The Wizard

by Whiskey Flowers

  “I am only going to ask you one more time,” Leftenant Nelson said. “Drop your weapons and come over here to receive your punishment deserter. We have it on good authority that there is a deserter in there. If you do not you will be fired upon.”

  “Any man who tries to kill me will die,” Devin said. “I have a right to protect myself, both as a Wizard and as a citizen.”

  “Kill this idiot,” Leftenant Nelson said as Devin could see the first arrow speeding towards him.

  Devin drew his two blade and cut two arrow from two different directions in half at the shaft. The other two he ducked and then rolled as he came to his feet. Fireballs shot out of his hand and enveloped the first archer, the move shocked the soldiers with Nelson as Devin then turned to one of the other archers who was in shock. Fire took him as the soldiers started backing up, Devin could see the shock on Nelson’s face as he went back to get his swords and then ran flat out at the third archer.

  “I-I didn't know you were a…, the archer said as he had his hands up. Both of Devin’s swords entered from his abdomen and went straight up into his chest cavity forming an X. The last archer could see him coming. A soldier next to him drew his sword and swung as Devin ducked and opened him up at the belly. The archer had an arrow nocked and was hit by Torrent. It was a tough water spell that sent kiloliters of water at someone but Devin couldn't hold it for long. Devin didn't need to as he took the man in the chest and then flicked his swords to get the blood off of them.

  “Five people have died here because of you,” Devin said as he eyed Leftenant Nelson and then realized it was Conn who was doing the whipping. “You fired on a Wizard in his home.”

  “I’I didn't,” Leftenant said shakily as Devin cut him off.

  “You are already charged with attempted murder and you can guess I do not care about your status,” Devin said.

  “I-I have seen enough, cut this man down, sorry for the mistake,” Leftenant Nelson said.

  “It’s not that easy,” Devin said. “Men are dead. You are going to conduct your search and ensure you search every part. After that your man with the whip along with yourself are going to get your forty lashes for attacking an innocent man. Once that justice has been dealt with, you are going before the Duke for attempted murder.”

  “I am not getting any forty lashes,” Leftenant Nelson said.

  “Then I will give you justice at the tip of my sword,” Devin said as he started walking towards Nelson. “Any of you men, not wishing to die, shouldn't draw your weapons.”

  “You can't do this,” Leftenant Nelson said as he backed away.

  “Conduct your search and make it thorough,” Devin said. “Anyone breaking anything will deal with me.”

  “I-I don't need a search,” Leftenant Nelson said.

  “Then are you prepared to face your justice?” Devin said. “I am not going anywhere and neither are you. You told your men lies to get them over here. You spun them up, beat an innocent man and sent them after a Wizard. Now five of them are dead and you are trying to get out of this. You don't just pull up and beat an innocent man and then try to kill a law keeper for no reason. You have to pay.”

  “That’s it,” Leftenant Nelson said. “I’ll pay!”

  “You would have to ask the man you had whipped if he would take monetary compensation and come to an agreement with him,” Devin said. “That does not rid you of trying to kill me and breaking my door.”

  “I am not a part of this!” one of the soldiers said. “You said you had a lead on some deserters and that one was pretending to be a Wizard. How stupid was I, one boy beat the pit out of three of you. He didn't catch you by surprise, he is a Wizard! I am out of this, I want noting to do with it. You don't get this job going after deserters by being nobodies, I have a life to get back to. Wizard if you need someone to speak about what happened here and what I know, you can count me in. I am getting out of here for someone else dies.”

  “I am with Hoyer,” said another Soldier. “I know you have some relationship with the Prince but he is only a little boy. You all are on your own. Five men killed, two of them were roasted alive. Count me out of searching his home or anything else.”

  “Looks like your men are leaving, Devin said as he father got to his knees and then shakily stood up.

  “He wasn't a Wizard!” Leftenant Nelson said. “How was I supposed to know. You, you can talk to him. You are his father,” Nelson said as he looked at Geflin.

  “Your words are with me,” Devin said. “Now you and whatever men you have a part of this, go make your search.”

  “You are on your own Sir,” another Soldier said. “I am out of here.”

  “I don't uh, want no parts of this,” Sergeant Conn said.

  “You don't get to leave,” Devin said. “You are a big part of this, forty lashes is what you are looking at. And I am going to make sure they are just as nasty as the ones you gave. Now go search the house so this can be over with.”

  “You were suspected of being a deserter,” Leftenant Nelson said. “And you refused to drop your weapons. You weren't a Wizard when I met you and the training takes forever. You can't pin any attempted murder charge on me and I demand my day in front of His Grace.”

  “And you will get it,” Devin said. “However you did throw my mother to the floor and kicked in my door. While you may be able to replace that, you were still entering illegally and you whipped my father. This is my last time telling you to go make your search. Since you have tried to kill me before, I assume deadly force is how you are going to try and get out of your lashes. Before you bring up His Grace, I am going to give you the same justice you gave my father. Anyone running will be burned to death, now conduct your search.”

  “Fifteen gold,” Leftenant Nelson said as he looked at Geflin.

  “I am going to enjoy beating the pit out of you,” Geflin said. “You caught me and taunted me, and insulted my boy. You keep your fifteen gold.”

  “Eighty gold,” Leftenant Nelson said.

  “Eighty gold is a lot of money,” Geflin said wincing.

  “Then it seems Leftenant Nelson has bought his way out,” Devin said. “His sergeant however is still due forty lashes. You have an hour Leftenant to return here with the money. If I have to find you, I am going to do so with my swords.”

  “You there Sergeant Conn are going to either conduct your search or take your whipping,” Devin said.

  “I don't have that kind of money,” Sergeant Conn said. “This isn't fair, Sir can you pay for me?”

  “That is too much money,” Leftenant Nelson said.

  “Your time is running,” Devin said. “If you are not back in an hour then the eighty gold is off the table.”

  “Sir!” Sergeant Conn pleaded.

  “Not looking good for you Sergeant,” Devin said. “You just whipped a man for no reason and haven't even checked his home. Your Leftenant is going to have his day in front of the Duke for attempted murder, he is still going to be punished for kicking down a door and not replacing it.”

  “Okay listen,” Leftenant Nelson said. “I don't have much coin, one hundred gold and we forget all about this.”

  “You want five dead men to be forgotten about?” Devin asked.

  “One hundred gold and your door fixed,” Leftenant Nelson said. “You all sign papers saying restitution has been paid and no harm done. That is including anyone you have a grievance with. No Duke, no trial.”

  “Deal,” Geflin said.

  “I have no idea why you were stupid enough to believe someone was here,” Devin said. “I am assuming you did not know where my home was.”

  “It was Lord Paramount!” Sergeant Conn said. “He said a boy was in here. A rich merchant boy who ran away from the war.”

  “I didn't run from any war,” Devin said. “You all have an hour to pay my father. Da let's go get you patched up.”

  Devin walked with his father, the man was moving gingerly as they went up the stairs and into the house. M
s. Martha was there and was looking wide eyed as Devin carried his father into the house. Devin laid him on the floor in the prone position, Ms. Martha snapped out of whatever she was feeling and ran to get water and a clean rag. Devin thought he would need something to clean the wounds with, maybe liquor or something else strong. Geflin raised his head and looked at Ms. Martha who had the sense to be embarrassed.

  “That stomach belong to Lord Paramount?” Geflin said. “No use being shy about it, I already knew you started up a relationship with him.”

  “Y-yes,” Ms. Martha said.

  “He is the reason for all of that outside,” Geflin said. “I am guessing he knows about the babe?”

  “He does,” Ms. Martha said. “If you knew about us, why didn't you ever say anything?” Ms. Martha said.

  “Martha you have always been spoiled and looked down on other commoners,” Geflin said. “You look down on me even if I do a lot around here. Even if I had as much money as your father you would have never been happy, you fancy yourself a noble. We both know the reason we had gotten married and love wasn't a part of it. If you wanted to go off and have your fun, who was I to tell you no? I thought I still had a year or two with my boy and then I could leave and you could go out there and find whatever it is you were looking for. I didn't tell Lady Paramount anything because it is not my place. You should have known this gamble of your wouldn't work out.”

  “It was working out,” Ms. Martha said.

  “No it wasn't and it never would,” Geflin said. “You fancy yourself a noble, they look down on you the way you look down on me. Sure you can be polite and you don't want anything happening to me, but you never thought we were equals. To a man like Lord Paramount, you was something nice to warm his bed once or twice and perhaps he wanted it a bit more. He never planned on being with you, it doesn't matter how his wife looks. Lady Paramount is a noble and you are not. Now from the little I gained, either Damon or Troy ran back here and I am willing to bet it was Troy.”

  “He did and he is hidden,” Devin said. “Da, you don't seem like a man surprised that I can do magic.”

  “Another story for another time,” Geflin said. “With the money I am about to receive, I think my biggest plan should be to find us some land and put two small houses on it.”

  “What do you mean land?” Ms. Martha said. “You are leaving?”

  “Martha you are pregnant with another man’s baby and during our years together I have been a little more than a bed warmer to you,” Geflin said. “I didn't put that bay in your belly and you decided to end whatever we had when you went off with Lord Paramount. I do plan on having a real wife and actually get a say in raising my kids without worrying about you or your father.”

  “You did raise your kid,” Ms. Martha said getting angry.

  “And what about Troy and Damon?” Geflin asked.

  “They are not your kids!” Ms. Martha snapped.

  “Wait, what?” Devin said shocked. “What do you mean they are not his kids?”

  “They are my babies,” Geflin said. “Martha is just feeling a bit angry because she doesn't know her next move.”

  “They are not his kids or even your brothers,” Ms. Martha said as her anger began to build.

  “Careful now Martha,” Geflin said. “I am just leaving, if you want me to slam the door on the way out I can.”

  “No Da,” Devin said. “I want to hear what this is all about and so does Troy. He is buried beneath you. I want to know why you would stick around. We might as well be servants here with as much interaction we have with Ms. Martha.”

  “It is because he already had you when we met and I was already pregnant with Troy,” Ms. Martha said.

  “What are you saying?” Devin asked.

  “I said that is enough Martha!” Geflin screamed and aggravated his back which called him to wince.

  “Troy isn't your brother which is why I hated for him to even be around you,” Ms. Martha said. “Troy has noble blood running through his veins. His father was just to much of a coward to claim him after saying he was. Your Da was just some boy who had come up begging my father for a job. My father didn't know what to do with me so he made us marry to save some of the family reputation.”

  “And Damon?” Devin asked.

  “Damon has noble blood,” Ms. Martha said. “His father is the same as Troy’s. He didn't want to leave his wife and instead moved across the Kingdom with his family like a coward. I have money, more than many nobles. He should have stayed with me.”

  “This makes so much sense of why Mr. Darcy was always in your business,” Devin said.

  “They are your brothers no matter whose blood is running through them,” Geflin said. “I think you have said and done enough Martha. Did you honestly expect me to stay here and give up my happily ever after while you run off with whoever? You did it with Damon and now you are doing it again. I am tired of putting up with you and your Da. You have treated me okay through the years but now it is over.”

  “Let me bring you upstairs and place you on my bed for as long as I have it,” Devin said. “There are things we need to talk about.”

  Devin helped his father upstairs, it was a bit tricky since the wounds he had he didn't want to open up more by unnecessary pulling. Devin laid his father on the bed face first and then frowned at the marks. Troy was stupid for running back home but he was the son Ms. Martha raised. Lazy and entitled, now that Devin had heard Ms. Martha speak about nobles and their blood, Devin knew without a doubt where his brother got the attitude from. Devin could see his father was warring with his emotions, Devin decided to give him the same advice Geflin often gave Devin.

  “Best way to get it over with is to start,” Devin said. “Don't look for the right words, just begin talking.”

  “You are not my blood son,” Geflin finally said. “I was given you long ago by someone I had a deal with to raise like my own.”

  “Who?” Devin asked.

  “Don't know,” Geflin said. “I only know she wasn't human. She was a bit too tall with a frame narrower than it should be. Her eyes were bigger and she had pointed ears. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever met. I was dying son, it was a slow nasty death and she offered to heal me.”

  “Why were you dying?” Devin asked.

  “I was born that way,” Geflin said. “I could never walk right and I was extremely weak. Whoever my mother was abandoned me to an orphanage where I was misused a bit. I was basically an invalid. A woman, I believe her to be your mother offered to heal me if I could take care of her son. I thought she was mad, I wasn't yet twenty summers and nothing could heal me. My bones never grew right and I was disfigured. I agreed and a bright light came from her hands. I think I remember her talking to someone, who I don't remember. I woke up in a sunny field, I later found out I was in a different kingdom and I had a baby next to me. My body was healed and was as muscular as it was right now. The field I woke up in is the field behind this house. I saw you and knew I needed to keep my bargain. Mr. Darcy has always looked at me like trash but it was better for his ego and his family’s reputation that his daughter had gotten herself pregnant by a hired hand.”

  “Is that why you throw yourself into physical work?” Devin asked. “Because you were an invalid?”

  “That is the exact reason,” Geflin said. “Hard work takes on a new meaning when you couldn't do any work. Martha had a home and even servants to help me care for you. Mr. Darcy didn't want anything to do with me other than to be Martha’s husband and help take care of his grandbabies. When Martha got pregnant again, I am sure the man knew Damon didn't come from me.”

  “I have magic father,” Devin said.

  “I don't know anything about that,” Geflin said. “I only knew you were special, you had to be if someone could fix me up. Your mother had to be desperate. I do not know why she would give her baby to a stranger to raise but I have tried my best.”

  “Thank you,” Devin said. “I just always assumed I looked
more like my birth mother instead of you. When you get your money, I think you should leave.”

  “I cannot abandon that brother of yours,” Geflin said. “I made a grand speech but I will have to wait until this war is over or your brother is in a safe place before I make any moves. I am guessing you must have a story to tell as well, like how did you go from a Squire to an Acolyte?

  HATOS Devin’s kingdom

  Troy: Devins brother, stuck up

  Damon: Devin’s brother, lazy

  Raenalia: kingdom devin will be killing in