During his six days in Kedar, Therelin learned that meat was eaten with every meal, that healing was costly and time-consuming with the normal healers in the city, and that the Grey Brethren were as prevalent in every venue as any of the other factions. He spoke a few times with magicians in their ranks, but the religious organization was largely dismissive of him. Therelin at last gained a meeting with one of the preeminent sorcerers in the city.
Iun was a senior Brother of the Grey Brethren and a mage of life-long experience. He resided in the Tower of Black and Blue, along with the other local leaders of his order. Therelin was led in by a man who might have been a servant or a slave; if he was the latter, his brand was concealed by a modest red-beige robe. The magician’s office was a neat formation of bookshelves, chairs, and small regional maps. Therelin was not a well-travelled man—yet—but he recognized one as the Isle of Kedar. Another looked like the southern coast of Radregar.
“Ah, you must be Therelin,” the Brother said, as the traveller was shown to a chair.
“And you are Ian?” Therelin asked.
“Iun,” the man corrected. Judging from the silver hair and creased forehead, the Brother was in his fifties, but Iun’s shaved cheeks were smoother, giving him a youthful smile. “What are you doing here, if you are from Keth?”
Therelin smiled. He was certainly not the only shirtless, tattooed man in Kedar. He was one amidst thousands. Whether it was his accent or some tone to his complexion that revealed his origins, Therelin could not say. He leaned his driftwood staff in the corner of the room and folded his hands.
“I am travelling to Saanazar in search of a proper master under whom to train,” he responded. Ith was an intended destination—a city ruled by mages, but Therelin really wanted to learn about the rest of the world too.
“Not many people leave Keth, and fewer still amount to anything,” Iun said dismissively. His sleek smile seemed a lot colder, though the muscles moved the same. “The rest of Gethra shocks them back home.”
Therelin blinked. “What do you mean by that?”
“Meat is a staple in any meal. Very few places have a tight enough law to instill peace like you have in your homeland. Violence is commonplace. You can walk ten minutes from here to reach a place where they sell humans.” Iun leaned back in his chair. The wooden composition creaked loudly.
“I guess I have a lot to learn about Gethra,” Therelin said.
The magician snorted. “All I was saying is the Ketho tend not to like what they learn after leaving their isle.”
Therelin took a step forward. “Just because someone doesn’t like what they learn about the world, doesn’t mean they should hide from it.”
“Ah-hah!” Iun leaned forward. He jabbed a finger in Therelin’s direction. “So, you really are here to find proper training. Good.”
Therelin rolled his eyes. “I am,” he said, again folded his hands. “You seem to be quite knowledgeable about the world yourself. Do you know where I can find what I am looking for?”
Iun sat up. “You’re heading the right way. Saanazar is the best place for it. No other city in the Known World has the number of colleges, academies, and archives as its most ancient one. I was trained by Master Nolicrin at the Hall of the Three Winds. You should seek him out.”
“In what field of magic does Nolicrin specialize?” Therelin questioned.
“He is renowned for his ability at Binding,” Iun said. Therelin knew the basics of Binding—the ability to enhance one’s experience of the world with that of a familiar. “He has gone far beyond the normal skills of this form and has bound several most unusual creatures.”
Therelin nodded. He had only ever managed to tame small critters that way. “I would certainly like to know more about Binding. What other schools of magic could I seek out in Saanazar? I had originally planned on venturing to Ith if I don’t find what I’m looking for closer.”
“Anything,” Iun replied. “You may not find any of the world’s most powerful sorcerers in Saanazar, but you will find its widest selection of knowledge.”
“Then Saanazar may very well be the place that I am seeking.” Therelin reached for his staff, but then paused. He knew so little about the world beyond the shores of Keth. Enquiring of any experienced perspective was a real opportunity for him. “Considering what you have pointed out as my ‘lack of worldly knowledge’, where are the world’s most powerful sorcerers?”
The older man stood up. He crossed to one of his maps—the one with the widest view of Gethra. He tapped it with his index finger. “The Eternal Emperor and his Grand Magician, the Mage Kings of Ith, Pralla Maga-sha at the Eye of Maga. There are rumours the Joyous King in High Raena is a secretive master and there are the dreaded necromancers in Yarik. And then there are the secret places, of which I cannot say a word.”
Therelin absorbed all the information as quickly as he could. He had heard of the Eternal Emperor before, as well as the Joyous King—though never of such abilities. “What about magic to help with combat—for defence?” he asked.
Iun smiled again. “Are you asking if you can learn that in Saanazar or are you asking who is the world’s most powerful?”
“In Saanazar, or even High Raena?”
The Grey Brother shrugged. “I am a priest, not a warrior, as is my master and many of the magicians in Saanazar. I’m not certain what sort of dedication it would require, but the Order of the Storm guards the Grey Temple in Saanazar. They would be the most skilled combat mages in the city, but their training may be privileged to their own members.”
Therelin nodded to the man, then reclaimed his staff at last. He palmed his coin pouch, which had tripled in weight, and passed the man a coin. “Thanks for the advice,” he said.
“Will you be going directly to Saanazar after this?” Iun asked. He bowed and took the Grey Sea coin.
“I leave in the morning,” Therelin said, with a smile. He backed into the hallway.
The same servant who had led him in now led him out of the tower, even though Therelin remembered the way. It was hard to forget such steep, creaky steps and the wary gazes of each Grey Brother he passed. As he neared the first floor, he heard the patter of rain water on the eaves over the front door. Thanks to whatever fight was underway in the heavens, Therelin was soaking wet by the time he returned to his tavern. He hoped for better weather in the morning.