The Chronicles of Edwin, Ch. 14 pt. 2

Edwin watched out the window as the scenery passed by.  It was a rather grey looking day outside, and not just because the windows were fogging up.  Edwin would have called it cloudy, except that there would have to be distinguishable clouds for that to be the case.  No, this was more like an even coating of bleakness that stretched and billowed from one horizon to the other. The only interruption was by the bright splotch where the sun was sulking.

The ride was short, but Edwin got out of the carriage like a man who had been on a long journey.  He yawned wide and stretched, skeleton cracking as his joints expanded.  Ariel quietly took her customary seat upon Edwin’s shoulder. He did seem to notice, his mind had been racing for the duration of the ride, and it did not show any signs of slowing down just yet. He felt worried, but of what he could not really pin down.  Edwin passed it off as the sort of feeling one gets when in unfamiliar territory, or when meeting new people, and he was doing both. Ariel rubbed his shoulder reassuringly, Edwin was glad she was there.

“You okay sweetie, you’re awfully quiet?” she said.

“I’m nervous, when I’m around pretty girls I act stupid and that goes double when I kinda like them too, you know?” Edwin said.

“Oh yes, when I like a girl I can hardly contain myself.” She said with a wink that was a little too cute.

“Really? I’m having an emotional crisis here and you’re making jokes?” Edwin said with a wry smile.

She stuck out her tongue and flew a lap around Edwin’s head.

Edwin threw his hands up, “Fine, fine, I get it… I should calm down, it’s no big deal, right?”

“He’s not stupid after all! …You know, Edwin, I’m not sure why you’re so darn self conscious all the time. You’re really freaking cute.”

Edwin rolled his eyes but blushed all the same. “Whatever you say half-pint.” He paused, grinning, “So, I guess we should get this over with.” They set off towards the main keep.

Edwin looked around absorbing the scenery surrounding him.  There were soldiers doing this and that. Some intense looking drills were going on nearby. The ones that most impressed Edwin were the casters practicing their spells.  They paired off and one would use a weak offensive spell while the other would use defensive wards to fend them off. So many colors and the raw power being handled with such ease and skill, it was mesmerizing. Edwin wished he had been able to learn to control fire magic. He looked at Ariel and asked, “Did they have to go through similar the same sort of training we went through to awaken their magical potential?”

“Sort of? Um, how do I explain this… What I was doing for you was shock therapy to open latent powers you were not aware of. Most military trained spellslingers knew of their powers before they began training, that is, they had been awakened naturally. The military also has aptitude tests that put recruits through rigorous training which exposes what magical talent they may or may not have, and then they send them to specialized training based on their skill set.”

“You know… It just occurred to me, how is it that you know so much about the military and magic, while we’re on the subject. You’re very matter of fact about what you claim to know.”

Ariel giggled mischievously, “Oh my, you silly little boy. A lady has her secrets. I suppose I should tell you more about my past, but alas, that is a long story and I am famished. Ask me again sometime when I am not so hungry.”

In addition to the pyrotechnic display going on, the view of the place was quite spectacular.  The fort's outer wall seemed to stretch on forever toward the mountains to the north and the south.  The great Malkadian wall it was called. This fort was one of several along the length of the wall, one at each of the Three Great Gates. Edwin, knew a lot about the wall from school, but seeing it in person was much more impressive. Its high crenellations seemed to tower over the landscape while the towers that occurred regularly down its length were rivaled only by the mountains in the distance for height. There was a great gate there facing the wild lands to the east, the visage of two great armored guards stood holding the gates with strength hewn from the very mountains that birthed them.

As he was thinking this, two familiar faces appeared from behind the door of a nearby building.  Parker and Isaac ran over with faces glowing, damp hair jangling, and smelling very clean. Parker was a husky bright eyed fellow with extra thick glasses that made him look kind of goofy. Isaac had an athletic build and sharp jaw line that made him look like he was born to wear a uniform. Edwin had met them when he was ambushed several weeks ago and they had become fast friends.

Edwin jogged a few feet to meet them yelling, "Hey guys!  Wasn't sure if you'd be here tonight."

"Awe, what? And miss a visit from the big guy? Never!" Issac said.

"How have you guys been?" Edwin asked.

"Well, pretty busy, haha." Parker said.

"Yeah, the General has been riding Parker pretty hard ever since the promotion." said Isaac.

"Promotion?" Edwin said with a confused look on his face.

“Yeah, I got promoted and assigned to be the general’s personal assistant. You would not believe how much busy work that job entails. Every time I turn around he has more forms and paperwork to be filed or fetched.” Parker said, “oh, but don’t take me wrong, I love the job. Getting to serve General O’Connor is quite an honor, and this experience will help me out quite a bit when I eventually apply to become an officer.”

“Our boy is going places, Ed. Better watch out or he’ll start having us call him sir.” Isaac said with a sly wink.

Edwin laughed, “Well, congratulations Parker. I feel bad for not knowing about this sooner.”

“Haha, no worries man. Frankly, I’ve been so busy with the new position that I have not had time to go telling people about it yet.” Parker said.

Edwin smiled and nodded, and then a quizzical look came upon him. “So, uh, what are you guys doing here anyway?”

“Well, for starters, we kind of live here.” Parker said.

"We've also been invited to dinner with you and the general, looser." Isaac said as he punched Edwin on the shoulder. Edwin shoved him into Parker who shoved him back.  They bounced Isaac back and forth a couple times and laughed.

"I guess we should get going" said Parker.

They led Edwin to the main keep and standing outside waving at them was Keely.  She was more beautiful than Edwin remembered.  Her lavender hair was down and she wore a lacy black dress which complemented her already slim figure quite nicely.  Edwin was feeling very under dressed at this point, but it was a bit late now. 

As they approached Edwin’s eyes met with Keely's. The glance quickly turned into a stare and Edwin felt his heart skip a beat or two. "Wow you have pretty eyes" he blurted out before he could stop himself.

Keely blushed for a moment and said, "Do you really think so?"

Embarrassed Edwin stumbled over his words, "well yeah, sorry if that's weird or whatever but yeah..."

"Haha, you're cute." she said with a flutter of eyelashes.

"Um, thanks...?" Edwin really did not know how to follow that up and he was blushing bright red, he looked at the guys and they were no help.  They were both snickering and doing a very bad job of hiding it. Arial was giggling so hard she fell of Edwin's shoulder.

When the amusement subsided and Edwin stopped blushing like a peach, Keely led the group into the main keep. They walked through a grand entryway and up several flights of stairs. There were carvings and grandiose statues everywhere, many hallways and locked doors leading to untold mystery and adventure, or so Edwin thought. Ariel helped herself to some of the flowers as they passed by, preferring to eat only the most colorful (and expensive) blooms.

While they walked, Parker turned to Edwin and asked, Is this your first time in a fort like this one?"

"Actually, no. I spent the night in a fort in grade school and I have a couple friends in the army posted at fort Hamilis, I visit them whenever I get a chance.  But, I mean, those forts were nothing compared to this place, still, eerily similar."

"That would be the Ricurian architecture, I think" said Parker, "all of these forts were built at the end of the last century by King Eimohs as a last testament to the strength of the empire when the last of the outsider rebellions were put down."

Edwin cringed a little bit inside at the mention of the outsider rebellions. The Outsider Rebellion was the official name for the great wars of the last century, and that was the name taught in the schools across the kingdom. But Edwin knew them by a different name, The Purge. Edwin's grandfather was one of the last giants left in the land when he died; and that man told tales of the war quite different from the official stories. The injustice of that war was a certainty to Edwin, and he did not like it when people talked about it so casually. He would never let it show though and just said, "Oh...I see."

There was a bit of silence as they entered a waiting room, then Keely piped up, "I'll go and fetch my parents!" She dashed out of the room with a little bounce; Edwin thought she seemed almost weightless as she walked.

Isaac looked over at Edwin and winked, "falling for her, eh?"

Edwin blushed, "No? I don't... maybe a little?"

"I think every guy on base has had a crush on her at one point or another." Parker nodded knowingly.

"And that is supposed to be encouraging how exactly?" Edwin paused. "Is... is she seeing anyone?"

"Not that I am aware of, a few have thought about asking her out but her dad scared em off." Parker said.

"And those who he didn't scare off, she rejected. Cold as ice that girl." Isaac said with a cold glint in his eye.

"Ah… I see," Edwin said with an exasperated sigh.

"You ready for the spring semester at the university? What was it you study again?" Isaac asked.

They all sat down. "I study Structural Magitech Engineering, you know, how to build magically enhanced buildings and stuff. This coming semester is going to be rough, all hardcore magitech classes."

"That stuff is so over my head, I can barely manage simple evocations." Parker said.

“Really?” Edwin thought about the soldiers he had seen coming into the fort. "Don't all soldiers have to be proficient in magic?"

"No, not at all, in fact most are not. But everyone gets tested and trained to the ability that they can." Parker said "Lord knows it can be darn useful in a pinch."

"Can either of you use fire magic?" Edwin said, curiosity growing.

Isaac and Parker looked at each other and kind of laughed. Isaac answered, "Elemental magic is hard to learn if you're not well aligned naturally. I actually specialize in ice spells, which I guess are technically water element. But not fire."

"I'm just not good at magic period." Parker added with an insincere laugh.

"Could you show me something of your ice magic, Isaac?" Edwin asked.

"Um... sure, why not..." Isaac got up and there was a cold, grey light in his eyes, he muttered a short incantation and very quickly made a series of precise movements that threw what looked like slush at Parker's wrists and ankles. That slush expanded and stiffened on impact becoming frozen bindings. Parker was not amused as he wrenched his limbs and broke the ice, it looked painful but Parker was strong and much tougher than he acted most of the time. Almost instinctively he rolled the momentum of breaking loose into a jab at Isaac's stomach which connected with a wallop.

"Ooph, okay... I deserved that one." Isaac wheezed. Parker just smiled as he sat back down rubbing his wrists.

Edwin was greatly amused and thought he would have to get Ariel to teach him those moves later. Keely returned with her parents just as Parker sat down. She kind of looked at the ice on the chair and floor, then at Parker who shrugged apologetically, then at Isaac who just grinned. She gave an exasperated sigh. "I have told you guys no to do magic inside, it makes a mess."

"Don't look at me, Edwin asked for a demo." Isaac chirped back.

The General stepped in and glared down at Isaac, “And do you always follow foolish requests by civilians soldier?”

Isaac sprang up, wide eyed, to attention, “No sir! I…”

“At ease soldier, no harm done, just do not conduct such displays under my roof. Understood?” The general said.

That's when Mrs O'Connor stepped in with her husband. "Ah, young master Felspar, it is a pleasure to see you again. And you as well Parker, Isaac." She gave a little curtsy in greeting.

"It is good to see you again too, and just plain Edwin is just fine with me, ma'am, if it's all the same to you?" Edwin said.

She chuckled and nodded. “Okay, Edwin, thank you for coming all this way to share dinner with us.”

Then the General introduced himself. He was not exactly what one expects from a general. Sure, he looked the part with the ornate dress and squared shoulders, but he had gentle eyes. It felt like he and war would never quite see eye to eye. "Hello Edwin, I am General Andrew O'Connor. I am pleased to finally meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine, sir." Edwin said as they shook hands.

"Well, shall we head to the table, I don't know about you kids but I'm famished." Mr. O'Connor said with a wink. Everyone chuckled and followed him.

They went down the hall past a few closed doors and stone passageways that went off to who knows where. Edwin walked with his head practically spinning as he took in every detail. There were interesting paintings all along the hall, a few of General O'Connor in his younger days out on the field of battle. The halls were well lit with retrofitted top notch ELS lighting (Enchanted Light Source). Edwin noted a few of the structural features he was learning about in places. Kinds of bracing that used strong enchantments to reinforce the natural material properties. But he also noted a series of sigils he was unfamiliar with which ran in a continuous pattern along the ceiling and bases of the wall. He asked Mr. O'Connor about them.

"Oh, those? Well, at the time this fort was built those designs you see were a popular architectural feature and were often found in structures with a Ricurian design. It is purely aesthetic though, unlike the reinforcing runes you see on load bearing pillars and walls. Some commanders cover them up, but I like them... The design harkens back to the glory days when forts like this one served a purpose, not just here gathering dust." Mr. O'Connor replied with great passion.

Edwin nodded, soaking in every word that was said. One thing did not sit well with him though, the markings along the walls were too exact to be purely aesthetic. He recognized many words of power in the runes, and the sigils seemed loosely based on, or similar to, ones he did know about. But then, good art often imitates reality. Edwin filed this away as something to look into later, maybe ask Ariel about when he got a chance.

Finally, General O'Connor led them into a large, ornate room. Long tapestries and banners flying the colors were strewn about the walls and along one side there was a massive map of the kingdom. In the center was a long table covered in a black table cloth with purple trim and golden tassels. The plates and bowls were ornately decorated with gold and amethyst and there was a beautiful statue of a dragon for a centerpiece. Edwin, Isaac, and Parker all let out a collective gasp at the setting.

"Wow..." Edwin said.

“Thank you Edwin, this is my personal dining hall. Come all, have a seat.” General O’Connor said as he pointed everyone toward their seat for the evening.

At this moment Ariel decided to pop out and say hi. "Sweet digs yo, this place be ill" She said to the General crossing her arms and making gang signs. Edwin would have evaporated with embarrassment if such a thing were possible. He glared at Ariel, his eyes asking desperately what the hell was wrong with her.

The General crumpled up his face a bit in surprise and confusion, "and you are?"

Edwin interpreted Squiggers as she was about to reply, "THIS, is my familiar. Her name is Squiggers... er, well, it’s actually Ariel but she prefers Squiggers for some reason."

Squiggers floated above Edwins shoulder and made an ornate bow, "at your service sir."

General O'Connor nodded, "well, greetings to you too little one."

Squiggers laughed quietly and whispered to Edwin "young people these days..."

Keely, being somewhat eager to start the meal, lead, or dragged, as the case may be, each person to their seat. A servant came to take people's orders and conversation ensued as the entrees were cooking. As it always is when dining with a friend's parents, it starts out with the women folk asking about all the various and sundry aspects of one's character. Where the subject goes to school, where he works, what his family is like, what his hobbies are, how he met everyone, and if he knows so-and-so. All of this, of course, being interrupted by stories, only loosely related to the topic, by the men in an attempt best one another. Once or twice, Squiggers got up and did a jig on the table, much to everyone's delight. Finally the food came and everyone dug in heartily.

"So, Edwin," The General began, "You were told why I invited you here tonight?"

Edwin looked over at Parker, who just shrugged. "Well, I was told it was related to the incident in the road several weeks back. But not much else."

The General wiped at the corners of his mouth, "I wanted to thank you for saving my daughter's life. What you did was brave and I am indebted to you for it." The very air in the room seemed to grow heavy, Parker and Isaac exchanging looks. The General continued, "I heard that your jeed died in the incident, for that I am truly sorry, but the military will provide you with a new one should you request it."

Edwin smiled and blushed a little bit. "Well, thank you very much, sir. But I am sure that anyone with the capability and opportunity would have done the same. As for the jeed, my father's insurance has already replaced him."

“Has he now,” the general paused deep in thought for a moment, “well, son, what would you consider as a reward for your service?”

Edwin sat there with a dumb look on his face and the room grew uncomfortably quiet. Then an idea occurred to him and he spoke before he had time to actually think about what he was about to say. “Well, sir, what I would like is to ask your daughter out on a date… if she wants to, I mean.” Edwin immediately regretted saying this as it was coming out. What was he saying, he barely knew this girl, and she probably didn’t like him at all. Oh, how embarrassing.

The General paused a moment upon hearing Edwin’s request, he smiled, and then he threw back the most enormous and hearty laugh. “I like you boy” he said between chuckles. Everyone else was somewhere between being confused, taken aback, and laughing just because it was so hard not to join in. After a short duration of this, things settled down and General O’Connor turned to his daughter, “Well, Keely, what will you say to the boy? Will you go on a date with the young man who saved you?”

Suddenly everyone was staring at the girl who turned bright red and seemed to be trying her best to disappear. “I… I, um…” She seemed to be having a million thoughts at once and of all things, she burst out in tears and ran from the room. Her mother looked rather surprised and chased after her making apologies as she went.

Edwin sat there utterly dumbstruck; Isaac and Parker sharing similarly shocked looks.

“Well, I did not expect that...” Said General O’Connor, “I am sorry, Edwin, that was very rude of my daughter, I am sure she did not intend to offend in any way.”

“Was it something I did?” Edwin asked in slight delirium.

“No, I do not think so. I must apologize for my daughter. That was most rude.” General O’Connor said glancing toward the door Keely had fled through.

Parker decided to try and break the tension, “Girls, huh? Weird…”

Everyone looked at him like he was an idiot for a second, and then burst out laughing. Isaac quickly changed the subject to sports and things settled down. Ariel flew off without anyone noticing to follow the fleeing females, while the men remained at the table exchanging stories. Edwin was still very embarrassed and confused, but Keely’s father didn’t seem to care, if anything he seemed to have been almost happy to see that Edwin was interested in his daughter. But why had she burst into tears like that? It made no sense to him and he felt like it was somehow his fault. Edwin began rehearsing apologies while talking with the guys about various things. Finally, he excused himself and left the table to find a restroom where he could be alone to compose his thoughts.