“It's not that,” Kimberly said quickly. “He is a charmcaster John.”
“I wonder what your life would be like if I were more like you,” Duke Glades said.
“What do you mean by that?” Kimberly asked.
“Well I would only have married a woman of my station,” Duke Glades said. “I am a Duke and you are the third daughter of the fourth daughter of the second son to Viscount Gentry. You were there for the uproar our marriage caused. How many women were mad that I didn't even try to court them, regardless of my circumstances? How many angry missives did I receive from my peers asking about why I didn't wait for their daughters to come of age? I was seen as ruining the institution. True many of those same people now smile in your face but my point remains. If I were like you and went by what other people told me, what other people thought, then we would have never known each other.”
“I didn't mean to make you feel that way” Kimberly said. “But everything changed once everyone had gotten to know me.”
“And you only received that chance because of everyone knew I would not stand for anyone talking down to my wife,” Duke Glades said. “It is ridiculous that of all people you are the one who doesn't want to give my son a chance to prove himself.”
“What are you going to do about Davin?”
“What do you mean?” Duke Glades asked. “When Davin decides what he wants to do he will have more than enough money to do it with. He will still be a rich noble and I am sure he will marry into his station. I wish he were more capable though, he needs to stop following Svend around and become his own man.”
“Svend is a good influence.”
“Svend is a dandy who is in a different position. Svend can afford to be a snobby good for nothing. He will always have decent advisors surrounding him and will collect taxes from the people. The system that is already in place is easy to maintain, I have only occasionally tweaked it to my liking. Davin doesn't have that luxury of collecting taxes. He will need to prove himself over and over again. Maybe he can become a merchant or something. While he may be able to live off his brothers, what about his family and his family’s family? Svend or Rell would make him a magistrate or give him some other position of prestige but he will need something self-sustaining. If I had my way, he would learn under Rell the finer points of fighting and leading men.”
“Your son is only going to make it because you gave him the Barony,” Kimberly said.
“You are foolish if you believe so,” Duke Glades said. “How much do you think the staff he used is worth?”
“The gaudy fake staff?”
“We both saw him cast silence on Svend, Kim. It scared the hell out of me that he has access to a spell like that. I have the staff he used, it is nothing but cheap wood and colored glass. He drained magic with it and had two other spells ready. I doubt I could have beaten him once he hit me with both of those spells and I don't think many other full mages would have stood any chance.”
“It is only good for one use though.”
“Did it matter? And he refilled the glass with the spells for me. I am dying to get into a sparring match to see how I stack up against the more powerful mages the kingdom has to offer. I think during the fight we saw something special, I underestimated Rell and you did as well. If you could go back you would not have Davin fight him. It was humiliating to be bested so thoroughly that he had to resort to something foul. How much would you pay for such a weapon? Not one with all those high powered spells but those with simple shield and fire spells?”
“I wouldn't be seen with anything like that.”
“What if you were a mundane peasant? Would you care about how it looked as long as you had access to magic? What about a front-line soldier? Wouldn't you want to have something like that handy to fight the enemy off with? What about a wealthy merchant moving a caravan across the kingdom? Or a city watchman going to arrest a dangerous criminal?”
“He is not the only one who can make those things. I saw at least six of them during the match.”
“True. And now the people that can make them are all in the same area. If Rell wanted, he could use his duel as proof of his power and sell those things for a large amount. If that falls through, then he could always join the Royal Army. He would be a more than capable leader.”
“Then why not have him join the army if he has all of these opportunities and Davin has none?”
“Why not have Davin and Svend join the army and name Ashlyn as my heir? He was the first born and that always means something. This is the last time I will tolerate you trying to rob him of something. Now that is my plan for Davin. It is the same plan I have always had. It is why I push Davin harder than Svend and why I am always twice as upset when he follows his brother into laziness. Maybe you put the seed in his head that he never would have to work hard. Hopefully he now sees that is not the case and doubles down on everything I have tried to teach him.”
“T’Ericka has told him that she does not see him as a romantic interest anymore. He is crushed and has been holed up in his room all day. The only reason he came out here today is because you threatened him. Seeing your other son get his title is an even bigger blow.”
“The title was never Davin’s to begin with and I never liked T’Ericka, no matter who her parents were. She would come with a large dowry which would be nice but she would offer Davin’s grandchildren and great grandchildren no way to sustain themselves without their parent’s money. T’Ericka may be a princess but she does not come with the bonuses her sister does. That and she has a younger sister who is only two years younger and has always tried to catch Davin’s eye.”
“Millicent? The girl has a lazy eye and doesn't even have the magic the elder of her sisters do.”
“But she is a princess and will come with the same dowry. Well this thing is finally over, Rell needs to go to work soon. He needs to put his own men on the pass instead of mine. I know the Balenians have heard about the change in leadership and all the drama that has come along with it. All of this has come at the worst possible time for the kingdom. It is horrible being landlocked. The Voxian Empire has also started amassing troops near Earl Victory’s lands.”
“Our lands are next to his. Earl Victory is not a fighter like you, he doesn't even have a proper force to fight with.”
“Which is why the royal army may have to come save him. I need to be ready to fight as well. Unlike the Balenians, the Voxians do have quite a number of full mages, at least half of what we have over here.”
CHAPTER 4
“This is ridiculous,” an angry dirty man said as he was hauled in before Rell.
“You can either work or be put in jail,” Rell said. “You are a known beggar, robber and you have done nothing for the Barony. You are a nuisance and we are practically at war. I am offering you the opportunity to become a better man. If you take it, you will never have to worry about food in your stomach or a warm place to stay. If you refuse then the next time you are caught drunk and harassing people I will take your hands and feet.”
“Take my hands and feet?” the man said. “You listen here you damn mountain bastard.”
Rell did not have to say anything as one of the city watchmen backhanded the man across the back of his head. The man looked up at Rell with a little fear in his eyes and decided to say nothing further. Rell waved the guards away with his angry visitor. Dealing with him was the easy part of Rell’s day. The hardest part were the tavern and brothel owners who would be beyond mad. Rell knew they met as a group. He had five small towns in his lands. Practically every owner of those businesses wanted to meet him and they were all beyond angry. Rell watched as the men came in next. Although they were practically fuming they were not so blinded with rage that they failed to notice the axe he had across his lap.
“Your Lordship,” the oldest of the men began. “Your policies are killing our businesses.”
“Which policies would those be?” Rell asked.
“You are taking w
omen that work in my brothels away for whatever experiment you have going,” the older man said. “They believe they are going to be guards or soldiers of some kind and you have forbidden me and the others to take on people not working for you as customers.”
“I did no such thing,” Rell said.
“You have tripled the taxes on all services except if we have proof that the person serviced was one of your people,” the older man said. “You are crippling my business.”
“And how do you suppose I should protect this place when the Balenians come calling?” Rell asked. “I can lower all the taxes or get rid of them entirely. Just know each and every one of you who are refusing to do their part will be on the front lines looking at the enemy with whatever weapon you have handy. Anyone running or trying to flee will be executed. Now which would you prefer?”
“I can always leave your shithole” a voice said in the back. Rell didn’t see him but he had recognized the voice, David Steele had been a gigantic ass ever since Rell had told him he would not go along with any plan to get more liquor into the Barony. “Duke Glades is right up the way and he doesn't have your stupid rules.”
“Then you should go, David. You should pack up and take your family away from this place. My laws are what are and will not change. I need money and you have it. All of your taxes are going towards the war effort.”
“Our money is doing nothing but lining the pockets of you and your damn charmcasters” a big red haired man said.
“The charmcasters have been building magic staves for our army,” Rell said. “The gems needed to make charms are not cheap. However my earlier offer stands. You do not have to pay anything but when war comes your ass will be front and center facing the Balenians. Maybe you can pay them off. Just wave your saved coins at them when they come waving swords at you.”
“That would be suicide,” a thin blond haired man said as he stepped forward. “I know the Balenians have recently attacked the mountain people.”
“And the mountain tribes need my help,” Rell said. “Right now most of your money is going towards arming and training them to fight. The better equipped they are to fight the longer they can hold off the Balenians. The longer they can hold off the Balenians the more time I will have to evacuate noncombatants and people of stature. Right now that includes merchants who are funding our defense. You can take your name off of it if you want. When the fight comes you will be front and center. But if you opt out and somehow escape, then know you would be a wanted man in my lands or my father’s. You can always leave now though. Trust me when I say the Barony will live on without you. We have enough planters growing food, enough beastmasters raising animals both for food and so the mountain tribes have enough horses to fight in the mountains.”
“The war is close then?” The old man who originally started talking asked.
“I don't know exactly how close it is,” Rell admitted. “What I do know is that my father could not afford to keep defending this place. I have gotten together with the mountain tribes to come up with a loose defense force for now while the main mountain force is being trained. I am going to need all the men and women of the Barony to do their part. It doesn't take much to shoot a bow or cast with a staff. Now you can be a part of the solution or part of my army. Which would you prefer?”
“I’m not fighting this war and I make okay money in Edgewood,” the thin blond man said. “It sounds to me like you are saying high taxes will exempt us from fighting in any wars. Like we won't be pressed into service if the fighting starts.”
“That is exactly what I am telling you,” Rell said. “You are already doing your part for the war effort. I just need to get everyone else on board. Whoever wants to go then leave, I’ll give you five days. But after that you are a citizen of the Barony and will behave as such.”
“That is all good for the tavern owners,” the old man said. “But I run a brothel. Some of my best girls are leaving to join this fight. You are even taking girls as young as thirteen to fight in your war.”
“It is not my war; I don't want it,” Rell replied. “And I don't care about protecting marginal businesses when there are lives at stake. If you foresee no profit your best bet is to close down shop and move. I am not budging either way.”
“Alright you got your answers now leave,” George said as he started shooing away Rell’s visitors. George was the captain of his father’s guards and was on loan until Rell got his own force up.
“Well that went better than expected,” Rell said.
“I am happy for you Your Lordship,” George said. “I have to leave in two days. Your father has need of me.”
“I am close to getting my own guard force together,” Rell said.
“You mean those women?” George asked.
“I need my roughest men pointed at the enemy. The guards I have will be more than enough. They are being trained by some of the people who taught me.”
“They will never be able to take down even a poorly trained man. They are a bunch of whores, housewives and tavern girls.”
“I am only having them trained to use a crossbow and my magic staves. I know many people see these as gimmicks but I think they will be able to do the job. My guards practice with magic but most of their training revolves around guard rotation, driving horses and things like that. They have learned a lot in the three weeks they have been studying hard.”
“If a force of men come for you...” George said letting his words hang in the air.
“Then they will find out I am not prey but predator. But you can probably leave tomorrow. Some of the mountain tribes are on their way down and I am as safe with them as I am with anyone.”
“Your father worries about you, he hasn't said as much. But he is worried about the way you are running things.”
“All of the training I have been putting everyone through?”
“People don't like it, especially the Martins.”
“Who are they?” Rell asked.
“They are Duchess Glades’s brother and his family. They have said all sorts of things about your new position. You must have heard some of it.”
“I didn't know their last name was Martin. I have been so busy with other things I forgot about them. I am not worried about them, though. Once my force is ready the mages will fall in line.”
“You talk about your weapons like they are that strong.”
“They are. And I have some set aside for you and your men who protect my father. He can teach you how to use them if he wishes to. I think once you see them you will understand how significantly they can change a battle.”
“People are still calling for you to be ousted. As a guard, I hear things. I hear a lot of things. I have dealt with you since you gained your title. You are a bit ruthless but you have a goal to accomplish and no one is going to take that goal away from you. You are constantly on the move, either training, making staves or making moves to get more staves made. I hope it works out for you. I can say with certainty that you are an enemy everyone should hope to avoid.”
Rell nodded as George walked out of his meeting room. Rell still had a lot to do and little time to do it in. He would meet with Denali of the mountain tribes in a little while. There was something in particular he wanted to either complain about or show him. Either way Rell had to go back to making his staves. These were the simplest staves he could come up with but they would be devastating. They were meant to be given to front-line troops. These staves were being mass produced and prepared. At least a hundred people were involved in making the wood a suitable shape, creating and placing the glass in the wood and making sure after a couple swings nothing would fall off. Rell had decided fire would be the primary weapon of the front-line troops. It could scare horses away, scare men away and ignored steel armor. It was also not as magic draining as lightning or some other offensive spells. Rell could get through charging fifty of these staves in day. He needed back-ups since he was the only one that could fill these cheaper staves.
The other staves that were being created were a mixed bag. Rell had others working on more intricate staves containing precious or semi-precious stones. Weak charmcasters could only use precious stones and although their filled charms paled in comparison to Rell’s own glass ones, it was still a lot better than swinging a sword. The issue was that these staves were expensive to produce. Even the five best charmcasters he had could not use glass. The lowest quality media they could use were semi-precious stones which cost a lot of coin. Rell knew he was emptying his coffers to prepare for war. Many people were being mobilized to fight. Rell had to pay to house them, pay to feed them and had to pay them. No one was turned away. Even the old were given an opportunity to get into the fight. So far most of their training involved using dummy staves and learning the three main spells over and over again. Rell would make different staves for some of them the way he did for the mountain tribes.
The mountain tribes got lightning, shield and water. Water was to keep the ground in the pass filled with deep mud. If the Balenians decided to march across, the first few ranks would be easily destroyed. Overall Rell considered lightning more useful in the mountains than fire.
Rell thought the job of Baron was insanely difficult compared to what he had already gone through. He still needed to find commanders for his new army, magistrates for his towns, put a city watch together since his father would need his fighters back and that was just the beginning. His father had sent him an old man that Rell didn't really like named Jennings. Jennings did not hide the fact he hated charmcasters and thought Davin should be the Baron. The man was also insanely competent and had fixed many problems Rell didn't even know he had. Rell had seven or eight of his smartest people trying to learn from the man. Jennings taught them all and said he would need more. He then started putting them together and assigning responsibilities to them. He said for an advisor to reach his level of competence it would take years so it was better to have many subject matter experts instead of trying to train another jack of all trades.
The Charmcaster Page 4