Chapter 6: Hints, Lies, Rumors, and Legends

Archmage Phexidis stepped around part of the collapsed ceiling before entering the great library inside the Shrine of Hashan on top of Dragon Tor.

"I was wondering if I would still find you here, my dear."

Countess Orebella, surrounded by great tomes, looked up from her reading. Slipping her glasses on her head, she smiled at her old friend. "So, you're ready to leave?"

"I am, are you sure you will not come with us?" the older man straightened his robes before sitting on a section of rubble.

"Once things settle here, I will send word to you."

"If they settle," Phexidis said doubtfully.

While looking around the library, it was not hard for him to notice part of the walls had collapsed; another section of the ceiling was missing, and many books that were once shelved now lay in large stacks around the chamber.

"So still nothing?"

Orebella sat back and closed the book. "Hints, lies, rumors, legends, fanciful tales, nothing more, even after all these centuries we know very little about the Godstones. We don’t even know who built them or how they work exactly."

Phexidis nodded, looking around at the ancient architecture made by those same unknown people. "And you still think it's all connected?"

The priestess sighed and then made an unhappy face. "I believe so. However, if possible, can you please verify that other shrines experienced similar magical disturbances? All we know was that the ones in Harmon and Volis were not damaged. In fact, except for everyone complaining about headaches, I doubt we would be this concerned.

"But then again, there isn’t a Godstone sitting in the middle of those two shrines."

"Very true. We were lucky with all of the damage here that there were no fatalities." Orebella looked thoughtful. "I wonder if the Olicana Shrine experienced the same disturbance."

"Right, I'll just open a portal to Naxos' throne room and ask him." The Archmage rolled his eyes. "And if it's anything like here, I will have to walk back to Estassa. It's going to take me three days to get to Hidale as it is. I told Henry we wouldn’t be long. He isn’t going to be happy we both missed his brother's wedding."

Orebella shrugged, "I believe you will be forgiven considering the circumstances. Still, I would not be surprised if you needed to travel beyond Hidale before you can create a stable portal. One thing we can be thankful for was that healing spells appear to be unaffected."

"Have you found any reason for that?" queried Phexidis.

"Hints, lies, rumors, legends…"

"… and fanciful tales, nothing more," the Archmage grumbled. "I get it."

"Since the incident, the magic here, Phexidis, you can almost taste it, can't you?" praised Orebella. She cast a simple light spell that surprisingly illuminated the room like a miniature sun. Blinking away the spots from her eyes, she shook her head. "Truly, I feel closer to our goddess more than ever, so I don’t understand how you cannot be in awe."

"It's not that…." He looked puzzled for a moment, and then his eyes went wide. "Living labyrinths, that’s why you asked about the Emperor."

The priestess laughter filled the library. "You were so much quicker when we were children."

Reaching for another book, she opened it, flipped through several pages, and placed her glasses back on her face. Reading for a moment, she then passed it over before removing her glasses again.

"By the wonders of Hashan, this could be a boon, but." The Archmage looked thoughtful for a moment as he looked over the page then closed the book. "We must go to Ingsmouth."

"I'll leave that to you. You always enjoyed searching that place." Waving her hand as if she was shooing him away, she said, "I'm sure they will be relieved to see the Archmage of Estassa if what I believe has happened."

Phexidis nodded and then asked again, "Are you positive you won't be returning with me?"

"I believe my goddess wants me here." Orebella smiled happily then pointed to the stacks of books, scrolls and parchments. "I also want to study this further."

He looked around, concerned. "Are you sure?"

"Don’t worry, Phexidis, those who reside here will come to no further harm." She pronounced then placed her glasses back on her face once more. "Regis has my letters for the Queen Mother and to Initiate Merry in the Shrine at Volis; if you could be so kind as to deliver them when you find the time."

--0--

Sir Odo appeared to be quite sure that the Baroness wanted to meet with me, so I happily wandered around one of the courtyard gardens while we waited. Since it was such a relaxing place, I wasn’t surprised to find we also weren't alone.

The Baroness of Redwater, not that I had any clue who she was at the time, walked with me as we discussed the types of flowers found in the southern kingdoms. I professed my ignorance other than I knew roses were red, which she found amusing. My uncle did have an apple orchard, which she found fascinating. Before we realized we hadn’t actually introduced ourselves, a young voice called out.

"Aunt Amabel, who's that?"

We both turned to find a young boy standing, well looked more like hiding, behind a small fountain in the center of the courtyard.

"Why hello, Byron, this is," she looked at me surprised. "I don’t believe we gave each other our names."

"I'm Eleanor." I laughed and leaned over a little. "And you must be Byron."

"I am," he grinned, which faded a bit because his Aunt had given him a look.

"If I am not mistaken, aren’t you supposed to be in your lessons, dear?" the Baroness of Redwater asked with a little bit of steel in her voice.

Looking embarrassed, he scratched his head and then said, "I was told an adventurer was here, and I wanted to see her."

Ahh caught playing hooky; I decided to fess up too. "Well, I guess that would be me."

"Really?" Byron slipped out from behind the fountain and quickly approached.

"Really really."

"Truly, you don’t appear to be the type." Amabel looked at me surprised and then smiled. "Well, then you will have to explain how a young woman of your station decided upon such a dangerous profession."

Soon afterward, I ended up sitting in another section of the open courtyard, telling the story of my last adventure in Magic-Life. Somewhere between the fountain and the table, we picked up a few more stragglers. Byron's mother had been looking for her son, along with the child's governess.

Quickly introduced as Marsilia, the poor woman was dragged along by her son. Feeling bad for any trouble I might have caused, I had Rosalyn retrieve a few things that I had intended to give out as presents.

"Which ones are these Eleanor?" Marsilia asked, pointing to a colorful selection of candies on the table.

"Ahh, that one is I believe crystallized ginger or candied ginger." I pushed the box towards her away from small prying hands. We had slowly been sampling a collection of sweets from my inventory and a few items that I managed to make on the way to Harmon.

Young Byron, however, looked quite happy with a large chocolate-covered strawberry. "So, what happened next? Were you able to rescue Sir Smithers and his companions?"

We were about three-fourths of the way through the highly edited, kid-friendly story when Sir Odo appeared with two people I didn’t recognize.

"Oh Stewart, come join us you must try some of these magnificent confections Eleanor has brought from her country," the Baroness of Redwater called out as soon as who I assumed was her husband approached.

"Marsilia?" the other person, an older woman who looked a lot like Amabel, sounded perplexed.

"Hello, mother." She covered her mouth, being caught taking a bite of the crystallized ginger, then turned back to me with a smile. "Oh, Eleanor, this is quite lovely."

"I know, oh, Marsilia, you might like the lemons as well," I said, pointing to the yellow fruit next to the candied oranges.

"Hi Grandma," Byron chirped, deciding to chime in. "We're hearing a story want to listen?"

"Where are my manners? Eleanor, this is my husband Stewart and my sister Sebena," Amabel said between bites of a glazed strawberry. "Come sit, you two."

Now I am not in any way an expert on sibling relations, but from the exasperated look the Baroness of Harmon gave her sister the Baroness of Redwater, the two have probably butted heads a few times. Although I'm not positive, I am going to venture a guess that this time was for her less than formal introductions.

I smiled at the newcomers nodding my head in greeting. "Yes, please join us, as you can see I have plenty to share. Oh, and let me also introduce you to my apprentice Iona of Harmon."

She had been quiet since we sat down, nibbling nervously on a piece of candy mango. I think Iona tried to rise probably to give a proper bow or curtsey, but Byron and his mother's chair blocked her. "My Lord, My Lady."

The Baron appeared to be amused; the Baroness resigned, and poor Sir Odo just looked confused, but we eventually got everyone settled. Rosalyn, as expected, managed to at least give a proper greeting before pulling out another candy tray out of the arcane bag I provided her.

Finding a seat, the Baroness said, "So you're Iona of Harmon. Guildmaster Stephen had some good things to say about you."

"Me, my lady?" Iona looked shocked.

"But what about Sir Smithers and his companions?" Byron asked again with a bit of whine in his voice, obviously annoyed that the adults were still talking.

"Byron," his mother gently scolded him.

"Oh no, sorry for interrupting, dear." Sabena frowned then took a glazed strawberry from her sister. "Is this about your most recent adventure?"

I shook my head. "No, the one I was on right before I found myself in your Kingdom."

"I think I would like to hear that story too," the Baron of Redwater said after taking a seat next to his wife.

I didn’t exactly come to the rescue of Sir Smithers, but the questline they were on was totally broken. A little hard to do complete a quest when the monsters continued to respawn as this kept the players from gathering the items needed to advance.

We couldn’t even skip this one, beyond the fact we were beta-testers, everyone was required to complete all five parts for the world quest, so I had to speak with the developers to get it fixed.

"How many adventurers were there in total, Eleanor?" Baron Stewart asked as I finally came to the part where we gathered for the raid.

"In total, there were forty of us," I said, which was easy enough to remember, as it was a forty-man raid. "I had twenty-four companions, Sir Smithers brought along eight, and Arcane had five in her band."

"With you in overall command?" Baroness Sebena asked, looking thoughtful. Not sure what she was thinking, though.

Nodding, I answered in the affirmative.

"Is your band always that big?" Byron asked wide-eyed.

"Oh no, when we traveled to the Pale Hills, the only adventurers with me were Iona and her Uncle and Aunt."

"Oh!" he exclaimed and spun in his seat, looking at my apprentice with interest. "You’re an adventurer too?"

"Yes," her cheeks colored a little. "Although I have only been on three jobs."

"Egads," he grinned, eyes sparkling.

"I'm sorry I missed the first part of the story. Can you tell us again how you ended up leading these adventurers?" the Baron asked. "You said you were in the Kingdom of Mercia, correct? Did the crown entreat upon you for assistance?"

"The crown of Mercia?" I asked then shook my head. "Not directly, one of the chieftains or the lords in charge of the coastal villages in the wetlands approached Sir Grendel, one of my companions, and requested our aid."

I believe there was a High King named Penda. However, chieftains ruled the handful of towns and villages in Mercia, and they, in turn, swore allegiance to clan chiefs who seemed to be the ones actually in charge. Northumbria, another kingdom to the northeast, had a similar system of government. We as players however interacted with quest givers, whoever they might be, from a farmer in the fields to a king's scheneshal and, on occasion, the king himself.

"So this Sir Smithers and Arcane, their people were not your retainers?" the Baroness asked.

"My companions no, but they had helped us before in similar situations," I smiled slightly; many of them were also good friends in and out of the game.

After answering several more questions about the government in Mercia, I continued with my party traveling deeper into the wetlands. Movement there was often difficult at times, even if there were causeways; however, the Cold Swamp, our next destination, had no such luxuries. The Baron and Baroness seemed interested, asking a half a dozen logistic questions, but by then, we could also tell Byron was starting to get antsy.

At least the young boy seemed to enjoy the retelling of my encounters with the ice sprites and the horde of the Drowned, although I could see his mother didn’t quite approve. Well, not everyone likes zombies.

Finally, we reached the location of Eldrark's lair.

"We were surprised to find in the center of the Cold Swamp dry land, an island."

"Oh, and that's where the lizard lived?" Byron asked excitedly.

"Indeed."

"May I ask how large this creature was for it to threatened villages along the coast?" asked the Baron of RedWater.

How big was the world boss? Well, it was a dragon, so enormous, but I should skip using the D-word. Looking around the courtyard, I said, "The beast might be able to fit into this courtyard if it was so inclined."

"Sweet merciful, Dinya," Marsilia whispered.

I nodded, "It was a big wyrm."

Byron made a face "Why did you call it a worm?"

"Wyrm." I sounded it out for him. "Well, it's an old name for the creature as it only had two legs. It also preferred the water, so we were lucky to catch it on dry land."

"Ahh, so it was some sort of a sea serpent then." Sir Odo remarked. "I can see why it attacked those coastal villages."

I shouldn’t have been surprised that he had heard of them, although I expect the ones in this world don’t also have wings. I continued with my story up to the point where the forty of us confronted the world boss.

"A lair made of ice," Byron gasped.

His mother smiled. "She did say that the ground was covered in ice."

"The serpent was freezing the waters," Baroness Sabena noted.

"And the fishing fleets," I added.

In Magic-Life's end-game story, the elder dragon was a creature similar to Jörmungandr from Norse myth. If it won the world of Magika would eventually be covered in eternal winter

"It was a fearsome white beast with swords for teeth, claws like spears and scales offering protection like the best mail."

"And then what?" Byron asked, sitting at the edge of his seat.

I looked at Iona and gave her a wink. "We fought the beast with fire and steel."

--0—

Dreams of cold, unmoving, shadows in the darkness, so cold.

"Lady Eleanor?" some voice whispered through the fog.

So cold.

"Lady Eleanor?" the same voice repeated the call this time a little louder.

Unmoving.

"Your Majesty."

"Wha?" Sitting up in my chair, I groped around, trying to catch my reading material before it slid off my lap and onto the floor. Looking around, I found Rosalyn standing above me with a concerned look on her face.

"I'm sorry, my lady, I couldn’t wake you." She leaned down and picked up the remaining sheets that were out of my reach. "Guildmaster Stephen and the others have arrived."

Although I would have preferred the day to end, it wasn’t up to me. As much as I enjoyed retelling my tale to Byron as I drew closer to its conclusion, it reminded me of my situation, not that I needed reminding. It wasn’t as difficult though this time around, though, but someone I think, Baroness Sebena, must have seen it in my eyes.

We were shown to our rooms much to the disappointment of her grandson, who wanted to hear about our last adventure. Sir Odo also informed me that the Guildmaster had been notified of my arrival, which I confirmed that Leo and Karin were reporting to him as well. I wouldn't be surprised if Guildmaster Stephen didn't immediately hustle the two of them into a carriage and drag them off to castle with him.

My thoughts were still confused, but from the light in my room, I must have only nodded off for a few minutes. "I assume they would like to meet as soon as possible."

"Yes, my lady." Rosalyn still looked worried.

Smiling, I tried to reassure her. "I'm fine, just an odd dream." Not that I could remember it, but whatever, shaking my head, I stood up.

I only took a few steps before I realized something turning around. I asked, "Rosalyn, what did you call me?"

"My lady?" She quickly stepped back.

Did I see fear?

Sighing, I rubbed my eyes. Why were my thoughts so muddled?

"I'm not angry, just curious. It was the corolla, wasn’t it?"

I guess it could have been worse. I might have had a larger audience, or I might have switched into my end-game raid armor. I needed to go through my inventory and make sure nothing else was attached to my outfits that would raise more questions than I had answers.

Walking towards the window, I looked out at the garden in the courtyard. The heat of the day had not lifted, but why was I so cold?

"I'm far from home, Rosalyn, without my companions."

I needed to nip this in the bud as quickly as possible.

"Your Majesty, you should." She took a couple of steps forward but stopped.

"Please, Rosalyn, none of that. Lady Eleanor, my lady, or even just Eleanor, if you could," I asked her kindly.

She frowned for a moment and then nodded. "I see."

"Do you? I'm just a simple adventurer," I started to say but stopped when she gave a very unladylike snort.

OK, am I really that bad.

"Oh my lady," she giggled. "Forgive me, but no one sees you that way."

"No?"

She shook her head.

Well, at least Rosalyn was smiling again. The fear in her eyes disturbed me. "Well, I try, even if I am not doing a very good job of it. As I said, I am far from home without my friends, my companions."

"I understand, my lady. As an adventurer, you can walk freely through the kingdoms even if you are a foreign noble but as royalty."

Well, something like that. I didn’t want the trouble. Now, I will admit the whole thing while playing in Magic-Life was good fun, no matter how much it annoyed me at times; however, it's just a story that Kathy made up, and that the developers ran with.

Avalon was no more real than Hy Na-Beatha.

"So please let us keep this between the two of us."

My Lady's Maid then asked, "Even from Iona, my lady?"

I looked over the garden once more, not sure how much commotion that would cause. Eventually, my apprentice would need to know the truth or as much as I understood it.

"For now."

Rosalyn then went down into a deep curtsey, her head almost touching the floor. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

Cheeky woman.

--0--

Strolling through the castle with Rosalyn and Iona behind me, we made our way towards the meeting room. Although it would have been nice to have this discussion in the center of the garden, I am sure that Baroness Sebena wanted something a little more formal.

Familiar and not so familiar faces greeted me as we entered the room. Leo and Karin smiled at me before bowing. The man next to him must be the Guildmaster of Harmon. He had a dangerous air about him, even with his white hair and a body wracked by age. Master Jeffrey was also in attendance as a member of the guild's party.

The Baroness of Redwater approached me, looking worried. "Are you well, Eleanor?"

"I'm fine, Amabel. I just needed a little nap." I smiled, which she just raised an eyebrow but nodded.

Dragging me to the other side of the room, her husband greeted me before I took a seat next to Baroness Sebena. To her left sat the Baron of Redwater and his wife while Sir Odo and another Knight I didn’t recognize remained standing along with Rosalyn and several other people. Only Marsilia seemed to be absent, most likely taking care of her son.

"I hope my grandson didn’t cause you any trouble?" she asked.

"Oh no, it was fine. Although perhaps we will have my apprentice tell one of her adventures next time."

Sir Odo then approached. "Lady Eleanor, you know most of the people in this room, but let me introduce you to Baroness Sabena's Captain of the Guard Sir Eric."

"Sir Eric," I nodded my head in greeting, which he bowed in return.

Sir Odo then introduced me to Guildmaster Stephen, who also bowed deeply at the waist. With the introduction done, I noticed a lot more formal than before; he continued.

"Sir Jeffrey, I believe you were the guild's scribe who met with Lady Eleanor's band after they returned from the Pale Hills?"

"Yes, Sir Odo." Reaching into a leather satchel, he passed a stack of papers to a fawn-colored catkin.

She then only passed them out to the nobles, although she almost tripped when approaching my side of the table.

"Esgusodwch fi fy arglwyddes," she said nervously, as she set the parchment in front of me.

"Mae'n berffaith iawn." I waved off her concern with a smile.

"Lilia, is everything alright?" Baroness Sebena asked while giving me a strange look.

"Yes, my lady," she replied before stepping back, returning to Rosalyn's side.

Reading a report of our adventure in the Pale Hills reminded me of the after-action reports that we had to write for the developers. "You didn’t include Myra's report. Nevermind, I see you included the information in this one."

Nodding, I quickly flipped through the pages. Interesting to see their conclusions, although I'm not sure how I became to one to come up with them as I am pretty sure I didn’t speak that much when Master Jeffrey interviewed the group.

"Before we continue further," Guildmaster Stephen stood up and bowed to Baroness Sebena, then to me. "Lady Eleanor, as head of the Adventurers Guild in Harmon, I would like to give you my thanks in your timely rescue of one of our adventuring bands. Without your assistance, we would have lost both groups."

"As I told Master Leo and Mistress Karin, it was my pleasure. I could not in good conscience have remained in Wyndemere, knowing that I could do something about it. And, as I gained an apprentice, I believe I was well compensated." I said, smiling at Iona.

"I understand that you insisted that your monetary share of the mana stones go to the families of the adventurers that were lost. However, as a thank you, the guild would like to offer you twenty percent of the stones that were recovered for your personal use."

"You’re an alchemist too," marveled Amabel.

"I dabble," I smiled. Turning back to the guildmaster, I said. "Thank you."

Since I didn’t need the money, I thought it would be better if I bought mana stones from the guild, so that was a nice quest reward. I had a few things I wanted to test using the mana stones but also included having Iona make a potion without a mana stone but using my ingredients.

"In the report, it mentioned that you gave Warrior Warin a restorative potion to counter the Wasting Curse. Was that an elixir of your own creation?"

"Yes, I did create the potion; however, the recipe is not mine."

"Thank you, my lady." He bowed again and then continued, "After reading through the two reports, I agree with Lady Eleanor's assessment that the basilisk was the initial impetus for the increase in monster migration towards the Forest Road. However, with the discovery of the living labyrinth, we believe this will continue to be a danger."

"Eleanor, from your experience, do you also believe it's a living labyrinth?" Baroness Sebena asked.

"From what I have been told and seen, I believe so; however, both Master Leo and Mistress Karin have more experience with them in the southern kingdoms," I answered truthfully, having never been in one before. "I will say though that there was a purpose behind the actions of the dungeon, and it was watching."

"Most high ranking adventurers who enter a living labyrinth have said the same thing, my lady," Guildmaster Stephen explained turning to his Baroness.

"Thank you, Guildmaster," she replied.

The meeting continued as both Leo and Karin were drawn into the discussion. Once again, we went over particular points of our adventure. Sir Odo and Sir Eric were interested in the fight with the wights. The Baron and Baroness were very interested in the quality of the stones.

By the time we finished, the sun was setting.

Leo and Karin departed with the rest of the guild, although I made sure to let them know I would keep in touch. I made plans with Sir Odo and Sir Eric for them to examine the cursed ax. And the Baron and Baroness had other questions but was interrupted by Amabel.

"Sabena." The Baroness of Redwater stepped to my side. "I understand that this is important to the kingdom, but Eleanor has been answering your questions all day."

"Its fine, Amabel." I tried to say, but she gently slipped her arm through mine and began leading me off.

"Don’t let them bully you, my dear." She said warmly. "Now, I have more important questions for you as we make our way to dinner."

I raised an eyebrow having no clue what she wanted to know.

"Who designed your lovely outfit, and is it true that you have more of these exquisite creations inside that little magical bag of yours."