The Mage of Mages 2

by Whiskey Flowers

“I don’t think any of us really picture ourselves laying down next to Reginald or Dominic” Tabitha said and shuddered a bit. “You have seen what they look like naked, Andrew is an old man and I think none of the girls would be open to Reginald or Dominic. Sarlon has made his position extremely clear so that only leaves Samson. I doubt he is even the first pick to father a child with, no disrespect to you Mage Samson but you are conceited, arrogant and a braggart womanizer. Mage Samson’s pretty face may look great on a child but what woman of means want a man to think they are doing them a favor by sleeping with them?”

  “Samson is not a part of this” Penelope replied. “I think he has learned his lesson and will spend a few years trying to make it up to me for what he did. Sarlon is definitely not a part of this either, if I didn’t have my eye on Samson then he would be my first pick. I have already seen what I can look forward to and I have plenty of cousins not to mention my sister that may be interested.”

  “I am not interested Your Highness” Sarlon replied. “I have picked up on the fact this dandy tried having his cake and eat it too but I want my position to be clear. I am not interested in anyone you know for any reason. I can't be bought and I have no desire to lead anyone on. I would like to know when this war starts, I have a problem with the people of Sale I don’t think can be handled any other way than with the tip of my sword.”

  “Your job in the war is to gather slaves, not fight full on battles” Penelope said. “There are only twenty three of you and eight of you are under ten years old. That leaves fifteen mages that could fight but your deaths would be felt all over the kingdom. Now you will see some action, maybe even get the chance to kill a few but that is not your purpose. Don’t worry about any war, you still need to learn how to be a mage. A lot of money is going to be invested in you in regards to your education and well being. Don’t ruin it by making me upset, now why haven’t you eaten anything? The food here is better than the trollops that hang around this place and you haven’t touched it or asked for anything. Not only that I don’t see the scabbard some of the people of Maduro got for you.”

  “I didn’t pay for the scabbard so I don’t want it” Sawyer replied. “And I am not hungry, my appetite has been dulled Your Highness.”

  ~

  “Here is the crown jewel of Perdomo, the city of Patel” Claudia said as she opened the window to the carriage.

  Sawyer had ridden on and off between Claudia and a mage named Teresa and the High Mage and Candace. Claudia hated riding with Reginald and Dominic who Sawyer had seen found their backbone. They wasted no time insulting both of them between talks of their conquests. Sawyer never had anything to say to Claudia or Teresa and ignored them both, Teresa seemed to get the hint but Claudia seemed hurt that Sawyer wanted nothing to do with her. Silence had followed her announcement and Sawyer didn’t bother looking out the window, instead he just closed his eyes and was happy his trip was almost over.

  People lined the streets and threw roses at the passing caravan, word must have leaked that Princess Penelope was on board and many people were screaming her name. The movement slowed once the group got inside the city despite the roads being smoother. People must be clogging the road Sawyer thought as the trip seemed to add a few hours. Finally Sawyer could hear men screaming and the sound of a heavy iron gate lifting up was heard, Sawyer had one of them in his old home and knew the sound. The carriage came to a stop and the door was opened from the outside, a man in fancy clothes was there who looked over Sawyer like someone had placed cow shit in the middle of his fine meal.

  “You better watch those eyes” Sawyer said as he stepped out of the carriage first and looked down on the man. “They are liable to get you in a little trouble.”

  “And you are?” the man said as he noticed Sawyer’s sword and took a step back.

  “Winchell this is Sawyer, he is a new mage that was found” Claudia said. “Forgive his dress but he insist in running around wearing these clothes.”

  “My apologies” Winchell said as he stepped aside. “I wasn’t aware we had any more undiscovered mages.”

  “Mage Candace found him using one of the seekers” Claudia replied. “Is there a free room where I can clean up or am I staying outside of the palace?”

  “I believe most of you are staying outside of the palace” Winchell replied. “I think you would be a lot more comfortable that way.”

  “More comfortable than in the palace?” Claudia asked.

  “The two dukes are here along with four of the Barons” Winchell replied. “It has been uncomfortable here with the strain on staff. They are demanding more slaves and believe the mages are the reason they have to pay peasants to till their fields.”

  “You always have my best interest in mind” Claudia replied. “Am I at the Laughing Feather or the Golden Hare?”

  “I put you all in the Laughing Feather Inn” Winchell replied. “I will have to find another room however for your, uh, friend. I will also send the royal tailor over.”

  “Winchell whose carriages are these blocking the way?” Penelope said looking around.

  “The Dukes are here along with half of the barons” Winchell replied.

  “Are they still trying to match Phoebe with one of them or their sons?” Penelope asked.

  “They are pressing the Queen for you as well” Winchell replied.

  “Then I have to meet with Phoebe or my mother right away” Penelope said. “Sarlon you are with me. Winchell see to it that Mage Samson is seen immediately by the healers, that is your number one priority. While he is being seen I want the Discoverer brought over to my mother’s personal quarters.”

  Sawyer saw the man snap to attention and looked at Samson who was having trouble getting out of the carriage and it all made sense to him now. He had gotten into a similar situation in Sale which was how he met Elena in the first place. The princess was powerful but she was getting the squeeze put on her to marry, so was her sister. What was even worse was that the nobles were not happy it seemed with the leadership, in Sale there was a coup and the king was killed. Sawyer wondered what the Dukes thought of having to take orders from a woman, if they went so far as to build a place like Maduro then Sawyer was certain the royals and the other nobles were not on the best of terms. The inside of the palace was fancy enough, Sawyer ignored it of course since he had been in the palace in Sale a number of times which took the shine off of the place he was in. Sawyer was led to an area that had six guards standing in front of a hallway.

  “Give them your sword and staff” Penelope said as she kept walking. “No one but guards comes into the Queen’s wing with weapons.”

  “I better get these back” Sawyer said as he looked a slightly taller but definitely wider man in the eye.

  “And who are you to give me orders you little pissant?” The man said as he crossed his arms.

  “Tenkay take his damn things” Penelope said angrily. “Sawyer come with me now or I will have one of them help you.”

  Sawyer followed Penelope into a sitting room and then into a large room and stood there silent. Sawyer watched as a wooden desk was brought in that had four different glasslike balls attached that looked to be about the size of a hen’s egg. Surrounding the balls was something Sawyer had seen before, it was how he was tested for magic back in Haven but now he knew the one in Haven wasnt complete. Sawyer never really wondered about the device used in Haven but was told it was old magic, back when the world had enchanters. Sawyer also could see his secret, at least part of it would be out soon, the smaller glasslike balls had a symbol underneath them that Sawyer was sure correlated to the four known affinities. There was a small painting of a flame for fire, a raindrop for water, a rock for earth and a wind gust for air. Sawyer took a deep breath as Tabitha walked inside holding a weird looking device, it looked like a small box that could fit in the hand but the lid of it was open.

  “Great, you brought back the Seeker” Penelope said. “Other kingdoms would kill for such a gadget.”
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br />   “I don’t blame them” Tabitha replied. “Most of them were destroyed during the Purge.”

  “Well it helped find Sarlon and hopefully it can find even more” Penelope replied. “Have you figured out how they are made?”

  “No” Tabitha admitted. “But I think I have deduced how part of the Analyzer is made.”

  “You figured it out?” Penelope asked.

  “I think building the thing is the hardest part” Tabitha began. “Magic has to be slowly poured into it using a particular spell over a period of days. The magic would of course drain off but the big ball would act like a drain, it would pull in magic from anyone with the ability and light up when it happens. As for the little balls I am unsure, I found an incomplete document and have tried making at least the big ball. It is being brought to the Queen for testing, I never took it out because you never know how many eyes you have around you.”

  “You still have the spy in your Mage Guard?” Penelope asked.

  “Chews is still there” Tabitha replied. “He is still following Duke Treadwell’s orders if it doesn’t clash with the Queen’s. I know he has met with a contact at least three times to pass information, I am sure the Duke knows another male mage was found.”

  “How long until you think he approaches Reginald or Dominic?” Penelope asked. “I am hoping they are smart enough to stay away, that trip in Maduro was to let all the male mages know what is waiting for them if they decide they want to play for the other side.”

  “I feel uncomfortable listening to whatever this is” Sawyer spoke up.

  “Don’t” Tabitha replied. “We work for the royal family, we may not always get along or like each other but we definitely do not like the Dukes. They were responsible for the Purge in the first place.”

  “They are angry they have nothing to offer the mages or a way to get close comfortably” Penelope said with a slight shake of her head. “It is the reason you have so many perks and your Medallion will let you sleep anywhere or eat anything you want within reason. You have no need of money or companionship, the women have Maduro and the men have the rest of the kingdom.”

  “I don’t want any of that though” Sawyer replied. “Don’t need any money I haven't earned, I don’t sleep around with any woman that I am not married to and I make it a point to remember any wrongs that have ever been done to me. It is the laws of the country, it stops thievery, fights, murder and false friends.”

  “The laws of the country?” Tabitha said looking at Sawyer.

  “Not coveting any money you haven't earned stops people from stealing or murdering for more coin” Sawyer began. “Not sleeping with any person you are not married to stops unwanted children, misunderstandings between husbands or wives and is much safer for your health in the long run. Sleeping with someone else’s wife, girlfriend, husband or boyfriend is an excellent way to get an arrow or dagger in the back. Remembering any wrongs prevents false friends, it reminds you to keep one time enemies at arms length no matter what they have tried to do to make things right. There is no way to make things right, it prevents an enemy from becoming a friend and trying to exploit that friendship to stab you in the back even worse.”

  “I have never heard of the laws of the country” Tabitha replied. “Peasants everywhere lie, steal and cheat to have better things than the next person.”

  “Not in my home they don’t” Sawyer replied. “Or anywhere around me if they know what is good for them.”

  “Was your little speech aimed at me?” Penelope asked.

  “Yes” Sawyer said shocking the girl. “You and many others” Sawyer finished looking at the high mage.

  The door opened then and a young woman who looked Sawyer’s age came through it followed by a woman that looked about the same age as Tabitha. Sawyer was unsure of what Penelope’s father looked like but was certain her mother had the dominant blood. The only differences were that the Queen was a little heavier than the rest of them and her breasts looked a bit bigger. The girl Sawyer thought was called Phoebe looked like a slightly plainer version of Penelope, the princess and the queen were both blondes, Phoebe had brown hair. The others had rosy cheeks and blue eyes, Phoebe was paler with freckles and dark brown eyes. It was still obvious to Sawyer though that these women were related and with the right makeup and lighting probably could have all passed for sisters.

  “What was so important and who is this man in my room?” the Queen said as she looked over Sawyer and curled her lip.

  “Tabitha found another mage, a runaway from Colten” Penelope replied. “We were getting ready to use the Analyzer and figured you would want to be here.”

  “Sorry for snapping Penny” the Queen replied. “Having all of these nobles around has irritated me, they never would have talked to your father like this.”

  “I understand” Penelope replied. “Are they still trying to get one of their sons on the throne?”

  “Yes” Phoebe said and let out a great sigh. “I am been in lunch date after lunch date and was even scolded by Duke Velarde’s son for agreeing to meet with one of Duke Treadwell’s sons like he owned me or something.”

  “We can talk about that later” the Queen replied. “How was Maduro?”

  “Enjoyable” Penelope replied with a small laugh. “I wish you both would have been there, our newest mage won the title outright but he definitely did not enjoy the experience and refused any prize or congratulations and has been brooding the entire time. In fact before you walked in he was telling me the experience was so shocking that he was sure he could never forgive me or consider me any thing other than an enemy.”

  “What do you mean he won?” Phoebe asked.

  “Under those rags is a rather impressive body chocked full with skill and fighting ability” Penelope replied. “He isn’t the best fighter I have seen but for Maduro he might as well been an unleashed Fell beast.”

  “Then it sounds like you had nothing to be embarrassed about” Phoebe said looking at Sawyer.

  “I’ll agree” Penelope replied. “His manhood was the second biggest I saw there and it looked far prettier than the first. At least I am assuming since unlike some of the others his did not go stiff even once so I am judging based off of its resting state. Still he said it was outrage and spent his time doing hard labor in that one burly smith’s shop, raging to her about his mistreatment as he pounded away at some metal. Don’t bother trying to hand him anything either, most of the others have been tearing through whores the entire trip back. He hasn’t touched any one of them and has only nibbled at the food if he ate at all although I have heard he eats fruit while we are travelling.”

  Sawyer knew how to grow fruit in a couple of hours, it was almost unavoidable to hide eating it though from his travel companions. Especially not with the length of the trip, he was still hungry even now as fruit was not that filling.

  “Why wouldn’t he enjoy the women” the Queen asked looking at Penelope. “I was very clear with the stops you were supposed to make, they were filled with the prettiest women around and they were told to flirt heavily. They were already paid for and paid handsomely.”

  “Sarlon is married” Penelope replied. “He is holding out hope his wife finds her way here and they live happily ever after. He refuses to touch any of the women, not that they would approach him wearing vagrant clothes from Maduro. Everything anyone has tried to give him he has shunned then acted offended, said he wasn’t able to be bought. Your High Mage though deduced that although he was some Coltenian peasant, his manners, physique and hard work confirms that along with what he has told us, Sarlon here married a rich woman that bought him the plainest fancy sword that I have ever seen. It cost more money than a peasant would have been able to come up with and was even custom made to be a bit longer to exploit the reach he has on many opponents.”

  “You actually know the sword then” Phoebe said making a statement instead of asking a question. “The others carry it around because they like the way it looks and to have a b
ack up in case their magic fails but they don’t really know what they are doing. A warrior with a great physique, sizable manhood who doesn’t sleep around and is a mage, I bet that bitch that lost you is beyond pissed off. You should forget about her as I am sure she is forgetting about you with another young stud.”

  “He doesn’t seem to think so” Penelope replied.

  “This conversation can wait, I am busy today so let’s get this thing over with” the Queen said. “I received your gift and read the letter with it Tabitha, have you had a chance to test it on more than yourself or possibly your apprentice?”

  “Not yet” Tabitha replied. “But if it does work we can have a few in every city so the locals can test themselves. You could also sell them for an exorbitant amount to other kingdoms, most have a trial and error technique to find mages.”

  “Well then we will try it with the babies at first” the Queen replied. “Well let's get this test over with, put your hand on the big glass ball.”

  Sawyer knew she was talking to him and knew it couldn’t be helped as he watched every light on the desk light up to the amazement of the women gathered. The Queen demanded he do it again, then made Tabitha take a turn then Sawyer again to make sure the Analyzer was not broken or misreading his magic. Sawyer saw a smile creep the Queen’s face as even Tabitha and Penelope started looking at him differently.

  “There is a reason you remain committed” Tabitha asked. “Your wife was not just some rich woman, I am guessing she was one of the daughters of Duke Booker. They are the only females high up enough I can think of that have the kind of pull to get a man like you. Especially since you seemed unimpressed with your surroundings while any other commoner would have been amazed. Since I have heard of the daughters I know one of them was killed and the other two were stripped of their titles and nobility and cast out to become commoners.”

  “So your rich wife is either dead or broke” Phoebe laughed. “I think she has bigger problems to deal with, like what tavern she should be working in and who looks like they have the smallest cock but has the most money to spend.”