The Company Man
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The young man sat up quickly in his bunk cursing. –That- dream again. Rubbing his face briskly with both hands, it took a moment for him to register the exaggerated cant to his room. The Lantern hung from the ceiling floated surrealistically sideways. Cries from the deck and lower areas came to his ears.
I quashed the first fleeting moment of panic. I’m not sure if I picked up that talent from the War Wizard training, or from the last few years being pet wizard to this raggedy bunch of mercs. Either way, you could have a book full of the flashiest spells this side of Waterdeep….and it won’t mean shite if your soiling your britches in a dark hole somewhere.
My cabin was a few steps from the door. Within a minute I had been on deck and back into my cabin. My most precious possession was always at my side, I grabbed the latest wand I had been working on, a few scrolls….and the half years salary I had stashed away. Anger and frustration nearly broke my forced calm. My cabin had been packed floor to ceiling with chests of apparatus and precious study books. Three years of very profitable service had allowed me to stock my own small lab…and all of it would be at the bottom of the sea in a few more minutes.
Cursing I fled topside, with a few others. Panic was near total, men scrambling everywhere. I had no clue why we were sinking, or how, and at the time it wasn’t the top of my priorities. Which were…getting the fark out of here safely, and a close second, getting some of my brothers out too.
Though it was still dark, in the distance I made out what should be land. The ships boats were launched already (Experience has taught me nothing outside wakes me when I have –that- dream) I’d almost slept long enough to never wake. The waters too frigid for anyone in them to make the swim to shore.
I started tossing cold protections on the brothers I could spot in the dark, hopefully they’d make the shore or a debris float of some kind before the spells faded. I reached into my coat for the scroll I’d carried since back when I was still official. A moments pause as I watched a longboat with only three people in it…the captain and his mates. They were using the oars to keep men away from their boat. I don’t give in to emotion much…but I do find satisfaction occasionally in spiteful outbursts. It’s a guilty pleasure.
Taking a pinch of sand from one of my many pockets I pointed at the Captain, sprinkling the sand and traveling my will over him and his two mates. They slumped over, sleeping.
The lap of Breathstealing cold water over my boots brought me back to the task at hand. I had exhausted my protections on my Brothers, banking my stake on the scroll in hand.
One eye fixed on the dark mass of land, the rest of myself pouring into the arcane formula’s on the scroll. My training held as water rushed over my thighs, I felt myself freed from everything, for a fleeting moment knew the joy of just existing as energy, before smacking back to perception, on a cold beech. I couldn’t make out anything in the waters, but thought maybe I could here distant mens shouts. Pushing the cold frustration down inside I turned, exhausted. I had done all I could, a long journey North, and bearing ill news as I went.
Though exhausted and freezing, I warmed up a little…right before I had teleported I was sure I recognized a few brothers pulling themselves into the captains boat, and slipping the three sleeping men over the side.
We take care of each other, and damn anyone who gets in our way.
-
Sitting in the corner, a flickering candle on the table. The Young man seemed oblivious to the din of the tavern around him. A tray of half-eaten food pushed to the side, making room for a tattered tome laying out in front of him. Nobody bothered him; nobody wanted to risk the dangers of seeing the mystic writings or diagrams. ….Nobody wanted to risk the chance they might understand something men shouldn't understand.
I made my way to Norwick. Wet muddy hellhole. I've seen worse.
It didn't take me long to find their trail. A woman named Mystic, knew of Iathouz. Called him her brother. She is not an elf. She tried telling me his business was her business, she tried a few times to find out what it is I wanted with him.
Damn woman! I can't even write about it without getting edgy. In the end, I told her nothing, though she made us walk back to peltarch, to find Iathouz. She tried to get me talking the whole damned way.
It was easier for me, she seems to be exactly the type of woman that makes it so damned easy to turn my back on all women.
She did lead me right to him though. Our meeting was brief, eventually finding Handric as well. Seems we are to stay here, for the time being.
Looking for hire, to that end we split several tasks among us. Though it is evident to me, that lacking an officer is already a bit of an issue.
I ran into her again, in Norwick. In my free time, I've been going into the Rawlins, exercising my power. She was sneaking around with some sycophantic elf.
Later that eve, I stumbled wearily into the inn, wishing nothing more then a wash up and rest. Given directions for the common room upstairs, I shambled up the steps, to be greeted by that damned lickspittle elf, guarding the door to the common room. I made my way over, to be stopped by him.
"Theres a lady in there, you'll have to wait"
A lady in the common room, alone, in the whole damned room, with a damned fop guarding the door. I indulged in another spiteful outburst, I deserved one. After pointing to the posted sign, I pushed past the elf. Striding in, I dropped my heavy pack to the floor. It was true, every bed was empty except for one. Kicking the pack to get a good clank out of it, I threw myself into a large chair. I noted the elf slink in and hid behind the modesty screen.
I took my study book out, watching her in the bed. I doubt she was sleeping at all, not her type…to damned interested in making sure everyone was taking notice of her. She made a production of rising annoyed, the tutting elf running over to assist her. I buried myself in my book and a snack, trying like hell not to show how amused I was.
Going off about manners and ignorance they made their way out. She cuts a striking figure, however much she annoys me.
I laughed myself to sleep in the chair.
-
Two
The Woman slipped from the room, a worried look on her face. The young man in the bed tossed and turned, murmuring in a strange language, caught in some dream. She slipped into the small kitchen and warmed some leftover wine…wondering for the first time if it was so wise to allow a wizard into her bed.....
I arrived at my destination…only a few months late. Perfect. To my surprise, I found out that at least until recently, my brethren were still here.
An assortment of 'adventurers' clued me in to the information..of course...once I dropped Handric's name they turned even friendlier. They tried to convince me I should walk to Norwick....through lands claimed by violent religious fanatics.
This more then anything convinced me they knew my brethren. Handric can be...rough. Its been my experience Old Soldiers only get along with other old soldiers...or young men hoping to live long enough to become old. And of course adventurers are only adventurers because of inflated egos, overwhelming idiocy or are just too damned fanatical to get along with the rest of us normal people. I thank the gods sometimes I've always had an honest job and firm grounding. Interesting...I almost got a hypocritical pang, applying the word honest to being a mercenary. Feelings left over from my upbringing no doubt.
I have taken up with an older lady named Shae. She runs a booth in the poorer district of peltarch. Operating from the docks is the perfect place to carry on my search. Lots of seedy bars, and potential employers. I have no doubt I will find a familiar face soon.
The first place to begin my search will be whatever passes for a jailhouse here. Then the bars and whorehouses. Experience has taught me to check the jails first.
Fine company I keep. But they pay well enough for the troubles.
