The King's Sorcerer

by B. T. Narro

  Leon looked at me. “Your father later found out where one of them was living, to my surprise. Soon after, he gave me the locations of the other two. By then, many rumors of their crimes were spreading around Tryn, but there had been no evidence found against them. Gage told me to entice them to commit a crime publicly if I wanted to do something to stop them. Otherwise, I was to keep an eye on them. ‘Do not kill them,’ he’d said. ‘It isn’t the solution. They will make a mistake soon.’ But I didn’t agree. I wanted to stop them permanently before they hurt someone else. If I was going to do that, I needed some help. I convinced Jenna to work with me.

  “We learned dteria just so we could practice resisting it. The following weeks were rough as we tried not to let the energy corrupt our minds, but eventually I felt strong enough to confront the thieves. By then I had given up on recovering the coin they had taken. Bastards had probably spent it all.”

  Leon had a long breath.

  “I killed them individually, at their homes.” He spoke quickly, as if the words were painful. “But I was caught by a guard after I finished off the last one. I remember contemplating running or even fighting, but Jon’s father showed up and convinced me that my punishment wouldn’t be severe if I cooperated with him. He would speak to the king on my behalf.”

  “This was the last king, Oquin Calloum?” Michael asked.

  “Yes. As you might suspect, he wasn’t as understanding as Nykal would’ve been. You see, Oquin valued those three sorcerers more than he valued me. He thought he could use dark mages to fight a war. So he put me in the dungeons. Gage visited me every so often. He told me he was doing what he could to bargain for my release. But Oquin was saving me for one thing, war, so I spent a long time in a prison cell.”

  Leon paused for a few breaths. “Anyway, I heard news of the war eventually. I figured I would be released on the condition that I fight, but next thing I knew, the castle was under attack and Oquin was ordering my cell to be opened. He claimed he was being betrayed by his own nobles and wanted me to kill all the men who were trying to take the castle from him. He put a sword in my hand. I didn’t even think about it. I cut his leg so he couldn’t run and killed the guards who chose to defend him. Many others did not, aiding me instead. It wasn’t long after that I met Nykal for the first time.” Leon paused. “He already knew who I was, and I had heard of him.”

  There was a long silence.

  “I’m not proud of what I did in the dungeon,” Leon said. “But I would do it again if put in the same position. I knew what kind of king Oquin was. I’d heard enough from a man I trusted, your father, Jon. That was long before the rebellion happened. He later stopped visiting after he told me he was retiring and moving to Bhode. He was disheartened to leave me in there, and to leave Tryn, but his wife was pregnant and he wanted to be far from Tryn, Newhaven, and especially far from Koluk. He had done a lot to fight against the dark mages by then, so he might’ve been targeted if he stayed. I wished him well and told him no hard feelings.”

  That made much more sense as to why he’d left and didn’t want to go back. He hadn’t told me any of this.

  “During my time in the dungeon, I’d heard news from the prisoners who came and went,” Leon continued. “Even the guards spoke to me about their concerns. Dteria was spreading across Lycast, promoted by the king himself. I later heard that he was arming his own people and was going to force them to march on Rohaer. Nykal’s rebellion against Oquin was exactly what I’d hoped for, but the new king wasn’t too keen on letting me, a murderer, go free. So we agreed that I would train his new sorcerers and fight for him. I’d never trained anyone except myself before then. I told him to find Jennava in Tryn, but she had moved to Koluk, unbeknownst to me, and was in deep with Cason. Nykal couldn’t locate her. The other sorcerers Nykal did know of were too expensive for him, all of them rich already with no need to put their necks on the line.”

  Leon opened his hands in a shrug. “Notice how none of them are here. Where are the other sorcerers, Jenna? What are they doing to help us?”

  “The few that I know of have continued to use their sorcery to enrich themselves. They never planned to fight. They would say they have no reason to join us. But even these sorcerers have only a specialized skill set, like myself. The king was right to choose you, Leon. I’ve never met someone who understands mana as well as you do.”

  “Don’t flatter me, woman. You know I can’t handle it. Besides, you’re going to be joining me in teaching the youths here.”

  “I never agreed to that.”

  “Neither did I, at first. Just wait until you speak with the king. He’ll convince you.” Leon smiled with one corner of his mouth. “You’re going to like him…so long as he doesn’t do something heinous to our Jon here.”

  “He won’t,” Michael said, “if there’s anything we can do about it.”

  Leon took a moment to ponder Michael’s words. “You all are going to threaten your own king?” he asked skeptically.

  “It’s not exactly a threat if we direct it on ourselves,” Michael retorted.

  “Oh, I see. All right, I’m with all of you.” Leon set his hand firmly on my shoulder and gave it a rough shake. “No one’s going to be hung here.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “But I can’t say his majesty won’t make you suffer.”

  *****

  It was night when we arrived at the castle. I’d enjoyed hearing about Leon’s past. Nothing he’d said had surprised me, not even that he’d killed three dark mages. All the tidbits about my father were expected as well. At my request, my father had spoken at great lengths about the kind of work he did in Tryn, except there had been nothing about dark mages. I wasn’t sure why he had chosen to kept that to himself. Perhaps he’d worried I would want to travel south and stop them, which turned out to be a valid concern given where I was now.

  He did make it clear, however, that he hadn’t always agreed with the lord’s rules. It had probably been very difficult for him to leave Leon in prison for stopping three criminals from continuing their abuse on the city.

  I would give anything for my father to still be here. He had a way with words. I imagined he would’ve not only convinced the king to attack the sorcerers in Curdith Forest today, but he would’ve led the charge.

  There was a team of armored guards waiting for me in the courtyard. They apprehended me in the midst of all my peers and comrades. As embarrassing as it was, it would’ve been worse if I’d resisted as they hauled me toward the keep.

  They led me downstairs and into the dungeon I had wanted to see the first time I had arrived at the castle. Finally getting my wish, my disparaging voice grumbled in my head.

  There was no fresh light, only a bright yellow burn from the sconces on the walls. The whole place smelled wet. I had never been somewhere more depressing, except possibly my quiet house in Bhode on the anniversary of my father’s passing.

  They brought me past many prisoners, all of whom were either sleeping or dead. I figured the former, as it was night outside, but I heard almost nothing from them. Only one man sat up as I crossed by. He didn’t appear dirty, and his hair wasn’t too long. That was a good sign. However, the misery on his face was as plain as day.

  They led me deep through the dungeon until eventually there were no other prisoners in the cells we crossed. Finally they opened one and pushed me in. They closed the cell door and locked it with finality.

  I hadn’t had anything since breakfast except for an apple Calvin had graciously given me during the trip out of the forest.

  “May I have something to eat?” I tried.

  They left without looking back.

  I had secretly hoped that supper would be waiting for us when we were returned and I might sneak a few bites of something before being dragged away.

  The bed was hard and itchy wherever my skin touched it. I was too hungry to sleep, but I lay down anyway and closed my eyes.

  I had never gone this long w
ithout a meal, and now there was nothing else to focus on. I slept here and there but never for more than a couple hours.

  It was absolutely miserable.

  Eventually, however, my hunger seemed to go away and I finally slept for a while.

  I awoke later and knew that I couldn’t sleep anymore. It was probably the middle of the next day. I couldn’t imagine being tortured on top of this hunger. I didn’t care if the king told me I would stay here for another day or even another week as long as I was fed.

  Some of the most miserable hours of my life had gone by when I finally heard footsteps approaching. I grabbed hold of the bars of my cell with weak hands and looked out into the hall. It was a man holding a large bowl, thank god.

  I felt like a starving dog attempting to contain his excitement while the man put the bowl through the horizontal opening. I noticed it was porridge as I grabbed the spoon and dug in.

  I barely remembered eating it when I was done, a mess across my face. They had left me in the cell with some water, but I had finished it after waking. My tongue and sleeve would have to suffice.

  I started to worry once more. If they fed me, did that mean I would be down here waiting for the king hours longer? Maybe even days?

  Another agonizing hour passed before I heard footsteps again. It was the king, thank god. He had a number of men around him as he stopped at my cell and gave me a hard look.

  “Leave me alone with him,” Nykal said.

  Soon we were. I was relieved to see him. I was almost beginning to believe that any punishment would be better than being stuck down here wondering when we would finally speak. But as he faced me, and I saw the spark of rage in his eyes, I wasn’t so sure anymore.

  “Do you know how scared I was when I thought you had deceived my daughter into going into the forest?” His voice was rough but controlled.

  “I know you must’ve been worried, sire.” It had been the plan.

  “I knew you wouldn’t endanger her, but even though I knew…” His tone was biting as he lifted his hand. “Even though I knew, I still couldn’t stop worrying. Do you know why I was so worried even though I knew that you wouldn’t do anything to harm her? Do you know, Jon?”

  I shook my head nervously.

  “Because of the man you are! I knew you wouldn’t do anything to harm her—on purpose. But how was I supposed to remain calm when I imagined trouble finding you? I imagined ambushes and my daughter screaming…and worse! I can’t even describe the scenarios I was forced to envision! Ordering your execution might be the only way to instill the same fear in you!”

  I let down my head, too afraid to keep my eyes on him.

  “I was even more furious when I realized that this was your purpose! You knew I would fear for my daughter’s safety and send troops after the two of you. You knew it would nearly kill me to find out what you’d done. I had to protect her at all costs. You used her to manipulate me, your king!” He grabbed the bars of my sell. “And the gall of you convincing the others to speak on your behalf! Imagine my anger when nearly all of my sorcerers told me that I cannot hang you without hanging them as well!”

  I looked up. Nearly all? It warmed my heart, but I did wonder who hadn’t joined the others, picturing Reuben of course, or maybe Leon, if he’d changed his mind.

  It was silent for a long while as the king blew out his rage in loud breaths.

  “Tell me something, Jon,” he said. “What would you have done if you hadn’t found Rohaer’s sorcerers in the forest?”

  “I would’ve lived in the forest and tried to fight for you while avoiding capture from your troops.”

  Nykal didn’t seem too pleased, but he didn’t look angrier, either.

  “What am I going to do with you?” Nykal asked eventually. It didn’t sound rhetorical, but I still doubted he wanted me to answer him.

  He gave a sigh and started pacing with his hand on his chin.

  Eventually he spoke again. “I thought I would know the answer to this when I saw you, but I still don’t. How am I supposed to trust you when you’ve done something like this?”

  I knew if I opened my mouth I would be arguing with the king, which I’d learned was not something that was likely to go my way. But he had been wrong, and I had been right. Our victory had proven this. It took all of the strength I had not to point it out to him.

  “Anyone who’s shown even half of the insubordination you have has been removed from my service, or worse.” The king spoke slowly as he gesticulated at me. “How am I supposed to let this pass? What kind of message is this going to send to the other sorcerers and everyone else in my service who knows you went against me? A statement needs to be made.”

  He began to pace. He did not face me when he spoke again.

  “I was thinking of keeping you here for the entirety of the war.”

  “Please no,” I grumbled.

  “Yes, I know how that would make you feel, but all of your friends have made it quite clear that they will leave my service if I force you to stay here that long. Additionally, if the tales I’ve heard of your performance in combat are true, then I would be a foolish king who makes a decision based solely on pride and reputation—and I have promised myself I would not be that kind of king.”

  He held my gaze for a long while. Then he gave a raspy breath and resumed his pacing.

  “At least even your peers agree that you need some sort of punishment.” He faced me as if he had an idea. “Here’s what I’m going to do. You have two choices, Jon.”

  “Yes, sire?”

  “You can let me decide your punishment. I admit I have not come up with one yet, but be assured that you will hate it.” He let the words sink in. “Or you can decide your own punishment. Right now, you can tell me something that you think is right. It must be public enough that everyone knows you are being punished for your insubordination against me. I will let you think of something now. If I find it fitting, then that will be your only punishment. If not, I’ll decide.”

  I racked my mind. My first thought was food. My hunger had been torturous. To deny me meals seemed worse than anything I could think of short of dismemberment, but it wasn’t very public and it would weaken me. That wasn’t something either of us wanted. What if I only ate dishes that were tasteless but still nourishing? That was an option, but there had to be something more public. I needed to stop thinking about food for a moment.

  Other comforts came to mind, like my room, my bed, the baths provided to me. Perhaps I could take only cold baths for two weeks. I had hated the one I was forced to take after first coming back from Curdith Forest with animal blood on me. But again, that wasn’t public enough. I doubted such a punishment would satisfy the king.

  I wasn’t going to let him choose, though. I had to decide on something meaningful, yet also grueling.

  I realized what it needed to be.

  “I will spend two hours each night, sire, acting as a city guard of Newhaven. This will cut into the time I’m usually given to sleep. However, I will still continue my training at the same hours every day.”

  He thought for a little while. “And how long are you proposing you will do this?”

  All right, a good sign so far. “I will do it for…” I tried to get an idea of the minimum I could go, but his expression was unreadable. “Five days,” I said conclusively, hoping my tone might sway him if my words hadn’t.

  The king did not appear pleased.

  “One week?” I asked.

  He folded his arms. “Is that your final offer before I decide if I will issue my own punishment?”

  I sighed. “Ten days, sire. I will still rise at the same time every morning for breakfast and a bath. I can lose two hours of sleep every night for ten days, but no more. Not if you want me to be capable of handling any other task or even making use of my training.”

  The king put his hand over his mouth as he tilted his head. He thought for a long while, and eventually he started nodding.

  “Yes, that
is fitting. It is decided. This punishment will be known to the others. The new captain of the guard in Newhaven will immediately be made aware. You will see him about your assigned location during these ten days, and I will make sure he gives you a difficult one.”

  “That sounds fair, sire. Was he the lord of Tryn before, the same man my father worked for?”

  “Yes, you at least have that in common with him, but I’m going to make sure he doesn’t go easy on you.”

  “I understand.” An opportunity to meet him was part of the reason I had chosen this punishment.

  The king produced a key and opened my cell door. I almost fell to my knees in joy as I walked toward him, but I kept myself up on shaky legs.

  “I’m only going to say this one time, Jon, and only here where no one can hear us. You will not repeat this.”

  I lifted my head up.

  “You were right and I was wrong. You have proven this today. I should’ve sent men into the forest. I do want to apologize for putting you in a position where you thought you had to do something as drastic as you did.”

  “And I’m sorry for doing that drastic thing. I swear to you that I will never do anything like that again.”

  “That’s what I was hoping to hear.” Nykal put his hand on my back as we walked. “The punishment is not because of my anger or pride. We will speak on future matters, and you will be heard.” He dropped his hand and looked ahead as if I didn’t exist. “None of this is to be repeated.”

  Did that mean he wouldn’t hold onto his anger? I supposed I would find out the next time we spoke.

  “I appreciate that very much, sire. I won’t speak of it again.”

  “I expect you to put the same effort into keeping the city safe at night as you have with everything else you’ve done.” He showed me a hard look. “But Jon, I want you tell me something honestly. Do you have feelings for my daughter? I’m not asking if you plan to act on these feelings, just if you have them.”

  I wondered if it was a trick question. If I wouldn’t act on any feelings I might have for her, why would he care if I had them at all? It didn’t matter. The truth would suffice.