Sorceress (Book 2)

by Jim Bernheimer

  Kayleigh considered the horror of having the ability to see the future, but not being able to use it to protect the ones she most cared about.

  Brian interrupted her dark thoughts. “Well, it is a nice color on you. Ashe does have an eye for such things.”

  All Kayleigh could do was groan.

  “I see you’ve already met my daughter,” were the first words Duke Desmond Tomas said to her.

  “I like her, father. She’s interesting,” Ashlynn said from where she was perched on the edge of a table, moving her dangling feet back and forth. A diagram of a city covered much of that table.

  “I’m pleased to meet you, sir,” Kayleigh said. “I sent most of my scouts back to let the rest of the battalion know where you are. I expect General Jyslin will be here shortly.”

  “I should get ready then!” Ashlynn exclaimed. She touched her hair and mumbled a few words. Her blue hair paled and became the same shade of ivory as the respected warrior. Aeric laughed at his sister’s antics while greeting Kayleigh. Brian just whispered that she’d “get used to her eventually.”

  “You didn’t say any words when you changed my hair,” Kayleigh said.

  “Observant,” the odd sorceress replied. “But I actually did when I was getting out of the saddle and its part of your first lesson. Spells can be cast immediately or set to release on a certain trigger. In your case, it was when my hands touched each other when I hugged you. If I tap my left wrist with my right fingers like so – this happens.”

  As Ashlynn did this a sphere, much like an air maiden’s shield of hardened air, appeared on her arm.

  “Once the spell is used,” she said, tapping the shield and making it pop out of existence. “It’s gone. If I want to do it again, I need to recast it and set the trigger or just invoke the incantation as active magic. Trust me. You want to prepare as many spells as you can ahead of time.”

  “Really?”

  Duke Tomas interrupted by clearing his throat. “Ashlynn is correct in the broadest of terms. The downside is preparing so many triggers that you lose track and unexpectedly unleash a celestial bolt when bending over to lace your boots, which incidentally is why you always use a verbal trigger for your most dangerous magic. You have a unique circumstance. Battle Maidens can’t create a trigger and only have access to active magic. A sorcerer or sorceress has the luxury of preparing their magic ahead of time. Conversely, one of my kind is in danger of being overwhelmed when they’ve expended their prepared magic and have only the magic in them remaining. A Battle Maiden can stay in the fight for as long as they and their unicorns can stand.”

  “Father, exactly how many times must you recount the story about my minor mishap?”

  “Considering it destroyed the fountain in the courtyard and the statue of your great-grandmother, I believe I can speak as I please,” he replied and left the rest up to Kayleigh’s imagination.

  His daughter rolled her eyes and said, “I think the new statue looks much better. As I was saying before we were interrupted, triggers are very important. A novice can generally carry three triggers at a time. Once you can perform five, you’ll be considered an apprentice. If you wish to rise to the level of a journeyman, such as myself, you must be able to maintain a minimum of ten triggers. A master, like my father, is expected to be able to maintain twenty triggers and demonstrate proficiencies in whatever mastery they are pursuing.”

  “Proficiencies and masteries?”

  Ashlynn scrunched her nose and said, “Let’s save that for another day. It’s long, dry, and not terribly interesting.”

  “Which translates into my daughter has not decided what mastery she wishes to pursue,” the duke said and rubbed his chin. “I don’t expect you’ll get much done with Pinella under siege, but it is my hope that she can show you the basics of a trigger and get you equipped with a rudimentary defense or two and maybe a simple evasion. You already have your own manner of offense, so I recommend that we concentrate on those two areas first.”

  “When do I start?”

  “Well, we’ve got a few minutes. I could either discuss the theory behind a trigger or tease you about Brian. It’s your choice,” Ashlynn said, beaming brightly.

  “So triggers it is,” Kayleigh said while the other members of the Tomas family laughed.

  “And you can tell your children one day how Auntie Ashlynn first taught you magic,” she quipped.

  “I thought you weren’t going to tease?”

  “Oh, I have this extremely rare ability to do two things at the same time, novice. One day, if you’re fortunate, you too may be able to multitask. Until then, we’ll try to get by as best we can. It will be a struggle, for me that is.”

  Casting a sideways glance at Brian, Kayleigh said, “I’m going to regret this aren’t I?”

  “I should expect so. She likes shiny objects and is easy to distract with frivolous banter. That’s the best advice I can offer outside of run for the hills and never, ever look back.”

  Given all the seriousness and dire circumstances surrounding her, the behavior of this family, including the absent Lady Tomas, continued to be a breath of fresh air.

  The next few days fell into a pattern. Kayleigh led her scouts out on patrol for half the day and spent the afternoon struggling with Ashlynn’s strange lessons, which usually involved some form of odd humiliation.

  Still, her new squad mates seemed to derive considerable amusement at whatever strange thing the sorceress would do to her. She also wasn’t any closer to learning how to dispel her enchantments either. Most mercifully faded away after a day, but the butterfly antenna really threw off her sense of balance and, oddly enough, smell.

  The sole bright spot is that she’d learned to create the basic shield spell Ashlynn demonstrated. It worked much better than the air magic that continued to elude her. However, she could only actively cast it. Even with General Jyslin’s assistance her air dome was flimsy and her “endless” arrows usually ended the moment they left the bowstring.

  Her inability to create a trigger blocked any further progress. Ashlynn could apply a trigger of her own to Kayleigh, and it would release using Kayleigh’s magic. Try as she might, she couldn’t take her magic and store it on her. Even Duke Tomas tried to assist to no avail. His techniques worked no better than his daughter’s had.

  “A trigger is an empty box,” Duke Tomas said. “A framework into which you insert a spell until you are ready to use it.”

  “Maybe my magic is just too broken to create one? We’ve tried removing my metal armor. It’s not interfering like we thought.”

  “Try not to get upset. You only just started. Patience is a virtue. In fact, we should probably table this until after tomorrow. All of us need our rest.”

  Kayleigh frowned, knowing they would be at Pinella in the morning. “You’re right, sir. It’s just disappointing.”

  A nervous energy permeated the camp. For most, even the duke’s personal guard, this was their first large scale combat. Kayleigh couldn’t be certain how much rest the others would be getting. For her part, she’d force herself to get the rest she’d need.

  On the way out of the duke’s tent, she found Brian using a sharpening stone on his weapon. He smiled at her and she sat down across the fire from him. “Done with my father already? Violet hair this evening is it? I do recall Ashe saying she was going to do something with softer tones.”

  “Have you found one you like in particular?” she asked.

  “If I had my druthers, I’d go with the original shading.”

  “Nervous?”

  “About sitting with you alone, or the coming battle?”

  “The fight,” she said, trying to ward off his charm.

  “Of course not,” he answered, full of bluster. “Icewater flows through my veins. I am a Tomas.”

  “Which translates to ‘Of course,’” she said. Brian’s father seemed quite fond of that phrase. Kayleigh made certain to use it around Ashlynn, especially since it irritated he
r tutor and tormentor.

  Brian smiled at her. “Well, combat is much like managing a stable. I’d have to look around, but I could probably scare up a pitchfork for you. It’d be just like old times.”

  She made a show of considering his offer before shaking her head and saying, “I think I’ll pass. I guess I shouldn’t stay too long. It would be more grist for the rumor mill and enough tongues are wagging already.”

  “And by rumor mill, you mean my sister?”

  “She’s just the most outspoken. Trust me. The others are every bit as bad.”

  He chuckled in amusement and said, “I don’t know how I manage to get all the things done in my day with all of our secret meetings. One would think that with our amazing stealth abilities, we’d be able to sneak this army into Pinella under the collective noses of the Yar.”

  Uncharacteristically, Kayleigh giggled. “You are so very correct.”

  “Quite so,” he said and winked at her. “Although I suppose we should actually one day sit down and discuss this clandestine, epic romance we are allegedly engaged in. Having heard some of the talk, I find the imaginary version of me is having a wonderful time with the imaginary version of you. Is it wrong to admit that the whole affair is making me oddly jealous?”

  Kayleigh’s mouth went suddenly dry and the easy, witty banter deserted her. “I…I…think I’d like to have that talk.”

  He set his sword down and held out his right hand, palm up. Uncertain, she reached her left hand out and placed it on his. Brian’s fingers curled under hers and he gently tugged her hand toward him as he leaned over and brushed his lips against the area on her fingers between the first and second knuckles.

  Releasing her hand, he flashed a roguish smile and said, “I’m already looking forward to it. So now all we have to do is win the day, save the city, and avoid fatal injuries. One of us perishing would turn all the stories into some sort of tawdry tragedy. I have to put my foot down and refuse to be part of one of those!”

  Kayleigh managed a nod and stammered something she couldn’t even understand. Gallantly, Brian saved her from further embarrassment by standing and bidding her good night.

  Minutes later, she sat on her bedroll and stared up at the cloudy sky, running the pad of her thumb over the area he’d kissed. Empty vials sat in her lap, waiting to be filled, but Kayleigh found it difficult to stop smiling and force the tears to come. Tomorrow there’d be too many of those being shed. It made her feel like a thief, stealing a few moments of happiness before the reality of war would come crashing down upon her. Still, for a few minutes, she took refuge in being nothing more than a giddy teenager who fancied a young nobleman.

  Chapter 25- The Battle Begins

  Danella landed and resumed her human form. The dead hawk clutched seconds ago in her talon fell beside her left foot.

  “It’s larger than I expected,” she said, pushing the dead bird away in disgust with her boot. “My guess is two hundred cavalry flying the colors of Tomas and Rosha supporting two companies of Battle Maidens.”

  “You’ve led us to our deaths, outlander!” Bradner, Chief of the Timber Wolves accused. “These walls are useless against that many unicorn riders.”

  “Silence, mongrel! The Battle Maidens are flying the pennant of The Academy. Or do you cower from inexperienced schoolchildren? They are teenagers who’ve seen no combat, supported by cavalry better suited for parades. Neither of those two kingdoms have known real strife for as long as I’ve been alive.”

  “They sent troops to fight your liege in the last war. Do not assume they know nothing.”

  “I make no such assumptions, Mighty Slorn. The trainees have their teachers with them. In fact, someone I’ve wanted dearly to find might be out there. However, when last I checked, we outnumber them three to one. Every rider and unicorn you slay today never masters her skills and rallies to the High-King’s banner. We simply pull the weeds while they are small.”

  Majherri didn’t care for Danella’s attitude toward killing novice riders.

  “She’s right,” Orgo said. “As much as it pains me to admit it. We only need to adjust our defenses, pull some warriors off the walls and have them fight in the streets.”

  “Turn out the dwellings!” Slorn ordered. “Litter the streets with barrels, carts, bedding and furniture. Make it so their horses and unicorns are useless. Give the warriors torches and have them set the debris on fire when the time is right.”

  Majherri knew that this would be a moderately effective tactic against a force comprised mostly of cavalry.

  “Don’t worry, Majherri,” Danella said, picking up on his foul mood. “There will be plenty of them for you to kill.”

  “You can force me to kill my kind, but I take no pleasure in it,” he said. “I’m not some lowly human like the rest of you.”

  The chieftains, who could all understand him, turned to look at the unicorn. Slorn asked, “You think you’re better than us?”

  “Do you see any other animals that kill their own species? I do not. Wolves do not hunt other wolves. The spirits dwelling in you actually beheld the Goddess in all her glory. What do you suppose she would think of your plan to slaughter my kin and their young riders? But you don’t care, so bask in your greatness and rejoice!”

  “Silence, Majherri!” Danella cut him off before he could get to the part where he hoped they choked on their own entrails.

  Snorting, he turned and walked away, wanting nothing more to do with this gathering. Danella did not stop him.

  He wandered the city, watching the Yar go from house to house and tell the residents at swordpoint to dump their belongings into the street as darkness crept over the city. Some refused and died. As expected, the roads quickly became difficult to traverse.

  The lit lanterns of the city made it difficult to see the sky above. He’d already spilled the blood of his kin. Soon he would do so once more. He didn’t want to think about how he would be judged when his life ended. Of more concern was the fact that Kayleigh might be out there on the other side of the battlefield. There were two things that were absolutely forbidden. He’d already killed unicorns. The other would be attacking his rider. Although Kayleigh wasn’t his rider anymore, but that seemed like a poor justification at best.

  Finding a relatively quiet spot, he rested and tried to clear his mind. Moving the free magic around in his body, Majherri felt it was a little bigger, but then he could be imagining that. The only question was what the unicorn might be able to do with that bit of magic.

  Danella’s summons shook him out of a peaceful sleep. The sun crept just over the horizon and there was still a slight chill in the air. He sensed she was moving fast and assumed she’d been out scouting in the predawn hours.

  Following her call, he ended up in the large courtyard area just inside the gate. Yar tribesmen were scrambling about. Approaching Danella, he listened to the conversation in progress.

  “… riding east. Their main thrust will come with the rising sun at their back. They’ll be in position in twenty minutes at most. Ready yourselves.”

  Slorn considered Danella’s report. “Pull men from the west and south to reinforce the east. Leave the men at the main gate in case this is a feint. Orgo, if they’re so interested in using the rising sun in their favor, be up on that wall and give them something very shiny to look at. When they breach the wall, you and I will be there to stop them.”

  Majherri witnessed the naked bloodlust in the man’s eyes and feared for the unicorns and humans who had the misfortune of crossing his path on this day.

  “Now is our time.” Slorn addressed the chiefs and warriors around him. “The Yar have been pushed into a corner and warned to never come out. I say no longer! From this day forth it is the Yar who will be doing the pushing. Fight with pride! Fight with ferocity and unleash your rage upon those who would dare try and stop us!”

  The humans found his speech very stirring and they pounded their weapons against their shields. War cries filled
the air. Danella was pleased and the unicorn felt the thirst for battle bleeding over from her to him across their bond.

  She turned to him and gripped his muzzle with both hands. “No foolishness today, Majherri. No acts of rebellion. If you fail me this day, I’ll kill you myself. I saw Meghan and T’rsa are out there and I plan to reunite our family today. Without your help, both of them will probably die.”

  Drawing himself up and out of her grip, he threw his cracked horn into the air and said, “It’s tempting to weaken you by letting you kill me Danella, but I am a survivor. I survived the netherbeast. I survived the desert. I survived a second rider and I will most certainly survive you!”

  “Nice to see you still have a spine, my unicorn. Just remember, I have plenty of power on my own now. You’re not as indispensable as you believe.”

  He was oddly pleased that she could understand him clearly now. She hadn’t silenced him yet, so Majherri spoke his mind. “So you say. Yet you covet even greater power. I see the way you regard the hydra and the serpent. I’ve seen what you’ve become, Danella Lynch. You’ve given yourself over to the darkness and dragged me with you. Where your heart once was is an empty pit. I doubt there will ever be enough power to fill that void. You’re a crazed, diseased…”

  Danella’s power gripped him. “Yet I can silence you with just my thoughts, Majherri. I can enthrall others and make them do my bidding. Your resistance amuses me to a point, but now it is time to stop bickering and start killing.”

  As expected, the Battle Maidens broke through along the east wall. Sections of the wall broke away in uneven chunks. Orgo’s serpent hissed in agony and went over the wall after being hit with some kind of eldritch bolt.

  “Sorcerer!” Majherri warned.

  “Probably Duke Tomas himself,” Danella said. “Get ready!”

  Warriors raced toward the gap. He spotted one throwing his heavy spear into the breach. The weapon flew like a dart, but was knocked aside by the fiery mass coming through the opening.