by Jon Bender
Pouring himself some of the wine, Adriana came up offering him her cup to fill as well, handing it backed to her she smiled in thanks. Sipping the drink he looked about at the faces of those with him. All were sitting expect for Adriana who stood near him at the table, all waiting patiently to find out what had happened. Except Cribble who seemed to be in a stupor staring at his cup intently.
“Our captor’s name is Alimar,” Jaxom began. “And though he is involved with whoever attacked Corin, he is not the one directly behind everything that has happened.”
“Well if not him then who?” Brenin asked.
“I don’t know yet. I couldn’t get him to tell me but I think he sees the arrangement as a necessity, a way to get what he wants,” Jaxom replied.
“And what is it he wants?” Adriana asked from behind her cup.
“He wants to restore this city, so that mages like us can have a place of our own,” Jaxom said. He was not sure how the guardsmen would take that bit of news, but they had come too far together not to tell the truth.
“So he is a death mage then,” Jerup said.
Cribble gave a snort and somehow refrained from spiting on the floor. “Great, as if one of you wasn’t bad enough. Now there is another who wants to build a grave robber holy land.” His slurred words showing he had been at the ale for a while. That was just what they needed, for the man to be drunk while they were held prisoner.
“Shut up Cribble,” Adriana said. “This grave robber is probably the only one who can get us out of here alive.
“You watch your tongue little girl. You have been with us all of three days. What would you know about anything?” Cribble said spitting venom with each word.
“Leave off, your picking fights with everyone here is not going to help the situation,” Jerup cut in.
“Do not forget I am the captain here. You follow my orders and do what I say.”
“You may be a captain but the King put Jaxom in charge. You are bound by honor and duty to follow his lead,” Brenin said.
Jaxom was surprised the young man had said anything at all. Throughout most of the trip he had never spoken up against Cribble because of the man’s rank in the Guard. The archer must have been becoming surer of himself over the past days. Being attacked from all sides by those present and knowing what Brenin had said was true, Cribble went quiet only grumbling under his breath before taking a long draw of his ale. Jaxom was touched by the support he had received from the others, beyond Corin and Celia he did not think anyone had ever stood up for him before. Now here were three, one a woman he had not known long at all.
“Go on Jaxom. So what do we do know?” Adriana asked.
“I have convinced him to think over joining us. So for now we do nothing but wait to see what he decides.”
“So our leader decides the best course of action is to take no action at all. It is no wonder we were all caught,” Cribble said. Adriana turned to look at the guard captain so that Jaxom could not see her eyes, but whatever passed between the two Cribble looked away first going silent again.
“If you think that is the best plan then that is what we will do, but he removed your shackles,” Adriana said looking at Jaxom’s hands. “If we need to, you could just use your magic to get us out right?”
Jaxom slid the sleeves of his shirt up which had been hiding the smoke bindings. “No, he took the metal off but these still stop me from casting.”
Adriana reached down to touch the magical bands, her fingers brushing against Jaxom’s skin. When she was done inspecting the restraints she withdrew her hand and he was left wishing that she had not. She looked up from his hands to meet his eyes, leaving Jaxom to think she felt the same way. Even now, caught by a man whose intentions they were unsure of, he was still drawn to this woman he only met a few days ago.
“So what if he decides that he likes the arrangement he has now over the one you are offering?” Brenin asked breaking the small moment he had with the huntress.
“Then we do what have to,” Jaxom said to the archer. “Though first we need to find out who it is he is working with, otherwise this will all have been a waste of time.”
With nothing more to discuss Cribble laid down on the bed, hopefully to sleep off his drink induced anger. Jerup and Brenin sitting down across from each other resumed a game of dice they had been playing. Pulling the journal from his belt, Jaxom took a seat on an empty couch, Adriana sitting down next to him as he opened the leather cover.
“What is that?” she asked.
“A journal I found in the library. It was written by a young girl who was training to become a death mage.”
“Is there anything useful?” she said, leaning in closer to get a better look at the writing. Making him acutely aware of how good she smelled even after days of riding and fighting. He could feel her breast lightly pressing against his arm and was not sure if it had been intentional.
“I haven’t had them time to read much of it, but it seems that these mages knew a lot about magic. I am hoping that there is something in here that can help to teach me other casts,” Jaxom said, forgetting about her proximity he began examining the pages.
Passing the part where Katia had described learning to pull the power of death into herself, he found the next entries very intriguing. She wrote about the first cast she was to learn, the creation of a veil that would obstruct a person’s vision. Unlike the decaying tendrils this veil was not intended to harm, and Katia had spent a week learning to spread the veil in a large enough area to be of use. The problem she kept encountering was maintaining what she had already cast while producing more. She found that the best way for her to do this, was to use one hand to cast a holding over the veil so it would sustain itself for a short time, while the other created more.
Jaxom had never considered this technique, having always cast using his non-sword hand as that seemed more natural. The thought of controlling two different cast through each hand was a brilliant idea as long as a mage had the mental dexterity to do so. Wanting to try it right away, he drew power into himself remembering to late that he could not as the power was sucked away again. Frustrated he closed the journal seeing that Adriana had moved away to the other side of the couch, her closed eyes and slow even breaths indicating that she had fallen asleep. Jerup and Brenin had found places on the floor to sleep, the weariness of a long day finally overcome them. Tucking the small book in the small of his back, Jaxom leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes.
The next morning after a quick breakfast brought by the risen guards. The group was led into an empty room save for a long table at its center surrounded chairs. On the table their weapons had been laid out including Jaxom’s sword. Alimar sitting at the head, fingers interlaced in front of him.
“You may reclaim your weapons, and you are free to roam the palace and surrounding city at your leisure,” Alimar said. As his friends began gathering up what was theirs, Jaxom took a moment to appreciate his sword before sliding it home in its sheath. Just then Da’san was led into the room by two risen, still gaged with his hands tied behind his back. “If you can promise me that he will not pray or contact his goddess while you remain within my walls, the young priest is also free to go.”
Jaxom looked to Da’san meeting his eyes. The priest nodded his assent to the conditions of his release. “You have my word that while we are here he won’t pray.”
One of the risen who had brought Da’san in pulled a knife from his belt and cut the rope holding his hands. With his arms free the priest removed the gag from his mouth, massaging the muscle of his jaw to work out the cramps.
“Now if your companions would like there is a well in a small court yard not too far from here. They may freshen up while we finish our talk,” Alimar said. A polite way of telling the others to leave so they could speak in private. “These here will lead you to it,” he said indicating the risen.
Once his friends had departed Jaxom sat in a chair to the right of the other death ma
ge. “So you have decided to join us then?” Jaxom asked.
“No,” he said, and Jaxom regarded the older man with a look of confusion. “I have decided to let you go and I will wait to see who the victor is. If your friend wins this war I will consider joining you then, but first I must see if you and he have the strength to survive.”
“So you will not help us then?”
“I said I will not join you now, but I will give you aid. I think my offer to rebuild our home truly appeals to you and I can see that. So I do not want loose the chance to gain your help in finding others. As a demonstration of my intentions I will tell you who it is you are up against.”
Jaxom sat there without speaking. He found it hard to believe the man was simply going to tell him what he had traveled so far to find out. “Will you not put your alliance with him in jeopardy by telling me?” Jaxom finally asked, knowing that he shouldn’t have, and risk not getting the information he needed.
“It is unlikely he will know, and it is even possible the he will not care,” Alimar said. “He is the god Or’Keer.”
Jaxom sat dumb struck at the simple statement. Their hidden enemy was a god. “I thought the pact forbid the gods from starting wars?”
“It does bind the old gods from directly influencing the lives of men, but this god is newly born or created. The pact does not apply to him,” Alimar said in a matter of fact tone. “He is not as powerful as the old gods, but neither are mages what they once were. His powers are limited much in the way a mage’s magic is; however, he has vast control of darkness itself. A power that none of the other gods have ever had any sway over.”
“What could you possibly have to offer this Or’Keer?” Jaxom asked.
“Being young he has no worshippers to give him more power. I would find those willing to serve him, though he squandered most of these men and women by turning them into weapons for his larger plan. I also allowed his priests to use my city as a place to work from, performing their rites of transformation. ”
“The shades…” Jaxom said.
“If that is what you call them, Or’Keer calls them his faithful,” Alimar replied
The faithful… that was what the voice in the cells had called the shades. It also meant that the shadow creature that had attacked him was also his creation. Jaxom felt a sudden surge of fear at the thought that a god had been hunting him. “You would find people for him?” Jaxom said accusingly.
“A god cannot draw power from those who refuse them. Devotion can be forced, but it is far less effective than true belief,” Alimar said. “That is why priests spend so much time trying to convert others to worship their gods.
That alleviated Jaxom’s worry that the man had been taking people by force and giving them to this Or’Keer, but only just. He had still aided in the deaths of so many already, and that was something Jaxom and Corin would have to live with if they allied themselves with the man. “You said that you allowed them to stay here.”
“Do not worry,” Alimar said, that small smile of amusement returning. “They have all left to the south. I believe they intend to aid Dradon and Azuria in their conquest, but I was not privy to the details.”
“What are the shades? I have never seen their like before,” Jaxom said.
“They are mages in a sense, though much more limited. Like the old gods, Or’Keer wanted to give his followers an advantage. He imbued those he found worthy with his own power over the darkness. What was not mentioned in the book you read was that not all men could be made into mages. Only one in fifty survived the transformation, but the darkness infused in the shades is far less potent than the magic within a mage. As such, Or’Keer is able to create many more of them.”
If Or’Keer could create an army of shades, Corin would not stand a chance against them. He had to get back soon to warn his friend before it was too late. “Is there anything else I should know?”
Alimar stretched out his hand towards Jaxom and the bands around his wrist drifted away to dissolve in the air. “Only two things, that you should not underestimate Or’Keer, he is young but he is still a god. The second is to be watchful of those around you. He has many who serve him in secret throughout the kingdoms and they will be watchful, taking any opportunity to further his will.”
Underestimate a god? Of all the things Jaxom was foolish enough to do, that did not rank among them. The second warning though had struck home with him. If Or’Keer had agents within Corin’s court or army, things could become very dangerous.
With the bindings gone Jaxom filled himself with magic, the power flowing into his body like a man who had his first drink of water after days of thirst. Lifting his right hand in a direction away from Alimar, he cast the veil as Katia had described in her journal. Bringing the other hand forward he cast the holding to secure the veil in place while his right continued to produce more of the dark mass. Jaxom sustained the flow of magic until the entire other side of the table was hidden from sight. The veil floated in the air before them and Jaxom felt a surge of pride at completing it on the first try.
Alimar waved his hand scattering the veil until it was completely gone. “I was not aware you knew that,” he said.
“I have never had cause to use it,” Jaxom replied, not wanting to give away that he had the journal.
“You are just full of surprises,” Alimar said, his face showing that he did not believe Jaxom in the least. “I have something else to further our growth of trust.
Following the older death mage out of the room, Alimar led him out to a stable where Jaxom thought perhaps the man wished to give back their horses. Instead he was met with something far different than the mounts they had come with. Inside some of the stalls were three of the six legged creatures that he had learned of from the wolves. These however had large black feathered wings furled at their sides. The memories of the wolves had never shown any wings on the beasts. Maybe these were a different species altogether, besides the wings they were identical with the same black and grey fur, short snout lined with teeth, and clawed paws.
“These are Durgen,” Alimar said. “You may have run into them on your way through the forest.”
“In a way I saw them, but they did not have wings,” Jaxom replied.
“The wings are my doing. I added them to the creatures.”
Jaxom was astounded by the other man’s statement almost not believing him. Looking closer he could see the joints where the wings met the torso of the animal, appearing as if they had been born with them. When Jaxom noticed the white glow emitting from their eyes, he understood then how it was possible. “They are risen,” Jaxom said.
“Risen? Is that what you call the reanimated,” Alimar said thoughtfully. “I like that, yes they are risen. I could not have melded the wings had they not been. It took me two weeks to create these three, the wings were fashioned from those of many great birds and the density of the bones had to be reduced to allow flight. Though less sturdy than their living cousins because of it, they can now carry two people in flight.”
“You can change the form of a risen?” Jaxom asked, feeling dumb for asking a question for which the evidence stood in front of him.
“Yes if you know what you are doing. It takes a lot of practice and you must know the anatomy of the man or creature you wish to alter. If you do not, it is unlikely you will be successful in the attempt. With these for example, I was forced to add extra muscle to the back and joints of the wings,” he said walking up to the animal and stroking the area he spoke of. “Otherwise they would not function properly. Attaching new tissue can be difficult and it was only through experimentation that I got it right.”
Jaxom could only stare and marvel at the man’s creations, wondering if he could accomplish such a feat of casting. “Thank you,” he said not knowing how else to respond.
“You are welcome. You may take control of them anytime, I do not currently have hold of them,” Alimar replied.
“If you do not…” Jaxom said confused.
If Alimar was not supplying them with magic to keep them standing, how was it they were doing so.
Alimar pulled a small black stone from a pocket showing it to Jaxom. “When implanted in the body of a risen, this gives it power without having to be supplied by a constant flow of magic from the mage. It is how I can control so many risen at once. You are not the only death mage who is skilled at enchantment,” he said smiling broadly this time. “I will leave you now to do as you need. I expect I will not see you again unless you and your friends are victorious against Or’Keer.”
Without another word he left Jaxom in the stables with his new mounts. Casting to the nearest of the durgen he took control of the animal. Alimar had been truthful in saying there was no need to give the creature a constant flow of magic. Jaxom only needed to make contact with the creature through his magic to gain influence over its actions. Looking through the beast’s eyes he walked through the stable doors into the sunlight. Unfurling his wings, Jaxom tested their strength by flapping them up and down, feeling his weight shift from his feet to the heavy muscles at the joints of the wings. Having gotten the feel for the unusual body, he increased the speed of the wings until the six paws had left the ground. Hovering several feet above the ground he adjusted to the sensation of flight. He had animated birds in the past but it had been nothing like what he now felt. The strength of this creatures combined with the ability to fly would make them deadly advisories. A wonderful gift indeed.
Moving higher he took to the sky above the city gaining an aerial view and discovering it to be laid out just as he had thought. Three circular walls within each other connected by six more running from the outer ring to the inner, evenly dividing the city into controllable sections. Enjoying the sensation of flight Jaxom had fun for the first time in a long time, diving hard to the streets and weaving through the buildings. The play also showed him how maneuverable and agile the durgen were. Landing on the coble stone of the street he tested its ground speed, pushed to its limit the risen animal easily matched a horse at full gallop. Leaving the ground once more he returned to the stables, seeing his own body standing in a trance like state below.
