Chapter Eight

**New Stone**

Light returned to Jason’s world and he was back in the throne room. The crowd buzzed as if nothing had happened. Jason quickly turned to the dais but Miranda’s back was already turned to him as she made her way out the back. The king was occupied talking with a junior advisor so the court was at a standstill.

“Jason,” Trent hissed. Jason turned from the dais to look at the sheriff. “Are you a bloody idiot?” He seethed. "How could you just let him walk away like that?"

“Trent,” Annabel interjected, “I think Jason made the right choice. If Malcolm was executed it was likely either the villagers of Fallows would use it as an excuse to seek further revenge against Finchead or Earl Bruis would have used it somehow to instigate larger issues. In exile, Malcolm will probably be dead or deprave by the end of the month. If he returns, anyone can kill him without penalty, not even Bruis can deny that. And most importantly, you can’t have a martyr without a dead body, so our lost cousins in Fallows will probably be tame for the time being. I’m quite impressed Jason,” Annabel added with a sly smile, "at first glance, it didn't look like the best outcome but in fact, it is."

Jason bowed, figuring it was the appropriate response. Meanwhile, Trent grumbled about justice but seemed unwilling to press the issue further. "I hope he ends up a slave in some Norish village."

“Lady Annabel,” Jason said to gather her attention. “Are we finished then here?” Now that this business was over he wanted to sell his wool and get his stone.

“There is one last thing that needs to be accomplished,” she said then turned and walked towards the dais. As she approached a guard intercepted her but she fell to a kneel before he could stop her. The crowd quickly went silent and stared at Annabel.

“Yes, Lady Annabel?” Token asked slightly amused. “You may speak.”

“Thank you, your grace,” Annabel said rising, making sure to maintain her poise. “Your grace, today we have vanquished a villain, not just to my lands but to the country. All here know that our brothers and sisters to the west do not always get along with us in the east.” There was a slight buzz of agreement but it ended as soon as it began. “I believe the reeve, Malcolm, is just one of a greater threat to the wellbeing of our great kingdom and I wish your grace’s permission to grant Finchead the right to build a wall.” Annabel bowed and kept her gaze on the ground.

Token scratched his short beard, “you ask a great deal, Lady Annabel. Laxtar and Exton are the only towns permitted to a wall.”

“Yes your grace, however, it seems the lands between them are undefended and Laxtar may need a bulwark,” Annabel said.

“This is true,” the king said slowly, “very well I shall permit it however I request a 100 gold tax per year, 50 gold going to additional funding to the sheriff of Finchead to increase so that he may hire permanent deputies. I assume you will pay this to him immediately. The remainder goes to the crown.”

“Yes your grace,” Annabel bowed accepting the terms then back away to Jason and Trent. A true outroar poured from the crowd but the king quickly silenced it with a wave and the herald announced the next case. “Now we are done,” Annabel announced. “I’ll meet you outside the gates tomorrow at dawn,” she said then turned and left with her retainers.

*****

The news of additional funding distracted Trent from his disapproval of Jason. The sheriff said brief parting words to Jason and Vanna then he and Jax left the castle. As they left the two were in a heated discussion of how to use the new funds.

“It’s nice that’s finally over,” Vanna said as they walked through the desolate outer hall.

Jason nodded in agreement, his eyes constantly shuffled between the guards waiting for one to approach them. Jason's heart quickly began to sink as they neared the castle gates and he had yet to be approached. “Hey you,” a harsh voice called. Jason wanted to smile but he contained himself. He turned to face the owner of the voice and feigned shyness.

“Me?” he asked pointing to himself.

“Yes,” the guard nodded impatiently. “The scribe needs you to witness for your trial. Come with me.”

“Sorry,” Jason said to Vanna, “I’ll be right back.” Then he followed after the guard.

When they were back within the castle the guard shoved him into a vestibule. “Here,” he said, “don’t open it until you are outside of the castle walls.” Then he walked off. The package was small, Jason could feel a hard round object and a piece of paper. Jason’s instinct was to run out and open it but he fought back the urge figuring Vanna would find it suspicious if he were back so soon. He tucked the package into his bag then waited a few minutes.

“How’d it go?” Vanna asked when he returned.

“Just paperwork,” Jason shrugged. “Do you mind helping me take the wool to the market? Three animals are a lot to handle for one person.”

“Of course,” Vanna replied, “I need to buy some things for Juno anyway, and I don’t think the guest at our new inn our up my alley.”

*****

Jason and Vanna gathered the animals and went to the market but Jason’s thoughts were on his stone. Images of fireballs and invisibility or even spatial magic filled his head but he couldn’t take it out while Vanna was still around. By the time they made it to the exchange trading was moving at a snail’s pace, less than a dozen traders were still there and new outcries were scarce. Wilhelm had come through as Jason had no issues depositing all sixteen sacks of wool. He noticed on six of the coupons the clerk handed over to him were time stamps for the following day. I wonder if I could actually sell them still, he thought but decided against it.

While Vanna led one of the mules to the horse vendor, Jason went onto the trading floor. The traders’ faces brighten slightly when they saw a new entrant but trading remained dead. Jason waited about ten minutes but the highest bid never changed so he settled for 34 and a quarter coppers for ten bags. In total, he walked away with 15 silvers and 19 and a quarter coppers after paying the 23 and a quarter copper holding fee. The clerk still made him pay the inflated two copper per sack on eleven of his bags. Wait, Jason thought, I still owe Jon 16 silvers and 16 coppers, he realized. I won’t be trading at a profit until I sell the other six. It’s actually hurting me that Jon gave me all those extra bags.

While it set him back in the short term Jason realized he would be making all his money back when he could sell his other six bags. I guess I just can’t buy anything else this trip, he resolved

Jason left the exchange but found that Vanna hadn’t returned yet so he took the opportunity to finally open his package. Jason knew the letter probably contained something important but he reached for the stone first.

~Small Standard Chameleon Stone (Light) [Charges Remaining: 10] Ability: Enhances user's vision to detect magic auras. Range increases with magic manipulation skill.

While not the fireball skill Jason had been hoping for he could still see that the stone would be useful. The stone was barely bigger than a pebble, much smaller than his phoenix stone, but it still beat as if it were a heart. Jason stuck the stone back into the pouch then grabbed the note.

Jason,

In your current state, I feel a combat stone would be wasted on you. Due to my mastery of magic, I have had no use for the Chameleon stone for some time now. Use this wisely and may keep you from being killed. Other Sorcerers sell their useless stones but I am of the opinion magic should not be bought but earned. If I find that you attempt to sell this stone then I will cut off all communication with you. If you ever come across any useful information return to the castle and ask for my apprentice, Rae, and I may have a reward for you depending on the quality of the information.

Jason folded the letter and stuffed it back into his bag. He only had ten charges available but he had to at least use the stone once so he pulled it back out of his bag. Jason willed the stone as he had done with the phoenix stone. A thin stream of white smoke flowed out of the stone and beamed straight for Jason’s eyes. His vision went cloudy but quickly cleared. It took him a moment to notice a difference in his view but when he turned towards the castle he saw a kaleidoscopic of colorful hues buzzing around the fortress. It was almost like staring at the sun the light coming from the castle was so strong. Jason turned away from it and tried to find more magical auras. Here and there he could see slight glows surrounding a building or a person but nothing strong. The auras came in all shapes. The most common auras were like fireworks shimmering around the owner, but some were like snakes, long wires twisting and moving around a person. After about a minute his vision returned to normal. It seems like the only powerful sorcerer in town is Miranda, Jason thought to himself as he put away the stone. He had been worried he'd find a bigger threat in town but he guessed he had gotten lucky. It's strange I couldn't see my own aura, he thought. He wondered just how strong he looked. The castle looked strong but from the way Miranda had talked to him it sounded like Jason's aura had been even stronger than hers. Jason grabbed Skippy and the other mule and headed off to find Vanna.