Stranded Mage

by D. W. Jackson

  “There are other things besides a blessing a god may give though even those might be of little help to you, but I still offer this simple gift,” the god said, holding out the flower petal towards him. “If you ever find yourself in need simply bite down on it and it will call to me.”

  Thad took the offered petal and placed it gently within his coin pouch. “Thank you My Lord.”

  The god smiled wistfully. “As much as I would like to spend more time with you nephew, I cannot keep you too long within my realm. As you go forth remember the eyes of me and my brothers are always upon you.”

  “Why don’t you and your brother join in the fight?” Thad asked, the question suddenly popping into his mind.

  “Once long ago we walked among men,” The god replied as he ushered Thad toward the exit to his grove. “We learned the longer we stayed on the mortal realm the weaker the veil between your world and ours and in return the weaker the veil to the Abyss. Since that time we have secluded ourselves in our own realm, lest our uncle be released back into the world.”

  Thad tried to ask another question but his time was up as the god pushed him through the portal and back into his own realm. Just as his other trips, as soon as he crossed the threshold his body was racked with the feeling of fatigue. Dropping to his knees he scarcely heard the roar of the onlookers at his return. He did however feel the arm of one of the elves as it wrapped around his waist lifting him to his feet.

  Thad tried to speak as he was carried to a small waiting carriage outside the council building but his mouth seemed heavy and his mind too weary for words. It wasn’t until he was safely back in his own chambers that something occurred to him. The feeling he got after returning from the realm of the gods was the same as when he pushed himself far beyond his limits when he wielded magic.

  Thad stopped and thought about it for a moment. The only answer that Thad could think of was that the god’s realm was saturated with magical energy.

  Thad pulled the odd flower petal from his coin pouch and looked at it through the waning sunlight that streamed into his room. Yawning, Thad held the petal close to his chest and drifted off to sleep.

  Thad woke early the next morning, the sun only a small orange glow in the distance. Hoping to get started on his voyage as soon as possible he hurried down to the dining room in hopes of talking to lady Emeriss before she left for the council.

  Thad found the dining room empty except for a few burning candles that had been positioned to provide just enough light to see by. Knowing Emeriss’s enjoyment of extravagant meals Thad was sure she had not yet made her way to the table.

  While he waited, Thad inspected the varied paintings that hung on the wall. Unlike the ones that adorned the hallway in the entrance hall theses were of beautiful scenery. The one that caught Thad’s attention was a painting of a large castle unlike any he had seen before.

  The castle itself was thin and long. Eight tall towers stretched toward the sky around the castle. Thad leaned in close to look at the painting. It was so vibrant Thad swore he could almost see the flags at the top of the towers waving in the wind.

  “The Mage’s Tower,” Thad heard Emeriss’s light voice say from behind him. “My father used to speak fondly of the mages of the tower. For generations they lived and died under a strict code, only working toward the betterment of man.”

  “Those sentiments are what allowed them all to be slaughtered. I have read and heard the stories of the Fae War. Most of the mages ran and hid refusing to use their magic to fight even when facing obliteration,” Thad replied, his voice full of disgust.

  Emeriss placed her soft hand caringly on his shoulder. “Is it so bad to live and die by a code? They believed magic was there to help mankind, not to kill. The handful of mages who did fight against the Brotherhood in the first years of the Fae War were seen as outcasts among the other mages. Personally, I believe they all should have fought but I can see a kind of bravery in holding to their values even when facing death.”

  “What good are values after you’re dead?

  “I do not have an answer for you, not one that you would listen to,” Emeriss said her voice wavering.

  Thad turned from the painting and walked over to the large table. “I need to leave soon, tomorrow if possible.”

  “I will talk to the council and make them understand your urgency. It might cost you a few extra hands that would have been gathered from the other ends of the island but you will be able to set sail at first light.”

  The meal was eaten in silence, neither of them willing to break the uneasy silence. Once he had finished Thad retired back to his room. He had too much to do and every moment that passed was wasted time.

  Back in his room Thad began spreading out the materials he had on hand. Most of the metals donated by the elves were precious. Gold, while pretty, was too malleable for his needs. Silver, on the other hand, was one of the best metals Thad had found for most enchantments.

  He needed a way to shield not only himself but the elves that would be traveling with him when they rested. The trouble with the shield was the Brotherhood’s swords. He needed a way to warn them in the event the shield is taken down. The only answer he could think of was a two layer system like he had used before.

  Thad began working on the shields. They operated on a simple principle. A few years ago Thad didn’t truly understand what elements the shields used. He only knew what he wanted it to do, and while it worked, it was inefficient. Now he knew that it used the energy element to work. With that knowledge Thad could make the gem collecting and distributing the magic work much better and for far longer.

  It wasn’t until he had already finished the first shield stone that Thad had an idea. If he added in a simple noise to sound if there was an interruption in the link between stones then it would give him a warning should the Brotherhood break through his barrier.

  Thad worked late into the night and finished four of the shield stones. They had long enough range to cover thirty feet. If he was to have more than a few people with him he would need far more than four stones, but it was a start.

  Before going to bed Thad began writing down other ideas he had while he was working. Most of his ideas had been simple things, and more than a few had been ideas he had before but as never able to get to work. The biggest idea was making himself invisible. He now understood why it hadn’t worked before. All of his workable enchantments had been guided by his innate abilities and the bending of light and air was outside of his ability. Much the way a farmer might grow a field of wheat but never know why one year was better than the next.

  Thad still had no workable ability with the air elemental energy, but he was sure he could work around that now that he had a better understand of his own abilities. He still had no better grasp of using the air elemental energy but he didn’t have to. He had enough control over the element to enchant a stone to collect the energy, and now he had enough knowledge to put it to use.

  As he lay down, Thad thought of how amazing enchanting was, as well as how dangerous it could be. Even without the ability to directly control certain elements Thad could make enchanted items to make up for it. The process took much longer and wore him down but the end product was worth it. The only downside was that someone else could use it against him. He could add triggering phrases to the items, but if he was taking a small army with him then it wasn’t an advisable idea.

  He couldn’t think of a way around his current dilemma, but he had learned not all questions had answers. Setting his worries aside Thad closed his eyes and tried to calm himself. While he worked he had been able to forget everything. He had been peaceful and calm but as soon as he sat down the last project everything had returned in force.

  For the first time since he had arrived at the elven city Thad once again found himself looking at Maria. Thad tried to smile as her deep green eyes probed him but it wouldn’t come. Maria jumped onto him wrapping her arms firmly around his neck. “I thought you were dead,” Sh
e said, nearly sobbing.

  “How much of this is real?” Thad asked, pushing Maria back at arm’s length.

  “It’s real,” Maria said, wiping her eyes with the palm of her hand. “”A few years ago I started dreaming of many things. At first I didn’t know if it was just a dream or not, but I have learned that the people in my dreams are not simply illusions.”

  Thad had suspected that it had been Maria who had been initiating the dream world ever since the bruises that had been left on his arms after their last meeting, but he had not been sure.

  “When your friends came to the capital a few days ago I started trying to contact you through my dreams. When you didn’t answer I started to worry that you might not be there anymore,” Maria cried, beating her fists against his chest.

  Thad pulled Maria close, his own eyes misting over. “I have not been myself lately.”

  Maria pulled back and gave him a hard look. “I heard about the other dwarf,” Maria said, her voice soft yet holding a slight bit of steel in it. As large tears started drifting down Thad’s face her demeanor softened considerably. “Are you going to be home soon?”

  Thad looked at Maria his face hardening. “I don’t know when or if I will return. There are some things I have to take care of.”

  Maria steeped back from Thad shocked. Thad tried to think of something to say to her but his mind remained blank. Thad could only watch as the tears flowed down Maria’s face. When Maria turned from him the darkness moved in to swallow him up. Thad tried to move forward, to catch Maria and explain everything, but no matter how hard he ran she continued to drift away.

  CHAPTER X

  Thad stood on the deck of his new ship. Unlike the Rose Runner, the Kirisuto had been made for battle. Three large arbalests and a catapult decorated its deck. While it was still slightly smaller than the Brotherhood ship he had encountered, Thad was sure it would fare much better in a fight than the Rose Runner had.

  Fourteen elves already awaited him aboard the ship when he arrived. Thad tried to talk with the elves but they seemed busy with the ship and its preparation for voyage. The first group of elves, aside for the sailors, arrived shortly after the sun graced the horizon along with a large amount of food and supplies.

  When Thad went down to greet the new arrivals he was surprised to see Salina walking with them. “Are these all from your house?” Thad asked, waving his hand at the near thirty elves that walked beside her.

  “Not really, they are from your house,” She replied, laughing. “This is Reeve,” Salina said, indicating the man on her right side. “He is the best of the men we have of the nature you require.”

  Thad looked at the tall elf that stood nearly eight feet, and unlike any of the other elves, he wore no jewelry just simple clothes of different shades of gray. “My Lord,” the elf said, tipping his shaved head slightly in Thad’s direction.

  “And this is Parson,” Salina said, motioning to the man on her left. “He is one of our better hunters.”

  The hunter’s cold green eyes narrowed as he bowed toward Thad. “My Lord,” he said in a cold toneless voice.

  “Let’s get everyone on board,” Thad said, smiling. “I would like to meet further with both Reeve and Parson later but for now we must prepare for our departure.

  Thad continued his vigil on the deck of the ship as the rest of the noble houses brought their contribution for his journey. Thad’s patience began to stretch thin the higher the sun rose in the sky. Shortly before noon the last was loaded onto the ship. Emeriss had been slightly off on her guess of eighty soldiers. More than one hundred and thirty elves now sailed upon his ship.

  As the ship pushed out of port and into deeper waters a loud roar rose up from the gathered crowds below. Thad lifted his hand and waved to the gathered masses before turning and heading for the wheelhouse.

  The captain of the ship was named Kain. Thad had only had a few moments with the elf so far but he seemed like a decent person. “What is our heading Lord,” the captain asked as soon as Thad entered the wheelhouse.

  “Delamar, my good Captain,” Thad said as his hand gripped his staff tightly.

  “Very good My Lord. Given the current wind and water condition we should arrive off the coast of Delamar within a fortnight as long as we don’t run into any problems.”

  Thad bowed to the captain and left the wheelhouse for his own chambers. Outside the door to his chamber Thad found a young looking elf, then again all the elves looked young, but something about the one before him screamed to Thad of youthfulness. Maybe it was the way his eyes darted around, or the fact he bounced from one foot to the other, whatever it was Thad was sure he was no older than himself.

  “My Lord,” the elf said, bowing awkwardly. “I have been assigned as your personal page, if you so desire, My Lord.”

  Thad wasn’t sure what to think of the young elf but having someone to run around for him wasn’t a bad idea. “What is your name?”

  “Tuck,” the boy said nervously.

  “Tuck, I would like you to find Master Reeve and Master Parson. Tell them that I request that they make their way to my chambers at their earliest convenience.”

  “Yes My Lord,” Tuck said before rushing off.

  Thad’s chambers were much more elegant than even the captain’s quarters on the Rose Runner. The floor was covered by a deep green carpet and the walls were painted like a forest. There was a canopy bed that had raised sides with extra padding.

  Thad took a seat on a large cushion that had been placed in front of a large table that was anchored to the floor. Looking around the room Thad sighed. It was not that he didn’t enjoy the woodlands, it just seemed a tad overdone to him, and a little out of place on a ship.

  Thad didn’t have to wait long before Tuck returned. “Were you able to find them?” Thad asked, ushering the young elf inside his chambers and signaling him to take a seat on one of the cushions.

  “Yes My Lord. They both should be arriving shortly.”

  “Could we please dispense with the My Lord. If you have to call me anything I would much prefer Thad.”

  “Yes My Lord,” Tuck said, getting a scathing scowl from Thad. “I mean, yes Thad,” he quickly corrected, shifting in his seat nervously.

  Reeve was the first to reach Thad’s quarters. The assassin took a seat across from him without a word. Thad had to admit the cold eyes of the elf made the pit of his stomach churn. The hunter arrived a short time later and quickly and quietly took his seat.

  “Before we get started I would first like to have you call me Thad. I am not used to, nor do I want to get used to, being called a lord. I don’t know how much any of you know about what is ahead of us. In order to decrease problems in the future, I thought I would inform you on what will be happening in the near future.”

  “We are headed to Delamar. Once we make port we will be headed into Rane,” Thad paused, waiting for a response, when none came he continued. “Once we are in Rane we will be hunting the leaders of the Brotherhood. It will be dangerous, and I do not want to bring people against their will. These are your people not mine so I would like you to spread the word. Anyone not willing to continue on may return with the ship.”

  “I don’t think you understand the situation Master Thad,” Parson said dryly. When Thad didn’t respond the hunter gave a weary sigh. “Even if you allow us to leave we will not be welcomed when we return. For better or worse the elves aboard this ship are with you until their death.”

  It wasn’t what Thad had expected to hear. Thad had taken no small solace in the fact that he would only bring those willing along with him. Thad slumped forward dropping his forehead into his hands. “This was not what I wanted.”

  “We seldom get what we want Master Thad,” Reeve said coldly. “Lady Salina told us beforehand what we would be facing, and asked our opinion before we left. All of those from the house of Reinwood have come willingly, including your page.”

  Thad turned to the young elf who sat in the room
nervously looking around. “Why would you choose to come along knowing what was coming?”

  “My grandfather used to tell stories of what it was like before we retreated to the island,” the elf said somberly. “When I heard Lady Salina talking to the rest I asked her to let me come. Almost every elf was asking though, so she didn’t want to let me come. I followed her and begged her to let me join.”

  “Why?” Thad asked, looking around more than just a little confused. Thad couldn’t understand why so many would want to go on such a dangerous mission.

  “Is it that hard to understand?” Reeve said darkly. “Elves were not meant to stay locked up on a single island. We sit around listening to the tales of when our people roamed the land freely. While the nobles sit around filling their time aimlessly playing politics the rest of us must sit an idly watch the years pass. We long for a time when we can walk freely, to once again go on a sojourn.”

  “I must admit that it was not what I expected,” Thad replied, his voice slightly unsure. “I have plenty to do and much to think about. In the future I will be relying on you two heavily,” Thad said, dismissing the two elves.

  “We are at your service Master Thad,” Parson said, bowing.

  The two elves left leaving Thad alone with Tuck who still sat nervously at the table. “Do you require anything?” Tuck asked, rising to his feet.

  Thad walked over to the trunks that were secured in his room. He had a lot of work to do in order to make a shield large enough to cover the large force he would be bringing with him. “I will require food and drinks as I work,” Thad said pulling a few select pieces of silver from one of the trunks. “I will be staying in my quarters working for most of the trip. I will need you to keep in contact with the captain and inform me of anything that may need my attention. Can you do that Tuck?”

  “Yes, Master Thad,” Tuck said hesitantly.

  Thad sighed and looked at the young elf. “Look Tuck, we will be spending a lot of time together. It would be much easier on me if you treated me with the same frankness as you would someone of your own station.”