[center][h3]High Kingdom of Freishann[/h3][/center]
[center][b][u]The Collegium of Magical Arts at Riverlume[/u][/b][/center]

“Honorable Magus Ghúmard I must protest your decision!”

The aforementioned Ghúmard sighed resignedly, there was no way to escape this now. The portly Headmaster was unfortunately still fast enough to catch up with a limping man if he had no sense of propriety- which was apparently the case. Ghúmard turned to face the Headmaster, who had stopped to catch his breath and shoo the students out the hall.

“Headmaster-Magus Arawhurd what decision, in particular, are you protesting?”

He looked positively surprised, [i]That wasn’t a real emotion...[/i] Ghúmard thought. The Headmaster continued, “Why your decision not to attend the luncheon of course! We have, after all prepared, a place of honor for such a distinguished Magus such as yourself.”

“Would this position, by happenstance, be seated next to your own self Headmaster?” Ghúmard attempted to impart that such a course was at least obvious and hopefully dissuade that.

“Now that you mention it, I believe it is. Oh, how perceptive of yo-”

“Headmaster, I will go to the luncheon, now you must leave me to prepare...” The last part was addressed to the departing form of the Headmaster as he waddled around the bend having gotten what he needed. [i]How had that man survived this long…?[/i]

Ghúmard thought for a moment. [i]He needs to be investigated more properly, more than his finances.[/i] Adding the caveat, [i]If there is time of course.[/i]

Ghúmard walked around the corner to where some students were lingering, although they managed to get out of range for immediate suspicion.

“Now who can tell me where these luncheons of the Headmaster’s take place?”

[hr]

[center][b][u]Six Hours Later[/u][/b][/center]

The room was lavishly decorated, it would probably remain so for the equally decadent dinner of the day. [i]There are rooms in the Royal palace less ornate than this.[/i] The chairs were all engraved of various designs, matching the table and each other of course. The broad windows allows light into the room, not that it was needed with the skylights, second set of windows and several mage-lights set around the room. The various paintings depicted the various required Heroes of Freishann as well as some which appeared to be various members of the faculty in the same fashion.

Despite only eating what it was polite to eat, Laoithr Ghúmard felt slightly sick. A bell and a third, or four hours for anyone even this far from the Capital, luncheon with the Headmaster and several of the other important persons here at the Collegium. The Headmaster had left of course with his various ingrates. They were competent of course, just too fond of food and the local female population. [i]And of talking.[/i]

Not that they had said anything of particular note, after all, they just wanted him here as a matter of achievement.

Ghúmard wasn’t alone, of course, there was one man who had said less than a full sentence the whole first bell and had been asleep for the last third of one. As well there was an older man, a Professor of some experimental field within enchantments, at least if he remembered the Headmaster’s jabberings over the second course. [i]Or was it the third?[/i]

Ghúmard rose as the servants started peeking to see if the remaining Magi were done. Ghúmard walked out with the older Professor, [i]Servants isn’t the best word, after all at least half of them are students at one of the other Riverlume Collegiums.[/i]

“I’m sorry I don’t think I caught your name during the meal.” Ghúmard addressed the older man.

He snorted, “You wouldn’t have, it wasn’t said. Professor-Magus Áchlion Elzurid of Sliagie, Áchlion will do fine. You are this Ghúmard fellow I’ve been hearing about?”

“I don’t know what you’ve been hearing but I am Laoithr Ghúmard.”

“What would you say are the problems with magically moving a ship?”

Ghúmard had to pause at the new angle of conversation. “Well, a Magus could power wind into the sails I suppose. Some form of enchantment on oars could work, like the Royal Messenger up in the Capital, although it certainly has its own set of problems. Although you’d certainly be more aware of that than I am.”

Having his attempted deflection ignored and at the urging of the Professor, he continued as they walked, well one walked the other limped, heading towards the Collegium docks. “The issues of the first method requires the use of a Magus or Magi depending how fast you need to go over how long a period of time. Additionally, you would have to be sure of the ship design and not overstress the rigging too much. As for the oar enchantments, it would be expensive, and likely not worth it. To use it exclusively would create many problems of supply in mana in which having that many Magi it would be better to simply use the first method. Alternatively using it in addition to normal manual propulsion would simply reduce the necessity.”

Ghúmard paused, “What is it that you do Professor-Magus Áchlion?”

“I see you did not catch that in the luncheon, I am studying enchantments, both in their various uses but also the effects of enchantment upon objects in ways not normally done. I also teach enchantment but I have few dedicated students here.”

Ghúmard and Áchlion talked for some time as they approached the docks, mostly of innocent concerns although the conversation headed back to topics of most recent concern.

“What do you think of the Headmaster the other ‘Honorable’ members of the staff?”

Áchlion answers this question more cautiously, having been alerted to the true nature of this conversation, “They are corrupt, but they are not bad Magi. They have been led astray some but I do not think that it is necessary to do something drastic, excepting Headmaster-Magus Arawhurd. Be careful with him, he is not as much as he seems, I don’t know what he is but it is not what he tries to present.”

“Does he have any family you know of?”

“I believe he has a merchant cousin up in Yfalmond but he doesn’t mention him much, in all the talking he does. Say, why are you here in Riverlume anyway, I would have thought you'd have business up in the Capital with all that talk of a fleet...”

Midway through his question a Collegium messenger, messages required to be passed off if going on grounds, carrying a letter with a lesser royal seal, not from a member of the family but one speaking on their behalf, gave it to Ghúmard. Áchlion waited as it was opened, read, and the messenger paid a few coins to leave, finally. “Apparently I do,” Ghúmard looked up smiling. “Professor-Magus Áchlion, what river ships do you have that could take a Magus going by sail?”