Regynn Winters

Waiting

I should have been a mage. I wonder how you become a mage… is it something you’re born with? A talent? Is it too late for me to start now?

The white stones in the walls and floor gleamed in the light of the candles while the pale blue and white marble squares marched around the room like decorative blocks of ice. She perched on the edge of the bench, her back ramrod straight and her hands clutched  in her lap; she resisted the urge to tap her foot.

Mages have all manner of important things to do. They can open portals for one… and they can teleport. And conjure food and drink. Oh, and they can polymorph. Wouldn’t it be fun to turn people into sheep. I know exactly who I’d turn into a sheep right now.

She watched as a harried looking assistant rushed from the room, a stack of papers a foot high clutched desperately in her hands. A farmer sitting next to her was called; the man clutched his hat tightly in his fists, ducked his head in acknowledgement and followed a gruff looking gentleman through a side door.

And in battle their useful too. They can stop magic users from casting. They can create ice barriers, slow the enemy down, and conjure elements to do their bidding. They can even go invisible.

She could feel the cold seeping up through the linen slippers she wore, her toes begin to cramp from it.  Her dress, a good, heavy fabric, provided as much warmth as a piece of cheesecloth, and her cloak wasn’t any better. She’d clamped her teeth together tightly to keep them from chattering until her jaw had begun to ache.

I think though that I would want to be a fire mage. They can breathe like dragons, call fire from the sky, and throw fireballs. I bet they’re never cold. Yup, I want to be a fire mage.

There were blue velvet draperies but they didn’t cover windows because there weren’t any. Nothing but white stone blocks bigger than she was, bracketed by cold grey columns that held up a vaulted ceiling. Her eyes traveled upward and she shuddered. All that stone just waiting to come tumbling down on top of her head. Only marginally better than Ironforge. In the middle of that lofty ceiling hung a single lantern; it wasn’t a massive lantern, in fact it looked too small to be of any benefit in this room yet its light bathed the space beneath in a golden glow. Fire mages.

I have no idea why I’m even here. I’m not a priest. Not really. I can’t heal anyone.  I do good deeds but anyone can do good deeds. I sat here all day yesterday waiting and here I am again. Still waiting. Why did they send me here? What could I possibly do for the nobles? It must have been a mistake. They really didn’t want me. They wanted someone else. I was supposed to do the mending at the orphanage today. And pick up the food to deliver to the soup kitchen. And cook at the soup kitchen.

She glanced around, noting that she was the only one left sitting in the Hall of Petitioners. Again. She couldn’t see outside but she was certain she’d heard the bells tolling, five times. It was the end of the day and most everyone would be going home now, home to a hot dinner. Her stomach growled in response.

Should I just go? I think I’ll go. No one wants me here and there are other people that rely on me. I’m just gonna go.

“Miss Winters, the Baron will see you now.” The gruff looking gentleman from before stood in front of her, glowering down his crooked nose as if he were looking at something beneath him. Regynn gasped and stumbled to her feet, “Yes sir. Thank you sir.” She murmured as he showed into the side door.