Jeff Inlo - Chain of Bargains

"Fine, you want a guess? Think about it. What's the magic doing? It's bending into the city and then leaving, but what does it feel like to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I asked. What does it feel like?"

In allowing the magic to pass through her essence, Holli could understand its flow and the potential distortion caused by spell casters. Throughout Ashlan, she sensed the bending of the magic, but there was no hidden spell, no taint. It was pure, but it was also concentrated and that came from the simple truth that magic was being directed into the city. In her mind, it simply felt like magical energy-nothing more and nothing less.

"It does not feel like anything. It is magic."

"Oh, come on. You're not thinking. Does the magic feel the same outside the city?"

"Yes. It is exactly the same."

"No, it's not," Brenn corrected her.

Holli disagreed.

"But it is. It is just stronger here because…"

"Stop right there. If it's stronger than it's not the same."

"That's not what I am talking about," Holli stated. "There is no influence inside the magic. It is not being shaped into some spell or used to power some enchantment. It is simply being directed into the city. I admit it is flowing in great quantities, but…"

"That's the difference!"

"I do not understand."

"It's like a shove, a push, a reminder."

Holli began to see. While there was no spell or enchanted item that was attempting to utilize the magic or to alter it for some distinct purpose, the flow of magic itself offered a possible explanation. The magic was being drawn into the city and released, but such a directive was, in itself, a distortion to the magic.

"The magic is being turned into Ashlan to let those that are sensitive to the energy know that the power moves through the entire city," Holli finally admitted. "But why?"

Brenn agreed with the assumption, but would go no further.

"And for that I don't even have a guess," he said with certain finality.

Holli might have pressed him for more, but she never got the chance. Just as Brenn made his declaration, the single signal of Ryson's beacon stones became two distinct pulses. She knew he had discarded one of the stones. She was not supposed to meet him until the following night. Ryson was calling out to her, which meant he had information for her or he was in trouble. She could not delay in finding him, even if it meant leaving certain questions about the magic unanswered.

"Thank you, Brenn," she said as she turned to the window to leave.

"Thank me by not returning. Enin or not, I think trouble is following you and I don't want to be caught in it."

"Very well," Holli offered. "I will leave you be."

Brenn hoped that was the case. Goblins and inferns were an inconvenience he could accept. He bristled, however, at the thought of being forced from his home, or worse, struggling against powers that made inferns seem like nothing more than harmless camp fires in some distant park.

"Didn't mean to wake you."

"It's okay. Just taking a little rest."

"I'm sorry it's so late, but it's getting more and more difficult to see you," Sy Fenden said, barely attempting to hide his frustration.

The captain of Burbon's guard had passed through throngs of people and questioned dozens. Connel was bursting with crowds and activity. Just finding Enin had been an accomplishment. After wasting an entire afternoon and much of the evening on fruitless searches, Sy eventually located the wizard dozing in a temporary office set up to handle delivery contracts with farmers far to the east.

"I know, I know," Enin offered in an apologetic voice. He fought back a yawn as he tried to explain. "It's not that I'm avoiding you. There's just so much going on. I've got humans on one side and dwarves on the…"

"I understand," Sy interrupted, "Really, I do. I've just made my way through the southeastern section of the city. I saw the people. I also know the kinds of problems this is causing you. I'm dealing with it myself, and I don't have a lot of time. It's late and I have to get back to Burbon, but we have a big problem and I need your help."

Despite the fact that the wizard faced growing demands from many directions, Enin did not show any exasperation at the news. He even seemed to wipe away any sign of fatigue. He stood up and walked directly over to Sy showing a determination to listen to the request.

The wizard had taken on a great deal of responsibility in Connel, not that he assumed any true authority. He let the city's mayor and council make the decisions as to policy, and he allowed the city's soldiers to coordinate the safety needs, but he offered his services and his near infinite magical abilities to assist in all matters. He offered himself as an asset to be utilized for Connel's welfare, and with the growth of the city, his talents served many.

The dwarves' presence had increased dramatically, as did the trade between Dunop and Connel. Pioneers and merchants flocked to the city, but it did not end there. The wave of refugees from the Great Valleys grew daily with no sign of abatement. Enin's guidance-born of a his unique perception-assisted in reducing conflicts and in maintaining a semblance of order. His talents with magic enhanced the city's ability to manage the robust growth, and it seemed every day brought ten new requests for his aid.

It would have been more than understandable if Enin sighed in frustration at Sy's appeal. One more request was like another straw on the camel's back. The wizard, however, disregarded any such selfish distress. Instead, he revealed genuine concern toward the well-being of Burbon.

"The town is in some kind of danger?"

"It's the refugees."

At that, the wizard appeared almost relieved.

"Yes, it is a problem, but I assure you I am focused on that crisis. As you saw, we're inundated with them here as well. Feeding them has not been an easy prospect, but I'm working on that issue right now." He waved over a slew of papers strewn across a makeshift table. "I can add Burbon's needs to these delivery contracts. I assure you, you won't run out of food."

"I appreciate that, but it's not just the food."

Enin's mind fixed upon the issue, and his thoughts-as they were known to do quite often-took their own direction.

"Yes, yes, yes, we have to understand the cause of the problem. You know I'm working on that as well. I have Holli and Ryson out searching for answers. Once I know the truth behind the troubles in the Great Valleys, we can stop the exodus and perhaps start returning many of these people back home. It's just that…"

"I don't think you understand," Sy interrupted again. "My problem is an immediate one and I can't wait. Look, I see what's going on here. I know refugees are pouring into Connel, but Connel's a city that's growing with the help of dwarf construction. I'm talking about Burbon. We're a small town, a town that we had to wall off for protection against the creatures in Dark Spruce. We have a limit to how many people we can hold."

"Have you really reached that limit?"

"You tell me. You can see them if you use one of those sight spells. You don't have to take my word for it."

"No need for that. I always trust your judgment. How bad is it really?"

"Bad. We've got people camping outside the wall. We bring them in, but the empty space just fills up again. Goblins make raids and take their food, but it's not going to end there. It's an invitation for every shag and river rogue to show up for dinner."

"That does seem dangerous."

"It's getting worse every day. More keep coming." Sy then fixed a stare upon the wizard's face. He didn't want to place blame, but he had to make certain Enin understood the crux of the problem. "They think they're safe at Burbon… even out in the open… even with Dark Spruce within sight. They believe you're watching over the town."