by James Green
Her voice was like honey, high and sweet. Any sensible person would have taken what she had said to him as the dismissal it was, but Lord Meecham wasn’t that bright it seemed.
“Your Majesty, I must object,” he said. “These tariffs are greatly affecting my house. I must insist you-“
She stood, and he stopped talking immediately. Her voice had turned cold when she spoke again. “You have been dismissed, Lord Meecham.”
The guards around her dais straightened up and rested hands on their swords. At the slightest provocation I knew they would be happy to eject his Lordship from the audience hall. Fortunately for him he wasn’t that dumb.
“My apologies your Majesty,” he said and bowed low.
She inclined her head and spoke again, her voice returned to the lovely warm tones that had sent a thrill down my spine moments before. “My lords and ladies, we must confer with Lady Anastasia on a matter of importance to the Valryn Kingdom. Please give us the hall.”
With that gracefully executed order, the various Lords and Ladies in attendance bowed and began to file out in an orderly fashion. The guards remained and closed the doors behind the last of them. Once the room was secure, Queen Sapphira turned to Anastasia and smiled before she stepped gracefully off the dais and glided over to her.
Anastasia and the Queen embraced, the contrast between the two beautiful women startling. One a tall and powerful woman in armor, the other a tiny wisp of a girl in the most elegant of gowns.
“Ana, I received your message. You recovered the wagon, that’s excellent work. I’m very happy that you’ve proved me right yet again. Some of the nobles are so tiresome about you and the other Valkyries.”
“Not me, your Majesty. I merely arrived after the fact. Ulmar and William here found it and defeated the bandits that took it,” Ana said, and with a gesture beckoned us to come forward.
The Queen examined me as I approached. Now that she was closer and looking at me, I could see her eyes were a striking russet brown, intense and intelligent. She held my gaze without blinking and that contact between us felt intimate. It was only broken when I dropped to one knee and bowed my head in obeisance to her, my Queen.
“Welcome to my court, William,” she said, her musical voice warm and friendly. “I see you’ve brought a hellion wolf with you, although he’s just a pup. Rise, and explain yourself.”
I stood, noticing that Mithra had followed and was sitting politely by my side, watching the interplay.
“Your Majesty, this is Mithra. He is my bound hellion. I have just discovered that I am a Beast Mage, only last night.”
“You are rather old to be discovering your magical affinity, are you not?” she asked.
I was, really. Most people with a brand knew their affinity by fourteen, if not earlier. As every year after that had ticked by, the chance of my affinity revealing itself had become slimmer and slimmer. I had resigned myself to the fact that I probably didn’t have one years ago. Even without an affinity a brand was a useful thing—without it you couldn’t use infused magical items or collect shards. Without the brand you’d always be merely human. With it, you had a chance of becoming more than that.
“Yes, your Majesty. I don’t know why it has taken so long, but it has done so. I am a Beast Mage.”
“That is clear, and most fortunate,” she said, a hint of laughter in her voice. “Come, all three of you. We will make ourselves comfortable in my sitting room.”
The door to that room was immediately behind the throne, a stout wooden door with two guards posted. They opened the door for her as she approached, and she led us inside before the two guards closed the door behind us.
The room beyond was windowless with a high ceiling. The wall opposite the door had a cold fireplace and scattered around were various couches and seats. Everything was luxurious, soft and inviting. I suddenly felt far too dirty to be sitting on any of this furniture. My last wash had been in a horse trough and had been far from thorough, after all.
Queen Sapphira took a seat near a long, low table and gestured for us to sit opposite her. With some trepidation I sat next to Ulmar on a fat sofa that creaked under his weight.
“Now, William and Ulmar, I have a mission for you both. Before I give it to you, however, Ana will brief you on the situation.”
“Of course, your Majesty,” Anastasia replied. “As you may know, the Beast Tamer affinity is rare. Your affinity, William, is even more so. In battle, high level hellions are essential tools for our armies. Therefore, when we received news that Duchess Amber’s Beast Tamer, Lord Milnius, died, we were very concerned. He was bound to Grimjaw, a C rank Frost Tortoise, among other more minor hellions. We immediately dispatched our chief Tamer, Lord Mercer, to take control of Grimjaw.”
“Yes, and that was two weeks ago,” Queen Sapphira interjected. “Amber sent word that Mercer had arrived and had left without Grimjaw. He has not been seen since. If Grimjaw goes feral before we are able to rebind him, that will be a loss to the kingdom but losing Mercer would be devastating.”
“Your Majesty, I’ve only just come into my power as a Beast Mage. I don’t think I could bind Grimjaw.”
Sapphira smiled at me. “Perhaps not. Regardless, you are our only option. The Kingdom has very few Beast Tamers. All but Mercer are on the front lines, directing their hellions. You must recover Grimjaw, if possible. Lady Anastasia and Ulmar will accompany you.”
“We will?” Anastasia asked, looking surprised.
“Of course. Who else can I trust, Ana? You’ve seen that collection of snakes out there. Half of them take the coin of the Kingdom of Charmane and the other half simply want to supplant me. The list of people I can trust to carry out my will is a short one.”
“Surely it’s not that bad, your Majesty,” Ulmar protested. “You have many loyal subjects, this I know.”
“I do, you are right. I shouldn’t make light of that. The nobility however aren’t the common people. I know that your loyalty to me is as solid as a mountain, Ulmar. For that I am grateful. For that reason, I charge you to accompany William on this mission. Be by his side and watch his back. He will need it.”
Ulmar bowed his head. “Of course, your Majesty.”
“And me, your Majesty?” Anastasia asked. “What would you have me do on this mission? Am I also to guard William’s back?”
“Is that beneath you, Ana? You are an extension of my will and wishes. You will protect him and while doing so serve the crown. Recover Grimjaw and, if you can, discover the fate of Mercer.”
“No, of course not, your Majesty,” Anastasia said and bowed her head. “I will do as you command.”
The Queen turned her luminous eyes back to me, and I met her gaze squarely.
“As for you, William. I am taking a chance bringing you into my confidence. I believe that I am a sound judge of a man’s character. Yours seems as solid as this keep. Will you give me your word to serve me loyally in this and all things?”
I stood immediately and took a step forward. In the corner of my eye, I could see Ana tense. She relaxed as I went to one knee in front of the Queen and continued to look her in the eyes. She seemed completely unaffected by my sudden movement, her expression unwavering.
“I swear to serve you loyally, my Queen,” I said. “I offer my spear and my life in your service.”
It was a variation of the oaths a knight took, I knew. It was not something I’d ever been expecting to say to the Queen. Especially not when she was so close. I could smell her, a heady scent of flowers and… something else. The hair on my arms and the back of my neck began to stand up. Being so near was affecting me, and her eyes were hypnotizing.
She smiled and gently touched my cheek, her hand lingering for a moment. “I accept your service, William. I will endeavor to be worthy of your oath. Now please, sit.”
I returned to my place on the couch beside Ulmar. Anastasia was giving me a strange look, her face complex and unreadable.
“Now that’s settled.
You will draw what you need from the quartermaster. William, I believe he can provide you with at least one orb suitable for a Beast Mage, and whatever else you require. I expect you three to depart today. I believe Sir Keyris is traveling in that direction.”
That was clearly a dismissal, so we all stood and thanked the Queen. Ana knocked on the door, and the guards let us back into the empty audience hall.
Ulmar clapped me on the shoulder. “Welcome aboard, William. I’m not sure where you fit, but with that oath you must surely count as one of the Queen’s sworn knights.”
“Rubbish,” Anastasia said. “There is more to being a knight than an oath.”
“Aye, he’s not in your order or in mine, but remember the histories, milady,” Ulmar replied, and seemed to quote a passage. “From oaths of lives and blades the King’s knights are forged.”
“That’s ancient history,” Anastasia said dismissively. “Don’t go referring to yourself as a knight, William. No matter what the ancient texts say, there’s more involved than just an oath. I have some arrangements to make. Ulmar, can you take William to the quartermaster and get him outfitted for the journey to Mianya?”
“Of course, milady.”
“Take my seal and show it to that dolt if he gives you any trouble,” she said, handing Ulmar an embossed metal stamp the size of my palm. “He knows better than to impede me in my duties now.”
Anastasia left us then, walking through a side door to exit the audience hall.
I watched her walk away appreciatively and it took me a moment to realize Ulmar was doing the same. He laughed when I raised my eyebrow at him.
“What?” he said. “You think I’m too short to have a shot? I like the tall ones.”
We shared a laugh and then it was back to business. “Come on and follow me. If I know Lady Anastasia she’s going to have us back on the road within the hour. Let’s get some decent food and new equipment for you.”
The quartermaster looked annoyed when he saw us, just two more soldiers that wanted something from him.
“If you don’t have the proper forms with the proper seals of authorization just turn around and walk back out of here,” he said.
“Greetings, Quartermaster,” the dwarf said as though the other man hadn’t spoken. “I am Ulmar and this is William. We’re on an urgent mission and need to draw supplies.”
“Are you deaf, dwarf? Present the proper forms or get out.” Behind him I could see a couple of his assistants look our way, a slight look of sympathy on the visible faces.
“There’s no need to be rude. I’ve been told to show you this seal-“ Ulmar started, but the quartermaster cut him off.
“Another noble that thinks they’re too important to fill out the proper forms. Get out.”
“Ulmar, can I handle this?” I asked him, and with a shrug he placed the seal in my hand.
“Quartermaster, your attention please,” I said, walking up to him.
He seemed unimpressed as I approached. This was a man in the heart of his tiny amount of power and he knew it.
“Don’t show me your seal, soldier. I don’t care who sent you. Tell them to fill out the forms and have them properly authorized. Don’t return without them.”
“I think you’ll want to look at this one more closely,” I said, holding it up to him. “You see that? That’s Lady Anastasia’s seal. The Valkyrie herself. I believe you two have met?”
The quartermaster paled as he sputtered. “Oh, you’re from Lady Anastasia! Why didn’t you say so? I am at your disposal. Please accept my apologies for any unintentional rudeness on my part, gentlemen.”
Things went very smoothly after that. The man was more helpful than I expect he’d ever been to anyone. Soon we had a list of everything we needed—provisions for three people and a hellion wolf, horses and tack, tents and cooking gear.
“Quartermaster, do you have any orbs appropriate for a Beast Mage?” I asked him.
“A Beast Mage? No, I don’t believe so. That’s a very rare class. Some for Beast Tamers, of course.” He chewed his lip and then reconsidered. “Actually, there might be something. Let me see if I can track down the crate.” The quartermaster turned and disappeared through a door into the storage rooms.
After about twenty minutes idly examining his wares, I’d almost begun to suspect he’d just went to lunch or something, but he returned with a small wooden box. His hands had disturbed the thick layer of dust that had settled on it, and with a smile he set the crate on the countertop in front of me.
“This has been back there since before my time. I’d almost forgotten about it, it’s not on the official inventories. I’m not sure how long we’ve had this, but it’s a complete Root set for the Beast Mage. Take a look.”
He gestured for me to open the box, and I brushed the dust off the top. Once it was gone, I could see a simple inlay in the wood, a version of the geometric pattern I now knew so well.
Beast Mage.
I worked the simple latch free and opened the hinged lid. The inside of the box was formed into three cavities, each holding a dull sphere. Orbs. Each of them seemed to call out to me. I focused on each one in turn.
Orb of the Hellion General, Rank F, Air, Beast Mage root orb
This orb grants the Beast Mage the ability to enhance their bound hellions at up to 500 meters.
Orb of the Hellion Warlord, Rank F, Fire, Beast Mage root orb
As long as the Beast Mage is within 100 meters of their enhanced hellion, they can briefly access the powers of the orb they’ve used to enhance that hellion.
Orb of the Hellion Soldier, Rank F, Earth, Beast Mage root orb
As long as the Beast Mage is within 10 meters of their enhanced hellion, they can still access the powers of the orb they’ve used to enhance that hellion.
“Wow, three of them,” I said as I touched one. It felt cool under my fingertip.
“You’ll only need the one, but choose carefully, lad,” Ulmar said, looking over my shoulder.
I knew that. Choosing a root orb was one of the first choices a new branded made. It was foundational and steered all their future choices. It was the one orb that could never be unsocketed as it bonded with the very substance of the brand.
The first one, the Hellion General, I knew immediately wasn’t the path for me. I liked combat. I was good at it. The thought of sending my hellions in to fight and maybe die for me while I sat safely on a hilltop watching the battle simply didn’t appeal.
The Hellion Soldier was the other extreme. As long as I was always close to Mithra or another hellion, I’d still have all of the powers granted by whatever orbs I had socketed even if I’d used that orb to empower him. It was extremely tempting.
In the end I picked up the Hellion Soldier. It felt right in my hand. I stopped to consider it once again, and my logic held. I’d be fighting beside Mithra, and this way I could have the best of both worlds. He’d be enhanced with my power and I could still use it for myself when I needed.
“This one,” I said.
Neither Ulmar nor the quartermaster had any comment, so I pulled my armor aside and pressed the orb to my exposed brand. I felt the cold orb for a moment before it disappeared in a rush of warmth. The scars of my brand shifted into a slightly different pattern. I felt different, and Mithra looked up at me from his position on the floor.
“I have one other thing I can offer you, sir,” the quartermaster said before he disappeared into the back again.
When he emerged a minute later, he was carrying a spearman’s round shield. This one was much nicer than any I had seen before, obviously made of fine laminated metals. The face was painted in the carmine and gold of the Queen in a striking pattern.
“This has been here for quite some time. The young noble who ordered it died before it could be presented to him. Very few among the nobility use the spear and shield in combat, so here it has sat since then.”
He handed it to me, and it felt light in my hands.
Round Spea
rman’s Shield, Rank E
Orb socketed: Gale, Rank F, Air
The Gale orb can be invoked to project a blast of wind in a cone.
My first elemental orb. I was itching to try it out. The Gale spell seemed powerful, but now that I was a Beast Mage, orbs had more than one application. I could also funnel this new power into Mithra, and his form would be different. My heart raced as I imagined what fearsome new creature my hellion might become.
“I know that look,” Ulmar said with a grin. “Maybe if you’re lucky we’ll get to kill some bandits or monsters on the road. Come on, we’ve got to go. Anastasia will be unhappy we’ve taken so long.”
I thanked the quartermaster and we rushed out.
Chapter 4
As Ulmar had predicted, Anastasia was just about ready to go when we found our way to the keep’s stables. She had run off the terrified stable boys and was putting the saddle back on her mare, an impatient look on her face.
The supplies we had arranged with the quartermaster had begun to arrive, carried by a few burly porters.
“Good, you’re here,” she said, looking up for a moment. “Get the stable master to provide you with a horse and saddle, William.”
The stable master was an older man, gray hair beginning to creep into his long hair and beard. He looked at me with skeptical iron-grey eyes and quickly sized me up.
“I’m Walter, the stable master here. I need to ask, sir—can you ride a horse?” he asked.
“Well, I haven’t before, but it doesn’t look so hard,” I replied.
He laughed at that. “I have just the horse for you.”
The horse he led out of one of the stalls seemed normal enough. He was brown with a white patch on his nose and walked calmly behind the stable master.
“This is Ramses,” Walter said. “He’s a gelding. He’s a bit old, but he’s very compliant. Once you get used to being in the saddle you might be able to keep up with the knights.”