The maid girl returned with drinks. Master Awl called here Bell, but that seemed a nickname. She was important to him but Lynn could not get the connection so let it go.

Talking about plans to get the Master back into the workings of the House, everyone gave ideas. Vance asked Master Awl about trade deals that could help secure Awl's strength.

Runner came back and a excited Roar flew in behind her. The tube with the map was clasped in Runner's arms.

Coming up behind the two was Starla.
Lynn immediately went to the handmaid and blocked her view, "I did not request you!"

"I saw the child running off with something from the rooms and thought I'd better see what she's about." Starla said trying to peer around Lynn into the Master's suite.

The Master himself walked right up to Starla, "First of all child, you will address your mistress by title in My House. Second thing is you know that the girl belongs to Mage Lynn and is allowed to come and go at will. Lastly, you have not been summoned and came because your far too nosy for one of my maids. Go straight to the kitchen and report to Cook Anna."

Fleeing the suite the young handmaid tried to take a second peek behind her. Corla had already put up a illusions wall but saw the girl trying to glance over her shoulder.

A light flashed in Starla's eyes bright enough to blind her and cause her to fall. Sending Bell to Starla the Master said, "Now, not only have you been blinded, your going to get a double punishment from Anna. See that it's done, Bell."

After both girls had left Lynn and Corla cast a powerful silence spell. Having Jan hold the map Lynn took Roar and held the dragite before the map.

Like before the dragite went very still and focused on the map. Blasting hot steam and smoke at the map, Roar became lively once more, wanting to get up on Lynn's shoulder.

"What was that about?" Corla asked as she came closer to the map. "These are ancient runes from an age when Mages had just formed the schools. The magic was wild and knowledge was only passed from a master to around three students."

"Should the rest of us be seeing this?" Vance asked with apprehension.

"No." Was Corla and Lynn's response at once.

Lynn added, "I have to trust this inner circle. This is bigger and potentially more dangerous than a single House. Mages are behind this. Mage's who want this House because it sits on a very large Connection of Lay Lines."

Corla let out a whistle. Where House Boar's Tusk was, seven Lines came together and made a purple square. Two symboles stood out in faint red inside the purple box.

"Before you ask," Master Awl began, "The top symbol is of this House. The bottom is new to me."

"Not to me." Jan said. "It is the symbol given by Head men or women to show the status of a House. Ten in all, each from very robust to nearly dead."

"You judge House's worth by health?" Dragonfly asked.

"The health of a House will depend on the type of Head to send in." Jan added with some trepidation. "A Head is responsible for the overall condition of a House. The Master is there to run things and pay for it all."

"So it's true then?" Corla was smiling again. "Each thinks that the other has no idea what the other is doing. While both are trying to make and keep a House great."

"It's a razors edge. Work well together and the House does well. Fight each other and the House will fall." The Master began to scan each of the numerous House's in Farth. "Odd, some of the bigger Houses have three symbols. Why is that do you think?"

Corla leaned in and looked where he looked. "Those are the marks of a Mage."

"Like how magical the place is?" Vance asked innocently enough.

"Uh, No. Those are the marks of a High Mage. Meaning the High Mage that is in that House." Corla whistled once more. "Not sure if they ran things, along with the Master and Head, or just lived there. Either way it means that Mages had direct involving's in House affairs at one point."

"Don't the bigger House's have a Mage in attendance now?" Dragonfly asked.

"Yes and no." Corla began.

Jan finished, "They are there all the time but officially no Mage can live in a House for more than a half cycle, and that is to act as advisor or healer. This permanent mark would tell me that these House's have a live in Mage of some sort. Whatever their purpose may be."

"If the Tusk sits on seven of these Lay Lines, then why not have a Mage here?" Jile asked talking for the first time. He had not liked the whole business of messing with the Master but now that Awl was better he had relaxed some.

"If you notice, young Guard, none of the House's with more than three Lines have a Mage." Corla said.

Runner had been quiet and feeling overwhelmed by all the goings on but something about the map kept bothering her. So she asked in a whisper.

"Blue is the color of magic and purple is the color of power, so why is the castle and the Mage schools outlined in white?"

At first only a few heard her but she had been so quiet that most did not catch it. Lynn had heard but not comprehended.

"Runner, repeat that please?" Lynn asked her gently.

The girl did and Corla, Lynn, and Dragonfly exchanged glances. Everyone took another look at the map. Sure enough the schools and Royal places were white outlined. It was so faint that they had all missed it.

"Blue shows the current of magic, little one." Corla said sweetly. "It's close enough for a commoner. Purple does mean power but not in strength. Again it's a slight meaning difference."

"So what does the white mean, Mage Lady?" Runner asked Corla.

"It means that we are all in some trouble." Corla said looking at them all. "White in magic means that a place can be influenced by whomever is in power. So that means that if that someone took a few key Houses here or there they could control the leadership of Farth."

They all sat in silence for this had become an issue outside of House Boar's Tusk. Yes they understood that the Tusk was also a part of it all, but who else was involved and what House's?

"The men you followed, Runner. You said they went back to the Noble District, right?" Lynn took Runner's hand gently but firmly. Runner just nodded. "High Mage Corla, is there a House with as many Lay Lines as this House in that area?"

"To be sure, it's called the Leaky Keg." Master Awl said looking where Corla was pointing. "Master Simmeron and I used to trade extra ales and meads but that stopped about eight moons ago. Never found out why, thought it was Flower's doing."

It was Vance that stated something they all were thinking, "Someone got to the Keg and now it's being controlled, but to what purpose?"

"It would seem that we are dealing with an organized group." Corla stated. "Question would be if they have an agenda or are, just grabbing what House's they can for now."

"We will solve nothing tonight but now we know." Corla said catching each of their eyes. "Now we will need to gain the trust of some Mages and an Elite or Noble."

"That reminds me, how did Mage Al fair?" Lynn asked Corla.

"Mage Alton has some powerful allies. Not sure how given how weak he is in magic. Might be his 'friend' is helping him." Corla said.

"Who is she? I like her." Lynn had to know. She left out that the women gave her a power spell that she probably would get tossed out of school for knowing.

"Her name is High Mage Maritha Winn, from the Mage school in Hilltop." Corla said in a whisper. "The two have been together for some time. Alton will never be a High Mage, unless he can do something great. So their relationship is a public secret."

Runner was holding Roar, who wanted nothing but to fly around. The dragite had gained two pounds and some lengths. Lynn wondered just how big the creatures got when grown.

Runner said, "You Mages have odd rules."

Everyone laughed. They all knew it but it took a child to say it. After the needed laughter settled down everyone began to leave. Jile took Runner and Dragonfly took Vance, Jan walked Mage Corla out, but Lynn stayed behind with Master Awl.

"It will take time to get back into the swing of things, Master Awl." Lynn said.

"Huh? It's Master Awl now? Call me Johan, I think you've earned the right." He said clasping her hands.

Lynn felt foolish. She had not mentioned the talk with the Weaver. So she did to him then.

"Ah! She approached you and wanted you to be a spy for her." Johan was looking distantly, as if lost in memory. "I was to marry her, ya need to know. It was supposed to be arranged for the health of the House Guild. Life had other plans. Or I did. Haha."

"Luna made me feel like a small child." She told him honestly.

"She's like that. Luna Atwell was an old spirit when her face was smooth."

"Old spirit?"

"Yes. An old spirit is one that knows too much and is weighed down by that knowledge. Not that they can't be happy, it's just harder for them to see joy."

"You didn't like that about her then?" Lynn asked unsure.

He walked to a window and looked out at Farth. "I was young and thought with my young heart. I was also tired of the Guild telling me how to live."

"You see with your old soul now?"

"Old spirit, Mage Lynn. An old soul is tired and has given up on life and love. Your healing that out of me, right!" Lynn liked to hear him joke. She could hear the pain in his voice still, but he was healing.

#####

Mage Alton watched his next client come into the small office. He lived in a Home near where Lynn had been attacked. The office was his front room of his personal home and right on the way so people could walk right in.

This worked well cause he could see people but still do experiments till he was ready to go to sleep. He worked mostly in herbs and potions that he would strengthen with his weak magic.

His love had her own suite in the Mage school, but spent much of her time here with him. Today she was attending a course on proper use of charms. It was an advanced class, only given to key Mages.

The client sat when told but was looking around the office with a look of wonder. Al was used to this from commoners, who thought all Mages lived in the palace with the Nobles.

"So why have you come to me this day?" Alton asked the older man.

"I came, young Mage, because I have been having a hard time breathing. Been coughing at the most inopportune times."

Alton began to touch the man on the neck and chest. Thinking for a moment he went to his potions and pulled out a thick looking goo in a glass bottle.

"Drink this twice a day with some mead to help it down. Come back in on your next off day if it doesn't get better." Alton said to him.

"Thank you, young Mage." The old man said. "I heard you had to burn some diseased bodies recently, bet that was tough. How much do I pay you, for the potion I mean?"

Alton raised three fingers and said cautiously, "I did what a Mage is supposed to when there is danger to the people. Also, have no worries the disease was only spread by touch."

He had been dealing with commoners for a long time now. This man was new to him and seemed very inquisitive. When Al looked up he nearly laughed at the bewildered look on the old man's face.

"Just put three Bits into the bowl and if you would, please close the door behind yourself."

"That's all you charge, man? How do you survive?" The older man asked then seemed to catch himself, "Into the bowl, young Mage, it will go."

Alton wondered himself but said aloud, "You live to your means I guess. I like helping and oftentimes my reward is the healthy and happy families that have welcomed me into their lives. Many have me over for dinner.  I enjoy that."

Nodding the man pulled a small bag from his pocket. Alton turned back to the cabinets of potions all but forgetting the strange old one.

"Ever wonder, young Mage Alton, why the Mages count strength in magic as if it equated to the power and strength of life?" The man asked as he walked out the door.

That statement triggered a memory for Alton. Turning he found the man gone and the full bag in the payment bowl. Confused, Al would swear that the man had sounded like an old teacher of his, Mage Master Zile Petros.

The magic teacher would drone on and on about how magic is a life gift, not a reward gift.  As such it was a Mages responsibility to give back to the life that has blessed them. 

Another chapter and some questions answered, while producing more. 
Ever hate a character so much you wish you had not brought them life?