We Three Mages (Editing)

Chapter Twenty Eight: A Single Peaceful Moment

Jared hadn’t woken up since he and the others escaped from that outpost.

He had teleported everyone a few miles away, the longest jump he had ever done with the most people he had ever done. When they reappeared, they were half a mile away from a small town and Jared was completely deprived of his magic, which was very dangerous for a mage. Lieutenant Ross carried him while Nadia and Mari tried to find a way to replenish his magic using their own. Devin hung out towards the back of their little group because he still wasn’t sure where he fit in to all this.

As soon as they arrived at the town, they split into two groups, Nadia and Mari were to pick up some work while Lieutenant Ross and Devin were to take Jared and find themselves a place to stay.

Lieutenant Ross and Devin found an innkeeper who took pity on the three and gave them two rooms.

“Thank you, we’ll pay as soon as we’re able.” Lieutenant Ross gave her word.

“Should I call the doctor for that young man?” The innkeeper asked.

“No, all he needs is a few days of undisturbed rest.” Lieutenant  Ross made it very clear.

“Loud and clear.” The innkeeper nodded.

The rooms weren’t bad. One room had two beds while the other had a single bed and one set of bunk beds. The Lieutenant left Jared in the bunk bed room and told Devin to stay with him. She headed out to see how Mari and Nadia were doing as well as to see what work she could scrape together.

Devin sat alone in silence while watching over Jared.

Nadia and Mari found that a bar desperately needed some waitresses and that they would take anyone at this point.

“If the people out there get handsy, you just let me know.” The bar owner, Sal, told them.

“We know how to take care of ourselves.” Mari said as she looked over their new uniform. “We’re from the Academy.”

“I’m sorry for you losses.” Sal sounded truly apologetic. “I had a nephew attending there. We still haven’t received word if he’s…” Sal couldn’t make himself continue.

“W-What year?” Nadia asked.

“Year Six; he was old enough to be drafted for the cause and by his letters he was willing to go when his country called.” Sal remembered fondly. “His name’s Keith. Keith Dale.”

“Well, we’re not sure how long we’ll be staying here, could be a week, could be a month, but we will be leaving here. We’ll keep an eye out for you.” Mari promised.

“Thank you.” Sal smiled.

It was not week, but it was less than a month that the five stayed in that small town. Fifteen days had gone by and Jared still hadn’t woken up. On their third day there, Jared had caught a horrible fever and Devin didn’t sleep until it had gone down by day seven.

Nadia and Mari each worked for seven pieces an hour and worked seven hour days. They were paid every three after a week because business started to really pick up.

Lieutenant Ross found work here and there, mostly odd jobs. Sometimes working out on a farm, other times working in a shop or with the blacksmith, but she was working and she was working very hard.

On the fifteenth day, Devin had fallen asleep on the lower bunk, opposite of Jared’s single bed for a quick nap. Around day ten, Devin started to help the innkeeper out once he saw that Jared had improved from a deep, comatose sleep, to just a deep sleep. By helping out with the other guests and cleaning, the innkeeper cut their pay by half. It was during this nap that Jared groaned, turned over on his side and then woke up with a start.