Ways of Power 1: Power Rises (6 page)

10

Rancoth slept little that evening, and the next day had breakfasted and was beating on Dorbin's door before the sun had even thought about rising. "WAKE UP!"
Bang bang bang
, "WAKE UP!"
Bang, bang, ba… creeeeak--
.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRRONG WITH YOU?!?!" Dorbin stood in his shop door, bare from the waist up, fuming to the point that Rancoth could almost imagine steam shooting from his ears. He tried not to laugh at the sight of the furious, diminutive man. "Have you gone daft?" Dorbin asked, furiously.

"Me? No! I thought you were always the first one up in the whole city. What took you so long?" Rancoth answered, with more than a hint of mirth in his face and voice.

"Idiot Boy! It's still darrk out." With that he slammed the door, stinging the tip of Rancoth's nose. Knowing that Dorbin was now awake, and the door unlocked, Rancoth let himself in behind the old Dwalish man.

"Go away!" Dorbin shouted, not bothering to look back as he stomped to his sleeping room.

"I need your help." Rancoth said quickly, adding just enough desperation to his voice to get the man's attention. Dorbin peeked out from his sleeping room door. Rancoth had asked for numerous favors throughout their relationship, but he rarely ever said he needed
help
with anything.

"All rright I'm listening." Dorbin walked back out into the main shop area, and pulled up a stool that sat in front of the counter. He crawled up onto it and crossed his arms in front of his white-haired burly chest, a bemused and concerned look on his face.

"Do you remember a couple of days ago, the morning after the meeting with my father?"

Dorbin nodded.

"I told you that he and Grecrum wanted to drop me in the middle of my childhood yard so that I could fetch some Elfkin trinket my mother had borrowed."

Dorbin nodded again.

"Well, when you asked what I planned on doing, I told you I didn't know; now I do. I've decided to go and get it. But I'm not letting my father whoosh me there and back again."

Dorbin nodded yet again, and began tugging on the braid below his chin as normally did when in thought.

"Instead I've decided to go on foot, and I was—well, I was hoping that you would be willing to go with me."

Dorbin sat and stared at him for a moment, then hopped off his stool, reached up and grabbed Rancoth by his collar and pulled his face down so that they were nose to nose. He put one hand on either side of Rancoth's head and said, "Ask me again when it's light out." Dorbin then turned and walked back to his bedchamber. "And brring brreakfast with you!" He shouted from the next room.

Rancoth smiled, left, and ran to the market a few blocks away. He realized upon his arrival that no one was up yet, and he would have to sit and wait. It was not a particularly cold morning; in fact it was quite nice. Rancoth found an empty barrel behind the establishment, and moved it so that he could sit comfortably and watch the door while he waited.

His eyes had already adjusted to the dim light offered by the still star-strewn sky; though moonless he could see just fine. The front of the shop had two big windows flanking the door. Inside a number of assorted fruits and vegetables could be seen, displayed in an eye catching and appetizing manner. The door was painted orange, and above it was a sign that read
Vabrin's Victuals
.

After what seemed like hours, and in reality probably was, the shopkeeper arrived, and smiled at his earnestly waiting customer. Vabrin Shaw was a Hulden man, the only non-magic race besides the Dwalish who lived on Earth. The Huldens were often considered untrustworthy, though Rancoth hardly knew why. They resembled the Magi in every way except one--their eyes looked like those of the Dwalish race, and did not glow.

Vabrin had owned this shop for as long as Rancoth could remember. He unlocked the door and motioned Rancoth in with a jerk of his head.

"Well, good morning, sir. Needing to get a little shopping done before the dawn rush?"

Rancoth smiled, knowing full well that due to the prejudice against Huldens, Vabrin's shop was rarely busy. The man made enough to get by, but just barely. "Yes, please. Dorbin has asked me to fetch something for breakfast. The old coot couldn't be bothered to get up himself. He's getting lazy in his old age I'm telling you."

Vabrin simply smiled and nodded, "Well, that does happen. Pick out what you want and bring it to the counter. Just holler when you're ready."

Rancoth nodded and began to look around as Vabrin walked back to his stockroom. The shop was well organized, and had the slightly sweet smell of fresh produce. The floor was wooden, and creaked as Rancoth walked around. There were several bins placed throughout the shop with different fruits and vegetables in them.

Rancoth grabbed himself a shiny red apple, which felt firm and promised crisp sweet flesh. He also found a green one for Dorbin, knowing that the man preferred their tangy bite. He decided a few strips of jerked rabbit looked good as well, and brought his items to the counter. "Hey, Vabrin, I'm ready…oh and do you happen to have any mead?" Rancoth knew that Dorbin especially liked the silky sweet honey drink in the mornings.

"Sure do, I'll be right there," came the response from the back.

A moment or two later Vabrin walked out with a leather flask stopped with wax slung over his shoulder. "Will that be all?" he asked, placing the flask on the counter next to the fruit and dried meat.

"Yes, will this cover it?" Rancoth reached into the folds of his robe and pulled out a black leather coin purse. He then produced a single silver coin with a picture of Grecrum on one side, and the tower symbol on the other, offering it to the man.

"That's far more than this simple fare is worth, sir!" Vabrin exclaimed, balking at the shiny piece of metal.

"That's all right, you can keep the change. Consider it payment from days long ago, when your sweets weren't behind the counter." Rancoth tossed the coin to the man, winked, gathered his items, and left.

After returning to Dorbin's, Rancoth found that the little smithy had not been idle in his absence. Laid out on the counter was a knapsack full of bulges and lumps, and a small one-handed battle-axe with a matching shield. Both were ornately worked shining steel, embossed with matching bronze emblems of a snarling wolf. Rancoth thought he had seen all of Dorbin's work, but these were unfamiliar to him. There was also a plain brown sleeping roll, and a large empty leather flask similar to the mead-filled one Rancoth was carrying.

Dorbin came out of his workroom fastening a leather belt around his waist from which hung two of his Dwalish shaping hammers, one on each hip. He was wearing a pair of brown leather pants, some sturdy black leather boots, and a dark green tunic. "Wherre the hell have you been? You'rre killing day light," he demanded a look of barely restrained fury on his face.

Rancoth stood bewildered, "But--but you said…"

Dorbin's face split into a huge grin, and a hearty laugh shook his whole body, ceasing only after tears were streaming down his face. "That's what you get, lad, for waking me up so earrly!" he exclaimed, chuckling at the look Rancoth was giving him.

"Now what's forr brreakfast?" he asked.

Rancoth threw the green apple at him; trying his best to split it across the little man's head. Dorbin's quick reflexes prevented him his small revenge. He deftly caught the apple, and took as big a bite as he could muster; juice spilled down his bare chin and dripped into his braided sideburns.

It was now Rancoth's turn to laugh. The old man looked like a big baby who was still trying to figure out how to eat solid food. Furthermore, judging by the accumulation of supplies on the counter and Dorbin's dress, the little man had decided to go with him. Nothing could have made Rancoth happier in that moment.

After finishing their breakfast, Rancoth and Dorbin made their way up to the tower so that Rancoth could gather his own supplies for the journey. Having never made a long trip before, Rancoth was unsure what to take. Luckily, Dorbin easily transitioned into his old mentoring state.

"Nah you don't need that. Only one orr two sets o' clothes arre necessarry."

Rancoth put back the two additional robes he had pulled out of his chest drawer, and pushed it closed, running his hands over the smoothly finished cherry wood. "All right then, what else? I've got two robes, a sleeping roll, some more rope to add to what you already brought, a small knife, and a walking stick." Rancoth said.

"Hmm, we might need anotherr waterr flask, but that'll do I think." Dorbin said, twisting his fingers around the braid below his chin as he thought.

"Well, what about food?" Rancoth wondered, knowing full well that the little mans appetite far exceeded his stature.

"Eh we'll hunt and forrage along the way. It'll be good forr you to live off o' the land."

Rancoth cocked his head and looked at his friend for a moment. "If you say so, I guess. Now there's only one thing left to do."

"Oh yeah. What's that?" Dorbin asked.

"We need to let Grecrum know we are ready to go, and I have to inform Karakas that I won't be making my lessons for a while."

Dorbin's eyes opened in surprise. "What? I thought you werre done with lessons!"

Rancoth chuckled. "I'm done with your lessons, my friend, but I still have much to learn about my arcane talents."

Dorbin simply grunted in response, he then picked his rucksack up off of Rancoth's large soft bed. He shook his head as he looked around the room. "You know that Grrecrrum has always wanted to make yourr life an easy one. On the otherr hand, I firrmly believe that a harrd life makes forr good charracterr. The task ahead isn't going to be as easy as you think. Arre you surre you'rre rready forr this?"

"I guess you'll be there to find out. Let's go!" Rancoth exclaimed, gathering his own travel items and patting his short old friend on the top of his bald head.

Dorbin offered a hearty growl in return, and walked out of the room. It was still relatively early in the morning, but the sun was already well past the horizon. Consequently, as Dorbin and Rancoth came out from behind the Arch Mage's dais they came upon a room filled with people.

Some were standing in line on the long white and gold carpet. Others were waiting their turn by gazing out the windows, or in little groups chatting amongst themselves. Rancoth had no idea how many were there, but if he had to venture a guess it was close to a hundred or more.

Rancoth and Dorbin were slightly behind Grecrum but they could see him in his chair, addressing a woman who was demanding to know why she had been suspended from practicing her illusionary arts within city limits.

"Because, madam, when you trick a married man into believing that you are his wife, and then engage him in marital bliss it disrupts the order of things. You are summarily dismissed." Grecrum said, waving her off.

The woman hung her head, and turned to leave.

Grecrum noticed Rancoth and Dorbin behind him, and said, “I will be taking a short recess." As he stood, the whole room went instantaneously and eerily silent.

Every eye turned and ear strained to see what the Arch Mage was about to say. "I have a private matter to attend to." Grecrum turned to the two men waiting behind him and motioned them to follow as he went around to his private audience chamber.

Grecrum perched himself on the edge of his desk, and wasted no time once all three men were in the room together. "Well, it appears as though you two are ready to go. I must admit that was faster than I expected. Though not all together a surprise." He looked appraisingly at Rancoth before continuing. "Are you sure this is how you want to go about doing this? Adroman could be here in the blink of an eye."

Rancoth put on his best confident smile, "I am certain. We will leave right after I go see Karakas."

"That won't be necessary, I've already informed him that you will be indisposed for a while and won't be making your lessons."

Rancoth shrugged. "I appreciate that, but I must see him still. I have a question that I need to ask him before we depart."

"As you wish, of course. I'm sure he will be pleased to see you at any rate. He has told me many times that your lessons are very rewarding, not only due to your aptitude as a pupil, but also the valuable insight your talent has provided him about his own." Grecrum then stood and went behind his desk. Reaching down into one of the drawers, he produced a rolled piece of parchment and offered it to Rancoth.

"What’s this?" Rancoth asked. "A last minute gift?"

Grecrum chuckled. "No, not really, it’s a map from Tower City to your old home. It lies exactly fifty-two miles to the south, just outside the small town of Illineas."

Rancoth took the paper and unrolled it, looking it over carefully. He didn't so much love maps as he loved what they represented; the possibility that there was more to be seen, and experienced than was readily available around him.

As this interaction had been playing out between the Arch Mage and his all but adopted son, another one was simultaneously occurring inside Dorbin's head.

"Please Dorbin do look after the boy."

"Eh we'll be fine, he's a good lad."