I had hoped Pug would show more interest in his new estates, but he wished to remain focused on his studies. I couldn't fault him for it – well, I could, but I understood. Since his encounter with the trolls, he had discovered a greater ability to cast spells from scrolls.
Scrolls were an interesting tool. A spell could be prepared in advance in scroll form, but it required more energy than the spell would normally need. I had tested it with Kulgan, and it took roughly three times the usual amount of energy to do so. Reading the scroll itself also took longer than it would for a magician to cast the spell. So, what was the point?
First, it required far less energy to read from the scroll and complete the casting. Second, it allowed other people with magical talent to use the scroll. In Pug's case, he could not replicate the event with the trolls and was still stuck, but now, when he used scrolls, they failed maybe 10% of the time, compared to nearly half the time before his ride with the princess. It was as if something had unlocked in his mind, making him more adept at his craft.
I, however, could make use of nothing magical, not scrolls or the far-seeing crystal sphere. The more I quantified what Kulgan could do magically, the more I realized that I might be stuck. I wasn't giving up, as it was far too soon for that, but it was disheartening.
The other reason I understood Pug's reluctance to add something else to his plate was that he was now taking lessons on court etiquette and was expected to dine with the Duke and his family for dinner. Despite my frustration with the outcome, I did not find fault in his rational decision-making.
Three weeks passed, and then Pug once again became embroiled in an event. Pug and Tomas discovered a shipwreck, and the stories were already spreading faster than I used to be able to fly. The ship was not of Kingdom make, and the lone survivor of the wreck was badly injured. Some of the stories seemed based more on rumors than on actual knowledge, so I sought out the source.
I found Pug just as he entered the gardens and requested his firsthand account. He recounted the harrowing tale. He and Tomas had narrowly avoided injury, but they had retrieved an item that Kulgan was keenly interested in reviewing. They had also briefly conversed with the survivor, who neither spoke the King's Tongue nor appeared to be from Kesh or Queg.
Kesh, or more formally, The Empire of Great Kesh, was the southern neighbor to the Kingdom. Many a skirmish had been fought far to the southeast of Crydee, in the Vale of Dreams. Kesh still laid claim to it –indeed, they claimed most of the western half of the Kingdom – but their primary interest lay in the Vale, prized for its exceptionally rich and fertile soil.
Queg was once under Kesh's control, but now it was an island nation in the middle of the Bitter Sea, making a nuisance of itself with piracy and slave-taking. However, Queg had no desire for open conflict, they avoided preying too frequently on Kingdom-flagged vessels unless they could do so without detection. The strength of Queg's navy prevented Kesh from retaking the island, as the losses in an unproductive war would not serve their interests.
Regardless, the survivor, whom Pug had said seemed unlikely to live, was not from there. To the west lay the 'Endless Sea,' which as its namesake suggested, was reputed to be endless. Obviously, it couldn't be truly endless given the planet's round shape, similar to Earth. While I lacked precise measurements due to the absence of proper instruments, the gravity was approximately 98-99% of what I had experienced in my previous lives. No ship in recorded history had ever discovered anything beyond the Sunset Isles, which lay west of Crydee and the Far Coast as a whole.
Or so people thought. Perhaps they were wrong, and other islands with strange, colorful armor and different types of people and languages existed. There was also no real literature in Kulgan or the Duke's library regarding the people of the Keshian Confederacy to the south. People assumed they would be just like Kesh, but perhaps not.
I hadn't quite gotten everything out of Pug that I wanted before we were intruded upon by Squire Roland, Princess Carline, Lady Glynis, and another of the princess's ladies-in-waiting.
"I would like to speak with Squire Pug in private." Carline commanded.
I saw the two ladies-in-waiting, of Carline's age and thus slightly younger than Pug, glance at each other, giggle, and then move off. Roland gave Pug a look before turning away.
I lowered my head. "Your Highness."
As I left, I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Squire Roland. Roland had light brown hair and blue eyes. He was a bit older than Pug and Tomas, and by my estimation, a likely candidate for Princess Carline's hand. He was the son of the Baron of Tulan and a vassal to the Duke.
"May I help you with something, Squire Roland?"
"Yes, you can. I've spotted you a few times from afar speaking with Squire Pug. Your hair is quite lovely, so it is distinctive, but I have not yet had the pleasure of being introduced to you."
Was he flirting with me? I had no experience with that in my second life and incredibly limited experience in my first life. I am not ashamed to admit that my complexes often prevented me from socializing properly outside of formal settings. I'd like to think I'd improved, given that this is now my third childhood, but since children are often irrational, I wasn't sure.
"I am Tanya, the orphan girl who was taken in by Megar the cook, and his wife Magya."
He smiled at me. "Megar probably taught you much, I imagine your future husband will owe him for his tutelage."
What was he looking for? Talk of future husbands was hardly the beginning of courtship, so perhaps he was looking for a fling? A one-night stand so to speak? No, gross, and dangerous besides.
"He did well in teaching me, I have no complaints in regards to their care of me."
He tilted his head, as if he wasn't quite sure what to make of that statement.
"Since the princess will be busy with Pug, may I have the pleasure of your company?"
"No."
"I thought we could… wait, what did you say?"
"I said no, I am not interested, Squire Roland. I have work to do for Magician Kulgan. He has borrowed a tome that needs to be sent back before true winter sets in and makes travel difficult. I am copying the pages and do not have time for other… activities."
He slowly blinked. "Very well… Before you go, I do not wish to pry, but what are your thoughts of Pug? Is he someone you could see yourself cooking meals for, for the rest of your life?"
I frowned. "I told you I was scribing for Kulgan. I can earn more wages as a scribe than a cook." I eyed him. "Did Pug tell you I had ideas for improving Forest Deep?"
Roland now looked confused. "No, I don't speak that often with him." He looked back toward the gardens and then looked back at me, expression a bit perturbed. "Look, Tanya, what I mean to ask is are you going to try to marry Pug?"
Ahhh, now things had become clear. If I was Pug's girl, then Squire Roland would not want to involve himself and cause animosity between the two of them. I debated lying to him outright so he would quit nosing around, but that could cause its own issues.
"Squire Roland, sir, that is none of your business. I have work to do, and after I finish with that book, I no doubt have more in queue with Father Tully. I have little time to socialize, so I would ask that you delay me no further."
"You may go, then," Roland said, still irritated, and turned away.
Ugh. I had taken none of Magya's advice, and yet somehow teenage boys were eying me as a potential mate. My breasts were no longer flat, but I had hidden them from view. My stomach soured at even the thought of a carnal relationship. I put it out of my mind and headed to Kulgan's tower.
***
The door to his rooms was locked, which was strange since he was inside. I knocked, and Kulgan answered.
"Ah, Tanya. I was about to investigate the scroll that Pug found on the ship and thought it best to be undisturbed, as it is magical in nature. I know you intended to continue working on the text, but perhaps it would be better to wait. It might be dangerous."
"Dangerous? I trust in your capabilities, but should you suffer some sort of magical backlash, it would be wise for someone else to be nearby to summon aid."
Kulgan frowned but conceded my point and allowed my entry. I got to work at the table away from where Kulgan was fiddling with the scroll. Copying pages was tedious, but I worked quickly. I had always been studious in my first life, and in my second, I attended classes again. Note-taking was second nature, and my perfectionist habits came in handy for completing this task.
"Oh, now this is an interesting piece of magic," Kulgan said, amazement in his voice.
He muttered a few words; they sounded like a dispelling incantation. Energy swirled in the air, visible to the naked eye, and then he began reading aloud the letter, in the King's Tongue.
I was surprised he was reading it aloud but grateful he included me. The letter was addressed to the man's wife and recounted the events at sea, where a sudden storm took them unawares. The magician who penned the letter was in service to the 'Warlord' and could not use his normal means to escape to safety for fear of failing his mission. He ended with assurances that he would do everything in his power to return to her but warned that he was using dangerous magic to form an ad hoc 'rift' to the 'new world,' which was possible due to the established 'bridge.'
As he finished reading, Kulgan's body grew rigid, and he spoke words of power in a language unknown to me. He fell backward to the ground. In front of Kulgan, where once his table had been, hung a shimmering void. It was a sphere of gray that was not quite gray and shimmered with other colors. I immediately raced to Kulgan and checked if he was breathing. He was, but he was also quite unconscious.
I didn't like the look of the gray sphere, so I pulled Kulgan back away from it. He was annoyingly heavy and dead weight, but his robes didn't cause much friction on the ground, allowing me to drag him away. I opened the door and shouted at the top of my lungs.
"HELP! COME QUICKLY!"
Hopefully, people heard me. I didn't want to leave Kulgan here with this strange rift in reality. As I listened for a response, I saw a pair of arms reach out from the rift. The rift wasn't the height of a human, but I imagined one could pass through it horizontally. I shouted again for help and then heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
The hands kept grasping and pawing about. I had a small knife from the kitchens that I had secreted on my person. It wasn't designed for throwing, but it could take a surprised person in the jugular before they realized I had it. I began pulling Kulgan out the door toward the stairs when I saw two guards and Pug reach me.
Pug gaped at the rift and helped me with Kulgan.
"Alert the Duke!" I commanded one of the guards while the other held his spear up toward the rift. The voice I used was that of my second life; like then, it was high-pitched, but it carried a surprising amount of urgency and gravitas that made people quick to respond. The guard rushed back down the stairs to sound the alarm.
However, only moments later, the hands withdrew, and the rift collapsed. Whatever spell had created it had either had a short shelf life, or someone on the other side had closed it. Soon thereafter, many individuals showed up, including a rather worn and sweating Father Tully. I frowned; Father Tully was elderly, but he was fit for his age.
Tully soon pronounced that Kulgan was not in immediate danger; his breathing was steady, and his heart rate was normal. However, with magic, there were no certainties. I explained what I had witnessed to Father Tully and then to the Duke.
I recounted what had happened in exacting detail, describing the dimensions of the rift and the time it took to close. I realized, somewhat embarrassingly, that I was standing at attention and speaking in the clipped tone of a military situation report, rather than my normal speaking voice. The Duke, along with his sons, Lyam and Arutha, were looking at me oddly.
"Tanya, you did well." Duke Borric gave me a friendly nod. "I will not forget the service you have done for my household. Kulgan is a valued advisor, and I fear we will need his services more than ever in the days to come."
"Thank you, Your Grace," I replied, hoping that his thanks could translate into some tangible reward or favor in the future. Not something to bring up in that moment, of course. I excused myself and opted for a stroll to burn off some nervous energy.
I was worried for Kulgan, but that wasn't all. Was Being X now taking a hand? I had been slowly building toward a productive life, and now it was all being threatened. I didn't like the talk of a "Warlord" figure, though I suppose it could just be a title. The term "New World" was also frightening. A completely different world meant brand new diseases and dangers. While I was a fit teenager – and therefore hopefully less susceptible to life-ending foreign diseases – my two favorite people in this world were old men.
I paused at that and realized I had grown closer to Kulgan and Father Tully than I had to Pug and Tomas.
Pug and Tomas aren't bad, as a matter of fact, for children they were significantly better than the norm. Neither was arrogant, stupid, or hateful. But the types of discussions and conversations I've had with Father Tully and Kulgan were not ones I could have had with growing boys. Maybe that will change, especially with Pug's education.
I wasn't close with Megar or Magya, though I did owe them a debt. Debts were important obligations to be repaid; I believed that firmly. In total, I cared about only six individuals. I had no anger and did not wish any harm upon anyone else, but I was indifferent to their fates beyond the general frustration with the misuse of human resources that would occur if virulent diseases plagued this area due to otherworldly travelers.
Who am I kidding? Disease will be a threat, but this has Being X's fingerprints on it. I can almost guarantee these strangers will end up being warlike. If they aren't, I'll admit that maybe I'm just being paranoid about that fraud. But if they are… I'll have confirmation.
***
I was pleased to learn that Kulgan regained consciousness the next day. I also received more news from Pug: Father Tully had magic himself, though it wasn't like Kulgan's. Priests in this world were granted powers by their "Gods" that allowed them to perform magic, though it tended to be limited to only a few specific abilities.
Father Tully's order had the ability to perform what was called a "mind contact" with another party. It was a form of mind reading, but dangerous, as the caster would feel what the other person was feeling. If the subject were to die during the experience, the caster would either be driven mad or die as well.
It had been extremely risky for Tully to hazard it with the injured survivor, but he had done so and gleaned much information. The survivor was from another world, part of a nation called the Empire of Tsuranuanni. They called themselves the Tsurani. Pug explained that Tully was certain it was another world because the man's memory was of a larger, greenish sun.
This was confusing for me because stars don't emit light in that sort of wavelength. Perhaps the upper atmosphere of that world caused a skew in the coloration? Or there might be some unique genetic mutation that makes the people of that world perceive colors differently, and Father Tully was simply viewing it from the man's perspective. Or maybe that one individual had some sort of ocular issue. Unclear and probably not important, but a curiosity nonetheless.
I was reminded of how fragile life could be. Within the last 24 hours, two of the people I most enjoyed being around here had nearly died. Pug also shared that the Duke had sent fast riders to Elvandar, the home of the elves, and to the dwarves in the Grey Towers. As far as I could tell, Elvandar was the only gathering of elves, but the dwarves had three bastions. The Grey Towers were nearest to Crydee, with Stone Mountain farther north and Dorgin far to the east.
Both races lived significantly longer than humans, so perhaps they could provide counsel. Between Tully's mind contact and Kulgan's letter, it was clear that these Tsurani were dangerous. Pug said the number of soldiers in this empire made all the armies of the West look minuscule.
Not good.
Pug seemed anxious about the future, but it was buried beneath excitement. A response had been received, and Lady Aglaranna, Queen of the Elves, was riding toward Castle Crydee; something that had not occurred in living or recorded memory.
I was curious about the elves. I had not given up hope that I would one day be able to use magic. As a longer-lived race, perhaps they had knowledge I could tap into. The general consensus within Crydee was that the elves were beautiful, strange, and kept to themselves. There seemed to be little animosity or fear, likely due to being good neighbors for a few generations. But no one really knew much about them, save for Martin Longbow, the Duke's Huntmaster.
Knowing that a random human teenager asking about magic wouldn't have high odds of success, I sought out the expert on elves. Martin Longbow was a man often absent from Crydee, but he was here now. He was good at his job and had trained Prince Lyam and Prince Arutha in the finer points of hunting. He was also one of the few people to have ever visited Elvandar itself.
When I located Martin, I approached him with a friendly greeting. He was a tall man, broad of shoulder and dark of hair. His face carried a small beard that was neatly trimmed. Since I had worked in the kitchens before picking up the scribe trade, I was passingly familiar with his presence.
"Martin, Squire Pug told me that elves are coming to visit. All know your knowledge of them is the best, can I ask you some questions?"
"I believe you just asked your first one." His eyes flashed with amusement at a joke that had literally transcended worlds.
"I will take that as a yes. Please tell me what elves are like?"
Martin considered for a moment and then began to tell me about the elves.
"They are tall and graceful. Their humor differs from ours, and they have much more patience than most humans. They are very long-lived; many were alive when the foundations of this castle were laid."
"How long do they live?" I asked with curiosity.
"I know one elf who advises their Queen and is over 600 years old, but I've never asked specifically what their average lifespan is. They do not have many children, and each one is a joy. Sadly, battle can fell them just like a human, even with their grace," Martin replied.
"Battle, with whom?" I suspected the answer, but asked anyway.
"Elvandar lies near the Green Heart, and in the Green Heart's darker places are the Moredhel, also known as the Brotherhood of the Dark Parth, and they despise elves. You won't ever want to bring this up to an elf, but they are cousins and move with similar grace. That and the goblins – though it will be a strange day indeed if a mere goblin can best an elf!" Martin finished with a smirk.
"Since you have been to Elvandar, would it be possible for you to introduce me to one of the elves when they arrive?" I asked hopefully.
Martin scratched at his chin. "I suppose, but to what end, Tanya?"
"I am curious, and I wonder about their magic."
The Huntmaster shrugged and then let me know that he would try, but that there might not be much time. Elves rarely left Elvandar and would only do so briefly. I thanked him for his time. I wasn't overly hopeful, but I would exhaust every resource. The idea of flying again was enticing. I hated war, but I loved soaring above the battlefield. I would give nearly anything to have that ability again.
***
It was raining the day the elves came to Crydee. It wasn't as if no elf had ever arrived at Castle Crydee; rare elvish messengers from Elvandar had been known to come to the castle. Never before had the Queen of Elvandar arrived. The courtyard was thick with people, and I cursed my short height.
I had Martin's promise to introduce me, if there was time, but still I desired to see the arrival. I spotted Tomas and Pug above the crowd, and upon closer inspection, I saw that they were atop a hay wagon. I made my way there, jumping to one wheel and then up onto the wagon beside the two.
"Careful," Tomas admonished. "I would have given you a hand up."
I shrugged. With my reflexes, it was simple. The natural agility I had retained from the regular use of brain-enhancing analgesic formulas in my second life was quite the boon. I wasn't nearly as flexible or coordinated in my first life.
I asked about Tomas and Pug's studies, and Pug talked about a way to shunt away smoke from a room using a metal chimney to send it out through the wall. Needless to say, I was quite enthusiastic about it. Perhaps I was a bit too effusive with my compliments to Pug regarding his idea, because Tomas was looking at me oddly.
Further conversation was interrupted by the activity of the crowd, and Tomas, thanks to his greater height compared to mine and Pug's, saw them first.
"Look!" Tomas pointed.
I saw the Duke's guard company snap to attention as riders in green cloaks entered through the gate. They rode elegant white horses and I noticed they lacked saddles and bridles.
No need for them or is it a decision based on their culture?
The horses seemed untouched by wetness, and their coats glowed faintly. I wondered if this was something unique to elven steeds or if it was the elves themselves who used some sort of water-repelling magic. Kulgan could easily do the same, but it would have to be individually cast for each steed. That would exhaust him, and it would only work for a few hours. I concluded that this was probably some inherent property of the horses rather than a manually activated spell.
"Elf steeds!" Tomas exclaimed.
None of my books had word of a specific breed of horses being used by the elves, so I was curious if Tomas had real information or just fables.
"They are quite striking; do you know something of them?" I asked.
"Martin told us that they live in the deep glades near Elvandar. They are more intelligent than regular horses, and no human can sit on their backs!"
I found that interesting and examined the arriving party more closely. The lead horse was massive, with a flowing mane. I judged it to be the size of a Clydesdale. The Duke's grooms walked quickly forward to take the horses, but the lead rider spoke up.
"There is no need." She said in a musical voice.
The elf jumped nimbly down without aid, landing lightly on her feet, and threw back her hood, revealing a mane of thick reddish hair with golden highlights. She was quite tall, easily a match for Duke Borric and Martin. The Duke had come out of the keep to greet her and took her hands.
"Welcome, my lady; you do me and my house a great honor."
"You are most gracious, Lord Borric." Her voice was surprisingly clear and able to carry over the crowd so that all in the courtyard could hear.
I glanced over to Tomas, who was practically drooling.
"She's beautiful."
Beauty was in the eye of the beholder, but I agreed that by most measures the Queen of Elvandar fit the bill. Her eyes were large and pale blue, nearly luminous in the cloudy gloom of the rain. Her face was finely chiseled, with high cheekbones and a strong but not masculine jaw. Her smile was full, and her teeth shone white between almost-red lips. She wore a simple circlet of gold around her brow, which held back her hair, revealing the lobeless upswept ears that were the hallmark of her race.
The other riders wore a cacophony of colors, from pale yellow to bright green, purple, and crimson. There was an even dozen, and the crowd looked on in wonder. The Queen turned from the Duke and said something in her musical language. The elf steeds reared in salute and then ran out of the gate.
It seems Martin told Tomas true. I wonder if I could learn their language, given the ones I already know, for so long as the syntax is similar to human languages it shouldn't be difficult.
The Duke ushered his guests inside and the crowd drifted away. I was about to jump down and go back to work when Tomas spoke up once more.
"If I live to be a hundred, I don't think that I'll ever see her like."
I couldn't really blame him. I remember being an adolescent teenage boy myself, but I had no desire to be out in the rain and listen to his pining. I jump smoothly down from the wagon and Pug called out to me.
"Wait, Tanya. You are expected at court along with Tomas."
I turned back. "And you tell me this now, after I'm drenched?" I reply crossly.
"Me? Why?" Tomas asked.
Pug grinned malevolently. "Ah, it must have slipped my mind. The Duke wants you both to dine with the court. He wants you to help tell what we saw on the ship." Pug turned to me. "And you to share what you saw when Kulgan read the letter. He said something about how the Queen would want to hear first-hand accounts over second-hand."
"Me? Dine in the great hall?" Tomas's face went white. "Talk? To the Queen?"
Pug laughed with glee. "It's easy. You open your mouth and words come out."
Tomas swung at Pug and while my peace-loving heart didn't approve of violence in general, this seemed appropriate. It also didn't look like a particularly powerful attack as Pug easily ducked it.
"Stop this." I called out forcefully and they both looked at me in surprise, stopping immediately.
"When are we to dine? How much time do we have? Pug, you have been trained in finer points of etiquette and now have clothing appropriate for the occasion, we have not. I would like the details of what is expected."
Pug flushed. "I… I guess I didn't think about all that. Tomas can wear a fresh tabard, just like the guards. You can wear what you normally wear, I guess, maybe something not as oversized and droopy?"
I had options, but they were limited. I wasn't frivolous with the coin I earned as a scribe, but what I ended up purchasing had been designed to hide my budding feminine form.
"When precisely were you informed that I would be dining with the conDoin family?" I asked a bit waspishly.
"Two days ago…" Pug trailed off.
Tomas gave him a shove. "Tanya is right, you are used to this, we aren't. We are going to make fools of ourselves."
Well, I wasn't. But still, advance notice would have been greatly appreciated.
"What is done is done," I said graciously. "Since dining time will be in a few hours, you have scant time to instruct us on the etiquette of the Duke's table. Let us not waste precious time with further placing of blame."
Pug looked abashed; his intentions weren't cruel, but his perspective, due to weeks of dining with the Duke's family, was askew. Tomas was also willing to let bygones be bygones if it helped avoid some grievous social faux pas.