Chapter 36: Through the Gatehouse

Chapter 36: Through the Gatehouse

Tala closed the item creation primer and looked up, just in time to see a group of caravan guards returning from the city gates, which were now only a few hundred yards away.

Adam was in the group, and while the others moved on to the wagons further back, Adam paused to speak to Den, turning his horse to ride alongside their wagon.

Tala moved closer, and Adam smiled before speaking loudly enough to include her. Were going to have to surrender to an inspection.

Den groaned. Why? That is not the standard, Guardsman. Youre delaying my delivery of goods.

Tala blinked in surprise. Shed never heard Den take that tone with anyone. Additionally, it conveyed to her that Adam was somehow subordinate to Den. WaitDen always chose the campsites. He directed our paths of travel

She found herself dumbstruck. Den is in charge of the caravan. He just doesnt bother with minutia.

She remembered the Mages looking her way when deciding how to change their path on the first day. No, not my way. They were checking if Den was going to comment.

That actually made a lot of sense.

She returned her mind to the conversation in time to hear Adams calm, if deferring, response.

I understand, First Driver, but it seems that a particularly mischievous magical entity attempted to breach the city in the last week, by disguising itself as a caravan.

Den seemed taken aback at that, as he took a moment to respond. It disguised itself as a caravan wagon?

Adam shook his head. No, as an entire caravan. Wagons, oxen, drivers, even outriders.

Somany working together.

Again, Adam shook his head. Apparently, the Prime of this citys defenses verified it for herself. It was one entity.

Huh Den scratched his head. Well, I suppose that would make them a bit jumpy He grunted. Fine, fine. Whats the process?

Each wagon will need to stop within the gatehouse for a minute, while two Mages sweep it for deviation. Everyone not on a wagon will be separately inspected. It is encouraged that anyone who can, should go through the personal inspection, rather than being included in the general wagon scan.

Tala barked a laugh. Ill pass, thank you.

Den glanced back at her and smiled. Youre welcome to stay with the wagon, Mistress.

Adam opened his mouth, likely to object, then seemed to think better of it, shrugging instead. They didnt mandate it. Youre lead wagon, so just stop within the gatehouse.

Den sighed. So, if were at all suspect, they can drop the portcullis on both sides, locking us in.

It is what it is, First Driver.

And it will be as it will be.

Adam grinned, bowed slightly to Den, then Tala, and wheeled his horse around to carry the information further back.

Den eyed Tala. You ever heard of something like that, Mistress? An entity taking multiple separate forms?

She shook her head, then paused. Well, Im still ratherinexperienced, but I believe it is possible that such could be faked, if each form were linked somehow that wasnt easily noticed Shadows? Invisible tendrils? She shrugged. Just a shot in the dark, though. As she considered she smiled slightly. Expect them to drop the portcullis.

He looked at her in alarm. Theyd only do that to trap us.

Or, to put iron between us and the rest of the caravan.

He looked confused.

She sighed. Iron can interfere with most types of magic. If we are of one being with the rest of the caravan, dropping iron between us could sever that connection, revealing a fake.

Could?

Im just guessing, but I thought Id let you know, so you dont panic if the iron comes down.

He still looked nervous, as they approached the gatehouse, but he didnt waver.

The gatehouse was a massive monument of strength and power. It had been crafted with skill and had been maintained with care. It didnt look like it had survived more than three hundred years. As she considered it, Tala realized that it had probably been built when this became the outer wall. More efficient than maintaining gatehouses for every circle for the full life of the city, I suppose.

The archway was wide enough for two of Dens wagons to pass side by side, reminding her of the pass theyd just gone through. As they entered the first arch, the wagon sliding into the building's shadowed interior, Tala looked up at the thick iron portcullis, held ready to descend.The initial posting of this chapter occurred via Ñøv€l-B!n.

Each iron strip in the basket weave was close to an inch thick and the bottoms were wedged into spikes and blades. They werent razor sharp, but with what must be at least two tons of iron behind it, they didnt need to be.

Den was eyeing the inside of the gatehouse as he slowed the oxen to a stop.

There were arrow slits to either side, and murder holes above. They both knew that magically facilitated death could be poured out upon them in apocalyptic quantities through those openings, and likely through the solid stone of the walls, themselves.

The oxen came to a stop in very nearly the exact center of the darkened interior. Den had not allowed his trepidation to hamper his performance.

The wagon behind theirs had stopped just outside the gatehouse and was awaiting instruction. Tala could clearly hear a guard inside the second level of the gate, shouting down to the secondary wagon, but before she could focus in on that conversation, she felt magical senses sweep over them. There was a brief hesitation, then the portcullises dropped.

Tala saw them begin to fall, and quickly clasped her hands over Dens ears, shielding them from the deafening racket.

The oxen were not so lucky, and Den had to fight them back into stillness after the sudden noise.

Tala, for her part, had trusted in the noise suppression inscriptions around her ears, and they had not failed her.

Any noise which came close to her ears was scaled down and suppressed until it was no longer of a harmful level. Thank you, again, Holly.

Rust me to slag. Den glanced at Tala, even as her hands moved away. Thank you. I couldnt let go of the reins, and that was loud.

She smiled back. Happy to help.

One of the murder holes opened, almost directly above them, and a Mage looked out.

Tala focused on him, and instantly could see him in his entirety, though only with her mage-sight. Material Creator. He specializes in water? No She looked closer. It wasnt ice. Acid? There are Mages who specialize in the creation of incredibly caustic acid? She did not like the idea of that. Her iron salve would do nothing against acid created above and dropped on her head, and her protective inscriptions might be overwhelmed by a constant acid burn. She had no way to negate it, and that made her quite unhappy.

She met the mans gaze, knowing his mage-sight was active, and knowing that she would look quite odd to him. Well?

He flinched back just slightly. What are you?

Im a very cranky Mage, whom you are keeping from her destination.

How are you doing that? Its not like an Archons veil at all He gestured through the hole, vaguely in her direction. Den glanced her way, cocking an eyebrow.

How do I exist? How am I standing? How am I talking? You really need to be more specific. Really, Tala? Antagonizing the person who can kill you?

The Mage glanced at it, then nodded. Very good. Would you like payment to be credited to your account, or would you like waning notes for the value of your payment.

Tala frowned. Not coins?

Oh no, dear. She glanced at Tala, again. Youve not been to a waning city before, Id wager.

Tala shook her head.

The precious metals are in much too high a demand to be used as coinage, here. Theyd simply be melted down and sold as raw materials She hesitated. Id be happy to take any coins off your hands and place their value into your account, with a ten percent increase, of course.

Talas eyes bulged. I can make ten percent on my currency, just by bringing it here?

Den cleared his throat, as he finished his own conversation and moved to join Tala. Ten percent? Is that really what you are offering?

The Mage colored slightly. It was meant as an opening offer.

Den laughed. Mistress Tala. It is standard for gold, silver, and copper to be worth at least a quarter more than their stamped value in a waning city, at this stage. As I understand it, that is one reason Mages try to avoid being inscribed in such cities, whenever possible. It is just too expensive.

That made a lot of sense. It also explained why Trent had estimated his expenses for inscription refreshment to be so high. Well, that makes my decision easier. No reinscribing for me. It does make sense that metal would be at a premium in the last years of the city. She looked back to the Mage. I think Ill keep my coinage and use it to trade for goods and services. My payment may be placed directly into my account. Every person in all the human cities had an account linked to their blood. Only Mages could use it easily, but it was effectively an unbreakable medium of exchange. Hers had many debts linked to it, but they wouldnt draw on her balance unless she fell drastically behind on her payments.

The Mage bowed. As you will. The Master Moneychanger will see to it that you are paid. She gestured towards a table off to the side, where a line of caravan workers was already queuing up.

As Tala walked across the hard packed earth of the work-yard, she saw the last of the passengers departing, carrying their bags into the city, or loading them onto waiting transport, which would do the same.

Workers were already wheeling out a great crane to pull the cargo-slots free of the wagon, and Tala found herself somewhat sad to see them actively disassembling the top of the vehicle to get access to the magically maintained cargo. Its been a fun few days. She had the trip back, which would come sooner than she likely realized, but it still felt like an ending. Ill get over it.

She walked with Den over to the payment line and took a position at the end.

Several of the servants and drivers who were waiting ahead of her looked back in confusion, seeming to expect her to have walked to the front. When she didnt move, they turned back towards their destination and their pay.

The line moved quickly, and it wasnt long before Tala approached the head of the line.

The only wrinkle came when Trent, Renix, and Atrexia had walked over, and Trent, along with Renix, joined Tala in waiting. Atrexia huffed a bit but didnt end up contesting the issue.

Renix, for his part, looked markedly better, seemingly mostly recovered from his concussion. Rest does wonders, I suppose.

Tala let the three go ahead of her and did her best not to listen in while they discussed things with the payment officer.

Her efforts were aided by Brand, who had already spoken to the man, and who came over to stand with her.

Mistress Tala! Were here. He smiled as he walked up to her.

Seems so. She returned the smile.

I heard there was some issue in the gatehouse?

She shrugged. Nothing major.

After a moments pause, Brand turned to regard her more fully. Really? Not going to tell me any more than that?

She gestured to Den, who waved farewell in their direction as he walked off. You could always ask him.

Brand grunted. Fair enough. Ill have the whole trip back for that, however, and Ive promises to keep!

She quirked a smile. Sounds good. After I deal with this.

Trent, Atrexia, and Renix all moved off to the side, where they settled in to discuss the next few days.

Tala stepped forward.

Name and position.

Tala, Dimensional Storage Mage.

The man grunted. Youre the source of all this complexity, then.

Tala frowned. What?

He spun a slate around, showing her an itemization:

5.5 oz gold for services rendered as a Dimensional Mage. 1 oz gold for helping to deal with two threats to the caravan. Less 2 oz silver for services rendered by Mage Trent. Less 1 oz silver for equipment requisitioned from Head Cook Brand.

Does that look correct?

She frowned, thinking back. Yeah. I believe so.

You authorize the funds mentioned to pay the debts described, and youd like the balance deposited into your account?

Yes, please.

He took the tablet back and made a couple of notes on it. Very good. Blood here.

She took the tablet back and pricked her finger, letting a lightly infused drop vanish into the stone.

Very good. 6 oz gold, 47 oz silver has been credited to your account. Is there anything else I can assist you with, today?

Actually, yes. I need to add an addendum to my field log to inform my Guild contact of a few things.

Such as?

One is a communication for the Wainwrights Guild, who are currently building out a set of Cargo-slots for me.

The man grunted. Very well. He handed her a blank slate and a stone cylinder that was similar in size and shape to a pencil.

Tala quickly used them to scribe a note to Lyn, asking her to deliver messages to both the Wainwrights guild, and to Holly, and quickly wrote out those missives. As the stone pen moved across the slate, it was as if darker rock bled up through the tablet, leaving her words incorporated into the very nature of the stone. Thank you. She held it out to him.

He touched it to another tablet that hed been working on, and a new square darkened. Blood here.

She repeated the confirmation process and the slate faded back to blank.

Now, if that is all?

It is, thank you. She bowed slightly, walking to the side, where Brand was patiently waiting. Shall we?