Rune mage

Chapter 44: caravan

They traveled with the brightest colored wagons I had ever seen. Fifteen of them. There would be no room for the wagons themselves within our walls.

There were indeed mages in their group, and children, and mothers heavy with child. I saw old men and old women as well. Their young moved with energy and grace. I saw some armed as guards. But suspected that the mages were their primary defense source.

They arranged themselves just outside of our front wall. I watched as they decided where to circle their wagons up. Their leader had walked around, pausing at the stones which marked my page and our healer. She tilted her head this way and that and then directed everyone to move further until no one would accidentally step upon the stones.

I signaled for the gate to be opened once they were settled.

The advance man stood next to their leader. Everyone else seemed busy setting up their camp.

I ran down the stairs, trailing my fingers over the stones out of habit. I should meet them, not observe from above.

I reached the gate just as the last of the rope was secured. I bowed my head slightly in greeting. "Welcome to our fort, elder," I said, using my nearly forgotten language skills.

The leader was indeed an elder. Her skin was wrinkled and her hair peppered with silver. She smiled at my greeting but replied in a language everyone would understand, "our thanks for your welcome. We will not burden you with our hungry mouths, as I know you will have little. But perhaps we could share, and our bowls and hearts be enlivened."

"We are at war," I said, eying their wagons that would be outside of my walls. "Our enemy has been silent but I cannot assure you they will stay silent. Inside the walls I can promise some semblance of safety."

She smiled at me and then called a name over her shoulder. "Lydia!"

A young woman separated herself from the others. She was a mage, my awareness rune didn't need activation to know that. When I looked at her with my magic, I could see she was powerful. A fire mage.

"Elder," she offered a tiny movement that was like a bow and curtsy combined.

"The commander is concerned for our safety."

I raised a brow.

Lydia nodded, her expression serious. "I see. Do I need to demonstrate?"

I shook my head. "No need, fire mage."

She looked at me, measuring. It was the closest I had gotten to another mage since I killed the stone mage in the tunnels. She frowned. "What kind of mage are you?"

I held out my hands and pushed power through so the runes tattooed there would glow. "Rune mage."

I touched the stone wall and brushed against my magic, lighting the runes all around the fort and grounds briefly. Glowing runes danced across nearly every surface, including my men's hands and faces.

The fire mage swallowed. "Are we safe here?"

"You have my word," I said solemnly. "No harm to you and yours as long as they do no harm to me and mine. Besides, we have some interesting items for trade."

The elder shared a look I couldn't understand with the fire mage. "Would it be allowed to let our children and mothers within the walls?"

"Of course. We have beds and rooms available. Not too much water, but I have cleaning runes that can get folks clean." I paused a moment, then turned to my sergeant, "can we put a guard on the waste removal area so that no child curiously wanders within?"