Free Branded Mage by D.W. Page A

was a good idea with lots of uses.
    “I don’t see a problem with it. We are all in this together, and I can only see a benefit to me with all of you better equipped. If you don’t mind, I could also strengthen your battle harnesses. The pack will take me awhile to figure out, but as soon as I do I’ll make it. As for the pay, don’t worry about it. I’ll just consider it my duty to the Queendom.”
      “Thanks bro, I’ll let the other guys know. When do you want our gear? I know you will have to have them to perform the magic on them. We all have extra equipment, but you know how it is. We don’t want to be without them for too long.” Alden said as the worry that had darkened his face was replaced by a large beaming smile.
    “I can do about two sets a night as long as it’s only one battle harness. I should have all the supplies I need in my saddle bags. So you will only be without them for the few hours it takes me to enchant each one.”
    “Ok bro, sounds good to me. I better get back to my post before the captain makes me pull guard duty all night.”
    Thad watched as Alden headed back to his spot at the rear of the formation. He thought it was pretty kind that they wanted to get Eloen a gift , even if it was one of a practical nature. He could try and expand the inside by connecting it with a sub-dimension like he did with the sending box. That would make it larger, but would also make it hard to be able to retrieve the items inside. He could have a seamstress make a bag with many inside layers, like a book. Each page would contain its own separate space. The actual location would be in a sub-dimension, but each section would only be the size of a regular bag. He couldn’t think of a reason it wouldn’t work, but most times he didn’t find out the problem until he tried it.
    That night he was able to get three weapons done , including that of Captain Eloen who he had personally approached for the honor of enchanting her gear. She had readily agreed with a slightly disturbing gleam in her eye. He had decided to do the battle harnesses when they reached the estates of the duchess, when the chance of attack was the lowest.
    The work was bland and boring. He longed to work on something new , but he didn’t have many resources at his command. The little he did have he needed to save in the chance they were needed at Southpass. He didn’t push himself to the point where his head hurt, knowing that at the moment it was more important for him to be awake and alert during their traveling than making magical weapons. The men had done without them for their whole lives a few more days wouldn’t hurt them.
    He did run into a small problem when attaching the cat eye gems to the weapons. The weapons he had the blacksmith make were designed with the gems in mind and had compensated for the change in the weight and balance of the swords, these did not. After a few tries, he added a second enchantment making the weapons magically balanced far beyond what even the expert craftsman could hope to accomplish.
    Before everyone retired from their campfire vigil , Thad presented Eloen her improved sword. She put the sword through a couple of routine exercises. “It’s perfect. It seems lighter and the balance is right on. I feel like I could swing it all day without getting tired.”
    “It will also stay as sharp as a razor without ever needing to be sharpened.” Thad said proudly.
    Eloen put her blade away and almost danced over to him and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek. “Keep showering me with such gifts and I’ll have to give you a better reward.”
    Thad blushed deeply as the others hooted and hollered at her comment. His heart pounding furiously as he made his way back to his bed roll, hoping that he could settle down enough to get some sleep.

CHAPTER VII
    It was easy to tell when they started entering the lands surrounding the duchess’s estate. More and more farms started appearing and people began to