We drew more than a few unusual stares as we walked to the university.

  Jon Beltman, the Duke’s secretary and steward, was a smart, talented, and easy-going guy. He could write, walk, and chat amicably at the same time. I had asked him to draw up a list as we walked of the kinds of resources I would need so we could just hand it to the president after explaining what was happening.

  On more than one occasion, Jon asked me to repeat either the names or the types of people or clubs that I needed access to. He shook his head and chuckled a few times but did not argue. I think he was looking forward to this meeting so he could both see the expression on the president's face and learn why I wanted some of these students on my team.

  When we arrived at the administration building, the president’s secretary was firm that we would not all be going on to see the president. She explained that Dr. Hollandfield’s office was not that large. Instead of arguing, I took Jonathan and Biff with me. In truth, it was Jonathan who got us in to see the president without an appointment, and even though I had met the president several times because of my father at events, I did not know the president all that well.

  Still, he greeted me warmly as he did Jon, whom he seemed to know quite well. He had asked after Jon’s wife, who had some kind of unfortunate experience during the Deathlight.

  “Thank you, President Hollandfield,” Jon replied. “She is doing well and is surrounded by friends and family. If it had not been for Lord Paternus and his companion, we would have certainly lost her.”

  I would have to ask Steven what incident the Duke’s Steward was talking about. A lot happened during the Deathlight, and I know that Paternus had rescued people on his way to defeat the necromancer, the Dread Lord Mortis, but I did not know particulars. Most of Steven’s story shared at our dinner involved the traps and battles Pat and Quartz had encountered.

  “So what brings a remarkable, if somewhat unlikely trio, such as you, to my office without an appointment?” He said it with a cheerful smile to make sure we knew he was not upset by the intrusion on his schedule.

  “Let’s have a seat, if you don’t mind,” I suggested and pointed to a round table in the corner of his spacious office.

  “Of course.” He answered. “However, it is rarely good news when a visitor asks me to sit down. I don’t suppose this will be the exception?” He asked, hopefully.

  “I’m afraid not, President Hollandfield,” Jonathan replied.

  “Please, it's just us in here, Gregory is fine.” He said as he took a seat and motioned for us to do the same.

  “Now, what can I do for you, Jonathan?” He asked, looking at the Steward.

  Jon looked at me and nodded for me to begin.

  The president looked from Jon, whom he assumed would be the leader of this group, to me and waited patiently.

  “With respect, I must begin by stating that the Duke has insisted that this information be kept confidential until this afternoon, when it will be made public.”

  “Understood.” He replied without question.

  Jon said, “After Gwydion explains why we are here, the Duke has asked that you choose two of your most capable colleagues and join him in Council chambers in an hour’s time.”

  The president’s brows furrowed. “This is serious business.”

  “Yes, sir,” I replied.

  “There is no easy way to explain it except directly,” Jon said.

  “Please, Jonathan, as you no doubt know, I have had to deal with some quite terrible things in this role; the deaths and damages from the Deathlight were not the first tragedy to come across my desk over the past thirty years. It will take a lot to surprise me, I’m afraid.”

  Jon and I traded looks. “That is good, sir.” I began. “I am here to ask for your assistance in protecting the city. There is a goblin horde of around 100,000 led by their infernal god that is roughly a week’s march from our city, and it plans to destroy every building and leave no survivors in its path.”

  The president looked between the three of us, searching for humor or a punchline. Seeing our determined and serious faces, he slumped in his chair and said, “Certainly not!”

  Jon answered. “It is true. The Duke appointed Lord Istari as Commander of a new branch of the military known as Special Services. He is working on projects that are designed to help protect the city. We are here for your assistance.” He handed the letter from the Duke that stated his complete support was requested pertaining to the topic brought by its messengers.

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  He sat up. “Of course, what can I do?”

  I spent the next several minutes explaining what I needed. Jon handed him the parchment with the lists he had drawn up as we walked here.”

  The president withdrew glasses from a shirt pocket and placed them on his nose. His face grew more and more incredulous as we spoke. “You are serious about this list, aren’t you?” He asked me.

  “Deadly serious, sir,” I replied.

  He shook his head. “Well, some of these make sense to me, but others…” He trailed off, using his considerable intellect to grapple with how my list could help protect the city. He came up short.

  “And one more thing,” I said. “What student, in your estimation, is the most creative, capable, ingenious, and possesses leadership traits that could serve to rally fellow students under an unusual banner?”

  He waved at the paper before him. “Unusual indeed.” He didn’t think for very long before muttering, “Red.”

  “Red what?” I asked.

  “Not red what, Red who.” He explained. “He is an unusual case. Doesn’t seem to want to graduate. He flitters around from major to major, impressing all his professors and then disappointing them as he masters subjects, loses interest, and moves on to some new field in a matter of a few terms. Your father has spoken with him several times in the hope of setting him on a professional path. But nobody has succeeded. He is a prankster and has pulled some remarkable, albeit undesirable stunts on campus over the past few years. He was behind switching the contents of professors Wanting's and Creeks' offices down to the screws in their nameplates and room numbers. Not a pencil was out of place, and the two swear that the rooms had been theirs for years, except, of course, that the hallway now numbers 203, 204, 206, 205, 207, and on.”

  He sounded like a handful, but with that kind of creativity and attention to detail, he might be perfect.

  “Then please add him to the list.”

  “He is not terribly fond of authority.” The president said in a tone that suggested understatement as he picked up an ink pen and added Red’s name to the list..

  “A lot of students are that way. We’re close in age, maybe that will help.” I offered.

  “Hmmm.” He said by way of reply, suggesting he doubted it would make a difference. “Where do you want me to send all the geology and museum resources?”

  I looked at Jonathan. “We will need to set up a headquarters. The enchanter’s guild is impractical because we could only use the greeting rooms.”

  Jon suggested, “How about your master’s old shoppe? I know it may be difficult for you right now, but it is centrally located and will be unused for some time.”

  A pain went through my stomach at the thought, but he was right. It was practically on the Round and at the center of the city. It was easy to find, and I already had all my forge and jewelry tools there for the work I would need to do. If we went somewhere else, I would just have to move them. It didn’t even dawn on me to ask how he knew about Sundance, but perhaps he overheard the Duke’s conversation with me earlier.

  “Agreed,” I said after a few moments’ thought and answered the president. “Please have all the students and resources sent to Sundance Jewelers near the Round. Ask that the students meet there at-” I looked at Jonathan, “nine o’clock?”

  Jon nodded and then reconsidered, suggesting, “They are students, maybe make it ten o’clock. It will also give the president time to get word to all of them.”

  I looked at Dr. Hollandfield. “How does that sound?”

  “That is workable. I will announce that classes are canceled for the day, but will not explain why. This will free students up to attend and make them curious if the two are connected. They will be more likely to show up if they are curious and motivated.”

  “Thank you, President Hollandfield,” I said.

  “I had considered canceling classes anyway due to the Deathlight, even though no direct attacks made their way to campus, and to my knowledge, we did not lose any students or faculty. No doubt there are family impacts, however.”

  He paused and looked off into space. He then turned to look at Jonathan, but still spoke to me.

  “Gwydion, I will be choosing your father and Dr. Campbell, the provost, as my colleagues to meet with the Duke. She has the best grasp on campus operations and resources, and everyone respects your father, and he knows more about what lurks in that giant library and every nook and cranny of the campus than anyone else. Besides, if stories are true, he and your mother faced a few monsters in their day, eh?” He smiled and added, “If Dr. Campbell or anyone on campus can help you and your special services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them. I will inform those two administrators to give you full cooperation, although I will not yet explain why.”

  Jonathan nodded, and we all stood. The president shook hands with everyone, including Biff, who had remained silent throughout our discussion. “And Gwydion,” he said as we stopped at his door, “good luck.” He gave me a squeeze on my shoulder and a grandfatherly smile.”

  After we walked out, Biff said, “Well, that went easier than I expected.”

  Jon said, “Dr. Hollandfield is a very reserved man. Whatever chaos was going on in his mind wouldn’t easily be shown in his expressions. He will be a good ally for you, Gwydion. And his respect for your father runs deep.”

  “Well, we can count on his cooperation in boxing up and sending over the entire crystal collections of the museum and the geology departments, along with the private collections of precious gemstones. That will get us somewhere, at least.” I replied.

  As we united with the other journeymen, Biff explained that the meeting went well and that all the things I had asked for were promised, and that we would be using Sundance’s as our staging area.

  Adriana cast me a concerned look about the location, but didn’t say anything out loud to the group. She leaned over and whispered to Steven, who nodded back to her in agreement.

  Steven said, “Gwydion, we have a terrific group here, but do we all need to tag along for each of these meetings? We can’t all fit inside their offices.”

  I thought about that, and it did seem a waste of their time to just walk around with me. “No, I don’t think so. What did you have in mind?”

  “We will all need to gather some of our things, and we might as well head back to the guild halls or, in my case and Simon’s, the cathedral and monastery. We could gather some things that we may need and then meet you at the shop. What do you think?”

  Adriana nodded encouragingly.

  “Okay, I think that Jon, Biff, and I should be fine, and we have the Watch to keep an eye on things in case someone gets rowdy.”

  “Count on it.” Sergeant Philip said.

  So with quick good-byes, the team split apart from us and headed back toward the Round, together.

  “Where to next?” Jon asked. “Guild Master Toleraine is the nearest.”

  “That will be perfect.” I agreed. “I wanted to see if we could secure the raw materials from the university before we met with him. We should be good to go, now.”

  Jon asked me to explain why I wanted to meet some of the others on the list since we did not get into it in the president’s office. I began to explain to Jon what I had in mind. He started off nodding in understanding, then grew confused, and eventually burst out in laughter halfway through our discussion. After that, he was all ears and had a smirk the whole way to our next destination.