The Changeling

by Whiskey Flowers

  CHAPTER 10

  “So it looks like I am the new Tower Mage,” Mage Erlanger said, laughing. “It seems the stronger mages in Kirby are all reluctant to teach this group.”

  “And why is that?” Farrah asked.

  “Think about it Farrah. The person everyone thinks is the third strongest mage here, utterly and completely obliterated the former Tower Mage,” Erlanger replied.

  “Third?” Russell asked.

  “Earl Gillespie used his little Mage Vision spell on Thunder, Manchin and both of you Golads,” Erlanger replied. “When it comes to raw aura I want you to pretend that you are a filled bucket of water young Golad. If I dip a cup in that bucket and take two or three cups out, what is left is your sister. Take another cup out and then we have Thunder. Take two more cups out and we arrive at Manchin. Your sister has been holding back a bit. When we went to Vashing she finally decided to let it out. This scares the rest of the mages. Thunder you of course had been holding back much more.”

  “So this is because of Thunder then?” Russell asked.

  “I didn't do anything that idiot didn't have coming to him,” Jonathan said belligerently. “It was like crushing a big ugly bug. Everyone is better off.”

  “Thunder is part of it,” Erlanger said, ignoring Jonathan's outburst. “None of us were there to see the fight. I have heard countless rumors and retellings. Some make it seem that Thunder either cheated, Quevin wasn't ready, or Quevin just underestimated him. What isn't in doubt though is that Quevin Wilson was beaten utterly and completely by a student. I have heard from reliable sources that the Archmage would not be at the top of this class when it comes to raw power. Mages are scared to teach you four. If the third ranked took apart a seasoned Tower Mage, then what would you be capable of Golad? What is to stop you from trying to prove yourself and blowing away the next Tower Mage in an effort to prove you are better than Thunder? What about you Miss Golad? The boys are taking your shine away? What is to stop you from wanting some of the glory and putting a hurt on someone? And finally there is you Manchin. You can only cast one spell at a time and you went from third ranked to fourth. What is to stop you from getting angry at being overlooked and trying to prove yourself against a teacher given authority over you? No one in this kingdom has ever seen mages on your level before. No one wants to risk your wrath. I think it is because Thunder practically toyed with a man who was formerly known as the second strongest mage in Kirby and then called out the Archmage who cowered and declined to face him.”

  “You called out the Archmage?” Farrah asked impishly. “Jonathan Thunder you are a regular rogue.”

  “And the Archmage did not come out for the fight after witnessing his brother die,” Erlanger affirmed. “Neither did the King’s champion, which is why both suddenly resigned from their positions.”

  “I haven't heard anything about this,” Russell said.

  “Well it happened,” Erlanger said. “They both resigned after cowering from a fight with the third of the Big Four. Whenever your cousin gets back here, I am sure he will have a story to tell. I don't know how he will spin it. But every retelling that I have heard has Thunder calling them both out to fight.”

  “Why would they run from him?” Monica said. “This commoner is not that special. I still don't think he is even better than me let alone the Archmage.”

  “You are a lot stronger than you know Manchin,” Erlanger said. “The only other promising mage out there to lead the new generation is five years younger than you four.”

  “Crystal Ward,” Jonathan said.

  “You know of the girl?” Erlanger said.

  “My mother wrote me about her,” Jonathan replied. “Her father claimed that she was the best mage in Kirby thanks to having a large well, being able to cast many different types of spells and because her aura is constantly and rapidly refilling. My mother told me if I do not end up with a noble that I may want to meet her when she gets older. I think it is disgusting to be thinking of a little girl in that way. But who knows what may happen in five or ten years.”

  “She is a commoner?” Russell asked, bemused.

  “Yes she is,” Erlanger affirmed. “And she has an axe to grind. Her father was killed in the same theater of battle, three days before Thunder’s parents were. After what Thunder has shown many different people are keeping eyes on her now. Her parents actually had a plan for her to marry a noble. But from what I hear that has fallen apart.”

  “So who is the Archmage now that Kevin Wilson has stepped down?” Russell asked.

  “King Jeffrey,” Erlanger said. “You three don't have any idea of what kind of following Thunder has outside of Magus Mazuli. After his duel, many commoners openly called Kevin Wilson a coward and cheered Thunder. There wasn't anyone else that could or would take the position apart from the king. What is to stop someone like Thunder challenging for the position? The title of Archmage typically goes to the strongest mage in the kingdom. People have rarely challenged for it because the spells that will be flung are powerful and deadly. Many just wait for the Archmage to retire. Or the Archmage chooses to step down when someone stronger wants the position or once their mind starts to slip in senility. You four are the reason I bet certain new criteria are going to have to be met to become Archmage. It is also one of the reasons a new Tower of Magic is being built close to the capital so the Queen can keep a better eye on you mage students. The timeline is about five years for all of the classes to be taught there. As for being the Archmage, thanks to Thunder I doubt being a noble will have anything to do with it. A mage will have to be judged on their merits instead. The public will demand it.”

  “So people are scared of us out there?” Monica asked, bemused. “Even with a war going on?”

  “That brings me to my next bit of news” Erlanger said. “Thunder, the Queen herself has written you a note. I know what is in it. With your permission I would tell everyone here your news, unless you'd rather I didn't?”

  “The Queen wrote me personally?” Jonathan responded surprised.

  “That she did,” Erlanger said.

  “Why would Her Majesty write him?” Russell asked.

  “It is for Thunder to say if he wants his business aired among us all here Golad,” Mage Erlanger said.

  “I don't mind,” Jonathan said. “I am no coward and I will face all enemies like my father before me.”

  “This learning year is almost over Thunder,” Erlanger said. “The Queen doesn't think you have anything else really to learn. She believes experience should now be your teacher. She wants you to forego the rest of your education and test out so you can graduate early. The Queen said that she will give you the full pay of any noble graduating if you pass the final test. She wants you to go down to the border to Raelin under her orders and see if you can kill some of these Blood Priests. Since the King is only acting as Archmage, you will receive her dispensation to be put in charge of whatever mages are there. You will go there as a direct representative of her. She promises you a great reward if you can stop the enemy from testing us on that front. Right now she believes the Downey are not serious about fighting, but only want to keep the army occupied and strained across two fronts while Raelin tests our defenses.”

  “What do you mean test out early?” Russell said. “No one leaves the Tower without at least finishing one whole year. I want to test out early, anything Thunder can do I can do better.”

  “Thoughts like that is the reason no one else wanted this job,” Erlanger laughed. “But you will not get the opportunity to test out like Thunder. The Queen decreed for him to be given this chance. I am not giving any of the rest of you that opportunity unless the Queen herself demands it.”

  “You are going to go aren't you?” Farrah said as she looked at Jonathan and grabbed one of his hands. “You are going to fight the Raelinians. You could die Jonathan, turn Her Majesty down.”

  “Stop touching him,” Russell barked.

  “Just knowing the people who kille
d my family still breathe has been eating me up inside,” Jonathan said. “The Queen is gifting me, a boy who hasn't even hit seventeen yet a chance to fight off the Raelinians in her name. I have to take this chance. There has never been a commoner given an opportunity like this one.”

  “But you could die Jonathan,” Farrah said. “We haven't even gotten a chance to know each other with all the distractions around.”

  “What do you mean distractions?” Russell said as he got up. “Don't tell me you like this commoner.”

  “I am thinking about a family Russell,” Farrah said. “Jonathan is honorable and I want my kids to have power.”

  “You are supposed to be matched with Baron Nettleton,” Russell said. “He is insanely rich and you could be a baroness instead of having powerful mage family. That trumps whatever you can have with Thunder.”

  “Who knows what the future brings Farrah,” Jonathan said. “Maybe when I get back we can try, or maybe it will be too late. I am going though and the Raelinians are going to regret the day they ever saw Jonathan Thunder.”

  EPILOGUE

  Jonathan looked out across the field of battle at the Raelinians. They were numerous and finally had decided to attack en masse. Since Jonathan had arrived two months ago, he had used the knowledge his parents had gained for Commander Burns. The undead horde were controlled by Blood Priests. Every Blood Priest had their own undead minions that responded to them and only them. Joshua and Sara had killed a few of the priests in order to let most of the nine hundred men they were with fall back and survive. Jonathan had come to the front-lines and only targeted the red clad Blood Priests. Being able to fly instead of fighting on the ground helped him identify them and take them out. Their minions fell after their priest was killed. Unfortunately, the Raelinians had figured out a way to stop his lightning attacks on the priests.

  Their undead minions held metal poles some of the captured prisoners said were brought in just to counter Jonathan. Jonathan had to admit the lightning rods, as they called them, were effective at making his best spell miss. He had to come up with a different way to fight them now, so far only a few things had been effective. Fire magic was only useful at short range unless a fireball was tossed. The problem was that if Jonathan was in fireball range he was also in enemy arrow range and the enemy had decent archers. Ice or stone spears were also effective but they could be dodged. Jonathan thought maybe his earth magic could do something. It worked on almost anything not living and the undead were not living.

  “What do you see out there Thunder?” Senior Commander Burns asked.

  “Nothing really, I am just thinking,” Jonathan replied.

  “I wish your folks had known what we now know” Burns said. “They might still be here.”

  “We can get into a 'what if' game all day,” Jonathan replied. “I try not to think about the way they died and instead think about the way they lived.”

  “Well, they saved many of our lives. They will have my admiration until my dying day just like you will young man. What do you think about the new mages they are finally sending you?”

  “They were not really sent. All of them volunteered. I am the first commoner to lead a contingent of mages and they wanted to be part of it. I am not throwing them out there on the front line if that is what you are asking.”

  “I wouldn't willingly agree with such a use of them,” Burns replied. “Even if they are under your command. I work well with you kid. I thought we would clash because of your age but you are more open to suggestions from the regular army than most mages.”

  “That is because I have no idea what the pit I am doing and am happy you know tactics. The Raelinians have been reacting to us instead of the other way around. I don't think we have lost an engagement since I have been here. And we have severely limited their ability to use our troops against us by reanimating our dead.”

  “So going back to the mages... You said they are all volunteers? Who would volunteer to be in a warzone?”

  “Commoners would, to support their own. If we turn the enemy around without any help from the nobles this will be a big deal for them. One of the major justifications for disrespect of common people is that the nobility supposedly protects us.”

  “Many people have asked about you out here you know. The Queen wrote me directly asking for a report as to how you were doing.”

  “And what did you tell her?”

  “I told her the truth. That the only mages that I ever worked with who may have been better were your parents. I wrote said that with you by my side I don't think we have any worry of being overrun and losing the border out here. I also asked for four other Legions to be brought here and I told her I would end this thing in two months if I got them. I am probably going to get in trouble for jumping the chain of command. But the only thing the others are doing is facing an enemy that hasn't attacked, while we are in the thick of it.”

  “Jonathan Thunder, as I live and breathe,” Red Harrington said, as he approached the duo.

  “What are you doing here Red?” Jonathan asked, grinning and slapping his friend on the back.

  “The Tower has let out for break Thunder. I am on my own time now. I knew you would need someone to pull your ass out of the fire, so here I am.”

  “You have friends willing to go to war for you Thunder?” Burns asked. “This bloke doesn't look any older than you are.”

  “That's because I ain't,” Red said. “But Thunder has done right by me so I am here to do right by him. I left as soon as I could to come out here. I told me Ma and Da not to expect me home.”

  “Does anyone else know you are out here?” Jonathan asked.

  “Bill and Thurman both do,” Red replied. “Unfortunately so does that sadistic bastard Gerald Morningstar.”

  “How does he know?” Jonathan asked.

  “He fancies himself as some sort of torturer now” Red said as Jonathan could see a far off look in his friend’s eyes. “He thinks he could get information from people and has openly talked about how it would be to actually kill someone with magic. He was heading over here because he figured you wouldn't care one bit what happened to the enemy and he could practice on living people.”

  “I wouldn't care. Maybe that is what is wrong with me Red. I have been angry and stayed that way. Ever since my parents died I have been absolutely focused on revenge. I am starting to think maybe I am overreacting. My anger is mostly with Kevin Wilson. The Tower Mage died because his brother is a tosser. But Wilson still lives.”

  “How many common people did Quevin talked down on or sabotage in as Tower Mage over the years?” Red asked. “He was a knobber and was probably a knobber before he even got the position. You should hear the nobles now. They leave us the pit alone because they know you are no one to mess with. Already Kevin Wilson has become a laughingstock. I heard he is now assistant Archmage, whatever the pit that means. Quevin Wilson died so the rest of us could live. If that knobber wasn't killed, do you think you would be out here fighting on orders from the Queen, and be in charge?”

  “No,” Jonathan said.

  “Well fuck whoever that Quevin guy was,” Burns said. “Never really poked my nose in mage business. But he had whatever was coming to him. Now about the Raelinians. They look like they are not going to fight, they are just standing there.”

  “They are probably waiting for me,” Jonathan said.

  “Well don't take to the air just yet,” Burns said. “Who knows what these people have planned.”

  Thank you for taking this journey with me reader. I am not sure what made me decide to write a prequel, only that I thought Jonathan could have a decent story all his own. If this is the first book of mine you have read you may not want to read the Knight Mage. The Knight Mage and it's sequel the Dragon Mage would probably ruin book two of Jonathan Thunder’s journey for you. I am aware a few of you may have gotten this book from me for free, just take it as my thanks for being a good reader. I would like to give a special thanks to bo
th Bill Angus who proofread this entire thing and to Lisa Jett who helped me fix any story elements that I neglected or continuity errors between this and the Knight Mage. As for the rest of you I would love hearing from you, I always respond and am known for handing out freebies to unreleased works. Feel free to reach me at flowersnovels@gmail.com