Forging Alliances: Wizards of White Haven

by Frances Howitt

  ‘This better be good,’ Aubrey grumbled as he sat on his bed pulling on his socks.

  ‘I apologise my lord. Wizard Jim is with me,’ Tobias explained rapidly and touched his temple to indicate it was a mental presence rather than physical. ‘He wishes to speak with you. He says it’s urgent.’

  ‘Very well,’ Aubrey conceded, his brow immediately furrowing in concern.

  Jim watched Tobias tentatively reach out to touch Aubrey’s hand and immediately he felt the connection to Aubrey’s mind. Quickly he explained about the attack, letting both men see what had happened. He let them see their dead, their wounded inside the tent and then focussed on the pile of bandit bodies. ‘Did you need to see any of the faces for identification?’

  ‘You were planning on burning them?’ Tobias asked, sensing the intent.

  ‘Yes. It’s summer and hot. They already smell nasty. I’d rather the crews didn’t have to see or smell them any longer than absolutely necessary. They’re quite shaken as it is.’

  ‘I understand,’ Aubrey said quietly. ‘However we need to gather all possible clues to their identities. I doubt that attack involved all the bandits in the area. I’ll send the nearest patrol to your location. Please don’t dispose of the bodies until they’ve gathered what information they can.’

  ‘Very well,’ Jim responded and swiped a large tarpaulin to drape over the bodies. Now at least no one would have to see them and it would keep the crows from feasting as the insects already were. He shuddered in revulsion.

  ‘I’m very sorry the attack happened,’ Aubrey said solemnly, amazed to be picking up a wild brew of anger, frustration and sorrow from Jim’s emotions. Normally Jim covered his feelings more thoroughly and this was a clear indication that he too was shaken. ‘It’s clear we need patrols stationed in the area as soon as possible. I’ll send a wagon to pick up the wounded and send replacement people, including troops.’

  ‘I’ve treated the wounded and healed the worst of their injuries. Mostly they’ll just need some recuperation time to fortify the repairs.’

  ‘I’m not sure I understand.’

  ‘Think of my healing as akin to pinning a garment before sewing. Whilst the edges of the hole are held together, it is inherently weak until it’s reinforced. Wizard healed wounds are weak and prone to come apart in the first couple of days, if the patient isn’t careful. The upside is that they won’t need bandaging or special care. All they need, for a full recovery, is complete rest for a few days at least. That will give their injuries time to knit properly. Unfortunately three of your men didn’t make it. Your Patrol Sergeant knows who they are. Speaking of which, I would like to commend Sergeant Ruskin for his courage and skill. He fought to keep his charges safe until we could reach him. His actions directly saved four lives that I know of.’

  Aubrey’s spirits lightened somewhat, hearing that at least one of his men had been a hero and what’s more had survived. It was clear that in the face of considerable odds and knowing the majority of his men were dead, he’d kept his wits and fought courageously. Aubrey was glad Jim had pointed him out since something positive, a tale of valour, would need to be said to help balance out the news of the loss of almost an entire patrol. His soldiers accepted death, but the unexpected loss of a comrade was always a blow. That they’d died with honour, in action, would help.

  Jim disappeared from their minds and Tobias quickly released his touch and therefore mental link. Aubrey finished dressing rapidly and strode downstairs to ensure his orders were set in motion as quickly as possible.

  Jim’s anger and sorrow at their losses had been entirely understandable. The fact they’d been attacked in his county was completely unacceptable. It was Aubrey’s job, as the resident lord, to ensure there was peace and that his county was safe for his people. He’d failed Jim twice now. Those bandits were incredibly bold. Jim had proved both times that he was no easy mark and had not only survived to spread the word, but turned the tables on his attackers. Aubrey now wondered how many of his people had been attacked and their bodies had quietly disappeared without trace. It was an unsettling thought.

  Drako watched Jim and felt a buzz surrounding him that was an indicator of magic use. Since Jim was merely standing still, staring at nothing, Drako guessed he was mentally contacting someone, hopefully for aid. He knew he was not the only one to be relieved that the corpses were now covered over from sight. Despite being nauseated by the sight, he hadn’t been able to stop looking. With the grisly details now hidden under the tarp, he found he and the crew, could get to work on the unloading.

  Jim meanwhile strode off to the farmhouse and unfolded a large sheet from his pocket. He was looking at plans, after all this? He shook his head grimly, knowing he had little choice, even if he didn’t feel like it. He focussed on sending his senses into the building looking for structural weaknesses. He’d done similar surveys and the spells to strengthen and renew foundations many times and it only took a few minutes to achieve his objectives.

  Since the house had been sturdily built of stone, the shell was strong and remained intact. All he really needed do was repair, renew or replace the beams and timber floor of the first floor, the stairs to reach it and then re-roof the place.

  That green mossy and weedy growth all over the inside of the stone walls would have to go though. Better to do it now while it was an open air shell, before he trapped dirt under the new materials. He watched with grim amusement as the bright green slime peeled off the walls, getting darker and darker as it mixed with other grime as it descended to the floor. Behind it the walls looked fresh and their original creamy white once more.

  ‘What are you planning?’ Drako asked coming to his side and eyeing the disgusting pool of green-brown slime rolling out of the door and depositing itself into the thick grass well out of the way. He’d seen Jim do this before and glanced inside to see the freshly washed walls. ‘The way you clean stuff never gets old,’ Drako admitted with a faint smile. ‘I thought you’d decided not to get involved in the building itself?’

  ‘You’re right, that was the original plan. The attack changes things though. The crews need a strong refuge should the bandits come again. It’d take days, if not weeks, to repair this house manually. I’m not comfortable knowing they’d be vulnerable for that length of time when I’m here and could do something about it. We have the timber already to hand for the essentials and enough animus here to spread the load.’

  ‘You want to start now?’

  ‘Yes. I want to get those wounded somewhere defendable and where they’ll feel safe. What if we didn’t get all the bandits? What if some have hightailed it back to their lair? We’re vulnerable until Lord Aubrey can get more troops to us. Good stone walls will deflect an arrow and go a long way to keeping everyone safe at night.’

  ‘How many animus do you need?’ Drako asked glancing round.

  ‘You and Jack should suffice,’ Jim said. ‘I’d rather keep Freddie strong to do what he’s best at.’

  ‘What he’s best at?’

  ‘Looking out for the rest of us,’ Jim admitted.

  ‘Let me get everyone out of the way,’ Drako said with a small chuckle.

  ‘You sent for me?’ Jack asked.

  ‘Yes. You saw us building the Inn. Want to help me repair this place?’

  ‘With magic? Using my magic?’

  ‘Yes. You and Drako are strong in your magic. Thank you for having my back earlier. I know I probably didn’t look very controlled, but I knew you were there covering my blind spot. You’re a good fighter.’

  ‘Thanks, so are you. If you don’t mind me asking, I was wondering why you fought as a lion and didn’t use your magic.’

  ‘I must admit, I was so angry my lion rather took over. He would far rather physically pound on someone, than let me have control enough to step back and cast a spell from afar. The other consideration though, was that there was such a mix of friend and foe in front of us I couldn’t be sure that if I did a big spel
l it would only take out those I wanted it to. With Freddie on the roof helping even the odds with precision shots, wherever they were most needed and with us lot on the ground, we were beating them anyway. It all worked out as well as we could make it.’

  ‘Your lion has strong instincts,’ Jack responded. ‘It’s natural that when you’re physically attacked, fighting feels the most appropriate course of action. It’s usually the best and quickest way to clear the impulse from your head.’

  ‘You’re right, I do feel better for letting all that anger out. How about you? It seems I was rather blood thirsty and you having my back forced you into the thick of it. Are you ok?’

  ‘I followed you voluntarily knowing how a feline fights. We’re the same in that way, you know. I knew what to expect. Besides, like you, I’ve got a lot of frustrated anger trapped inside me. Whilst I didn’t actually achieve anything towards my goals, I do feel calmer inside for a good fight.’

  ‘Good. Here’s Drako. Are we all set to go then?’

  ‘Yes, everyone will keep clear of the wood piles,’ Drako responded and allowed Jim to take his hand.

  Jim grasped both men’s hands in each of his and forced his ability to settle down and not try to take from either man. Firstly though, he checked them both physically. They’d both been in the thick of fighting but had not come forward for any healing. It reassured his mind to know they were basically fine. Nevertheless, he took a moment to send little tendrils into each of them to seal the small injuries they’d sustained. He felt better for doing that, rewarding them without a word, for both having his back when he needed it.

  Only now did he set to work whisking beams out of the pile. Magically trimming them to length he slotted them into the spaces cut in the stone for the previous and now rotted first floor beams. Once the beams were in he could cover them over with the floorboard planks they’d brought. Next, a simple staircase constructed itself, running up the inner side wall. It might be basic in design but he didn’t have the time to think about designing anything fancy. All that mattered was getting the basics of a sturdy first floor and staircase in place.

  That accomplished, he took a brief break, ensuring his two helpers ate a hearty lunch too. Jumping up again, he picked two other less magically able animus to help him reset and renew the buckled and broken flagstone ground floor.

  Glancing at the builders standing around and noticing they were feeling useless, he suggested they see about making the barn safe for all their horses. They’d be easy pickings for bandits if they remained tethered out overnight while everyone else was safely indoors. He also mentioned the need for sturdy window shutters and doors. Whilst for expediency he’d actually construct them, it would be helpful and speed the chore if the appropriate timber was set out ready, together with the necessary hinges and latches.

  With things to do, the men seemed more focused. Jim had taken the time to explain that he was doing this so they’d be safe tonight. He planned to leave in the morning, or as soon as the new patrollers arrived. He wanted to hear for himself what they might discover about the identity of their attackers and then incinerate the remains. Their people had better things to be doing than digging a mass grave and having to handle those bodies. Those were memories they didn’t need to be burdened with.

  He and his helpers were flagging and needed food before tackling the major chore of hoisting up the roof, so they stopped for an early supper. Whilst they didn’t have slate, tiles or thatch to weather-seal the roof, they could cover it over with the under roof planking. They would be safe, if not completely protected from any rain. The men would be able to finish it off once they had the appropriate supplies to hand.

  As darkness fell, the men were finally given permission to head inside. Most were astonished at what the one wizard, with only animus helpers, had accomplished in a day. The crews were very glad to move all their kit into the stone house and drop a bar across a new, strongly built door. Since the house resembled a two storey barn at present, devoid of interior walls or any furniture, no one could consider it finished. There was still plenty of work for the carpenters to do. It felt strong and safe though and a far cry from being outside and vulnerable in a canvas tent.

  Since theft was a very real possibility, they brought everything inside the house that would fit, including the horses. The large barn’s roof, like the house, had caved in. It needed the debris clearing and a new roof constructing before it could be used. None of the other small sheds could house the big draught horses and in any case, all were in a poor state of repair. So, until they could fix the barn, the horses would have to be stabled inside the house overnight. Initially therefore they’d use the rest of the ground floor for general storage.

  Upstairs became the dormitory. Despite them being all together in the one space, no one minded the lack of privacy. In truth, the farmhouse was particularly large and the open space therefore cavernous. They certainly had ample space for more workers or patrollers to come inside to safety.

  Jim lay back on his pallet absently staring up at the new rafters he’d built. He was exhausted but satisfied with what he had achieved. Having won this battle decisively, the bandits would be wary of returning. They’d know these people would not be easily run off. This house gave the workers a safe base of operations and a bolt hole if necessary. Once more security arrived they’d be able to concentrate on the work yet to be done.

  He’d set magical triggers, before he came inside, to alert him to anything human moving out in the field. Knowing he’d done what he could to ensure everyone’s safety overnight, he turned over and let sleep claim him.

  ***

  Jim woke to the sounds of plenty of activity. Glancing around he realised hardly anyone remained upstairs, not really surprising with the smell of a good fry up wafting up the stairs. He groaned, yesterday’s exertions and the physical battering he’d taken in the battle, had turned his muscles stiff overnight. Stretching carefully he straightened out his back before pulling on his boots.

  Whilst he was up here with them, he checked over each of the wounded. It relieved his mind to know how they fared, ensuring they were as comfortable as possible and that nothing was amiss since last night. Only then, with a clear conscience, did he follow his nose downstairs to the source of the smells making his stomach rumble. A camp kitchen had been set up in a clean corner. Various crates and stacked planks of wood had been turned into perches for more than a dozen hungry men who sat waiting eagerly.

  On the far side of the room three men were busy with pieces of timber. While one sawed wood, the other two were using the new planks to make something. Jim found he wasn’t surprised that Jack was one of the busy-bees. He wandered closer, since every perch was taken already and the food not yet ready.

  ‘Good morning. What are you making?’

  ‘Kitchen table,’ Jack responded. ‘It’s the first thing cook asked for. It’s a tad more hygienic to prepare food up off the floor and balancing bowls on crates is far too precarious, especially with the quantities of food necessary to keep a big crew fed.’

  ‘I suppose so. Looks like it’ll be a good big table,’ Jim added approvingly. They’d basically used the entire length that the planks had been originally sawn to, which saved time. They only needed to build a frame to hold the planks tightly together and give it legs. Rolling his shoulders once more he decided he’d actually like to sit down to eat, if they were going to have the table roughed out enough to eat from.

  ‘What’re you planning?’ Jack asked. ‘I already know that look.’

  ‘I want to sit to eat. A bench will be quick,’ Jim added thoughtfully.

  ‘True, and would seat more than one,’ Jack approved. Jim grabbed some planks, dragging them clear of where the others were working and literally two seconds later a long bench, matching the length of the table, materialised from the raw timber. Another swipe of the hand and the rough texture, complete with splinters, vanished as though sanded finely. Jack exchanged a glance with the oth
er carpenters in rueful amazement. What they’d been doing had been hard physical work and already taken quite a while, even to make the exceedingly simple design they’d decided on. They returned their attention to the table and finished attaching the last leg. Exchanging satisfied smiles, they hefted what had turned into a substantial and heavy table, the right way up.

  ‘That’s just the job for here. Well done and just in time too. I’m famished,’ Jim added with a grin.

  Jack felt a shiver pass through the table, where he was resting his hand on it and glanced down in time to see the top surface ripple and then lie completely smooth as though finely sanded, like the bench. Jim hadn’t said a word, just taken care of it. The men carried the table closer to the kitchen area, then brought the bench over to complete it. The cook beamed at the sight and hurried to set down mats to cushion the untreated wood from the hot sooty pots. His assistant placed the stack of tin plates alongside and soon they were able to dish up.

  With eight men seated neatly on the bench, the remainder did at least have the empty side of the table to put their plate. Jim reluctantly left his cooling plate and walked off to create a matching second bench so everyone could sit. He watched the expressions and felt the aura of those now able to share the table. Just these simple additions brought everyone together. As they sat and ate, cheeky banter and laughter went back and forth. He could feel the atmosphere relax and their faces became more open and welcoming of those they didn’t yet know properly. Yes, despite yesterday’s horrors, this merging of crews would work.

  The barn was Jim’s next focus. The sooner the horses didn’t need to be stabled in the house the better! No one wanted to smell horse pee in a kitchen and it did have a tendency to linger. The horses had already been taken outside, long before he came down this morning, but evidently they hadn’t waited to be outside to do their business. He eyed the huge heavy horses placidly grazing; they’d need space. Perhaps the sensible thing would be merely to repair the barn’s fallen roof. Clearing the interior to make it safe and creating good strong doors would be sufficient to house them. A large weatherproofed barn would be very useful and could be adapted to suit many purposes as the need arose. It would be ideal to store lumber and other materials out of the rain, or carts or any number of bulky things.