The Approach To Meadowfort

With the addition of Sabina’s father to their group, the Starlings no longer kept a slow meandering pace on their way back to Meadowfort. Time was of the essence and they were the only reinforcements their mothers were going to receive. There were few travelers on the road but those they did meet told of bandit attacks on villages all over the region.

A cleric from Sanqvist who walked with them for a while said that the lords of the Dominion planned to meet in the coming weeks to flesh out a plan to deal with the bandits. Far too late Jarel thought as bitterly as they bid the cleric farewell.

Pleasant weather and good company made the journey that much easier for the group. And despite the battles ahead and their worries for their home village they enjoyed each other’s company.

Jarel found himself walking besides Sabina and the two began to have a lively conversation.

“So where can you get these spell scrolls?” Jarel asked.

“Most people have to buy them. Mum bought my arcane bolt from a magic emporium in Marth. She won’t tell me how much it costs but it wasn’t cheap.” Sabina replied, giving a rueful smile.

“Why couldn’t you use hers?”

“They are one use. The scrolls become illegible after someone completes a full reading of the text.” She whipped her travel bag around in front of her and began searching within. She drew out a scroll and handed it Jarel.

The sheaf of parchment was bound by a small metal clasp. Attached to the clasp was a circular metal plate with the image of a series of arcane bolts arcing through the air. He undid it and looked at the contents of the scroll.

“So all you need to learn a spell is to buy and read a spell scroll?”

“No. It’s not that simple. Each scroll is written in esoteric deneril. The magic language of the Machine creators. It’s a weird language to learn as the more complex and powerful a spell gets the more complex the language becomes. I have heard that the most powerful spells require the caster to read three different lines of text written over each other at the same time.”

“What?! How is that possible?!”

“I’m not sure to be honest. Mum said as I practice and improve my powers my ability to comprehend the language would increase.”

“Those powerful spells must be ridiculously expensive.” Jarel said, scratching his chin thoughtfully.

“Actually the most powerful magic users all usually find their spell scrolls by searching within the Machine. No one on the Machine knows how to make the scrolls. They are all found below.”

“Crazy. I have to say swinging a sword is not nearly as complicated. We have tomes that outline moves and styles of fighting, but they are just books. Anyone can read it."

“And you read them? I seem to remember your mum getting angry at you for not studying when we were little. I always assumed you never learnt how to read.” Sabina teased.

“I can read! I just have to find something that interests me!”

Sabina laughed at Jarel’s bluster. The sight filled Jarel’s heart with warm feelings. The sight of Sabina’s eyes closed, hand covering her mouth to hide her smile, made his voice catch in his throat and all he could do was stare.

“Hey. Machine calling Jarel.” Sabina said. She tilted her head at him and smiled at him.

Jarel blushed and turned away, feigning scanning the trees around them.

“Stop. Stop.” Halen whispered. Waving his hand to the left. The party immediately ducked down and crouch walked into the undergrowth by the side of the road.

“What is it, Uncle Halen?” Kamelia asked.

“Bandits. Just ahead.”

“I’ll go and look.’ Sari said reaching for a nearby branch and swinging up on top of it. She stood on the branch and climbed up to the next set repeating the process till she was lost in the canopy above the party.

Jarel inched closer to the road and peered around a tree. He could not see the bandits but he could certainly hear then. There would be the faint murmur of conversation broken up by bouts of laughter and guffawing.

Sari landed softly next to him and the group gathered around to hear what she had seen.

“They’ve set up a checkpoint. Blocked the road with a broken cart. There are at least a dozen of them.”

“This should be fairly easy for us.” Halen said placing a hand on Jarel and Sabina’s shoulders, “A good opportunity to test out the enemies strength and also to thin his numbers out.”

“We are ready for this.” Kamelia said, looking to each of the Meadowfort Starlings.

In unison they nodded and turned to the battle ahead.