by Jon Bender
“What is really going on in the world, what mages are really here for, and why this war was inevitable.”
“You right. I don’t understand,” Jaxom said.
“I know, that is why I had you brought here,” he said leaning back in the chair and seeming to measure Jaxom up.
“Brought me here!? You have been trying to kill me,” Jaxom said thinking back to the shades who attacked the castle. The shadow creature in the cells and the fire mage who had found them on the way here.
“You were not supposed to have been in the castle the night the faithful where there. I had not expected you to return from Denra so quickly, and by then it would have been done. In fact I am sure that you are the reason the faithful failed at their task. You are more formidable than I had hoped,” he said smiling.
Jaxom had come back earlier than planned. It was possible that the man had not known he would be there. “And what about the cells and the mage who tried to cook me alive?”
“The being you met in the cells was not my doing,” he said. Jaxom catching a hint of annoyance and anger in his words. “And Magus Jerrin, the fire caster you met was sent to invite you here. He went against orders thinking to kill you and remove a competitor. He may have done so had he not discovered the enchantment of your sword… I am curious as to where you acquired that blade.”
The pause from the other death mage told Jaxom that he expected an answer. Jaxom did not want to tell the man the origins of his sword but if it was the price he had to pay to keep him talking, it was a small one. “I created the enchantment.”
Alimar let out a low whistle. “A successful enchanter as well, that is impressive. Though it is not unexpected given your lineage,” the man said seeming to be genuinely impressed.
“Why did you want Corin dead?” Jaxom asked.
“I personally did not want him to die, but the one I… serve does. He wishes turmoil amongst the kingdom’s to further his own gains.” Alimar had stumbled over finding the right word for the relationship he had with whoever did want Corin dead. If the man was not sure of his loyalty to this person it may be an opening to create dissent.
“Who is it you serve?” Jaxom asked.
“Ah well that is a long story and the reason I met you here,” he said gesturing with both arms to the library around them, then sliding the book he had been reading over to Jaxom. “This will help you to understand the first part of what I wish to teach you. As you can see the book is genuine, predating even the mage wars.”
Jaxom looked at the book in front of him and could tell Alimar was telling the truth. The book was very old, probably the oldest he had ever seen. “I will do nothing until I know that my friends are safe.”
“I thought that might be the case,” Alimar said waving to the entryway. Jaxom looked over his shoulder to see Adriana standing there being held by a pair of risen.
Jaxom stood rushing to her. “Are you alright? Where are the others?” he asked the huntress.
“Yes I am fine, and so are they the last time I saw them. We are in some fancy room in the dungeon. Must have been meant for noble prisoners or something but I do not know where they took Da’san,” she said.
Jaxom looked back at the other man who had stood while he had been talking to Adriana. “I am afraid the priest cannot be left ungagged. His connection to Sarinsha makes him a threat to me, but I assure you that he is being treated as well as can be managed,” Alimar said. “If you wish the lady can check on him for herself once she is done here.”
Jaxom nodded at that, thinking it was the best he was likely to get from the man. Turning back to Adriana he looked into her eyes. “Tell the others to do nothing for now. If you do not see me within a day I am dead, and you should all do as you must.” That last bit had been for Alimar, letting him know that he expected to see his friends soon. Adriana nodded and gave him a hug before the risen led her away.
“Now you know they are being well treated, and I think you will find what this book has to tell you very interesting,” Alimar said. With that he walked out of the library leaving the two risen to guard him.
Jaxom sat back down at the table flipping to the cover, the title of the book was written in gold filigree naming it War of the Gods. Jaxom had never heard of a war involving the gods, but from the age of the book he guessed that this war had taken place long ago. Opening to the first page Jaxom found a message from the writer declaring that the book was a copy of the original. The ink beginning to fade from the first, it had been determined that it was to be rewritten before the knowledge was lost. Never having seen written work so old he began to read.
This accounting is to record the history of how mages came to be in this world. At first men knew nothing of the power to cast. They only knew of the gods who demanded obedience and devotion. It is not known where the Gods first came from but many have speculated that the energy used by mages today was the source of their creation. It is believed that as the world aged that energy began to become sentient aware of itself, and as man came to populate the world the gods found they could draw strength from devotion and prayer. Energy created by man in the form of belief only served to strengthen the gods, giving them more power to further exert their will.
Over time some of the gods became gluttonous of the new power, craving more and more worshipers over the others. Not satisfied, these gods commanded their followers to make war, forcing other peoples to convert or die. This was the beginning of the War of the Gods. During the fighting a god whose name has been lost, wished to give his followers an advantage over other worshipers. Taking his most devout he changed them so they could harness the energy that had formed the gods themselves. Naming his new weapons Magi they were devastating against enemy armies. Recounts of this time explain that mages were not limited to the casting of one type of energy, but capable of controlling all schools of magic that we today find to be separate.
At a severe disadvantage the other gods had no choice but to create Magi of their own. The death and destruction of the war increased as thousands marched against each other and the Magi laid waste to them. Famine, disease, and long winters killing many more. When the death toll had become so great man rebelled against those they had served. With their worshipers refusing to fight any longer the gods became angry with them, bodily coming into the world to destroy those who would no longer serve. It was then that the Magi, the most devout of all, turned against their creators wielding magic to fight the gods in defense of others.
Jaxom was engrossed by what he read, the mages fought the gods whenever they appeared. It would cost them dozens of their own just to hold the powerful beings at bay. Seeing no way to win, the mages delved deeper into the magic. Gaining control of an energy the gods knew nothing about, the power of death. These mages harnessing this new magic became a true threat. With their new powers the death mages stood at the forefront of every battle. Wherever a god came into the world they stood ready to meet them, and for the first time in known history the all-powerful beings died at the hands of men.
With this new threat the gods would no longer come into the world of men, fearful of the death mages they instead used those still faithful to fight. With no option left to them, the death mages were forced to open gates to the plane the gods resided in, facing the beings on their own ground. The cost in lives had been staggering but they would not stop in throwing their combined might against those who had created them.
Being attacked in their homes, the gods had no choice but to offer a treaty to the mages. They would no longer command those who followed them to fight in their name. Stepping back form the world unless asked by men to intervene. With this the priesthood was created to act as conduits for them and ensuring peace, this peace however came with a cost as something was demanded in return. No longer would the mages have complete control of magic, the gods could not strip the mages of what had been given but it could be restrained. They would ever be bound to one school of their choosing limiting their power and the
power of their children. Seeing no other choice beyond the complete destruction of both sides, the mages agreed with this pact. Peace coming over the world with their agreement.
Jaxom sat back amazed at what he had just learned. The candles on the table showed that he had been reading for hours. Why had no one known this? The gods had created the mages who had then turned against them. This explained the mages deep aversion to worship. The history itself must have been destroyed at some point but the feelings harbored were still strong. The book had answered questions he had never thought to ask, only to leave him with many more. Why would the mages agree to give up so much of their abilities? What had happened after the pact was made? The book only gave the history of the war itself, not what had come after.
So enthralled by the story contained in the pages he had forgotten about his current situation. Looking to the bands of smoke around his wrists, Jaxom tried to grab the magical bindings attempting to physically rip them away. It was like trying to break steel with your bare hands. With no give at all, Jaxom thought he had a better chance of breaking the bones in his hand. Giving up for the moment he looked about at the many shelves surrounding him. If Alimar had pulled the book from here, it was likely there were others that contained valuable information.
Standing he walked along the heavy wood shelves, browsing the titles he found one that caught his eye. It was far smaller than the rest tucked into the back behind a black leather tomb. Pulling it from the shelves showed it to be no book at all but a journal only a little bigger than his palm, the paper bound in a stiff leather tied by a string. Undoing the thong and flipping the cover open, the first page contained only a name and title. Katia Wayfarer, initiate second class. Skimming through the first entry he found that it was a record of a young girl’s training to become a death mage. She had been tested to see if the ability to channel had manifested in her. Having passed the test, her training to control magic began with learning to draw power into herself much as Jaxom had learned to do when he first began to learn. Skipping forward Jaxom read an entry about a cast he had never done himself. In the few pages he read it was clear how much he did not know about being a death mage.
The sound of footsteps caught his attention and he hurriedly tucked the small book into his belt underneath the shirt. Alimar came into the room followed by a risen carrying a platter of food and wine. Placing the platter on the table near the book, the risen joined the two standing outside. Taking the seat he had occupied previously Alimar gestured for Jaxom to sit as well.
“You have finished I see. What do you think of our history?” he asked.
“I never knew…” Jaxom said, thinking about the origins of mages and how death mages had come to be.
“No mages do, save us. During the mage wars most of the history was lost. As we fought one another for dominance many libraries such as this were destroyed.” Taking a plate of cooked vegetables and roast beef from the tray Alimar placed it in front of him, then pouring two cups of wine. “Eat, I know you are hungry.”
Jaxom was hungry, but the sight of the food reminded him that he and his friend’s last meal had been the night before. “Do not worry, you companions ate hours ago,” Alimar said taking a sip from his cup. The man had an unsettling ability to know what Jaxom was thinking, was it just him reading body language or some type of magic Jaxom knew nothing about. He hoped it was the former.
Starting with the roast Jaxom chewed his food while contemplating what he should ask. The most obvious question was probably the best place to start. “Why am I here? You know that I would kill you if I could.”
Alimar laughed in real amusement. “That may be harder to do than you think. You are here because I want you to understand that this city is your birthright, the home of our ancestors. We may not be the only ones left and if we could find others we could start fresh, rebuilding our school here in what was left for us.” Jaxom could not help but admit the prospect was very appealing. All his life he had been alone in what he could do. If Corin’s father had not taken him in, he did not know what would have become of him. Many people feared his magic and he was not sure he would have survived.
“You have been protected by your friend the King and his father before him. If they had not adopted you into their family, the mages of the other schools would have found a way to kill you. Other death mages may not have been as fortunate as you, many may even be in hiding from fear of persecution from the other schools. Weakening the power structure in the kingdoms and gaining allies is the only way for us to rebuild without suffering attack,” Alimar said.
That made no sense. He knew the other mages did not like him but he never thought they wished him dead simply for being what he was. “I don’t understand. Why would other mages do that?”
“During the mage wars our kind were among the most powerful, ruling here in the north and much of your friend’s kingdom as well. When the fighting began the other schools fought amongst themselves but all were jealous of what the death mages were capable of. With the power to raise entire armies we had no need to risk the lives of men loyal to them.”
“Entire armies?” Jaxom interrupted. “How is that possible? I have never been able to animate more than twenty at a time.”
The other man smiled at him. “There are ways to extend that particular ability. Did you not notice how many I sent for you in woods?”
Jaxom had not realized at the time but thinking back there would have been more than forty. Either the man was capable of controlling that many, which was a disturbing thought, or he was telling the truth about there being another way.
“As I was saying,” Alimar continued. “With this advantage the other schools saw us as the greatest threat, joining forces to remove that threat. The death mages were powerful but even they could not stand against their combined strength,” he said anger edging into his voice. “The other schools swept through the land burning every city and town to the ground until the capital was all that was left.”
“If the other schools had won, why leave? Why not destroy this one as well?” Jaxom asked.
“You have seen the defenses, now imagine attacking it with death mages holding against you. Every man of yours that fell would only stand to fight against you. The other schools decided it was best to simply starve the city out. When it was realized there was no hope, the death mages made a deal for the common people who lived here to leave. Trapped in the city with only their most loyal vassals, the mages here did not want their home to fall into enemy hands. Together they cast an impenetrable wall around the city, fueling it with magic from their own deaths. While also leaving behind undead soldiers to defend it once the wall had dissipated.”
“How long did the wall last?” Jaxom asked.
“I do not know. The history here in the palace obviously ends at that time, I imagine it was long enough that the invading armies left or went back to fighting each other,” Alimar said disgust showing on his face.
“So they all died?”
He smiled again. “Apparently not, as you and I are here discussing it. Some must have been outside when the siege began or escaped thereafter. That is why I hope there are more like you and I out there, all they need is a place to call home.”
“It all sounds like a grand plan but it does not change the fact that whoever your ally is, they are responsible for what is happening.” Jaxom said. He had discovered that this was starting to sound too good and had to remind himself why he was here. “He controls the shades that attacked us and is behind the war that is killing so many now.”
“I do not agree with all of the methods used, but I do need the mages distracted to accomplish my goals,” Alimar said but Jaxom could hear a note of doubt in his voice. He could understand why the man felt as he did, he had probably been alone most of his life. If he was right about there being other death mages out there, then they were probably in hiding. Never using their magic where the other schools could see.
“There has to be another wa
y. If you would call off the attack on Ale’adaria I am sure Corin would help you. He has no great love for the mages in Ale’adar, and I know he would welcome new allies so that he was not so reliant on them.” If he could get Alimar to see that it was possible maybe he could end this whole thing right now.
“I cannot stop the war. It would have happened without me. The one who desires it has his own reasons and nothing I can do will change that.”
“Then help us fight. If you were to join with us I know that Corin would do whatever he could to see you restore this city.” Actually he was not sure how his friend would react to finding a city that no one knew about springing up just outside of his kingdom. Jaxom did think that there was a way to do it but he would have to talk to Corin first. “And if you help us, I will be a part of that restoration. I will join you and help to find others if they are out there.”
Alimar looked into his eyes weighing his words. Jaxom held his gaze without blinking, wanting him to know that he spoke the truth. In fact Jaxom wanted nothing more than to help the man. If they could rebuild this city he may finally have a place that would be his own. Accepted by those around him because they would be like him.
“I will think on what you have said tonight, but for now I will return you to your friends. I do not no want them thinking you are dead and doing something foolish,” he said. The smile again coming back into place. Jaxom had come here expecting to find some evil lord bent on the destruction of everyone and everything he knew, instead he found a man who was not that different from him. If Jaxom had not had Corin and Celia, could he have ended up as Alimar? Making deals just to find a place to call home. The idea seemed possible and he was not sure he would not have made the same choices.
Chapter 15
The risen brought him to the room where his friends were being held, minus Da’san who Ariana had said was still gagged but okay in another room. The room itself was well furnished, only showing its age from the thinning sheets on the one bed and flat cushions on the sofas. Food had been provided in the form of fresh fruit and cooked meat sitting on a round table in the center of the room. Ale and wine had also been left, and Jaxom found it no surprise that the men had already consumed half of the golden liquid.
