Highfort!
The high and sturdy stone walls and towers that gave name to the city loomed high above other buildings. In the city itself, you could always see a mass of people crawling down its wide streets, rushing to do their business. On almost every street corner you could find an entertainer of a sort, a bard singing to the cheering crowd, a jongleur showing his acrobatic skills, or a trickster pretending to do magic. Pushing through the crowd, you would hear merchants of every type, shouting praise about their goods. Trinkets and carpets from Fluvia, fancy clothing from Nessia, or maybe some exotic pet from Ashad? They had it all. Here and there, you could spot a shiny carriage rolling down the street, pulled by horses that showed the colors of their Lord, usually headed towards the rich part of the town, the place where the richest among nobility had their mansions and where the Royal Palace stood proud in all its glory.
Vistania's capital was truly a city of splendors. A city of prominent trade, home of the Royal University, and a home to tens of thousands of its citizens. Anybody who wanted to be noticed by the King, by the nobility, by the royal mages, or by the scholars from the University, had to come to Highfort and get a taste of its society. And it is right there in one of Highfort's main streets where one could spot a familiar carriage, even though this time it was not being driven by its usual driver...
"You need to be very mindful of your manners here... Do not embarrass me!"
"Yes, Mistress."
"This is a sophisticated society, and they can't wait to see someone humiliated."
"Yes, Mistress."
"We will find ourselves in the company of nobility, possibly even royalty, and in the company of other mages... It is important that we present ourselves in a good way."
"Yes, Mistress," came the reply in the same monotone voice he had been using for the past few minutes.
Fiona reached out and smacked Magnus on the head.
"Ow!" Magnus yelped, rubbing his head.
"You are not taking this seriously!"
"You know, that was totally not ladylike... You need to mind your manners while we are here..." Magnus said, meeting Fiona's scowl with a grin.
"You are hopeless. I've even decided to treat you as an Apprentice only, since we will be in the company of other mages, and it wouldn't do for them to see you as a servant. They would use it for years as a way to mock you."
"I appreciate it, truly," Magnus said, taking her hand and caressing it gently.
"Oh, you will be paying for it for days... or rather nights to come," she said, smirking.
"So what exactly will we be doing here?" Magnus asked after a while.
"I need to make an appearance at the Royal University. I have made a name for myself in the potion-making. But we will also stay for a while. I am thirsty for some high society life and gossip... And you never know when some of these rich bastards might need the services of a refined sorceress such as myself."
"Where will we be staying? In some fancy inn?" Magnus asked.
"No... no inns while we are here. We will be guests of my friend, Lady Charlotte. She doesn't really belong to the top layer of nobility in Highfort, but she is important enough to get invites to all sorts of high-profile events, so we can tag along," Fiona said with enthusiasm.
The carriage stopped in front of a mansion in the more prosperous part of the city. The inside of the mansion was decorated with style and taste, with just a hint of splendor. Fiona and Magnus were soon ushered into a salon and offered refreshments.
"Fiona, my dear!"
"Charlotte!" Fiona replied, embracing the woman and kissing her cheek.
"You have been away from noble circles for so long I was afraid you have joined a barbarian horde!"
"Well, I was tempted!" Fiona said, joining Charlotte's laugh.
Magnus observed Lady Charlotte, the Lady of the house apparently, with his appraising look. She was a relatively tall, curvaceous, and attractive woman in her late thirties, by his judgment. Her creamy skin, so much like his Mistress's was contrasted by her raven black hair that reached below her shoulders. She looked very graceful and dignified, yet even that was contrasted by her language use...
"And who is this lovely young man?" Charlotte said, turning to Magnus. She eyed him from top to bottom, her eyes glinting.
"That is my Apprentice, Magnus."
"You lucky bitch!" Charlotte exclaimed, pursing her lips.
"Ah, shut up!" Fiona laughed. "He really is my Apprentice."
"I see..." Charlotte said. "I am Lady Charlotte, Magnus. Welcome to my home."
"Thank you very much, Your Ladyship," Magnus said, taking Charlotte's hand and kissing it "I hope we won't be a burden to you. I already feel bad for imposing on a Lady of such beauty and elegance."
"My, my... such manners, and such a sweet talker... Fiona, I officially hate you..."
"Oh, you don't know anything yet..." Fiona said, grinning at Lady Charlotte and then leaning to whisper in her ear. They both laughed conspiratorially. Magnus squirmed in his spot.
"Well, let's get you two settled first..." Charlotte said and waved to a servant.
Soon enough, Magnus found himself in a spacious and comfortable room, all for himself. Since he didn't have the role of a servant, he wasn't staying in a room adjacent to his Mistress. He became so used to staying in the same rooms with Fiona over the years that he felt completely out of place.
"Enter!" Magnus replied to the rapping at his room door. A small, pretty blonde maid entered the room.
"Betty!" Magnus exclaimed, smiling. The scenes from the village he first saw her in, and scenes of his dramatic fight with Fellcarn rushed through his mind. Betty was a gem they found in that remote village, and Fiona had found employment for her with Lady Charlotte...
"Hello, sir," Betty said, smiling.
"There are no sirs here, Betty. I am just Magnus."
"All right, but when the Lady can hear us, I will have to call you sir," she said in her usual sweet manner.
"So how are you doing Betty?"
"Oh, really good. I like it here. Lady Charlotte treats me nicely... and fairly. I really am grateful to Lady Fiona."
"That's good to hear. Anyway, you don't need to bother with my needs here, you know I can take care of everything by myself. I will only need the occasional change of sheets..."
Betty nodded.
"Lady Fiona wanted to let you know that she would like you to accompany her and Lady Charlotte to a gathering at The University this evening."
"Of, course. That leaves the day for me to explore the city."
***
Magnus walked down the street, taking in the incredible rush and buzz of the people one could only see in the capital. He had never been in a city of this size, and he was fascinated with the sheer chaos of it all. Looking around, he marveled at the stone buildings that spoke of fine stonemasons and craftsmen who had built them. The number of fine and subtle decorations in the stonework was a true testimony of their talent and effort. Passing through several squares and markets, he would stop to listen to a bard singing a song about a legendary hero and his battles against evil, and the tale of his tragic love. And just when the story would bring the crowd to the verge of tears, the bard would add a happy twist, giving the song a bitter-sweet taste that would leave the crowd hopeful and happy enough to reward his efforts with coin.
At another street corner, Magnus saw a jongleur standing on his hands, and still somehow juggling a couple of sticks.
"My ten coppers say he won't last another 20 seconds!" a man in the crowd shouted.
"Twenty coppers that he will fall on his ass!" another added.
"Fifty coppers that his dick will fall out of his pants!" a bearded man shouted, prompting a round of laughter.
Magnus turned away and walked to another square where a much larger crowd watched in relative silence. He pushed through to see a pretty girl dressed in an oversized cloak perform... something.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Prepare to be amazed! I will now show you true magic!" she exclaimed with the confidence of someone who had done the trick many times already.
"There are no energies present, so she isn't using magic... Must be some trick that requires her to wear that huge cloak..."
Magnus mused, watching the girl float in a sitting position, while apparently holding herself in the air only by the strength of her finger pushing down on a shiny metal stick that stood upright. The crowd murmured with interest and approval as she smiled, showing that she was floating effortlessly.
"There is some kind of a transparent rope she is hanging on!" one citizen said, looking around and nodding, trying to seem smart.
"Hanging onto what? There is nothing above her... Ah yes, of course! She has a rope tied to the clouds!" the other exclaimed in mockery. A roar of laughter followed, and even Magnus chuckled. A few more 'clever' attempts were shot down in a similar way, while the girl kept smiling at the crowd.
"Forget about the floating... Let's see what is underneath that cloak!" one of the citizens said with a half-drunken voice. A roar of approval followed, and Magnus could see a hint of worry on the girl's face.
"Yes, such a pretty face! We want to see the rest of you!" a big-bellied man shouted.
"Show us just a hint of cleavage, we don't ask for much!" another voice chimed in.
"Now gentlemen, please. Even if I am capable of magic, I am still a lady..." the girl exclaimed, raising a hand in a pacifying manner. She could see the crowd going sour. Magnus guessed she would like to withdraw, but she couldn't do it without revealing her trick.
