Ruby Mage Read online

  I brought two hundred gold coins with me, each weighing roughly an ounce. Most of those coins were sewn into clothing or bags that Susanna was stuck lugging around. I wasn’t sure how far they’d get me, and that had me thinking of going home for more spending power.

  I mused over the concept of rushing back, getting a huge stash of gold, and riding for Clruss or even Crimm after.

  I huffed.

  Everything came down to the horses and the carriage. There wasn’t a chance in hell I was walking like a soldier again.

  Oh, if I went home, I could get some Vaseline for my chapped thighs.

  “Thank you for that information,” I said to Sammy.

  We crossed a flat bridge made of wooden slats and stone supports. Old men fished off of the structure, regaling tales of better times. We didn’t go far, staying in a nice production section. A right turn onto a quiet road had us outside of the only busy store at this early hour.

  It was basically a donut shop. I bought two for each of us and for once, I purchased a losing trade. These were about thirty dollars for a donut. Worth every coin.

  With my hunger sated I felt even better. “All right Sammy. Who sells carriages?”

  “New or used?” Sammy asked, looking up with a squint.

  “If you buy used, always buy from a new maker, it forces them to ensure the used is up to snuff,” I said, emulating my father.

  I wish Dad could come here. He’d love this place. Christmas was going to be weird! Assuming I survive that long.

  “Right this way, me Lord,” Sammy said. Staying on the same road but heading north.

  The shops grew bigger with the smokestack pluming thicker in this area. The clash of metal hammers forging was piercingly loud.

  Traffic increased with additional horses trotting down the cross roads. There were bored guards next to street cleaners everywhere I glanced. Further to the west I noticed orderly homes. Not nobility but certainly no peasants, likely tradesmen or business owners living near the shops.

  I enjoyed the early morning walk. My eyes darted to every store sign. There were seamstresses, furniture makers, smithies for nails, and more, even a butcher. Which reminded me of something.

  “Sammy, where’s the slaughterhouse?” I asked nonchalantly.

  She scrunched her face. Her curly brown hair bouncing off her shoulders from the gesture. “It’s downriver a good way in a small settlement called Seema.”

  There was zero doubt in my mind, that little stinker was judging me. I had not seen a single mage on Lornia yet, so maybe magic wasn’t done through gems. That thought led to my next question when we paused outside of a Kellum’s Carriages.

  “Magic guild?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “No school for it here. Only crazy Lim’s place. He sells potions that my Pa says are flavored water mixed with piss.”

  “Hmm…”

  “The nearest reputable place is Clruss. They have a small school. Crimm has the mages guild about ten days away. There is Farlake Academy but ‘tis run by a breeder,” Sammy said.

  I frowned. “A breeder?”

  “A Master Mage. He helps rescue women with bindings for babies. They say he has a deal with a goddess to get more power from each baby. Ma said he just likes making babies,” Sammy said with a giggle that I joined.

  Apparently, I could bind women for babies. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that one. Probably best if I just let my fun be organic. Contracting women into anything else… felt wrong. My sexy times with Savannah had been wonderful so far. I had to wonder if those would have left me feeling… dirty if I had used a contract for sex. Yeah, that was likely.

  I still wasn’t surprised to learn that this kind of thing happened here.

  “Thank you, Sammy. Wait here, and then we’ll go to Lim’s probably,” I said, entering the store's open door.

  There was a long counter against a back wall. To my left were empty waiting chairs and a door to the main shop rested beyond them. I waved Sammy inside to have a seat.

  Behind the counter, a mother bounced a beautiful little baby in an adorable suit, and it melted my heart a little. While I may not want Susanna to get pregnant, I still thought fondly of the wee ones.

  “Can we help ya?” the mother asked politely with a smile.

  I paused to figure out my angle. The brooding badass would only go so far in this situation. Before I spoke, I pointed for Susanna to sit. The mother gave an amused look when she instantly obeyed, plopping down next to Sammy.

  “I need a fast carriage that can travel down bumpy roads. Preferable with a fold out bed or something of that nature,” I said.

  “And horses too?”

  “And horses,” I replied.

  “I’m Esmerelda, most call me Ezzy. Follow me, yer servant woman can stay or come, just no funny business in any sense,” Ezzy said, leading us through the back door.

  I held out a hand for her to stay. Sammy wasn’t nervous, and yet, it’d make me feel better if she watched over her.

  The inside was a massive warehouse. The roof held shutters that were propped open, spilling in ample morning light. I realized someone had to go on the roof every morning, night, and storm, to handle those.

  Carriages were being constructed by teams of four to ten men. There were about a half dozen carriages in various stages of assembly. Behind them were about fifteen assembled with only a few showing signs of wear.

  There was a section behind the greeting room where women worked on cushions with fabric and a pile of clean feathers. These ladies chatted happily, completing their tasks of stitching or stuffing. It was neat to see women working in such a manner. This owner seemed to treat his people well.

  A short man with arms folded was talking with a part fey worker. The worker had a fluffy bunny tail and floppy ears. The short man patted the fey on the back upon seeing us. He beamed a smile at what I assumed was his taller wife.

  “What have we got here, Ezzy?” the man asked.

  “This is Lord -”

  “Master Mage Trevor,” I said with a smile sticking out a hand to shake his. My out of habit gesture had him giving me an odd look.

  He clasped my forearm, allowing me to adjust to the different style. He smiled politely, and said, “I’m Kellum.”

  “A comfy hauler, needing hitchin’,” Ezzy said, patting my shoulder before heading to the front.

  Not wasting any time Kellum headed for his finished construction.

  “Aye, I got a few. I mostly sell new. Assuming you don’t want show stallions, or extra trim for flashy appearance, we can get you in something for probably under a hundred.”

  I let out a sigh I didn’t know I was holding. Half my budget would mean I’d be going home for more gold, but… I'd have a carriage to haul heavier amounts next time. I should also have enough to buy more guards to mean a safer journey. I guess that sealed my fate on the matter of heading home.

  “Kellum, let me be direct with you,” I said in a stern tone. He smiled when I wanted him to frown. “I’m capable of great magic, and yet I don’t know much about Lornia, I come from Pangea.”

  “Okay,” he said with a ‘who gave a damn’ shrug.

  Hmm… Honesty might work.

  “I hate haggling.”

  “Me too. You want to keep gold, and I want more of it,” he said quickly.

  While I didn’t win here, I could tell he valued my honesty, and was direct with me.

  We approached a carriage that was long with three axles. There were six wide wooden wheels with something akin to foam on the outer edges. I saw a covered driver bench with storage under the seat.

  The front hitching meant four horses would be needed to pull this carriage. The length reminded me of a longer suburban. Along the side of the carriage were two doors, under storage, top storage, and four windows.

  On top there were two exposed seats for guards. We walked around the back and there was bracketed shelving with each section having special locked clasps. At this point I
had a feel for the exterior. You could haul goods, and prepare for an extra-long journey. This carriage certainly had a bit of utility to go with the extravagance.

  When I made it around to the other edge, I peeked inside. There was a long table in the middle that went to connect the two benches. A short bed in the front and the rear that doubled as loungers. Each window had curtains and there were a million storage spots.

  “What’s the catch?” I said.

  “This is the top end. Takes the lads a month to craft, assemble, and ensure everything is just right. The wives do the cushions, bedding, and pillows with duck feathers adding even more luxury than normal. I always show this first,” he said with a grin.

  I decided to take a guess. “Because it's the bait you hope to sell and the lower price on further models is the hook?”

  “Close. One fifty for this… normally. I'll make you a trade for a hundred,” he said and I raised a brow. “Assuming you can prove yer a Master Mage.”

  “That I can do easily,” I said confidently. “With fire.”

  He smirked. Waving me out of the carriage. As I followed him I grew slightly concerned when we walked into a darker section stacked high with goods.

  Welcoming the power, I let my veins run hot with magic. During my walk from Riverten, I’d focused on holding energy and releasing it. There really wasn’t much to the process once I had it unlocked. The ability to unleash fire coursed through me as we walked for an exit at the back of the warehouse.

  “You channeling?” he asked nervously.

  I shrugged.

  Out back there was a big pile of old carriages. Most of the remnants were piled high to be converted into wood for fires. There were old duck feathers stuffed in a pile taller than me.

  “Remove that please. I’d try to move it—”

  My empty left palm burst a flame onto the stacked feathers. I controlled the incineration, struggling to use as little energy as possible, to keep the fire contained. For a few sections there was too little, so I spilled out additional magic, increasing the vibrant yellows and red.

  The warmth of the magic radiated over us and we both stepped back.

  Thick black smoke billowed briefly, lifting with a gust of wind. As quick as it started, I cut the magic off. All that remained of the pile was mere soot.

  “Impressive, you can even control the flow of magic. Can you test?” he asked

  “Test what?”

  “Test to figure out what magic others have?” he asked and I shook my head. “Okay, I was going to have you just blast a bit to prove you can use magic with more control. Thank you, old feathers are really a nuisance to dispose of.”

  “Seemed easy enough for fifty gold,” I said, and he frowned. “What?”

  “I’ve got a daughter, she… is different.”

  “Yeah, so,” I retorted.

  “We’ve had fire accidents.”

  “Ah, so this was a test?” I asked.

  He sighed. “We don’t know how powerful she is. Taking her to the Mages Guild in Crimm would cost thirty gold to test her, and if she comes back positive, there’s no telling where she ends up.”

  “You’ve lost me,” I admitted, leaning on my staff. “Wouldn’t that be ideal? She’d be a desired bride, correct?”

  There was a lot of fidgeting before he said, “She’s my eldest, and until Frankie was born, she was my successor. You’re a way for her to grow without me paying for her test or her schooling. I’d rather not send her to a breeder. I’ve only heard of a few polite Master Mages. Most of her suitors I’d pay would never let her study. I need to find the best life for her, assuming you have a nice enough place.”

  “My place is amazing and is better than anything by many factors. I like you Kellum, but this concept, not so much. I’m going to wait by the carriages. Go talk to the woman in the waiting area. Ask her about Pangea. Know that I’ve not been able to warn her or had any idea you were going to barter your daughter,” I said with a chuckle.

  “A binding does the same thing. You tell me what you have to offer her, and the magic will know if it's a lie. You can get away with smaller stuff but yea,” he said with a flat tone and deadpan expression. “At least I’m certain yer not from here.”

  “Well, then you understand fifty gold won’t cover her expenses. I’ll be covering far more than that. Like a lot more. I guess I’d like to meet her first,” I admitted.

  He grumbled, heading back inside. I walked back to the wagons to give the cheaper versions a look before I signed on for babysitting duties. I had hoped he was going to ask me to slay fey on the road or something like that.

  The first carriage was excessive to the point I was interested in downgrades. I didn’t care if there was an overhang for a driver, extra beds, or seats for guards up high.

  There was an irony here. Where I expected a simple transaction, and was worried about gold, I was probably going to experience this continually as I progressed in Lornia.

  After walking through the smaller versions, I was completely okay with forcing the guards to ride on the roof or jog to keep up. After closing a door to what was likely the cheapest version Susanna showed up.

  “Sammy went back, if we need her, she is at the inn. Which one did you pick, Master?” Susanna asked.

  “He is trying to pawn his fire mage daughter off on me,” I said in a huff.

  She smiled and said, “That’s amazing.”

  “Huh?” I said with my head tilted back with confusion.

  “You want to be powerful, correct, Master?” Susanna asked. I gave her a terse nod. “Only thing more powerful than one mage is two.”

  I grumbled, not able to counter her argument. I just really didn’t want to deal with a teenage girl. Hanna, my younger sister at home, was fairly decent, but me… even for a guy I’d been a right asshole in my teenage years. The prospect of a girl pouting and whining was more to deal with and didn’t work for me.

  Snapping out of my thoughts, I headed for my lovely guard. Susanna, of course, was drooling over the big carriage and telling me how awesome it was.

  Kellum arrived with a somewhat plump girl at about sixteen with neatly braided long black hair. She nervously tugged on her braid with Kellum reassuring her, telling me she was spoiled to some degree. There was a slight glow to her, different than the gems, and yet still magical.

  Apparently, I could see magic in others.

  She had to look up at me since she was barely over five feet. She wore the dress of a lady, and yet, stared at her feet meekly while approaching us. I could only imagine what her mind was going through.

  This is the part I dreaded. How many emotional moments would saddle me and my goals?

  “Master Mage Trevum—”

  “Trevor,” I corrected Kellum, pulling the gem around my neck out of my robes. “What do you see?”

  Her eyes flicked up, widening. This told me a lot. “My studies say the magical arts of the Ruby Mages are lost to time. I’ve got a—”

  I waved a hand, cutting her off.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Pima, Master Mage,” Pima said.

  “Gather your things while your father and I discuss terms,” I ordered. She curtsied, scurrying back into the entry room that likely held housing above it.

  “You’ll take her?” Kellum said with hope in his eyes.

  “You’ve been buying her books?” I asked.

  He smirked, realizing I valued them. “About fifty gold worth over the years. She has not much else to do besides dream about a noble husband, and study.” He scoffed. “As if they’d ever treat her as well as me. Also, don’t think of her as a potential wife. She will be off limits from you through the binding until her training is complete. If you desire her, consider it incentive.”

  “Too young for my taste. However, is your protections why she is so old?” I asked, knowing women tended to get married to successful men earlier in life in this era. He nodded. “The books, Pima, this carriage. What’s your offe
r?”

  He fidgeted. “A hundred. I’d be making no profit.”

  “I’m offering a hundred but less with my coins, because they're probably worth more than a gold coin in Trimi.”

  I fished a coin out tossing it to him. He bit it as everyone else had.

  Somethings you just had to get used too.

  “Leon, get over here,” he said and a younger wolf man with animal features caught my eye. “Run this to the bank. Get it exchanged. Hurry lad.”

  While we waited for him to test the coin, Kellum led us to a stable across the street. Lidia would be gushing with joy if she were walking through the large barn filled with pretty horses. I was an ATV guy with my fierce spiked helmet and daredevil driving.

  These horses meant little to me and the first one I tried to pet nipped at my fingers. Susanna had no fear, slapping the snout with an intimidating growl that spooked the horse.

  Got it, show no mercy to these horses.

  “Horses are… unique in Lornia. The males, which grow bigger, meaner, faster, and you get the point, hold far more value. Four nice mares will pull the carriage perfectly fine,” Kellum said, taking a left inside the big warehouse type barn.

  We went to a side area with fenced in enclosures. There were teams of four to six mares relaxing in each pen.

  “A hundred.” He pointed to a section of mares. Then shifted his finger. “Hundred, one ten, one ten, and these four are one twenty five,” Kellum said, offering me what felt like the undercoating package.

  At least that is how it seemed at first. Susanna nickered, calling the expensive horses who immediately came over. She went to a middle barrel, lifting the lid for a carrot.

  Oh, I wanted to feed them.

  Giving in to the temptation of the sales gimmick, I asked, “Why are they more?”

  “They come from big dads with great coloration. They may have been raised with attentive care,” Kellum said, with a hint in his voice.

  I frowned at him. “You’d charge me more for horses Pima raised?” I asked with a scoff.

  He shrugged, not changing his opinion. I fed one of the big mares that was a deep brown with white spots. She smacked her lips over my hands gingerly, asking for a second carrot. I certainly didn’t want asshole horses and they’d make Lidia go wild.