After just a few moments conferring, they seemed not to worry about making any mistakes and decided to take both, much to the surprise of their respective families who were stood behind them. Alec, dutifully carried out his task, taking all the necessary details, before Samuel followed behind handing out more gold than he thought he might be doing on their first stop.
With the guild selections made, he and Kenton, along with the new Captain of the town guard, selected four more young men whom they deemed would make suitable soldiers, although it was explained to these men they were not being considered for the guild. Despite the offer of a much less glamourous position, Samuel still paid a smaller compensation to their families, but made sure each sign a paper agreeing settlement had been made.
With the paperwork taking as long as the selections, the entire process had lasted much longer than he had envisaged, and he was still not yet finished. Unsure whether he actually had the authority to make such an order, something discreetly mentioned to him by Alec, Samuel did so anyway. With his audience all but ready to disperse, he made his announcement. “The Mayor will be charged and prosecuted accordingly,” he shouted getting a loud cheer, indicating to him that he had at least done the right thing by removing the man from power.
After also announcing that Robert, the Mayor’s aide, would now be in charge and oversee the political side of the town’s affairs, and that the new Captain would take charge of organising a proper defence. “The Captain will also have the support of the Crown in upholding all laws, and in dealing out punishment accordingly for those that break them,” he added, although Alec gave him a look that he might be pushing things a bit far by making such a decree. However, whether he had the proper authority to make such statement or not, the crowd seemed to accept what he said, as they quietly chatted amongst themselves before they slowly dispersed.
With the hard bit all but done, Samuel firstly wanted to oversee the Captain and his new recruits. Two of the six would be picked for the guild on the next intake, that much had already been agreed and signed for. Samuel though, did not want the other four he had selected to think they were any less important, and as a result made arrangement with Robert, the former Mayor’s aide, to pay them a salary. Each young man was also to be given, free of charge, living quarters in the small barracks in the town, as well as three meals a day, also at no cost to themselves.
Although the barracks in the town, consisted of a small brick building that could barely hold more than six beds, all his new recruits seemed happy enough with their lot. Samuel also made sure each was given suitable kit, a uniform and proper weapons, as well as a few ideas for training. The two future guild members would naturally be given a little more time to learn, especially as they were younger, and who’s futures would take a different path.
Only when Samuel was satisfied that he had left the town in a better state than they had found it in, did he gesture for the others to saddle up and make ready to leave. With four new additions and their respective belongings to carry, one of the wagons they had brought with them was already looking full, and he had not yet had time to talk to the recruits fully. He knew the warrior apprentice he and Kenton had selected was called Theo, but that was about as far as it went.
As he gave the signal to move out, Alec trotted up alongside Samuel and rode alongside him. The commander looked back, mainly to check everyone else was following as much as to see if everything was still as he had left it just a few seconds ago. With the sign of no further trouble he turned to face the young bespectacled man beside him and smiled, “Thanks, you were great,” he said as he picked up the pace just a little. Alec grinned, “I was about to say the same,” he replied feeling he was at last doing a job of worth.
As much as Alec loved books and writing, spending every day in the Library had quickly become very monotonous. Of course meeting new people, like Leo for example had been very much a positive experience, and through knowing Leo he had met the rest of the group. However, now he felt he was very much part of an important group, and with him apparently getting along well with the young commander Samuel, was quietly content with the way things were going.
Kenton leaned over to Sasha as they passed through the gate of the town, finally leaving it behind. “Would you have really slit his throat?” he asked, referring to the incident with the Mayor. “Another two seconds and he would have been dead had you not intervened,” she replied in a tone that said she was quite serious, whilst keeping her gaze forward.
“Yes I thought as much,” the warrior replied with a grin, “Good job I stopped you then…I bet a man that size would have spilled out quite a mess,” he said with a slight chuckle.
Mason and Jake, feeling this selection process thing was far easier than the others made out, were confident they had picked wisely. A girl who was fifteen years of age called Deana, who was about average in height, and looked pretty much like any stereotypical girl of that age might do. With short cropped brown hair, and dressed in long ankle length skirts, she seemed quite quiet, sensible and very polite. The boy they had picked, named Carlton, was fourteen, and unfortunately for him had a pockmarked face, the result of a childhood illness. Fortunately for him, looks were something the guild did not care about, and although he was by no means the ugliest child in the world, he was certainly no looker either.
Sasha on the other hand, was still worried she might have made a mistake as she kept glancing over to the young boy she had selected. Even younger than she had first thought, she was worried that it had been pity that had swayed her choice, and seeing such a poor bedraggled youngster was possibly a mistake. Sure, it was clear the lad was fit and agile, something every ranger needed to be, and it was also true that the lad knew hardship and pain, something else that would see him in good stead to becoming a ranger. With the boy only actually being twelve, he would without doubt and by some distance be the youngest apprentice in the rangers when they returned to the guild. It was this thought that was starting to worry Sasha, and she felt the pressure starting to get to her.
Kenton, who for now at least was happy to ride alongside her, watched on as she constantly looked towards the wagon carrying the new recruits. “I actually think you made the right choice,” he said sensing her concerns. “Yes he might be a little young, and we may have to slacken the bow string to enable him to fire it properly, but I think of all the picks you probably selected the best of the bunch,” he said surprising the ranger.
“You think so? What, even more so than your own selection?” she asked thinking he was just saying such a thing to make her feel better.
“I do…really!” he added trying to sound sincere. “The lad might not look much, but I was watching him before. He is quick, but thought you would think him too young at the moment.”
Sasha thought on the words a moment or two, before replying, “You think I should have put him in the batch for the next intake then?” she eventually said.
“Not at all, besides which, it is what you felt at the time that matters and of course, Samuel would have intervened if he thought you were making a mistake,” he added with another grin.
Leo was feeling a little left out, as everyone else’s attention seemed to be focused on the four new members of the group. Sasha had taken to riding near the back of the line, and was busy chatting to Kenton, Alec was at the front and riding alongside Samuel, leaving Leo to trot along by himself wondering if anybody else had given consideration to the fact they had not eaten since breakfast time.
Chapter 4.
A lone, forlorn figure sat in an unlit room, staring blankly out of the small window that overlooked the guild gardens. Mia, it had been decided, had suffered some kind of breakdown, and although there was apparently nothing physically wrong with her, mentally she had changed. Since falling to pieces at the first signs of battle, the young, usually upbeat girl was now a sour, twisted version of her former self.
Ewan had regularly spent hours at a time sitting with her, in some vain
hope of snapping her out of the situation she now found herself in. Despite all his efforts, even he knew Mia appeared to be getting worse by the day, and that each time he visited she now treated him with utter disdain. At least she had now started talking, although when she did it was nothing but horrid, snide remarks. Ewan, who it was clear to all, genuinely cared for Mia, was becoming increasingly frustrated and upset by her worsening state of mind.
Mia did not even turn her head as the door to her room opened, “Leave me alone!” she snapped not even knowing who it was who had entered. With her thoughts becoming increasingly darker ones, the healers of the guild were beginning to worry that Mia might do something foolish. As a result, they had decided to make several more checks on her throughout the day and night, although in truth this only seemed to infuriate the girl more.
“Hi Mia,” Ewan said, slowly and quietly closing the door behind him, “I have brought you your supper,” he added gingerly carrying the tray. Upon it was a bowl if thick chunky vegetable soup, and a bread roll, and although it was only a small positive, Mia at least was appearing to get her appetite back.
“I said leave me alone!” came the snarling voice from beside the window. Ewan said nothing more as he placed the tray gently down on the small table in her room, before stepping over to stand beside her. He was shocked when she turned to look up at him, her face screwed up as if angry. “I said leave me alone!” she said once more though gritted teeth.
Ewan was uncertain just how much more he could take of her increasingly bizarre behaviour, but the healers had persuaded him to keep trying. Mia, they had told him was suffering some kind of mental illness, probably brought on by the stress of battle. They had forewarned him that she may become violent and unpredictable, but that if she did, he should talk calmly to her and not react. “I’ve just brought you some supper,” he said rather glumly, “Come on Mia, what’s up with you?” he asked placing his hand on her shoulder.
Ewan was forced to sway backwards as Mia jumped to her feet, screaming and shouting obscenities at him. He held his hands up defensively as the girl he had become close to lashed out at him, swinging her arms wildly. As much as her wild swipes caused him no bother he was not prepared for what came next. Mia suddenly stopped and glared at him, and even in the dimness of the room he thought he could see something had changed.
No longer did Mia rant and rave, but suddenly had a calmness to her appearance, although by the evil look on her face he was unsure it was a good thing. Without chance to react, Ewan was sent tumbling backwards as Mia thrust out a hand sending forth a small bolt of energy. With Ewan being so close, it was all but impossible for her to miss, as the energy struck the young lad cleanly in the chest.
Mia looked at her hands, before glancing down at the smouldering figure lying motionless on the floor in her room. Without any show of remorse or regret she walked over to the wardrobe in her room and dressed to leave. Without touching her supper or so much as checking on Ewan’s welfare Mia calmly, and quietly left her room, pulling the door closed behind her.
Pulling the hood over her head, something she did to obscure her face from anybody she might bump into in the corridor, she walked slowly towards the exit. As it was, nobody stopped to check who it was under the cover of her black robe, as she made her way towards the guild entrance gates. Here she knew she could pass out into the city streets unhindered by any guards. However, despite her frame of mind being somewhat fragile, she was fully focused on what she wanted to do.
With darkness falling, the streets would not usually be a place to find a young girl alone, yet Mia felt no fear as she turned down a side street. The fact she had just attacked and left for dead, a fellow apprentice sorcerer did not cause her concern. Knowing that soon enough somebody would discovery Ewan, the hunt would begin for her. With a new purpose, she walked along a row of small houses knowing she needed to find a place to keep low, and picked the one she liked the look of, stopping just briefly before approaching the front door. She knocked loudly and waited, showing a surprising amount of patience considering her situation.
A lady, probably in her thirties answered the door clearly shocked at seeing a black robed sorcerer stood before her. Before the woman had chance to speak Mia had already barged her way past, shoving the woman backwards, causing her to stumble to the floor. Mia calmly closed the front door of the home before asking “Is there anybody else in the house?” The woman looked scared, as she slowly got back to her feet, before shaking her head, “No… it is just me…What do you want?”
Mia, happy the woman was telling the truth, glanced around the small room before lowering her hood, “I am hungry…make me something to eat,” she ordered. The woman was clearly shocked at how young her attacker looked and probably thought her chances of besting her if she tried must have been good. However, Mia soon showed her that she was not to be messed with as she quickly summoned a small bolt of energy and launched it against the wall, causing an explosion of sparks as it hit.
Mia warned her prisoner that any attempt to scream or escape would result in her death, and only when she was happy the woman understood emphatically, did she allow her to head for the kitchen. Happy she had control over the woman in question Mia then started looking around, thinking she would firstly need some money. She found a small amount in a drawer and although barely enough to feed her for a few days, she took it all and slipped it in her pocket. After checking the woman was doing as she had been asked, Mia waited a few moments to let her know she was keeping an eye on her, before slipping back away and heading to the bedroom of the house.
After a quick glance around, she headed straight for a small box placed atop of a dressing table, and smiled as she opened it to reveal a silver necklace and bracelet; something else for her to use as currency if she needed. She found a rucksack under the bed, and after rifling through the woman’s spare clothes eventually found something that might pass as her own.
For her to escape the city she would need to remove the black robes of her sorcery faction and blend in with the people. After changing and placing her robe into the rucksack she quickly ventured back into the kitchen where the woman was dutifully plating up a meal for her. “It’s just a simple fish stew and a few vegetables,” the woman uttered nervously, only very briefly glancing up at Mia to make eye contact before looking back down. “It will do…” Mia replied, knowing she would have to deal with the woman on a more permanent basis at some point.
Mia sat down at the table and started eating, and although she wanted to eat quickly the food was too hot for her to do so. “I need a drink…You have wine?” she snapped looking up from her bowl. The woman nervously gripped the front of her dress, nodding profusely, “I have a few bottles in the small cellar…I will fetch you a bottle,” she added gesturing she needed to go through a small door. Mia glanced at where she was pointing and after a few seconds nodded for her to do so, “Make it quick,” she snapped keeping her threatening demeanour going.
After a very awkward twenty minutes of the woman being forced to stand in the corner, whilst Mia ate her fill, and helped herself to wine, she was soon to discover her fate. “You have been most accommodating,” Mia said, “But now I must rest before morning, so I won’t be able to keep a watch on you,” she added. The woman quickly realised what Mia was getting at, and dropped to her knees, pleading she would be quiet and good. “I am afraid my trust in people has changed,” Mia replied coldly, before thrusting a hand forward, sending several small bolts of energy forward, most of which struck the woman, sending her to a smouldering heap on the floor.
Mia tilted her head, thinking she was getting quite good at this, and wondered why more magicians did not use their powers to get what they wanted. After checking the woman was indeed dead, Mia left her victim on the floor and walked calmly off to the bedroom. Here, she had decided, she would rest and replenish her energy, before heading out at first light for the western gate and escaping the city once and for all, hoping never to return.<
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A swarm of guild members, both Masters and apprentices gathered in the corridors around the room Mia had been staying in. Rumours were now rife of her escape, and more importantly her attack on a fellow student. Such a thing had been unheard of in recent times, especially considering the culprit was a sorcery apprentice. The Masters quickly took control of the situation ordering all those that should not be there to move on, although not without giving them all a warning to be on the lookout for the girl called Mia.
Messages were hurriedly sent out, both to the palace and just importantly, to the city guards who needed to stop anyone matching her description from leaving the city. In the country’s current situation, the last thing it needed was a rogue magician going around causing trouble, something the guild would not allow. It was usually the duty of the guild’s more experienced senior members, to keep a lid on any rogue magicians that did show up from time to time. As any sorcerer they found had already found the way to his or her power source, this usually meant the captured magician having to be put to death; a fate that would now await Mia if she was caught.
Ewan, the young apprentice she had attacked was still alive, although barely. A healer had found him and after checking his vital signs, immediately raised the alarm to what had happened. Kian, one of the sorcery Masters, watched on from the end of the bed, as one of the guild healers treated the burn marks on Ewan’s chest. “You think he will survive?” he asked feeling sorry for the youngster.
The Rogue Sorcerer: The Caldronian Guild : Book 2 Page 3