Into the Abyss

“Mind if I join you,” came a voice from the rear of the wagon. Rupert looked up to see Jenn’s smiling face peering at them from around the corner.

“Oh, I don’t know if we’ll have enough...” said Master Trisfelt, who had just produced a giant haunch of roasted beef from a sack along with a five pound wheel of cheese. “After all, we do have these growing boys to think of!”

“Don’t you mean your growing belly, to think of?” inquired Jenn with a sweet smile.

“Ahem,” Master Trisfelt said with mock dignity, “surely you jest, ma’am, certainly you can see that we have children here, who are on the brink of starvation.”

“Uh huh, oh yeah, I can see that clearly.” Jenn climbed up into the back of the wagon, “however, I do bring fair recompense for your hospitality.”

“Oh truly?” inquired Master Trisfelt, his curiosity peaked.

“Yes, this.” Jenn produce a bottle of wine from behind her back and handed it to the wizard.

“Hmmm, Scorzio wine, and a remarkable year at that. How did you get it?”

“Why, I’m sure it is simply payment from my lady for driving her wagon.”

“You stole it? My dear,” he said with a broad smile, “you’re finely coming around.”

“Hardly-actually, I brought it myself, the night before we left, I tried practicing with Fermi’s Fermentation Spell. I fear, it simply happens that the bottle was an empty one I found while helping pack my lady’s belongings.”

“Hmmm,” replied Master Trisfelt, crestfallen. “Fermentation spell eh? Well, maybe... have you tried it? I mean those things more often make vinegar than wine. Especially, when not performed by a Master such as myself...” he said while waving his nose haughtily in the air. All the children laughed at his imitation of Lenamare, even Rupert smiled.

“I leave that honor to you, as my glorious instructor... it is your duty to test my work.”

“As most assuredly I shall,” and with that Trisfelt pulled off the cork, snapped his fingers to conjure a wine goblet, actually it had been up his sleeve, and poured. Sniffing the wine, as a true connoisseur, he rolled his eyes slightly, and with a slight grin took a sip. Rolling it around in his mouth he appeared to think for a moment, “Aaah,” was all he said as he swallowed. He took another, larger drink, smiled and looked towards the sky. Once again he sighed after swallowing, and then pretended to notice Jenn sitting there watching him.

Quickly, he shook his head, and gave her a formal look, “Ahem, I suppose it is passable... you’ll have to do better next time though. Naturally, of course, I shall judge that one also.” The children giggled.

“Oh really. I think you liked it.” Jenn accused the wizard.

“Actually, Jenn, damn good. It tastes like the real thing.” Admitted Master Trisfelt with a pleased look, “you really are remarkable when it comes to these spells... I must admit, this wine is as good or possibly — and I remind you only, possibly-better than I could have done myself.”

Jenn smiled, “thank you, you’re too sweet.”

“Aaah, I know. However, now on to lunch, shall we?”

Lunch was finished in short order, and all parties managed to take care of personal business, so they were soon on their way again. The sky overhead was a brilliant purplish blue, not a cloud in the sky. Truly a lovely day, rejoiced Jenn as they rode along.

About an hour after lunch they road down to the bottom of a slightly wider valley than they had yet seen in the mountains. This one actually had moderately gentle sloping sides and even grass at the bottom. The hill sides were strewn with large boulders, everywhere. The basin, however, was easily wide enough for three wagons abreast. As the wagon train spread slightly out into the valley, Jenn suddenly felt a fluctuation in the air that signaled strong magic.

As she whipped her head up in the air, automatically thinking up counter spells in her mind, Jehenna stood up and raised her arms. From her lips spilled hasty words of warding, the air around their wagon shimmered, and just in time. For not six seconds after she felt the first twinges, their wagon was engulfed in a roaring ball of fire. Jenn could see nothing but flames all around her. Fortunately, nothing in their wagon was damaged because Jehenna had got the fire shield up fast enough. It didn’t take long; the flames were quickly gone. Without taking time to think, Jenn did what she’d been instructed early on to do in a battle of wizardry. She reached out her mind, seeking the source of the magic.