AA3 39 - Expedition IV

“I thought it would be best if I came to speak with you myself,” Maeve said, taking a seat on the impromptu chair that Verdan had pointed out. “I understand that my presence here might be somewhat surprising.”

“I think that is a fair assumption,” Verdan said, the corner of his mouth twisting up slightly before he frowned and leaned forward to speak more softly. “How is your mother?”

“She is in fine form, the best she’s been in months, in fact,” Maeve said, giving Verdan a pointed look. “This is exactly why I wanted to thank you for what you did. I feel that things would not have turned out so well if you hadn’t come to visit.”

“I’m glad I was able to assist. I realise I only met your mother for a comparatively short time, but I think we share an interest in knowledge.”

“She said something similar herself,” Maeve said with a slight smile. “Some of our extended family have come to visit and ensure she remains in good health. With their arrival, I looked into what I could do to assist you and discovered this expedition.”

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but is this not too much to repay what I did?” Verdan asked carefully.

“Not at all. I would have jumped on any justification to be here. It is my duty as a Chosen of Clan Thrain. All you did was give me an excuse to be here without making certain tensions worse.”

“Using my presence in such a way won’t draw me into whatever these tensions are, will it?” Verdan asked worriedly. He felt as though he’d managed to avoid the worst of it this far, and he wanted to keep that going.

“Not in a way that I can think of,” Maeve said after a moment of thought. “My mother will explain my presence as us paying a debt we owe you, nothing more. Knowing her, she won’t even explain what that debt is.”

“Well, that’s good,” Verdan said, somewhat reassured. 

Maeve gave Verdan a nod before getting back to her feet. “That is all I wished to discuss, so I’ll leave you to your evening. I look forward to seeing your magic in action once we engage with the Darjee.”

Verdan returned the nod, waiting until Maeve had gone before heading over to where Kai and Barb were sitting off to one side. “So, any thoughts on enchantments?”

-**-

Verdan ended up working for a good part of the evening, partially with the assisted meditation and partly as he bound Aether constructs to first Barb’s weapon and then to amour for both her and Kai.

Kai usually went without armour, but he’d acquired a spare Kranjir-style cuirass and had asked Verdan to work on it.

Barb had also swapped over to a similar armour, eschewing the chainmail she’d worn on the way north.

At first, Verdan had been somewhat surprised by the change, but he understood why once he worked with the two pieces and got a good look at the material they were made from.

He’d been mistakenly thinking that the Kranjir wore leather armour this whole time, but whatever material this was, it wasn’t any kind of leather that Verdan was familiar with. He doubted it was leather at all.

Testing one of the pieces he’d been given, Verdan realised that while it looked similar, this new material was more durable, slightly heavier and marginally less flexible.

After asking Barb, Verdan found out it was made from something called coedenia bark. Verdan had no idea what sort of tree would produce bark like this, but that was a matter for another time.

He’d chosen to enchant both sets of armour with a fortification effect to make them tougher and more resilient. Barb’s sword and shield also got a similar effect, though her sword also got one that would trigger on impact to give her swings greater force.

Verdan invested a large amount of Aether into each effect, leaving him feeling somewhat drained by the end. Not too drained to forgo setting up a Darjee detection ward, though.

They were out of the city now, and anything could happen out here.

-**-

Verdan woke early the following morning to the clamour of dozens of burly Kranjir getting themselves ready for the day. 

Rubbing his face and yawning, Verdan got himself ready before reclaiming the leftover Aether in his ward and climbing out of his tent.

Kai and Barb were both already awake and making breakfast, so Verdan took it upon himself to rouse his sleeping apprentice.

Dirk was bleary-eyed when he came stumbling out of his tent but soon perked up once he’d had some food.

“Wizard Blacke?” A voice called out, and Verdan turned to see Magnus standing where Maeve had been the night before. “Do you mind if I join you?”

“Not at all, please, take a seat,” Verdan said, watching with idle amusement as Magnus took the same seat Maeve had. Perhaps he would make a guest seat for them every time they camped. It certainly seemed needed. “What can I do for you?”

“Well, the Keeper has tasked me to stay with you, much as I did in the city. He’s worried that tensions will be high in Dunkirn and wants me to make sure that things go smoothly.” Magnus explained with a touch of sadness on his face.

“You don’t seem especially pleased by that,” Verdan said neutrally, wondering if Magnus had some objection to working with him.

Magnus stiffened before his shoulders slumped slightly. “It’s no secret that I wish I was a better fighter. We serve the Clan as best we can, but our dreams are our own.”

“Can you not train and work to become better?” Verdan asked, wondering if there was something more to this.

“Yes, but I know my limits. I would be, at best, a good warrior, never a great one. My role as assistant to the Keeper aids the Clan more, and my aspirations would need me to be an exceptional warrior or a Chosen.” Magnus explained with a sad smile, his eyes flicking off to one side where Maeve was leading her complement of thearns in some morning exercises.

“I see. You have already been tested for potential to be a Chosen?” Verdan asked casually, sensing a moment to press for more answers.

“Yes, and I had some, but too little to be of any use,” Magnus said, his expression turning forlorn as he hunched forward, staring blankly at the campfire.

“I thought it was all or nothing for Chosen?” 

“Not quite,” Magnus shook his head as he replied in an absent tone, his gaze still distant. “True Chosen can wield their weapons for an entire battle. I would manage barely a few strikes before falling unconscious. I would make a pitiful Chosen.”

“I see,” Verdan said, restraining himself from pressing further as he turned Magnus’s words over in his mind and compared them to what he already knew. Magnus’s description felt more akin to Aether overdraw to Verdan than anything else, which helped confirm some of his previous thoughts.

If the runes on their weapons drew on the Aether of the wielder, they would allow them to work with even small Aether reserves.

Following that logic through, Chosen were those naturally gifted with larger reserves, or they were like Dirk and had naturally developed a way to draw in fresh Aether.

Verdan shook his head and laughed softly, thinking of Jarn and Ciaran’s reaction to his enchanted weapons. No wonder they had been so surprised. It must have felt like a mirror of what they used themselves.

It also meant that Magnus and countless others, both those who became Chosen and those who failed the test, had the potential for Wizardry. It wasn’t as simple a thing as having Aether sensitivity; the mental flexibility and dedication needed to do more than cast a few simple spells was rare.

Still, any spells at all would be more than most people had, and Verdan could already see that Wizards would have a profound effect on Kranjir culture.

Verdan was unsure of quite how to proceed, but he had a feeling that a frank conversation with Sebastian would be necessary. That could wait until after they were done with the Darjee, though.

“Apologies, Wizard, I have let myself wallow in feelings that I thought were long since buried,” Magnus said, getting to his feet with a smile that was deeply at odds with his sad eyes.

“Magnus,” Verdan called out before the other man could get too far. “There are other paths to strength than martial might. Don’t close off something just because the path ahead of you is difficult.”

Magnus looked back with a considering look before nodding slowly. “Thank you for your words. I’m not sure that they apply to this situation, but the intent is welcome.”

Verdan watched the other man walk away before turning back to the fire with a contemplative expression. Magnus was a great example of a prospective Wizard, but Verdan just didn’t know if he’d be able to trust him.

The bonds of Clan and family were strong here in the north that much was clear. Verdan hadn’t forgotten how hesitant Magnus had been after their meeting with Keeper Corstan either.

“We’ll be ready to head out in a few minutes, Boss. Do you need anything?” Barb asked, coming over with a glance in the direction that Magnus had left in. “Everything okay?”

“No, I’m fine, thank you,” Verdan said as he got to his feet and forcefully quietened his mind. “Would we be able to speak some more about your people’s culture today?”

Barb nodded reflexively before hesitating a little and cocking her head to one side. “Anything in specific?”

“I wanted to know a little more about your language. I’ve heard it here and there so far, but most people speak the same language as those down south.”

“Right, that’s because we’re taught Kranj first, and then common when we’re a little older. Common is used more at the border regions, but the Clans further north use Kranj almost exclusively,” Barb said as the two of them finished packing up the rest of their camp.

Verdan nodded along, prompting Barb further here and there as he built a picture of what life was like further north. The talk with Sebastian would be crucial, but more information would never hurt.