Enforcer84
Well if Hermit can do it...
by , Nov 1st, '11 at 11:58 PM (408 Views)
Ok here's today's bit.
The Academy Library in Ulcastor is considered a national treasure by the magic loving nation of Kulding. As a national treasure, it is only the best of the brightest that are trusted with the care and order of the timeless tomes housed there.
Caulder Arlyn was the perfect man for the job, tall and regal, the blood of dragons (and two of Kolding’s most respected mages) flowed through his veins and he loved the Academy Arcane like it was his home.
If only there weren’t other people there.
Aghast that he could hear girlish giggling in the rows of books, Caulder slammed shut the Ninth Treatise on Hydromancy by Borwhal Grick in frustration and lurched to his feet. Scanning the reading room with steely gravity, he burst into motion and strode to the Enchantment section, a cold ire rising in his blood.
It was almost always the Enchanters that giggled to themselves, beguiling and love potions – a waste of magic! Though an elementalist could use all eight of the traditional magic colleges, Caulder was not fond of a few of them, Illusion was smoke and mirrors with no real substance and necromancy was just disturbing – regardless of the Biomancer’s work with it.
Turning the corner, Caulder’s growing rage evaporated, along with his confidence. Naima and her noble hangers on looked up from the text that had amused them so in unison. They stared at one another in silence for a moment.
Princess Naima Sharmane was the king’s eldest daughter and had captured Caulder’s imagination from the time he noticed the delightful difference between the sexes. As the son of the Royal Wizards he’d grown up with the King and Queen’s two daughters and it had been a harrowing experience for the young man.
“Is something amiss, Caulder?” her voice had a musical quality. And his heart was providing a rather impressive tempo. There was a look of annoyance on her face, but it smoothed out to a pleasant smile and he found himself merely nodding.
The two students with her, scions of some of Kolding’s oldest families, leveled arch glances at him and shocked him back to reality; Naima hadn’t even deigned to use his title as Archivist. That he could forgive – he could forgive the Princess anything – but these two trussed up tarts who only got into the Academy Arcane because of who their families are, not because they had any talent or desire to learn magic, they stirred the contempt he had for most nobles to a seething cauldron of anger.
He narrowed his eyes as he looked from one to the other. Looking at Naima would only weaken his resolve. They averted their gazes from him and the glimmer of a smile tugged at his lip.
“My apologies, Princess,” he said with a quick bow, “But there were a few complaints about the noise from the students in the reading room. I would be happy to check the tome out to you if you’d like to take it to your quarters for a more thorough group study.”
It wasn’t a complete lie, he would have complained if he’d been a student…
“I’m sorry we disturbed the other students,” Naima was grace personified. It helped that Caulder ignored the malice in her eyes and the casual coolness she tended to treat him with, “We won’t need this for our studies but perhaps you could get some use from it?”
She handed him the tome and the three snickered quietly as they left the Library. He looked at the book he held in his hand and his jaw dropped, a chill raced down his spine.
In faintly illuminated text read: Fyred’s Tome of Carnal Knowledge. Caulder quickly looked over his shoulder in something of a panic, if his luck held true…
“Ah, Archivist Arlyn,” The voice came from in front of course. He could feel the flush race over him. Turning back around he looked down into the smiling face of Master Archivist Durgan Humbolt, “I had heard a bit of commotion from my office and look where I find you. Getting a bit of Enchanting work done, are you?”
The diminuative old mage adjusted his bifocals and then looked at the book and then up at Caulder, “ Fyred’s tome, eh?”
Caulder dropped the book.
“No! I …there were some others…I was merely returning…” He sighed; the old mage wore a knowing grin.
“I know, lad. But you might as well give that book a going over.” Durgan patted him on the shoulder, “Certainly served me well in my youth.”
Caulder stood with his mouth agape.
“Close your mouth Caulder, you don’t think my missus married me only for my skills as a librarian did you?” Archivist Humbolt chuckled and walked back towards the hall; Caulder looked at the book, then scanned the shelf for its spot, then looked at it again. Casting a nervous glance over his shoulder he slipped the book into his bag.
He would write the checkout slip later.
“Caulder, when you have a minute…”
Caulder jumped and spun to see Archmage Senet standing there. What the hell was it with his superiors? Were they trained to sneak up on him during staff meetings?
“Master Senet! I – you need to see me? Of course!”
Archmage Raimon Senet ducked as he entered his office. He stretched and then offered a seat to Caulder, who tried not to be obvious in his intimidation. Master Senet grinned and shook his head as he looked over his notes and the mess of papers on his desk.
“I never thought I’d end up a paper pusher, eh Caulder?”
Caulder nodded, what was wrong with that? The Academy Arcane was the pinnacle of academia in Kulding – an much of the Northern Lands. Sure He hoped to one day see some of the Al-Seraphi magic schools, their libraries alone were a veritable paradise of information and forgotten lore. One day, they’d ask for him. His legend as a scholar would spread and – it was awfully quiet.
Caulder swallowed hard, the realization that he’d wandered off into his fantasies again washed over him and he realized the Archmage was looking at him expectantly.
“Uhm…sorry, could you repeat that?” He said his hands shaking.
“I asked how things were going for you.” Master Senet’s grin was hidden behind that great beard and as usual, the lad took his measured tone for disapproval and shrunk into the chair.
“Fine! Marvelous, in fact! I’ve been working with Burg – er, master Humbolt on a new cleaning method, it’s a vacuum wand...” his voice trailed off as he averted his gaze from the Archmage, why was he telling him this?
“A vacuum wand?” Master Senet nooded slowly, “sounds fascinating.”
“It’s okay.”
The Headmaster chuckled; which did nothing to put his favorite pupil at ease, unfortunately. So clearly expecting to let his superiors down, the old man sighed.
“How are your folks?” He asked, hoping to move the conversation to something that Caulder found comfortable. But he looked even less so now.
“They are good. I guess. The king keeps them rather busy.”
“True, have you been keeping an eye on Princess Naima for me like I asked?”
Caulder’s face seemed to heat up. The old man chuckled under his breath.
“She’s doing reasonably well in her studies, Master Senet. And of course no one harasses her. I’ve seen to that.” Caulder sat a little taller in his seat. Among his peers he was mighty indeed.
“Excellent,” Master Sennet grinned. “I have excellent news for you, Caulder. I have asked by the King himself to have you accompany the Princess on a mission of great importance. Finally get out of these confining walls.”
Caulder shunk again, his eyes wide, “Leave the Academy? Are you insane!?! Why would I want to do that?” He left his seat and paced before the Archmage’s heavy oaken desk. “This is my life! I love the library. Believe me when I say this, I have no desire to leave even if the King himself asked me to.”
Master Senet roared with laughter. Caulder suddenly realized what he had done and looked aghast. He looked longingly at the chair, but he knew he’d look like a fool if he meekly sat down again.
“I appreciate the dedication, but your mother and father want you to see the world. You’ll never grow as a mage limiting yourself to academic studies.”
“I don’t want to be a great mage! My mother and father are great enough for several generations! I am an archivist and a damn good one.”
“And you are a citizen of Kulding who has been summoned by his King. And I might add that I am now giving you a direct order. You will accompany the Princess on her journey.”
Caulder’s shoulder slumped. Though the idea of escorting Naima was tantalizing, no doubt she’d want to bring a retinue of her idiot friends.
“Isn’t interrupting Naima’s studies rather counterproductive?” He asked weakly.
Master Senet shook his head slowly and stood, towering over the desk and the young man behind it, “It would. And she doesn’t really have the luxury of missing her training. You’re assessment of her skill was perhaps a bit subjective. But no matter, you will be among Princess Thyra’s retinue. You will be expected to – “
“Tillie? She’s a child! I’m not babysitting that hyperactive terror!”
“-see to her continued social education.” The Archmage finished, his voice suddenly deepening.
“Caulder, you’ve been here ten years, in that time Princess Thyra has grown to womanhood, studied among the church of Gainer, and is being sent to get to better know her people. She won’t be Queen and her parents want her represent the Crown, to do that they feel she needs to see the world.”
“But why me?” He was aghast.
“Because you also need to deal with people.”
“I do not!” Caulder squeaked.
“You will be accompanying Princess Thyra, Cualder Arlyn or you will be dismissed of your duties permanently.”
Caulder’s shoulders slumped and he nodded, suddenly realizing he just got into a shouting match with a man who could turn him into a sheep, or worse a pile of ash. Of course that might have been a mercy killing – his life was over now.
“Don’t look so down, Caulder, it’s only for a few months.”
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