The Hill

Nikolai wasn't the best rider and in front of someone as skilled as Elya he could sense his inadequacy. She rode at his side, relaxed and enjoying the breeze. They didn't speak after leaving the town, just enjoying the breeze as they rode along the coast to the uniquely named 'fifth hill'. Nikolai stopped to observe a fleet of merchantmen sailing into port, the insignia of a Vezani Merchant Prince Emblazoned across the bow.

"Of course you would expect the Vezani to come if they catch the scent of even a single coin." Elya's melodious voice sounded from behind him.

"In general yes, but in this case, it's a request I made."

"What did you need from them?"

"Glass, gems, black sand and some silver."

She nodded. Glass of high quality had to be purchased from the Vezani because the Princes owned a monopoly on the techniques to produce it.

"Is it for your experiments?"

"Yes. Unfortunately Imperial products can't match the quality of the Vezani or the Council of Avar, especially for magical equipment."

"You can't make it yourself?"

Nikolai flicked his reins and moved on, back to the road that led to fifth hill.

"I made attempts and had minor successes. Glass was actually the easiest but the effort that goes in only produces sheets of it, I was never able to shape it even with the help of the greatest artisans of the Empire. Black sand is impossible, there's something about the soil they dig up in the barren wastes of the south that lends itself so well for developing controlled explosions."

"It's a shame we can't extort the techniques from them." Elya eyed the ships once more and Nikolai got the sense she would lead an assault on the boats if it was required for the benefit of the Empire. "Too bad their approach stops me from doing so."

"They were smart, coming to the Emperor and swearing fealty."

"Fealty with conditions." She growled.

"Swearing an oath always has conditions, whether it's the protection of a liege lord or the wealth that they would receive in return for their service, they ask for something. In this case they managed to keep their trade secrets, and the Emperor received money and manpower in exchange."

"The Emperor would not be swayed by anything."

"Not easily, but the amount of money that flows through their hands is astonishing. Each of those Princes would be as wealthy as one of the Great Houses and that's not even counting the great trade families."

"That's not possible." She stared at him in dismay. It wasn't easy to come to terms with the fact that you were poor. And the Empire, for all its gaudiness and military prowess, was destitute. Compared to the surrounding nations at least.

"I'll take you to see Athkala, the city of Lights some time. Then you'll see what I mean." He'd only passed through it with his Master, but the city was a wonder, it made the Capital look like a village.

"I'll hold you to that." Her eyes sparkled.

"If you like travelling so much, there are many places we can go." The enthusiasm Chen had suppressed was coming back at the thought of roaming across nations with his wife.

"I do like to, but aren't you doing work for the Emperor here?"

"I don't mean now. When we get time."

"Yes." She sighed. "When we get time."

"There's a lot to discover. There are forests where spirits congregate in the Duchies, a crystal palace that has no entry somewhere deep within the Isles. The fractured lands still carry the taint of demonic corruption and the Avarian Council has set up dozens of beacon towers to aid in purification."

"You've been there before?" She raised an eyebrow, bringing her horse closer in excitement.

"I saw some spirits in the Duchies." Actually he did more than just see but that was still a secret from people. Nikolai rubbed the Primer Stone he carried around with him. It would be a few months still for the contract to come into force. "The rest I've heard about. My Master wanted to go the Council lands at least once but he was forced to return home instead."

"Your Master? I haven't heard about him before."

"Master Etenani was a truly strange man." Nikolai smiled at the memory of the absent minded old Mage. "Knowledgeable, erudite and almost perfect. Except for his drinking. The man refused to take water as long as alcohol was around. Got him into all sorts of trouble."

"He sounds like a great man."

Nikolai shook his head and laughed.

"Not great at all. A pain in my neck, constantly on the hunt for new liquors." Remembering the old man, Nikolai dug inside his cloak to find a small piece of cut glass, passing it to Elya. "This is a Finding Stone. A basic magic that you can attune to let you know if something is around. Unfortunately you can only attune it to simple substances, like water, salt, sand and things like that. It glows brighter the closer you are to it."

Elya glanced at the gem and raised it but there was no light inside.

"This one is my Master's. And it's attuned to alcohol. He used that Stone to dig through most of the Empire and half of the North for ancient wines and things."

"How could you tell it's ancient?" Elya observed the Finding Stone curiously, trying to catch a hint of its abilities.

"Because we dug through ruins and tombs to find them. That's why we were in the Duchies. They're the best place to find ruins of the Reclamation." He paused. That wasn't actually true. "Well, unspoiled ruins anyway."

"So you went through the trouble of digging through magical ruins just for some alcohol?" Elya rubbed her face, thumb glancing across the scar.

"It was what he wanted to do. It's hard to make a Mage follow rules, especially the older, powerful ones. But I got through it and learned how to handle myself in a fight. In a way, it's what prepared me for life in the army." He shuddered at the memories of dangerous traps and undead horrors that stalked the corridors and passages from the Reclamation. Shades were equivalent to cats in front of those beings.

"It was bad?"

"Sometimes. But there were some rewards. Remind me to show you my collection. Outside of the Imperial Council of Mages, I may have the greatest collection of relics from that age." He was very proud of what he'd found and he made it a point to show the collection off amongst his peers. He'd enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing those arrogant old men salivate in envy at the sight of some of the unique pieces.

"I'm not sure I should." She'd backed away, observing him with a strange expression.

"Why not?"

"You had the most disgusting leer I've ever seen."

"No no no!" Nikolai put on a stern grimace, trying to straighten his face. "I was thinking about some people who I got even with."

Elya snickered and continued to tease him until they reached fifth hill.