Morgus, E006, Green Dragon Shield, part 1

Morgus

Episode 006, Green Dragon Shield 

September 15, 2017

Morgus

Our serial series is set in Kenneth Shumaker’s medieval fantasy realm of Quantos. We find the Apprentice Mage Morgus is out from the Mage’s University and on his one-year walk-about before he returns for his journeyman certification test on Autumn 50 of Pine, during the reign of King Regeanus III in the royal city of Mount Oryn’s South State district. Our intrepid hero, with a checkered past, is an attractive thirty-three-year-old human Jalnoric male with a bold personality and is determined to survive his walk-about year at any cost, even if it means snuggling in and working with nobility.

Previously in Morgus episode 005, ‘Black Pangolin Sword’ on …

Autumn 69 Unicorn

Settling into Hessan Manor with the staff and Baron Larap, Morgus is setting up his parchment making station. He studies spells, learning new incantations in time to deal with a conflict.

We continue now with Morgus in episode 006, ‘Green Dragon Shield’ …

Autumn 79 Unicorn

Walking into the waiting room with its artificial light of Imvor illuminating the room, it’s freezing in the chamber. Morgus enters with Tussel behind him.

Morgus asks the Elven sergeant, Elmar, “You knew the Imvor light would keep the wights at bay?”

Elven Sergeant Elmar, diminutive in stature, sighs with relief as he leaves the far side of the room where he was in the company of Private Barran. Elmar answers, “I heard tales from my parents that wights dread bright light. I was hoping they wouldn’t transgress into this room. Thank you for putting that light up there.”

Answering Elmar, Morgus says, “Creating and casting the incantation may have been fate or luck, only Ikerus knows. But it worked. I’ll pick a room on each floor and cast one ‘continuous Imvor light’ in each of those safe rooms. You know the wights’ll be back … right? We need a bishop or three clerics, or priests to deal with them. Do you know of any holy people who’ll live here to aid us? Do we have rooms for more staff?”

Considering this, Elmar replies, “We have a staff bunkroom with five open bunks and there are three single rooms, one of which has a double bed. But it is the chamberlain or Ada who assigns rooms to staff. As to priests – I know of none.”

Quickly, Tussel speaks up. “I know that a cleric of Imvor was wandering Loren Square and Market. He was looking for alms last six-day I was there. That was at the beginning of autumn.”

As if a wise sage, Morgus nods, and says, “Thank you, Tussel, I’ll take a look soon. Did you catch his name?”

Smiling, Tussel answers, “Yes, he was a Jal by the name of Hez, from Arrington district.”

Bowing to the three warriors, Morgus responds, “Fetch me if you need my aid. I’ll be in my study until morning meal.”

…..

At morning meal time, Morgus arrives to eat with Ada and the nine others at the table, as the three night guards decided to stay awake and join the rest of the staff for the meal. Morgus asks, “Ada, if I need to bunk three holy people, can I use the rooms we have for staff?”

Peering over at Morgus, the house servant matron asks, “And who is going to take care of the extra work they will cause?”

Knowing Ada well enough now, Morgus was prepared for this. “They will be working under you as well, putting in four hours a day each, and doing what you require, within reason, with every six-day off free.”

A twinkle brightens Ada’s eyes as she asks, “Do I have to pay them from the house budget, or does Baron Hessan?”

Frowning evilly, Morgus knew this would come next. He replies, “You won’t have to pay them from the house budget. Baron Hessan will be paying them until an issue that has arisen is dealt with.”

Looking deep into Morgus’ eyes, Ada responds, “Okay, then two of them can use the bunk room, and one can have a single room. But I want a full four hours of work from each of them every day, except on their free six-day. There will be no exceptions for as long as they’re staying here.”

Leaning across the table, Morgus extends his arm, and Ada clasps with him.

…..

Today, Morgus crammed a total of four hours of mind-twisting spell research into his spell ‘locate object’. Now, he has finished researching the spell, and he sits frustrated because it doesn’t matter how many times he memorizes and tries casting the new spell, the twenty-hours or so of complicated research seems to have resulted in a failure. Morgus appears to need to redo the research of the spell. This hurts his coin chest immensely, as he has used two-hundred coins worth of reagents and supplies researching this and if he has to do it over again it cost as much if not more in supplies again.

Frustrated, Morgus decides that he should go for a walk to Loren Square and Market.

……

Leaving Hessan Manor half-an-hour before noon, Morgus walks forlorn to Loren Square and Market’s central square, searching for any alms seeking clerics or priests. Finding several in the central square, he asks them for an Imvor cleric named Hez. Locating such a priest at more than three-and-a-half hours’ past noon, Morgus soon approaches the alms seeking priest. Finding the priest is dressed in soiled ragged robes, Morgus looks at the over half-century-years-old Jalmal, and says, “Gods-grace good father. How fares you?”

Peering at Morgus from his seat on the fountain side, the disheveled cleric stares up. He responds, “Poorly, good Master, could you spare a few dusters for Imvor?”

Placing three dusters in the empty alms bowl, Morgus says, “I have something more if you’ll come with me?”

Looking enviously at the three tiny copper coins, the Jalmal asks, “I don’t travel with strangers. Where would we be going?”

Sitting beside the cleric, Morgus says, “Then let’s get to know each other. I’ll even buy you midday meal if you like? I’m Mage Morgus, Baron Hessan’s aide. You are Cleric Hez of Imvor, and I would like your support.”

Stuttering, Hez says, “W … where … did you … come on m…. my name?”

Placing his hand on Hez’s shoulder, Morgus says, “I heard of your plight, and your good will, Cleric Hez. I am in need of a few good priests, so I decided to seek your aid. Will you work for a Dyns per day until my plight is solved? It requires putting to rest several walking-dead.”

Staring at Morgus, Hez drools slightly for several seconds before responding, “By all means, yes. How many priests do you want?”

Clapping Hez’s shoulder firmly, Morgus smiles, and then he says, “I think that I should look for two additional priests.”

Rapidly standing, Hez picks up his alms bowl as he says, “Will we administer to the household?”

Nodding as he smiles, Morgus says, “Of course, yes.”

Hez starts walking northward. “I know that the cleric’s hostel for Imvor has acolytes that might help.”

By Kenneth Shumaker

To be continued in Morgus episode 006, ‘Green Dragon Shield’ part 2

Author: Kenneth

Following a long break from writing, Kenneth recovered his passion for writing. He is a science fiction, scifi/fantasy, fantasy, and nonfiction author with Inevitable Unicorn Press (InUPress). Kenneth is publishing with the Owerton Challenge and other blog sites and publications. He also has available a medieval fantasy novel, titled, ‘Laret: Darkness of Souls’. He now writes several serial short stories.