Brightwater and Governor Arnold had been saved from the wrath of the Arcanist.
We had won.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The sunlight gleamed on the rain-washed courtyard, and I stood still, feeling my Mana regenerate. When my head started feeling normal again, I looked at my companions and drew the Mana back from my Elemental blade, transforming it back into a humble tattooing dagger.
Amelia and Veronica embraced me.
“Thank you, both of you,” I said as they pressed their cheeks against mine and held me tight. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
Mistress Blossom looked a bit unsteady, but she also claimed a hug.
“That was impressive work at the end of the battle!” I said to her.
“I’m just glad I was able to help,” she replied. “We saved the people of Brightwater because of you.”
We hadn’t saved them yet. I was sure retribution would be coming because of what had happened here today, but we could talk about that later.
“Where’s my hug?” Jacques asked. He was covered in dirt and blood, his arms wide and a grin on his face. He had a long cut on his forehead which was leaking blood.
I embraced my old friend, thumping him on the back then asking, “What happened to your face?”
“Oh, this? Just a scratch.” He gestured to his wounded forehead and muttered something inaudible.
“He accidentally hit himself in the head with his own sword, after he’d taken shelter in the tavern,” Mistress Blossom whispered to me. I nodded, trying not to laugh. That was Jacques; deadly grace in battle, clumsy as an ox afterward. I would not jibe my friend about it just now.
Most of the villagers who had fled were now back in the square, gathered in front of the tavern. They were waiting for the doors to open. Some would need healing from the Mistress, but others I suspected were simply waiting for a beer to quench their thirst after the battle. They all looked shocked but happy at the events that had just happened.
“Where is the Governor?” I asked Mistress Blossom. I hadn’t forgotten my quest; I still needed information from Arnold about Katlyn’s whereabouts.
“Inside the tavern,” she said. “He took a few nasty knocks and had a bad scare, but he’s all right now. I’ll go get him, shall I?”
“Good idea,” put in Jacques, “and while you’re in there, have a couple of your girls roll a barrel out here. We’re parched!”
Mistress Blossom nodded seriously. “I’ll do that straight away.”
“Look, William,” Veronica said, pointing to the steeple above the tavern as the Mistress disappeared inside the tavern. I followed to where she was pointing and saw vines growing around the steeple, lush and green, with white flowers blossoming.
“Could that be an effect of the tattoo you gave the Mistress?” Amelia asked.
“I can’t think of any other reason for those to be growing,” I said. “That’s the only thing that’s changed.”
“As you suspected, the Beast Cores of those Centaurs must have given her more power than she had before,” Amelia said.
It would be interesting to see what other effects these Beast Cores might have, and what additional effects Cores from other rare creatures might have. I banked the thought for later.
“All right, that’s enough chatter,” Jacques interrupted. “I’m parched, and I think it’s time for a drink.”
As he had requested, four barmaids came around the corner, rolling a beer barrel along the flagstones. Another followed behind, carrying a tray of mugs. Jacques rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
“Let’s get this set up,” he said. “Give me a hand, William.”
Together, we heaved the barrel onto one of the benches beside the tavern door, to allow him enough room to fit the mugs under the tap.
The Mistress reappeared at the door, smiling, as Jacques took a couple of mugs from the barmaid and poured beers for all of us. Several of the villagers grumbled, but the Mistress assured them she would have the tavern open for business in a few minutes.
We raised our mugs. I felt that this was a momentous occasion. “To the freedom of Brightwater!” I shouted, and everyone around us cheered as we each took a swig. I knew that was a sentiment they’d all be able to support right now.
As we drank the refreshing brew and recovered our strength, I saw Arnold, the Governor, coming out from the tavern.
He was of average height, gray-haired and balding, and dressed in fine clothes of dark purple, which were somewhat the worse for wear. His gold chain of office hung around his neck. He looked to be past middle-age, but all the same he appeared to possess significant physical strength. His frame was well-built and filled out. I suspected that in this region no one could afford to let themselves go.
“Here’s the Governor,” said Mistress Blossom. “I’ll leave you to it while I get the tavern open.”
“So good to see you, Arnie,” Jacques called out to the Governor as he approached. I was surprised at such familiarity. Did the Governor allow people here to call him by nicknames? Then I noticed the Governor grimace. Perhaps it was simply a bad habit of Jacques’s.
“I have you to thank for rescuing me,” Arnold said, looking at me. “I truly can’t thank you enough; you saved me from a terrible fate.”
“It was an honor for us all, sir,” I said.
“But I must know,” Arnold said, “who are you, and how did you defeat the Arcanist?”
“My name is William, and this is Amelia. You already know Veronica and my friend Jacques.”
“A pleasure, I’m sure.” The Governor nodded to Amelia and me. “But you both seem to be unarmed except for your shortswords. How did you fight the monster? Surely those shortswords are not magical vectors? How did you work such powerful spells?”
I chuckled at the question and extended my arms for Arnold to see. He grimaced momentarily as he saw my tattoos, and uncertainty clouded his brow.
“I am an Ink Mage,” I said. “I can draw tattoos that allow the wearer to
