The distance shortened quickly and Sebastian tested the enemy with another light arrow. Seeing the red barrier flicker to life blocking his arrow, the mage knew that it would take more than that to defeat the enemy.
“We’re going to have to work together, Bas,” Yara stated seeing the enemy’s shield from his side.
Nodding, the man picked up the wrapped staff of Bairh’loore. His wizard staff, though he was the mage that had created the artifact of power, was one point of contest for Yara in his plans, but he had won out.
“I still don’t think you should use that, Bas,” the girl warned nervously. “You know what it did to you in the tournament and Darius gave us that warning about tapping the earth for power.” Her words stopped as she realized that they were at sea. The dirt making up the bed of the sea was far beneath them. “How will you use it without the earth to power your staff anyway?”
Knowing he was about to get another lecture, the mage confided, “I snuck onto the deck to test that theory.”
A slap to the arm and an accusatory, “Bas!” was his quick punishment.
“Do you remember that last time I pulled power to save Annalicia during the last fight of the tournament?”
Frowning at him, Yara stated in annoyance, “You mean when you tapped the earth without even using the staff and nearly killed yourself in the process?”
Despite her words, the man nodded, “I didn’t just get the power I needed from the earth. We were on a stone wall fifty or sixty feet up. The higher you go the more separation there is even with the stone wall to conduct some of the power. I received energy from the air as well.
“A wizard can use power beyond his own not just from the earth, but any of the elements. Water has a different kind of energy, but with the ship and Bairh’loore I can moderate more power than I can hold in my body.
“We may need the extra power to break their curse barrier.”
Yara sighed and reminded him, “You and I broke the castle barriers together. We didn’t need Bairh’loore or to tap the earth in some other way.”
Leaning in to kiss the pretty blond on the cheek before standing up straight to watch the oncoming black sails, Sebastian mused. “I think we tapped into a different force that day. We have a bond that is different from any others here. Collin and Nara might have the same thing in the near future, but our time on the island connected us to make both of us stronger. Together I think we can do more than any two wizards trying to share power.”
“Are you trying to saying we tapped into the power of love?” Yara played with the words in amusement to tease him.
Slapping the healer on the butt making her squeak, Bas laughed, “Something like that. Anyway with Bairh’loore as back up, I am hoping that we can defeat anything they throw at us.
“This isn’t going to be an easy fight. Anyone who can use that level of magic is truly dangerous.”
The time had come and the two ships came at each other passing with only a short distance between them.
“Water and air defenses ready! Shield teams ready!” their leader ordered as they began to cross into cannon range.
Booms of cannon fire shook the Sea Dragon as the ship’s forward deck guns fired. As they continued to pass each cannon would boom delivering its payload into the other ship. Echoes of the enemy’s cannons with accompanying light and smoke made ears ring on both sides.
Winds gusted driving back arrows. Waves rose in swirling spouts or massive walls absorbing balls of iron. Iron could break magic shields if pure, but the mass of the waves could not be destroyed as easily.
Fireballs were lobbed by Serrena, the three battle mages and a handful of Malaiy wizards borrowed for a fight everyone aboard needed to win. Malaiy and Southwall alike, they were all in this fight.
As expected the red glass met the fire just beyond the wood of the ship, and the warlocks fired black bolts in exchange. Spells of night, Sebastian ordered up the black shields that he had taught them. Collin anchored the defense with the mages and other wizards not engaged in air and water defense. Shields met the ebony bolts and held. Beams of light from the warlocks were met by the blue energy of battle mage shields in turn countering the reversal.
He could see disbelief among the warlocks. Arguing began and the two ships were quickly beyond the range of cannon. A new game began. The ships both turned away trying to use the wind efficiently to bring them back around to attack once more. If they could beat their enemy to a superior angle, they might be able to fire from a position that would receive minimal retaliation.
Minutes passed mind numbingly slow. Wizards and mages took drinks and ate snacks. The upside of naval battles was the time between passes. On the other hand, with magic, no one could become too complacent. Sebastian chose to remind his enemies of that fact.
“Light,” he charged the Hollow Sword with the spell and swung the blade in attack at the bow of the black ship. Knowing to close his eyes after the last time, the sword magnified the magic launching the light in a cutting arc.
Opening his eyes as the attack met the red shielding, he watched as it cracked. Pieces of the light spell slipped through the ward striking sails and the third mast. Holes in cloth would slow the black ship’s movement giving the Sea Dragon an advantage, especially if he could do it a few more times.
Surprise and confusion could be seen on the deck of their enemy. He had little time to relish the minor victory as the two ships finished their turns coming back in line to attack again.
“Yara, hold onto me. It’s time to show them what we can do.”
Wrapping her arms around his waist, Yara readied for the magic that could break curses.
Cannon began to fire as they started their runs again. Sebastian watched as both sides used their magic to protect their ships and attack those on deck.
“Now,” he stated for Yara. “Light,” their voices and power merged generating the power of light.
Streaking into the enemy magic, red glass tried to form only to be shredded by the power of two. Warlocks spied them firing elemental and curse magic at the two. A second light spell repulsed the weak magic of solo casters.
Fireballs and air spears from the Sea Dragon hit the black ship. Armor could absorb the spells, but goblins and orcs quickly had to work to put out fires on the deck and even on the lowest sail of the middle mast. Though they had bloodied the enemy’s nose a little bit, they passed by and began their turns for another attack.
“Grab them!” the warlock leader ordered his lieutenants.
Ashleen and the men were pulled from the mast as the spell holding them dissolved. Perhaps this was the chance she had been waiting for, the girl thought briefly. They had been unable to break free in any way. Hands and thumbs bound, the wizards were unable to cast even simple spells. Only battle mages could come close to casting spells with just their speech. Wizards needed their hands and even bodies to bring out the true meaning of their magic.
A hand pushed her roughly towards the rail that would face Sebastian’s ship on the next pass. She could only see parts of the magic his team had been using, but the warlocks had been surprised by the fierceness of it. More importantly, spells of light and dark had proven that the wizard hunters didn’t have the advantage that they thought they had. The warlocks had watched a bright light crack their shield on the first try and an even more powerful beam of light had shattered it effectively.
Ashleen was no expert on the curse barrier, but she was pretty sure that it was broken. Even if they decided to renew the barrier, it could be brought down by that beam of light. It had been defeated and they were on an even field with their opponent. Sudden fear filled her chest. If they were getting desperate to even the odds, what were they going to do to the three of them?
“Time for you lot to earn your keep,” the leader said with a smug smile. One of the other warlocks began a spell and touched the band on Themenor’s neck. The curse barrier wraps dropped, but the wizard stood as if frozen.
“Whip
up the winds, slave,” the warlock who had touched the band ordered the air wizard.
Themenor responded with only the incantation needed to harness the wind. With his help, the ship could finish its turn quicker. He was their slave she realized and knew their plan now.
A second warlock stood behind her beginning the spell. Panic made the girl bold.
“No!” she yelled in fear and anger bolting forward. While she was not tall, the rail wasn’t high either and Ashleen leaped over the barrier. A hand grabbed for her and her dress twisted her body in the air. The sound of ripping cloth was lost to her mind as she struck the water hard.
Rushing water bubbled around the wilder and she tried to follow them upward to the surface. Kicking and swiping downward with both hands still bound together, the girl hurried as her breath that was less from the rush and impact with the water was giving out quickly.
Sound changed as her head broke the surface. Gasping for air, Ashleen tried to look around for either ship. She had refused to be used as a slave, but now the wizard had no idea how to avoid drowning in the sea. While she did know how to swim, Ashleen wasn’t a strong swimmer. People didn’t swim in the northern oceans even during the summer very often. It remained too cold and there were few lakes to enjoy near her home.
Home came to her mind at the thought. She would never see her home again, the girl realized sadly. Her mind was her own at least until she would drown.
Minutes passed as Ashleen tread water. Waves rose all around her and masked her vision. Where the ships could be, she wasn’t sure. It was just the sea and the girl now.
“Liam!” Bas shouted for the water wizard. The man looked up at him inquiring. “Ashleen jumped overboard. Can you save her?”
He pointed at the black ship and the place that he had last seen the girl as she had plunged into the sea. It was a gutsy move and desperate, if he had to guess.
Magic gathered around the water wizard a moment before he unleashed a spell that started very subtle. In fact, Sebastian had no idea what the man had done until the water rose about where he had seen the girl dive into the sea. Like some sea horse, the concentrated construct rode the top of the water crashing through waves as if they weren’t even there. It sped towards the Sea Dragon even as it turned away trying to make the turn to confront the black ship once more.
Reaching the ship, the construct lifted to deposit a frightened platinum blond package on the deck. Sebastian and Yara hurried down from the fore deck in the moments before they would be needed again.
“Ashleen!” the mage cried out her name as he saw the girl looking like a battered, sodden mess. Wearing a thin, under dress, torn halfway up the right side; it barely hid a thing of her body as it clung to her skin. Wearing light blue cloth mirrored by her exposed underpants, the air wizard’s skin was almost as blue from her time in the freezing sea.
Yara laid her hands on the girl now shivering on the deck. Her healing spell sought to bring warmth back into the wizard. Wrapped in Yara’s arms, Ashleen sank into her looking for heat, but her eyes found Sebastian’s. “Sebastian, thank the gods,” she breathed looking ready to cry.
“How did you get out here?” he started and realized that there were more important things to worry about. A sailor ran to get a blanket at his order returning quickly. It was an ugly brown thing, but it was warm.
“We were captured by wizard hunters. Their armor and spells seem designed to cancel out our magic. Even their soldiers are protected against us.” She held up her bound hands and Bas noted the strange use of the curse barrier. “I’ve never even heard of warlocks like this,” the girl confessed in shock.
“Are you all right? Who were the other two with you?”
“If you can get these off of me, I can help you fight. The other two are Southwall wizards that were going to visit Kardor. Lord Romonus invited a handful of wizards to come to visit us and see what our land has to offer,” the girl said looking warmer and practically recovered from her plunge in the freezing sea.
“Bas!” Collin called out warning of the approaching ship.
Yara took his hand and called out the power for their spell, “Light.” Her other hand touched the glowing manacles destroying them completely.
“We need to get back to our positions,” Sebastian said as Yara stood to join him. Their friend’s story would have to wait.
Determined to get her revenge on her captors, Ashleen ran to join them clinging to the blanket. “I want to help,” she reminded them and waited for her shot.
Cannon fire began and magic from both sides raged. Sebastian and Yara used their light spell to shatter armor and more of the lingering barrier magic. Fireballs and air spears struck orcs, goblins and men. Wind and water spells sought to stop cannon balls and enemy magic, while the warlocks fought back with black fire that burned armor and flesh alike.
Collin was knocked down by a glowing barrier spell. Sebastian and Yara had to direct their light spell on him to free the wizard. In the distraction, the enemy slipped an attack of a simple kind through their defenses. Hooks and thick lines snagged rails or dug into the wood of the deck. Magic followed the ropes strengthening them beyond iron as trolls anchored and pulled the ships together.
Men and women fell with the impact of the two ships colliding at speed. Wind still filled the sails of both trying to push them along and the joined vessels slowly spun as combatants from both sides recovered to bring the fighting up close.
Chapter 27- Light and Dark
Dark armored creatures with black weapons looked on the ensnared Sea Dragon for only a brief moment before the swarm attacked. Goblins swung from lines in the masts from one height to another. Their were no men in the sails to combat them, but the fire wizards of Malaiy were up to the task with flaming beasts and fireballs. The lighter weight goblins were not armored like the heavier orcs and trolls. They had hoped to use their speed against the men and women of the Sea Dragon.
As bodies fell from above, orcs and a handful of trolls in the black armor of the warlocks leaped from the higher deck of the enemy ship onto the frigate. Sailors gave way as Sebastian’s battle mages moved to the front. Captain Drayden and Sergeant Kulvayr moved as smoothly as the three battle mages sped up with their reflex spells.
Sebastian looked to Yara receiving a head nod from the girl and prayed that she would be safe as he joined the fray.
“Don’t worry, Bas,” Ashleen assured him as he moved, “I’ll protect her for you.”
“Reflex,” the mage ordered his spell of speed and the world seemed to slow for him. Orcs and goblins leaping became slower as they seemed to float in the air. “Light,” he cast the spell charging his Hollow Sword.
A pair of orcs, standing over a bleeding Malaiy sailor on the nearby deck, turned to meet the battle mage in slow motion. Two crossing slashes with the sword nearly cut both creatures in two as the blade split the armor plate across their chests like it wasn’t there.
“Light shield,” the mage conjured up a glowing white shield made of the light spell that conquered night and curse spells. It was his first attempt, but it felt natural to him. Mecklin spotted the bright light as he fended off a troll. The juggernaut in its black armor resisted the power of the man’s metal blade. Fire had coated the weapon to just be absorbed by the leeching powers of the armor.
Mimicking his leader, the mage brought up a light shield in place of the faltering blue mage shield he held on his left arm. The bright light of the shield momentarily blinded the troll giving Mecklin his shot. Thrusting his sword in towards the heart, he slipped it through the gap in the armor driving it deep into the troll’s chest. Surprise took the creature’s eyes before they rolled back and it toppled onto a hapless orc behind it.
Mecklin lost his weapon in the thick torso of the troll and Sebastian slapped one of the black blades from the orcs he had slain to the mage. Flipping twice in the air, the weapon found Mecklin’s hand and the battle mage met the next opponent with the black blade.
; Taking the lead, Sebastian began a dance of death between the expert swordsmen of his team. They were backed by the sailors, but in reality the five men and Frell were the core of the defense now. His wizards took up defensive positions at the far ends of the ship using fire, water and wind to strike at the marauding monsters unleashed on them. The unarmored foes were slain and driven into hiding despite warlocks screaming and threatening their subordinates. Some were killed by their leaders, but others ran and hid as best they could.
Light and lightning brighter than normal lightning began to strike armored foes on the deck. Black armor crumbled and cracked making the swordsmen’s work easier. Elemental spells became effective as armor broke as well letting the other wizards slay the beasts.
Sebastian was surprised when a trio of warlocks spearheading a group of orcs and a troll raced towards the front of the Sea Dragon. The mage knew they sought to end Yara and Ashleen’s threat.
“Light,” he said recharging his weapon. The sword gleamed brightly ready to destroy the darkness and the mage swung the sword in a swipe horizontal to the deck. Like an arc of light, the weapon sent the power into the dark enemy cracking armor and driving the closest orcs into their fellows.
Seeing the new threat, the attack force stalled. Light and lightning from the upper deck streamed down shattering quickly erected night shields. The warlocks were not so easily defeated as two defended their third as a curse spell launched towards the girls. Ashleen moved to block the spell as lightning engulfed the wilder. The bright light of the lightning stilled as the curse spell broke through the lightning knocking the wilder back into Yara.
Catching their friend, the healer would have been shocked had Ashleen not released her defense when she had been struck. Arms pinned to her chest by the red glass barrier, the wilder was helpless to fight back, but Yara summoned her strength and used the light spell on her bonds. When the warlocks, abandoning their soldiers, leaped onto the foredeck to finish the girls, Ashleen was freed and with a grim smile her lightning laced with light struck the three men a deadly blow.
Battle Mage: The Lost King (Tales of Alus) Page 34