Trouble Brewing

I wake up with a jolt. The light from the window suggests mid-morning. Mid-morning? Where am I?

Welcome back.

My friend Rashmi’s voice, echoes in my mind. Rashmi?

Rashmi, a light mage, enters the room with an expression of relief in her sapphire-hued eyes. She plops down next to me.

I can sense your aura as well. Her straw hair gleams in the sunlight. I’ll admit, this is pretty cool. There are so many rumors about wardens—mythical champions written about in children’s books; I’m curious what else you’re capable of, Warden April.

Memories from yesterday breeze through my mind, becoming a master of Wind magic, or warden, overnight. Not to mention meeting Nambi, the goddess of Wind, and creating a Favori bond with Rashmi. The latter tapped all my concentration and chi. How long was I out?

About a day. How are you feeling?

Much better. Thank you for moving me to the bedroom. I hope getting me here wasn’t too much trouble.

Not at all. I changed your weight to that of a feather. You know, a little light magic.

Dead silence.

Rashmi raises a hand to her mouth as she starts to laugh. At first, it appears she’s trying to hide it; then, she can’t help herself.

“I thought you were serious.” I soon join in the mirth with her.

“I couldn't resist.” She manages the admission between taking a breath before surrendering to more fits of glee.

We sit together for a moment as we collect ourselves.

“What about the meeting with the village leaders?” That would be a lost opportunity if we can't meet with them.

“Don't worry. Everything’s all set.” Rashmi raises her hand to her neck. “All I had to do was show the Alcadesa this.” She peels away her robe's collar to reveal Nambi’s mark, the same one imprinted upon my hand. I glance at it on a whim; one of the orbs appears to be brighter than the other two. It must represent my new connection to Rashmi.

“Glad to hear it.” My body relaxes in response to the welcome news.

“There’s more.” Rashmi leans toward me as if to reveal a juicy secret. “We’ve been given some apprentices to help us on our journey.”

My brows furrow. “I had forgotten that there would be more in our party—I’m grateful for the help, though.”

She hops off the bed. “We have time to meet them today if you want.

“That would be nice. I should get ready.” After placing my feet on the floor, my urge to get moving grows even stronger.

“I'll leave you to it.” Rashmi opens the door and pauses. “Are you hungry? Did you want to eat before we meet them?”

Upon reaching the washbasin, my body begins the process of clean-up from memory. “Hmm, I could eat, but I want to get to know the apprentices. How about we meet with them and see what happens? We could always bring some food with us.” I find my outfit, adorn myself, and move on to my boots. It’s surprising how different these warden clothes feel with their simple elegance.

Rashmi leaves the bedroom and waits for me to join her in the living area.

“Apprentices don't have individual accommodations, not like here at the Inn.” Rashmi gestures to the room. “They live in a special hall. A place where they can hone their skills.”

So when she said given, she didn't mean they choose to help of their own volition. “Let's meet with them first. Maybe there is somewhere they’ll be more comfortable talking with us?”

Rashmi shrugs. “Okay.” At least it appears she’ll go along with my suggestion. “I packed a few things while you were sleeping.” She shoulders a small knapsack.

“I have water too.” She pats her robe. “I think we're ready. We’re meeting the apprentices at the training facility.”

We pass through the Inn's vacuous dining room, and a sense of disconcertment grows within me. Compared to last night, the merry crowd occupying it seems improbable had I not seen it myself. Rashmi and I head outside; the sun yearning for its apex offers me a gentle warmth. We walk in silence. My thoughts wander toward practicing my next incantation. Rashmi won’t mind me leaning on her experience for a while, but I desire to contribute as an equal.

Upon reaching the training facility, Rashmi dashes off to find out about the tolerance of the magical barrier enchantment. The barrier allows mages of every caliber to practice or experiment without endangering the public; however, warden-level might be a different story.

The gradual stares and quiet whispering of others begin to weigh on me. I didn't think my orange eyes and hair would garner this much attention.

"Excuse me.” An older gentleman moves into my periphery. “I'm looking for someone named Rashmi.” He’s dressed in dark clothing that billows past his wrists and ankles, suggesting they’re a size larger than he needs. Despite his haggard features, he holds himself with assurance, leading me to think his appearance is not by chance.

Civility kicks in. “I'm April. I happen to be traveling with her.” What does he want?

He offers an awkward smile. “I'll wait with you.”

Something doesn’t feel right. Rashmi isn’t the social type. We haven’t known each other for long, but we clicked in an instant. We’re only meeting the apprentices here, right? “So, how do you know her?”

“My, my. Is that what troubles you, Miss?” He bows his head. “Forgive me. I mean no harm. I am a mere civil servant here on behalf of Alcaldesa Anwen.” He pulls a medallion hanging around his neck into better light.

A sigil embossed on the dull grey metal lends his statement some credibility. It must be particular to the village.

“Sorry, I'm new to Solitude.” My facial muscles tighten. Bluffs are not my forte. What is he hiding?

“Of course. We don't see many Zemeljski ‘round here.” He doesn’t seem phased at all. “Orange suits you if you don’t mind my saying so.”

I don’t trust him; however, my instincts tell me he's not malicious. Villages can’t run themselves.

“Thank you.” So what does he want with Rashmi? Even though he might not be a threat, it doesn’t mean I want him near me. “I’m not sure how much longer she’ll be. Is there something I can help with?”

A pleased smile forms upon his lips as his expression lightens. “Hmm, that would be helpful if you're sure it’s no trouble, Miss.”

What does he mean by that?

“This package contains information about the apprentices Rashmi requested, and then there is this key.” He places the parcel in my palm and drapes the key’s chain upon my fingertips. “We’ve employed bracelet guards so that they can’t run off, or worse yet, someone else tries to claim them before they could be delivered.”

Why would someone run from an obligation? Well, it would be hard for me to back out of this now.

“Yes, thank you.” The thought of treating someone as property makes me cringe. Smile—maybe he’ll walk away.

“They are waiting in room five as requested.” He inclines his head. “You’ve no idea how much your kindness has saved me.”

He leaves the facility in a cheerful yet marked hurry.

My eyes follow his departure. That was peculiar—I now hold three lives in my hand. Wait, calm down. Rashmi told me about the apprentices. Would I feel different if that man met with Rashmi instead?

After sighing, the key slips into my pouch. I raise the package into better light. The brown cover, held in place with twine, feels thicker than paper, like parchment.

"April, is everything okay?”

Rashmi’s unexpected question startles me. After looking up from the parcel, my gaze flitters about to find Rashmi. She approaches at a brisk pace.

“A village official came by with this." After gesturing to the package, my mood improves. Rashmi might know more about this, or at least what to do with it.

She takes the item from me. "A package?" Confusion besieges her features.

"Yes, and a key." My hand reaches for it, then stops. "Something about wrist guards?"

"The key makes sense—that leaves this." She gives the parcel a gentle shake. "Hmm, sounds like multiple things are inside." She looks at me for a moment. "Shall I?"

I'm glad she asked. "Yes, by all means." Composure eludes me. "Sorry, I'm feeling a little off. The whole encounter left me a bit jumpy."

Rashmi reaches out to me and takes my hand. "Let's head to a table. There are some located at a nearby preparation area."

After navigating a short distance, we sit in a well-lit area. Rashmi raises the package and begins to unthread the knot securing the mysterious contents.

She forces the seams apart after removing the twine. The parcel’s contents refuse to budge, requiring Rashmi to retrieve them by hand. She places the first object on the table. "Crystals?" The package yields two more of the same.

"What kind of crystals?"

We look at each other. "I wonder." Rashmi joins the items together and stares at them. "Gano."

The translucent crystals emit a dull glow for a pulse—then nothing.

My hand reaches for her shoulder. "At least we discovered they react to magic." An idea sparks to life. "What if I try?"

Rashmi nods. It appears that the riddle to unlock the crystal's secret is her Siren's call.

I focus on the inert objects. Words flow into my mind as if they are a distant memory restored from obscurity. "Yn enw Nambi, yr wyf yn gorchymyn i ti, datgelu dy gyfrinachau."

The crystals begin to resonate. My incantation served as a key? They gain an amber stain and a flickering glow.

"Oh! That's what these are." Rashmi awakens from her stupor. "I've never seen them like that before—someone went to a lot of trouble—."

"Rashmi?" The gleam in her eyes is a welcome sign but doesn't explain much.

"Sorry, April." Her face turns crimson. "These are memory crystals. They're used to share information, but the usual locking mechanism is a specific mage's touch or voice."

My hands rush to my temples. "Wait!" My attempt to massage them doesn't help with the conclusion I reach. "The man who delivered the package told me Alcadesa Anwen sent him."

Rashmi stares at me, her eyes narrow. "She didn't expect us to unlock these. Augh!" Her annoyance confirms why the experience from earlier felt odd.

That's why he was relieved to give the package and key to me. He thought I'd be less willing to decline the delivery. "Why would the leader of Solitude want the Warden of the Wind to fail?” My resolve to proceed hardens. “Okay, we need to figure out our next move." After a deep breath, a plan forms in my mind.

"What if we test the apprentices?" After the unison response, we both start laughing.

After regaining our composure, the two of us determine how to proceed. The information contained in the crystals is far more extensive than we anticipated. So chances are if the Alcadesa intends to interfere with our plans, the apprentices she offered will not be beneficial to our journey. By testing the apprentices, Rashmi and I can confirm Anwen’s machinations, and we’ll have the evidence needed to confront her. With the element of surprise on our side, my confidence is high. It might take longer to begin our journey, but messing with a warden isn’t a small offense.