The warrior stood just behind the man he was sworn to protect, added further bad news. “If they have been moving about so freely in small, insignificant groups, it may well be possible some are already inside the city walls,” the man said. Daron concurred, agreeing with his warrior counterpart, “We must move you to the secure rooms in the palace Sire,” he added, “If there are enemy assassins moving about our town you can hazard a guess that you will be their main target.” This time it was the King’s Warrior that agreed, “We should escort you there with haste Sire,” he said already heading for the doorway.
Haldar stood, but stopped short of actually moving, “I think you two would be better suited in defending the city, rather than sat in a room with me.” Daron immediately argued his case, stating that he at least should be at the king’s side. Haldar however, was adamant, “Find me two guild sorcerers, if it makes you feel better, but with our forces so stretched, you Daron are our best chance at defending the city.”
Daron stood calmly bowing his head subserviently, and although he did not agree with the man he was sworn to serve and protect, even at risk to his own life, he would not stand there and argue. The king had made his decision clear and he would abide by it wholeheartedly. “I will find two suitable candidates from the guild, two of the Masters should do,” he said.
“Nonsense Daron, I need every available sorcerer of note on the wall, find me two first year apprentices,” Haldar replied. Once more Daron nodded his understanding, and without further delay headed out of the door for the guild. “When they get here I will need you out leading the defence,” the king said turning to his warrior bodyguard. The huge beast of a man went to speak, but the king held up his hand, and the warrior remained silent, keeping his opinions to himself.
As Daron walked into the guild building, using the passage that linked it with the palace, he immediately noticed the unease amongst those within. The Masters of various factions were trying to organise their apprentices, sending them off in varying directions, depending on their skills. Naturally those with abilities geared towards the art of fighting, those being from the sorcery, warrior and ranger parts of the guild were sent to the main hall. The healers and alchemists, were told to prepare for treating the inevitable arrival of wounded, whilst even some of those from the literary guild were sent to the armoury. If the city was breached even those normally accustomed to wielding quill and paper, would be expected to fight if the need arose.
Alec stood nervously in line, although he had very basic knowledge on how to use a bow and a short sword, he never for one moment thought he would ever have to make use of it in battle. He also knew that if indeed the members of his faction were sent to fight, things were all but lost. He doubted any in the line, waiting to receive weapons from the armoury had any experience to speak of, although some of the more senior members may have, they were spared the call up. Instead those deemed not suitable to fight were left gathering the rarest and most valuable books and parchments, packing them hurriedly into crates and onto wagons; if all looked lost, these and a handful of literary members were to make good their escape, northwards out of the gates.
Daron walked with purpose, and despite the seriousness of what was taking place, those apprentices in the corridors made way for him, as would be expected when such a powerful man visited. Aside from a few acknowledging nods of the head, mainly towards a few of the Masters that were about, he stayed focus, trying to think of how he was going to choose two suitable first year apprentices capable of defending the king should the need arise.
As he stood in the open doorway of the main hall, the room was alive with the sound of nervous chatter, as he looked around for the familiar black robes of the sorcerers. He spotted a man he knew well and squeezed his way past a few apprentices towards him. “Kian!” Daron shouted hoping his voice carried over the noise in the room. The young Master turned at hearing his name, and spotted the King’s sorcerer beckoning him, and duly made his way over. “Are you not protecting the king, Daron?” he asked.
“No his Majesty wished I oversee the defence, I need two first years to keep the king safe…You probably know them better than I would,” Daron said, before noticing two familiar faces. “Those two will do,” he said not needing the young Master’s input after all. “Jake and Mason?” Kian asked to make sure he was looking at the same two people.
Daron recognised their faces as two of Leo’s friends, and the same two who had stood so loyally at his side when the city guard were hunting the lad down. If the king was to have any chance of being protected by such inexperienced sorcerers, then that was certainly one trait that was needed. Although he was unsure of their abilities, he felt some comfort at least, that the two would not simply turn and run at the first sign of trouble.
He waited as Kian went to speak to the two lads, before escorting them back to his position. “I need you two to come with me,” Daron told them, gesturing for them to follow him out of the bustling room, and in to the corridor, where at least he could make himself heard. The two youngsters looked rather puzzled as to why they were being taken away, “Have we done something wrong?” Mason asked as they had to hurry their step just to keep pace.
Daron soon put their worries aside that was not the case, as he told them that he had a special job for them. After turning down numerous corridors, up and down various sets of steps, they found themselves in a much more expensive looking surrounding. “Are we in the palace?” Jake asked trying to pause momentarily to look at one of the pictures on the wall. “Come on Keep up,” Daron called noticing the youngster lagging behind, “You can look at those later if we are still alive to do so,” he added, in a tone that showed just how serious he meant those words.
Jake did not argue, and ran the few steps to catch up, before apologising. “I need you lads to act as the king’s protector,“ Daron said stopping suddenly outside a door. “Come on in and meet him, and don’t forget to act with the proper decorum,” he added showing them in through the door. Daron was surprised to see the king stood alone in the room, “Sire where is Kalin?” he asked noticing the absence of one of the large warriors. “I sent him off to oversee the defence of the city Daron, now come on, you need to be out there too…these two fine looking young men will protect me just the same,” the monarch replied, remaining far calmer then Daron was.
The sorcerer stared at the king a few moments, and pulled a face that told him, he was not impressed with what had just been done, but accepted it nonetheless. “Hopefully I will be back soon, in the mean time I need you to keep the king protected from danger…whatever the cost,” he added making sure they understood what might be needed of them. To their credit, both Jake and Mason nodded, “I understand Sir,” Mason replied on behalf of them both.
“Oh go on Daron, we will be quite alright…Come on lads let us go to the safe rooms,” Haldar said sounding far to jolly considering what was happening.
Daron, as the most senior and powerful wizard in Surmont, probably the entire country, watched his king, and long-time friend, set off down a corridor, heading for what they regarded as the safe rooms. These were essentially a small suite of rooms, prepared and stocked for such emergencies, that could only be accessed via one steel lined door. Once locked, it could only be re-opened from the inside, and although was not thought impregnable, would at least stop all but the most determined attackers.
Mason and Jake walked either side of the king; a man they had only seen from a distance before today. Jake, especially, felt somewhat overwhelmed by the occasion, and if the city being under attack was not bad enough, now being responsible for the man who commanded them all, was all a bit too much for him, although he remained calm.
As they walked, both boys looked across at each other, both clearly nervous about the task they were being asked to do. As if detecting their uncertainty Haldar told them they had nothing to worry about, “Once we get in to these rooms we’ll be quite safe. I had to have you two with me, just to appease Daron
really,” he said turning another corner, and starting off down yet another corridor. Mason was beginning to think the Palace was nothing more than an endless maze of passageways, either that or they were walking around in circles.
As they pulled to a halt outside what appeared to look like any other door, the king gestured them inside. “Is this it?” Jake whispered his friend, who just shrugged and replied, “How do I know.” The king chuckled, “Yes, this is it,” he said pushing the door open. Mason and Jake looked at each other, before having little option but to follow their monarch inside.
The door may have looked very ordinary, but it was certainly much heavier than any Mason had ever tried to close before, and made a much louder noise than most as he slammed it shut behind them. Both apprentice sorcerers were surprised to see at least a dozen or so other people already in the room, and on noticing their puzzlement, the king explained they were royal house staff. “I thought it only fair they are kept safe as well, if there is any threat out there, why should I be the only one to be afforded special protection.”
Mason looked at Jake, with his friend clearly having with the same look of uncertainty on his face as he was feeling. Looking after one man was going to be problematic enough, especially with their limited skills, looking after this many would surely be impossible if they were attacked.
Daron made his way from the palace, and past the guild entrance as dozens of sorcery apprentices of all levels stood nervously, awaiting his arrival. Amongst their number he could easily make out the more mature looking members; those being the Masters of their faction. Without stopping for niceties, the old sorcerer immediately started telling them his plan of defence. Each of the five Masters would take an even amount of first, second and third year apprentices with them, and take up a position around the city’s perimeter.
No sooner had they started working out who was going to go with who, when they were all silenced by several loud explosions, that resonated across the city. “Come on, no time to waste,” Daron shouted, “Just split up,” he said loudly, realising that some groups may be better off than others. They were rocked once more by several other explosions, and not knowing what was causing them, they headed for the guild gates and out into the streets to their place along the wall.
Kian walked ahead of seven apprentices, some of whom he had recruited himself, and most of whom were first years. In the chaotic moment of being divided up, he had certainly gotten an inexperienced group. He instantly recognised Mia and Ewan, who appeared to be holding hands; obviously he thought Leo had been all but forgotten by the girl. He also spotted Alexa and Amber, although she did not have Corey with her, which was surprising, especially as he and Amber were usually stuck to each other.
As they reached the outer areas nearer the perimeter wall of the city, they could already hear the screams of the people, who appeared to be hurrying the opposite way to the one in which they travelling. Kian as the one in charge, stopped just short of the stone steps leading up to the top of the wall to give them a short pep talk. “Stay close to each other, we work as a team,” he told them, “We may not be the most powerful sorcerers, but if we work together we can all walk back down these steps at the end, with our heads held high,” he told them. He took time, to look each apprentice in the eye, before clapping his hands together, “Right let’s go,” he finally added taking the group’s first steps, not knowing what was awaiting them the other side.
As dozens of imps peppered the southern gate with fireballs, the sorcerers in that position were forced to shield those atop the wall from the attacks. Although the ploy was clearly meant to drain their power, it came at great cost to the attackers, as the rangers, both young and old scored several hits on the strange looking beasts, killing almost half within a few minutes.
The imps were not so much the trouble, but the enemy had a new weapon of far greater destruction. Lines of archers, who would normally pose little threat at such a distance were firing long bows towards those atop the wall. However, instead of arrows that would normally have a pointed steel tip, these had what could only be described as a small packaged attached to the end. When these strange arrows hit anything, they exploded, causing those defending to constantly be taking cover, as the protection from the sorcerer’s shields was somewhat intermittent, such was the ferocity. Even those arrows that fell short of their intended target area still caused bother, as when they hit the wall or ground beneath they sent dust, and stones flying in all directions.
As Kian stood atop of the wall looking over the eastern gate, he made sure the young apprentices all stayed close by. He noted that many of the soldiers he was sent to assist, were either very young or quite the opposite, as he quickly tried to calculate how best to use what numbers he had at his disposal. With little time to spend wondering what to do, he was quickly forced to throw up a shield as those below him, outside the wall, fired a salvo of exploding arrows up at those defending it.
There were several loud explosions, as several hit the gate, causing splinters of wood to fly up in to the air, although his shield kept them from injuring anyone. He turned to his left as he heard Mia scream, covering her ears, “Ewan calm her,” he shouted far louder than he actually meant; he knew now was not the time for dramatics. Strange as it was, it was Amber who took the initiative and started firing off a stream of energy blasts, although from a range that Kian knew would not cause their intended targets any worries. His reckoning was soon proved correct as her attacks fizzled out to nothing before even reaching the front ranks of the enemy, “Conserve your energy,” he told them, aiming it at Amber foremost, but meaning it for all of them.
Kian was glad to see six young ranger apprentices run up the steps behind them, and instantly asked them to concentrate their fire on the enemy archers, making a mess of the gate and wall. The youngsters seemed much more up for fighting than his own sorcerers, and had the first volley of arrows in flight within a few seconds of him asking. Just as he thought they might get the upper hand, his hopes were soon dashed, as several enemy sorcerers threw up their own shields, blocking every arrow shaft, before they got close enough to do any damage.
He looked along the enemy lines, trying to figure out how many sorcerers they had, and was sure they outnumbered his own by at least three times. Even if they were not particularly well trained, with there being so many he doubted whether he and his apprentices would out last them. With another barrage of arrows, sent his way, he was once more forced to throw up a shield to protect the people atop the wall, although those arrows that fell short once more hit the gate and wall.
“I need you to help me out here,” he shouted, knowing that he alone could not expect to throw up a shield every time an attack came. Despite Mia being a capable apprentice in the classroom, it was soon apparent neither she nor Ewan, who seemed intent on still holding her hand, were going to be of little use. A second year apprentice named Jack, did however step forward, as he showed his fellow students the way, putting up a good solid shield blocking off the next attack that threatened their wellbeing.
Kian however, also seemed concerned about the continuous pounding being taken by the gates and wall, as more and more of the exploding arrows slammed in to them, chipping away at them a little at a time. With his energy being slowly depleted from shielding the soldiers and apprentices atop the wall, he could not afford to expand further and protect everything.
The picture was a similar all around the southern, eastern and western sides, although the north at least seemed bereft of any action at all. Although this meant the defenders stood there were in no immediate danger, it did not mean they could be moved elsewhere to help, just in case that scenario changed. Ayleen, the sorcery Master who was positioned there, could only stand and hear the sound of explosions echo over the city, knowing she had to remain at her post regardless.
Chapter 22.
Mason sat staring around the room, and thought for an emergency only place, it was certainly well furnished. Not only did it
have plush cushioned chairs for sitting on, and a table large enough to seat at least a dozen people, but it also had its own kitchen area just off the main room. Furthermore, through another door to his left, there was apparently a bedroom, just in case the man they were there to protect fancied a nap.
He watched as his friend Jake paced restlessly around the room, stopping occasionally to look at the pictures on the walls. The king seemed calmest of them all, and appeared quite content sitting at a desk in the corner, scribbling on pieces of parchment. The royal staff who were in there with them seemed far less comfortable with the situation, as Mason realised the reason why. At first he had thought they were scared and frightened, perhaps a little anxious, just as he himself was, but although the feint sound of explosions outside were disturbing, he realised that was not the cause.
Watching carefully, he noticed that each time Jake walked past certain members of the staff, they became agitated; strange he thought, considering they should be quite used to seeing sorcerers when dealing with the king. After all, the monarch usually had Daron shadowing his every move, and Mason thought there were few more daunting sights than him. He watched the face of a young man as Jake once more moved near him, and followed the man’s eye line, to see he was looking at another man across the room. Mason flicked his gaze between the two, puzzled as to why they should look so ill at ease, when the other staff in the house remained much calmer.
The Apprentice Sorcerer: The Caldronian Guild Page 18