As they set off Ashton lay in his carriage, it was large enough for three to sleep in with furs lining seats and ground. While not nearly as large or grand as Lucian's there was already the crest for Reese, four flags surrounding a horse face. Since there was a larger group, now forty guards, a dozen servants, six carriages, and two dozen extra horses. The group expected another month of travel. They intended to travel harder during the day but to stop at night. Ashton finally relaxed as he just let the muscle spasms take over. He'd been too busy to really let his body recover before they left... now Ashton was suffering the delayed reactions.
Leonard, Aaron, Devlin Bert were sitting with Lucian in his carriage, Damian would be staying at the manor for another two weeks before meeting them at court. While Ashton had been more cordial, he rarely took the initiative to speak to anyone.
"So... mild improvement with the Reece title... now what so we can actually get the boy to speak to us?" Devlin sighed; he'd found nothing when they were making the contract... it was just too damn suspicious.
Aaron rolled his eyes, "We needed him to cooperate, he's still not getting any benefits worth leaving his home over, besides we can pretend he's so focused on whatever song he's been humming to notice."
Bert remained silent, after a thorough investigation David and Pat had been playing petty tricks even back in Palmer. Lucian had been furious. Both were now punished with three months' reduced pay. Pat was still on thin ice after slapping Ashton hard enough to leave visible fingerprints.
Devlin sighed, "Your majesty... we need to do something so no more guards or knights start antagonizing Ashton, we also need a way to ease tensions since he's spent the most time with the guards and Hogarth isn't continuing with us. Not to mention I'm pretty sure he'll be telling everyone we kick puppies and steal candy from babies for years to come unless Ashton comes around."
Bert flushed but didn't retort. Hogarth had been respectful but terse since their first day. Apparently when questioned Hogarth admitted to Leonard seeing Pat up to petty tricks, openly cursing Ashton for David's dismissal.
Leonard sighed, "Let's give him space for the next week, we'll offer our assistance, but we just need to make sure no one else gets any ideas. I've warned all of my guards to treat him as if they see his Majesty, so hopefully one lucky fish will slip through his net."
Ashton sighed when the fifth guard from the Marquis offered to help make his tent... after a week he'd thought they would've given up, "Many thanks for the offer, I prefer to set my tent and fire though." Ashton explained with a strained smile, men were already gathering more firewood...
The guard apologized running off, there was a large pot being prepared as one of the Marquis's mages started a fire with ease. Ashton had his own fire started shortly after, while Devlin... acquired the marquis mage to start their fire.
Ashton gave a wry smile as he shared his fire so the men could start their own smaller campfires. It was nice to have some space, he pulled out his guitar and simply worked on a melody for another song he'd been thinking of. Ashton had also been hoping to see the small eagle return... but no such luck as of yet.
Two weeks into their journey an abrupt snowstorm snowed them in, Ashton had stayed in his tent keeping a small fire going while a few of the men took his carriage since they'd developed mild frostbite. Devlin and the marquis's mage were also doing their best to keep the cold out, but Ashton noticed their spell circles were... sloppy would be an understatement. He wasn't sure if that was typical of Smyrnaean mana casters, but the leakage meant that over a tenth of the mana was just being wasted. They were basically using a fireplace while leaving a door wide open for the snow to drift inside.
Ashton sidled up to Amin Kraft, he was in his late forties, greying early and had smile lines and wrinkles that made him approachable especially for a third-tier mage, almost fourth. He was a tall lanky man who moved unusually gracefully even in the snow.
Amin glanced as Ashton watched him, he'd been instructed to let the boy be, surprisingly Ashton seemed to be watching his spell form. Amin decided to treat Ashton like a wary cat.
Ashton walked around the temporary barrier examining the largest weak spots, the curved ceiling was too sharp while the edges where the ground met were ridged rather than flexible leaving gaps along the uneven ground. Instead of a sphere, Amin was creating a dome. While domes used less mana to stay active, they were easily dispelled. Not to mention... if the dome wasn't flush with the ground it would leave obvious openings.
Ashton selected a long branch to start drawing in the snow, Amin walked up to glance at what he was doing as Ashton silently left hints on how to add details.
Amin watched silently, adjusting the flow as his mana and slightly moving a few of the gems being used to help maintain the barrier as long has he had power left. He noticed an immediate difference, there was suddenly a more cohesive flow. The dome now flowed like water along the uneven ground sealing the chilly wind out.
Ashton took another glance around, nodded to Amin then walked back over to his fire to warm his toes. They ended up being snowed in for two days and only the six guards who'd had wet feet from riding horses before they set up camp had suffered. They were healed, but their feet were still tender.
Amin didn't immediately report to Leonard, after knowing each other for 30 years, 20 of them working together, they trusted each other. Amin waited until night fell then returned to check his barrier, not only were the gaps not leaking mana making it harder to detect, he wasn't having to send additional mana from his reservoir so he only had to maintain.
Leonard wasn't a full mage so he didn't quite understand the significance, "But you're still sending more mana?"
Amin thought for a moment, "Imagine we are writing with ink, eventually the ink will run out as you write so you must refill it. But at the same time there is a tiny crack in a bottle that holds 100 drops, but no matter what you do you can't fill the crack, so it empties even more all over your desk. These tiny cracks were nearly filled, now instead of 14 or 15 drops an hour leaking out, which everyone sees, now only 1-3 drops leak out an hour."
Leonard nodded in understanding, "I see," so Ashton could see spell spheres even without mages making them visible, usually only third tier mages were able to follow the flow of mana, but to reed... most had to enter the fourth tier.
"Now I naturally refill my ink at about 20 drops an hour, but I use 30-40 drops an hour writing. So instead of using 35-45 an hour, I am using 16-28 each hour. It's a subtle change, but it's significant." Amin added, he was averaging to just break even except a few times when a branch had hit the barrier since he was mostly only trying to protect from the weather.
"So now you can last at least 4 hours without any mana stones?" Leonard asked, that would significantly cut back on needed resources. Amin nodded, then shook his head.
"Yes and no, my reservoir is well over 400 typically, but I'm also doing other things, the ink was just an example." Amin added, he was almost considered a fourth tier, he was just short of the very last step for the larger spells.
Leonard nodded, "Can you apply the same idea to other spells?" He was aware each spell was unique taking time to master each one, like learning to spell or say new words. One could build off the core teachings but there were several ways to communicate just as several ways to make a similar spell.
Amin hesitated, "Ashton basically taught me to use contractions, I still have to learn how to apply, but yes, it should be something I can use going forward."
Leonard and Amin then explained the situation to Devlin, Lucian, Bert, and Aaron. Devlin jumped up almost fuming.
"Are you telling me... that brat knew I was struggling and didn't say anything?!" Devlin demanded in a hushed whisper as they huddled around their private fire with a topless tent for privacy.
Amin gave a gentle smile, "Would he have dared before? I recall mention of a stream only to be shot down by two nobles prior to your arrival to the Silas territory."
Bert flushed, he and Amin were like oil and water. He was really getting tired of all the no so subtle accusations from all fronts.
Devlin nearly choked, then glared, "Fine, anyway... I would appreciate any tips." He grumbled side eyeing Bert who seemed to be flushing from anger rather than cold.
Amin hesitated, "I'm not confident enough to explain or point out anything yet. If you would like to view my mana I can show you before and after." Offering advice to a fifth-tier mage wasn't something he'd do lightly, especially after he'd been guided to the answer only earlier today.
Devlin nodded, "I'd appreciate it, whenever you're up for it." Devlin was aware he was a more brute force rather than efficient mage; his reservoir was more than triple the average mage so waste wasn't the concern, the bleed over announcing his presence was.