Battle Mage: The Dark Mage (Tales of Alus) (48 page)

“Come wait with me. Have you eaten? I am sure your trip was somewhat draining at least,” the girl said leading him with both hands cupping his forearm tenderly. He looked at her dark hair bound in a braid with gold string woven through the raven black. Her dark blue eyes had eyeliner and her lids were slightly shadowed with makeup while lipstick deepened the color of her lips, though her makeup was still subtle as it enhanced her beauty. 

It was hard to remember this girl, already full grown and slightly taller than her brother, was little more than three months old. She was every bit the princess to her younger brother’s emperor. How the two could come from their artificial wombs so ready for the world was beyond him, even though he had watched the emperor use his magic to start their lives. Now Acheri guided him like a proper hostess, though perhaps one a little more infatuated with her guest than was proper.

A decanter of wine, one of juice and a pitcher of water sat on a table with fruits, sandwiches and sweets. He took the wine when offered, though he rarely drank. It had been a trying morning, so it seemed more appropriate and the warmth of the alcohol felt right passing over his tongue and down his throat.

They waited and he ate from the sandwiches finding that he was still a bit hungry. Waiting until the major domo and merchant left, Kolban led a pair of generals and two older warlocks over to the pair trailed by Lanquer. The remainder of the entourage parted through the doors at Kolban’s behest.

“This is Palose,” the emperor introduced the mage to the four men. “You may have heard of him as the resurrection man created by Atrouseon.”

The title and relation of his creation was matter of fact even if it stung a little. Spoken of more like an object than a man, Palose would have preferred the omission of such a title, but the other men all nodded in sudden comprehension. Apparently word of Atrouseon’s apprentice had made less of an impact than his rebirth.

Kolban continued as he added, “I sent him to Garosh’s fortress to investigate why we have lost contact with the others who remained behind. What news do you have?”

“I arrived at the altar to find it destroyed. Three men from Southwall spotted me, but I killed the soldiers before getting the location and basic preparedness of the army nearby.

“There was also a
werelioness who informed me that a couple packs of werelions and werewolves roam the mountain looking for game. They have apparently behaved themselves and been left alone to act like animals.

“When I entered the fortress, I did so saying I was a messenger,” Palose said letting the men take in that fact as he was about to get to the gist of his report. “Warlock Verian was in charge with a second named Hereseth backing him. Carianic, Garosh’s bodyguard remains working for the two wizards as well as a pack leader and another wraith.

“When I confronted the five men saying I was a messenger, they either doubted that I could represent you or simply refused authority. Instead of answering any questions about Southwall and the portal room, the five threatened to attack me. They would have if I hadn’t put Verian under a mind lock spell.”

Sighing, Kolban sounded more amused by the story than angry as he stated, “Why is it that they always try to kill the messenger? Like you not returning wouldn’t bring up flags that they have turned traitor.

“Continue on, Palose.”

The mage nodded continuing as asked, “With Verian under my spell, I had them place me in a cell and chain me to prove I wasn’t a threat. Then I had Verian dismiss the others for him to torture me, or so they believed since they had believed me weak.

“Once they were gone I had Verian unlock me and take my place. I verified that Garosh had ordered them to destroy the gateway back to Ensolus after returning those who had come to reinforce the fortress against Southwall. He had ordered it and those who followed these orders did so because they have chosen to abandon you and follow Garosh.”

Kolban nodded even as the other men began to look angry. They were his closest advisors and loyal to the emperor. They were also among those that he had bonded with his magic after changing bodies to the boy. With such loyalty ensured, these men looked ready to charge off and make the rebels pay.

The emperor continued to study Palose sensing that, though the story was concluded, there was more to it. “Did you reestablish the gate?”

Surprising the warlocks and generals with his question, the dark mage shocked them even more with his answer, “My touchstone remains at the altar. Another is about a mile to the west and another in the forest to the south. There is a fourth in the hall near the entrance and the last was placed in the jail.

“If you need to break in, I can open gates to all five and you should be able to take the entrance from within and without.”

The only true human, a warlock known as Suma was left scratching his thin white hair and smooth pate as he asked in dubious surprise, “How is a battle mage able to create portals and use mind magic like this?”

Kolban answered with a satisfied smile turning to look at his advisor, “He was a battle mage. When Atrouseon resurrected him, he shared his power, though I doubt he knew of that side effect when he cast the spell. Since Palose shares a warlock’s strength in magic in addition to his own, even if it is only a portion of Atrouseon’s, his magic reserves have increased to warlock level.

“Though called an apprentice by some, Palose is also a fully trained battle mage and has taken that knowledge to learning greater spells. I do not believe any battle mage has ever learned any mind or gateway magic until you surpassed that level. Am I right?” the young man asked with the knowledge of an ancient being.

Nodding at the question, Palose added for his supporter, “Darkness, portals, and mind magic have been added to my knowledge. I have read of necromancy and small attempts at controlled necromancy on bones of mice seem easy enough also.”

Though he refused to explain how much he knew and what spells he had also converted to battle magic, Palose reserved the right to keep them as his secret. The warlocks and generals might serve the emperor faithfully, but that didn’t mean if they decided he was a threat that they wouldn’t use whatever they knew against him. Determined to check into these men as best he could, the mage thought knowing any of their weaknesses might serve him just as well should he need to deal with them.

The second warlock, Evres, a man whose heritage appeared to be mixed to the point that Palose was unsure just from looking at him, stroked his bearded chin. It was counter to his shaved, bald head and seemed to help him think as he asked, “You have only been in Ensolus for a few months and already you have learned this much?”

“I already had the building blocks of magic from being a mage. The rest was just a matter of studying,” replied the mage feeling surprised by the way this conversation had turned around to be about him.

Seeing the same problem occurring, Kolban interrupted saying, “So we can invade and deal with the rebels if anytime we choose with your gates.” He used the word ‘we’, but no one believed that anyone save the emperor would make those decisions.

A half orc general with light brown skin, General Corven spoke up at his words. “Do you want me to begin summoning an army to attack Southwall through the mage’s portal, my emperor?”

The second general was of elvish descent and looked far younger than Corven, though his elven features masked his true age. Less eager to start a new war front, General Amelyer questioned the emperor differently, “You don’t sound like you are ready to make Garosh pay, your majesty. Have you a reason to wait on such an invasion of our enemies?”

With the hint of a smile playing at the emperor’s lips at the contrasting spirits of his generals, the exact reason why they were part of his advisors; Kolban said quietly, “There is no rush to attack. They have nowhere to run. With Southwall at their gate holding them in and Ensolus ready to rise against them for treason, where would they go?

“No, Verian and Hereseth aren’t clever enough to think their way out of the box Garosh has planted them within. We can leave them to stew for the moment. In fact, even if they wish to join Southwall, they present another worry to that land.

“Garosh won’t be trusted any more than the creatures who serve him, at least not at first. It will take awhile to win the humans over and even longer to remove the wariness that they must feel having an enemy inside of their border. The defense has been breeched and must be unsettling as well.”

The elven general nodded even as his opposite seemed deflated. The half orc’s broad shoulders drooped slightly at the idea of having to wait to get revenge on the traitors to the empire. Evres’ green eyes looked as intelligent as a wizard to Palose’s eyes and his calm demeanor showed neither disappointment nor loss at the decree. “I sense you have a different idea from storming the fortress, my lord. Is there anything that we can do in this regard?”

Kolban shook his head slowly as if in thought. “This isn’t a surprise. As a vessel, Garosh has always feared being replaced. Now in his fear, he has run to our enemies, but I have foreseen as much. I do have a plan, but it will not require my armies just yet.

“If you will just see to what we have already discussed, gentlemen, I need to speak with my sister and Palose for a time,” the emperor, who looked like a brown haired boy still growing to his full size, dismissed his elder advisors with the demeanor of a seasoned ruler. It was still an odd thing to see for Palose as his eyes told him one thing, his memory told him another and knowledge of the emperor’s original form all warred with what was real.

Wanting to shake his head, Palose held off as he waited on the emperor.

Chapter 25- Day in the Sun

The streets of Windmeer had come alive as they hadn’t since before the first snows had come so many months before as merchants, shoppers and children mingled with the first travelers coming from the south. Birds in small numbers had returned to flit along the roofs or quickly pecked at fallen bread bought and dropped by those visiting the vendors. With all the noise and energy of a spring morning, Rilena could almost forget the oppressive winter cold even if it had only been the last few days that had brought relief.

“
Winter’s Edge should be over now,” Elzen stated as the mage walked alongside of her. He had foregone a jacket as he wore a long sleeve shirt. It was heavy winter weight material, but still the young man was pushing the boundary of how warm the day might be.

After so many months of cold, it did almost feel like summer compared to the miserable winter temperatures, but Rilena wasn’t as brave. Her leather jacket was open revealing a similar shirt to Elzen’s, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to release the protection the leather afforded against the occasional wafting breeze. Her eyes watched Garosh’s back as she had so many times now, ever since that first ride back from the fortress; but her hate was a thing of the past. She hadn’t come to complete forgiveness for the mistreatment at his hands, but it wasn’t as hard to look at him now.

“I wonder how Sebastian did?” she replied half heartedly. It wasn’t the first time they had discussed the matter. In fact, over the last week when it was scheduled to run, Elzen seemed to ask her that question almost every hour like clockwork. She worried over her friend, but in a controlled event like the wizard duels Rilena was fairly confident he couldn’t seriously harm himself.

Elzen started counting on his fingers. “If Hala sends word by peregion, it could reach Norcrom in about three days. With another four days to Blackwall and almost five days to reach Windmeer, it will still be at least a week until we will hear anything,” he said disappointedly as the boy did the math.

“How do you know all the days of a bird messenger’s flight?” Rilena asked in surprise. He sounded so sure in his numbers that it sounded like more than an educated guess. “Did you ever visit those towers or something?”

Looking at her in almost as much surprise, Elzen was forced to laugh as he reminded her, “There was a class on inter city communication and the time to travel between towers. I always liked the birds so I guess that it stuck. The birds are the fastest means of communication since they don’t have to deal with hills and turns.

“For a rider basically double that time. Even using the wall to speed a rider along, it’s almost double.”

Rilena smiled wickedly and asked, “What if they change horses and riders at each tower so it is fresh?”

“Um,” he started to try and remember if the idea had ever been covered.

“Or maybe what if there were archers set up so each archer shoots the maximum distance of his bow, then it gets picked up and is fired by the next and so on?”

“You’re messing with me, aren’t you?” the boy asked with a pout starting to form if only in jest.

“Oh, but what if a gust of wind blows the arrow over the edge of the wall or the archer just misses his target? Then someone would have to run down below to get it. That would be a shame,” the girl continued on as if oblivious to Elzen’s complaint.

“They could form a line at the base of the towers and avoid that. By the way, I know you are definitely messing with me now,” he said rolling his eyes at her joke.

“You know Sebastian and I traveled through the ground or through plants or something due to Wizard Druick’s nature spell. We moved for miles to find the caravan after it had been moving through
the hills towards the east and Windmeer. If they could do that easily, wizards could move between cities much faster than anything else. I wonder if it would be possible, but wizards would need to be willing to do so. They could carry packs of mail though so that would be more convenient than one of the birds,” mused Rilena much to Elzen’s chagrin, though the two soldiers in earshot began to laugh.