Villains by Necessity

Author:Eve Forward
Language: eng
Format: epub

VII

They completed the crossing without further incident, and docked in Natodik with the morning tide. As they disembarked, yawning and blinking in the bright new sun, they were swept up into the brilliant dance of the land of magic.

Here at the main seaport, anything and everything could be traded. Stalls and shops everywhere overflowed out into the streets with rich merchandise: silks and spices, glassware and jewelry. In addition, Natodik, being a thaumocracy, did not simply tolerate magic, but actively encouraged it. Stores sold windservant bottles and wonderful magic potions promising everything from instant love to eternal youth; young magicians practiced their art, weaving beautiful illusions for the entertainment of passers-by. In secure stores, magic weapons could be found for the discriminating collector; no one would dream of being violent in the new Lightness of the world, and especially not here, in Natodik ... where the soft ocher of weathered walls was the same golden sandstone that built the high sweeping walls of Thaulara itself!

Although that fair city was far inland, its ruler was rumored to be able to see everything that happened in his domain. The eyes of Mizzamir, it was said, kept watch over all the people of Natodik ... and even, some said, the rest of the world.

Every citizen here wore the fashionable item of clothing associated with its patron Hero; even more rigidly than other lands did, since they were the only one among the Six whose patron was still alive. The standard garment here, from toddlers to matriarchs, was the traditional mage's working robe-coat, with the full sleeves and cords for fastening tight around the waist; but only true mages were allowed to wear their robes closed. Symbolically, each and every citizen of Natodik shared in the

%%%power of magic generated by their patron, but only those who learned and practiced it would buckle their robes to symbolize their control over and containment of magic.

In addition, the robes of wizards had another, more subtle difference; they were usually one solid color, with perhaps some trim at the collar, cuffs, and hem. Sam spotted numerous young wizards, male and female, garbed in red, some others in orange or yellow, and even a few in green, as Fenwick's companion wizard had worn. The robes were marks of rank and power among the wizards themselves, increasing in the order of the spectrum; red for novices to blue or violet for the high wizards. Most of the higher orders were too busy or important to come down and mingle in the common streets; they sent their lesser-hued assistants and apprentices to run down and pick up a half-pound of dried toad spawn, or what have you. As Valerie explained the ranking system quietly to them, Sam shook his head in realization of Mizzamir's power: He's so mighty he's right off the scale.

White robes...

The robes of the normal citizens swirled past in all colors-embroidered and embellished for the wealthy; worn and homespun, with big, roomy pockets, for the commoners.

Men wore their

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