Into The Ruins by Bob Blink Page A

that were the greater problem at the moment.
    Carif knew she needed some kind of insight.  The Guild needed to come up with ideas that might provide solutions for both problems.  Ideally, it would be something she could implement after Rosul was gone, so full credit could go to the Guild for resolving the problems.  Unless something came up, they were going to need an army of Casters, and she had no idea where she would find them.

Chapter 9
     
    “What did Mayor Stanner want to tell you?” Garss asked as if the question had been foremost on his mind for days.  Fen had run into him on the way to the Mayor’s office the previous week and had told him that something had come up regarding his expected moving to the capital for training at the SpellCaster’s Guild University.  Garss’s father was a blacksmith and expected Garss to follow in his footsteps, so despite his being barely in his teens Garss was kept busy at the shop most days.  Already Fen’s buddy showed the effects of long days lifting the heavy hammers and pounding desired shapes into metal.  His arms were twice as thick as Fen’s, and his shoulders were broad and powerful.  They hadn’t had a chance to see one another since that chance meeting.  While Fen had spent most of the day shopping, Garss had had to work until just a short time ago.  They had once again met by accident, this time in the village common where there were impromptu shows on this, the freeday at the end of the eight-day week. 
    “I’m going to have to leave earlier than I’d planned,” Fen explained to his friend.  “I’ll also have to travel to Talmara to meet the Guild representative instead of his coming here to Slipi.”
    “How much earlier?” Garss asked unhappily. 
    Fen knew that Garss was conflicted about the situation.  He was more than a little jealous of the opportunity presented to Fen.  At the same time, he wished his lifelong friend well while trying to accept that Fen would no longer be around to share those few days he had free from the chores set by his father.  Once school started, Fen would be gone and Garss would have to suffer the long days of learning without him.
    “A full month,” Fen complained.  He was somewhat unhappy about the change in plans himself, but at least it wasn’t a change in policy at the University that would have kept him out.  Despite moving up the departure, this was the better solution.
    “Are you certain Stanner knows what he’s talking about?” Garss asked.  “My mom doesn’t like him very much and says he isn’t qualified for the job of Mayor.  Maybe he got it wrong.”
    Fen correctly guessed that Garss’s mother didn’t approve of a man filling a woman’s rightful position.  Mayor Stanner had been the consort of the crown appointed mayor who had died of the spotted flu the previous winter.  He had taken over the duties of the position until a replacement might be named, which hadn’t happened as yet.  Fen’s mother, who supported the current mayor believing gender shouldn’t be a factor in filling the position, believed he would probably retain the position for the rest of the term.  His mother’s vocal support was one reason the Mayor had made the personal visit to inform Fen of the change in his plans.  That, and the fact he was pleased to see a male being given recognition by being granted entrance to the prestigious center for magic.
    “Did he tell you why the change in plans?” Garss asked, unhappy that he wouldn’t even have the full summer before Fen left the village, probably for good, save an occasional visit to see his family.  Those who became Casters led a different sort of life than the rest of them.
    “The Mayor said it was related to the upcoming coronation of the new Queen when Queen Rosul reaches her sixtieth birthday at the end of summer.  They don’t want the entrance ceremonies surrounding the new class affected by the transition.  Mom says there must be a matter of