Stonecutter's Shadow: A young mage's fight through a fantasy kingdom full of treachery

by James Haddock

  “But it never seemed real to me, just an academic problem given to me by tutors. And now, it is far too real.”

  “Sometimes that is the best way to approach problems,” I said. “Treat it like an academic lesson. When we are too close to a problem and let our emotions get involved, we may not make the best long-term decisions.”

  “Is that what you do?”

  I chuckled, “I must admit, I do let my emotions get the better of me sometimes. I'm a work in progress.”

  “So, you don't think long-term?”

  “Not until recently. I have lived from one crisis to another. Each time I thought the crisis was over another would come crashing in. When I got here and saw the lands to the south, I decided to try put down some roots, try to build something. But... I apparently attract crises.” We laughed.

  “What purpose will we give the people?”

  I shrugged, “to start, they will need to build shelter for themselves and their families. There is plenty of timber, and fresh water. They can clear land for a town, farms, and ranches.

  “The business of staying alive will keep them occupied, but you'll need to lead them. If you don’t, they'll sit down and wait for the crown to feed them,” I answered.

  “And Rockspire?”

  “Once you are safe, and we get things started, I'll go back and see what they are doing, and what their plans are.” She nodded, and we continued with our evening stroll among the people.

  * * *

  We camped short of the fort at the end of the second day after our conversation. I Shadow Flowed to the fort to prepare them for the Queen's arrival. “Good afternoon Colonel Rothman,” I said as I stepped out of Shadow in his office.

  “Lord Rider, I'm glad you are here. We are about to have company, I understand,” he said.

  I smiled, “I know, I brought them. Call in your captains so you can all hear what has happened at the same time.”

  “Yes, sir.” Once his captains were gathered I told them what had happened at the capital and who was about to arrive.

  “We will open the gates and let everyone through. Once everyone is inside, we'll close the gates and hold the gorge. I doubt the enemy will come after us, but I can't be sure. If any of our men have families among the refugees and want to go to Flat Lake with them, they may. We'll have duties for them there. Work with Colonel Raymond, because I'm not going to try to tell any of you how to cook this goose, just order it cooked.”

  “Yes, sir. We'll be ready to relieve them, no one unwelcome will pass.”

  “I never doubted it,” I said, returning their salutes. I stepped into Shadow and flowed back up the trade road to the border marker I had raised. Now was not the time for a border dispute, so I sank it down into the earth.

  I went back and found Rayne and Col. Raymond. “The fort knows we are coming and is ready to receive us. Colonel, feel free to send scouts or a company ahead to assure yourself of safe passage. Col. Rothman commands the fort and will fill you in.”

  He nodded, “thank you Lord Mage.”

  “The colonel was telling me that he had discussed our supply situation with you,” Rayne said looking at me.

  “He did, he told me he didn't have enough wagons to carry any more than three months’ worth of supplies from the warehouses,” I answered.

  “So, we will be out of supplies in two months,” she said, frowning.

  “Not exactly,” I said. “I didn't want to leave all those supplies for the enemy, so I took them.”

  “How many… uh, how much?”

  “All of it.” I held up my hand. “I took all the supplies in all the warehouses. and left nothing for the enemy.”

  They looked at each other, then back at me. “Where did you put them? Can we get to them?”

  I reach out and touched both and stepped us into my 'warehouse' Shadow. I threw a large light ball up in the air so they could see a good bit of the supplies I had. They just stared and the Colonel started laughing.

  Rayne was shaking her head, then looked at me, “we are going to have to work on your communications skills, my thieving friend.”

  “I did not steal this! I'm redistributing the kingdom’s supplies,” I said, in mock indignation.

  “Did you gather anything else for redistribution?” She asked.

  I looked at the floor and mumbled.

  “I'm sorry,” Rayne said, “I didn't quite catch that.”

  “The Royal Treasury,” I said, shrugging. Both stared at me again. “What?”

  “So, they have no siege supplies and no treasury?”

  “Nope,” I answered, shaking my head. They both started laughing and I joined them.

  The colonel looked around, “Where are we, anyway?” he asked.

  “The mage books call this a 'side plane' or 'null plane'. It resides next to our plane of existence, but it takes a powerful mage to make them,” Rayne said.

  “That was close enough to the truth,” I thought. Though I thought of it as a 'Shadow plane'.

  “Amazing,” Raymond said.

  “Yes, it is,” Rayne said looking at me. I just shrugged.

  * * *

  I ate breakfast with Rayne, while an advance guard was sent to the fort. Once we had finished our breakfast we started south once again. Scouts met us with news that all was well at the fort and our path were safe.

  When we arrived, we found the merc battalion turned out on parade to welcome Queen Rayne as she passed. She took time to stop and thank the battalion and was given a quick tour before we continued toward the lake.

  I'm sure it was just my imagination but moving through the gorge along the trade road seemed slower with this many people. Camping for the night presented its own challenges, most had to camp where they were standing at day's end.

  When we were a days' travel from Flat Lake, I went ahead and warned my workers what was coming. To say they were shocked by the news was an understatement. “Range — ride back and meet with their scouts to discuss where the best places to camp might be,” I said. He nodded and rode out.

  When the army arrived, they took the clearing at the beach and surrounding woods. The tide of humanity moved farther along the road heading southwest before coming to a halt.

  I asked my Shadows where the engineer’s tools in my Shadow warehouse were. We needed axes, shovels, picks, and other tools for building. Once I found what I waited I moved them from the Shadows. I turned them over to the army to issue once we decided where the town would be built.

  I let Hanson and Rayne work most of that out. Once plans were made and instructions issued the people went to work. I never realized land could be cleared so quickly … but of course there were thousands of workers.

  The Stoneway brothers had been making good progress cutting the tunnels through the cliffs. We decided to start sending half the stones to the town to help build it. We could always cut more rock for the trade road later. Right now, getting shelter for the people took priority.

  Rayne still made it a point to walk among her people to see to their welfare. “If you are ready, I can make a fort, or small palace to make you a little more comfortable,” I said.

  She shook her head, “I thank you for the offer, but until my people have shelter, I'll remain in my tent. It is better that they see their royalty sharing their hardships rather than living off theirs.” I nodded.

  “Do you have any family?”

  I shook my head, “All were killed in a coup.”

  “So, you are a king without kingdom.”

  “I'm working on it,” I said smiling. “It's just a little farther down the priority list at the moment.”

  “Thank you for helping me and my people, your kindness will not be forgotten.”

  “My Queen,” Colonel Raymond said approaching. “We have a caravan approaching from the south.”

  “Oh good, they’re ahead of schedule,” I said. They both stared at me, the Colonel was smiling, “What?” I asked.

  “Didn't we talk about
communication skills?” Rayne asked.

  “Nope, don't remember anything about that,” I answered, pretending to frown. “Anyway, that's another supply caravan coming in from Hackman. And, trying my new communication skills, there is a herd of 100 cattle a week or so behind them that I ordered delivered here.”

  “Anything else you forgot to mention?” Rayne asked.

  “Hmmm, probably...” I turned away chuckling.

  “Oh, you think you're funny … a jester looking for work!” she called after me. I smiled and kept walking.

  * * *

  That afternoon the Colonel was briefing the queen and I joined them. “The army has kept in touch with our scouts and outposts around the kingdom as to what the enemy was doing, using messenger birds,” he said starting the meeting. “The latest messages say the capital is firmly under the control of the bankers. They are also bringing in more troops from Coaston via the river. Once they arrive, they plan to subdue the rest of the country. There are also rumors that they are bringing in more mages as well.”

  “More mages would make sense, they need to replace the ones they lost, and to counter our mage attacks,” Rayne said.

  “So, they are bringing in troops from Coaston, then by river through Upton, arriving in Rockspire. How far is that?” I asked.

  “400 miles, give or take,” the colonel answered.

  “So, the trip will take them eight to ten days?” I asked.

  “About that.”

  “What are you thinking?” Rayne asked.

  I shrugged, “They'll be bringing in gold and supplies to replace what we've taken. I thought I'd let them unload everything and do the same again. This war is going to get awfully expensive for the bankers.”

  “While it's on my mind,” Rayne said. “I want to talk to the banker who's sitting on my throne.”

  “And the spymaster?” I asked.

  Her eyes turned hard, “I have no further use for him. He is guilty of treason against the crown and is condemned to death.”

  I nodded once, bowed, and stepped into Shadow.

  * * *

  I flew Falcon to Rockspire and circled the city to see what damage had been done. Surprisingly, all looked relatively normal. There were a few burned out buildings, but people seemed to be moving around normally. We landed on top of a building in Shadow for a closer look. I took on the guise of a merc but stayed in Shadow for the moment.

  I went to the cafe where I usually had coffee and pastries, only to find they were not open. I went to the market and found some stalls open, but not a lot of business going on. The people had the look of doom and gloom about them. I stepped out of Shadow and walked through the crowd, and I got the same feeling from them.

  I passed a tavern that looked familiar, then realized it was the one I had followed the merchant into. I went inside and stood at the far end of the bar. The barkeep came by and I ordered an ale. He pulled me a mug and set it in front of me and I paid him. As I paid, a big man stepped up next to me.

  “While you're paying, pay for mine, little man.” I didn't hesitate — I back-fisted him in the throat, then grabbed the back of his head and slammed his face into the bar. I let go of him and he hit the floor out cold.

  The bar keep looked at me, eyebrows raised. “He didn't say please,” I said. The barkeep shook his head and moved down the bar. No one else bothered me, nor did I hear any useful information.

  When I finished my ale, I tossed another coin on the bar, and the barkeep looked at me. “For his beer when he wakes up,” I said, chin pointing at the man lying on the floor. I stepped over him and left the tavern.

  I stepped into Shadow and went up to the second floor where the boss’s office was. He sat behind his desk reading messages. I read over his shoulder but saw nothing of interest. Remembering the derivation stone the Shadows told me he had it in his pocket. I knocked him out, and took the stone, his coins, and valuables. The Shadows told me he also had a box of gold behind a false wall, so I took that too.

  I walked the river front to the north side of the city, and saw supplies were being unloaded. They were merchant's supplies, not military. I passed a mother and her children sitting against a wall of a warehouse and gave her a few coins.

  “Bless ya, sir,” she said.

  As I stepped away a man close to her made to take the coins. My Shadow reached back, grabbing him and dragging him to me. I continued walking dragging him along behind me. When I got to the river’s edge, I threw him in and continued on my way.

  I reached the edge of the city where the merc’s camps were and saw that not much had changed since I was here last.

  Suddenly, there was a flash of light and a crack of thunder. A Mage appeared, holding his staff aloft, with lightning crackling around him. People scattered in every direction to get away from whatever was about to happen.

  “That was a bit much wasn't it?” I asked.

  He shrugged, “it keeps the peasants in their place,” he answered. “I've been looking for you, Mage killer.”

  “Mage killer?” I asked.

  “That's what the mercenaries call you. They say you appear, kill, and disappear. I think you're a killer, coward, and a thief that wears artifacts, and knows a few tricks. Mage killer seems too lofty a name.”

  “And you are?”

  He stood taller “Archmage Scaretus, High-mage to the supreme council of the Crimson Isle Bankers. They sent me to find the mage thief fool enough to steal from them.

  The Shadows warned me two mages were behind me just before they struck. One struck with fire, the other with lightning. These were powerful attacks, but my nullification amulet stopped most of the blasts and my shield stopped the rest. Nonetheless the concussion drove me to one knee.

  I took their Shadow Form, and their shadows attacked them. Scaretus attacked, he was indeed an Archimage. His attacks were more powerful than any I had ever faced. My nullification amulet held but just barely.

  My shields absorbed the rest of the blast, but this time I felt the heat from it.

  The two mages behind me were still fighting their Shadows. While they were occupied, I attacked, throwing my mage blades. The blades struck, distracting them from their Shadow's attack, and the Shadows killed them both.

  Seeing his comrades fall, Scaretus attacked with a vengeance. I reached for his Shadow, but he had none. More lightning bolts struck me, driving me back, and I could feel my nullification amulet was weakening. I reached for his Shadow again, but still could not find it.

  Fireballs exploded on my shields, pushing me down to my knees.

  I was confused, I could not understand why he had no shadow. I felt a pulsing from my pouch strong enough to get my attention. Another fireball struck my shield weakening it.

  I stepped into Shadow and reached into my pouch to find what was pulsing. My hand closed around the divination store. I drew it out looking at it, when I did, I realized that the Scaretus I was fighting was an illusion. The real Scaretus was on the roof using a deception spell of some kind to hide behind. His shadow was on the other side of the roof from me.

  I Shadow Flowed up to stand behind him. Holding the divination stone allowed me to see all the artifacts he was wearing. He wore a set of mage armor that covered his whole body, and the armor was covered in runes and artifacts. Even his face was covered by the helmet's dragon glass.

  I saw no openings, no weaknesses that I could attack. Then a thought came to me, “he's got to breath.” I took a vial of poison dust from my pouch and threw it at his face. The vial burst on his armor and a cloud of dust covered the front of his upper body. He stepped back waved his hand in front of his face like he was swatting a swarm of bees. A second later he started shaking and dropped to his knees, then went down flat.

  Pulling him into Shadow, I tossed a firelight into the air, and looked down on him. All his artifacts had gone quiet. He was either dead or close to it. I lifted his dragon glass face mask. The eyes looking back at me were young, but the face looked lik
e a husk that had lived hundreds of years.

  “Well fought, Mage Killer,” he said, with labored breath. “But you haven't won.” He grabbed my wrist with one hand and the front of my cloak with the other. He held me in a death grip and started a wheezing laugh. His armor began to burn hot and bright. Try as I might, I couldn’t break free.

  I lifted him bodily off the ground trying to get away. There was a deafening explosion and light as bright as the sun… then sudden darkness.

  Chapter 31

  I flinched and my eyes snapped open, focusing on the dragon sitting across the fire from me. Dropping his amulet, I fell over and emptied my stomach’s contents onto the ground.

  “What did you see?” The dragon asked, picking up his amulet.

  Wiping my mouth, I staggered out of Shadow to a pool of water in the keep's courtyard and rinsed my mouth out, then washed my face. Sitting back, I looked around at the abandoned keep.

  “Well, what did you see?” The dragon asked from the Shadow.

  I tried to make sense of what had happened to me. I remembered looking at the dragon's amulet...

  “Tell me sir dragon, is there a blocking spell on me?”

  “Hmm, yes, yes there is.”

  “Can you remove it?”

  “And what will you give me if I do?”

  “I will release you from your Shadow prison,” I answered.

  He thought a moment, “and you will tell me what the amulet showed you.”

  I thought a moment, “how long did I stare at your amulet?”

  “Only a few moments,” he answered.

  I nodded, “agreed, you remove the blocking spell from me, and I will tell you what I saw.”

  “Agreed,” he answered.

  Just like in the vision, I felt a weight lift from me, and it felt like I could now breathe easier. I washed my face again standing shakily to my feet, I stepped back into Shadow. I walked up to the dragon, touching him I stepped us and the fire out of shadow. I sat back down by the fire and poured us tea.