There was a knock at the door. Dev got up and went to answer it, as this would be his first visitor to his new house. Dev opened the door, and there was Lord Benaldin standing outside in the sleet.
"Well, aren't you going to invite me in? The weather out here is terrible," Lord Benaldin said and made to enter.
Dev moved aside and let his superior into the house.
"So this is the mansion you bought?" Lord Benaldin asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Hardly a mansion, my lord. But I do like it a lot," Dev answered sincerely.
"Well, show me around your home," Lord Benaldin suggested, a bit forcefully.
Dev gave him a look, but 'owner's pride' won out, and he took Lord Benaldin on a tour, room by room. Dev introduced his cook, Erica, to Lord Benaldin.
"She is the niece of the cook at the Eagle's Claw Inn, and so far I have not regretted hiring her. I have one other hire, but he goes home to his family during the evening hours.
His name is Ralph Lintle, and he is my maintenance man," Dev said at the completion of the tour.
"A nice place you have here Devlin. I notice that your library is a bit short of books. I have a few extra, and if you tell me what you like, I will send a few over," Lord Benaldin said.
"That would be most kind my lord. Anything to do with magic, and history, would be most welcome, my lord. I am woefully short of knowledge on the history of the kingdom and of other kingdoms as well," Dev answered.
They had moved back to the library by this time, and while the fireplace was burning, there was nothing to read in the room, except for Dev's book of magic.
"You have lived here for two weeks now Devlin, and have not yet invited any of your peers at the palace to a party. You might want to correct that oversight," Lord Benaldin told him.
"I had thought to invite a few my lord, but when the weather cleared up. Say next spring," Dev responded a bit hesitantly.
"I wouldn't wait as long as that. Make it a month from now, unless it is snowing to badly. People will be thankful to have a party to go to. Now then, what are we eating this evening?" Lord Benaldin said, inviting himself to supper.
"Perhaps I should instruct your driver to put your horse and carriage in the carriage house, if you're going to stay much longer. I am sure your driver and horse would appreciate it," Dev told Lord Benaldin who nodded agreement.
Dev produced a bottle of wine that he knew was one of Lord Benaldin's favorites, and gave it to him along with a crystal glass.
"I will return after seeing to your driver, horse, and carriage, my lord," Dev said and left to get his cloak.
Dev went outside and directed Lord Benaldin's driver to take the horse and carriage around back to the carriage house.
He returned to his house and stopped in the kitchen to ask Erica if there was enough for a guest.
"Of course Sir Devlin. I always make enough food to feed at least two more people than are in the house. You never know when guests will drop in," Erica responded cheerfully.
When Dev asked what she was making exactly, she responded a leg of lamb. Dev's mouth watered at the thought. Lamb was his favorite after all.
He returned to find Lord Benaldin examining the little iron stove in the front room.
"I noticed that you have one of these in just about every room," Lord Benaldin commented.
"Yes my lord. I find I like them, and they warm a room well enough in the winter," Dev responded.
"Did you know that the artisan who created these things is making a larger one for kitchens? He is still developing it, but it sounds like a useful item to own if he is successful," Lord Benaldin said.
As the storm worsened outside, it got darker much faster than usual. The sleet had long since turned to snow and it was piling up quickly outside.
"Would you like to stay the night sir? I can put you and your driver up with no problem. I have plenty of space," Dev asked.
Lord Benaldin looked outside at the snow coming down and the depth of it as of now.
"That might be best, Devlin. We can drink your fine wine, and discuss what to do about the mages guild, which is trying to pressure me to get you to translate some spells for them," Lord Benaldin casually stated.
Supper that night was served in the dining room. It was the first time that Dev had had the occasion to use it and he was proud of it. He lit it with magic though, casting little balls of light into the air to hover over them. He lit his house that way.
"Have you thought about lamps as a source of light?" Lord Benaldin asked amused.
"Yes, my lord. When I find the kind I like, I will purchase some. In the meantime, I am more than capable of providing light in my home," Dev responded.
"That you are," was the murmured response
Supper was very good. Erica outdid herself with the lamb. It was served with potatoes and carrots. Lord Benaldin helped himself to several glasses of wine and Dev contented himself with some excellent ale.
After the meal, they retired to the library, and Dev built the fire back up in the fireplace.
"You really need to get something into these bookshelves Devlin. This room looks bare without anything in and on the shelves," Lord Benaldin commented on the obvious.
"I know. It is going to take a bit of time to get the books I want. Don't worry, if you ever come back, it will probably be full then," Dev replied cheerfully.
"All right, let's discuss the situation that seems to be developing. The mages guild is trying to apply pressure on me to have you copy some spells for them. Just what spells are these, and why did you refuse them to begin with?" Lord Benaldin asked curiously.
"Well, my lord, I found a book in the king's library, while we were waiting at that ball, that had a book with two spells in it. I was reading the book when the king entered. He asked to see the book and I passed it over," Dev started.
Lord Benaldin listened as Dev went further into the story, sipping his wine. Dev went on with the subsequent request to see the king's Wizard Wonacky. He explained about the near order to copy the two spells in the book, and then Dev responding with he was not a member of the guild and was not at their beck and call.
"You still have not told me what the spells were," Lord Benaldin said.
"Didn't I? One was a spell of teleportation, and the other a spell of summoning," Dev answered.
"Hmm, no wonder the guild is exerting so much pressure. You can read a book that is known to be from Telgar the mage, and it contains two spells that they would probably give their first born for. Off hand I would say unless the king orders you to, don't give them the spells," Lord Benaldin instructed.
"I had no intention of giving them the spells, my lord. I definitely did not like the way the king's wizard was acting towards me. As a matter of fact, I have placed a number of spells on and in my home, to protect it, its contents, and me, from 'stray' spells coming my way from other magic users," Dev said darkly.
There was a knock on the library door and Dev opened it. The cook Erica was standing outside the door.
"I lit the stove in one of the guest bedrooms for his lordship, and another for his lordship's driver. Unless you have anything more for me, I will go to bed, Sir Devlin," she said.
"That is fine Erica. By the way, that was an excellent meal you served this evening, thank you," Devlin told her.
"Thank you, Sir," Erica said with a blush and a curtsy.
She turned and hurried down the hall and up the stairs and Dev closed the door. Lord Benaldin chuckled.
"I think you will do well with your servants. But I think you need to get one or two more. A maid at least. The cook should only worry about the meals," Lord Benaldin advised.
"Yes, my lord. I am looking for one already. I have my man Ralph looking for me," Dev responded.
"Ah, yes. This Ralph whom you let go home at the end of the day? I have a firm belief that a servant should reside at their place of employment. Otherwise there is to great a chance of them showing up late for work, or not at all," Lord Benaldin stated.
They talked for maybe another hour and then decided they were tired enough to go to bed. Dev led his superior to the guest bedroom, and the little stove had done an excellent job of warming the room.
The next morning Dev was up and dressed by dawn. He always rose early, and had since he was a little boy. He could hear Erica in the kitchen making breakfast. He looked out the window in his room, pulling the heavy drape to the side and looked at the snow outside.
It was still snowing, and the flakes were big. Dev frowned, trying to remember something. Then he had it. There was a description of a spell for clearing snow from surfaces.
He went to the library and grabbed his magic book... the one he had bought down south... and thumbed through the book. He went back to the beginning of the book after failing to find it, and looked at the two pages of spell descriptions and page numbers.
There it was, just as he remembered. He turned to the page and read the spell. As usual, it firmly impressed itself into his mind. He sighed. He now had almost two dozen spells memorized from this book.
Dev went to the kitchen and noticed that both Erica and Lord Benaldin's driver were both there. Dev could smell the fragrance of the tea in the air as Erica worked in the kitchen.
"Good morning Sir Devlin. Breakfast will be ready in thirty minutes. Your tea is ready now, if you would like some," Erica said briskly.
"Thank you Erica. I will take it to the dining room with me," Dev said and grabbed the tray with the tea and cups.
He hoped that Lord Benaldin liked tea. He sat and drank a cup of tea. He was so glad that he had finally decided to drink a cup of this that time with the wizard. Tea was a very good drink indeed.
He was just contemplating going upstairs to see if Lord Benaldin was up when that very person walked into the dining room.
"Good morning, my lord. Did you sleep well?" Dev asked.
"Well enough Devlin. I looked out the window and it looks like we might have problems getting to work this morning. That is some deep snow out there, and it still snowing," Lord Benaldin said a bit sourly.
"I don't know. I read a spell that will clear snow from my path. The description says it uses the power of the sun to do this spell, so it can only be cast during hours of daylight. I was going to try it on my drive after breakfast," Dev responded.
"Tell me about it," Lord Benaldin stated as he poured himself a cup of tea.
"Well, first I have to prep the spell, then I mark an area on the ground before me, just drawing a line in the snow. Then I cast the spell, and walk forward and that line moves with me. The energy of the sun fills the line I drew in the snow, and melts it away... according to the book," Dev explained.
"Interesting. I think this is a spell you should share with the king's wizard. It is useful and there are times we really need clear roads to get places. Also, I can see the benefit of clearing some of the city streets for the citizens to be able to get to merchants. Yes, a most ingenious spell," Lord Benaldin mused aloud.
About that time Ralph showed up from the direction of the kitchen.
"Good morning sir Devlin. I can have a bunch of lads here in about an hour to clear your drive if you like," Ralph stated.
"No Ralph. I have a different way of clearing the snow. I want you to keep the stoves and fireplaces in all the rooms going today while I am gone, and make sure Erica has all she needs," Dev directed.
Ralph acknowledged his instructions and left to go to the kitchen. Shortly, Ralph came back carrying platters loaded with breakfast. Erica went to a cabinet along one wall and got out plates for the two men sitting at the table.
Breakfast consisted of sausages, porridge and honey to sweeten the porridge, eggs, toasted bread, butter and apple butter. All in all a most satisfactory breakfast and Dev thanked Erica for another fine meal.
"I must say, your cook is quite accomplished. As two fine of a meal as any I have ever had. If you're not careful, someone might steal her from you," Lord Benaldin said, sighing and leaning back from the table.
Dev excused himself and went to get his winter cloak. After he donned it, he went out the front door and got started. He walked to the drive, and prepped the spell he needed. He then drew a line in the snow. After that, he held his left arm up at the sky, left forefinger pointing upward and his right finger pointing at the line in the snow he drew, and cast the spell.
He could feel something like energy going through him to the line in the snow. He could swear he saw something like liquid light filling the line. The snow disappeared in that line, and the ground was revealed.
He started walking forward and as he did, the snow melted away and was gone, just like that. He was amazed at what he was doing. This was actually a lot of fun. He experimented with speeding up and slowing down. The line always stayed the same distance in front of him.
Soon he was at his gate, but he didn't want to stop. He went outside and into the road. He cleared about a hundred feet of road before he stopped. He released the spell and turned around and started back to his home.
That was when he noticed people had come out to watch what he was doing. He waved to them and turned into his drive. Lord Benaldin was outside with his carriage hitched and ready to go.
"Think you can clear the road all the way to the palace?" Lord Benaldin asked Dev.
"I believe so, my lord," Dev responded.
"Whenever you're ready, then," Lord Benaldin replied with an expectant look at Dev.
Sighing softly to himself, Dev turned around and walked back to the place in the road he had left off at. He heard the carriage close behind him. Once again he prepped everything and cast the spell. He started towards the palace, the road clearing before him, knowing he was in for a long walk to work.
Edited by TeNderLoin
Volentrin