Sane snapped his fingers in Byrn's face. “Are you still with me?” asked Sane.
“I am sorry. I was-”
“I know you were still getting over the shock of fighting an ogre,” Sane cut him off. “Don't look at me like that. You think that an ogre invading the city and wreaking destruction among the fair populace does not spread quickly? That is not something that happens every day and can be quite overwhelming... or so I would imagine.” He paused not sure exactly how to proceed. Seeing the future as he did gave the sorcerer tremendous insight on occasion, but he was not all knowingly. In saving Kellen, Sane set forth a course of events that awoke this boy to his magical potential. Byrn could no longer be allowed to do as he pleased. Once he cast his first spell there was no turning back. From that moment forth, no matter what else happened, he would be a magician and without training Byrn would unknowingly use magic. The dark gift would seek energy from the blood source wherever it could.
However, with training Byrn could focus that power- learn to control it, but he would never be able to do that living in a domain. Now knowing the risk the boy posed Sane was honor-bound to report him to the Kenzai, an order of warriors devoted to the capture and neutralization of magicians in the kingdom. It seemed a sour reward for the young man's heroism, but it was the safest solution for Byrn and the citizens of Colum. However, there could be another path that could be beneficial for both of them.
Sane stood up straight and his face became very serious. “I am not sure where to begin or what to tell you. To begin with I am not a priest. The truth of it is I am a magician... just like you... and I have decided to make you my apprentice.”
Byrn opened his mouth to speak, but found he could not. He looked as if he wanted to deny Sane's claim, but something deep down told him the magician was speaking true.
“Let us say I believe you and I am not saying that I do. Becoming a magician's apprentice sounds like a good way to end up with my neck in a noose.” Byrn leaned in to whisper to Sane and lowered his voice although there was no one around. “You realize that you are confessing to be a criminal? I do not see a Kenzai escort around.” Byrn swung his head back and forth in a mocking search for the man's escort and found none.
Sane shrugged, “I have friends in high places. There are magicians in the kingdom that can move about freely although they are rare. Most are in the service of noble houses like me, but all have proven their value to Aurelia in one way or another to earn their freedom.
“As my apprentice I could teach you, so that you would not be a danger to others and have no fear of the Kenzai ever coming for you. You will be in service under my tutelage, but in time you could be a free man. It is the best offer I can make and the best you will ever hear.”
“I just spent the morning nearly getting killed by a giant ogre!” Byrn did not mean to yell and seeing people beginning to notice them he immediately lowered his voice. “If that is what I can expect as a magician, then I do not want any part of this. This is too much to consider. I just want to forget about this and continue on as a courier.”
Sane shook his head. “Unfortunately that is not an option. Your talent with magic has been revealed. Whether you want to or not you will begin to exhibit more and more signs until you either learn to control your power or you destroy everything and everyone you care about. Then you will either be killed by those you once considered friends or thrown into Baj to live out your days under the watchful eyes of the Kenzai.”
“Knight-Captain Kellen did not seem to care when he thought I was a magician,” Byrn retorted, “If the knight-captain of the city guard can turn a blind eye, then why not you?” He crossed his arms in defiance.
“The good knight-captain has a soft spot for magicians,” Sane smirked remembering that was not the case long ago. There was a time when Kellen looked upon magicians with the same disdain that most people still harbored. “Besides he was probably not thinking clearly after getting knocked around by that ham-fisted ogre,” the sorcerer added.
“I am sorry, Byrn, but your life is no longer yours to choose and I bare some responsibility for that although considering your age it would not have been much longer before your powers started manifesting on their own anyway. So I am giving you a choice- it is a valuable gift that most of us don’t get. You can go to a domain and live among other magicians under the watchful eyes of the Kenzai or become my apprentice and live a relatively free life under my instruction.”
“Relatively free?” Byrn emphasized the word wondering what Sane meant by that.
“No one is ever truly free. Even in death we still serve Kassani.”
Byrn stared at Sane for several uncomfortable seconds. “What do you have in mind?”
Sane smiled. “First, I need to visit someone far away,” he said. “Then we get a group of Kenzai hunters together and find whoever set that beast you fought lose on the city.”
“You think someone could have done that? How?” asked Byrn disbelief crept into his voice.
“I could be wrong, but I think an enchanter did this... and I can tell from your blank expression that you have no idea what an enchanter is. That is fine. I will explain on our way back to your home. I assume you need to return your horse, so it can rest.”
“Yes, I will also have to tell my parents that I am never going to see them again,” Byrn said visibly angry as the realization of the situation he found himself in began to sink in.
“No need to be dramatic,” Sane told him losing his patience. He regretted the situation he was putting Byrn in, but there was little else that he could do. However, Sane knew if he could just express the positives of being a magician, he was sure he could turn the boy around on the idea. “You can still see your parents from time to time. After a few years I imagine it would be difficult to prevent you from seeing them even if I had a mind to. Magicians are not bound by the same limitations as everyone else. This morning I was in Mollifas and now I am here with little effort or time spent.”
Byrn eyed the sorcerer warily unsure whether or not to believe him. He was a trained courier and would know that Mollifas was at least a day's travel from here. The obvious question would be if it was possible for a magician to cover long distances so quickly then why were there domains at all? Why was there a magician prison barely two miles away from Colum? What kept all of them from simply flitting away in the air like birds on the wind? Sane wondered the same thing when he was just a boy too.
“Perhaps we should start with the basics,” Sane suggested, “There are four disciplines of magic: elemental, necromancy, manipulation, and enchantment. There are also the healing arts, but that is not considered true magic so much as a gift from the goddess and is only wielded by her chosen priests.
“I am sure you are already familiar with healing as is your horse.” Emma snorted as if to answer. “That is right, precious,” the sorcerer patted the horse on the nose to which she roughly nuzzled his hand happy for the attention. “In addition to the well known restorative ability it can also extend one's life to a small degree or increase fertility. The drawback of course is that healing is not in the realm of magicians so it does us little good. It also requires great concentration and focus meaning that it has limited use in combat although healers can often be found on the fringes of large battles, in camps to help with the wounded.
“Elemental magic allows the magician to cast destructive spells using the elements. With elemental magic you can throw balls of flame or shards of ice, summon the wind and water, and move the very earth under your feet. It is the most direct and least subtle of all magics and is considered to be the most warrior-like of the disciplines.
“Necromancy sounds scarier than it really is. Some view it as evil or a desecration because of the ability to raise armies of the undead. That is one use, but there are many other uses of necromancy that the average person knows nothing about. Necromancy can allow you to speak with those across the void and summon spirits to aid you. That includes those that h
ave passed on as well as the gods themselves if you have the power and inclination.
“However, if you ever do speak with a god you must be sure not to anger him or her. You and I are like cockroaches to them and except for Ashura they have little qualms about crushing us under their heels if we get on their bad sides.”
“Are you serious?” Byrn asked unbelieving, but Sane ignored him and continued on with his primer on magic.
“Manipulation allows the caster to manipulate the human body and the world around him in a variety of ways. He can create a shield around himself to deflect attacks as you did with the ogre or move objects from a distance. I even knew one magician who could turn invisible by making his skin and clothing transparent. However, that is obviously an advanced skill and one that has been largely lost over time. There are many more applications of manipulation and it is one of the most versatile schools of magic.
“Last is enchantment. In a way enchantment is the discipline that brings the others together. Alone enchantment can bend the minds of men... or beasts like the ogre, but combined with the other schools enchantments can be placed on items. Enchanters could make a sword that ignites into flames at will, a ring that turns one invisible, or bind pure magic to a grimoire or staff enhancing a magician's spell casting ability. Of course the enchanter must be skilled enough in the other art to enchant the essence of a spell to an item and most magicians are careful about making magical objects since they can be used by anyone and could be used against the magician as well.”
“So a magician who can turn invisible would not be likely to make a ring that could do the same thing, because there would be no benefit to him unless he was to sell it,” Byrn suggested.
“Just so,” agreed Sane, “In addition the enchantments will fade with usage and would need to be reapplied by the same magician or another with similar skill. There is great demand amongst those with the knowledge and money for such items, but most magicians are unwilling to expose themselves to make such things.”
They arrived at the Winged Boot not long after Sane finished his lecture. Marian ran outside grabbing Byrn and hugging him tightly.
“Are you alright?” she gasped. “Nanny Regald, that chattering hen, told me you were fighting an ogre. I thought she was just spreading gossip, but Anti from the leather shop said he saw the whole thing-”
“I am unharmed if somewhat... overwhelmed,” Byrn shot a sidelong glance to the sorcerer. “Old Emma took the worst of it. That ogre broke her right hind leg, but she is going to be fine. Healer Chaste was able to restore her although she will need some rest for a week or so.” Byrn silently wondered what he should say to his parents. He questioningly looked to Sane as if to ask what should he say?
Sane shook his head. They would undoubtedly need to be told of their son's fate, but now was not the time...or maybe it was and Sane did not know what to say. When he was a boy the Kenzai came to his home. It was a traumatic experience as they held his father pinned to a wall with a knife at his throat and Sane was forced to flee before being caught. He found out later that his parents were not harmed and a stipend of fifty gold coins was eventually paid for him to keep them quiet on the whole affair. The Kenzai could be single minded when it came to magicians, but they served the greater good and after spending some time in their company Sane learned that most of them would not kill someone if they did not have to.
“He is indeed a brave lad,” the sorcerer told Marian thinking quickly, “in fact I have decided to purchase his services for the rest of the day. I am in need of someone to run some errands for me and Byrn seems like the right lad for the job.”
Sane realized there was truth in his words although he did not intend it to be so. If this were more than just some random encounter the wisest course of action would be to assemble a team of hunters and trackers. While Sane was locating a tracker his new apprentice could be requisitioning a group of hunters. After all he already had an in with the local knight-captain and helping slay an ogre in the middle of the city tended to be the kind of event that would increase one's popularity with soldiers and citizens alike.
“We had better be off. There is much to be done,” said Sane. Handing the reins to Marian he asked if she could stable the horse and she did, but not before giving Byrn a strong hug and reminding him to use his best manners around the “priest.”
“I had not thought about what it would mean to leave my family when I agreed to be your apprentice,” Byrn admitted once he was sure they were out of earshot. “I knew it would be hard, but I failed to fully understand until I saw my mother...”
“You will see them again. As my apprentice I can promise a certain degree of freedom to do as you please when we are not in training or serving the kingdom,” the sorcerer told him hoping to convey to his companion that his life was not ending.
“Why did you make me your apprentice?” asked Byrn. “I don’t mean to sound… ungrateful, but surely I am not the first young… student you have come across.”
Sane thought for a moment and then decided to tell him the truth or at least some of it. He would find out eventually anyway. “I offered you an apprenticeship not only because you have strong magical talent, but because I feel indebted to you. Everything has happened so quickly you may not have realized yet that I knew something was going to happen at that inn and I put you there to prevent it.”
“Why would you do that to me?” asked Byrn sudden anger swelled up again in his voice. “Why not face the ogre yourself?”
“I did not want to reveal myself if there is an enchanter behind this attack. I found out about you and knew that if I could get you involved it would alter the course of events that I foresaw and it worked.
“You think that it was Kellen who saved your life. When in reality it was you that saved him.”
Chapter 5
The castle's main hall was tall and spacious. Life-size statues of former kings were carved into the stone walls at regular intervals. King Marcum Aurel, who united the continent's warlords under him and formed the kingdom of Aurelia, sat atop a horse with his sword raised high in calling a charge. King Fantyn Aurel, the only magician king in Aurelia’s history, held a staff in one hand and a sword in the other signifying the balance of being a warrior and a magician. King Lear Aurel's statue depicted him staring skyward with his arm outstretched as if he were looking to the gods. And so on for six more Aurelian kings each one considered great in some way. King Kale Aurel still being alive did not yet have the honor of a statue in the main hall, but hoped that would be rectified in the distant future since tradition dictated that a statue could only be erected at least twelve years after a king's death. Sane imagined King Kale's statue would be standing up straight. His arms would be crossed as he looked down on the courtiers in the hall. He was not the kind of man who minced words or would suffer foolishness from those around him.
The hall was filled with lesser nobles and members of the king's court hurrying around on important business and even more important rumormongering. It reminded Sane of the bustle in the markets when he was a boy, but the outfits were much fancier and there was much more bowing and pretty words. However, the people could be just as cutthroat, if not more so, when the opportunity arose. Sane learned early in life that people who possessed power always wanted more whether it was a merchant looking to expand his fortune or a nobleman looking to expand his influence.
Sane entered the hall ahead of the various nobles and dignitaries that had been waiting for an audience with the king. One of the dignitaries started to complain, but his companion cautioned him to hold his tongue. “Do you not know who that man is?” his fellow noble hissed. “It is the king's sorcerer: Sane. Tread carefully or he will turn you into a toad.” Sane smiled despite himself at the thought. Great though his powers may be transmogrification was not one of them.
The king wore a regal red cape with flecks of gold and a white trim. Underneath he wore a purple tabard and stockings as was appropriate for his station. Hi
s crown was gold with a single ruby cut in the shape of a diamond on the front. The crown was passed down from one king to the next indicating its humble beginnings with the first king, King Marcum.
“Greetings, Sane. How fares Knight-Captain Kellen?”
“He is well and good. I did not involve myself directly, but insured that the problem would be dealt with. In my vision Kellen faced an ogre in single combat and perished, but with the help of an undiscovered magician, an apprentice courier by the name of Byrn Lightfoot, he was able to defeat it with only minor injuries.
“All in all it was a very favorable outcome. What is even more interesting is the young man also used his innate power to construct a barrier. Even now he does not understand how he did it, but he seems to accept that he has this gift and I have offered to make him my apprentice,” he added, “with your permission, of course.”
“He must be something special to warrant such an invitation. I know you have considered taking an apprentice for some time.”
“He will be,” said Sane, “but it is more than that. I feel I owe him a debt for aiding Kellen,” Sane recalled the image of Byrn fighting the ogre, “He is brave if somewhat brash just like someone else I knew long ago. This is just the kind of person the court will need when I am too old to carry on.”
King Kale thought on it for a moment and nodded in agreement, “I look forward to meeting your new apprentice.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Sane bowed. “If it pleases your highness I was planning to form a hunting party to search for the person who was responsible for the attack. Earlier your highness suggested that a rogue magician could be behind it and I would like to pursue the possibility.”
Rogue Magician (The Magician Rebellion) Page 4