The door to the Storm Fort meeting chamber slowly closed under Kelren’s push, latching with a quiet click. Kelren was left feeling bewildered—his meeting with the Three Commanders had been utterly unexpected. Kelren had much to think about now. He had been back in Eastpoint for a few weeks now, but much more was about to happen now.
His first stop was his quarters, only a few doors down the corridor from the council chamber where the Three Commanders met. As chief magician for the Company, Kelren was always at their beck and call—unless he was on a mission. He carried out their orders and spent his free time studying in his library, adjacent to his quarters.
Kelren called to one of the servants just before stepping out of the corridor, “Fetch Relis and Eltha. I have need of them.”
As soon as he reached the privacy of his quarters, Kelren withdrew Ma’relle’s letter from the pouch at his belt. He had received the note from his inland ally a few days ago, in response to his own correspondence. He reread it quickly. It was full of things unknown even to the Commanders—things like how out-of-hand the threat of Tarro and his bandit armies had become. It had started as someone’s reckless plan and had only grown more turbulent since then.
Kelren had learned two things from the Commanders mere moments ago. One of them was to be his next assignment. The other was in direct contradiction of Ma’relle’s advice. Nevertheless, Kelren was intrigued. He would go along with both of the prospects the Commanders had outlined.
It began with his next assignment. Once Relis and Eltha had reported, the trio of magicians convened in Kelren’s library office. He had them flip a coin—and Relis called the showing side. Smiling maliciously, Kelren explained, “You’re on assignment with me, Relis. We’re going behind enemy lines. The far side of the Great Isle.”
“What?” Relis blinked, aghast.
Kelren chuckled. He shifted his weight farther onto the edge of his desk. “We have been hired to transport—with Journeying—Councillor Ghomal all the way to Tav Rock.”
“We could be lost for years,” Relis said. “Even if we aren’t, we might arrive surrounded by bandits.”
“That’s what the bonus is for,” Kelren said with a shrug. He stood up and rounded the desk. He sank into his chair and glanced up once more. Seeing his underlings’ concern had not ebbed, he added, “There is a plan—it’s not a suicide mission. We leave on the ides of next Moon. Get your affairs in order.”
“Sir,” Relis said, with a slight bow.
That afternoon, Kelren ran some errands to a few of Eastpoint’s shops—places that knew him on sight and offered him a good deal. Half of his purchases were orders that would not be filled for several days, so it was well to place them in advance. Before returning to the Storm Fort, Kelren sought out Councillor Ghomal at the largest estate in his district.
He only had to wait a few moments before he was invited into a long dining hall. Ghomal, a dark-haired man with an expensive pelt draped over his chair, sat at the head of the table. While two other places were set, the meal seemed to already have been picked through. A burly guard with a large curved blade stood on duty nearby. Ghomal waved for Kelren to sit near him. “How can I help the East Storm today?” he asked.
“I’m Master Kelren. We’re to depend on one another, soon enough,” Kelren said.
Ghomal’s eyebrows rose. “Ah yes, Master Kelren. I’m sure you’re wondering why I am paying for such a dangerous undertaking.”
Kelren nodded. “Precisely the purpose for my visit,” he said.
“My son was in Tav Rock, before the war broke out,” Ghomal explained. He squinted at Kelren, his features furrowed. “He was advising the Baron. I have received word from him once since these reports of falling cities began. Tav Rock was safe then, but I have heard nothing since. I will spare no expense to rescue him from that place—and my expense will go a long way to shedding more light on the current state of the Great Isle.”
“A worthy sentiment, on both counts,” Kelren said.
“If we are lost—what difference will one ship make to the future strife?” Ghomal asked. “No, I think this is the right course of action.”
“Of course,” Kelren agreed. “We may be gone for months though. Are you familiar with the working of Journeying magic?”
Ghomal bowed his head. “The Commanders explained it to me when we discussed this plan. We will vanish and reappear near Tav Rock. Months may have passed.”
“Years even,” Kelren interjected. “We are crossing a sea teeming with pirates.”
“A fraction of the years I have dedicated to family and house,” Ghomal countered.
Kelren bowed his head. “So be it. We will proceed then. Thank you for your time, Councillor.” He rose to his feet and pushed back in his chair.
“And for yours—which may be far more substantial than a few moments at my table,” Ghomal said, with a faint smile. His heavily armed guard scowled—he was likely among those objecting to the mission.
Kelren left the estate confident that he was not partnering up with a madman for this mission, but there was still much to do. A Company ship was to be prepared for the venture—Kelren and Relis would teleport the whole thing off across the seas, toward Tarro. He would need to let Ma’relle know the new developments.