Free Magic (complete)

Chapter 11

The night was quiet. Because Anders had slept all day, he was awake all night and working on his project. He didn't get as much done as he would have liked, but he was distracted by what Jak had said. Someone, either in the council or who knew about his magic storage theory, believed in it enough to steal his work. But what if it wasn't actually the same mage? What if his was just another random theft from that night? The other stolen components didn't seem to go together, though most of them were listed in the journal. Was he reading too much into it? Were they really not connected to the book?

Eventually he gave up and left his rooms to walk the halls, clearing his head. He was surprised to see the red light of dawn streaming into the windows from the ends of his hallway. Birds chirped outside, confirming the new day had started.

He walked down the flights of stairs, joining other mages who sleepily made their way to the kitchens. Porridge, the same breakfast served every day, was being dished up. He took his bowl and found a seat where he could watch everyone enter the room. It didn't take long for Ghilda to waltz in, a breath of fresh morning air fueled by gossip and chatter.

She took her porridge and stopped at several tables to say hello before settling down with two older mages in red. Anders watched her, really watched her for the first time. She easily had the power and knowledge to do it. To raise the dead, if it were possible. Her blue robes attested to that. She certainly knew about his project, and had connections with most of the council as well as many scholars from Raastad.

He watched her laugh and tell stories of her own. No, it wasn't Ghilda. She didn't have a care in the world and she thrived in Whitethorn. Why she didn't leave when she got her robes was still a mystery to Anders, but some people really didn't' want to travel. He watched the gently glowing blue mark on her neck, clearly visible since she kept her hair in a bun. His jealousy stung, and it was a moment before he shifted his attention around the room.

Ghilda sat with a member of the council and a mage known for his research on water magic. Neither of them looked like they could manage a complicated spell at their age, but with mages you never can tell. Anders recognized several important mages around the room, but had no idea where to start. He hadn't spoken to most of them and had no idea who might have the right kind of power and knowledge to pull off what the journal suggested.

"I know it wasn't Bo!" Deidre hissed behind Anders, making him jump nearly out of his seat. She sat down next to him and began mashing her porridge with her spoon.

"I talked to the kitchen girl who talked to the butcher in town who knows Bo's Ma and she says he was home that night with a cold. There's still a thief on the loose, and I'll be after him! Let me know if you hear anything and I'll tell you what I find." She stood up without having taken one bite of her food.

"Why me?" Anders asked bewildered.

"You are the only one who saw the thief so of course you can't be him. It could be anyone else though! Keep on your toes." And she left before Anders could point out that if he were the thief he would have lied about spotting the man in brown.

He turned red when he saw how many people stared at them. He never did well with attention. With that many eyes on him though, his hope of quietly watching the council mages was gone, and he left after finishing his bowl.

Jak sat in a corner of the Nest with a drink and a foul mood. He couldn't turn up one thing about Magnus Hughes, which irritated him and was a sore point to his pride.

"Shadow got your teeth in a twist?" A barmaid with curly black hair leaned over Jak's table to refill his mug.

"Just trying to work out a problem." Jak took a swallow from his mug.

"It ain't like you to mope Jak. If you want I can call over some girls, that always cheers you up." She winked with her big doe eyes and stood to straighten her blouse.

"As tempten as that is, really, no. I have to get somethin done." Jak drained his mug and left the coin for it on the table. He walked towards the door, just as Hash was coming in.

"There ya are Jak. Heard a rumor you just might like." Hash smiled and walked outside with Jak where they wouldn't be so easily overheard.

"What is it?" Jak whispered curiously.

"Word in the proper circles is that a large group of university scholars sent a runner ahead to reserve rooms at the River's Edge. 'Parently a bunch of em is arriving tomorrow. Even though yer man has a house in town what are the odds he's comin with these others?" Hash kept his voice low.

"Good my friend. Or so I hope. Time to meet up with this runner. Thanks." Jak patted Hash on the back and trotted of to the better side of town. The River's Edge was a lodging house with a reputably good kitchen. It was more than Jak wanted to spend on a roof over his head, but perfect for esteemed scholars coming into town for the assessment in a few weeks.

The lodging house was three stories tall, the tallest one on the street. The lawn was orderly, the servants were sharply dressed, and the grey painted shingles were all in order. An outbuilding which seemed to act as the kitchen wafted the smell of fish and lemon through the street.

"Can I help you sir?" A man in a neat black coat addressed Jak as he approached the front door.

"Is the message runner from the Royal University still here? I'm an old friend and I heard he was in town." Jak did his best to lessen his lower streets accent.

"Message runners arrive in the back." The man looked down his nose as he realized Jak wasn't a customer. "You may yet find him there."

Jak didn't bother thanking the man, as he didn't bother giving Jak a second glance. Rounding the back of the neat lawn, he found a bustling yard of activity. Deciding it would be better to blend in than ask around, he picked up a nearby sack of flour and walked across the yard towards the kitchens. He scanned the area, finding servants, horse groomers, cooks, and there on a chair by the open kitchen door was a man soaked in sweat and draining a pitcher of water.

"Ho! That's enough of that." Jak set his sack of flour by the kitchen and turned to the man. "Feelin better?"

"Yes, mostly." He was thin, but with strong legs and it looked like he had come on horseback because Jak could see two stable boys rubbing down a winded horse nearby.

"So we're expecting quite a few esteemed guests eh? You work for them long?"

"Three years now, it pays well enough." The man seemed to have gotten enough water in his throat now and was catching his breath.

"My cousin up in the castle scribes works for a man name of Magnus Hughes, might he be one comin down do you know? I've heard great things, it'd be nice to see him just once." The man stopped drinking his water and gave Jak a funny look.

"Magnus Hughes? Royal University professor of Arcane History?" Jak nodded slowly. "Sorry to tell you friend, but your cousin is out of work. Magnus Hughes is dead."