Story : The first morning

From Ars Magica

Contents

Ambrosius Arises

I knew I should have cast a ward around his bed, Ambrosius thought to himself. He cast around the common room for some sign of his brother’s passing, but found none. As Llewys grew older and more adventurous, this had become a morning ritual while on the road. Sometimes Alicia was the first to discover him missing, sometimes Ambrosius was, but always he managed to sneak out of the room, regardless of the obstacles. This morning was no different. With a quick glance at the drawn shutters, the mage guessed that it was sometime before dawn, maybe mid dusk. Ambrosius stretched and began the process of putting on his boots and cloak. He paused as he was about to bind his hair with the chain, thinking twice. Instead, he withdrew a leather strap from his backpack and tied his hair back with that. Almost as an afterthought, he reached down and grabbed his brother’s staff. While he’d originally crafted it as a gift to excite Llewys about the upcoming trip, his brother had been using it steadily since they’d left Spiritus Draconis, making it a handy arcane connection for those times when Ambrosius or Alicia had trouble finding where the boy had gotten off to. He hoped it would not be needed this morning, as this was the first time in several weeks that Llewys had wandered off in a public place.

Picking his way around the others in the room, he set out for the door. Not wanting to wake anyone, he considered casting a silencing spell around himself, but to do it without voice or motions, so as to keep it hidden from those not associated with the order already, well, that would be difficult, so he did his best to leave the room stealthily.

He came down the stairs quietly and passed through the nearly empty common room and headed for the door.

Several of the regulars had passed out around the snug, and the barmaids had picked their way amongst them, draping some scruffy looking blankets over them. The dog had taken the opportunity to place itself before the glowing embers of the fire, and was moving fitfully as it dreamt of chasing hares.

As he started to creep across the room in order to leave them inn, a floorboard creaked suddenly under his feet, almost waking the dog, and one of the patrons near to him. After a few moments, the patron rolled back over and slumped in his chair, while the dog appeared on the verge of waking. Ambrosius decided to freeze for a few moments to give the dog a chance to fall back into a deeper sleep. He knew that if he woke up, he would sense The Gift as a threat, and could start barking, waking the whole room. Ambrosius said to himself, “How the heck did Llewys do it?” He realized belatedly that he said it just a touch too loud.

Once silence had settled across the room, he tentatively began to move across the room. The sleepy murmurs, crackles of embers, and creaks from movements upstairs easily masked his footfalls. As he neared the door, he felt a great sense of relief at averting disaster. Walking around the last obstacle, a long bench between himself and the door, he was appalled when his foot clipped a pewter goblet that sat forgotten behind the stool. With a splash and a clatter, the goblet rolled away, stirring sleepy grumbles of complaint from the drunken regulars, and scrabbling sounds of claws upon stone as the dog sought to right itself.

Without thinking, Ambrosius reached the door in two great strides, and hurried through, though sadly not before the dog had barked twice.

Longinus Awakes

As was his custom, Longinus stirred moments before dawn and before rising completed his morning Parma ritual. As he was in a public place he kept his usual quiet murmur at an even lower pitch so that it was barely discernable even to any who were listening for it in the quiet morning. After the dog barked only a few diameters earlier it was highly likely that quite a few of his fellow patrons were already awake. Once he was more clearly awake he sat up in the remote corner he had chosen the night before and surveyed the room. A few people had removed themselves already this morning but most were just beginning to stir. He sat quietly, meditating on those new companions that he had met before and his plans for the day ahead, and waiting for a greater bustle before he stirred himself. He would eat on the road, in relative privacy, so had no wish to join with the local folk in breaking his fast.


A cockerel barks to greet the dawn

Mnemosyne was awoken to the sound of a barking dog. She rose and opened the shutters of her room and saw the greying light of dawn. Water was poured into a bowl and she splashed her face and performed her morning ablutions and usual ritual of parma before getting dressed. She carefully brushed out her hair, braided up two strands of hair and bound her hair back in place in her usual style. Feeling more herself, she went in search of Geraldous.

She found him easily enough, for the seasoned warrior was an early riser as well. In fact, by the look of things, he had been up for a while himself. Exchanging polite greetings she moved quickly on to the giving of orders. She wanted to be sure that things were ready for the soonest of swift departures. There was no point in wasting the day. Together they proceeded to the stables. Geraldous would attend to the beasts and Mnemosyne was content to let him. Her main concern was the spell placed on her horse was still in place. Her parens had assured her that it should last for most of the month, but it was wise to be sure with another journey ahead of them. It seemed as if the beast was still insensate to her gift, which was just as well as Mnemosyne had no means to duplicate it herself - and to be honest was not really sure exactly what had been done to it at all. All that mattered was it was ridable. Not that she was looking forward to it.

Leaving Geraldous to attend to things in the stable, she returned to the inn to make sure the innkeeper had been properly paid for his services, to gather up the remained of her things and to check that Ambrosius and his party were ready to depart. She had already resolved to skip breakfast - whatever she ate would be coming back up soon enough - but having some bread and cheese packed would be useful later and no doubt Geraldous would appreciate it, even if he managed to grab a bite before they departed. She was filled with a mixture of anticipation and dread. Anticipation for the embarking of the first stage of working with her new sodale and dread for the stomach churning ride up the mountain. Even the thought made her queasy. Something would have to be done about her problem if she were going to be doing any sort of travelling. She made a mental note - note for the first time on this trip - that she would embark in some rudementary study of Corpus as soon as possible.

Llewys and Ambrosius watch the sun rise over the vale

At least they won’t know for sure who woke them, he thought thankfully as he pulled the door closed behind. Our relationship with this vale is far too important to ruin the first morning. He chuckled to himself and thought, We should wait until next week, at least! Ambrosius started wandering around the quiet village in the predawn moonlight. He could see the first whispers of sunlight over the eastern ridgeline, and he could hear the early morning cries of birds waking from their slumber. The time of the morning was magical, he knew. A time of transition, from the night and all that accompanied it in body, mind and spirit, to the day and all things known. It was at this time that Llewys always snuck off, sometimes without regard to the temperature, a fact that irked Alicia to no end. Ambrosius was nearing the northern edge of the village proper, where the few structures that there were faded into farmland and pasture when he noticed a figure stood some distance away in the moonlight. Across the road, in the middle of a moonlit field, stood someone who looked like they might very well be Llewys. Whoever it was had their back to the inn, and seemed to be waiting for something. He made to call out to his little brother, but thought better of it – to violate the early morning quiet seemed to be akin to a violation of nature. Given the manner of his exit from the Inn, Ambrosius knew he could not go back any time soon anyway, so it seemed to him that time was something he had plenty of. It would be good to watch the sunrise as well, he decided, so he found a convenient rock on the side of the road and sat, one eye on his brother and one on the crack of light expanding along the top of the eastern hills.

The rising sun drove long shadows back across the fields toward the hills that had cast them forth. In the growing light, Ambrosius could readily make out Llewys's clothing and brown hair. The boy stood still, taking stock of the dawn as though transfixed by the colours of the clouds. As the lower limb of the sun cleared the hills, Llewys seemed to relax. He glanced about himself idly, before turning and heading back toward the Inn. He had barely walked a couple of yards when he spotted Ambrosius watching him, and with a sigh, reluctantly headed over to him.

"Good morning, Little Brother. How was your early morning stroll?"

“My... stroll?”

Ambrosius smiled. “Yes, your stroll. How do you think you got out here?”

“I woke up early... “ he replied quickly.

"That you did," Ambrosius chuckled.

Llewys relaxed a little when he heard his brother's laugh. He had half expected a stern lecture about wandering off in strange surroundings; maybe the morning was simply to pleasant for such thoughts.

The mage looked deep into his brother's face, studying the expresion. "You seem a bit out of sorts, my friend. What is the matter? Don't you remember coming out here?"

The boy looked sheepishly at the ground "I was sleepwalking again," he said quietly.

"Ah," Ambrosius said, "I see. You don't remember leaving the common room?"

"I remember going up to bed. There was an old woman in there who said some unkind things when I clambered into my cot." He frowned as he recalled the encounter, "and she snored."

"Is it possible that you stepped on her when you went to bed, little brother? It's not like it would be the first time."

"She said I jostled her cot, but I tried to step as lightly as possible. The others didn't complain."

"Bah, some just find it easier to complaint than to act. I wouldn't worry about it too much." The magus paused for a second. "Tell me though, you do not remember getting up and getting out of the Inn? There was some fairly fancy footwork involved there - it's hard to believe a sleepwalker could have done it."

"That never stopped me at the covenant," he replied. He cheered up a little as he thought of his escapades in that dry and scholarly place.

"Hah! You're lucky you didn't get your hair roasted off by some irritated grand master, you are!" Ambrosius rustled the boy’s hair. "When you saw me, you looked a bit more out of sorts than normal. I just want you to know - if you ever want to talk about it, if anything is ever bothering you, remember, I can always make time for you..."

Ambrosius flicked his wrist dismissively, "Unless I'm fighting a dragon, or binding a daemon, or eating a sweet tart..."

"A dragon? Are there any around here?" The boy asked, suddenly alarmed at the thought of large roosting monsters hiding amidst the craggy peaks about them.

Ambrosius laughed heartly. "I doubt it very seriously, little man! Besides, I'm sure you haven't got anywhere near enough meat on your bones to be very appetizing!"

"The only dragon I know of right now is the one I woke as I left the Inn - the one disguised as a dog in front of the fireplace! Do you think he might have calmed down by now?" Ambrosius looked back towards the Inn, hoping to see the signs of the kitchen fires going and a break for their fast in the works.

Llewys nodded seriously, before his older brother's words sunk into his groggy mind, "Hey," he exclaimed, "that's not a dragon. If I was going to disguise myself as a dog, I wouldn't choose to be a mangy old thing like that..." Firmly convinced of the logic of his statement, he took his elder brothers hand; "come on, I'll prove it to you."

Eirlys awakens

In her dream, a giant tree was speaking, imparting to her the wisdom of ages. Unfortunately, a ray of sunlight crept across the small cot, and directly onto her face. One violet eye opened suspiciously, and the giant tree's words were forgotten. I hate when that happens, Eirlys thought with irritation.

She sat up in her small cot and combed her long hair out, while raising her parma magica. She knew there was no point in brushing her hair-- people would see her hair as long, smooth and lustrous, regardless whether or not she'd combed out the unruly mane-- but she found the activity relaxing, and it had become part of her daily ritual.

There came a soft knock, and when Eirlys opened the door, she found Sandor had brought her a bowl of steaming water. She smiled, and touched his cheek softly. "Thank you, my friend," she said. He gestured a bit, and she nodded. "I'll come down to meet you for breakfast shortly. I don't know what sorts of food these creatures break their fast on, but could you at least see to it there's some warm bannocks with clotted cream and berries?" Sandor's face broke into a wry grin, and he nodded before exiting the room.

Eirlys took her trusty towel out of her small bag, and scrubbed her face vigorously in the steaming hot water. While the winter fey was most comfortable in cold weather, there was something soothing and delightful about hot water on one's face.

Once she finally felt ready, she headed downstairs. It was going to be quite a day.

Eirlys walked delicately across the cobbled floor, taking care to stand on the strewn reeds. No one seemed to look up from their breakfasts, or conversations, as she settled into an unoccupied seat by Sandor, but she couldn't shake the sensation that she was being discreetly observed. Almost as soon as she could pull her chair in, a breakfast platter was placed before her. "What would you drink?" asked one of the maids, in English.

Eirlys looked up with a bit of confusion. "I'm sorry, I don't recognize the noises you're making," she replied in Latin. "Are you trying to communicate?"

Sandor looked up from his plate, a bit of annoyance crossing his face. He gestured at his mug of warm mead, then held up two fingers, and pointed at Eirlys. Without waiting to see if his gestures were interpreted correctly, he went back to stuffing his face with food.

Longinus moved forward from his corner, paused beside Eirlys and gave his customary half bow with hands clasped deeply within his sleeves. "Salve sodales. May I join you?" Waiting until the barmaids were beyond easy earshot he said quietly. "I watched you enter a moment ago. It appears you have taken to heart some of what was said last night regarding keeping your... heritage, as discreet as possible. It gladdens me to see that there is some wisdom backing up that youthful beauty." He coloured, and clumsily tried to cover it by looking away as he settled himself more comfortably on the hard bench, then continued in a bit of a rush. "I too have spent little time in the greater world, having been raised from infancy in my pater Mercantus' covenant and with my... disability, I have traveled outside the covenant but rarely - and always on house business with other Mercere." He coughed lightly and continued again at a more measured pace. "I would be happy however, to share what he has taught me of the mundane world while we travel this morning. Also, I would be honoured to hear of your fey covenant. Both my knowledge and experience of the fey are somewhat... limited."

"I shall leave you to your breakfast now. I must see that my armsman has collected supplies, paid our dues and is prepared to leave as soon as you are ready."


Ambrosius and Mnemosyne make ready to depart

Ambrosius allowed himself to be led off, back to the Inn by the boy, a smile on his face the entire way. The sun was fully up and over the ridgeline by the the time they got back to the Inn, and the chickens, now awake and pecking at the path for seed, scattered out of the boy's advance as they reached the door and went inside.

As they entered, Ambrosius could tell that the staff had already started the warming fires. He didn't know if they did any warm break fasts here, but he was hoping for a loaf of fresh baked bread and some newly churned butter to spread on it. The Magus let go of his brother's hand as he moved to a table now unoccupied by the previously slumbering patrons and waved his hand towards one of the maids that had served them the previous night. He knew there was a long day ahead, and he wanted to be ready for it. He glanced over to where Llewys sat, stroking the once-again slumbering dog. He thought to himself, We will all need to be ready for it.

Mnemosyne entered the common room and looked around, spotting Ambrosius easily. She approached. "Salve sodale," she greeted him perfuntorily. "I trust you are well rested and ready to depart soon?" She was glad to see he was an early riser. Some magi were reknowned night owls and preferred the quiet of the night to study, rising late in the morning. It appeared as Ambrosius was not this kind.

“Good morning, Sodale!" Ambrosius greeted Mnemosyne in English. "Please, sit and break fast with us, if only for a moment.” Ambrosius paused while Mnemosyne sits on the bench, her feet to the outside, clearly ready to depart. “Indeed, Llewys and I can be ready to go in a matter of minutes, as we just need to grab our packs.” He summoned the boy back to the table, handing him a hunk of bread as he sat down. “We’ve gotten pretty good at the get-up-and-go portion of our travels.

“I’m afraid, Maga, that I have not yet seen Alicia. Let me give Llewys a few moments to eat, and I shall allow him to go wake her, if she is indeed still abed.” Llewys’ eyes sparkled as he smiled a mischievous smile. “Llewys enjoys waking her just a little too much, I think.”

“I fomish! No old spreeg whader!” the boy said, speaking through a chunk of bread much to large for his mouth.

Ambrosius gave him a tap on the head, “Llewys, don’t talk with your mouth full.”

Llewys swallowed loudy, his throat seeming distending as the hunk of bread went down his gullet. “I said, ‘I promise! No cold spring water!’”

A barmaid approached Mnemosyne cautiously with a curtsey, "Will you be requiring breakfast, or shall I have it packed up for you to take with you?"

"Packed will suffice," the maga replied. "Now... about payment..."

The barmaid nodded "Your manservant already insisted on handing over some coin. The innkeeper was quite pleased; the last chap to leave this morning paid in goat's cheese, and there was some squabbling over the worth of it, so there was." Mnemosyne nodded with a smile of approval. It was good to see the folk here were honest.

Mnemosyne/Ambrosius

Llewys downed the last bit of bread and cheese and shot up from his seat and towards the stairs, his foggy morning all but forgotten.

No sooner was Llewys out of sight than a meowing noise from below the table caught Ambrosius ear and looking down, he saw a cat sitting on it's haunches and looking up at him. The cat rubbed its ear and then sauntered out of the inn. Ambrosius chuckled.

When Mnemosyne gave him a questioning look, eyebrow arched, he motioned for her to wait a moment until the barmaid had gone.

"I see," the barmaid replied. "Oh, and I gave your manservant some food for the road, like he said you requested. Your group has made quite a hole in our pantry, I'll have you know!" with this, the maid started to laugh good-naturedly, momentarily forgetting in whose presence she stood, but her laugh died in her throat when she looked up again at the two magi. "Err... I'll just be clearin' this away." With that, she took the empty platters, and retreated to the kitchen.

After she left, he said, “Did you notice the cat under the table a few moments ago?”

She responded.

Ambrosius grew serious. “I tell you this because, as we will be traveling companions, you will need to know. Alicia has had an encounter several years ago that resulted in a rather interesting malediction,” Ambrosius began. “The result is that with the rising and setting of the sun, she is forced to take the shape of, ah, one of several type of animals. Llewys and I have grown used to it, and have come to learn her ... markings. But you, Maga Mnemosyne, might be caught unawares. The cat that just padded out the door was Alicia. I imagine she is off to find an area where it is safe to change back.” He paused for a moment, smiling. “Any moment, Llewys will figure out what’s happened and come down stairs with her clothing.” As if on cue, Llewys came bounding down the stairs, packs and staves in both hands. He jogged up to Ambrosius and Mnemosyne and handed Ambrosius his belongings.

“Ummm…” Llewys began, “Alicia must already be outside…” he looked questioningly at Ambrosius. “I’ll find her and tell her it’s almost time to go.” Without waiting for a response, he headed out the common room door and onto the road beyond.

Ambrosius rose from the bench swinging his legs out and standing, looking around the room as he did so. “I suppose then, that is our cue as well, Maga...” Ambroisus’ voice trailed off and his face when two shades pale when he looked and gestured to the stairs. Mnemosyne followed his gaze to see Maga Eirlys sitting queity in a seat by the stairs, enjoying a breakfast by herself.

Later that morning

The sun was over the eastern hills by the time that Bedo rose, woken by the noise of preparations. He muttered greetings to those around, and hurried outside, heading first for the latrines. A few minutes later he returned, somewhat more slowly, looking less strained, and carrying a parcel of oiled cloth. He looked around briefly for Nenya and Phaedrus, then sat himself down at a table, and slowly unwrapped the parcel.

Taking from it a piece of parchment, half filled already with small, neat script, he rewrapped the rest, and brought out from a pouch a quill, knife and two bottles. Carefully he trimmed the nib, opened a bottle, and started to write. When all was done, he carefully sanded his writing, checked that it was dry, and carefully wrapped it back in the parcel. Only then did he look around again.

To one side of the main room, Llewys and Ambrosius could be seen having a light hearted chat over their breakfast. Elsewhere in the room sat some of the other travellers he had seen drinking here the day before, who had crept down from the rooms to partake of a little food before they set forth on the road once more.

The stuff were busy, and rushed from one task to another. A maid bustled past with a large jug of steaming water, disappearing up the stairs to the bedrooms. Returning moments later, only to disappear into the kitchen to fetch food.

Bedo watched her scurry off, and noticed that she was followed close behind by a very weary looking stablehand. Before he could give much thought to the lad's cause for exertion, the maid came to his table bearing a breakfast platter.

He thanked her, smiling up at her, and noticed his clumsy English phrasing and Welsh accent suddenly seeming loud across the inn. When a couple of heads bobbed up, and he felt people staring at him, he kept his head low, and ate.

A bright-faced young woman entered the inn, then looked around methodically. Under her breath, she repeated "Short brown hair, bookish, funny hat... Short brown hair, bookish, funny hat" to herself. Finally her eyes rested on Bedo, and she approached him with a friendly, open smile. "Good morning to you, sir! Sorry to interrupt you while you're eating. By any chance might you be Mister Beetle? I've heard he's looking for a guide, and I've brought meat pies." She gestured to a large package that gave off the strong smell of spiced meat. "Would that be you?

"Er, it's Bedo, not Beetle - Bed-dow, and yes, I am looking for a guide. When Mr Phaedrus rouses himself we're planning to explore a little over on the east side of the valley here, and to climb up to Caer Caradoc. If you know the way, and you have food too, you would be very welcome. Take a seat by me here, so I don't lose you here, and we'll be ready to go in a while. Now - tell me who you are, and about yourself".

"Oh, I'm very sorry Master Bedo," she quickly apologised. "Joseph doesn't have very good hearing, he's just a wee lad." Nenya suddenly blushed and withdrew a bit, as though she just noticed that something was not quite right about the young master. "I'm Nenya," she offered, while her eyes narrowed as she searched his face. "About me... well, I suppose I'm the local spinster." She sighed. "In any case, I know my way about that area, and I've brought a few things for the journey."

Sleeping late

After waking with the sun, washing up and renewing his parma, Phaedrus lays down to wait for the inn to wake and study the morning habits of the others. Hearing Bedo greet the day he decides it's time to pack up and get down to breakfast. Carrying his traveling pack Phaedrus arrives in the common room just in time to see Bedo being served breakfast. Phaedrus heads towards Bedo's table, making sure to greet each of his sodales along the way.

Phaedrus notices that the maids don't seem at all happy about serving the tables. Normally, they might linger for a bit of easy banter with the patrons, hopefully learning a tidbit of rumour from neighbouring towns, but today they were bringing food to the magi as though each was a large fire that might scorch them if they lingered overlong.

With a curt "Mornin', master," a platter is placed before him containing a simple breakfast, and his flagon is filled with weak ale. Without waiting for a response, the maid hurries off to attend to less intimidating patrons.

As soon as he sees that Phaedrus has eaten Bedo speaks. "Phaedrus, Thank you for agreeing to join me on this journey. From what I saw of the hill we will be best on foot, and besides. I have no horse, and no liking for them. I propose we leave as soon as we are ready. I have some arrangemnts to make with Prees - I am asking him to wait a further day before travelling back.". He continues more loudly "Sodales, I am proposing to climb Caer Caradoc today with Phaedrus. As it is so close I plan that we will return here tonight, and then, as I do not expect all of you to be back, to spend the next day or two looking out other paces within the day, on that side of the valley, that we will have seen from the Caer. I would expect we will be staying here at night for a few days therefore. If we should join you elsewhere I would ask that you leave a message at this inn.".

He continues in English directing his speech towards the grogs "I would ask that another of you would join with us. Four of us will travel with more safety. Be ready to leave as as soon as you can".

Continued

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