Morgus E006, Green Dragon Shield, part 4

Morgus

Episode 006, Green Dragon Shield 

October 13, 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.

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

Autumn 83 Unicorn

Sighing deeply, Morgus rubs his tired eyes. His mind is cloudy and exhausted. He has been working on his research for five hours, and it’s a little more than an-hour-and-a-half to gods-rise. He walks down to the staff social room where Hez is holding his Imvor service. All of Hessan Manor’s staff and Baron Larap Hessan are attending the service.

At the end of the service, Morgus approaches the baron, asking. “Baron Hessan, would it serve you better if we held services upstairs?”

Larap chuckles, “It would greatly serve me better, mage.”

Thinking about different locations, Morgus says, “I noticed there is a large unused room on the ground floor, which is next to the dining room. Perhaps the priests could use that room as a chapel?”

Clasping arms with Morgus, Larap answers, “Make it so, my aide.”

…..

The others and Morgus are eating their morning meal when the baron enters the staff dining room. Immediately, all stand and Larap gestures for them to sit. He says, “I see you now have Imvor priests on my staff and Mage Morgus petitioned me for a chapel. The Hessan Imvor Chapel is now on the ground floor next to the dining room. Please make good use of it. I will attend morning service with you, which I hope you will now hold at half-an-hour before gods-rise … for an old man’s sake?”

Cleric Hez nods, saying, “Yes Master. Baron Hessan, it will be so.”

Smiling, Hessan leaves, causing much talk during the meal.

Later, while leaving the dining room, Morgus recalls that he was to pick up his parchment knives from Smith Beraran today.

…..

Entering Bladesmith Beraran’s shop, Morgus clears his throat to get the smith’s attention.

Rushing over to Morgus, Beraran says, “The knives are ready for you to take, Mage Morgus. I finished the final touches this morning.”

Holding up his hand, Morgus says, “Hold on, I want to see the knives before I purchase them.”

After Beraran shows Morgus the knives, Morgus is deeply disappointed, finding several obvious flaws. He sets down the last of the eight knives, saying, “I can’t take these. They’ll damage my hides and parchment too much for the quality I need my parchment to be. No.”

Gesturing wildly and rubbing his hands together, the smith pleads. “Let me try again, but you have to give me more time. I need ten days.”

Frowning in disrespect, Morgus is feeling put out, and not wanting to deal with further poor craftsmanship. Thinking, he considers different possibilities. Morgus says, “If I give you another chance and ten more days, then I will offer only fifteen Flairs.”

Beraran extends his arm eagerly. “Yes! Yes!”

Clasping arms with the smith, Morgus is thinking to himself. ‘Hez said that he is a smith. So, if Bushnel and I can set up a smithy for Hez, then I’ll ask Hez to craft a set as well.’ Walking out of Bladesmith Beraran’s, Morgus walks home with a driven purpose.

…..

Seeking out Ada and Bushnel, he asks the pair, “Would it be feasible and okay to set up a small smithy in the crafts shop for Hez to work?”

Smiling as he nods, Bushnel then replies, “We had a smith here before, so we have a smithy set up. We even have supplies in stock from before. Hez can start when you want him to, with Ada and Baron Hessan’s permission and his agreement.”

Looking at her co-partners, Ada says, “I’ll get the baron’s permission tonight, but I agree, as there are a few items I’ve been wanting to be smithed, I’d be happy if Hez can form them. You give us equal time between the items, and I’ll agree, giving him up from his husbandry duty.”

Extends his arm, Morgus clasps with Ada.

…..

Seeking out Hez after an extra evening service in the new chapel, Morgus sits with him in the make shift chapel seats, asking, “How do you feel about giving up being estate husbandry servant and become official estate blacksmith as well as official Cleric of Hessan estates?”

Sitting back, mouth dropping open, brow furrowing, Hez says, “You draw me deeper into Hessan, but a smith or an official Cleric both earn more than a Dyns per day. How much would I earn?”

Smiling, as Morgus had asked Bushnel how much the old smith had earned. Morgus has an idea how much priests and clerics in temples and monasteries earn from researching texts in his office. He says, “Tell me how much you’re asking for.”

Hez ponders this, and then he says, “Well, a typical estate smith earns three or four Dyns per day plus ten percent of the value of the goods he produces. A typical Temple cleric earns two to three Dyns per day, plus alms earned. So, I would say at least three or maybe four Dyns per day? Plus, bonuses such as alms and percentage of products?”

Prepared for this conversation, Morgus had numbers in mind already. “I think we will offer four Dyns per day, plus the alms, but with no percentages. This is to keep things simple. But I have to get Larap to approve this.”

The gleam of moisture in Hez’s eyes betrays his excitement as he says, “I accept.”

…..

Sitting in Baron Hessan’s office with Ada and Larap, Morgus continues their conversation. “Thank you, Baron Hessan, for allowing Hez to use the forge and smithy in the crafts shop. But I would like to propose that you hire Hez as official estate smith and cleric.”

Ada silently nods to Larap in agreement.

Making note of her nod, Larap starts tapping his desk. “And how much do you propose we pay him?”

Solemnly, Morgus replies, “Let’s keep things simple and pay him a combined wage of four Dyns, plus he keeps his alms.”

Again, straight-faced and emotionless, Ada nods.

Larap is not watching Ada; he is studying Morgus like a Spertan focused on its prey food. Larap says, “Mage, I like that. You are working out well. You’re doing chamberlain work, even though you’re only my aide.”

With his face turning a light shade of red, Morgus’ replies, “The priests are a simple response to the wights of a few nights ago, as are the safe rooms with the ‘continuous Imvor light’ in them. Remember, the room next to your bedroom is the safe room on the second floor if you need it.”

Standing and walking to his bookshelves, Larap removes a large tome, placing it on his desk. He retrieves two other larger tomes, adding them to the first. Sitting again, he returns to tapping the desk as he eyes Morgus, before saying, “Read these, as they are treatises on being a chamberlain for an earl or baron. Study them well. Then, when you’re finished, seek me out again. I agree with you on Hez’s pay and titles. I approve the positions and wage for him.”

The end of episode 006, by Kenneth.