Mercenary wizard a progr.., p.21
Mercenary Wizard: A Progression Fantasy Saga, page 21
25
WARMTH
TRANSPORTING CLEO TO GONISH ACADEMY - DAY 2
Day 307 of the Elephant’s Year
“Sorry,” Cleo said when Jemi woke me from my slumber.
We had only made it a few leagues outside of Janx when the heavy snow bogged us down. As the blizzard intensified, I pushed the camels for an hour and eventually almost tipped the carriage from going off the road. After that, I guided us to the wood line, let the camels off their tethers, and joined a sleeping mother and daughter in the carriage I over packed.
I noticed Cleo wore one of my new robes and the baby was wrapped in a blanket I bought to stick over my feet before sleep. I didn’t mind, knowing the purchases were extras and I liked seeing my overspending being used.
“No apology needed,” I said, shuffling my butt forward to crack the door open. The interior was oppressively warm from the three bodies and limited air space. Fresh cool air gusted into the carriage and Cleo shuddered from the frigid air. The blizzard stopped dumping snow and a fresh lay of white powder blanketed the ground. I shut the door before letting too much heat out. “Time for answers. I’ll go first.”
“Uh, okay,” she said reluctantly.
“I’m a mountain wizard, I need training, and I grew up with a rough past. I’m journeying to the academy in winter to try to unlock more spells,” I said.
“I woke up outside of Janx a few hours before I met you. While I know who I am, I have no idea how I got to Janx, or whose baby this is.” Cleo rocked Jemi. “She is cute though.”
“Mother’s instinct. She’s your baby. Just so we’re clear. The only thing you know about your arrival is that you can cast magic suddenly?” I asked.
“I don’t know how to cast magic. I only know how to make my palm warm. I was cold and the sensation of lighting a fire coursed through my heart to my fingers. I don’t know how to do more,” Cleo said, kicking her feet up and adjusting to get comfortable.
“Take your time,” I told her.
“The last thing I remember is being on a ship all the way across Thos. The sea bobbed, our catch was full, and hope eternal sprung in my chest for a coming vacation. However, the guard room at Janx held a mirror and when I glanced at my reflection, I was older by a few years with no memory of how I moved across the world.”
I rubbed my temples, starting to paint a picture. The odd thing was, I believed her; I really did. There were too many coincidences. A woman with a baby who could muster fire arrives right before I leave. She has her memory erased with no recollections and will likely need to see the exact same academy I do for answers.
“Is your name even Cleo?” I asked and she nodded. “Arenius helped get you in without papers?” I guessed and she nodded. “I think I know what happened.”
“How?” she asked in dismay. The baby smacked her lips, and she opened her robes. I turned away as the feeding began, catching her rolling her eyes from my peripheral. “Argo, we aren’t going to have much privacy. This is natural.”
“I know. I know. Thankfully, you still have all your memories before the god or demigod found you.”
“The what!?”
I sighed, hoping some deity didn’t smite me for what I was about to say. “Very powerful beings can erase memories. You’re now a mage. Maybe you caught a red-eyed fish, found a golden gem and consumed it. I don’t think that’s the case though.”
“Okay, let’s slow this down. You think I became a mage and that changed everything?”
I shook my head. “It’s a choice, but no. Something else earned you the attention of a deity. You’re pretty. Abnormally so.”
“Uh thanks and yes, I am aware,” Cleo replied.
“Why would a god or demigod spend years with you before throwing you away?” I asked.
Jemi broke her suckle, crying out for more milk. She latched on, farting with a tiny toot while eating. The baby gave all the answers I needed, but I watched Cleo work through the thoughts.
“Let me start with my last memory. I was supposed to journey to Lesi, a large shipbuilding city, to buy a new boat for my father's fleet. Those final moments were about the excitement of that voyage. The sea was calm, the catch plain. So, I doubt I met the deity on that day. Likely during that trip,” Cleo said, stroking her daughter's hair.
I nodded. “I also would erase your memory to the point you couldn’t find me again.”
“Savage, but yes, I see your point.”
I rooted around one of the storage compartments and grabbed a quill with an inkpot. I handed it to her and gave her a spare journal I bought since I was enjoying the process. The gesture was simple and something I thought might help her.
I said, “A gift from me to you. But please continue.”
“Uh, that’s it. Being on the ship, then waking up with a baby that was my tiny twin. She’s my daughter. Which means some god seduced me, gave me a daughter, and kicked me out of his home,” Cleo said.
“And your daughter is likely special. And you have magical skills so if I had to guess, you’re a wizardress? Mageress? Sorceress?” I said with a shrug.
“Okay, so I venture to Lesi and meet a god or halfgod. We fall in love, or… lust. I have a child, he kicks me out,” she said, and I nodded. “You accept this and figure this is normal because?”
“Oh, that one is easy. Because like I said, I have had my memory erased. Someone knew I was going to leave for the academy, and you finding me was a high probability. If I had to guess, if you didn’t find me, they - your former lover - would shift you closer to Gonish. They want you to be successful. That means your daughter is alive and thriving. At the same time, giving you anything would mean you had ties and reliance on them. Now that is me,” I said.
“And what god do you think did this?” Cleo asked.
“I honestly don’t know. I’m scared to say what I know about who I know about. My knowledge is limited, and my memories are altered as well. All I can say is that I am the right person. I care enough to not let you die and I actually believe you,” I said.
The door opened on its own and a voice whispered in the wind, “Check the baby for fangsssss.”
Cleo’s red hair whipped around from the sudden gust. Her eyes shot wide, and I waved her panic down.
“Cleo, I think we should do as he says,” I told her, recognizing Lejune’s voice. I crossed the distance and glanced down as she removed Jemi from her nipple. Cleo peeled back her lips and she only had a single front tooth starting to poke out. “No fangs. How can you talk to us?”
“Scrying. Rare. Getting too far. No fangs… Good for the baby. Bad for the world,” Lejune said and disappeared with the gust of wind.
“What the three hells does that mean!” Cleo shouted.
Over the next ten minutes, she unleashed a tirade on Lejune. Her righteous anger fought against the aftereffects of the blizzard. I headed into the snow, finding Cal and Mako between the trees and the wagon.
I brought them food and water from the inside of the carriage. After they ate and I hooked them up, Cleo no longer shouted in frustration. We rolled slowly onto the road, and once we managed a decent speed, the snow compacted with ease.
I stopped walking with the camels and walked beside the carriage’s open door. The fiery woman fed her baby while glaring at me as if it were all my fault. My frosted breath coated my face, gliding back as we picked up a brisk walk. Our eyes locked and she softened a smidge.
“Do you feel better?” I asked.
“No.”
“You’re still Cleo. You’re still the same person with the same values. You have a bit more responsibility and power now,” I said, trying to be reassuring.
“Bah, as if I care. I just want to know who does this to a person?”
“Careful,” I warned. “You were dropped into my lap while alive and well. What was done to you was to put you in my care. I get that it isn't ideal, but if you continue on this path, you’ll insult me and lose your only ally. It could be much, much worse, and Lejune obviously doesn’t know, else he wouldn’t have asked about fangs.”
She clenched her fists and screamed in frustration into her closed mouth. That gave me a wonderful idea. I shut the door on her and hustled up to the driver’s seat to avoid the next justified outburst.
While Cleo grumbled from her cozy and warm spot, I let the rocking carriage soothe me.
Each time I felt a smidge of bliss, those damn words ruined it - ‘Bad for the World.’
26
CHILI
TRANSPORTING CLEO TO GONISH ACADEMY - DAY 6
Day 311 of the Elephant’s Year
“How was Jemi?” Cleo asked, working her red locks into a tight braid.
We arrived in Molis without any issue, and I indeed checked out a room at The Gulp. I didn’t find the guard's brother, but I did enjoy a nice two-bed room out of the wind. Once we settled into the room, Cleo braved the trip to a local bathhouse, and left me watching her daughter.
The uneventful trip brought a lot of clarity to who she wanted to be going forward. Much like me, she yearned to learn the powers inside her that she didn’t understand. We talked of simpler days to pass the time, not really revealing much. The goal was simply to arrive here alive. We managed at a slow pace without seeing a single set of red eyes.
“Wonderful, she just slept, and I realized I need new reading material. How was the bath?” I asked.
“Worth every shell,” Cleo said, using the term for a bronze coin in her region. “Are you going to visit?”
“Books and knowledge are on my agenda, not baths. I know I stink but maybe next stop,” I said. She folded her arms, and I felt the need to explain. “Your beauty is a danger to you and Jemi.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
I scoffed, rising to my feet. “I won’t get a bath, so you don’t die.”
“Oh. Thanks.”
“I could be overreacting. Anyway, I’m going to try to find out what worries the one who is supposed to be unafraid,” I said, being cautious with my words.
“This isn’t the academy. There’s no secret council with all the hidden information,” Cleo said, sitting beside Jemi.
Again, I snorted with a headshake. “Those who can’t do, teach. I’m sure they have some super old wizards and sorcerers. Three hells, there probably some hidden council. That’s not the point here. We dig around and, in the meantime, you need to borrow some dragons so you stop wearing my clothes.”
“Do you plan to escort me to go shopping?” Cleo asked, checking on Jemi.
“And Jemi. Yes. I do. Now that you’ve been seen with your hood off, I worry. Let’s do this right,” I said, handing her a skinning knife. It wasn’t great but better than nothing. “I don’t expect a fight here. This is just in case and when we go shopping buy a weapon you are comfortable with.”
“No, I understand,” Cleo said and I handed her a purse of coins. “Thanks Argo. So business like.”
“You’re pretty, but I’m smart. We can only ever be friends. Which is great for us both and my earned trust will be worth mountains in the future, or so I hope. So yes, you are the client, I am the mercenary,” I told her, kissing Jemi’s forehead. “She needs a guardian, and you need someone you can rely on, and today, that’s me.”
“I… Thank you. I’ll pay this back. You don’t have to be so kind, and you’re not after sex, so what’s your angle?”
“Your fire magic - and having the deity who said goodbye to you - in my good graces is worth the costs. There’re enough villains in this world, Cleo. Keep your eyes on the alert and if a hand covers your mouth, burn it,” I said.
She nodded, following me out of the room. I headed down the stairwell with the Glaive of Seasons Past softly hitting against the wooden stairs. The mid-morning meal was light with most of the folks dwelling at tables with empty plates; a long breakfast helped escape the cold. A few of them glanced up to watch our arrival with indifference.
Cleo gave a silent wave, unable to resist trying to charm them and it worked. It was Tarshin with boobs in some ways. Stunning looks got you places with a simple gesture.
“Merchant Argo,” the aged hostess said with a warm smile. “Departing or…?”
“I seek knowledge, the kind people find crazy,” I said to a chuckle from the table next to me.
“Wizard Len,” the nearby patron said. He waved his mostly empty cup in my direction. “She thinks the three hells are coming back. Shouting at me to double the guard, improve the walls, dig a moat from the stone. Fantasy!”
“That… Yes, Wizard Len then. Before that, I need to take my client shopping. She wants extra travel gear,” I told the hostess.
“Streets are safe,” the man said again. “I can take her though, just finished my meal.”
This was a blatant lie, but no one decided to call him on it. The way he inspected Cleo didn’t hide his intentions, especially when I called her a client.
“That’s the mayor. Mayor Trigo, Merchant Argo,” the hostess said.
He sighed, looking up a fake smile. “Follow me. Seems I can help the local economy. Plus it’s been a while since I’ve seen Len.”
“Your hosting would be most gracious,” Cleo said with a curtsy.
“At least the view will be nice,” Trigo replied, leading us out of the inn.
The cold air assaulted our faces and Jemi complained until Cleo managed to quiet her. Trigo began talking endlessly about the value of Molis to the Larjoon Kingdom. We bobbed our heads, pretending to listen while walking down the snow-covered roads. We only went a dozen stores down until we arrived at the biggest merchant in town.
A young woman with sandy brown hair, hazel eyes, and a warm smile welcomed us into the Eagle’s Trader Post. The instant Cleo could she pulled her aside, talking a mile a minute in girl talk about stuff she needed. I meandered over to the greatswords, knowing what to look for in the rune patterns now.
Everything on the rack didn’t match what I sought. I navigated the aisle, not needing anything myself except for a larger carriage. However small our current one was, it heated quickly, and the bodies helped keep the water from freezing so there was that.
Mayor Trigo flirted with Cleo who was focused on shopping and Dezerea. When he realized she wouldn’t be going to his estate for wine later, he left to let us visit the crazy old wizard without him.
“Hey Cleo, don’t leave until I return,” I said.
“Sorry, I didn’t get to do my normal greeting. I’m Dezerea, whatcha looking for?” Dezerea asked.
“A protection animal. Something that won’t kill a baby but will also help deter attacks. The next stretch of road is twenty days without much more than a farming village as a stop,” I said.
“Huh?” Dezerea said. “Sorry, why would the hound kill the baby?”
I glanced at her then Cleo. “You know what, I probably would have to sell it or bury it anyway. I’ll just sit on this stool while you ladies shop.”
Neither of them said much in the form of a reply, merely continuing shopping. I deviated off the stool and found some guidebooks on the local area. I bought them all before Cleo even finished shopping just for Jemi.
An hour later, we had everything we needed. Cleo spent most of the purse I leant her, but she definitely looked more presentable now that she was in clothes that fit. The regal looking fur outfit helped sell the cover of her being wealthy enough to afford protection.
The reality was, I wasn’t too far gone from being a street thug, and I hated investing in such trivial things - especially not on me. Every coin of excess spent reminded me of what I could have had in Helsin.
I let it go, watching her smile and enjoying working with Dezerea. The two hit it off to the point Dezerea was sad to see her go.
I happened to be much like Arenius, investing. A lot of rich people always thought about the product selling for more than they bought it for. I thought about the person in my street dealings. How could I use them?
While harsh, it was true. Cleo's ability to cast fire magic gave her immense value. Setting boundaries as a friend and confidant would pay dividends later, or so I told myself. The guards who held the door open for us leered at her, undressing her with their eyes.
“Does that bother you?” I asked, waving goodbye through the window to the young woman who was preparing a trip to drop off our purchases.
She shrugged. “I… I grew up with brothers and a respected father. That is why I am so certain that trip was what caused my… capture. It was going to be freedom. I still yearn to go!”
Cleo spun in the street, a wide and very contagious smile on her face. She deftly completed her spin, so I had to catch her. She heaved out a content sigh and tucked an arm into mine.
Cleo batted her eyelashes. “You looked at me that way.”
I grunted. “Did not.”
“Did too. Just for a fleeting second, but you did.”
“Maybe.”
“Oh, come on, just admit it.”
I chuckled, “Not going to happen.” Our journey down the street led us to a guard at an intersection. “Wizard Len?”
He pointed the way we were going. “Three more intersections, little shop on the right. Hates visitors and you should stick to the middle of the road.”
Cleo pulled closer with a skip in her step. “It’s good to see you relax a bit. Why are you always so serious?”
“I’m starting to understand why you were abducted,” I said as a joke with a chuckle.
She stuck her tongue out. “I mean it, why the gruff and tough demeanor?”
“It's not a demeanor. You’re not like me. You grew up around love, hope of a better tomorrow surrounded you, and those who watched over you, adored you. I didn’t have that, and we can leave it at that for tonight. Thank you for helping me smile,” I said, changing the subject.
Out of the corner of my eye a vagrant from the alleys approached. I swiveled Cleo behind me and stopped. This forced him to keep walking towards me or adjust.
