by Jon Bender
“Thankfully, Or’Keer cannot create mages,” Jaxom said.
“He may not have that power now, but he grows stronger every day as more men take him into their hearts,” Alimar said.
That was something Jaxom had not considered. Or’Keer was not bound by the pact that the older gods were. If he gained enough devout worshippers, he might be able to create a new school of mages to serve him. Thinking about the older gods brought him back to the deal Da’san had made for him with Sarinsha. Since the goddess had destroyed Or’Keer’s forces in Ale’adar, the gods had been strangely quiet. They still answered the prayers of their priests, but with Or’Keer usurping their worshipers, Jaxom thought they would be more active in opposing him.
“That was when we met,” Alimar continued.
“You mean, that is when you abducted my friends and I to bring us here.” Jaxom still held a small grudge about what had happened.
“I could not be sure how you would receive my proposal. You may have decided I was no more than Or’Keer’s follower and tried to kill me out of hand.”
Jaxom smiled. “That was the plan.”
“Now you know how I came to be on our side of this war,” he said with a small smile of his own. “Has hearing this helped to reaffirm your trust in me?”
Jaxom considered the question. “I trust you to help defeat Or’Keer. After that, we’ll just have to see,” Jaxom said.
Alimar burst into ironic laughter, looking at Jaxom with the respect one would show a true peer. It was a first for Jaxom. The other mage sometimes seemed to treat him as another apprentice. “You are learning,” he said. “Speaking of trust, you should ensure Warin and Lexa know how to cast the Joining. You may need it when you venture into Kelran.”
“The Joining?” Jaxom asked confused.
“The cast we used to defeat Serin. Don’t tell me you had your risen mages cast that without knowing what you were doing,” he said disbelieving.
Jaxom remembered. When he had confronted Serin, Jaxom had two risen enemy mages fighting with him against the fire mage. During that battle, those risen, along with Alimar and his friend Darian, an ice mage from Ale’adar, had used a cast meant for testing whether a person was capable of controlling magic. Jaxom had learned that the magic worked differently when applied to a death mage. That mage could absorb the power of another if it was given willingly, increasing the death mage’s power as each mage added their magic to his own.
“I didn’t know what it was called before now,” Jaxom said. “How do you know its name?”
Alimar shook his head while commanding another dead soldier to lay on his table. “I learned the name as well as the cast in the library here. How is it that you learned about the cast in the first place?” he said.
“It was an accident. I asked Darian to show me how to look for other mages. When he did the test on me, I could feel my own power grow from his,” Jaxom said.
“Even if he had conducted the test, you would have had to consciously cast your own magic to absorb it. I guess it is like the enchantment placed in your sword. You are just naturally talented,” he replied, beginning to work on the soldier.
The Joining, as he called it, had not taken any effort on Jaxom’s part, but he accepted the other mage’s explanation. “Are the two risen mages still here?” Jaxom asked. After the battle with the Serin, Jaxom had been able to repair the risen ice mage, which had suffered massive wounds in the struggle. When they returned to Ale’adar, Jaxom had turned them over to Alimar’s control.
“Yes, they are here.”
Jaxom nodded. The risen mages were another powerful weapon. The mages of Ale’adar, including two of his friends on their council, had been opposed to Jaxom keeping them, but Jaxom had ignored their protest. He knew they only objected because it disturbed them that a death mage could control other schools of magic. The idea of a deceased mage controlled like a puppet was very upsetting to them. The way he saw it, if common people could serve as soldiers to protect others, nothing less could be asked of mages.
The three death mages worked for the rest of the day restoring and animating the risen. When the last one had been armed, armored, and placed into rows of other risen, they closed and locked the door behind them. Alimar commanded the risen inside to restrain or kill any intruder as necessary, eliminating the need for a guard around the building. Their ride through the city was quiet as people returned to their homes, leaving the streets mostly empty. Reaching the palace, Alimar and Kasric left him to return to their own rooms. Handing his horse to a stable-hand, Jaxom moved into the palace and up to his rooms. Inside, a cold dinner waited for him on the table, but he was so exhausted from casting all afternoon that he had lost his appetite. Stepping into the bedroom, he saw Adriana’s sleeping form under the warmth of the covers. He undressed and crawled in with her. Feeling him, she nestled back against his chest. Jaxom tried to quiet his thoughts about the journey. He only found sleep when he reassured himself that whatever happened, they would face it together.
The next day, in the chilled early light, there was a flurry of activity as soldiers finished filling saddlebags and loading packhorses with supplies. Nearby, sat Adriana and her riders looking bored while waiting for the soldiers. Jaxom heard the jeers and taunts passed back and forth between the riders and soldiers. It was good-natured at heart, but it was obvious that the soldiers did not think the riders were true fighters, while the riders considered the soldiers slow and clumsy. No matter their differences of opinion, all wore the same black winter cloaks identifying them as warriors of Terika. Only battle would tell if they would fight together or separately. Jaxom desperately hoped it would be the former.
Da’san, Warin, and Lexa were sitting atop their horses nearby ready to go. Lord Wilbrin did not seem pleased with the progress of his men, barking orders and yelling for the soldiers to hurry. Perhaps he did not like being shown up by Adriana’s riders. She had woken early to begin her preparations, and now seemed to be enjoying the opportunity to demonstrate her unit’s efficiency.
Above, Jaxom heard the flapping of a durgen as it descended onto an open spot in the large courtyard. At first, he thought perhaps Alimar had decided to join them. Then he saw that the rider wore the blue of Ale’adar and carried behind him a passenger wearing the robes of the Ice Mage School. Darian climbed down from behind the rider and pulled off the heavy saddlebags and blanket-roll. The ice mage walked over to Jaxom wearing a broad smile beneath his shaggy brown hair and eyes. Darian, Danika, and her brother Tamrick had formed the council of the mage’s castle of Ale’adaria after Darian had helped to kill its former traitorous leader, Serin.
“I heard that you were taking a small trip east and thought I would join you,” Darian said, greeting his friend.
“You heard we are taking over a hundred men deep into a kingdom controlled by Or’Keer to help a man we know almost nothing about fight a king and his army in the middle of winter. And you thought to join us as if we were taking a ride to the countryside for picnic,” Jaxom said skeptically.
“Well, when you put it that way…” Darian trailed off dramatically. Jaxom looked his friend steadily in the eye. Darian snapped first, breaking into a grin. “When Corin told the council of his plan, we were offended that he had not asked us to join those heading to Kelran. He said something about there being no mages in Denra and risking three in Kelran was more than enough, but we would not have it. Ever since Serin’s betrayal, the people have lost faith in us. We need to regain that trust. So with the King’s permission, we decided to send one of the council with you and one with Commander Cribble,” Darian said. “I volunteered to join you… well… because Danika is the best of us at overseeing mage affairs, and Tamrick….”
“Tamrick is joining Cribble?” Jaxom asked. He would pay large amounts to see how those two would work together. Cribble and his surly manner was sure to cause friction with Tamrick’s straightforward and proper view of the world.
“Yes,” Darian said, chuckl
ing, clearly echoing Jaxom’s thoughts.
“Lord Wilbrin,” Jaxom called out to the man. “Are the men ready?”
“Yes, My Lord,” he replied from near his horse. “We are ready to leave at your command.”
“We will need another saddled horse for Magus Darian,” Jaxom said. Wilbrin nodded and yelled at two soldiers standing nearby to see to it.
“I was hoping to make the journey on a durgen,” Darina said, looking at Jaxom’s own mount.
“I’m sorry my friend, but we do not have any to spare. Besides, a horse will give you the chance to ride with the newest members of our school. Soon you may be watching each other’s back, and it would be a good idea for the three of you to become acquainted,” Jaxom said, smiling at his friend’s crestfallen look.
After the two soldiers had returned with Darian’s horse, he tied his gear to the back of the saddle before mounting. With everyone ready to move, Jaxom rode his durgen out with Adriana and Lord Wilbrin riding beside him. He had told Adriana that only two of her riders were to be flying the perimeter until they reached the border of Denra. He hoped that having the riders and soldiers march together would help to strengthen bonds between the two groups. Darian and Da’san were talking with Warin and Lexa next to the horse-drawn wagon at the column’s center. As the column moved past the outer wall, the soldiers guarding the gate brought fists to their chests in salute. Beyond the protection of the wall, the wind blew harder, chilling Jaxom further. He pulled his thick black cloak tighter around him. Not one minute outside of the gate, and he was already thinking how much this was a bad idea. One day he would have to sit down and assess his decision-making method. It seemed he was predisposed to making the choice that would most assuredly get him into trouble. Looking over at Adriana, she smiled in excitement at being on the road again. Perhaps choosing trouble was not always a bad thing.
Chapter 9
Corin watched from a balcony as the long column of guardsmen and soldiers marched out from the city. At three thousand strong, their training, along with superior arms and armor, should make up any deficiencies in numbers they might face. With Commander Cribble’s leadership and Captain Brenin’s durgen riders, the force should be able to defeat any group of militia or bandits they came across. Not for the first time, he wished he could be going with them instead of staying within the safety of the palace. Jaxom should have reached the border of Denra by now. Corin felt a twinge of regret for not going with him. The brothers rarely got to see each other anymore, and Corin missed their time together. Inside, General Nelix waited for him at the large map table showing the fifteen kingdoms. The map detailed the borders and types of terrain that could be found in each one. It had been repainted several time since the founding of Ale’adaria, updated whenever new information made its way to them. There was so little travel far into the east that he didn’t know how accurate that part of the map was. For now, he could be sure that the drawings of the lands surrounding his own were correct, and that was most important part for the immediate future. Nelix was staring down at the map with his hard gray eyes deep in thought. The man had served as his father’s General and had continued to do so throughout Corin’s reign. The white at the General’s temples only added to the impression of strength he conveyed, and the long scar running down his face to the collar of his white shirt enhanced the effect.
“How is the training coming at the noble’s holdings?” Corin asked.
The General looked up. “The holdings will meet their commitment in men and supplies for the spring.”
“Good. What of the Guard?”
“We have four thousand, including the ones you sent into Denra. I know you wanted to increase their numbers, but I will not lower the standards or training. Otherwise, we may as well place them with the rest of the army,” Nelix said. His tone said he would not compromise on the matter.
Corin did not intend to argue the point. Four thousand was double what the Guard had consisted of before the southern invasion and more than he could have asked for. The fact that he had been able to increase their numbers by so many in three short months was a testament to his ability to train men into warriors.
“Four thousand will have to be sufficient,” Corin said, smiling. The General gave him a blank stare, only nodding once he realized Corin had been joking. He was a great soldier, leader, and friend, but he had no sense of humor. “Have the Dradon and Azurian prisoners all been returned to the south?” Corin asked, wishing once again that Jaxom were there. His adoptive brother always rose to the bait.
“The southern soldiers have all returned home with a word of gratitude once again from King Rupert and Queen Sanra. They still claim that they had no idea their military leaders were being influenced by Or’Keer, and they are eager to sign a treaty allying themselves with us.” Nelix snorted in disgust. The man respected strength and decisiveness. He would have preferred that the two leaders had simply taken credit for the attack and admitted their failure.
Corin believed that the rulers of Ale’adaria’s southern neighbors were sincere in not knowing that some of their commanders and mages were in league with the dark god, but he doubted they would have opposed the invasion even if they had. None of that mattered now, as long as the two kingdoms joined him when he marched east. For now, it appeared that the dark god’s influence in both Azuria and Dradon had been weakened, with Rupert and Sanra vowing to search out any of his remaining worshipers. Their willingness to sign the treaty was most likely from a fear that Corin would attack their weakened kingdoms in retaliation. It was no secret that Ale’adaria had rebuilt a powerful army, and had support of the restored Death Mage School with the risen weapons they created. In truth, Corin had no plans to expend resources on moving south if Or’Keer no longer held a presence there, but if that fear encouraged their allegiance, Corin was not about to dissuade them.
“Send a messenger letting them know that we will sign the treaty here in Ale’adar in two months,” Corin said. Signing the treaty within his capital city would help to reinforce that he was the one leading the coalition.
“As you command,” Nelix said in his stoic manner.
“What are your thoughts on how we should proceed come winter?” Corin asked.
Nelix was quiet for a moment. “With Denra in chaos, it proves no threat even if Commander Cribble does not complete his task of removing the warlords and providing stability. Fighting in the winter can be slow and frustrating, and it would not surprise me if he was forced to rejoin us come spring. The same can be said of Jaxom. He is taking a small force to aid an already small force. Smaller numbers are easier to move in the winter and may give them an advantage against King Dillion when the snow fully sets, but they will be facing the same problems. If Dillion has not been removed from the throne by the thaw, I say we should head directly through Denra and into Kelran to finish the job. Cribble and Jaxom can join up with us as we move farther east,” Nelix said.
Corin was prepared to move his army into Kelran if necessary. He would remove Dillion as King and replace him with a ruler who would aid him against Or’Keer. He knew Dillion had a son, though Corin could not remember his name. Corin hoped the prince was not aligned with his father, if he was even alive.
If not the prince, then the Bandit Lord could be just the person to fill that role. And if Jaxom was successful in aiding this man, it would eliminate the need for Corin to enter the kingdom himself. Without having to march his army across two kingdoms, Corin would be able to concentrate on Bruxa. The land east of Azuria bordered many other kingdoms, making it a perfect launching point to move east. With relations improving between Ale’adaria and the Southerners, King Rupert of Azuria had been very forthcoming when Corin had sent a durgen messenger to ask about his neighbor. The King had replied with a long-winded letter from which Corin had picked out the parts about Bruxa that mattered. The kingdom had closed its borders to all but merchants and traders. Bruxa was now concentrating much of its military efforts on repelling the many
incursions from its neighbors.
“What of our envoy to Bruxa?” he asked. Placing a finger on the map to point out the land he meant. “Have they been able to make contact with Alexar?”
“The messenger who came back said that they had been allowed through the border, but we have not received any further word from them,” he answered.
“We need more information,” Corin said, frustrated. He did not want to fight his way through every kingdom. If Bruxa was not under the influence of Or’Keer, he did not want to waste time and resources fighting there. With the boarders closed, it would make negotiating an alliance difficult. Corin did not want to show up at their door with the army of three lands behind him, but he would if they gave him no other choice. There was no time for drawn-out talks. “Send another envoy to Bruxa and ask Rupert to send some of his own men to show that it is not just me who wants this alliance.”
“What if King Alexar has allied himself with the dark god?” Nelix asked.
“If he has, we will deal with it as planned. Until we know for sure, we will treat them as a potential ally,” Corin said
Nelix nodded and was about to say more, but a knock at the door interrupted him. “Come,” Corin said.
One of his personal guard stood at the threshold. “There is a soldier from Terika here with a missive from Magus Alimar. He insists that he give it you personally, Your Majesty.”
It was odd for Alimar to send him messages. Jaxom or Celia usually communicated with him when needed. “Send him in.”
The guardsman stepped aside. The young soldier who entered looked weary from days of riding, his chainmail armor and black cloak stained with dirt and dust. The cloak was a surprise to Corin, who expected to see the man wearing the blue of Ale’adaria. Jaxom was not the type to make such changes regarding livery. This was most likely Celia’s doing. He would have to talk with her about her choice of apparel for his soldiers, but he had to admit that even dusty, the man cut an impressive figure.