“I do not know Kian,” the woman carrying out the healing replied, “It is touch and go now, we have done all we can…I guess it’s up to him,” she replied gesturing to the barely breathing young man lying on the bed before them.
“Poor kid!” Kian uttered to himself, thinking how Ewan had doted on the very girl that had done this to him. “Why would she do such a thing?” he asked. The woman stopped what she was doing and turned to face him, “You lot turn these kids in to weapons, it is hardly surprising this sort of thing happens from time to time,” came the unexpectedly tart reply. Kian did not argue the point, he knew only too well that as much as the guild dressed it up, sorcerers, warriors and rangers were all trained to be competent killers. “I was thinking more as to the reasons as to why she would do such a thing, Mia was a little loud yes, but certainly not aggressive or threatening to anyone,” he added.
The healer glared his way for a few seconds before stepping around the bed to place a friendly hand on the sorcerer’s shoulder. “The Mia you knew was affected greatly by her trauma of battle, and seems to have locked herself away. This new Mia is her darker side, her survival instincts will kick in and the killing machine you are training her to be has come to the fore,” she added before moving back over to the bed to re-check her patient. Kian nodded sadly, knowing only too well that there would now only be one likely outcome if Mia was caught. The outcome of whether Ewan lived or died would probably not count for much difference, with the likely outcome of her capture being the death penalty.
With that rather sombre thought he slowly made his way out of the room where Ewan was being kept, along the corridor towards the main entrance, and outside. He inhaled the cool evening air and sighed heavily, knowing that several teams of rangers and sorcerers from the city guard were already hunting for Mia. Despite knowing what she had done, in some small way Kian hoped she did not get caught, thinking she was only really a victim herself in a strange kind of way.
Chapter 5.
King Oribe of Belaria sat waiting patiently at his newly built arena. This in fact was little more than an area at the back of the guild building that had been sectioned off and a few seats placed around for spectators and Masters alike. He had recently received word on the latest state of affairs with his ongoing conflict with Caldronia. Apparently the enemy was indeed seeking to recruit new guild members, especially those from the fighting factions, something he knew he needed to hinder if he could. As a result of this latest information, Oribe had sent his messengers out to send word to his raiding parties to try and track these recruitment parties, eliminating any new Caldronian sorcerer, ranger or warrior before they even had chance to start training.
He had also received intelligence from his spies in Arandor, a country to Caldronia’s western border, and one which sat to the northwest of his own. Apparently the Caldronian king was seeking aid, an alliance to help defend his country against what had been described as ‘An evil, unprovoked attack’. Although this move came as no surprise to Oribe, it was not one he wanted to come to fruition. An alliance between Caldronia and the much larger Arandor would cause his already overstretched forces a problem, and would likely force him on the defensive; something he was not willing to do, at least not whilst he considered the enemy was almost beaten.
To avoid any such alliance ever happening, Oribe had already set plans in motion. Aside from his spies in Arandor, he had also several teams of assassins working in the country, particularly in and around the palace. It was commonly known that Arandor’s ruler, an elderly woman, Queen Alesindra, was a very distrustful person. Having been left to rule alone since the king, her husband, had passed away several years ago, she had all but made it clear she had no love for any of the nation’s neighbours, least of all Belaria.
However, it was also common knowledge that the queen felt her country was better off not getting involved with foreign affairs. It was this news that gave Oribe hope that any alliance would not be forthcoming, at least not any time soon. Just in case anything did start to materialise though, he had people in a position to act if the need arose. Whilst he could end the life of the Arandor queen anytime he wished, so close were his own people to the ruler, he wanted her to remain for now at least. With this cantankerous old woman in charge, any alliance would be difficult to broker, removing her would only bring a much younger person to power, the current monarch’s grandson.
With her own daughter having died of influenza shortly after childbirth, and her son-in-law not deemed of true royal blood, the throne would pass to her eldest grandson. A man in his early twenties, and by all means a capable swordsman and tactician, who would surely want to prove himself in battle. This was the kind of person Oribe knew would want a fight, and even though allying with Caldronia was not a given thing, he knew the chance of doing so was far greater with him in charge.
Currently, Oribe was content to passing on whispers to the elderly queen, suggesting that Caldronia was not the innocent party in the current conflict with Belaria. Knowing the queen was a very suspicious woman, and one who had no trust in any foreigners, he hoped such actions would suffice in stopping any alliance.
Oribe suddenly sat up straight as the first two of his guild apprentices were paraded before him. Both wore the robes he had ordered all of his young sorcerers to wear, and both subserviently turned to face him and bowed their heads. Unlike their Caldronian counterparts, his sorcerers did not cover their heads in an attempt to act all mysterious, and as a result the Belarian robes did not even have hoods, ending instead with a large collar.
Two of the Masters sat either side of the king, explaining the rules they set in place for duelling of apprentices. Oribe nodded his understanding as he was told of what each apprentice could and could not do. All attacks must only consist of small energy blasts, thus limiting any serious injury to the loser, although this did not mean accidents had not happened. Oribe nodded his understanding, clapping his hands like an excited child as he waited for the bout to begin.
Of the two apprentices, one was clearly older than the other. The younger one had a round, fresh faced complexion, whilst the older had the first signs of stubble growing on his chin. Both contestants turned to face each other, bowing their heads in respect, before stepping back and awaiting the order to start.
Once that order was shouted, it was the older apprentice who took the attack to his younger opponent. Firing off several quick fire blasts, the younger lad was forced to shield and dive for cover. That attack was quickly followed by another as once more the younger contender was sent sprawling across the dusty arena floor, as Oribe jumped to his feet with excitement. “I’ll wager the older boy has this won,” he declared to the Masters, who were sat far more serenely beside him.
However, if the older boy thought for one moment his opponent was beaten, he was soon proved very wrong. Oribe watched on, a little surprised it must be said as the younger apprentice showed how size and age did not matter. Having not even fired any shots in reply, the youngster dived once more to his left, although stayed on his feet. After faking a further move left, the older boy was clearly thinking he had all but won, and started firing where he thought his opponent would jump too next.
However, the younger boy moved right, firing off just three short blasts, each hitting his opponent who was stood stationary. The older boy fell to the ground as the force of each blast sent his robes smouldering, before the Master overseeing the duel called a halt. Immediately two attendants ran into the arena area to check on the loser’s welfare, as the younger member dusted himself down, and was declared the winner.
Oribe stood “Bravo!” he shouted loudly as the winner turned to bow before his king. “Well that was unexpected…The other boy is fine?” he asked sitting back down and leaning over to one of the guild masters sat beside him. The man to his left confirmed that was the case and gestured with his hand for Oribe to look to his right, as the loser was helped to his feet. In a show of respect, the two contestants shook ha
nds, before being led away, as their king waved a hand to a nearby serving girl to bring him refreshments before the next duel started.
With a dozen duels lined up for the king to watch, a good part of his morning would be taken up, and although the man treated the events as entertainment, they were actually put in place as part of the apprentices training. Despite Oribe wanting the guild to be purely for training sorcerers for his upcoming and ongoing battles, the Masters had persuaded him to expand further. Healers were an essential part of any fighting force, something else the Caldronians specialised in.
At first, the Belarian king was somewhat suspect as to why such a thing would be needed, and only when some of his precious sorcerers had succumbed to injury during such events as he watched now, did he authorise the go ahead for the guild to recruit. Despite it only being a week or so since the decision had been made, already the guild had recruited a score or more skilled in such a thing. This had already reaped benefits in treating those normal soldiers that had been injured during their increased level of training. With the idea that healers could also travel with any new forces he deployed, it could potentially mean them being able to sustain a longer time out in enemy territory.
Chapter 6.
After spending a few hours sleeping in the dead woman’s bed, Mia lit a small lamp and proceeded to get dressed. With her black guild robes placed in the bag she was taking, she once more dressed in the only clothes that she thought suited her from those available to her, and although they were something she would not normally have worn, she deemed them suitable for what she needed.
With sunrise still some time off she ventured back into the kitchen, holding the small lamp in her hand. The dark shape of the dead woman still lay on the floor where she had fallen, but Mia merely stepped over it to gather a few more items of food for her trip. Quite just where she was going when she left the city, she had absolutely no idea, and had decided to let fate decide.
Satisfied she had everything she needed she quietly left the house, and ventured out onto the dark streets. There was still a slight chill in the air, and she shivered a little, pulling the red hooded cloak she had taken a little tighter around her. With her bag of supplies slung over her shoulder, she walked along the smaller side streets before stepping out onto the main thoroughfare.
Being the main street in the city, it led from north to south and east to west, and Mia knew she needed to pick a gate by which to leave. At first she went to go west but was quickly forced to duck into an alleyway as she noticed two city guards and a city sorcerer patrolling further ahead. Feeling her heart racing, she was unsure as to whether that was through panic or a sense of excitement at the imminent danger she was felt she was in. Whichever it was she knew that she had to stop automatically thinking people knew what she looked like. She was after all no longer dressed in her black robes, and surely to anyone looking on she would appear to be just another young woman walking the streets.
Mia realised though that she had probably ventured out too early, noticing that the only other people out at this early hour were the city guards and a few merchants preparing for a day’s trading. A young woman of her age and dressed as she was, stood out just as much as if she had still been in her guild robes. Mia, as a result, decided to keep to the side streets, although found herself frustrated as she was forced to trudge through litter and squalor. With the smaller streets being lesser used, it was apparent some of them were little more than dumping grounds, and aside from the smell, she cringed as she felt her shoe step into something soft and squidgy.
Realising trying to navigate through some of these alleys in the dark was becoming increasingly frustrating, she decided to cut her losses and find her way back out on to one of the main streets. Here she would wait just out of sight until sunrise, before continuing her plan to escape the city.
The wait was only a short one, and within the hour the first rays of sunlight were lighting up the clear morning sky. After deciding to eat an apple from her pack, Mia stood in the shadows as she watched another patrol move on ahead of her new position. Knowing that sooner or later she would have to take the chance that no one was actually going to recognise her, she threw what was left of her apple on the ground behind her and ventured out where she could be seen.
Now however, there were a few others walking around, and she thought now she would likely be a little less conspicuous. Puffing her cheeks out, she walked slowly at first, trying not to draw attention to herself, as she noticed that some of the women actually walked about quite quickly, and to try and imitate them Mia decided to pick her own pace up just a little.
Her first test of nerve came just a few moments later as a small group of city guards were heading her direction. With her heart pounding, she started breathing heavy as they closed in towards her. Mia remained firm and tried not to stare as the soldiers merely passed her by, feeling a wave of relief wash over her as she realised she had not been recognised.
As she neared what she now realised was the western gate, Mia slowed down just a little discreetly scanning the faces of those around her just in case any of them looked familiar. Most were citizens of Surmont going about their daily business completely unaware and uncaring as to who or what she was. Stopping for just a few moments, a hundred paces from the gateway, she looked at the guards on duty and was sure none looked remotely familiar, and so headed for the opening to make good her escape from the capital.
After deciding to follow a large man heading the same way, hoping his much bigger frame might obscure her further from prying eyes, she peered ahead. Mia froze as her eyes met those of a man who walked into view. “Aryan!” she uttered to herself as she instantly put the name to the face. For a split second she hoped he might not have recognised her, and thought about continuing, but that idea was soon scuppered when she saw the Guild Master point her direction.
Without giving it a second thought, she shoved the large man walking in front of her aside and thrust her hand forward releasing several small energy blasts. Not targeting anyone person in particular she hoped the attack might give her time enough to turn and flee. Mia may have been feeling confident in her own abilities, but even she knew that the chances of her bettering a Guild Master, particularly one who taught the art of combat, were very slight.
She watched momentarily to see if her attack had succeeded in creating the confusion she desired, only to see a glimmering light of a shield stop each and every one of her shots. Knowing this was a fight she would not win Mia turned and started to run, shoving a young woman carrying a baby to the ground in the process. With the realisation of what was going on, the people started panicking and running, causing her to bump into them further stalling her progress.
She had barely made it twenty paces back in to the city when she suddenly stopped dead, frozen in place and unable to move. Mia realised Aryan must have thrown a shield over her, and despite all her efforts she did not know how to counter it. After writhing and squirming, she managed to turn her head slightly to see the man walking quickly her direction, followed by several city guards. After one more struggle Mia finally relaxed, accepting there was nothing more at that moment she could do to escape.
Just as she thought it was all over, she felt nothing but anger and rage, shouting she would kill them all if they touched her. As the Guild Master was no more than ten paces away she snarled his direction, before noticing a sudden look of surprise on his face. Mia was then shocked as the shield holding her in place simply vanished and not needing a second invitation, started running once more. She glanced back to see Aryan stood shielding himself and the guards from another attacker, but who it was and where they were positioned she did not know.
After ducking down a side street, she paused just briefly to catch breath, “Psst!” she heard, quickly turning her head in the direction of the voice. “This way, quickly!” it shouted again as Mia tried to pinpoint the source. “Come on!” it said a little louder, as she spotted a shadowy figure in a door way
just a little further on. Mia looked back and knew it would only be a matter of time, before whoever was delaying her pursuers could do so no longer, meaning she would soon be chased again. With her options somewhat limited she quickly hurried over to where she was being beckoned and stepped in through the open door to a dimly lit room.
Mia quickly turned to see the figure shut the door behind them, and was surprised to see a man, probably in his early twenties stood before her smiling. Her immediate thought was not who he was or why was he helping her, but how attractive he looked. Still breathing heavily, Mia kept a very watchful eye on the man, although he seemed more interested in looking through a small crack in a blacked out window frame than at her. “Come on Kala where are you?” she heard him say.
Mia turned suddenly as she heard someone else enter the room from another doorway somewhere over to her left. “Did you get her?” she heard the newcomer say from out of the darkness.
“Yes…That was a close one,” she heard the man reply, as Mia tried to pick out the arrival of the newcomer, noticing the outline of a figure moving a little nearer to them.
“I think we’ve given them the slip, they seem to have gone by,” the man said still peering through the small crack that let in the smallest amount of daylight.
The Rogue Sorcerer: The Caldronian Guild : Book 2 Page 4