54 New Arrival
1522 Words
"Prince Janus looks like the trade caravan has now arrived. Do you wish to inspect Master Roban's latest wares sire?"
"Ahh yes, Master Ringo. I'll meet you as soon as we finish the class." Janus said.
It was around nine in the morning, the first session had just been done and Janus was still spry and limber. It was great to see the sun again -- although it still seemed shy -- it peeked only in little bouts of time. The new beginnings of spring have been pleasant. He wondered if it would be possible to take a swim on the lake once the weather got better.
The merchant's caravan came in with a crowd of children following behind. They were just as curious to newcomers as usual. Now that they had lessons in Lakeside their group looked a lot more diverse. Darker skinned Mairobian children were mingling constantly with the fairer Galedonians, they had shared their own games and languages with each other. It was an intermingling of cultures that was fascinating, for they gathered around with dwarven, goblin, and I'reen children as well.
The latter three races were much smaller than their human counterparts, but were stouter and looked more robust than they were. Janus was amused at how the dwarves and goblins waddled behind their taller and nimbler friends, but the I'reen children were different. They can sprint using their front paws if they needed to, which made them faster than any of the other children. The dwarves would soon surrender at a game of tag and would usually fall further behind the group, forcing a few curses out of their mouths.
Janus sighed, he had told Frugarth to minimize the cursing and insults especially around their children, but some things weren't that easy to change. Perhaps he could ask Nanafell to put some sense into them.
Master Roban greeted him way before the wagons arrived in full.
The merchant met them in front of the library, which was also close to the storage warehouses in Lakeside.
"Good Morning Master Roban. I hope winter has fared you well?"
"Yes, indeed your highness. You should have seen the look on Lord Valrod's eyes as soon as I told him that the village has been going pretty well. He couldn't believe the amount of gold we brought with us. We had a leg up on trades, I've brought as many seeds and livestock as you requested. Cattle, sheep, and chickens were most abundant in Gaddi."
"Very well. Master Ringo, please tell Pazua and Dessa to make a tally of all the products that the good merchant has brought us."
"Aye about that." The merchant said. "How goes my girl Dessa? Has she been doing well?"
"Of course Master Roban, she has been monumental in making sure that trade has been going fairly amongst each settlement, as well as balancing for supply and demand. I must say, you have taught her well. She truly is capable of doing twice the workload in regards to balancing the books."
"Aye, that she is your highness. Has she said anything to ye? Anything of the uhm... personal sort?"
Janus studied the merchant but he couldn't puzzle out the implication.
"Why none that I could recall. All she ever does is do her papers, although she does prepare the tea every morning. And come to think of it, she does give the assistant staff baked cookies every day. Those are really good, the smell fills up the whole Library."
The two men looked at each other. Master Ringo smiled.
"Ahh, well then." Master Roban said. "I did come here immediately for another matter. You see..."
Janus spied a Lady coming down from the wagons. She was wearing a pristine white robe on top of a red buttoned coat and short skirt. Her traveling boots reached up to her knees. They were tight and fluffy and in a darker shade of white, with red embellishments.
She held a white staff behind her and was taking out a satchel from the wagon. One of her books fell to the ground. Janus could see that it was Leatherbound and was inscribed with geometric lines in its cover. It had a lock and key. A spellbook, one of the few magical tomes that he found in the Golden Library but had not found a use for.
As soon as she noticed her book on the ground, she flourished her staff. The book flew on a spiraling motion, guided by a small sparkling orb of white. She caught it in her hands and placed it back on her satchel.
This wasn't one of the Merchant's Daughters. No. She had faintly red hair, tied up in two pigtails behind. She was around a foot shorter than Janus. Her build was petite, and her cheeks had a rosy glow.
"...so we took the daughter of the Earl of Gaddi for a visit. We were not quite sure about the Earl's intent." Roban's voice lowered to a whisper. "She has substantial magic abilities, the destructive kind that is used by armies. I suggest we be careful around her. We think that she's here for a show of force."
The group of children who were chasing the wagons now congregated around the magical Lady. She was talking to a dwarven child who said something to her, and she ruffled the fur of one I'reen child who later lay on the grass for belly rubs.
She stood up after a few bouts of laughter and amusement from the children and slowly walked towards them. Beside Janus, the Masters were still talking about inventories, but he wasn't paying attention.
The Lady looked at her outfit and coat, perhaps noticing something strange. She stood still and flourished her staff again, there was a light that swirled around her and she glistened with light.
There were sounds of ohhs and ahhs from the children.
The light swirled around her from her feet to the top of her head, and her outfit -- which was once a dirty white -- cleaned itself into a pristine radiant glow.
The children clapped and she smiled and curtsied to them as she passed by.
"There she is, showing off her powers again. Prince Janus I would----"
Janus couldn't keep up his excitement, he rushed towards the lady, with Otis running in tow.
The Lady was startled as he came running by but he payed no heed.
"You can do magic! You're a spellcaster. Finally! Someone who can do magic in Wayward!"
"Excuse me?" she said.
"Can you teach me?" Janus said, not noticing that the Lady was studying him with caution.
"No, I can't just teach magic to anyone. Besides, that's not what I'm here for. Master Roban, is this the place where we should meet the Prince?" she said.
Janus looked at the Lady, then looked at himself. His hair and face was messy from this morning's lesson as well as the few hours of admin work he had to squeeze in this morning. He had a cold shower this morning but that was four hours prior, sweat had now pooled in his back. His white coat looked like a dirty little rag compared to hers.
Janus excitement deflated and was replaced by shame.
"You must be the Princess of Gaddi?" said a female voice from behind him.
Thank you, Yvaine! Janus thought.
"Not Princess Exactly, Haruna Valda daughter of the Earl of Gaddi. I am here to extend Gaddi's kinship to Wayward Home. Also to strengthen relations between our folk." The Lady curtsied and Yvaine followed with her introductions.
"Princess Yvaine Blackwood, at your service my Lady. I hope the journey fared you well in this less-than-ideal environment."
Yvaine looked at Janus, whose mouth was still half-opened. Beside him, Otis was staring intently -- tilting his head in confusion.
"I'd have to apologize for my brother right here, you see he tends to fumble around beautiful ladies such as yourself. And a Journeyman mage at that! Our brother is the same, and let's just say they aren't really best of friends. This is Janus, my Brother. Ruler and mastermind of Wayward Home."
Lady Haruna's mouth came wide open for a split second and looked back to Janus in confusion, but she regained her composure immediately.
"My apologies your highness, I did not mean to mistake you for another person. The journey has been long and arduous, with a few monsters down the road. Pray to forgive my misunderstanding, I hope you can forgive my transgression."
Yvaine laughed softly, covering her mouth. "No such thing is necessary Lady Haruna. I'm sure Janus here doesn't mind it at all do you, dear brother?"
Janus stared for a moment until Yvaine nudged him in the ribs.
"Ahh yes." Janus said. "A pleasure to meet you Lady Haruna. I hope the journey has fared you well."
"Now why don't we go to the council dining hall for refreshments?" Yvaine signaled everyone to follow. She nodded to Master Ringo and Roban before leaving. "You said you were curious about the operations in our little village? I'll be happy to give you a tour as we distribute the goods you have brought with us from Gaddi. Perhaps when we are done with refreshments. Do you think that's a good idea, dear brother?"
"Of course..." Janus said. "After some tea perhaps. Yes, we do really need some tea."
- Writer
