Forgotten Mage

by D. W. Jackson

  As soon as Jacob removed the gag from Morus’s mouth, the boy began streaming curses at Bren. This ended promptly when Jacob slammed the hilt of his sword down into the boy’s knee. “What was you task?” The Weapons Master asked, his voice cold and hard.

  “”I was supposed to join the Katanaga and try and convert your fighters to the Brotherhood,” Morus said with a sneer.

  “Smart, at least you are well trained. Giving me just enough information to keep you from being tortured. I could get more out of you, but it is such an unreliable method since only half of what you would say would be the truth. I can guess much of the rest though. What concerns me, is why you would risk your cover to go after Bren?”

  “I was ordered to kill him if given the chance. They didn’t think I would really succeed, but I was promised great rewards if I did. It doesn’t matter though, the others will get him,” Morus said, spiting at Bren.

  “We will talk again later,” Jacob told Morus as he stuffed the gag back into the boy’s mouth.

  “It would seem that the Brotherhoods motives for coming here would be you,” Jacob said, turning toward Bren. “I guessed that you would be one of their prime targets, because of who your father was, but I didn’t expect you to be the sole reason for their arrival. I will have to talk to master Sae-Thae, but until such time as I decide otherwise, Cass and Flynn will be with you night and day.”

  Bren didn’t answer, he simply nodded his head as he was pushed from the room. The Weapons Master repeated his instructions to Bren’s new bodyguards, and ordered that he be taken back to the Tower and not allowed to leave his room until they received word.

  Bren cursed his luck as he was herded back to the Tower. He had spent his whole life as a prisoner in the palace. He was allowed free roam of the palace, but not allowed to step a toe outside of its gates unless approved by his mother. It was one of the reasons he had left, and now he was to be confined to a single room.

  When they reached the Tower, it was oddly quiet. There were no apprentice mages running about. The tall dark walls seemed more like a tomb under the fog of the eerie silence. As they walked up the wide steps, Bren was forced to walk behind Cass, while the other boy walked behind him. It wouldn’t have been so bad, but they insisted that there be little or no space between them as they climbed, making it awkward at best.

  Once in his room, the two boys decided on shifts to who would watch the door. It wasn’t until that moment that the true danger of the situation hit him. He had been so numb and surprised by the events of the day, it had passed him by that the brotherhood wasn’t looking for him to play, they wanted his life, and his friends might be the one to pay that price. That thought alone bothered Bren more than anything. He knew that all the precautions were necessary, and while he might not like them, he would follow them. If he didn’t, not only would he risk his life, he would risk those of his friends, and he had too few of those to lose.

  Less than an hour after returning to his room, a large commotion could be head outside. “My lady, you can’t have royal guards within the Tower walls. It is against the regulations. I promise you that we have more than ample security to keep you and your son safe,” A voice pleaded in the hallway.

  “Have you found the members of the brotherhood that have snuck onto the grounds? Have you found the murderous bastards that are after my son? No! Then get out of my way, or my men will move you out of it permanently,” Bren heard his mother’s voice say in a tone that froze his blood.

  His door burst open only a moment later, and Bren found himself smothered in his mother’s arms. Thankfully, he had grown taller than she was, otherwise he wouldn’t have had to worry about the Brotherhood; he would have died from embracement. “Mother, I am fine,” Bren protested, trying to untangle himself.

  “I know you are, and I am glad that at least one of the two masters are taking this seriously,” Maria said, letting her son escape. “I will have to send my regards to your Weapons Master,” She said, giving the two older boys a warming smile. “The reason I came was, that after the execution tomorrow, I will have to head back to Farlan. If the brotherhood is here, they might strike there next and I will be needed.”

  “Execution?” Bren asked confused. “Did they catch one of the assassins?”

  “You were there, or at least I was told you were. The boy that attacked you this morning,” Maria replied.

  “But he is still my age, you’re going to execute him?” Bren asked mortified. He didn’t like Morus, and the boy had tried to kill him, but he still couldn’t imagine him being executed.

  “You’re a man now, or so you claim, so start acting like one,” His mother chided him. “No matter age, any person wearing the mark of the Brotherhood is to be executed. That is what your father, King Killian, and I all agreed upon. There can be no leeway in this, otherwise we might find ourselves with another Fae War in a generation or two. I know it sounds harsh dear, but that’s the truth of life. And before you ask, yes, you have to be present.”

  After his mother left, Bren sat down on the bed, feeling defeated. He had never seen someone actually die before. He knew that the Queendom had executed people, though normally only for the most heinous of crimes, but he had never seen the life leave someone before, and was not sure he wanted to now.

  “From the look of it, you haven’t witnessed an execution before,” Cass said, laying his hand comfortingly on Bren’s shoulder.

  “Have you?” Bren asked, his friends face turning light pale.

  “Yes, four of them,” Cass answered without hesitation. Whether on the order of your mother or not, you would be forced to watch tomorrow. Weapons Master Jacob makes all of us watch every one that is performed. He says it is better to see death from a distance before you must see it up close.”

  “At least I will have company,” Bren said, giving a weak smile.

  “That you will,” Cass said. “A lot more than you might wish. The Weapons Master was really vague about leaving you alone, so unless he orders otherwise, one of us will be with you at all times.”

  Bren cocked his head to the side. H had heard the Weapons Master’s words himself, why would Cass bring it up now. Then his friends meaning hit him. “Oh come on you won’t need to follow me into the bin…I am sure only one person can fit in there at a time.”

  “You might be willing to risk it, but I am not. Your death would be bad enough, a mad weapon’s master is something far worse,” Cass added with a smile, making Bren give out a long groan.

  CHAPTER XVII

  Bren woke early to find both Flynn and Cass already prepared for the day. From the look of Flynn, he had drawn the last watch, as his eyes had light dark circles underneath them. Bren started for the door, but he stopped when Cass grabbed his arm.

  “We haven’t received word that you are allowed out of your room yet,” Cass said, almost apologetically. “Remember what the Weapons Master said...”

  “What about food?” Bren asked, his question accented by the grumbling of his stomach.

  “Until we are told otherwise, we are not to leave your quarters,” Cass said again. “I am sure that you can survive a day or two without food, and even when you are free to leave, we will only be eating what we prepare ourselves. If it makes you feel better, you can consider it a part of training.”

  Bren groaned again as the realization of everything hit him. He had wished that part of it was a dream, or that when he woke, he would hear news that the intruders had been captured, but it seemed like there was no such luck.

  It wasn’t until almost noon when the first knock came on his door. Cass opened it, sword at the ready, to find Weapons Master Jacob and a host of other students with him. “Good, if Bren had been the one who opened that door, I would have had you two lashed,” the Weapons Master said coldly. “The execution will be starting soon. We need to make for the town square. Bren, you will stay in the center of the other students…that isn’t a question either.”

  “Weapons Master, what ab
out food?” Bren asked, his stomach so empty it was starting to cramp.

  “Afterwards boy. It will most likely just go to waste if you eat it before…executions are a nasty business,” Jacob said before leaving the room.

  As he hurried to buckle on his sword, Bren grabbed his staff, following behind the Weapons Master. Down the stairs, the trainees made sure no one was allowed to pass. Bren could see the glares from the other mages for having to be forced down the steps, but there was little he could do about their discomfort.

  Once outside, everyone formed a large circle around Bren as they marched toward the square. It felt a little odd, and more than a little embarrassing, but Bren didn’t complain. It wasn’t until he started hearing the murmurs of the local townsfolk that his face began to glow a light red. He couldn’t see very well in front of him, so he could only hope that they would hurry and reach their destination. Everything that was happening made him wish that he was simply locked in his quarters again, starving or not.

  When they reach the town square, the Weapons Master barked out orders not to let anyone within arm’s reach, then marched off. Once he was gone, Cass broke free of the circle and came to stand beside Bren.

  “Where is he going?” Bren asked, trying to peek over the others to see where the Weapons Master was headed.

  “The Weapons Master handles all of the execution for the city,” Cass said, shrugging his shoulders as if Bren should have already known that.

  “I thought the city guard captain would do that.”

  “I forgot how new to the city you are,” Cass replied, laughing. “We have a deal with this city, and many of the other countries that allow us to set up training schools. We only look for those that are of the best quality, those that do not pass, end up working for the town or country… usually in their army or guard. The Weapons Master is, for all proposes, the head of the guard here. They do have another fellow who holds the title, but he always defers to the Weapons Master on everything, so it’s a kind of joke around the barracks.”

  Having grown up in the capital, Bren couldn’t imagine a city allowing an outside force so much control, but he could see the advantages of it. That was as long as they stayed friendly. Tuning his thoughts away from policy, Bren watched Jacob ascend the stairs to the raised platform. There, Morus was forced to kneel, waiting as the crowd jeered him.

  Everything that happened next seemed to move as if time had slowed to a near halt. Jacob didn’t wait for any charges to be read, not any statement to be said from the accused, he simply used his boot to push Morus’s head onto the wooden block. Then, with one sweep of his sword, the boys head bounced onto the ground below. Bren watched the head as it rolled off the platform and into the crowd below, and his stomach started to churn.

  Unable to control himself, Bren doubled over gagging. He was glad that the Weapons Master had forced him to skip breakfast. Looking around though, he was happy to see that he was not the only one whose stomach could not take the sight. Three of the other boys, all his age, were doubled over and the rest looked pale and worn.

  The Weapons Master didn’t return quickly, he took his time arriving after most the crowd had dissipated. “For many of you, that was your first time witnessing death… It doesn’t get any easier as time goes by. You might get used to the sight of blood, but as long as you keep your soul there, it will be that same tugging of pain when you see a life ended, even more so when it is by your own hand. Part of our job here, is to get you used to that feeling, so it doesn’t slow you down on the battlefield. I know it sounds cold, but for every second you waste, you will put your fellow brothers in arms in danger.” Jacob said, in a loud booming voice.

  Jacob started to lead them toward the training ground when something behind them grabbed his attention. “Let me though this instant,” Maria shouted, the sound of swords being drawn filled the air.

  “Stand down!” Jacob yelled, getting all the trainees to sheath their swords. “Let her pass.”

  Bren tried to imagine the look on some of the guards faces as his mother waded into a ring of heavily armed boys. “Bren, I just wanted to tell you goodbye before we left…I will be back to collect you as soon as possible. Until then, at least I know you will be safe,” She said, beaming at the large ring of armed trainees around him. She gave him a gentle hug, being kind enough not to embarrass him in front of the others before tuning and leaving.

  As the trainees parted, Bren caught a glimpse of his sister. Her face was whiter than it had ever been before. He gave her a kind smile before she was once again covered by a group of armored soldiers.

  As soon as they reached the training hall, Bren and his two guards went straight to the kitchens. Bren, having never cooked a meal for himself, was forced to watch and try to mimic the other two. He watched as they started the fire in the stove, and once it was hot enough, they placed their meat on its top. Bren did he same, but in the end, his was still slightly pink on the inside. It didn’t really matter, his appetite had left him long ago, and he only pecked at the corners of the ham.

  Once his meal was finished, the rest of the day proceeded like any other. With the exception, that almost everyone’s eyes were on him. They mostly did sparing practice, this time though, instead of blunt swords, they used the magical ones that Bren and Cass had used in their first sparing match.

  “Why don’t we use these every day?” Bren asked, during one of their short breaks.

  Cass looked at the sword in Bren’s hand and shrugged his shoulders. “The Weapons Master believes it’s much better training if you get to feel when you make a mistake. Right now though, he doesn’t want anyone injured in case they have to fend off one of the Brotherhood. I for one, much prefer these for training since I can tell not only where I hit, but how deep the wound is.”

  Now that the reasons were pointed out, Bren could see how both help, but he had to agree with Cass. He much preferred the magical training blade, though his reasons were far less grand.

  Once the training came to an end, the three headed back toward the Tower. Bren kept looking over at Flynn, who had not said more than three words in the past two days. He was happy enough to have one friend among his guards, but it felt odd that the other said nothing. “Flynn where are you from?” Bren asked, slowing down his pace slightly.

  “Farlan,” Flynn said blandly.

  “What part of Farlan?” Bren asked, a little more excitedly.

  “Calleoure,” Flynn replied, his voice bored with the slight hint of annoyance in it.

  “What did your parents do?”

  “Listen Prince, we both know that you could care less about me, or any other commoner, so don’t try and play nice. I will guard you because it’s my duty. Now, if you don’t mind, why don’t you try paying attention instead of distracting me?”

  “Sorry,” Bren mumbled under his breath, as he turned his attention back to the near barren road. Even though it was midday, no one was out, as the guards were still searching for the people who had infiltrated the city. It did make Flynn’s and Cass’s jobs easier, but it felt a little lonely to Bren. It was almost as if all the life and vitality that the city had, only days before, had been drained away. Bren decided that he would continue his day as if nothing was happening. It was one thing to be extra cautious, it was another all together to let the Brotherhood completely rob you of your life when they hadn’t even lifted blade.

  Bren heard Flynn’s heavy sigh when he continued up the stairs, past the floor on which his room resided. “Where are we going?” Cass asked, a hitch of humor in his voice.

  “I still have my studies to attend…That is, unless the Weapons Master has demanded I remain confined to my quarters,” Bren said, almost cheerfully.

  “No, as far as I know, he has not demanded that you return to your quarters…But, I will not say it is wise to journey too far afield. Remember that you are the main target of the Brotherhood.”

  “That is a little hard to forget,” Bren replied, rolling his eyes. />
  When Master Carnear opened the door of her room, she had a slightly surprised look on her face. “Mr. Farlane, I did not expect to see you today…I am honestly surprised that after everything that has happened, Sae-Thae would let you out of your room.”

  “I don’t know what Master Sae-Thae would want…I haven’t seen him since everything happened,” Bren replied, suddenly glad he hadn’t run into the vathari mage. “I believe that with everything going on, it means I must work even harder, otherwise…” Bren said, leaving the sentence hanging, as he was unable to think of what might occur other than his death, should the brotherhood catch him unaware.

  “That is a very mature way to look at things,” Carnear said with a smile. “I must say, I am impressed. Most children your age never think past what they want to have to eat.”

  “Wouldn’t know about that either master…I have never spent much time around other children,” Bren tried to make his words calm, but even to his ears they came out more than a little sad.

  “Ah yes, the hazard of duty when one is born into royalty…Well come in, might as well get you started.”

  Bren took his place on his favorite seat while Flynn and Cass took spots beside him. Most the time, it took more than an hour for Bren to ease his mind enough to even start to see the flows of magic, but today, it happened nearly as fast as he closed his eyes.

  Starting on his exercises, Bren tried to separate the different flows, taking only so much of each one, then letting them go. Most the time, he felt as if he was trying to catch steam, but today he was meeting with a margin of success. He would grasp, and while he still could not completely regulate when he was pulling in, he was able to block out the unwanted magical energy.

  “I did it,” Bren said as soon as he opened his eyes. “I was able to move the flows.” His voice was high pitched and elated.

  “That is good,” Master Carnear said. “You are progressing much faster than I would have thought possible. The next step is to use the magic that you are pulling in. We will start with something simple, something that doesn’t hold many dangers.”