by Jordan Cramm
Katrina cut Jakarta off instantly.
“I get it Jakarta…that’s enough.”
She looked at Ayvock who was grinning obliviously, and then she looked back at Wolflen.
“It seems the secret is out.”
Wolflen shook his head and looked around.
“What?” Ayvock asked as though he couldn’t see what the problem was. “Isn’t honesty important among the Elves?”
Wolflen glared back and answered, “Yes, I believe it is. But you are not Elven. NEITHER AM I. That is why we said nothing before. Some may not like that I particularly am not Elven.”
Trevel stepped forward next, and he held the second highest rank of all Elven Knights and Paladins.
“Lord Darkmoon please allow me a word.”
Wolflen nodded acceptance.
“You are Izenian. Also, you are young. These things we know, just as we know what you are—a War Mage. Naturally, there are some Elves who do not fancy the part about you not being Elven. Some would wonder what is so special about you in particular. Others still might question the Free Magic itself, being arrogant and believing that the Free Magic made a mistake by choosing a War Mage that was not Elven. Just the same, you are a War Mage—we know this. And because you are a War Mage, to our people, you are a Captain of war. What this means in common terms Lord Darkmoon is that your authority in certain matters is beyond question or contestation. King Janureen is King of the Elven people. But you should know that even he will in some things follow your orders. So getting back to what I started saying about you—we know you are Izenian, a War Mage, and young. What we all are anxious to see though is what kind of person you are, and what kind of person you become. So the Elves that have reservations; they will allow you the chance to be who you are. And if any have a problem with that, they can talk to my sword about it.”
Jakarta smiled and looked at his protégé a moment.
“Well spoken Trevel.”
Trevel blinked his eyes twice and bowed his head before stepping back toward the crowd once more.
“He’s right you know,” Jakarta said matter-of-factly, no matter their personal feelings on the matter, they will acknowledge you for what you are.
The Elven people know well how important War Mages are, and how important they are to the cause of goodness. For those who were alive back then, we remember first hand. For those who were not, they are told about the legends from birth. Trevel is right, we will follow you and to an extent, your orders as well.”
Wolflen thanked Jakarta for his words as well while Katrina hugged Wolflen’s arm and stood at his side.
“So wait—I am expected to what—plan attacks against evil enemies? Is that what I understand?”
Jakarta nodded.
“Being a War Mage is more than just physical combat and casting spells. Sometimes it is strategy, planning, and even leading the army into battle. In the dark times before, War Mages would lead entire portions of the army toward various enemies.”
Suddenly, Wolflen swallowed hard.
“So,” he said questioningly, “I am to be responsible for the lives of others?”
Jakarta nodded.
“Great.”
Ayvock stepped forward now as if suddenly sober.
“Well you won’t be alone in all of this.”
Jakarta turned his eyes to look at Ayvock and slowly confirmed what was said.
“He is right Lord Darkmoon. In darker times when War Mages existed before, they would often have councils with the King, and with other key leaders within the army that was amassed, even with leaders of other good races. The War Mages did not have to make most decisions without counsel. In fact, often times the Izenian race helped plan battle strategies, and more than once helped turn the tide of battle on the field. The Elves remember well the contributions your race made to the campaigns of the past.”
“But now you won’t be taking counsel from Izenians, but taking orders?” Wolflen asked again.
Jakarta squirmed a little in his place.
“I am not quite sure how to answer. I know in the past the King of the Elves has surrendered his own will on occasion to follow the suggestion or orders of a War Mage. I do not know how King Janureen will react just yet, because frankly there has never been an Izenian War Mage before. And under most circumstances, no Elf will bow before a foreign ruler. But this…well this is different. The Free Magic has chosen you as a champion of the light. Who are we to disregard that and reject adaptability? But I am but a simple servant of my kingdom. It is for King Janureen to say.”
Wolflen still had questions; too many to organize into much of an arranged inquiry. Just the same, he asked what he could as things popped into his head.
“So in the past, how did the War Mages know who the enemies were?”
Jakarta grinned and tried to answer.
“Well for one thing, we Elves consider certain races to be evil anyway. For instance, Vampires, Werewolves, Trolls, Ogres, Goblins, Orcs and more. Well in the past, certain of those races would grow immensely in population in certain areas, and often times would try to attack settlements, or attempt assassinations of key leaders—that kind of thing. So naturally we had them to contend with and at times the army would respond in kind. Similarly, there were times when entire evil hordes would come together somewhere which we would not know about, but then suddenly an entire civilization would be caught off guard by a vast enemy, and that civilization would have to defend its very way of life at once. The darkness has admittedly won many battles. Unicorns once neared the brink of extinction. Elves were torn into civil war. Izenians were thinned out in numbers. Humans were made slaves. Dwarves were nearly made extinct, and there are several animals of the former bestiary that are now completely extinct because of the evil in past wars.”
This news seemed only to spark Wolflen’s curiosity further.
“What about Night Elves?” Wolflen asked.
Jakarta got silent quickly and looked at Katrina a moment.
“Why do you ask about Night Elves?” Jakarta asked with a deep tone of voice.
“Because we were attacked by one during our journey here.” Katrina interrupted.
“Her name is Ravenshade”, Ayvock said with a smile, “and she is quite attractive.”
Wolflen shook his head. Jakarta however now seemed endlessly curious about the matter.
“You fought her? When was this? Why didn’t you tell me about this Princess? How long ago was it you were attacked, and where? Please, tell me everything.”
Wolflen spoke first, telling Jakarta what he wanted to know. Jakarta nodded, and looked as though he were waiting for more details still.
“Your highness forgive me…you could have been killed.”
Katrina put a hand in the air to stop Jakarta from apologizing further.
“We lived through it. Besides, she wasn’t after me. She knew there was a War Mage and that the War Mage was Izenian. She knew it was Wolflen here. She was there that night on a mission she said, but she never officially spoke the name of her employer.”
“Mortican,” Jakarta whispered, “I thought he was dead.”
“So what do we do now?” Wolflen asked. “Does this mean,” he continued, “that I need to try and confront this Ravenshade myself? Where would I find her?”
Jakarta dipped his head and shot a glance from underneath his eyebrows. Jakarta motioned for Trevel suddenly, who stepped forward and listened to new orders.
“Double the forest watch, and find out if anything strange has been occurring in our woods. We may have a Shadow Knight to deal with.”
Ayvock asked if contending with a Shadow Knight was usually difficult to do. To that Jakarta chuckled and asked if Ayvock had been living under a rock for a while, because Jakarta said that everyone knew the danger of Shadow Knights. Once, they had earned a reputation for slaying War Mages.
“There was a time,” Jakarta began, “when there was more than one War Mage on the face of Fengysha. In f
act there were several during the last great war. But the Shadow Knights, specifically Night Elf Shadow Knights were commissioned and made to hunt the War Mages down. And history dictates that they had some success in their mission.”
Jakarta trailed off as if with both sorrow and desperation in the last words. He knew he couldn’t change history, but it was clear to Wolflen that the Elves considered the Night Elves to be a great threat.
“So…” Wolflen began sheepishly, “the Night Elf Shadow Knights are to be feared and I seem to have one stalking me. Great. Sounds good. Well, my next question might be something to the tune of oh I don’t know—HOW CAN I STAY ALIVE?”
“This Night Elf is most likely out there somewhere Wolflen,” Katrina said, “however within the city we are protected. Perhaps Jakarta will be kind enough to spare some guard for yourself and quarters.”
Jakarta could tell by Katrina’s tone that her words were not merely a request, but an order.
“Indeed so. I was planning to begin his training tomorrow with the sword anyway. I guess we will just spend more time together than we planned originally. Trevel, you likewise will guard Ayvock here. It will do none of us good to let tragedy befall these two.”
Ayvock smiled and spoke again. “Hey, thanks.”
Wolflen just shook his head. “Might I ask one of you to accompany Ayvock here to his quarters tonight?”
Trevel nodded his head and gave a slight bow. Wolflen thanked him, but Jakarta had a question now.
“And what about you Lord Darkmoon?”
Wolflen looked straight into Jakarta’s eyes and answered plainly. “I am going to make sure the Princess gets home okay. I have a big day tomorrow I believe, and I want to talk to her privately.”
“Wasn’t I walking YOU back to the Hall of Emerald Shielding Lord Darkmoon?”
Wolflen grinned and shrugged.
“Yes m’lady, but if there are plots against us I will feel more at ease knowing I at least got you home safely. Plus, it will give me another trip to your home so I better learn the way in the dark.”
Katrina smiled at him, and everyone began going their separate ways. Wolflen walked side by side with Katrina and they held hands on the road back to her house. She asked what was so pressing that he needed to speak with her in private. He told her that he only wanted to spend as much time with her as possible, especially if he was being hunted and death was becoming more and more of a threat to him all the time.
She asked him if he was afraid, and he told her that he was. She knew by the way he spoke too, that it was no small fear.
“I am in way over my head here Katrina. I do not know what to do. I know I am supposed to do something; stop this Mortican person. But if what you all say is true, then while I do my best to search for answers here, I have something hunting me outside the city. For all I know Ravenshade is out there right now, just sharpening her sword and preparing to strike at any moment. And how long will it take to train me in the way of the sword? How long do people normally take? I am guessing it is more than a matter of just days, which means time. That time is precious time for an enemy to plot, or to act. So yes, you could say that I am afraid. Back home my biggest opposition came when I argued with my mother over the direction my life was going. But now I have Ravenshade, and possibly Mortican!”
Katrina smiled softly at him as they approached the main gates of her home and passed beyond them. She stopped on the walkway between gardens and looked at him.
“You are right. You have strong enemies when you are a War Mage. But darling, you don’t have to face them tonight. You do have time.”
Wolflen shrugged, not being convinced.
“How much time Katrina?” he asked. Then he continued saying, “Because I am pretty sure that my enemies already are trained. And I am pretty sure they already have designs against me. Not only that, but I am sure that if worldwide chaos is coming, then I am pretty sure they have designs on that too. So what time do I really have? See, I feel like I have lost too much time already—like I am the last one to know about a competition that started years ago. And here I am, a lone Izenian, chosen to walk in the shoes that have only ever been worn before by Elves. So who can say how I should go?”
She realized he did have a valid point, and she understood his point of view. However, she didn’t want to lose hope either, nor did she want him to.
“You are right. This is uncharted territory Wolflen. I am sure there are things to learn here in Peludeen…my own library houses certain reading material that might be of use. And when my father comes, he will arrive with more resources than what Peludeen provides. And sure, it will take time to go through all of those things. Yours is a path of responsibility and power, and not lightly treaded. So you are right—this is new—having an Izenian War Mage. Maybe you feel like you do not know where to begin. If you feel that way, no one would blame you.”
Wolflen nodded and told her that he did feel that way.
“But,” Katrina added, “here’s something to remember. Like you said, there has never been an Izenian War Mage before. Which means you cannot hold yourself to any expectation, because for all we know you could exceed Elven expectations. For all we know you could be the next sword master, picking up the art with ease. And with some more training of your spells, you might master those long before an Elven War Mage would. Being the trailblazer here does not necessarily doom you. You could in fact set the new standard.”
Wolflen grinned sheepishly and asked her if she really believed what she just said. She took a deep breath and answered.
“What I know for certain boils down to these things Wolflen. First, that I have come to love you. Second, that you are someone special; someone with great power inside you. I know this because I have seen it, but also because if it were not true, the first point would neither be true. We have time. Of course, if I was your enemy, I suppose I would want you to feel rushed, and inexperienced, and basically want you to feel far too overwhelmed to be effective. Keep that in mind. Do not give in to the fear of the situation, because you are not alone, and you are not without means. The Free Magic that made you a War Mage has a plan no doubt. Trust in that plan and destiny for your life.”
“What if the Free Magic made a mistake?” Wolflen asked.
Katrina stared right back at him and scowled slightly.
“Was meeting me a mistake Wolflen?”
He told her no, and he said it in a way that made her know he was backsliding now, realizing how his words could have been a mistake.
“Because meeting me was part of your journey as a War Mage remember?” Wolflen nodded but she kept in on him.
“In fact in tavern row, you used skills you did not even know that you possessed to help save me remember?”
Again he nodded and again she continued, “And helping me led to us meeting, and to me falling in love with you, and to us spending time in the wild, and to you coming here. Was all that for nothing? Can you say that was all a mistake?”
“Katrina stop it. I love you. I am just really scared.”
She took a deep breath.
“I know,” she quietly whispered, “I am too. But I have faith in you. Why can’t you believe in yourself like I believe in you?”
After a long discussion that night, Wolflen and Katrina ended the night with a warm embrace. He saw her inside safely, but then turned out to the road once more. Then using his telepathy, he summoned Sespa, who came to him in short time, and from there, he rode on her back all the way to the Hall of Emerald Shielding, where he first looked in on Ayvock who was sleeping, and then secondly, where he found his own quarters and slept well for the rest of the night.
The morning came soon after, and he woke early with many things swimming in his mind. He knew that the day would officially begin his training. He knew that he was to learn how to use a sword. He knew that he would have to practice spells again. He knew that the path he was on would take him in directions he had never planned for, and that he would have
to be adaptable. He knew all of these things and yet he wasn’t sure he was prepared for any of them.
He started the day with breakfast, which his servant had brought in for him long before Wolflen woke. An assortment of meats, fruits, vegetables, juices and various treats awaited Wolflen on the main table of the living quarters. Wolflen sat down and ate heartily, thankful that he had such a luxury. He wondered if Ayvock was awake yet, or sleeping off a bad headache still. He didn’t wonder long though, because soon there was a knock at the door. When Wolflen answered it, Ayvock invited himself in, and shared the remainder of Wolflen’s breakfast.
As the two of them ate together, there was another knock at the door. Wolflen answered it once more, and saw Jakarta standing in the doorway.
“Lord Darkmoon, I presume you have had breakfast?”
Wolflen nodded.
“Good, then Lord Darkmoon, it is time.”
At the same time, Wolflen and Ayvock could hear a knock on another door down the same hall. It was Trevel, who was knocking on the door to Ayvock’s quarters. Ayvock chuckled as he finished a bunch of grapes and then stood, smiling when he appeared in the doorway and saw Jakarta looking confused. Then Jakarta smiled, realizing Trevel was knocking on a door in the hall that would not be answered. Ayvock just silently excused himself from Wolflen’s quarters and tapped Trevel on the shoulder from behind. Trevel jumped a little, and Ayvock wiped his face clean with his hand.
“I’m ready Trevel. Lead the way.”
Chapter 16: Armed And Ready
Wolflen followed Jakarta through corridors of the Hall of Emerald Shielding until they came to the interior of the building which was an outdoor courtyard, rectangular in shape, and elegant all around. Surrounding the entire exterior of the courtyard was a stone slab walkway, covered with a ceiling of the second story of the building. The stone rectangular walkway and ceiling above it was 40 feet deep from the wall of the building to the end of the stone and ceiling above. Beyond that was the inner courtyard where Elves trained in the art of the sword and other weapons. But the inner wall Wolflen noticed had benches at 50 feet intervals, so others could sit and watch the practice that took place in the courtyard he supposed. Wolflen also noticed that there were doors beside the benches. He wasn’t sure where they led to, but he decided not to ask either.
