Walking Mage

Who I am: CH11

High Mage Corla listened to the council on the Houses and tried not yawning loud enough to be heard in the darkened room.  Her mind kept drifting to the Boar's Tusk and the interesting Walking Mage who was the upcoming topic of conversation.  This was the only reason she had come here today.

As a High Mage she could attend any of the uncounted number of committees on life in Farth and the world at large.  In her opinion these meeting did little and accomplished less, except to take up a lecture hall.  Some ridiculously old Mage pounded on the floor with their staff, signaling the end of one conversation and the beginning of another.  

"To the matter of House Boar's Tusk we call before the committee a Mage who has accused a Walking Mage of using magic wantonly."  A male member called out.

Corla sat up.  She had heard that they wanted to investigate Lynn's being in the Tusk but this...this was madness.

A smooth looking Mage sauntered into the chambers.  He had one of those personalities that drew people in without trying, his charming-like smile was for all and no one at once.

Corla hated the man on site.  She had no basis for this strong emotion but it was there all the same.  She just knew that he would be arrogant and condescending, but everyone one of the fools in the room would eat it up like spiced rice.

"Thank you for allowing me, a plain Mage, to enter this high committee chambers." He spoke with just enough difference that most of the deaf Mages sitting in the lower seats would think he was being respectful.  "I made the issue of a Walking Mage within a nearby House known to the Council two moon turns ago."

Again Corla was thrown.  A friend had warned her that the Tusk was on many lips of late, but not for the whole time Lynn had been at the Boar's Tusk.

"Now I'm coming before you to bring up charges of which this young Mage has set fire to loyal Guardsmen and Patrolman within this fair city."  As he spoke he began to walk back and forth, making sure to catch the eye of each prime member of the committee.

Knowing this trick and seeing it done by a master was giving Corla even more reason to worry.  This Mage would win them and have all the attempts on Lynn's life look like she, herself, was causing the attacks on her own life, if he got his way.

Corla would have to tread very lightly.  Mages in Farth had become Nobles in their own right.  High Mages could influence policy of the Royalty. 

The Grand Mage ate with the King and Queen for dinner every night.  Corla hated it.  This was never how the Mages were meant and behave in this society.

Here a Mage would rise or fall based on who they knew or who they choose to protect; being a High Mage was not about how much magic one had, but how much power and knowledge in magic one had.  This thirst for power and prestige was how the last Mage war had begun.

She had actually been fighting the politicking and social system in a shadow war of her own.  Corla had supporters in her little fight but not enough to come out of the shadows yet. 

What was needed was more High Mages and maybe an Elder Mage or two on her side.  This was the Mage way, get support and then attack.  Like preparing a complex spell for days or even weeks and then unleashing it.  Timing was a key element, especially now.

The smooth, oddly unnamed, Mage droned on about the integrity of Mages and Walking Mages knowing their place.  He kept pointing out the importance of Houses and their placing in Farth.

Corla kept being drawn to just how interested he was in punishing a Walking Mage.  It was nearly vengeful.  This man had a personal grudge against Lynn and was barely hiding it.  The ancient fools of the lower level heard none of the dripping poison- for they liked their ears tickled and the Mage made it a strong point to compliment them often between his rants.