The Lightbearer's Gift

Over the next two weeks I was the talk of the city before I was mostly a curiosity, now I had to dodge constant offers for clandestine meetings. When I arrived at the guard house to perform my usual healing. There was a literal line of well-dressed messengers waiting to hand me invitations for breakfast, dinner, or brunch. I accepted none of course.

During this time, my relationship with gardenia became well known. There was a general mixed perception of that since she was a well-known madam who ran most of the brothels and gambling in the lower city. It helped more that it hurt my reputation since many noblemen frequent her brothel, so it was of course assumed that she shares that information with me.

The death of Lars and his gang were also well known. Apparently, the story was that he threatened her with rape and death, and I gallantly rushed to her defense when I headed the details of his plan. No one could or would question the events since both she and the guard captain corroborated it.

Speaking of the captain, apparently the baron himself visited him before leaving the capitol and heaped praise and compliments on him for his excellent handling of the lower city’s security. He received some commendation and a generous increase in his salary and funding. Now everyone was in a rat race to get this up-and-coming elf on their side. Gardenia and I decided to let it slip that I would be attending the auction so now anyone who was anyone would be attending.

Gardenia, Clarissa, and Nalia, one of the better dressmakers in the city, had large smiles on their faces as I examined myself in the large mirror. Since the auction was a gathering of mainly nobles and wealthy merchants it would be appropriate for me to dress to match current fashions. Gardenia said as much but she and Clarissa took far too much enjoyment from my discomfort. Nalia, a young dressmaker who had only recently started to make a name for herself took this on as a personal challenge.

I certainly wasn’t going to wear a dress, but what she lacked in experience male clothing she made up for in talent. We had finally settled on a design I found tolerable. The shirt and pants were a pale white with plenty of gold and purple embroidery in elaborate patterns. The overcoat was a similar pale white with a high collar and long coat tails. It was all cut extremely close to the point that the material pressed against my skin. Yet somehow it was comfortable and didn’t hamper my mobility.

Every button clasp and buckle was made of gold. I even elected to pierce my ears and I wore some gold earrings with large expertly cut amethyst. My waist length hair was washed, combed, and hung loose except for two gold pins on either side of my head that kept it out of my face. I was certainly beautiful in an oddly ethereal sense.

I doubt I could convince any human I was male without dropping trousers while wearing this this outfit, but it was about time I got over that. It was on Gardenia’s advice that I leaned into the ambiguity of my gender since most human males would find me exceptionally beautiful. It would be to my advantage to use that attraction against them. I didn’t like the idea but could come up with nothing substantial to justify throwing away an advantage beyond my pride.

The entire ensemble cost over 25 geldings, but according to Gardenia it was well worth it. This would be my official entrance into noble society so it would be prudent to dress my best. Of course, when I inevitably get asked who my tailor was, I would direct them to Nilia.

“Tell me Gardenia, am I not a genius. He will be a sensation.” Nalia said as she watched me turn and to get a better angle of myself from the rear.

“Indeed,” Gardenia said as she eyed me as one would a priced horse.

“You know Moon. There are a few noblemen in the city who would pay mountains of gold to spend a night with a man such as yourself.”

I spun around to look at her and instantly realized she was just teasing me. I dropped the snippy response I was about to give her.

“Sorry to disappoint you, Gardenia. I only go in for women.” I said.

“That much is obvious to anyone who knows you.” Clarissa said, also giving me appreciative glances.

I had spent most of the last two weeks with her as company. She seemed content to share my bed during the night and watch me practice magic for most of the day. She was endlessly fascinated by my odd elven quirks like my ability to go days without any rest beyond an hour of meditation. The way my ears twitched to random sounds and how my eyes dilated when I had a change in mood. Apparently, they dilate rather wildly during sex.

I didn’t have to pay for any of it either. I doubted she had any actual feelings for me beyond friendship and some gratitude to me for helping Gardenia. But anytime I was in the mood she was eager to join me. With the exception of a few days where she was on her ‘moon flow’ as women call it.

There was an opening reception before the auction that was due to start in an hour. Lord Renner would send a carriage to take us to the upper city where an entire concert hall was rented to host the auction.

Gardenia of course was wearing a black dress with gold embroidery with a plunging neckline that bordered on scandalous. Her fingers, neck and ears were decorated in gold jewelry. She had that striking beauty that was a combination of dangerous and seductive that I found enthralling. Unfortunately, I’m fairly sure she had no physical attraction to me.

“Well then Moon are you ready to enter a different form of combat?” Gardenia asked.

“Yes. Though I’m sure that the drake would be far less dangerous.”

Gardenia and I rented a modest carriage to carry us back to her house. It was a decent abode in one of the residential areas of the lower city. No one really knew where she lived so it made an excellent place to lie low until my debut. She actually owned over a dozen houses all over the city where her employees lived. The only person who lived with her was Clarissa.

We were sitting in her greeting room going over a few things until a knock at the door cut off the conversation.

“That must be Lord Renner. I’ll answer it.” Gardenia said as she opened the door.

A tall well-built man in an expensive green suit stepped in. He had salt and pepper hair and a well-trimmed beard.

He did a short bow to gardenia and said. “My Dear Gardenia, you look as beautiful as the sunrise, words cannot describe how I have missed you. I hope you’re not upset that I took so long to see you after my trip.” Gardenia gave him her right hand and he placed an almost reverent kiss on the back of her hand.

“I understand you’re a busy man Martin, but I have been lonely. You will have to make it up to me later.” Gardenia said, giving a clear suggestion of what she meant.

“Ah I’m being impolite to your guest please. Introduce us” Lord Renner said.

“Of course, Martin, this is Moon, a good friend of mine.” Gardenia said as she brought Lord Renner over. I shook his hand in greeting.

“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Renner.” I said.

“The pleasure is mine Moon and please call me Martin all my friends do.”

If he wanted us to be friends so quickly it was fine by me.

“This isn’t the first we have met though I was in court when you arrived. I have to say it was quite the show. “Martin said.

“It was quite a shock when we returned to the city and the keep guards said we were to meet the baron.” I said.

“I can imagine, but you handled yourself well enough. Excellent work with the baroness most normal people never understand how magic works you played her well.” He said.

“Well then men shall we go or will you two spend all day gossiping?” Gardenia asked with a warm smile on her face.

We headed outside to an exceptionally well-appointed carriage. In the same colors as Renner’s clothing, they must be his house colors or something. The driver opened the door for us, and we stepped in. The inside was luxurious as expected with soft cushioned seats. We were of course late but that was in fashion if we were to arrive last, even better.

“Anyone of note attending tonight's auction?” Gardenia asked as the carriage started moving.

“Practically anyone with sense is attending tonight. It’s already spread that you and Moon will be attending as my guests. Lord and Lady Barian, Viscount Emmersmith, and Lambert Hengast. Will be in attendance so bidding will be ferocious.” Martin said.

“Who are these people?” I asked.

“In short, The Barians have the grain trade completely cornered, Emmersmith made his wealth with silver trade and Lambert controls the largest mining company in the southern provinces. They make up 3 of the 5 wealthiest families in Vernon.”

“Who are the other two?”

He had a cocky smile on his face as he said. “Baron Vernon himself and me.”

“Our problem is that they have allied themselves with the baroness. None of this is in the open however it’s all nighttime clandestine meetings and secret messages.”

“Why choose to ally with her if it's not as if she is in control of the barony?” I asked.

“It’s best you don’t reveal this to anyone, the baron's not in the best of health, some say his drinking will catch up to him. If he dies, then she rains as regent until her son comes of age. Many of the nobility chafe under the baron’s rule since he cares little for their petty grievances and has worked to erode the privileges they enjoyed under his father.”

“Why do you support him then, would not those same policies affect you?”

“It does. So, I have had to make changes to maintain profits. The barony was a mess of banditry and corruption before the baron’s rule. I'll take the security over a small decrease in profits any day. Executing 3 nobles for embezzlement does not win him much support.”

“What does the Baroness want?”

“Power. She’s a third daughter unlikely to inherit anything from either her mother or father. She was practically sold off as soon as they got a good enough price for her hand.”

“If the baron knows of this then why has he not put a stop to it?”

“She’s done nothing, it's simply in the air. Everyone is picking sides knowing that the situation will eventually crack. But unsure of when or what will cause it.”

“Hmm quite the powder keg. So that’s why he was so eager to claim me. I’m another piece he can add to his board.” I said.

“Yes, he has the army, the guard force, and 3 mages on his side. Whereas the baroness has the more nobility and coin on hers”

“He can’t simply lock her up in a tower somewhere, She’s a Ruben after all. Their family line goes all the way back to the founding of the empire. The nobility the baron could handle, but Rubens can carry grudges for generations constantly waiting for the opportunity to get revenge. They are not an enemy most would want to have.”

The political climate of the city was far more volatile than I expected. I do wonder if perhaps I’m out of my depth here, magic and medicine were my skills not political scheming. This is the path I had chosen however, so I only had to hope it did'nt end in disaster.

The carriage grinded to a halt and the driver opened the door for the three of us. He led us inside the concert hall where an announcer was declared.

” Lady Gardenia; Lord Renner; Sir Moon.”

Inside the greeting area of the concert hall there were over a hundred members of the nobility. Servants walked around with silver trays carrying classes of wine and small finger food. The gathering area was richly decorated with ornate furniture. Most of the nobility were gathered in small groups in quiet discussion. Many turned their heads to our arrival.

As soon as we walked in a man and a woman who I didn’t know came over to us.

“Lord Renner, I was beginning to wonder if you would actually skip this one. Might I say you have arrived in excellent fashion with such lovely company.” The man said as he eyed both Gardenia and me.

“Come now you know me always with a flair for the dramatic.” He said to the man as they clasped hands. He turned his attention to the darked haired woman wearing a dark blue dress.

“Lady Daria, Lord Tren, pleasure to make your acquaintance this is your first time is it not.” Martin said.

“Yes, but please introduce us to your guests.” Lady Daria said as Martin placed a kiss on the back of her hand.

“May I present Lady Gardenia and Sir Moon” he said.

“A pleasure to finally meet the elf that’s on the lips of every gossip monger,” Lady Daria said.

“The pleasure is mine my Lady, I do hope I live up to your expectations.”

“Of that I have no doubt.” she said almost flirtatiously.

“Tell me Lady Gardenia, have you been the one hiding him away?” Lord Tren asked. Eyeing me in a way that I found uncomfortable.

“Oh yes, we’re good friends so I had no trouble sheltering him from the vultures.” Gardenia said with a pleasant smile.

“If you wanted to avoid the vultures then this is not the place for it.” Lady Daria said to me.

“I have to show myself at some point so might it well be at a time of my choosing. “I said.

“Well then let me introduce you to the who’s who of Veron.”

Lady Daria took my arm and led me further into the gathering. Men and women were dressed in the highest quality clothing, wearing jewels that had to cost in the hundreds of geldings to purchase.

I shook hand after hand as Lady Daria introduced me to every noble she was acquainted with. These were all nobles who had allegiance to the baron instead of the baroness. Plastering a fake smile on my face for every noble that seemed to want something from me was unpleasant. Barely half an hour later I was already tired of the pageantry of it all.

“Lady Sarah Newban, Lord and Lady, Stelworth. Lady Gravits.” The announcer shouted.

I had assumed we were the last to arrive until that announcement. I glanced at the entrance as Sarah walked in wearing a lovely blue dress with gold embroidery. She looked every bit the noble woman. The man and woman who I assumed to be Lord and Lady Stelworth wore matching green. Lady Gravits looked like she was barely out of her teenage years. Yet carried herself with as much grace as any other noble woman.

“Oh, if it isn’t the black sheep of the Newbans.”

I stood in a small group with Gardenia, Lady Daria, Martin, Lord Tren, and a few of their acquaintances.

Countess Raina was the one who spoke up as soon as they finished announcing. She was a visiting noblewoman from another barony who was interested in the auction. She and Martin had some friendship in the past.

“What do you know of Sarah?” I asked her, genuinely curious.

“Not much but I know her family. They’re a falling noble house from what I’ve seen.” She said as she took a small sip from her glass.

“Is that why her refusal of the marriage was met with her being disowned. “I asked.

“Essentially yes, their investments failed, and the mines have run dry. Little in the Newban lands can provide profit. So, a marriage to Denerif Mason would have provided much needed windfall. Foolish girl, now I hear she’s run away to play mercenary.” The countess said.

I watched as Sarah and her company made their way towards a group of nobles. Nobles who I have been told were firmly in alliance with the Baroness.

“Well now it looks like she’s fallen in with the Baroness. They must have hurried to make alliances after your appearance at court. I wondered what they offered her?” Lady Daria said.

Gardenia gave me a look and said. “This might make things awkward for you.”

“Why would that concern the Moon?” The countess asked.

Gardenia answered. “Ah I forgot you only recently arrived. Moon here, and Sarah are contracted to the same mercenary company, The Bronze Spears.”

The countess raised an eyebrow and said to me, “Really now? It might be time to abandon them for better pastures.”

“Perhaps you have a point. Our political ties might become a point of contention within the group.” I said. as I began to wonder how exactly this could affect the group dynamic.

A smartly dressed man entered the main area of the gathering and shouted, “Lords and Ladies the auction will begin in a quarter hour.”

“Come Moon, we have a private box prepared. Countess, it was a delight to meet you.” Martin said.

“Likewise, Lord Renner. Moon if you ever visit my lands, you would be received warmly.” She offered me her hand and I touched my lips to the back of it.

“Perhaps I will. It is a delight to meet you.” I said as she turned to leave. A few impeccably dressed servants who were standing to the side quickly took up positions around her.

“She might be too much for you to handle.” Martin said as he watched her walk away.

She was a stunning beauty and came from a family known for having powerful mages.

“You’re probably right, besides I have enough on my plate to deal with.”

Martin, Gardenia, and I exited the gathering area and went up a few flights of stairs until entered a private viewing box that looked down at the large stage. One of the chairs there was a small sign that had the number 08 painted on it. I suppose that is how they knew who was bidding. Gardenia sat in the middle between me and Martin. Before Martin’s arrival she instructed me to simply tap her leg if there is something I wanted. So long as the price didn’t pass a thousand gold, he would be willing to bid for it. I didn’t doubt that Martin likely knew or would immediately find out that she would give me the items. Either way I didn’t care. I doubt he would want to muddy the waters of our burgeoning friendship.

A well-dressed man came on stage and started to announce.

“Ladies and Lords, we of the Grason and Charles Trading company offer our greatest gratitude for having decided to spend the evening with us. I assure you we have the most interesting curios on offer tonight and one final item that everyone here will want. For now, let us begin.”

The man bowed and exited the stage.

“What do you think the last item might be?” Gardenia asked no one in particular.

“Hmmm it depends, it could be some ancient lost treasure from the Ansur, a powerful amplifier. The last time I attended one of these was in the Imperial Capitol. It was a full set of enchanted Mithrite plate armor with both sword and shield.”

Mithrite was worth at least 10 times as much as gold so couldn’t even imagine how much it sold for. Gardenia ended up asking for me.

“How much did the winner pay?”

“76,800 Gelding.” He said with a smirk on his face.

Both Gardenia and I looked at him as if he grew a second head. The scant 200 gelding stored away would be considered a great fortune in the eyes of most peasants. To the wealthy it would be barely above poverty.

But 76,800 gelding on a suit of armor and weapons? The wealth behind the winner must have been enormous.

Martin let us stew in that for a moment then continued, “I’m wealthy by most standards but when Crown Princess Morianne and Denerif Mason get into a bidding war. Things can quickly spiral out of control.”

I was curious whether the crown treasury or the bank won in the end, so I asked.

“Who won?”

“The princess of course. Though that was due to the increasing price being seen as a challenge to the imperial family. Even the auctioneer was giving Denerif the eye to stop bidding.”

“What happened to the armor in the end?” I asked.

“She had it reforged to fit her frame. I saw her once in her full suit. It was a sight to see.”

Mithrite itself was slightly blue and had an almost imperceptible glow. Having an entire armor set made of it must have looked rather impressive.

“Look, it's starting.” Gardenia said excitedly.

Two men brought out a pedestal and another placed what looked to be a birdcage covered by red silk cloth.

Once they were finished setting up. The Announcer walked over and pulled off the red cloth.

Inside was a bird as white as snow with solid blue eyes. He flicked the cage with a finger and the bird shrieked and then the entire cage was encased with a layer of frost. The entire audience gasped as they realized that the animal was magical. I immediately glanced within the ether to examine the creature.

It was in actuality sapping the heat from air around it, reducing it to below freezing. The frost started to creep along the pedestal, finally stopping as the bird calmed down.

“Here we have an arctic quail captured from the far reaches of the Yagura mountains.” The auctioneer went on about its age and sex, but I stopped caring as I focused on how the ether moved around the bird.

“Fascinating” I said. I wasn’t interested in the bird but I’m sure there were many nobles that would love to have exotic curiosities in their houses. The more unusual and exotic the better.

“Let’s start the bidding at 50 Gelding.” The announcer stated.

“What do you find so interesting about the bird moon?” Gardenia asked.

“Other than the drake I’ve never seen another animal that could use the ether. How it moves is fascinating.”

Gardenia shrugged as I explained. What I didn’t say is that how the ether moved was rather similar to when Lilian used her shadow magic.

“Sold for 180 gelding.” The bidding finally ended.

This process repeated several more times but none of the objects had any real interest from me other than being curiosities. A set of 5 ever burning enchanted lamps, a set of elven daggers similar to the ones Lilian wielded except that they were inlaid with gold, Mithrite earrings that went all the way up to 500 gelding before it was sold. Gardenia and Martin talked about every object that was brought out along with gossiping about their buyers. Finally, there was an item in which I was interested.

“These were one of our recent acquisitions. Two grimoires whose content has been verified as being spell complete.”

The books looked old and tattered and didn’t seem to garner much excitement. But I could barely keep myself from standing to get a better look as I recognized the Sigils for Air on one book and Light on the other. I wonder why he didn’t announce what spells were in the books. Perhaps he didn’t want to risk a prospective mage ignoring them if they already knew the spells inside.

Grimoires were an instructional manual on a specific spell. Complete with the sigils and mathematics required for the spelling circuit. Along with a complete explanation of the spells underlying philosophy and Etheric theory. Any mage with a good enough mind and magical skill can learn spells from them. This made them heavily restricted and illegal to reproduce. The auction was known to obtain all their items legally so they must have bought it from some down on their luck mage.

I tapped Gardenia on her leg as giving her the signal. I didn’t care much for the farce of pretending that Gardenia is the one that wanted the Books. Since I’m sure Martin realized that he seemed fine with playing along.

Gardenia whispered something in his ear and with a melodramatic sigh he said. “Anything for you my dear”

“Moon since you are the only mage here would you do me the honors of winning this for my dear gardenia.” I took the sign.

“Don’t go over 600. As much as I love my dear gardenia, I have to reserve some coin for the final item.”

The message was clear, it took the sign from him.

“Let’s start the bidding at 20 Gelding. Do I hear 25” The announcer said.

I held up my sign.

“25 do I hear 30.”

“50” A woman from another box said. I glanced to see Sarah holding up a sign and standing at the edge of her box so the entire auditorium could see her. She was looking me in the eye as she held her sign. Taking the challenge for what it was, I walked to the edge of my box so everyone could see me. This caused some whispers to ripple through the audience.

“80” I said aloud as a counter to her offer. I noted that she was alone in her box, so it was likely that she was using only her own funds.

“100” Sarah said.

The announcer had a wide smile on his face as he said. “Lords and Ladies, it would seem we have a battle between mages who will win, I wonder Light or Fire.”

“120” I was more excited than I had expected I would be.

200, 300, 400 the coin kept increasing steadily as the entire auditorium watched us. Their eyes flicked back and forth to see who would flinch first.

Deciding to see how she would react if I increased the price by saying.

“500”

That caused a ripple across the audience. Finally, she flinched unlike her. I wasn't actually bidding my own coin. So, I couldn’t care less how high it went through after this bid. I have to move into my own funds since Martin set a cap on how much I could bid. I still had around 200 to my name and the etheric Jem in my breast pocket would fetch another 2 or 3 hundred.

“520” she said after a few seconds. That could only mean she was getting close to how much she was willing to spend.

“600” I said with a pleasant smile on my face. As if 600 was of no consequence to me. Even more hesitation. I have no doubt she had far more coin to her name but by her own admission much of it was tangled up in investments. She hesitated for a few seconds and looked ready to bid. I immediately beat her to the punch and said.

“700” a wave of gasps went through the hall as I not only decided to bid another hundred but breach bidding etiquette.

The announcer said. “May I remind the gentlemen that he can only place a bid after another place theirs” his voice sounded reproachful, but his face still had a broad smile at all the coin he was earning.

“My apologies.” I said.

Everyone waited for a bid from Sarah, her eyes flicked to Martin and Gardenia behind me. Sarah sniffed as she realized that she couldn’t match me and simply said.

“650”

Then sat back down. Seems she had wanted me to lose as much coin as possible before she admitted defeat.

“700” I said as I returned to my seat.

“I couldn’t allow Madam Gardenia to lose out on her prize, so I’ll be more than willing to add my own coin to your limit. “I said.

“It's fine, but I must say that it was a well fought battle.” Martin said.

“Well, I couldn’t allow a fire mage the victory.” I said playing into the rivalry different mages had between each other.

I relaxed into the chair not really caring about the rest of the auction. There were more jewels, weapons, exotic animals, and enchanted items. Even Martin started to bid as the items became more interesting and stranger. Finally, we were at the end of the auction and the last item was to be revealed.

“This Lords and Ladies is an item procured all the way from dwarven lands. A weapon whose craftsmanship would endow anyone Mage or no with the power of lightning.”

A beautiful woman in a red dress came out from the side of the stage carrying a sheathed sword.

It was as expected ornately decorated with gold and gems all along the sheath. The blades hilt had a large air attenuated Etheric gem embedded in the center of the mithril hilt. He gently pulled the sword from the sheath.

With a twirl the blade caught the light. It was an arming sword similar in size to what most of the guards and mercenaries used. The blade itself was such a dark blue it was almost black. I could see swirls of gold within the metal. Then he pulled on the base of the hilt, it slightly separated then he rotated it counterclockwise. Then he locked it back together and rotated it the rest of the way. As soon as he finished, I felt a pulse in the ether as if someone was casting a spell.

I got up to my feet and stared at the sword from within the ether. Strangely the ether began to swirl around the blade in odd counter rotating currents. Nothing happened for a few seconds until a spark leapt from the blade to the floor. Then another the frequency increasing until it practically rained lightning all around him curiously enough none came close to the man.

“I’ve only ever heard of Morianne summoning lightning?” Gardenia said.

“Yes, it does call into question how it works since that is supposed to be unique magic. What do you think Moon?” Martin asked.

I flicked my vision back and forth from the ether to the real world and formulated my best guess. “Static Electricity perhaps?”

They both looked at me puzzled until I realized I spoke in English. They didn’t have the equivalent word in standard imperial common, so I explained.

“When you have your socks on and rub your feet on the carpet sometimes you can shock people.”

Understanding blossomed on their faces.

“So, the sword is enchanted to repeat the same phenomenon just many thousands of times more powerful.” Martin said.

“How would you even go about doing something like that?” Gardenias said, looking at me as if I had the answers to all magical questions.

“I have no idea. Enchantment is not one of my skills.” I said honestly. Anything I could think of would likely be little more than fanciful guesses.

Another man brought out a straw dummy wearing plate armor. As soon as the man got within a few feet the charge from the blade leapt toward the straw dummy with the sound ringing my ears as thunder echoed off the auditorium walls. There was an intense flash of light, and the straw dummy was left in smoldering pieces. Bits of armor were flung randomly about the stage and several pieces were glowing a red from the heat.

There was a deafening silence as the announcer calmly twisted the hilt to stop another charge from building and sheathed the sword.

“I want it,” Martin said to us. though I’m sure the entire auditorium heard it.

As if that was a spark the entire auditorium erupted in ferocious bidding, all attempting to get their hands on the sword. It was rather amusing as nobles who usually made every attempt to appear as distinguished as possible yelled above each other like peasants at a farmers’ market.

Martin, Gardenia, and I rode in his carriage back to her brothel. The plan was to drop me off there and they would continue on their way to Gardenia’s home. After the auction, a servant came to our box with all of their winnings. I sat in the carriage examining the sword that Martin spent 3,561 Gelding on. The matrix of Mithrite running through the blade and hilt then into the Etheric gem was dizzyingly complex and even after 10 minutes I couldn’t decipher how enchanting works.

“Well, what do you think?” Martin asked. Seemingly impatient for me to give him a report.

“There is an incredibly complex network of Mithrite flowing though the blade and hilt all connecting to the gem. It’s likely this network can mimic spell work as to how it's doing this, I’m not sure. But I’m fairly confident that it is generating the lightning through Static electricity.”

Martin hummed, seemingly dissatisfied with my analysis. He shrugged as I handed him the sword.

While it wouldn’t be of much use to defend yourself against a mage due to the long time it takes to build up a charge. a normal person would probably flee as soon as the swords started to emit lightning. For a non-mage something like that must be quite valuable.

The two grimoires were wrapped in a dark blue silk cloth and currently sat on my lap, with the pretense that I would store them away for Gardenia. When we arrived, I disembarked before the coachman could open the door. Martin called out to me and said, “Let’s have brunch sometime this week. We have much to discuss.”

“I might be busy so send a runner to confirm if I’m not occupied. I might be here, the guard’s clinic or the inn. “I said.

“You really should look into lodgings in the upper city. There are quite a few apartments that might suit your needs. And don’t worry about the 100 gelding, nothing is too expensive for my dear Gardenia.”

That limit was probably there just to take my measure. I wasn’t going to part with 100 gelding if I didn’t have to, so I shrugged. He’s a damn fool if he thinks that 700 gelding is enough to buy any obligations from me.

“My thanks. Perhaps that lodging is something we can discuss as well. Until then I bid you two a good eve.”

“Until Tomorrow Moon.” Gardenia said.

Martin gave me a nod as I closed the carriage door, and it sped off to Gardenia’s home.

As soon as I walked through the door Clarissa came scampering over wrapping me up in her arms as if she was welcoming her loving husband home. While in any other situation the lovely brown hard golden eyed woman would be the object of my attention the books in my hand took precedence.

“Gardenia’s office.” I said.

She kissed her teeth and said. “I thought we would at least have some fun first.”

“There is going to be plenty of time for that but for now I need to do some reading.”

She sighed and said, “Very well.”

She led me over to the gardenias office and opened the door with a pair of keys she had hidden away in her bosom.

“Now what did you get from the auction?” Sounding curius.

I was slowly beginning to tell when she was simply curious and when she wanted information to report back to Gardenia. She had stopped taking any other clients and made sure that she was always ready for me if I arrived. She pretended as if it was affection and appreciation for me, but I felt the lies in her words as she said them. Beyond the pleasures of the flesh, we shared there was little in her eyes that suggested any kind of deep affection.

“Two Grimoires” I said I signaled her to get me a drink. I sat on Gardenia’s chair and opened the first book.

“Radiant Carapace” I muttered to myself. I began reading the description of the spell and its functions, my face splitting into an almost maniacal smile. It was at least a master level spell using over 200 sigils to create.

It projected an invisible shield roughly 1 millimeter above the skin completely encapsulating the entire body. Even better was that it only needed to be cast once and would persist the entire day so long as it wasn’t broken. It wasn’t nearly as strong as my radiant shield since it would break from even a weak fireball. But things like arrows and swords wouldn’t have a hope of breaking it. Overcharging the spell only made the shield stronger. But without a doubt the best part of the spell is that I could cast magic through it. I could even cast it on other people.

I could in theory maintain 3 shields at the same time. Though I wouldn’t want to meet the person that would require that much defense. Putting down the book for now, I opened the second one.

“Concentrated air blast” I muttered. It was a spell similar to fireball except it worked by concentrating air into a small space. The resulting shockwave could destroy the surrounding area. Interestingly there were controls to change the shape allowing for a conical discharge in front of the caster instead of throwing. I had to wonder what kind of damage a wall of expanding super compressed air could do to a body.

I took a drink of the whisky and savored the burning sensation as I prepared myself for an entire night of study and practice.