Battle Mage: The Lost King (Tales of Alus)

by Wigboldy, Donald

  Again Themenor found that the lord’s words rang true. He would tell his brother wizards about this conversation and the actions that had been taken so far. Though he had done nothing wrong, they could judge his actions, but more importantly they could act as guards to what Lord Romonus might intend. The lord was right that someone needed to watch over them and make sure that his countrymen remained safe.

  The captain cleared his throat from where he held the wheel, “Do I turn or follow, my lord?”

  “Follow, my lord, there is no point in hiding in Fallum, if your words are true,” the air wizard stated simply.

  Ashleen’s eyes followed from one man to the other where Lord Romonus suddenly smiled warmly and nodded agreement, “We follow as we have, captain. Maybe someday I will have to visit Fallum, but that is not this day.”

  Letting go of a breath that she had been holding since Themenor’s decision, Ashleen glanced to Wendle who appeared similarly conflicted. There was more going on than they had been led to believe as well, she thought. More than the wizards of Southwall would need to watch the lord’s actions. Ashleen would not let him bring harm to her friends, even if she was kardorian.

  Passing Folley Island, the Sea Dragon found larger waves as they cleared the island that was large enough to reduce the waves for the sea to its north and west. Sebastian didn’t mind so much, though several of his compatriots began to grow seasick. Collin had disappeared into their cabin almost immediately. An earth wizard by nature, it wasn’t a great surprise that the extreme movement of water would affect someone grounded by land. More amusing was Liam, a water wizard, was nearly as strongly affected. Sebastian did not see much of Idenlare on deck for a time. The wizard had been a near constant as he often went there to search the winds.

  He didn’t necessarily dislike the fire wizard, but more the one he was associated with, Maura.

  Stepping on deck, the mage moved to the front of the Sea Dragon. The sky to the south worried him a bit. Twisting his head to the skies behind them, the mage wondered if the two systems would collide. With the conflicting weather patterns, the Sea Dragon could wind up dealing with storms in the near future. If they were lucky, the compass would lead them to an island for shelter so that those already seasick wouldn’t have even worse conditions.

  Yara found him as looked unsteady crossing the rocking deck. The girl appeared a little green from the sea herself. “There you are,” she stated. “What are you doing out here?”

  “Looking at the sky,” the mage said pointing towards the clouds to the southwest. “With people getting seasick already, I think we’re in for more of it. Is there a way that you can heal it magically?”

  The pretty blond grimaced. “You know how the healing bond works. For most injuries, we can set up a certain amount of pain blocking, but something like a queasy stomach is a little harder to deal with for a healer.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We feel what the patient feels, right?” he nodded. There was a certain amount of separation when a healer delved into the body that they wished to heal, but while searching for the source of pain a wizard could get feedback of new pain. “Well, if you aren’t seasick and you attempt to settle the patient’s stomach, a little of their queasiness tends to pass itself over to you in the process. It’s like an echo and can often make the healer’s stomach react similarly.”

  Screwing up his face in distaste, Sebastian understood, “It’s sort of like when someone gets sick and the smell and sound makes others sympathetically ill.”

  Nodding, Yara added, “Pretty much, but on a stronger scale. On the bright side, we do have tablets that work nearly as well as magic if you need them.”

  “Have Liam and Collin tried them yet?”

  The girl shrugged, “I think they are being obstinate, but I brought them a few to take.”

  “Why would they not take them if it will make them feel better?”

  “Well, Collin has Nara nursing him,” Yara grinned with a shake of her head, “and I think Liam is just avoiding the pills to try and prove that a water wizard can beat seasickness.”

  Chuckling, Sebastian said, “Well, I can understand that, I guess. As long as we don’t need them and they’re willing to suffer through it, then I suppose there’s no harm in them being mule headed.

  “Since Idenlare is also apparently remaining seasick for whatever reason, I think that I will need to ride the winds this time.”

  Her forehead wrinkled with worry, “Are you recovered enough for that?”

  Understanding her worry, Sebastian quickly assured her, “I’ve taken it easy for awhile now. A simple trek on the wind won’t cause any harm, but if I feel any exhaustion I will make sure to cut my time short.”

  “Why now anyway? Idenlare hasn’t spotted any suspicious vessels and no new islands have been found,” Yara questioned more out of curiosity than to try and talk him out of using his magic. As a healer, she knew mages and wizards needed to use their magic like a normal person needed to breathe. Not using one’s magic could almost be worse than using it in some cases.

  Pointing to the far sky to the southwest and gesturing behind them for the other front moving in from behind, the mage knew such systems could change the weather dangerously for the frigate. “I’m hoping to find a port before those two weather fronts collide. When the warmer air from the south meets the colder winds from the north, we are likely to be caught up in a storm.”

  The healer knew little of weather fronts and could sense too little of air magic to see the potential problem through her own eyes, but she trusted Sebastian. He had become very adept with wind spells and had been reading a lot of the wizard training texts. It was from those that he had learned of opposing weather systems creating rain and storms. With all the reading the mage had been doing for the last year, he was becoming an owl indeed.

  “Do you need anything? Should I stay and make sure you are left alone?”

  He shook his head, but replied, “I should be fine holding the railing like Idenlare was, but some water and food for when I return would be nice.”

  The girl nodded before moving close enough to pull his head lower to kiss him on the lips. “Have a good trip then.”

  Laughing, Sebastian replied, “You make it so that I don’t want to leave.”

  Returning his laughter with a content little smile, she waved him off, “Well, that’s as it should be, but go on with you, my owl. I’ll go see to finding you something to eat.”

  Thus dismissed, the mage turned back to his task at hand. “Freedom,” he ordered his magic releasing his mind from his body. Freed from his constricting human form, Sebastian’s mind found the paths of air and took flight quickly lifting above the ship.

  His attention looked at the two fronts closing on each other. Already the vanguard winds of each system were beginning to contact the outer fringes. He wasn’t an expert on reading weather systems and could hardly predict when it would rain, but he did know enough to know the conditions for a storm were ripe.

  Like a hawk in flight, the mage concentrated his mind’s flight on the south and flew swiftly on the air currents. The compass still pointed south and unless there was a sunken ship in their immediate future, Sebastian figured something must lie ahead. Whether he could find it and steer the Sea Dragon to a safe port before the storm stirred up the North Sea in time was a greater question.

  Pushing his mind out near to his limits, the falcon searched the waters before them. No chart said any island was near, but since the Cataclysm few had truly explored them enough to be sure whether any new land had been missed even this close to Southwall.

  The mage began to tire and was about to turn back when he spied an island. Whether it was one of the places that the compass was directing him to, he wasn’t sure, but it did seem to be on their path.

  Rushing back, Sebastian returned to see Serrena and Annalicia standing near his motionless body. Once his mind had been restored, the mage picked up the bottle of water and
sandwich left for him by Yara. The two women noticed his movement almost immediately despite their conversation.

  “There’s an island on our path maybe two hours ahead. We should probably head there and wait out the weather.”

  Serrena looked at the mage like he was crazy, but Anna was an air wizard of Malaiy. She could see the signs as easily as he. Nodding, the silver haired beauty replied, “I’ll have the captain increase sail. We shouldn’t have to worry if it is as close as you say.”

  The man nodded and delved into the sandwich of preserved meat and cheese. Dried and preserved food wasn’t necessarily the tastiest fare, but it replenished the hungry mage easily enough.

  Looking to the closing weather fronts, Sebastian hoped the island would be able to protect the ship. He had a feeling a big storm was inevitable.

  Chapter 10- Braving the Storm

  The island wasn’t large, but it did have a natural harbor on the eastern side where the Sea Dragon could set its anchor. Rounding the east side also proved that this was an island of interest to the party. With the compass pointing to the island with a red glow, Sebastian was only slightly surprised to see a third dot add itself to the green jewel. While the device pointed west to the island and the dull orange glow of Hala remained to the northwest the third light pointed to the south again.

  Much of his team had come on deck to look at the new island as the Sea Dragon dropped its anchor. Members of the crew finished furling the sails. Lines were coiled for safety and hatches were being checked for their seal. The wind had begun to rise as had the waves. Only the harbor and shelter of the island kept the ship from being tossed around by the foul tempered sea.

  Collin looked a little drained from his day of seasickness, but with an arm around Nara’s shoulders, the wizard still looked able enough. His first question proved that he was more than willing to leave the ship however as he asked, “Should we head to the island right away?”

  Liam looked of a similar mind, though he looked slightly fresher than his earth wizard friend. When Sebastian replied, “No, we’ll wait out the storm on the ship,” their disappointment was obvious and nearly made their leader laugh. “The ship will be safe enough with the island protecting us from the large waves. If we head to land right away, there won’t be any shelter to keep dry in the rain. Going there just to get onto land or to start looking for clues in a storm won’t get us anywhere useful.”

  Dark clouds were moving in from the west and they looked heavy with rain. The wind continued to rise as did the waves beyond the island harbor. Even in the harbor, it was becoming choppier and making the ship seem to shiver with the anticipation of the big blow.

  Ashleen watched the skies with her crystal blue eyes and felt the change in the air with her other senses as well. She didn’t need to ride the winds to know that a storm was about to break and the Carnivore was going to be caught near the center of it. Already the North Sea stirred up waves that the ship rode as much as climbed only to slide back down into the valley between the waves. The girl had never been on a ship like this before and she was nervous about what kind of weather it could truly survive.

  “They’ve stopped,” Themenor stated as he held a rail along the wall of the steersman’s cabin.

  Lord Romonus stood surprisingly steady without even a hand on the rail and looked to his new wizard questioningly. “They’ve found somewhere to ride out the storm?”

  “Perhaps,” the wizard nodded in response. A new wave lifted the warship causing the man to hold onto the rail tighter. He was an air wizard and as unfamiliar with sea travel as most of them. “I believe that they have anchored from the way the signal is getting closer to us, but I would have to ride the winds to be certain.”

  Ashleen looked to the round, little lord as he stood solidly on the plank floor as if the ground wasn’t heaving beneath his feet with a little bit of jealousy as she sat in a chair, but held onto the arms for security. She wondered if the storm was about to throw off Romonus’s plan for following Sebastian’s ship. She also wondered why they were following her friend in the first place.

  “Can you ride the winds to be sure?”

  “If someone ropes me to a mast or something as solid,” Themenor replied sounding unhappy with the idea, even though he had suggested it.

  Waving off the idea much to the wizard’s relief apparent from a little sigh that he released, Lord Romonus mused, “Well, we can assume it is an island substantial enough to at least attempt to weather the storm. Any piece of land large enough to hold back the waves of this storm must be their holding point. No ship simply tries to anchor in the middle of the sea in this kind of weather. You ride it out as best you can or find shelter.”

  Ashleen caught the nod from their captain looking a bit worried already from the change in the sea. He was a veteran sea captain that had sailed the Glacien Ocean on the western side of North Continent where Kardor lay, as well as the North Sea though most ships stuck near land as much as possible. Sailing the wide open seas and oceans of Alus meant braving any weather that could catch you. Many ships that tested the seas in the storm seasons were never seen again and she prayed that Lord Romonus chose discretion rather than continuing with the folly of chasing their allies.

  “Even if we push hard for that island, it will take us two hours to get there,” Romonus stated looking like a seasoned sailor despite his fancy clothing. “Themenor, can you and the others protect the ship from the worst of the storm until we reach the Sea Dragon’s island?”

  The girl breathed easier. Apparently, the chase was over. Perhaps he would officially let Sebastian know that they were there to help, if he was speaking truly when he said that he meant them no ill will.

  “I will need the help of the two apprentices to assist me with wind magic, while Hyren leads the rest steadying the water. With enough strength and a little luck we can be there before the brunt of the storm catches us,” the man in light blue stated looking at Ashleen as if to assess her strength.

  “Of course,” the lord waved towards Deiclonus. “Assist Themenor with gathering the wizards if you would, Deiclonus.” He seemed to be thinking of ways around the situation even as Romonus led the wizards in preparing for a rough trek to the island. Ashleen wondered if he was considering what they would say to the Malaiy frigate and the Southwallers aboard, or if the lord was onto some other way around letting them know that he was following them.

  “No more daydreaming,” Deiclonus stated gathering the young woman by guiding her shoulder into moving her body from the chair. The floor slanted with yet another wave and Ashleen had to grab for the table solidly anchored to the floor or fall. Deiclonus stumbled but managed to keep his feet.

  As the deck continued to roll with the waves, the air wizards convened with Themenor pulling them together in a quick assessment. “You two know of our air shields?”

  They both nodded. Wendle added, “We can use a similar spell.”

  “Then you can also focus the wind to protect our sails once the storm catches up to us. We will use our magic to clear a path straight ahead by focusing all of our strength on a wind plow using the same concept. Hyren and the other wizards will focus on protecting the ship from below with water and any other magic that will prevent damage from the waves. It’s our job to protect above the rails.”

  The storm was closing in on them, but the wizards held off on using their strong spells. The air wizards prepped their shield by creating their lesser personal ones and tying off the magic. They were there to build upon which would help conserve their energy for the long run, which it might be as the waves continued to grow and the winds increased in intensity.

  Daylight changed to night despite the afternoon time as the clouds choked off the sun’s rays and rain began to pelt the Carnivore and those remaining on deck. As darkness overtook them, the storm hit the warship with its full power and the wizards worked their spells in teams to protect the vessel.

  The three air wizards extended a shield before the
masts and prow of the Carnivore. Waves were cut ahead of them as the wind could no longer whip in from the side to try and twist sails and lines. The remaining wizards linked their power and using Hyren as both conduit and guide, they worked to break the waves lashing the ship especially from the west where the source of the storm continued to drive ever greater mountains of water at them.

  For the Kardorian crew, it seemed like the storm had lessened in intensity as the waves became shorter and the slaps to the hull were eliminated almost completely. Unfortunately, the wizards working on deck knew better. If there were no rain, their foreheads would still cascade perspiration as they fought nature and her fury. Their footing did become more secure, so their bodies fought the ship less and remained stronger, but their strength of magic was now put to a herculean test like no other.

  Ashleen began holding the port rail which left her facing east and the lighter attacks to the shield. Wendle mirrored her to starboard as his shield took the brunt of the side impacting winds. Themenor stood tied to the forward mast extending the forward shield almost sixty feet ahead of the vessel. His face was grim with purpose and knew that should any of them falter, the ship would likely never make it to the island or any piece of land again.

  Time seemed to both stand still and chop forward in bursts as the wizards fought. When they had started, it was figured that they were nearly an hour and a half from the island and its shelter. As they fought, Ashleen and the others began to wonder when that time would be over with so that they could rest. Ten minutes or an hour, it seemed like any amount of time could be said and still the island remained illusive.

  Trading places with Wendle, Ashleen felt the change immediately. His shield and Themenor’s had left the girl with less to do making her fresher. The assault to her shield was so strong that she fought the inclination to drop to her knees as if her very body was being struck the blows.