Chapter 8 Part 4

It was several days later when they reached Allentown that Ultrecht finally announced that he had inventoried the entire contents of the Tome of Creation. He was not able to comprehend the entire text, but he could decipher most of it and he did manage to catalog what each subject was about. The deeper research could wait for when they had more time.

The dragons dropped them off outside the city and promised to return for them the next morning. Armegon and Ultrecht were glad to be back in Allentown. Armegon went directly, with Avery in tow, to the "Odds and Ends" novelty shop. His friend, Seeda was there and Armegon politely inquired about the political news.

"The big news recently has been the promotion of Aspberg from an earldom to a duchy. It was probably overdue, but no one wants to see Blackheart get stronger."

"How’s it make them stronger?" Avery asked.

"A duke's voice carries more weight in the Senate than that of an earl," Seeda replied.

"Anything else?" Armegon asked.

"Not really," Seeda leaned close and whispered, "Blackheart’s been unusually quiet since the warlock stepped down in favor of Miguel. That was big news. This is the first time in my knowledge that a priest has voluntarily left the church to assume a throne."

"I wonder what they’re up to now?" Armegon wondered aloud.

Seeda shrugged. "House Blackheart’s a devious lot and they have their claws in many pies. The gods only know what they’re doing now."

"I guess we’ll see in time," Avery commented.

"Do you have any news?" Seeda asked Armegon.
Armegon thought for a moment. "Do you know who the free peoples are?"

"You mean the old tales about dragons and unicorns and such?" Seeda scoffed. "I’ve heard of such things, but I don’t put much in store by it. I’ve never seen a dragon nor a unicorn. I believe that they exist, but I don’t think that they’re anything more than wild creatures."

"Well I heard about them not being wild and dumb animals, but that they were fairly intelligent and that they were growing in number."

"Sounds like some nice gossip," Seeda approved. "I'll write it up. Anything else?"

"Have you ever heard of The Forester?" Armegon asked causing Avery to look up from a small piece of pottery he was appraising.

"Now that is more than just legend," Seeda replied. "The Forester is a documented phenomenon."

Armegon grinned at Avery who fidgeted somewhat and blushed slightly. Seeda missed the reaction and Armegon had a little fun. "I just came in from Tycho and word there is that the Doyr, those spider worshiping people in the Great Deep, kidnapped a woman and boy who turned out to be the Forester's own wife and son. What I heard was that the Forester literally tore the Doyr stronghold apart, stone from stone and slew the demon who was their queen."

Seeda drooled. "That’s the kind of news I like. Oh, please repeat it for me slowly. I want to write all of that down. A story like that will sell many postings"

Armegon repeated the tale and Avery, embarrassed by the exaggeration of it all stepped outside and waited in the street. Armegon joined him several long moments later. "Guess what."

Avery glanced skyward. "What?"

"You not only destroyed the Doyr city, but you warned Blackpuss to keep his dirty hands out of the Great Deep."

Avery covered his eyes in agony. "You know that I can't enforce something like that. Why do you keep getting me into things like this?"

Armegon looked hurt. "Hey, I am just looking out for your image. You are a legend, remember?"

"And you are a god?"

Armegon's eyes lit up. "I forgot," he announced. "Be right back." Armegon hurried back inside the shop. "Hey Seeda," Avery heard through the door. "Another thing is that the god who defeated the Blackheart clan at Gly-ou-vogue is opposing Ragnera directly now." Avery moved away from the shop. He did not want to hear anymore.

When Armegon exited once more Avery confronted him. "Just how much money do you make by feeding him all that nonsense?"

"Oh, I don't make anything from the stories except free access to other stories, but I did make an occasional commission by carrying mail from township to township. Seeda subcontracts post deliveries as well as a rudimentary newspaper and that pawn shop he runs. He's a real entrepreneur. I like him."

"That’s not a bad idea," Avery observed. "It never occurred to me to wonder how messages were transported."

"It never occurs to you how to make any money anytime," Armegon reminded him.

"That’s why you’re always poor."

"Wealth isn’t always measured by the weight of the purse," Avery objected.

"I know where you can get arguments to the contrary," Armegon teased.

They continued their dialogue as they made their way to the Guild of the Arts where Ultrecht had gone. They only paused for a few moments at a general store where Avery resupplied himself with food supplements, then they went to the guild.

They found Ultrecht wearing a black robe with a red sash waiting for them in the main lounge. He escorted them through the halls to the visitor's wing where he had charged a pair of rooms to his account.

"Your room," he said to Armegon and Avery, "is through that door. I am afraid you will have to wear the robes of apprentices, since you are not fully ordained members."

Armegon grumbled something about waiting hand and foot but bit the comment off sharply. "I will meet you in the cafeteria," Ultrecht announced. "Do not be late," he said in a whisper. "It is considered a grave offense for an apprentice to arrive after his master."

Avery followed Armegon into the small room and together they changed into the simple gray robes and tied the white sashes about their waists. "I think that Ultrecht’s going to try to have a bit of fun at our expense," Avery warned with a smile.

"Oh, I know so," Armegon agreed.

"Well, should we go and prepare the way for our master?" Avery laughed.

"After you," Armegon replied and opened the door. He followed Avery into the hallway and suddenly snapped his fingers and stopped. Avery glanced back, but Armegon urged him onward. "Go ahead," he waved. "I forgot something. I'll be with you in half a minute." Avery nodded and continued towards the cafeteria.

Armegon returned to the room and went over to Avery's pack. He dug through the contents of a side pocket until he found what he was after. Taking a tiny bag from the pocket, he quickly left the room to catch up to Avery.

Armegon found his comrade standing by a table. A maiden wearing the white tunic and short skirt of a guild initiate, was setting out a trio of plates and bowls. She also set out two cups and a single fancy goblet.

Armegon sat at the table and prepared to sip the drink in his cup when Avery nudged him. Avery had not seated himself. "I’ve noticed that the other apprentices do not sit until their masters do."

"You mean to tell me that you want me to wait for Ultrecht to arrive before we sit?"

"It’d be the prudent thing to do if we want to keep our cover," Avery replied.

Armegon returned to his feet and stood next to Ultrecht's chair. When the maiden returned with a large bowl of soup, she dipped several hearty spoons full into Ultrecht's bowl and then placed her bowl and its remaining contents in the center of the table. She left and Avery took the initiative to ladle several spoons of broth into his own bowl.
While the ranger was not watching, Armegon emptied the contents of the small pouch into the Ultrecht's bowl and then ladled his own supper.

Ultrecht arrived directly and took a seat. He urged Armegon and Avery to do so as well and then began to eat.

Suddenly Ultrecht reached out and grabbed his drink. He drained the goblet greedily and then grabbed Avery's cup and drained it as well. Avery stared in astonishment as the mage then reached for Armegon's cup but found it empty as Armegon had already drained it. Ultrecht jumped to his feet and walked briskly to the serving counter where he snatched a pitcher of water and immediately filled his goblet. Again he drained the liquid.

"What did you do to him?" Avery accused Armegon.

"Who says I did anything?" Armegon asked innocently. But Avery just stared. A hint of a smile toyed at the corner of his mouth.

"Okay," Armegon admitted. "I poured the ground pepper you bought this morning into his soup. I don’t like this 'apprentice' game of his. It’s the second time he has done this to me."

"Then become a master," Avery suggested.

"I think I may just do that," Armegon agreed. "I'll be back." With that he departed the cafeteria leaving Avery to await Ultrecht's return.

Ultrecht returned to the table. His black eyes flashed dangerously. "Before you say anything," Avery explained quickly, "I had nothing to do with it. I didn’t even know about it until you grabbed my drink."

"Where is that egotistical, conceited, hippie?" Ultrecht asked through clenched teeth.

"Don't know. He left and said he would be right back." Avery watched as Ultrecht sat and fumed. "Hey, are you okay?"

Ultrecht shrugged. "I don't know what that was, but it was very, very hot."

"Pepper, I guess," Avery told him. "I think the servant bit was a little too much to ask of him."

Ultrecht nodded. "We'll have to make a journeyman out of him. The test is easy, and it excuses him from servitude."

"That'll make him happy I guess," Avery said.

"It had better. As his master I would have to pay the promotion fee and that is quite steep."

Avery was puzzled. "Aren't you classified as a wizard?"

"Yes."

"What would Armegon be?"

"A sorcerer."

"And me?"

Ultrecht studied Avery critically. "Well your magic is learned and not inherently talented, no offense."

"None taken."

"That would make you a manipulator of the environment, so you would be a wizard like me. On the other hand your healing power is internal like that of a sorcerer, but it is not the same thing as normal magic. It is more like empathic healing. I guess we could call you a wizard. As long as you do not let others experience your healing ability, you would be okay. It is considered uncouth to study the ways of another type of magic. Act like a wizard and you will be fine."

Armegon returned. He seated himself and dipped his spoon in the soup. it was halfway to his lips when his hand froze. With questioning eyes he gazed at Ultrecht then at Avery.

"I should have," Ultrecht said, "but I didn't."

Avery nodded indicating that the soup was safe, and Armegon resumed his meal without a word. Obviously he had learned that only Ultrecht could elevate his status. Avery mused that Ultrecht could very well milk Armegon for quite a bit of retribution before granting him the elevated status.