The Magus (A Chronicle of Rebirth Book 1)

by J. M. Fletcher

  She raised her red tear stained eyes to look at him, whatever he would tell her she was ready for it.

  He cupped her face in his hands. “When I first bought you, I paid so much for you because I didn’t want anyone else to have you.” He turned his head for a moment, thinking that he had heard footsteps yet he saw no one there. “If I had to find someone with hair and eyes like yours again, my sole priority would be in the process of sending them to Aghadine. My fate and life are with you.”

  “Forgive me,” what he said made her feel better about their relationship.

  Celeste crept around the hallway with quiet steps trying to hear what Ru’ark and Nelina were saying.

  “You must not do this again,” he lifted her face to his with her chin between his thumb and index finger, “You told me once that you would burn like the moth for me, do you remember?”

  She smiled, “I do,”

  “I would burn them all, Danthamore, Aghadine, both the lower and the upper Kingdoms to cinders and lay them all at your feet if it would guarantee my future with you.” His mouth found hers again. “My research these days involves you being the mother of my children.”

  Celeste quietly started back down the hall. Staying here was too dangerous, besides, she had heard plenty from her eavesdropping.

  They were at last, in the bed-chamber that he and Nelina shared with the door closing behind them. The two had barely kept their hands off one another since things had been resolved with one another.

  “I don’t want to be without you,” She pressed her body against his, bringing her lips to his neck while slipping her arms around him.

  “Nor shall you ever have to,” his hands trailed down her sides past her ribcage. “In Aghadine, it would not be allowable by the council for me to take you as my wife,” He touched the silk draping of her dress. “Here in Danthamore, I can have you wear a dress that a wife in Aghadine would wear and have my pleasure of seeing you in it.”

  “Thank you,” she hugged him tight. “You honor me with your affection, I will try to always be worthy of it,” she brought her hands down to his shoulders.

  “You are Sweetling,” kissing her his tongue mingled with hers.

  Nelina’s body quivered with the familiar tingling, which ignited her craving to have him. Tonight, would be theirs.

  Kinnat was leaving the Palace to return to the Manor when the Queen found her. “Yer Grace, is something amiss?”

  Celeste was lucky she had caught the Seer. “Yes, there is! You need to do something about the Magus, he’s gone too far.”

  The Seer was certain the Queen was here due to some foul act by the Magus. “What has happened?”

  “He said he would burn it all, that he would burn Danthamore and all of the lower and upper Kingdoms. I had to leave at that point lest I get caught,” said Celeste.

  “Get Caught?” Kinnat was suspicious of the information.

  Celeste’s irritation grew. “I heard him tell it to his slave pet in the hallway leading to the eastern part of the palace. They would have found me if I stayed.”

  Kinnat had to prevent the Magus from being a problem anymore. Slavery was distasteful to her, yet she would lower herself to the practice of it to claim Nelina and bring her to the Ruby Isles if she had to. “I will go to the Manor house you’ve provided me and I will handle it from there. You can find your rest this evening yer Majesty. Soon, the Magus won’t be an issue.” Afterward, she would demand the crown give her Nelina if the woman did not agree to go with her of her own accord.

  Celeste hoped the Seer was right. “Good Night then Seer Kinnat.”

  Kinnat wasted no time in hurrying to the manor house in the Noble district. It took her far longer than she wanted it to in drawing out the ritual circle with all of its sigils on the floor. Surrounding her circle were candles and incense filling the room with its pungent smoke. In the center of the circle, she prayed to the One God. Through her rhythmic chanting, she fell into a deep trance. Here in her meditation, she was a Soul Spinner, and from her ancestry line, she could pull forth the darkest soul shadow, to find and possess the Magus, the rhythmic moving her of her body came to a sudden stop as the Soul Shadow moved beside Kinnat’s body leaving out the open window into the night air while Kinnat lay motionless after its departure.

  Ru’ark slipped down the top of her gown off her shoulders, leaving them exposed and gave her a lingering kiss there. He unpinned her hair, while watching it fall around her back. He wrapped his arm across her pulling her tight against him.

  She turned around to kiss him.

  From the nearby open window, the shadows stirred unnoticed by any but the most careful of observers. The Soul Shadow, having reached its intended target, mixed itself into the shadows of the room. As commanded by its Shaman Seer, it watched Ru’ark waiting for its opportunity to strike.

  Ru’ark kept their passionate embrace going, things were at last resolved, and their connection was also rekindled.

  Moving from shadow to shadow in the room as silent as a breath of air, the Soul Shadow moved behind the two entwined lovers lost in themselves. While embracing each other, the shadowed figure slithered to face the Magus’s back. The Soul Shadow stood behind the Magus taking its long, thin shadowy finger and running it down the Magus’s spine maliciously hissing, “MINE.”

  Ru’ark broke off from Nelina to face the creature, his eyes glazed over into black pools followed by a coiled smoky tendril reaching out to wrap around the Soul Shadow’s neck. He held it there keeping it on display for Nelina’s benefit. “It seems we have an uninvited guest.”

  “What is it?” she readjusted her dress.

  The Soul Shadow struggled in vain against Ru’ark’s hold. “A damned soul,” he answered in a casual tone to Nelina with a shrug. “There is nothing to fear from it, it’s equal to killing a bug or spider.”

  “Then I think you should kill it, I don’t like either of those, or for that matter that thing.” To Nelina its hissing was malicious and frightening.

  Ru’ark smiled to it. “You are but another soul seeking out the consequences of its actions.” The Waraeu moved beneath his skin and across his arm where he held the damned soul. In a single breath, the struggling shadow was split again and again as he absorbed it into himself. Finishing with the Soul Shadow, he swept Nelina up and carried her off to the bed lying her down on it. “Due to our unwelcome visitor, we’ll have to make it an earlier evening than I originally planned with you.”

  “Can’t I stay up with you, keep you company?” She did not want him to be alone.

  He would have appreciated her companionship, but the Soul which he was sure was sent by the Soul Witch was particularly malevolent. The last thing he wanted to do was touch her with any of it lingering in him. “Alas, while I would like nothing more, it’s for the best that you do not remain with me.”

  “If you’re not going to let me be with you, will you promise to send for me if you need anything?” She was concerned for him.

  His brows arched upward with an incredulous grin. “Are you worried about me?”

  “Yes, I am, that’s why I asked to stay up with you,” She hugged him.

  He hugged her back. “Is that so?” He put his hand affectionately on the back of her head. “That’s the last thing you need to worry about, I’ve been taking care of myself for a good many years.” He smiled, “It’s I who will take care of you, so take your rest and after a few hours pass I’ll join you Sweetling.”

  “Alright, I hope it will not be too long for you.” She stood up to put on her nightdress. “Be well, Ru’ark” she kissed him lightly on the cheek. By the time she finished changing he had left the room.

  Celeste was sound asleep when Orson and the Royal Guard entered her royal bed-chamber unannounced. “Orson, Why are you here?”

  Orson was apologetic. “Forgive me my Queen, but the Soul Seer Kinnat has performed some ritual in the manor and has fallen unconscious.”

  Celeste rubbed her eyes. “H
as the Royal Healer attended her yet?” It was obvious the Soul Seer failed at whatever she was trying to do. To think, Kinnat had the audacity to tell her not to speak with the other Magus.

  “Yes, my Queen, King Agnar and the healer are with her, they say she’ll not wake for days or maybe as long as a fortnight.” Orson folded his hands behind his back.

  “Nothing I can do about it until morning, besides, I want some rest. Agnar can deal with it, ” she climbed back into her bed. “If anything should change, come back Orson.”

  “I will, my Queen.” Orson closed the heavy wooden door to the Queen’s chamber on his way out.

  Celeste stared at the ceiling, she needed to get back to that mirror in the Magus’s chamber, yet there was no way with him anywhere near the palace. If anything, Orson’s news increased the importance of contacting the Magus’ brother. Besides, she wondered how much the brother would want to hear how Ru’ark would burn their own homeland Aghadine to the ground.

  “You should not have done that with Mary-Anne,” Elian blocked Nelina’s sword strike as she came around, “You’re lucky I caught her.”

  “Lucky? I wanted her to fall on her face, that was the point.” Her foot came out as she tried to trip Elian with a maneuver Adar taught her. “She should have not thrown herself at our Magus, besides, wasn’t she supposed to be with you?”

  Elian saw his advantage with her poor footwork and grabbed her arm, forcing her to release her practice blade, and pinned it behind her back. “I do not love the woman love doesn’t sink its teeth into me as it does you with our Magus. I’m using her.”

  “Well then, our Magus didn’t scold me,” She tried to drop her weight and go low yet she was still far too distracted.

  He positioned himself just right to catch her and bring her back to an upright posture while once again pinning her arm tight behind her back. “You’re letting your emotions get the best of you, if you do that in a real fight you’ll lose.” He held her there for good measure. “I think we’ve chatted about my love life enough for today.” He let her go of her arm with a smile. “Our Magus wants you to meet a friend of his at the docks so you’ll need to get washed up, but keep your armor on.”

  “We’re going outside of the city proper?” She was elated to be going outside of the city gates.

  Elian grinned at her attitude, which was how women sounded when they were happy. “Yes, now go make yourself ready so I can get the horses.”

  “I will, right now!” Turning at almost a dead run, as she made her way up the stairs heading to the outer wall and her room in the palace.

  Elian was checking over the stable boy’s work by the time she returned. He was testing the snugness of the saddle and bit, he did not want there to be any missteps as he took Nelina to the docks. He turned to face her, she had cleaned away her morning training with Adar and was wearing her armor with her hair wrapped in its tight coiled braid with the silver blade Elian had given her almost a year ago fastened tight at her hip. “Good timing.”

  “I was fast, a chance to ride out of the city is nice, and I haven’t gotten to leave since I’ve been here.” She patted the dark brown horse on the neck. “Is this one mine?”

  “It is, yes,” he handed her the reigns and handed her a hooded cloak. He then mounted the other horse and situated his cloak around his shoulders. “Even though it’s Danthamore it is still winter.”

  The Northern Barracks were in the common quarter, which was a short ride from the city’s Main gate. The gate and barrack doors opened for them as he led her out into the city. Danthamore’s wealthy upper nobility were of a select group who were allowed the privilege of riding a horse within the city walls. People cleared out of the way for the two as they rode through the streets making their way to city’s outer wall.

  “You and our Magus seem to be growing closer. With the exception of Adar, I’ve not seen him become close to anyone else.” He had her full attention as he continued. “As your friend, I must warn you to keep your jealousy at bay should our Magus decide to one day take pleasure with other women.”

  “Is that so? Well, I’m in love with him Elian, and I’ll not share him with another.” Her voice cracked, “You name the one thing that would leave me devestated.”

  “Nelina, you are without a doubt a beautiful woman, but it is a man’s world and it is a normal practice.” He stopped his horse and his tone was one of kindness. “I don’t want to see you hurt when there does not need to be any.”

  “I’ll not tolerate it, accepted or not.” She too brought her horse to a halt. “I’d rather be alone or sent off somewhere if that’s what he chooses to do.” She smiled unashamed. “I’ll be damned before I abide by such actions. Whomever the woman was I’d kill her and then Ru’ark our Magus can cast me off afterward if that is to be his pleasure.” She took a deep breath. “He understands me all too well after Gwen, and I’ll leave it at that.”

  It was obvious to him, he had struck a nerve with her. “No woman has loved me the way you do our Magus, and if one did I doubt I would stray far from her side either.” He resumed his riding and Nelina followed as they continued onward to their destination.

  The smell of the slave square was pungent as they directed their horse across the massive gate, making up the entrance to Danthamore. The most activity was as always, taking place on the block.

  The city’s large imposing gate was raised high and Elian smiled to the young city guard at his post as the two passed with his badge of office hanging from his waist in plain view.

  Outside the city gates was the view of waste spreading out into the horizon with the Kings Road cutting toward the Upper and Lower Kingdoms.

  Nelina recognized a few of the Magus worshipping apostates whom the city guards removed. “I saw some of them when I first came to the city, it feels like such a long time ago.”

  He rode his horse closer to hers. “They take a very odd view of our Magus, don’t you think? All the self-harm they do is in his name.”

  She laughed, “Yes, because we’ve all seen our Magus command the slaves with whip yourself before sleep, whip yourself before you eat.”

  Elian joined her in laughter. “They would be devastated to know that our Magus doesn’t in the least care about them.”

  “They most certainly would,” Nelina was fond of joking around with Elian and she was glad for the change in conversation.

  The two made their way out of the city travelling down the winding road hugging the cliff leading from the city walls down towards the docks. They could have taken the Kings Road, but it would be far hotter being so close to the edge of the waste even with the winter winds coming off the sea. The road they took was dug deep into the cliff face where it had become a tunnel at points before returning back to a road. Because of the tightness, it forced the horses to walk single file as they descended to the docks below. The docks of the royal port jetted out into the vastness of the Torbian Sea. Many vessels filled the area stretching outward either resting or awaiting their turn to enter the port and dock. Some dropped anchor nearby to give a wide berth for those docked to leave. The cliff road’s incline was not too hard on the horses, and the sea provided a cooling mist from splashing on the rocks.

  Elian made note of the ‘chain of slaves’ going down the King’s road back to the city. A chain of slaves were ten or more slaves chained together. Each slave appeared more miserable than the one before him. He stared at Nelina, he was glad she had not suffered that fate.

  Nelina followed Elian as the two roads formed back into one. The King’s road stretched beyond the numerous warehouses, with the palace guards posted outside, as slaves and other merchandise made its way to and from the city proper or down to the docks below. They proceeded down the King’s road and made their way through Robber’s Row. It was here, the Crown displayed the decaying dead bodies of those who committed crimes against the crown by hanging them in the sun with crows and other birds pecking away at the rotting flesh with their sharp beaks.
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  Nelina found it hard to hold back the feeling of nausea from the smell, and was glad by the time they reached the end of robber’s row to be away from it. The last time she had passed it was when her uncle was leading her into the city to sell her as his property.

  Elian led the way to a small guard post where he dismounted his horse and instructed Nelina to do likewise. With a quick word to the guard, he gave him the reigns of their horses and then turned back to Nelina. He slipped up his hood up as she followed him down a street leading to the warehouses on the docks. The dirt of the road was soon replaced by wooden planks that made up the docks and piers of the wharf. “Make sure you stay close by me, I may be the Captain of the City Guard, but it can get lawless on the docks.” He wanted to make sure she kept her wits about her.

  “I will,” She continued following his lead as they made their way down from one tight alley to another. Several alleyways came near large ships being unloaded to nearby paths where some of the guards from a few of the unnamed shipping companies sneered at her and Elian.

  Elian had shown the hilt of his blade causing them to back down. It wasn’t until they reached the far end of the docks that they stopped. The silhouettes of several men in the late afternoon light could be seen standing guard at the distant warehouse when they walked up.

  “The person we are meeting is a trusted contact of our Magus.”

  The group of burly men took notice the two and began approaching them.

  Nelina kept quiet as the men came forward.

  Elian lowered his hood, “Old Ned is expecting me.”

  “Follow me then,” said the gruff man with a dark brown beard.

  They walked through the old warehouse until they reached a rickety set of stairs, taking them to the lower section of the building.

  “Here ya go,” the burly man stopped in front of the door and then opened it. “Ned is in here.”

  Nelina stayed behind Elian going through the doorway. Wine casks filled the walls stretching out the length of the warehouse. A path went to a lone desk between the casks of wine and other goods.