by Jon Bender
Jaxom described everything that had happened once he had gotten to this area of the battle, telling Corin how he and Darian had come to find that Serin was nowhere to be found, and describing what he had seen of the fighting. When he got to the part about Serin and those with him attacking from the rear, he could see his friends face darken with anger.
“Where is the traitor now?” Corin asked.
“He’s dead, the three of us killed him after we found out that he served Or’Keer,” Jaxom replied.
“Good, you saved me the trouble of publicly removing his head from his shoulders,” Corin said. Not showing any surprise that the former mage leader had been a secret worshiper of their true enemy. “You said Alimar helped you?”
“Yes, if he had not been there it is likely we would not be talking about it now,” Jaxom said.
“I suppose I have him to thank for all these creatures flying about our heads as well?” Corin said in an annoyed tone. Probably not liking the idea that he owed so much to a man he barely knew anything about.
“Yes you do,” Celia said. “We would not have held as long as we did without them. Something I know to be fact.”
Corin regarded her for a moment seeing what Jaxom had in her demeanor, a real confidence that she knew what she was about. “Yes, we will see about how to properly repay your death mage brother,” he said directing a sly grin at Jaxom who suddenly felt nervous at what the man had planned. “For now we have to finish up here. Celia would you take a small unit of the guard and go retrieve the wagons. We will be needing the supplies they have by dawn, the longer we wait the more men will die from their wounds.”
“There is more,” Jaxom cut in.
“What more can there be? Serin was a traitor and you gave him the death he deserved,” Corin said.
“Before he died he told me that Or’Keer was attacking Ale’adar tonight. He said that he was to rule there in the dark god’s name once we and the Southerners had destroyed each other,” Jaxom replied.
“We have no proof that what Serin told you was true,” Nelix said speaking up for the first time since Jaxom had arrived. “He could simply have been trying to goad you. We will send scouts back to determine the situation in the capital, but for now it changes nothing. If Or’Keer has captured Ale’adar we will simply take it back.”
“Nelix is right, there is no reason to trust anything he said. We do what we have to until we find out what really happened,” Corin said. “Celia, why are you still here? I gave you a command.”
Celia snapped a fist to chest and turned to go, but changed her mind at the last second. Leaning over she gave Jaxom a kiss on the cheek, and as an additional thought kissed Corin similarly. It was one of the rare times that Jaxom got to see his stoic friend flustered and embarrassed. The proud King looking about to see how many had watched the little exchange. The ever present Guard, who always had at least one eye on their King, were smiling at what had transpired. Even Nelix suppressed a chuckle at his King’s expense.
“What are you slack jaws grinning at?” Corin yelled. For her part Celia was almost skipping to her horse before climbing into the saddle. Pointing to two of the mounted Guard who were still smiling broadly, they nodded their heads and followed her as she rode north to find the wagon train. “She is going to pay for that,” Corin said to Jaxom who could hear the smile in his voice.
“No she’s not,” Jaxom replied. “And if you try she will only do worse to you.”
“Your right, a man should know how to pick his battles,” Corin said resigned that it was one battle he would not win. Corin shook Jaxom’s hand before returning to his own horse, speaking to Nelix along the way.
A thump on the ground behind caused Jaxom to turn towards the sound. He was solidly knocked to the ground, a soft body underlined with hard muscle colliding with him. Adriana lay on top of him kissing him for a long time, all thoughts of what was going on around him flew from his head. She came up once for a breath before kissing him again, her long hair coming undone and draping over his face. When she finally sat back again straddling his hips, Jaxom heard someone clearing his throat. Looking up he found Brenin to be staring down on them with an amused look on his face.
“Glad you made it my friend,” Jaxom said to the archer from the undignified position.
“And you Jaxom. I can see that you two are busy so if you don’t mind Adriana I will give our report to the King,” he said.
Adriana gave him a nod, Brenin leaving the two of them to speak to Corin. Jaxom tried to stand but was pushed back down for another kiss. When finished, she finally allowed him to climb to his feet helping him along the way. “How long do you think it will take to get our tent up?” she asked.
Jaxom smiled at her and looked out past the Guard. The battle was winding down as more and more of the Southerners retreated or surrendered on the spot. There was still much to be done once the fighting was over, but the two of them had done their share and were deserving of some alone time. “Not long I would guess,” he replied.
After that they watched as the last group of enemy soldiers laid down their weapons, and a cheer that shook the air erupted from the voices of the victors. Even winning Jaxom could not help but feel what a waste the whole thing had been. If what Alimar thought was true, the Southerners had only been pawns in the game Or’Keer was playing. Led into fighting Ale’adar to weaken both their kingdoms. In the end the only true winner of this battle had been the dark god, but Jaxom knew there would be many more ahead, and in the end he and his friends would win.
Chapter 30
Brenin and Alimar had left the day after the battle to find out if Serin had spoken the truth. The archer returning alone explaining that Alimar had some business to attend to in the North once they had found the city to be safe. Brenin gave the King Cribble’s written report who read it out loud to Jaxom. It described the battle that had been fought and won within the palace, Cribble stating that the Commander of the Guard had died in the fighting, and as the next in command had assumed the role until the King returned.
With no urgent need to return quickly, it took the battered army two weeks to finally reach the capital. Seeing the walls of Ale’adar as they crested the final hill seemed to breathe new life into the men, who perked up and widen their stride. Once passed the gate they were greeted by a crowd of cheering people waving at them, and offering food to the tired soldiers. Corin instructed Nelix to get the men and prisoners situated, and to have a messenger send for the priests to aid the more seriously wounded. Pulling Jaxom to the side, his friend told him that he would not be needed until the following day, and that he should go get some rest. Not arguing with the man, Jaxom led Adriana to the palace and through the stable gates.
Once inside the stable yard, the boy who had handled his mounts previously looked up from where he was pouring water into a trough. Seeing that the other stable hands had found work to do elsewhere, he sighed and walked over to where Jaxom and Adriana had dismounted. Adriana taking down bow and quiver from her durgen’s saddle. “No dragons today magus?” the boy asked in a flip tone.
Jaxom could not help but smile at the upstart’s sarcasm, and how he had accepted his conscripted role as Jaxom’s personal stable hand. “Not today, but my horse here is of the living variety and will need the normal tending.” he said.
The boy looked over the animal in question inspecting to see if what Jaxom had said was true, or if the mage was playing a trick on him. Finding that the horse was indeed alive, the boy took up the reins of his horse and Adriana’s risen mount before leading them away. As Adriana moved towards the door that would lead them to the bathing rooms, a place she had had been looking forward to for a week, something stopped Jaxom in his tracks. The durgen was under his command to do as Adriana instructed, but he had never changed that command to follow the boy. The young man simply led the risen away as if expecting that it would follow, and it had. On a slight suspicion he performed the test to detect a mage that Darian had shown h
im weeks ago, directing the unformed energy at the boy. He felt that energy not only being drawn in, but it was as if the boy was actively pulling it from Jaxom. The young stable hand had stopped midstride confused by what he was feeling, looking about for the source of what had caused the strange sensation. Jaxom stopped the flow of energy to the boy, and it was apparent that he noticed its going. Adriana paused near the door waiting for him as he walked over to the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“What is your name son?” Jaxom asked.
Pulled from his futile search for the cause of what had happened, the boy looked up at Jaxom with irritation. “My name is Laiden, and I am not your son,” he replied with a sternness not often found in one so young.
“My mistake Laiden,” Jaxom said not wanting to upset him. “And how old are you?”
“I will be fifteen in two months,” he said now more curious than angry as to why a mage would care how old he was. “Why does it matter?”
“This is the third time you have helped me out, and I thought I should at least know a little about you,” Jaxom said trying not to concern him. If he was a budding death mage as Jaxom suspected, this was not the place to tell him, even if he believed Jaxom in the first place. “My name is Jaxom, and you may call me that if you wish.”
Laiden looked at him with suspicion for a moment then seemed to accept what Jaxom had said. “Okay Jaxom, but I have other duties that I need to get to after I have these in their stalls,” he said indicating the reins in his hands. As much as a dismissal as one in his station could give to a mage. Smiling Jaxom gave a slight bow to the boy, who not knowing how to respond gave an awkward bow of his before moving into the stables.
Walking over to Adriana she looked at him with curiosity on her face. “What was all that about?” she asked.
“Nothing, I just never learned the boy’s name,” Jaxom replied.
It was obvious from the skepticism in her eyes that she did not believe him, but she let the matter go as she continued on into the palace. Following her in he could tell by her straight back and rigid step she was not happy he had not told her the whole truth even in a matter so small. He would have to remember that for future conversations, but for now he did not want to air his suspicion about the boy until he was sure. She continued to march through the halls as Jaxom followed, even though it was apparent she had no idea where she was going. Finally she stopped dead in the hall startling a servant who happened to be passing by.
“Where is it?” she asked not even looking over her shoulder at him.
Jaxom, was wise enough not to say anything, led her down the correct hall. He knew she was not truly angry with him, and he found he enjoyed prodding her a bit at the risk of incurring her wrath. If anything, he thought she was even more beautiful when she was slightly perturbed. Reaching the bathing rooms, they passed the attendant on the way in who gave them a slight nod. Finding the first available room, Jaxom gestured grandly with an arm as if inviting her to dance. Sticking her nose high into the air, she maintained her silence and walked by as if he were hardly worth his notice. He could not help but chuckle quietly at her display before moving to close the door behind her.
“And where do you think you are going?” she asked placing a hand on the door.
“To find a bath of my own,” he replied.
“There is room enough for two,” she said grabbing him by the front of his shirt and pulling him in before slamming the door closed.
They did not spend the whole day locked away in the constantly warm waters, but he was not surprised to find that hours had passed when they did emerge. Jaxom felt more drained than when they had gone in, but was not unhappy about it. Dressed in clean clothes and washed, once they had got around to that, they moved to the nearest dining room where they both had their first decent meal in weeks. Afterwards, they went to his rooms where he unbelted his sword placing it in its customary spot, and was pleasantly surprised when she placed her bow and mace next it. Somehow it seemed as if that simple arrangement represented what they had become to one another. Dressing down, they both crawled into his bed, and with more than an hour of daylight left they both fell quickly asleep.
Jaxom was awakened by a knocking at the door, instantly angry at being disturbed after just getting to sleep. Adriana moaned and rolled away as he got up and walked to the outer room, opening the door to find one of the Guard standing there.
“The King has requested your presence magus,” the man said.
“The King said I could rest for the day, and he would not need me till tomorrow,” Jaxom replied annoyed.
“It has been a day magus,” the guard said confused.
Jaxom looked to the small window that let light into the room, noticing that it was at the wrong angle for the afternoon. They had slept through the night and into the morning. “Very well, let the King know I will be there shortly,” Jaxom said.
Walking back into the bedroom Adriana was tucking a white shirt into dark brown pants. “I have not slept so well in weeks,” she said looking up.
“It seems that we have hardly had the time since we first met,” Jaxom replied dressing as well. “There is no need for you to come if you do not want to.”
“What else am I going to do? Wander around the palace lost? Besides I think I have earned the right to be at the meeting,” she said.
She was right of course. From the moment they had entered Teriken Forest she had taken on the fight as her own, it was only right that she be there at the end. “Well then we should get going if you are ready,” Jaxom said.
Nodding she reached into the cabinet to retrieve her mace and handing his skull pommeled sword to him. Belting on the enchanted weapon he leaned over giving her a small kiss before leading the way to the chamber where Corin held his meetings.
Reaching the room, two of Corin’s personal guard stood to either side of the entrance, both giving him a salute before one opened the door allowing them inside. Corin was in his usual place at the head of the table speaking quietly to Nelix, and scattered around the room were all the people he had come to consider friends. Near the table was Tamrick with a very serious look on his face while talking to Darian. Off to the side Cribble, Brenin, and Da’san were sharing a drink of wine from a pitcher on a nearby table. Near them stood Tamrick’s sister Danika, Celia, and Brenin who had said something funny sending the two women into a fit of laughter. Finally, tucked into the corner alone with his arms crossed was Alimar. A man Jaxom did not yet know if he could trust.
“Just because people have begun calling you the hero of Ale’adaria does not mean you can make your King wait,” Corin said in a stern tone.
He had no intention of letting his friend get the better of him this time. “Forgive me your majesty,” Jaxom said giving a deep bow. “I shall not let the title go to my head.” Jaxom heard a scoffing laugh at his display which he thought had come from Cribble. A suspicion that was confirmed when Corin locked a glare on the man who cleared his throat uncomfortably.
“You have no idea what I am talking about do?” Corin asked with a sly grin.
“None,” Jaxom replied with as much dignity as he could.
Corin burst out into his deep belly laugh. “Of course you don’t. If you would spend more time paying attention to what is going on around here, and less lounging about in tubs and beds you might have an idea,” he said. Jaxom could see Adriana lift her chin slightly and lay a withering glare on the man, causing Corin to uncomfortably clear his throat. “Well since you have been otherwise… occupied,” he said tactfully. “Stories have spread throughout the city about how you conducted yourself these past weeks, and you have earned somewhat of a reputation.” Jaxom shrugged as if it did not matter, but was secretly pleased that he had shed the stigma of “the death mage”. “Well that is enough of singing our friend’s praises, looking around this room there are many deserving of laurels, but I am afraid there is still work to do. General Nelix, please inform us of the army’s condition,” Cor
in said.
“Yes your majesty,” Nelix said in his usual stoic tone. “Currently we have twenty-eight thousand men who are battle ready, with another five who will be fit in two months. There are four thousand prisoners currently under guard, a situation we will have to deal with shortly. Much of our supplies was used throughout the campaign, and though we have enough food to last another two weeks we have to send our men home to their holdings soon or there will be nothing to eat.”
“For now keep whatever men you need to guard the prisoners and send the rest home. I am sure their families are eager to have them back,” Corin said. “However, we have no choice but to hold onto the prisoners. We will need to construct a temporary holding area but I want them well treated. Send an envoy to the Southerners to discuss terms for their release, from what Magus Alimar had told us, it is likely that individuals loyal to Or’Keer were responsible for their attack. If that is the case we may find allies where there once was enemies.”
Nelix listened to everything Corin had said showing no emotion until the mention of making allies of people who were responsible for the deaths of thousands of his soldiers. At that Nelix’s face had tightened, which in the General’s case was an outright objection. Jaxom understood his feelings on the subject, but he also realized that Corin was already thinking about the future. The Kingdom’s weakened state left them vulnerable, not only to Or’Keer but others who may wish to take advantage of the situation. If the Southerners had been manipulated by the dark god, then there was common ground on which to build an alliance, as long as Or’Keer no longer had influence over their court.
