Can't Look Back (War for Dominance Book 1)

by Chris Kennedy

  “The Spell Book of Aran-Than?” asked John. “If it’s got a name, it’s got to be something important, like some sort of artifact, right?”

  “No,” said Lady Ellyn, “it is much more important than that. It is the second Item of Power. We cannot allow the enemy to get its hands on it. Among other things, it turns single target spells into area of effect spells. Instead of allowing the enemy commander to command individual members of evil races, he would be able to control whole squads or companies of troops at once.”

  “The Spell Book also gives the holder access to every known spell,” added Ghorza, “as well as an extra two levels of casting ability. The holder can casts spells as if he or she had that much more experience, and makes the spells that much more powerful, as well. Even without the other Items of Power, it is a very potent arcane item, and you are incredibly lucky to have it in your possession.”

  “Umm…maybe it would be better if one of you took it, then,” said John. “You’d be able to put it to better use than I could.”

  “Perhaps…and perhaps not,” replied Dantes. “I would only be able to use the fire-based spells and Ghorza would only be able to use the air-based spells. You seem to be able to use all four of the elements, even if you are not able to cast as high a level of spell as each of us.” He thought for a moment and added, “Besides, the Magistra gave it to you. She is far wiser and more acquainted with the Prophecy than all of us put together, I imagine. If there was a reason she thought you should have it, I for one am not going to go against her wishes.”

  “Nor am I,” added Ghorza.

  “I don’t get it, though,” said John. “How does it change my magical abilities?”

  Ghorza slapped him on the forehead. “How can anyone be this dumb?” she asked Dantes. She turned back to John. “It’s magic, of course. It does what it is supposed to do. Why? Who knows? Why do you have to ask so many questions?”

  “Because maybe if I understood it better, I could use it better,” John said, his fists clenched at his side.

  Lady Ellyn cleared her throat, interrupting their discussion before it could get any more heated. “So in a brief span of time, the crown and the spell book have both made their appearances. The only thing missing is the Scepter of Decency. Does anyone doubt that our quest is to retrieve it?”

  “The Scepter of Decency?” asked John. “What kind of name is that? It sounds like something that was made for a child.”

  “The Scepter gets its name from the fact that it has the power to command members of the good races,” replied Lady Ellyn; “basically, people that are generally decent in nature.”

  “Even if we get these things,” Father Telenor said, “what are we supposed to do with them? We can’t just turn them over to someone so inexperienced, can we? He knows nothing about warfare or magic. We might as well go hand them over to the enemy ourselves.”

  “With our aid and assistance, I am sure that John will find a way,” said Lady Ellyn. “This must be a trial that the one true god has put before us to test our resolve and our faith in her. Because John is unprepared to do it on his own, we have been called here because we all have a part to play.” She stabbed her sword into the ground in front of John and knelt on one knee, her hands on top of her sword. Bowing, she said, “If you are to be our savior, I will assist you in whatever way I am able.”

  “So, he is to be our savior?” asked Father Telenor, sarcasm heavy in his voice. “I have to say I expected something... more.”

  “Who is to know the mind of the one god?” asked Lady Ellyn. “She sets things in motion for us, and she allows us to do our part in her service. You have to believe, Telenor. No one ever said serving her would be easy.”

  “No, that was never part of the agreement,” replied Father Telenor with a sigh. “Still...” his voice trailed off.

  “Still what?” asked John. “What was it you expected?”

  “I always envisioned our savior would be someone full of religious fervor, for one thing,” replied Father Telenor, “and would be someone with excellent leadership skills. I also thought our savior would have advanced magical skills, at least in the elemental, if not the clerical arts. Oh, and I would have expected you to be taller.”

  “Taller?” asked John.

  “Yes, taller,” agreed Father Telenor, who was less than six feet tall, but still much taller than John. “You know, someone I could really look up to.”

  “Are you done?” asked Dantes.

  Father Telenor sighed again. “I think so, yes.”

  “Good,” said Dantes, “then we can stop wasting our time. We have a long way to go.”

  “Why?” asked John. “Where is this Mountain of Frost?”

  “The Mountain of Frost lies just off the coast of Salidar. We will have to start by going to Harbortown. While it’s unlikely that we will find a ship there that will take us to Salidar, it will be almost impossible to find one anywhere else.”

  Chapter 28

  “I don’t know,” said John. They had been walking for two hours, which had given him plenty of time to think. “Something just doesn’t feel right about this.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Ghorza, who was walking alongside him on the forest path the ranger had found.

  “I mean, the enemy’s had three years since they stole the crown to work out their plans,” he said. “They know what they’re doing, and we’re fumbling around trying to catch up, right?” John saw her nod in agreement, so he continued. “Don’t you think they would have thought about this Prophecy and put something in place to keep it from happening? Maybe they know more about it or have a different interpretation of it. I mean, they have to know the crown is one of the three Items of Power, eh? That’s got to be why they stole it, right? To use it to control the evil races and get them to do the thief’s bidding.”

  Ghorza looked uncomfortable. “Well, maybe,” she allowed. “But just because we know about it doesn’t mean the enemy knows about it, too.”

  “Come on,” said John. “That’s what the good guys always do in the movies. They underestimate their opponents. We’ve got to be smarter than that.”

  “What is this thing you call ‘movies?’” asked Ghorza.

  “It’s not important,” said John. “What matters is that we can’t underestimate them. If we know that they have one of the Items of Power, they have to know it, too. They probably knew what it was when they stole it. That’s why they stole it. They’ve been using it for crying out loud; they’ve got to know what it is. Not only that, they’ve had it for three years. I’ll bet they’ve been looking for the other ones, too, including sending out spies to see if we’ve located any of the others.”

  “Nobody knows we have one of the others,” said Dantes, from in front of Ghorza. “We just found out ourselves.”

  “See, that’s what I don’t get,” said John. “If nobody knows anything about us or what we’re doing, why have groups of the enemy been told to look for us? How does the enemy even know I’m here? The only people that know who I am are from the Magisterium, and there’s only a very few of them. You must have a leak...a traitor...some turncoat that is giving information to the enemy.”

  “Impossible!” said Dantes. “There is no one in the Magisterium that hasn’t been checked out. If there’s a leak, it’s not from within the Magisterium.”

  “No, it has to be from within the Magisterium,” insisted John. “No one else knew who I was.”

  “It’s not possible,” said Ghorza. “There were only four people who knew who you were. The Magistra, Dantes, Vishdink and me. Dantes and I have been with you the whole time, and the enemy is hunting us. It’s not one of us. It’s not the Magistra; she had the spell book. If she was on the other side, she could have given it to them any time she wanted to. And it can’t be Vishdink; he never leaves his lab. Like I said; it’s not possible.”

  “It seems impossible, but it’s not,” said John. “It can’t be. Someone else had to know.” He took two mo
re steps and then said, “That’s it! The halfling. He was there when I first came to the Magisterium. He brought me to the Magistra. He must have heard who I was. He’s got to be the traitor.”

  “I don’t see how,” said Ghorza. “His family is relatively new to Norlon, but they are upstanding citizens. I mean, his brother is the head of the Merchants’ Guild!”

  “The head of the Merchants’ Guild?” asked John. “Is that the same Merchants’ Guild that hired the mercenary unit that turned on our forces at the crucial moment of battle? That one?”

  “By the nameless god!” said Dantes. “He’s right. Solim is the one that hired the unit that turned traitor.”

  “Solim?” asked John. “That seems familiar. Solim? Solim...Damn it, why didn’t we see it? ‘Solim’ spelled backwards is ‘Milos.’ The head of the Merchants’ Guild is the same person that stole the crown!”

  “And he is also the same person that was leading the attack today,” added Lady Ellyn. “He has been behind the enemy’s plan the whole time.”

  “Oh, crap,” said John, all of the color draining from his face.

  “What is it?” asked Dantes. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “We’re in deep trouble. Milos’ brother was there when the Magistra gave me the spell book and sent us on this quest. He heard everything...they know where we’re going.”

  Before Dantes could reply, the ranger came jogging up to the group from wherever he had been scouting. “It’s positive I am that we’re being followed,” said Fitzber.

  “How do you know?” asked Lady Ellyn. “I haven’t heard anything.”

  “Nor would ye, lassie,” replied the ranger. “Even though your armor is oiled to perfection, it still makes a variety o’ wee little noises that keep you from hearing as well as ye might. Twice during the last hour I heard dog or worg barks from behind us. There’s something behind us that is following us. I’m going to drift back and take a look, if’n you don’t mind. I’ll be catching up with you by sunset.”

  “Don’t get caught,” warned Dantes.

  “Don’t trouble your wee red mind about it,” said Fitzber. “I’m the epitome o’ caution.”

  He mumbled a few words and then faded from sight as John watched, his colors blending in with the foliage. “Was that an invisibility spell?” John asked.

  “No,” said Ghorza. “Invisibility is an air-based spell. He just did some sort of ranger earth-based camouflage spell that allows him to blend in with the background. I hope he’s of a high enough level to throw in some anti-odor protection, too.”

  “He did say that he thought there were dogs behind us, eh?” asked John.

  “Yes he did,” replied Ghorza.

  “Then I hope so, too.”

  Chapter 29

  “I smell rabbit,” said Ghorza.

  “Rabbit?” asked Dantes.

  “Yes, rabbit,” said Ghorza. “Someone up ahead of us is cooking rabbit.” She paused. “It smells delicious, too.”

  “Should we continue on?” asked John. “If there’s someone in front of us, shouldn’t we try to go around them?”

  “Well, they obviously aren’t worried about being found,” said Dantes. “It has to be someone that doesn’t know there’s a war on, so we should probably tell them. Still, we should be careful and watch out for the enemy.”

  Dantes slowed his pace. A short way ahead, he could see where the path through the forest opened up into what was probably a clearing or a glade. He approached the end of the forest cautiously, watching where he set his feet so that he didn’t make any noise.

  In the center of a large, 100 foot-wide clearing, he observed a small, nondescript figure sitting by a fire. “I was wondering if you’d make it here before nightfall,” said Fitzber without looking up.

  “You’re lucky we didn’t announce our presence with a fireball or three,” said Dantes, walking into the clearing. From his new vantage point, he saw that Fitzber was rotating several large rabbits on a spit over a crackling fire. Ghorza was right; they did smell good. “You know you can smell those cooking a long way away, right?”

  “Aye, indeed I do,” replied Fitzber, with a smile. “You can’t hide the smell o’ a good hare cooking.”

  “So we are not being followed, after all?”

  “Oh, indeed we are,” replied Fitzber. “There are about 15 orcs trailing us, as well as 6 worgs and a halfling that appears to be in charge o’ them.” He looked at Lady Ellyn. “One o’ the orcs is a shaman.”

  “What!” said Dantes. “There are orcs, with a shaman, trailing us with worgs, and you have a campfire going? They will home right in on us. They won’t even need the worgs—the orcs will be able to find us with just their own noses.”

  “Oh, aye, indeed they will,” replied Fitzber. “I expect that they’ll be here in about two hours, which will give us time to eat and prepare for them.”

  “But there are 20 of them and only six of us,” said John, “and I don’t know how to fight. I don’t even have a weapon!”

  “That’s true,” said Lady Ellyn. “We will have to rectify that when we get to Harbortown. Without a weapon and some training, you will be a hindrance on the way to the Mountain of Frost.”

  “And with a weapon and some training,” added Father Telenor, “you’ll just be an annoyance.”

  “Let’s focus on getting us to Harbortown first,” said Dantes. He turned back to Fitzber. “I take it you have a plan?”

  “Oh, aye,” agreed Fitzber. “I wouldn’t have hurried to get here if’n I didn’t.”

  “Why didn’t you rejoin us sooner?” asked Ghorza. “We could have gone further and faster if we’d known they were following us.”

  “Aye, but then you would have messed up your trail and tired yourselves out unnecessarily. As it is, you laid a nice trail, moving quickly but unhurriedly. Your trail makes it look like you don’t know you’re being followed. The campfire confirms it, and makes a nice beacon for the orcs to follow right to camp. Straight on, without worrying so much about looking to the sides. That’s what I hope will happen anyway.” Fitzber poked one of the rabbits with his knife. “They’re done. Let’s eat and talk about what we want to do,” he said, pulling a rabbit off the spit. “I expect that they’ll send the worgs in first...”

  Chapter 30

  “I’m not going to be very helpful with this,” said John, indicating the dagger that Lady Ellyn had given him. “I don’t know how to use it very well, and I don’t think it will be much good against giant wolves or orcs with swords in any event.”

  “There’s not much to using it,” said Father Telenor. “Make sure you hold onto the round end and stick the pointy end into the orcs. Be careful; it is really sharp.”

  “Yeah, I think I got that part,” said John. “What I really meant was that if you teach me how to cast spells, I might be more of a help than a hindrance.”

  “It takes years of preparation to be a good mage,” said Dantes. “What you need to know cannot be crammed into one hour of instruction.”

  “Normally not,” said Ghorza, from where she was preparing her spells and equipment. “Still, he has shown himself to have a natural affinity to magic that goes beyond anything I’ve ever seen.” She walked over to where John was sitting at the edge of the clearing flipping through the Magistra’s spell book. “In order to cast a spell, a mage has to prepare it first. The way you do that is to find a nice, quiet area to study, like you have already done. Then you choose the spell that you are going to cast, find it in your spell book and speak the spell up to the trigger phrase.”

  “Trigger phrase?” asked John. “What’s that?”

  “The trigger phrase is the last word or two of the spell. You will see it underlined in your book, but you will also know it as you get to it.” She paused, thinking. “Casting a spell is like shooting a crossbow. You do know what a crossbow is, right?” John nodded. “Before you can shoot a crossbow, you have to arm it by pulling back the bowstring. That is th
e same as speaking the opening part of the spell. When the bowman gets the bowstring back far enough, there is a ‘click’ as the line snaps into place. A spell works the same way. When you get to the ‘set’ part, you will feel the spell settle in your mind. At this point, the spell is armed. You only need to memorize the trigger phrase and then speak it when you are ready to cast the spell.”

  “So I don’t have to say the whole spell all at once in order to cast it?”

  “That is correct. While you do have to say the whole spell, and say it correctly, you don’t have to say the whole spell all at once. You speak the spell up to the trigger phrase and then stop. Then, when you are ready, you merely say the trigger phrase, and the spell casts.”

  “Cool,” said John. “I wondered how anyone could cast some of these in combat, as most of them seem kind of long. My guess is that having someone trying to kill you while you are casting a spell would be very distracting.”

  “Having someone trying to kill you makes it extremely difficult to cast even the trigger phrase,” said Dantes. “That is why it takes time to become a mage. Part of the training is to have people beat on you while you are trying to cast a spell. Devils prepare by having other devils stab them with white hot pokers if they take too long. Avoiding that kind of pain can be very focusing, to say the least.”

  “Okay, I get that,” said John. “Having battled the trolls, I understand a little more about combat than when I first got here. All I’m saying is that it’s got to be helpful if you don’t have to say the whole spell.”

  “There are also time and mana limitations to spell casting,” added Ghorza. “Most spells will only stay ready for about eight hours. After that, they fade away and the first parts have to be re-spoken. You also can’t memorize more spells than you have the mana to cast.”