Master Mage

by D. W. Jackson

  Thad didn’t know how long they walked before they reached a split in the path, and Thad’s and Killian’s groups split. Thad pushed the uneasiness from his mind as Killian’s group disappeared down the dark tunnel. They each had their own tasks to complete, and lamenting the departure of his friend would accomplish nothing.

  Once they were back in the open air, the Katanga soldiers spread out and scouted the area, returning quickly to let Thad know the area was clear.

  The march to the Rane camp only took a few minutes, and Thad was amazed at the lack of guards they found. Other than a few posted around the exterior of the camp, no one seemed to be about.

  The siege weapons were located near the western front of the army but kept far enough behind their own lines, making a direct assault upon them nearly impossible.

  Thad and the soldiers moved cautiously through the neat row of tents. Looking around the camp, Thad was reminded of Killian’s words when he had first gone through their camp. Looking around, it was easy to tell where the officers slept compared to the regular troops.

  The sentries were mainly located near the far end of the camp, watching the fort. Even from the distance, Thad could tell the soldiers were not too worried about a night attack, and Thad could easily understand why. Even if he could march the whole of the Farlan forces against them unseen, within moments after the attack, they would lose most of their troops, especially if Killian was right about the hidden cavalrymen who were supposedly camped not far away.

  The Rane army already had two small catapults finished, as well as a larger one near completion. Looking around, Thad could see the logs placed around for more. Placing his hand on the neck of the wood, Thad closed his eyes and focused. The wood was strong and green with a large amount of flexibility in them. Forcing his magic into the wood, Thad weakened the wood, drying it out in the center and prematurely aging it.

  Weakening the wood was much harder than Thad had imagined, but it was not overly draining, just time-consuming. Four times during the process of the night’s work, they had to stop and hide from a moving sentry, but they were able to finish their task long before the sound of alarm issued from the eastern edge of the camp.

  Moving quickly through the woods, Thad and the others hurried toward the entrance of the hidden tunnels. Thad could hear the subdued laughter of the other soldiers as they rushed through the trees, and Thad couldn’t help but join in. Everything had gone smoothly on their end, and the sense of tension that been hanging over his head had dissipated.

  Once back under the cover of the dark tunnels, they rushed back toward the intersection where they had left Killian and his men. Now that the tension was gone, Thad started to worry about the other half of their group. Picking up his speed, Thad hoped that he would find his friend and the others had fared just as well in their nightly endeavor.

  When Thad’s group reached the intersection, Thad waited for any news of the others impatiently, using his magical eye to peer into the darkness as far as possible. When he caught the first glimpse of moving bodies, Thad gripped his staff, his hands sweating profusely as he wrung them across the smooth wood.

  Would you not do that? It makes my wood chafe.

  “Sorry,” Thad replied, steadying his hands.

  “How do you fare?” Thad heard Killian’s voice echo in the darkness.

  “We have fared well this night,” one of the soldiers on Thad’s side responded. “How has the night treated you?”

  “It has treated us well, though not as well as I would have liked,” Killian replied, his teeth shining in the torchlight. “We have one wounded, but it is not serious.”

  Thad could see Killian and another man helping a third down the passage. With his magical sight, Thad could see the blood that was pooling on the man’s leg. The cut was not deep, but Thad could tell that it had severed more than a few of the man’s muscles.

  As soon as Killian grew close, Thad immediately went to the man and bent down, examining the wound closer. Thad was tired, but he still had plenty of energy left, at least enough to ensure the man would not be taken out of the fight for more than a handful of days.

  “Much appreciated,” Killian told Thad after he had finished his efforts to heal the man. “Fool let one of the men get to their swords while he was dispatching another. He needs a bit more training, but it was bound to happen. I just wished it had been a few nights into our work. Never bodes well when you get caught on the first encounter. They will be more prepared for us tomorrow night.”

  Once they were back at the camp, Killian asked Thad to follow him back to his tent. Like always, Thad was surprised at how nice the inside of the simple tent looked. While one might not be able to tell the difference of the leader’s tent from the others from the outside, it was easy to tell once one was inside.

  “How did your venture go?” Killian asked as soon as they were sitting comfortably inside the tent. Killian grabbed a copper pot and filled it with water and placed it over a newly lit fire.

  “It took a lot longer than I had anticipated, but once they pull back the timber to launch, it should snap like kindling underfoot.”

  “That is good to know,” Killian replied. “I would guess they will spend another day building more catapults before launching their initial attack upon the fort. Once they find out that all their siege weapons fail, they will double their guard, especially around the siege weapons. That gives us one more night to work before our jobs become nearly impossible without detection.”

  “What are we going to do, then?” Thad asked, confused.

  “That was why I asked you to come with me to my tent—so that we could discuss what we else we might do to hinder our foes. Is there any magical assistance that you might be able to offer?” Killian asked as he poured Thad a steaming mug of tea. Thad had found that the warmaster stayed away from ale and other brews and tended to be fond of a slightly tangy tea with a strong citric aftertaste.

  “I wouldn’t even know what kind of magic could be used,” Thad replied, taking the offered cup. “Traps would set off too soon. If I can’t get close to the wood, I can’t weaken it, and anything I try from a distance would leave me open to counterattack.”

  “Then let us think on this together, my friend,” Killian said, giving Thad a serious look coupled with a sly smile. “Let us start with some of the things you have used in the past. We might just find a kernel of insight in what out next move should be.”

  The two talked late into the night. It wasn’t until nearly first light the next morning when Killian touched on Thad’s use of the disintegrating orbs back in the Rane capital when he was fleeing. “Now at Southpass, you used exploding glass orbs. Is there any way we can use those but make them go off when we leave, like the way you did in Rane?”

  “I believe so,” Thad replied, his mind working through the different ways he might accomplish the task. “The Rane forces will have to cut down more trees. Is there any way we might be able to guess which ones they will choose?”

  Killian took a drink of his tea and tugged at his earlobe. “They will want to use younger trees for the arm and older growth for the body of the catapults. They won’t want to have to carry the trees far, so they will use those closest to where they are working.”

  “We could place the explosive orbs within the trees. As well as under the ground around where they are currently keeping the siege weapons,” Thad said as he looked thoughtfully into his cup.

  “If we cut into the trees or dig up the ground, they will be bound to notice,” Killian said, shaking his head.

  “I don’t plan to cut or dig. I will simply have the trees and ground open for me.”

  “Then we both have a lot of work to do. I will send a rider at first light to head to town and see about glass orbs. I don’t care if we have to threaten the glassmakers at sword point. By tomorrow evening, you will have what you need.” Killian said, patting Thad on the shoulder.

  “I will also need crystals or gems as well as some
metal. What kind of metal doesn’t matter, but it would be better if it was easily malleable. It would make my job a lot easier,” Thad said, standing from where he sat, swaying slightly from fatigue.

  “I will see to it, my friend,” Killian said, reaching out, steadying Thad by grabbing his arm. “You should seek your own bunk. You will need what rest you can get. We have a busy set of days and nights ahead of us.”

  Once he was back in his own tent, Thad quickly crawled into his own bedroll, settling his head on one of the soft pillows Killian had given him. He had no time to think about how imaginative the Katanga were about their nomadic life or how skilled they had been during the night work. His body and mind had been pushed past exhaustion, and as soon as his eyelids closed, he was drifting off into a restful sleep.

  Thad was awoken shortly after midday by Killian, who came bearing two large sacks. One was filled with small glass orbs, and the other was filled with slightly yellow-tinged crystals and copper trinkets. “I hope these can be of use to you,” Killian said, setting the bag carefully at Thad’s feet.

  “Copper is not my favorite metal to work with, but it will more than suit my purposes,” Thad replied groggily.

  “Good. Now I hate to rush you, but you might wish to have a few of these ready before we leave tonight. In the future, you will find it much harder to enter the enemy’s camp,” Killian said before exiting the tent.

  Sighing, Thad stood up and pulled the sack containing the glass orbs to him. Noticing that the glass orbs were nearly perfectly round, he cursed to himself. If he was merely infusing them with magical energy so they would explode, it wouldn’t matter, but he needed to affix them with metal and a gem so they could be forced to explode when he wanted.

  Thad’s stomach growled slightly as he started to dig through the bag containing the crystals. He had almost forgotten he had not had anything to eat since the night before. Reaching over to his pack, Thad pulled out a couple of strips of smoked meat and began chewing on them.

  You should really go find something better to eat. If all you do is munch on that old meat, then you are not going to find yourself with much energy later.

  “It’s not like the food in the mess hall is much more filling,” Thad replied sarcastically.

  Using his magical senses, Thad examined the glass and found that it had much the same feeling as sand, though it was more tightly bound. With only a slight amount of effort, Thad was able to reform the glass, making a small hole in the bottom of one of the orbs.

  After taking a sliver of crystal, Thad forced the copper to form around the crystal and glass. The glass and metal intertwined, forming a perfect seal.

  Thad worked without rest for hours until a few more than a dozen of the orbs were finished, only needing charging. Thad had enchanted the orbs to fill slowly using the power of the gem. His best guess was that it would take two full days at most before the orbs were strong enough to do enough damage to be useful. That would push it close to when they would be needed, but unless he wanted to push himself dangerously close to the edge of his power, it was the best he could do.

  Setting aside the orb he was working on, Thad stood and stretched his stiff muscles. The sun assaulted his eyes as he stepped outside into the waning sunlight. Rubbing his eyes lightly, Thad headed toward the mess hall with hopes of quelling his grumbling stomach.

  Halfway across the field, Thad heard a faint rumbling coming from the distance. Thad spread his legs and braced himself for the coming assault. He had expected the attack to come from the front, so he was surprised when the heavy blow came from the side, throwing him to the ground and knocking the breath from his lungs.

  Thad tried to roll to his side to regain his footing, but the heavy weight bearing down on him refused to budge and held him firmly in place. Sticking out with his elbow, Thad cursed as he struck something as hard as rock. “I give … Avalanche, please get off,” Thad said, laughing.

  The large rock hound jumped backward and gave off another loud bark that sounded like two large boulders banging against each other. Sitting up, Thad laughed again as he patted his friend on the head.

  “Avalanche said you were near. I tried to stop her, but she didn’t want to listen. She just ran off like a wisp of wind. I thought about keeping up, but there were so many people. Did you know that the men here don’t keep the doors to the rooms locked? I thought it was terribly lazy, so I decided to tie all their bedsheets together. It was dreadfully funny until one of them caught me. He was yelling and screaming and chasing me. I was able to get away, but I don’t see why he was so mad. If he had locked his doors, it wouldn’t have happened,” Arianna piped in her high-pitched voice.

  Thad shook his head as he watched the small fairy. She was a Nadari, a race bound to the wind, who looked much like small children. They were fond of pulling pranks on humans. “Has Parson come with you as well?” Thad asked as he got back to his feet.

  “The tall elf. He was with us not long ago. He might have stopped and talked to someone, or he might have deiced to talk to the other men about locking their doors. The elf really is good about watching,” Arianna added, pouting.

  Laughing at the Nadari, Thad started on his way toward the mess hall, sure that his elfin friend would find him soon enough.

  Thad found the food inside the mess hall as undesirable as ever. It looked like cooked chicken, but it tasted like overcooked muck. Thad didn’t know how they could ruin meat so well. The Farlan army must have hired their cooks on their skill of making food so tasteless.

  After his unsatisfying meal, Thad deiced to go to the command center to talk with the general to discuss what he had learned. Shortly before reaching the door to the building, Thad noticed a tall golden-skinned man with silver hair standing off to the side. Changing his direction, Thad walked up behind the man. “Parson, it is good to see you again,” Thad said loudly.

  The elf swung around and gave Thad a large smile. “Thaddeus, it is good to see you as well. I was asking around about your whereabouts, but the best I could get out of these men was that you were staying in a tent near the eastern edge of the fort.”

  “I have found it much more relaxing to sleep on the ground than within the walls of the barracks. The soldiers tend to spend the nights as if it were their last. Makes it kind of hard for one to get any real sleep,” Thad replied, laughing.

  “I can understand your desire for sleep,” Parson replied, joining in Thad’s laughter. “I have brought news from my brethren. They will be making landfall by the next full moon. They regret the added delay, but the ice flows are especially strong this year.”

  “That is not good, my friend. We need their strength,” Thad said despondently. “Will you walk with me to the command center and relay this news to the general?”

  “It would be my pleasure,” Parson replied. “I just hope he takes the news as well as you have.”

  They found General Bache in his office, studying maps of the surrounding areas and mumbling to himself. “You know that once you start taking to yourself, it bodes ill for the rest of us?” Thad said with a hint of laughter.

  “Thad,” Bache said, looking up from his map, his eyes widening slightly when they settled on Parson. There had been elves within the fort for some time now, but Thad was not sure if the general had yet to meet one of the golden giants. “What brings you to my door?”

  “News, General, and not all good,” Thad said, wincing slightly.

  “Then let us start with the bad. I find that it is much easier to overlook what has gone wrong after you learn about what has gone right,” the general said, taking a seat in his large cushioned chair.

  “The elves have been delayed. They will most likely not arrive for another fifteen days at the earliest,” Thad said, keeping his tone serious. “But we have delayed the Rane forces by disabling their siege weapons. We will do so again tonight, but in the morning, Killian expects them to try and attack. Once they find out their siege weapons are useless, they will increase th
eir guard, making further forays into the enemy camp too dangerous.”

  “I think there are more ill tidings than good there, lad,” Bache said, rubbing his temples. “I doubt we will be able to hold out long without reinforcements once Rane decides to fully commit their forces. That means we will have to be ready to evacuate when the time comes. The task of choosing a rear guard is never an easy one. Picking those that are sure to die,” Bache added solemnly.

  “You can add me to the list of rear guard,” Thad said, his voice rife with determination. “I am the reason for this war, and I cannot in good conscience stand by while others die in my name.”

  “That is a good sense of honor you have, young man, but I am afraid it is misplaced. Should I even desire to place you on the rear guard, it would be foolishness.”

  “What do you mean?” Thad asked, confused.

  “The elves, dwarves, and other mythical creatures I have only heard about in tales that might be joining us have not come in defense of Farlan. They have come to your call, not ours,” Bache said, pointing his finger at Thad. “We need you not for your magic but for what you stand for among the other races. As much as you might lament it, you are a symbol, one that is much more useful to us alive.”

  “He is right, my friend,” Parson said, placing his hand reassuringly on Thad’s shoulder. “Without your call, I do not think the elves would have joined in the fight. The friends you had made during your short stay in our land were what brought us out of hiding, and I am sure that the other races feel much the same way.”

  Thad didn’t say anything, but he was not sure of the truth of their words. If the magical races were only fighting because of his call, then their deaths would also be on his head. Shaking off the morose thoughts, Thad parted from his friend and headed back to his tent to continue his work. If he could lessen the deaths, even by one soul, it would be worth the effort.