Chapter 58 — The Shapeshifter’s Request

Ria sat meditating at the base of a tree on a ledge overlooking the pond that spawned the slimes. The ledge was only a short distance above the pond’s surface, but the underside was crumbly enough that the slimes had trouble scaling it without falling back into the water.

The small pond’s water came from a tunnel at the bottom. Whether the water was produced by the source of water energy below or just passed through it, she had no idea. Regardless, after a period of time, a few new slimes had wobbled their way to the surface while she was meditating, though at a rate nowhere near the numbers that had come out before she boiled the pond. Could there be a gate to the elemental plane of water below?

A warning growl from Ranger broke Ria out of her musings. Checking their shared sight, Ria saw something that almost caused her to jump up and assume a fighting stance: a black cat was sitting in the grass watching her.

The Shapeshifter!

Captain Bastach must’ve failed at capturing it… or it had escaped. Was it here for revenge or…?

The black cat didn’t come any closer, just waited patiently. Ria wasn’t sure what to make of the behavior, but if it wasn’t keen on attacking, she wasn’t going to complain.

Ria spared a glance at the others. Leon was guarding Keira as she meditated near the fire. Miela and Harvin were chatting nearby.

If the cat intended to attack her, now would have been the time. Rather, by being discreet and waiting patiently, it gave off the impression that it wanted to talk with her. Could the shapeshifter speak?

After praising Ranger for doing a good job noticing the shapeshifter, Ria told him to quietly wait and guard her from behind in case the meeting went poorly. Ranger wasn’t happy about not getting a more active role after feeling useless against the slimes, but he didn’t fuss when she stood and carefully approached nearer where the shapeshifter was waiting just out of sight from the others.

“Greetings, human. I seek your aid,” came a soft-voiced whisper from the cat.

Ria was a bit startled upon actually hearing the cat-creature speak and her worries increased. Intelligent shapeshifters were supposed to be exceptionally dangerous according to Captain Bastach and his men.

“Why do you think I would help you?” Ria warily replied.

“You also have a bonded one. Maybe you will be willing.”

“I’m listening.”

“My bonded one, she is young and scared. Afraid that the others will kill her, but doesn’t want me to kill the others. She recognizes your strength. I want for her to live.”

The revelation that the necromancer didn’t want to harm the townspeople even after being captured was a surprise—assuming the familiar wasn’t lying for its master’s sake. Though if Priest Dohan was right, and the person was a disillusioned youth, then maybe it wasn’t so surprising. That this other girl could really be put to death, Ria wasn’t sure she wanted to be responsible for that.

But... could she really do this? Ria's jaw tightened. What this girl had done... using the souls of others—even if they were just pets—was it really that different from what had been done to her mother and friend—if what that bandit had said those months ago was true...

No, it wasn't the same. If the girl had only made use of animals, that could hardly compare with adults who should know better sacrificing entire villages worth of people—an unimaginable number of women and children, all with dreams and futures.

Ria slowly let out the breath she had been holding and took another before making her decision.

“If I aid your contractor, can you promise to not harm or feed on humans, their pets, and their livestock? And when possible, to dissuade your contractor from such actions in the future?”

The shapeshifter was silent for a few moments before speaking again. “What you ask is reasonable. I agree.”

“Then I will do what I can to save your contractor.”

“I will await your success.” Having received her agreement, the cat turned and walked away into the shadows.

Ria immediately second-guessed her decision. Had she just made a terrible mistake? Ranger seemed ambivalent to her choice but felt she needed to honor her word now that it was given. Ugh. There was just too much she didn’t know about the laws and customs of this land.

Returning to her previous spot, she resumed meditating. She and her friends would have to return soon.

For most of the trip back, Ria’s mind churned over the encounter with the shapeshifter and the foolish promise she had made. What if saving the necromancer girl meant helping her escape from prison? Would she really betray the trust Lord Vorshan had shown her? Possibly ruin everything she had gained since arriving in Vorshan’s Hills?

No. Side-tracking her hard-earned path to power was out of the question. Argh. What possessed her to make such an arrogant promise? As a foreigner and an apprentice, who was she to be able to help?

Ria sighed and glanced back at an exhausted Keira clumsily clambering over a fallen tree, weighed down by the heavy rain-frock and the full pack.

“We’re almost back to the road… I think,” Leon encouraged and offered Keira a hand to help.

Keira was the key. If Keira could convince her grandfather not to have the girl executed, maybe that would be enough…

After distractedly noting Leon steady Keira when she tottered, Ria’s eyes drifted to Miela who seemed to be in good spirits as she scooted over the waist-high trunk and to Harvin guarding them from behind with his crossbow-

Wait. What was it Harvin had said when Keira asked him about the arrest? That he had been specifically ordered not to talk about the case with Keira or her? Why?

Ria mulled over the possible reasons as they continued on. Was the captain worried that she or Keira would want to get involved? Maybe worried that they would try to track down the shapeshifter upon finding out it was still at-large?

Hmm. That did seem plausible. Surely, they wouldn’t want to risk the lord’s granddaughter encountering such a dangerous magical beast.

But, that still didn’t explain why Harvin wouldn’t be allowed to tell Keira who was arrested. Unless…

Ria stopped short. If the necromancer was a girl, was she someone Keira knew? A friend?

“Ranger notice a threat?” Leon asked and looked around with worry.

“No.” Ria made an apologetic gesture with her hand. “Just thinking about something.”

He sighed in relief. “You’ve been brooding since you came back from meditating. Is it because of the quickslime?”

Ria shook her head. “No, that’s not it.”

Almost dying to the quickslime was rather traumatic, and she couldn’t help a flash of fear as her mind played back the terror of being suffocated and eaten from the inside, but she pushed that back down. It was in the past now and a lesson learned. The current problem was how to approach Keira about the favor she needed. Or better, to convince her that sparing the necromancer was the correct course of action.

Another glance back was enough to tell her that now probably wasn’t the best time. Keira was barely putting one foot in front of the next. With a sigh, Ria called out to the others, “Let’s find some dry ground and rest for a while to regain our strength.”

The cheery little campfire she soon had going pushed back the moisture from the air and the smoke chased away the persistent insects that had been harassing them. Miela prepared tea to go with the afternoon snack of buttery-tasting dry cookies. Keira was still weighed-down by her heavy frock, but her mask had been hung from her pack and a bit of life was returning to her eyes.

“Ah! I had no idea adventuring was so…” Keira was stuck trying to find the right word but didn’t have the energy. “…tiring.”

Ria gave her an understanding smile. “Yeah. It’s nothing like how the stories portray it. I felt so cheated when I crossed the wilds. Most days were a grind of boredom, pain, and bugs. I remember shouting at the imposing cliffs: I want my dreams of glamorous adventure back!” A bitter chuckle escaped her throat at the memory.

“Yeah, that!” Keira pointed and let out a chuckle of her own. “I feel like I should mourn my lost innocence.”

“No, that’s something different, milady,” Miela teased.

Harvin raised a gauntleted hand in protest. “Milady, please don’t use such terms to describe the day’s events in front of your father. I’d like to keep my head.”

Keira rolled her eyes at the two retainers.

“The bugs and heavy sweaty armor… the guardsmen who do patrols must have it really tough,” Leon contributed. He had taken off his armor and was wiping it down with a mint-scented oil. Sweat soaked his tunic around his neck and under his arms.

“When I was a fresh recruit, it was unbearable, and the veteran guardsmen seemed to enjoy our suffering,” Harvin admitted. “But over time I got used to it, and by the next year, I was a veteran watching over the new recruits.”

Leon nodded.

As they relaxed with their afternoon tea and cookies, Ria decided that this was likely the best chance she would have to begin planting the seed she would need to convince Keira. She would have preferred to talk with Keira alone, but having the others here wasn’t without it’s advantages.

“Keira, I’ve been thinking… the necromancer is likely someone we know. Likely, a friend of yours.”

Keira looked up dumbfounded, and Harvin sprayed his tea out in surprise at the sudden topic.

“Well, it’s true, isn’t it?” Ria cornered Harvin.

“Is it, Harvin?” Keira also queried him.

The way he looked away and wouldn’t meet Keira’s eyes spoke volumes. “I’m sorry, milady. My orders…”

“It’s fine,” Keira huffed and turned her attention back to the fire, her brows furrowed as she worried the fabric of her frock’s sleeve. “How’d you know, Ria?”

“Mostly from what Harvin said earlier,” Ria admitted, and Harvin groaned. “But the locator scroll pointed to the area near your manor, and when Priest Dohan was investigating the ritual circle, he thought the person might be a young mage desperate to improve their power. Someone who may have displayed an unexplained illness or personality changes recently…”

“A mage apprentice that I know…” Keira looked devastated as she trailed off and then said in a small voice, “The only other mage apprentice I train with is Amilee… the others all train with Master Rigure.”

Harvin still not meeting Keira's imploring gaze practically confirmed it, and Keira couldn't help choking back a bit of a sob as she covered her mouth.

“I'm sorry, Keira,” Ria offered. “I didn't know tracking down the shapeshifter would implicate your friend. If she were executed because of me…”

Keira blanched. “If the shapeshifter tricked her…”

“Even if she did it of her own will,” Ria asserted.

“Ria!” Leon gasped. “She's a necromancer! You saw the terrible things she did!”

“I know," Ria acknowledged with a bitter expression. "I know she did terrible things, and I know my familiar bond can't be compared to her use of necromancy, but for me to get a pardon and for her to be… Everyone makes mistakes. Surely there is an alternative to her being executed…”

Keira nodded. “I'll talk to grandfather.”

Keira had a determined look when she parted ways with Ria and Leon after turning in the missions and selling the 'loot'. She had been hesitant to take her share of the money, but Ria insisted. Her friend had worked hard to earn it.

Kylie had been incredulous at their findings and had to pull out several different books to identify the weirder and less common forages.

“Thanks for your help today,” Ria told Leon as they stopped in front of the butchershop. “I guess we should get some more training before taking on a tougher job, huh.”

Leon grimaced but nodded. “Until I can get a real sword…”

“I have an idea about that, but I still have much to learn from Master Rigure before I’ll be ready to attempt it.”

Leon’s eyebrows shot up.

Well, of course he’d be surprised if she said it like that. Though, maybe enchanting a wooden sword would be easier than a metal one. Clearly, Jarrel needed a magic sword, and she was planning to give Leon the sword from Jeni’s grandpa when she enchanted a new sword for Jarrel, but carving an enchantment into wood… maybe that would be a much simpler and less costly short-term solution. Even if she needed to melt silver into the spell etchings, she had some available… hmmm.

“Ria…?” Leon queried worriedly.

“Ah-” She waved away his concern. “Don’t mind that. I was just lost in thought.”

“That’s exactly what I’m worried about,” Leon sighed out.

Rude!

“Well, with the preparations for the festival, it might be hard for me to take a whole day off anytime soon,” Leon admitted. “So, focusing on training for a while is a relief. Just do me a favor and don’t involve yourself in anything problematic while I’m busy, okay?”

Ah, too late for that. Hopefully, Amilee’s investigation was still ongoing and Keira would have time to intercede on behalf of her friend… Maybe she should send Ranger to find out more about the girl’s situation.

Ria shook off the worrisome thoughts and put on a bright smile for Leon. “I’ll be looking forward to testing your improvement.”

Leon groaned. “Later, Ranger. Do your best to keep Ria safe.”

“Woof!”

Grandpa Orlan greeted Ria and Ranger as they entered the shop. “How’d the big hunt go?”

Ria gave a grinning thumbs-up and jingled her money pouch. “A huge success! I was even able to get all the materials I need for making a new ink!”

“Ohh? How exciting, indeed. How about you, Ranger? Have fun out in the woods?”

“Wah Warwoof,” Ranger complained.

“Hahaha. Tough, was it? Thank you for protecting Ria and keeping her safe.”

“Woof!”

“Fana went out shopping so we can celebrate your hunt later. Why don’t you go wash off and take it easy for the rest of the day?”

“Ah, that sounds great, Grandpa Orlan. Thanks!”

A hot bath and some relaxing meditation sounded like just the thing. Maybe she’d work on her festival costume later. Dressing Keira up like a ghost had been fun, and now she was feeling a bit jealous and excited. She’d need to oil her armor and wash her clothes too…

When dinner came, it was another one of Grandma Fana’s celebratory feasts. This one a bit more modest than her welcome dinner, but clearly they would have leftovers for days again. Ria regaled her new family with a retelling the day’s events but left out some of the details about the quickslime so as not to worry them. She did give Guardsman Harvin credit for saving her with his crossbow, though.

A knock on the door about halfway through dinner signaled the arrival of a letter from Keira.

Ria,

Thank you for taking me along today. I gained a great many valuable experiences from the outing.

Sadly, you were right about Amilee. I still find it hard to believe, and I talked to my grandfather about finding a way to lessen her sentence. There will be a public trial, but Amilee’s family requested for a delay until her sister, Zoe, could return from the capital. Grandfather has granted the delay, so the trial is planned for the day before the Festival of Fear.

Grandfather was happy to learn of your interest in attending my magic lessons with Master Harlow and wants to speak with you about your progress in the task he assigned you. I am also excited to learn more about the enchanted paper. Will you be able to join me the morning after the morrow?

Keira

Ria sighed in relief upon reading the contents of the letter. She would have to find out more about the trial, but for the near term, Amilee’s life wasn’t in danger.

As with the previous letter, the page waited for her to prepare a reply.

A heartfelt greetings Lady Keira,

This humble apprentice and companion in adventure gratefully accepts your ladyship’s invitation to join you on the morning after the morrow in the hopes that her presence might add a semblance of cheer to your day and distract you from your worries for your friend.

May the comfort of family buoy your spirit in this time of trials, and may the spirit of forgiveness provide wisdom and courage to the arbiters of judgement.

Your friend in magic and adventure,

Ria of Shadewood

Apprentice Enchanter

At first, Ria thought to write a teasing and witty letter to amuse her friend, but reconsidered in light of how Keira must feel about Amilee’s situation. And for that reason, she used plain paper and her usual calligraphy for the reply. She did burn her workshop crest into the top of the paper, though.

In any case, Ria knew what she’d be working on tomorrow. If she was going to ask a favor of Lord Vorshan, she couldn’t slack off on preparing for her test.