Dawn of Man (Thanos Book 1)

by Watson, Thomas A

  It was close to sunset when Michi and Karme walked in, finding the kids in Ahnon’s lap. They saw a coffee table full of food in front of the three and two books on the floor. The three looked up when the door opened and noticed Karme drenched in sweat, and Michi’s face was covered in ash. Looking down, Ahnon saw parts of Michi’s pants were burned.

  Kenna pointed at his pants. “What happened to you?” she asked.

  “Nothing, just showing Karme a few tricks,” he said, moving some cloth so he could sit down. He pointed at the table. “May I?” he asked, and all three nodded. He sat down in a chair across from them, and Karme dropped to the floor. “Karme, get up and eat,” Michi said. Karme put a hand to her head like she was thinking. “What are you doing?” Michi asked.

  “Trying to remember if there is a spell to put the food in my stomach without using my mouth,” she told him in a dry, cracking voice.

  Michi looked up at Ahnon with a questioning look. “I’ve never heard of one,” Ahnon admitted.

  “Karme, eat,” Michi repeated, glad there wasn’t such a spell. Dragging her body off the floor, she dropped into a chair beside him. He handed her a plate. “Here.” She took it and set it in her lap. “Don’t make me feed you,” he warned, fixing his plate.

  Karme let out a sigh and shoved some food in her mouth. Michi picked up a glass of water and handed it to her. She narrowed her eyes but took it, draining the glass. Ahnon poked Jedek and nodded toward Karme’s glass. Jedek jumped and ran over, filling it back up. “Thank you,” she said wearily and promptly drained it. Jedek looked at Ahnon, and he shook his head.

  Looking around with her head wobbling on her shoulders, Karme noticed the three dresses. “You finished three silk dresses in one day?” she asked, dumbfounded.

  “He was done in like fifteen minutes,” Kenna told her.

  Ahnon smiled. “Not quite. It took be about three hours,” he told her as Michi set his plate down and walked over to them. Wiping his hands off, he picked one up, inspecting it.

  “By the Gods, Ahnon,” he declared, putting it down and picking up another one. “They are beautiful.”

  “No, that one I messed up. The left side dart is a little off.”

  Michi looked at him. “How can you tell?” he asked, looking on the left side.

  “I sewed it.” Michi lowered the dress, giving Ahnon a disapproving look. “Bring it here, and I’ll show you,” Ahnon offered. Michi brought the dress over, and Ahnon showed him how the dart was off.

  “Ahnon, that’s less than the width of a blade,” Michi said, seeing what he was talking about.

  “It’s still a mistake.”

  “Well then how did you make it?”

  Ahnon looked at Kenna. “My model wasn’t holding still,” he said, making her blush.

  Michi smiled at Kenna. “Young sire, would you mind showing me how the dresses look?” he asked. Kenna jumped up and grabbed the dresses then ran off to change.

  “I’m glad she left to change this time,” Jedek said when she left.

  Ahnon looked at him, grinning. “That’s why she left. Every time she stood in her slip, you buried your face and blushed for ten minutes.”

  “You’re not supposed to see a girl in a slip,” Jedek said.

  “It’s the same as a dress, Jedek. It covers the same area, but it’s just white,” Ahnon said, nodding to Karme’s glass. Feeling her glass get heavy, Karme drained it. “Karme, if you don’t eat, you will wish Michi would’ve fed you when I’m finished.”

  Jedek leaned over to Karme’s ear. “Do it because he’ll hold you down, shoving it in your mouth. I know; he’s done it to me.” Karme looked at him in shock then turned to Ahnon. Grabbing a handful of food, she shoved it in her mouth.

  Nodding, Ahnon asked Michi, “How did she do?”

  “Pretty good by the end of the day,” Michi said in between bites. “She was recalling spells much better and not struggling with words,” he added after draining a glass of water.

  “He wouldn’t quit throwing fire balls at me!” Karme shouted, finally swallowing and shoving another handful in.

  Michi grinned with full cheeks. “She can do four shield spells now really well,” he muffled through a mouth full of food.

  “Karme, why did the council pick you since you were only out for twenty years?” Ahnon asked.

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I told them I wanted longer, but the council said I was ready.”

  “I’ve never heard of a sho-ka going out with only twenty years,” Ahnon said.

  “Oh, there’s four more in Honch,” Karme said with a full mouth.

  Shock hit Ahnon. “I’m surprised the king would let sho-ka with under a hundred years guard him.”

  “Oh, his sho-ka and his sons all have over a hundred years. It’s his daughters that don’t,” she said, making Michi choke on his food.

  “Wh-ha-tt?” he muffled.

  Karme nodded. “The queen is the only female that has a sho-ka with over a hundred years,” she said.

  “Michi, get word back Nazar. I want the Grand Mage to visit us with the king,” Ahnon told him. Michi nodded. “You have your sixty yet?” he asked.

  “On the way,” Michi said, draining another glass.

  “When will they all be here?” Ahnon asked, and Michi held up two fingers. “Two months?” Ahnon shouted.

  “No, weeks,” he said, swallowing.

  Ahnon smiled as Michi grabbed more food. “I’m not telling you how to do your job, but I would like for some of those bhari to be inside the walls.”

  Michi nodded. “I was,” he said, taking a breath. “How many would you put in here?” he asked.

  “Half.”

  “I wasn’t going to put that many, but I will,” Michi said. “Can I ask why?”

  “The kytensa attack in numbers, something I’ve never seen trained assassins do,” Ahnon said. “When I studied with them, that’s how they always attacked. Granted, I didn’t really think they would do it.”

  “Ahnon, there hasn’t been an assassin siege in ages. I’m sure the three kingdoms wouldn’t waste kytensa on one,” Michi said.

  “Assassin siege?” Jedek asked.

  Michi nodded. “Yes, young sire. In ancient times, the three kingdoms would have huge groups of assassins infiltrate a kingdom and take over a castle and kill all the royal family. Most of the attackers died during the assault but most of the time achieved their goals. The ‘assassins’ for the most part were just regular troops, not trained assassins. With sho-kas now, we can get our sires out of harm’s way, so what’s the point? Besides, the five kingdoms would usually send one or two bhari to repay the debt.”

  Karme’s face filled with awe. “You trained with the kytensa?” she asked Ahnon.

  “Naturally. I wanted to see what the big deal was.”

  “How long were you with them?” she asked.

  “Fourteen years.” Karme just stared at him. “What? They’re similar to the bhari, so I had to go through their academy before I found out what they were used for.”

  The glass in her hand hit the floor and shattered. “You went through the academy again?” she asked, bewildered.

  “I’d already been through it once, so I knew what was coming,” Ahnon told her.

  Michi shook his head. “You’re insane,” he stated as Kenna started modeling dresses.

  Chapter 8

  A week later, Ahnon led Jedek out to the garden, carrying a shovel. Seeing a new flower bed that hadn’t been planted yet, Ahnon headed over to it. “What are we doing, Ahnon?” Jedek asked.

  “You are fixing to start the basics of magic,” Ahnon said. Wonderlust filled Jedek with visions of grandeur.

  “What spell am I going to learn?” he yelled.

  Ahnon stopped and looked down at him. “None. You’re learning the basics first.”

  With the visions of grandeur flying off, Jedek pouted. “Ahnon, come on,” he whined.

  Ahnon dropped the shovel and put both of his hand
s on top of his staff. “Let’s get something straight, Jedek. Magic is dangerous to practice. Any spell can kill you. Your mind must stay focused at all times and listen to what I say, or you’ll die.” Suddenly, he had all of Jedek’s attention.

  “Any spell?” he asked.

  “You’ve seen several wizards use the light spell, right?” Ahnon asked, reaching back to his spell bag and then held out his hand.

  “Yes, the ball of light,” Jedek said, smiling.

  “That was the first magic humans used to drive away the dark,” Ahnon said. “Mollis tepidus lux lucis.” A ball of light formed over his hand about the size of his fist. It hovered, giving off soft, white light. “I’ve seen this spell kill two wizards. The first was a little older than you and just started learning magic. The other was one hundred and sixty-one, a very skilled wizard.” Jedek started to have second thoughts.

  Ahnon moved his hand, leaving the ball floating in the air. “When you use magic, you must picture it in your mind, how you want it to implement ‘around’ you. Those two mages, one a novice the other experienced, formed the ball of light in their mind, not anywhere else. Guess where the light formed?” Ahnon asked.

  Jumping back, “In their head!” Jedek screamed.

  “Yes, and let me tell you, that’s not a good way to die,” Ahnon said. “I’m telling you this for a reason. Think first, and always listen to me. If you don’t, you can kill us both.” Jedek took another step back from the ball of light. “That’s good you’re scared of it, but don’t let your fear control you.”

  “It can kill me,” Jedek said.

  “Yes. So can practicing with a sword. You could slice your leg and bleed out in minutes. Everything has risk, Jedek, so think before you act and train. Your decision in the throne room could get you killed. Risks are everywhere, so that is why we study and learn,” Ahnon said, waving his hand, making the light disappear.

  Jedek nodded. “Okay, but don’t let me burn my mind. I’m ready,” he said with a determined look.

  Ahnon smiled. “I’ll do everything I can to not let that happen, sire. If you listen to me, you don’t have anything to fear. When you show off is when things happen.”

  “You do that all the time,” Jedek accused with a grin.

  “Yes, I do, but I have very good reasons.”

  “Reasons?” Jedek asked.

  “If someone is trying to see when they can get at us and always see me using magic with no worries, what do you think is going through their minds?” Ahnon asked.

  “You’re crazy,” Jedek said truthfully.

  Ahnon sighed. “Don’t start,” he said. “No, they will see someone who is very comfortable with magic, and that unnerves many people. I’m saving people’s lives doing it, mainly mine and yours. The next reason is I want to always make sure I can use magic, which is part of today’s lesson.”

  Taking a deep breath, Jedek said, “I’m ready, Ahnon.”

  “Pick up the shovel and follow me.” Jedek obeyed and followed Ahnon to the flower bed. Ahnon looked over Jedek’s head, making him turn around. He still had worries about the garden. Jedek noticed Ahnon staring at a group of hedges fifty paces away. “Michi, what are you doing?” Ahnon asked in a normal voice.

  Jedek saw a blur move from the bushes coming at them, stopping with a gust of wind. Suddenly, Michi was standing in front of him. “I wanted to see how you taught the young sire magic,” Michi admitted, kind of ashamed. “I’m really worried about this, Ahnon. I’m sorry I intruded.” He turned to leave.

  “Hey, then stay and watch,” Ahnon said, making Michi smile with relief.

  “I’m terrified to introduce someone to magic,” he admitted. “How many have you introduced?”

  “None yet,” Ahnon said, making both Michi and Jedek jump. “Hey he’s my first and only sire.”

  “How did you know what to say so far? I mean, I’ve seen several die using, but how did you know?” Michi asked.

  Ahnon shrugged. “I’ve been making a list to cover for my sire for the last hundred years. It’s what I would’ve wanted to know.”

  Michi looked at him in complete awe. “That’s brilliant,” he said. “Can I see it?”

  “You may copy it, but I’ll be using it for a while.”

  “Please continue then. I’m taking notes,” Michi said, pulling out quill and paper. Michi started writing what had already been said.

  “They have flowing ink wells now, Michi. I have several. They’re expensive, but you have enough money to buy one. I know because I paid you in gold, then the ‘Emperor of Nazar,’” Ahnon pointed out in a snide voice, still peeved.

  “Oh, I have one, but for really important stuff, I use a quill,” Michi said, squatting as he finished writing.

  Ahnon closed his eyes and started counting out loud. To his surprise, he heard Michi writing and opened his eyes, looking at the paper. “Close eyes and count to twenty-four” was written at the top. Ahnon decided against commenting on it and turned to Jedek. “Get the shovel and dig a hole that you can stand in up to your waist.” Jedek looked at him, a question forming in his mind. “Don’t ask; just do what I say. The answers will come, and most should come from you. The more answers that come from you, the faster we move.” Ahnon squatted and sat on his lower legs.

  Laying his staff beside him, Ahnon looked at Jedek, who shrugged and went to work. In an hour, he stepped out of the hole. “Finished,” he said proudly.

  Ahnon nodded. “Very good,” he said, making Jedek beam with pride. “Drop the shovel, and take four steps to your right.” Jedek did as he was told then faced Ahnon for his next task. “Get on your knees, and dig a hole just like the first one, but use only your hands.”

  Jedek’s forehead wrinkled as a hundred questions came to mind, but he stopped before he asked any. “Do what I’m told, the answers will come,” he said out loud and started digging. Ahnon was filled with pride. The flower bed’s dirt was loose, which Jedek was thankful for, but it was heavy as he plowed down with his hands. Halfway down, Jedek suddenly decided he wasn’t going to play in the dirt anymore. This hole took hours, and the suns were high in the sky when a filthy Jedek moved out of it.

  He stood behind his hole and said, “I’m done, Ahnon.”

  “Come and sit in front of me like I’m sitting,” Ahnon said. Jedek obeyed, sitting on his lower legs. It took some work, but he found if he sat on his heels, his knees didn’t hurt as Michi scooted over, still writing. Ahnon closed his eyes and mumbled as he held up a hand with a small pinch of black powder in it. As Jedek watched, the powder vanished, but Ahnon still had his hand out and eyes closed. Jedek looked around then glanced toward the castle and saw something fly toward them.

  Getting a little worried, Jedek glanced at Ahnon, who was now looking at him, smiling. Turning back to the flying object, Jedek saw it was coming right at them. It was large and brown, Jedek noticed, as Ahnon held up his hand, catching the object, which turned out to be a waterskin, giving Jedek much relief on many levels.

  “Drink four swallows,” Ahnon told him, and Jedek gratefully complied. Putting the skin down, he looked back at Ahnon.

  “Thank you, Ahnon. I was so thirsty, but I didn’t want to say anything.”

  “Were you so thirsty that it was hurting you?” Ahnon asked.

  “No, I was a long way from that,” Jedek admitted.

  Ahnon smiled. “You dismissed displeasure and pain to continue your task. This is the first rule of a warrior. Only tend to the body’s needs before they burden the task,” Ahnon said, and Jedek’s dirt-covered face broke into a smile. “Which hole was easier to dig, Jedek?”

  “The first one.”

  Giving a slight nod, Ahnon looked in Jedek’s eyes. “You know, I sat watching you, and I think you could dig ten holes with a shovel using the same effort you used digging one with your hands.”

  Jedek nodded hesitantly. “Ahnon, I could probably dig twenty with a shovel and not be this tired,” he said, hoping twenty holes were not in hi
s future.

  Ahnon smiled. “Truth. That is what you always tell me, and your learning will move right along.” Jedek grinned as Ahnon added, “If you would’ve lied, you would be digging twenty holes.” Jedek wanted to drop the grin, but he forced it to stay. “Now, you saw me use components when we came out. Components, or elements, are what we use to work magic and perform spells. There are literally thousands of components we can use. Some work better than others for different spells, but we can use them. We combine components and speak the magic, forming how the spell, in the mind’s eye, will look around us. Some wizards use many words, and some use few words. The words are only needed to direct the energy you are commanding. To me, the more words you use, the easier it is to mess up, but not enough words to direct the power will unleash it undirected.

  “Each time you use magic, it takes some of your energy. The better, more of, and kind of spell components you use for the spell determines how much energy your body has to use for the spell to happen. Do you understand so far?” Ahnon asked, watching Jedek’s reaction.

  “I think so,” Jedek said. “You can use some components, and it doesn’t take as much of your energy, but you can use a different kind, and its takes more effort. Like using a smaller shovel to dig the hole?” he asked.

  Ahnon exhaled, smiling. “Yes, that’s correct.” Jedek grinned as Ahnon continued. “Now, you don’t need components to do magic, but they help a whole lot.” Ahnon held out his right hand with his palm up. “Do you see any components in my hand?” he asked.

  “No, Ahnon,” Jedek said.

  “Mollis tepidus lux lucis,” Ahnon said, forming another ball of light over his hand. Jedek stared, mesmerized. “See, you don’t need components to do magic,” Ahnon said. “But it’s like digging that hole with your hands.”

  Jedek took a sharp breath, “I can do magic without components, but for every spell I do without them, I could do twenty with them.”

  “Maybe not quite that many,” Ahnon admitted. “But yes. Now, you use your energy for every spell, so what would happen if you just kept using magic when you started getting tired?”