AO 4 Ch 5 (Patreon)

Chapter 5

I groaned but didn’t let the sound pass my lips as I looked down at the slip of paper in my hand.

Orders.

My letters had gone out and what had returned were orders from the Enclave.

I stared at them, hoping they’d change.

Aurelia leaned over my shoulder. “What’s the problem?”

“I don’t like these orders.” I told her.

“You mean, you don’t like to follow orders in general.” Maribelle added helpfully as she stood demure with her hands behind her back in front of Brighthaven Manor. People on the street flowed around us as we stood in place.

All the buildings by the manor had been restored, as if the Brighthavens didn’t want to see the city in ruins so they had made a facade of restoration right in front of them.

It was busier than ever, the manor hosting a number of administrative functions for the city now that nearly everything had been displaced by the fire.

Even with the last few days of restoring the city, there was still much to do.

“I don’t mind following orders. It’s just… just…” I glanced down at the paper and groaned again. “Is this what joining the army is going to be like?”

Both anchors looked at each other before facing me and nodding.

“You don’t get to be a general on day one, Ard.” Aurelia smirked. “No matter how big your magic is.”

“That’s the part we were measuring to be generals?” I asked with a touch of humor in my voice as my eyes drifted down to my pants. “Here I thought there was another part we got into measuring contests for.”

“Sir, please. If that were the case, we might as well crown you king and be done with it.” Maribelle gave me a hungry smile.

“Wait, it's that big?” Aurelia asked.

“Like a wyrm.” Maribelle comparing it to a great beast like that made me smile.

Even if I knew it was just a tiny bit exaggerated, I smiled. Everyone liked to be complimented and know they could satisfy a partner.

“See. Then I don’t need to go in and give this to Maximilian.” I flapped the missive in my hands. I had been given orders to report to Maximilian and work for him to restore the city.

Given what happened at the ball not that long ago, I was fairly sure he was going to make my life hell if he could.

This missive might as well have been me bending over and asking to be punished.

I groaned yet again. This time it came out of my mouth and people stared at me as I continued to stand in front of the manor.

“Are we going in or are we defying our first order from The Enclave?” Aurelia asked.

I shot her a sharp glare. “We aren’t defying them.”

“It says as soon as possible.” She pointed to the letter.

“And there’s a slight hold up. My ego is fighting tooth and nail not to go in. I mean, I’ve made like a hundred buildings at this point. I’d argue that I’ve been doing very well on my own.”

“Uh huh.” Aurelia was unamused. “At least you are self aware.”

“Thank you. Now let me continue battling my inner demons before we go inside.” I needed to get better at following orders. Who would have guessed that it wasn’t my strongest attribute?

Certainly not me. I thought I was fantastic at everything. The fact that I’d found the single chink in my armor was irritating to say the least.

I glanced around for a distraction and realized I had come with two. “Aurelia, how are you doing?”

She stared back at me for a moment to see if we were really going to stand here and make small talk before letting out a sigh. “Fine.”

“Now, there are times that Emlyn would say that I’m not the most perceptive person in the world.” I rolled my eyes. “But that ‘fine’ didn’t sound fine at all. Did you get the arrangements for your family members settled?”

“The undertaker is missing. I had to get a member of House Thorne to ready the bodies for transport. Even then, I had to make my own coffins.” She stared down at her hands.

“At least you are too tough to get splinters. Never liked woodworking, always came away with splinters.” I didn’t know how to respond, so the jokes flowed out of my mouth.

Aurelia rubbed her fingers together. “No splinters. Just a different kind of pain.”

Well shit, jokes failed so I stepped in and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close for a huge. “Sorry, Aurelia. It’s stupid, but I know it needs to be said. We are all here for you however you want to deal with this situation.”

The manticore surprised me, wrapping her arms around me and burying her face in my chest as she tried to squeeze my soul out of my back.

“That’s it.” I wheezed, patting her on the back.

She only squeezed me tighter and I felt my back pop. My ribs ached as they attempted to rearrange themselves.

“We got your back, the whole way.” I strained to continue to comfort her. Thankfully, she had ample padding on her chest or I wouldn’t have been able to breathe.

“Your mage may not have a back if you keep that up. You’re crushing him.” Maribelle’s tone was flat, but her eyes were full of anger.

Aurelia let go and took several steps back, her eyes wide. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

I waved her excuses away while I caught my breath. “I’m fine. Comforting you was worth it. Don’t bottle it up like that again.” I poked her nose even as a trickle of life magic repaired my spine.

She went cross-eyed following my finger and froze.

I took more advantage of her and rubbed the top of her head. “Or I’m going to rub your head until you stop being mopey.”

She smacked my hand away. “I’m not fine, but with the battle and losing family, I am as good as I can get.”

“Should we do something special for them? I don’t know what Virels typically do to say goodbye to those lost.”

“We take them back home to the family crypt.” She said, her voice low. “I’ll have to record their deeds for the family and inform everyone.”

I rubbed her shoulder and turned her around so I was hugging her from the back. It was a safer way for me to give her comfort. “That sounds hard. On the way back, we can all put our heads together and come up with something nice to write in the records. I’ll go with you to inform people. Things like that are much easier with someone.”

She nodded but stayed quiet.

“Great and then you’ll hand off any logistics you are dealing with to Zuri. She’s already managing quite a bit. A few more line items won’t bother her.” I continued.

“But—“ She started to argue.

“No ‘buts’.” I corrected her. “You are my anchor and you suffered a loss. Let your mage take care of some things.”

“Sounds like you are pawning it all off on Zuri.” Maribelle commented from the side.

“Hush you.” I chided her. “If you behave and help Aurelia, I’ll treat you later.” Maribelle was extremely capable at just about everything except controlling her urges.

So, I’d just play to them instead.

Maribelle’s eyes sparkled. “Understood.”

I needed to keep her satisfied because I might not have the opportunity on the road nor in the capital while living with the rest of my family. Her needs could be intense.

“Alright.” A blushing Aurelia pulled herself from my comfort and wiped at her eyes. “I’m better, thank you.”

“Just come in for hugs if you need them. You’re not quite as fluffy as I expected a manticore to be, but significantly softer.” I smiled at her.

She glanced down at her chest that was most certainly bound. Then she glanced at Maribelle.

Aurelia had almost a head on the shorter anchor, yet she couldn’t win in the chest.

That being said, Maribelle cheated and had modified hers with life magic just to draw attention to them.

Pulling my head from tipping into the gutter, I let out one final sigh. “Alright, into the wyrm den we go.”

“If Maximillian causes you too much headache, I’ll kill him.” Aurelia decided to find a way to use violence to solve our current problem.

Not that I minded. At least the manticore was being manticore-y again.

Watching his head roll would be fantastic.

But alas, I needed to learn to follow orders and probably deal with contentious relationships with my superiors. Because if I was honest with myself, most superiors were probably going to be contentious. They wouldn’t understand my brilliance, and that was bound to cause friction.

I finally moved forward and into Brighthaven Manor. We’d been here once before. Though it was less ostentatious on the outside when they weren’t hosting a ball, the inside remained much the same.

There was a small troop of servants dusting off all the marble and gold to ensure it still shined just as bright despite the city the Brighthaven’s were responsible for burning down around it.

I paused, considering there was a slight chance I was a little bitter before I continued forward.

A row of clerks stood in front of me like the vanguard of an army. “Name and reason for visiting?” One peeled away to address me.

Even though I wasn’t wearing anything to identify me as a mage, two anchors trailing after me made that fact obvious enough.

“Arden Aldis, reporting for duty.” I handed him the letter.

He took it and only glanced at the letter.

There must be dozens of mages doing the same. It seemed to me as if the letter wasn’t exactly personalized. Every junior mage was being called to duty. House Brighthaven managed the city, it was only reasonable that they organized the efforts.

I smiled. I’d probably slip right through in with the masses and they wouldn’t take the time to give me any personal attention.

“That name…” He turned to another attendant.

“We were told to make him wait here for the Master of the City.” Another attendant filled in for him.

“Right.” The one who had come up to deal with me smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Please wait to the side over there.” He gestured to a huddle that held a mass of unwashed peasants.

“This is—“ Aurelia started but I cut her off with a wave.

“Wonderful. I’ll just go wait. I’m sure it won’t be long at all.” My eyes couldn’t help it, they rolled in their sockets.

He was going to make a mage wait with the peasants. Which, to most mages would probably be a huge insult.

Me? I had other feelings.

“Hello, my people!” I joined them with a smile and spread my arms out as if to hug them all. “Don’t worry, Brighthaven is even making mages wait. While I’m here, House Aldis is happy to help tend to any injuries you might have.”

Fuck Maximilian. If I was going to wait, I was going to do it in my own style and ensure that he didn’t get a drop of credit for my work.

“Aldis?” A woman perked up. “A young man Aldis? That means you're the four sphere?” She asked in rapid fire.

Her words made everyone in this gathering turn to me. It seemed my reputation preceded me.

“Yup. House Aldis doesn’t get along with Brighthaven, so he would rather me twiddle my thumbs here, likely waiting all day. So, I’m opening up a healing ward right here in the waiting area.” With a wave of my hand, I ruined the marble entryway and made a chair for myself.

It was a little opulent for my tastes to sit in a marble chair, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. Since he’s put me over here with the beggar’s, I certainly didn’t get much of a choice.

“My ankle has been throbbing all day.” A fit man stepped forward with a limp.

“Perfect.” I made a bench in front of me. “Sit down and I’ll take care of it.”

He looked embarrassed to take off his shoe and give me his foot.

But I did not mind at all. I couldn’t smell any stink over the smell of smoke still thick in the air.

“Yeah. You had no reason to downplay this.” I grabbed his foot and sent life magic into him.

An angry red bulge the size of a fist lost its color and slowly sank down into his ankle as I righted several fractures. Then I let my life magic course up his body and start to hastily sink into his lungs.

Another coughed while I was fixing his lungs, and I realized they all needed some healing. It was going to be a busy day.

“Alright, all of you are going to make a line and come for healing one by one.” They had all inhaled so much smoke they should have seen a healer anyway.

Yet, with the state of the city they likely didn’t consider their reduced breathing and a cough very urgent.

I finished with the man’s ankle and waved him off to the side before gesturing for the next to sit on the bench.

Maribelle appeared with a pitcher and a glass of water.

I glanced at the pitcher and a smile ghosted on my lips for a second to make a joke, but then my next patient sat down and it was forgotten as I dove into working.

***

Zuri had a bundle of letters tied and thrown over her shoulder as she landed back in Faylin proper.

Emlyn landed a second later next to her. “I need an hour with Ard and then a bath. Actually, swap the order.” Emlyn pulled a few leaves out of her hair before turning and plucking one from Zuri’s braids.

“My magic is nearly gone.” Zuri agreed. “Though, I can feel him.” She squinted over the city, feeling the familiarity of her magic drawing to its source.

“That way.” Emlyn barely seemed to be trying, but pointed towards the one large set of structures still standing.

“He’s at the Brighthaven Estate?” Zuri’s brown’s pinched down, that was a recipe for disaster. “Guess you aren’t going to get that hour with Ard anytime soon.”

Emlyn snorted. “I’m not trying while he’s with Maribelle. That’s how I don’t wake up one day.”

Zuri chuckled, continuing towards the Aldis estate. Her long legs carried her a half step ahead of Emlyn. “Well, if we are out of magic then all we can do is rest.”

“Or paperwork. You know Gwen has paperwork for us.” Emlyn shuddered. “All because Ard is abysmal at it.”

“It’s not his best quality. That’s his tongue.” Zuri laughed and Emlyn joined her. “Still, I am tempted to go make sure he’s fine at the Brighthaven Estate.”

“Leave it. He’s got Maribelle and Aurelia. Maribelle is looking for an excuse to get collared by him.” Emlyn had already told her about the maid finding the bluesteel collar and losing it.

Both it and the ax that he was currently hiding under his bed were intended to be courting gifts. “He has to give the ax away before we leave for The Capital, right? There’s no way he can hide it in the wagon.” It was a five foot long battle ax with a giant decorative head.

“Watch him try.” Emlyn sighed. “Yeah, he has to give Maribelle the collar first. He can handle her though. Despite all appearances, Ard is smart with people.”

“Just not math.” Zuri added with a chuckle.

“Eh.” Emlyn shook her head side to side. “He never really learned arithmetic beyond counting coins. Now that Maribelle has taught him, he can go over the numbers in the contracts better than me. He picked it up quickly and his intelligence with people is less memorization and more… I don’t know. He just understands people very well.”

“Well enough to push their buttons and make them crazy?” Zuri smirked. Ard had shown off that particular talent of his time and time again.

“Yes. Very much yes. Which is why he has Aurelia and Maribelle with him. They’ll keep him safe. Worst case, Maribelle takes him and runs away while Aurelia keeps the line before retreating.” They had all spent some time planning out how best to keep Ard safe.  Brighthaven Estate was close enough to count as enemy territory. He would hate that situation but sometimes he needed to come first.

Zuri decided to change the topic. “So. When we get back to the capital and he officially becomes a mage, how quickly are you going to try and bond with him?”

Emlyn blushed and bit her lip. “It’s in the plan.”

“Does Ard know?” Zuri knew that Emlyn wanted nothing more than to be magically inseparable from Ard. Their past had torn them briefly apart and now that they’d found each other they were committed on another level.

“He understands people.” She stuck her tongue out. “I’m sure he knows I want it. If Maribelle gets jealous about it, I’ll fight her for being his first bonded.”

“You’d win a fair fight.” Zuri added. Maribelle was terrifying in her life anchor fighting style that ignored her own safety, yet Emlyn was the better duelist.

“Thanks. I don’t want it to come to that. Ard would hate it if we actually traded blows.” Emlyn stared off into the distance in his direction with a wistful look.

“He would.” Zuri agreed. Their mage was soft hearted about some things. This would be included. Those that he considered his family were more important than anything. Emlyn had described his past to her over drinks once.

Ard had lost a lot, and he clung tightly to his anchors as a result.

“Hopefully Aurelia is doing better. The two of them need to talk things out.” Zuri said.

“Ard’s got it. He’s got a hangup that she is only doing it out of duty, which is how it started.” Emlyn said.

“But she can do both, no?” Zuri saw Aldis manor in the distance and several ships were splayed out on its shore, so many masts it was like a forest.

Emlyn shrugged helplessly. “When Ard thinks it’s more love than duty he’ll move things forward. That he got her that axe tells me he’s thinking about it.”

“True.” Zuri nodded. “Well, I hope he hurries up. Aurelia worries too much.”

“The manticore worries?!” Emlyn grabbed her face in mock surprise.

“Don’t call her that.” Zuri admonished her. “Only Ard can get away with that and you know it. She’d gut anyone else using that name.”

Emlyn picked up her stride, laughing as she went. “That’s why I didn’t say it around her.  It’s just funny she’s such a decisive person in action, but in romance? She’s like a fish on dry land. Since we were once rivals, I can’t help but enjoy watching her struggle just a little.” She looked over her shoulder and pinched her finger.

“You two hurry up!” Gwen’s anchor Hecate was standing in the yard with her arms crossed.

The woman was another oddity in House Aldis.

A maid turned anchor that never fights. Instead, Gwen always sent the woman off at the last second.

And when she was around, Hecate was just omnipresent, like she knew how to be at the right spot all the time. If Emlyn didn’t know better, she’d assume the woman was a spy. But Gwen was savvy and seemed to trust the woman, which confused Emlyn even more. 

When they returned to the capital, Emlyn would look deeper into Hecate and figure out just who this woman was that had wiggled her way into Ard’s world.