The King's Sorcerer

by B. T. Narro

  I’d heard of Gourfist only once before, when Leon made a comment about it. I enjoyed stories, but I wasn’t interested in one right now if it wasn’t based on facts. There were too many other concerns to discuss.

  I brought up a number of dangerous situations that we could find ourselves in while hunting and how I expected us to handle them. The mood quickly changed. The chatter died down.

  Soon we had crossed over the river and were entering the forest. I had the impression that neither Aliana nor Eden had found herself in a precarious position before. It reminded me of what I was like when I was younger, when I thought that there was nothing in the woods of Bhode that could kill me. Seeing a bear close enough to notice each individual hair of its fur immediately robbed me of that pleasant notion.

  Stepping into the tree line drenched us in shade. The thick trees leaned east, toward the river as if trying to reach over it. Most had thick trunks that separated into halves or thirds. Strong branches sprouted up around the trunks and split off into sprigs sparsely covered by leaves. It was the tops of the trees that were the densest, creating a green canopy overhead.

  As we ventured deeper into the forest, the air became clouded by an eerily warm fog. We were silent for a long while. I stayed ahead of the two young women, my eyes sharp.

  “Wait,” Aliana whispered.

  We stopped and looked at her as she shut her eyes.

  “I feel something.” She opened her eyes and pointed north.

  We crept through the woods. We came to a fallen tree. Aliana gestured for us to stop. We crouched down and looked over the snag.

  Though somewhat large for a rabbit, that’s all it was. I was surprised she’d felt something so small from more than ten yards away.

  “We could use it,” Eden whispered.

  Aliana tapped me on my shoulder. She presented me with her bow.

  I shook my head. “You need to practice.”

  “I’m too nervous.”

  “It’s all right. No one expects you to hit your marks today. Just work on your form. Remember to aim lower. Three fingers. Draw back to your face.”

  Aliana loaded an arrow, then slowly stood up. She wore a worried expression as she drew back and fired. Her pose looked good, though.

  I had been too busy watching her to see the arrow. When I turned back, the rabbit was gone and I didn’t see the arrow anywhere.

  “You shot well,” I told her. “Just correct your aim next time.”

  She nodded. We eventually retrieved her arrow and ventured deeper into the forest.

  We came across a few other small creatures, all useful to Eden. Aliana missed all of them, but this was her first hunt. I assured her it was normal.

  I thought of all the times I’d gone hunting with my father. Sometimes we’d search or follow tracks for the better part of the day, just to come back empty-handed. However, with Aliana’s ranger skill it was almost too easy to find animals. It seemed that she could sense them from even thirty yards away, and she’d only get stronger as she practiced.

  We couldn’t speak much out of fear of scaring the critters away, but we did stop eventually for lunch when we found a good place to sit on a cluster of rocks. Eden had purchased us bread after all, fresh, not stale. She also brought out a pouch of nuts and berries. We chatted and joked, the hunt on pause. It was a relief for Aliana to treat me with the same respect she did Eden, though I was still a little bothered by her initial attitude.

  Eventually, I started to realize that there was something different about my mana in this forest. I felt better connected to it, my mind sharp.

  “Do the two of you mind if I test something that is likely to scare away any animal in a wide radius?”

  “Sure,” Aliana said. “I can’t hit any of them anyway.”

  “You will eventually.”

  I picked up a rock about the size of my palm. I pointed my fingers on my other hand as I prepared my spell.

  Eden hopped to her feet. “So you feel it also?”

  “Yes, what is it?” I stopped to ask.

  “I wish I knew,” Eden replied. “Don’t ask Kat unless you want to hear all about the demigods and Basael.”

  “Who else might know?” I asked.

  We all seemed to realize at the same time, though I said it first.

  “Leon.”

  “I’d rather not know than ask him,” Aliana said.

  “I might bring it up,” I admitted. “I’m too curious to let it go.”

  I tossed the rock into the air and cast Expel with as much pinpointed force as I could manage. The rock shot into the air, arcing just below the canopy high above. It struck the top of a distant tree and bounced off out of sight.

  “God above,” Eden said. “Soon we’re not even going to need a bow. We’ll just carry a sack of rocks.”

  It was a joke, like many of the things she said. I would never match the accuracy of shooting an arrow. Besides, a sack of rocks sounded heavy. But I appreciated the compliment anyway.

  We walked farther into the forest. We stuck to one direction, west, to ensure it would be easy to return. Aliana sensed a few more creatures, but she missed each one when it came time to shoot.

  I could sense her discouragement as the hours passed. Soon we would have to turn around to make it back before supper was served at the castle.

  “Whoa,” Aliana said to herself as she stopped. “I think there’s something large ahead of us.”

  “How large?” I asked.

  Her eyes squinted and she glanced down. “I can’t say. Should we see what it is?”

  “We shouldn’t risk it,” I said. “I think it’s time we turn back. We’ve gone far.”

  “I agree with Jon,” Eden added. “Let’s head back.”

  “Wait.” Aliana put up her hand. Her eyes widened. “It’s coming toward us.”

  A tense moment passed.

  “It’s getting close.” She looked at me. “It’s bigger than I first thought.”

  “Hide.”

  We scurried over behind the nearest tree, the trunk wide enough to hide all of us from view. Aliana took small looks out as Eden and I stayed still.

  Aliana gasped as she put her back against the tree beside me again. “It’s a huge cat of some kind.”

  “I swear, Ali,” Eden said, “if this is a joke—”

  “It’s not. I think we should get out of here. Jon?”

  I wasn’t quite as nervous as the two of them. Even animals as large as bears had never chased me and my father if we were far enough away. “You saw where it’s coming from. Lead the way as silently as you can. Try to keep trees between us and it.”

  Aliana walked briskly back east, the way we’d come. Eden was just behind her, with me last.

  A few minutes went by before Aliana hid behind another tree and motioned for us to join her. I looked back quickly but didn’t see anything.

  When we were all behind the tree, Aliana said something that sent fear into my veins.

  “It’s tracking us. I can feel it always behind. I say we speed up.” She handed me her bow and an arrow.

  I pulled a second arrow out of her quiver, just in case. “Go. I’ll be at the back.”

  Aliana and Eden jogged out, each flashing glances behind. We moved quickly like that for a short time.

  Eventually, I saw something darting between the trees that made me curse under my breath. The creature was catlike in appearance, but it was bigger than any cat I’d ever seen. It was closer to the size of a bear but black as night.

  It spotted us and started dashing at me.

  “Run!” I told the girls with my heart in my throat.

  Eden shrieked as we all started sprinting. I could’ve passed them, but I needed to stay in the back. Aliana broke out ahead. She looked back. I watched her face and was horrified to see the dread of her expression.

  “Hurry!” Aliana yelled.

  Eden tried to keep up, but she wasn’t very fast. I looked back.

  The beast was
bounding toward me, quickly catching up. We weren’t going to outrun it. I had to convince it that we were not a meal worth fighting for.

  “Keep going!”

  “Jon!” Aliana yelled.

  “Just keep going!” I repeated as I took aim with her bow.

  The massive cat was speeding toward me as fast as a charging horse, now close enough for me to see its fangs as well as the long claws at the ends of its galloping paws.

  I pulled back the string, the bow creaking in complaint from my strength. The head of the beast was bouncing up and down. Its back and shoulders rolled above and below the top of its head. I couldn’t wait a moment longer to time my shot. I released.

  The arrow struck the cat in its chest, the small space below its head. The beast roared but kept on running as if the arrow was a minor inconvenience. I cursed as I readied another arrow.

  There wasn’t much time to aim. I let go. This one stuck the cat in its cheek and managed to knock it off stride.

  It let out a horrible hissing sound as it twitched its head around and skidded across the ground. The arrow broke off. A moment later it was up again and leaping toward me.

  I blasted the animal with Expel. My mana clashed with the face of the beast in midair and flipped the giant cat backward. I took out my sword, the cat quickly twisting and hopping to get off its back. It leapt at me again.

  I let out a cry of aggression as I swung hard to meet its mouth with steel. I felt the sword connect, but I couldn’t see what happened as I was pushed down on my back.

  I figured my life was over as the heavy beast landed on top of me and felt to be crushing my chest, but I hadn’t given up yet. I prepared Expel as fast as I could.

  My sword was stuck in its maw, I saw, the cat’s blood splattering my face as it tried to bite me. The blade propped open the animal’s mouth, shredding the cat’s snout and drenching me with even more blood as the animal cut itself trying to bite me.

  Eventually, the sword fell onto me. It was at that same moment that I blasted the huge cat under its chin with dvinia.

  My powerful spell flipped the beast off me. I got up and grabbed my fallen sword, then almost fell backward as the creature chomped at my reaching hand with its bloody maw. I found my balance and almost decided to attack, but there wasn’t time. It thrashed out its claw at me as I leapt away. I could feel the wind from its attack. It was practically on top of me again.

  With just a small bit of distance, I had to strike now or I wouldn’t have another chance. I swung my sword from my hip all the way over my shoulder and brought it down with the strength of a heavy mallet as I screamed. The cat jumped at my face as I swung.

  I was pushed backward into a stumble, the sword pulled out of my hands, but the mammoth cat wasn’t on top of me this time.

  The beast finally lay flat and motionless before my feet, my weapon buried deep in the animal’s skull. With adrenaline surging through me still, I wasn’t sure if it was over. I rushed over and tried to get my sword out, but it wouldn’t budge. I used the bottom of my boot to push the animal’s head away until eventually I could pull my blade free.

  I waited, poised, for the massive cat to get up again. But of course it didn’t. This had been over for a while now. I checked around for other dangers. Only Aliana and Eden were in sight. They had not run very far but stood with their eyes wide in shock.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  They seemed stunned as I approached. “Help me wash the blood off,” I said as I put out my hands.

  They didn’t move or speak as they stared at me.

  “Come on,” I said, “so we can get back.” I didn’t want to encounter anything else like that animal.

  Aliana blinked a few times, then took out the water skin from her pouch and poured a thin stream over my bloody hands. I rubbed them clean as best I could.

  “Now my face,” I said.

  She poured as I rubbed my face and neck until I didn’t feel the animal’s wet blood bothering me anymore.

  “You...” Aliana pointed at my face. “You missed some.”

  I was busy drinking the last of my water, droplets falling down the light beard of my chin. “It’s fine,” I said when I was done. “I’ll wash better when we get back.”

  I started east, expecting them to follow me, but I didn’t hear any footsteps.

  I looked back. They hadn’t moved.

  “Come on,” I said in anger.

  Eden broke out of her trance first. “Wait, we could use the claws from that animal.” She pointed at it nervously, as if it might get back up.

  “We shouldn’t be here any longer than we need to be,” I said. “It was a mistake going this far.”

  “Just one paw. I can do it.” Eden rushed over as she pulled a hatchet out of her bag. To my surprise, she started hacking away. It took five painfully slow strikes for her to separate the paw as she made a face of disgust.

  Her expression worsened as she picked up the now loose paw of the large cat. It dripped blood as she held it by one of its claws. She ran back to us.

  “How long is it going to bleed?” she asked me.

  “Not long.”

  We walked quickly, all of us more than eager to leave Curdith Forest for probably a very long time.

  “Jon, that was…” Aliana’s voice fell. “I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry,” she muttered.

  “It’s all right.”

  She didn’t reply. I glanced back to see her looking down and pitifully sad. I stopped.

  “Hey.”

  She looked up at me.

  “Really, none of us is to blame. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s Leon’s for not warning us to stay near the perimeter of the forest. I had no idea we could encounter an animal like that. Did either of you?”

  They shook their heads.

  “Then don’t blame yourselves.”

  “But we should’ve done more to help,” Aliana said.

  “Leon put me in charge, and I told you to run. If I’d gotten hurt, it would’ve been because of my choice, not yours.”

  She didn’t look as if she agreed, but she didn’t say anything, either.

  “Come on,” I urged them as I started up again.

  They walked behind me, a little distance back. They were close enough that I would be able to hear anything they said, but they were silent.

  Eventually, the paw stopped bleeding. Eden put it in a pouch with a tie, then stuck that in her pack.

  I asked, “What was that animal?”

  “I’m not sure,” Eden said.

  “So then how do you know you can use it for an enchantment?”

  “Because all enchantments are done with the same types of animals. It looks like a cat, so it would probably be categorized as a Felidae. All Felidae claws do the same thing, but the size and strength of the animal changes the strength of the enchantment. The claws of that beast will probably prove to be a very strong enchantment.”

  “What exactly can Felidae claws be used for?” Aliana asked.

  “Many things, I assume. I only know of one right now. It’s actually a little humorous.”

  “I’m not sure we’re in the mood for humor,” Aliana said.

  I glanced over to see her eyes on me. “I’m fine, Aliana, really.”

  She stopped. “Are you really? You do seem to be, but I don’t understand how.”

  “I am,” I said. “Trust me. Everything’s fine.” It was the truth. I might relive the scuffle with the beast later, but as of now I didn’t want to think about it. I just wanted to get out of this forest and possibly learn something about enchanting.

  “We never thanked you,” Eden said.

  “Oh, it’s—”

  “Thank you,” she interrupted. “Seriously. We owe you.”

  “We do,” Aliana added. “Thank you.”

  “I’d do it again if I needed to. Now what’s humorous about cat claws?”

  “Well, you first have to understand that a ward against any magical art does exist an
d they all require a moonstone,” Eden explained. “It’s the second ingredient, the animal part, that determines what the ward will do, as well as its strength. Do either of you want to guess what Felidae claws ward against? Think about what a cat hates.”

  “Fire?” I guessed.

  “Everything hates fire! What does a cat specifically hate that others do not.”

  “Oh, water,” I said.

  “Yes. I found that to be a little humorous when I first found out.”

  “But how does a ward of water even work?” I asked. “Does it repel it?”

  “Actually yes, to an extent.”

  “That must look quite unnatural,” I said.

  “I’ve never actually seen it, but I hope to soon with Kat’s help after I finish the enchantment…and I’m just now hearing how that sounds. I’m going to call her Kataleya for a while.”

  The word “cat” didn’t bother me. Speaking about enchantments reminded me of my visit to Enchanted Devices and watching Greda work.

  “Oh!” I said as I realized something. “A dog’s claw is what makes a ward against dteria.”

  “Yes!” Eden said as she pointed. “You know why?”

  “Because they are so good-natured,” I answered.

  “Exactly.”

  We spoke about enchantments as we walked for a little while, but soon all of us were out of water. Perhaps I shouldn’t have asked them to use as much as they did to wash off the blood. I didn’t speak of it, though. I didn’t want to hear them tell me it was fine.

  My thirst was starting to get to me when Aliana stopped us again.

  “Can we go this way?” she asked as she pointed north.

  “Why?” Eden asked.

  “Because I think I can sense a small lake. I was just thinking about water as I used my mana, then my senses picked up on it. I want to see if it’s really the case.”

  We turned north. I asked, “Have you sensed water before?”

  “No.”

  “I think it’s because of the time we’ve spent in this forest,” I suggested. “I’ve noticed a change with my mana as well.”

  “So Leon was actually right about that,” Eden commented. “I feel a little stronger, too.”

  Soon enough, I noticed the glimmer of water ahead. I was about to comment that Aliana was right when I noticed someone cloaked walking toward the small pond. We collectively stopped and watched in silence. The person’s back was to us.