I flew over and hovered next to Biff and said, “I’m off to see the Duke. I’ll meet you there.” And I flew up and away from the docks at my top speed, which was far faster than they could follow.

  Bella, can you please let Jonathan know I need to see the Duke upon arrival, if possible? I asked.

  After a pause, she replied. He will be waiting for you at the Lobby in Watch Keep and will take you to the Duke. He did not even ask me why you wanted to see the Duke. I think he trusts you. She answered.

  I flew into the courtyard of the headquarters for the City Watch. It was where most of the administrative offices for the city were housed. There were a dozen archers trained on me as I approached, but as I got nearer and they recognized me, they lowered their bows. They still held them ready, just not pointed directly at me.

  Jonathan was waiting for me at the double doors that led into the grand lobby of the keep’s main floor.

  “Nice entrance.” He remarked as I landed beside him.

  “I wanted to make good time. Did you hear about the harbor?”

  “You mean that you were chatting with some leviathan from the depths? Yeah, it may have come up.” He said with a smirk. “Do we need to send troops to the harbor?” He asked more seriously.

  “No, we’re good. Join me with the Duke and you’ll get the story. We have a new ally.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “I can’t wait to hear about it.”

  When we entered the War Room, the Duke was standing around the long table, which had a map of the city spread out upon it. In the room with him was the Majordomo, Naval Commander, and Marine Commander.

  As I approached, the Duke asked without preliminary greetings, “Are we under attack?”

  “No, my liege. We now have a new ally in defense of the city.” I replied.

  The Naval Commander’s jaw dropped open.

  I nodded to them and stood near the Duke, who had a tilt to his head, and a slow grin started. “What magic did you work today, Commander?”

  I explained the meeting in the harbor and a little of the battle under the waters that led to the defeat of Old Sergeant.

  Commander Gerald Fliverby, admiral of the Royal Navy, said, “That old monster accounted for the lives of dozens of sailors and scores of fishermen over the decades. But I had no idea that its terror extended to the depths and into the realms of the Mer and Aquatic Elves.”

  “I do not know how long it has been around, Commander.” I said, “But given the alliance suggested between the giant squids and those races, it could have been a very long time. Several centuries at least.”

  The Duke said, “Admiral, be sure all warships and fishing vessel captains know of this arrangement. Attacks on this creature of its kind will have the gravest consequences.”

  The Naval Commander saluted and said, “I will see to it personally.” He slapped my shoulder as he walked by, shaking his head and chuckling under his breath.”

  The Duke turned to the Marine Commander, “I believe that your plans to defend the harbor can be dismissed for the moment, Commander.”

  “It would have been an interesting battle.” He said, “But the cost in lives would have been large.” He also saluted and departed. I got a serious nod as he passed me by.

  After he left the room, Isaac said, “I think you have grown on them both, Gwydion.”

  I smiled. “While I am here, I can give you a quick update, and then I need to get back to the shoppe.”

  “Of course.” The Duke said. “How was your Elfkin ceremony, by the way?”

  It was my turn for my mouth to drop open.

  He laughed. “The ambassador informed me about it. Mine was the meeting he held right before yours.”

  “It was quick and unexpected,” I said.

  “Busy day for you,” Isaac commented dryly.

  “It has been more unusual than most.” I agreed with a grin.

  The Duke asked as he pointed at my arms, “May I see your marks?”

  “Of course, my liege,” I said as I rolled up my sleeves.

  “Remarkable.” The Duke said. “Simply remarkable. Both the honor they represent and what you had to do to earn it.”

  The Duke pulled out his chair and turned it around from the table. Isaac, Jonathan, and I took similar chairs and created a circle.

  “I have a little time now that a full defense of the harbor has been postponed.” The Duke said with a smile.

  “Special Services are well ahead of goals. In fact, we have accomplished in one day what I had promised in Council for the week.” After giving an update on progress in several more specific areas, I let them know that I planned to go to the capital for some needed items.

  “Do you have a plan?” Isaac asked.

  “Yes. You, I hope.” I said.

  “I cannot get away from Keelwell at this time.” He said with a shake of his head. “But I can provide you with a means when you are ready to go. Send along some SUS rings, and I will get you and a group to and from the capital.”

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  “Thank you, Isaac,” I said.

  “Then, if that is all Commander, you may return to your shoppe. We may have plans for you upon your return from the capital.” He looked at Isaac, who nodded.

  “As you wish, my liege,” I said. I did not try to salute but bowed my head and then headed back to the lobby, where a very annoyed Biff and a tired guard team were waiting for me.

  Biff is upset with you for departing on your own. He understands that you could move faster on your own, but you were also vulnerable to attacks by yourself. Bella said.

  As I approached, I said, “Sorry, Biff. I should not have left you all alone. But I wanted to inform the Duke rapidly. It appeared that both a naval and marine strike force were getting assembled to defend the harbor.” Seeing his firm jawline, I added, “But I still should have been more mindful of your advice in this matter.”

  He stared hard at me for a few more seconds and then said, “Form up!”

  “Back to the shoppe,” I said to him.

  We marched out of the Keep and back to the shoppe without any issues. Biff did not speak to me the whole way. He and the team were on high alert as usual.

  Partway back, I recalled that I was supposed to bring up the Gray Master’s concerns. I had the envelope in an inside robe pocket, but I forgot all about it in the excitement and rush.

  When I got back to the shoppe, the first thing I did was to place the 49pt amethyst in the vault and inside the box that Isaac had provided for me. I was careful not to touch it with my skin. I wanted it away from temptation and accidental loss.

  I went down to the lower level and planned to work for a few hours on making more Dwarven Copper rings to replace the ones I gave away to Jade. I also wanted to begin working on Isaac’s circlet and the circlets for my journeymen. I blocked off the central area of the forge that I used for my personal space. Everyone knew not to interrupt me when I did the secret Dwarven forging. It also gave me some quiet time, and I used it to relax.

  I ended up spending over four hours on forging.

  The rest of the afternoon, I went up to my rooms and focused on using some of the spell/skill points I had in reserve.

  I wasted the first fifteen minutes debating what I should learn. Isaac offered to teach me elemental magics, but that process would take a long time, and at best, I would learn one weak spell in each of the five elements. Given our timeline, it would not really help our defense or offense strategies.

  The Gray Master had also offered to teach me a range of skills, any of which would be very handy on adventures, but in the short term, they were also not the best options for me or the city.

  Runes could be very handy, and learning the basics of healing runes could help both short-term and long-term efforts. And with Starla here, at least for a while longer, I could take what I already knew and apply it under the tutelage of a journeyman Rune Lord. There was not going to be a guild hall for me to go to for this. It would have to be on my own, or with Starla.

  One point could be used to get me started on Rune Magic, and it would double the number of those present in the shoppe who could cast runes. Otherwise, it was just Starla.

  For the remaining points, I was torn between holding them or using them to learn the Scorching Light spell. I was pretty certain I could get either Wizard Draconis or Chompers to help me learn it. It would not be ideal for them to teach it to a non-wizard, but I had a shot, given my paladin pathway. Learning Wizard spells would be challenging, and getting access would be nearly impossible for anyone not in the guild.

  I decided to ask Wizard Draconis to teach me Scorching Light, and so I held off on three of those available points.

  Bella, is Starla back yet from her visit to Davon?

  Yes, Gwydion. She is recovering in her room.

  Recovering? What happened?

  Apparently, she, Jade, Stix, and a bard named Lyra had a little adventure in the museum hallway.

  Oh, dear. I said. Davon sent them on a quest, didn’t he?

  Yes. They survived, but it seems to have been challenging for them.

  I bet. Davon doesn’t offer easy missions. I said. Is she available to visit with me and help with some rune work?

  Bella paused. She is on her way. She replied.

  I walked over to the door and opened it just as Starla was approaching. She had a slight limp.

  “Davon?” I asked.

  “Davon.” She replied.

  I opened the door a little wider. “Come in and sit down. I wanted to chat with you about the Healing Rune if you are up for it.”

  She walked in and took the closest seat by the door. “I’m fine. A little sitting and talking is just what I need.”

  I sat across from her.

  “What did you have in mind?” She asked, looking around my chambers and noting the empty bookshelves.

  “I’ll have them all filled some day,” I said with a laugh.

  “That’s a lot of room for books.” She remarked.

  “Yes, it may take a while.”

  She nodded appreciatively. “You wanted to discuss runes?”

  “Yes, with your help, I’d like to begin working on runes for socket use and exploring the benefits of different Combines,” I said.

  “You are doing your homework.” She said.

  A Combine was what Rune Lords called their levels. But it went further than that for them than other mages, because they not only have level powers for each rune, but there were effects when you combined runes together. So the term “Combine” had a double meaning for rune lords.

  “I’d like to start by learning the First Combine Healing Rune spell. Can you help me with that?” I asked.

  “It was the first one I learned. My master wanted to teach it to me before the fire rune, which is often the one that is taught earliest because of both familiarity and excitement associated with fire. It is also nearly assured to injure the adept or apprentice and build necessary respect for rune magic.” She explained.

  “But your master had a different opinion?” I asked.

  “Yes. He believed that I already had the necessary respect and inner discipline, and wanted to challenge me with a spell that was one of the hardest of the First Combine spells. The others would come easier, and in a pinch, I could heal myself or others along the way.”

  “Is it something I could learn, do you think?” I asked.

  “Certainly. Given your knowledge of enchantment and focus, it will be far easier for you to grasp than it was for me at half your age and none of your experience.”

  “No bad habits you may have to unlearn in me?” I asked.

  She laughed. “No promises. But my gut tells me that you will have it down in an hour or two at the longest. It is not magically difficult as much as it is conceptually difficult.”

  “Are you up for it?”

  “I am. It is all part of what I am here to help with, and your asking to learn a healing rune first, in my opinion, tells me a lot. Even with the great risk the city is facing, you ask to start with healing. I’m sure that offensive runes will follow, but I respect your choice.”

  And so we spent half an hour discussing rune theory. Because I read runes, I was well ahead of the game. I did not need to learn what the many runes meant, but was able to focus on what lay behind them and how to connect to their magic.

  “You know, Starla. What you are teaching me about rune magic is not too far away from what I do with gems.”

  Her eyes grew large. “Do you think it is something you could teach?”

  “I don’t know. My access was granted because of prodigy crafting, but as I learn to master more runes, I might be able to find a way to sit down with you and give it a try. There are more similarities here than with any other guild I have been exposed to so far. It might be possible.”

  She nodded. “Then I will need to be even tougher on you to accelerate your learning so we can get you more advanced.”

  “Not too tough. I need to have the points available, too.”

  And we both laughed.

  It took another hour and some change, but by the end, I was able to flawlessly create the rune on parchment and on softwood.

  “You have exceptional skills with those tools.” She commented as she looked at the brushes and carving tools we had practiced with over the past hour together.

  “Thanks. I put a lot of effort into my crafting. I am a master carver, etcher, engraver, and sculptor.” I said, being careful not to sound boastful. “I have a steady hand, which helps with painting lines, although I have never really attempted to paint objects or scenes.”

  “I think that most heroes focused on their hero guilds and little on crafting. I know I was like that. But it seems to have paid off for you.”

  “And it is relaxing. I enjoy the work.”

  She pointed to several carved Healing runes. “It shows.”

  She cleared the space before me. “Okay, pick one of the wooden blocks that you like best, and you will empower or imbue it with healing. If this works, we can try it on stone if you like, but runes can be made with a pencil, chalk, paint, stitching, wood, stone, and metal. From our perspective, they are merely different media that use the same rune source.”