by Jon Bender
“I know,” Jaxom replied. “What do you need me to do?”
Coring stopped to look at Jaxom and seemed to relax a bit. “The fact that you are always there is enough and do not think I forget it. For now we get Nelix and Celia back then we will go from there. I do not think the Southerners will have sent more than three mages of their own in pursuit. I assume that you will want to go with the force I am sending?” he asked. Jaxom nodded thinking that there was nothing that Corin could do to stop him. With Celia and Nelix in danger, and now Adriana involved, Jaxom would be nowhere else. “Good, I do not think Serin will be sending his most experienced mages into this fight. I want you there in case things should go badly for us. You always seem to find a way out of whatever trouble you find yourself and we may need that now.”
Corin walked over to him then offering his hand. Jaxom took it up meeting his friend’s hard gaze. “Do not worry we will get them back,” Jaxom said. Corin nodded before turning to his private space to be alone.
Jaxom left the tent in a dark mood after the encounter with Serin. For once he was glad that he had never been accepted into the mages castle. He could not think of living under such a man’s control, and being required to obey his commands would be more than Jaxom could take. With so much on his mind he walked aimlessly through the camp filled with thoughts on what Corin would do if the mages truly did leave. It seemed to him now that rebuilding the Death Mage School was far more important than ever. Not only for his own pursuits, but to help support his friend. Without the mages Ale’adaria would be vulnerable in times such as these, and Corin would need someone to fill that vacuum.
So lost in contemplation Jaxom did not notice anything or anyone he passed until he stood in front of his tent. He had not planned on coming here but guessed his unconscious mind had led him back to somewhere he felt the most secure. Walking inside he found Adriana sitting on the cot staring at the canvas wall, fingers interlaced on her lap. Looking up at him she stood without speaking a word, to hold him against her and kiss him passionately. The kiss lasted for well over a minute, but only seeming a short time to him. The smell of her was intoxicating and the feel of her pressed against him sent tingles throughout his body.
Finally she broke the embrace taking a step back. “I was hoping that you would not be long,” she said staring into his eyes. “Brenin is with the leatherworker having the saddles altered so we would have some time.”
Looking into her eyes he could see uncertainty there. “You don’t have to do this, we can find another to take your place,” he said.
She gave him punch to arm and her eyes changed from uncertainty to frustration. “Do you think I am worried for myself? I know that you will be among those on the ground, you would not leave your friends when they need you most. I will be safe high above it all when things turn ugly.”
“I’m sorry, I did not mean to upset you,” he said hoping to calm her. Instead he received another punch harder than the first.
“I do not need you to coddle me either as if I were one of your fine ladies, I hunted the Teriken since before you could fling your magic about. I took care of myself before you and will continue to do so.” she said.
He was becoming angry now. He had not expected the time they had before leaving to be spent arguing. “Then what do you want from me?” he said. The tone in his voice reflecting his mood.
“Don’t you get it? I don’t want anything more than you,” She said tears coming to her eyes.
Not knowing what else to do he kissed her again with as much fervor as the first. She struggled at first trying to push him away, but her resistance evaporated quickly and she was kissing back just as hard. Removing each other’s clothes as fast as possible, Jaxom found himself on his back atop the small cot. Climbing over him she leaned down to kiss him again as her hands roamed over his chest and stomach.
Stopping suddenly, she leaned back and looked into his eyes. “I love you,” she said. Before he could respond she resumed what she had been doing even more frantic then before.
Chapter 22
After leaving Adriana, Jaxom and seven hundred men rode out of the camp at a quick trot. The large group heading south to find what was left of the advance force. Jaxom rode closer to the front on a chestnut mare with Lord Wilbrin, who now wore a full face helm along with his plate armor. He had left Adriana on the cot staring at the roof of the tent, but before leaving he had whispered that he loved her as well. She had smiled broadly never taking her eyes from above, and he had departed hoping it would not be the last time they saw each other.
A hand tapped him on the shoulder causing him to look to his left. Darian had ridden up beside him while he had been in thought and was now looking at him intently. “I asked how you got yourself an invitation to this little get together?” he said.
“My friends General Blackburn and Lady Celia are among those we are going to aid,” Jaxom replied. “How about you?”
“I was given no choice in the matter. The three of us here were chosen because our wise leader magus Serin does not appreciate how we question the way things are ran within our ranks,” Darian said.
“What do you mean?” Jaxom asked.
“Many of the younger mages, myself included, wish to have a more involved role within the kingdom. To use our abilities to help the people of Ale’adaria in more mundane ways. For example, how much more food could be produced if an earth mage was to help till land or a storm mage to call rain to water it. The temple priests heal the sick and injured, granted they do so to further the worship of their gods, but they are still helping others and we could do the same,” Darian said, his words coming out in a rush with so much enthusiasm it seemed that he could barely contain them.
Jaxom tried thinking of ways that his own magic could help as the other mage had described, but could think of nothing at the moment. The lack of ideas disturbed him, was his castings only good for fighting and killing? He would think on the matter to see if something good could come of death magic. “I still do not understand how your wish to help people got you put here,” he said.
“Tamrick and Danika Heartwind are the other two with us. Sibling green mages who are as vocal as I am when it comes to disagreeing with how things are. Serin has an acute dislike for us, and us him. If one or all of us was not to come back from this it would remove some of his opposition. So here we are,” Darian said. Jaxom could hear a slight undertone of anger and frustration in the man’s voice, but he did not think it was because the other mage had been sent out in the hopes that he would not return. His horse side stepping a little perhaps sensing its rider’s agitation through the reigns
“Why would Serin be against helping the common people?” Jaxom asked.
“He says it is beneath mages to perform such menial tasks. To be honest I think he wishes we could return to the time before the mage wars so he could rule as a King,” Darian said, lowering his voice as if afraid someone might hear his suspicion and report it back to the leader.
He could understand the man’s apprehension at being overheard, such an accusation was a serious affair. After the mage war, all mages had sworn to never again seek rule over others. Some telling’s of the story mentioning that they had been pressured into the vow by average men tired of fighting, who would have destroyed the mages entirely had they not agreed. To say that Serin sought to be a King, could very well have him executed by his own mages before others found out, and assumed those associated with him guilty as well. If it was true, then Jaxom would have to keep a closer eye on the man if only to keep Corin safe.
“Tell me of the brother and sister who are with us,” Jaxom said. He had not known that there was dissension among the mages in Ale’adar. If they were truly against how Serin led them, they may prove allies if the man did plan to try and take control. “Do you know them well?”
Darian laughed, and Jaxom could already see by the man’s smile that he thought well of them. “Tamrick is a few years older than you and has always ac
ted the older brother to me. My mother died in childbirth and my father… well my father was not around after that. I was raised by a kindly old woman in the castle who was responsible for me, but I had no real family to speak of. Danika and I would always play together while Tamrick watched over us,” he said. Jaxom thought he heard something else in his voice when he spoke of her, but the other man moved on quickly. “I would often join them for evening meal with their mother and father who treated me well, and they have always been there for me when I needed them. They are the best people I know. I would trust my life in their hands.”
Jaxom knew how the other man felt having been brought up in a similar situation. “They think as you do about the changes that are needed among the mages?” he asked.
“Yes, but many of the older mages still support Serin and more are simply afraid of him,” Darian said.
“Why would they have reason to fear him?” Jaxom asked.
Darian remained quiet for a minute, almost as if he was considering whether or not to tell the death mage. “It was long before I was born when Serin took over leadership as a young man, but I have heard whispers that there were two other older mages who were also in contention for the position. One stopped breathing in his sleep and the other was thrown from her horse while out riding. Both died within two weeks of each other and Serin took the place as the first amongst us. No one could prove that he was responsible or perhaps they were afraid to try, but he has led us ever since.”
Jaxom had never liked the leader of the mages avoiding him as much as possible, but the more he heard the more he began to worry that he should have been paying closer attention to what was happening in the mage’s castle. It was something he would have to mention to Corin but for now they had more pressing concerns. First they would have to turn the Southerners back and then maybe something could be done about the mage’s leader. As far as he knew the man had yet to cause any real trouble for Ale’adaria beyond opposing Corin whenever he could, but if Darian was concerned, it may warrant further investigation.
“Tell me more of your friends, you said they are green mages?” Jaxom asked. He knew only that green mages drew their energy from the plants and trees, controlling them so that they almost seemed to be self-aware. Having never met one before he did not know what they were truly capable of and how they would perform in the coming fight.
“Yes the most powerful among their school, though admittedly there are not many who share that type of casting. Including their mother, there are no more than half a dozen of them in Ale’adar,” Darian said.
“Will they know what to do when the times comes?” Jaxom asked. Trying to broach the subject gently so not to offend.
“If you are asking if they know how to fight, then yes you do not have to worry about them,” Darian said with a laugh. “They do not have the type of ranged casts I do, but then neither do you, and you seem to do okay.” Jaxom only nodded at that and turned his thoughts to how he would do in what was to come shortly.
They continued to ride for the next couple of hours in silence, both preparing for the fight that would soon be upon them. The call for halt came down the line and a soldier came back to tell them that Lord Wilbrin had requested their presence before riding on to find the green mages. The place they had stopped was near the forest and he wondered why they had strayed so far from the road heading south. He could only assume that the Wilbrin had a good reason for doing so and they would find out shortly.
They found the Lord near the front speaking to several of his officers who rode away to begin yelling orders at the men. The column began breaking up to form a line facing the general direction of the trees, and men began to check their weapons and armor in preparation. Many dismounting to insure that the straps holding their saddles in place were secure to the horses.
The commander waved them over when he saw them, and not looking at all happy. “I sent riders out to search for General Blackburn’s force and they have just returned,” Wilbrin said.
“What did they find,” Jaxom asked fearing to hear the news.
“Apparently the general was forced into the forest for cover against the mages following them. That tells me that the Dradon and Azuria forces are not far behind them and we can expect a fight as soon as the general arrives. He knows where we are and should be here within the hour,” Wilbrin said.
“Was there any news of Lady Celia?” Jaxom asked.
“My man says she was with them, he also said they have been chased for three days and are tired with many injured,” Wilbrin said. “I believe the King only had me bring as many as I did because he expected the General to turn and fight with us. If they are in bad shape our task just became more difficult.”
Just then Tamrick and Danika rode up to join them and Jaxom was surprised at how much they looked alike. Both had long blond hair, Tamrick’s stopping at his shoulders while his sister’s was tied in a tight braid going almost too her mid back. Both wore bright green robes announcing what school they belonged to and were two of the most handsome people he had ever seen with sun tanned skin and soft features.
“Good your here,” Wilbrin said. “I will be spreading my men out to meet the enemy and I would like the four of you to space yourselves evenly behind them to give cover.”
“Of course my Lord, we will do what is required of us,” Tamrick said.
“Do we know how many mages and what schools they are from?” Danika asked.
“We know there is an ice mage among them from when Brenin and Adriana scouted them,” Jaxom said.
“Speaking of which, where are your flying creatures? We will be needing them very soon,” Wilbrin said.
“They will be here,” Jaxom replied. He knew that his two friends would come but secretly hoped they would arrive after it was over. If Adriana knew what he was thinking, she would be angry with him. He would have to learn to accept that her being in danger was not likely to change.
“An ice mage…” Darian said quietly to himself. Lord Wilbrin’s face showed a look of concern at the man’s statement catching Darian’s eye. “Do not worry my Lord, I will not seek the mage out and risk others around me, but I would relish a chance to see who is the stronger.
Wilbrin nodded but still did not seem completely convinced. “I have to check to ensure the men are ready so I will leave you to decide where you will be,” he said riding away to check the line.
“I will take the right flank,” Darian said. “It will better allow me to cast without fear of hitting any of our own.”
“Then I will take the center near you, we have always worked so well together and I see no reason to change that now,” Danika said. Jaxom saw a twinkle in the woman’s eye and noticed that Darian seemed to fidget a little in his saddle.
Her brother for his part only seemed amused by the exchange but said nothing looking to Jaxom. “So that leaves us with the left, would you prefer the flank or center?” he asked.
Jaxom knew that the grim reality was that most of the casualties would be at the center, and that his magic would most useful there. “I will take the center if you have no objection,” Jaxom said.
“None,” the green mage replied. He moved his horse closer to his sister and leaned over to hug her. “Be safe, mother and father would never forgive me if…” he stopped not able to say the words.
“You worry too much Tamrick, Darian will be nearby if I get into trouble,” she said smiling at the ice mage.
“Yes of course, he will take care of you,” Tamrick said. Making sure to catch Darian’s eye who nodded that he would.
“We should go,” she said leading her horse away.
Darian moved his horse closer to them, offering his hand to Tamrick who took it, then surprising Jaxom by offering it him. “Good luck,” the ice mage said and moved off after Danika.
The soldiers had found their places, all waiting for the inevitable chaos that was soon to envelope them. They had lined themselves into four ranks some talking quietly to the men
next to them while others remained quiet readying themselves. Tamrick moved off behind the formation with Jaxom riding beside him. “So you are the death mage who is advisor to the king, I have heard much about you and wish we could have met under better circumstances,” Tamrick said.
“As do I,” Jaxom replied. “I have not known Darian long but I feel he is a man I can trust, and if he calls you friend I hope that I can trust you as well.”
“Trust is earned and I hope that with time I can earn yours. I know that you are not welcomed by Serin and those who support him, but you should know that many of us would have offered you a place in the castle if you had wished it,” Tamrick said.
The statement stirred old memories of resentment in Jaxom. “Serin would not allow it?” he asked.
“No, he and others still harbor prejudices against your school. I do not know why, it is something that stems back to mage mars,” he said. Jaxom knew why, though it did not help to quell the feelings of rejection. “Truth be told I think he feels threatened by you as he was adamant about us having no contact. That alone makes me curious as to why, and now that I have an opportunity to learn more perhaps it will shed some light on his reasons.”
“I understand that you do not approve of how he manages the mages,” Jaxom said.
The other mage looked at him as if to examine how far he could trust. “Darian should not be voicing our internal conflicts. Especially to one so close to the King, but yes I do not approve.” He stopped his horse and looked at the line of men. “I think this is where we part company, good luck and I hope to see you after.” Leaving Jaxom he continued on to place himself on the flank of the line.
Jaxom turned to regard the Forest in front of him. Not knowing what school of mages he should expect save for the ice mage, he tried his best to calm his mind in preparation. It was only a short time later that the first of riders came through the trees at a run. Seeing their fellow soldiers in front of them they came straight forward across the small distance, the line made space for them a few passing by Jaxom. He could see how exhausted they looked, many with wounds wrapped in makeshift bandages from torn cloaks and clothes. As more came forth from the forest he saw long blond hair trailing behind one of the riders and it could only be one person. Moving his horse he made his way to her as she too passed the stationary soldiers.
