“Earth doesn’t like to be controlled,” Teoni said.
“I thought you ran for safety,” Arran said.
“I did. I saw Danton’s men headed south. I doubled back to come find you.”
They were interrupted by the sounds of rumbling in the distance. Arran put his hand on the ground, “There are still distant vibrations. They seem to go back up the mountain. “I think there are tremors occurring toward the village and citadel,” he felt the blood drain from his face, “come on. We have to get to the citadel. I think I might have caused a bigger disaster than I intended.”
Chapter 6 – Alone
When Arran and Teoni reached the Citadel they found it in ruins. Part of the mountain had fallen on top of it. Arran came to the edge of the former stronghold and fell to his knees.
“I’ve destroyed it. I killed them all!” He put his head into his hands and wept.
Teoni put her hand on his back, “This is your fault.”
“I made the earthquake, I tried to destroy Danton, how is this not my fault?”
“It’s not your fault because you don’t have control over your abilities yet.” She looked down the mountain trail toward the village. “We have to go Arran, I can see villagers coming up the trail. They find you here…”
Arran wiped the tears from his eyes, “I need to find my father.”
“There’s no time. We have to go now.”
Arran nodded and rose to his feet. Teoni took his hand and pulled him along with her as she left the Citadel. Arran tried to look back as they fled but he knew he would never see his father again. They didn’t get far down the trail before one of the witches of the Citadel appeared before them. She was dirty and her left arm appeared wounded. She held her hand out to make them stop. Arran was terrified by the look on her face.
“This was not you’re doing, boy. This is the work of another designed to make it seem like you destroyed the Citadel. I saw the man in the mountains above the Citadel.”
“What do you look like?” Arran asked.
The witch stumbled and Arran caught her by her right arm and kept her from falling. He knelt down with her until she was on the ground looking up at him from his lap. “He was an older man. He wore kingly robes.” She gazed at Teoni, “You must believe me. I saw him, I saw him destroy the Citadel.”
“I do believe you,” Teoni said.
“Do you think the king would bother to send someone here to frame me?”
“At this point, I would believe it,” Teoni said.
The witch cupped Arran’s face with her right hand, “You must not let him win.” She beckoned with her eyes for him to lower his face so she could speak to him in a whisper, “The girl you are with, she can be a great help to you or she might be a terrible mistake. You must beware!”
“What do you see?” Arran asked.
“I see, I see…” The witch gasped her last breath and expired.
Arran and Teoni were forced to leave the witch where she fell; they simply didn’t have the time to perform the ritual. Arran knew that the surviving witches would find her and give her the proper send off as was their custom. Still, he felt guilty for simply walking away and leaving her there.
“I knew her,” Arran said as they made their way up the mountain trial. “She was a friend with my teacher. I don’t think the king or any other mage came down and destroyed the citadel with an earthquake at the same instant I did. She was trying to protect me. My teacher had probably told her about me.”
“Why do you think that?” Teoni asked.
Arran hesitated to tell her, “I was confronted by a seer. What she saw in my future compelled her to try to kill me.”
“Oh, and then what happened?”
“She didn’t succeed, obviously.”
“I meant did you find out what she saw?”
“No, but I think this was the beginning of it. She saw me wipe out the citadel.”
“I think that’s a bit of a stretch.”
“Regardless, I won’t use this magic again until I can control it better.” He looked at Teoni, “Why are you smiling?”
“Am I? I was just thinking about how noble it is of you to abstain from using your magic.”
“Don’t be too impressed yet. I may have to abstain from using it again.” He pointed at the twelve or so bandits straddling the road.
“Who are they?” Teoni asked.
“Bandits and cutthroats.”
“How do you know?”
“They are all wearing the same bandana around their necks. I have seen it before.”
More bandits came from their hiding places in the nearby trees at the side of the road and surrounded them.
“Let me do the talking,” Arran whispered.
Chapter 7 – The Feast
One of the bandits held Teoni by her arms while the leader drew two daggers and pointed them at Arran, “We will take the girl from you and leave you with your life.”
“That’s hardly a fair trade.”
The leader laughed out loud with his men, “Your life is not worth the girl?”
“That’s not exactly what I meant. I meant you taking the girl for free isn’t a fair trade.” Teoni gave him a hard look, “That didn’t come out right either.” The bandits laughed at him again.
“So, you want me to pay for the girl and kill you. That doesn’t sound fair to me.” The bandit leader said to the hilarity of his men.
Arran’s first instinct, of course, was to invoke his abilities but after the Citadel and the fight with Danton, he was afraid he might accidentally hurt someone again. For once, he wanted to resolve his problems without the use of his magic. He held up his hand, “I am unarmed but I am trained with most weaponry. If you would lend me a weapon I will fight you for her in one-on-one combat. Just you and me no interference from your men.”
“Interesting, you would risk your life for this wench?”
“Hey!” Teoni protested.
Arran shook his head at her hoping that she would get the hint not to make more waves while he negotiated, “If I win, you let us both pass peacefully. If you win, you get the girl and you may do to me whatever you see fit.”
The bandit leader paused for thought, “I think you have yourself a deal.” He nodded to one of his men, “throw him a sword.” He looked back at Arran, “It is a sword that you want, right?”
“It will do fine,” Arran said as one of the men tossed him a sword.
The bandit jumped into the fight as soon as Arran picked up the sword. Arran blocked the daggers with the sword but one did manage to cut his forearm where he wasn’t quick enough to evade. He didn’t have time to wince or nurse the cut because the bandit leader was on him again as soon as he blocked and parried the next move.
“What is your name bandit?” Arran asked, trying to get him to slow down.
“I am called Maslah, I am from Asirad. What is your name, friend?” he struck the sword with one dagger and jabbed Arran in the side with the other. Although there was pain, it wasn’t a deep cut.
“I am called Arran.”
“Pleased to meet you, Arran,” he said. “It’s a rare thing to find a gentleman willing to exchange pleasantries during a fight.” He parried a sword thrust to Arran’s chagrin and returned with a dagger jab to the ribs. The pain of the wound radiated up into his chest and took his breath away momentarily. Arran stumbled back and almost fell. Anger and panic almost made him electrify the other man’s daggers but he refrained.
“Where are you from, young Arran?” he crossed his daggers to defend himself.
“A small village at the foot of these mountains,” Arran replied.
“Ah, I think have been there. This is a beautiful place, way up here in Tamania’s mountains.” He dodged another awkward attack. “I love the mystery and the lure of the witches.”
“Then you might be surprised to learn that I was raised in these mountains by witches.”
Maslah stopped in his tracks, “Why didn’t you sa
y so?” He put his daggers away. “Let’s get those wounds looked after. We can’t be fighting. We’re kin.” He motioned for his men to let Teoni go. “Gather your things together.” He said to Arran. “We are having a feast tonight and you are invited.”
“You already knew I was the son of witches. You were just toying with me.”
“Aye, I did and aye, I was.”
“You could have murdered me at any time, at your whim.”
“Indeed, I could have. You are quite terrible with a blade.”
“Can you teach me how to fight like that?”
“It takes years of hard work and training. You have to be willing to put in the hours.”
Two women came and began to treat and bandage Arran. They gave him a small cake to eat, strange because after he swallowed a mouthful, he began to get drowsy and euphoric. He stumbled back into a chair one of the women had brought for him.
“Careful now, have you never tasted poppy cakes before?” Maslah asked.
“No, what is it?” Arran asked.
“It’s powerful medicine that comes from a flower of all things. We put it in the cake to make it taste better. It’s for your pain.”
“Who discovered such a thing?” Arran asked. “Did one of your men decide to eat a flower alongside the road one day?” One of the women gave him another cake. “I don’t need more.”
“This one is a different cake,” She said, “Since you have not had poppy cake before it will probably make you sick to your stomach. This cake contains a medicine that will allow you to eat poppy cake without throwing it back up.”
“Oh, good,” Arran said and he began eating the cake. He felt something on his hand and he yanked it away before he realized it was Teoni holding it. “Sorry, I didn’t know it was you.”
Teoni took his hand again, “It’s all right. I have had poppy cake before once. I understand how strange it makes you feel.”
The bandit camp was nestled in a copse of trees at the foot of the mountains where the hills and small valleys were more common. Arran could hear the rushing water of the Tama River to the east. He estimated that the town also named Tama was probably a few miles downriver. The camp was mostly populated by women and children and a few pets here and there. He could hear singing and dancing near where several of the women cooked and prepared the feast. Long wooden tables were set up in the middle of the camp in a giant square. Arran surmised that while they ate, the center of the square would be used for entertainment purposes.
“You said you were related to the witches?” Arran asked Maslah after they finally got settled at one of the tables.
“Aye, I practically am. We, nomads, descend from the tribal witches of Tamania. I could be kin to any of them.”
“Maybe you could help me with something then, especially if you move around a lot.”
“I will certainly try.” He seemed to be paying more attention to the festivities than Arran’s conversation.
“I am looking for a book guarded by a fire demon in the mountains.”
Maslah chuckled, “Is that all?”
“I know I make it sound as common as if I am looking for an inn to stay for the night, but I really do need to find the place.”
“What sort of book?”
“One left behind by blue mages of old as a training manual. It isn’t valuable or usable to anyone who isn’t a blue mage. It’s only guarded as part of a trial for blue mages. It isn’t worth stealing.”
“I think we may have given you the wrong impression of us. We are not thieves.”
“But you wear the bandanas of bandits?”
“Bandits yes, thieves no.”
“What the difference?”
Maslah looked hurt, “Thieves greedily take anything they deem of value from anyone they can. They will rob you and take your things at will. We bandits plan heists and take what we need from those who are greedy and can afford to spare some of what they have. We don’t rob the poor or attack the weak.”
“All right, forgive my ignorance,” Arran said.
“All is forgiven,” Maslah said.
“You aren’t surprised? You aren’t going to ask me if I am the blue mage?” Arran asked.
“No need. Why would you look for a training book for blue mages, useable by only blue mages and not be a blue mage?”
“I guess you’re right.”
“I have a daughter who will be joining us tomorrow. I remember her talking about a hellish place such as what you describe way up in the mountains. It seems as though she mentioned a fire demon too. I think she knows where your book may be. Her name is Fia and I will warn you not to ogle her. She has many male admirers around here that would not take it kindly if you were staring her up and down.”
“She’s that pretty, huh?”
“Gorgeous! You will not be able to take your eyes off her!” He gave Arran a sideways glance, “But try, do try.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” He gave Teoni and smile as she passed by and she smiled back at him.
“Oh, I see.”
“Oh no, I didn’t mean her. We’re friends, just friends.”
“That’s exactly what my wife told everyone about me right up until our wedding.”
Arran grinned.
“Speaking of my darling wife, there she is helping put the food on the table. Excuse me, my good fellow.” He got up and started to dance toward her as a small band began to play.
After the food and drink were all out on the table, Maslah stopped the band and held his hands up, “Tonight we feast.” Everyone began to yell their approval. “we have been prosperous in our endeavors of late, we have fine friends and fine guests,” he bowed in Arran’s direction. Teoni rushed to his side at the table. “You all know how this works, come and get in line and sample all your hard work has wrought.” The people lined up at one end and took a plate, filling it as they went. Arran took Teoni’s hand and joined the line.
They returned to the table with roasted chicken, beans, flatbread, mead, and some other dishes that looked incredible but Arran didn’t have a clue as to what they were.
After they ate, Arran and Teoni found themselves drinking and dancing with the others. Arran tried to refuse the mead but every time his glass was empty, someone was refilling it.
At last, he had Teoni all to himself. He wasn’t certain what caused it. Maybe he had too much drink or maybe the firelight upon her face made him think of her lips too much, but when they were whirling and smiling in the revelry of the dance, Arran let go of his reservations and planted a kiss on Teoni’s full lips. She started at first but then joined him in the kiss.
“Look there.” Maslah said as he spun past with his wife in hand, “They are kissing friends. Just like you and I were, momma.” Maslah’s wife blushed and slapped him playfully o the chest. Arran pulled back at the remark, thinking Teoni might be embarrassed. To his surprise not only was she not embarrassed, but she pulled him back in to another kiss.
Chapter 8 – Fia
The morning sun peeked over the horizon as Arran rose from his makeshift bed on the hard ground. He stretched his muscles and tried to work out the kinks received from long hours in one position on a hard surface. He gazed around the camp and saw that most the men had passed out from the night's merriment in the exact same spot where they had partied the night before. As he moved, the pounding in his head reminded him that he was not immune to drink any more than they were. He put his right hand down to help leverage himself up and met with something soft.
“Ouch!” He heard Teoni’s voice say.
He moved his covers aside to reveal Teoni had been sleeping in the makeshift bed beside him. He didn’t know why, but he was relieved to see that she was fully dressed, “Oh sorry, I had forgotten that you were there.”
“You forgot I was here?”
“I meant that I forgot you were in the same bed, obviously I know that you’re here.”
“Stop, you’re giving me a headache.” She said, mak
ing a small giggling sound that he just now realized was adorable. Wait, what am I thinking? He cleared his throat and managed to get up, “I hear the river nearby. I think I’ll go and wash up.”
“I think I’ll join you.” She said.
“No, no I think I’ll go by myself.”
“I wasn’t asking permission. I can go and wash up with or without you.”
“Of course you can, I’m sorry.” He rushed off toward the sound of the rushing water trying to get away from Teoni as quickly as possible before she had time to say anything else.
When he got to the river, Arran knelt down and put his hands in the shallow part of the rushing water near a sandbar. The cool mountain water felt good as he splashed in on his face.
“Ho there!” The bandit leader Maslah said as he knelt down near where Arran was. “You have picked a good spot. You don’t mind if I join you do you?”
“Certainly not,” Arran replied.
Maslah splashed his face with water, “Ah, that’s brisk. I love it. There’s nothing like fresh mountain water first thing in the morning.”
Arran nodded and continued to wash up. He glanced to his left and saw Teoni downstream doing the same.
“A fine woman, your Teoni,” Maslah said. “I mean your friend.” He winked.
“She’s not my woman.” Arran corrected.
“Oh now, the way you watch her and the way she looks at you, I can’t say I believe you because if what you say is true it would be a tragedy; two people who find each other in this world should consider themselves lucky and give love their best chance. And judging by all the kissing and kissy faces last night. I would say you are a liar.”
“There are…circumstances.”
Maslah sat up from the river, “Boy, there always are. A man can get mighty lonely waiting for the right circumstances, or the perfect time, or any of that nonsense. The best life is the life you make together, regardless of any circumstances!” He bent down and washed his arms and splashed his face again, “Besides, you had better set your sights and keep them on Teoni because when Fia arrives I’ll not have you ogling over her, remember? She is the most beautiful creature on this earth and I’m not just saying that because she’s my daughter.”
Blue Mage Equinox: Book 2 of Tournament of Mages Page 4