Battle Mage: The Lost King (Tales of Alus) (54 page)

A frown furrowed the giant’s brow. With a near growl, he grumbled, “It was that boy’s greed that led to the emperor’s revenge on us all, you know.”

A little surprise appeared in the eyes of the Southwallers. It had once been implied that King Raithe had united the people to fight against the emperor to make up for a mistake that he had made. Some had said that it had to do with the emperor’s arrival and now to hear it from the man who had lived through that time was almost a complete shock.

Recovering slightly, Sebastian recounted just the simplest part of what he knew to be true, “Rumors had often said that King Raithe had been tricked by the Dark One somehow, but he did his best to make up for that failure. If not for him, the emperor would have crushed the entire continent. He united the remaining countries under one flag with one purpose and laid the plan for creating a great wall that runs from one end of Southwall to another.”

Gerid tapped his chin and nodded, “So he made up for his mistake, after it was too late to fix it. I’ve been through that story a few times myself. Admittedly, none of my mistakes destroyed half the world, but I guess I can forgive my grandchild for his stupidity.”

It didn’t sound like he forgave the first king of Southwall at all, Sebastian thought, but he nodded agreement. “King Alain, with a little persuasion from High Wizard Darius, was instrumental in sending me on this quest to find you, sir. I think that you’d like him and his queen. They’re still a bit young, but they’ve led well so far.”

Eyes narrowing slightly at the thinly veiled attempt to entice him to return to North Continent to see his first family, Gerid locked into a different part of the story, “So Darius still lives, eh? He’s not as old as I am, but he was known as an immortal hunter once. Killing off immortals turned evil put him in enough danger I was sure that one of them would get him eventually.”

“He’s alive and I sail with his grandchildren. His grandson and granddaughter are both great wizards. I have a feeling that his granddaughter might be an immortal as well.” The last words brought looks of surprise from his team and a bit of interest into the Grimnal’s eyes.

“Really and have you seen her die only to wake up healed again or had her stab a knife into her hand to see the blood be wiped away on clean skin?” the giant asked leaning in towards Sebastian.

Sebastian looked thoughtful as he replied, “I watched her nearly die in a wizard’s tournament and with quick action I believed that I had helped save her life. It comes to my mind on occasion that maybe we were too late and her life wasn’t truly saved at all.”

Leaning back again, Gerid nodded, “Yes, I can see that being a tough one. It’s a little difficult asking if you can stab a girl just to see if she’s immortal.” The man chuckled before delving into his plate with gusto.

Breakfast came and went while Sebastian tried to talk the man into returning with him without actually using those words. After the meal, Gerid led Sebastian on a walk. Yara tagged along and the mage noted a slight smile on the man’s lips as he looked at the girl.

“She reminds me of my first two wives. Tabitha had pretty blond hair and Catiya had green eyes that sparkled like your girlfriend there. I suppose that she’s already got you wrapped around her little finger too? It doesn’t matter how big you are or how tough, when the right woman comes along we’re all just putty to them,” the immortal chuckled as the two blushed.

Yara made a face at the idea of being able to control Sebastian so easily, “I wish that I could control him. He tries to get himself killed more often than an immortal, I swear!”

Laughing at her dilemma, Gerid confided, “That’s just us being men, my dear. If you can get him to listen to you more than half the time, then trust me when I say you’re in control.”

Fighting the urge to nod, Sebastian tried to move the subject away from his relationship with Yara. He had noted the immortal’s fascination with the healer from the start, however, and hadn’t deterred Yara for just that reason. If her feminine wiles could help sway him to return, if only for a short time, then it was well worth it.

“With Yara’s help, I believe that the stones that hold the barrier against you can be destroyed,” the battle mage bluntly pulled the conversation towards the immortal’s imprisonment despite his island family.

His face turning more businesslike, Gerid listened to the mage and replied, “I’ve had my men go to the four islands with the totems and no one could ever get near them. The merfolk shaman and wizards had no better luck even using their magic. How is it that you two can break something that no one else could for two hundred years now?”

“Because Sebastian’s an owl,” Yara stated with a small smile.

“A what?” the big man asked in confusion.

Sighing, the mage explained, “Battle mages base ranks are known as falcons and our leaders, the ravens, but I have been able to translate full wizard magic into spells that we weaker mages can use as well. Since I have become a sort of bridge between our two schools of magic, people first called me a mizard, which is kind of a lame name. Recently, someone decided that calling me an owl was more appropriate, seeing how two of our ranks are based on bird names.”

“Convenient,” the Grimnal replied sounding unimpressed. “So, owl, you are wise enough to be able to break these spells?”

“Not by myself, but using a spell that I learned from wizards that had escaped the emperor I can with her help,” he nodded in agreement. “These barriers are on a different level of magic known as curse spells. While wizards of Southwall have banned certain magic from being used because of the damage they might cause, the emperor’s warlocks don’t seem to have such constraints. Luckily, Yara and I work together well enough to be able to break these barriers. Once the protective barrier is gone, the stone totems can be destroyed quite easily and the spell will be removed.

“You and any of your descendants that might be affected will be free to leave any time you wish.”

Letting out a big sigh, Gerid looked thoughtful as he went silent. Their walk stalled on the beach facing the pier. The fishing boats were still out in the water and it was clear for now. A merman with a net of fish changed his form before stepping onto the beach to walk into the village. He waved to the Grimnal, who returned the gesture slightly distracted.

“I find that I don’t really care if I ever leave,” the big man finally admitted. “I’ve had a good life with good people around me, but I think that my children and grandchildren deserve to have the option to leave our little island to see what the rest of the world has for them. I’d be selfish if I didn’t ask you to break the emperor’s hold on us, I guess.”

It was a start, the mage thought thankfully. “We will work on it today, if you wish.”

Thunder echoed down the beach front as the three stood talking. Rumble after rumble they heard the noise, but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Sebastian’s eyes looked to the north and a frown crossed his face. “That’s the Sea Dragon,” he stated. “I think we will have to put off breaking the barrier for a little longer, sir. The emperor’s ships have come, I think.”

“Black sails,” Annalicia warned as she returned from her search of the waters around them.

Liam heard the words and felt like he had been punch in the stomach. “How far away, Anna?” the water wizard asked quickly using the familiar name in his haste.

She pointed and Liam could see two black sails with a third ship trailing behind them. If they had kept the Kardorian warship, then that must be the last ship, he thought. “We need to be ready to raise the anchor and move away from the island immediately, Lady Annalicia,” the man nearly ordered the lady and owner of the ship, but she didn’t question his orders and shouted for the captain and crew to set sail.

Mecklin and the remainder of the mage and wizards quickly moved together to get their orders. The water wizard was younger than Themenor and Vewen, but Sebastian had known him the longest and trusted him the most. Wanting to the sigh, Liam almost regretted his leader’s trust in him.

“Water wizards be ready to use the waves to protect the ship from cannon balls and magic attacks,” he was using Sebastian’s tactics of defense and now had the addition of the new wizards of Southwall and Ashleen. Hyren and Vewen were good Southwall water wizards and that gave him confidence in their abilities. He had even seen Hyren fight in the Winter’s Edge tournament.

Themenor was an air wizard and powerful enough to fight in the tournament as well. Though Liam knew little of wind magic, he could trust the man to help with their defense as well. “We’ll use wind to repel anything from our masts and deck. I’ll use the shield defenses Bas taught us and if Annalicia and our Malaiy friends can use them with Mecklin and Olan covering the rest, hopefully we can do as well as last time.”

His eyes swept towards the west and the small islands in the distance. The ring of volcanic stone and the islands made for a good escape and possible way to disable their enemies in the process. It would take water wizards to navigate the dangers and he could only hope that the black ships didn’t have any wizards of the kind to aid them.

“We’ll head southwest through the gap there,” the water wizard pointed for the Malaiy lady. “With our air wizards ready to help, we can push through the stones and try to lead them away. Once we’re through, we may need to use their winds to drive us back towards the village.”

Themenor warned, “There were no noticeable defenses protecting the village. If we run there, I doubt that we can do anything more than try to gather up our people quickly and run some more.”

“We can’t leave Bas and the others stranded there. Besides he might have a better plan knowing him,” Liam stated as he hoped that he had given the orders as his friend would have wanted.

Crewmen raised the large anchor with the use of a two man screw driven crank. The metal chain was heavy, but they had picked a fairly shallow place so it didn’t take long for them to finish, but by then the captain was already turning the ship using a quarter of the sails. He would open them fully once his turn was made or risk beaching the vessel.

The black sails were growing quickly as they moved forward at full speed aiming for the frigate. Three battle ships were coming at them and Liam could only hope than the third was a bluff, since two were already more than they could handle.

Looking at the sails as the crew began to open them wide, he watched as the wind pushed at the material filling it with the power of harnessed nature. The Sea Dragon picked up speed, but he was afraid that it still wouldn’t be enough as quickly as the black ships were closing in on them.

Apparently, he wasn’t the only one thinking as much. Ashleen said quietly from his side where the wilder watched the approaching vessels as well, “I’m not sure we’ll make it to the stones. They’re very fast.”

As fast as they were, Liam felt that the Sea Dragon could pull away at least to make it through the stones. He was still watching the ships closing when suddenly the western vessel shone brightly or more accurately a huge gateway of light appeared before the ship. In a blink it was gone surprising them all.

“Ahoy a black ship!” the sailor from the crow’s nest shouted alarm.

Liam and the others turned looking for the source of the alarm and there it was closing from the ring of stones defying logic. It lost the wind in the change of direction, but the black ship had cut off their escape even as it began to turn to bring the cannon to bear on the surprised frigate.

“Everyone cover the west side! Captain turn south and ready the cannon!” Liam cried out quickly pulling their defenses together.

In mere minutes, the two ships crossed each other firing their cannons and magic at each other. Spouts of water and thick waves blocked for the ship as best the water wizards could, while the rest of them used shields and winds to protect the rest as much as possible.

“Black ship to port!” the crow’s nest warned again as the first ship passed them by making its turn north to come around again. The island was too close for the black ship to turn any other way. On the other hand, the second ship had used their portal magic to cut between the Sea Dragon and the island.

“Cover port and prepare to fire, captain!” Liam shouted as he joined the rush to protect their other side.

Cannon fire and magic sliced at them, but the crew of the Sea Dragon worked feverishly once more to save the ship. Although they persevered once more, it was obvious that they could not outrun the enemy. How they could use such powerful magic to move the ships and still be able to fight so hard was beyond Liam, but they were doing it.

“Captain, follow the shore towards the village,” Liam ordered feeling defeated despite their early victories.

  Riding high on the winds, Sebastian looked down on the Sea Dragon being harassed by the two black ships. He watched as the ships would use portal magic trying to contain the frigate’s flight and attempted to destroy it with alternating attacks. The use of power was immense, but the mage could see the blood sacrifices taken from the crew of the Kardorian warship. He had seen the cost for the dimension ripping magic before and was just as appalled as he watched innocent sailors murdered to harvest the power of their lives to move the black warships from one point to another through glowing gates.

He was also in position to see the third warship sailing down the island on the eastern side. The Kardorian ship moved unhindered along the far side of the island heading south towards the village. Estimating the strength in the two black ships attacking the Sea Dragon, he realized that a large host of orcs, trolls and goblins were using the captured vessel to launch a massive attack on the helpless village while the other two using half their warlocks dealt with the Malaiy frigate.

Wishing there was something more he could do for his people on the Sea Dragon, Sebastian returned to his body to warn the others.

“The two black ships are fighting the Sea Dragon, which is managing to hold out so far, but they’ve used the third ship to come at us from behind. I think they mean to attack the village,” the mage stated to the assemblage of villagers and his team.

While the village men began to argue fearfully, his team waited for a plan of wisdom from their leader. It was the Grimnal who nodded grimly and stated, “Then we have a surprise for them. My people aren’t as defenseless as they believe.”

Waving over Semael one of his leaders, Gerid took the smaller man by the shoulder and looked him in the eye, “Semael, take two score of the rune soldiers to the sea. Destroy the black ships’ hulls. Pull their soldiers into the ocean and drown them. I don’t care what you do, but destroy those ships.”

Sebastian added, “They are taking turns attacking our ship. My wizards might catch your men in the crossfire, so attack the black ships when they are clear. They are turning for several minutes before using their magic to create gates to move the ships to cut off the Sea Dragon. That is the best place to attack them. Your first attack will be the most successful, so make it count.”

The merman frowned at the outsider’s advice, but the giant nodded, “Do as he says and take them down. Defend our home at sea and we will deal with those by land.”

Looking determined, the merman hurried to the beach where dozens of men waited. Semael pulled a horn and blew a long note calling more of the sea folk from beneath the water where they had been hiding. Sebastian turned away as tails drove the sea soldiers north towards the black ships and his Sea Dragon.

More of the soldiers still covered in green began to run towards the beach where the Grimnal corralled the remainder of his rune soldiers. These men couldn’t or wouldn’t change into mermen, Sebastian assumed, or perhaps they simply protected their families on land. Whatever the case, these soldiers bore the tattoos and light clothing of those that had surrounded his team earlier.

Though he could only feel magic on them, Sebastian had no doubt that there was something hidden that would make the Grimnal so confident that they could defeat the black armored soldiers. The mage watched as the legend dispatched smaller divisions of the men and women to the east side of the island. They would be close enough to hear a horn and signal to the village as well.

Once the teams were on their way, the Grimnal had his wife and children herd those who could not fight. Leading them to the woods to the north, he hoped that they would remain safe as he led his
warriors to protect his home. Sebastian watched as the former soldier and leader of men took charge as if he had never gone away.

As the man settled waiting for his enemy, the mage asked, “What kind of defenses do you have against cannon here?”

The giant looked unsure as he answered, “My rune soldiers’ protection might stop them, beyond that all we have is the wall.” He gestured to the low stone wall that was only four feet high. To the south of the village, a stone cliff restricted its growth, but also protected the homes from weather and attacks from the sea. The west was open to the beach and left the village in most cannon ranges.

“Collin, can you create some earthworks across here?” Sebastian asked as he pointed out several points between the village and sea.

“Of course,” was the wizard’s immediate reply. He was an earth wizard and manipulating stone and earth was his forte. “Can someone bring out some food to maintain my magic? I’ll need it to fight when they get here, but I can put up some walls to stop the cannon attacks.”

Gerid sent two of his men to his house to bring supplies for the wizards preparing for the upcoming battle.

Sebastian returned to the air to check on the Sea Dragon and the progress of the Carnivore. It wasn’t long before long boats began dropping off more than fifty of the black armored soldiers with a trio of warlocks leading them. Almost exactly to the village’s east at the closest clear path the enemy made its first move.

The Sea Dragon continued to put up a good fight. He watched as they employed the tactics that had worked so well against the first black ship. His wizards were fewer, but had the addition of the new wizards from the Carnivore. They were no less capable. Lightning struck, water rose and fell protecting the ship as shields and wind resisted the attacks of the warlocks and their ships.

He returned to the Carnivore as it began to round the southern bend. Another even larger force dropped off behind the rocky cliff before marching north along the beach towards the village.

A horn blew from the east and then a second as the Grimnal’s soldiers made contact with the enemy.

“They’ve attacked with about fifty soldiers and some warlocks to the east. A second force of closer to a hundred is coming from the south as well. The Carnivore should be here in a few minutes.”

The immortal’s bluish gray eyes might as well have been made of steel. A prisoner didn’t defend his prison, but a man like this would defend his home and family beyond death.

Chapter 34- Shark Infested Water

Liam quickly ate a thick slice of bread and cheese. If the enemy didn’t jump in front of them before he could finish, he would try to grab some of the dried meat. Protein and carbohydrates, sugar, fuel of any kind had to be consumed as quickly as they could. Wizards, even more than soldiers, lived on their stomachs. They could use up their magic faster than it could be resupplied, but any extra power they could pull from what they ate was still more than they would have otherwise.

“There’s something in the water,” a sailor shouted pointing to the south. “They’re moving fast towards us.”

Liam looked to the sky wondering what more they had to deal with as this new situation manifested. Was this another trap set by the emperor’s forces?

Ashleen’s voice rose enough to be heard over the sounds of wind and ship, “The lead ship is using another gate!”

The connecting gate appeared several hundred feet ahead of the Sea Dragon and already the wizard could see the prow of the ship pointed towards them. The black ship would arrive to the southwest probably intending to drive them towards the shallows as the last few passes had been attempting. If they happened upon an unseen sandbar, the Sea Dragon would be nearly dead in the water.

“Whatever is in the water just turned towards the new gate,” Ashleen stated as she moved closer to Liam. Her voice sounded distant as her mind rode the winds nearby trying to keep track of the enemy ships. It took some of her power to keep such magic going between passes, but the information had been a great help to the remainder of the wizards and crew as they adjusted to the new attacks much faster.

Liam moved to the prow of the frigate for a look at this new intrusion into their battle. Light flashed beneath the water as the dark forms closed on the black ship. Deep thumps could be heard even from the Sea Dragon as strikes from the underwater forms attacked the hull of the black ship. It had been reinforced by magic during the battle and Liam couldn’t see if there was any damaged truly done, but they had gained the warlocks’ attention. The distraction from the Sea Dragon brought dozens of the soldiers and warlocks near the side of the ship looking to strike with spears and magic.

In turn, harpoons tied with dark rope flashed from beneath the water. Orcs and goblins were speared and pulled from the deck. Black chains sparkling with magical light lashed out pulling more over the rail into the sea.

Black magic rained down and spears tried to slay the attackers from the deep.

The attack from the water was the distraction that the Sea Dragon needed. Liam called to the captain, “Take us on a course on the opposite side from our new friends. We’ll hit them while they’re
being distracted,” the wizard ordered seeing the chance to go on the offensive and perhaps turn the battle in their favor.

Cannon rung out as the Carnivore furled most of it sails settling into position in the water across from the village and worked to soften any resistance by raining down the deadly metal projectiles. The attempt faired poorly as the thick defenses of the earth and stone walls created by Collin shielded the forces defending the village.

All, but about two dozen warriors guarding the far side of the village, were crouched waiting for the real battle to begin. Over a hundred armored soldiers and warlocks would have been in sight had they dared look over the walls. Sebastian watched from the air to alert the warriors as they readied for the fight. He watched as the Sea Dragon, joined by the Grimnal’s mermen, began to attack the black ship caught between the two forces. The mermen had attacked before the Sea Dragon was returning fire, but unlike his suggestion the two forces were working together well with the enemy caught in the crossfire.

Quickly checking the forces to the east, the mage watched as the rune warriors harried the superior numbers of the enemy. This was their island and they knew it well. The power of the black armor and warlocks was too much to meet head on with less than half their numbers, but the runes on their bodies acted like magical armor and weapons capable of resisting the black armor and magic of the emperor’s wizard hunters.

“The men to the east are falling back to the village slowly, but the enemy will be behind us shortly,” the mage informed Gerid on his return. The thunder of cannons and the noise of metal balls crashing into stone made him raise his voice. “Your mermen have joined forces with the Sea Dragon and are giving one of the enemy ships a very harsh welcome.”

Giving a curt nod, the immortal said quickly, “Their rune magic is different from yours, but you’ll see that it makes my warriors a good match for anyone.”

The large force of armored soldiers began to charge the earth embankments even while the cannon balls attempted to break Collin’s stout defenses. Moments later, the cannons halted at the enemy swarmed their positions. Sebastian followed the giant immortal as the man tested his large battle axe in one hand. An odd sword with worked runes on the blade was in his offhand.

Instinct took over as the battle mage moved into the midst of the fighting. This was what he had trained several long years to do. His skill as a swordsman took over as the black armored soldiers tried to engulf them. The Hollow Sword was charged with light and met the black sword of an orc. A pair of goblins tried to swarm his legs as the two clashed, but a pair of rune warriors moved in from either side driving the smaller fighters back.

It was a tactic Sebastian remembered from previous battles with the Dark One’s forces. Goblins with their daggers often snuck in to cut at a man’s legs while their larger cousins fought as virtual equals to the human soldiers of Southwall. Hamstrung soldiers died quickly when the tactic worked.

As he fought, the mage caught the power of the rune warrior’s magic. Runes shimmered with light protecting their exposed flesh like armor created from barbed wire. Weapons piercing a warrior’s defenses could glance off of flesh strengthened like armor. Fists with dagger tattoos struck with blades of magic and the same went for feet as some men fought the enemy with everything.

A rune warrior cast his arm forward and the runes extended like a biting whip wrapping around the neck of an orc. Others cast their spears only to draw a new weapon from the circles on their chests. Like portal magic, the tattoos somehow held the weapons in space as fingers reached inside the warrior’s chest to draw the new weapon. Another warrior used a knee to the gut of another black armored orc creating a stabbing spike that nearly broke through the magical armor. As they fought, Sebastian thought that the rune armor was a near match for the magic eating black armor of the enemy.

Magic supported the men of the island as Sebastian’s team of wizards used light, stone, fire and nature to attack the dark forces. They had to stay back as wizards. They were not trained to the sword as a battle mage or soldier. Still their powers threatened the warlocks in the black mass. Light and dark, nature and forces beyond, fought back and forth.

“Reflex,” the mage ordered his spell slowing the battle around him. He had to concentrate or find another sneak attack from a goblin disemboweling him if he wasn’t careful. The mage knew this was no normal force of the emperor. He had fought orcs and goblins, trolls and the werebeasts of his horde. These creatures were an elite team designed to take down wizards, but a battle mage wasn’t a wizard. A wizard used magic to affect the world. A battle mage used his magic to become more than a simple soldier.