The Apprentice Sorcerer: The Caldronian Guild

by Andrew G. Wood

  Leo, although mocked for doing so, once more by Sasha, had stuck to his morals, and helped the soldiers whenever possible. Those from the guild obviously found it amusing, although the young troops had now accepted him into their group as well; something he was quite pleased with. At first they had been weary as to his purpose in helping, and it had taken a day or so before any of them really spoke to him, but he had persevered nonetheless, and appeared to have won over their trust.

  Ruben had told them, that as they had not found any sign of any enemy soldiers, magicians or even one of the imps they spoke about, they would start heading back towards Surmont in the morning. After all, they had done what had been asked, and scouted the south eastern lands of their country, and came up with nought. That of course did not mean the enemy were not attacking, it purely meant just not in the area they had been allocated and searched at the moment they were in the vicinity. Leo had felt a little disappointed at their lack of success, although in truth, he was also glad, because it also meant they had not been put in any danger.

  It was late on the third day when Sasha, as eagle eyed as ever, spotted a small tendril of smoke rising in the distance. The sun was low in the sky, giving it a hazy reddish colour, meaning in a few more hours it would start getting dark. Ruben, for the first time since they had all left Surmont, ordered them to pick up the pace, something Leo was finding a little problematic. The faster his horse trotted the more difficult he found it, as he was bumping up and down much more; although he seemed to be going down when the horse was up, and vice versa, making the entire experience quite uncomfortable.

  He looked over to see Sasha glare and shake her head his direction, clearly not impressed with what she was seeing. Despite Leo trying to keep his body moving up and down in time with the horse, he was clearly having no success in doing so. However, despite his rather novice-looking horse riding skills, the group covered the ground much quicker than usual. They crossed over a grassy meadow, that led up a small incline, and as they neared their target, Leo could clearly see the smoke that Sasha had spotted a little earlier. Of course, there might still actually be no attackers, and it might just have been a farmer burning off some part of his field, as he knew they sometimes did; although that was usually later in the season when the crops had been reaped.

  As they reached the brow of the hill, Ruben waved a hand for them to spread out, and Leo saw the enemy for the first time. A small village of cottages and farm buildings were alight, and running amok around them were a score or more soldiers. However, it was not those that caught Leo’s eye, but the strange, small creatures bounding around, manifesting small balls of fire and launching them indiscriminately around the village.

  As they were clearly outnumbered, Leo thought Ruben would call for them to retreat quickly back out of sight, but was soon proved wrong. “Leo time to show us what you can do, I need those sorcerers dealing with,” the ranger said firmly, pointing over to the left where several villagers seemed to be rounded up. Stood beside them were two robed characters, that Leo immediately assumed were the magicians in question, and quickly felt his heart pounding.

  Leo nodded, albeit a little nervously, as he could feel the adrenaline pumping through his body, and his palms sweating. As they galloped their horses down the hill, they were soon spotted by the enemy soldiers, who quickly started shouting and attempting to group up together, to meet them. Leo however, kept his eyes firmly fixed on the two sorcerers, who moved away from their captives and stood facing him some two hundred or more paces away.

  At first Leo wondered why they were not firing anything at him, and realised they were probably thinking it was too far for them to do so. With the Caldronian soldiers, heading off to the right, along with Samuel and Kenton, he noticed Kindra slow up, the time for her to show her skills would likely come later he thought. Sasha and Ruben however appeared to be staying nearer to him, although he was unsure as to why. That was until two arrows flew past him, each taking down one of the strange imp like creatures, killing them both instantly. The third and last of the creatures looked up, almost surprised, as Ruben also sent that to its death, the same way.

  Hoping to make use of his extra power, Leo thought it would be a good chance to get the first shot in. Taking one of his hands off the reins, he tried to concentrate the flow of energy, only to lose his balance as the horse pulled slightly off to the left. Despite grabbing out in a poor attempt at regaining control, Leo slumped sideward off his horse, hitting the ground with a very painful thump.

  Despite hurting, he managed to scramble to his feet, as he watched both Sasha and Ruben fire off an arrow each. The shafts flew true to their targets, but both were stopped instantly in their paths by the enemy sorcerers raising shields. The rangers quickly fired another shot, and it took Leo a few moments to realise they were trying to buy him a few valuable seconds.

  Taking a deep breath, he concentrated once more, and felt the trickle of power running down to his fingertips, before releasing off a barrage of smaller blasts, as Daron had taught him. It was quickly evident that even these were far more than the enemy sorcerers could handle, as both seemed to struggle to maintain their magical barrier as his attacks hit. With Leo thinking he had the upper hand he quickly fired off a second volley, being ever watchful they did not suddenly start returning fire his direction. The first three bolts crashed into the shields once more, one after the other in quick succession, the fourth caused the first sorcerer to his knees, as Leo realised the man was done; his energy spent.

  He then concentrated on the second, by just letting off a couple of smaller shots, only to see this man slump to his knees, joining his colleague on the ground. “Good work!” he heard Ruben shout, “Now go help the soldiers, Sasha and I will deal with these two.” Leo did not argue, and went to run, only to realise his leg was too painful to do so. He grimaced and cursed as he hobbled his way over to where the soldiers and two warriors were now engaging the enemy troops.

  He turned back to see the two rangers dismount, and was shocked to witness Sasha of all people stand behind one of the fallen sorcerers and slit the man’s throat. He felt his stomach twist and had to turn away quick, hoping that concentrating on the task in hand would take his mind off what he had just witnessed.

  He had to admit that although the handful of soldiers fighting for Caldronia were outnumbered by their counterparts, Samuel and Kenton certainly made up for it. The two moved so quickly, with sword and shield, deflecting blows from one enemy and striking out at another. Unfortunately, he could also see at least one of the young Caldronian soldiers already down, although he was uncertain if the man was dead or just injured.

  Leo was uncertain as to exactly what he should do, with the soldiers from both sides, mixed up, in their hand to hand combat, he was certain that there was a good chance he might injure one of his own side. “Are you just going to stand there?” he heard Sasha snap at him as she galloped her horse past his position. She clearly had no such qualms, as she lifted her bow and fired off an arrow, taking down one of the enemy soldiers as it struck him cleanly in the chest.

  Leo thought that if he could perhaps send the slightest trickle of power to his fingers, that the energy bolts he fired would do no serious harm, and if they were to strike a friendly target he at least would not be killed. He sent forth just a couple of small blasts, and although the first missed, the second just caught an enemy soldier sending him to the ground in pain. The window of opportunity given by him, allowed the man fighting him to deal the killing blow.

  Within a few minutes the fighting was all but over, and Leo watched as Ruben and Sasha chased down the last of the enemy who were trying to flee. The pair of rangers were certainly ruthless, a side to both he had never envisaged before this moment. Kindra did not hang around as she moved forward, and dismounted from her horse to deal with the three Caldronian soldiers on the ground.

  Two of them seemed to be moving, and he watched as she moved hurriedly to the third. He felt all but h
elpless as the woman worked tirelessly to try and save the young man’s life, but it was soon apparent even Kindra’s skills were not sufficient to do so. He limped a little nearer to look at the young face, before glancing at the wound he had in his stomach, “I can’t do anything for him, the wound was a fatal one,” she said noticing him standing over her. “What of the other two?” Leo asked hoping they could be saved, “They will both live,” she said with a certainty to her voice, that made Leo feel a little better. “You are hurt…Come on let me deal with you first,” Kindra said noticing he was limping.

  Leo held up his hand, “No Kindra…I am fine please help the soldiers first,” he asked.

  “It is my duty to heal you first,” she replied, moving towards him rather than the two men still lying on the ground.

  “Please Kindra…See to them first,” he said through gritted teeth. Although the pain he was now feeling was quite severe, he was determined to make a stand which he felt was morally right. The healer stared at him for a moment, before nodded her head, “Very well,” she said a little sharply, clearly not liking the tone in which Leo was using towards her.

  Ruben trotted his horse over to see that everyone was okay, bringing Leo’s horse along with him. “He has an injury, but won’t let me deal with it?” Kindra shouted up from one of her patients. Leo looked up at Ruben staring back at him, “See you get sorted,“ he said firmly, realising now was not the time for arguments, before riding back over to where the villagers were gathered.

  Leo was glad to see the two injured soldiers sitting up, and Kindra eventually make her way over to him, “Happy now,” she said. Leo gave her a smile, although it was still clear she was not particularly happy with his behaviour. She pressed down on his left leg, and he yelped much louder than he meant too, “Hmm seems you have twisted it,” she said, reaching down to her bag at her side. She pulled out a bandage, and started wrapping it tightly around the knee area, before delving into her pack again and pulling out a small vial. “Here, drink this. It will relieve the pain, and help with the healing,” she said, “No arguments!” She added firmly. Leo grimaced a little before doing as he was told, necking the potion back in one go, which was just as well as he thought it tasted utterly disgusting.

  After resting a few minutes, Leo managed to get to his feet, surprisingly easier than he had thought it would be; obviously the potion given to him by Kindra was already working. His first thought was of the two young men, injured in the fighting, and he made them his first point of call. After checking both were as well as can be expected under the circumstances, he wandered over to where the imps had fallen. Kenton also seemed to be taking an interest in the strange looking creatures, prodding one rather gingerly with the toe end of his boot, turning the beast over onto its back. The arrow that had struck its chest had almost pierced right through, “They look almost human,” the warrior said cringing slightly as he looked a little more closely. Leo simply nodded, before deciding to join with the others now gathered with the surviving villagers.

  The small settlement had also not been without its casualties, as Leo noticed at least half a dozen bodies, all lying dead in close vicinity of each other. He assumed by their positioning they had stood as a group, probably trying to defend their loved ones, and on closer inspection could see each of them had been downed by the strike of a sorcerer’s blast. The tell-tale signs of scorched clothing and burnt flesh were evident in each one he looked at. Perhaps if they had been a little quicker, they might have got here sooner, and managed to save these poor people, although at least seeing some survivors was some small comfort to him.

  “Well done Leo,” Ruben said as he stepped up behind him, “Despite falling from your horse, you did well,” the ranger added. Leo turned to look at the ranger, “Yes, sorry about that…I’m just not very good with horses,” he replied with a wry smile. Ruben patted him on the shoulder, “Come on, we are setting camp here tonight, and heading back tomorrow.”

  “We are going back to Surmont?” Leo asked, surprised they would be returning, especially now they had found the enemy.

  “We have injured men, but more importantly we have managed to recover these from the dead sorcerers,” Ruben replied holding up two of what amounted to several glass vials.

  “What are they?” Leo asked.

  “Not sure, but I am quite certain it is nothing pleasant, and has something to do with those imp things over there.”

  After helping the remaining villagers put out the last of the fires, the group were treated to a cooked meal and a few bottles of wine for their daring rescue, with the children especially, finding Sasha and Ruben somewhat of an enigma. Leo however, was treated somewhat differently as the villagers seemed intent on giving him a wide-birth at every opportunity. He did not actually mind that too much, as he already knew that sorcerers were generally treated as such, because people were scared of the unknown.

  Leo however, now had his own reservations. Rangers, he had always assumed, were skilled trackers and hunters, now he also knew they were cold blooded killers. The image of Sasha slicing through the throat of the exhausted enemy sorcerer was still fresh in his mind. It was not the actual killing that bothered him, but the way she had gone about it, as if it were nothing more than an everyday thing that she was doing. Then again he thought was he any different, after all, he had already killed a man in the palace corridors a little while back. The two warriors, Samuel and Kenton, had shown no qualms in slicing their way through the enemy, during the fighting, yet it was still not the same as standing over a helpless, defenceless one and killing them.

  His reflective mood was interrupted by the last person he would have expected to want to talk to him. Sasha stood over him, “Are you okay?” she asked catching him by surprise. In the flickering fire light, he could make out her long blonde hair, and her glistening eyes staring straight down at him. “Not too bad, thank you for asking,” he said trying to sound polite. He thought she was going to leave it at that, and was even more surprised when the young ranger came and sat down beside him.

  “Are you alright?” he asked her not being able to think of anything else to say. Sasha’s reply was more of a grunt than any actual form of word, as an awkward silence fell between them. Leo tried to think of something worthy of saying, but for some reason he felt nervous about speaking in case he said something stupid. In the end he was thankful that Sasha took the initiative, “It was a nice meal they cooked for us,” she said referring to the one they had just eaten. Leo replied with a nod, before clearing his throat and answering to the affirmative, “It was nice to have a drink of wine too,” he added hoping that did not sound stupid.

  Another short silence fell between the two, “You were very good today,” He eventually said trying not to think about the throat slitting incident. He looked over to her, and watched as she turned to face him, and saw her smile for the first time since meeting him, “Thanks,” she replied, “You were much better than I thought you would be…apart from the ‘falling off your horse’ bit of course,” she added trying not to giggle. Leo was not certain whether she was mocking him again, or just genuinely finding it funny, but decided to laugh at his own misfortunes, “Yes I’ve not had much experience with horses, does it show?” he added.

  Leo held Sasha’s gaze for a few moments before thinking he should probably look away, just in case she started thinking him a little weird. However, in the flickering light of the fire, he could see just how beautiful she was, and now she was smiling it looked even better. “I don’t usually go for younger men,” he heard her say, and was about to reply to enquire what she meant, when he was shocked by her next move. Before he could speak, he felt Sasha’s soft lips pressed against his own, and her hand gently touching the side of his face. Although the moment was brief, it did seem to have the effect of washing away all his aches and pains. As Sasha moved her head back she held eye contact with him, and smiled again, which he returned with interest, despite hearing Samuel and Kenton sniggering ne
arby.

  Chapter 21.

  The warning bells rang out across the city of Surmont, as the gates were hurriedly closed. Tracked and spotted just a few miles off, was a group of Belarian troops, which by all accounts was getting increasingly larger, as more and more smaller groups arrived to join them. Despite the extensive scouting and tracking of some of the groups, it seemed the Caldronians had been caught somewhat by surprise, as the small number of defenders started lining the walls.

  In the palace, the King was being informed, eating his breakfast whilst listening. “How many are we talking about here?” he asked.

  “Hard to tell Sire,“ His sorcerer Daron replied, “They seem to have travelled in many smaller groups, by-passing our scouts and are now grouping up. At the moment they probably number five hundred or so, although not a huge number they do appear to have a lot of sorcerers amongst that number.”

  King Haldar sighed heavily, this had been the one thing he had feared would happen. With him sending all his forces out to scout, and defend his outer lying towns and villages, he had dramatically weakened the defences of the capital. With the recent reports having come back to him of his southern towns successfully repelling, what he could only describe as nuisance attacks, he had thought that he was succeeding in keeping the enemy at bay. With so much of his fighting force scattered about his country in small groups, he hoped he had not left his capital without sufficient numbers with which to defend it. Having sent his only son to a safer northern town when all the troubles started, Haldar at least did not have to worry about him. If the worst should happen, and he was to fall, at least the heir to the Caldronian throne would continue onwards.