A group of Red Wizards blocked the road at the outer edge of the returning convoy.
Their leader was a third-tier, or Master-level, Red Wizard. Like most of his fellows, he had a shaved head, with magic tattoos branded across his scalp from back to front. Like the Drow, the Red Wizards were fond of using magic tattoos to enhance their power.
The rest of his appearance was rather less appealing. He wore a red robe with a tall, stiff collar, silver studs pierced his ears, nose, and lips, and he held a staff. Behind him stood another five or six Red Wizards and several armed guards from Thay, firmly barring Aaron's convoy.
On Aaron's side, the Silver Dragon Knights Doherty, Ramsay, Norrington, and the others had also gripped their sword hilts. Only the young pirate Edward Teach had already raised his scimitar and loaded his firelock, bristling with aggression. "What's this, then? Do these Red Wizards from Thay want a taste of Cormyr's blades?"
"The Red Wizard academy of Thay has no intention of making an enemy of Cormyr, but your convoy is harboring a target of ours." The leading Red Wizard was accustomed to throwing his weight around. Whenever he spoke, he instinctively lifted his chin and adopted an arrogant tone. Yet he soon realized these people were not to be trifled with-the strength Cormyr had displayed in recent years at the Battle of Arabel and the Battle of Hulek Forest proved that this monarchy in the heart of the Realms still possessed formidable reserves.
Then there were astral magic and Aaron Salian. Two things had recently begun flourishing in the land of the Red Wizards. The first was the faith of the Celestial Worthy of Pure Treasure from the Kara-Tur Continent, which had become enormously popular in