“Tattoos?” the Governor repeated. “But I thought only vagabonds wore such markings.”
“That’s what the Arcanists want you to believe,” Amelia retorted hotly.
I smiled at her zeal and put a hand on her shoulder, afraid she might attack the Governor then and there.
“I also didn’t understand these markings properly until recently, sir,” I said. “But it seems that we have not been told the truth about them. These runes allow me to cast magic; they don’t seem to be the domain of common vagabonds anymore.”
“Think of it this way,” Amelia explained, a little more calmly this time. “Ink Mages can cast magic without any kind of interference from the Arcanists, which threatens their monopoly. You saw today what the Arcanists will do to protect that.”
“You make an interesting point. I’ve never heard of such a thing as an ... Ink Mage before.” The Governor paused to consider.
I heard some of the bystanders whispering the name Ink Mage too. It seemed this would be big news beyond Brightwater before long.
“I’m not the only one who’s special,” I said, my voice getting louder. “These women you see before me, including your beloved Mistress of the Sticks and Stones Tavern, are Rune Sorcerers.”
This name caused more whispers among the bystanders.
“A fetching title,” Governor Arnold said. “So, my life and the lives of all Brightwater’s peoples were saved by an Ink Mage and his Rune Sorcerers?”
“That’s correct,” I said. “But I’m the last of my kind, so you can call me the Ink Mage.”
“The Ink Mage,” Arnold said quietly, pondering the title. “Well, you have given me much to think on. I am more prepared to trust you rather than the vultures who try to take what little we earn to fund their slave industry in the mines. I think you all deserve a reward for the bravery you showed today.”
“If I may, sir,” I began.
“Please, call me Arnold.”
“Not Arnie?” Jacques asked, with a grin. “Are you sure?”
The Governor sighed. I suspected he’d had to put up with this for a while now.
“If I may, Arnold,” I continued. “There’s only one reward that really matters to me right now.”
“And what would that be? If it is within my power to grant it, I will do so.”
“A woman who is dear to me has been taken to the mines as a slave.”
The Governor’s face clouded. “I am terribly sorry to hear that. I’m afraid there’s not much that can be done at this point. The Arcanists guard their mines jealously. Many of the slaves who get sent there are Elementally Sensitive. Far too valuable to be allowed to escape.”
I felt a knot of despair forming in my stomach. I knew this would be difficult, but the Governor’s words were only making me fear the worst.
Veronica spoke up. “If I may, Arnold, we know that you have the records of transactions in Brightwater. This woman’s caravan was seen passing through Brightwater only a few days ago.”
“Ah,” Arnold said. “That may perhaps be a different matter then.”
“Are you able to find out for us which mine she was being taken to?” Veronica asked.
“That’s the one reward I really need for what we did here today,” I said.
“I can certainly do that for you,” Arnold said. “I do whatever I can to hinder this disgusting trade in slaves; secretly, of course.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
“I will retrieve that information for you shortly. In the meantime, however, I would nonetheless like to offer you a reward from the stores the Arcanist brought in his retinue. He brought with him many Beast Cores, as well as his leaving his own magical items behind. Please, see what may be of use to you. With the taxes that we can recover from his caravan, we are amply compensated for anything you may see fit to take with you.”
The Governor briefly spoke with a couple of villagers and sent them to fetch the wagon with the Arcanist’s supplies.
“Thank you, Arnold,” I said. “The Beast Cores will be especially valuable to me. I can use them to enhance our strength with new tattoos.”
“In that case, all the better,” Arnold said with a grim smile. “I have a feeling you will need all the strength you can get to face the Arcanists before long.”
“As will you. Surely word will reach them of what has happened today before long,” I said.
“I’m afraid it will. Brightwater has been a quiet bastion of resistance to tyranny for many years now. It’s been a long time since they received taxes from us, although this is one of the most valuable regions to tax, since it profits from the trade in the mines. Many of the other towns peppered throughout the north have succumbed to the will of the Arcanists, but Brightwater remained steadfast. Evidently the Arcanists have finally turned their attention to us, and it may not be long before we begin seeing more of them.”
“Whatever happens,” I said, “I will not leave Brightwater to suffer alone for standing up to tyrants. I will do what I can to help you fight for your freedom.”
“I’m sure I speak on behalf of the people of Brightwater when I say that we are all grateful for your courageous assistance.”
A handful of villagers nearby cheered as they overheard these words. The rest appeared to be preoccupied with getting into the tavern.
The men who had gone to fetch the wagon with the Arcanist’s supplies returned.
“If you will excuse me,” Arnold said, “I will go and find the information about which mine your friend has been taken to. There ought only to have been one caravan passing through here to the mines in the last week, so it won’t take me long to find, provided my assistant made the entry correctly.”
My gut clenched as he said that. If the entry were incorrect, we might never be able to find Katlyn.
“I hope you find it,” I said.
“You will know soon enough,” said Arnold. “In the meantime, please, peruse the wares in this wagon and
