The Return of Cathos (Tales of the Silver Sword Inn, Complete Collection One)

by Wilson Harp

  “Medrick, are you ready?” asked the wizard as he walked by Medrick’s door. The young apprentice hurried after Master Orias and down the four flights of stairs that took them out into the streets of Black Oak.

  The short walkway from the front door of Master Orias’ tower to the wrought iron gate that led onto the street was brightly lit from the burning lamps that the servants had hurried to ignite. Just beyond the gate stood Polox the Vintner, one of the members of the town council.

  “Master Orias, I am so glad to see you.”

  “An army has come against the town from the east,” Master Orias said calmly as he opened the gate.

  “Yes. Yes, of course you would know,” Polox said.

  Medrick was surprised at how often common knowledge or knowledge easily obtained seemed somehow more impressive when stated with a calm voice and the knowledge of magic to back it up. Anyone in the town could have realized that, from the top of the tower, Master Orias, or really anyone, could have seen the oncoming army. But by calmly stating the obvious, Master Orias made it seem like he had special knowledge.

  “We will go to the east gate and find where Captain Kersten can put us to best use,” Master Orias said as he strode down the street at a smooth but quick pace.

  Councilman Polox tried to keep up and still face Master Orias at the same time. “Our men say that there are thousands of these barbarians coming at the gate. They have tossed oil onto the gate itself and will soon set it on fire. Also, we believe that there may be some magic users among them.”

  Medrick frowned. Why would barbarians come to Black Oak? And thousands of them? He was aware that the Padashite tribes warred among themselves all the time, but they seldom came in force against someone outside of their mountains.

  The streets were full of activity, with men and women rushing from place to place. Many others stared from their windows, some terrified. The bells that roused the town kept ringing, as though there might still be some townspeople still asleep. There were groups of men, in clumps of three, four or five, helping each other fit on armor. Some looked like they had never worn the thick leather vests before; others looked like they had not worn their vests in some years and were having problems squeezing into them.

  The normal cries of vendors and shopkeepers were silent, but the shouts of preparation for the sudden battle would have overwhelmed them anyway. As they walked through the main square, Medrick saw men with carts full of buckets being instructed on where to go. They would fill those buckets at the three wells located inside the wall and be stationed near the east wall in case the besieging army tried to set buildings on fire with burning missiles and debris. Black Oak was lucky that most of the buildings in that part of town had slate rather than thatched roofs, but there were plenty of things that would burn if enough fire was put over the wall.

  The closer they moved to the east gate, the fewer people were moving about. Those that were there moved with purpose. Whether it was moving carts and boxes out of the way, or moving carts and boxes to set up barriers, the men who were there were working in teams that had definite jobs. When they were within view of the gate itself, Medrick could hear the vast horde of barbarians on the other side of the wall. The twang of bows and crossbows, the clatter of ladders trying to be placed up on the wall, and the heavy thrumming of a battering ram smashing into the heavy wooden gate were all background noises to the vast ocean of human voices shouting, cursing, and singing as they fought to get into the town. The singing made Medrick shudder. It was a catchy tune that they sang, full of energy and spirit. They were happy and joyful at the thought of slaughtering the townspeople of Black Oak.

  Councilman Polox bid them a farewell and pointed out where Captain Kersten was. They were moving forward toward the wall when Medrick heard a man scream. He looked up on the wall and saw one of the town guards fall, an arrow sticking out of his throat. Medrick shuddered as he realized that the sight of men dying would fill his next several hours.

  “Master Orias, we could use you. They have some women out there drawing circles on the ground with some sort of glowing powder. One of my men wounded one, and he was lifted off of the wall by an invisible force and hurtled into the swarm of men below,” Captain Kersten said as he approached.

  “Diviners. Yes, they must be Reytrus Padashites. Where do you want me?” Master Orias asked.

  “Weltear’s house,” said the captain, pointing to a large three-story building. “The tailor offered it as soon as the horns sounded. You should be able to see all of their army from up there.”

  “Very good,” Master Orias said. “Medrick, come with me. We will find a spot for you once I see how I will situate myself.”

  Medrick followed the wizard into the ground floor of the tailor’s shop and house. Master Weltear opened a door to see who was entering.

  “Master Orias, you just go straight up those steps. The door to the roof is in a small room to the right. Me and my family will stay down in the cellar and out of your way,” the tailor said.

  “Thank you, Weltear, I will try to prevent any damage to your house,” Master Orias said as he started up the stairs.

  The stairs led from the tailor’s store up into his house. The second floor was where the family lived and was as opulent as any home Medrick had ever been in.

  “The tailor of Black Oak has done very well for himself,” Master Orias said as he started up the second flight of stairs.

  The third floor was room after room of supplies and tools. One room stood open, and Medrick could see by the light of the lamps on the wall that it was stacked high with bolts of blue fabric. Hundreds of bolts in dozens of shades of blue filled the room; linen, silk, wool, and others that he didn’t know the names of.

  “In here,” Master Orias said as he opened a door just off the landing of the stairs.

  A short ladder led up to a small hatch in the side of the house. Medrick set his staff next to the ladder and climbed up to open the latches. The door swung outward and Medrick stepped out onto the slanted tile roof. A few seconds later, Master Orias joined him.

  “Have you discovered the words needed to use that staff?” the wizard asked his apprentice.

  “I believe so, Master, but I haven’t had a chance to try it yet.”

  “Tonight you may find a time to try it. But be careful.” Master Orias walked around the roof until he found a good location. It was reasonably flat and had a chimney that he could brace himself against.

  “Here,” he said. “This is where I will work from.”

  He pointed to a balcony on a house one street over.

  “From there you can see me and keep the protective wards and shields up. There should be no questions, but speak to one of the guardsmen if the owner will not let you in,” Master Orias instructed Medrick.

  “Yes, Master. I will go set up now.”

  Medrick hurried off the roof and retrieved his staff from where he had rested it. He went down the stairs of the tailor’s house and out into the street. He looked around and found the house that Master Orias had sent him to and knocked on the door.

  An older man pulled the door open a crack and looked out.

  “I am Medrick, apprentice of Master Orias. I need to set up on a balcony to help my master fight off the barbarians at the gate.”

  The old man hesitated before he nodded and opened the door. About a dozen women and children were crowded around a table in the home’s interior. Medrick nodded to them before looking at the old man.

  “There is a window with a balcony that can see the roof of the tailor’s house. I need to go there,” Medrick said.

  “I know the room; follow me,” the old man answered. He limped heavily as he led Medrick to a set of stairs.

  “Second door on the right; the window is straight out. Can’t miss it,” he said.

  Medrick nodded his thanks and hurried up the steps. The room with the balcony was small with a bed that took up the majority of the space. Medrick couldn’t help but wonder why a
nice balcony was built for such a small room.

  He pulled open the window and stepped through it onto the balcony. When the floor of the balcony had stopped swaying, he figured out that the balcony was just for show. It was poorly constructed and probably would not support his weight through the night. He sat back on the window sill and looked to where Master Orias was positioned.

  Master Orias made a small hand motion, and Medrick could hear him speaking.

  “Why are you sitting on the sill, Medrick?”

  Medrick cast the spell that would allow him to speak at a distance.

  “The balcony is unstable, Master. I don’t think it will support my weight.”

  Medrick watched as Master Orias made some sort of incantation.

  “Try it now,” Master Orias said. “It is a reinforcement spell I will keep casting on the gate.”

  Medrick stepped back onto the balcony, and the footing felt firm and supportive.

  “That worked,” Medrick said. “I will start casting the wards on you now.”

  The first spells that Master Orias had taught Medrick were those that would protect against fire, ice, acid and lightning. He had said that a wizard needed to wear those wards when working with magic like a blacksmith wears a heavy leather apron when working on the forge. Once Medrick had those wards memorized and was able to cast them in stressful situations, Master Orias had started teaching him other spells.

  The first spell that Medrick cast was a spell that would allow him to see magic. This would allow him to see the threads of magic that were being cast, and he could see the wards that he put on Master Orias. If one of the wards fell, it could be recast immediately.

  Medrick made the incantation, and his jaw dropped open when he saw the amount of magic already in the air. His master had reinforced not only the balcony Medrick stood on but also the east gate. A shimmering wall stood before Master Orias. It was a field that would slow any arrows or crossbow bolts that headed toward the wizard.

  Master Orias had started casting some spells into the enemy army. Medrick realized he had been letting time slip away and started casting the wards that would protect the wizard. He would likely get a tongue lashing in the next day or two, and rightly so. As he was staring in amazement at the amount of magic that the diviners of the barbarians were using, men were dying along the wall. Every second he wasted was a loss of lives for the town.

  The wards were now set on his master, and they were well needed a few seconds later. Lances of ice and balls of flame came streaking from the ground in front of the eastern wall. The wards Medrick had woven for Master Orias held, but wavered. Medrick recast the spells and watched for more attacks on his master.

  The wizard didn’t blink when the enemy spells hit him. He remained focused and calm, throwing bolts of lighting and balls of fire at the enemy. Medrick didn’t know how many barbarians were being killed by his master’s magic, but he thought he could hear their shrieks grow louder as the magic attacks continued.

  During a lull in the attacks, Medrick decided to put up a shield of his own–a shimmering wall that would protect him from a stray arrow or bolt that might come his way. He made sure that the wards around his master were strong and steady and cast the incantation on the edge of the balcony. He had turned back to watch Master Orias when he felt the impact of a huge blast.

  He had not been facing the gate when it happened, or he might have been blinded by the flash. Some gigantic fireball had slammed into the gatehouse and had blown several large, sharp fragments of the stone directly at him. His shimmering shield was collapsing in on itself, but it had spared him from being killed by the jagged shards.

  He quickly recast his shield and then looked up to Master Orias. His shimmering shield was still intact, as were all of his wards. A shout from the gate drew his attention, though. Medrick looked down to see several of the town guards around a figure that had been blown off of the wall—Captain Kersten. Brother Hemal, the keeper of the Shrine of the Divine, was kneeling over the fallen officer.

  Medrick watched as Brother Hemal shook his head and stood up. There was nothing he could do for the captain. One of the other guardsmen started giving orders to those on the ground. Two of the men covered the captain’s body with a blanket and carried it down the street. Other men kept working on barricading the gate area. The guardsman giving orders glanced up at Medrick and Master Orias and nodded. It was Bartimus, the father of Val and Karl. They were Medrick’s best friends in Black Oak and their father was a longtime veteran of the guard.

  Bartimus directed a group of soldiers to fill in the gaps on top of the wall. One of the men who Medrick saw run forward was Val. Bartimus patted his son on the shoulder as he ran past him. Val had a leather vest, a metal helm and a crossbow, and on his hip was a quiver of bolts.

  Medrick looked back at the gates and saw Berni among the men, helping them move piles of wood and carts in front of the gates. They would use that as a barricade once the battering rams finally burst through.

  The weaves of magic increased out beyond the wall, and Medrick was afraid of what the Padashite diviners might have planned for their next attack against the city wall. Master Orias must have had similar thoughts, as he enchanted himself and stepped off from the rooftop location and walked on the air down to the top of the wall.

  The Padashite diviners threw dozens of magical attacks at him, but Medrick was able to keep the wards and shields up on the wizard. Master Orias struck with powerful magical spells. Some were clearly sent at the diviners, but other spells killed dozens of the warriors that were packed in tight ranks against the walls where the archers and crossbowmen could not hit them with ease.

  The night seemed to get darker as the diviners’ magic increased. There was a strong wind that seemed to rise from everywhere. Medrick held onto the magically reinforced balcony and watch in horror as a deep green rift opened in the air not far beyond the wall. A flurry of magic filled Medrick’s vision, and a sound of something being torn asunder assailed his hearing.

  The men on the wall grew still as a great form was pulled through the magical rift. The Padashite diviners had summoned some great creature to attack the town.

  A great rumble along the ground matched the mighty roar of some otherworldly beast. The frantic display of magic had come to an end, and the men who lined the top of the wall fell back in fear. All except Master Orias. He struck fast, a flurry of ice lances and lightning bolts flowing from his outstretched hands.

  Medrick was stunned as a great beast rose into the air on mighty wings. Each wing was at least twenty feet from its barbed tip to where it met the shoulder of the wicked creature. Medrick was sure that the barbarian diviners had raised a fearsome dragon, a creature of sheer terror that most people only saw in their mind’s eye when they heard stories of adventure.

  Master Orias continued his magical assault on the creature as it rose above the wall. It was black; even in the dim light of the fires, Medrick could see it was the shade of midnight. The two massive wings lifted a body fifty feet long with a twisting, sinuous neck that ended with a head full of long, jagged teeth. It’s long whiplike tail ended in a scorpion’s stinger. Not a dragon, then, but a wyvern. The poison in its sting burned like acid and would kill a man in seconds.

  With a contemptuous flick of its head, it knocked Master Orias from the top of the wall. Medrick froze when he saw his master dispatched so easily. He wanted to run down and see if Master Orias was even alive. But he was the only magic wielder for the town now.

  He looked at the staff in his hand and realized that he had one chance to take the wyvern by surprise. It was flying over the city, looking for a place to land, or maybe for a group of men to kill all at once.

  The barbarians at the gate cheered, and a new battle song rose from them. The spearmen at the barricades were staring at the wyvern in the sky, not paying attention to the horde breaking through.

  “Medrick.” The voice of Master Orias shocked the young apprentice. “Your st
aff—use it.”

  Master Orias was alive somewhere below the wall. He had enough energy to cast the spell that would let him speak over the distance to his pupil.

  Medrick grabbed his staff and looked to where the wyvern was. It was flying low over the square heading right back for the gate. Medrick turned to see the townsmen at the barricade run from the beast. Medrick realized it was planning on destroying the barricade to let the barbarian army into Black Oak. He gripped his staff with both hands and waited until the beast flew past him.

  The trigger word of the staff left his lips and he felt a huge jolt. A blast of lightning blinded him for a few seconds, but he heard the crash and clatter of a huge collision. He thought he was still blind but then realized that a heavy cloud of dust and debris obscured his vision.

  As he watched, the dust cleared and he could see the body of the wyvern wedged tightly inside the shattered gates. There was silence after the body of the monster had settled. Men inside the town were shocked at the body of the great beast lying before them, and Medrick imagined that the barbarians on the other side were stunned at their sudden change of fortune.

  A few sharp orders from Bartimus set the defenders back into motion. They scaled back up to the top of the wall and started raining arrows again into the mass of barbarians. Medrick leaned against the windowsill. He hadn’t realized how exhausted he was, and now he saw that the battle still raged.

  There were a few flashes of lightning in the far distance, as if a storm were coming down from the mountains. A wind picked up blowing toward the east, and just at the edge of view, clouds darker than the night were starting to form. Medrick saw Karl working among the healers, his limp evidence of his injuries suffered at the hands of the orcs. He sought out Val and spotted him on the wall again, methodically working his crossbow. Berni was with the men at the gate, trying to push boards and boxes on top of the dead wyvern to prevent any barbarians from attempting to crawl across its body into the town.