Ezee stood over Mirio, snorting and wagging his tail, nudging him to wake. Mirio’s hand rose to greet him and submerged into his fluffy mane.

“Alright, I’m up, I’m up”

He leaned against his walking staff and hoisted himself up. He grabbed some fresh clothes from his bag nearby and did his best to smooth out the creases as he slipped them on. The sun was still low but as the mountains reached into the sky they grasped the early light and scattered across the land with a gentle red glow.

Mirio’s eyes searched along the path into the mountains. The road sank into a valley with rocky crags on all sides before turning and vanishing out of sight. Between the two giant mountains that graced each side of the winding valley he could see a cloud of tiny dark specks, shifting and moving like silk floating within water. As hard as it was to believe that the red wastes could turn into a lush paradise on the other side of the mountains, the flocks of red winged starlings dancing in the sky were a sweet reminder of the truth that not all deserts stretch on forever.

Mirio struggled to remember what the old hermit had told him about them during his training. While the memory didn’t come easily he could recall it was a lesson about the significance of magic circles, and that Gerlin spoke of all things having their place.

“Magic is founded upon one truth beyond all others, that all things reside within their own sphere, and to go beyond that sphere is to challenge its own existence. Just as starlings’ red feathers hide them as they nest within the mountain stone, they expose them in the lush green of the forests to the west. The trick with magic is to understand why a thing chooses the sphere of influence it does, and knowing that it does so in exclusion to many other things. Appreciate why that choice is made, and you will see that magic is really about the study of choice amidst the ever expanding nature of change that pulls at all of us”

“I don’t quite get it, why is that what magic is founded upon, I thought it was about wielding and shaping magical forces?”

“A magic circle is a very powerful thing, few people appreciate just how powerful it really is. Do you know why they are used to direct and shape magical forces?”

“Is it because they target a specific sphere of influence? Choosing one property over others? To exclude other possibilities maybe?”

“All magic exists within a sea of chaos. And while the innate magics of sorcery derive power from this, arcane magic relies on clarity of mind within it”

“Is this connected to the clockwork universe you spoke about before somehow?”

“The clockwork universe is the explanation we hold to be true within the chaos. A hope that no matter how chaotic things seem, there exists a precise way to separate chaotic forces and reveal their simpler and more predictable nature”

“So magic is about transformation then? It seeks to understand one thing, before understanding how to change it into another? And understanding the change between them requires an ability to either embrace the chaos, or to safeguard yourself from it?”

The gnome nodded, and sat back against the wall of his hut.

“Just remember one thing, magic isn’t about power, it is about not confusing two things as though they are one. Learn to appreciate things as distinct, study them as distinct, even when everything feels and looks the same, and when you can do that infinitely well, knowledge will flow into your mind, rather than you having to pain to find it”

The discussion hadn’t made a whole lot of sense to him back then, and neither did it make sense to him now, but he did recognise that Gerlin would have urged him to stop and take notice.

*There is magical insight to be found in how a desert transforms into a lush forest. The way the mountain reaches up to catch the early morning light, also causes it to reach up to catch the wind and the rain. And so great is its grasp, that it takes from one side of the land and gives it to the other*

Yana approached and scruffed Ezee’s neck.

Mirio's gaze remained locked to the horizon as he noticed her approach, “He’s excited, I think he can smell the forests in the wind”.

“I suspect you are probably right,” she replied.

“Are you worried at all about… You know, meeting the Duke?”

“I would be lying if I said it never crossed my mind that he could turn us away. It is a great burden for a city to take on refugees after all”

“Why is that, do you think?”

“Well I suppose it is because cities are unpredictable, chaotic, and overburdened with things to be done. From cleaning their sewers, to keeping peace in their streets, pleasing each of the different castes that live there. It isn’t easy to do at the best of times, and when you add more people into the mix, it puts pressure on everything”

“That is interesting, so you don’t see it like a choice the Duke has to make, to be charitable or not. You see it as a risk he would have to take on that might impact the city as a whole”

“Think of it this way, what do the wolves of the misty meadows do when the goblin’s encroach on their hunting grounds?”

“They sniff them out and scare them off”

“It is the same with people really, and I am not just talking about the Duke. I suspect that everyone in that city is thinking about us in some form or another. Some hoping for our good fortune, others hoping we move on so they can focus on the troubles they already have. Many of those people are like the wolves, protecting against things they might not be able to control if they just let things happen”

“So do you think we should be considering how we win over the people as well as the Duke?”

“No no, that will be his job, and the job of the nobility and churches”

“What about the adventuring guilds, do you think they can help?”

“Ha, I suppose they could, but they famously remain neutral in all political matters, so I don’t think they will have much to say about it, neither for or against us”

“Hrmm, maybe I can do something to win people over somehow…”

“Don’t let it worry you, you are too young to carry the burden of all of the people of the vale. But it is good that you think of them”

“I suppose none of us can really change what happens, we can only try"

Mirio pointed his finger towards the gap between the mountains where the starlings danced through the sky.

“Look, can you see them? Starlings”

“Oh yeah, wow” Yana replied with a smile. She tapped Mirio on the shoulder. “Come on hop up into the wagon and let’s head off”

Mirio nodded and shuffled off towards the wagons.

…

FWOCK!

The flap of the messenger falcon’s wings sounded out crisply through the palatial halls as it impatiently waited for a treat.

A man in silk robes, with a portly build, rushed to the window with a strip of meat in the palm of his hand. He held it up for the bird, and as it guzzled down the morsel he untied the message from its leg.

“Who is it from?” another robed man asked.

“It is marked with the seal of the king”

“Give it to me, I’ll take it in to the Duke”

The second robed man, this one slender in frame, with long hair tied up in the back, made his way down the hall and knocked on the golden door of the Duke’s bedchamber.

“My lord, we have a message from the king”

The door cracked open and a hand reached out.

“Give it here”

The slender man fumbled but managed to push his hands forward in time for the Duke’s hand to swipe it from his grasp.

“Alright, thanks, you can go” he said with a wave of his hand as he slammed the door shut.

“What is it darling?” his adoring wife said as she adorned herself with jewelry and silks.

“I’ll tell you what it is, it is entirely too early for this shit,” he said as smacking the message on the table.

“Don’t be sour dear. Darling while you are up can you open up the doors to the balcony, the fresh air will help ease your mood”

The duke’s golden hair flowed over his shoulders like the mane of a lion, and blustered in the breeze as he opened the balcony doors. The lush sounds of the forests carried themselves on the wind; calls of starlings, the chitter of song birds stringing together melodies, and the lurching belows of horn frogs coming from the lake shore.

As the first light shone over from the mountain’s east side it shone on the right side of his balcony. Decorated in rich tapestries, marble foundations were adorned with a mix of exotic artwork carved out of platinum and gold. The balcony caught the first light with an effortless grace, as the platinum scattered the light, and the gold made it more diffuse and soft.

Standing above the entire city, perched within the side of the great red mountain, the duke could see all the way from the lakeside at the western foot of the mountain around to the city, and then out to the eastern wastes.

“It never ceases to amaze me”

“What does honey?”

“This view, on one side is a display of wealth and abundance, and on the other a dangerous reminder of what it can all become”

“Mhm” the Duchess hummed in agreement as she made her way over.

She picked up the message from the table and slipped it into her husband’s hand. “Honey, don’t pout, just read it”

The Duke grumbled under his breath before unravelling the note.

“Gah! I knew it”

“What did your cousin say?”

“Well, I’ll put it this way, he puts politics above the wellbeing of this city like always” he said, shaking his head.

“Honey, if it is the will of the king there isn’t much more to worry about. It is out of your hands”

The Duke frowned for a moment before a wicked smirk came across his face, “Maybe this time I should do it my way instead?”

“Why fight it dear, you know that all this squabbling over details leads nowhere. Whether you like to admit it or not, the city would run along without us, your trouble is that you think we are even affecting it all that much”

“Maybe, but allow me my delusions, they are why I am here after all”

“Honey, please, that isn’t the only reason” she said with a smirk as she kissed him on the neck.

“Why do you get all dressed up, knowing you will have to take it all off again” he said with a chuckle before cupping the base of her neck in his hand and drawing her in for a kiss.

“I like it,” she giggled between kisses.

…

Mirio’s eyes skirted along the rocky outcrops as the caravan made its way through the winding valley. He gently massaged the top of his knee with his left hand, a glimmer of concern hidden behind his eyes. He just didn’t feel comfortable with the idea that if a fight broke out, he would be almost completely helpless to defend himself. It was new to him, and he didn’t like the feeling, even if it was true that there was nothing to worry about in these valleys, it was a habit of caution he didn’t feel comfortable letting go of.

The valleys began winding upward towards a ridge further ahead.

“How are we supposed to know when we are half a league out when we can’t even see the city from here” the driver next to Mirio scoffed.

Mirio chuckled and shot back with a wink, “Maybe we took the wrong path”

“Don’t even joke,” the man said as looking over the ridge of the winding path back into the valley. “Carts are alright going up hills like this, but they’ll have a hell of a job getting back down”

“Yeah this road wasn’t made for trade,” Mirio replied.

“What was it made for then?”

“Isn’t it obvious? The winding valley where you can’t see all that far ahead, rock outcrops everywhere, elevation on both sides, and at the end a steep and narrow path up. This is meant as a path to ambush invading armies that might attack the city from the east”

“Oh, I see. I noticed before you were scanning the ridgeline. Do you think they’d attack us?”

“No, I doubt it, but you never know. Look at the bright side, imagine bandits trying to besiege the city by funnelling through this valley. They’d have no chance”

The driver gulped as he imagined it, “Yeah you are right, I don’t expect much could make it through here without the Duke’s say so”

Mirio nodded and then prepared himself to stand up as they made it to the top.

As the wagon crawled out of the winding path out of the valley the driver gasped.

“And then there is that” he said with his jaw dropped in awe.

A smooth pathway stretching half a league nestled between both mountains led up to a wall that towered above it all.

The redstone wall, built over millennia, was one of the largest defensive structures ever built. The smoothed faces were covered in artistic carvings that must have taken a lifetime to sculpt. Tapestries of dragons, and valiant knights carrying flaming swords locked in battle with them. More than a couple hundred paces tall and half a league long, at the very center of it all was an enormous iron gate, surrounded by a giant steel sculpture of a Dragon’s maw.

“And then there is that,” Mirio replied.

“I didn’t think men could build such things”

“If I was an invading army and I saw that, I think I’d turn and go home”

“No kidding… What are those lines along the wall”

“Those are openings for archers and ballista to defend the walls during attacks”

“There must be enough room for an entire army to man the walls then”

“I don’t doubt there is,” Mirio said as he got up out of the wagon and stepped onto the ground. “Alright, this is where we all need to stop”

“Good luck in there”

“I’ll try to keep luck on my side” Mirio winked as he made his way over to Yana on the back of his horse.

“We are here,” he said.

“Yes we most certainly are. I will get the rest of the council, wait for us up further ahead”

Mirio nodded and began to limp his way further ahead with Ezee at his side.

The enormous gates within the maw of the giant dragon skull sculpture cracked open, bringing with it a rush of wind. A mass of soldiers marched towards them with banners held high. While Mirio couldn’t see the banner at this far of a distance he assumed it was of the three sided crest of Darlan. As a nation that had control over the desert, lush rainforests, and the surrounding seas, its crest held the waves, the dunes of the desert, and the rolling forested hills as variations on the same theme. Darlan was a nation of great wealth, and even greater pride that it could unite all its people, it was a fact that made Mirio a little restless. He was happy to be somewhere new, but at the same time, it was so much larger than him and totally out of his control to influence.

Yana and the rest of the council arrived at his side as the banner finally came into view. Mirio watched as the soldiers peeled off to each side and revealed a contingent of knights. Adorned in elaborate armor designed to look like the scales of a dragon, complete with pauldrons shaped into dragon skulls, it glimmered even in the soft shade of the mountainside. Half a dozen of the knights approached Mirio and the council, while the remaining fifty or so moved into the crowd of refugees.

“Inspections, everybody order yourselves into lines, with your packs open!” one of the knights called out as dozens more soldiers followed along behind him and hurried the people to follow his orders.

A knight with bright golden eyes stared at Mirio through the slit of his helm.

“Hey guys, should we introduce ourselves, or should we just follow you in?” Mirio said.

The knight flicked open his visor and continued to stare at Mirio, unmoved by the stirring tension of the council beside him. Mirio held back a gulp.

*Damn it, I can’t just swallow in front of him, he’ll think I’m weak. Don’t swallow, don’t swallow. Argh, why did I get shaken*

“Is this everyone?” the knight asked.

Mirio nodded, his lips tight, and his neck tense as he continued to hold back his gulp.

“Very well then, follow us” the knight said before turning back towards the city.

Mirio felt a rush of relief as the knight turned and discreetly swallowed.

He then stamped his staff into the ground and began walking behind them.

“Wait!” one of the knights said while holding up his hand “This one is injured”

The golden eyed knight sighed, “Dasha, you keep with the injured one. The rest of the council, keep up with me! We can’t leave the Duke waiting!”

Mirio looked to either side and then at the knight approaching him, she slid open her helm and smiled warmly at him. “Don’t worry, I’ll get you there”

“I have a horse if you want? We could ride?” Mirio replied.

“No, it is policy to lead visitors in by foot. With a horse it is possible you could slip past us. Sorry”

“You guys take security seriously,” he said as nodding with approval, “Good”

“Do you need my shoulder?” she asked.

“No, I am okay, just a bit slow”

“Okay, well I will keep by you”

“Thanks,” Mirio said with a ready smile.

As he moved ahead, the council and the other knights entered the city a couple of minutes before he reached the dragon’s maw.

As approaching the enormous sculpture, Mirio looked up at it in wonder.

“They don’t actually grow that big do they?”

The knight smiled and chuckled, “Oh no, this is definitely just for show, scares the wits out of anyone coming to attack the city. Gives them second thoughts. You know…”

“Like, what if that is a real dragon skull, and they managed to bring it down?”

“Yeah, and if they could do that, what else could they do?” she said with a beaming smile.

“It’d work on me”

“Ha, but you are a country boy, I bet a lot of things here in the city will have your jaw on the floor”

“Who are you calling a country boy? Hey, see all those folk back there, they think I’m a paladin” Mirio replied with a wink

“Ooh, a real life paladin, that is very impressive”

Mirio stopped smiling for a moment as he peered into the city beyond the gates. There was a large open space ahead which led into a wide road that seemed to cut through the entire city. Rows of smoothed over red rock buildings, three stories tall, lined themselves around the open space by the gate.

“Geez, how thick is this wall?”

“I think it is about fifty paces or so”

“Where do you get the time to make a wall like this, my god”

As Mirio passed out the other side of the gate a man wheeling a hand cart stumbled over, picks, hammers, and metal wedges sprawling across the red pavement.

“Ey! Watch it!” another man behind him cried out as a dozen more men with hand carts made their way through. “We have to get these across before they let the others through the gate”

Mirio turned to the knight, “So Dasha, these guys just said you guys are gonna let us stay, can I take that as a promise?”

“Oh, no no no, I’m staying out of the politics. I’m just an escort, you can discuss that with the Duke”

Mirio looked over to his left “So the mine is that way I’m guessing, annnd over to the right”

“Yes the mine is to the left, if you look over to the right you will see the estates of some of the wealthier merchants built into the mountain. Nobility is on the western side, and the duke is on the mountain to the left here. If you look up you can see it”

Mirio lifted his chin and saw a glint high into the mountain. There amidst the red mountain was a shimmer of light, like a jewel was set within the mountain.

“What do you mean, I can see it. It has magical wards” Mirio said with a chuckle.

“Wait, you can actually see it? Or do you already know about it? You know about it already don’t you”

“No, like I said, everyone back there thinks I am a paladin” he winked, “I was trained in some magic so I can spot it”

“I’m impressed, we normally just mess with newcomers by telling them they can see it if they squint their eyes. Its just, you know, a tradition”

“Wait a sec, do we have to climb all the way up there for the meeting?” he replied with a look of horror on his face.

“No, the duke will come down to the ground level estates by the lake to greet you, but it's at least another half a league from here”

Mirio rubbed his forehead “Aww, this is going to suck, I am going to be so late. Look they are already way ahead of us”

“Well… Umm… I would say it is going to be fine, but yeah you are right, you will totally be late” she said pulling her lips back against her teeth, “Kinda sucks right?”

“Maybe I could hop on your back, or you could carry me in your arms and rush me there?” he said with a nudge of his elbow against her armor.

“Don’t look at me for that kind of thing, I’m a girl, I’m having enough trouble walking around in this armor”

“Ha, I know that is a lie. Full plate isn’t that bad. I think secretly you want me to be late so we can wander around town together”

“Yep, you got me, that was my plan, how did you figure it out?” she said with a playful roll of her eyes.

“Like I said, before, I’m kind of a big thing. You know, a paladin, also super smart, oh and handsome, can’t forget handsome”

“Could have fooled me, you mostly look like slow cripple”

“Mostly? What is the rest?”

“Country boy, with scruffy hair”

“Hey, my hair isn’t that bad, I patted it down earlier this morning”

“Right...”

The paved road wasn’t just one red color, nor was it dusty, it looked like polished red glass, and within it were intricate natural patterns, where some parts were dark, while others were light in multiple layers. The smoothstone on the buildings to each side of the main passageway through the city was paler, and the markings somewhat less noticeable.

“I’m guessing most travellers don’t come in from the east” Mirio continued.

“What makes you think that?”

“It looks pretty uniform over here, no markets. Kinda militant, seems to be laborer housing”

“Well yeah, the eastern side was built on arid land, and was initially a mining camp, it continued on from there you know. And a lot of the military that guard the wall also have accommodations on this side. Things will change as we get to the other side, and liven up a lot more. But you won’t see it yet because we have to turn here”

She pointed to a road that forked off to the left heading closer to the base of the mountain.

“Oh so we cut this way and tight around the mountain to get to the lake?”

“Yeah, there is a guard wall along the base of the mountain used for city patrols, we will be going that way to cut through to the lake quicker”

Mirio, bored from the long walk, began smiling at Dasha with annoyingly wide eyes.

“What is with the creepy look?” Dasha asked with a smothered giggle.

“Just trying to annoy you”

“Ha, well good job, consider me sufficiently annoyed by it”

Two guards at the stairway to the wall turned their heads as Dasha and Mirio headed up the wall laughing.

“What the hell, was that just the ice queen laughing?”

“Guess she’s easier going out of the ring, now that she earned a knighthood”

“I remember her in the ring, ooh, I still get chills when I remember her match against Tarkon. That crazy asshole nearly burned the arena down, stands and all”

Mirio followed Dasha down under the wall and through passageways carved into the mountain until eventually they reached a doorway which she unlocked and slid open. Mirio stepped out into what could have been a painting. The sweet scent of daylilies carried on the breeze like honey, and humid air swept from across the lake soothing the cracks in his dry skin. The water was clearer than any he had ever seen, crisp aqua, mixed with traces of pink from the colored sands. Tree branches swayed in the gentle breeze, releasing a soothing rustling sound that wrapped Mirio in its embrace.

“Wow…”

“It’s nice isn’t it”

“Just think about it, all that divides this place from the wastes was just a few small steps”

Dasha smiled and nodded “Sometimes small seemingly unimportant things make a big difference”

“Its so beautiful, I feel like I have a song in my heart. Shall I sing it to you”

“Please don’t”

Mirio keeled over with a huge grin on his face, “Probably for the best, I sing like a deaf goblin”

“Wait, goblins don’t sing though, do they?”

“Yeah, which just furthers my point. I can’t sing for shit”

“You are an idiot, a delightful idiot, but an idiot none the less. Okay, just up ahead there is a pagoda with drinks and snacks and all that. The rest of the council will be there. Just head on up”

“Aww, no snacks for you” Mirio turned and pulled a sad face like a puppy dog. He then winked and patted Ezee and headed into the pagoda.

“I’m used to it” she shouted out at the last moment. And as she turned back to the doorway to lock it she let out a gentle smile before getting back to business.

The knight with golden eyes stared intensely at Mirio as he arrived. Mirio’s spine stiffened a little and it made walking a little more awkward than normal as he circled around him to join with the rest of the council.

“Did I miss anything?”

Yana turned around with a mouthful of food and garbled to Mirio “No, not yet, but he should be here any minute…”

Doors cracked open opposite the lakeside entrance, and two more knights held open the doors.

The Duke strode forwards with golden flowing hair and ice blue eyes, beard thick enough to be considered part of a mane, and slammed his hand on the table.

“Sit”

As everyone rushed into a seat, Mirio limped awkwardly into place as the Duke glared at him.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but this is unpleasant business for me” he flicked his cape to the side and sat at the head of the table. He plucked a single grape from the middle of the platter in front of him and popped it into his mouth and began to chew, slowly and deliberately.

Yana lifted her hand to speak, but the Duke lifted a finger, motioning for her and everyone else to wait. He took his time chewing on the grape, and then searching for the remainder of it in his teeth with his tongue. He then smacked his lips several times, and laid back in his chair, taking special care to take a few deep breaths and relax into place.

He gazed out over the lake with a blank expression, while everyone else sat awkwardly silent. After one final deep breath in and out, the Duke let out a sigh.

“I will cut straight to it. The king has told me one thing, my gut another. So… Since this is a city that is known for being a bit half in half of everything, I will do half what my cousin requested, and half what I feel is right myself”

“Um, my lord, we came prepared with some speeches,” the lady merchant said with a raised hand.

“Bah” he said waving his hand at her, “I’ve heard enough speeches to know what you are going to say already. And frankly I don’t give a shit. It won’t change my mind one bit”

“My guess is, this dwarven lad here, mister beardless is one of the haulers. While mister bearded is a woodcutter, and so on and so forth. You, by the manner of your speech are representing the merchants. You probably thought you could tell me that each of you offer certain skills that would be of use to the city or at least not a burden, but that is a load of horse shit. And I’ll tell you why… People in this city are already divided. One side of the city literally looks like hell, the other like heaven. There are those with wealth who live above everyone else, and there are those below. Nothing you say, no matter how inoffensive is going to matter when we get down to the meat of the issue here”

“You don’t belong here. You are country folk. Used to different work, trade, and living. It will be a learning curve to adapt, no matter how similar you think your work is. And during that time, there will be folk looking at you like you are a stink they can’t clean from their boot. They’ll look at you and make a fuss of it, and then it’ll come to me. Pretty soon everyone is looking at me to do something about it, and if I don’t, well then problems crop up, and before long the nobles are bashing down my door with this and that.”

“You are all a giant pain in the ass, just like those people, coming to me and moaning are a pain in the ass. And it ain’t good for the city if no one gels”

“Politically speaking, it would be stupid to turn you all away. With the bloody shit those fuckers in the south are spitting on about. It’d make Darlan look like we agreed with the lot of them. Saying it is about time the channel was taken by a strong nation, and forget a few farmers displaced. Just go in there, take it back, and make it a stronghold”

“But you see, there is a problem with that… If one kingdom holds the channel, what is to say they deserve it? We have held peace in those parts for thousands of years for a reason. That damn port cannot be held. And with the eyes of every nation on it, it is poison to take that place. Only fools would dare.”

“The twelve kingdoms have maintained peace for over a thousand years because we know when to leave things be”

“You will stay here… However there are conditions, and trust me you will not like them. But that is the way of things. And I’m sorry but that is just your lot”

The merchant woman looked on in shock as the Duke smashed forwards like a sledgehammer. It was clear, he wasn’t a man of polite niceties and well chosen words. He was what he was, and there was no changing his mind.

A thought popped into her mind as the Duke droned on. A thought that had she been a woman of ambition she would dream of hiring competent men, well armed, well informed, and well positioned, to slit his throat. And if she had felt this upon first meeting with him, she pondered, just how many others have it on their minds as well.

Mirio thought back to what Gerlin had once said about the foundations of magic. That there is chaos from which magic is drawn, but the way to control it is to understand the circle that describes each of its parts.

The beardless dwarf, thought to himself that the Duke was underestimating just how good of a hauler he really was, but new it would be inappropriate to speak up about it right now. He would say something later when he got the chance.

Yana realised, that this was all inevitable, the people whether they liked it or not were swept up in politics now, and there wasn't anything they could do about it.

Ezee, chewed on stems of grass, snorted and shook his head as he licked something too bitter to eat.

And the Duke continued on with the terms of their stay in the city.