Science and Dragons: July 2011

How final are these chapters? Or will you end up doing more editing or drafting?
Your second question? I thought that just one would overload up brain!
When you have finished waffling answer it, if you please.
Oh yes, well these drafts are more or less done, but they are only first drafts, I will be rewriting the bits I don't like. The basic plot is what I am trying to write but since it will be some time before I complete it I thought I would go ahead and submit this now.
Alright.

Chapter 4

May, 18, 1949, Tecon province Brilsion.

“Uhhhhhhssshhhh...” Lucuse moaned as he nursed his throbbing head. As Jarro understood it the young snake changer had somehow, while under his master's watchful eye, managed to get drunk. Lucuse was muttering under his breath “Ordering me about like I was a child, I don't take that from anyone.” Though even feeling like someone was inserting white hot pokers into his head, Lucuse wasn't repentant.

There seemed to be little conversation about to happen here; the third minister gave a non-committal reply to the incoherent mumbling and started to stroll along the swaying corridor of the newfangled diesel train. It was the main line throughout Brilsion and carried thousand of people a year and for it to be replaced was to be expected. He still like the old steam trains better though. He remembered riding them when his father had business somewhere and would take him and his brothers along. Dad would sit in their compartment reading and let them scamper up and down the train, until they wore themselves out. Seeing the old trains replaced made him a little nostalgic.

Jarro sighed, then leaned against the window and gazed out. Grass spread like a green puddle from either side of the road, only a few isolated homesteads or patches of trees breaking up the endless green. It was peaceful, and mind numbingly dull. The minister glared at the inoffensive grass until someone laughed.

“It is not the grasses fault you know.” a young man with a head of messy dark hair smiled. Without the floor length robe he looked different, but the voice, even if it wasn't in his head this time, was the same. “I'm Edward of the magi.” he held out a hand in greeting.

“Jarro, third minister, what is not the grasses fault?” he queried shaking the profited hand.

“That you are bored. You looked as if you were attempting to set it alight.”

“I was not, I was merely observing it.”

“That was not observation, it was disdain at it's existence! Mayhap you were once insulted by a nasty piece of grass and have thenceforth carried a hatred of the green plant?” Edward gave him a wide eyed stare of innocence.

“And how could a plant insult me? They can't talk!” Jarro replied with a half grin. He knew this was a game of sorts and was happy to play along.

“Ever listened to one?”

A tapping of feet coming made him glace up to see Retin coming toward him. Jarro opened his mouth ready greet her but the expression on her face stopped him short.

“Here you are, I need you to come go though some documents,” Retin announced briskly, grabbing Jarro's arm. She turned to the mage bobbed a curtsy,”Excuse me sir,” Ice flecked her words as she glowered at the mage, then she whirled back to Jarro,”Come.” she ordered before dragging him down the hall and into a compartment in the next carriage. She pushed him on to the seat.

“What were you talking about with that man?” Retin stood arms folded, her voice hard.

“Huh?” Jarro stuttered, surprised. Retin rarely displayed anger, “Oh, um, how it is not the grasses fault I'm board? Why did you pull me away like that? Whatever I did to upset you this time, you had better tell me because I haven't a clue.”

The assassin continued glaring at him, ”That was one of the most powerful mages alive today, and a member of a group criminals.”

“Really?” Well this was news.

“I know him, not personally, but enough. In my...previous job-”

“When you were an assassin.” Jarro filled in helpfully.

“Yes, well I had many connection with the underground.”
“The underground? You mean the sewers?” He knew that this blatant misunderstanding of her would do absolutely nothing but he was really getting fed up with her arrogance and this was the best way to get back at her.

“No, an underground movement, they call themselves The Reformers, they are trying to change the Grycite government into a more fair system. At the moment the government controls everything. Food, resources, even people, what ever the High Counsel tells you, you do or else you could be executed for treason, anyone who speaks up just goes missing.” her eyes move to the window, “The idea behind the Reformers was a good one, but in the hundred or so years since it was first founded they have changed until they are as bad as the people they are trying to depose.”

“Um, if it is an Grycite thing why are they here is Brilsion?”

“I told you what it was, now it is a organisation that controls all criminal activities, it controls thieves, pickpockets, assassins, cut-throats, spies, black marketers, anyone who works were the law dares not go must have some connection to them. Now it is international, every capital has a branch of it.”

“Very interesting but what does this have to do with Edward?”

“He is involved with them, I don't know what position he holds but I bet it is important,he is in right up to his neck!”

“Any proof?” He doubted it, that mage, part of a terrorist underground moment? Sure he quite powerful, and more than a little weird, but seriously?

“I have never heard of him by name, only reputation. They say a-”

“Who's they?” Jarro asked, once again aiming to annoy.

Retin paused, “What?”

“Who are they?”

“Oh just people, ones I talked with, but that isn't the point so kindly stop asking your stupid questions. What I was saying was there was an apparently a well known figure, a human mage, and one who tapped into his power young”

Jarro opened his mouth to ask what she meant by tapped into his power, but Retin knew him well enough to guess his reaction.

“You what to know what it means?” Jarro gave her an expectant look, “Fine,” she gestured in defeat. “You know how mages never seem to age? Sure there are plenty of old mages but they don't get any older.” Jarro nodded, “The reason for this is simple, they are running off the magic inside them. It will run out anywhere from twenty to six hundred years, and then they will continue ageing as per the norm and loose their magic. But while it lasts they do not age physically.”

“Is that where they get the power for spells?”

“No, but they do use it to get the power.”

“So they do use it for spells.”

Retin massaged her forehead, “I just said they didn't! You know of the magic layer? It is just above the atmosphere. Well using their inner source they channel that down and use it.”

“Okay, fine but still how do you know it was Edward?”

“To activate a mages inner source needs a lot a will power, most are well past middle aged when they tap into it. He only just past childhood! There are only two others alive today even close to that age and both are female. I also have his description, it matches, more or less, I have no doubts as to who he is.”

I bet you don't, Jarro thought, aloud he said “Sounds like you put a lot of effort into this.” He leaned forward, she started, eyes flicking to him and back to the grass slipping past the window. “And you know a lot about them also.”

“I was part of the Reformers for-” She stopped, one hand flying to her mouth.

“Really? So you dragged me here to tell me that someone I was talking to comes from the same organisation as you?”

“I quit! He is still active!” Retin spat.

“So?” Jarro snapped back, “And how do you know that if you are no longer working for them?”

“I-I- He was not the type who would quit!”

“I thought you said you never met him. No let me guess, you hear it from 'Them'.”

Retin stuttered to a halt.

“How well known is this organisation?” There is a mountain of information she isn't telling, however Jarro considered, she is unlikely to say any more for now, perhaps Edward would be more forthcoming.

“Hard to find anyone these days without a tie to them.”

Jarro sank back, and murmured to himself, “Hmm, so how come I have never even heard of them...”

Retin ignored or simply didn't hear the last statement, “I want you to say away from that mage Edward in any case.”

“Why?”

“Because-”

“Because I am an dull witted fool who trusts everyone, is that it? What are you afraid I'll do?

Put poison in someone food if I am told it is medicine? Give away government secrets?” Jarro stood and stepped toward Retin, his fiery eyes watching her closely, she was try to block any way he could gain information on The reformers, Jarro was certain of it.

“You are very trusting!” She stood her ground against him, her voice now a little shrill.

“Trusting?” Jarro glared incredulous at her.

“You trusted me didn't you? An unknown girl with a wild tale of an assassin?” Retin now stood nose to nose with him.

“You thought I trusted you?” He took in her now shocked look, and realised that she had. The intelligent and skilled assassin believed that he had from the beginning trusted her, and she called him naive!

“But you did everything I said, you put all the guards on alert, and put me in a nearby room! Why would you have done that if you didn't trust at least a little?” she desperately pointed out.

“That was so I could keep an close eye on you. Not to watch out for some none existent killer that you just 'happened' to hear about.”

“But, but, “ she shook her head, bewildered.

“You never even suspected?” Jarro paused, biting his lip, “Well you know now. Still think I'm too trusting?” he turned and walked to the door, halting as his hand touch the handle, “If it makes you feel better I trust you now.” More or less he added in the privacy of his head, as door clicked shut behind him.

He leaned on the wall outside. So Retin had worked for the reformers, this explained a lot. But if she quite then who did she keep secretly meeting on her days off? Edward would be tough to get any info out of, but Retin wouldn't be telling him anything else. He'd just have to wait for his chance.

Inside Retin collapsed on to the bench, it rattled with the movement of the train,“You know I don't know whether to be angry that I believed him or proud that he didn't.” The secretary told the empty room.