Chapter 4 Part 4

It was almost a week before they crested a gentle ridge and gazed down into the valley where New Aspberg lay nestled on the edge of the Caleko River. Several long winding brown lines meandered towards and intersected near the sprawling city. Those were the various trails that made up the great crossroads that the city was famous for.

It was mid morning when they were still several hours out from the city when the studies of the two initiates was interrupted by the sound of hoofs rapidly pounding the clay surface of the road. Within moments, a lone rider came galloping towards them from the direction of the city.

Gage pulled the wagon to the side of the road to allow the rider to pass freely. But as the rider came into view, he slowed his mount and glanced briefly over his shoulder. Then he hailed the wagon and its passengers in a friendly voice.

“Ho! How’s the road ahead?” The man smiled through a scraggly beard showing several missing teeth.

Gage, pulled the reigns and the mules came to a stop. “The road is fair and well packed,” he answered. “The weather has been most excellent since we left Seron.”

“Really? That’s pretty good news. Where’re you bound?”

“We are presently bound for New Aspberg, but our ultimate destination is Keron.”

“Are you buying or selling?” he asked with a chuckle.

“Neither,” Gage answered. “We are simply going to see friends.”

The stranger glanced over his shoulder once again and Dylan began to feel nervous. Next to him Cindy also was alarmed as she had gripped the side of the wagon tightly.
The stranger eyed the variety of chests and cargo that they carried in the back of the wagon. Then he studied Dylan and Cindy.

“This’s an unusual a sight,” the stranger admitted. “An elf traveling with a pair of human children ain’t what I’d have expected to see. Did you steal them?”

“I most certainly did not,” Gage told him angrily. These are my students and are in my care.”

“You’re a scholar then?” The man’s right hand crept close to the hilt of an ugly sword which hung at the side of his mount.

“No,” Gage told him with an cold tone. “I am a mage.”

The stranger’s hand froze and his eyes went wide. Then he kicked his horse in the flanks and darted past them down the road at a full gallop.

“What was that all about?” Cindy asked.

“He was about to try and rob us,” Gage told them. “He also wanted to take the two of you to be sold as slaves, but he was not ready to fight a mage.”

“Could you have beaten him?” Dylan asked excitedly.

“With no trouble at all,” Gage answered with a smile. “If he had sneaked up on us in the night, or not been so suspicious, he might have caught me with my guard down. But he was too nervous,” Gage pointed out. “I suspect that he is on the run and stopped just long enough to determine if we would be an easy target.”

“I think he’s being followed,” Dylan offered.

“Yeah,” Cindy agreed. “He kept looking over his shoulder.”

“I think you two are right,” Gage added. “He did seem to be awful nervous about what was behind him. He probably is running from New Aspberg.”

“I think I’d rather spend the night in town tonight,” Cindy claimed.

“We will,” Gage told them. “I have seen bandits follow travelers during the day and come on them at night before. Unless that one is really in a hurry to get away from here, he might try to follow us. Then while I was asleep, he would try to ambush us.”

“Wouldn’t your wards stop him?” Dylan asked recalling the protective magic Gage used at nights.

“It would alert us and slow him down,” Gage told them, but he still might be able to get the upper hand, and some thieves know enough magic to get around the wards if they know that they are there.”

Gage took them on into New Aspberg. The city had obviously been undergoing many changes. The packed clay streets were being torn up and replaced with bricks. Gage explained that the bricks would last a long time and require less maintenance. He added that the bricks would be more or less the same rain or shine whereas clay softened and became a quagmire far too easily in a sustained downpour.

In addition to the streets, the buildings were being painted and altered. The former Aspberg had been constructed to repel invasion, as the former ruling House had many enemies and were constantly in danger of retaliation for their tyrannical actions.

The buildings of the old Aspberg were ugly and subdued; a reflection of the oppressive ruling house. The new steward of the city, however, was taking great measures to change the look. The only building that was not being redone by its owner was the large fortress in the center of the city. It was the Citadel of House Blackheart.

“So that’s the famous Citadel,” Cindy muttered at the rising structure. Once it had resembled a pyramid, but over the centuries, additions and alterations had obscured the geometry of its design and turned it into a forbidding stronghold.

“That it is,” Gage answered. “It was once a place of evil and pain. My mother was held captive in one of its towers once. She was set free just before I was born.”

“I hope they don’t practice some of the things I’ve heard used to be done there,” Cindy added.

“Like what?” Dylan asked.

“Human sacrifice, slavery, unspeakable magicks and some horrors that were only hinted at in the history books,” Gage told them as they approached an inn.

A franklin approached and took the reigns as Gage stepped down from the wagon. “Welcome to New Aspberg,” he greeted them. “Will you be staying with us at the Blue Horizon Inn? I can vouch for its quality.”

“It looks like a very nice place,” Gage agreed. “Please see to my team and have the canvas bags brought in.”

Gage gave the man a few coins and the franklin led the mules and wagon around to the back of the inn where the stables were. Dylan and Cindy followed Gage into the inn where he directed them to a table while he approached a counter and requested a single room with three beds. The innkeeper nodded and consulted a large book. He returned a few comments to Gage and then the two of them were talking happily and with much enthusiasm.

Finally though, Gage returned to the table where Dylan and Cindy sat with the bags that the franklin had brought in for them. “It is always good to make a new friend,” Gage chuckled as he sat next to the youths. “It seems that our innkeeper not only learned to read and write as an initiate at the Academy, but he served Master Tesron about ten years ago. That was back when I was still apprenticed to my old master.”

Dylan and Cindy followed Gage up to their rooms where they stowed their bags. Then Gage took them to a tavern where a side of beef had been roasting all day long. They dined well and while a trio of minstrels played a lively tune, Dylan and Cindy sampled a treat consisting of shaved ice coated with berry juice.

“That is a very good dessert,” Gage told them as they ate. “It was invented in the Tycarian region. “My mother used to make it for me often.”

“What’s Tycho like?” Cindy asked.

Gage sat back and his eyes went blank as he remembered his homeland. A slight smile came across his face. “Tycho is full of evergreens and very thick forests. The upper Orkons would glisten in the morning light and you could smell the freshness on the breezes coming off the northern seas.”

“Did you see many ice boats?” Dylan asked. He had often read about the iceboats and was fascinated with the concept.

“Actually no, I never really saw one,” the elf answered. “Tycho is not far enough to the north for the sea shore to be frozen. But my parents are friends with some people who own a small freight line of three ice boats. They are dwarves and came down to visit on occasion.”

Cindy finished her dessert. “How long’ll we stay in New Aspberg?”

Gage stood and stretched his legs. “Oh, we will leave tomorrow morning after I have made some supply purchases.” The elf seemed thoughtful for a few moments then made a decision. “Cindy, if you are done with your dessert you may excuse yourself. We will stay down here a while longer should you wish to bathe in privacy.”

The girl remained seated for several seconds then stood. “Thank you,” she said as she took the room key and departed.

“You will be allowed to bathe in the morning,” Gage told Dylan. “I will take Cindy with me to get the supplies and you can wash up while we are gone.”

“Thank you,” Dylan said, then added “what about you?”

“Are you saying that I stink?” Gage asked playfully.

“Yes, I mean no.” Dylan stumbled with the situation for a few long seconds before Gage rescued him.

“I will take care of myself,” he assured the boy.

Dylan dismissed the subject. The minstrels over by the fire were playing a lively tune and several of the patrons had paired off and were dancing. Dylan sat silently at the table with Gage and watched the hypnotic display. Dylan had been so captivated by the dancers and the music that he almost jumped when Gage addressed him.

“I am ready for bed,” he said. “If you wish, you may remain here and retire later.”
In truth Dylan wanted to stay and watch the show, but he knew that if he did not go to sleep he would be very lazy the next day and that would be frowned upon. So, much to his regret, Dylan followed Gage to the inn and their room.

When they entered, they found Cindy laying on her cot reading a book by the light of the lamp. She glanced up briefly when they entered, but said nothing.
Dylan removed his shoes and lay down on his own cot. The room was a little chilly so he spread a blanket across his legs and lay back. For several moments he watched the flame of the lamp flicker, until Cindy closed her book and Gage, whose bed was next to Cindy’s reached over and turned the light off.

The next morning, Dylan was awakened when Cindy gave him a good shake. “Wake up sleepy head,” she urged. Dylan sat upright and rubbed his eyes. He had been dreaming of strawberry flavored ice and ships sailing the frozen oceans on runners of hard steel.
“We’re going to get some things,” Cindy told him. “Gage said that you should wash up while we’re gone. The hot water’s already here.”

Dylan saw the wooden wash tub over in the corner next to the folded privacy screen. Wafts of vapor drifted up lazily from the warm water. On a small stool next to the tub was a fresh towel and wedge of soap.

Cindy rubbed his head with a grin. Then she skipped across the floor and out the door.
Dylan dragged himself out of the bed, set out a fresh set of clothes and then got in the tub. The warm water felt very soothing and relaxing. He could easily go back to sleep, except the idea of Gage and Cindy coming back and catching him in asleep in the tub would be very embarrassing.

Putting his desires aside, Dylan washed himself thoroughly and donned the fresh clean clothes. The change felt wonderful. Dylan realized why Cindy had been so cheerful earlier. They had not had a chance to take a good hot bath since they had left Seron. The cold water cloth baths were good for a while, but they could not replace a good hot soaking.

When Gage and Cindy returned, Dylan was ordered to assist Cindy in loading the wagon. Gage would take care of settling the outstanding portion of their account and join them within the hour.

Gage joined his charges in front of the inn and the trio mounted up and head down the streets of New Aspberg. Dylan and Cindy took great interest in the walls of the Citadel as they passed by the main thoroughfare. It was one thing to read about a place or event, but to actually see the subject of their reading was very exciting indeed.