The Duke was standing outside the door.

  “Philip, what’s wrong?” Isaac said suddenly, his staff in his hand.

  “May I enter?” The Duke asked. You cannot enter the Tower without permission. Otherwise, you just slam up against an invisible barrier.

  “Of course, my liege.” Isaac amended as he stepped aside.

  The Tower’s magic ensured that nobody could use an illusion to appear as anyone other than who they are.

  The Duke saw me and said, “Oh, thank heavens. The Mer ambassador is in the harbor and insists on speaking with the enchanter who befriended that giant squid.”

  I just stared at him, slack-jawed.

  Biff turned to Isaac and pointed to me with his thumb. “You wanted to know what else could happen to him?”

  The Duke collected himself. “How did things go with the elves?”

  “Great. We got everything we wanted and more. I came back for the staff.”

  “That is wonderful!” He said. And then he saw our expressions. “What went wrong, Gwydion?” He asked, his eyes narrowing.

  Biff chuckled, “You mean what went wrong, your majesty?”

  The Duke looked at Biff, at me, and then at Isaac. “What did I miss?”

  “How pressing is this issue in the harbor?” I asked.

  Philip grimaced. “Very. He is riding on a whale, and it is pretty big.”

  I sighed deeply. “Okay, Biff, you and the guard with me to the harbor, except for three to accompany Shala back with this staff. Isaac, you can fill in the Duke. I don’t have the stomach for it.”

  Biff and I departed. I handed Shala the staff with a warning, “This is dangerous.”

  “How dangerous?” She asked as she gently took it from me.

  “The killing you and everyone around you kind of dangerous. Just get it to Adriana at the Shoppe and don’t look at it or think about it. Just carry it.”

  She looked at me like I was crazy. But, given the day I was having, who was I to argue with her?

  Biff said, “Hufnar, Corporal, and Corporal, guard Shala all the way to the shoppe double fast. No stops. Code Yellow.”

  The dwarven captain, the Watch corporal, and Inquisitor corporal, three of his toughest team leaders, snapped to it, drew their weapons, and formed a triangle around Shala. They took off in a jog toward the shoppe.

  Bella said, I am sending a second team to meet them.

  Good, the staff cannot be stolen. I replied.

  The rest of us quick-marched to the harbor.

  We were moving fast, and I needed time to think.

  The Mer were one of the good races, although one we did not deal with very often because they lived below the sea. Of course, the Aquatic elves did as well, but they were a bit more sociable.

  There were three types of elves, although they were all one race. Woodland Elves, where I have been lately, aquatic elves who live below water, and subterranean elves who live below ground, a lot like dwarves but in cavernous and elaborate cities.

  But the Mer were a race unto themselves and usually avoided interactions with surface races. A Mer ambassador was basically unheard of, and what possible relationship with the giant squid they could have was beyond me.

  Of course, in fairness, most everything for the past several days was beyond me, but it didn’t seem to stop me from stepping into every pile of goo I could find.

  I saw a second team come out of the shoppe and meet Shala partway. They just moved aside and formed up around the three guards without anyone slowing down.

  “You have put together some moves with the team,” I said to Biff.

  He smiled. “We have added some real talent. It’ll be interesting to see what the elves will add.”

  Yes, it would.

  We made it to the harbor, and Hufnar and the two corporals joined us midway. There was quite a crowd on the docks.

  “Biff, slow down, I don’t want to arrive out of breath,” I said.

  “I’m not out of breath.” He remarked. But he had us move to a normal, slow walk. The guards' heads were on swivels, looking for trouble.

  Trouble is sitting in the middle of the bay. I said to myself. No need to go looking elsewhere for it.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Keep a positive attitude. Bella encouraged.

  Bella, please ask Simon to grab some prepared SUS rings and put an Avoid First Strike on one, a gold one, a deflect missiles, which is copper, and get Adriana to track down a fly spell. I never replaced it from the squid discussion, and now I will need to figure out how to get out there.

  You can use the Airy Walk spell. She suggested.

  I’ll have to, but it is a group spell, and I hate to use that just on myself.

  You could swim. She offered.

  I don’t hate using it that much. I replied. Ok, add another one of those as well. In fact, you know my spells, maybe work out duplicates for all the ones that are reasonable, and put them in a small silk bag, and I’ll add them later.

  What will you do if the Mer doesn’t speak Trade Speak? It is not common among them. She asked.

  Most will speak Elvish, if not human. And in a pinch, I have a copper SUS for Speak Languages. It’s good for four hours. That should work, right?

  She didn’t reply. Given my luck lately, I wouldn’t make that bet either.

  If you can reach him, you may want to let Leomys know what is happening. They are all waiting for me at the bank.

  Let’s see how this goes before you start setting off more fires. She replied.

  Yeah, because that strategy has worked so well for me. I said back.

  We arrived at the docks, and people made way for us. I saw a large and rounded man seated on the top of a whale about a hundred yards out, where the water dropped to the depths.

  “Biff, hang around until it's obvious you need to head back.”

  “How will I know that?” He asked.

  “I will be dead or accompanying this ambassador into deep water,” I replied.

  “Well, you are used to deep water lately.” He observed. I could see the stress on his face. He made it sound like a joke, but he didn’t like the idea of me heading off on my own in the open.

  “Way too true.” I agreed. And trying to avoid a longer discussion, I activated my Airy Walk spell but restricted it to me. I could have included them and asked them to stay on shore unless they needed to get to me, but I was pretty sure that if things went badly, there would be nothing they could do.

  I walked out across the dock and into the open air above the waves without breaking stride. I heard gasps and some oohs and ahhs from the crowd. It’s nice to be appreciated.

  Don’t let it go to your head. Bella said. Your ambassador has seen you, she added.

  I am a bright yellow object moving through the air. Of course, he sees me.

  Relax, walk at a brisk but conservative pace. Show respect but not urgency or weakness.

  Okay, thanks, Bella.

  As I got nearer, I elevated my climb so it was like walking up a ramp angled to the back of the whale.

  The ambassador stood, and I got a clearer view of him.

  I had never met a Mer before. I had seen images of them in books, but they ranged from supernaturally scary to whimsical and farcical. There was definitely a humanoid and bipedal nature to the Mer as I examined him, but it was not human. Not at all.

  He was far more rounded in body, almost like a pufferfish, and his head had a lizard-like quality to it, but with a far wider mouth, like a fish. His mustache, if that is what it was, looked like several tentacles drooping down like thick, untidy cat whiskers.

  His hands and feet were webbed, which made sense, and despite being round, he did not appear overweight but muscular. Tiny, sharp claws at the end of his digits glinted in the weak Twilight. He had more than five fingers, but I could not tell if it was seven or eight.

  I walked right up to the edge of the whale that stared at me with its eye facing my direction. There appeared to be an intelligence to that look, and I bowed to it briefly before addressing the Mer ambassador.

  But before I could speak, he called out in a voice that had an odd quality to it, almost like two voices coming out at once. It was not harsh, but not especially pleasing to hear, either.

  “I am Ambassador Vulre Shleshtak, emissary of King Gorred Shleshtak, sovereign of the Southern Mare Abbatuch. I have come seeking the enchanter who befriended,” and here he made sounds that I could not possibly hope to reproduce. I could only guess he meant the giant squid, TUF.

  “I am he,” I replied.

  “I would know your name and lineage, human enchanter.” He replied.

  In for a copper, in for a pound. I thought to myself.

  “I was born Hereditary Lord Gwydion Istari of Keelwell, now Gentry Lord and Champion of Keelwell. My father is Lord Randolph Istari, Royal Librarian of Keelwell and honored advisor to all seven of the good races, noble, sage, and scholars alike. My mother is Lady Joanna Maria Istari, a respected druid across the Seventh Kingdom, named Elfkin for services rendered in good faith to the Elven kingdom before I was born. I am a journeyman enchanter and treble patron housed in Keelwell at the great and honorable enchanters' guild hall. I am a master jeweler and master gemcutter. I am named Gwydion Istari Ringweaver, Dwarfkin and brother to the Dwarven King Flavnar Ringweaver of Copper Mountains Hold. I am a Dwarven Master and member of the Masters Council with all the rights and privileges granted this title, and I am the first human to receive this rank. I am Earthkin, Gemstone Whisperer, and Stone Speaker. I am named Gwydion Istari Arbrestrom, once Elfkin and now Seneschal and nephew to the Elf King Ailuin Yandril Arbrestrom, of the Woodland Elves. I am an Elven Master with all the rights and privileges granted this title, and I am the first human to receive this rank. I am Commander of the Special Services for Duke Philip Medici of Keelwell, appointed to defend the city against the invading forces led by a legendary infernal and the start of the Fourth Goblin War. I am called Patron by those in the Services, composed of journeymen from ten mage guilds, clerics, inquisitors, brawlers, City Watch, dwarves, and elves. I am the founder and headmaster of the Ears Academies for the poor and homeless. I am Shepherd of Shepherds and Paladin, called to the service of the Light. How may I be of service to you and your king, noble ambassador?”

  The ambassador was silent for a long time. Finally, he said. “Are you he who slew the beast known as Old Sergeant?”

  Bella, I know that I was part of a group that did that, but how do I explain it to the Mer? I asked her.

  You were the one who rendered it harmless, and it died in the air. There was very little anyone else did that mattered in the battle. Reply yes. She advised.

  “Yes. I am the one who ended the beast that terrorized these waters and beyond.” I replied.

  He nodded once. “Then you are respectfully summoned to the presence of King Gorred Shleshtak, King of the Mer, sovereign of the Southern Mare Abbatuch, no later than sunset of the day after this ending.”

  It was Twilight, so I assumed it was a time period and not an actual sunset that he was giving me.

  “I am honored to receive this invitation. However, I have pressing business here with an imminent invasion by an infernal-led army of goblins. For what matter did the king wish to speak with me?”

  The ambassador was silent for a long moment again and then replied, “It is known that you and your people face great evil. It is of a related matter and possible alliance that your presence is requested to discuss. Do you accept the invitation?”

  “The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” I said. “But I have no direct means to arrive at the time requested.”

  The ambassador removed a rounded coral object dangling from a necklace. It was one among many colorful objects circling his wide head. “This will bring you and six other companions to the King’s Court. Choose them well for bravery and might, for there is a desperate favor the king wishes to ask of you to save the life of his youngest unwed daughter.”

  I hesitated for a moment. If I accepted, I would be dragging others into a showdown with some unknown threat that had to be on par with Old Sergeant, which we barely survived by sheer luck. On the other hand, if we were successful, we would earn another ally against the invading goblins.

  I reached forward and took the coral object. Holding it, I could see it was carved in the shape of an intricate shell and that it functioned like a single-use Limited Group Teleport spell.

  “My companions and I will arrive as soon as unavoidable obligations are completed here.”

  “So long as it is before sunset, next.” He reminded me.

  “I understand.”

  “Then I bid you success in your endeavors and look forward to our next meeting in the presence of King Gorred Shleshtak, King of the Mer, sovereign of the Southern Mare Abbatuch.”

  He turned, and the whale began to slowly move out to sea.