by CP Bialois
The Sword and the Flame:
The Forging
By
CP Bialois
Copyright 2012
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. An unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and situations are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locations is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To my family and friends for giving me a reason to push through. Of course, I can’t forget my wife or she’d kill me. Love you, dear.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Two and a half years ago I began this journey and thanks to more people than I can name, I made it through. I’d like to thank Rick Weber, Etheridge Lovett, and a slew of others for their efforts to help this work be all that it can.
To Mark Stone, Shay Fabbro, Michael Hicks, and many more for helping me laugh. You guys helped me to not take myself or the book too seriously.
Special thanks go to Audrey Haney for the cover art and Jamie White for editing.
Thank you all. This is for you.
Chapter 1
“That’s right folks step right up and pick something you’d like. Maybe for that special girl, something for your wife… an anniversary is a terrible thing to forget… or maybe you just want to treat yourselves? We have it all or my name isn’t Clay Morrow.”
The people of the small city of Hope gathered around him like he’d cast some kind of spell on them. They slobbered over his trinkets like a starving man would a loaf of bread. The Halfling watched the large jovial man work the crowd, amazed at the apparent lack of control these people showed. Janessa had been sitting there for the past few minutes with her arms crossed watching him disapprovingly. How dare he do such a thing! It was clear to see his trinkets were shoddy and worthless. She stole far more reputable items from one of the city’s officials just the other day. People like this Morrow fellow gave any respectable thief a bad name. At least the barrel she sat on was comfortable.
“Still pouting, Jenny? What’s he ever done to you?” The voice behind her belonged to Viola, her lone human friend and amateur mage. Viola always dreamed of becoming a great mage, imagining her name being spoken in the same sentence as Mortikye, Grassimore, or Killdare. Fate could be cruel as thus far her dreams hadn’t come close to being realized. Only twenty, she wasn’t quite old enough to expand her knowledge beyond the most rudimentary of spells. That was what her master, an older wizard named Poumous, told her. He’d been her instructor for close to ten years before she grew impatient enough to attempt a spell that only the most powerful of wizards could hope to use with any success. Her impatience led to half of her master’s laboratory being blown apart when she lost control of the magic. Since she hadn’t died in the accident, though none could explain why, she’d been sent home for her summer break early with the rest of the students. She had no doubt she’d be welcomed back, Poumous did appreciate the weight of gold in his purse, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to go back.
Master Poumous developed a reputation over the years as running his school more like a boarding house than a magic school. In fact, most respectable mages refused to have anything to do with him or his pupils as they were always behind in their studies, due in large part to Poumous’ laughable teaching ability. Despite his reputation, Albia Poumous displayed enough for the conclave to allow him to continue. They preferred to clean up his mess instead of having him stay with them in the Tower within the walls of Tagon Keep. With permission to teach his methods, Poumous would collect the gold it cost to maintain the school, without a care as to where or how it was procured.
The latter would’ve been of great interest to the Conclave had they known one of his students performed as an illusionist to afford the scrolls and spell books needed in Master Poumous’ curriculum. Thus was how Viola, a street urchin that carried herself with dignity, could afford such a school. With none better for more than fifty miles and no way to travel aside from her own two feet, she’d take what she could from the good master.
Performing illusions for the masses was how she met Janessa, Jenny to her friends. Viola had been performing when she noticed the Halfling making her way through the crowd. Afterwards, she confronted the Halfling and found her pouches full of valuables. The two hit it off from the start and became fast friends, once Janessa knew Viola wasn’t going to turn her over to the Sheriff. As close as they were, neither one trusted the other in the beginning. Janessa worried she’d wake to find the city’s guards there to arrest her and Viola was as worried that one day her spell components, scrolls, and spell books would all be gone.
Janessa’s parents disappeared when she was very young, making her an outcast for most of her life. She never knew what happened to them as rumors spread through her people like wild fire and seemed to have a different twist with each retelling. Some claimed they were arrested while others said they’d been hung for stealing. The third, and the one Janessa decided to be the most likely story, was they just up and left her in the town of Solm. While Halflings were considered many things, they were always responsible for themselves and their family. Some believe it’s a lesson learned the hard way as they were one of the smallest creatures on Pyrain. Resembling human children at the age of twelve but with pointed ears, the Halflings never grew to be tall or stocky. The tallest on record stood just under four feet and weighed ninety pounds, quite large for a pure-blooded Halfling.
With their size being a Halfling’s greatest weakness, they turned it into a strength by traveling in groups ranging in size up to ten people but ate little more than the average human family of three. By remaining together and moving from one place to the next they were ignored by the other races. Humans thought them to be pests and so they tried to ignore them as much as possible. Dwarves, both hill and mountain, viewed them as insults due to their smaller statures and inability to properly swing an axe or hammer. The Elves treated them like they treated any other race, as vermin they had to tolerate.
Janessa, like the rest of her kind, loved challenges such as picking locks, stealing valuable items without getting caught (though doing so under a Sheriff or Marshall’s nose was considered the best), and the adventure of traveling and seeing far off lands. But unlike herself and others of her kind, Janessa’s parents displayed none of those characteristics. They were content to live a peaceful life in Solm until the day they disappeared without a trace. A kind human named Vin Morth adopted and raised her until she was old enough to begin the search for her parents. Morth was a family friend for years until Janessa accepted her “Uncle” Morth as her guardian and grew into a lovely young woman. Though her kind ages slower than humans, some living to be two hundred, their early development is the same as human children with the exception they’re full grown by the time they reach thirteen years of age.
It was at the age of ten that Janessa first wanted to leave to find her family, but she hesitated in doing so. While she was certain her parents left her for some unknown reason, she was just as sure they’d come back for her like they always did in the fairy tales Uncle Morth read to her each night at bedtime. Janessa didn’t want to leave the one person she felt could be counted on but by her way of thinking, if her parents wanted her they would’ve been back by then. With her mind made up, she left with
a heavy heart and spent the last eight years traveling throughout the Kingdom of Angor in search of her place. Over time, her path led through other kingdoms until finding the small crossroads city of Hope. An interesting name, she remembered thinking as she entered. As with everywhere else she’d been no one noticed her, at least until she did something they didn’t appreciate. Using their blindness, she earned quite a comfortable lifestyle over the last few years. Rarely was anyone able to catch her, and if they did she’d apologize and claim she was looking for her mother and father. Several local Magistrates felt sympathy for her and gave her money to stay in the local inn while they make the proper contacts to try to find them. Since many believed she was only a child, and a little crying always helped, she described her parents as they were but as humans. Then she’d run off and it’d be called a tragedy.
There’d been times where it hadn’t worked out quite that well, usually in cities or border towns that attracted the different peoples of Pyrain. For one reason or another, she would be identified as a Halfling and thrown in jail. Due to her talents, and other Halflings in the area, she was never expected to remain in jail for long. It was an unspoken rule with the Halflings: Now you have me, now you don’t.
Hope happened to be one of those cities where she wasn’t seen as a Halfling until an officer named Tavers was promoted to Sheriff. Since then, Janessa made sure to hide anything she stole before being discovered. That was until the young mage Viola happened upon her. Though she didn’t know why, Janessa liked something about the human and while Viola‘s magic needed a lot more work, Janessa decided having her as a friend wouldn’t be something she’d regret.
‘What’s he ever done to you?’ She said. Janessa thought, irritated. The Halfling let out a harrumph. “Guys like him give my kind a bad name.”
Viola looked at the merchant then back to her friend. “I don’t follow.”
Janessa threw up her hands in disgust, “Thieves. He makes all of us honest thieves look bad. ‘Welcome ladies and gentlemen’ what a load of shit!”
Viola nodded and did her best to hold back her smile. “He offers them something they want. He does seem quite charming.”
Janessa glared at her friend with venom in her eyes but that was all Viola could take before she burst into laughter. After a moment she wiped tears from her eyes, “There’s still honor among thieves. He’s just better at it than we are.”
Janessa smiled, letting out a giggle, “But that’s the point. He’s killing us.”
Viola shrugged, “Maybe some warts…” Her smile faded somewhat when she saw the look on Janessa’s face. “No.”
“Come on.”
“No.”
“It’ll be fun.”
Viola turned away, hurrying down the alley to put some distance between them. “Oh no you don’t. Last time I tried that it took a month for me to get rid of them.”
Janessa leapt down and followed her friend, trying to convince her to try it. “Don’t cast it near a mirror this time.” Viola gave her a look, but the playful side of the Halfling was coming out again. “It wasn’t that bad. At least your dance card was empty.” She failed to suppress a snicker, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it. Wouldn’t it be fun to see someone else look like a toad? Viola!” She kept up her efforts until both broke into laughter.
Laughing until both their sides hurt, the pair sat or leaned against something to keep from falling. Viola was the first to speak, wiping tears from her eyes. “Casting spells is very serious, I can’t just cast them for fun.”
Though Viola tried to make herself sound serious, it didn’t come out the way she intended. Janessa understood what she meant, which was why she only teased her. It never failed to amaze Janessa how much time her friend needed to study each day. It seemed such a waste for one to spend so much idle time studying the same spells over and over each night. Viola explained she needed to reread each spell several times until it accepted her and would allow her to cast it. Janessa never believed her reasoning from the first moment she’d been told that. Why would someone have to state a spell perfectly? She believed it should work anyway; it was an opinion Viola never had any success at getting the Halfling to change no matter how hard she tried to explain it. Viola believed Janessa was unable to grasp the scope of power a mage could wield. Janessa, on the other hand, understood. She just believed life was more fun to live rather than spend it reading a spell book. Nope, you couldn’t pay her enough to try her hand at magic.
Janessa chuckled before she responded, “How hard could it be? Two words?” She continued staring at her friend until Viola’s smile broadened.
“It’s not, a single toad stool would suffice—“
Janessa threw up her hands, “You see? I knew it!” She smacked her friend on the arm. “Even I could do it.”
Viola shook her head, this was the same argument she heard everyday and she learned to take it as it was meant. She knew if anyone else talked about her passion in such a manner she really would give them warts… if she was in a good mood. Trying to change the subject, Viola motioned to her friend. “Planning on being around for my exhibition later today?”
Janessa took the hint and let the conversation go in a different direction. She never missed Viola’s show if she could help it. People tipped her well after seeing her magic tricks, even if they were slight of hand, but not that time. She shook her head knowing it’d hurt the young mage. “A new group arrived late last night. Rumor has it they’re pit fighters and the Sherriff has forbidden them to enter the city. They’re opening tonight near the southern forest.”
As Janessa expected, Viola was hurt, but more disgusted than insulted that her friend would miss her show for something so barbaric. Setting a withering glare on the Halfling she let her feelings be known. “Really Jenny, I thought you had better taste than to watch those things.”
Janessa smiled, “All those books and they haven’t taught you anything.” Taking a deep breath before she continued, she had to repair hurt feelings as well as sell her idea. “Pit fighting is barbaric, but I’m not going to watch the matches.” Pausing until Viola’s face twisted into a curious expression, Janessa set the hook. “In a single night one can win a hundred gold pieces if they pick the right combatant.
Viola’s mouth dropped open, a hundred gold pieces? In a single night? She’d consider herself lucky if she saw a hundred copper pieces in a year. Just as fast as the amount of gold caused her to lose control she clamped down on those thoughts with the weight of her iron will. “And how would you do that? You’re not a gambler.”
Janessa’s expression changed into one of thoughtfulness, she already had a plan but it’d have to look like she came up with it on the spot. After she felt Viola waited long enough, Janessa smiled as if she just had a stroke of genius. “You could come with!”
Viola looked at her for a moment before a grin broke across her face and she shook her head. “Oh no, I’m not going to use my magic to decide the winners.”
“Why not? No one would know!” Janessa’s exasperated reaction wasn’t an act. Viola guessed her plan, as she hoped she would, but she was supposed to go along with it. The Halfling’s mind raced for an alternative idea, Viola could be stubborn and Janessa knew she wouldn’t have much, if any, success in talking her out of it.
An idea came to Janessa before Viola could voice her opinion, and by the look on her face it wouldn’t have been pleasant. “We don’t need your magic anyway.” Viola’s look turned inquisitive but she knew a “but” was to come. Such a shame I never thought of becoming a trader Janessa thought to herself, I have such a talent for it. “You study living things don’t you? Their physique and all that, right?”
Viola paused for a moment before answering. “Yes, joints and ligaments and their form of locomotion.” She knew Janessa was up to something but she had no idea what. All mages studied the way living things moved and grew. In doing so it helped them in their understanding about spell components
, healing herbs, and others services.
Janessa leaned forward, “All you have to do is watch each fighter before their match and tell me who looks like a winner. It’s that easy!”
Various doubts kept eating away at Viola, one after another crept into her mind. “What about Sherriff Tavers? Won’t he have something to say about this?”
Janessa snorted, “Gods no, he already made them set up outside the city’s walls. His authority ends with the city limits. At worst he may try to catch everyone returning to force them to pay taxes on their winnings. We’ll just be sure to avoid him.”
Janessa didn’t go on about how everyone else in town would be trying to do the same thing and with only one way into the city, that being the main gate, it’d be a difficult task to avoid him. But then the walls were only ten feet high, just high enough to make bandits and other outlaws wary of attempting anything underhanded.
“What if he catches us?”
Janessa rolled her eyes, “He won’t. Trust me okay? You want in?” She wanted, no, needed, her friend to come. Even if they didn’t win anything they could still earn something through their talents. Plus it’d be good for Viola to get out at least once in a while. Janessa could tell her friend was about to refuse so she threw in her last card, it had to work.
“Of course they also sell items, like weapons and scrolls. We could always shop for souvenirs with our winnings.”
At the word “scrolls” Viola’s eyes began to sparkle. “Do they have magic scrolls?”
YES! Janessa shrugged as she celebrated in her heart. “I guess. They always have merchants at these things.”
“I’ll go.”
Janessa smiled, “We can leave in a couple of hours and see what they’re setting up.” Looking back on it, she was rather pleased with herself. Bartering was so easy, although not as much fun as being a thief. One did what they did for more than money, the adventure being where it was at for her.