The lands changed before Adrex as he rode south from the Watch, ground that was ankle deep with snow and getting deeper was now showing signs of dark wintergreen, trees that had collected snow were now just bare branches or covered in leaves that did not fall in the winter.
He had left at first light after the reinforcements had arrived and had changed over. The Magus and Magae had completed their handover of the past cycle, including the incursions of the Imps through the pass, before they went their separate ways. Adrex gave Jessie a note to take to the Grand Meister before they split to ride different paths, with him taking a detour to the School of Healing.
He had no obligation to return to the battle school, he had completed his training, had been granted the title of Magus and he was now free to do his own thing, including the ability to return to Blackhill. Sometimes a Magus or Magae would end up joining the palace guard or working for a noble, more often than not though they did stay at their school and keep learning, going for the rank of Meister.
Adrex had decided to stay on at the school and learn more, to grow more skilled in combat, especially with the rise of Demonic attacks recently and the warnings from his master Vista. First though he needed a healer to make sure Athridon who had been stirring recently stayed silent. Adrex had noticed before he had left for the Northern Watch that the magic holding the demon was weakening, and after the last week there he made it a priority. The fact he would be seeing Nora again didn’t hurt either.
The two had developed a strange bond on the first night they met staying up late talking about what was going on in their lives at that point. The two of them had met several times during their apprenticeships, usually during group training or if Adrex was travelling with the Grand Meister to the healing school, and he was continually thankful that it was Nora and her Master who had helped him years ago.
On his third night of travel he crossed into the Northern Kingdom territory, one of the outlying villages, large swathes of farmland signalled his arrival and as the sun got low he got to the village centre. He was greeted with wary looks from people who glanced down quickly after seeing him. The village centre was just a couple of buildings, a crude blacksmith who looked to be making farming equipment, a few shops selling food and an inn that had lights on and looked inviting.
He tied up his horse in the cover provided, brushed it down and prepared a bag of feed, the stable had a water trough, and then Adrex walked through the front door of the inn. He was given side glances the entire way to the bar.
The lady at the bar pointed to a small table away from the crowd with some walls set up for privacy, Adrex bowed and took a seat at the table and looked around at the crowd from under his hood, as the conversation picked up again though not as loud as before and people were still giving him glances.
The lady from the bar sat down across from Adrex, she was a stout lady with a pleasant smile wearing an apron with flour dusted on it over simple clothing. “You’d put the others at ease if you took the hood off.” She said cheerfully.
Adrex did as she suggested, revealing his face, so the room could see it; it didn’t seem to help now that they saw he was only in his mid-teens.
“You’ll have to excuse them; they live far from the main towns and cities. Travellers make them nervous at the best of times; they have a heavy distrust of anyone in Mage regalia.” She said, before changing tone, “Where are my manners? I am Fiadh, I run this place with my husband.” She said sweetly.
Adrex bowed his head politely, “and I am Adrex, Magus of the battleschool.” He said.
“What can I do for you Magus?” Fiadh asked.
“I’m after a room for the night and a meal, please?” Adrex asked.
“I can do that for you. Is there anything else?” Fiadh asked.
“You could tell me more about why Mages are distrusted and what else has caused people to be suspicious? I’ve never had the privilege to travel to the smaller villages so this is a chance to learn.” Adrex said.
“I can tell you what I know. I’ll be back soon with a meat pie and something to drink.” Fiadh said kindly.
Adrex leaned back in the booth as he waited for his food; he closed his eyes and just listed to the crowd. Most were just talking about the preparation of the fields for the current snow season, a few mentioned their distrust of a Mage being here while some questioned if Adrex was one because he looked so young. No mentions of anything like random bandit attacks that could also be linked to Demonic activity.
Fiadh returned soon with a large meat pie and a tankard of some kind, she sat down across from Adrex and set the food and drink down. “It’s juice, don’t worry.” She said looking at his puzzled face, “We only have tankards and mugs.”
“Thank you for the meal.” Adrex said before taking a sip of the drink.
“You wanted to know why the distrust of Mages?” Fiadh asked.
Adrex nodded his head, his mouth now full of pie, with crumbs sticking around his mouth. Fiadh grinned before starting. “It started just after the end of the war, you were probably too young, but the High King passed away rather suddenly and his younger brother took the throne, he got a new chamberlain a Medical Magus named Thrall.” Fiadh said.
Adrex swallowed hard, his eyes going dark. “Yeah, I’ve met him before, a self-entitled Magus and a bully amongst his least desirable traits.” Adrex said.
“He’s worse than that.” Fiadh replied. “He immediately convinced the High King to increase the taxes on the grain that we grow here, and he personally comes out each harvest to collect it with a group of soldiers under his command. He has ordered farms burnt and arrested several folk that stood up to him, and he has taken any child that shows even a small semblance of magical talent. In recent years he’s been taking a young boy with him too. Most people here have grown to distrust any Mage because none have stopped this man, though most also understand they can’t or risk war with the Kingdoms.” Fiadh explained.
“We also can’t stop him due to him being allowed to act on his own. The schools don’t have any direct control over us.” Adrex said as he finished his meal.
“It’s a bad situation all round then. This Mage is tarnishing the good that you have done, and enforcing the will of a High King who appears to only want power.” Fiahd said.
Adrex raised his eyebrow quizzically, “Might not want to say that near this Mage.” He said, cheekily.
Fiadh stood up after that, but with a smile still on her face, she set a key down on the table. “Yours is room two.” She said,
Adrex set some money from his purse on the table and took the key. “Thank you Fiadh. I’ll likely be gone early.” Adrex said.
Fiadh took the coins and put them in a pouch in her apron, before bowing. “Thank you Magus Adrex.”
