The Knight Mage

by Whiskey Flowers

  “Speaking the Demon’s name and she shall appear” John said as he set the couch down. His mother walked out of the tower along with his sister just as they landed.

  “John are you alright?” Crystal said as she rushed over to her son. “I heard you fought a dragon”.

  “He killed a dragon” Jonathan said with a smile. “And brought the body back for the Queen to view. Probably enough to push poor Rusty over the edge whenever he hears of it, the dragon was a juvenile but with retellings it is probably going to end up as big as this tower before it reaches his ears”.

  “Well I am just glad he is safe” Crystal said as she gave him a hug. “John do you ever take off this armor?”

  “Occasionally” John replied with a smile. “All I really have are mage robes and I don’t ever plan on being seen in any of those ever again”.

  “Why not?” Sara asked.

  “Because it is just not my style” John replied. “I am a Knight of Kirby, we wear armor”.

  “Dawn told me all about your trip John” Crystal replied. “You could have died”.

  “I didn’t” John replied.

  “I told you that you don’t give John enough credit” Jonathan said looking at his wife. “He beat back the barbarians, defeated Rusty in hand to hand and a mage duel, stopped some bandits from savaging a family, beat the Defiler and then killed a dragon. I don’t think luck has anything to do with it, John is just that good”.

  “Well his story is slowly spreading all over the tower” Crystal replied.

  “Does Tiffany know?” John replied and gave his father a sly wink.

  “Tiffany who?” Sara snapped. “Oh you mean Tatterson, she is no longer here”.

  “What do you mean she is no longer here?” John asked. “Where is she?”

  “She graduated early and is on special assignment from the Archmage” Crystal replied as she turned bright red.

  “She is sweet but why would you be worried about her” Sara replied. “I have it on good authority that Dawn is interested in you. Since the decree your list of eligible women has shortened”.

  “The Decree?” John said feigning ignorance.

  “Oh yes brother” Sara smiled. “You can't just run off and marry some random trollop that fills out the top of her dress nicely”.

  “Sara!” Crystal said as she slapped her daughter on the shoulder.

  “Mother you were as happy as I was that John couldn’t find some random commoner” Sara replied. “His bride has to be a noble or a mage”.

  “Has Lady Lux asked about me?” John asked. “It looks like the Archmage lifted the unofficial restriction about mages marrying their own kind”.

  “John you have Dawn pining for you” Crystal replied. “Why don’t you just give her a chance?”

  “Isn’t she a bit out of my league?” John replied. “I don’t want to go through life with people saying I am not worthy of her. Besides she is Sara’s friend and related to that great idiot I had to slap around. It wouldn’t work but she is not as annoying as I first thought”.

  “No one is too high and mighty for my boy” Crystal replied. “You are a Thunder, with or without recognition any woman should be happy to have you. Don’t you ever forget that, I am just partial to Dawn, she is a lovely girl that many men are intimidated by because of her size”.

  “I think many men just don’t want to deal with her or her family” John replied. “Me and her have already had a heart to heart. She doesn’t like the way I treat her”.

  “What did you do?” Sara said narrowing her eyes.

  “None of your fucking business, I don’t answer to you” John replied.

  “John your manners” Crystal said berating her son.

  “I don’t ask her about that idiot she follows around and she needs to stay out of my business as well” John replied.

  “I just want to know what you said to Dawn to mess up one of the best things ever to happen to you” Sara said trying to control her tone.

  “I am the Queen’s champion and a dragon slayer” John said in a mocking voice as he puffed up his chest. “Any woman whether you want to admit it or not would be happy for me to give them the time of day. Just because you are tying yourself to that great big idiot does not mean I have to tie myself to his cousin”.

  “Why do you two hate each other so much?” Crystal said shaking her head.

  “Mother you just heard I was in a fight with a dragon” John replied. “The first thing you wanted to know was how was I feeling mother. Sara wanted to know why I didn’t want to wear mage robes and asked about her friend. Not to mention she was content to let her great idiot pound on me and called me an embarrassment. I owe her no respect, I talk to her the way she should be talked to”.

  “John” Sara replied. “I didn’t ask how you were doing because I assumed you were okay when I saw you land. And leave Rusty alone, he was not as nice as he could have been to you but we are all older now”.

  “You keep telling yourself that” John replied. “I am under orders from the Queen to stay here for a bit mother. She wants me to give you pointers on how to best prepare potential mages on how to pair well with Knights”.

  “I already have started a law class” Crystal replied. “What else is there and why are you smiling?”

  “Because I am going to put humility into a bunch of stuck up mages” John smiled. “Right after I see if my partner is settled in okay”.

  “Why would you check on her?” Sara asked.

  “Because she is worth checking on” John replied. “There is a rumor going around that she is to be my partner for a while longer”.

  “But what did you say to her?” Sara asked.

  “She was angry I treated her like unwanted luggage instead of a partner” John began. “I told her she was unwanted luggage and I was much better off by myself. She was angry at this and wanted to know why I treated her like this and I reminded her of all the nasty things her and her little crew has done and said about me. I also told her above all that she was your friend and for that reason I will never see her as anything more than a hindrance. Dawn of course told me about her family’s wealth and the fact she was a noble and I should be happy she would even dare to look at me as a partner”.

  “And what did you say?” Crystal asked.

  “I told her she is correct and we should announce our engagement” John replied.

  “You did?” Sara asked surprised.

  “Pit no” John laughed. “I told her I will be happy when this whole thing is over. That is when she actually started talking to me like an equal instead of her servant. I told her still want her gone, no need in prolonging things, especially when I never wanted her for a partner”.

  “Dawn is a good person” Sara said and crossed her arms.

  “She has a good heart but I wouldn’t call her a good person” John began.

  “What is the difference?” Sara asked.

  “You have a good heart, you wouldn’t pass by someone dying without offering aid” John began. “But you are a gossip and dismiss other people not of your station as unimportant. That makes you a bad person to be around, it is one of the reasons I can't stand you”.

  “There are people who can't stand you” Sara replied.

  “They couldn’t stand me because I didn’t have some great power” John began. “When I proved I didn’t need it and was quite capable is when people became offended I wanted nothing to do with them. Of course none would come say it in my face, they know I owe them and they don’t fancy the beatings they used to give me. I see them as a bunch of cowards, whatever they think about me means even less to me than your opinion of me. You have people who hate you for you, not because of their egos”.

  “We are getting nowhere with this” Jonathan replied. “John will be here for a few days and let's just enjoy his company. Enough about Rusty and everything else, let's just be a family and focus on ourselves”.

  “I agree” John replied. “I can be more than cordi
al if people who didn’t give a pit about me before stay out of my business”.

  CHAPTER 14

  “John I think you are liking this too much” Dawn said as she looked at twenty mages struggling to run around a newly constructed track. “I don’t do any of this”.

  “Of course I am enjoying it” John replied. “I went through much worse than this. They need to learn basic soldier skills, it will make teaming with a Knight a smooth transition. You have no idea how annoyed the Knights were that they had to lug dead weight around”.

  “We are not dead weight” Dawn replied.

  “Imagine a siege engine” John replied. “It could do more damage than any Knight around, now imagine how impractical it would be to lug that thing around everywhere you went. Knights are taught to move as fast as our horse will take us, we don’t care about sleeping in the elements and we eat what we can when we can. Many of your fellow mages are finding this out the hard way, they do not get the inns you sleep in every night. They have to sleep outside or meet their Knight in whatever city he is heading to”.

  “They are just pushing that pace to be difficult” Dawn replied.

  “A little” John laughed. “But things would be better if mages learned to ride and take care of themselves out in the wild”.

  “Well Knights could learn things as well” Dawn replied.

  “They could” John admitted. “We are a proud bunch and see ourselves as the elite of the elite. Are you looking forward to riding?”

  “You know I am dreading it” Dawn replied. “I have been spoiled by traveling with you. Your horse doesn’t even like me”.

  “He doesn’t know you” John replied. “He is a big angry destrier that was bred for battle. He was raised as a weapon, not a horse. You just got to show him who is boss”.

  “He is almost as big as that dragon” Dawn replied. “He is a draft horse masquerading as a warhorse”.

  “The prince picked him out for me himself” John replied. “I admit he might have gone overboard, the horse has bit my father twice already but they have come to an understanding”.

  “An understanding?” Dawn asked.

  “My Da had to show him who is boss and why he is called Jonathan the Lightning” John replied.

  “And what are you going to do when that beast comes after you?” Dawn asked.

  “I am going to get my Da” John laughed.

  “Very funny” Dawn replied. “What do you call him?”

  “He doesn’t have a name” John replied.

  “You have to give him a name” Dawn replied. “How about Shadow? He is dark as night and I think the name fits him”.

  “Shadow it is then” John replied. “I still have to find a pack horse to carry his armor and other things. We can find you a decent horse then, when the others get here they most likely will want to go right away”.

  “I think the mages will be angry at that” Dawn replied. “They have been on the road for who knows how long and will maybe spend a night at the most here”.

  “Well the various city watchmen are already here and they are itching to get into a real fight” John replied. “Many of them want to leave now if they could, all of them stand a good chance of being selected to squire to a Knight”.

  “Squire?” Dawn asked.

  “That is the official title now” John replied. “As a Knight I am allowed to pick one man to enter into the training. During that time it is up to me to teach him what it means to be a knight and help prepare him for the training. In return that man does various chores like polishing armor, sharpening and oiling swords, getting the horses ready and things like that. They will receive a silver a month which is no great fortune but their families are invited to live where all the knights are. Well they will be invited when Squire’s Squat is complete. It is a bunch of simple one room homes no bigger than a sizable shack really but everything is paid for. While they are traveling they are called Squires, many regular watchmen will jump at the chance to wear this armor”.

  “Does your squire has to be a male?” Dawn asked.

  “I suppose not but I doubt many knights will ever find themselves in the company of a female they are not actively trying to sleep with” John replied. “It sounds crude but I think it is the truth, most of them are married and have no need to speak to a woman. The Knights are filled with Alpha males, the thought of a woman joining their ranks irritates them”.

  “You are talking to me” Dawn replied.

  “I am not falling for that trap” John smiled.

  “You heard the Queen” Dawn replied.

  “I did” John replied. “I don’t care who joins if they can pass the selection, male or female. I think a mage stands a good chance of passing the selection, no one said I couldn’t use magic. I never used it because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. I think if a regular female tried selection she would find it a bit rough, a female mage would find it easier but I doubt any female mage would want the job”.

  “Here comes Sara, John” Dawn said as she motioned to his sister. “Can you be nice just this once?”

  “What for?” John replied.

  “You are nice to me” Dawn replied.

  “You aren’t a total twat” John replied. “And you saved my life”.

  “Sara would have done the same thing” Dawn replied. “And she would have did a better job at it, she is nearly as powerful as your parents”.

  “I never would be in a situation where I need Sara for anything” John replied. “I will be on my best behavior if she doesn’t do anything to piss me off which is unlikely”.

  “What are you guys doing out here?” Sara asked as she walked up.

  “What is it to you?” John asked. “Are you the city watch now?”

  “I am just making conversation” Sara replied.

  “Still worried about Rusty?” Dawn asked.

  “Of course I am worried about Rusty” Sara replied. “I hope he doesn’t try to become a hero”.

  “I will look in on that idiot while I am near the border” John replied. “Only if you can leave me in peace for the small amount of time I have remaining”.

  “Will you?” Sara said as John saw hope in her eyes.

  “I already said I will” John snapped.

  “You two look more comfortable around each other” Sara remarked.

  “What do you want?” John asked. “Can't you see I am busy looking at these fat mages run around a circle?”

  “I wanted to let Dawn know her mother is here” Sara replied.

  “My mother?” Dawn asked as she glanced worriedly at John.

  “Yes your mother” Sara asked.

  “What does she want” Dawn said to no one as she stood up.

  “She didn’t say” Sara asked. “She did ask if John was here”.

  “Of course she did” Dawn replied. “She didn’t even ask if I was okay after being shot, only about me and John”.

  “I know the feeling” John replied.

  “Don’t be so hard on your mother Dawn” Sara replied. “She has watched you turn down good men and has seen weak men refuse a match” Sara finished as she looked at John when she said the word weak.

  “Why do I think you are talking about me?” John asked.

  “Because I am” Sara snapped. “Dawn is very pretty and any man will be happy to have her”.

  “I agree” John replied.

  “Don’t you tell me…” Sara said as she looked shocked. “You agree?”

  “Of course” John replied. “Dawn is good people and I am happy to call her one of my friends. At least when she is not acting like you”.

  “No girl wants to be called a friend” Dawn said as she stood up.

  “Well that is what you…” John said as Dawn pulled him in close and gave him a kiss on the lips.

  John was shocked at the move but did not push her away. He suddenly became very conscious of her breast pressing up against his armor and wished he didn’t have it on as Dawn’s tong
ue explored his mouth. John was not sure how long the kiss lasted but was sure sometime during the smooch he began to kiss her back. Dawn broke the kiss and went storming off followed by Sara, the mages who were running obviously saw the whole thing as they were now all looking his way. John stumbled a bit and was sure he was bright red as he made his way back to the room his mother set aside for him. John walked inside and sat on the bed in the room. He had never really thought about girls before but he knew he was in trouble. Dawn was on his mind and he knew he needed to get her off his mind, the Queen told him not to leave which limited the places he could run. John started taking off his armor, if he had a squire it would have went much faster but he needed this time to think. The plate was heavy and every time he took it off he could instantly feel his breath coming easier. John took off the gambeson he wore underneath it and stood in the thin cotton clothes he wore underneath them both. A knock sounded at his door and then it swung open, his father was at the door and hurriedly slammed it behind him.

  “Tell me you were not kissing Dawn Nettleton in full view of your sister” Jonathan replied. “I can tell by the stupid look on your face that is exactly what happened. Her mother asked why her lip covering was smeared and she turned bright red while Sara smiled triumphantly. I saw the whole thing and now they are going to come looking for you”.

  “She kissed me” John retorted.

  “Either way your mother will be looking for you” Jonathan replied.

  “I thought you were with Shadow” John replied. “What were you doing with Farrah Nettleton”.

  “She was there when I rode up with that beast of yours” Jonathan replied.

  “You brought Shadow here?” John asked.

  “Is that what you are calling it?” Jonathan replied. “Well when I saw all the Knights enter town I took it upon myself to bring that animal over along with a pack mule and all of the armor for him. The Knights are on their way, I think they want to leave right now. Unless you want to hear whatever your mother has to say you should probably take off before she finds you”.