depicted on it. Mounted warriors clashed together in the most lifelike way.
"Do you like it?" said Tam coming around the corner
"I haven't seen one like it." she said.
"I wouldn't think so, they rarely leave Arg."
"Oh, how did you get it?"
"Tam's from Arg." said Bran.
"Yes, are you familiar with the pig war?"
"All I know is that it was a war of succession in Arg. Is that what this is?"
"Yes, this is the last battle where king Math ended the squabbling of his nephews, at least till he dies."
"What is Arg like?" she asked.
"It's nice enough, but Richosia is nicer," said Tam.
"I want to go to Arg eventually, then I'll have been to all four lands," said Bran.
"You can hardly say you have been to the kingless steppes."
"We spent two months traveling there," he protested.
"And don't speak to a single person, once you do you will have a different view of the place."
"You have traveled a lot?" she asked
"More than most, why else would Geoffy have sent me all the way to Sudeland."
"Haven't you been west of the mountains?" asked Bran.
"Once but I didn't see anything but empty land," he said.
"Like the red plains?" she asked.
"Yes," Tam said.
"Do you like traveling?" she asked.
"Yes but I have had my fill for now," Tam sighed, sounding weary.
"Where is the best place you have been?" said Bran.
"I don't know, I don't really have one. You two have traveled some now, what do you think?"
"I don't know if I am cut out for it," said May.
"I like it," said Bran.
They stayed for lunch, or what Tam had. May was as polite despite eating stale bread and questionable cheese worse than anything she had on the trip. She could see why Ruth was in charge of logistics. She stayed a long time after. Bran coaxed stories from Tam, primarily by winning rounds of a game she hadn't heard of before. It was called Mills and though Tam taught Bran you couldn't tell. He nearly always won. May was reluctant to play. She spent her time studying the game so that when she did play she would have a strategy. She also held off playing so Tam would tell more stories. Even censoring his tales they were captivating. He never told any stories from Arg, but she didn't mind nearly as much as Bran. Like he said we all have our secrets. She wouldn't tell them everything.
Still he really had traveled. He had been to Mauritius. The island of the giant trees was on every noble in Sudeland's list of things to see. But she was more interested that he had been to the fringe. His description of the forest border to Fionn was strikingly similar to the story Bran told in Oswald. Then again who else would Bran have learned it from. A Dangerous forest where even the fringes were stuffed with monsters and fey beast. There were no stone Golems but there were statues that no one ventured past. She wanted to ask specific questions. Her dad had never told her about his homeland. She was afraid too, but Bran wasn't afraid. Each subsequent round he won he asked about the forest.
He wouldn't say why he was there, but he described the place easily enough. Places the forest was so dense, dead trees rotted down in place, unable to fall. The drone of the forest was the call of bugs. Lastly he described something she knew about a flower that never faded or died after it was picked. The trefoil shape blooms slightly glowed like a distant star. She remembered a small bundle of that description on her mom's dressing table all through her childhood.
They played for hours. Using his help to May, Bran convinced her to play the last round. She was not optimistic about winning but she had been studying the game carefully. Bran played aggressively. Her sensibilities would be to balance with caution. But that was Tam's strategy, and it was rarely successful. So she took a highly offensive tactic, even hurting her own chances to sabotage his plans. She lost but the game lasted longer than she expected. Still they finished the game as the sun was setting.
"You two better get going before they close the gates."
"Shit."
Bran and her rushed back to the gates. They squeezed through the half open gates with all of the other stragglers. The guards frowned at the people streaming in, halting them and closing the massive iron doors. She had never seen such a feat of metallurgy. As they hurried back under the darkening sky. She saw people climbing with torches and precariously hoisting tar and oil into the braziers above the roofs before lighting them. The streets were empty, the few people that were out were hurrying to their destination. Looking at the sky she saw why everyone was hiding. Small creatures emerged from the darkness just sweeping on the edge of the firelight. Did this happen every night? Fortunately, before she could properly see the creatures they reached the butchers. The place was locked and they didn't have a key. Bran picked the lock. It was such an automatic motion, she figured he never had a key. When they got in, the younger kids were asleep. His parents and Finn were by the fire. Joining them the fire cast stark shadows on their faces.
"Bran, you look so much better," Susan said.
"I feel great, whatever that potion was, worked."
"Potion" said Ulric
"May is magic." said Finn
"And she is very good. I can't even tell I was punched."
She couldn't explain why he healed so well, she didn't know how she bent the potion before. "I'm not actually."
"Humble too." chuckled Ulric. There was a clicking on the slate roof, but there was no rain. "I guess with you here we won't have to worry about the wyverns."
"Do they come every night?"
"How do you not know about wyverns? They can only come out when its windy like this." said Finn
"She is not from here, Sudeland is real cushy. People travel unarmed all the time." said Bran.
"You are lucky then." said Susan "A splash of Acid and you will know what they are."
She stared up and listened more intently to the scratching claws above her. The fire died and every one trickled to sleep. May tread to her own bed. She closed her eyes and a thud opened them back up. She sat up as more heavy bumps and low chatters could be heard. In the low light she could see Rose and Hazel's eyes shining.
"Are they going to get in?" Hazles voice warbled
"No, they won't get in." said Rose, she didn't sound sure.
Hazle got up and ran to Rose's bed. May got up and took a candle, but didn't light it. She sat across from the girls. "I can make sure they don't get in." She wiped the soot from the wick on her fingers. She sang the spell loud and clear. It was a long spell, but they patiently waited as she finished the song. The soot grew and collected in her palm. She blew the ash out of her hand and it spiraled catching into embers. They collected and burst into a flaming bird the size of her hand. It made a slow mournful call and took slow laps of the room lighting up all the corners of the room. Finished it hovered over her outstretched and in one last flare up turned to ash. The sound of the wyverns faded. It was a coincidence but it was enough for the two girls to drift back to sleep.
"What was that?" She looked up to see Susan in the open door.
"The Call of the phoenix," she sat next to her, "it will attract a phoenix if it's nearby but I don't expect that to happen. It also will find any bad stuff that is around."
"What does it do if it finds anything?"
She thought of the only time she had seen that "it gets bigger, much bigger and attacks."
"So it kills the evil."
"It's not that strong, but it distracts it and no magic can hide from it."
"Were you parents wizards?"
"My dad was, he was much better than me,"
"I didn't know magic was so beautiful."
"It isn't always but it's nice when it is."
She stayed there for a moment more then snapped up and left.