Chapter 1
“You’re hard to find, Keegan Lance.”
He pulled his nose out of a dust covered tome to find Talitha staring at him.
“I haven’t been hiding on purpose. I’ve just been busy.”
She pointed to the oak table in front of him, which was full of scrolls, books, and parchment. “I can see that.”
The boy tossed the book he was holding down in disgust. “Ugh, this is pointless! I’ve been to the Scarlet, Opal, Onyx, and Amethyst Towers! None of their libraries have any information on Familiars!” Keegan put his head in his hands. “It’s been six months and I’m no closer to finding a solution.”
“Maybe you should take a break?” She suggested.
Keegan paused for a moment, brushing his raven black hair out of his face. He couldn’t remember the last time he ate, bathed, or slept. His tan, which he’d worked hard to maintain, was long gone. His skin was a pasty white, and he smelled an unpleasant odor coming from his clothes.
“I didn’t get a room at the local inn. Harvest season is here, so I’m sure every available bed is full.”
“Relax, I’m good friends with the innkeeper.” Talitha wrinkled her nose. “Just…go clean yourself up.”
“At least let me put these books away. The mages here will be angry if I don’t.”
“Fine, but I’m giving you a hand.”
The table was cleared in a half an hour as the pair worked quickly. Keegan informed the magus in charge that he was leaving and thanked him for allowing him into their library.
Talitha wove her way through crowds of farmers as Keegan struggled to keep up. A few blocks later, they found themselves in front of the Sour Grapes.
“This way, Keegan.” A girl a few years older than him waved him over. Her dress was rumpled and seen better days. “Your bath is waiting in the back.”
“Um, thanks.” A flush crept up to his cheeks. He went past the kitchen, through a heavy oak door that led to the baths.
The room was blissfully empty. Three enormous metal tubs took up the space. Runework covered every inch, though the runes on one of them were glowing red. Steam wafted over the full tub in the middle.
Keegan sighed contentedly as he scrubbed every speck of dirt off his wiry frame. The water was lukewarm as the runes had long since lost their mana, so he didn’t linger.
Talitha was sipping wine from a fancy glass when he joined her at the bar. He sported a pair of freshly laundered robes, and he pushed his damp hair back.
“Are you here to check up on me?”
“Hardly.” She handed him a flier. “Every Guild member has been called to post these in every street corner in every town in the Dravidian Empire. I’ve given you plenty of leeway after the Ursadon attack in Riverbridge, but I need you to fulfill your Guild responsibilities.”
His gray eyes grew wider as he read. “A tournament?”
“It’s the first tournament since the Portal Wars ended. The Guilds and the Emperor want to see a return to normalcy.” She sipped her wine. “Guildmaster Norquist needs all hands on deck. You can’t afford to be a no show.”
Keegan clenched his fist in a bout of frustration, but his face lit up. “I can ask around at the tournament for information. I’m sure at least one of the Guildmasters would be a Familiar Mage. Or would know one. Do you have more flyers?”
“They’re at the Guild outpost on the other side of town. I need you to visit Sunnydale, Donnybrook, Elizabethton, and Antioch.”
“Not a problem. I still have access to my traits and spells, even though…” He trailed off.
Talitha put an arm around his shoulder. “You’ll bring Tomura back.”
A barmaid filled up a wooden stein full of juice, plopped it on the table and hurried off. Both of them toasted to success.
“I assume you’re all packed?”
“Yup. I was going to leave tomorrow morning.” Keegan said.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
He laughed. “Not at all.” Keegan pulled out a letter from his storage ring and handed it to her. “Think you can get this delivered to my family?”
“I have to stop at a few more villages, but Riverbridge is on my way. It won’t be a problem.”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
Keegan kept up his end of the bargain. He posted the flyers on every billboard, inn, and tavern in his assigned towns. Most townsfolk had already found out about it and were hungering for details. Fortunately, the flier included all the details: Tryouts would start two weeks before. There were divisions for each Tier. Yes, betting on contestants was allowed, as long as the Empire got its cut.
He tried to remain focused as he traveled from town to town, but his thoughts dwelled on Tomura. He missed the kitsune terribly, and he was constantly distracted because he’d wait for an interjection or comment that would never occur. Keegan never had many friends because he didn’t know how to interact with kids his age. Krystin would encourage him to socialize, but to no avail. The only thing he wanted, much less talked about, was to wield magic. Not all were as enthusiastic, so he often found himself alone.
’Tomura helped me to be more confident and sociable. There’s no way I would’ve volunteered to help the injured Imperial Messenger. I would not have survived in the Unstable Planes if not for him. I’d have cowered in fear with the rest of the children as the Matriarch destroyed Riverbridge. So many lives were saved because I picked up the sword to defend my home. And now everyone thinks of me as a hero. Ayden and Briscoe were the only ones who knew my family, let alone cared for us,’ Keegan thought to himself as he hung up another poster outside a tavern.
Word had even spread among the Towers. He had no problems accessing their libraries, but he turned down multiple offers to join the Mage’s Guild. One could have membership in multiple Guilds, but most didn’t want to get ensnared in all the politics, not to mention all the coordination involved.
The Imperial Messengers had met up with Keegan in Antioch, and he was treated to a very tempting offer. Routes, policies and pay were similar to working in the Messenger’s Guild. The difference was the Imperial Messengers worked under Emperor Maximus, while the Guild was backed by the citizens of the Empire. Not to mention the lack of flexibility in choosing his assignments. He begged off, telling them they would have an answer when he was finished with his current assignment.
Then he ran into Orson at Donnybrook. The leader of the Adventurer’s Guild insisted on treating the boy to a fancy dinner, as a show of thanks. He also extended the offer for Keegan to join, assuring him he would work out the details with Norquist. Normally, the boy would’ve taken him up, as he longed to explore Unstable Planes, slay beasts, and gather crafting and alchemical ingredients. With Tomura gone, he needed time to decide and told Orson as much.
Keegan headed home once the last flier was hung in Elizabethton. He needed advice, and there was only one other who he trusted. A single cast of Transformation, and he left for home.
His paws felt the freshly laid cobblestone as he plodded along the primary trade route. Wagons and horses were a common sight as he passed caravans heading in between the frontier towns. Merchant guards by now knew enough to be on the lookout for a silver and black kitsune, and not to open fire.
The forest was alive with activity. Hummingbirds, hawks, and other birds darted among the flowers. Deer and rabbits nibbled on small currant bushes at the base of the trees. Soon, the forest thinned, revealing a bustling hamlet. Smoke drifted upward from stone cottages. Farmers pushed their carts full of grain along the streets. Shopkeepers were busy hawking their wares. Keegan dismissed his Transformation spell and studied Riverbridge. It had modernized so fast in the months following the attack, but so had he.
Mana flowed easier through his hands. Spells were far more responsive as his gestures were sharper. Keegan’s strength and agility were stronger. However, the most noticeable change was with the Fox Cloak spell. It behaved less like a shroud that covered his body and more like an actual cloak with three tails. Black and silver flames would run across its length. Each tail would wave in the breeze, making him appear very intimidating. Tomura never discussed spell or trait evolution when they trained in the Spirit Plane, and Keegan was desperate for answers.
Townsfolk gathered as he walked the streets. Many stopped to shake his hand, or give him a warm hug. They wanted to thank him for saving their lives and livelihoods. The boy met with every admirer, practicing his patience as he made his way towards Briscoe’s home.
Keegan pushed the chestnut door open, as the old man never kept it locked. Briscoe, the town Herbalist, looked up from his mortar and pestle and sighed. “Please, make yourself at home.”
“I need your advice.”
“Knock before entering?”
“Hilarious.” The boy frowned in irritation. “What would you do if you were invited to join every Guild in the Empire?”
Briscoe raised an eyebrow. “I was being serious.” He dumped the ground up Lavender Waxcap into the cauldron. Steam poured from the mixture as it changed color and viscosity.
“Fine, I promise to knock next time! Now, do you have any ideas or not?”
“I don’t, but Haslam might. Why not ask him instead of bothering me?”
Keegan bit back a retort. Briscoe saw the look on his face.
“He hasn’t touched booze for months. It’s time to bury the past if you want a healthy father-son relationship.”
Keegan didn’t respond. Memories played in his mind, displaying every argument he’d had with him. Every tear his mother shed when pottery was shattered against the wall in rage. All the times Alynna and Krystin negotiated and eventually begged shopkeepers to increase their tab after Haslam spent all their money on ale and mead.
But then he remembered seeing his father after the matriarch had been driven off. The boy had seen new life in his eyes, a glimpse of what Haslam used to be. He considered his father could’ve changed after breaking so many promises to do so.
“I need to think about it.” Keegan said.
“Don’t take too long. Now, leave me alone! I can’t let this mixture boil too long or I’ll lose a dozen gold coins in ingredients.”
The boy stared at the bubbling cauldron in exasperation. Briscoe had never treated him in this fashion. For a moment, he wanted to stay and argue, but decided against it. Keegan spun his heel and walked out.
“Tomura would agree with him.” He said to no one in particular.
He thought about wandering around Riverbridge more often, but decided against it. The butcher, baker, tailor, and other vendors would load him up with their wares. Space in his storage ring was at a premium. Keegan didn’t want to turn down their gratitude, but he didn’t feel comfortable accepting their gifts. He didn’t like being in their debt, especially when his family had come so close to losing their home.
’I need to head home. Tomura taught me it’s foolish to keep putting off problems. Better to deal with them head on,’
He made his way out of the city center and followed the newly paved roads. Saplings ran along the sidewalk, separated by the occasional oil lamp post. Keegan even passed the occasional horse-drawn cart on the street. Such sightings only occurred during harvest season prior to the attack. Now it seemed Riverbridge had attracted more people to the frontier.
Keegan’s home entered his vision, and all the poor boy could do was stop and stare. He didn’t expect Isaak and the town council to reward his family for his actions, but he was mistaken.
