Chapter 3 Part 8

Zachary woke early and spent over an hour slowly and quietly casting a powerful mage sight spell. He spent the rest of his morning getting the Inn ready for the day. About nine, he and Sara left Thomas in charge and walked out arm in arm.
They arrived at the Barons mansion and spoke with the door guard.
“We’re here ta see the Baron,” Zachary said to the guard.
The guard looked them up and down suspiciously. “Sure you are. Do you have an invitation?”
“Yes,” Zachary replied. “He told me himself that he wanted a personal invite ta our weddin’, once we had a date.”
“Sure he did. And I suppose you…” The guard trailed off and was looking past them. He looked back to Zachary and said, “Ok I guess you ain’t gonna cause any trouble.” He opened the door. "You can wait in the sitting room.”
“Thanks,” said Zachary as he led Sara inside. He smiled to himself. His mage sight had shown the reason for the guard’s change of mind. A plainly dressed man sweeping the street had signaled the guard and nodded. Obviously the Baron’s men were still watching them.
A servant showed them to the sitting room and brought them some juice. As they waited Zachary strolled about the room casually inspecting the décor. His mage sight showed him nothing unusual. It seemed that the Baron’s mansion was simply a well appointed home.
They waited for nearly two hours before Baron Roth returned. The huge man entered the room like a thunderstorm, his servants flitting about him. He sat and took off his boots. They were spattered with some nasty smelling substance. He waited for a servant to take them away before looking at Zachary and smiling.
“I hear you have an announcement for me.”
“Yes m'lord,” Zachary stammered. Something was wrong, his mage sight was somehow folding around the baron, like light bending in water. “You told me you wanted an invite ta our wedding so we came ta give it in person an’ make sure you got it.”
The baron’s face lit up with an expression of joy that somehow never touched his eyes. “That’s wonderful. And here I was afraid you were just shining me on.”
Cautiously Zachary asked, “Why would that be, m'lord?”
“Oh you know,” Roth said offhandedly. “Older people these days get together, but it seems they rarely marry anymore.” The baron looked pointedly at him. “So how old are you Zachary?”
“Me m'lord? Why this harvest time will be my fifty-second year.”
“Really? Well, I guess it shows that some people have more character than you’d think.”
“Uh, yes m'lord.” Zachary was still trying to discern the problem with his mage sight.
The baron stood and removed his sword belt. “So when is this festive date?” he asked as he handed the belt to a servant.
The servant took the belt and hung it on a hook near the door. Zachary’s mage sight could now see the baron, but the sword was a blank. As if it didn’t even exist.
“Well m'lord,” said Zachary as he brought his attention back to the big man, “we was thinkin’ about the harvest-fest next month. With it bein’ a holiday an’ all, our friends would be free to come.”
“Splendid.” Roth clapped his hands. “In fact I can’t think of a better date.” He called out towards the hallway, “Can you my lord Kiron.”
Zachary instantly dropped his mage sight as the mage stepped around the corner. Sara went white.
“Well Lord Roth, I do believe you are right.” The mage smiled coolly. “That would indeed be a perfect day.”
Sara stood and curtsied, while Zachary hurriedly bowed.
“Ah, no need for formalities,” Kiron said in an easy manner. “This is a social setting.”
Zachary’s mind was racing. How much did the mage know? He glanced at Sara, she was still pasty white, but she held a nervous smile on her face.
Kiron’s eyes fell upon the Baron’s sword and his face hardened. “Lord Roth, would you please remove that thing,” he said in and icy voice.
With a slightly contemptuous smile Roth replied, “certainly. I’d forgotten how much it offends you.” The baron signaled a servant, who took the sword away.
Zachary now knew what the sword must be. There were in existence a certain few swords created for the sole purpose of destroying mages. They all had one power in common, when drawn they nullified all magic within their reach. A warrior who carried one could destroy a mage with ease.
Kiron flashed a look of hate at the back of the big man’s head, to be replaced a moment later with that cool smile. “Indeed. It’s a vile thing.”
Sara’s expression was puzzled. “What… Ouch!” She exclaimed as Zachary stepped on her foot.
“Oh, I’m sorry darlin',” he said as he held her chair for her.
Once they had regained their seats the mage fixed Sara with a cold gaze. “You were saying?”
Sara blanched and stammered, “Wha’… What brings us the honor of your visiting again?”
A completely false smile grew on his face. “Oh merely business with the Baron.” He looked the two of them over. “It’s just a happy coincidence that I could share your joyous announcement.”
“Then may we extend an invitation to you as well m'lord?” she asked trying to keep the dread off of her face.
“Why I’d be delighted,” the mage looked to Roth. “Lord Roth, how would you feel about hosting a dinner tonight in honor of our happy couple?”
Roth frowned a moment then barked out a harsh laugh. “You know Lord Mage, I think that would be a fine idea.” Roth stood and gestured magnanimously. “Would you two do me the honor of joining me tonight for dinner?”
Now Zachary thought he knew what a fly must feel when it landed in a spider’s web. “Thank you m'lord. The honor would be ours.”
“Then we shall see you this evening; dress will be formal.”
“Certainly m'lord; thank you.” Zachary and Sara bowed and followed a servant out.
Outside again, Sara grabbed Zachary’s arm and felt her knees tremble. She was about to ask what they were going to do now, but Zachary cut her off in a loud friendly voice.
“Well darlin. If we’re gonna go to a fancy dinner, we’d best get you a new dress.”
She stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. Then reality kicked in and she smiled and grabbed him up in an excited hug. Now reminded that they were being watched, she took his arm and began gushing like a young girl as they walked on towards the merchants quarter.

A new dress later, they finally made their way back to Sara’s room.
“Now what do we do?” she whispered, “and what was that crap about you stepping on my foot?”
Zachary whispered back, “I thought you were going to ask about that sword.”
“Well, what about it?”
“It’s a mage-killer. I can understand why Kiron hates it.” They sat close together on the bed and continued whispering. “The Baron and the Mage obviously hate each other, but they can’t do more than irritate each other.”
She nodded. “I think you can include Krell in that too.”
“No doubt.”
“So what’s a mage-killer sword?”
“The blade nullifies magic around it whenever Roth draws it.”
Her eyes widened in alarm. “So what will you do now?”
He grinned. “Leave that problem for a friend of mine.”
She nodded not really understanding. “Ok… but what do we do tonight?”
“I suspect tonight’s dinner will be some sort of a nasty contest between the two of them.”
“Who, the Baron and Kiron?”
“Yes,” he whispered. “An’ I wouldn’t be too surprised to find Krell there either.”