Free Empress of Wolves by J. Aislynn d' Merricksson Page A

meal. Pushing the plate aside, the War Mage rested his head on his arms. His eyes were closed, but the occasional swiveling of his ears betrayed the fact that he was not asleep, but in fact paying close attention to everything around him. He shifted and sat up as soft footsteps approached their table.
    “Greetings, Lady Kalla.”
    Kalla looked up as another Solidoran mage stopped by their table. The Lady had short black hair that curled around her face and the sea-green eyes of a Sevfahlan regarded them intently. The new mage leaned heavily on an ornate cane, crafted to look like twin serpents twined around one another. From the way she stood, the cane was no mere accessory, but a necessary instrument.
    Behind her were the Harper and a woman Kalla guessed was her magister. The magister had the bronzed skin and tawny colored hair of the Persiali, from a land far beyond Ishkar. The woman moved with the elegance of a hunting cat. Though she wore no armor, a curved sword was belted at her waist and a slender, spike-headed mace hung opposite it. Kalla's mind scrambled for the mage's name. With it came the realization that the cane
was
necessary, for a magickal accident had rendered the leg barely useful and not even the Healers could fix it.
    “Greetings, Lady Justina,” Kalla said. She gestured towards the empty chairs. “Please, join us. I must admit, I didn't realize that the 'other mage' Master Wylsin spoke of was still here.”
    Justina gracefully slid into a seat across from Kalla, Harper and magister following her example. Kalla smiled slightly as Aleister's curiosity brushed against her mind. She assured him that all was well and he turned his thoughts back to the game. Justina nodded towards Vander and Manny.
    “Greetings, Lord Vander, Lord kyl'Malkador. May I introduce Harper and Cara, my magister.”
    “Harper…?” Kalla asked, her tone asking for the man's name as well as title.
    “Just Harper. The man refuses to give me any name to call him by. Just as he refuses to quit following me around.” Aggravation laced her words and Justina threw the man a dirty look. He merely grinned back at her and the woman named Cara laughed. Kalla frowned as she caught a glimpse of a thin, woven slaver's collar around the man's neck, mostly hidden by the high collar of his tunic. The Harper was obviously no slave, so why did he wear a collar, she wondered. Recalling rumors of Harpers disappearing, she put voice to her question. The man's face grew somber.
    “It is true. The slavers have grown bold. They attack even the Harpers, when they find us. Justina found me in a slaver's camp. She and Cara made short work of the slavers and freed the slaves. I owe her a life-debt, according to the customs of my people. I wear the collar to remind me of that debt. Until it is paid, I belong to Lady Justina and have no name save that which she gives me. Thus, I am destined to merely be Harper for she will give me no other,” the Harper said with another grin.
    Kalla had guessed correctly. The man hailed from Ne Ramerides. She had heard of the Rameridean custom of a life-debt and she could certainly respect the man's dedication. The Healer did find it disturbing to find the rumors confirmed. If the slavers would go so far as to attack Harpers, what else might they dare?
    “What brings you to Argoth, Lady Justina?” Kalla asked.
    “We were seeking new Kanlon candidates. The Technomancers have already departed back to the Academy. Between us we found seven in the region with the gift. Two will be going back with me,” Justina said.
    The Technomancers of Argoth belonged to the military and were among the few gifted of magick who were not tied to the Kanlon. All Argosian children who were found to be gifted were given a choice- to either serve the Empire as a Technomancer or to go to the Kanlon and become a magi. Kalla herself had been given the same choice.
    Justina turned an appraising eye to Vander. The older mage had been at the Kanlon