Magician Prince

by Curtis Cornett

  “Sane? By the goddesses what have they done to you?” The knight’s hand reached out to the gaunt figure that stood before him as if he were a ghost or some twisted dream brought to flesh and blood, but he pulled away at the last moment unable to touch Sane and confirm that what he was seeing was real.

  “They did what you allowed them to do when you handed me over without a second thought.”

  “You were planning treason- murder of Prince Janus,” Kellen sought to explain, but the words were hard to find. “I was honor-bound-”

  “Do not speak to me of honor! Any honor you held was bastardized long ago. Or is it honorable to take a little boy as a captive to use as bait?”

  “Lord Kellen is a great man,” Donovan protested putting himself between his master and the sorcerer, “He owes no explanation to the likes of you, old man. You complain about your treatment, but you admit to being a traitor as if it is a matter to be proud of. You deserved death for plotting against the prince and you may have had it if not for this man.” He nodded to Kellen over his shoulder. “He spoke on your behalf to Warlord Nightwind and again to King Kale and begged that they keep your head off of the chopping block.”

  A gentle hand was placed on the Kenzai apprentice’s shoulder. “That is enough, Donovan,” Kellen told him kindly, so that Donovan would know that the fault was Kellen’s and not his, “Set the boy free. He has no place in this.” To Sane, he inquired, “What do you intend to do from here?”

  “I will follow where Byrn leads.”

  “And I will be going to the Collective to entreat them for peace on the kingdom’s behalf,” Byrn answered without waiting to be asked.

  “An easy enough story to verify,” Kellen responded. “Send one of our couriers to the castle-”

  “If you do that, then Sane will be a slave again before the sun rises,” Byrn warned him, “I have my father’s backing. Sane does not. His only hope is to join the Collective and treat with the king for peace.” Byrn entered the room slowly and held his closed fist out to Kellen. The crow signet ring could be clearly seen in the light from the window.

  “I would sooner die than go back to that,” Sane called magic to him. Whether or not he was doing it consciously was difficult to tell.

  No one spoke as Donovan untied Kaleb and the boy ran to Byrn’s side. More than a dozen Kenzai stood on either side of the magicians with their swords held at the ready. They only awaited Kellen’s command to act. Byrn squeezed Kaleb’s shoulder to reassure him that all would be well.

  “If you truly want to help Sane, then he must come with me,” Byrn told him sincerely, and hoped that the knight would agree.

  “Do you have horses?” Kellen finally asked and the sorcerers breathed a collective sigh of relief.

  Byrn shook his head, “We would be appreciative for any assistance.”

  Donovan was unbelieving, “Lord Kellen, we can’t just let them go. They are magicians! They probably killed Sari too!”

  “Sari is fine, you dolt,” Sane told him unkindly, “She is back with her people.”

  “Follow my orders, apprentice. The consequences will be mine to bear.” Kellen called forth one of the other Kenzai and told him to make ready with three rested mounts. Then he turned his attention back to Byrn. “Get out of Mollifas now before I change my mind.”

  ***

  Grass was trampled under hoof as Byrn, Kaleb, and Sane rode towards the rising sun. Kaleb was an impressive rider for such a young lad and Byrn caught himself wondering if he was an apprentice courier as Byrn had once been for what seemed like a lifetime ago. There were more than a dozen towns and cities between Mollifas and Wolfsbane. Surely Byrn could find a caring home for the boy in one of them. Mollifas was no place for a ten year old to be left to fend for himself.

  “What do you think will become of Kellen?” Sane asked tearing Byrn away from his thoughts of his little friend.

  “It depends on the story he decides to tell and whether his men will back him up,” Byrn guessed, “If he leaves you out of his report, then he may not be punished at all. However, if he admits to letting you leave, he could end up in the palace dungeons in your place.”

  “I am truly unsure how I feel about that. Tonight I saw some of my old friend in him, but that doesn’t erase what he did to me,” said Sane. Changing the subject, he wondered, “If we would have been forced to fight, do you think we could have won?”

  “Kellen was the only real threat and I could have handled him easily enough once Donovan stepped away from Kaleb.”

  “Then why didn’t you do something? Why let the conversation play out?”

  Byrn rode a while longer before answering as he relived his adoptive mother’s final moments and his own rash actions afterwards. “Years ago before Avelice died, she taught me a spell to summon a person’s spirit from the underworld. When Sari and I escaped from Silvering with my mother’s body last year, I was consumed with my own grief and drunk on the vast power that I suddenly found out my disposal. My brain seemed to be working on its own and I knew that I could weave several necromancy spells together to bring her back to life. I summoned her spirit and was about to reanimate her body when I saw the look of sadness on her ashen face and couldn’t go through with it. It was then that I understood that magic should not be the crutch I had made it into and that it should serve a greater purpose than fulfilling the desires of its wielder. For years, I spent so much time focusing on being a magician and living that life that I forgot how to be a man. Somewhere along the way all of the lessons my parents had taught me about how to live honestly and doing the right thing got lost in my desire to live freely. It was selfish of me and I think I lost myself for a time, but I know now that what I need to be doing is helping to bring about an Aurelia where we can all live together in harmony and I think that can be better done through talking than by throwing around fireballs.

  “As extreme as Janus is, there are people on the other side that are just as bad or worse. For a time I thought that I had to be like them or that I had to pick a side, but I do not. I will forge my own path and let it take me where it will.”

  Sane considered Byrn’s words for a while and decided there was much wisdom in this young man. He wondered if he was using his own power for the greater good or was he simply consumed with the need for vengeance for his sister’s murder. He already killed the assassin who took Avelice’s life and that had not made him feel any better. Before that he had served the kingdom willingly as a free magician and sentenced many of his own kind to imprisonment in Baj or a domain, and that did not feel right either. “I am too old to find a new path,” he muttered.

  Kaleb, who had been riding near Sane, perked up at the old man’s comment. “No need. We are heading the right way,” he told the sorcerer and pointed to the road ahead.

  Sane smiled, “Right you are, Kaleb.”

  Chapter 8

  All of the guards in the palace were trained in Kenzai anti-magic techniques. A third of them were masters in the discipline. Yet not one, but three magicians managed to escape from the palace without any serious resistance. The only proof of their attack and escape was a gaping hole in Prince Janus’ bedchamber and the accounts of his personal guards who were nearly useless in protecting their charge.

  The sun rose in the east, illuminating the prince’s room with morning light. The calmness of the day did little to settle his nerves following the attack that nearly resulted in his death.

  The rotund Warlord Velaren Saberhawk surveyed the damage along with the prince and a retinue of generals. “We must strike back,” the warlord told Janus. “If this assault goes unanswered, then it will only embolden the magicians to strike again with more force.”

  Janus could not help smiling. Perhaps the large warlord was more useful than he had given him credit for at their last meeting. “Yes, of course,” Janus agreed. “I need you to send word to the warlords of the south. Tell them to assemble their armies and begin marching towards Wolfsbane within the week. To
gether we will ensure that the magician threat is put down swiftly and with extreme prejudice.”

  “At once,” Warlord Saberhawk answered, “only… and I hesitate to bring this up, because I do not wish to show you any disrespect, my lord, but to assemble all of the kingdom’s forces and move them across the country will leave many of the warlords’ territories unprotected. Such an act will require the word of the king.”

  “Then we will speak with my father. Surely he would not allow an attack against his only heir to go unpunished.”

  ***

  King Kale was gripped by another coughing fit as Janus and Saberhawk waited patiently for it to pass. It was common knowledge that the king had become very ill over the last month and seemed to be continuously hovering near death. However, only a few men knew that Janus had been using his personal wizard, Kennath, to poison the king in order to keep him weak and infirm so that Janus could take command of the kingdom’s forces in his stead and do what his father was unwilling to do- crush the magician rebellion, but that was all over now that Kennath was gone. Kennath had to reapply his spell on a daily basis to maintain the desired result of keeping the king bedridden, but not putting his life at risk. King Kale was already starting to recover after missing the magician’s last treatment this morning.

  “This attack within our walls is surprising,” King Kale said once the coughing had passed. He dabbed at his chin to wipe away some spittle. “But I believe that we have the situation well under control.”

  “Then what would you have us do?” Janus complained, “If we do nothing, then we wait for their next assassination attempt and the one after that until they are successful and you and I are both dead.”

  “Sane will be dealt with for his attack against you,” his father assured him, but the words were slow in parting from his dry lips. Kale sipped some water and let out a short cough. “Likewise your personal magician will have to be found. He is still a criminal, after all.”

  “And what of the third magician?” demanded the prince. “I believe it was Byrn Lightfoot that freed them.”

  “Your own guards said that the third magician was an old man,” Kale reminded him.

  “And some of the Kenzai who were supposed to capture Byrn Lightfoot last night also said that there was an older magician with him. One that Kellen let go. Who could that be if not Sane?” Janus crossed the room to stand at his father’s side and looked him in the eyes. “They also said that he had a signet ring of the crow.”

  “Byrn Aurel is now working to aid the kingdom and his family. He has been granted leave to pursue a peaceful solution to this rebellion.”

  “You have met with him in secret,” Janus guessed and his father nodded. “Father, how can you think of believing that magician’s lies? How can you be sure that he is not using his magic to manipulate your thoughts?”

  “Because Byrn is my son and a parent can forgive much when it comes to the failings of his children.” Janus ignored the barb and let his father continue. “Succeed or fail in his endeavor, if he returns to us and wishes to be part of our family, then your mother and I have decided to welcome him and acknowledge him as a member of the royal line. What we did to him as a baby- it was not right.

  “I have not been blind to the toll this conflict has taken on you either, son. Your mood is often dark and your methods have grown brutal. You always carried a dislike for those who could use magic, but as this conflict has escalated so has your hatred. This war threatens to destroy Aurelia and you believe that only through the obliteration of our enemies can we stop that, but that is not true. There is another option and it is one that I have great hope for its success.”

  “There are no other options!” Janus shouted angrily.

  The king’s personal guards who stood on either side of his bed stiffened. They were too disciplined to go for their swords, but stood ready to act if things should get out of hand.

  Warlord Saberhawk put a restrictive hand on Janus in an awkward attempt to calm him, but the warlord’s efforts were brushed off.

  “Take your hands off of me, you fat bastard!” Janus shouted and struck the man with his full fury. He thought of his father as he delivered the blow to the warlord and was simultaneously horrified and gratified by the thought of hurting his father.

  One guard positioned himself between the warlord and prince to prevent further violence while the second guard grabbed Janus from behind and restrained him. Janus tried to strike at the guard, but his blows and kicks were weak since the king’s guard held the prince in such a way as to prevent him from getting any leverage.

  “Enough of this!” King Kale bellowed and the room itself nearly quaked in fear of the command in his voice. “Janus, you are acting like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum! I expect better of the man who will one day rule Aurelia in my place.”

  “What will you do, father? Give the pretender my crown?” Janus shouted. “It’s ok to give the kingdom over to them as long as an Aurel sits on the throne, is that?”

  “Janus, I am your father and your king! You will show me the respect I deserve in both of those roles or you will soon find yourself without a crown or anything else. Is that clear?”

  The prince went limp in the guard’s arms at his father’s threat. “Let me go,” he told them forcefully keeping his tone even. The king’s man looked to his lord and Kale nodded. Janus landed on his feet nimbly and straightened his shirt that had gotten twisted in the struggle. “Forgive my… passion, father. I just cannot believe that you would be willing to deal with these devils. Why would you give them the kingdom without a fight?”

  Kale slowly rose from his bed with the determination of a man who was long accustomed to carrying the fate of a nation on his shoulders and stood before his son. Though he felt fevered and his strength waned, King Kale stayed on his feet and stood tall. “Aurelia is as much my child as you or Byrn and I will not give her up either. We will offer the magicians amnesty in return for their loyalty and make the kingdom even stronger. When you rule you may do as you please, Janus, but for now you will support me in this as a prince must support his king. Perhaps in time you will see the wisdom of my decision.”

  Janus bowed low to his king and father. “As you wish, father,” the prince said solemnly, but privately his blood boiled. He was so close to ending the magician threat and now his own father was ripping victory from his grasp just to gain favor with his unacknowledged, magician son and there was nothing the prince could do about it.

  ***

  A secret door silently slid open in the bedchamber of the king and queen. Few knew of the honeycomb of secret passages that littered the castle and even fewer knew how to find the sleeping place of Aurelia’s king among them. Leading up to Kennath’s escape, the magician had been using this passage to sneak into his Highness’ room and use his magic to keep the king perpetually sick, but now that subterfuge would no longer be possible.

  Guards were posted outside of the room at all times causing the man who entered to be doubly careful not to make a sound. Everything hinged on the next few minutes. If he was discovered, his life would be forfeit and the kingdom would begin its first steps on what would undoubtedly be centuries of darkness, but if he were successful, then Aurelia would be saved from that fate and the people would know who they had to thank for it.

  The would-be assassin did not like to dirty his hands with such acts preferring to send underlings to take the risks on his behalf, but this was too important and there was no one else he could trust to kill the king. His hand trembled as he slipped a vial of black liquid, given to him by the dwarf, Gilkame, out of a small, brown pouch. The dwarf never asked the reason why, he was happy to help his patron with any task set before him. That willingness to serve combined with his inventive genius is what prompted the prince to take the dwarf into his home and make him a member of the royal court despite the fact that he held no noble lineage to speak of.

  Janus stood over his father and watched as the bed sheets lifted
with every rise and fall of his breath. It was his father’s fault. Why would he choose to back Byrn Lightfoot instead of his true son? Was he always so misguided or had he grown soft in his later years? I am your son, not him. Why would you choose him over me?

  His mother lay next to Kale and slept as deeply as the dead. He did not need to do this, warned a quiet voice of compassion… or perhaps it was cowardice. No one saw him come in and no one would see him leave if he turned around and walked back through the secret passage. Just turn back-

  No, there was no other way around this and to think otherwise was a weakness in and of itself. His father was too weak to do what needed to be done and Janus would not be like that. The rebels would not be defeated through half measures and superficial alliances that would make it seem all right to give the kingdom over to a group of mad men with magical powers. Janus could not sit back and let his birthright be destroyed before him.

  He could not afford to think on it any longer. If he waited even one more moment, then he might lose his resolve. Janus poured the liquid down his father’s throat and watched the smooth, black concoction slip out of the vial down to the last drop.

  King Kale coughed in his sleep as the poison choked his lungs. Janus returned to the tunnel and did not dare to look back. The door slid shut behind him. The king’s coughing continued for a minute more and Janus stood there listening with his forehead pressed against the false wall. He fought back the tears that threatened to overwhelm him. How foolish he was to think of crying for his father when he was the one that put the poison to his lips.