Danica Pt. 09

Danica was happy that her magic had been so helpful to the women, and that children would be enjoying the toys she had made after the midwinter festival. She went to the nearby inn feeling very good, though she felt a little silly when she ate far too much and couldn't summon up the energy to leave her seat for some time after the meal.

Danica went to Carolyn's shop just as they were closing up. Alena was there, and so were the brothers that the two girls were dating. Danica told them to have a good evening, promising she would come some time with more notice so that they could spend some time together.

Danica hesitantly returned to the complex on the hill. She didn't want to leave the city and return to her prison, but she felt increasingly edgy as the evening wore on. The last thing she wanted was to prompt one of Zoraster's reminders again.

Zoraster was waiting for her when she returned to her rooms. "Good evening, little rose. I have a task for you."

Danica sat down on the bed and silently waited.

Zoraster laughed, as always. "Will you never tire of this little charade? Ah well, it amuses me. Now -- your task. I control a similar complex to this wondrous place, many leagues away. It is devoted to study of the warrior arts, rather than magical ones. It has recently come under attack by a rather significant force of creatures. Goblins, orcs, ogres, and even a pair of hill giants have been seen. This alone would be of little consequence, as there is more than enough manpower and skill in the complex to defend it -- and indeed root out the creatures to drive them from the area. There is, however, magic at work. Magic has been used in concert with the monster attacks, far beyond that of the few goblin shamans who show themselves."

The mad Archmage paced back and forth in front of Danica as he continued, "I suspect this to be the work of ogre magi -- but there is more. The wood is nearly a death trap to those who are untrained in the ways of magic, as the Master of the complex discovered, to his chagrin. I wish you, with Celes, to root out the source of this magic and incapacitate it, allowing the soldiers to cleanse the area of the creatures, which will provide excellent training for them. You shall take with you a small group to aid you in your task. The Master of the complex will assist you in choosing those who should accompany you. You will need to provide magical protections for them, and thus you will spend quite some time in the complex. Adjoining rooms have been provided for you and Celes."

Danica kept her face set in an impassive mask, but inwardly she smiled in response to the opportunity to spend time on a task with Celes again.

Zoraster continued, "You will share a bath and a laboratory, which has been stocked with what I believe you will need. There is a permanent portal there that can return you here to your own lab, to acquire anything that you may feel you need here. Once this task has been completed, you have another task in the area. I will reveal this to you when it is necessary. Your freedom for completion of both tasks shall be permission to journey freely via the portal between the two complexes, and to avail yourself of the town there as well. You shall leave tomorrow. Choose those who will accompany you during your forays into the woods carefully, as your life may depend upon their skills and your trust of them. Do you understand your task, little rose?"

Danica nodded, and a thought occurred to her. "If I'm to trust those I have with me, may I take Brandon as one of those who will accompany me?"

Zoraster considered for a moment, rubbing his chin. "I suppose it would be beneficial. He is known to both Celes and yourself, though you know him in ways she has not experienced."

His laugh punctuating that statement caused Danica to flush in anger despite her attempts to remain aloof.

"He is a skilled warrior, and does not come by his nickname, the quick, lightly. He is also an excellent commander, following and giving orders with equal skill. He would make an excellent choice as leader of your little adventuring company. Your request is granted. He shall be dispatched here in the morning to accompany the two of you." Zoraster then stood and said, "Good evening, little rose," before leaving.

She considered her assigned task for a moment, and a thought prompted her to go speak with Damian. Zoraster's instructions indicated a good chance that she would need to enchant some common protection items. She hoped Damian might have the creation processes for the items available.

About midway down the hall between her room and Damian's, Danica scowled and clenched her teeth when she saw Camilla sauntering in her direction from the opposite end of the hall. A mixture of amusement and anger mingled in the dark-haired woman's eyes when she spoke, "Well, well -- if it isn't the little tigress."

Danica moved to the other side of the hall to continue on her way. As she passed the other woman, Camilla's hand shot out and grabbed her shoulder. "I believe I was speaking to you."

"And I believe I was ignoring you," Danica shot back. "Get your hand off me."

"Someone is having a bad day. Are you bleeding, or is this just your normal bitchiness?"

Danica scrunched up her nose and leaned back her head back in angry disbelief, grabbing Camilla's wrist at the same time to remove the hand on her shoulder. "I'm busy," she spat at the other woman.

"The old crone isn't here to protect you now," Camilla warned ominously.

"And I'm not strapped to a table and helpless now, bitch."

A door opened just down the hallway from the two women and a man peeked out, staring hard in their direction. It appeared to Danica that he concentrated his irritated stare on Camilla more than her.

Camilla glanced at the man, and quickly turned back to Danica, staring daggers and looking directly into Danica's eyes. "This isn't over."

"It is as far as I'm concerned," Danica said and turned away from Camilla to walk down the hall toward Damian's rooms once more. She expected an attack. Her muscles tensed, and adrenaline sent her heart racing. The tension slowly relaxed when she realized Camilla had turned to continue on her way as well.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Danica knocked on Damian's door and soon had copies of his notes for numerous common magic items.

Danica spent the rest of the evening packing her clothes and a few other things. Zoraster had said she could return here instantly, so she didn't spend too much time worrying what to pack. She packed enough to ensure she wouldn't need to return here for at least a few days.

As Danica went through her clothes, she saw those special garments made for her and given to her since her arrival here. Seeing the clothing made her think of Olaf and Katherine. Her thoughts drifted into arousal.

Danica lay down on the bed with her toy, slipping it inside her with a shiver. She stroked it hard and fast inside her, the vibrations and throbbing attuned to the highest intensity. Danica came with a loud scream, her body writhing on the bed and her walls tightly clenched around the humming toy deep inside her, until she could take no more. She caught her breath for a few minutes, and then dipped the shaft into her wet heat again. When she climaxed the second time, she barely had the strength to gasp out the command word to end her toy's magic. She soon drifted off to sleep.

{*****~~o~~0~~o~~*****}

The next morning, Celes and Brandon arrived at her rooms, packed for the road." Been a while since I've been to the Training Grounds. It's real nice country between here and there. We could walk, or ride," he said hopefully.

Danica shook her head no.

Brandon sighed, "Gods but I..."

"Hate magic," both women said in unison, rolling their eyes and laughing.

"Am I that predictable?" Brandon asked with a laugh. "Alright, let's get this over with."

Celes cast the spell, and they were away. They arrived in a portal room similar to those in all of Zoraster's outposts. The building was far from similar to Zoraster's outposts, however.

"C'mon, I'll take you to the Commander," Brandon said and then led them down the hall.

The place was quite obviously a military outpost. It was lain out in straight, orderly lines -- plain and utilitarian. Everything and everyone had a specific place and purpose here.

They entered a room filled with maps and shelves of books. The walls displayed battered weapons and pieces of armor. A handsome, powerfully build man sat behind a desk examining some papers.

"Morning, Sir -- it's been a while," Brandon said, saluting the man behind the desk when he looked up.

"Brandon? It's good to see you -- though I wasn't expecting you. I was told to expect the two wizards, though I hardly anticipated they would be such striking women," the man behind the desk said with a charming smile and a nod of his head as he finished.

"Last minute thing, I guess. I was lucky they caught me to tell me when they did. I had no duty for today and I was well on my way to being roaring drunk."

"I have a room open near to those assigned to Danica and Celes. That is correct, is it not, ladies?" When the two women answered in the affirmative, the commander of the place continued, "It shall be yours while you are here. I'll have someone show you to the rooms. Relax from your trip, and then come join me here. We'll have a meal before we get to the business of why you're here."

"Yes Sir," Brandon said and saluted again.

The man shouted an order to two men patrolling the halls, and one of them led the group to the rooms assigned to them.

Danica and Celes' rooms were next to each other, as Zoraster had indicated. One door led to the room containing their bath, and another led to the lab prepared for them. The lab was simple, utilitarian, and set up for no specific sort of work. It was well stocked with spell components and other such necessities.

The beds were quite comfortable, and each room had a walk-in closet. Each bedroom had enough space for a small common area, and the area contained a simple table and chairs.

In the midst of putting her things away, Danica heard a knock on her door leading to the hall. Danica answered it and found Brandon standing outside. He whistled as Danica let him in. "Bloody hell, they sure set the two of you up. There was nothing like this here when I was last here. They must have done it up special for you."

Celes came in when she heard Brandon. "Tell us what ye're knowin' about this place. Seems as good a place as any ta start by me figurin'."

Brandon took a seat at the table. The two women joined him and he began, "Well, lotsa years ago, this was sort of an unofficial gathering place for mercenaries and would-be mercenaries. There was an old wiley character, don't remember his name, who put out the word that any who wanted to ride with his mercenary company needed to come here after the Day of Spring Dawning. His company was one of the most famous and well paid there ever has been, and he drew quite a crowd. He an' his lieutenants selected the best of the best, and they went with him in search of glory an' riches.

"The rest stood a good chance of findin' work with the many others who came seeking warriors, taking advantage of the gathering. That wiley old man got himself killed -- and most of his company with him -- in some great adventure. The gathering just kept on happening, though."

Brandon kicked back in his chair, appearing to enjoy the telling of the tale. "About ten years ago is when the Commander showed up. He had a lot of ideas about turnin' this place into something more. He set about it after the gathering that year, and he caught Zoraster's interest somehow. Zoraster backed him with coin, and he expanded the place over the years until it's what you see here today."

"Which is?" Celes asked.

"The finest training grounds for any sort of warcraft you can imagine. Those who make it through the entire two years are trained in near any sort of situation where you might be swinging a weapon around. The wiley old man's fortress is still here, and they use it for siege training. They train for woodland warfare, mounted combat, guard work, even for making war on the sea. There's a port a ways off that they send the men out on ships from.

"You're given training in virtually every weapon and tactic there is. Men who now stand guard over Kings received their training here. You can stay on, for a price, and continue to hone your skills after the two years. The only thing the training costs you for the first two years is being held ready to go on missions assigned by the Commander. He uses the students as a mercenary company, and the coin he earns from that covers what Zoraster's backing doesn't. The students get pay as well for that work. Lots stay on, so the Commander is a pretty well to do fellow from the coin they pay."

"What is Zoraster's interest in all this?" Danica asked.

Brandon shrugged. "Hell if I know. All I know is after being here four years, the offer he made me to work for him was the best I'd heard. I don't want for much, and I've got some coin squirreled away for when I'm too old to swing my sword around for a living. Old Black Thunderbolts doesn't really ask all that much for his pay. I spend more time wandering around the grounds on guard duty than I do anything else. There's just enough excitement every once in a while to keep me from getting too bored, otherwise I'm pretty much free to enjoy my life."

"What're yer rooms like?" Celes asked.

"Rooms?" Brandon chuckled. "Room. I've got a bunk, a chest to keep my stuff in, racks to hang my weapons and armor on, a table and a couple chairs, a chamber pot, and a basin to wash up in. It's fine accommodations for here though. You've got to be paying to live here in the main building. Most are housed in barracks, fifty to a building, or find their own quarters in the city or somewhere. If you pay to stay on, you get your own room here, or a lessening of the fee if the place is full and you have to find other accommodations."

Celes chimed in, "I've hear'd o' this place. It's called The Forge, ain't it?"

"Yah, and it's a good name for the place -- even though the Commander hates the name and thinks it's too fanciful. He calls the place the Training Grounds, and woe to whoever calls it The Forge. You come in here a man like a lump of metal -- untrained and undisciplined. If you make it through The Forge, though, you leave here a finely tempered weapon."

"Well, that's a start. At least we know a bit o' somethin' about this place," Celes noted.

Danica nodded in agreement. "I'm going to finish putting my things away and get out of these robes. I feel a bit out of place here in wizard's robes."

"There's war wizards here too," Brandon revealed. "They train specifically to fight along side armed men. There's clerics around too, though they're either in the regular training, or here for other reasons."

"It's seemin' this Commander is lookin' at the thing from all sides," Celes said.

"He's a genius. I've seen him turn what should have been a disaster into a rout with his tactics. I've seen him stand over a fallen man and defend them both against a half dozen attackers, and never take more than a flesh wound. He's been approached by Kings and men of importance from all over the world, but he chooses to remain here serving in this place as Commander, regardless of the riches he's offered."

"You have a lot of respect for him," Danica observed.

"It was beat into me at first, but in time it came naturally. Anybody who swings a weapon can't help but respect his skill and dedication."

"I'm still going to change. I feel like I have a sign hanging around my neck that says witch."

"Need any help?" Brandon asked with a lecherous smile.

Danica slapped him playfully and went back to her closet. Brandon turned to Celes, the smile still on his face.

"Don't ye even be thinkin' it -- let alone speakin' it," Celes warned.

Brandon held up his hands in a mock-defensive posture and laughed, "I had to ask." He stood up and said, "I'll come get you when it's time to go dine with the Commander." With a final nod, he left the room.

{*****~~o~~0~~o~~*****}

Brandon was spit-shined and polished when Danica opened the door to answer his knock a short while later. Danica and Celes had both chosen simple, unremarkable trousers and blouses to wear. They followed Brandon's lead to the Commander's rooms.

The Commander had a small dining room, and his own kitchen. He also employed his own cook. The meal was tasty and filling, but served mess hall style. Joining them were two of the Commander's lieutenants and the master of the War Wizards, Justarius by name. Another soldier who looked extremely uncomfortable also dined with them.

Danica and Celes found them all possessed of good manners, sparking interesting conversations to draw in the newcomers as they ate. Brandon even managed to get the nervous soldier to join in after a while.

The Commander ordered a stronger wine brought when they finished eating. After drinking a little and talking some more, the Commander put down his glass and sat up straight in his chair. All conversation ceased at this silent signal.

"We should get down to business. I know why you three are here." The Commander gestured to the two wizards and Brandon. "But I believe you should be briefed as to the situation we find ourselves in, so that you have a complete understanding of the task you are undertaking."

One of the lieutenants spoke up then, "About six weeks ago, a group was sent for their first introduction to siege tactics at the fortress. All was going well, the group performing remarkably well in the first real test of the skills they had practiced and learned. We were unprepared when the creatures began boiling from the nearby forest and attacked."

The other lieutenant took over, "The men adapted quickly, and it appeared the creatures would be driven away with minimal losses. Then came the magic. Our men began to fall to vile spells and the weapons of the creatures. The Commander ordered a quick, but disciplined retreat back toward the main complex, where our own War Wizards were preparing, having been alerted to the attack."

The Commander then took over the tale, "The creatures well protected the source of their magic, and we know it was more than the few goblin shamans that showed themselves, but we were able to rout them back into the forest. I sent a swift company to pick off stragglers, and to track them while I mobilized the entirety of the forces here to drive them out. The man seated with us is the only one to return from that ill-fated expedition into the woods. He stumbled out just as I was about to launch the attack on the creatures. Tell them what you saw, Caramon."

The nervous-looking soldier steadied his nerves with a long deep breath, and then spoke. "We went in after them, keeping them in view and picking off a few now and then with our bows. They kept running deeper into the woods, and we followed. That was our downfall."

The man put his head in his hands for a moment, breathing hard and appearing as if he couldn't continue. He suddenly lifted his face with a look of firm resolve and continued.

"Horrors sprang from the woods. Our arrows did not faze them, nor did our weapons. Men went down screaming everywhere. Those who fled the demons ran into traps and ambushes. There were horrors, and goblins, and orcs, and giants everywhere. I ran and ran and ran. I narrowly missed more traps than I can remember. I charged through a group of orcs near the edge of the woods at a dead run, before they could react. I cut one down, and the men outside the woods took the rest when they chased me out." His story complete, the man put his head back in his hands and sobbed. One of the lieutenants led the distraught soldier out of the room.