The Rogue Sorcerer: The Caldronian Guild : Book 2

by Andrew G. Wood

  The Rogue Sorcerer.

  Book Two : The Caldronian Guild

  Copyright© Andrew G. Wood

  2016

  ISBN-13:

  978-1541065956

  ISBN-10:

  1541065956

  All Rights Reserved.

  Other titles :

  The Chronicles of Elemental Magic

  Book One: Rise of the Darekians

  Book Two: Holding the Line

  Book Three: Prince of Magic

  The New Chronicles of Elemental Magic

  Book One: A New Threat

  Book Two: The Zulani Empire

  The Sulbria Chronicles

  Return of the Phoenix

  The Kothian Chronicles

  The Elementalist

  The Elementalist : Battle of the Mind

  The Elementalist : Next of Kin

  Chosen : A Gift of Power

  The Caldronian Guild Book 1: The Apprentice Sorcerer

  Prologue.

  After the Belarian attack on Surmont had been successfully repelled, Leo, the young sorcerer who played a major part in the fight was now sat once more atop his horse. Along with his friends he was to venture out into the Caldronian countryside, visiting the towns and villages recruiting new members into the guild.

  With many lost in the battle and their numbers stretched to breaking, more warriors, rangers and sorcerers were urgently required. With the enemy forces still prominent in the country Leo was there to help protect the group should the need arise. With the ranger Sasha riding at his side, the trip would at least be a pleasant one, or at least he hoped it could be if given the chance, at least when he had fully recovered from his exhaustion.

  Despite the Belarians suffering a heavy defeat, King Oribe was far from beaten. The losses he had sustained were indeed substantial, and might have put an end to a smaller nation’s ambitions. However, Belaria was a large country with a population to match, and already new recruits were arriving in great numbers to the capital for training.

  King Haldar of Caldronia knew he and his nation clung on to existence by luck and good fortune. Had the young sorcerer Leo not arrived back to Surmont when he had, the capital would surely have been overrun. Knowing he could not rely just on Daron, the King’s Sorcerer and Leo to defend his nation, it was time to seek out new alliances. His neighbouring countries of Arandor and Farasavia were both long-time allies of Caldronia although that had been generations long gone. However, Haldar was certain at least one of them would come to his aid, especially as neither of them cared much for the Belarian people or its king.

  Chapter 1.

  The first town of note upon their travels eventually came into view. With the light of day slowly fading, Samuel, the young warrior who was on his first command, suggested they set up camp just a short distance off. Whilst the others were left preparing the area, he and Alec would ride on into the town and make themselves acquainted with the Mayor, with a further view of arranging a public meeting.

  Leo, rather gingerly slipped down from his horse, thankful of the hand that Kenton offered him. His rather wobbly legs attempted to stand, “I think I’m still a little tired,” he said trying to alleviate the concern his friends immediately showed him. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Samuel asked looking down, still sat atop his own mount. “I’ll be fine,” Leo replied waving a nonchalant hand, “You and Alec go do what you have to,” he added.

  After a few moments of staring his direction, the young warrior finally nodded his head, “Sasha just make sure he rests,” he said turning to the young female ranger.

  “I will,” she replied looking up wondering why she was being singled out.

  “So that means, detaching yourself from his face,” Samuel added with a grin.

  “Oh…right,” the ranger replied as she finally understood what he meant.

  Happy his prize asset was in good hands, Samuel turned to Alec to check he was all set and good to go, before the pair of them then galloped off quickly covering the short distance to the town in question. Alec, from the Literary Guild, was there to oversee everything was recorded and that the correct and legitimate procedures were carried out. Any potential applicant’s details were also to be logged, along with any prospective future candidates they might consider along the way.

  Despite this being Samuel’s first command, it was by no means a trivial one. Not only was he trusted to oversee the command of the young guild members, but he was also deemed responsible enough to carry the king’s gold. Despite the main reason for them going being to recruit more apprentices, that did not mean the families of those selected should not be compensated any differently. As a result, and unbeknown to any of the other members of their small group aside from Alec, Samuel carried a small purse of gold, enough to probably see him live in luxury for some years if he so wanted; although of course that particular thought had never even crossed his mind.

  The small town of Springlea, was just the first on their list of a dozen that they had been instructed to call upon. Although the town had no defensive walls as such, it was surrounded by a wooden fence some six feet or so in height. This of course was not meant as a form of defensive barrier against an attacking army, but probably more to keep stray or wild animals out. Although from Samuel’s first impression he doubted in its current condition it even did that particularly well. He noticed several small gaps in the planks that made up the wall, that had either rotted or fell off and never been replaced; something he thought he should bring to the attention of the Mayor.

  Samuel slowed his horse to a trot, and Alec did likewise as they passed through the open gateway unhindered. Noticing the lack of any guards on the entrance was an immediate concern for Samuel, and something else he would be discussing with the man in charge. Fortunately, he did notice two men armed with swords, and dressed in some kind of uniform, stood talking outside the inn, although neither gave him but a second glance as he trotted on by.

  “Considering all that gone on of late, they are not taking security very seriously are they?” Alec said noticing the young warrior’s look of concern.

  Samuel just shook his head, as he noticed a third guard stagger across the street in front of him; one who was clearly very drunk.

  Having seen enough, Samuel slipped down from his horse and stormed over to the guard in question, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck. “Where is the Mayor of this town?” he snapped, shaking him violently. The guard was a little shocked to find himself man-handled in the street and tried to reach for his sword, thinking he was being attacked. Samuel though was far too strong for him, and just threw him to the dusty ground in a heap. “I am from the guild on king’s business,” he shouted grabbing the man by the collar again and dragging him to a nearby horse trough. As the guard struggled in vain, Samuel proceeded in dunking the man’s head into the water.

  After several seconds of spluttering and waving arms, Samuel finally pulled the guard up again, before dropping him to the dirt once more. The guards in the town may have been lackadaisical, but the people were not quite so, as Alec noted a small crowd gathering already. If it had been Samuel’s intention to make an impressionable entrance, then his actions had certainly achieved just that.

  “What is going on here?” came a deep booming voice from behind them. Alec turned to see a rather over-weight man wearing the chains of office, walk up the street from behind their position. Calling it a walk was not exactly true, as he thought it more of a waddle, such was the size of the person in question. Alec turned to Samuel to see him leave the guard on the ground and march his way to the newcomer who was still shouting. With his fists clen
ched tightly at his side, Alec feared the young warrior was about to assault the mayor, and so quickly trotted his horse between them. “Hello,” he said looking down at the overweight figure, clearly out of breath from his strenuous short walk. “We are from the guild, and are here on King’s business. Are you the Mayor?” he asked just as Samuel arrived at the scene, still fuming and very angry looking.

  “I am he,” he bellowed pointing to the chains around his neck. “I have not been told of any such arrival. How do I know you are not just some kid in a brown robe, and him some thug…?” the man shouted. He waved his hands to the crowd gathering around them, as if trying to get their support. Before Alec could speak again Samuel got in first, “Listen to me, you big fat useless piece of dung,” the young warrior snapped.

  Alec, always one to try and diffuse a situation before it got out of hand, quickly slipped down from his horse, and although much smaller in size, stood between the warrior and the Mayor. “I have a written order you…” Samuel started to say before Alec turned to look at him. Although he said nothing, it was clear by the look on his face that he wanted him to calm down. The trip had barely gone half a day and already it was hitting its first stumbling block.

  The Literary Guild apprentice calmly took the written orders clenched quite tightly in Samuels hand, before passing them on to the gent they were led to believe was the Mayor. After snatching the papers, the man squinted and held them right up in front of his face, “Do you want to borrow my specs?” Alec asked holding his glasses by the thin wire frame ready to take them off if needed.

  The Mayor just scoffed at the offer, and after several seconds of mumbling to himself finally looked up from the papers. “So you are here to undertake another recruitment for the guild?” he asked.

  “Yes Sir we are,” Alec replied politely, getting in before Samuel had the chance to say anything.

  “Did we not already do one, a few months back? I believe Springlea gave two new members to your royal household, are you back looking for more servants for the king?”

  Whilst trying to keep Samuel quiet and calm, Alec thought it best to take the lead and do the necessary talking. “The king is not after palace staff. As it states in the letter, we are here to recruit on behalf of the ranger, warrior and sorcery factions of the guild.”

  “So why the bloody hell are you here. I may not be a magician but even I know it takes one of their own to detect any magic,” the Mayor replied mockingly.

  After once more gesturing for Samuel not to say anything that might inflame the situation in to a far worse one, he calmly and methodically explained they had travelled with others, who as they spoke were camped outside the town. Thinking the Mayor would take the news well he was surprised at his attitude and rather negative response.

  “Are we not good enough for you lot, that you make camp outside the town?” the Mayor said in a huff, once more playing to the crowd of people that seemed to be getting closer by the minute.

  Alec stayed calm, and responded whilst still remaining polite, “We camped outside the town so as not to alarm the good people of Springlea. After all, I am sure they would prefer the three sorcerers we have with us, being outside as opposed to being inside,” he added knowing how people were often sceptical of the black robed members of the guild. The Mayor listened as several of his crowd readily voiced their opinions, and after stuttering a little, finally agreed that was probably for the best.

  “We shall be inspecting in the morning, please convey our request to the people,” Samuel said snatching the written documents from the mayor’s sweaty hands, before clambering back atop his horse. Alec added to that comment by reminding the Mayor that they would only be recruiting for the Warrior, Ranger and Sorcery factions, and although he was not certain the man would in any way accommodate their request, he followed the actions of the young warrior.

  The crowd parted without further incident as both slowly trotted their horses back towards the gate, before Samuel made comment about the mayor being an idiot. Alec just chuckled at the remark and left it at that, as they travelled the short distance back to where the others had already set up camp.

  A good fire was already ablaze, and Kenton was brushing down the last of the horses, when Samuel added his own for his fellow warrior to do. Sasha had fetched fresh water from the spring that gave the town its name, whilst even Leo had apparently done as requested, and was sat beside the fire resting. Mason and Jake were unpacking some of the supplies for the evening meal, although neither were keen on actually making it. Seeing their lack of enthusiasm for the job, Sasha of all people had offered to do the task for them. The none-guild members of their group, the ones driving the wagons of supplies and caring for the spare horses, as Leo had now come to expect, sat in their own group a short way off. Although he still did understand or like the reasons as to why they did this, he had starting to accept it was the way things were.

  After slipping down from his horse, Alec sat himself down beside Leo, “How did you get on?” the young sorcerer asked his friend.

  “Oh not too bad…the Mayor was a very accommodating person, and we can inspect the people of Springlea in the morning,” he replied looking briefly over to Samuel with a grin.

  “What he really means Leo, is the Mayor is complete buffoon, and the we’ll be lucky if anybody turns out for inspection,” The young warrior added, still sounding somewhat irritated by the meeting.

  Sasha seemed quite content with making the evening meal, albeit just a camp stew made with the ingredients they had brought with them. When it was time to serve up, she gave the others a shout to come and help themselves, although she spooned out a bowl for Leo and took his to him. “Thank you,” he said sitting beside the flickering light of the fire as she passed it over to him. He thought she was going to lean in for a quick kiss, but instead she hesitated, and he was left a little disappointed that she then moved away.

  Leo looked around at the others as they all started eating, and felt there was a good bond within the group as he watched for a few moments as they ate and chatted amongst themselves. Despite the trip they were undertaking likely to be a dangerous one, he actually felt quite calm, happy even, that he was with his closest friends. His slight concern that Alec might feel left out of the group, seemed not to have materialised, as he noticed the young Literary apprentice sat talking to Samuel, the man leading the group.

  With everyone getting on well, and his stomach satisfied with his fill of stew, he leaned back against his pack to rest his head. Despite Samuel’s earlier request that Sasha leave him alone, she did mirror his actions and shuffled in alongside him. However, Leo noticed she glanced Samuel’s direction as she did so, as if just checking she was not disobeying his order.

  Chapter 2.

  It was a rather cloudy overcast morning as the group all made their way in through the town gates, not quite certain of what or who would be ready for them. The night had been a little damp with several light showers. This had ultimately had the effect of causing the group to be a little miserable as they had not given themselves any cover, thinking the fine weather of late would have continued. However, after sitting and eating breakfast around the fire that Kenton had rebuilt, probably much larger than it needed to be, they were at least able to dry their clothes a little. Of course under usual circumstances, during a normal recruitment, there would have been spare clothing in the wagons. As this was very far from a normal recruitment they had not the room to carry spare garments for the new recruits, thinking they could all be kitted out on their return to the guild.

  With none of them of expecting much, especially after the less than favourable welcome from the town’s Mayor the previous evening, they were pleasantly surprised by the crowd awaiting them in the small market square. The Mayor shoved his way through the crowd with a younger man scurrying behind him carrying a bundle of papers. “Get out of my way,” the mayor shouted as he forced his way through to the front.

  Samuel was first to dismount, and
after making a move forward, decided that it might just be better to let Alec take the lead. “You seem to be a little more diplomatic than me,” the young warrior said with a smile, “Perhaps I’ll let you deal with him,” he added pointing to the large man trying to take control of proceedings.

  “Come on you blithering idiot…I want a record of everyone they speak to and consider…I want to make sure we get everything that is due to us,” the Mayor said shoving his young aide to one side.

  Samuel managed to hold his tongue, as he watched the Mayor attempt to orchestrate proceedings, although it was clear Alec was not letting the man get his own way. The entire procedure was chaotic and farcical at best, as the town’s Mayor attempted to make sure that the guild spoke to nobody unless he first had all the details.

  With dozens of nervous looking youngsters, ranging from as young as ten up to their later teenage years, those sent from the guild to make selection found it impossible to proceed under the current situation. Samuel, knowing he needed to keep a calm head, turned to his sorcerers, “Can you three go and stand beside Alec, the presence of sorcerers usually has the effect of unnerving most people.” All three nodded their heads, adjusting their hoods before climbing down from their horses. They all slowly walked over to where the young Literary apprentice was being hindered in his work by the Mayor, and took up positions alongside him.