Spellscribed: Conviction (44 page)

“Language of your enemies, huh?” Endrance replied. “I guess that makes sense. We didn’t just suddenly develop our own language or something.”

Outside the line of trees, Endrance could hear Joven’s voice. “Time for us to go.” Endrance said, holding up a hand. “Valzoa, thanks for walking with me.”

“Just come back safely.” Valzoa requested. “You’re the only one who can get close enough to Valeria to stop her.”

“I know.” Endrance replied.

Endrance walked out of the line of trees and another forty yards, where Joven and his companions waited for him.

“It’s about time!” Joven grumbled. “We’ve been waiting!”

“I needed to say goodbye to Giselle.” Endrance said. “Let’s go.”

They mounted up and rode north. The elves raised spectacular horses, lean and fast. They were extraordinarily well trained too; Endrance had hardly to give it an indication of direction for it to follow. The horses’ strides ate up the distance, and they only had to stop to rest them twice along the way. Several hours later, the northern outpost came into sight in the distance.

“There’s the watch.” Joven said. “That damn desert is beyond it.”

The outpost was only a few hundred yards from the edge of the sands, but a few days travel across the sands to the Sea of Glass, and then a full night’s run across there to the other side. The Sea of Glass was considered by both sides to be the unequivocal border between both kingdoms. Endrance had learned that they had crossed the sea at its thickest point; at what others had considered a ‘suicide run.’

They arrived at the outpost as the suns were setting in the sky. Three elves in hammered steel leaf armor waited for them. Endrance grinned as he recognized the Sha’hdi. Lior, among the three.

“Lior!” Endrance called. “I hear you have a messenger retained with missives for me?” he called. His Grandstaff was visible on his saddlebags, and Lior squinted at him with distaste before answering.

“Yes.” Lior replied. “And apparently, it’s not just for you.”

“Well, take us to him.” Endrance said. “I trust he is unharmed?”

“Yes, Ambassador.” Lior said, irritation dripping from his voice. “He was unharmed.”             

“I appreciate your diligence, Lior.” Endrance replied as he dismounted. “Your dedication to protecting your borders is remarkable.”

Lior grumbled. “Thank you, Ambassador.” He replied.

The outpost was a structure of beautifully grown wood, an oasis in an otherwise clear grassland. The tree was actually four separate trunks, grown so that their interweaving branches provided natural windows for which light and air reached inside, and the canopy carefully shaped so that water sluiced to the outside, providing water for the outpost’s hungry roots. This close to the desert, water was not as plentiful, and Endrance could detect the presence of at least one water elemental in the pond formed around the outpost. He also detected a more powerful life elemental nearby, but he wasn’t sure where it was exactly. If he was holding his Grandstaff, it would have been an entirely trivial matter to locate; Pentarch was originally a life elemental before he was imbued with the remaining four elements.

“This way.” Lior instructed, leading them into the outpost through a thin natural bridge formed by the tree’s roots. Their horses were taken by the other two elves and led to the water, where they could rest and recover from their long ride. Above, Gullin soared, casting the occasional shadow over the outpost.

Inside was a simple resting place. The outpost held, at most, twelve elves at any one time, and at the moment, only four were stationed on duty. The elves with the best eyes were put on outpost duty, keeping watch on the quite easily observed desert that stretched out for miles. Endrance had been told that their battle with the sand hornet queen had been seen from the very outpost he was now entering, something that seemed impossible from his understanding. That had been dozens of miles away. They must have used some impressive air magic to enhance their vision that far.

“Holy shit… Endrance?” A familiar voice asked. “Is that really you?”

Endrance spotted a lone human man stand from a chair he had been reclining on, up until the moment Endrance arrived. It took him a moment to register the man’s face.

“Ethan?” Endrance asked, surprised. The man was wearing a light chain shirt over a long sleeved white cotton shirt and similarly crafted pants, with calf-high leather boots to keep the sand out. A simple scabbard for a longsword was on his hip, but the blade was likely in elven custody.

“You look… different.” Ethan admitted. “I mean, shit.”

“Different?” Endrance asked. He looked down at himself. “I don’t get it.”

“Well, you’re… you’re buff.” Ethan admitted. “I mean, I thought you were always gonna be a scrawny guy, but I guess I was wrong. You’ve gotten a tan too.”

Endrance had been, in general, too mentally preoccupied with his upcoming negotiations with Rasmiel to realize how much better shape he was in. He still did Joven’s staff combat training before breakfast most days, and his Poisonblade physical training regimen in the afternoons. The tan he had gotten from being too close to the Sea of Glass during the day still hadn’t faded, though it was a bit darker on his front than his back, but that was hardly noticeable.

“I guess I finally grew into my potential, huh?” Endrance asked humbly. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, that’s really- what happened to your hands?” Ethan seemed to have noticed the lines cut through his skin. “Did you burn out your tattoos?”

Endrance looked down at his hands. “I really need to get some light weather gloves.” He observed. “Yeah, I guess I overused them a bit too much. It’s spread up to my shoulders.”

“Ugh.” Ethan responded. “That sucks.”

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Endrance exclaimed, changing the subject. “I mean, after you disappeared nearly a year ago.”

Ethan hung his head. “I’m sorry.” He said. “I didn’t mean to just vanish, but after I let those assassins get the jump on us, I was so mortified, I slunk off and crawled into a bottle. Gwen found me like a month later, and she kicked my ass until I sobered up.”

“I’m sorry.” Endrance said. “Wait, I do need to know why you thought Valzoa was there at the tower of magi.”

Ethan made a pained face. “I was under the impression we had an elf at the tower. And when you said he was an elf, I just assumed it was him. My memory is a bit fuzzy after that month long bender, so I don’t know how much of that is just an alcoholic hallucination.”

“Uh-huh.” Endrance replied. “Well, I guess that’s the past. I take it you got hired to deliver the messages?”

Ethan nodded. “Yeah, I got a few messages for you, and actually, I have some business with Joven too.”

“Me?” Joven asked, surprised.

“Yep.” Ethan pulled up a leather satchel from the foot of the chair he had been sitting on. He dug through it, pulling out a bundle of sealed scrolls. “Here, Endrance. These are for you.” He said, holding them out for the wizard.

Endrance looked through the scrolls, while Ethan pulled an envelope two handspans in size from his bag, and held it out for Joven. “Got some news for you too.” Ethan said.

“Good or bad?” Joven asked.

Ethan hesitated. “Depends.” He said. “On your point of view, I guess.”

Joven tore open the folded paper on the packaging and found a single piece of parchment and a small portrait. Joven read the letter slowly, mouthing the letters as he mentally sounded them out. His face paled.

Endrance was still looking over the scrolls, when Joven suddenly took a seat on the nearest elf’s bed.

“Hmm… These mostly look like status update requests. Klaira says she’s made a little progress trying to make a Grandstaff of her own… Joven?” Endrance noticed his barbarian friend holding the portrait with shaking hands. “What is it?”

Wordlessly, Joven handed the portrait to Endrance. He turned it in his hands, looking it over. It was a well done painting, something that he could have done if he hadn’t been years out of practice. The portrait was of Gwen, smiling while holding an infant. Endrance’s eyes widened as realization hit him.

“That baby has your grin.” Endrance observed, drawing the attention of his Draugnoa. “And your eyes.”

“By the gods!” Bridget exclaimed. “Let us see!”

Endrance passed it to the three women. They looked it over together, exchanged a look, and nodded in unison. “Yeah. It looks like you’re a father.” Tanya declared.

“This is so exciting!” Selene exclaimed.

“Uh…” Joven replied, stunned. “I… Uh…”

“Well what did you think would happen?” Bridget snapped.

“I’m so dead.” Joven managed to say. “My mother’s going to kill me. I had a child for how long?”

“Should be two months old by this point.” Ethan supplied. “A boy.”

“A boy?” Joven shook his head. “I had a two month old boy and I didn’t know? She’s going to kill me.”

Endrance sat down. “Shit.” He swore, thinking. “Well, we should get you to Gwen, so you can see the baby.”

Joven looked at him, his surprise cutting through his numbness. “What?” he asked. “You have a duty here.” Joven protested. “I can go on my own.”

Endrance shook his head. “Nonsense.” He said. “Joven, you’re a father! That’s great! But I know that your child would want both his parents there for him. I know I wish I had. I’ll take you to Gwen, and drop off the peace agreement when I come back to Ironsoul.”

“What about me?” Joven asked. “Don’t you need me here?”

Endrance shook his head, chuckling. “Weren’t you the one that said you were on vacation? Go. I’ll leave you with Gwen, and return when my duty here is done and retrieve you on the way back to Balator. You could take Gwen with you; I’m sure Leona would love to see some family in the house for once.”

Joven nodded. “I’ll do it.” He said. “You’re safe enough here, aren’t you.” His last statement was more of an admission than a question.

Endrance nodded. “So let me see… how to get you there…”

Endrance.
Gullin interrupted.
Joven should be within my ability to carry now, if you would cast your physical might spell on me.

Endrance snapped his fingers. “Ah. Good idea. Joven, come outside.”

Endrance brought Joven outside, and Gullin stood on the grass outside the outpost. Joven’s face paled as the Fjallar bowed his head to him.

“Oh gods no.” he protested. “You want me to fly?”

“What’s wrong with flying?” Endrance asked. “I find it quite relaxing.”

“Yeah, what’s wrong with flying?” Selene added, scowling.

Joven sighed. “I know when I’m beaten.” He admitted. He turned to Endrance’s familiar. “Just… don’t drop me, okay?”

Endrance drew his Grandstaff, holding it with both hands as he drew up the spell form in his head. He had spent some time tinkering with the strength spell he had used before, which had fortified the user with earth and water magic to increase their strength. Now, he had designed a version that was a combination of life magic and smaller amounts of fire and earth magic. The spell was much more effective, and not that much more costly to cast. Endrance shared the spell form he had devised with Pentarch, and they both contributed equal amounts of power to create the spell.

Endrance touched Gullin on the beak with his staff, and the spell form executed. His familiar grew a few inches in overall size, and the bird shuddered as the sensation of power thrummed through him.

That is a pleasant feeling.
Gullin observed.
I am ready to move him.

“Okay Joven, you ready to go?” Endrance asked.

“Yeah.” The barbarian muttered, steeling himself.

“What about the Sea of Glass?” Ethan asked.

“Gullin can fly around the desert and make it into Ironsoul within a day.” Endrance replied. “Of course, you probably would have a more comfortable time sitting on his back.”

Joven shifted the axe on his back before walking to the side of the large bird. “Yeah.” Joven said. “Are you sure-”

Let us go.
Gullin said in Endrance’s head. The bird sidestepped behind Joven, thrust his head under his legs, causing him to sit between his wings. Endrance thought that the bird was still a bit too small for someone of Joven’s size, but the Fjallar took off with the barbarian frantically clinging to his feathers in terror.

“I will get you for this Endrance!” Joven’s final cry echoed down at them, as the two swiftly dwindled into the distance.

Endrance was trying very hard not to laugh, but the only one not amused was Ethan.

“Hey! What about me?” Ethan exclaimed. “I gotta run back through that again? And past the sand hornets? And you could fly?”

Endrance shook his head. “Stick around a week. I’ll have Gullin carry you back after he’s returned and rested.”

“What about you?” Ethan asked.

Endrance waved the letters he’d been handed. “I’ve got to write responses to these, then get back to work here. There’s a lot of things I can do to ensure that our peace with the elves lasts, and I want to spend these next two years doing it.”

Ethan looked suddenly confused. “That’s… I’m sorry.” He said. “You’ve already got the peace agreement, why not return now?”