The Mage's Familiar

06. An Imperial Summons

One month later, life had returned to a peaceful normalcy. Olwen and Nas had grown even closer and their fear of the Emperor's reach had lessened. They had heard nothing from the Capital following Kari's visit and both had settled into the assumption that Olwen had been forgotten. It was a huge relief, but Olwen could not shake a feeling of dread and unease that creeped into her thoughts each night as she lay in bed with Nas at her feet. She soon discovered that this quiet fear was not unwarranted.

On a sunny afternoon as Olwen cleaned the cottage with the windows open to the warm breeze, a familiar patient came to her door. It was one of the young women from the village who had come to collect a prescription of contraceptives and she came bearing unsettling news. Olwen was collecting her potion from the cabinet as the woman waited patiently and chatted incessantly. But as she was about to leave one of her offhand comments took Olwen's breath away.

"And the baker, Robin, has had no time to bake my favorite buns recently," the woman complained. "He has been whinin' about the imperial guards who are on their way. Said they sent a messenger to request dozens of loaves of bread and I don't think that's fair because I eat those buns for breakfast every-"

"Imperial guards?" Olwen interrupted.

"Yes! And they are only a small party. Certainly Robin could manage a tray of buns."

"Why are they coming?"

"Probably something ridiculous. Rumor says it's only about five of them. Must not have even come prepared if they're asking for so much bread. They're from the Capital City! The Emperor can't buy bread for his guard? Ridiculous. Anyways thank you, Olwen. I'll be off!"

The woman breezed out of the door and rushed down the road, certainly planning to go give Robin a piece of her mind. Olwen watched her leave before collapsing into a chair. Certainly they were not here for her. She shouldn't assume. Right? Nas appeared at her feet.

"Are you worried, Master?" he asked, as if he could read her mind. Olwen shook her head.

"I'm not sure," she admitted. "Perhaps they are only passing through. There is no reason to hide. Right?"

Nas was silent, unable to give any helpful advice. If they remained and she was their intended target they would find her easily. She was well-known in the village and surrounding countryside. Any of the villagers would know where to direct the guard. If she fled she would not be able to return to her cottage for months, perhaps years, for fear of being discovered. And they might be suspicious. Most people who received an Imperial summons would be enthusiastic unless they had committed a serious crime. It would look very odd if she left now without telling any of her patients that she would be gone. The best choice was to stay in their home. Maybe she was worrying for nothing.

Her anxiety for the rest of the day was obvious. Nas wasn't sure how to comfort her and sat awkwardly by and she cleaned the cottage more aggressively than usual. Not a single speck of dust could escape her and it wasn't until she had nearly collapsed from exhaustion that she finally put the cleaning supplies away and sat down in front of the fire. Nas hopped into her lap and she stroked him absently, though she was lost in thought. It was almost midnight before the pair got into bed and fell into fitful sleep.

When morning came, Olwen felt heavy and tired. She had slept terribly and Nas was even more accommodating and gentle than usual as she tried to complete her morning routine. It was her day off and she wasn't expecting any patients. As she tied on her apron, Nas placed a paw on her foot.

"Master, should we go to the meadows today?"

Olwen smiled wearily down at him and nodded. Nas could feel her restlessness as she made them breakfast and they ate in silence. She was tense as they left the cottage and made their way into the meadows. It wasn't until they were surrounded by the sweet fragrance of wildflowers and the warm glow of the morning sunshine that the tension began to fade. Olwen picked flowers and wandered through the fields with Nas at her heels. They did not talk much and simply enjoyed one another's quiet company. Nas watched Olwen closely, observing the subtle changes in her body language as she melted into the beauty of the untamed meadows. She looked much like a spring fairy dancing through the tall grasses and skipping across the small streams and brooks with light steps. He found himself more in awe of his master than he had been before, admiring every small expression on her face and the small smiles that brightened her face when she encountered a rare or perfectly formed flower. Her beauty was always obvious to him but in these peaceful moments he found himself even more drawn to her. His heart ached at the thought of her being forced into service to the emperor. As the day passed all too quickly he could not quell an unusual sense of foreboding. These gentle days were numbered. He felt sure of it. And to his dismay his fears were soon realized. When they returned to their cottage there was an imperial guard waiting for them.

Olwen hesitated, able to see the rigid posture and familiar uniform from across the meadow, standing stoically in front of her door. He was waiting diligently, glancing around every so often. It was clear what he had come for, as least in Nas's mind. He was here for Olwen. She stood still for what felt like many long minutes, staring intently and coldly at the guard. Nas felt a pang of fear in his own heart. In this form he might be able to accompany her. But he could not dispel their unwelcome guest as a cat.

"Wait for me, Master," he whispered into her head. She nodded grimly and waited for him to transform and return to her side. She reached out to him and took his hand to strengthen her resolve. He was startled momentarily but welcomed the comforting sensation of her skin against his. As they approached her home the guard quickly noticed him and stood even straighter, if such a thing were even possible.

"Are you the Healer, Olwen?" he asked brusquely.

"Yes, sir," she replied coolly. "What is your business with me?"

"I am here by order of the Emperor. You have been summoned to the capital city, my lady."

"I am no lady. And I cannot possibly neglect my duties here. Why have I been summoned?"

Her heart raced and she could feel her breathing quickening as the reality of the situation began to take hold of her. Nas wrapped his arm around her instinctively to offer support and comfort. The guard noticed their closeness and bristled slightly.

"I am merely a Captain of the Guard, miss. I was not given a reason, only a command."

"And what if she will not abide by that command?" Nas hissed, tightening his grip on her.

"It will be considered treason, sir," the guard replied haughtily. Olwen pressed her hand against her chest, fighting back tears.

"I am expected to respond to a summons to the capital city with no given reason?" she protested.

"I have been ordered to give you this," the captain sighed, passing her an envelope emblazoned with the Emperor's seal. "We leave at sundown."

Before Olwen or Nas could reply he bowed stiffly and departed, leaving them standing in front of the cottage in silence.

Nas pulled her even closer to him, wrapping her in a tight hug. He stroked her hair gently until she could breathe normally and pulled away, looking up at his face with tears in her eyes.

"What do I do, Nas?"

Olwen sobbed as she stumbled into the cottage and sat in her favorite chair, followed closely by Nas. He sat at her feet, his head resting in her lap as her tears fell freely into her hands. It took a while for her grief to subside but it was replaced by a terrible resignation. She patted Nas's head but he could feel her distress. Her hands trembled as she opened the envelope in her hands. It was a message written by the secretary of the Emperor. To receive a message directly from the Emperor's right hand was considered an honor. It was brief and direct. She was being summoned to serve in the imperial guard as a healer. It was precisely what she had feared. She folded the letter shakily.

"Will we run, Master?" Nas asked in a small voice, reaching up to wipe tears from her face.

"No, Nas," she whispered. "We could not possibly escape."

She was right. The Emperor's eyes were everywhere. They were in every forest and village, every city and port. And they were looking for her. There was no conceivable way that she could remain undetected. She had no connections or allies. She had lived in this small village her whole life with no reason to wander. She had no chance.

"Then I will come with you," Nas murmured. He rose from the floor and began gathering her belongings to pack into bags for their journey. "You should go see your family."

Olwen nodded, but grabbed his arm to stop him.

"You must come with me," she insisted. Nas nodded. Though her family had only ever seen him in his other form, he could not deny her request. She helped him pack their home into only three bags, enough for the two of them to carry, and they set off down the sunny path for what seemed like the last time.