Menacing Misfits: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (Darkthorn Academy Book 1)

by Robyn Wideman

  Tears filled Jack’s eyes. “You can’t leave me.”

  Ramy smiled. “Boy, I was always going to leave you. The only thing that has changed is that I wanted you to leave me first. However, it seems my plans may’ve been wrecked. I put it off for far too long. True be told, I never really committed to the idea.”

  “You wanted me to leave you? Why would you want that?”

  “Because you need to go to school. Learn from proper mages how to use your magic. There was a time when I wanted to bring you back here to become a blacksmith, or to stay as a tinker, but Sunder was always dangerous, and never kind to half-bloods. I’d hoped in my absence things would’ve gotten better and one day it would be your home, but it never came to be and I grew so accustomed to life as a tinker that I didn’t want to change. I want you to have a good life, Jack, but as much as I’ve tried to shelter you from the harshness of the world, every time I see that you’ve been in a fight I’m reminded that the world will always be a harsh place, and that you need to be trained to survive that world without me.”

  “I don’t want to live without you,” Jack said.

  Ramy nodded. “I’m afraid you don’t get a say in this. And I’m not dead yet, I might stubborn my way a little farther in this life just yet. Until that time, I will keep training you, teaching you what I know and preparing you for the future.”

  Jack wiped his eyes. The news of Ramy’s ill health was devastating, but deep down he’d known this day was coming. Ever since that day in Cottonridge when the healer had given them both a dose of honesty that changed the way he looked at things. That day, he’d realized that Ramy wasn’t invincible and that one day he would be gone. It was an idea he’d rejected and tried to avoid, but he could no longer do so. Now, he needed to put on a brave face and be there for Ramy. “That sounds good, Grandfather. We’ll train every day for the next five years.”

  Ramy coughed and then chuckled. “I wish it were so. No, our time together isn’t just based on how long my old bones stay above ground. You remember what I told you about your mother going to a dragon academy?”

  “Yes, you told me that when she was young, she saw a dragon and from that day on pestered you about them.”

  “Every day, more like every hour. The child was obsessed with them, and she already had magical talents that she was learning from your grandmother. Once your grandmother and I realized that her fascination with dragons wasn’t just a passing phase, we started getting her ready for that future.”

  “I remember. You said the happiest you’d ever seen her was when she was selected to the Academy. But what does that have to do with anything?”

  “Because she was accepted just after her sixteenth birthday. That is the earliest you can join an academy.”

  Jack suddenly understood what Ramy was hinting at. “My sixteenth birthday is coming soon. You want me to leave you and go to an academy.”

  “Not just an academy, Darkthorn Academy. The one your mother attended. Because your mother was a graduate of the Academy you have an excellent chance of being selected even though you haven’t spent years in school or training like other students.”

  “I won’t leave you,” Jack said. “I can apply another year.”

  Ramy shook his head. “The longer you wait, the harder it gets. But we don’t need to discuss that right now. There is enough change afoot without worrying about the Academy at this time. We’ll be staying here. This is my estate, and it will be yours once I’m gone. Thanks to the business acumen of Tolliver here, you have a decent inheritance. It is modest by some standards, but enough that you will never go without.”

  “I don’t care about money,” Jack said.

  Ramy nodded. “Yes, greed is never a trait you developed.”

  “I learned from you.”

  “You learned a lot from me, some of it to your detriment. Living alone with a stubborn old fool stuck in his ways comes with a cost. But you have become a good young man, one that I’m proud of, and one I know your mother would’ve been proud of. But part of becoming a man means stepping out into the world on your own. You’ll be doing that soon.”

  Jack didn’t know what to say. But he knew he wouldn’t leave his grandfather to die alone. He’d stay with him to the end, and then look to his future. Ramy had been there for him his whole life. Jack wasn’t going to some stupid academy if it meant leaving his grandfather alone in his last weeks or months.

  “I’m tired. I’m going to go sleep in my own bed for the first time in over a decade. Tolliver, why don’t you show Jack around the property and get him sorted.”

  “Certainly, sir.”

  As Ramy left the kitchen, Tolliver smiled at Jack. “I’m sure this all is quite a shock to you. I’m a little surprised that Ramy didn’t explain more of this to you sooner, but I’m sure he had his reasons.”

  “I think he has been trying to explain it, in his own way. The last couple months have been different. He’s been putting more effort into teaching me, not just about fighting and magic, but about being a man. I didn’t notice it before, but now it makes sense. You’ve known him for a long time?”

  Tolliver nodded. “A lifetime. We were tentmates during our time in the Empire’s army. We travelled and fought together for four years. Then after our time was served, we both came back to Sunder. Ramy went to work in his father’s blacksmith shop, and I went to work for an uncle who was a merchant trader. We maintained our friendship and became business partners. I found that your grandfather had a talent for weapons from the Ancient Lands. I worked on procuring them, and I’d have your grandfather restore them. That discovery helped build both of our businesses, although my involvement in your grandfather’s success was minimal. It was your grandmother who really deserves the credit.”

  “Grandmother? What did she do?”

  “She’s the one who sensed his magic and trained him how to apply it to blacksmithing. They were a fantastic couple, always creating and fixing things. Your grandmother’s magic is featured all through this property. Between her and Ramy they built the most amazing home I’ve ever seen. It made me sad that it was empty for so many years. And I suppose it will be empty again soon, but at least for a moment it is good to have the two of you here.”

  Ramy looked around the kitchen. He hadn’t noticed anything magical, but he hadn’t been looking either.

  Tolliver chuckled. “Piqued your interest, have I?”

  “Yes. I’ve never been in a magical house, actually I’ve rarely been in any houses other than to deliver goods.”

  “Well, I’ll be happy to show you around. Your grandfather would make a terrible tour guide, he is far too modest to brag about his work. I, on the other hand, am glad to show off the talents of my two good friends.”

  Jack smiled. He was starting to like Tolliver.

  “The kitchen is actually a great place to start our little tour, as this was your grandmother’s favorite room. I’m sure you know how she loved to cook.”

  “I do. She used to make the most delicious breads and dishes, even in just a skillet over the campfire.”

  “Then imagine what she could do in a proper kitchen. I lost twenty pounds when your grandparents left Sunder. That stove was one of the first projects that your grandfather did once he convinced your grandmother to marry him. She insisted that she wouldn’t move into a home without a good stove. So, your grandfather talked to every baker and chef in the city, inspected all of their stoves and then built one that rivalled any in the city. It isn’t magic in nature, but it is some of the finest metal and stonework you’ll ever see. Not many put that kind of time and effort into a stove, but Ramy knew the way to Shanda’s heart. A kitchen with lots of pantry room, an amazing stove, big countertops. Afterwards, your grandmother added her own touches. For example, the oil lamps along the walls are magically infused. You rub the front of the lamps sideways to light them, and then rub towards the ceiling or floor to reduce the amount of light they give off. Also, the oil never runs out. The kitc
hen and bathrooms also have running water. There is a well on the property, and water is piped into the rooms by pipes made by your grandfather and imbued with magic by your grandmother. You just turn the handle and you get hot or cold water. Even the bathroom is magical. Waste is flushed outside through a magic filter that turns it into clean liquid fertilizer, it then is piped throughout the garden.”

  Jack’s face scrunched up as he thought of eating food that had been grown with human fertilizer. It seemed dirty.

  Tolliver laughed. “I made that same face when I first heard about it. But magic does amazing things. Once the poopy water goes through the magic filter it doesn’t even smell bad anymore. It smells like peppermint and vanilla. Rodents don’t like the smell of peppermint so it keeps them out of the garden.”

  Jack took a sniff of the air. “I can actually smell peppermint now.”

  “Every month, I have the house cleaned and new peppermint leaves placed strategically around the house and outer buildings to keep bugs away.”

  “Smart.”

  “Fix your meal and then we’ll finish the tour.”

  Jack quickly ate his meats and cheeses. He was hungry, but he was far more interested in learning about the property and hearing about his grandmother and Ramy from one of their old friends. Learning about the place was a welcome distraction from thinking about the terrible news Ramy had given him.

  “Ready?”

  “Yes.”

  Tolliver led Jack through the house. “The living room. Again, magical lanterns, and the fireplace is magic as well. One small block of wood will keep the entire house warm all night. And, of course, the painting over the fireplace is magical. I find it somewhat creepy, but your grandmother found it highly amusing.”

  The painting in question was of a woman holding a bouquet of flowers, standing in front of a field. As Jack moved around the room it seemed that the woman’s eyes followed him; in fact, it seemed like her head turned.

  “The painting looks slightly different to everyone that sees it. What do you see?”

  “A young woman holding flowers, standing in a field.”

  “Ah. That was your grandmother. Is she smiling?”

  Jack nodded. “She looks happy.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “I see her as well, but not her younger image. I see her the way I last saw her before they took you away from Sunder. Mostly she’s seemed sad, but today she has a smile again. Having you two home, maybe that makes a difference. I’ve often wondered if she connected the painting to her soul or just the memories of the people looking at it. She’d never tell.”

  “Grandfather says she was a witch.”

  Tolliver laughed. “She was more than just a witch. I know she turned more to those arts once they left Sunder, but she was a powerful magic user and was once part of the magic council of Sunder. She assisted in many magical projects around the city. The bedrooms are down that hallway. Ramy’s bedroom is on the right. You can take either of the rooms on the left. The first one was your mother’s. Ramy had the house remodeled to add a suite once they learned of your mother’s pregnancy. It has its own washroom and a second smaller room that was your original bedroom. You can look at those later. For now, let’s go outside.”

  Jack followed Tolliver outside. “You’ve seen the barn, but what I’ll wager you didn’t notice is the water trough on the side. It is connected to the well and magic keeps the water filled and a good temperature year-round. Even on the coldest of winter nights the animals have water.”

  “Does it get cold in the winter here?” Ramy and I usually stayed in the southern towns during the winter months.

  “It does. Not as cold as the northern kingdoms. But when a good northern wind comes down off the mountains, you feel it. The lakes can freeze over and once in a while it snows. Now, the property itself is only four acres. It is a square property and the house is almost in the middle. So as far as we are from the main lane, the property goes back that far into the woods.”

  “Why the large fence?”

  “Privacy. Many of the land owners in this neighborhood are either craftsmen or magic users. Which means they can be loud and annoying to others. At least, that was the theory when they originally developed the lands. I honestly believe one of the mages just wanted out of the city and convinced a local baron to sell the property to him and his friends. There are forty such properties here. It is a good neighborhood. Contrary to rumors one hears in town, it is quiet, and thieves don’t bother it. They’re too worried about magical traps and guardians.”

  “Are there traps here?”

  “I would speak with your grandfather before you explore too much. There are places that have been warded.”

  “Good to know,” Jack said.

  “Do you have any other questions for me today? If not, I have to get back home. My wife’s family is visiting for supper. A retched group of individuals, but if I don’t attend my wife will not be amused.”

  Jack smiled. “No, I think I’ve learned enough new things today, and will be joining Grandfather in going to bed early.”

  “It has been a pleasure to meet you, Jack. I look forward to seeing you again. I’ll be checking in on Ramy often and catching up on long overdue affairs. It would be nice to meet under better circumstances, but we must deal with things as they come.”

  “Till next time,” Jack said as Tolliver walked away.

  Returning to the house, Jack went towards the bedrooms. He opened the first door and entered his mother’s room. It was large, with a good-sized bed and a large dresser with a mirror across from it. In the corner was a rocking chair. He then found the second room. His original room. It was a nursery. There was a large crib with a hanging toy above it. Jack touched the toy and music started to play, and the toy turned and glowed. It was another of his grandmother’s magical touches.

  On the other side of the room was a small bedframe and mattress. Jack wondered if he’d ever slept in it, or had he just slept in the crib? He couldn’t remember. Something about the room seemed familiar but he wasn’t sure if that was a memory or just the idea of this being a place he’d been.

  Jack yawned. It was almost time for bed. He hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d told Tolliver he was tired. He hadn’t been exceptionally tired before, but Ramy’s confession and the conversation after had been exhausting emotionally.

  Jack looked at his mother’s bed. It called to him. He jumped on it and it was as comfortable as he’d imagined. As he drifted off to sleep, Jack wondered if the bed had magical properties as well, or if he was just so used to sleeping on the ground that it made the bed feel like sleeping on air.

  6

  Jack woke up to Ramy poking him with a stick. The familiar jab made Jack smile.

  “Get up, ya lazy sod. I’m not dead yet. You can sleep in when I’m taking a dirt nap.”

  “Grandpa! You can’t joke about that.”

  “I sure as hell can. There are plenty of ways to dealing with grief and tragedy. Humor will always be one of the best. Now get washed up. Breakfast is on.”

  Jack got up. He hadn’t even bothered undressing or getting under the bed’s blankets. He’d been so ready for sleep.

  Entering his bathroom, Jack marveled at it. He’d been in inns with indoor plumbing, but he’d never been in any this nice. There was a sink, a toilet and a shower area. Stripping down, Jack turned on the shower. He played with the handle, and as Tolliver had promised, the water temperature changed.

  Jack giggled. This was amazing. He jumped into the shower and found a bar of soap. After he was done, he reluctantly got out. If it weren’t for his belly rumbling at him, he’d have stayed far longer.

  Getting dressed, Jack headed to the kitchen. To his surprise Tolliver was there again.

  “Morning, Jack.”

  “Morning, Tolliver.”

  “I brought over fresh eggs and bacon for the two of you. I know how early Ramy likes to start the day.”

  “Smells wonderful,
” Jack said.

  “And it tastes just as good,” Ramy said. “You better get your exercises done quick if you want some.”

  Jack groaned, but didn’t argue. He went outside and did his routine. It took about fifteen minutes and he was back in the house.

  “Done already?” Ramy asked.

  Jack took a piece of bacon off the stove. “I was properly incentivized.”

  Ramy snorted. “Who knew bacon was the key to success?”

  “Bacon is the key to life,” Tolliver said.

  Jack smiled. It was obvious that Tolliver was a kindred soul.

  “While you were doing your exercises, Tolliver was telling me about the current state of my affairs. I thought it best if you join in on the conversation.”

  Jack quickly filled his plate and came to the table.

  “Feel free to eat while I talk,” Tolliver said. “As I mentioned to your grandfather, the blacksmith shop isn’t doing as well as it once did. The flow of antiquities and weapons from the Ancient Lands has slowed, which has made it a more competitive market. Without your grandfather’s unique skills and magic, Sean, Ramy’s old apprentice and now master blacksmith, has been forced to diversify his business. The blacksmith shop still does well, but it has lost its reputation for being a premier rejuvenator of ancient artifacts. I was suggesting that it is the right time to sell. Sean and I have kept in touch on the subject and he can afford any reasonable price.”

  “Why have you kept the business for so long?” Jack asked.

  “I was keeping your options open. If training to become a blacksmith appealed to you then I would keep the business and you’d inherit it.”

  “But I know nothing about being a blacksmith. I’d need to keep Sean to show me how to become a blacksmith. Do you think he’d do that?”