I searched for and found Adriana. She was pulling a double shift, as we all were doing. But as it was solidly afternoon, and the next shift leader had taken over for her, she was still up during a third shift. Wilma was the next shift captain, and the two of them were together and, interestingly, discussing the same thing I wanted to chat with them about. Chompers had met with them earlier, and they were all brainstorming.

  “We have a suggestion for you, but it will take some politics because it quickly goes beyond any of the journeymen's ability to readily cast.” Adriana began.

  Wilma continued. “But we think it is the best bet. The trouble will be making sure we have enough potions to coax the mages into casting the spells.”

  “Well, you know me and my skills at politics,” I said sarcastically.

  “You are better than you give yourself credit. Oh, you aren’t destined for any political posts in the future. But your honest, straightforward manner puts people at ease.” Adriana explained.

  “Well, thank you,” I said.

  Wilma said, “We think our best options after discussing it among as many journeymen as we could lay hands on this morning are a combination of two silver ring spells: Scorching Light and Forked Lightning.”

  Adriana was nodding her head in agreement. “Scorching Light is low damage, high area of effect. But the damage is determined specifically and not randomly. A seven-point Scorching Light will do seven points of damage to all creatures in its area of effect, and it can be made into a sphere, semi-circle, ray, or moving wall. It is highly versatile and would be decided by the caster at the time of casting, not the mage who put it in the ring.”

  “That is a lot of shape options for soldiers to consider,” I said slowly.

  “But when we train them, we just tell them to think of a wall moving away from them and taking the goblins with it. It won’t actually move the goblins, but at seven or higher points, it should eliminate any before them.” Adriana insisted.

  “It could impact scores of goblins with a single casting,” Wilma added.

  Adriana waved her hands in support of Wilma, “And as a side benefit, it does double damage against the undead. We discovered that during the Deathlight.”

  “That is a pretty powerful spell in a small package and would be simple enough to train them on,” I admitted. “And if it could take out a dozen at a cost of seven points, it is far more efficient than Mage Blast or Magebolt,” I added.

  “And Forked Lighting would be more strategic against airborne targets or more powerful creatures spread amongst the goblins like ogres, wyverns, and such,” Adriana concluded.

  My face drained of color. “I did not even consider ogres or flying creatures.”

  Adriana looked at Wilma. “We hadn’t either. It was something Chompers said to us. He has actually been out there and has encountered way more than the rest of us.”

  “You mean worse than giant oysters?” I added.

  “Definitely.” They both laughed.

  “But hopefully not as bad as giant sharks,” Wilma said.

  That was for sure. If I hadn’t gotten a lucky break with that levitate spell, we would all have been chum in the water.

  “What idea did you have for the gold rings?” I asked. Clearly, they had been discussing this idea longer than I had.

  “There’s only one option for that. We need something powerful with a large range, area of effect, and will send a message that the goblins need to go back up north because it is too hot for them in the south.” Wilma declared dramatically.

  “Don’t keep me in suspense. What is it?”

  They both said together, “Fireball.”

  Yikes. Fireball was a powerful, Fifth Spellbook spell. It was available to most mages but was specialized with fire elementalists. It was often as dangerous to allies as it was to foes. But it had a real kick.

  “Can you imagine a dozen, or two dozen, or three dozen fireballs launching from the wall ramparts into the army?” Adriana asked. Her elementalist enthusiasm burning bright.

  “That would be a sight,” I admitted.

  They watched me as I turned this around in my head. It would mean a change in production lines, and we would need to line up more powerful mages who were no doubt doing other things, but it was a good plan.

  “Let’s make it happen, ladies.”

  They both cheered and laughed out loud. People around us looked over and smiled. Laughter and cheering were a rare set of sounds in the city right now. And it raised the spirits of those who heard it.

  They went off to make those changes as I walked over to where the alchemists were following my (Alexander’s) recipe for the minor potions.

  The lead alchemist and graduate student in the department was named Marcia. She had been an apprentice at the Alchemy guild, but for some reason had dropped out. Bella hinted it had to do with money because her family was poor, but I never asked her. Sandor was working side by side with Marcia and the others as well. Sandor was the alchemist journeyman and a quiet guy. He was not as ego-driven as most mages but also had a larger magical ability than most alchemists. I had learned that alchemists had to have magic, but they often did not have much of it. Given the nature of alchemy, a logical mind and attention to detail were more important than magical prowess.

  They were both deep in instructing several new chemists in the exact and demanding steps necessary to make successful potions and not kill everyone in a twenty-foot radius of them.

  Those were Sandor’s words, not mine. For someone as quiet as he tended to be, he was a bit intense at times like this. But he was meticulous, and that was critical in this role. I waited for an opening and then walked up to him, Marcia, and their new team of recruits.

  “Patron, it is kind of you to check on us.” And he eyed his team as if to say that I could arrive at any moment and always stay focused on their work.

  “How is it going this afternoon?” I asked.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Marcia replied, “Very well. Journeyman Sandor has exceptional insights, and this group is one of the brightest we have brought into our team so far.”

  Sandor agreed. “Focus is the key, and trained chemists have far superior skills than is typical.”

  The chemistry students all looked startled, then very pleased. Sandor was demanding, but once his teams got going, they all respected and wanted to please him. He was hard on them but praised them when they succeeded. Because he was often critical and direct, when he paid a compliment, it meant something. He did not exaggerate, and so this group must be pretty sharp.

  Marcia added. “Journeyman Sandor has taken over as first lead and team leader. I am focusing on dramatically increasing our recruitment and will manage one of the shifts.”

  Sandor nodded. “Marcia has a way with people, screens for skills and drive, and can relate far more easily to university students and faculty than I can.”

  Well, they had settled nicely into their roles. I had been worried about conflict between them, but it appears that worry was misplaced.

  Sandor continued. “We have shifted today to only create magical restoration potions. My senior team all realize that we need each type of potion equally for different reasons, but we wanted to make sure we stayed ahead of our immediate demands since the promised second batch of potions from the Alchemist guild has not shown up today.”

  He gave me a significant look. He packed a lot of information in that little speech. I learned that they had changed protocols I had carefully established, and are only making magical restoration potions today because of Twilight, but they all understood the protocols were there for a reason, and they would get back to making skill potions for the warriors and healing potions for the hospitals soon. He also let me know that the Alchemists did not send the crate of potions, probably because of Twilight, and could I maybe look into that.

  “Understood. Keep up the good work. I’ll check on that shipment right now.”

  And I would. Those crates from the Alchemist guild were critical for our efforts. We could make a lot of potions, and were well underway to do so, but supplying our own needs right now, let alone reserves for later, was not a practical reality at the moment.

  As I walked away, I asked Bella, Do you know where Warmaster Glimmerblade is?

  He is walking back to his guild office.

  I had not fully worked out with her what her ranges were outside of the store, and it was something I needed to get a handle on soon. But for now, I asked, Please ask him to swing by the shoppe for a quick conversation.

  He says that he is urgently needed at the guild hall and asks if it can wait.

  Please tell him that the Alchemists have not delivered their promised shipment, and I didn’t want to send Journeyman Sandor to inquire, as it is a bit out of my authority.

  He said he would address it with them, but that it is exactly your authority from both the Mage Council and the Duke. They promised their support in open Council. Handle these yourself in the future. And he also wanted to make sure you understood his intent was supportive of your ability and not a criticism.

  Tell him thank you, and that I understand and I appreciate his help this time.

  Bella, what is your range? I asked.

  It varies. If the individual has spent any amount of time in here and allowed me to make an imprint, I could find him or her most anywhere in, around, or under the city. The mages who helped create this shoppe have deep imprints, and I can locate them nearly anywhere in the realm. But at some point, communicating telepathically is limited. Some are shielded, and I cannot detect them unless they physically enter the store. Then, regardless of undetectability or magical charms of invisibility they may have about them, they must breathe our air, walk upon the floors, or move air around. I’ll know if anyone enters secretly.

  It was the longest explanation I had ever gotten from her.

  “Thank you. Are you able to monitor them once they depart the store? Would you know if one of the irregulars was in danger, for instance?” I asked her.

  Maybe. My strength diminishes when I move beyond the boundaries of the store because of the nature of the sorcery involved in the bond. Ordinarily, I would know every living creature that moves about within several miles centered on this location.

  That verified my suspicions and made her on level with a legendary spirit.

  You gave up a great deal to bond with me. I said.

  You remind me of one I have grown to care for over dozens of centuries, when he was very young and full of hope and compassion.

  I stopped walking. Did you just compare me to the archmage?

  She chuckled. A very, very, very young version of him. Yes. Not long after, he departed the academy on the Escarpment.

  The academy on the escarpment. Thousands of years ago. And then it hit me, the Ancient School of Elemental Magic. It was the first true school of magic in all of Alluvion, and it was built deep into the wilderness so as not to be a danger or be bothered by others. The archmage was a student there.

  He was. She thought back to me.

  “How old are you, Bella?”

  It is not polite to ask. She replied.

  I’m sorry. I thought back hurriedly to her. I didn't mean to hurt her feelings.

  I and others like me were born at the time of this world’s creation. We of the world settled into our places, and those of the sky served and continue to serve as messengers. Those who fell from the sky took up residence through the gate made in the middle of the Wastelands and occupy the between places across this realm and others.

  She just gave me a history of creation in fifty words.

  Sixty-two. She corrected me.

  Bella, when I have more time and if you are willing, I’d like to learn more about you. I thought my response to her, realizing that I tended to both think and speak to her interchangeably. I may want to be careful about that. Others might think I was odd.

  She chuckled at my thoughts, but then turned somber. Much is lost in long loneliness. My intellect, as you understand it, really came to life thanks to the archmage and his…request of me.

  What request was that?

  I cannot speak of it. Not yet. But its time is coming soon.

  And then I had a surge of insight. Does his request of you have anything to do with the invasion and what has been happening to the city?

  I cannot be certain. She paused for a long while, and I thought we had ended the discussion. But I believe so, yes.

  Bella, I won’t order you to tell me. But as soon as you can, please tell me or lead me to understand what they are seeking; I think that all our lives depend upon it.

  And more. She replied cryptically.

  I was uncertain what would happen if I attempted to force her to tell me. Our bond was of equality, not master and servant, but we each could apply influence upon the other, but it might be harmful to her, to me, or the shoppe if I tried.

  Or the city. She added quietly and just within my ability to hear her in my mind. And then she was silent once more.

  I really needed to talk with the archmage.

  I chuckled. “Me and everyone in the city,” I muttered out loud.

  A couple of passing apprentices stopped and stared at me. “It’s nothing, just talking to myself,” I said.

  By the looks on their faces, just talking to myself was probably not ‘nothing’ in their minds.

  And they would probably be right.

  I sighed deeply and slowly as I walked back up the winding stairs and to my rooms. I needed a couple of hours of rest to just process what had happened here since noon.

  My hand was on my doorknob when Biff called to me from the stairs. “Gwyd, I have something for you.”

  I turned and gave him a forced smile, trying not to look as tired as I actually felt.

  He explained as he walked over to me. “We are getting near closing hours, but a cloth merchant came in and insisted on speaking with you. After talking with him to no end, I grasped his arm and began to gently escort him out when he handed me this.

  Biff handed me a card. A familiar card. In fact, a card identical to one I had in my breast pocket. It was an ash colored business card blank on one side and two words on the other.

  Gray Master.

  “Well, crap. He’s early.” I said.

  Watch your language, potty mouth.” Biff said with a smirk.

  “Ha ha. Okay, bring him into showing room one. I’ll meet him there.” I said.

  “You will meet him there.” He said with a little emphasis and a nod of his head, “because he is already waiting for you there now. He has a decent-sized chest with him that two seedy-looking characters carried in for him, and then he dismissed them. He is in the room alone.”

  As I turned to walk down the winding stairs, I couldn’t help but feel like this was opening up a whole new arc. Things were beginning to heat up, and we had a long way to go before the invasion. Artifacts of power didn’t just drop in my lap without consequences. Magic always came with a price.

  And powerful magic often extracted uncomfortable and sometimes unacceptable prices…