Walking, rather than running, albeit at a much quicker pace than normal, Kian led the two apprentice sorcerers out of the guild grounds and down the street. With them nearing the location of the small garrison used by the sorcerer’s city guard, Kian knew something else had taken place, as soldiers were running about the yard, with the small number of sorcerers at their lead. Kian stopped and looked about, hoping to spot someone in authority, and spotted the person he was after, giving orders to another group of soldiers.
He quickly rushed over to where the black robed figure stood, and interrupted him mid-sentence. It was common knowledge the sorcerers of the guard did not always see eye to eye with the Masters of the guild, mainly it was thought, because those in the guild were considered far superior and held in much higher regard. This was probably true, and that the sorcerers of the guard were certainly far less skilful and powerful than their guild counterparts.
It was quickly clear that the man in charge of the guard’s sorcerers was not over pleased at being rudely stopped mid-sentence. Kian however did not care, and immediately demanded to know where one of his apprentices was being held, and why. Kian looked at the older man’s face, as it showed signs of a smirk, “The boy escaped and fled, injured three of the guard,” the man said seemingly enjoying the situation. “Boy is now a fugitive…Oh and when we find him, he will be tried as such,” the man added breaking into a chuckle.
Kian just scoffed at the remark, knowing that he needed to find Leo before any of the guard did. Although he knew Leo had the potential to best, probably all the sorcerers and soldiers of the guard, he was still very inexperienced. It would only take a well-trained soldier to catch Leo unawares, and even despite the youngsters overwhelming powers, he would surely kill him.
Jake and Mason diligently followed their Master back out into the city streets, “What has happened?” the latter asked.
“Nothing that can’t be sorted, but we need to find Leo before that lot do,” Kian replied trying to think where a young lad fearing for his life might go.
“Has Leo escaped?” Jake enquired still unsure as to why they were leaving the small garrison facility without his friend.
“Yes Leo has escaped…and injured a few others in the process by all accounts,” Kian said a little harshly before turning to face the two youngsters. “This is serious boys, if they find Leo before us they will kill him,” he said making sure they understood just how grave the situation was.
“Try and think like Leo…Where would he go? He asked them as he started pacing off down a side street. “Back to the guild perhaps,” Mason suggested, “But that would probably the first place they would think of looking,” he added discounting his own idea, before the others could. “Well if he has no money, and no other clothes to change into, surely he would keep out of sight, at least until nightfall…well that’s what I would do anyway,” Jake suggested.
Kian stopped suddenly, “I think you’re right,” he said clicking his finger and thumb together, “But where…” he added letting the sentence peter off.
“I don’t know, somebody’s garden, or an empty house perhaps,” Mason replied thinking aloud.
“There are not many empty houses in Surmont,” Kian answered.
“Good then it won’t take long to search them,” Jake replied gesturing for their Master to lead the way.
The first property they found was a large walled dwelling with huge wrought iron gates that were chained shut. After walking the perimeter, it was soon apparent there was no way in, “Well unless Leo has grown wings, I doubt he will be in there,” Kian said almost disappointedly looking up to the top of the wall. Moreover, he thought, somebody would likely have seen a black-robed sorcerer clambering over a fifteen-foot stone wall.
The second and third properties, although empty, clearly showed no signs of anybody forcing an entry, and Kian was beginning to run out of ideas. After viewing several more, all with the same result, Kian sighed, “Those are the only empty properties I know about,” he admitted to the others.
“Perhaps we should re-trace our steps back to the garrison and try to think which way Leo would have gone,” Mason suggested, trying to at least come up with some kind of plan. Kian just shrugged, “It’s better than doing nothing,” he said as he noticed a member of the sorcerer’s guard and twelve soldiers walk up to the last house they had just checked on. “Looks like they are thinking along the same lines as us,” he said picking up the pace with just a little more urgency.
Despite Jake feeling his legs cramping a little from pacing around the city streets, he did not complain, although he was finding it a struggle. Mason had noticed his friend limping a little and had already enquired about his welfare on two occasions, but Jake had just waved his hand saying he was fine. He knew Leo’s life was far more important than his own small suffering, and was quite willing to push on regardless.
It was getting late, and Kian reckoned in another hour or so and it would start getting dark. The three of them had spent the best part of two hours walking the alleyways and back streets of Surmont looking for Leo but to no avail. The only positive thing was that the guards were still also out searching, which meant they had not managed to track him down either.
All hope appeared lost, as Jake sat down on the side of the street rubbing his tired legs. Kian and Mason stood over him, checking he was alright as he nodded to both, before looking across the street, “How about there?” he asked looking at a rather derelict building, behind a rickety looking perimeter fence. Kian and Mason both turned to see where he was pointing, as the Master sighed loudly, “Bloody hell, we have so blind,” he uttered as he dashed across the street and in through a gap in the fence.
After Mason had helped his friend to his feet, they both followed the man’s lead, catching him up just as he was walking around the back of the property. Kian put his finger up to his lips to suggest the two boys remain quiet; the last thing they wanted to do if Leo was inside, was to spook him.
Kian crept quietly inside a fire damaged room, before creating a small globe of light in his palm to help him see in the gloom. “Leo,” he whispered as he spotted a dark shape huddled on the floor in the corner. “Is it him?” Mason asked a little more loudly. “Go away…I need to escape the city,” a very frightened voice replied. Kian let the light he had created grow a little before sending it up to the ceiling, illuminating the room they were in.
The Guild Master slowly stepped over to Leo and sat down beside him, “We are here to take you home,” he said softly. “I am in trouble… they wanted to put me in prison…and I injured some of the guards...and now they probably want to hang me,” the youngster sobbed. Kian placed a friendly arm around the boy’s shoulder, “I will not let them take you anywhere. You are coming back to the guild with us,” Kian added.
Leo did not want his friends to get in trouble for helping him, despite their obvious concern for his wellbeing, a feeling he explained to those in the room. “They’re not going to be getting anywhere near you Leo,” Jake said defiantly.
“Too right, they would have half the guild to fight to get to you,” Mason added, not actually knowing that was true or not, but he thought it sounded good.
After a little gentle persuasion, Kian managed to get Leo to his feet, and in the eerie light in the room did not see the face of a great powerful sorcerer, but that of a scared young boy. “Come on,” he said suggesting they get back to the guild as soon as possible. “I promise we’ll sort this out, and I also promise you that I have no intention of handing you over to those idiots in the city guard.”
Whether someone had spotted them entering the derelict property or someone had seen the light Kian had created, they were unsure, but when they got outside into the street they were met with a slight problem. Standing in line across the roadway, blocking any escape left or right, were at least two score of soldiers and six black robed sorcerers of the City Guard.
Kian grabbed Leo’s arm and held it firm, thinking the youn
gster might try and run, “Stay close to me,” he said trying to reassure him that he meant everything he had just said. Without even being asked Mason and Jake stood either side of their friend, as if making a statement that if anybody wanted Leo, then they would have to go through them first.
“Hand the boy over,” Came a shout from one of the guards. “Failing to do so will result in all of you becoming accomplices to his crimes,” the same man shouted.
“Never going to happen,” Kian replied. “I am a Guild Master and you will let us pass,” he added hoping his seniority might prove enough for them to stand down. He was not overly convinced himself however, “Prepare yourselves boys, this might get messy,” he added hoping Leo remained calm.
“I’ll give myself up,” came the weak voice from beneath Leo’s hood.
“You bloody well will not,” Mason said defiantly, as the youngster put his lessons to good use, and made a rather impressive looking shield that covered all of them. However, the youngster’s actions were clearly taken as a threat, as several of the regular soldiers raised crossbows, preparing to fire. Two of the sorcerers then sent forth several rapid bolts of energy, which hit the shield, causing Mason to shudder, as he struggled to keep the barrier up. His saving grace came as Kian decided to help him, by throwing up another shield over his, effectively taking the hits for him.
“You cannot hope to defeat us all,” one of the guards shouted, as all six of the sorcerers fired a barrage of energy blasts against Kian’s shield. The shots were not meant to burst through and kill him, but to merely drain away the power needed to maintain it, and weaken him sufficiently so he could be taken from the equation. “Let me have a go,” Jake suggested wanting to help in some way, although his shields were a little hit and miss just like Mason’s.
Leo, although thoroughly demoralised watched on as his Guild Master and two friends fended off several more blows. Even in his sorrowful state of mind, he could not help but admire their loyalty and determination to keep him safe, and thought he should probably help; after all this mess was his doing. “I can help,” he said a little sullenly shoving forward just a little. Kian immediately stepped across him to stop his progress, “No need Leo,” he said making out he could cope. In reality of course Kian did not want Leo’s assistance in case the lad overwhelmed the guard with his greater power. Aryan had already updated the other masters on what had happened in the corridors of the palace, when Leo’s superior power had blasted straight through the escaped prisoners shield, turning the man into a charred corpse.
“We are sitting ducks here,” Mason added, “We could do with a few more guild members, then we could show them,” he added, looking about left to right, just on the off chance any of them were due to make an appearance. None seemed to be coming, and although he in no way classed himself as intelligent, even he knew that Kian must be all but drained of power by now. In fact, he was surprised how quickly his own energy had diminished in comparison to his Guild Master, which only added to the great respect he already had for the man.
“Can you shield Leo,” Kian gasped as he felt exhaustion overcome his entire body. “Don’t attack just shield us four,” he added, thinking his legs would not support him for much longer. Leo nodded albeit a little sombrely, before concentrating, like he had never concentrated before. His friends had stood beside him, defending him, and with a new resolve he would try his very best to help them out of this debacle they now found themselves in.
Kian’s shield finally gave way as another barrage of energy blasts smashed into it, and the Guild Master eventually stumbled. Mason and Jake immediately rushed to his aid, both using a supporting shoulder to help him stand. “Down to you Leo,” Jake said from beneath his hood.
“Just keep us shielded,” Kian gasped, struggling to speak as his body cried out for rest.
Leo afforded a small smile, as his shield of glimmering energy hung over them, and even more so as the sorcerers in the guard thought they had all but ended their resistance. The smile however was short lived as Leo found keeping such a concentration increasingly difficult, and as a result the shield he was holding started flickering. As the sorcerers with the guards started firing once more, he found himself becoming frustrated as he barely managed to keep them from being hit.
Leo was beginning to realise his only option was to be aggressive, and if it came down to injuring the guards who had wrongly arrested and hunted him down, or his friends getting hurt, then he thought it a no brainer. He waited until the last of the energy bolts crashed into his wavering barrier of energy, before making his move. He was just about to thrust his arm forward when those he was about to fire at were suddenly parted, as another black-robed figure came into view, quickly followed by a familiar face wearing the brown robes of the Literary Guild.
There was a lot of shouting and cursing, but the King’s Sorcerer paid little heed to any of it, as he used a shield of magic to push aside the soldiers, before stepping forward toward Leo and the others beside him. “Come on lad, let’s get you back home,” Daron said, sounding surprisingly calm and sympathetic. Leo just nodded, and after checking Jake and Mason could manage with Kian, stepped up beside the King’s sorcerer. Leo felt himself almost smothered as Alec grabbed him and gave him a hug, “You had us all worried,” his friend said before releasing him. Daron enquired if he was physically unharmed, and Leo replied he was fine, before the man turned to the City Guards, “Go back to your garrison, this matter is dealt with and finished,” he shouted.
“This boy is wanted for serious crimes Daron,” one of the sorcerers complained, “And we will see him brought to justice,” he added.
“Well you’ll have to go through me to get him,” Daron replied gesturing for the group to head back to the guild.
Once more those who had been attacking him just a few moments ago were forced aside by Daron’s shield, although that did not stop the glares of hatred aimed Leo’s direction. He thought that this particular incident may have been sorted out to his benefit, but he was, all but certain that this was not the last of the matter. He stepped up beside Daron, “I only tried to help,” he said as he turned back to see them still watching him.
“I know lad, don’t worry about it. It’s a good job you have such loyal friends,” he added looking over to Jake, Mason and Alec who was also now helping Kian. Leo nodded and smiled, “Am I going to be excluded from the guild?” he asked not really sure he wanted to know the answer.
Daron stopped in his tracks and turned to face Leo, “Excluded? Not bloody likely…with all the troubles going on at the moment having found you is a bloody godsend. No you’ll be back first thing in the morning for further training…We’ll be working on your shield for one,” he said before heading back off.
The rest of the short trip up the main street continued in silence, and despite some of the guard following them, Leo noticed they did not pass through the guild gates. Daron turned to see Leo watching them, “Don’t worry lad, they would not dare enter here. Might be worth not going out into the city…at least not for a little while.” Leo nodded, he would be quite happy if he never had to go through such a thing again.
Chapter 15.
King Oribe of Belaria, walked slowly along the line of his new sorcery recruits, in a bid to mimic the Caldronians and their guild system. He could tell as he stopped briefly beside each one that none were of any great strength, yet he knew with the right training they all could be very useful to his cause. In the first week he had already lost two of his trainees, as he had the youngsters taught to shield and attack. As soon as they had learned that, they were then pitted against each other in a series of duels. Those unable to shield properly had soon been found out, and had paid the ultimate price, with only the best surviving.
Whether these new recruits could match up to those created by the Caldronians he was as yet, unsure. If nothing else they would boost the numbers in his ranks, and at least ensure a steady supply of magicians to accompany his regular troops. HIs next,
and probably his boldest plan so far, would take place very soon. With a good deal of time spent scouting the enemy, as well as planning with his generals, whom he had to admit were far more tactically savvy than himself, Oribe was in a confident mood.
Having seen enough of his latest recruits, he headed back to the palace, escorted as always by his personal guard. A powerful sorcerer he may be, but he was not so foolish to think he was an invincible one. In becoming king, he had made many enemies, and not just those from other lands. There were likely more than a few of the Belarian nobility that would take great pleasure in seeing him fall foul of an assassin’s blade.
As he walked his way the short distance back between the garrison building and the royal palace, Oribe nodded to himself, a self-satisfying nod, as he thought how clean the streets of his capital city Ferden were. Now bereft of the beggars and outcasts that had once been the stain on society, those that he could see, went about their business as he thought they should, bowing subserviently as he passed, before continuing.
Despite feeling a little peckish, and the need to draw energy from one of the many prisoners that were kept in the holding pens in the palace cellars, like pigs awaiting their turn for slaughter, Oribe headed for his main office. With his largest and boldest attack about to start he wanted the very latest news and intelligence reports before he did anything else.
The Apprentice Sorcerer: The Caldronian Guild Page 12