A visit to the Magaidh's house

That feeling you get when you're right.

As the two walked down the alley, Ben’s color-shifting cloak fell into subdued patterns, rendering him almost invisible in the shadows. It wasn’t long before Methak pulled out his dark cloak and donned it. 

“I never thought I’d be happy for dark-colored uniforms, but in these shadows, it works,” Ben muttered as he led the way down the alley, slipping from shadow to shadow.  Methak only nodded in reply as he followed his friend.  They carefully crossed five cross streets until they reached the final alley leading to the mage’s house. 

“Well, this is going to get interesting,” Methak quietly commented as he and Ben stood in the shadows, staring at the two-story blue-roofed house in the middle of a big yard. “There’s no way to get close without him seeing us.”

The ranger nodded as he examined the ground.  “That’s been freshly turned.  I wonder why?” 

“You’re right. It has been.”  The Archer gauged the distance to the house.  “That’s almost a hundred and fifty yards from here to the front door.”  He turned an eye toward the ranger’s color-shifting cloak.  “Could you make it?  Would your cloak help?” 

Ben gazed down at the cloak as it shifted to a darker color, trying to match the shadows.  “No, because as soon as I start moving, it blurs as it tries to adapt.  It’s like a chameleon, which can only adapt to a pattern if I stand still.  If I’m moving through deep shadows, it’ll blur my outline, but that’s about it.” 

The white-haired archer nodded. “I guess we’ll have to go straight to the door and hope he doesn’t blow us away.” 

The ranger shrugged and started toward the far corner, where the carriage would come down the street. 

Once they reached the corner, they didn’t have to wait long, for they could hear the carriage coming down the street. Once the Landau came to a halt midway down the street, they moved to meet it and waited while the Reeve’s team dismounted and looked down the street. 

“What do you think?” Balgair asked as he wiped the brim of his hat.  A quick look around the property was all it took for Balgair to make a preliminary judgment, but he wanted to hear what his scouts thought.

“There’s no way we can sneak up on him,” Ben stated outright.  “There’s a hundred and fifty yards of open ground between the road and his front door.  That house is perfectly set to prevent a thief from getting anywhere near it.  The only closed side is the backside, and that’s only because the house behind him has a fence.”

Balgair nodded, having already made that determination.  “Any idea why the ground has been turned?” 

Methak shook his head.  “Nope.  We noticed that as well.”  He looked over his shoulder.  “We think the best way to do it is to drive straight up to his front door.”

Balgair eyed the freshly turned ground, picking out the clear path to the front porch.  “Treat it like a normal visit, then.”  He drew a slow, deep breath.  “Let’s do it.”  He looked up at the driver.  “Follow along behind us.”  When the driver nodded, Balgair led the way across the deep brown dirt, reaching down to pick up a handful and turn it over in his hand.  “This is only a few days old.”  He was suddenly curious as to how.  “You said he just got back into town today, right, Tackett?”  He passed the handful of dirt to the sergeant.

Feeling the dampness still in the dirt, Tackett nodded.  “That’s what the gentlemen at the gate told me.” 

“Then who turned the ground, and why?”  Balgair massaged the back of his neck as he looked at the house and continued toward the front porch.  Upon arriving at the wide wooden porch, they were surprised when the front door suddenly opened, and a figure in a flowing blue cloak stood there.

The figure looked at the five men and Arien for a long time before carefully saying, “The guards at the gate said there was a new Reeve in town.”  He fixed his eyes on Balgair, noting the cloak over his shoulders. “That would be you, correct sir?” 

With a nod, Balgair introduced himself.  “I am Balgair Moeldr, and as you deduced, I’m the new Reeve.” 

“I see,” A thin hand reached up and pulled the cowl down, revealing a middle-aged man with gray hair and brown eyes.  “The gentlemen at the gate said you would probably visit me.”  He eyed each of the deputies and then said, “I am Servan Eygas, Hierophant of Azure Waters.”  He offered a half-bow of his head.  “Might I ask what brings you here?” Even though I think I know what it is. 

“Of course,” The Reeve replied.  “I understand it that you accompanied Theodore Willems to Derosa Springs.  Is that correct?” 

“Ahh, That,” Eygas nodded. “Though it would be more accurate to say that he accompanied me to Derosa Springs.  I had council business to take care of.”  His eyes never left Balgair’s as he spoke.  “I have the original letter from the council if that would help.”

“It would,” Balgair admitted.  “May I see it, sir?”  I wonder if Tackett knew about the letter.  He could tell by the look on Tackett’s face that he hadn’t. 

“If you’ll follow me, I’ll get it from my desk.”  The magaidh said as he invited Balgair into his home. 

Balgair nodded as he turned to his group.  “Why don’t you guys wait out here?  Tackett, you’re with me.”  Then, before anyone could say anything, he followed Eygas into the house. 

As they waited for the mage to find the letter, Balgair conversed with Tackett.  “If he had council business, then the mayor was the one who broke the rules.”  He leaned toward the sergeant.  “Did the guard captain leave on patrol before or after Eygas and Willems?”

Tackett had to think it over.  “I couldn’t tell you.  I had my hands full of trying to keep the office open, patrols on the street, and burying the deputies.”  He sighed softly.  “It’s possible that he left before they did.”  He looked at Balgair with confused despair in his eyes.  Well, there goes my promotion.  He was sure the ne Reeve would find fault in his lack of attention.  He was a bit shocked when Balgair clasped his shoulder.

“It’s okay.  You had a lot on your plate.”  The Reeve stated in a whisper.  “You had no way of knowing what would be important and had to take over the leadership.”  He tightened his grip in friendly support.  “If you had been an officer in my company, you’d have gotten a promotion for showing initiative.  I’m not displeased with you.” 

Before the sergeant could reply, the Magaidh returned with the letter. “This is the letter you wanted to see,” he told the Reeve as he handed it over.

“Thank you,” Balgair replied, taking the letter and reading it not once but twice. He then showed it to Tackett, who read it and returned it. “May I keep this?” 

Eygas nodded solemnly.  “You may.” 

“Thank you,” Balgair reiterated.  “May I ask one more question before I leave?”  When the mage nodded, Balgair inquired.  “When Willems set out with you, did he go with your consent?”

“No, sir,” the hierophant answered.  “I told him twice on the way to Derosa that he was abandoning his post, but he refused to turn back.” 

“Which puts you in the clear,” Balgair commented.  “Something that will make Rhyslin pleased.” 

Hearing the Draoidh’s name, the mage ventured, “You know Maighstir Darkblade?”

Balgair nodded humbly. “It was he who signed the contract that made me Reeve. He will bring it with him at the end of the week.”

“If asked that, most men would brag about knowing such a powerful man,”  Eygas commented, seeing the Reeve with new eyes.  “You have a military bearing about you, and Staff Sergeant Tackett has twice shown you great respect.  May I ask where you served?”

It took every bit of Balgair’s humility not to crow, but with great respect, he answered, “My last assignment was as Captain of the Black Hills Company.” 

“If memory serves, the Captain of the Black Hills Company is also Captain of the Black Swans,”  Eygas stated, showing that he had some familiarity with the army.  When Balgair nodded, the mage nodded in satisfaction.  “It’s about time we had a military man in charge of the Reeve’s office.  Dafyd was a good man, but he had never served in the military and, as such, didn’t pay much attention to either the city guard or the local ready reserves.”  He took a half step forward, “Have you met the quartermaster?”  

“I have, and Lieutenant Parcival has exceeded my expectations.” 

The mage took a good long look at Balgair.  “Has he told you about his intelligence-gathering efforts?” 

“He has,” the Reeve confirmed.  “After I get settled and meet the Guard Captain, we will start rooting out these criminals hiding in the hills.” 

“That is good to hear,” Eygas said with a firm nod. “I apologize for the confusion. If you allow, I will return to the office tomorrow. I have an idea that I’d like to discuss with you.”

Balgair smiled, “We can do that.  On the morrow, Maighstir Hierophant.”

The mage offered a half-bow, “Have a good day, Reeve.”

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