A Quest to Find a Sorcerer

Chapter 2

Chapter 2“I had an idea,” Niall said. “It might be a crazy one but hear me out.”

“This sounds intriguing,” Petyr replied.

Niall chuckled. “I hope so. Do you remember what the old man at the tavern said last evening?”

“You mean about finding someone who can control the weather?”

“Yes. A sorcerer to be exact, although that was my idea, not his. Anyway, I thought why not try to.”

Petyr c****d his head, looking at his friend. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Very much so. It would mean a long journey through the mountains and there is no guarantee when we reached the other side things would be any better than they are here.”

“One could hope they are, or the journey would be for naught,” Petyr replied, frowning. “Whether there’s a sorcerer there who could help us…Well, it would be a gamble for certain.”

“You think it’s possible, though, and worth finding out?” Niall asked.

Petyr didn’t reply immediately. Niall could tell from the expressions flickering across his face—thoughtfulness, interest, worry—that he was seriously considering the idea.

Finally, Petyr said, “You didn’t ask me because you only wanted my opinion, did you?”

“That’s part of it.”

Petyr nodded. “I think you’re right, it is a crazy idea, but it could be an interesting journey and what would we lose by taking it? Well, other than our lives, of course.”

“Yes! I mean, there is that, but you would be willing to try from the sound of it.”

“I am. It will take a great deal of planning, and it has to be more than the two of us involved, of course.”

“Indeed.” Niall heaved a sigh of relief. “It will take planning, a lot of it. Oh, and Master Ilberd already suggested we ask Renard, the mercenary, to be part of it, too.”

“Good luck with that.”

“Maybe he will. Master Ilberd said he’s a relative and he might be able to persuade him.”

“Ah, so you’ve already talked to him about it. Well, naturally you have. He’s like a second father to you.”

Niall snorted. “He’s the only man I would willingly call father, although yours comes in a close second. You know that.”

“I do.” Petyr rapped a finger on the table. “Who else should we ask?”

“A good question. Perhaps Janot, Mage Aymer’s apprentice, because we should have a healer with us, I think.”

“Absolutely,” Petyr agreed. “I like him. He’s very down-to-earth, if rather shy.”

“He is. Then, umm…”

“Merek,” Petyr suggested. “He’s big and brawny, which isn’t surprising as he’s the blacksmith’s apprentice. He would be good to have along in case of trouble.”

“I hope you mean like moving trees that have fallen across our path or boulders on a mountain trail,” Niall said.

“That, and who knows what sort of ruffians we might run into.”

“That’s why we want Renard with us. I mean, I can wield a dagger, I’m sure you can, too, but they wouldn’t do much against highwaymen or brigands.”

“As if there are many of those,” Petyr replied in derision. “Who would spend time waiting for a rare passing merchant or lord?”

“There must be some, at least here in Dorraine, to hear Renard tell it.”

“True, I suppose.” Petyr leaned back against the wall behind him. “I do hope my father will let me come with you. I also wonder if Janot and Merek’s Masters would give them leave to join us.”

“First, we have to find out if they’re interested.”

“We’re really going to do this?”

Niall nodded adamantly. “We are, even if it’s only you and me and, the gods help us, Renard.”

“And maybe not him. He might not want to be the caretaker of some young fools who have never left Misthaven, to say the least of Dorraine, to travel through the mountains to who knows where.”

“I suppose we’ll know soon enough.” Niall stood and went to get his cloak and gloves. “We should see if Merek is at the tavern. He does spend some evenings there. We’ll probably find Janot at Mage Aymer’s home.”

“Because he lives there and rarely ventures out.” Petyr frowned as he put on his cloak then picked up his gloves from the bed. “It may make it hard for us to speak to him alone.”

“I guess we’ll find out.”

* * * *

A few minutes later, Niall and Petyr were stomping the snow off their boots and brushing it off their cloaks before entering the tavern. Warmth and voices greeted them as soon as they were inside. They went to the bar to get tankards of small beer, a drink which was much weaker than ale and all the barkeep would serve them due to their youth. Then, Niall looked around the large room.

“We’re in luck,” he said when he spotted Merek seated at one of the long tables. “Or maybe not,” he added when he realized Merek’s intended, Elia, was sitting beside him.

As he and Petyr came closer, it became obvious from their expressions that Merek and Elia were having an argument. Niall caught the tail end of what Merek said—”…do not own me, yet,”—and winced.

When Merek saw them, he looked relieved. “Come, come, join us,” he called out.

“Gladly,” Niall replied as he and Petyr took seats across from the couple. “Actually, we were hoping to find you.”

“We were just leaving,” Elia said before Merek could respond. She stood, looking at Merek as if he’d better get up as well.

He looked back, shaking his head. “I’ll leave when I’m ready…love. If you want to go home, then go.”

Glaring at him, she harrumphed, wrapped her cloak tightly around her, and stalked to the door, pulling on her gloves as she did. Turning back, she called out, “If your friends are more important to you than I am, so be it.”

“You might want to go after her,” Petyr suggested over the rim of his tankard, before taking a drink.

“And have to listen to more of her telling me I should not spend any time here when I could be better occupied planning our future nuptials with her and her parents? I think not!”

“If they happen, which from your expression at the moment they may not,” Niall said.

Merek sighed. “I suppose they will, although I’m seriously beginning to wonder if I want them to. She already does her best to run my life. I can’t imagine what it will be like when we’re married.”

Petyr grinned, reaching over to pat Merek’s arm. “We may have the perfect solution for your problem.”

“Such as?” Merek asked with a definite look of interest.

“I defer to you, Niall, since it’s your plan,” Petyr said.

Niall explained what they had in mind, pausing occasionally to take a drink. He finished by saying, “I, we, think you’d be an excellent traveling companion.”

Merek smiled slowly, his eyes lighting up with what Niall thought was relief.

“I do like the idea. Perhaps while I’m gone Elia will realize she misses me and change her ways, or—” he chuckled, “—decide she’s well rid of me. I’m not certain which I would prefer.”

“The joys of an arranged marriage,” Petyr said with a shake of his head.

“Indeed, and in this case the joy is diminishing daily,” Merek readily agreed.

“Then you’re willing to join us?” Niall asked.

“If the blacksmith will release me from my apprenticeship for however long it takes, I am.”

“You could leave without his permission,” Niall pointed out. “He doesn’t own you anymore than Elia does when it comes down to it.”

Merek nodded. “I agree, although try telling that to either of them.” He took a deep drink, emptying his tankard, and slammed it on the table.

“Easy, Merek,” Petyr said.

“Sorry, but it is frustrating.” He turned to Niall. “You say Master Ilberd has already given you his permission.” When Niall nodded, Merek looked at Petyr. “And your father?”

“I haven’t broached the idea yet, as I only found out about it this evening. I think he will agree.” Petyr blew out a breath. “I hope he will.”

“The fact Master Ilberd is all for the idea should help in both our cases,” Merek said. “He’s well respected in town.”

“I suppose we’ll find out tomorrow,” Petyr replied. “Now, all we need to do it talk to Janot.”

* * * *

As the three young men approached Mage Aymer’s home, Niall was glad to see light coming through two of the windows.

“At least one of them is still awake,” he said to his companions.

Moments later, he was rapping on the door—and then again when no one answered. It took a third rap before the door swung open to reveal a tall, slender man with long, white hair, dressed in a gray robe embellished with what Niall could only presume were alchemy runes.

“May I help you?” the man, Mage Aymer to be exact, asked. He sounded put out, as if their visit had interrupted something important.

“We’d like to speak with Janot if he’s about,” Niall said.

“Where else would he be at this hour?” Aymer replied, one white eyebrow lifted in question.

Niall was tempted to say, “Out chasing lovely women,” but refrained. Instead he said, “Please, may we speak with him.”

With a sigh, the mage stepped aside to let them enter what turned out to be a hallway with an arch on one side and two doors on the other. He led them through the arch into the main room then called out loudly, “Janot, you have visitors.”

A moment later they heard footsteps scurrying down the hallway and Janot appeared. He was wearing a dark blue, woolen robe comparable to Mage Aymer’s but very plain. He looked surprised to see them but managed to smile shyly.

“Unless you have need of me, which I sincerely doubt, I shall be in my workshop,” Aymer told them and left, opening the door across from the arch and closing it behind him.

“It’s good to see you, as unexpected as it is.” Janot looked at them in turn. “May I presume there’s a reason for your visit?”

“There is,” Niall replied.

At the same time, Petyr smiled and asked politely, “May we sit?”

“Of course. Please do.” Janot gestured toward the chairs in front of a large fireplace where a fire sent out welcome heat.

The apprentices removed their cloaks, putting them over the backs of the chairs, tucked their gloves in their belts, and sat.

When Janot joined them, Niall took the lead in telling him why they were there. Janot listened, nodding now and then.

When Niall finished, Janot asked, “Do you truly think it’s possible to find a weather sorcerer? It would be marvelous if you could.”

“If we could,” Niall replied. “It’s the reason we’re here, to ask you to come with us if you’re willing. I thought I made that clear.”

Again, Janot looked at each of them before replying, “I’m not certain what help I could be.”

“You’re a healer, or learning to be one,” Merek told him. “It’s not going to be an easy trek and we’ll undoubtedly have need of you.”

“He’s right,” Niall said. “You may only know the basics but,” he chuckled, “it’s more than the three of us know combined.”

“You’d have to get Mage Aymer’s permission, of course,” Petyr said. “And perhaps your parents as well.”

“Not from them,” Janot replied sourly. “Why do you think I’m living here? Be that as it may, do the rest of you have permissions from your families and masters?”

“I do,” Niall replied. “Petyr is going to work on getting it from his father and Merek from his father and the blacksmith.”

“Whether I get it or not, I’m coming along,” Merek said adamantly.

“How will Elia feel about it?” Janot asked.

“Well…” Merek rolled his eyes. “At the moment, I don’t give a tinker’s damn.”

“I did wonder if the two of you were, to put it bluntly, at odds, after seeing you sitting alone at church last Sunday. Normally you sit together with your families.”

“I’m well over her bossiness,” Merek grumbled.

Petyr patted his shoulder in commiseration, while Janot murmured, “It’s about time.”

“Not to change the subject,” Janot said seconds later. “Do you truly think you can convince Renard to come with us?”

“I think so, with Master Ilberd’s help,” Niall replied. “He’ll probably tell him we’re four rash young men with no concept of what we’re facing and need him to guide and protect us.”

“He’d be right,” Petyr said, laughing.

Janot smiled as he stood, saying, “I’ll be right back.” He crossed the room, and the hallway, knocked on the workshop door, and entered the room when Mage Aymer called out, “Come.”

Merek glanced at the others in question. “Is he doing what I think he is?”

“Well I doubt he’s asking permission to feed us at this late hour,” Petyr said with a sharp laugh.

It took a while to find out. While they waited, they occasionally heard raised voices, although they couldn’t discern the words.

Finally, the door opened and Janot appeared with Mage Aymer right behind him.

As soon as they reached Niall and company, Aymer said, “Am I to understand the three of you plan to cross the mountains in search of a weather sorcerer powerful enough to stop the snow and ice we have suffered through for eons in Misthaven?”

“In the whole of Dorraine,” Niall replied. “If he, or she I suppose, is willing to help us.”

“I will say it is an admirable quest. Whether it is possible for you to succeed, however, is doubtful.”

Niall scowled momentarily before composing his features into something less dour. “Does this mean you won’t allow Janot to come with us? We need him! We need his healing powers, no matter how small they might be.”

“Oh, he is quite good,” Aymer replied. “After all, he is my apprentice.” The mage strolled to the window, turned and studied the young men. “If you insist on making the journey, you will need him. Therefore, he has my permission to go with you.”

“Thank you!” Niall and Petyr said in unison while Merek heaved a sigh of relief.

“I presume you all have permission from your masters to do this.”

“Well…” Niall bit his lip. “I do.”

“And I will,” Petyr said emphatically. “One way or another I’ll convince my father to let me go.”

“And you, Merek?” the mage asked.

“I am going, no matter what, even if I have to sneak away when the time comes.”

Mage Aymer nodded. “I can try to convince the blacksmith, since both Master Ilberd and I already approve of the plan. Your parents are another question, which will be dealt with if necessary. Janot has also informed me you intend to ask the mercenary, Renard, to be your escort.”

“We do, and hope he agrees,” Niall admitted.

“You most definitely should try to recruit him, because without him or someone like him, I’m afraid your quest is doomed to failure. None of you have what is necessary to defend yourselves against all manner of individuals who may cross your path.”

“We can avoid them,” Merek said. “Hide until they are gone.”

“Some, perhaps. Others may have special powers which will make that virtually impossible.”

“Other magic users?” Petyr asked. “Why would they want to stop us?”

“Who knows, but they might. There are also those who are of two parts, human and otherwise.”

“You’re not going to regale us with the folktales about men who can shift into animals, I hope,” Niall said sarcastically.

“Some say that’s all they are, tales. Others claim to have seen them and survived to talk about it, or so I’ve heard. I, myself, have never met a man who has. If you want to know if they do exist, ask Renard. I am certain he can say one way or the other.”

“Not that it will do us any good if he won’t come with us,” Janot said softly.

“This is true,” Aymer agreed. “For the moment, however, I suggest your friends go home and get some rest. After you have finished your work tomorrow, get together and at least make plans on what you will need to take with you if this all comes to pass.”

“I don’t suppose…” Niall looked hopefully at the mage.

“If you need a meeting place other than one of your rooms or Ilberd’s shop, you may convene here. Please let me know if that is the case.”

“Since the only room we could use is mine, and it’s too small by half, I thank you for your offer,” Niall replied. “I suspect Master Ilberd would prefer we not use the carpenter shop. Too many interesting things to play with would be his excuse.”

“And rightly so, I am certain. Alright, I will plan on seeing you tomorrow evening unless you get a chance to talk with Renard.”