For all his memories of the town of Shiren, Sen realized he’d never seen the mayor’s house before. It was not surprising, he supposed. He never had any reason to find or talk to the mayor, and he would have started his search at the town hall, anyway.
Murdin confidently beelined directly to the home rather than the town hall, much to Sen’s initial confusion. When he asked, Murdin shrugged it off. “This mayor’s a weird one. She prefers working from her home.”
The home itself was surprisingly small. The town of Shiren wasn’t especially ostentatious, with most of the well-off families living in spacious, if simple, wooden homes. Most homes were made of mud and brick, or stone, for the ease with which they took to enchantments. Wood usually took more money over a long period of time, so often did it need to be replaced and the enchantments remade, but the material was considered lavish and high-class.
Compared to the gaudy homes that Sen remembered from before, it was a nice change. The mayor’s house, however, showed none of those changes despite the other wooden homes nearby. Lightened stone walls stuck out against the darker wood used to construct the other homes. It was only a single story, where most of the wooden buildings took advantage of their light weight to add two, or in one case, three stories.
For once, Sen recognized a number of glyphs that sat near the bottom of the walls as they approached. To his surprise, the light coloring that made the house stand out was not a natural part of the stone, but rather an enchantment. He recognized the pattern from one of the books Murdin had given him. Perhaps the largest surprise was that the information in them had actually proven useful.
They had a lot of information, but none of it seemed to answer any of the questions that Sen wanted answers for, mostly pertaining to, frankly, somewhat useless topics such as decorating houses for clients by changing the color of their walls.
Murdin knocked on the door. The door itself was made of stone as well, a thin piece with visible cracks where multiple pieces fused together using enchantments. Glyph enchantments wove across the edges of the door in a clean white filigree, the sound of Murdin’s knock echoing loudly from several glyphs that it took Sen a moment to locate.
Someone yelled from inside. “One moment, please!” The two of them waited, and soon enough, the sound of a latch coming undone heralded the door opening. A dark haired woman with large glasses stood at the doorway. A man stood behind her holding a thin slate and a stylus.
“Miss Mayor,” Murdin said in greeting.
The woman’s eyes lit as she saw Murdin. “Hello, Mister Mage,” she said. “How are we today? Come to take me up on my offer?” Her eyes gleamed as she stared Murdin down. The mage himself shifted uncomfortably under the stare.
“No,” he shook his head. “I have some news you should be aware of. Can we speak inside?”
“Of course,” the mayor smiled, opening the door wide and waving them through. “And who is this?” She said, looking toward Sen. Age lined her face, but the look suited her well.
“My apprentice,” Murdin said gruffly.
The mayor blinked. “You have an apprentice?” She looked toward the other man with a slate. “Did you know Mage Murdin had an apprentice?”
“No, Mayor,” he said. “I did not.”
“How interesting,” she said, eyes following Murdin.
“Think nothing of it,” Murdin said. “A topic for another time.” Murdin walked straight ahead, leaving the three of them behind, then turned into another room.
The mayor and her - aide? - turned to Sen curiously. He gave them a smile that he couldn’t make feel natural, then followed after Murdin. Hopefully, it didn’t seem like he was running away from their gazes.
Murdin already sat on one of two couches that sat facing each other across a small table. His legs were crossed, a look of impatience on his face. A wooden desk filled the back half of the room. Sen sat down next to him while the mayor sat across from them. The other man stood behind her, out of the way but clearly a part of the current proceedings.
“So, what is this about, Murdin? You seem out of sorts.” The mayor said.
“We have a problem,” Murdin began. “The wardstone net seems to be failing much faster than it should be.”
“That is a problem,” she said, tone thoughtful. “But I have the feeling there’s more?”
Murdin nodded, taking a breath. “Just before we came here, Tane and I ran into a cockatrill.” The mayor’s eyes ballooned, but Murdin stopped her before she could speak.
“We hunted the creature to ensure it could not encroach upon the town any further, but this is already the second hunt we’ve had in just a few days. The monsters are growing closer to the town, for unknown reasons, and the wardstones are not capable of holding them back.”
The mayor was quiet for a moment, before giving Murdin a wry smile. “You certainly know how to get my attention,” she said. That same smile morphed into a frown only a moment later. “Forgive me. Now is not the time for jokes.” She sighed, then glanced toward the man standing nearby. “Tudan, have you received any reports of monster attacks lately?”
“No, mayor. That is not unusual, however. Most people won’t bother to report anything if they can manage it on their own.” His voice was level and professional, matter of fact. It almost seemed disinterested.
“I see,” she said simply. “And what do you suggest?” She looked toward Murdin.
“For now, nothing special. I plan to replace all of the wardstones that appear to be in disrepair. I suggest calling a militia together to increase the number of guards around town in case some monsters manage to get through the wardstone net. Hopefully, there won’t be anything, but in case something does get through, that should make it manageable.”
The mayor looked at Murdin with a thoughtful look. “You seem awfully calm about all this, Murdin. I would think you, of all people, would be a bit more urgent about the dangers of increased monster activity. You’re one of the only people who actually deals with all these monsters, after all.”
Murdin shrugged, taking a moment before speaking again. “I am doing what I can, with the aid of my apprentice. There is no need to spark a panic, not right now. There may be increased danger, for now, but everything should be well in hand, so long as these problems are handled in a timely manner. Preferably, the cause of all this is dealt with, as well.”
“And what might be causing all of this?” The mayor asked.
“Frankly,” Murdin began, a note of frustration in his tone, “I don’t have any answers to that.” He looked to the ceiling for a moment, then spoke again, arms crossed over his chest. “If no answers come up before we finish the repairs to the wardstone net, then I may need to travel to Duskih. The mage’s council there may have answers that I don’t have access to here.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“To Duskih? That’s quite the distance.” With a deep breath, the mayor continued. “And what about the town? What if fixing the wardstone net isn’t enough to continue to dissuade the monsters? What would the town do without you?” She looked to Sen. “You don’t plan to leave your apprentice here to defend the town himself, do you?” Her face showed clearly what she thought of that.
“No, Metra. He would be coming with me.” She narrowed her eyes at him, and for once, he gave a small grin.
“Explain,” she said, voice stern.
“Tane and I would create a number of tools to help the town defend itself in the event of any further monster attacks.”
“That’s all?”
Murdin lifted an eyebrow at the woman. “It may not sound especially impressive, but you’ll just have to trust me. I am more than capable of making sure this town keeps itself safe while I am gone.”
“I am not convinced you need to leave at all,” Metra said.
Murdin shrugged. “Perhaps my research and investigations will find whatever is causing this anomaly, and I will be able to remove it.”
“I see,” the mayor sighed. “We will deal with those problems later, I suppose. Will you stay for tea? Introduce me to your apprentice.”
A knock sounded at the door, making Sen jump. It was the first time he’d ever heard the sound before, and it took a moment for him to realize what it was. It was the augmented noise of a knock at the front door, not just the door into the mayor’s office room.
The mayor’s assistant left quickly, tending to the door. In the meantime, Sen introduced himself to the mayor, Murdin’s arms still crossed. The two of them had just shaken hands when her assistant returned.
“Tered, priest of Nielun, to see you, mayor,” the assistant said in monotone. Tered? How odd.
The priest entered, long dark robes accented with flecks of red and purple. “Am I interrupting?” The priest asked, stopping short as he noticed Murdin. Nielun was one of the twin gods of catastrophe. Despite his name, Nielun often served to warn his priests against the possible calamities that might cause great loss of life.
“No, no, nothing of the sort,” Mayor Metra said. “Come in, please. Tudan, can you get some refreshments for everyone?”
Tudan left with a word, moving silently. The mayor stood, then gestured to the couch where she had sat moments before. “Please, sit, Tered.” She moved to a desk at the back of the room. Suddenly, the relaxed atmosphere the mayor treated Murdin with had run its course. The woman looked all business, now, sitting reclined in her chair behind the large wooden desk. It was one of the only wooden objects Sen had seen so far in the woman’s house. “Tered, are you alright?” A nervous look wrote itself across the man like words inked on a scroll. He licked his lips and clutched at his robe, shifting every few moments.
The priest looked between Metra and Murdin, and then glanced at Sen before quickly dismissing him. “Oh, yes, of course. I come because Nielun has sent me a portent of the future.”
“A portent?” The mayor repeated, surprise in her tone. Tudan returned with a plate filled with drinks and a saucer filled with small cookies. He sat them down on the table between the two couches, then retreated to the edge of the room. Nobody took anything, nor did anyone speak as he set the refreshments.
“Yes,” the priest said, adjusting his robes. “Nielun has sent me to warn you. Something dangerous lurks at Shiren’s doorstep.” One hand gripped at the sleeve of his robe, as if trying to use it for support. He gulped hard, looking toward the mayor.
“Lurks? Tered, I would appreciate if you could avoid any obscure language.” The mayor said. Her tone was serious, and her eyes bore into the man. He shifted uncomfortably at her gaze, but answered dutifully.
“I have not been blessed with that insight, I am afraid,” the priest admitted. “My oracle was not detailed with much more insight than I have given you.”
“I see,” Metra said.
Murdin suddenly spoke. “Have you heard of anything strange happening in town, lately, Tered?”
“No,” he said, looking at Murdin with surprise. “I have noticed precious little, recently. I have been busy deciphering this oracle for the past week.” Murdin hummed at that, and the priest looked toward him, narrowing his eyes. “Something to say, Mage Murdin?”
“Please, I meant no offense,” Murdin said, a gesture of peace from his hands. “Lately, there has been an increase in monster activity. Do you think this could have anything to do with your ‘portent’?”
Hesitantly, the priest answered. “Yes, I suppose it could.”
“Tered,” the mayor spoke, “normally your god is much more forthcoming with these portents of yours. What has changed? Why is this one so vague?”
Tered looked to the floor. Sen couldn’t read the expression on his face, but guessed it might be shame. “I don’t know,” he said, voice troubled.
“I see,” she said. “Is there anything else, priest Tered?”
“No, mayor.” To Sen’s surprise, the man didn’t seem well-liked, neither by Murdin nor by the mayor. Usually, the priesthood of Nielun was well-respected.
Most gods did not like to directly interfere with the world of mortals, but Nielun often spoke directly to his priests. The difference in tack was unusual, but not unheard of, and many appreciated the god for his fair treatment of all the races.
His memories knew that much, at least, though nothing more specific about the reasoning behind the god’s action - if there were any good answers to those questions.
That the priest had no clear words from his god was unusual. Sen - through the memories of his new life - had heard stories of priests of Nielun helping prevent disasters before they could even begin, directed by the whispers of their god. All of those stories made mention of clear and precise examples of what would be coming, and usually even how to prevent it. What could it mean if the god’s words, this time, were unclear?
A tense quiet filled the room. Only the sound of Mayor Metra’s fingers tapping against her desk disturbed the silence, imbuing a staccato tension. Priest Tered’s nerves seemed to worsen, a bit of sweat beading on his temple. Tudan, a statue, seemed like he might be enjoying the afternoon just as much as he would have endured the news of a relative’s passing. Sen didn’t know what to make of the man’s seeming neutrality.
Breaking the silence, Mayor Metra gestured to the refreshments on the table. “Please, take some tea. I see you brought some snacks as well, Tudan. Thank you.” The silent man only nodded.
Murdin was the first to reach for the tea. Slowly, Tered did as well, taking one of the cookies to go with it. He sipped at the tea delicately, testing the heat, then sucked down a bit more. His nerves seemed to go away, just a bit. Sen followed suit, taking some tea and a cookie as well.
The silence continued. An occasional sipping sound or the crunch of a cookie broke up the oppressive silence. When he finished, Murdin set the tea aside, then waited for Sen to finish. As soon as he did, the mage stood up.
“Mayor, thank you for your time,” he said. “We will be going now. Please let me know if you have any further questions.”
The mayor looked up at him for a moment, as if to speak, but then gave up and gestured to the exit. “Farewell, then. Thank you for informing me of the situation,” she said.
Tered stayed behind as Sen followed Murdin out, led by Tudan. He breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped from the room, only realizing the intense, oppressive silence had worn on him once he’d left it.
“A good day to you, Mage Murdin, Apprentice Tane,” Tudan said before shutting the door gently behind them.
“That man gives me the creeps,” Murdin said, stepping away from the house. Sen couldn’t help but agree, following after the mage.
“Are you concerned about the priest’s oracle?” Sen asked Murdin.
The mage huffed as the two of them continued back toward his home. “Yes, though I believe I am more concerned with the vagueness of it. That is much more unusual.”
“Do you think it’s connected to the wardstones?”
“Until I see evidence that it is not, I have to assume that it is. For now, nothing else makes sense. We will need to prioritize wardstones over almost everything else,” Murdin finished.
“Almost everything?” Sen asked.
“You need to be better in a fight,” he said. “You were a help, no doubt, against that cockatrill. But that’s not enough. You need to be ready to handle one on your own, and sooner rather than later.”
He paused for a second. “Next time, it might be worse than a cockatrill.”
“Worse? Like what?”
“Let’s hope we don’t find out,” the mage said, walking quickly.
