Home. That had a wonderful sound to it, and she mulled it over in her mind a bit. Black Iris's Boarding House was definitely her home. Black Iris, and the house, had welcomed her with open arms, and nobody seemed to have any complaints with the practice of Tamara running the household when Black Iris was busy elsewhere ... or simply making changes/improvements as she saw the need.
Now was a time for another of those changes.
There were many rumors of slavers making forays near Arden, and while slavery was not legal in the area, it was well-known that many residents were less-than-legal in their dealings. She couldn't stop slavery, but she could, and would protect the residents of the house as best she could. The house wards put in place by Black Iris's late husband were old, and not as comprehensive as she'd like.
Her blue eyes narrowed in thought. She'd promised Black Iris that she would carve the gateposts, and now she wanted to enhance the wards as well. Perhaps the two could be combined ...? A quick check with Black Iris showed that the old widow was in complete agreement with her over the desire to make the boarding house a safe haven for one and all.
With a twinge of sorrow, she went to her room and rummaged through the backpack holding Kyle's belongings, searching for the ill-fated jewelry that had spurred his murder. She would never wear it, because of what it symbolized, but it should be perfect for what she had in mind. Five minutes later, she had the jewelry taken apart, leaving a pile of silver on the bed, 4 large emeralds of matching size set to one side, and all the rest of the gems stored away in a small sack.
The silver went into a metal pot, the gems into a pouch, and assorted carving tools and a small paintbrush were rolled up into a bundle. <*All right. I think I have everything. I just hope this works. I haven't done wards this comprehensive in well over a hundred years.*>
With that last thought, she walked out of the boarding house, down the path, and through the front gate. Everything got dropped in a pile beside the gate as she eyed the plain oaken gateposts. The wood was weathered, but still in good condition, and the tops of the posts were taller than the gate, making them perfect for carving.
Tamara rummaged through her bundled tools, set several out for later use, grabbed one of the larger blades and a mallet, and set to work. For several hours, her absentmineded humming played counterpoint to the sounds of wood being carefully chipped off the gateposts. A faint blue glow of magic appeared around her as she worked simultaneously on the physical anchor and the magical foundation for the wards.
Finally, the sound of carving stopped, and she groaned slightly as she stretched stiff muscles. <*Oooof. I might not appear older than 25, but I definitely feel all of my 340 years today! Oh well. At least I'm almost done the physical side of things*>
Slender fingers reached into the pouch, and she retrieved the emeralds. Two were affixed to a prepared spot on one gatepost, and two in the other.
A fingerflame of magic was then extended toward the metal pot containing the silver, melting the metal within. Quickly, she pulled out the paintbrush, and began to apply the silver in careful strokes to first one post, then the other, re-heating the silver as it cooled.
Then she stepped back, appraising her work. The plain oaken gateposts had been transformed into two carven dragons, sitting in poses that made them appear to be surveying any who walked up to the gate. Faceted emerald eyes twinkled and sparkled in the sunlight, realistic silver claws looked ready to rend at will, and a light silvery sheen glinted off the carven scales.
<*Dragons for a house built by a Dragon Lord. Fitting, methinks.*>
A smile of satisfaction crossed her face as she spent a few moments surveying her work. Then she gathered everything back up, and set it all inside the gate. <*Now comes the hard part.*>
Settling crosslegged onto the path just inside the gates, emerald silk skirt puddling into a shimmering pool around her, she took several deep breaths. Once she was grounded and centered, the blue mage-glow surrounded her once again.
To those not magically enclined it must have been a boring sight: a petite redhead sitting on the ground, motionless, with the air around her shimmering slightly.
Those with any gift for magic sensing, if any had been around, would have seen much more.
With the ease of long practice, she wove strands of magic around the house, using the wall and the gate as her boundaries, and the gateposts as anchors. Gently, she pulled the current house wards into the web, nudging, coaxing and guiding the magics into the desired pathways.
At last it was done, leaving her limp and exhausted.
With the last of her physical energy, she pushed her bundle of tools under one of the bushes lining the path, shifted into lynx-form, and crawled after them. <*Not 'nuff energy to even walk up th' stairs, much less ...*> She was alseep before the thought was complete.
The next day a note carefully penned on parchment was placed on the bulletin board to the boarding house:
I know a lot of people have been concerned with the increase in violence in Arden, as well as with the rumors of slavery. After consultation with Black Iris, I have done what I could to make this house a safe haven.
I pray that the newly-carven gateposts are the only physical manifestation of the magics that have been added to this property, for that means thatviolence has not visited us. However, I wish you all to be aware of the new wards, and their functions, for I fear they will be put to use in the months to come.
No one with ill-intent towards anyone on this property, can pass the front gates. Those trying to enter for malicious purposes will find themselves stopped in their tracks the moment they try to cross the boundaries. If they persist in their attempt, the wards are designed to stun, as need, while additional aid is summoned. For now, Black Iris and I are the only ones who will be warned when the wards have to go into the more advanced stun level, and can trigger the wards to stronger levels, as needed. Any other tenants who wish to be Wardens for the house, and be warned when there is danger to those therein, should contact me ... once I finish my sleeping-binge from the spellcasting.
Additionally, the wards are set up to prevent any violence by those already on the property. So, even should someone come onto the property in apparent peacefulness, but then be triggered to violence, the wards will stop them. The one negative to this is weapons practice, which might tend to confuse the wards. Barra, I've set aside a spot out back where the wards are nullified for your workouts. Once we can find a skilled carpenter, we'll see about putting a small salle out in the field behind the back wall, as well as a magical workroom.
It is my hope that this will allow beings of all races to feel safe and protected here. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please feel free to contact me.
~~Tamara
A few days later, Tam saw a rather ... spectacular ... demonstration of the wards in action.
She'd been awakened for an emergency pre-dawn healing at the nearby inn, and had just returned home as the horizon was just starting to lighten. She decided to stay up and watch the sunrise before taking a much-deserved nap. If not for that, she would have missed all but the magical backlash of multiple levels of the wards being triggered.
One moment, there was nobody in sight, the next, there a blur, and a pale figure skidded to a stop inside the gate. Right behind her, two additional figures seemed to bounce off an invisible wall as they tried to pass the gate. Apparently undaunted, the two men threw themselves at the mage-barrier with preternatural speed, snarling. The woman inside the gate moved quickly to the porch, eyeing her pursuers, and the flickers of blue mage-energy from the barrier. Tam had also begun to glow the same shade of blue, as her personal wards were activated.
She spoke with a musical accent. "Allo, madame. My thanks if it is your magics that stopped them. I seek ... sanctuary ... for the day. Might you have a room available?"
"Yes, of course. Please come on in. We can discuss this inside ..." Tam paused a moment. "... this evening. Try the first door on the right. It leads to the basement. I have a feeling you will be more comfortable with a room down there." She thanked all the gods that the house was as magical as it was, for she knew there would be a room ready for occupancy in the basement by the time the woman reached it.
The woman flashed her a startled, but grateful look, then gave a half-bow. "My life is in your hands, ma amie. I am indebted to you."
With that, she was gone between one blink of an eye and the next, disappearing into the house just as the first ray of sunlight started appearing over the horizon.
Meanwhile, the two at the gate had attacked the wards enough that they had been transfixed in place. Tam, narrowed her eyes as she watched the sunlight hit them. <*Hmm, this could be messy.*>
Pained shrieks were heard from the front gate, as both figures started to smoke. One broke away, running for the shadows, but he didn't make it far before he burst into flame as the sunlight hit him. His companion that was frozen at the gate, suffered the same fate, albiet a bit more noisily.
<*Oh dear, I should have expected that. So much for anyone sleeping.*> Cringing at the sounds and sights of vampires combusting, she quickly lashed out with bolts of mage-energy, and put them out of their misery, permanently.
As Black Iris stepped out onto the porch, wrapped in a terrycloth bathrobe, Tam smiled sheepishly at the old woman. "Well, at least that part of the wards work well. Even those who are supernaturally strong cannot break through if they are coming with ill-intent. Now we come to the fun part - testing the internal ones."
"Oh, how so, Tam?"
"Well, those two were vampires. But so is the woman who just went downstairs." As Black Iris's eyes widened, Tamara nodded.
Now do you see the true meaning of what you asked for with the wards? Protection for any as long as they mean no harm to anyone within these walls. It seems that the word has already gone around about the wards. She knew just where to come and just what to ask. And if she knows that, she should know what rules she has to follow while she's here. I'll speak with her after sunset tonight. For now, I think I'm going to get some sleep, and then go out hunting."
"Hunting? Don't bother, Tam-lass. We should be fine with meat for a few more days. Rest up. And aye, the protection for any of any persuasion is just what my husband would have wanted from this house." The old woman smiled fondly at the redhead. "Ye did well, Tam-lass."
"Um, we have a passable amount of meat, and we can preserve any surplus, but there's more to a fresh kill than just the meat." Tam tried to figure out a diplomatic way of phrasing, and failed, knowing the woman would understand.
Black Iris's mouth dropped open as she added the concept of a vampire under her roof to a need to go hunting.
Once again Tamara nodded. "She looked pretty worn out, even for what I know of her kind. I figure it might not hurt to have some fresh deer blood or such waiting for her when she awakens. For some of her kind, it is hard to react rationally when hungry, so it's best to try to prepare in advance so we can all put our best feet forward."
And with those kind acts began a long friendship between a healer/energy mage, and one Chanson du Sang, a Malkavian vampire with a strong moral code, and some amazing gifts. Chanson's story (still being webbed) can be found at the Music is Magic Nightclub.
