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Somehow Thadus felt Rockforge with all its filth was less sullied than himself at this moment. It was a tragedy to endure this, to say the least. He was undeserving of being covered by this amount of grime. This was not a tribulation he had allowed upon himself.

The sun had passed its zenith and was moving from its position to the south toward its private chambers in the west. White clouds traversed the vast skies at a leisurely pace. The early afternoon was certainly not chilly, yet it could hardly be called warm.

Had he been in Eden, this had been a prime time to withdraw from the midday meal for a leisurely walk to encourage discourse among his peers.

And yet, what he had was merely this mortal, who would never understand proper discussion of the wonders of the universe. Only a spellcaster could do so, and high kin as himself more so.

Linden approached next to a variety of bundles and items placed on the ground.

With his arms crossed before his chest, Thadus eyed these objects. These had all been stored by the farmers, and among them were a saddle, a couple of rolls, bundles big and small, and some items Thadus found irrelevant to learn what they may have been. The mortal picked up some rolled fabric from the ground, then reached for the saddle.

The monstrous beast near the pile shook its head before looking at Thadus. He glowered back at it. How dared it judge him this way! He himself had done nothing wrong! This was its fault in the first place. It was the horse that owed him!

Linden turned to look at Thadus as well. They had just unrolled an embroidered, rather small, blanket of some sort. Before Thadus had time to wonder what for, they placed it on the back of their bestial fiend of a mount.

The mortal did not even reach to the beast’s withers in height. It was scandalous to think someone would mount a creature so much taller than even oneself!

As they adjusted the blanket over its back and rump, they said, “You are giving Courage the evil eye. Would you please not do so? He has done no wrong. I gently implore Lord Thadus not to curse my horse.”

Thadus sniffed. “I do not know curses.”

“Really?” they asked with a glance at him. They picked up the saddle from the ground.

“Yet.”

Linden hummed thoughtfully as they saddled their mount. The beast moved forward; the mortal walking alongside it, before they adjusted something. Thadus wrinkled his nose as they bridled it and ensured all of their bundles and bags were packed upon the mount.

They didn’t seem to care much about the fact that Thadus intended to learn curses. He really did! He would curse not only this horse but every lowly being ever inconveniencing him! It was the only correct course of action! Every living being had its place, and all had to treat a spellcaster with respect.

Every. Living. Creature.

However, he made a mental note to learn how to curse horses first, or invent new ones for the purpose once he had learnt the basics. This would be his highest priority once he was back in Eden.

“Lord Thadus, have you decided upon your preferred form of transportation?”

“I am high kin. Naturally, the only proper way to travel longer distances is by levitation.”

Linden nodded calmly. “Then I also shall not travel by foot.” They untied the ribbon and swiftly braided their hair before wrapping it around itself at the back of their head and tying it off into a bun. “Allow me to retrieve some rations, Lord Thadus. Once that is done, we can only travel until nightfall. Were it so that Lord Thadus wants meat for dinner, I shall hunt it on the way as well.”

Thadus scoffed. He didn’t need anyone to hunt for him.

Linden returned to the farmhouse.

Meanwhile, Thadus glared at the beast. It must have been intimidated, because it didn’t look at him. It merely stood in place and shook its head once more, this time making a horrible snorting sound that nearly startled Thadus.

The insolence of this beast! How dared it make noise so abruptly! Was it not aware that Thadus was of high kin and this was a great offence to spellcasters?

The horse snorted only once more.

After a lengthy — assumed — conversation, the lunatic returned with two small bundles in one hand and their indigo cloak in the other. They fastened the bundles to the saddle, placed the cloak in front of the saddle and walked the beast in a circle, before they, with what could only be called witchcraft, mounted the horse standing at its full height.

Only once comfortably seated upon their mount did they put on their cloak, using a nearly black fibula to pin one side to their shoulder. They took the reins and looked back at Thadus still standing on the ground.

“I have already said my farewells, Lord Thadus. Let us set off toward Noharbour.”

Before the resentful spellcaster could speak, they added, “While I cannot guarantee it to be so, they ought to have a bank there, although it might not be open for the commons.”

Thadus scoffed and retrieved his sceptre from his sleeve. The large creature moved away as Linden made a clicking sound. The pair moved away before Linden turned the beast, so the mortal could look at Thadus.

He sniffed and poured magic into the sceptre, making it the full length of a traditional staff. It was nearly his full height; some casters would be shorter than his sceptre was.

Linden, naturally, was as well.

He pressed the rounded knob to the ground and closed his eyes to focus. He called to the winds, and they came to circle him. The currents from their spirits’ dance causing his coat to billow while his hair was ruffled.

I require your winds, so heed my request to obtain your sacred powers.

Gusts of wind gathered at the crown of his sceptre and Thadus collected the power of each into his sceptre. Once he had enough, he motioned for the winds to leave him be and he raised his sceptre.

He softly murmured, “Levitation.”

His body was raised above the ground through the powerful magic of the collected winds. He opened his eyes and looked at Linden with disgust.

The horse was truly an eyesore.

Linden, however, smiled at him. “That was very impressive, Lord Thadus. I have never had the honour of observing a high magic spell before. This has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity graciously offered my humble self. I shall take what this teaches me to heart.”

Thadus adjusted his sleeved with a non-committal hum.

If he had only been more immaculate and in a better condition, their view would have been far more pleasant for him to partake in. However, he was revolting at this moment, so the empty praise was even more of an insult than it would normally be.

“It teaches you nothing. It wouldn’t even teach a spellcaster with their eyes wide open,” he told them as he floated closer but kept a safe distance from the beast.

“If one’s eyes are open, but one’s mind is closed, naturally, one would not learn. However, every new experience has a lesson to teach; sometimes they are major lessons, sometimes minor. I am open to learning from this experience of observation, and as such, there will be something I have been taught. What I cannot say at this moment, but it will be valuable when I find out what it is I learned from it.”

Thadus bristled. “What absolute nonsense! One only learns through studying under a tutor, teacher, or master. This is how learning functions.”

If it did not, why would he have had to study for so many years about ancient magic at Paradise Tower? Knowledge came from proper institutions!

“Do I not have a master right here with me?” Linden asked. “A master of spellcraft showed me high magic — I am honoured for the learning opportunity.”

“I am not a master.”

Linden gave him a curious look. “To me, it looks as if you are a master of spellcraft. Is this not enough?”

“No! It is not by any means. A master is a master. I haven’t reached even a fraction of the knowledge needed to be one. You mortals must have a farcical idea of what mastery is, if I’m supposed to be one. Nonsense! It’s an insult to true masters!”

Linden bowed their head. “I sincerely apologise for the indiscretion. I was in the wrong for making assumptions. I am merely a mortal; my awe of Lord Thadus’ skills blinded my better judgement.”

“Your ignorance is unbecoming.”

Linden gave Thadus a helpless smile. “So be it. Now, if Lord Thadus does not mind, this unbecoming one will begin to travel.” They motioned in a direction, the horse beginning to move and turn. “Noharbour is this way, Lord Thadus. Let us hope to find a village before nightfall, lest we wish to sleep under the open skies with the stars as our blankets and our coats as our pillows.”

Thadus reluctantly went along with them, gliding aside them, but still with the distance of two tall men between himself and the filthy, disgusting speckled beast.

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Author’s Note

I had a lot of fun with this one. Maybe that’s obvious, maybe not.

But their journey now begins. Enjoy!