King Kalenden smiled broadly. “Excellent. You have learned something after all. Good. That will make explaining this all the easier.”
The king leaned forwards in his throne, his hands clasped together ominously. “I have ruled here for quite some time now, by our standards. I want to make sure that no one would see fit to question my rule for until I am quite happy to give it up.”
The barbarian king arose from his seat, casually picking up his sword and fingering the tip as he spoke, though Endrance found that his sire's body language said anything else but casual. “My wife, she is nearing the end of her second pregnancy, and I'm certain she will be giving birth on the eve of the eclipse.” His expression was dark, almost threatening. “It would be best for my kingdom that you decree my child the prophesied one.” he paced in front of his throne. Walking back and forth, having found his sword quite to his approval, he now carried it over one shoulder with his wrist counterbalancing upon the handle.
Endrance felt a moment of panic. He did not know what to do in this situation. The king was quite literally ordering him to make a false declaration about the upcoming prophecy! The young mage had very little experience with selfish men, but he was quickly getting the idea what kind of things a man would do with his power, if it meant keeping his or gaining more power.
The king eyed him impatiently. “That is what is best for my kingdom, don't you agree?” he asked, his voice almost a growl as he glowered at him. The Spengur did not miss the barbarian king's hand wrap around the grip of his sword.
The young man quickly nodded, cowed. “Yes, sire!” he blurted out. “If that is what you think is best my lord, I will do what I can.” he finished, feeling weak and at the same time dirty for letting himself be intimidated into agreeing to something he would never do normally. But what could he do?
Kalenden stared Endrance in the eyes, searching for even the slightest hint of disloyalty. Finding the young man sufficiently intimidated, he suddenly smiled broadly, which made the mage think again of a serpent grinning, if one could. “Good!” he bellowed, pulling the handle of his sword down and flipping the blade back up over his shoulder and leaning it once again against the throne. “I would hate to have to prove to the people just how unnecessary I think you are.” King Kalenden sat back down upon his throne. He waved his hand dismissively. “Now be gone, mage.” he muttered. “I have more important things to do than to have you standing around here.”
As the young mage left the throne room, the King sat quietly on his throne. He waited, and after the Spengur left the hall beyond he spoke aloud.
“Well?” the king asked, to nobody in particular. “What do you think?”
The shadows pooled around his throne flickered in the torchlight. They darkened into blackness and took on physical form as it swelled up beside the throne. The sha’hdi emerged, watching the doors to the room beyond close.
The moon elf leaned up against the throne and laid her head against the king’s shoulder, breathing into his ear as she spoke.
“I think you know what he will do.” She purred into his ear. “A young child like that is full of ideals and dreams of heroics.”
He grunted, never even looking her in the eyes. He continued to stare down his throne room, deep in thought. “Still…” he said, shifting in his seat and causing the shadow elf to nimbly step away from him. “He’s trained by the Wizard Kaelob. Knowing that man, he taught his apprentice more than just magic.”
“I can see…” The shadow elf faded into the shadows behind the king’s throne. “He’s already improved so much. Our master will be most pleased, don’t you think?”
Though she had only just disappeared, the king knew he was alone again.
Chapter 28
Endrance found rest hard to come by that night as he slept with king Kalenden's words echoing in his ears. He wanted to be true to the people of Balator, as well as to himself, but he was certain the king would probably have him executed or worse if he didn't comply. Endrance rolled over in bed, and in the dark he could clearly see Anna was resting peacefully. She was sprawled along one side of the bed, and Endrance had the middle. There was far more space on the massive thing for more, but he was in some ways happy that it was empty.
He still felt down about the other two Keepers. The whole thing was confusing for him in many ways. If he did do more than just sleep with one, what would that do to the other two? One seemed to like him as far as he could tell, but something held her back. He honestly thought she was very attractive, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Something about her appealed to him greatly, though he wasn’t sure what it was. Perhaps it was her shy nature. He had been taking care working to get Selene to feel comfortable around him, but still she shied away.
The other one, Bridget, seemed to be torn between doing her job and hating him for being as she saw it, ‘weak’. He smiled to himself in the dark. If only she knew. He knew with some of the spells he had been researching he could be stronger than her despite her constant exercise and practice with heavy weapons, but she had years of combat experience behind her that he did not. If he was going to prove himself an equal to her, it would have to be in something that they were equally capable.
Looking around the room, he had the feeling that something seemed off. The young mage quietly eased his way up out from under the sheets, and carefully vacated the bed without waking Anna. Hopping silently onto the floor, he slipped on a silk robe and silken slippers, and searched for what felt out of place.
He felt almost immediately a cold draft across his feet. Investigating, he found the door to the bath outside was open a crack. Knowing for certain that it had been closed when he went to sleep, poked his head outside. The light of the moons illuminated a new set of footprints in the sand leading to the bath. He quietly made his way to the bath, hoping to not make too much noise. He shivered as the cold high altitude mountain air drafted through his robes with little effort.
The air surrounding the spring was quite warm however and once he emerged from the path leading up to the bath he felt much better. The moons provided enough illumination that he could see clearly across the spring. The stars of the sky were so clear up on the mountain, and their reflections across the spring looked like a second sea of stars, so close he could just jump in and be afloat in the ocean of lights.
He could see a female figure in the spring, sitting with her back against the pool edge. Her back was to the path approaching, so he was certain she didn’t see him approach. He was about to speak when he heard her sobbing. Staying quiet, he carefully padded up to the side of the pool. He stood only a few feet from her, but she was too distracted to notice him.
She was crying quietly, her sobs sending little ripples across the pool as she shook. She looked so vulnerable, curled up naked in the water. He could not resist the urge to help her. Slipping out of his slippers and robe, he took a step towards the pool, taking care that she could hear his approach.
Selene startled at the sound of something disturbing the ground behind her, and not having the slightly improved vision that allowed the mage to see in the poor light, she half stood half crouched in the water, alert for danger. Endrance noticed the faint glimmer of starlight across a small curved dagger she held in her hand. The loveliness of her body’s curves was distracted by Endrance’s curiosity of where she had been hiding the blade.
“I see I’m not the only one who enjoys a midnight bath.” He said in a friendly tone.
Hearing his voice she visibly relaxed, slipping back down into the water as she set the dagger back on the stone edge of the spring. “I'm sorry Endrance.” she stated flatly. “I didn't hear you approach.” she sighed as she stared into the subtly shifting water of the bath. Endrance sank into the water, sighing as he felt the warm water rush across his skin. He glanced over to Selene, and saw she was trying to still sit in the bath while modestly covering herself with her arm and crossing a leg.
“I can see that you are bothered by someth
ing, dear.” Endrance began. “What is it?”
She shook her head. “Nothing, Endrance.” She began. “Nothing I should bother you about.”
Endrance flicked some of the warm spring water at her, making her flinch and look at him in the dark with irritation. “Nonsense!” he jested. “There is not a thing you couldn’t bring to me if it’s a problem. Isn't that part of why we had been bonded together? So that you can help me?”
Selene nodded. “Well that doesn't go one way you know. I also get to help you out with stuff too.” He finished, leaning close enough to her that their shoulder’s touched.
Selene shied away, turning her back to him. He waited quietly a moment, hoping she would respond. She glanced at him from over her shoulder, and turned away again when he met her gaze.
“I can’t tell you,” she said, “I can’t tell you because…” she shook her head and went quiet.
Endrance laid a hand on her back from where he was sitting. He felt her jerk slightly when he made skin contact, and as he scooted up to her he could feel her trembling through his hand. She trembled as he remained close to her.
“You’re shaking.” He stated, rubbing her back with both hands now. The water was warm enough, but the air could have been chilling her.
“I can’t help it when I’m near you.” She said, staying still. She was worried she would make him angry if she pulled away from him.
“Oh?” the young man asked, pausing. “Why is that?”
She shook her head again, tossing her pretty black curls and Endrance was again reminded of rain as her scent passed through his nose. “I don’t know!” she exclaimed, slapping the water with her hands in frustration. “I don’t know why!”
“I look at you and I see a sweet, attractive young man who really cares about me, who goes out of his way to be kind to me, and deals with me when I can’t deal with others. I see the man who doesn’t judge me even though I hesitate to perform my duties as your woman, and still!” she half turned to look him in the eye, her gaze both scared and angry. “And still I want to attack you whenever you’re around!”
Endrance stared at her, baffled. She turned away from him and sobbed again, her trembles never abating.
He knew exactly how she felt. He had felt that way every time he was near the king. He didn’t know what caused it, but thought it was just his nerves. Now he was hearing that one of his Draugnoa was experiencing the same thing, but towards him.
“Tell me something.” He requested, taking his hands away from her and sliding back from her in the water. “Have you ever been to see the king?” he asked.
She nodded in the dark, the tips of her hair dancing across the spring’s surface. “Yes, we saw him several times during our training.”
“What about in person? Like being maybe fifty feet or closer?”
She paused, thinking. “I during the ceremony when we were bonded to you. Why?”
“Did you feel the same way you do towards me when you were around him?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, I didn’t.”
Endrance sighed, slouching back in the water. “Well there goes that idea.” He muttered, splashing the water as he thought. “I feel exactly like you do towards the king.”
She turned to look at him. “You mean I’m not the only one feeling this?”
The young man looked at her and smiled. “Nope.” He stated. “I feel like taking a swing at King Kalenden whenever he’s nearby me. I don’t know why either.”
Selene sighed, sinking in the water to her shoulders. “I’m relieved.” She said, looking up at him from the water. “But you don’t also… feel strongly for the king, do you?”
Endrance shook his head. “No, I’m actually kind of intimidated by him.” He paused as what she said clicked in his head. “Thank you, Selene.” He said. “I think I’m coming to ‘feel strongly’ for you too.”
She frowned. “Why do I feel the way I do?” she asked.
The young mage straightened up, leaning his head towards her. “Maybe it’s because you have something conflicting with your feelings.”
“I do feel that I really could love you, I just feel so afraid when I feel that aggression rising.”
“Maybe you just need to decide on how you are going to feel and give in to one or the other.” He suggested, remaining where he was in the water. “Then the other feelings would go away.”
She rose in the water and walked towards him “I do…” she whispered “Want to love you.” She pulled him close and wrapped her arms around him, despite the near invisible tremble in her body. Her lips were a short span from his. “I… I…” she whispered, her face flushed in the darkness. She could feel herself heating up as she realized how close they were, how there was nothing between their naked bodies but a little spring water.
Their breath mingled, and neither of them could tell who moved in to kiss the other first. He had felt the power of lightning shoot through him before, but it couldn’t even compare to the powerful jolt that went through him. He stopped caring about the world around him, just the two of them. He could feel her melt into his arms, and her passion burning through her lips.
Their kiss parted, and they were both out of breath. Selene looked him lovingly in the eyes and touched his cheek. “I think you were right after all.” She said, playing with a lock of his hair with a finger before embracing him again.
“I guess I am.” He said, returning her embrace.
They remained that way for a while, and Selene looked him in the eyes, the light of the stars glittering across her limpid black eyes like a new celestial body. She leaned in and kissed him again, briefly. Inclining her head, she kissed his cheek, and then his ear.
“I think…” she whispered. “I think I’m ready, Endrance.” She nuzzled his neck, and he felt tingles across his skin. The smell of spring rain filled his senses as time ceased to have meaning for just this one night. Whatever happened beyond that moment under the stars, he would always have the memory to carry him on.
Much later that night, he was certain he heard Anna mutter “About time” before rolling over and going back to sleep when the two of them finally climbed into bed. He was able to sleep perfectly fine, with Selene contentedly wrapped in his arms.
The next day Endrance took few visitors as he worked hard to prepare himself for the eclipse as well as study the findings of the cave from the day before. Joven had returned on duty early that morning and Endrance had him brought in. The barbarian bodyguard mock scowled at the Spengur as he entered the library across from the guest rooms. “Why did you get two of my best men demoted yesterday?” he asked as he stepped up beside the mage as he pored over the couple of books he was studying. Gullin tapped a symbol in one of the books and Endrance nodded and jotted something onto the notes he was taking.
Endrance didn't even look up from the table as he replied “Oh those two? They let an obviously aggressive man through my doors without so much as announcing him, and they refused to do much more than stand at the door even after confronted about it.” He turned the page of his tome and scratched a note on a piece of torn paper with a quill.
Joven grunted. “Remind me next time to get some more open-minded men on guard.” he stated.
“Or at least a bit more dedicated to their jobs would do nicely.” Endrance replied cheerfully. Joven stared at him quizzically until he noticed a spring in Selene’s step as she passed by. He grinned, chuckling to himself as he watched her pass.
The wizard had been up since breakfast checking the books of the Spengur's library, comparing them to the notes he had made in the cave the day before. Though the tomes of demonology and summoning were old and very informative, they lacked many key parts that would be needed to actually use them to summon much more than an imp. What they did have however, was an extensive listing of different types of demons and what their specialties were, as well as notes as to their behaviors while on the worldly realm. Gullin was able to provide much more detail about the
particulars of summoning in general, so progress was halting, but moving along.
He held up his notes from the day before. “I have been doing some checking up on the work of our mysterious summoner.” he started, pointing to a set of angry looking symbols he had sketched. “You see these? They are part of a set of elder symbols. Only master summoners and demons themselves know how to use them properly.”
Joven squinted at the paper, confused. “But what do they do?” he asked.
The wizard set the page down. “The symbols when done properly, grant the summoner a great advantage when gaining control of the summoned demon. It reinforces their control over their subject, while weakening its resolve.”
The barbarian quirked his brow. “And if done wrong?” he prodded.
“Quite simply, done any way but the right way, and it is you who has your resolve drained, and the demon’s reinforced.”
Joven winced. “Ouch. How bad is that?”
“Pretty bad.” Endrance answered. “The demon usually in those cases breaks free of the summoner's will and then goes on a rampage free to wreak havoc on the material world, after having horribly tortured and killed the offending summoner.” He tapped his finger on a large book with a red leather binding. “This book explains it all. I think I could spend the next ten years learning about the craft of demonology and I would still have decades more to learn.”
Joven scratched his chin. “Does that make wizardry easier to learn than demonology?”
Endrance shook his head. “Both are equally difficult. Some people just have a talent for one or the other. I heard stories about people who practiced both, but learning two distinctly different styles of magic is taxing, and takes much longer to learn from either. I suppose if one had the time they could fully learn what they want from one, and then work through the other, but that would take centuries of continuous hard work and risk.”
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