Clothier

Clothier

                "And that's the last of the basics of the trade," said Vanna. She took a seat for what Gel was sure was the first time in two days, and motioned for Gel to do the same.

                "Is learning everything really necessary?" asked Gel. Vanna had spent the past two days taking Gel through the basics of being a 'general clothier' - which meant becoming a journeyman in tailoring, sewing, dressmaking, and a host of other usually separate trades.

                "Well," said Vanna, pausing for a moment as if she was listening for any other presence, "Your cover needs to work. Only an idiot would fail to pick up the basics within a few weeks, but we can slow down after you've picked that up. We'll have to as there are other things you need to be taught."

                "I guess," replied Gel with a weary sigh. She hadn't had the time to sit down for two days either - the last time she sat down had been when Vanna removed the 'killing spell' from her. The few times Vanna had been working (only a few hours on each day - she was apparently 'ahead' on most orders) Gel had been tasked with practicing or reading something. She'd decided that Vanna's endless energy was probably something to do with her links to the Magi. A dark power of some kind.

                "You'll get the hang of it. It's not much different from working a field all day, excepting that you need to use your brain more," said Vanna with a smile. "Don't start unwinding yet - I want to do some combat training tonight. But I think we'll have a little discussion first. If you're going to work for us, you deserve to know a little bit more about who we are, what we're do. The information Mike refused to share."

                "Thank you for trusting me," said Gel, sincerely.

                "Well, you know enough to ruin a lot already. It's not much more of a leap - I won't be telling you the details of our other operations, just background."

                Gel nodded. "Got it."

                "I'll start with the basics. We're a large family, rather than an organisation of individuals. We all descend from a handful of survivors of the portal era from whom many of us have inherited their magical power. Our power has waxed and waned over the millennia, but through the ages we have mastered many spells and skills (including some of the sigil magic).

                "About a thousand years ago we decided to spread out, rather than remaining in one area. The fortress was all but abandoned. Branches of the family were established in many cities and nations - we were amongst those who fled the peninsula sixty years ago, and I myself come from across the sea.

                "Despite our migration, all members of the family remain dedicated to the one cause we uphold - protecting our fortress and the towns that supply it. Green Creek and the other towns all have rumours and legends of our protection, and though they do not know it they supply us in the desert.

                "Now that the towns are under threat from the Thrath we have returned to protect them. Most have made their way to our fortress already, but more come from across the seas still. Some, like myself, can barely use our magic (or are completely unable to). We cannot become Magi so we have different assignments and uses. Until recently my task was mostly to produce and provide clothing (such as the robes I'm sure you've seen), with keeping an eye on the town only an afterthought. That has changed somewhat.

                "We suspect the Thrath are - somehow - behind the increasing agitation of the towns. It's possible that some of the refugees are Thrath, keeping their insane bloodlust in check. Because of this I - and others - have become part of the defences as well, though in secret.

                "It has become obvious that the Thrath intend to move north. Most believe - especially amongst the refugees - that they will move by sea. They have forgotten that the Thrath burnt their boats (and most shipyards) upon arrival. They have a handful of ships, and none of the resources they need to build more. They will come through the pass. We hope to stop them.

                "The towns do not have the capability to fend off the Thrath should they come, and even if they knew they could not hope to hold them at the desert. Our fortress is not the only defence we have prepared, but it is the greatest. It is... Big. Bigger than you might think, even having seen the inside."

                Vanna paused, then stood up. She motioned for Gel to follow her over to her desk, where she took a seat. Gel pulled another seat up alongside her as Vanna pulled a folded piece of paper from a stack of orders. She unfolded it, revealing a map of the area, centred on the desert. Gel recognised it vaguely - she had seen several hand-drawn approximations in her life, especially when her village had been planning their flight.

                "The fortress is roughly here, in the centre of the desert. I don't actually know how to find it, in case I... Anyway, over here-" Vanna pointed at a dot north-east of the desert, quite close to the coast (there was a squiggle underneath, probably the name) "-is Green Creek. The other towns are Lostdale, Bald Plateau, Higgins, Seventh Sign, Red Forest, Far Passage and Knotling," said Vanna, pointing at each town that formed a semi-circle around the desert, as well as a couple further out.

                "Most of the towns have all the trades they need to survive, and one or two resources the rest do not have, which are traded. For example, Lostdale and Higgins have mines, Far Passage has a port, and Green Creek has a wide expanse of farmland around it. The details aren't necessary, but overall the region - including some distance beyond what this map shows - is dominated by large and fairly insular towns.

                "Of the towns, most are quite appreciative of our work. Some, however - like Green Creek and Higgins - are less closely linked. There were not families living openly in either town, so naturally fear and suspicion is higher than in the others. Even these towns were, until recently, quite reliably 'for' us rather than against us.

                "In recent months a number of refugees have begun... Actively agitating against us. Instead of merely repeating rumours (or a close call) some have taken it upon themselves to try and organise groups to directly oppose us or force the towns to intervene. Although we have stepped up our operations of late, we have been operating for the past decade - the shift to 'active resistance' is unusual, though perhaps just overdue. Some do more than oppose us, spreading dreams of a triumphant return home.

                "By and large their efforts of these groups are ineffective. In many of the towns, they have merely served to turn opinion against the refugees (which has the unfortunate side effect of increasing the growth of the groups). In a couple of towns, however, there has been an effect on support for our cause.

                "The long term damage to our capabilities could very well prevent us from dealing with the Thrath, and in a worst case scenario we may be outright destroyed through attrition. In response to this, you and several others have been recruited as additional agents, with... Leverage held over you to prevent any information from leaking. There are many tasks other than assassination; and many that are not great enough to merit release after completing only one for us. There are other agents in Green Creek, for example."

                Vanna stopped talking for a few moments. "I see," said Gel, filling the silence. "Should I really be told so much just because I'm working for you?"

                "Yes. You should at least be up to speed, so there is no need for explanation at an inopportune time. As one of our agents, you have earned a measure of trust. If you serve us well, you might one day be family," replied Vanna.

                "Really?" asked Tadyel. "You'd let a refugee in on all your secrets? One you've forced to kill, or worse?"

                "You've killed, Gel. For us. So we've given you a place and a role. You're no longer a refugee. So, one day, you might no longer be just an agent," answered Vanna.

                Tadyel mulled it over for a while, then said, "I'm doing this for the comfort of my people and myself, not for your family."

                "That's good enough," said Vanna. Her smile was - for once - slightly predatory. Tadyel almost shivered.