The last test Jonathan wanted done was that he wanted his initiates to cast mageflame for as long as they could. Mageflame was a continuous spout of fire that was hard to hold on to for longer than a few moments. Jonathan noted how long everyone could hold it for and then wrote down his findings. Jonathan did this several times until his students were ready to drop, it let him know who had the most magical energy to work with. Davin had the most followed by everyone according to power levels. Jonathan thought based on what he had seen that under normal circumstances Davin, Rebecca or Erik would be the top dueling initiates. When factoring in variables though, he wondered how they would do against initiate Charles.
“Can I speak to you instructor?” Charles asked as Jonathan dismissed his class.
“I am not just the commoner anymore?” Jonathan asked.
“How did you beat me?” Charles asked.
“You first,” Jonathan replied. “What was that spell you hit me with.”
“I call it the canceller,” Charles said. “You didn’t seem to be affected.”
“I was,” Jonathan said. “And I wasn’t the only person who noticed your spell?”
“Who else did?” Charles asked.
“Lord Russell was the scholar in my class,” Jonathan said. “While I personally cannot stand the man, he is as smart as they come. He recognized that something was affecting me during our fight. I told him what was going on and he seemed shocked. I do not think that power has been seen before and if it has only rarely. How does it work?”
“Why would I tell you?” Charles asked defensively.
“Because I will find out anyway during the course of this year,” Jonathan replied. “The Tower Mage will know about you and he is bound to command you to tell your secrets. The faster I know what is happening, the faster I can help you fight.”
“I already know how to fight,” Charles snapped. “Before our fight I won everything battle over the last year.”
“Fighting who?” Jonathan replied. “Were they noble mages with two mage parents? You saw how strong everyone in the class was compared to you.”
“They were born commoners,” Charles said defeated.
“Why are you so down?” Jonathan asked. “My father was a horrible mage who had one spell he could rely on. He killed a mage in one on one battle, one much stronger than he is.”
“I am used to being one of the strongest,” Charles replied.
“And now you are not,” Jonathan replied. “Do you cry into your pillow about it or do you try to get stronger?”
“You can’t increase your power,” Charles replied.
“But you can get smarter,” Jonathan replied. “I do not mind training you on my time. If I ever hear about you crossing someone that doesn’t deserve it then we are done.”
“What do you mean by someone that doesn’t deserve it?” Charles asked.
“Anyone insulting or trying to pick a fight with you deserves it,” Jonathan said. “I don’t care about their bloodline or anything else. You may want to make sure that you know what you are doing before that happens.”
“I want to fight you again,” Charles said. “I have heard about you from a lot of people. If I could beat you then I know many people would look after me.”
“They would have,” Jonathan admitted. “And being seen with me is likely to bring you more enemies than you imagined. Many people will go after you.”
“If you are hated so much then why don’t they go after you?” Charles asked.
“Because I have the reputation of someone that they are better off leaving alone,” Jonathan replied. “I think I know how your spell works and I think plenty of people will figure it out eventually. You have to be ready for when that happens.”
“How do you think it works?” Charles asked.
“I think you are a weak mage, just like my father was,” Jonathan began. “You are amongst the slowest initiates here and your power level is below the other nobles in your class. Your canceller spell can be cast quickly, quicker than I can cast magebolt. It also can determine if I can dual, tri or quad cast almost instantly. I think you can only shut down someone up to quad casting, I can cast eight different spells. You did block me from casting four magebolts but the other four got free.”
“How many people here can cast eight spells?” Charles asked.
“I am the only one I know about in the kingdom,” Jonathan replied. “But I would have had you even without that. I could sense you getting weaker when I tried casting stronger spells, it made your hold on me shaky. I think if I started off casting large spells that your spell would be broken. I think it takes a lot out of you to maintain that. Anyone with a lot of power could eventually break through and get to you regardless of if they can multicast or not.”
“So then it is hopeless?” Charles asked.
“Nothing is hopeless,” Jonathan replied. “I have almost lost a few times. It was when I was trying to find new ways to fight. You may lose some fights here but you will grow.”
“What about the other things a mage is supposed to do?” Charles asked. “Like finding or creating water, building roads or clearing brush around the kingdom.”
“I am not your person,” Jonathan replied. “I only care about fighting, it has served me well.”
“You were ranked third in your class overall,” Charles stated.
“And yet I got to be the Queen’s Champion and they did not,” Jonathan replied. “It will take you a while to gain back your magic, I exhausted it on purpose. You do not have me as an instructor tomorrow, during our off days come find me in the evening. I think you could learn a lot.”
CHAPTER 5
Tobin
Jonathan made it into the commoner barracks just as the sun went down. Jonathan had been figuring out who should fight against who to start out. He would forbid Charles from using his spell and instead focus on other techniques. Jonathan saw no need for it, it would either make the mages he fought want to quit before they figured him out, or it would make him want to quit once he had been figured out. Jonathan wanted to match them up according to power, he would have three tiers and forbid anyone from the top tier from trying to beat down people from the lower tiers. Only those at the top of the lower tiers or at the bottom of the upper tier could move up or down and only once Jonathan placed them. Jonathan was still thinking about it as he came into the door and found who had to be troublemaker Red was talking about.
The boy was tall and had some weight to him, to be a street rat he apparently ate good. He was missing a front tooth and his skin seemed oily or something. Jonathan thought the boy could fight, his fists were scarred up and it looked like he had a split lip that was healing. He was surrounded by the other three, it looked like he was giving some kind of orders. Jonathan just stood there and wondered if the people around him actually cared what the larger boy was saying or were scared to walk away.
“What the pit are you looking at?” the large commoner said looking at Jonathan.
“A fucking idiot,” Jonathan said as he started closing the distance. “You want with me and I want it with you. We can carry it outside or I can beat your ass in here.”
“Whoa, whoa,” Red said as he came out of his room. “Let these initiates handle their own business Jonathan, we have talked about this.”
“You better listen to your girlfriend,” the big commoner said. “None of you here impress me.”
“He has two weeks,” Jonathan said looking at Red. “And if I hear about him attacking anyone I am going to beat the pit out of him.”
“You may be taller but I am from the streets,” the big commoner said. “You are going to get in line just the rest or I will pound your face in.”
“Two weeks Red,” Jonathan said. “Two weeks and two weeks only.”
“Aint shit gonna happen in two weeks,” the big commoner said. “But since you two are here, you are gonna listen to this. We have all noticed those rich birds next to us with the fancy clothes and their
noses in the air. I am gonna pick four of em and none of you here better make a play for either one of em. They are here looking for the good sausage, those prissy boys they are used to dealin with can’t slang it like I can.”
“Looks like whoever put this together knew exactly what they were doing,” Red said. “Look at them all slobbery over those folks next door Jon. Has the Tower Mage talked to you yet?”
“No but I need to find him anyway,” Jonathan replied.
“Well there is supposed to be a study hall every day after classes, right here,” Red said. “It is going to be led by those dresses next door so we are going to have to bring in tables and chairs for it to happen.”
“You mean you are bringing in tables and chairs,” the big commoner said. “I am not a pack mule.”
“I am also giving magic lessons after your tutoring,” Red said.
“Now that is what you should be doing,” the big commoner said. “I don’t need any reading. I want to know how to do magic.”
“I ain’t teaching you shit,” Red replied. “I do reading. You either want to learn or not. You don’t pass the test then you stay in my class.”
“You are just angry I am here now,” the big commoner said. “You were the boss here little Red before I came through. I don’t need you to learn magic, I will just grab one of these rich nobles and make them teach me.”
“Red introduce me to your students,” Jonathan said.
“The one with the big mouth is Tobin,” Red replied. “The farm boy with the freckles is Barney, he is from the east side of the kingdom. The one with the darker hair is Griffin and the other one is Julian. None of them know how to read but are learning. Tell us all about the group you are with.”
“The shortest boy is Davin,” Jonathan said. “He is going to go after the people in this room as soon as he is able. The female is Rebecca, she is as snotty as they come and I doubt she would go after anyone in this room but she would tell everyone off. Both of her parents are mages and it shows. She is the strongest in that class followed by Davin. I don’t know how strong your people are yet but I am not impressed by the class I have other than those two and one other.”
“Are they stronger than me?” Red asked.
“They are, you saw them,” Jonathan replied. “None of them have been in a real fight before. I think you could take most of them right now.”
“Then they aren’t shit if little Red can take em,” Tobin said. “I oughta just beat their ass right now.”
“If you could then you could have your pick of mage ladies,” Jonathan said.
“Why would I want them?” Tobin said. “They look like ass compared to the birds next door. Maybe I should just take one because I can.”
“It would make you the biggest deal here,” Jonathan said as he passed by to his room. “But you are too scared to try so you shouldn’t brag on things you are not going to do.”
“I cower men and women love me,” Tobin said.
“I have a gold coin right here that says you are full of shit,” Jonathan said. “You get one of them to come over here, sit on your lap and acknowledge that you two are together then the coin is yours. You don’t owe me anything if you cannot, you will just show the rest of us that you are all talk.”
“Jonathan Thunder,” Red said as he followed Jonathan into his room. “You did not just do that!”
“Fuck him,” Jonathan said. “If he goes talking crazy to the senior class there are at least four people that would put him down hard. Just don’t let them kill him, I think that would temper him a bit.”
“Well fuck him,” Red said. “Tobin was scared to death of One Handed Jack when we were running the streets. He was from the next town over and used to come around to push people around. Me and him never had it out but I knew he wanted to. I just stayed away from that twat and now he is here. It is taking everything I have not to put his ass down myself. We are instructors, I shouldn’t even have this opportunity and I am not going to do anything to mess this up.”
“I figured as much,” Jonathan replied. “The other initiates will put his ass down though.”
“And the rest?” Red asked. “We cannot let them go down following that idiot.”
“They are off limits and I will tell them to let everyone else know that I would not be happy,” Jonathan replied. “That will be enough for both classes.”
“Aw pit,” Red said looking pass Jonathan and out of his window. “Here comes Madame Hawking.”
“Who is that?” Jonathan said following Red’s eyes.
“The name of the mundane teacher, at least the head one,” Red said. “She is some old biddy that is as proper as they come. She has cornered me twice asking about some kind of dance.”
“Dance?” Jonathan said confused.
“She wants to teach the way a proper lady dances in public and has made it her mission to teach the rest of us,” Red said. “What do I look like dancing like some dandy?”
“I’m in,” Jonathan said.
“You are?” Red asked. “Are you daft or something?”
“Absolutely not,” Jonathan replied. “But Farrah is here until tomorrow and you know she will be out here looking. Your girl even has musicians setting up. You better reach the door before she does, I think I will toss on my Champion robes for this.”
“You bringing out all of the charm?” Red asked. “I think I will do the same. How long before the first mage comes out of the Tower?”
“It will be a while,” Jonathan said. “They will just keep sour looks on their faces. Russell will come out, even if it is just to report. Duchess Golad must think my type are tall strawhairs, there is some girl here that supposedly favors Farrah.”
“You know that is exactly what they want,” Red replied. “They want you to run off and marry some noble mundane girl and have children.”
“I will not do that but Farrah doesn’t have to know that,” Jonathan said. “All she needs to know is that I moved on. I plan on being friendly with every girl here within reason. I don’t plan on dating any of them or doing grown up things like you and Poppy in the carriage but I plan on having fun.”
“Just enough to keep them interested without being an ass,” Red said. “I like it. Come meet this old bag with me, she is as stuffy as they come.”
Jonathan threw on his Champion Robes then followed Red out of the back entrance to the barracks. Due to the way their rooms were built, it was located in Red’s room which meant only he had use of it. Jonathan could see the woman had all of her angry girls outside sweeping the stone ground while three musicians started practicing. Red walked up to the woman, Jonathan thought she was around fifty based on the color of her gray hair. The woman had on face covering and although she was talking she looked like she purposely avoided letting any emotion show on her face like happiness even if it was clear to Jonathan that she was in her element.
“Girls you should know how to take care of a home even if you are not the one doing the work,” Madame Hawking said looking around at the girls. “It will help you understand what energy the work has to expend while cleaning. It helps you fire the lazy ones and pull back on yelling at the overworked ones. Men want a lady who is compassionate when she needs to be and cracks the whip when it is needed as well.”
“Madame Hawking,” Red said in a voice that Jonathan thought sounded nothing like his friend. “This here is Jonathan the Lightning.”
“You mean to say, Madame Hawking may I introduce Jonathan the Lightning,” Madame Hawking replied then looked at Jonathan. “I am Madame Hawking and I see my services have been sorely needed at this place. No one here knows how to address a lady and the majority of the mages here are brutes. The only thing in your favor is that no one here seeks to take advantage of a lady.”
“That sounds half right,” Jonathan replied. “Next door is filled with commoners like Red and myself and I am sure every one of those initiates see no reason not to seduce a young lady. I am not that much older than they a
re and in one case I am the same age but the point stands.”
“Shameful,” Madame Hawking said.
“If they give you or your ladies any trouble please come find either me or Red,” Jonathan said. “I’ll get them sorted.”
“You two?” Madame Hawking asked.
“We did not get our positions as the first two official commoners to teach here because we are stupid,” Red replied. “We also are not dumb enough to hang out in our rooms all night with a bunch of pretty ladies right next door.”
“Well Mage Winchell made you and the rest of the commoners available,” Madame Hawking said. “I was told by the Queen’s attendant herself that a lot of you need help in learning your roles in polite society. I only wished she would have said the same for noble mages.”
“You do?” Red asked.
“They are not exactly rude but they are as anti-social as anyone could be,” Madame Hawking said. “Many of them have sneers on their faces the entire time they have to deal with others. The only exception is if their wives are not mages.”
The Archmage Page 5