I was awakened the next morning, from a dream I couldn't quite recall, by a knock on the door. I opened it to find the Innkeeper's wife waiting outside.
"Mistress Selma, How may I help you?"
"I have a message for you, written and all, from the trade minister's office if I read the seal correctly."
She reached into the pocket of her apron and handed me a sealed piece of parchment.
"Thank you."
"I hope it is good news," she said as I closed the door.
So do I.
I opened the parchment and scanned it quickly.
Mistress Lora of Sandar,
His Excellency, the Minister of Trade, regrets to inform you that your request to view the royal archives has been denied.
On his behalf, Under-secretary Jenton
I considered going back to the Trade Minister's office but realised, somewhat regretfully, that I would not be allowed in without an appointment.
Very well then. I shall send a message to Lady Leanni then I shall continue my conversation with Master Gareth.
I borrowed one of the Innkeepers carrier birds and sent it to a fairly nearby village before continuing on my way.
When I reach the dress shop I stopped outside the door. Gareth was speaking.
"...visiting on behalf of her patroness who is planning to visit the city."
"Are you sure that is all?"
The second voice was male, deep and somewhat frightening, but I did not recognise it.
"Of course I am sure. She was nothing but a scrawny little music player buying a new dress for her interview with the Trade Minister."
Scrawny?
"It was a pointless effort in any case."
"Indeed, I could have told her that but she did not ask."
"I was surprised the Librarian did not tell her that. Instead he wrote her a letter of introduction."
"Why?"
"Apparently she can write in the Elven language."
"A woman who can write another language, impressive, but I don't see why it inspired him to write a letter to the Trade Minister."
"I have not been made privy to that information."
"Of course not. Well, are we done with the interrogation?"
"Merely friendly conversation, and yes, we are."
"Good. Next time you see the Librarian ask him why he tried to poison me."
"He did what?" exclaimed the other man.
"Poisoned wine. Fortunately I'm a suspicious old man and I tested it out of habit."
Lies like a champion too.
"I realised he wasn't happy about the... alliance but I didn't realise he was that unhappy with it. I will have words with him. I bid you good day, Master Gareth, and if the girl comes back try and find out more about her patron."
"As you like," agreed Gareth indifferently. I heard his visitor walking through the house and quickly ducked into a nearby alleyway.
When I was sure the man was gone I opened the door of the shop and walked in.
"You came back. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."
"Were you not expecting me?"
"I half expected you not to come back but here you are so let us continue our talk."
"I would like that," I agreed. "Who was the fellow in the grey cloak that just left? He did not look like the sort to be buying a dress but you never can tell I suppose."
"No. He wasn't buying a dress, just asking directions."
"Yes. It is very difficult to find your way around this place. Well, Master Gareth, before we go to the back room for more fittings I wanted to ask you when you think my Lady Leanni's dresses will be done. I have sent her a message by bird this very day. I am certain she will be within the city inside a week."
"Oh I see. Well I have little business at the moment; I do believe I can have one ready for you to greet her with."
"I would be much obliged if you could do so."
"Now, if you will come to the other room, we can finish your fitting."
I nodded and followed him through to the other room. As soon as he had locked the door he turned to face me.
"How did you know my main room was being spied on?"
"Very clumsy spell work," I replied honestly.
"Clumsy spell work?" he repeated incredulously. "Those are some of the most advanced spells we have!"
That explains a lot.
"Perhaps by your standards," I said mildly. "By my people's they are like that of a child."
"That certainly explains the high and mighty attitude... present company excepted of course. You seem to be remarkably down to earth for a member of a superior species."
To his surprise, and believe me he was surprised, I began to laugh.
"My dear sir, my people hold the fond belief that they are superior to every other race on this world but they are far from it! In truth they are arrogant, and far too concerned with their 'logical' view of the world."
"No wonder they kicked you out. Were you always this feisty?"
"On the contrary, I was quite restrained. We were betrayed, most ironically, for worshipping the same Gods that humans do."
"There are Elves who worship the Four?" exclaimed Gareth.
"You mean Five," I said, wrinkling my brow. "Water, Air, Fire, Earth and D..."
"Don't say that name here!" shouted Gareth, "My protections aren't good enough to block that!"
"As you wish," I said slowly. "May I ask what this is about?"
"Nothing. Just don't say His name in the city."
"The one that starts with D or the one that starts with R?"
I made the remark casually and certainly didn't expect the response it brought. Gareth's face turned pale and he looked sincerely frightened.
"Do not even think that name!"
"Please. Calm down. It was but a poor attempt at a jest. Forgive me for distressing you."
"Consider it forgotten. Now where would you like to begin?"
"You said you turned from the Four-Fold Path, when you were younger, what is the Four-Fold Path?"
"You claim to worship the same Gods as we but do not know of the Four-Fold Path?"
I am beginning to see a number of differences.
"The Four-Fold Path is the way we worship our Gods. We promote the idea of the connection between separate elements. To us they are each but part of one great whole."
I'd wager they love that. Odd though, surely Riax is part of the whole too. At least he is in the texts we had.
"That is our view as well but the way I learned it was as a Five Fold Path."
"That is...abominable heresy! You can not revere both the Four and the One!"
I think it has been well established by now how tactful I am not...
"Of course you can. What a ridiculous notion. Death is only the end result of life after all."
"I told you not to say that!"
Gareth was enraged by the fact I had used the word he had forbidden.
"I am not yours to command," I replied coldly.
"You have endangered both our lives. "
He raged at me on that point for what seemed like a long time but was probably only a few minutes.
"Listen to me," I interrupted. "Unless your mysterious man in the black cloak, or any of his spies, can hear through my shields you have nothing to worry about."
I did regret not telling him I had shielded the room as I entered but I could hardly undo the action.
"What makes you think they are his spies?"
"Good hearing and you two weren't exactly being quiet."
"Of course we did not bother to be quiet, the room was shielded. Since you obviously overheard us why did you not say something before?"
"It is your business, Master Gareth, not mine. You can tell him that my Lady Leanni will be coming to the city soon. I do not suppose you will tell me who he is?"
"I can not do that."
"It was worth a try."
"Most people would be upset by the fact I was talking about their business."
"Why? You did not tell him my secret and for that I thank you. Now would you finish telling me what happened after you became Arch Mage?"
"I will.
The short and simple version is that the others decided my policies were not good enough. So they falsified evidence against me and had me convicted of heresy. The new Arch Mage then intervened on my behalf to have me confined to the city and prohibited from using my powers-as opposed to death or exile. His motives were not what he led them to believe, of course, he wanted me where he could keep an eye on me."
"Politics."
The way I said that single word was as close as I had ever come to cursing out loud, at that point at least.
"That is correct, politics indeed, and you are dropping yourself right in the middle of a power struggle. Perhaps there is a better way to help your centaurs?"
"I am determined to try this way first. I already sent a message for 'Lady Leanni'."
"It might not be the safest thing to do though."
"It is the right thing. Thank you for sharing your story. Will you excuse me, unless you wanted to ask me something else, I must be going. I am leaving in the morning."
"No. There was nothing else. I will see Lady Leanni when she arrives."
"Yes. You will."
I returned to the Inn, to prepare for my short journey and transformation, and to ponder what Gareth had told me.