We didn't speak of important matters over our supper, rather keeping the talk small and light. There was enough seriousness to be had in coming days.
But once we had finished, we had the table cleared and coffee and tea brought in with the intention of doing some real talking. I also had Waldinor bring in a fresh stack of parchment with a quill and ink.
Incidentally, we had gifted the boy an official symbol of office denoting his status as head valet. It was a long gold chain with a large gold amulet showing May’s silhouette, like the coins of the realm. You could tell that he polished it every night.
Janiver suggested that we take our further discussion to our sanctum just to be on the safe side. It occured to me then that there are a lot of uses for secret extraplanar rooms other than organizing a deicide squad. I wasn't going to call Margrin and Janiver out over it. Let them have their fun. There were grave times to come.
May took the lead once we were seated.
“We need to put together a book of sorts, something with all of the information we can put together about whomever it will be that we'll be facing. Something listing their backgrounds, strengths, vulnerabilities.
As of now we only have two names aside from Carca, of course: Lasca and Shindur.”
I added, "Both are Barrow Elves now. I think Lasca comes from the Sand Elf Necropolis which we aren't allowed to visit. We'll have to confirm with Milost, but I believe Moss City is Shindur's home Necropolis. Until we have more than speculation, don't write any of that down. We know their names and that they're both very powerful Warlocks.”
Margrin asked, "Are we certain the rest will be the same? I know Milost seems to think so, but as a former adventurer, I can say that there is much to be said for diversity of classes when facing a threat, or contemplating genocide I would assume in the case of this bunch.”
May considered his words for a few moments and said,
“Excellent point, Margrin. We know so very little and your theory makes much sense. But how do we go about gathering the information that we need? Janiver?"
“We need to infiltrate Carca's domain. No one knows it better than Brevid. Now that the city is more open to Bedouins and outsiders, she is our best bet, no?"
I responded, “I believe so, yes, but she's a princess, Janiver. It would be hard for her to go unnoticed among the denizens of the Waste. She is also a very powerful Sorceress. That means more than her ethnicity for this mission, I believe.”
Then May surprised me, "You should go with her, Tendil. You and Milost. She doesn't need to go alone and Pelisir isn't the sneaky type. I think Janiver wants Margrin to stay here, don't you, Janiver?”
She was flushed.
"You two are really incorrigible, you know that?”
May rang for Waldinor.
"Yes, Your Majesty?”
"Please have one of the serving maids fetch Brevid and get a guard to ride to the Necropolis and bring back the White King. Tell them it's an important state matter and to please make haste.”
With a sharp "Yes, Your Majesty!” he was off.
Janiver and Margrin were looking at each other with wide eyes. Margrin asked "How did he just get in here?”
I laughed hard at that. "It's the amulet we gave him. It acts as a pass key here when we ring for him. Why? Afraid he might have seen something?”
I was still chuckling when Margrin said, “Just what are you implying, Prince No Clothes? That's your new nickname by the way. Hah! Who's laughing now?"
He got me there. “We really need to stop those boys from all the gossiping. It was the effect of the serum this morning."
Janiver turned beet red and seemed to find something terribly interesting in her lap suddenly.
“Oh, we're all adults here, Janiver," I said. “You're the one who made the stuff and gave it out like coppers on Beggar's Row! It certainly makes you feel alive."
“You're right, Tendil. Of course. Two more doses and we'll be ready for the next step. We'll discuss that once we have the whole group together. Are you excited at the prospect of getting to cast spells?”
She hit it on the nose with that one. I'd wanted to be a Wizard for all of my life. I could barely sleep thinking of it. Shooting huge balls of fire through the night sky. Turning invisible! So many wondrous things, but it just wasn't meant to be. Until now.
May answered for me. “Do you need an answer, Janiver? Look at him. You can bet he's seeing fireballs shooting across the sky. I swear he's like a child at times. Tendil!"
That snapped me out of my reverie. “Yes, Janiver. It's actually rather hard to think of anything else."
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“You were doing fine thinking of other things this morning!" Margrin had to get in a last swipe.
“Are you two getting married?" I asked the couple.
Stammering, Margrin answered while Janiver went back to her lap studies, “We haven't discussed that Tendil. I … I am certain this isn't the …”
"Well, let's discuss it! I think it's a famous idea!” I was making him pay now. “You two are obviously deeply in love! Why wait?”
He was saved by the arrival of Brevid who looked like she may have been in meditation.
May was apologetic, "If we disturbed you, My Dear, we offer our most sincere apologies. We just have something important to discuss, then we'll let you get back to your meditations."
“It's fine, You.., May. I wasn't focusing well anyway. I think the Black King is trying to get into my dreams. I keep coming around in a sweat and can't catch my breath."
"I think we all have him on our minds, Brevid,” May said, consolingly. "I don't think it's through any particular effort on his part.”
"But he is also the God of Nightmares. He is a deeply evil creature," she reminded us all. “We don't yet know the extent of his powers. He may already know of our plans. It may have been a mistake to bring Ranji here. His presence may have brought the Black King's gaze our way.”
“Well, there's nothing for it now," May said, “He's here and we'll defend him as we would anyone else in our care. He's an innocent."
Just then, Milost entered through the swirling white portal, looking around as if we might be under attack.
"Calm yourself, Milost,” I sought to allay his fears, "it's not that kind of urgency with which we summoned you and Brevid.”
Looking relieved, he came to the table and took a seat. “Were you only waiting on me?"
“Yes," May responded, “Pelisir won't be needed for this. This concerns you, Brevid, and Tendil. Margrin, Janiver, and I are here because we're putting together our little version of a rogue's gallery of the enemies we look to be facing. Not only are you the most familiar with Carca's methods, you still have your ear to the ground of Moss City.”
"I see,” he answered, "but that's something we've already discussed. Why the immediacy this evening?”
I took the lead, "You, Brevid, and I are being asked to go to Yis-Gláz to do some spying on Carca. You, not only for your skill with stealth, but also your familiarity with her. Brevid for her familiarity with the location and skills with magic.”
"Oh, this should be fun,” said Brevid with perhaps a bit too much enthusiasm, "I've successfully spied on Mag'stula many times in her own palace. Haven't been caught once!”
"What was your method? I asked.
“," was her answer. "We would approach the city disguised as Bedouins, then use the spell to turn ourselves into desert sparrows. They are often seen in the city, making their nests under any eave or overhang where they can build one. They're considered a nuisance by the Gnolls, but are generally ignored.
Have either you or Milost ever been birds before?” she asked.
Both of us shook our heads.
"Very well. Come with me out of the sanctum here and to a veranda where we won't be seen. Tonight, we'll have some very quick, impromptu flying lessons. It's not hard.”
I've already discussed my fear of heights. I never thought I'd actually reach a point in my life where I'd be expected to fly. People don't fly. Well, I guess magic-users can use spells and things of that nature. I could drink a potion. But this? We were a hundred feet above the forest floor.
My palms were sweating like mad and I literally felt as if I would swoon. Milost seemed overly eager for the action as I guess was his temperament.
“Gentlemen, are you ready?” Brevid asked.
"Yes! Let's do it!” was Milost’s reply while I said nothing. I'm not sure any sound left my mouth.
"Tendil,” Brevid tried to reassure me, "nothing is going to happen. I've got you.”
She waved her hands and said ".”
"Now, Tendil. Look over the railing."
Not saying I was too scared for even that, I looked. Thirty feet below us, a net stretched across a span of the Palace Tree and three others. Without a thought, she jumped over the railing. No spell, no rope, nothing. I looked down and there she was, lying on her back, safe in the net.
Okay, okay. I could do this. It's perfectly safe. In a wink she was back on the veranda.
“You see? Safe and sound. And the good news is that, in your bird form, flying will be instinct mostly. Like walking is to you now. We'll also be able to understand each other by our natural chirps. Are you ready now?”
"As I'll ever be, I suppose,” I offered.
She started with Milost. “,” she chanted.
And there he was, a tiny bird that could fit in the palm of my hand. He promptly flew onto my shoulder and began chirping wildly in my ear before taking off into the night sky.
I was next.
She chanted the spell again and suddenly grew to an outrageous height, easily over a hundred feet. And then I realized, she hadn't grown, I had shrunk! I examined myself. Gave a cursory flap of my wings, swished my tail as if I was steering. Lo and behold, just then, flying seemed like the most natural thing for me to do.
I flapped my wings and propelled myself to the top of the veranda’s railing. The view didn't disturb me at all. In fact, it excited me.
I leapt into the night sky and just began flapping, flapping like I was born to it, and it was brilliant. The wind buffeting the feathers about my face, the wind rising under my outstretched wings.
I saw Brevid transform and fly off the veranda toward me. She began chirping at me as we flew side by side and I understood all of it.
“You see, Prince? Nothing to it. It all just comes naturally."
“This is amazing!" I chirp yelled. “Thank you for convincing me!"
“Okay," she said, “let's see if we can collect Milost and head back to the sanctum."
That took longer than it should have. The White King was having the time of his life.
Once back, May smiled at me broadly. “Had fun, did you, Love?"
“Oh, May, I wish you'd been there! It was incredible! We must go flying together soon!”
She laughed heartily, "You have a date, my Prince!”
Then she got serious, "You three shall embark on your mission at sundown tomorrow. For now let's get some rest.”
“I'll try May, but by the gods I'm so nervous and excited. And then the serum to look forward to in the morning!"
“I had forgotten about the serum," she said with a smirk, “It should be an eventful morning, My Naked Prince."
Exiting the portal, Waldinor was waiting at his post.
I asked him, “Good Sir, have you heard the latest scandal?"
He seemed curious but confused, "I don't believe so, Your Majesty?”
“It seems there are scoundrels about the kingdom insisting on referring to me as the ‘Naked Prince!’ If you hear anyone uttering such slander against me, please let me know so that they might be flogged. It's unconscionable!”
When a Gray Elf blushes, which they do with some frequency around me. Their skin turns an odd red color, like the color of a kidney before it's cut for a kidney pie. It's a sickly red, terribly unflattering. I was thinking this while watching Waldinor's face grow to about as sickly a red as I had ever seen.
“I must say, that chain looks amazing on you lad. I wonder how long you get to keep it.”
I patted his head as he was leaving our rooms. "There's a good lad,” and I closed the door behind him.