FreeHolds Adventure, Cycle 2 Part 6d

FreeHolds Adventure, Cycle 2 Part 6d

Previous Next

 

Tipper and Mokha had been given a small suite, consisting of a day room and two adjoining bedrooms. There was also a small water closet, though there was no water, one just did one’s business and it vanished into the hole. Other than the magic bathroom, everything else was pretty mundane. The furnishings were modest and the main room had a small window.

Tipper had healed well, though the amount of magical healing she had received had left her tired and constantly hungry for a couple of days. Mokha’s wounds had healed, though he was despondent and moody. Either the rooms were enchanted or some spell had been cast on him to make it so that he could not use his magic. He was obviously overwhelmed with trepidation regarding what the Arcanium intended to do to him.

She understood his misgivings. Based on rumours, a mage who scorned the rules of the Arcanium could be stripped of their power. There was also the possibility of execution, though Mokha had not done anything malicious with his magic. Some of the wilder claims, included being banished to other worlds, indefinite suspension within ones own body, having your essence drained for the purpose of creating a magical item or being offered up as a sacrifice to demons or the fey-folk, seemed increasingly far fetched.

Tipper was less worried, even for Mokha, as to what might be done to them. She figured, since they were essentially helping the Arcanium, there was a good chance the authorities would look the other way regarding any infractions the two of them might have committed. Though they had been here five days now, they had been interviewed a couple of time and provided with meals, but they were restricted from leaving the rooms or communicating with anyone outside of the Arcanium.

She wondered how Adwin was taking all this, she suspected he had been the one that had sent the Roburns security people. She had also missed their planned rendezvous a couple of days ago. Likely he was spending a great deal of time worrying about them. She hoped he was not going to do anything foolish on their behalf. Maybe his job would keep him busy and out of trouble.

Mokha came out of his bedroom with a blanket wrapped around him and a dour look on his face. Tipper was unsure if his captivity bothered him more than being sober. This was the longest period she had seen him go without some sort of drug or intoxicating beverage being consumed. He yawned and sat at the small table by the window.

Tipper stopped doing push-ups and asked, “How do you feel today?”

He looked at her, then shrugged.

“Well, there are a couple of games here. Interested?”

He shook his head, no.

“There’s a couple of books, nothing too exciting, but one of them was well written. Domia’s Island Etiquette was interesting, all about the customs and variations thereof, throughout the Principalities.”

He put his arms on the table and rested his head on them. He mumbled, “I’m just going to sit in the sun for a bit.”

Well, short of bullying him she did not think anything she could offer would rise him from his doldrums. She resumed her exercises, keeping herself busy was about the only thing she could do at this point. Any attempt to escape or demanding of attention would likely result in a less favourable response from their captors.

Lunch was brought to them and they ate in silence, though Mokha only picked at his food. Tipper was happy to eat what he did not want. A while later, when someone came to clear the dishes, a Warder came and told Tipper to go with him.

She was taken down a couple of levels and let into a crowded office where Argis and a grey bearded Warder she had not met before sat at a small table.

Argis said, “Please join us. This is Commander Whigem Ferndoc”

She sat at the third chair and waited. The commander watched her intently for a few moments. Argis cleaned his finger nails with a small knife, to all appearances unconcerned with the meeting.

Commander Ferndoc asked, “What do you have to say for yourself miss?”

Tipper smiled, “I saw an opportunity and took it, besides, they had my friend. The soonest anyone else was going to do something about it would have been a day later.”

“That’s all you have to say?”

“Well, I guess I could have been a bit more crafty or brought someone along to back me up.”

“I see. Previous to this event did you have any reason to dislike the Fingures or motivation to act against them?”

“They had robbed myself and my friends the day before we came into the city, but Adwin was the one most affected by that. I had thought the issue was in the past, until recently. Generally, I also don’t think much of their slave trading and extortion.”

“So you were aware of their activities in a general sense? Or had at least heard the rumours?”

“As you may know it’s difficult to travel in the eastern freeholds and not have heard about the Fingures.”

He gave a nod, but did not dwell on the topic, “What was your reason to enrol with the university?”

“Well, honestly, I’m looking for more information on the Kaymere ruins.”

“To what ends?”

Tipper paused and considered her answer, she suspected if she lied he would know, likely they had a spell that would reveal any dishonesty on her part. She answered, “My people discovered a drake, sleeping under some ruins on our lands. We are searching for ways to deal with the creature.”

“When you say ‘deal with’, what exactly do you mean?”

“Preferably we would like to kill it.”

“Where exactly? I’m told you are from Darner’s Hold.”

“I am. Of the Darner family. Our holding is a few yateer east by northeast of the eastern stretch of the Kaffern Hills.”

“So a bit north of the Sudakkar Wastes?”

“Yes.”

There was a pause in the questioning, the two Warders looked to each other, after a moment Agris shrugged, “It’s up to you sir. My opinion on the subject has not changed.”

Commander Ferndoc gave a nod then regarded Tipper with a serious expression, “There are many who would say you should be charged for murder and assault. Some would say you’ve conspired against the Arcanium. There is also the matter of harbouring a renegade mage.”

There was little Tipper could say, so she said nothing.

“You could be imprisoned, exiled or even executed if you were proven guilty.”

She continued to regard the man, waiting for him to get to the point.

“However, you and your friends, seemingly inadvertently, have been very helpful to the city and the Arcanium. Regardless of your initial intentions and the brazen recklessness of your most recent misadventure, the Warder’s find no reason to press charges against you or your friends. Provided you and the Aggedrah accept being placed in the custody of an Arcanium member for the duration of your stay. Furthermore, your freedom of movement will be curtailed to the University and the streets immediately around the vicinity of the campus. You may also choose to leave the city now and be exiled, never to return.”

“I will accept custody but I can not speak for my friend. Though given the options I’d suspect he’ll also be willing to be placed in custody.”

“Very well. We appreciate your cooperation. Did you have any questions?”

“At this point, no.”

“Well then, we’ll be talking to your friend shortly. Once we’ve established his willingness, or lack thereof, we’ll introduce you to the man who will be your warrantor for the remainder of your stay.”

Tipper was shown to a waiting room down the hall from the office she had been interviewed in. She had a peek into some of the other rooms and noted that this area seemed to be dedicated to administration and operations. There were a fair number of people reading, writing and filing paperwork, it all seemed incongruous with what one would expect from the world’s most renown mage’s academy.

The room she was shown to was sparsely furnished. She sat, waiting patiently, hoping Mokha would have sense enough to accept parole. She had noted that no guards had been left to keep an eye on her, though she knew better than to try leaving the room. Likely, or so she thought, this was some sort of test. A while later Argris came to the door with Mokha and gathered her.

Mokha seemed a bit dazed but there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

The three of them went down to the ground level of the Arcanium, their belongings were returned to them, including their weapons, she noted. Then they were taken to the main entry hall where they were introduced to the man who would oversee their parole. He, oddly enough, was a Lamplighter by the name of Nox Navi.

Nox wore black, as did all the Lamplighters. It was a distinction from the rest of the Arcanium that had been established long ago. The only red he wore was a sash with what may have been badges of rank. Tipper really did not know much about the Lamplighters.

He looked them over, his expression seemed friendly enough, a nod of acknowledgement was all he had to offer in greeting. He passed each of them a silver bracelet, “Put these on. They will allow me to keep track of you and also inform me should you stray from your area of restriction.”

Once they had complied the three of them left the Arcanium and walked across the university campus. Nox filled them in on the terms of their probation, “If you remove the bracelet, leave the area of confinement, engage in illegal activities or attempt to cast magic you will be in violation of your parole. Violation of your parole will lead to a more severe punishment, the most likely result being expulsion from GreensBridge, regardless of the season or weather.”

Mokha asked, “What are we allowed to do?”

“Just about anything else. You have access to the library and the normal activities around the university and the streets surrounding the campus. You can send messages to associates or business interests and receive guests at the residence. You can, with prior arrangement for an escort, attend significant religious events and meetings with any of the city’s councillors or Wardens.”

Mokha asked, “I have some instruments and other belongings at my former employer’s manor. Can those be retrieved?”

“Of course, though you’ll have to use your own resources and contacts to conduct any business beyond your area of probation. The Lamplighters are far too busy to see to such things. Keep in mind anything you bring into the Lamplighter’s Hall will be subject to search. Possession of unregistered magical items is a crime and would violate your parole.”

They left the campus from the northwest and came to a busy intersection. The Lamplighter’s Hall was on the opposite corner, a rambling structure, taking up much of the block it was built on. Made from dark stone, the main part of the building was a small keep with two wings and yards beyond. There was a large double door, up short but broad stairs. Above the doors Tipper noticed a slogan, ‘Service For All’.

The doors were opened for them, the entry hall was busy as were the hallways beyond. Busy enough that Tipper immediately started feeling agitated. Nox said, “Welcome to the Lamplighter’s Hall.”

 

Previous Next

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *