The Magus (A Chronicle of Rebirth Book 1)

by J. M. Fletcher

  Ned, an older stout man with only one eye and silvery hair was sitting at a desk alongside a small narrow window. Upon spotting Elian, he stood up. “You can tell the Magus that I have spent the better part of my life collecting these for him and there ain’t another piece of blood steel on this side of the Waste.” He took a few steps out from around his desk. “While yer doin that, you can also tell him there ain’t no way I’m moving them from the docks unwatched.” He folded his arms. “Whatever happened in the palace a fortnight back has caused an upheaval with the palace guards. Nothing leaves by ship or cart without the Crown’s say so.”

  Elian scowled, he had noticed the sentry posts on their way into the docks. “I can’t go back to the Magus with that, you must’ve thought of some way?”

  “Mayhap,” He went over to his shelf taking out a few cups and a bottle of wine “First let’s have some introductions.”

  “This is Nelina,” said Elian as Ned handed him a cup.

  Ned handed Nelina a cup. “Yes, I thought you were she, I dare say news of you has spread through the twin kingdoms and is half way to the Ruby Isles after what the Magus spent to buy you."

  “I-” she turned bright red

  Elian interjected. “Stay your tongue Ned, unless you’d like to speak to the Magus about her and possibly lose your other eye.”

  Nelina for the first time noticed a side she had not seen of Elian before, which was one of harsh intimidation.

  “C’mon Elian, I wasn’t trying to offend ya, we don’t get many women down at the docks here.” Ned had not realized the Captain held a fondness for the Magus’s woman.

  “I don’t think he meant to cause me any true insult,” She held out her cup as Ned poured the wine for her.

  “No insult at all, yer a fetching girl Nelina.” He turned to Elian “Let me fill your cup lad.”

  “It’s fine Ned forget it, perhaps you can show us the blood steel?” Elian had set a hard line with Ned, about Nelina. He had been training her and was protective of her to say the least.

  “Come with me,” Ned set down his cup and led Nelina and Elian over to one of the crates where he unceremoniously removed the lid. “Look in here.”

  Nelina, from her lessons with Elian had developed an appreciation for weaponry. “Oh Elian, may I pick one up?”

  “Go ahead, but you won’t have long with it,” Elian watched as Nelina picked up one of the blades. It was comparable to watching a woman look at a jeweled necklace.

  Ned pointed to the sword Nelina was holding, “Those swords have the sharpest blades with edges that never dull.”

  Elian drank down the wine in his cup that Ned had given him “How do we move these swords Ned?”

  Ned leaned against the wall. “With anything larger than a belt pouch it gets tricky, the crown is looking to tax any goods they can.”

  Nelina put the sword back in the crate and went to stand next to Elian.

  Ned sealed the crate back up, “Not much I can do.”

  Elian pulled out a large bag of gold coins and tossed it on top of the crate. “Half a gold trade bar’s worth, you have three days to figure out a way to get them to the Ruby Isles. You’ll get the other half of your coin when I return and hear solutions and not problems.”

  “In three days, then.” Ned led the two to the door of the warehouse. “Safe travels to ya both.”

  “That went well right?” Nelina smiled. “You’re very good Elian,” The evening sun was starting to disappear against the Torbian Sea as they made their way back out onto the docks and wharf.

  “At what?” He inclined his head.

  “You were very menacing when you snapped at Ned about how much the Magus paid for Me.” She meant it as a compliment.

  An amused smile crossed Elian’s face. “Intimidation can be invaluable, and I suppose you’ve never seen it from me because we usually don’t take care of the Magus’s business together.”

  “Well, I hope our Magus gives us other tasks. I enjoyed this outing with you.” It was nice being outside of the palace.

  Nelina and Elian turned a corner between two large warehouses, not far from where they had left their horses when six large men surrounded them to block their way.

  The leader of the band of men held a club, which he patted with his open hand while grinning at Nelina. “The strumpet is coming with us,” He glared at Elian. “And you, my friend, can leave and none of us will lay a hand on ya, we want the pet is all.”

  Elian stared at the leader. “I’ll extend to you the same offer. You may leave now and keep your lives, or die here.” Elian then whispered to Nelina. “I hope the time in training you wasn’t in vain, since we are faced with a street brawl.”

  “I do too, guess we’ll find out won’t we?” She freed her silver blade from its scabbard and readied herself.

  “A woman fighting! Never thought I’d see that!” Exclaimed one of the men.

  The leader, Alfgier, glanced behind his shoulder to his men “Seems we have to earn our coin tonight boys, get them, but keep the pet in one piece.” He then dived for Elian taking a swing at his head.

  Elian’s blade in a graceful maneuver pierced Algiers throat, making the man’s eyes widen in shock and surprise. “You other men can still leave.”

  Another man behind Elian drew up his blade, and with as much ferocity as before. Elian spun into the man directly behind him with his blade plunging deep into his abdomen.

  Nelina’s first strike sent her sword deep into the man’s face piercing the back side of his skull, and killing him instantly.

  The other man wasted no time in trying to grab the small woman with how fast she killed his friend. If he could hold her, she would not be a threat anymore. He had just gotten his arm across her throat when she elbowed him in the gut so hard he had to let go.

  Nelina swung around to bring her blade across his throat and his mouth filled and flowed with blood before his body crumpled to the ground.

  Elian dropped low to avoid two blades swinging at him. He came up to parry the one man’s attack and in another single sweeping motion beheaded the man on the right.

  Faysal’s eyes darted around, everyone else was dead, and he had no time to react when Elian’s boot kicked him in the chest so hard he landed flat on his back.

  “Please, no more,” he begged.

  Elian’s boot came down on the man’s throat, pressing hard enough to choke him. “You live only to serve as a message to the person who sent you, what the Magus’s slave pet and I can do. Scurry off now.”

  Faysal stumbled a few steps, then gained his footing and ran as fast as his feet would take him.

  Elian’s concern returned to Nelina. “Are you all right, did any of them hurt you?”

  “I’m fine, are you okay?” He did not appear injured to her, but she wanted to make sure.

  “Oh, Me? No harm done.” He grabbed her arm. “We do need to be on our way to the horses and get back to the palace. Our Magus needs to know what happened, and that it was you they were after.”

  “Why did we let the one live?” Sheathing her sword, she kept in step with Elian as they made haste through the other alleyways.

  “With any luck, the vermin will return to who hired him and perhaps it will lead us to who is responsible for tonight.” The guard post where they had left their horses was right up at the end of the alley and he had eyed no one following them.

  Upon reaching the guard post, Elian had Nelina ready their horses and get into her saddle. Meanwhile, he found Asher, the city guard who was an older man whose task it was to oversee the docks and wharf. “Asher, there are some cutpurses who thought that we were easy targets. Be sure that they swing high from Robber’s Row.”

  Asher bobbed his head. “Yes, Captain, I’ll see to it right away.”

  Elian grinned, “Oh, and we let a rat go free so keep an eye on it should it run by so we can follow it back to its nest.”

  He answered with confidence “Aye, we’ll find its nest Captain,”r />
  “Good,” Elian turned away from Asher and back to Nelina. “We need to go,” he mounted his own horse.

  She pulled the reigns of her horse to ride alongside Elian as they made their way back up the Kings Road and back to the City proper.

  Celeste was less than pleased with the announcement that the first petitioner to come before the crown was the First Bishop of Danthamore Declan. His position within the church gave him the ear of the High Priest and the faithful of Danthamore who flocked to his temple on the day of reflection each week. The holy temple was itself was a grand white and gold structure sitting in the common quarter just off from the slave square. His presence could only signal another problem for the Crown and one for Celeste to correct. “Greetings First Bishop Declan, what can King Agnar and I help you with today?”

  Declan’s nervous fingers twitched beneath the fold of his robe while he was of an average height, he had the girth of two men. In his formal dress of brown and white robes trimmed in gold took a couple steps forward. “I must assume that the Crown is familiar with the Apostates, and their vile spectacles?”

  Agnar gave a small nod “We have heard, yes.”

  With a fat finger, the Bishop wiped away the sweat escaping from beneath the ornate heavy headpiece signifying his position within the clergy’s hierarchy. “Yes, my King, and what will you do about them, during the last year their numbers have only grown.”

  Celeste continued to listen to Declan prattle on, her initial suspicion was correct, it was another problem on her plate.

  “Even now they try for entry into the city to harass the good followers of the God of All.” He folded his hands finishing his complaint.

  King Agnar wanted to avoid conflict at all costs with the apostates. The Magus knew they worshipped him, and conflict with them could bring the Magus’ anger. “These apostates have broken no laws and have been kept outside of the city.”

  Declan’s face grew hot with his temper. “We are a little more than a moon away from the start of LeapSeed festival and these blasphemous apostates will ruin almost a year of planning. They’re heretics and have begun harassing the priests, if it doesn’t stop then there will be no blessings from the God of All this year.” As if he was speaking from the pulpit, his pitch became sharper. “It shouldn’t be this hard, round them up and send them to Kiffet where they can serve as tribute!”

  “Well, go ahead Agnar,” quipped Celeste.

  Agnar glared at Celeste daring her to continue before addressing Declan again. “Danthamore doesn’t have the men needed to go and round up the apostates who aren’t breaking any laws. However, if you wish to send inquisitors to round them up, the crown certainly won’t stand in your way.”

  Deep lines of worry creased Declan’s face. “The crown has always supported the God of All, this is quite unusual to do, but if that’s what you wish me to do, I will return to the High Priest Taber with your suggestion.” Before anyone else could continue to speak, the throne room door creaked open and Kinnat walked in unannounced.

  Celeste watched the Seer walk slowly to them with her deathly grayish-white pasty complexion. To Celeste, Kinnat appeared as though she aged a decade overnight. “Seer Kinnat, are you feeling better?”

  “Does it matter? You need to get that monster out of Danthamore.” Kinnat was angry at her own defeat, it never should have happened, and it would not have if the King and Queen had refused the Magus to begin with.

  Celeste anger was palpable. “Isn’t that why we brought you here, to help us?”

  “It was you and Agnar who caused this mess by letting him in, in the first place,” Kinnat refused to stay in this wretched damned city a day longer. “I’m leaving, I have to return to the Ruby Isles and warn my people.” She was not standing around to wait for the King and Queen to respond. She turned on heel to leave, but not before stopping in front of Declan and looking him up and down with pure disdain. “And this one, this corrupt one can't help you either.”

  The Queen, King, and Declan deigned not to say anything back to Kinnat as the door to the throne room closed behind her.

  Nelina took Adar’s hand as he helped her up after landing her flat on her backside. “So much for that, guess I’ll keep practicing.”

  Adar grinned letting go of her hand with a nod. He bowed, taking his leave of her so that she could have her midday meal before her afternoon training with Elian.

  She was out of breath, but was more surprised to see the Soul Seer at the table which was supposed to be hers. The spread of food appeared to be enough for two people.

  Kinnat motioned to the empty chair. “Please, sit.”

  Nelina’s green eyes assessed the older woman with her furs, skins, and bones barely covering her breasts. “I see that you are eating what I normally do.” Most of the food laid out was what her meal would be.

  “I’m not here to hurt you or to disturb your meal, Nelina.” Kinnat was eating while using her fingers to pull out the larger chucks of haddock in the soup.

  “Oh?” Nelina picked up her bowl filling it with soup. “Then why might you be here Seer?”

  “To talk about your parents,” Kinnat did her best to befriend her, “Do you know they are?

  Nelina’s frown was puzzled. “They died when I was young, my Uncle raised me.”

  Kinnat chewed on her haddock. “You have the markings of what we in the Ruby Isles call “The Chosen.”

  “Is that so, what kind of markings?” Nelina kept thinking about how Ru’ark would find the Seer’s table manners quite bad with the way she picked at her food.

  Kinnat’s smile was warm. “Your hair and eyes, to be honest.” She looked Nelina directly in the eyes. “I can offer you your freedom, in the Ruby Isles, we don’t have slavery, no man or woman would own you. You would be exalted among my people.”

  “No,” she tried to keep her irritation at bay. “It’s obvious you want me for something, not because you feel pity for me.” She set her spoon down in her bowl. “You’re wasting your time if this is what you came for.”

  Kinnat tried to be sympathetic to Nelina’s misfortune. “I’m sure being the Magus’ slave has been horrific-”

  “He’s a good man, and it’s you who attacked him not once, but twice.” Nelina leaned in folding her hands on the table. “I’m here because I want to be, I’m not being held against my will.”

  “Have you forgotten that you’re his bed slave? He uses you to mock the Kingdoms, naught else.” Kinnat put her hand over Nelina’s folded gloved hands. “Come with me, leave here and find a life that will have actual worth.”

  “I am his consort, something I’m sure any common villager could tell you. As for him, I feel closer to him than I have any other person in my life and I’m unwilling to lose him.” She snapped her hands away from Kinnat. “The Magus would not have had to hurt you, you chose that when you forced his hand.”

  “I forced his hand? He’s a monster, and you’re a stupid woman who is blinded in her infatuation for him.” Kinnat was seething. “People say that you were dead and that you rose because his dark unholy tricks.”

  “Perhaps I was,” Nelina kept her eyes locked in defiance with the Seer’s own heavy stare. “He saved my life and I wouldn’t be sitting here if it weren’t for him. My life is his to command as he sees fit.”

  “You suffer the mark of madness on your soul.” Kinnat’s face and mouth twisted in disgust.

  “Love is more accurate.” Nelina’s heart raced. “My feelings for him run deeper than the Torbian Sea.” She sighed, “I am content in my life with him. He is the most powerful man in the world and he wants to be with me, he chose me. A life with him is what I desire above all else.”

  “He’ll betray you, and you will one day regret saying these blasphemies.” Kinnat was at a loss for why All God would put Nelina in her path when this woman was lost to the will of the Magus.

  “I think I’m done with your company Soul Witch, isn’t that what the Magus called you?” Nelina did not
try to hold back her contempt.

  “I’m leaving,” Kinnat stood up. To her, Nelina was naught but a poisoned vessel. “I pray to the All God that he curses your unholy, blasphemous love that you carry for the Magus.”

  “Good Day Seer.” Nelina watched as Kinnat left her line of sight before picking at her food. She needed to eat a little more before meeting Elian and sparring with him.

  Ru’ark was going over some of his maps spread out on his desk when Elian knocked on the door. “Enter,”

  Elian with his usual good nature sat down in the chair in front of Ru’ark’s desk. “Good Morning Master Ru’ark.”

  “Good Morning Elian, how did it go with old one-eyed Ned?” Ru’ark picked up his quill to mark a part of the map.

  “It went well, although Ned made a comment about what you spent for Nelina. She handled her own for what the task entailed, she loved being outside of the city.” Elian put his hands behind his head in a relaxed manner. “Ned is arranging for me to meet someone he knows who can possibly sail the blood steel out of Danthamore and into the Ruby Isles. The problem is sneaking them from Ned to whomever he is arranging things with, we did however run into some trouble.”

  Ru’ark put the quill back in the inkwell. “What kind?”

  Elian sat up straighter. “We were set upon by several cutthroats wanting your ‘pet’ Master Ru’ark. You and Adar would have been proud of her though, she offed two of the men on her own. I let one of them go, hoping that the rat will lead us to who sent him.”

  Ru’ark moved the map to the side of the desk. “It sounds like you both handled things efficiently.”

  Elian was about to speak until a sharp knock at the door interrupted the two. Elian turned moving promptly to the door, as Ru’ark observed from his desk. Elian pulled the door open only to find one of his city guards there. “Why do you disturb the Magus, this had better be important?”

  The guard stood attentively in front of his Captain. “The man you told the Sargent to let go of from the docks, there’s information.”