Straightening his cloak, Sajiix marched up the opposite stairs and was suddenly met with a savage blow to his stomach. A deep bellowing pain gripped his abdomen as all the air in his lungs quickly vacated his body. Sajiix doubled over, trying desperately not to fall. A knee, covered in some sort of leather armor, connected with his chin. The Magi felt his teeth crack together, biting a bit of his own tongue. The force of the blow sent him reeling backward, and he lost any hope of balance upon the stairs. Sajiix threw himself sideways, hoping to avoid falling on his skull. The Magi rolled down the steps, feeling every bruise that was sure to come later. He slid to a halt next to the table, tasting his own blood.
His opponent began marching down the steps, the soles of heavy leather boots thudding against the marble. The man was huge in both height and girth. He wore a simple outfit of brown pants tucked into knee-high boots and a black woven shirt. Various pieces of dark brown leather armor covered his knees, shoulders, chest, and wrists. Wide set eyes of ice-blue looked upon the Magi with fierce intent, his thin-lipped mouth cracked open with a smile of triumph. The sides of his head were shaved clean, leaving only a wide strip of spiked black hair arcing from his forehead to his neck. Sajiix recognized the brute as a Thaarakan – a race of barbarians that lived in the wastelands of ice far to the north. They were infamous for their war-like nature and penchant for violence.
The smile on this one’s face grew broader as he hoisted Sajiix up by the front of his cloak with one hand, while the other reached back into a fist, eager for another blow that could easily snap his neck.
“Dorn! Stop this!!”
The barbarian halted his strike and lowered his arm. He gazed apologetically to the top of the stairs behind him, allowing Sajiix to see who stopped the attack. Standing there was Tienn, looking as though he had not aged within the decade he saw him last. Next to him was another male, dark-haired and bearded, and dressed in black. Sajiix recognized the man as Ayce Lyganthaar – another of the former Guildsmen.
Another burst of rage coursed through Sajiix’s blood. Ayce and Tienn – both of whom owed their lives to the Magi – now stood within the heart of the Guild Sajiix created; stood over him and looked at him as though he were a slimy insect that had crawled across their fancy dinner table. For a moment, Sajiix forgot his mission, forgot the pain in his stomach and his chin, forgot the blood that trickled out of his mouth. His green-purple eyes focused on the large oaf in front of him who was smirking with a defiant air.
“Sajiix?” wondered Tienn with a confused tone.
Sajiix roared a command and a massive flash of purple sent the Thaarakan sailing past Ayce and Tienn into the next room. A horrible crashing sound echoed into the entry hall, which was then followed by a terrible silence. The Magi stood there, heaving air into and out of his lungs like a mad beast. Purple eldritch energy gleamed from his foci as he saw the druid and Bornosian regain their footing.
“No,” Tienn commanded. “Morgath, Ro’byenn, stand down. This man is known to us.”
“He may be known, but he’s not acting very friendly,” Ayce said with a flick of a dark eyebrow.
Tienn began to approach Sajiix slowly. “Sajiix,” he said calmly. “Why are you here? Why are you attacking us?”
“I came here to discover the truth,” Sajiix said, spitting blood from his mouth. “I hear rumors that Cassius Deveres has resigned his post with the Knights of Kaalé so that he may resurrect the Defender’s Guild. I find that not only are these rumors true, I find my former friends and companions have also returned.”
Tienn and Ayce both gave one another a confused glance, neither sure what Sajiix was trying to convey.
“For six turns of the moon, you have revived the Guild with not a single word sent to me!” shouted Sajiix. “Here you are, living once more within these halls, recruiting these…halfwits.” The Magi gestured to Morgath and Ro’byenn who were now standing next to one another, eyeing Sajiix carefully. “How many of you have returned? Might I find Saerle back there? Perhaps Jaszlin and Quesheks are once again plotting against someone else here.”
Tienn stopped midway down the steps and frowned at the Magi’s accusations. He glanced over at the two younger initiates, who were now in a heated discussion over the identity of Sajiix. Tienn addressed the Bornosian as Morgath and the druid as Ro’byenn and asked them to check on the welfare of Dorn – the Thaarakan Sajiix had sent flying into the other room. The two men nodded obediently, casting hateful glances at the Magi as they stepped into the main hall.
“It has been over ten years since we last spoke,” Tienn told the Magi. “Do you really want our reunion to be nothing but accusations and hatred? Shall we continue this tradition of bitterness?”
Sajiix felt some of his anger leave him as Tienn approached. The Magi inwardly cursed his old friend. Tienn had a natural talent for pacifying those with an ear to listen. Tienn gestured to the chairs at the table and offered a seat to Sajiix. The Magi took it reluctantly. Tienn sat across from him, his hands clasped together with his chin resting firmly atop in a thoughtful pose. Indeed, the swordsman looked just as he did twelve years hence. High, sharp cheekbones framed his angular face. Eyes of milky-white watched carefully from under unnaturally thick brows of the same color. A lush mane of hair flowed to his shoulders in a snowy cascade, contrasting piercingly with the lavender tint of his skin.
Noticing Sajiix’s scrutiny, Tienn smiled and said, “Seventeen years this spell has lasted.” He opened his arms wide, keeping his palms out. “It has not weakened one bit.”
Tienn was a Draaken; a refugee from the nightmarish realm known as Excelicus. This north island continent was home to the worshippers of Maalithor – God of night and necromancy. It is a land filled with perpetual darkness where the sun never touches the earth; whether this is through divine or magical means, no one knows. Those born and raised in this harsh environment adapt to the night – the soft light of the blue moon that circles Vasalius; the fierce hunters that stalk the nighttime forests; strange plants and crops that thrive within the dark; and creatures that depend or desire the eternal night.
Tienn was forced to flee the dark land at a young age and he discovered very quickly that his skin reacted negatively to bright sunlight. When Sajiix and Cassius first encountered him, he wore protective armor fashioned out of leather, chain, and cloth that covered him from head to toe. Only at night could the Draaken show his face to his friends. Tienn was never happy with his protective gear, always complaining how it hampered his ability to fight. It took Sajiix three years to create a spell that would protect the swordsman; a spell that turned his blindingly pale skin to a purple hue that changed its shade depending on his emotions. Tienn never mentioned the skin color. To be able to walk in the sun without the restraints of his gear was more than he could ever ask for.
“I should hope not,” Sajiix returned. “The cost of the amethyst I used was quite high.”
Tienn smiled, not caring whether the Magi joked with him or not. “Not too high, I hope, for my wretched skin.”
“Any cost would be too high for your skin, you walking plum,” boomed the voice of Ayce as he sat next to Tienn.
Ayce Lyganthaar, warrior, mercenary, werewolf. The years were kind to the jovial fighter, except for the two streaks of gray that stretched along the sides of his shoulder length black hair. A hint of gray was also beginning to show on his bearded cheeks. His brown eyes still sparkled with mischievous intent, however. “How are you, Sage?” He smiled at the Magi, exposing near perfect white teeth.
Sajiix groaned inwardly. Ayce was good to have around for morale and his sword arm was quite dependable in battle, but his true strength lay in his ability (or curse) to change into a seven-foot tall werewolf. Alas, that strength was tempered by Ayce’s annoying capacity for bad humor. Sajiix had always despised being called ‘Sage’, and Ayce knew it. The jester refused to stop then, and Sajiix doubted he would stop now. The best the Magi could do was attempt to ignore him.
�
�It pleases me that the spell has lasted so long,” Sajiix said dismissively. “Why have you reopened the Guild?”
“I find it disturbing that you take this so personally, old friend,” Tienn said evenly.
“I helped create this Guild, I put as much into it as any of you,” Sajiix bristled. “I take it as a personal affront when my old friends fail to contact me to revive it.”
Tienn shook his head. “It is not as you claim it to be, Sajiix. Ayce and I are here merely to train and manage the initiates. It is not the same Guild as you once knew. Many of our former Guildsmen are lost to us, living their own lives. Considering what happened between you and Cassius, I assumed you would not care about it.”
And there it was. What happened between he and Cassius would always be the dividing line between himself and his former friends. “You assumed wrong,” Sajiix whispered.
Tienn leaned forward. “What was that?”
“I said you need to train your initiates better,” Sajiix said gruffly.
“I think the Thaarakan beat you, though,” Ayce chimed in.
Sajiix finally regarded Ayce with undisguised derision. “He surprised me.”
“He beat you,” taunted Ayce.
“Surprise is a massive variable in any battle,” Sajiix told Ayce through clenched teeth. “Just ask your Thaarakan barbarian when he awakens.”
Tienn barked a short laugh as Ayce conceded the point to Sajiix. All three leaned back in their chairs and allowed the tension to fade away.
“How many initiates do you have?” asked Sajiix genuinely.
“Including the three you’ve met? Three,” Tienn answered.
“Have you had any Magi stop in?”
Tienn’s face melted into a mask of seriousness. “No, not with what has been occurring here in Kaalé.”
“Is that why you’re here?” Ayce guessed, “To find out why Tevic has been chasing Magi out of Kaalé?
The question brought Sajiix’s current mission back to the forefront. He needed to find the Zynnashan force and get ahead of it so he could find the Purestone and whoever had stolen it. A solution suddenly presented itself, but the Magi would have to let go of his prideful anger concerning the Guild. He had to decide between personal gain with the Purestone or respect from his former companions. It was not a hard decision. Sajiix was removed from the Guild twelve years ago and during that time not one of his former friends had bothered to contact him or see him. They went on with their own lives, forgetting him. He owed them nothing.
“Last night I discovered that the Zynnashans are spearheading an attack upon Kaalmoore,” he announced.
“That’s not good,” Ayce muttered.
“By the Seven Houses why??” Tienn nearly shouted, leaping out of his chair.
Here came the tricky part. How much could Sajiix tell them without raising their suspicion?
“The Elementai does not know.”
“And what do you think caused this?” Tienn asked with a penetrating gaze. Tienn could sense there was something Sajiix was leaving out, and the Draaken wouldn’t put it past Sajjix to tell half-truths. The Magi had done it before.
Sajiix made a show of disgust at the Tienn’s question. Tienn and Ayce were both there two decades ago when they had first found the diamond, and they were present when the decision was made to give the artifact to the Zynnashans. They both knew how vehemently Sajiix opposed it. The magi felt the diamond would be better suited to be studied at the Arcanum – as did most of the Elementai. But, the House of Diathanos claimed divine right over the gemstone, causing a near brawl between the two groups. Zynnashan Highlord Bragas then demanded that they keep diamond for the well being of all Vasalians and promised to keep it safe and secure until it was needed once more. No one – Magi or priest - could repudiate this reasoning. The diamond would be kept safe and a holy war would be averted.
Sajiix lamented its loss, but strived instead to find the Amethyst of Val’Cryys, which led to even greater problems. If he told Tienn he was searching for the diamond, the Draaken would not trust him enough to aid his endeavor. He had to keep the theft of the gemstone secret for now.
“Truly – the Arcanum is at a loss. They sent me to investigate, but insisted that I warn the Knights of Kaalé first. Greeve was not much help.”
“No,” Tienn muttered. “Nor will he be.”
“So, you came here to ask the Defender’s Guild for aid?” Ayce asked.
Sajiix frowned at the comment. “No,” he said. “I came here to see the return of my Guild with my own eyes.”
“Your Guild?” spoke a voice as cold and deep as the depths of the Stormrage Sea. “Tell me how this is your Guild?”
Sajiix, Tienn, and Ayce had been so engrossed in their conversation that they failed to see the appearance of Cassius at the top of the inner stairs. Behind him was Dorn, the Thaarakan that had assaulted Sajiix. “You are not welcome here,” Cassius said, his eyes on Sajiix. “You need to leave.”
A moment of silence fell like a tense blanket of wool over everyone in the meeting hall. And then Sajiix broke the quiet with the words: “Move me.”
10
Sajiix leapt from his chair, knocking it far behind him as his former friend charged from atop the stairs. Cassius raised his fists as he reached the bottom step. Sajiix could hear Tienn shouting, but the Magi didn’t wait for an outcome as he drew the shadow magic near. His ringed foci began to pulse as he stepped away from the oncoming attacker. “You don’t belong here!” Cassius shouted. His dark skin glistened with sweat; his noble face was contorted with a ravenous frenzy as he reached out for Sajiix.
The Magi had had enough. A quick burst of amethyst energy jolted the former knight, but it only seemed to anger him as he closed the distance with a roar. The Guild leader’s emotions had a disadvantage as Sajiix suddenly disappeared, allowing Cassius to fall forward and crash into the chair Sajiix had just vacated. He quickly regained his footing and twisted around, his hands outstretched in a vain attempt to grab the invisible Magi. Tienn and Ayce took a step forward, but Cassius waved them away. “This is not your fight,” he said with a warning that promised retribution if they interfered.
Tienn shook his head sadly. “Very well, Cassius. But, I have no desire to relive this particular segment of the past.” He then stepped up the stairs and out of the room, leaving a stunned Ayce and eager Dorn to watch the skirmish continue.
“I told you once before, only heroes are welcome here,” Cassius growled, turning his head left and right.
“Then what is your excuse?” came Sajiix’s voice from the other side of the table.
Cassius suddenly sprang across the table, his left hand catching the Magi’s hidden cloak. With a snarl, the former knight jerked the invisible form towards him, slamming Sajiix against the table so hard that the Magi flickered back into sight. Cassius held him there by the collar of his cloak, pushing his face against the hard surface.
“Your greed killed Pulaar and your arrogance killed our friendship,” he whispered viciously. “You seduced Saerle, knowing that I loved her!”
Sajiix maneuvered his hands so that they were flat against the table underneath him. “She was never yours,” he told Cassius. “Now, release me.”
“She was never yours, either!” Cassius shouted. “But you liked to think so, didn’t you? Somehow in your twisted mind, Saerle, Rainya, Jaszlin…all of them belonged to you, didn’t they?”
“I am telling you one last time,” Sajiix said in a chillingly calm voice. “Release me.”
Cassius tightened his grip instead. “You will not tell me anyth…”
Bands of amethyst lightning embraced Cassius causing his body to convulse violently. The Guild leader released Sajiix, his body thrashing as wave after wave of mystical energy shot through it. The Magi rose from the table and faced his former friend. He extended his ring hand, pointing the foci at Cassius and using the lightning to pin the former knight to the wall.
“Sajiix! Let him go!” Ayce comman
ded from the stairs.
The barbarian known as Dorn took a few steps toward the pair, but Sajiix released Cassius at that moment. The Magi kept his flickering violet gaze upon his old friend, but pointed at the approaching initiate. “Take one more step and I will send you back home as a woman.”
Dorn froze, recalling the power he felt when the Magi threw him into the other room. Sajiix watched Cassius as he slid down against the wall and crumpled to the marble floor, his body still smoking from the Magi’s spell.
“I stopped because of the friendship we once shared,” Sajiix told the stunned man. “But, if you ever touch me like that again…I will kill you.”
With an adjusting tug of his cloak, Sajiix turned to Ayce and Dorn. “What I have told you is true,” Sajiix said as he stepped toward the entry hall stairs. His face was flushed from the exertion of fighting with Cassius. “The Zynnashans plan to invade Kaalmoore and they will murder innocents. If there are any heroes here,” he paused to look at Cassius, “you might want to try to help find a peaceful solution to this before they burn a trail from Valdine to Kaalé.”
Sajiix then removed the key he had used to gain entry into the Guild and threw it upon the floor next to Cassius. The clattering of the brass key and the slamming of the main door caused Ayce to flinch. Not so much from the sound, but from the fact that it was closing upon a friend for the last time.
***
The swollen gray clouds above were prepared to burst as blue-white flashes of lightning danced across their surface. Sajiix ignored it all, his eyes smoldering a violet glow as he replayed the fight in his mind over and over again. Ten years had come and gone…Ten years! And Cassius still acted as though not a single day had passed. The faces of those Cassius had mentioned whirled about his mind like wispy spirits. All of them were Guildsmen, all of them were friends, and all of them were seduced by Sajiix.
Jaszlin was a vivacious woman who thought herself a thief, but was actually one of those rare individuals that could read the thoughts of others and use her mind to physically move objects. Rainya was a young woman endeared to the wild, honing her skills as a fighter in honor of the Goddess Ethaea. And then there was Saerle Abaleen – daughter and princess to King Meyad Abaleen, ruler of the realm of Kadoris. Saerle ran from her family and her people due to her affinity towards magic. It was hard to be a Magi and belong to a Kingdom that denounced such abilities. Sajiix bade them all to join the Defender’s Guild when he met them and had a hand in actually training Saerle in the ways of magic. In a way, he did consider them his.
Rage of the Diamond's Eye (The Guildsmen Series Book 1) Page 10