Kings of Ghumai- The Complete series Box Set

by D N Meinster

  Amelia moved her eyes onto Hatswick, as if she were just noticing he was there. "Maybe he thinks us dumb. Two mages riding in a carriage, not shifting, and not on the back of a pegasus." She snorted. "We are dumb."

  Hatswick did not think it was so idiotic following King Aergo's orders. He was wiser than her, no matter how many years she had on him. "If the King thinks it's best – "

  "Oh yes. The Great Unifier of Lands. The Bringer of Peace." Her hand closed onto the staff in her lap. "Tell me, Hatswick. If we are at peace, why is there a flaming arrow heading for our carriage?"

  Hatswick turned his head toward the window and saw the lighted arrow headed right toward them.

  Amelia threw herself out of the carriage, floating through the walls as if they weren't even there. She placed her staff in the arrow's path and froze the projectile in midair.

  The arrow hung there, its flame immobile and its target still several feet away. Amelia searched for its origin, but the archer had hidden himself well in the landscape. Slowly, the arrow flipped around and headed backwards along its original trajectory.

  "They know why we're here," Amelia lamented.

  "Obviously," Hatswick stated, pushing open the carriage door and stepping onto Faunli for the first time on their journey. The architecture of Lemon Village was visible up ahead, poking out of the rolling hills and vegetation that surrounded them. The fields of lemons sprouting from the earth made for a lovely countryside, but terrorists could easily conceal themselves amidst the yellow and green. The Fauns adeptly used their environment and were going to try to stop the mages from reaching the village. This is why they were here. "You can turn back," he informed the guardian that had been driving the carriage.

  "But what about – "

  "We can shift back and you can live. Or we can shift back and you can die. You have to choose right now." Several more arrows were heading toward them from all directions. But not all of them were on fire. Some had incredibly thick shafts. "Oh shit."

  While Amelia was able to freeze the arrows so they could not to proceed to their target, Hatswick lacked such a talent. He swung his staff as if he was swatting away flies, and he sent the arrows scattering across the countryside. Several plants caught fire as a result, but others simply exploded in a puff of smoke.

  "They're using dynamite-tipped arrows," Hatswick called out to Amelia.

  "Their mistake," the Grand Mage said coolly, as she turned the arrows back on the archers.

  "Go!" Hatswick screamed at the guardian, caring more for the wellbeing of the horses at the head of the carriage than he did for the driver.

  The guardian came to his senses and directed the horses to turn around while the two mages deflected incoming arrows. They protected the carriage like it was still occupied, until the horses broke out into a full trot and escaped the battle.

  With the carriage out of the way, Hatswick and Amelia met back-to-back. There was a noticeable decrease of hostility from her side of the path, while Hatswick was still being bombarded. "Would you like to take care of this side, too?"

  "Can't handle it, Hatty?" Amelia goaded him.

  "Not from such a distance," Hatswick replied, turning a bit red from the nickname.

  "Alright then," Amelia said, and she stuck the bottom of her staff into the ground.

  It started with a mild tremor that only shook the grass and the lemons. But it rapidly grew into a heavy quake that warped the fields on both sides of the path. The land curled up on itself, folding in with every shake and bringing the objects in the distance ever closer.

  The landscape was utterly ruined by Amelia's magic. More dirt was exposed than grass, and the lemons were crumpled and distorted. But she had successfully shaken the archers from their positions. They came tumbling to the edges of the path. Many on Amelia's side had already been maimed by her reversals, but almost all on Hatswick's side hastily recovered, aiming their bows at the mages.

  "How about now?" Amelia asked.

  Hatswick spun his staff above his head, and the wooden bows in each of the archers' hands split in two before they could send off any more arrows. He jabbed his staff toward them, sending out a shockwave that knocked them all back onto the uneven terrain. "Much improved," he said to Amelia, who was dealing with one remaining Faun.

  The terrorist was lobbing dynamite-tipped arrows at her since his bow was broken, but she kept deflecting them right back toward him. He would hastily retreat to another location before it exploded, and then repeat the process. "Enough!" Amelia shouted after he did this a third time, and she sent out her own shockwave that knocked both the Faun and Hatswick off their feet.

  Hatswick lay on his back, annoyed by the scope of the Grand Mages' ability. Such power could take down an army. He shook the thoughts out of his head as Amelia's feet appeared at his side.

  "Sorry," she said, sticking out a hand.

  He grabbed it, perhaps a little too tightly, and she lifted him back up.

  Hatswick straightened his trilby hat and surveyed the damage they had created. "They might awaken," he warned

  Amelia nodded and raised the silver staff. The grass and brush on the field started to rapidly grow, wrapping around the unconscious Fauns. Their bodies disappeared beneath the green weeds, leaving only their faces exposed.

  "That should keep them tied down," Amelia said.

  "They are veritably tied down," Hatswick replied, impressed.

  "Precisely," she said. Amelia checked the state of her dress before gauging how close they were to the village. "Might as well shift, at this point. Don't you think?"

  Hatswick was concerned the King wouldn't approve, but it seemed senseless to walk when they had already used their magic so destructively. Shifting was harmless by comparison. "Could be less harmful if there's any more of them," he noted.

  "Glad you agree," she said before fading almost instantly.

  Hatswick singularly focused on their destination, letting the land around him grow faint until it disappeared entirely and was replaced by the eclectic architecture of Lemon Village. Fauns had used every building block imaginable to craft their structures. It was the only place in Kytheras where a house could be made of both brick and straw. It had no towering buildings, only little boxes that would have easily crumbled if Amelia unleashed another quake in their vicinity.

  The square house before the two mages was made of wood and stone, with additional boards on the windows signifying that their arrival was expected. There was more violence awaiting them on the other side of the door, which Hatswick would have preferred to avoid.

  "Do we knock?" Hatswick asked.

  "Sure," Amelia said, and she tapped her staff on the door, causing it to disintegrate.

  Hatswick sighed and followed Amelia beyond the threshold. He was surprised to see walls when he entered, thinking it would only be one giant room inside. There was no one within eyeshot, but they could have easily been hiding behind a corner.

  "Reveal yourselves and escape our wrath," Amelia's voice echoed threateningly throughout the house.

  "That will make them come running," Hatswick said with obvious sarcasm.

  But it did, and a bald man wearing a stiff beige robe appeared out of nowhere, waving an immense machete. His bright yellow eyes were glued onto them. "Se ton chi!" he shouted.

  "Do you speak Faun?" Hatswick whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

  "No," Amelia answered.

  The machete-wielder sprung forward, intending to strike the Grand Mage. But she smashed her staff into his weapon, causing the blade to shatter like it was made of glass.

  The man's eyes shot wide open, evidently unaware of a mage's power. With a faint flick of his staff, Hatswick sent the man soaring back into a wall. He slid down it and slumped onto the floor.

  "I do hope that's all they've prepared," Hatswick stated, desiring to finish their task and leave as soon as possible.

  "Let's find out," Amelia said, and she held her staff out horizontally in front of her
.

  Hatswick watched as she transformed the room into his initial idea of what it would be. The walls disappeared into a cloud of dust and smoke, leaving one giant room inside. Following this transformation, there was the faint cry of a baby, which sent a chill up Hatswick's spine.

  Another pair of bright yellow eyes materialized in the settling dust before charging at them. This attacker was a teenager, with short black hair and similar robes, but he was only carrying a stick to fight with. He took a few swings, hitting only the air, until Hatswick sent him flying back toward a wall as well. But the mage had used a bit too much force, and the boy broke through the wall and wound up outside.

  "We're going to have to fix this place up before we leave," Hatswick noted.

  "That's the easy part," Amelia sighed, and she made for the back corner of the house.

  Curled up in the exposed corner was a woman covered in a red blanket. Her eyes were the only part of her that the cloth failed to conceal, and she watched as the two mages approached. The blanket shook as the woman trembled with fear, and the baby she was squeezing beneath the sheet began to cry again.

  Hatswick hated this. He knew it was the way things were, the way they had to be, but he didn't like participating in it. It was a younger mage's task, not his.

  Amelia stared at the woman, her eyes beginning to water. She didn't want to be there any more than he did. They could leave and pretend this was all a mistake, but that could come with its own price.

  "Lo nurth!" the woman cried out. "Kwin det!"

  "I'm so sorry," Amelia said, though it was doubtful she was understood.

  "Kwin det!" the woman shouted back.

  Amelia touched her staff to the blanket, and the stitching undid itself before their eyes. Piles of string dropped to the floor, until the woman was bare and the baby in her arms unveiled.

  "Hatswick," Amelia said softly while stepping back.

  Hatswick gazed at the baby, her mother clutching it so tight that he was afraid she might squeeze the life out of him. He took a step forward, hesitant to proceed. They had come for the child, but he didn't want to take it. He wanted to leave and let this family be.

  Snatching babies from their families was deplorable, but it had become a way of life for every mage. The early mages had set this course, when they had used their abilities to enslave entire populations. Since the Cycle of Tyranny was ended, all mages were brought to their kingdoms' leaders at birth and taught to serve rather than to rule. It was an effective strategy that kept the mages in line for centuries, and King Aergo continued the practice. However, all young mages were brought to Castle Tornis, rather than kept in their own land. Aergo wisely concluded that if the mages stayed in the realm they were born, it would undoubtedly lead to an attempted revolution and an end to unity.

  It was fascinating to learn that Kytherans and Fauns had agreed about something long before Aergo. Neither kingdom could even agree which was founded first. It was just a shame that it was such an awful practice. Perhaps necessary, but still awful.

  Amelia directed her staff at the mother, and her trembling ceased. Her complete paralysis made the next step easier.

  Hatswick let go of his staff, which stood upright on its own. He kneeled down and faced the woman, the fear still evident in her frozen eyes. He tenderly placed his hands on the child in her possession and lifted the baby out of her reach. Standing back up, he brought it in close to his chest.

  He bent his head down and looked at the baby, getting confirmation that this was indeed a young mage. The child did not have any whites in his eyes. Instead, the eyeballs were a shade of pale green. Every mage was born with such eyes but would grow out of it within a year.

  The child's mother whimpered through her condition, and though Hatswick pitied her, he turned his back to her. "We can go now," he told Amelia ensuring the baby was secure in one of his arms before he went to grab his staff.

  Amelia gave him a single nod, and then slunk over to the middle of the house. She placed the bottom of her staff to the floor, while the channeling crystal nestled between the two silver wings at its top began to glow. It turned into a blinding white light, and when Hatswick could see again, the house was entirely restored. It would be like they were never there, except there would be one less occupant.

  Though Amelia was now hidden behind the walls of the house, Hatswick was certain she would not linger here. He focused on shifting to Castle Tornis, and the house around him faded away.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Smokescreen

  Doren didn't want to believe Xander. He had known Hatswick for his entire life, and his father had known Hatswick for all of his. The Grand Mage was a disciple of Aergo, a loyal Magenite, grateful to the Goddess who had provided him his gifts. He had stood side-by-side with Amelia when they imprisoned Neanthal and split the kingdoms to prevent his return. How could he suddenly be a Thalian? It didn't make sense.

  Why should he trust Xander? This man had challenged them in combat and interrupted the Celebration. He was working toward a goal with the other Thalians, and this could have all been part of their plan. Get the Prince and his companions to distrust the Grand Mage, and they'll be working against each other while the real Thalians open the Door.

  But the plan Xander recited rang true. Xander's tale lined up with what Doren had read in historical records, and his accusations fit Hatswick's increasing number of disappearances since the Celebration.

  How could Hatswick have deceived them all for so long? He had not only deceived Halstrom but each king that came before him. Could he really have so utterly changed his mind somewhere along the way? Maybe he was under Thalian mind control, like what Spira had done to the Outerlings. Or perhaps Hatswick was playing out a round-about way to stop the Thalians. That could be it.

  Hatswick a Thalian? It sounded so wrong. There was only one way to know for sure. They would have to confront him. And if he was in front of the Door as Xander suggested, then the truth would be clear.

  Doren's chest tightened up. He did not care for these thoughts and the emotions that went along with them. It felt like he had been stabbed in the back. Of course, this was nowhere near as painful as being literally stabbed in the back.

  Xander fell to their feet, Ale's dagger protruding from his back. Aros was gaping at it in horror while Doren was still trying to process Hatswick's alleged betrayal.

  Ale and Uterak were suddenly right in front of them. "I hate spoilers," Ale lamented.

  Uterak kicked at Xander's body, which failed to respond. "Big mouth," he growled.

  "Shouldn't you two be at the Door?" Aros asked them.

  "We would gladly be on our way, but I've got a feeling you two would try to interrupt us," Ale said. "So, naturally, you both have to die."

  "Did Hatswick bring you back?" Doren asked in a low voice.

  Uterak looked at Ale. "They know."

  "What did you think Xander was telling them?" Ale responded. "How to bake cookies to share with the Outerlings?"

  "Why?" Doren asked, hoping they could give him a reason for Hatswick's turn.

  "The Grand Mage wants to bring back Neanthal," Ale stated. "So you two are out of your league. You can convert like he did, and maybe Neanthal will spare you."

  "Or we can kill you now," Uterak suggested.

  Ale summoned two daggers into his hands. "Or that."

  Doren wasn't hearing what he wanted to from these two Thalians. They probably didn't even have the answers he was seeking. Hatswick might have brought them back, but only the Grand Mage could tell them the reason why.

  "Think we could have a minute to discuss it?" Aros asked.

  Ale and Uterak glanced at each other, obviously anticipating a different response. "Take your time," Ale said with a malevolent grin.

  Aros and Doren faced each other but didn't speak. They would have to work together to get through this, but they couldn't collaborate out loud. Instead, Aros moved his eyes upward and twitched his shoulder toward Uterak.
Doren bent forward, trying to disguise his nod in a bow.

  The two companions seamlessly executed their silent plan. Doren reached behind his back and pulled out his shield, giving Aros a platform to hop on to.

  As Aros' feet touched the shield, Doren propelled him upward, sending him shooting into the sky.

  The puzzled Thalians gawked at Aros, who withdrew a blade in midair and held it upside down. Ale haphazardly tossed his daggers at Aros but missed by a wide margin as he descended.

  Uterak didn't even have time to retrieve his axe before the assault concluded. The curved peak of Aros' clawblade sliced into Uterak's face as he plummeted back down. It was the only part of the Thalian that wasn't protected by armor, and Aros had hit his mark while landing on his feet.

  Blood seeped all over Uterak's face from the gash, and he punched at the blade to remove it from its incision. Uterak rubbed at his eyes to try and clear his vision, but he couldn't keep up with the copious amounts of fluid.

  Doren charged at Ale with his shield, knocking Ale out of the way so Aros could finish his opponent.

  Aros twirled around Uterak, and from behind, he aimed his clawblade and dug its point into Uterak's head.

  Uterak went limp, and Aros pulled the blade out from his forehead, leaving the Thalian to drop onto the ground beside Xander.

  Doren was thrown back into the exterior of Xander's old home, his shield falling out of his hands.

  Ale had recovered and was subsequently examining the damage that had been done. He frowned as he saw the red sand grow darker around Uterak's body.

  "How many of you are left now?" Doren taunted through the pain.

  "More than you can stop," Ale sneered, and he sent a row of daggers soaring at Aros and Doren.

  With one horizontal swipe, Aros knocked into every dagger and sent them sprawling off to the side. The deflection gave Doren enough time to pick his shield back up and block more incoming projectiles.

  "Is that all you can do?" Doren feigned a yawn. "Not much skill in tossing daggers at us."