The Sorcerer's Torment (The Sorcerer's Path)

by Brock Deskins

  The rest of the day went much more smoothly. Azerick spent time on discovering what Anna already knew so that he could decide where best to start training her. The old healer had done quite well with her tutelage thus far, but Azerick found a few gaps in her education that he could start working on.

  He returned to the inn that evening, found Zeb and Toron sitting at a table enjoying a meal and ale, and took a seat between the two. Both man and minotaur worked in town so Azerick was not surprised to see them. Zeb’s experience as ship captain made him an excellent foreman and Toron’s incredible strength allowed him to do the work of two men.

  “How is the work going so far, Zeb?” Azerick asked as he took a seat.

  “Well enough I guess. It lacks the excitement of sailing, but it beats the heck out of polishing marble floors and brass all day. There’s not much work to be done just now, but we’ll be pulling some long nights when the crops start coming in.”

  “I for one will be glad to be finished with this farm labor,” Toron rumbled. “I am eager to swing an axe again, even if it is only at trees.”

  Zeb answered Azerick’s questioning look. “You see, I figured that if we are going to be here for several months, the boys and I could build a ship and take it down the river by midsummer at the latest. It would make for much easier and faster traveling. I’ve asked around, and as far as anyone knows there are no falls or shallows that would keep us from reaching the sea. Each man would have a stake in the boat and a share of any profit we might make with it.”

  Zeb got more and more excited as he continued to talk about his plan. “This place is ripe with timber, and not only for building the ship. The river runs right through the Habberback Plains. Great farming land, but not a piece of wood bigger than a broom handle for hundreds of miles or any iron ore to be mined. These folks mine much of their own ore from the nearby mountains. We can load up the ship with timber and as much smelted or raw ore as we can, trade it for grain and produce at one of the Habberback towns that lie on the river, then sell that load to one of the large coastal cities for a huge profit!”

  “Sounds like you have it all figured out, Zeb. Do you think you can make a decent ship with what you have to work with here?” Azerick asked.

  “No doubt about it. The boys and me know all there is to ship construction, and the locals have some excellent woodworkers and a waterwheel-driven saw to make the timbers. The hardest part is going to be getting enough tar to seal her up, but the locals told me there’s a supply a few days southeast of here where the river drains into some lowlands making a marsh that has a couple natural tar pits. It’ll be a chore getting it, but we’ll manage.”

  “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. It sounds like a grand idea, Zeb,” Azerick said.

  “You’ll be going with us won’t you, lad?” Zeb asked.

  “I imagine so, but who knows what will happen by then. I may grow to like the peaceful life here and stick around a while,” Azerick replied.

  “Well, whatever you decide I wish you luck, but I sure hope you go with us.”

  “Like I said, I have not made my mind up one way or the other. We will see what happens when the time comes. I may find that the quiet life may not be for me.”

  “That’s an understatement!” Zeb laughed.

  Within days, wagonloads of farm crops began coming in to be stored in the silos and grain bins. Most of the women in the town were busy boiling water for canning fruits and vegetables into sealed glass jars to preserve them through the winter.

  Azerick and Anna got the opportunity to treat the inevitable injuries that sprang up during such times of intense labor. One man broke his arm and injured his back when he fell from a grain elevator, and another got a nasty gash in his leg when he slipped from a piece of farm equipment and got it hung up on a sharp piece of metal. Two women had to be treated for burns they received from the boiling water used to seal the jars during the canning process.

  Azerick and Anna continued to get along well. He even began to enjoy their walks in search of poultice and medicinal ingredients. The crops were harvested with no more than three days to spare when the first heavy frost coated the ground and froze the earth solid. Within days of the frost, the first light snows carpeted the lower hills, and soon after the valley itself. Zeb, Toron, and his men along with a few local woodsmen worked through the snows, chopping down trees and pulling heavy logs on sledges with a team of mules to the saw house next to the river.

  Azerick walked into the inn one cold night after leaving Margaret’s home and saw Zeb sitting with Mayor Remkin. From the look on Zeb’s face, he must have been talking about his ship. The mayor’s face however was creased with the look of apprehension or concern. Azerick picked up their conversation as he strode towards the table.

  “How long do you think it will take you to complete this ship of yours, Zeb?” the mayor was asking.

  “I reckon we’ll have her finished by the end of spring or early summer. If I just wanted a boat to get us home I could probably have her done before the snows melted, but I figured I’d make a good working ship. One I can use along the coasts as well as the river if I choose to,” Zeb replied in an animated voice he adopted whenever he spoke of sailing and ships.

  “I just thought that you would want to be gone as soon as the passes cleared and the river was navigable. You know the river is much more navigable early or mid spring, maybe you should think about a smaller ship,” the mayor said, wiping beads of sweat from his brow.

  “What’s the matter, Remkin, are you trying to get rid us already?” Zeb asked with a laugh.

  “No, no of course not, I just want to be sure that your travels go as smoothly as possible is all. You let me know if you need any more assistance. I’m sure the townsfolk will be more than happy to return the favor of help.”

  “Thanks for the offer, Mayor, but we got about as many hands as we can use right now. The logs are coming into the warehouse faster than we can cut them, and my men already have a passable dry-dock built and the keel laid out. Any more hands and they would just get in the way and slow us down.”

  “All right then, let me know if there is anything you need. I will leave you two gentlemen alone.” With a nod of acknowledgement to Azerick, the mayor stood up and left the inn.

  “The mayor seemed anxious to see us leave, don’t you think?” Azerick asked the captain.

  “Naw, I’m sure he’s just trying to be helpful is all,” Zeb responded. “So how are things working out for you?”

  “Well enough I suppose. I have actually learned at least as much as I have taught. Ms. Thistledown is extraordinarily knowledgeable, although she is more thistle than down,” Azerick joked.

  Zeb gave Azerick’s attempt at humor a chuckle. “That Anna seems a nice young lady though; attractive too, and smart.”

  “She’s nice enough and capable I suppose,” Azerick admitted.

  “Capable, huh?” Zeb grunted and shook his head.

  Azerick quickly changed the subject, not wanting to be drawn into any kind of personal discussions. They talked about Zeb’s ship and his plans to sail out of here. They ate a good meal and shared a couple mugs of beer before Zeb retired for the night.

  *****

  General Baneford relaxed in his tent reading a book on military tactics and history that Brother Paul had given him out of appreciation for sparing his library when a tapping sounded at his “door”.

  “Sir, there is a messenger from Duke Ulric to see you.”

  The general had been dreading the response to his report for weeks despite the fact that he had been overwhelmingly successful. The duke was getting impatient, and once his ire was raised, it never slackened until he got what he wanted. And right now he wanted the armor in its entirety.

  “Enter!” he shouted a bit more forcefully than he had intended.

  The young rider stepped in, nervous at sensing the general’s mood, and saluted before passing the sealed missive. General Baneford wave
d the messenger back out with a sweeping motion of his hand and set the letter down on his table unopened. He decided he would pour a drink before reading the response and set himself up with a glass of amber liquor, not bothering to cork the bottle as he sat back down and broke the seal.

  General,

  I am mildly pleased to find that it is not your loyalty that is in question, only your competence. I wish that I could deliver every piece into your hands myself as I did the last one, but if I could do that I would hardly need you then, would I? Fortunately for you, and to my great distress, no matter how much gold I spread about, my sources have not yet located another piece. However, they have told me that one of the pieces was given to one of the savage tribal leaders of those barbarians that roam the Habberback Plains.

  Given your current rate of success, I imagine I will have to wait another year for a successful report from you, although I truly hope even you can succeed with considerably more haste than you have shown in the past. I will give you the exact location of the next piece as soon as I am informed, but I do not expect you to sit idle during that time, as you have shown the propensity to do in the past. Do not fail me, General.

  General Baneford squeezed his glass until he feared it would shatter before he forced his hand and arm to relax and downed its contents. He poured a second and a third drink before he allowed himself to react to the duke’s scornful words. The general gave himself enough time to digest the bitter message so that all he did was mutter a string of vile expletives that would not carry far beyond the guards outside his tent.

  Despite his attempt to prepare for the duke’s contemptuous words, the message still hit him like a kick in the gut. He would not treat one of his lowest soldiers so poorly, no matter their conduct or performance. If it came to it, he would dismiss them if necessary, but any sort of punishment or dressing down would be handled in a professional manner. Anything less only made him appear foolish and ineffectual as a leader.

  To the hells with him, the general thought as he poured himself another glass. Hm, better pick up a new bottle with the next ration run.

  *****

  The weather gradually warmed, the snows retreated to the upper reaches of the mountains, and wildflowers bloomed to announce the coming of spring. It also announced the coming of planting season. Zeb’s ship should have been near to completion, but the work was going so well that the original plans got more elaborate.

  Once the planting was completed and he and his crew could return to working on it, Zeb figured the ship would be ready to launch within two months. It would then need to float for at least a couple weeks while the wood adjusted and they patched any leaks that might spring up before they could load it with cargo.

  The mayor seemed edgy that the ship would not be completed at the more optimistic estimation of time that Zeb had given him. However, the mayor was excited at the prospect of having his own boats, claiming that it would be a great symbol of pride for him to have the first cargo ship deliver trade goods this far up the river come from his own town.

  He even thought that it might open up another complete industry and business opportunity if his people could build their own barges and create a viable river trade between Riverdale and towns along the river in the Habberback plains.

  Zeb thought it a great idea and drew up plans for his flat-bottomed riverboat that was optimal for river travel. He and his men spent weeks training a few volunteers that were interested in how to care for and handle a ship. There was not enough canvas to equip Zeb’s ship with the sails it was capable of flying, but they were not necessary along the river and he could pick them up once they arrived in a larger city.

  It was a summer day, just past the cusp of mid season, and Azerick and Anna were out collecting the plants they needed in order to practice their craft.

  “So your friend’s ship is finished and ready to be loaded I hear. Will you be going with him?” Anna asked nervously.

  Azerick let out a sigh and shook his head. “I just don’t know. I do not think I have ever been so torn between two decisions in my life.”

  Anna stepped in front of Azerick and placed her hand on his chest to bring him to a stop. “I would like it very much if you would stay. Perhaps I can help sway your decision to stay here,” she said softly.

  Before Azerick could ask what she meant, Anna stretched up onto her tiptoes and kissed him full on the mouth. When Azerick closed his eyes, he saw Delinda and passionately returned her kiss. It took his brain only a moment to remind him that this was not Delinda. He opened his eyes and his face turned red with anger and shame. His heart pounded and his flesh burned as he pushed Anna sharply away from him.

  “What do you think you are doing?” he shouted at her.

  “I thought you wanted me too! I thought you liked me!” Anna cried out, embarrassed and afraid of Azerick’s reaction.

  “Well I don’t!”

  “I’m sorry!” she shouted back and ran back towards the town, her face buried in her hands, and her eyes streaming tears.

  Azerick fought and lost the battle to control his emotions at the renewed memory of his beloved Delinda. In rage and pain, he tore at the Source and demanded that it serve him. He released the arcane energy in the form of a massive lightning bolt into the nearest tree. The air resounded with the peal of thunder and the cracking of wood as the heat of his bolt split the big oak down the middle.

  He launched bolt after bolt into the old tree until nothing remained but a charred stump. His magical outburst did little to release the anguish and rage that was in him, so he began pounding the earth with his fists until his knuckles were bruised and bloodied and his wrists ached.

  The sorcerer thought he had moved past his grief, but he realized that he had only ignored it. He had distracted himself with work and teaching Anna what he knew of herbalism, but he never actually faced and dealt with his pain and grief. Azerick wondered if he ever could. He wondered if he should even bother. The moment he let go of his torment, a new source of heartache would emerge and start the cycle all over again.

  He spent some time to compose himself before walking back to town. Zeb was sitting at a table seemingly waiting for him when he entered the inn. When he motioned for Azerick to take a seat, he knew that Zeb had heard what had happened. With a sigh, Azerick sat down and waited for the rebuke that was sure to come.

  “I’m not going to ask what’s wrong, lad. I have a good idea what it is. I miss her too, son,” Zeb said quietly. “I think I knew Delinda well enough to know that she loved you so much that she would want you to be happy, even if that meant finding happiness with someone else.”

  “So what do you want me to do, Zeb,” Azerick cried as tears overflowed the banks of his eyelids and raced down his face, “grab onto the first girl that throws herself at me?”

  “I don’t want you to do anything, son. All I am saying is that Delinda would want to see you happy. Whether that means being happy alone or with someone else is for you to decide. Just don’t push everyone away that tries to get near you because you think you are being faithful to Delinda’s memory. I’ve been a sailor a long time, and in that time I have met many widows. Whatever you do, however you live; do it for yourself and how you know would make Delinda happy, and not because of some misguided notion of loyalty.”

  Zeb got up from the table and gave Azerick’s shoulder one last squeeze before leaving him alone to his thoughts. Zeb’s words made sense but it was hard for him to let go of Delinda’s memories. He was afraid that if he moved on he would be leaving her behind and the thought terrified him. He could never forget her; would never forget her. He declined dinner that night and went straight to his room to think in silence and without distraction.

  By the time the sun rose, Azerick was little closer to finding the answers he sought. He thought that maybe the fresh morning air would aid in his deliberations, so he threw a light cloak around his shoulders and headed out of town. The sun was just rising so the main gates were still cl
osed as he approached. He waved to the guard on duty, picked a direction at random, and began walking with a purpose in his feet if not in his mind.

  He stared at the ground a few feet ahead of him as he wracked his brain for answers. It did not take long for him to come to the decision that he owed Anna an apology, but the other answers he sought were not so quick in coming.

  When he finally looked up, he saw that the sun had risen much higher in the sky than he had anticipated, and that he had walked to the base of the foothills on the northern side of the valley.

  As he took refuge from the sun beneath the boughs of a massive evergreen tree, a huge shadow flew across the ground, prompting the young sorcerer to look up. Expecting to see a large hawk or eagle, Azerick froze in place at what he beheld. A huge, scarlet, black, and deep amethyst-scaled reptilian behemoth flew just a few hundred feet above him. A dragon! If he ran, it would almost certainly see him, but it seemed intent on looking in the direction it was traveling and not at the small human that would have made little more than a snack to such a huge monster.

  Azerick finally regained control over his legs when he realized the direction in which it was headed. He pumped his legs furiously as he ran as fast as he could back towards the town. Azerick knew there was no way he could possibly get back in time to do anything to help, but such knowledge did not slow him down.

  Such a beast could easily reduce the town to splinters long before he could arrive to do anything about it. Could he even do anything about it? Was his magic powerful enough to faze such a creature? He did not think so, but he had never let such concerns stop him from defending himself or those he cared about before, and he would not do so now.

  By the time Azerick neared the town, his legs ached and his lungs burned from running the several miles back. He saw that the gates and a large section of the palisade had been smashed and lay in pieces upon the ground. The fact that he saw no smoke, and that there were people milling about, greatly reduced his fear of coming upon a slaughter.