Releasing a breath and much of his tension as it winked closed, the mage moved to sit on a chair beside the table as his legs felt ready to collapse. He hadn’t known if his spell would work or if they would fall for it even then. Mind magic was subtle if practiced properly, but hijacking another man’s mind and controlling him from his steps to the words he spoke was harder than he had thought. If he was still just a battle mage, his power would have faltered well before he could have executed his escape. A fight would have been the end of him with the odds so far against him. To run from the fight through a gate, if he could have cast one fast enough, would have risked finding that the warlocks or wraiths knew the portal spells well enough to pursue him.
All those worries and thoughts of failure had been forced back in the heat of the moment as he had focused on the task at hand. He had needed a calm mind to figure out a means of escape and then to actually execute a plan that required he be both wizard and mage. Not even the mizard, Sebastian Trillon could have done better. In fact, that battle mage couldn’t have executed such a plan with his limited power. He was skilled, but he was still just a mage, Palose almost gloated with the thought. A battle mage with a warlock’s power, he could use either level of spells and he continued to learn more while even being able to adjust some of the magic to suit a battle mage’s speed.
His mind lock had been part luck and part skill. Casting like a mage under such conditions had been lucky, but it was skill and practice that had meant he could achieve it. If he had even more power and time to learn more of Ensolus’s magic, there was no limit to what he could become.
The thoughts led the dark mage to one of his other projects. He needed test subjects. Perhaps a stop to see Wakaraq near the shipyard could be fit in before returning to the palace to report.
Reaching into his travel pack, Palose pulled out his canteen and the wrapped sandwich he had made the day before. The bread was drying out, but he was hungry after the use of his magic. Using powerful magic was new to him still, but his new power level since being resurrected meant that he could have continued to use even more spells before he would have run out of magic.
His mind wandered and before he knew it the sandwich was gone. The mage stood to remove his white, winter camouflage, replaced his pack and sword making a metal note to pack more food before the next trip and left the house heading north. A short walk led him to the burn site that Wakaraq oversaw. He spotted the orc and approached him as casually as he could, though anyone outside of the dead and his crew would be uncommon here.
“What is it, boy?” the often rude orc questioned before he fully crossed the distance between them.
Barking a short laugh, Palose replied, “Good to see you as ever, Wakaraq. I come on the usual business, of course.”
With a scrutinizing eye, the orc commented, “You seem like you’re in a bigger hurry than usual. You aren’t about to do something stupid are you? I don’t need trouble, wizard, if it’s bad then forget our deal.”
Shaking his head, Palose rebutted, “On the contrary, I have been on a...” He stopped thinking of words that wouldn’t reveal the secret nature of his work for the emperor. “Let’s just say that I have people that can look out for me. What I need them for doesn’t have a penalty. It is just business related to magic.”
Wakaraq grunted as he folded his muscular arms across his chest. “If that is true then I don’t want to know anything about it. If I don’t know nothin’, then I can’t be in trouble.”
Not bothering to say otherwise with his business partner, the young mage asked, “Has anything promising come through lately?”
“If there had, I would o’ sent someone to tell you,” he grunted looking put out in his usual orc way. “A few oldies and sicklies, but you said you wanted young and strong if possible.”
“Young or strong, or if they’re women and they’re still good looking but not too good looking to draw an over amount of attention; I’m being a bit picky, but there’s a reason for it,” the mage said basically repeating what they had discussed before and knowing Wakaraq understood.
Sniffing disdainfully, the orc retorted, “Like I would know what looked too good to a human. You all look weird to me.”
“If they come too well known or with too much reputation for you to have heard of them, then they are probably too good looking,” the mage chuckled thinking that it was probably true. Powerful and attractive people tended to be well known even to those on the docks, he would guess.
Giving a big sigh and refusing to uncross his thick arms as if to ward him off, Wakaraq stated, “I will continue to send word when something other then sickly, scrawny, old men come through my crematorium. Is that all, mage? I got work to do.”
“You have someone new?” the mage asked and quickly realized the morbidity of his question. He had become a ghoul waiting for the dead to reveal their treasures to him which made him wonder what he was truly becoming.
Waving him off with a flick of his hand before replacing it again, the orc replied brusquely, “Just a couple old ones, an orc and a couple goblins. Nothing that would make your list since you only want human or elf. We don’t see many elves so you might be holdin’ your breath on that one though.”
Disappointed, Palose nodded and started to back away. “Well, keep me informed. If something halfway interesting comes through, I may have to settle. It is looking like I may need to try this experiment soon, whether I like it or not.”
Only receiving a grunt from the orc that had no idea of his future experiment and, as he had said, he didn’t desire to know; Palose parted with a wave of his hand. As his eyes looked along the lake to the spires of the emperor’s citadel, the mage took in a deep breath steeling himself less for the walk than the destination. At least he had the shipyard and its strange ocean going size ships to distract him for awhile, he thought.
Their existence in the land locked lake inside of the massive cave still perplexed him, but as a child he half remembered stories of the black sailed ships of the emperor that had once plagued the seas. Whether he still had any forces at sea, Palose was unsure, but the mage wouldn’t put anything past warlocks that could use portals to cross between worlds. The docks were quiet as usual. A few men guarded the ships against the lesser creatures that might be desperate for a home. Other workers visited to perform maintenance, especially during the warmer months, but the warmth of late spring and summer was still a month or more away.
His distraction ended as he faced the surrounding citadel wall. To his surprise, the guards sent him through at his word and at the castle entrance he was provided with a guide. It wasn’t the breakfast room that he found as a pair of guards opened a gilded double door, but a large room that was a combination bedroom and office for the emperor. Once more he found Acheri and Lanquer with Kolban, but the emperor had other guests as well. Warlocks and generals, the head of the merchants and the major domo of the castle were all in need of his approval or guidance for the day.
Noticing the doors opening and Palose’s arrival, Acheri grinned and nudged the emperor from where she stood beside him. Kolban glanced to the mage, even as his sister broke from the gathering to greet him properly.
“Welcome back,” the girl acknowledged his return warmly. Lanquer remained near Kolban guarding his emperor, though Palose highly doubted these men would dare anything against him in the heart of the castle. “Did your trip go well?”
Trying not to frown as the mage had no idea if Kolban wanted his visit to the fortress to be broadcast to the others, Palose answered simply and vaguely, “It was eventful, though not favorable.”
In contrast, Acheri did frown as she cut through the vagaries catching his meaning easily as she was a very bright girl. She turned her head and the emperor looked at her as if on cue. A quick shake of her head told her brother what he had feared, but Kolban continued to discuss the matters brought to him as if nothing had happened.
“Come wait with me. Have you eaten? I am sure your trip
was somewhat draining at least,” the girl said leading him with both hands cupping his forearm tenderly. He looked at her dark hair bound in a braid with gold string woven through the raven black. Her dark blue eyes had eyeliner and her lids were slightly shadowed with makeup while lipstick deepened the color of her lips, though her makeup was still subtle as it enhanced her beauty.
It was hard to remember this girl, already full grown and slightly taller than her brother, was little more than three months old. She was every bit the princess to her younger brother’s emperor. How the two could come from their artificial wombs so ready for the world was beyond him, even though he had watched the emperor use his magic to start their lives. Now Acheri guided him like a proper hostess, though perhaps one a little more infatuated with her guest than was proper.
A decanter of wine, one of juice and a pitcher of water sat on a table with fruits, sandwiches and sweets. He took the wine when offered, though he rarely drank. It had been a trying morning, so it seemed more appropriate and the warmth of the alcohol felt right passing over his tongue and down his throat.
They waited and he ate from the sandwiches finding that he was still a bit hungry. Waiting until the major domo and merchant left, Kolban led a pair of generals and two older warlocks over to the pair trailed by Lanquer. The remainder of the entourage parted through the doors at Kolban’s behest.
“This is Palose,” the emperor introduced the mage to the four men. “You may have heard of him as the resurrection man created by Atrouseon.”
The title and relation of his creation was matter of fact even if it stung a little. Spoken of more like an object than a man, Palose would have preferred the omission of such a title, but the other men all nodded in sudden comprehension. Apparently word of Atrouseon’s apprentice had made less of an impact than his rebirth.
Kolban continued as he added, “I sent him to Garosh’s fortress to investigate why we have lost contact with the others who remained behind. What news do you have?”
“I arrived at the altar to find it destroyed. Three men from Southwall spotted me, but I killed the soldiers before getting the location and basic preparedness of the army nearby.
“There was also a werelioness who informed me that a couple packs of werelions and werewolves roam the mountain looking for game. They have apparently behaved themselves and been left alone to act like animals.
“When I entered the fortress, I did so saying I was a messenger,” Palose said letting the men take in that fact as he was about to get to the gist of his report. “Warlock Verian was in charge with a second named Hereseth backing him. Carianic, Garosh’s bodyguard remains working for the two wizards as well as a pack leader and another wraith.
“When I confronted the five men saying I was a messenger, they either doubted that I could represent you or simply refused authority. Instead of answering any questions about Southwall and the portal room, the five threatened to attack me. They would have if I hadn’t put Verian under a mind lock spell.”
Sighing, Kolban sounded more amused by the story than angry as he stated, “Why is it that they always try to kill the messenger? Like you not returning wouldn’t bring up flags that they have turned traitor.
“Continue on, Palose.”
The mage nodded continuing as asked, “With Verian under my spell, I had them place me in a cell and chain me to prove I wasn’t a threat. Then I had Verian dismiss the others for him to torture me, or so they believed since they had believed me weak.
“Once they were gone I had Verian unlock me and take my place. I verified that Garosh had ordered them to destroy the gateway back to Ensolus after returning those who had come to reinforce the fortress against Southwall. He had ordered it and those who followed these orders did so because they have chosen to abandon you and follow Garosh.”
Kolban nodded even as the other men began to look angry. They were his closest advisors and loyal to the emperor. They were also among those that he had bonded with his magic after changing bodies to the boy. With such loyalty ensured, these men looked ready to charge off and make the rebels pay.
The emperor continued to study Palose sensing that, though the story was concluded, there was more to it. “Did you reestablish the gate?”
Surprising the warlocks and generals with his question, the dark mage shocked them even more with his answer, “My touchstone remains at the altar. Another is about a mile to the west and another in the forest to the south. There is a fourth in the hall near the entrance and the last was placed in the jail.
“If you need to break in, I can open gates to all five and you should be able to take the entrance from within and without.”
The only true human, a warlock known as Suma was left scratching his thin white hair and smooth pate as he asked in dubious surprise, “How is a battle mage able to create portals and use mind magic like this?”
Kolban answered with a satisfied smile turning to look at his advisor, “He was a battle mage. When Atrouseon resurrected him, he shared his power, though I doubt he knew of that side effect when he cast the spell. Since Palose shares a warlock’s strength in magic in addition to his own, even if it is only a portion of Atrouseon’s, his magic reserves have increased to warlock level.
“Though called an apprentice by some, Palose is also a fully trained battle mage and has taken that knowledge to learning greater spells. I do not believe any battle mage has ever learned any mind or gateway magic until you surpassed that level. Am I right?” the young man asked with the knowledge of an ancient being.
Nodding at the question, Palose added for his supporter, “Darkness, portals, and mind magic have been added to my knowledge. I have read of necromancy and small attempts at controlled necromancy on bones of mice seem easy enough also.”
Though he refused to explain how much he knew and what spells he had also converted to battle magic, Palose reserved the right to keep them as his secret. The warlocks and generals might serve the emperor faithfully, but that didn’t mean if they decided he was a threat that they wouldn’t use whatever they knew against him. Determined to check into these men as best he could, the mage thought knowing any of their weaknesses might serve him just as well should he need to deal with them.
The second warlock, Evres, a man whose heritage appeared to be mixed to the point that Palose was unsure just from looking at him, stroked his bearded chin. It was counter to his shaved, bald head and seemed to help him think as he asked, “You have only been in Ensolus for a few months and already you have learned this much?”
“I already had the building blocks of magic from being a mage. The rest was just a matter of studying,” replied the mage feeling surprised by the way this conversation had turned around to be about him.
Seeing the same problem occurring, Kolban interrupted saying, “So we can invade and deal with the rebels if anytime we choose with your gates.” He used the word ‘we’, but no one believed that anyone save the emperor would make those decisions.
A half orc general with light brown skin, General Corven spoke up at his words. “Do you want me to begin summoning an army to attack Southwall through the mage’s portal, my emperor?”
The second general was of elvish descent and looked far younger than Corven, though his elven features masked his true age. Less eager to start a new war front, General Amelyer questioned the emperor differently, “You don’t sound like you are ready to make Garosh pay, your majesty. Have you a reason to wait on such an invasion of our enemies?”
With the hint of a smile playing at the emperor’s lips at the contrasting spirits of his generals, the exact reason why they were part of his advisors; Kolban said quietly, “There is no rush to attack. They have nowhere to run. With Southwall at their gate holding them in and Ensolus ready to rise against them for treason, where would they go?
“No, Verian and Hereseth aren’t clever enough to think their way out of the box Garosh has planted them within. We can leave them to stew for the moment. In fact, even if they wish
to join Southwall, they present another worry to that land.
“Garosh won’t be trusted any more than the creatures who serve him, at least not at first. It will take awhile to win the humans over and even longer to remove the wariness that they must feel having an enemy inside of their border. The defense has been breeched and must be unsettling as well.”
The elven general nodded even as his opposite seemed deflated. The half orc’s broad shoulders drooped slightly at the idea of having to wait to get revenge on the traitors to the empire. Evres’ green eyes looked as intelligent as a wizard to Palose’s eyes and his calm demeanor showed neither disappointment nor loss at the decree. “I sense you have a different idea from storming the fortress, my lord. Is there anything that we can do in this regard?”
Kolban shook his head slowly as if in thought. “This isn’t a surprise. As a vessel, Garosh has always feared being replaced. Now in his fear, he has run to our enemies, but I have foreseen as much. I do have a plan, but it will not require my armies just yet.
“If you will just see to what we have already discussed, gentlemen, I need to speak with my sister and Palose for a time,” the emperor, who looked like a brown haired boy still growing to his full size, dismissed his elder advisors with the demeanor of a seasoned ruler. It was still an odd thing to see for Palose as his eyes told him one thing, his memory told him another and knowledge of the emperor’s original form all warred with what was real.
Wanting to shake his head, Palose held off as he waited on the emperor.
Chapter 25- Day in the Sun
The streets of Windmeer had come alive as they hadn’t since before the first snows had come so many months before as merchants, shoppers and children mingled with the first travelers coming from the south. Birds in small numbers had returned to flit along the roofs or quickly pecked at fallen bread bought and dropped by those visiting the vendors. With all the noise and energy of a spring morning, Rilena could almost forget the oppressive winter cold even if it had only been the last few days that had brought relief.
Battle Mage: The Dark Mage (Tales of Alus) Page 37