Kaylen Gallowglass, a Generalist Red Mage

Chapter 1 – Arrival

It had been thirteen years since Kaylen Gallowglass had been in the city of Draeln where he’d grown up. Not much had changed in that time. The ocean still sparkled a brilliant blue as seen from the hills approaching the eastern gates. There may have been a few more dozen white walled buildings between the inner and outer walls. The castle up on the bluff overlooking the harbor on the northwestern side of the city looked the same as ever, its smooth unblemished walls so bright under the sun that it was almost painful to look at. Even the farmlands spread out for miles around the city seemed much the same.

No, not much had changed; at least within the city. Kaylen himself had changed in height and build, now taller than most at two inches over six feet. He kept his hair long now, where as a child he’d cut it short. And while many of his colleagues opted for ‘wizardly beards’, he preferred to be clean shaven. In fact, the only thing outwardly wizardly about him was the shiny new amulet that signified his membership in the mage’s guild, and the ornate staff that one of his fellow students had crafted for him as a gift for his graduating from apprenticeship to an adept.

For five years he’d lived in the trade city, and he knew most of its roads, shops, back alleys and taverns. But he’d never been inside the building in front of him now, the local mage’s guild hall. It was a narrow structure, black instead of the white of every other building nearby. And tall as well, tall enough that its uppermost spire could be seen over the city’s outer walls, and from a mile out to sea.

When the double doors closed behind him, the sound echoed back at him several times like war drums. There was no receptionist, no sitting room, or even a guard to welcome him. Just a series of doors on the three walls he hadn’t entered from, plus a staircase set into the wall directly across from him, leading up to a landing close to his eye height, before splitting off to his right and left out of sight.

He approached a small clear globe on a pedestal in the exact center of the room. A whispered word of magic with eyes closed and he could see the thin trails of mana surrounding the object once they reopened. The orb’s enchantment was not complex, designed to send an audible signal when triggered. And so he waved his hand over it, and then glanced up at the tiny flash of magic disappearing upward into the building.

It was about three minutes, by Kaylen’s estimate, before a young woman appeared at the landing from the left-hand staircase. She wore a hooded wine-dark robe, open in the front to reveal her charcoal dress beneath, cut as low as propriety would allow, just under her shoulders.

“You must be Adept Gallowglass.” She began speaking the moment her slippered foot touched the bottom step.

Now that she was level with him, he could see she was small. Almost a foot shorter than him, with blonde hair mostly hidden by her hood.

After his nod of acknowledgement, she continued, “Master Rylan has been expecting you. She awaits you in her study. If it pleases you?” She half turned with a friendly smile, and he stepped toward her to follow her back up the stairs.

From this angle, her robe concealed every part of her but her hands and the heels of her black slippers peeking below the rear hemline with every step. Still, he couldn’t help but take just a moment to admire her youthful, healthy frame. She seemed about his age, an adult, but not yet twenty. But he wasn’t here to flirt, and so he put those thoughts from his mind. It was Aranni Rylan he was here to see, master of the guild hall, and student of his own master of the last thirteen years.

“I didn’t catch your name?” He spoke at last at the landing.

“Neiah.” She answered. “Apprentice Neiah Blance.”

“A pleasure.”

“The pleasure is mine, I’m sure.” She turned back enough to flash a flirtatious smile, and he found himself returning the smile automatically. Maybe they could get better acquainted once his business with the Guildmaster was completed.

In no time at all they were entering a room filled with organized clutter. Spellbooks, scrolls, burned out candles, broken crystals, intact crystals, contraptions in various states of dismantling and repair, two wooden chairs and a squashy arm chair, light from several candle sconces and a colored window high on one wall, and there standing from one of the less comfortable looking chairs next to a desk was the woman he’d journeyed to see for the first time in nearly three years now, Aranni Rylan.

“Kaylen. So good to see you.” She nodded to Neiah, who curtsied and closed the door, leaving the two of them alone. Aranni strode across the room to meet him at the door, and took his hand, before pulling him into a hug. She was barely taller than Neiah, so he had to lean down just a little to meet her embrace.

Just as quickly as she’d startled him, she pulled back, looking him up and down. She took in his weathered travel cloak, his scarlet tunic, and wrinkled her nose slightly at the chainmail shirt underneath as she picked at one sleeve to be sure she’d felt what she’d felt. “A battle mage then? I’d hoped you’d follow my lead.”

This was not the first time she’d taken issue with his chosen specialty. He’d kept his studies fairly general, until deciding he wished to be a mercenary adventurer, adding a significant list of combat spells to his repertoire in his final years of apprenticeship. “We can’t all be artificers, Aranni.” He smiled fondly. He’d missed her more than he’d realized.

“Well, at least I can help keep your handsome face free of scars.” She advised him, turning back to the desk where a small box waited. She lifted the lid as she presented it to him. A set of half a dozen potion vials were contained within. “Just your run-of-the-mill vitality and regeneration potions. Nothing fancy, though… for anyone else, these would cost six royals apiece.” She closed the box and pressed it into his hands.

“Then let me pay you cost for it, at minimum.” He insisted, but she was already shaking her head.

“No, these are for you. I will brook no argument.” He allowed his fingers to wrap around the tiny box as he withdrew his hands to his sides.

“Very well.” He sighed, smiling like the teenage boy he still technically was. “Gods, it’s good to see you Aranni.”

The smile left her eyes, and he immediately regretted his choice of words. “I’m sorry. It’s just…”

She held up one gloved hand to forestall him. “You remember what I taught you when it comes to women?”

He blinked several times, but nodded, “Seek romance among other mages. Most of the rest of the world is unsettled by our kind.”

It was her turn to nod. She was silent a moment then raised her gaze back to his face, “We can’t pick up where we left off. It was wrong of me to… to take that from you.”

“I didn’t mind.” He interjected, “I…”

“You were fifteen. I’m a decade and more your senior. It doesn’t matter what you minded.”

Kaylen slumped. This was not how he’d anticipated this conversation going at all. “So we just… what? Act like we’re not…”

“We’re still friends.” She was quick to assure him. “And even if we never do it again we are still lovers. We can’t change the past, only choose a new future.”

“I don’t… understand…” He swallowed to moisten his voice. “Why the change of heart?”

She sighed, turning away, “I took comfort in your arms. I needed you to help me get through everything.”

“I guess I didn’t realize what you were going through.”

“Don’t beat yourself up over it. Master Graun was a lech, but he was discreet. Wouldn’t do to damage his reputation.”

“Master Gr…?” Kaylen’s temper flared. “What did he do to you?” He growled.

“Oh, that’s sweet.” She smiled at him, and it cooled his fury a little, “But even with your combat magic you don’t stand a chance against him. Put all thoughts of defending my honor from your mind. I got out, and so did you, barely worse for wear. And that’s all that matters.”

Kaylen nodded, but putting words into action wasn’t so easy, “Is that why you’re wearing?” He gestured to her neck to ankle grey robes and matching gloves. The only skin visible was her face, framed by her rich brown hair.

“It has something to do with it. Why, do you miss the more revealing outfits?” Her smile twisted into a teasing smirk. “I told myself I wore those for my benefit, not his. But it didn’t exactly discourage him. But enough of the past. You’re here to join a mercenary guild, yes?”

“Yes I am.” He knew better than to push her, but he promised himself he wasn’t done with the topic for good. “You are to introduce me?”

“Yes. Though it’s a shame you didn’t come a few hours earlier. I have other duties to attend to this afternoon.”

“Couldn’t one of your apprentices?” He gestured to the way Neiah had gone.

“No, they’re not skilled enough for the work, nor do they have the authority for the introductions. But I made a promise to get you situated, and so the work will just have to wait.”

“We could go in the morning. I’m in no hurry.” He was eager, but another day wouldn’t hurt anything.

“Do you have an inn room yet?” She cocked her head, quizzically.

“No, I came straight here from the east gate.”

“Well, you can stay in the guild hall then.” She must have seen something in his expression, because she quickly added, “Alone, in a guest room. How thirsty are you? Surely you’ve had other lovers since we parted ways?” Her eyes widened when he shook his head. “None? Tall handsome man you’ve become? Don’t lie to me…”

“There were none.” He reiterated wistfully. “The old archmage didn’t take on another girl immediately after you left. And when he did it was a child. And I’m not into that.”

“That’s one less worry for me then. How old was she when you left?”

“Almost thirteen.” He wondered why she wanted that information.

“The archmage’s tastes don’t run that young either, thankfully.” She looked past him then smiled apologetically at him, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you not to woo one of my girls while you’re here, even if they seem to want it.”

“You mean Neiah?” He was disappointed. Not that he’d really planned anything with her, but she seemed nice, at least.

“That’s not funny.” She growled at him, and he had the decency to look apologetic. “Neiah is one of three apprentices I’m looking after. This goes for the other two as well. I’ll introduce you at dinner, but just keep things platonic, please?”

He studied her face, hoping he might glean some part of her reasoning for this odd request, but he decided after a moment he really had no good reason to refuse, and he did feel indebted to her for any number of things, so he finally nodded.

“I’m sure you’ll find a partner out there adventuring, someone who can be your equal in romance.”

“Are there many more mages in the country?”

Aranni shook her head, “Not that I’m aware of. You’ve met most the adepts and masters. And there’s only the one archmage.”

“Then I must be content in my solitude.” He muttered, half under his breath.

“I know I said to stick to mages, but… Maybe I was wrong, maybe you’ll find a mundane who will accept you.”

“Everything I’ve seen has supported your assertion. If ‘your girls’ are off limits, then that’s pretty much it for me, unless I find another apprentice close enough to my age.”

“Enough of this dour conversation. I’ll summon Neiah back, and she’ll lead you to a room where you can freshen up and relax. By dinner, you’d best be ready to speak of more polite things.”

“Yes ma’am.” He nodded, and she chuckled lightly.

“With those manners, you’re sure to find someone. Now off with you.” She ushered him out of the room, and Neiah appeared in response to Aranni’s missive spell.

As he was led away, Kaylen mulled over Aranni’s words. He’d had more than one experience with mundane girls his age after becoming an apprentice. A few seemed interested, if only because his magic made him dangerous. Most kept him at a distance, assuming they didn’t insult him to his face, or stutter helplessly from frightened nerves. A couple times he’d tried to conceal the fact that he studied the arcane, but the results in those cases had been even worse.

Kaylen wan not particularly hopeful when it came to non-magic women. His experiences had entirely soured him to such relationships.

Kaylen has been affected by his experiences. Does he feel resentment toward the way women have treated him, is he resigned to his fate when it comes to such women, or has he simply chosen to be respectful of the women he might meet, regardless of their attitude toward a mage like him?

Author's Note

Whatever branch gets the most upvotes, favorites, and/or comments may be the one I focus on finishing first.