The Princess and the Apprentice

by Roland Boykin

  A well dressed, elderly woman stepped forward. “I am a merchant, m’lord.”

  “Do you recognize these men?” he asked, pointing at the wagon drivers.

  “Aye. They are villagers from Hiltop and honest men. I’ve had the pleasure of doing business with them in the past.”

  One of the drivers stood up, but before he could speak, the King and several men-at-arms arrived. The only distinguishable difference between the King and his men was the shimmer of gold on his armor and a small golden band atop his head.

  The King quickly assessed the situation and turned to his man. “Sergeant, a Mage powerful enough to ride through your closed gate will not be intimidated by mere arrows. Have your men stand down so we can hear what the man from Hiltop has to say without a weapon in his face.”

  The sergeant signaled his men and then indicated to the wagon driver permission to speak.

  Newfound confidence overrode the villager’s nervousness as he glanced at Aldan, and then addressed the King. “Yer Majesty, many a night we be frightened by noises and scratchin’ at the doors. All the people be huddled in da inn when these fine folks appeared, goblins hot on they heels.”

  He hung his head in embarrassment for a moment before continuing. “All seemed safe until a demon come out da fireplace and some of us rushed da front door to be escapin’. If we’d opened da door, them goblins outside would have kilt us like they done the folks at Redleaf. Mage Aldan here destroyed da demon and sealed the door.”

  The King rode over in front of the wagon and interrupted. “Do you know how many goblins, and are they still there, man?”

  “None, m’lord.” Seeing the look on the King’s face, he quickly explained. “Several days later, Mage Aldan here and his companions led us to be attackin’ the beasties where they be hidden in the Redleaf Inn. It be a close thing, but they all be dead and burned.”

  Clearly skeptical of the villager’s claim, the King took his story at face value nonetheless and thanked him. Turning to the merchant, he ordered, “Master Merchant, ensure these men receive a fair price for their merchandise, and find them lodging for the night.”

  As the woman led the wagons in the opposite direction, the King studied Aldan for a moment, especially his staff. He then bowed to the Princess.

  “Rodger Bartony, King of Ravenswold, at your service. Your request for guest right is granted, Highness. Please accompany me to the castle where appropriate quarters will be found and your presence will be welcomed at my table for a late meal.”

  Odessa returned his bow. “After the things we have endured, Majesty, your offer is most welcome. Thank you.”

  A large crowd had gathered by this time, as word spread of a powerful mage entering the city. They quickly parted to allow the King’s party passage back to the castle, but most eyes were focused on Aldan and his staff.

  The sea of frightened faces, devoid of all hope, began to weigh heavily on Aldan’s soul. He sat taller in the saddle and smiled at the people they passed, trying to project a sense of confidence into their spirits. Occasionally, a bush would burst into bloom as he rode by, which sparked several tired smiles.

  Realization rose on the inside of him that these people needed the kind of help only he could provide. Odessa glanced back from where she rode next to the King and when their eyes met, he saw the same understanding there. The certainty that he would now come face to face with the enemy mage filled him with no little fear. But as his first master used to say; “Fear is the motivation that will help you overcome your enemies.”

  Aldan had to smile as bits of conversation drifted back from the King who certainly lived up to Goodwife Monica’s description of her brother. He kept up a steady stream of compliments on Odessa’s beauty and how the kingdom would benefit from the addition of a caring queen. If she responded to his advances, Aldan didn’t hear.

  Riding into the castle courtyard, they were met by servants who helped them dismount and took away the horses. Odessa started to object as Jon and Derek were led away, but Jon assured her they would be fine with the other guards. She and Aldan followed the King into the castle, where the chamberlain took over and escorted them to a suite of rooms. If the King was disappointed when Odessa insisted on sharing a room with Aldan, he covered it well.

  Finally alone in their room, the Mage and the Princess melted into each other’s embrace. Their dream of finding aid from a powerful kingdom had turned into a nightmare the moment they passed through the city gate. As with the village of Hiltop, riding on and leaving these people at the mercy of an enemy mage was not an option.

  Aldan held her at arm’s length and struggled not to drown in the deep green ocean of her eyes. Unable to resist the temptation posed by her trembling lips, he leaned down and kissed her long and hard.

  Reluctant to release him, Odessa whispered into his shoulder. “Are we destined to forever rescue others and never be able to rescue ourselves?”

  “Maybe, but every battle we survive makes us stronger.” He cupped her face and kissed her again, then smiled. “Besides, it sounds like King Rodger is smitten with the idea of adding a queen to his kingdom.”

  With a disgusted snort she pushed him away. “Aldan Beaverson, if you think I would give up a powerful, handsome young mage for a dusty old king, you don’t know me very well. Now hurry and clean up. We’ve kept his Majesty waiting long enough.”

  A young page escorted them down to the King’s private dining room. Rodger was already seated at the head of a small table for four, but stood and waited for Odessa to take her place before resuming his seat. Servants quickly filled everyone’s wine glass, and then brought in the first course, a watery soup. Little was said as Aldan and Odessa filled their empty stomachs.

  After the last of the dishes had been cleared away, the King sat back and faced Odessa. “Princess, I apologize for the less than cordial greeting you received, and my forgetfulness in proper introductions. The messenger was less than clear as to your name and title, due to the manner of your entry into our city.”

  She raised a glass to the King and smiled at the irony of his statement. “Odessa Armont, Princess of the Kingdom of Salmony, at your service. My mage and protector is Aldan Beaverson.”

  The King leaned forward almost spilling his wine. “But Salmony is on the other side of the mountains, and the pass has been blocked for many years! How were you able to cross over and why?”

  “Actually Majesty, we traveled through the mountains, not over, and came out in a valley to the south of here. By the way, your sister Monica sends her regards. She is very happy as the wife of a woodcutter.”

  The look on the King’s face was a welcome distraction from their worries. Whether it was the revelation that they had traveled through the mountain, or that they had spoken with his sister, the expressions that flashed across his features forced Aldan to glance aside to keep from laughing. He had to pull the King’s attention away from Odessa who struggled to control her own laughter.

  “Majesty, to make a long story short, Princess Odessa’s home came under attack from the army of King Romar, who is also a powerful Mage. Her father charged me and the two guardsmen with her safety, and to escape the castle. I was able to get us through the mountains and past the dragon on the other side, where we ran into your sister and her family. Our original intention was to approach you for aid in regaining Odessa’s throne, but that is no longer the case.”

  Waiting for the servant to finish filling their glasses, the King sat back with a sigh and looked from one to the other before speaking. “Please call me Rodger. ‘Majesty’ does not have the same appeal it once did. Odessa, if I may call you that, regardless of what my sister may have told you, I am very happy for her and regret my decision to banish her, almost every day. Maybe if I’d had her counsel I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in.”

  Shifting his gaze to her companion, he continued. “Mage Aldan, what you have accomplished is a testament to your power and resourcefulness. Under different circum
stances, I wouldn’t hesitate to offer aid, but as you’ve seen, we cannot even help ourselves.”

  With a glance at the two servants, Aldan leaned towards the King and in a quiet voice, asked, “Is there someplace more secure that we can continue this conversation without listening ears?”

  Rodger nodded and led them to a smaller room with several stuffed leather chairs arranged in front of a fireplace. With the servants dismissed and a single guard at the door, Aldan quickly cast a spell to protect them from scrying eyes and inquisitive ears.

  Still uncomfortable sitting in the presence of royalty, Aldan stood by the fireplace, staff in hand, and addressed the King.

  “King Rodger, I’ll be brief. We offer our services to you and your kingdom. Not only am I a Mage of the Old Order, but Odessa is also a Blood Mage. It is our desire to help you in whatever way possible to rid your kingdom of the goblins and the Mage who controls them. Something tells me you are acquainted with this Mage, and I would like to know as much as possible before I face him.”

  * * *

  King Rodger studied the two of them looking for signs of youthful bravado or arrogance. He got no further than the eyes. They told a story similar to what he’d seen in older men, warriors who had faced death and survived. The eyes of the Princess reflected sadness and a sense of loss reminiscent of an old crone who mourns a family long gone.

  The telling factor was the almost visible connection binding them together and their affection for each other. In all his years he’d never heard of a Blood Mage working alongside anyone, much less another mage. Both endured his scrutiny with patience and a shared smile.

  * * *

  “Normally I would dismiss the claims of youth, but there is something about the two of you that forces me to take you seriously. However, I can’t help but believe you will be at a disadvantage against Robric. It was his reckless use of power that caused the rift between us.”

  “Does he possess a tome of spells or a staff such as mine?” Aldan asked, after settling back into one of the chairs.

  “If he has a tome, I’ve never seen it. The spell to create goblins was found among a stack of old manuscripts left in one of the storerooms. He has a staff, but whether or not it possesses any power, I don’t know.”

  King Rodger got up to pour himself some more wine, and then took his turn standing at the fireplace. In a voice heavy with regret, he continued. “I should never have given my permission to attempt the goblin spell. I lost three good men to the beast before it was killed. Unfortunately, the success of the spell filled Robric’s head with visions of conquest and power. He envisioned an army of men and goblins overrunning all the kingdoms of the east. We argued, and exchanged some heated words before I banished him. He swore my kingdom would be the first to fall under his power.”

  Odessa decided to speak up. “Rodger, we may be young but I don’t believe you can afford to turn down our offer. We have experience against the goblins and a proven method of defeating them.”

  The King returned to his chair, sat back and closed his eyes for a moment. “You are right, of course. Even if we lose, at least we’d have the opportunity to fight.” He leaned forward and nodded. “I accept. Now what did you have in mind?”

  * * *

  After several hours of discussion with the King in which they developed a tentative plan for dealing with Rodger’s old court mage, Aldan and Odessa returned to their room. Once inside, they stood in mutual embrace, savoring a moment of comfort.

  “Can we defeat him, Aldan?”

  “He is powerful, but without a tome is lacking in knowledge. He strikes me as the kind of mage that if his staff was real he would have flaunted that fact. My only concern is how many goblins we will face and how many fighting men the King will commit to the battle.”

  After a moment of silence, she reached up and pulled his head down for a kiss. “I think I need you tonight, Aldan Beaverson. Besides, I’ve heard rumors that making love to a mage is an experience beyond imagining.”

  Caught completely off guard, Aldan released her as she spun out of his embrace, quickly undressed and climbed into the large four post bed, without her nightshift. The fire smoldering in her beautiful green eyes, the shy smile and the sight of her lithe figure spurred him into action. His clothes practically flew off of his body by themselves. He ignored the snickers and off color remarks from the two voices in his head as he slid in next to her and proceeded to reveal the secrets proving the truth of those rumors.

  Chapter Eighteen ~The Path Chosen

  He had read about the morning after glow, but Aldan never understood what that meant until now. It was as if, for this short period of time at least, all was right with the world. The doubts and concerns of yesterday were forgotten, and his insecurity a thing of the past. Maybe it was an after-effect of the magic he used last night to bind them together, but a golden glow covered them like a warm blanket. Unfortunately, the gravity of their situation filled his thoughts with a clarity he’d never experienced before.

  He rolled up on one elbow to gaze with wonder at Odessa’s beauty and the realization that she returned his love. She surprised him by reaching up, entangling her fingers in his hair and urging his lips to meet hers in a passionate kiss. He sensed the smile behind her kiss, and opened his eyes to dark green pools filled with life.

  No words were needed as Odessa’s eyes mirrored the regret that was in his own. There was no time. The King had made it clear he intended to mount an attack on his old court mage as soon as possible. As promised, a knock at their door signaled that the King was awake and expected them to break their fast with him shortly.

  They rolled out of the old bed on opposite sides and turned to smile at each other, the bond between them still strong. Aldan washed and dressed quickly so he could help tie the straps holding Odessa’s leathers as she attempted to brush the tangles from her hair. Hand in hand, they approached the door after one last look at the cozy nest they abandoned. Aldan opened it just as a surprised young page raised his hand to knock. Caught off guard, he stared in amazement at Odessa in her armor, before recovering and bowed low.

  “Your Highness. The King sends his regards and awaits your pleasure in the dining room.”

  “We would be honored to join him,” she replied. “Lead the way.”

  King Rodger and a grizzled, uniformed old man stood as the pair entered then resumed their seats after Aldan escorted the Princess to a chair next to the King. Aldan chose to sit across from the old veteran.

  “Princess Odessa, Mage Aldan, may I present Regis Erikson, who has commanded our guard since the time of my father’s reign. I took the liberty of inviting the Commander to join us in an attempt to save time.”

  “Well met, Commander,” Odessa responded, raising her glass to him. “I only wish we were able to meet in better times than these.”

  “Forgive my boorish manner, your Highness, but if we are to assemble and depart soon, I must eat and ask questions at the same time,” he said while cutting the food on his plate. Gesturing to Aldan with a piece of meat on the end of his knife, he asked a question before jamming the food in his mouth.

  “The King tells me that you and a group of villagers defeated a nest of goblins. How is this possible? When the goblins first appeared I sent out two patrols and both were destroyed to a man attempting to protect the residents of the city.”

  “Commander, without a mage the chances of killing a goblin are slim. They were conjured up for the sole purpose of killing men in the dark. Their only weakness is total blindness in bright light.”

  It was Aldan’s turn to quickly fill his mouth with eggs and a slice of ham as the Commander thought over what he’d said.

  “So, as a Mage, you were able to cast a bright light blinding the beasts so the villagers could attack?”

  Odessa spoke up to prevent Aldan from choking on his food. “Aldan sent a ball of light into their lair to drive them out. The sunlight blinded them. Even so, it was a close thing, as their reach
is greater than that of a man with a sword. Crossbows and long handled pikes are the best weapons to use against them. Even blinded, the goblins are extremely hard to take down.”

  King Rodger, having finished his meal while listening to the others, leaned back in his chair and fixed his gaze on Aldan. “Mage Aldan, you do understand Robric will stop at nothing to kill you. How will you fight him and the goblins together?”

  Aldan continued to chew for a moment as he considered his answer. “I’m afraid it will be the task of your guardsmen to kill the beasts. They were designed to be resistant to the spells of a mage, so keeping them blinded and casting protective shields around the men will be the extent of my contribution while I confront Robric.”

  At the Commander’s look of resignation, Odessa attempted to reassure him. “Take heart, Regis. I am a Blood Mage, and if you can enlist the services of several townspeople to carry the injured to me, I can heal them of anything short of a mortal wound. They may not be able to continue with the battle, but should live to fight another day.”

  Commander Regis rose from the table and bowed to the King and the Princess. “By your leave, I must go and begin preparations for departure. I believe I’ve heard enough here to implement our plans and brief the men.”

  After a nod from the King, he headed for the door, then stopped and turned back to the table. “Mage Aldan, regardless of the outcome of our impending battle, you have already achieved a great victory here. Your kind words and actions yesterday while riding through the city have lifted the spirits of the people. Confidence, both in the castle and out, is higher than I’ve seen in a long time. For that I will always be in your debt. Thank you.”

  The click of the door closing behind him was the only sound to disturb the silence that settled over the room. Odessa reached out to take Aldan’s hand and squeezed. Her eyes spoke volumes.

  Rodger stared into his glass and softly spoke. “What he said is true. As much as I hate to admit it, the morale in this kingdom has declined from the day I took the throne. I swear to you both that after this is over I will try and persuade my sister to return to her rightful place as Queen, and rule as I have failed to.”