- 128 -

  “The carriage is much appreciated Lady Frostwind.” Damien said.

  Seraphina’s carriage rumbled up the avenue towards the highest level of the city. She offered to give Damien and Drew a life back to the council offices after their win.

  Why does this keep happening to me?

  Drew looked over his status sheet for his two elemental affinities. After a moment he found them with his other traits.

  Traits:

  Scholar I: 5% experience boost for learning new skills and spells.

  Tinker I: 5% increased proficiency with basic crafting tools.

  Hero I: 5% increased experience gain from quests.

  Flame Affinity lvl 1: You have developed an affinity with the Element of Flame.

  Wind Affinity lvl 1: You have developed an affinity with the Element of Wind.

  How are these traits going to work? They are just as oblique as my Hero trait. And the Hero trait gave me the detect quest skill thingy.

  Drew focused on his new Wind affinity and the urge to fly out the carriage window nearly over took him.

  “Drew!” Seraphina said sharply. “You aren’t even listening to me are you?”

  Seraphina had had more than a few terse words for him after his display on the lake. For the last minute she had switched to musing about his improved ability.

  “Sorry, I missed that last part.” Drew said.

  The ice mage had moved on to assuming Drew was close to unlocking his next affinity.

  “Why you must be close to unlocking your water affinity Drew!” Seraphina said excitedly. “Then you can learn the most beautiful class of magic in the world.”

  She smiled at him expectantly again, this time he responded.

  “Ice magic?” Drew said awkwardly.

  “Yes!” Seraphina exclaimed. “Weather magic is an extension of water and wind! It’s a tough risk to rank up the affinity traits but well worth it.”

  They won’t level so easy, they are ranked like my hero trait and that hasn’t even gone up one level this whole time.

  “He has already started with his flame affinity lady Frostwind.” Damien said matter of factly.

  The carriage bumped over some debris in the road and they all settled back onto the seats.

  “Oh Drew! You have not!” Seraphina pouted. “You will simply have to create an emblem to mitigate your flame affinity until you can grow your wind and water affinities to their second ranks. You will be a bit behind but there is plenty of time…”

  Drew stopped paying attention to the conversation as something flashed by out the window.

  The carriage passed by a small cafe doing a fine late lunch hour with small tables set up for couples out front. Groups of adventurers were eating merrily outside and Drew’s empty stomach complained.

  Just like the guild back in Rotterdale! No where to forage in a city but I bet I could get some scraps easily there!

  The carriage passed a skinny alleyway and he could see the crates and barrels of food waste piled up. Drew shuddered at the thought of digging for scraps at tables or in the alleys.

  Actually, what am I thinking? That’s disgusting. I will never eat garbage. Where’s Marcus’s shop? I bet they give out free samples.

  Drew tuned back into the friendly debate between his fellow passengers. They were discussing the pairings of affinities like two fans of opposing college football teams.

  “The flame and wind affinities are famous, many mages develop them. He would not need to set back his build, since the wind increases the flame magic, albeit you lose some precise control.” Damien said.

  “Pish posh! He should focus on water going forwards. If he had three levels of water affinity he may have a chance to become a passable ice mage. Although his flame affinity will hold him back. Perhaps we could take a detour this afternoon and find you an artifact to reduce your flame affinity.” Seraphina mused.

  “I don’t want any more of these affinities.” Drew said suddenly. “I’ve just gained the wind affinity today and now it sounds like what? I’m going to lose control of my fire magic? I’m not going to be a battle mage.”

  “Now now Drew, you don’t have to be a battle mage, why Lady Frostwind is a sculptor. And Reandre, is an alchemist, her Flame and Water affinities help her brew potions.”

  “And many Enchanters end up gaining an affinity with earth, from all the carving they do.”

  “But I don’t want to lose control like Pigra did.”

  Damien and Seraphina didn’t answer right away.

  “Well Drew, Mages practice with their affinities and increase their mana pool and mana control to dilute their aspected mana. That’s why you have Mana Reinforcement, and Mana Channeling. Both will help you control your aspected mana.” Damien said in his book smarts voice.

  But now that I have two affinities, how long will I be able to hold out? What if I get three? I’ll survive for a while, but for how long? Borealis would know, wouldn’t he?

  “I need some air. I’ll fly along above the carriage,” Drew said.

  “Wait Drew. I can see this is a lot for you to take in all at once. But don’t forget that we need to register you as part of the winter court and assign you court quests and raise your standing before Vexilar Carros and his monstrous familiar return from seclusion.”

  That’s another thing! We are just going to trust this D’Aeggett guy because he can timeloop?

  Drew’s mind raced in circles without settling on one task long enough to make progress.

  “We are nearly there.” Seraphina said. “We will have this all sorted out in a few hours time. The head clerk is quite productive.”

  D’Aeggett’s plan is all happing so quickly! I wish I could talk to any of the Johns about him before trusting him so much.

  Drew’s feathers itched to be in the sky, to go find his friends in this strange vertical city, but the boulevard they were traveling down was dark. They were in the middle of the city.

  There isn’t even enough sky out there!

  The carriage passed onto a new block, and an elaborate depiction of a Garnt kicking backwards swung lightly above the door to a rowdy inn.

  That’s got to be the Garnt’s Hoof! It has to be. The Johns should be there, and William.

  “See you back at Reandre’s house!” Drew said quickly. “I’m going to visit the Johns at the Garnt’s Hoof!”

  Drew used Mage Hand to unlatch the door and slip out into the air.

  “Drew wait!” Damien cried but Seraphina raised a hand.

  “Spare him another visit to the Court Offices.” She said with a sigh. “The Sisters know I have had enough of the bureaucracy for one day.”

  -

  Drew circled above the inn, flying close to the struts and glass of the city layer above to get a better view.

  Let’s see if this Wind affinity trait has a couple secret perks just like my hero trait.

  Drew flew in acrobatic arcs, letting the single weak breeze he could find in the middencity do its best to tip his wings towards the west.

  He could feel and anticipate the wind much better, with his new wind affinity.

  It’s like the wind is helping me fly.

  His feathers cut through the air easier giving him a sleight boost to his flying speed and maneuverability. He circled around the inn and its conjoined building.

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  Wind affinity and being a bird make so much sense together! I bet I can go super fast if there was a real gust!

  The Garnt’s Hoof was not a tall building, only three stories above the level of the road. It was a wide building, built into one of the towering columns of stone that supported the higher layer of the city. A large glow lamp was strapped to the column, it hummed softly emitting a small amount of light to offset the early evening light, as Drew watched, the enchantments ticked over and the lamp turned up a notch.

  It’s set to gradually turn up as the afternoon turns to evening!

  The Garnt’s Hoof had all the trimmings of a fine Inn. Stout framing, clean plaster, organized stonework, and glass windows of yellow, and amber colors that brought a warm light to the patrons inside.

  Drew flew past the open windows of the conjoined building.

  It looks like the Inn had once had a stable attached. At least It would make more sense then a community sleeping area with a hay loft and barn doors.

  Drew could see rows of cots on the second floor through the dormer windows.

  A gilded sign out front demanded respect and warded off the lowest citizens of Valoria in a floral script.

  “‘NO ADVENTURERS!’” Drew read aloud as he circled past the front of the building a second time. “Why wouldn’t they want coin from adventurers? You would think the name would attract adventurers in droves.”

  The double doors were open so Drew swooped quietly in.

  Just inside the front doorway, two men in clean breeches, calf high boots, and linen shirts stood holding their hats by their wide brims, feathers aplomb, as a terse woman called out at the them from behind the bar.

  “You two got the look of adventures about you!” She shouted from the bar, ladle in hand menacingly.

  “Apologies madam!” The first man said. “My brother and I have a certain affection, I have to confess.”

  “We are duelists, madam.” The other man said quickly. “My apologies for my brother’s roguish looks.”

  “There is a dress code.” The matron of the establishment said. “No swords, no adventuring gear.”

  Drew quietly swooped past the two men and disappeared into the rafters to get the lay of the place.

  Good thing I’ve got my armor in my ring. My wand sling might get me in trouble tho.

  Drew took in the layout of the room.

  It’s almost like the adventurers guild back in Rotterdale.

  It was an old establishment, with layers of plaster and old worn out enchantments carved into the beams, long forgotten.

  The back wall was a well kept bar with stools all done up in dark wood. The wall to the right of the door was plush booths. Instead of patching any tears the proprietors had reupholstered some of the cushions.

  The final wall to the left of the door was host to a corner stage, tables and chairs scattered around the floor, but scratches in the waxed floor showed how often the tables were moved for dancing.

  The brothers apologized profusely and checked their thin rapiers with a waiting girl at the door before nodding their apologies again and taking a seat at a corner table to order a meal.

  Around the room the occasional single person held down a table and sipped an ale. A man and a woman huddled together romantically in a booth in the corner.

  I bet they could clear a quarter of the room for dancing and still have enough room for all these tables for folks to sit at.

  The stage was low enough you could step up from the dance floor without much effort.

  Sure, its a cozy spot that could host a militia’s worth of revelers, but whats worth all the trouble of a dress code? Theres got to be a story about the restriction on adventurers.

  Drew shrugged when no quests popped up.

  “Why do they even want to come in here?” Drew asked himself. “Surely there are countless other places to drink in the city.”

  Another man stomped through the doorway with a wooden crate stacked high with scrap metal and a satchel of blueprints. He walked directly to the bar and slammed it all down.

  William!

  “William! This is not your deaf mothers smithy! You are new here so you have one free tongue lashing. Do you need to hear me about this crap on my bar or do you want to save it and you can have my lecture another time?” The matron shouted from across the bar.

  “Apologies madam!” William replied and quickly dragged his materials over to a table near the stage.

  As he turned, the proprietress’s scowl flickered to a mother’s knowing smirk before she popped into the back kitchen.

  “William.” Drew said happily as he swooped down to join him at the booth. “Hows it going?”

  “Oh Drew! Off to a rocky start.” William said with a huff.

  “It has been a long day for everyone.”

  “Actually, it’s not going very well at all. Yet it is good to see you my friend.” William said and looked around for anyone else. “Are you alone?”

  “I had to get out for a bit and stretch my wings. Glad I found the right Inn then. But whats all this about now?” Drew asked clicking his beak at the scrap iron and blueprints.

  William gave a tired smile and pulled out the blacksmith schematic for another sword and shield.

  “The blacksmith gild inspector rejected my application. The armor we made was tainted by the dungeon and thus in-eligible for my journeyman’s exam. So now I’m looking at a few other options.”

  So the dungeon did influence the enchantment! Is that why it was much more powerful?

  “I’m sorry, William we couldn’t have known. But we survived, didn’t we?”

  “We did indeed. I thought I would make another paired sword and shield and I could use your help enchanting them.”

  “Good day sir, what can I get you?” A familiar young waitress said politely.

  Drew turned and recognized the young girl from yesterday.

  “Andie! They did hire you then. Well done.” William said. “I’ll have an ale and if they have any lunch left over, bring us a plate for Drew and I to share.”

  Andie was wearing the inn’s uniform. A mid length dress with a layered skirt underneath to puff it out. She wore a time worn apron over the dress to keep it clean and carried a serving tray under one arm.

  She nodded and walked quickly towards the bar.

  “This is her uncle’s place?” Drew asked.

  “No, he couldn’t host her. Not enough business apparently on that side of the city. She found the Johns and I here last night and they cashed in a favor with the proprietors to give her a shot.”

  “Amazing that she found the place,” Drew said.

  And that she made it here safely at night. People let their children take so many risks in this world. Earth kids would never be out on the streets alone looking for work in bars.

  “It is a famous spot. Apparently it caters to a certain sort from the higher level of the city.” William said with a shrug.

  I still don’t get the appeal. Is there no place better in town?

  “Alright my friend,” William said. “Sword and shield combos. What can we do with scrap iron?”

  “Nothing like we could with the Aurichalcum.” Drew said and looked into the crate. It was full of busted plate mail, pots, a few halves of shields, and some random bits of slag iron from cast iron molds.

  “Where did you get all this scrap?” Drew asked.

  “From the guild, journeyman applicants can get a crate of scrap each day. It’s just down the street.” William said happily. “It was free.”

  “What about all the scrap from the dungeon?” Drew asked.

  William smiled and waved off the question.

  “Oh don’t worry, I’ve got all that too. A blacksmith can always use more scrap.” He said happily.

  Andie returned with his ale and a plate of cheese and fruit, some roast meat with some rustic rolls, and a sour custard sauce for dipping.

  Drew and William thanked her and got to work brainstorming ideas.

  William wanted to recreate the same synergy with his sword and shield but the materials were not up to the task.

  Eventually they watered down the idea to something neither of them were excited about.

  Andie returned with another ale by the time they were done.

  “It would work.” William said as he traded his empty cup for the full one. “But a stronger effect would be better. But no matter what I make it’s just not going to hold up to such a strong enchantment unless we have better metal.”

  Drew snapped up the last of the cheese and looked over their notes. He was feeling much better after the brainstorming session.

  “If you want a sword that draws ambient mana to charge a mana shield built into the shield. All wrapped in the soul bound enchantment.” Drew said. “It should work, we could socket in a few high level mana crystals into the sword and shield to increase the charge capacity. The crystals may grow in capacity as the set levels, and the strength of the enchantment will grow as the set levels.”

  “It’s a sound plan but will it be enough to pass my journeyman’s test?”

  “Well what other types of artifacts do blacksmiths submit? Does it have to be weapons?”

  A young woman in heavy leather work pants and rugged work boots stomped in through the front door while they mused aloud.

  “Grab a table anywhere darling!” The matron called to the woman. “Andie, fetch her a stout ale.”

  The woman pulled up her usual table, just across from William and Drew. She gave their crate a cursory glance.

  Snooping? Is she another blacksmith?

  “A blacksmith?” She said. “What are you making?”

  Drew shuffled the schematics around and kept his beak shut.

  “Trying to decide on my submission for my journeyman’s test. But all our ideas would be better on a higher grade metal.”

  William is a bit far into his ales. Might be time to remove his debuff and send him home.

  The woman nodded.

  “I know the look,” She said. “Lot’a folks come here to test at the guild.”

  Andie arrived with the stout ale and took a copper for it.

  “I’d be happy to sell you some cold iron. It’s hard to work with so the assist like to see submissions using it. And it would stabilize any enchantments you built in. Mostly it would raise the grade of your project, even in a 50% alloy with your scrap there.” She said pointing at his crate.

  “How much would it cost?” William asked without a moment of consideration.

  “Depends how much you need and how fast. And how many hands you hired to help retrieve it. The best source of it is down in the undercity. There’s never enough in the market for any one project. Everyone has to hire a team to go down and get it.” She replied and took two big gulps of her ale.

  “There are mines under the city?” Drew asked.

  Drew’s question surprised her and she coughed on her ale.

  “Sorry to startle you.” Drew said with a bob of his head.

  The woman pulled a hand pick from her belt that Drew hadn’t noticed hanging there. The pointy end shone extra sharp and he could see a durability enchantment on its shaft.

  Must be a storage device on her belt. Does she fight with picks?

  The woman kept the pick between her and Drew as she looked around. She didn’t see anyone else worried about the talking monster and finally met William’s eyes. He was holding back a laugh.

  “He’s not a demon then?” She said. “Or am I drunk already?”

  “He is the smartest gallow bird I know.” William said.

  “Call me Drew.” Drew said and held out his claw to shake hands, but the woman didn’t accept it. Although she lowered the pick a bit.

  “You are telling me that a Skurr learned to talk?” She asked.

  “He did-“ William said.

  “I did.” Drew said at the same time. “And I am quite adept as an enchanter too.”

  Drew puffed up his breast and preened his feathers to emphasize his point.

  “Well if that’s not the strangest thing I’ve seen in a while.” The woman laughed and put her pick down on the table, just within her reach.

  She took another gulp of her ale and held out her hand.

  “Call me Helda,” She said. “I’m a miner. And if you want off market high quality metal then I’m your gal.”

  If she’s a minor then she shouldn’t be drinking ale.

  Drew clacked his beak laughing to himself.

  “That’s how he laughs.”William said and shook Helda’s hand. Their tough hands rasped together.

  “Hi Helda, I’m William. You are right, I’m a blacksmith. Unfortunately I’m starting over from scratch on my submittal.” William offered.

  “Strange bird you have there William.” Helda said.

  “He’s a friend.” William said. “Saved my life more than once.”

  “You returned the favor a couple times already.” Drew said.

  Helda turned fully towards them and leaned in.

  “Now that’s a story worth hearing.” She said. “There’s time yet before the dancing starts. I’ll buy an ale for you if you share it.”

  “We’ll tell you the story, but William will have to drink the ale by himself!” Drew said and started clacking with laughter all over again.