The Lord of All - Chapter 3.

[Chinaren]

Chapter 3.  New Friends.


They caught up with Lord several streets away.  The man was sitting calmly on his horse, waiting patiently. 

“Having fun?” Velvet asked as she trotted up.

“A show can sometimes inspire.”  He shrugged.  “Then again, my horse needed some exercise.”  He patted the steed on the neck.  It snorted in response.  “That way to Rumpold’s, right?”  He gestured down a street.

Velvet nodded.  “You learn your way about quickly,” she said.

He nodded, but said nothing, turning to Nurn as the Grey caught up with them.

“Are we in a rush?” Nurn asked.

“Come on,” Velvet said in way of an answer.  She spurred her horse on, to a more sedate pace this time, and the group made their way along through the streets to the wizards’ house.  Stopping outside it, they dismounted, tied the animals to the fencepost and went up to the front door.

Velvet knocked and they waited.  No one answered and she knocked again a minute later, harder this time. 

“Do you think he’s okay?” Nurn asked.  “Maybe those assassins came back.”

Before anyone could answer, the door swung open, to reveal the portly form of Rumpold.  The wizard was a disheveled sight, his robe was creased and wrinkled with black splotches down the front.  He was holding a vial of bubbling red liquid. 

“What?” he demanded.  “I’m busy you know!”

“Looks like you’re having a hard time there,” Nurn commented. 

“What do you want?” the mage asked again, ignoring the implication. 

“We need a potion recipe book,” Lord said solidly.  “The shops won’t sell us one.”

“Well of course they won’t!”  Rumpold looked left and right, peering down the street.  “Come in.”  He stepped back to allow them entry into his living room.

“Can you help us buy one?”  Lord asked.  “It’s for the girl, and before you start complaining, I don’t care about your guild rules.  If we’re to help you, she needs to protect herself.”

Rumpold opened his mouth, looked at Lords’ determined expression and closed it again, only to open it once more a second later to speak in a weary tone.  “Oh very well.  It’s a minor thing compared to what’s going on anyway.”

“You’ll help us buy a book?” Velvet asked eagerly.

“I’ll go one better,” the wizard replied.  “I’ll give you one of mine.  It’s an old one, one of my masters’ actually, but it’s still good.  Old Ramtop was a powerful mage, a very powerful one, but I don’t do potions so I’ve never really used it.”

“Thank-you!”  Velvet clapped her hands and jumped up and down excitedly.

“Just make sure no one catches you,” the mage replied grumpily.

“How’s your spell going?” Lord asked. 

“Slowly,” Rumpold said.  “Too slowly.  Wait here.”  He climbed the spiral staircase and disappeared from view.

“Well, one problem solved then,” Nurn said, dusting his hands together. 

They waited until the wizard clumped down the stairs again.  He was carrying a large, brown book and several small bags, all of which he handed to Velvet.

“Here, and the bags have some Glitter dust and Red-root powder in.  They’re common ingredients in potions, but a little hard to come by at times.  The Red-roots’ a little old, but should be still good.”

“Thank-you!” Velvet repeated, taking the book and bags with barely concealed delight.  She knew of Red root and Glitter dust, but decide not to say so, for fear of seeming churlish.  Anyway, now she had a potion book of her very own!  She hugged the large manual to her chest and grinned.

“Now, unless there’s anything else?”  Rumpold glowered at them.

“That is more then enough.  Thank you wizard.”  Lord nodded at the man, which seemed to mollify the mage slightly.

“Very well then, I shall let you know when I have something for you.  I admit it’s taking more effort that I thought.  You can see yourselves out.  Make sure you close the door.”  Rumpold turned and clumped up the staircase once again, disappearing from view.

Velvet looked at Nurn, who shrugged. 

“Let’s go,” Lord said.  “You have some reading to do.”

“I’ll need some equipment as well,” Velvet said.  “But we can get that later, once I have a better idea of what I’m going to make.”  She followed Lord and Nurn outside, making sure she closed the door firmly behind her. 

[Saint]

YAY! More!

And Velvet's not useless anymore!

[Chinaren]

“Hello, who’s this?” Nurn said.

Looking round, Velvet saw a man standing next to their horses, apparently contemplating his shoes. 

“May I help you?” Lord said.

The man looked up at the large warrior, seemingly completely unphased by the towering form.  He had a thin face, with straight black hair hanging low over an expansive forehead.  A high collared, deep blue cloak covered a neat tunic, also blue.  At his side a slim rapier hung, the handle was worn and unadorned.  Keen dark eyes took the group in, missing nothing.

“Inspector Sharp,” he said, flashing a silver coloured badge at them briefly.  “City Enforcement.”

“I hope we’re not parked illegally officer,” Lord said in an even tone.  “I didn’t see any notices.”
 
The militiaman scowled.  “I’m not a trooper, such petty concerns are not what interest me.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Nurn said, unhitching his mount.  “It would be very inconvenient to have them impounded.”  Velvet had to stifle a snigger at the Grey’s blasé response. 

No doubt the Inspector was used to more respect, or perhaps fear, when he spoke, for his brow darkened.  “I’m a direct representative of the City Council,” he said in a stern voice.  “You will not make light of my presence!”

“We’re very sorry officer,” Lord said, not sounding at all sorry.  “How may we help you?”

Sharp looked at him steadily for a moment, as if trying to work out if he was being baited.  He obviously decided he wasn’t, for when he spoke again it was in a more even tone.

“I’m investigating several murders, which appear to be related to a theft of some kind.”

“And how may we help?” Lord asked, unhitching his own horse.

“I don’t know, yet,” Sharp snapped back.  “But the more I dig around, the more complex this thing becomes.  The murders appear to have been caused by magical means, although the Militia wizards haven’t been able to determine exactly what happened.  Still, certain information has led me to this area.  I’ve been nosing around, looking for anything unusual, and you seem to fall directly into that category.”

“I think I’m offended,” Nurn said.  “Isn’t that racial discrimination or something?”

Sharp looked confused for a moment.  “What?”  He shook his head.  “Never mind.  There are reports of an altercation near here, possibly even in this house.”  He gestured at Rumpolds’ abode.  “Do you know anything about this?”

“I’m sure I couldn’t tell you anything,” Lord replied.  “Perhaps if you asked the owner?”

“Are you a friend of the wizards?”  Sharp continued, avoiding the question.  “What were you doing in there?”

“We were discussing some magic,” Lord replied.  “You can see for yourself my colleagues’ hideous form.”

Everyone looked at Nurn, who’d opened his mouth, no doubt to complain, before managing to stop himself. 

“It must have been powerful magic that changed him into that,” Sharp commented.  “I understand transformation spells are not easy to cast.  Not that I’m an expert,” he added hastily.

“Indeed.”  Lord nodded gravelly. 

Sharp scratched his chin and considered the group before sighing loudly.  “Very well.  You can go, but I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”

“Excellent,” Lord said, “I shall sleep soundly at night knowing the local constabulary is watching over us.”  He climbed onto his horse and nodded at Nurn and Velvet, who had done the same.

“Good day Inspector,” he said.  Turning his mount, he kicked it in the sides and started off back towards the hotel. 

“Inspector,” Nurn nodded in a copycat fashion as he trotted past.  The policeman scowled and Velvet turned away to hide her grin.  When she turned back a little later, the man had gone.

~

Velvet frowned and scribbled a note on the pad on the desk before turning the page of the potion book again.  Taking a deep breath, she scanned the next recipe, which turned out to be for locating dragons.  Not a great deal of use. 

A knock on the door interrupted her reading.  “Come,” she called out. 

The handle turned, and Nurn’s furry head stuck itself through the gap.  “Are you decent?” he asked.

Velvet smiled.  “I’m reading still.”  She gestured at the desk in front of her.

“Found anything?”  The Grey closed the door and waddled over, standing on his tiptoes as he peered at the text.  “Dragons?” he said after a moment.  “Are you going to summon a dragon then?  I’ve always rather liked them.  They’re very impressive.”

“You’ve seen a dragon?” asked Velvet, eyes wide.

“Only in a zoo.”  Nurn sniffed dismissively and turned the page of her book.  “Hey, how about this one?”

Still wanting to ask about dragons, Velvet glanced at the new recipe.  It was a freeze spell.  She looked at it more seriously, and smiled.  The ingredients were fairly simple, mainly being Glitter Dust and a few other fairly common powders.  “Nurn!  I think this will be what I try first!  Thank you!”  She ruffled the fur on his head.

“Well, I merely turned the page.  Still, I accept your thanks.”   

“Where’s the boss?” Velvet asked, re-reading the recipe again.  Yes, it was pretty straightforward.  She’d started to despair a little, all the previous entries had been too complex, needed exotic components, or had been useless for her current needs.   

“He went out.  Said he was bored.” 

“I’ll need to go and buy some things though!” Velvet complained.

“I’ve got some money,” the Grey answered.  “But he said we shouldn’t leave the hotel.”

“How long will he be?”

Nurn shrugged.  “You know him well enough by now.  He could be all night.”

“Damn it!”  Velvet banged the desk in frustration.  “Wait!  The hotel should be able to order them for us.”

“Won’t they ask questions?” Nurn said. 

“It’ll be okay.  The stuff I need is fairly innocuous.  If they ask you can say it’s for the boss, and to ask him.  That should shut them up.”

“I like your style,” said Nurn, grinning.  “Okay, what do you need?”

“I’ll make a list.”  Velvet started to write.

[Saint]

Sound interesting, but I'd really like to see that dragon potion in action, I've always had a soft spot for them.

[Chinaren]

“Didn’t you add that already?”  Nurn peered at the green bottle Velvet had asked for.

“Yes!  But I need to add some more.  Just pass it.”  Velvet instantly regretted snapping.  The Grey was only trying to help, but manufacturing the potion had been more stressful than she’d thought.  The spells spoken components looked easy enough, but once you started so say them they suddenly seemed to… resist, and it had only been with a conscious, almost physical effort she’d completed the main section of the spell.  She’d been sweating hard when the one minute incantation had finally been completed. 

Now though, it looked like her efforts were paying off.  The large glass mixing bowl the hotel had delivered for them was full of an icy blue liquid, and only one ingredient remained, which Nurn did pass to her.

She carefully took a dropper and squeezed out two small drops of the stuff, which was a kind of treated alcohol, into the bowl.  There was a small hiss and the liquid turned clear. 

“That’s it!” she exclaimed.  “I did it!  Freezing potion, batch one.”

“Will it work?”  Nurn asked, eying the bowl warily.

“We need to test it on someone.”  She looked at the Grey.

“Hey!  Don’t think you can go experimenting on poor old Nurn!”

“It should only freeze you for a few minutes.”

“If you got it right!  What if it turned me green or something?  How about I try it on you if you’re so confident?”  The small being raised an eyebrow and tapped his foot.

“You’re right, no need to be hasty,” said Velvet.  She thought for a moment.  “I tell you what, let’s find some alley somewhere and try it on a rat or something.  It should work on any living creature.”

“Go skulking around dark alleyways?  I don’t think so.”  It was Nurn’s turn to consider.  “Here's an idea:  How about the hotel basement?  Maybe those lift donkeys?”

Velvet looked doubtful for a moment, but then shrugged.  “Well, I’m not sure about the donkeys, but let’s go and look.  Here, pass me those small vials and that funnel will you?”

Carefully, with Nurn’s help, she filled some of the small bottles she’d bought specially for the task.  The special containers ranged from small tubes about the size of a mans little finger, up to large bottle size.  She filled about twenty of the small ones with her new potion, corking them tightly. 

“There,” she said finally, sitting back in her chair and wiping her brow.  “That should be enough for substantial testing.”

“More than enough, unless you’re planning on freezing half the people in the hotel,” Nurn replied.  “Shall we test them out after dinner?  I ‘m hungry.”

Velvet looked out of the window.  It was dark already!  She’d been so engrossed in her potion making she’d not noticed the passing of the day.  Now that Nurn mentioned it, she also felt a rumbling in her stomach.  She looked wistfully at her vials of potion for a second, but then pushed herself back and stood up.

“You’re right.  I’m hungry too.  I guess using magic is fairly draining.  Let’s go.”

“Now you’re talking!”  Nurn rubbed his hands together and waddled off towards the door.  He paused halfway, looking back at the temporary workbench they’d erected.  “Do you think that will be safe there?  What if they come and clean the room?”

“It’ll be okay,” Velvet replied.  “I’ll put the ‘do not disturb’ sign out.”  She looked at the desk and, after a moment’s consideration, put the prepared vials in a drawer, which she locked.  A cloth from the bathroom covered the mixing bowl.  “There, that’s a bit better.”

“Come on then,” Nurn said. 

She came.  The two made there way to the dining hall, where they were met with supercilious looks from her old friend Rupert. 

“I see the sir and madam are hungry again,” the maitre de said. 

“Starving,” Nurn replied cheerfully.  “I could eat a horse!”

“I shall dispatch someone to the stables immediately,” Rupert said, sniffing.  The tall man snapped his fingers and a server appeared from somewhere.  “Show our guests to table fifteen,” he commanded.

Velvet and Nurn were led away through the dining hall to their by now customary table.  There was only one other occupant in the place, a rather overweight man with a black moustache that appeared to be growing all over his face.  Velvet wondered how many people were staying at the hotel, she hadn’t seen many, and it was rather amazing the place managed to remain in business.  Then again, she thought, the amount they charged meant they didn’t have to have many customers to pay the bills.

“I think I’ll have some fried onion rings to start, followed by some donkey steak,” Nurn said, examining the menu which was laid on the table in front of him.  “Then we’ll have the sea bass with side dish of vegetables and… oh!  I’ve not had this yet, some Red monkey liver.  That should do to start with.”  He looked up.  “Where’s that server?” 

Velvet looked over her own menu.  She was certainly more hungry than usual. 

“What would the sir and madam like today?”  A young woman came over and stood ready with pencil and pad. 

Nurn repeated his desires, adding a bottle of beer to the list, and Velvet ordered a steak with a salad and a glass of light wine.  She didn’t even look at the price.  It seemed that her new employers had an almost unlimited amount of money, wherever they were from. 

She frowned in thought as the waitress scuttled away.  Where were they from?  Nurn was like no species she’d ever heard of, though admittedly she was no expert in the area.  Lord was something else again.  He was a warrior for sure, but also had an air of leadership about him.  Nurn had said he was from an unbelievably ancient line, and ruled a place she’d never heard of. 

The drinks arrived, and she took a sip as she considered what she knew.  They were looking for a Magical portal.  That meant they could be from anywhere.  A sudden thought struck her.  Or anywhen!  She remembered Nurn saying he wasn’t from very far away.  Then there was the occasional slip of the tongue he’d made at times.  Yes, it all made sense!

Leaning forward she looked at Nurn intently.  The Grey looked back and raised his eyebrows. 

“Nurn,” she said seriously.

“Velvet,” he replied in the same tone.

“If I ask you a question, will you answer it truthfully?” she asked.

“If I wasn’t going to, I wouldn’t answer this one truthfully would I?” he answered.  “So that’s a bit of a redundant question really.”

Half scowling, half grinning, Velvet persevered.  “Where are you from?”

“I told you, not very far away.”

“Mmmm.  Nurn.  Are you from the future?”  She looked at him sternly.

He didn’t reply directly, but sighed deeply and played with his fork for a second.  Finally he looked up at her.  “Maybe.”

She nodded.  “How far in the future?”

“Ah, well, that’s where it becomes a little difficult to answer.” 

“Why?  Because you don’t know what year this is?”

“Oh no, that’s easy,” he waved a hand dismissively. 

“So… why?”

“It’s… well, it’s not easy to record time when I come from.”

“Why?”  Velvet repeated. 

“Because it doesn’t exist any more.  Time that is, at least in the traditional sense.  It’s a bit complicated.  You see, when we come from, this place, this planet, the sun, the moons, it’s all gone.  Everything is gone.” 

He paused and looked at her.  “The Universe is dead.”

[Saint]

finally! I've been waiting for more of this for ages now. Brilliant chapter, and I love the "eat a horse" thing...