The next morning saw Verdan, Barb and Magnus making a considerable delivery to the Kranjir quarter. Healing medallions, temporarily enchanted weapons, healing potions and salves. Anything and everything that they’d been able to drag together in such a short space of time.

  Ciaran and Maeve were very thankful for the aid and quickly distributed it out among their Thearns. Enough medallions had been made so that every fighter would have one on hand in case of emergency, which was as much as Verdan could do.

  Zhalia, a dozen Airta, and at least a score of dogs and wolves joined the Kranjir scouts, which was reassuring. The Airta were at home in the forests, and the Pathfinder’s people were competent and professional. Between the two, Verdan hoped that any Darjee would be quickly tracked down and dealt with.

  The delivery done and their allies marching off to battle without them, Verdan set about compiling the list of potential Brotherhood safehouse locations for Kai and Gwen. Despite what he’d said, he’d started on it the night before, so it didn’t take long.

  Kai had no responsibilities binding him to the city, and Gwen’s Coven hardly needed the direct oversight, so the two of them left the same day. Verdan had hoped that they’d take the time to plan, but Kai was too restless for that.

  -**-

  The next few days brought more of the same as Verdan’s allies tended to their own affairs, many of them leaving the city. Some were longer trips, like Vaijon and Ruthin leaving to take word back to their Sect. Others, like Tim and Sylvie, simply spent most of their time away from the city.

  After the alliance and the hunting of the Brotherhood, they all needed some time to recover, and Verdan was no exception. He spent his time working with Alden and Natalia to create the first of her new potions. It took several attempts to get it right, but the mere act of testing and researching was relaxing.

  Once Natalia pronounced that it was ready, she called for a quorum of alchemists to gather so that she could register it in her name. Everything but the recipe would be recorded and shared with alchemists outside of the city, who would then contact Natalia to buy the methodology if they so desired.

  For her first potion, Natalia had created a physical enhancement booster. Anyone who drank it would be stronger and faster for up to around an hour depending on the reagents used. They would heal more quickly as well, but that was more of a side effect.

  Still, it was a powerful potion that gave adventurers a way to prepare for battles against stronger, more dangerous monsters. Verdan was almost certain that it would sell well, and that alchemists everywhere would be buying the recipe.

  Good luck to them trying to recreate it, of course, but that was their problem.

  “Are you sure I shouldn’t change it to shorten the duration and increase the effect?” Natalia asked, reading over her official recipe one last time.

  “Absolutely,” Verdan said emphatically. “A shorter boost like that is more useful for assassins or ambushes. A longer boost is best for adventurers who can’t foresee exactly when a fight will begin. That’s an oversimplification, I know, but do you see what I mean?”

  “I do.” Natalia sighed and laughed softly. “It just goes against my instincts to not make the effect as powerful as I can. Your argument makes sense, though. Let me pack my things and then I’ll head off.”

  “Is Alden going with you?”

  “Yes, he’ll be my assistant during the demonstration,” Natalia said, rolling her eyes. “You don’t need to worry, all I’m doing is proving the recipe is real. A bunch of old alchemists and mostly-asleep herbalists are no threat.”

  Verdan nodded, not wanting to argue the point, but he made sure the wards on her clothing were active all the same. If anything happened, he’d know.

  -**-

  “So, you’ve made your decision?” Verdan asked, taking a seat and warding the room against listeners. Sinead and Dirk had come back with their answer, and it was time to plan out their next steps.

  “We have,” Dirk said, motioning for Sinead to take the lead. “This is your idea, you should explain it.”

  Sinead nodded a touch hesitantly before clearing her throat and speaking with confidence. “We’ve discussed it, and the second option is what would serve the Clan best, perhaps even all the Clans in the fullness of time. My vision is that the best commanders and bravest heroes of our people are risen to the status of Chosen. Those with the potential for Aether usage will be taught according to their capabilities and our assessment of them. Not all Mhorgain Chosen will be Wizards, and not all Mhorgain Wizards will be Chosen.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Verdan nodded slowly, considering the changes she was suggesting. “Would all Mhorgain clansfolk with the potential for Aether be trained?”

  “Yes,” Dirk said definitively. “We won’t force it on any adults, but future Mhorgain children will all be tested and taught, but not forced into service. There is power and strength here, Verdan. I mean for my Clan to grasp it and turn it to our advantage in all ways, not just warfare.”

  Verdan gave his apprentice an appraising look, impressed that they were accounting for such things already. The two of them had truly given this some thought. Not that he hadn’t expected them to do so, but it was heartening all the same.

  “Our suggestion was going to be that I learn how to make the weapons first and foremost,” Sinead said. “Then, once I’m established as a Keeper, we begin to make our changes. Dirk explained that Aethite is limited, but the Clans seem to source it from somewhere, and I should be able to find that out once I’m confirmed as a Keeper. Providing you swear to keep the secret, I see no reason not to share it with you as well. At this point, I consider you an honorary member of our Clan.”

  “Thank you, Sinead,” Verdan said, touched by the gesture. “An oath like that would be fine by me, of course. The whole thing sounds good, in fact. Magnus, Dirk and I should all be able to teach you what we know, as well as help with making them when the time comes.”

  “Perhaps, or it might be best if Sinead and I are the only ones to make them,” Dirk said, his brow furrowing. “I’m not sure about that; we’ll address it when the time comes.”

  “That seems reasonable,” Verdan said, clapping his hands together. “Very well, I’ll get to work identifying the last Sigil. Can you begin teaching Sinead, Dirk?”

  “I should think so,” Dirk said, flashing her a broad smile.

  “In that case, feel free to use this room as much as you need. I’ll keep the silencing ward up semi-permanently for now. I think it would be best to ensure we keep as much of what we know private as we can.”

  Dirk looked eager to begin, so Verdan left them to it and went to dig out the drawing of the Sigils on the broken blade. He was confident he could put it together once he identified which one he was looking for, especially now that he knew more about Sigils.

  -**-

  Sure enough, spending the rest of the day working on it was enough for Verdan to put the Sigil together and share it with Dirk and Magnus. With the last Sigil they needed in hand, it was time to work on the weapon he’d promised Magnus. It would be a good test of making their own Glaichsteel as well, and the actual process of making a Sigil-enchanted weapon.

  The first step in doing so meant producing two Glaichsteel weapons, so Verdan set out to visit Elliot the following morning. The blacksmith had his shop set up barely a few minutes walk from Verdan’s estate, and did most of his trade with the foresters, loggers and glassmakers in the area.

  Elliot’s store had been badly damaged during the Cyth attack, not by the monsters themselves, however, but by Elliot losing control and fighting them. The big blacksmith was the younger brother of Cullan and Branwen, but struggled with a berserker temperment. If driven to fight, Elliot’s giant blood would surge to the fore, empowering him to a great degree but taking away much of his rational thought.

  Not a good condition for such an otherwise gentle man, and it was one of the main reasons why Elliot stayed in the city and focused on his trade rather than join them in their travels.

  Knocking on the door, Verdan stepped inside and paused, caught by surprise by the cramped interior. The smithy was large, to the point that Elliot could work within in at least relative comfort.

  Currently, however, there were five Idrisyr crammed into the small room, which left barely enough room to move around.

  “Verdan?” Elliot looked over and waved for him to enter. “Please, come in.”

  “I don’t mean to intrude,” Verdan said, stepping inside and getting a good look at the others already present. Branwen was stood against the far wall, her arms crossed and frowning heavily while Elliot was sat on his anvil. The remaining three Idrisyr were those that they had rescued from the Brotherhood, who looked far healthier than the last time Verdan had seen them.

  “Wizard Blacke, a pleasure to meet you properly,” the largest of the three said, rising to his feet and bowing slightly. “You were recovering from your injury last time, so let me reintroduce myself. My name is Bran, and these are my cousins, Gwar and Daven.”

  The other two Idrisyr rumbled out their greets and nodded respectfully.

  “It is good to see the three of you in good health,” Verdan said, noting absently as he did that Branwen’s frown had eased somewhat. “How have you found the city?”

  “In general, it has been as accommodating as any human city,” Bran said with a shrug of his massive shoulders. “The local loggers are good people, though. Daven and I will be joining them from tomorrow. We intend to stay here for the time being; Gwar wishes to learn how to blow glass, and being around friendly people is comforting.”

  Verdan nodded, he could understand that feeling all too easily. “Well, if there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”

  “Of course,” Bran nodded before rising to his feet once more. “We should get back, though. I promised Samuel we’d help with moving some logs later.”

  Verdan stepped aside and let the three Idrisyr leave, the smithy seeming to grow much larger with their absence.

  “Is everything okay?” Verdan asked once the door was closed.

  “My sister is brooding,” Elliot said, rolling his eyes as Branwen punched him in the shoulder.

  “Fool brother,” the big woman said with a shake of her head. “I sent a message to one of my fellow Clerics, explaining about the rescue. They are spreading the word, but we are finding it hard to locate all our kin. It is worrying.”

  “Our people like to wander; you’re worrying over nothing,” Elliot said, waving aside her concerns.

  “Perhaps,” Branwen said, her gaze telling Verdan that she didn’t believe that at all. “We will know more in time. I hope you are right.”

  “As do I,” Elliot said, more sombrely this time. Tapping his hand on the edge of his forge, the big man was lost in his thoughts for a few moments before he looked to Verdan. “Apologies. Were you here for me, or my sister?”

  “For you, actually,” Verdan said, shaking away his thoughts about the potentially missing Idrisyr. They’d cross that bridge when they came to it, for now, it was an Idrisyr problem. “I need and axe and a polearm making.”