Warriormage: Book Three of the 'Riothamus' trilogy

by Rosemary Fryth

  The hairs on the back of Guardsman Jede’s neck prickled, as he too felt the deep movement of the magepower, and in doing so, was himself caught at the edge of the awareness that the two mages at his side were enveloped in

  “You have it Hela?” breathed Trenny.

  “Aye, the Laws seem amenable to our intervention,” she replied whispering.

  “Then let us proceed. Jede, steady yourself, we are about to borrow some of your latent magepower.”

  Jede braced himself, and even the nearby waiting Warriormages felt the deep pulling-in sensation as Trenny and Hela gathered their combined and reinforced magepower. Carefully Trenny gave the magepower an exact verbal description of what they required, right down to the exact size, shape, composition and duration of the small whirlwind, then with almost an offhand gesture, formed the whirling column out of thin air only yards away from where they stood. With Trenny holding the structure of the whirlwind together, it was now Hela’s job to move, and direct the miniature weather system down the gully, and onto the plains beyond.

  Aran and the others were immediately caught in the buffeting, as the swirling air caught their clothes and hair. Slowly the tumult subsided as the whirlwind moved down the gully, tossing water, dirt and leaves in careless abandon, and in doing so, completely obliterating the tracks of the humans and animals.

  With her mage sight, Hela slowly felt her way forward across the plains. It was not difficult to get the impression of where their tracks lay on the plain, but the wind strength of the mage formed whirlwind wanted to move south, and she had to keep it on a firm bearing to the east. She felt deep within herself that her Ability had certainly been Reinforced, for this sort of prolonged spelling had been well beyond her strength at Glaive. Hela had always found it difficult manhandling wind; to tell the truth she had always felt most at home dealing with the lightning bolts within the storm front. Trenny on the other hand, was finding that the forming and maintenance of this whirlwind, was one of the easier tasks he had been asked to perform since his early novice days. Having Jede and Hela along had helped enormously, but he too was well aware that his Ability was stronger than ever, and he suspected that the energies of the Node were now starting to take effect.

  “I think that’s enough,” said Hela quietly, “The dust devil is a league or two east of us now, and even with my mage sight I am finding it difficult making out our tracks on the plain.”

  Trenny nodded, then with a short sharp gesture, allowed the whirlwind to naturally dissipate.

  Seeing that the Weathermages were finished, Aran turned to Trenny, “Thank you, now you can both join the others further back. I doubt now that the Thakur will investigate this gully, but if they do it is our fight. Your work is done.”

  He glanced at Jede, “How are you Guardsman? Are you up to fighting, or do you want to go back with the others and rest?”

  Jede shook his head, “I do feel a little tired, but that is no excuse for me to go back.”

  Aran nodded, “Then take a position behind us, and protect our backs until you feel strong enough to fight in the forward rank.”

  “I wonder where that Thakur patrol is?” muttered Darven a little impatiently, “Surely they would have appeared by now? Ought I Farsee to check where they are.”

  Aran immediately shook his head, “It’s too risky trying to Farsee this close to Thakur. I think that we would run into problems. I cannot allow us to inadvertently give away our position.”

  He glanced down at the wolves who were sitting to one side long tongues lolling out of their mouths.

  “Can you check for us, Halffang?” he asked carefully.

  The large grey wolf got to its feet, “Is that big wind thing gone?”

  Aran nodded.

  “Then I will look for you,” the wolf replied, trotting back down to where the gully turned and emptied out onto the plain.

  *

  After twenty minutes or so the wolf returned.

  “They’ve gone,” it panted out, “I ran quite a way east to check for sure, but they turned south-east to go to that big human town down there.”

  “Riggeltz,” Aran said, “Then we were safe all along?”

  The wolf shook its head, “It’s very good that the wind thing destroyed your tracks. Those humans rode right across where the marks used to lie before the wind thing came along. It is not so dark yet that they would not have missed them.”

  Aran turned to Bennek, “Can you go and fetch the others.”

  The dark haired guardsman nodded, and swiftly ran up the gully.

  “Come,” said Aran to Darven, sheathing again his softly glowing weapon. “We really must get going now. This interruption has held us here far longer than I would have liked. We must move south-west now, and try and intercept our route north before dawn.”

  “Do we venture out onto the plains?” asked Bini.

  Aran shook his head, “I think it’s best if we follow the lie of the foothills as they edge onto the plains. This will mean that we will be moving generally in the right direction. If we move too far onto the plain, then we will run the risk of meeting a Thakurian patrol around Riggeltz.”

  “That’s fine by me,” agreed Darven, “Although I think it would be best if we had all our fighters acting as forward and rear guard on this column.”

  Aran nodded, “I will ask the wolves to pick out our route south for us. Drayden is no good for flying at night, and the wolves have a superior tracking ability.”

  Bini turned and waved, as he saw the others leading their horses and the pack animals from around the corner of the gully.

  Aran looked up too and smiled as he caught sight of Alissa, “Let’s go,” he called out. “We’ve another long night ride ahead of us.”

  *

  Chapter 4—The Final Darkness

  “The weather is changing.”

  Trenny had spurred his gelding forward to catch up to Aran, who was riding at the head of the column.

  Aran looked up, “More bad weather?”

  The mage nodded, “We’re losing the unseasonable warm weather. I’m afraid it’s a return to the snow and the cold.”

  “How soon?”

  “Tomorrow evening at the latest,” Trenny replied confidently. “I can sense heavy cold air pushing its way through from the west. This cold air is rather considerable, and I’m afraid we’re going to have to put up with snowfalls for most of the trip north into Thakur.”

  “Marvellous,” Aran replied wryly.

  He looked up, “Can anything be done?”

  The Weathermage shook his head, “The storms have too much power to be turned aside. However we do now have an alternative.”

  Aran frowned, “What sort of alternative?”

  “Hela and I will be able to moderate the ferocity of the storm in our immediate area. We shall not be able to calm it totally, however we can lessen the snowfalls to flurries, and reduce the intense cold somewhat, but unfortunately I will need the use of Guardsman Jede again.”

  Aran looked up in some surprise, “I thought you were against training him whilst he is in the Andurian Guard.”

  The old Weathermage shrugged, “I was wrong. Until today I had not realised that this quest requires from each of us our fullest effort, and training Jede to help reinforce our efforts over the next few weeks is part of that.” He smiled wryly, “Besides he has considerable latent Ability, and it would be a shame to waste it.”

  “Surely when you joined this quest, you realised we would be slowed by the storms,” Aran replied dryly. “What in Andur’s name would you have done without Jede, and without the Reinforcing?”

  “Very little,” the mage admitted. “Up to now Weathermages have dealt with only esoteric studies, and playing with the more clement weather of Glaive. The grappling and forming of the dust devil today and the calming of the winter storms is like a return to the times of the ancients again, when in legend they performed great feats of weather working. This opportunity is to be grasped with bot
h hands, for when again would the mages be asked to perform great feats of wonder?”

  “On the battlefield, when I lost a good number of Guardsmen,” said Aran carefully. “That’s when I asked great things of Glaive.”

  The High Weathermage stared back at his king, “I realise now that the Archmage was wrong in his decision to hold his hand, and withdraw support. The battle for our freedom and peace is worth far more than the lessening of the mage’s power.”

  “And yet, will this thing you plan to do with the storms not lessen you?” Aran asked curiously.

  Trenny shook his head, “No, since the Reinforcing both Hela and I are much stronger. Hela, although new to her mantle, has much innate Ability. We can achieve much more now than we had ever dreamed possible, still some things will be taxing for us and we will need to use Jede to back up our efforts.”

  “Then it is well for you that he went to the Node, and inadvertently became a Weathermage,” said Aran without humour.

  “It is the hand of the goddess at work,” replied Trenny obliquely. “She knows our need, and has provided for us. Jede’s considerable latent Weathermage Ability is stark proof of this.”

  “You will still need to ask his leave,” Aran said. “If Jede is agreeable, Wolf Leader Darven too must be approached. For on this trip Darven is Jede’s immediate commander.”

  Trenny pulled his horse back, “I will ask; thank-you for your time, lord.”

  Still doubtful, Aran shook his head at the capriciousness of the Weathermages. In the past, they seemed intractable, almost impossible to deal with. Now Trenny himself was admitting error, and putting full effort into the good of the group.

  “I believe his intentions are good,” said Alissa suddenly.

  Aran turned and saw his lady riding quietly behind.

  “You heard?”

  Alissa nodded, “I could not help but overhear. I too, was surprised by Trenny’s about turn in attitude, but now after thinking about it, I understand it well.”

  Aran shook his head, “I do not…the Weathermages have disliked me, and have been on my back since I had that run-in with Archmage Maran. What has caused the transformation?”

  “What indeed, can you not guess?” Alissa smiled.

  Aran smiled and shook his head again, “I cannot, and since you delight so much in telling me…”

  Alissa nudged her coal black mare forward, “It is you Aran. You cannot see it yourself, but you have this ‘influence’ over the members of the group.”

  Aran frowned; he did not understand what Alissa was alluding to.

  “You have a Presence about you,” she replied, trying to explain fully. “You are not conscious of it, but to each of us it inspires us to strive harder, and to push ourselves to our limits trying all the time to please you.”

  Aran’s eyes narrowed, “Are you certain this is not from being a Warriormage?”

  She shook her head, “Neither Darven or the others have this talent of drawing out the very best from each man or woman under your influence and command. I think it is partly because you are the king, but mostly I believe it stems from your Andurian blood and lineage.”

  “Then if I have this Presence, why is it that Maran and I always seem to be at each other’s throats?” he asked heavily. “Surely I ought to be in rapport with my own kin.”

  “You are too like each other to get on,” Alissa said eventually, after a moment or two of measured silence. “You are both of the Andurian line, and are both victims to the Andurian temper. Have you not wondered why the Weathermages have supported the Archmage so fervently?”

  “He is their leader,” Aran replied immediately, “Even the other disciplines support him.” He grinned suddenly, “They may not be as passionate in their devotion as the Weathermages, but they would still follow him to death and beyond…”

  He paused for a moment considering, “All except Drayden perhaps. That one has too much of his own mind to be swayed by unthinking obedience.”

  “It is certain that he has his own mind, but he also has been hanging about you rather a lot,” Alissa replied dryly. “Do you not see that he has elected to follow your cause, rather than the way of the Archmage? It is your Andurian influence that Drayden has fallen under, and not the Archmage.”

  Aran frowned, “Are you trying to say that Maran and I subconsciously pull at people’s loyalty, and that since Trenny and Hela have been away from Maran’s influence, they are instead drawn towards mine.”

  Alissa nodded, “That is what I believe.”

  Aran immediately thought of the Thakurian Warleader’s influence over her troops, and shied away from the thought that both he and Maran might too share that gift.

  “If that is true, then I cannot control, or even sense this influence I have over people,” Aran replied grimly. “I have always been this way, although I may be harder and more steadfast in my resolve now than when I was younger, but I don’t think that this Presence is new. I may have changed since becoming king, but I am certain that this has always been part of my nature.”

  “I am certain it is too,” said Alissa gently, “For by your very likeness to Warleader Andur I know that the Andurian heritage runs very strongly within you. You were born to lead men, Aran. Do not be dismayed by your charismatic presence, just be aware that you do have this effect over others and not try to corrupt it in any way.”

  Aran thought again of the Thakurian Warleader, and nodded firmly.

  *

  With the night clear and softly lit by the larger of the planet’s two moons, the way ahead was proving to be easily gained. The wolves ran ahead scouting the easiest passage around the foothills and gullies, with Halffang running last to keep close communication with the humans and their horses. Near dawn, the group decided to make the second of their stops to rest the obviously weary horses, and to briefly partake of some of their dried food and a swallow or two of their rationed water.

  “We will need to find fresh water soon,” murmured Darven to Aran, “Our water supplies will not hold out much longer.”

  “We will be following a tributary of the Trident River up into the mountains,” replied Aran, “We will have all the water we shall need once we reach that stream.”

  “And how long away is that?” Darven said, peering into the inky darkness.

  “The wolves reckon we ought to reach it two to three hours after the dawn,” Aran said.

  “Then we must be quite close to the Riggeltz road now,” observed Darven.

  Aran nodded, “We are closer yet to the range, so I am hoping that we should be unobserved here, but I’ve sent the wolves a little way on to check our path for patrols.”

  “I will be much happier once we are in the mountains,” said Darven.

  “I agree,” replied Aran, “For it is far too open and exposed out on the plains. Even here near the foothills, I dislike the little cover that is available to …”

  “Shhh…” Darven had put up a hand for silence.

  Aran turned in puzzlement, “What?”

  Darven listened carefully, his face tight with intent, “I don’t know…I just caught a sound…no, not a sound…more an impression…can you feel it?” he murmured.

  Aran carefully stretched his awareness out, initially there was nothing, and then finally at the limit of his mage sense he felt the familiar touch of the Thakurian mind.

  “At least one patrol, there may be others too. I felt other brief touches, but they were too slight and distant to source,” Aran whispered back, immediately and softly drawing in his awareness. “The contact was too diffuse to determine the position or numbers, but I would make a reasonable guess that they were on the Riggeltz road.”

  “I wonder if they are coming to or going from Thakur?” puzzled Darven.

  Aran shrugged, “They must be only a small group to have made so little an impression on our awareness. I was loath indeed to Farsee this close to the border, but with the wolves away scouting ahead we are blind.”

  Darve
n turned to go, “I will warn the guardsmen to be vigilant.”

  Aran nodded, “Do that, we must be extra careful and quiet now.”

  *

  So an uneasy silence settled upon the group as they waited for their horses to regain their wind, and for the absent wolves to return. Finally, when Aran’s impatience was starting to become all too apparent, the wolves ran in from the heavy darkness.

  “I am sorry, we were delayed…” Halffang panted out, “This area is heavy with human patrols.”

  Aran swallowed his anger and nodded stiffly, “We know, we sensed them. Is it possible for us to get past?”

  The wolves threw themselves down on the ground, their sides heaving as they struggled to regain their wind, “It will be difficult…there are at least six groups of humans moving to and fro on that human dirt road south of us.”

  “Are we near the Riggeltz road?” Darven asked immediately, “Would we be sighted?”

  Halffang nodded, “If the patrols are in our immediate area, then it is certain that they would not fail to see us…you must immediately move this group westwards off the bordering plain, and back into the foothills…we are too close to the human road here.”

  Aran nodded, “The horses ought to be now sufficiently rested. We will leave immediately.”