Chapitre 6: A Clandestine Meeting
Theodore Didn't have to wait long with the Empire's forces either killed or in full retreat. A group of Varden quickly reached the hill where the Wizard had settled to wait. The men who came were stern and didn't speak much, but He didn't mind.
Theodore helped lift the red dragon and rider on a large wagon meant to carry a catapult. He instructed them on transporting Thorn and Murtagh and laid some charms over the cart, securing the dragon and rider for transport.
A dark-skinned man covered in leather armor who was part of the group told him that Nasuada called for his return. Theodore told the man that she should expect his presence soon.
The Wizard decided it was time to check on a couple of his traps, disapparating with a silent snap as he appeared amidst a thicket of silver trees. The smell of blood was thick, wafting off of bodies baked in the midday sun. Theodore took note of how effective his shrike trees had been.
Crows perched on the tree's silver branches picked at hundreds of dried husks.
Shrike was an old spell made from a collection of Atlantean knowledge and African ritual magic that afflicted them.
It required a small investment of magic taken from his sacrificial knife to create a seed that would burrow toward a perceived enemy in a thin line of metal before shooting out from the ground like a bullet, where it fed most of its magic from people it impaled. It sucked magic from the blood in human bodies, creating a blood-metal byproduct.
Self-propagating magic was dangerous, and Theodore made sure to limit the silver trees to a specific size before he let the enchanted trees grow.
Theodore took a few minutes to vanish the drained husks that hung off the silver tree branches, scaring off the crows that nested with their sudden disappearance. The Wizard transfigured the trees into a stack of blood-steel ingots.
The Wizard had a use for the silvery steel created in the impaling process. Metals made from blood were almost always highly magically conductive. It was prime metal for enchanted weapons, and Theodore wanted to experiment with forging swords.
He wasn't expecting much from nonmagical blood, but weapons for the Varden would be made, if nothing else. Slowly shrinking large stores of the metal, he pocketed the stack into the moleskin pouch that hung on the side of his armor.
Then, the Wizard searched for traces of the magical singularity he had created before. He followed the feeling of his magic to a ball of flesh lying against a tree far from the center of the burning plains.
Theodore decided he might still have a use for it. Using a Homenum Revelio, he quickly learned that there weren't humans alive in the ball of flesh and shrunk the mass of flesh armor and weapons into the size of a baseball and popped it into his moleskin pouch after stoppering it in a conjured glass jar.
Done with sizing up the fall out of those two magical attacks, Theodore decided to unhurriedly walk among the remains of the battle of the burning plains. He was shocked by the sheer amount of lives taken. Theodore was sad to see much of his work among those slaughtered.
Mounds of bodies chest high had formed into small hills pecked at by thousands of crows and vultures. At some point, the stench had become so bad that Theodore used a modified bubble head charm to protect his sense of smell, but he continued walking until he found what he was looking for.
He reached the form of his melted steel lion. What was once an enormous steel apex predator was utterly disfigured. Its mane had become a puddle that hugged the lion's head and body, flattened by dragon fire. Only one fully formed limb remained unscathed, sticking out of the melted wreckage.
Theodore remembered how it tore apart Empire soldiers with impunity. He vividly remembered his metal lion's effectiveness and a crazy idea popped into his head. If there were powerful mages with powerful pets in this world, why not make one of his own? Let riders have their dragons; he would have his Nemean lion.
At that moment, the Wizard felt a pull from the threads of destiny as he transfigured the lion back into its intended form, pulling from the bodies around it; he made it several feet taller than before and much stockier. The lion's form gleamed in the mid-afternoon sun as it stretched its muscles and stalked to Theodore's side.
Theodore pulled out the glass jar containing the human flesh ball and began the process of compressing the ball into a crystalline form. The ball had runes burned into it and began to glow a dull, sickly pulsing red. Theodore infused the blood crystals heavily with his magic until he began to feel some exhaustion creep in.
What he was about to do would usually take many days and incalculable amounts of sacrifices to accomplish. Theodore was replacing convoluted magic traditionally used with his knowledge of alchemy applied through a deep understanding of charms and runes and an excessive amount of his power.
It helped that hundreds of flesh-ball corpses still had lifeblood flowing through them—Lifeblood was always valuable for rituals such as this.
Theodore placed the blood crystal overflowing with an ocean of magic on the metal lion's glabella, and his animated construct sucked it up and suddenly became more life-like.
Its metal hides dulled from its silver sheen and became dull grey and began to stretch like natural skin over the lion's powerful muscles. Its eyes changed, its pupils became a brilliant blue color, and began to contract and expand. The lion blinked, its eyes filled with sapience, and a brief flash of lightning appeared at the corner of its eyes. Theodore gave a tired chuckle as the lion shook its mane, proud to be alive.
"I'll name you Zeus. Come, we have a Varden leader to meet."
The lion knelt for Theodore, and the Wizard conjured a comfortable leather saddle for himself on the metal lion's back.
Climbing onto Zeus's back, Theodore made quick progress through the mounds of bodies on his way toward the Varden command tent. Along the way, Theodore occasionally stopped for a dying Varden soldier and did his best to heal them and give them water; he carried many of their battle-wary forms on his lion's back.
Many made rapid recoveries with the use of medi-magics but found themselves dead tired as he encouraged their bodies to heal.
There were those beyond his help without using the draught of life, something he was reluctant to use freely. He either stabilized them and carried them with him or made the hard choice to put them out of their misery using the killing curse to give them painless deaths.
Such was the case of one man lacking limbs impaled upon multiple spears. It sickened Theodore to use the killing curse, but he knew it would be a mercy for him. Magic would have only prolonged his suffering.
Even making the occasional stop, Theodore quickly made it to the Varden's fort of tents. He managed to see the man from the boat talking with Eragon as Zeus came to a stop. They quickly noticed his arrival and looked at his metal lion with wonder, but the Wizard ignored them. His lion knelt for him to jump off.
Theodore helped the Varden soldiers on his lion's back to climb down. One of the Varden's soldiers ran over to him, and Theodore quickly told him to take care of the men he had saved before he finally turned his attention to Eragon. The rider stood slightly in front of his companion, favoring his left leg as his still gauntlet-clad left hand rested on Zar'roc's handle as he waited for the Wizard to reach
"So we meet again, rider," Theodore said. The Wizard and the rider clasped hands, "And who is this."
Eragon seemed to have gotten over his anger or hid it well. The rider looked behind him at the man with a hammer in his belt with some affection, and Theodore could instantly tell that they were somehow related. The Wizard could see the similarities between the rider and the bearded strongman. They had similar noses and the same shaggy brown hair.
"This is my cousin Roran, we grew up together in Carvahall,"
Theodore held out his hand, and Roran gave him a firm handshake. The Wizard could feel his strength as they shook hands and realized it was natural.
Theodore looked into Roran's storm-grey eyes and saw a hardness he didn't see in his cousin. Theodore knew Eragon had killed many men, but he didn't have the eyes of a killer; the rider's eyes were gentle, like a scholar or farmer. On the other hand, his cousin Roran's eyes held dark things.
"It's a pleasure to meet the man who turned the tide of battle. I couldn't see much of what you did but saw the Empire's soldiers run in terror." Roran's deep voice was grim, and Theodore could tell the muggle was wary of him. Roran looked at the metal lion behind Theodore, "The Varden is lucky to have you."
Theodore gave Roran a nod of acknowledgment before Eragon got the Wizard's attention and pulled him away from Roran.
"Nasuada said she wanted to speak with you, Theodore. Murtagh arrived shortly before you did. They are deciding what to do with him now. She asked that you join her, King Orrin, and Nar Garzhvog as they stand in judgment of him."
"You're not going to join me, Eragon? We fought the red rider and should stand in judgment of him together." Theodore asked, his confusion easy for the young rider to see.
"I decided it wasn't right to involve myself in his judgment. He is family to me, and so it would be improper for me to sit in judgment of him. I would ask you, Theodore, though you seem to bear some grudge against him, not to ask for his execution. Though he turned to Galbatorix's side, he is still my friend and brother. He also did not do so willingly."
Theodore nodded but didn't immediately walk into the tent that Eragon indicated that the Varden's leadership had gathered. He told his Metal lion to stay put before heading toward Murtagh's prison tent.
Theodore walked just far enough to be out of Eragon's sight before disapparating into his tent. Theodore tapped his wand on the breastplate of his armor and let it drip off of him and pool by his feet before it turned into armor once again. The Wizard knew the power images held.
He shouldn't be seen with bloody armor in front of Varden's leadership. Theodore had slaughtered thousands of Empire soldiers with his "Deep Magics," so his bloody visage would only intimidate rather than encourage calm conversation.
"Mipsy." The house elf appeared in front of him with a snap and bowed.
"What is the master wanting of Mipsy."
"Take my armor away and clean it before you put it into storage."
The armor disappeared along with the house elf, and Theodore took some time to use cleaning charms on himself, ensuring any trace of sweat or grime was wiped away.
In a familiar blue cloak and dragon leather boots, ritual dagger still at his side, Theodore disapparated and appeared in front of the tent that held Murtagh captive with a silent snap before walking in.
Theodore found Nasuada, Nar Garzhvog, and King Orrin standing in a circle as soon as he entered the tent. Behind them stood several dozen generals. Off to the side stood Orik Glaring murderously at Murtagh and his dragon Thorn, who were still unconscious, slumped together at one side. Murtagh was bound, leaning against the dragon's back. Thorn's many injuries looked like they had been healed to some extent, but Murtagh's spiral chest wound still trickled blood.
Despite their best efforts, the magicians who tried to heal him failed to staunch the bleeding from the curse. Theodore knew the effect would fade eventually.
The tent's smell struck Theodore instantly, and he had to resist using another bubble head charm. They all stank of sweat from battle, and blood still covered many of their forms.
Theodore walked over to Orik as the others were still enraptured in their heated conversation about what to do with Murtagh and hadn't noticed him yet.
"My condolences Orik. I wish I had been fast enough to save you, foster father." Theodore let some genuine regret seep into his voice as he said this.
"Oh, I didn't see you there, Theodore." Orik, seeming only just now to take note of Theodore's presence, looked startled. The Dwarf was silent for a moment before he turned to look Theodore deeply in his eyes, "Don't feel sorry, Theodore. From what I've seen, you are an honorable man who avenged his death by bringing Murtagh to us. Eragon told us about how he was nearly defeated and how you intervened. Theodore, you are the reason this rebellion is still alive for saving my foster brother Eragon and for bringing Murtagh alive for us to punish him. I name you friend to house Dûrgrimst Ingeitum."
Theodore nodded in acceptance as Nasuada finally took note of his arrival. Theodore and Orik walked to where the Varden leadership stood and were greeted with resounding cheers from the surrounding generals as they crowded him with looks of appreciation and respect from Nasuada, Nar Garzhvog, King Orrin, and Arya.
Even Trianna was present, gave Theodore a sensual appreciation, and congratulated him on his victory. Soon, the crowd calmed, and Nasuada decided to start the preceding.
"With Theodore here, we should begin discussing what to do with Murtagh. His crime is the killing of the Dwarven king and the slaughter of many Dwarven and Varden soldiers. I think his fate is best decided between all of us. As much as I would like to avoid it, as I knew Murtagh, I think killing him would be for the best. If there is another option, I am …."
Orik, unable to contain himself, cut in," Murtagh's fate isn't the Vardens to decide. We, the dwarves, have suffered the most, and we, the dwarves, should be the ones to determine his fate."
"Orik, this rider was laid low in a Varden battle, making it a Varden matter. Most would agree that while the Death or King Hrothgar was tragic, he would want this taken care of as quickly as possible." Nasuada said, taken aback by the Dwarf's fervor. Nasuada had likely never seen Orik so furious, but Theodore understood that loss could drive one mad, and he could see hints of madness in Orik's eyes.
"Hrothgar would want proper justice for his killer. He wouldn't want an easy death." Orik bristled before looking murderously at the rider's sleeping form, "You have no idea how much I want to slaughter that traitor by mine own ax right now, but I know that wouldn't be justice. This rider must endure pain worthy of the full extent of his crimes."
Knowing that if he didn't side with Orik, this could get ugly quickly, Theodore decided to weigh in.
"I think the dwarves should decide Murtagh and Thorn's fate,"
Many of the Vardens generals and even Nasuada herself looked like they were about to protest, and so Theodore continued, "They have lost a monarch, and now they must choose another. The Dwarves require revenge, and if Orik brings this Dragon rider back to be put on trial, he would be a likely candidate for the next monarch. So not only is it that the Dwarves deserve revenge the most, but it is politically the most viable choice."
This shut up the generals, and Nar Garzhvog, who didn't speak much from the beginning, also stayed silent. Nasuada, however, was unconvinced.
"How can we just hand Murtagh over to the dwarves? It is a long way to the Beor mountains, Theodore, and much can go wrong in the transport.
What if Galbatorix takes this chance to free Murtagh, leaving us with no captives and two dragon riders to defeat instead of one." Nasuada could feel her anger mounting at the idea of leaving such a decision for later. She was familiar with how long the Dwarven ceremonies were. If it was left up to them, it could well be thirty years before they finally decide to sentence Murtagh.
"I will go with the transport and ensure Murtagh doesn't attempt to escape." Theodore proposed, feeling everyone's eyes weighing him before most seemed to nod as it made sense to them. Theodore knew that most of these men knew nothing of magic, but almost all of them had seen him sling it.
He had struck an impressive sight as he released that lightning bolt that slew thousands, an image that would stick in their minds for a long time.
While most seemed to accept his proposition, Nasuada seemed outright ready to refuse. Theodore knew why. After showing his prowess in battle, The Varden leader likely saw him as her chance against Galbatorix. He was their only hope if he rode out to face them directly. Theodore sighed internally, realizing he had to reveal more of his cards to assuage her fears.
"I have magic that allows for quick transportation between different locations. If the Varden is Threatened, I will be able to come in an instant to assist you. I must go with Murtagh to ensure they create no issues before their trial. Orik, I hope you wouldn't mind if I traveled back to the Beor mountains with you."
The Dwarf, overjoyed that the Argument was swinging his way, hurriedly agreed.
"I'll show you the magic I plan to use later, Nasuada. I think Everyone, including me, needs some rest. Is there anything else, my lady?"
Nasuada could only look at him with stubborn reluctance before nodding, "There will be a title ceremony, Theodore, to celebrate your accomplishment in this battle. Come to me tomorrow, and I'll review it with you."
Theodore nodded, and the sea of generals parted for him as he left. Theodore was instantly assaulted by Eragon not long after he stepped out of the tent. The rider was very curious despite himself about Murtagh's fate, and Theodore told him about his trial with the dwarves before he left for his tent.
He didn't remember when he fell asleep but awoke to a lion's deep purr. When Theodore opened the entrance to his tent, he found Zeus licking his front paw as he Guarded his tent's entrance. The wizard shook his head, knowing the confounding wards surrounding his tent were likely useless. The Grey metal lion was enormous and difficult to ignore.
The lion turned its intelligent eyes to Theodore, and to the Wizard's surprise, A deep rumbling voice sounded.
"Master…. Hungry?" The lion said as it brought its head close to Theodore and gave him a sniff.
"No, I'm good. I appreciate your concern, Zeus." This was the first time Theodore had an alchemical creation made from nonliving materials become intelligent enough to speak. Theodore wondered what allowed it to gain such intelligence.
"No problem…. Master." The lion said as it rested its head on its front paws.
Was it the blood used? Was there some remarkable novel quality in the blood from this reality? Theodore retrieved his moleskin pouch and prodded at the blood metal he took out of it with his magic. Theodore's finely attuned senses picked up magic, slowly being pulled to the metal like a hygroscopic compound drew water to it. Theodore could feel that there wasn't much magic in the blood, but the magic wasn't dissipating as The Wizard expected.
Magic was attracted to living things and usually rejected death. This was part of the reason the killing curse could not be protected against by magic alone.
Theodore was completely confused by the result of the blood metal, something made from dead things attracting magic and wasn't just a conduit of it. If that was what was happening, He might have just found the holy grail of magic.
A substance that would allow enchantments to become more potent over time. Theodore imagined what that might mean for mapping technology. With this metal, They might be able to map the chaotic sea and all the dimensions between.
Palanteers were powerful magic artifacts named after some muggle fiction that worked similarly to scrying in this world. Pulling on the magic between things, they could map out dimensions safe to travel. It was how Theodore knew that, at the very least, he wouldn't be killed the second he cut his way into this dimensions.
It had its limitations, however, and was very limited in its ability to predict the path to get anywhere. It gave simple directions, like a compass that only works half the time. With this metal, it could be more.
Deciding that he had to do some testing, Theodore told Zeus to remain by the door and to give a growl if any visitor came before rushing off to his suitcase and switching the dial to forge written in cursive script.
Theodore walked downstairs, made of slick black stone, to an expansive rectangular room with a perfectly smooth black stone floor and lava flowing on all sides, illuminating the room. It was a choice he had made in his early hundreds.
He had thought at the time that the process of forging had to be dramatic to be interesting. He hadn't been very good at forging then.
Theodore still remembered the misshapen monstrosities he made in his arrogant goal to make a better sword than the sword of Gryffindor.
He had been bitter when it had been given to James despite Theodore being the oldest of Harry's children. Theodore, a powerful archmage at the time, thought that forging would be an easy muggle art to learn.
He delved into many muggle smiths' memories and even stole knowledge from the goblins, but proper forging took time and muscle memory to learn there was no shortcut to hard work.
He didn't have the patience to slowly hammer away at metal until it slowly took his desired form, so many of his early creations fell apart at the seams. They had unaligned edges and mishappened warped metal structures. Some of them blew up from the magic he had haphazardly infused.
It wasn't until he had ritually enhanced his strength and practiced magical forms of meditation that he attained any skill in forging. He had spent many decades learning the proper way to forge.
By the time he mastered the art, he decided to keep with the volcanic stone and lava aesthetic as it would have been a hassle to take apart.
Besides, he was proud of the job he did in the creation of the room. The lava was made with a unique alchemical process that made it so it didn't overheat the room, and the lava also was made never to cool.
Dumbledore invented it under his apprenticeship under Nicolas Flamel, and Theodore perfectly reproduced it. The stone was also a product of alchemy made to stand the test of time and resist any level of blunt force, something Theodore had come up with personally.
The room was large enough to fit ten Saphira-sized dragons, so there was space between the different crafting areas. Theodore used an area just for testing materials, one for alchemical manufacturing, one for Regular forging with an enchanted anvil and tools, and another for atomic forging.
The Atomic forge took up the most space, expanding across a third of the room. It was a sizeable hourglass-shaped device with a box the size of the room that glowed blue between two large metal pieces, one with a large base on the ground and another that reached the ceiling.
Theodore rarely used his atomic forge, but it was dead useful when working with exotic metals.
Theodore mostly worked with mundane metals, which he had in abundance with various pure metals and alloys, filling hoppers full to bursting. He kept most metal resources, ordinary and otherwise, in his underforge, an expansive space that stored hundreds of tons of different metals native to his universe and extraversal.
Theodore walked over To his material testing section. He began to use various enchanted tools to measure the blood metal's tensile strength, heat capacity, conductivity, and other esoteric properties.
Theodore found that The metal was barely above mundane steel in most things besides magical conductivity and presence.
The metal connected to the world's magic in a way that Theodore had never seen before. So Theodore had tested its ability to bind to metaphysically neutral magic, not of this world, and found that it still had the same properties.
Theodore was about to begin forging something when he heard Zeus's roar from above. Theodore put down the blood metal, climbed the black stone staircase, and closed his suitcase before stepping out of his tent to see the cause of the commotion.
Theodore walked out to find Trianna petting Zeus. The lion was purring deeply, enjoying Trianna stroking his silver mane. Zeus lifted his head to give Trianna better access to the fur under his neck, and the sorceress obliged, using both hands to scratch the lion's neck.
"Hello, Trianna,"
Trianna turned her head to Theodore but didn't stop scratching the lion's mane. Theodore was so taken aback by her bright smile he almost didn't answer her question. She had asked when he had gotten a pet lion.
"He's a recent acquisition. I created his form from the battlefield of the burning planes. He can be said to represent our struggles against the Empire. Many died so he could take form, and I'm sure he will kill many more."
"He's cute," Trianna said before continuing to pet the lion, who purred contentedly. Theodore smiled, walked over to Zeus, and stroked his side as the big lion leaned against his hand.
"Did you hear that, Zeus? She thinks you're cute. What do you think, Zeus? Are you cute?" Theodore asked the lion, causing Trianna to raise a skeptical brow at him.
"Cute." The lion stated, and Theodore felt his smile widen as the lion agreed with Trianna purring in contentment.
"It talks." Trianna stepped away from the lion, and Zeus looked at her as if he was betrayed but got over it quickly, resting his head on his forepaws. "Lord Lupin, did you just create an intelligent life? That can't be. Only a god could do that. Does this creature have a mind…. Oh my god, it does. Theodore, what the fuck have you done? Are there spirits trapped in this creature?"
Theodore waited patiently, still petting Zeus's side while waiting for Trianna's mental breakdown to end. The witch continued to ramble about several impossibilities about Zeus for almost half an hour before finally shutting her mouth and settling into a contemplative expression. She began to pace in a way that Theodore found strangely cute. The Wizard finally had the opportunity to ask her why she had come.
"Oh, Nasuada wanted to talk to you about the ceremony commemorating what you have done for the Varden and about some transportation magic you told her about last time. She sent me to come fetch you."
"Really? The leader of the Varden sent the prestigious leader of Du Vrangr Gata to play fetch like an errand boy." Theodore said, raising an eyebrow.
Trianna became uncharacteristically nervous; she began to fidget like a child caught red-handed.
"I didn't just come to deliver Nasuada's Orders. I came to ask if you would attend a meeting for Du Vrangr Gata." Trianna paused before turning more serious, looking him directly in the eyes, "You did promise friendship when we last met. I do hope you plan to uphold your promise."
Theodore smiled brightly and saw Trianna's cheeks turn bright red before she looked away, unwilling to meet his eyes. Theodore could tell she was embarrassed to ask him to come and even where it stemmed.
Trianna and the mages under her were struggling with a lack of magical material to study, so they could only reach for an outside source.
The Varden might have had many warriors, and more smiths came daily, but they had no books or teachers on magic. Theodore could see this invitation for what it was: a cry for help, and Trianna hated it. She hated relying on others.
Theodore appreciated that she valued independence. It would be required because he likely wouldn't be around too often. He would need someone to watch his investment.
"Of course, I will come. I remember my promise to Trianna. I will come with gifts of knowledge." Theodore smiled as he saw the light of greed take shape in her beautiful eyes. Theodore needed Du Vrangr Gata to be loyal to him for them to have any use as his personal spy agency.
The Magicians of Du Vrangr Gata were responsible for a large portion of the Varden's profits, as Theodore had discovered that they produced lace at cheap and affordable prices.
They were also privy to a considerable amount of information ranging from Varden deployments to the general troops' sentiments.
Magicians in the world all seemed to have the abilities of natural Ligillimens. They could all reach out and feel the minds of many others over a great distance without eye contact. It was an ability that Theodore lacked.
With his mastery of mind magic, the Wizard could break into almost any mind he wanted, but several mitigating factors limited his ability. A line of eyesight wasn't necessary, but it helped breach the gap, and without it, he practically waited for some other magician to engage him first.
"We meet in the Evening in the same tent you and the rider visited before, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding it," Trianna explained before giving Theodore a nod, turning away and walking off quickly toward the center of the Varden.
Theodore watched her as she shuffled away before walking with Zeus to Nasuada's tent.
Theodore's meeting with the leader of Varden was uneventful; Nasuada just told him that he would have to give a speech and that tomorrow at noon, there would be an award ceremony to grant him the title Grand Magus of the Varden.
An old title that came from the riders' time and was given to the powerful magicians who weren't riders themselves. It likely differentiated them from other magicians and indicated they threatened the unwary dragon riders.
Theodore liked the title; it fits nicely with Archmage of the white tower. The Wizard was always happy for another title to flaunt, and Grand anything sounded intimidating. Theodore was sure his enemies would tremble in their boots when they heard the Grand Magus was coming for them.
When asked how Theodore intended to return to the Varden in that likely case the king attacked, Theodore had given Nasuada a cloud pine twig and told her that she would have to snap it for him to leap to the Varden's defense. Theodore also told her about Zeus and how he would stay behind to protect the Varden in his absence.
At first, Nasuada seemed a little taken aback by Zeus, but she quickly accepted the twig and Theodore's enormous lion as more of his magic that she couldn't hope to understand.
Nasuada wanted to offer Theodore gold to come with his new position, but he quickly turned it down. What use would he have for such a thing when he had a Philosopher stone capable of producing large quantities of gold and other even more precious metals?
Theodore could feel Nasuada's disappointment as he left. The Wizard could understand her frustration. Theodore wasn't oblivious to his strength's effect on their power dynamics.
Nasuada sought some way to control him, and now she knew it wouldn't be through gold. The Wizard wondered what transparent approach she would try next. The Wizard supposed that if prostitutes suddenly propositioned him, he would know where they had come from.
When Theodore returned to his tent, he immediately began work on the grimoire he planned to give to the members of Du Vrangr Gata. He quickly completed a book of spells for them to learn, filled with rudimentary magic in the ancient language and a description of the spells' effects.
Theodore made a copy for every magician and enchanted the grimoire so that it could only be read by the magicians he gifted the book to. The Wizard didn't want the knowledge he shared to spread unnecessarily.
The Varden was filled with spies, something which would have to be taken care of soon. Theodore knew if he left them too long, the Empire's spy organization would entrench itself in the Varden.
Theodore cast Tempus and knew he still had a few hours until Du Vrangr Gata gathered. He decided to return to his forge and see if he could make something from his blood metal. In short order, he forged a dagger and enchanted it to change from between a sharp knife and a quill with an ink-filling enchantment.
Theodore found that he liked crafting with blood metal; it molded quickly in his forge, taking his desired shape. The metal's charm was how easily it bore enchanting.
Theodore had barely begun putting magic into the dagger during the forging process before it was bound to the slight blade. Theodore was sure that even magicians of this world would find it easy to tie magic to this metal.
Knowing he had quite a stock of blood metal left, Theodore continued forging, making intricate metal music boxes and animated bood metal toy horses.
—-
Evening came quickly, and people crowded in Trianna's tent. The usual members came filing in, and Trianna greeted them each by name but remained by the tent's entrance. With each new face, Trianna became more worried that Lord Lupin wouldn't come and that he had forgotten his promise.
Her guts were twisting in knots in anticipation of his arrival. Eventually, All the Varden's magicians sat in her tent, and The sun hung low. Trianna could hear the magicians behind her making conversation and joking, but there were some nervous grumbles as Theodore had yet to arrive.
Trianna looked out and saw the sky begin to darken, and she began to think that Du Vrangr Gata would have to start their meeting without Lord Lupin when She saw an orb of light break through the crowd of tents. It bobbed up and down as a Tall, robbed figure moved closer, the light flowing from the tip of a thin black implement held in his hand.
As the figure approached, she quickly recognized him. Their foreign friend had arrived.
Trianna was struck by Lord Lupin's elegant, muscled figure. Trianna felt intoxicated by the authority that dripped off of him. Each step he took felt heavy despite him not making much noise in his approach.
When Theodore stopped a few feet before her, she noticed how the light played with his smooth skin, slipped between his perfectly shaped brows, and his full chestnut lips pressed together.
Trianna felt warmth between her legs and butterflies in her stomach as her green eyes settled on his exotic orange ones that seemed to emit cunning and power. Triana was so distracted by his eyes that she almost didn't notice a stack of books floating by his side.
"So you have finally Arrived. Greetings Lord Lupin." Trianna said, pulling herself together.
She was glad that in the dim light, her Lupin wouldn't be able to see the red dusting her cheeks.
"Please, Trianna, stop calling me that. You called me Theodore before you can do so now. We are friends after all." Theodore smiled and nodded to the books floating at his side, "I have brought the knowledge you so desire."
Trianna, forgetting herself, let a wide grin loose. She had been desperate to make Du Vrangr Gata into a troop of competent magicians. Yet she lacked the time and the knowledge required to train them.
Theodore was the most powerful magician she had ever seen. What he had done in the battle of the burning plain was beyond the pale for what she thought could be accomplished with magic. Suppose he could teach them magic. Trianna could only imagine what they could do—the power she would wield.
Trianna invited Theodore in, and excitement erupted in the magician's presence. A crowd of around thirty magicians quickly approached Theodore, shaking his hand and patting his back, each clamoring for his attention. Theodore Greeted each of them, learning their names and shaking their hands. He was polite but distant.
Then the time came, and the crowds quieted down. Theodore stepped up to the front of the room, and the magicians quickly found their seats. They shuffled in clumsy rows as each magician tried to sit as close to the front as possible.
Trianna watched some of them push and shove their way to the front-most were too distracted by Theodore's presence to argue. Trianna felt jealous, knowing none of these Magicians would fight to listen to her speak.
The sorceress had been conflicted about asking Theodore to come in the first place, but in the end, she was glad she did. The sorceress remembered the feeling of endless magic that Theodore projected across the field of battle, the lightning he used that killed thousands. Trianna knew she was likely looking at the most powerful magician alive, bar none, and the excitement it brought made her full to bursting.
Most of the tent sat empty as the magicians clustered together, each unable to take their eyes away from the Wizard's handsome form. Trianna found that she was stuck in the same trance.
"Hello, my fellow scholars of the arcane. My name is Theodore, as many of you know me or at least know of me. I am a foreigner who has come to this land to aid the Varden in their noble cause. I have done much to aid that cause. Many of you have seen the destruction I have wrought." Theodore's voice was dark and commanding, and many attentively nodded as he talked. "I have come to you today to aid the Varden in yet another way. To train its magician to become the best so that they can combat the Empire's forces in every way possible."
Theodore smiled as he saw thirty Magicians' greedy faces. The Wizard knew he had them and began to reel them in. Trianna could see allegiances shift. Many magicians weren't dedicated to the Varden simply against the Empire, which would have forced them into mandatory service. Trianna could only smile as she thought of Nasuada, thinking she held complete control of her magicians as Trianna knew only one thing could magic.
"Magic is a pathway to many powers that some would consider unnatural, so I will show you what it offers." The lights dimmed as the candles were smothered before going out together. Green flames took to a smoking candle wick, and the tent's atmosphere became tense as Theodore's form shifted.
Magicians looked at Lord Lupin in fright as he became a black reptilian cat with razor-sharp fangs and large yellow eyes with vertical slits for pupils.
Two black tendrils the length of elephant trunks with obsidian spikes floated around him from his shoulders. A long, winding tail curled around his lean but heavily muscled body. He stood on four feet with recurved legs that were powerful like a bow ready to fire.
Shadow hung tightly to his giant form and fell on Trianna as she had stood so close to Theodore. She was blinded before seeing predatory yellow eyes look at her. Trianna's hand was drawn to a golden snake bracelet Lorga said to protect her family, hoping it would save her now. The golden snake animated and began slithering into her hand, ready to strike.
"Theodore?" Trianna's voice trembled, but she couldn't look away. Any second, she expected she would be torn apart by the black cat's sharp vampiric fangs, but suddenly, light returned to the room, and the sorceress was no longer cloaked in darkness. Theodore shifted back into his human form, and the candles flickered to the original color, causing the tension in the room to fade as if it had never been there.
"Of course." Theodore looked into her eyes with concern before turning to the crowd of magicians that screamed only seconds before.
"I just wanted to show you all what magic could accomplish. Please, there is no need for fear; come sit by me again, and we can continue." Theodore gave a reassuring smile but saw that many were reluctant to sit close to him as they did before. Trianna could see many unable to hide their fear, but even now, she saw their desire to become powerful like him.
Most men would have condemned the Magic Theodore had just shown, but Trianna knew magicians, especially ones that had been in the craft for a while, were made of sterner stuff. Trianna could see many of their eyes calculating uses for such a form if they possessed it. Trianna was no different.
She had felt the power of that thing Theodore had transformed into. It made her breathless. Trianna had always been afraid of direct combat, but if she had such a powerful physical form, she wondered if she would have anything to fear.
"Now we can continue to the part where I give you the knowledge you need to help the Varden in its struggle against the empire." Theodore's voice changed. It was clear he meant business now.
Books piled next to him each flew to a particular mage. Even Trianna found a book floating in front of her, waiting patiently for her to pick it up. It was velvet and was bound with leather scaly skin, and it said in gold leaf colors 'Du Vrangr Gata.' As she picked it up, she felt the faintest tug of her magic, and her name became inscribed on the bottom right corner of the book.
Trianna found herself beyond impressed at the book's aesthetic and feel. Even though the book was new, she could feel its sturdiness. It felt like a book meant to last a thousand years.
Trianna, unable to help herself, opened to the first page and read Theodore's neat script. The first page discussed the book's purpose: to instruct each magician on the magic best for them.
The book would grow with each new spell or application they mastered in the ancient language. It then went into someone called Sun Tzu talking about how Du Vrangr Gata's greatest strength was that it would be underestimated. The Wandering Path in the ancient language was said to be Du Gata Vrangr.
Trianna hid her burning cheeks behind book pages after realizing the misspelling of her organization's title, but she soon forgot herself as she read further about the man Sun Tzu and his art of war. The man was insightful. He was speaking of fighting with the mind rather than the body. Something that held especially true for magicians.
Trianna skimmed the book and saw that it was split into two parts. One talked about how the ancient language was spoken, and another talked about the uses of spells and the safe practice of magic. Trianna found herself wanting to read everything the book contained immediately.
The sorceress found other magicians have the same look of blind excitement in their eyes. Everyone seemed to be eager to start reading. Theodore was content to let many of them do just that for several more minutes before he drew their attention again.
"This is just the first among many gifts I am willing to give to ensure the Varden has the best magicians possible. All I ask for in return is your friendship." Theodore said, his silver tongue slipping out as he licked his lips.
"You have my support, Theodore."
"Anything you want is yours, Grand Magus."
"Ask, and you shall receive Thunderer."
Triana stepped up.
"You have Du Vrangr Gata's full support. What you have given us is more precious than anything we have ever received as an organization. With this, we can do more for the Varden than ever, so I name you a friend of Du Vrangr Gata."
Many more made exclamations of support as people rose to their feet and crowded around him. Theodore smiled and suggested that this would be the first of many meetings.
After the crowd had settled, Theodore told them to begin learning whatever their books contained and that he would help them learn.
One magician asked him how to survive in a desert environment. Theodore showed him a cost-effective magical method to draw water from the earth.
Another magician asked about scrying. Theodore helpfully showed her several scrying charms written in the grimoire, showing her how they could be cast on any reflective surface.
Many more questions were quickly answered using Eobard's knowledge. When Magicians asked him to demonstrate, he could replicate magic from the ancient language using illusions or applications of wandless, wordless magic.
Some asked if they could be taught to use an animagus form as he had, and Theodore told those who asked that they could learn it once they mastered more of the book. Theodore had methods of inducing animagus transformation other than the traditional mandrake leaf method, but it was expensive, and Theodore would likely limit its use to a few.
For some time, as the other magicians were practicing, Theodore came over and taught Trianna. The sorceress was entranced by the magic and the man teaching her. Theodore was a patient teacher and more than willing to take the time to teach a specific concept she had trouble with. They didn't discuss the animagus scare earlier that night, but Trianna regretted her reaction. She hoped he did think she saw him as some monster.
Theodore showed interest in her ability to capture and use the power of spirits. Trianna was more than happy to tell him what she knew of spirits.
Trianna found the conversation extremely pleasurable as Theodore had an insatiable curiosity about all things magic. Trianna could appreciate this as it was a trait she shared. The sorceress loved magic, which was a rarity even among magicians. Many had deeply seated self-hatred fueled by those calling them unnatural.
Trianna had unfortunately known many good magicians commit acts of suicidal magic. Trianna was saddened at the thought but quickly forgot it as her conversation with Theodore progressed.
Soon, the night ended, and all the magicians departed, and it was just him and Trianna in her tent alone.
"I hope I didn't scare you too much with my animagus Transformation." Theodore looked away from Trianna, remembering the fear in her eyes.
"Never." Trianna walked closer to Theodore.
"Never?" Theodore looked into Trianna's beautiful green eyes that seemed to flash with some strange emotion Theodore couldn't quite interpret.
"I would never be afraid of you. I just thought the black cat wasn't you for a second. That some demon had taken your place." Trianna smiled, and Theodore felt his face flush red. Trianna stalked closer and began to invade Theodore's personal space. Theodore found that he didn't mind.
"That's good. I wouldn't want you to think…" Theodore never finished his thought as Trianna, standing on the balls of her feet, stole a kiss.
Theodore could not think or reason as he lowered his head, deepening their kiss. Soon, the two were lost in a world of bruised lips. Theodore could taste spice and honey on Trianna's breath. He felt something stir in him as her twin peaks pressed against him. Theodore pressed Trianna against the side of the tent's taught tarp, breaking off their kiss. Looking down and admiring Trianna's beauty, Theodore saw lust in her eye.
Theodore felt his member enlarge and pleasure erupt as he felt Trianna rub his crotch through his clothes. He didn't remember when he picked up Trianna and disapparated, but soon he found himself in his tent, throwing Trianna onto his bed, and took off his cloak, leaving him bare-chested.
Triana's hands roamed over his sculpted chest. The sorceress thought that she was in a dream. She felt such desire for him burn inside her; its raw intensity scared her but not enough to stave off her craving. Trianna undid her dress and unbound her hair. As she let it flow freely, she felt Theodore kiss her shoulder, and her own green eyes met beautiful orange eyes before their lips crashed together once again.
Triana undid his trousers, and he ripped off her small clothes, and soon they were both naked. Theodore pulled her to him, and he felt her warm flesh press against him as he tasted her lilac scent. They fell into Theodore's soft bed, and Trianna spread her legs.
"Are you sure?" Theodore's tone was gentle and caring, and Trianna couldn't help but melt in his arms. Leaning against his warm flesh, she brought her lips close to his ear.
"Take me, Theodore," Trianna said in a whisper that made Theodore shiver in pleasure.
The Wizard did as she bid his sword, found her sheath, and caused her to cry out in pleasure. Theodore thrust deeply slowly at first before picking up speed and then alternating at the sounds of her lewd screams. Eventually, he found a rhythm. He suckled at her breasts, drawing out even more pleasure from her as she screamed out to whatever heathen god she believed in.
Theodore used sex magic to increase her sensitivity and created a sensory loop so they could feel each other's pleasure, and an orgasmic feeling erupted between them. Trianna came more than once as Theodore's cum drenched her insides.
The pair continued for quite sometime after that, having several more orgasms as they tried different sex positions before resting side by side on Theodore's bed, exhausted.
"Where did you learn to do all that," Trianna said, blowing tuff of her hair out of her face. Her hair covered Theodore's chest, and he could still smell the scent of lilac waft off her over the scent of sex in the air.
"The Kama Sutra." Theodore said, rubbing his thumb over her shoulder's smooth, silky skin, "It was a book about sex created from the land I hail from. I also used the magical addendum added to the book." Theodore gave a cheeky chuckle as he said, "I hope you noticed."
Trianna gave Theodore a tired smile as she traced a finger over his chest.
"Tell me of your homeland?"
Theodore did just that, talking her ear off about pureblood politics and societal problems wizards faced. He even explained what a wizard was so that she could understand. Trianna, for her part, followed along and asked questions, but soon, she began to rest her eyes and hum every time Theodore told her something. Despite her best listening efforts, Trianna quickly fell asleep in the wizard's arms.
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