The High-Wizard's Hunt: Osric's Wand: Book Two

by Delay, Ashley

  “Nay, I be seeing it with me own eyes, and I be fighting alongside the wizard that be freeing them!” Machai indicated behind him in Osric’s direction.

  “It’s true. Every word. The same men that held the dragons captive kept me imprisoned in the volcano. I have traveled with Machai since he helped to release me, and I beseech you to listen to us now. We cannot allow these men to engage in war armed with your superior weapons. You must not complete your delivery!”

  Kablis’ expression showed more irritation than concern as he addressed Machai. “What interest of ours be human wars? I intend to be feeling the weight of the gold for this shipment in me hand.”

  “The humans be gathering a large army. With Dwarven weapons in hand, they will be launching a war of greater scale than Archana has ever seen before. If ye think it will not be having an impact on our home, on our kin, then ye be the mad one.” Machai’s serious tone carried both fear and determination. “When Osric freed the dragons, he be slowing the army’s movements. Now we must be causing them to doubt their likelihood of victory. Do not be delivering these weapons.”

  Kablis gazed at Machai with doubt and scratched his bearded chin. He glanced back at the convoy of wagons and his companions awaiting his orders and sighed. “Machai, ye’r tale be hard to swallow, but ye be as stubborn as a hill troll and I do not want to be hurting ye in order to be getting past. Another night’s sleep will not be making the gold any lighter, if I do not be thinking ye speak true by morning.” He turned to the other dwarves as he continued. “Clear the road. We will be making camp here for the night.”

  Machai sighed in relief, grinned at Thamas, and turned toward their companions crouched near the side of the road.

  Osric’s muscles tensed, his heart raced, and his hearing sharpened at the sound of hoofs approaching. He could hear the jingle of the horses’ tack and a cold, familiar voice issuing orders with anger. Aron, he thought with a panic as his skin began to heat, indicating imminent danger, why do we have to run into him right now? From the sound, the approaching troops were still a ways off and in no hurry. Osric reacted quickly, leaping out from his place of concealment and rushing up to Machai and Thamas.

  “Men are approaching on horseback,” anger and fear flashed in Osric’s eyes, “I recognize that voice, Machai. Aron leads them!”

  The dwarves were positioning themselves to defend the wagons if necessary, and Kablis looked startled at Osric’s sudden appearance and dire tone. An expression of rage washed over Machai’s face and the grass smoldered under his boots.

  “Aron be the foul commander that kept the dragons caged. He be lucky he survived. He willn’t be so lucky twice.” Machai pulled his heavy battle axe from his back and stepped behind the first wagon out of sight. Kablis nodded at Machai as he passed, his expression turning from surprise to grim acceptance. He rested his hand on his weapon and stood in the middle of the road awaiting the approaching men. Osric moved behind a wagon as Kenneth crouched back down into the grass with his bow drawn. They watched nervously as two dozen horses rounded the curve and approached the caravan, with Aron in the lead.

  Aron’s horse came to a stop a short distance from Kablis, and he signaled a halt. He looked over the dwarves with disdain.

  “Why are you stopped? We are growing impatient waiting for our delivery.”

  “The horses be spooked. We be wary of an ambush,” Kablis responded calmly.

  Aron grunted and turned back to his men. “It seems these dwarves are incapable of controlling their beasts. Relieve them of the burden and get these wagons to the city immediately.” He urged his horse forward and shoved the saddlebags from his mount’s back onto the ground. They clinked heavily and Kablis flipped them open to reveal a fortune in gold coins. He smiled wryly and paused before looking back up at Aron.

  “We be ordered to deliver the weapons to Rowain, not to gold laden bandits on the road in the dark.”

  Aron laughed and signaled his men forward. “You have your gold, dwarf. Now call your men off the weapons while you still have your life.”

  Aron’s men approached the wagons, wary of the heavily armed dwarves. Suddenly, the horses began to shy, eyes rolling with fear. A thin line of fire snaked toward Aron, moving eerily forward rather than spreading to consume the nearby grass.

  Osric looked at Machai and shook his head, but his protest went unheeded. Osric eyed the fire with his Wand-Maker gift and recognized the barely contained fury as Machai urged the elemental flames toward his target. Aron’s men backed away from the flames as Machai stepped out from his concealed position. Aron’s eyes grew wide with recognition.

  “Ye willn’t be taking these weapons anywhere,” Machai growled.

  “You! You will die for your treasonous acts, dwarf,” Aron glared down at Machai as he shouted to his men, “Arrest them all. Kill any who resist!”

  Osric looked at Kenneth, gritted his teeth in frustration, and signaled him to wait. He unsheathed his sword and readied his wand, anticipating a battle that could not end without bloodshed. He silently wished for simpler days and watched with dread as Aron’s men dismounted and moved to disarm and restrain the dwarves.

  “Ye’r a fool if ye be thinking we will be going peacefully,” Kablis drew his sword in one hand and his wand in the other, and spoke sarcastically, “I still be thinking ye are robbers, after all.”

  Aron sneered and charged his horse toward Kablis, raising his sword to strike. The stocky dwarf grinned and charged forward to meet him. Their blades met and the road erupted with fighting. Dwarves growled with anger as they charged the men attempting to ambush them.

  Machai grinned wickedly and leapt into a large group of men. Wielding both wand and axe, he laughed as he met them head on. Osric signaled Kenneth to fire at the charging group of offenders. Osric controlled his breathing, feeling the Hunter’s gift, and stepped out from behind the wagon.

  Osric cut down a man about to stab a dwarf as he fended off a second attacker, feeling chills from the flow of magic. There was no glory or honor from a death without the hunt, but at times it was necessary. Osric forced his regrets deep within and continued. He felt a surrender within his mind as the sword and his hands danced a deadly dance.

  Each blade his crossed slid off with little effort. With his breathing controlled and his gift activated, he was a whirlwind of effortless motion. He cut down two more men who staggered their attacks, high and low. He pushed the low attack away with his wand, deflected the slash at his throat and rolled left. With a thrust, he ran his sword through the back of one man, and into the neck of the low attacker, simultaneously.

  Osric took a moment to survey the battle as he pulled his sword from the men. It was clear that the dwarves were experienced warriors, and very few of them lay bloody and dying on the ground. Aron had himself surrounded by men helping to fight off an attack from three of Kablis’ guards. Machai seemed to be reveling in battle, his laughter echoing off the nearby cliffs. Kenneth had abandoned the bow in favor of his blade but appeared to be outmatched against the eight men attacking him.

  Osric whispered and appeared behind the men, running his blade through two before the others even noticed him. His wand turned aside attack after attack, as his blade brought down each man it faced. Osric and Kenneth stood side by side, aided by their gifts as the Turgent’s highly trained men fell before them.

  It was becoming clear to Osric, that though they were outnumbered, the battle would soon end in victory. The number of surviving soldiers was in their favor as he gazed out through the carnage.

  The Portentist gift flared with danger and Osric turned, looking for the threat. There were only a few men left fighting the dual wielding dwarfs, but something was wrong. The pull began to take on a direction and his attention was drawn to Aron. The Braya commander was grasping Machai from behind as two men shielded him from the advancing axes.

  “Hold,” Osric called out as he ran forward. He could see, as he peered into the magic realm, that Aron was slowly
freezing the dwarf, and it was only Machai’s Elemental Fire gift that was keeping him alive. “I said hold!” Osric cursed himself silently for not inspecting Aron to learn of his innate ability of Elemental Ice.

  Aron’s sneer followed Osric as he approached. Hate filled eyes watched him, and with a pull at Machai’s throat, he ordered Osric to stop his advance. “Don’t come any closer!”

  The fighting stopped, and the eight remaining soldiers gathered around Aron. Fear clung to each man as they cowered with uncertainty, hoping for a way out of the battle with the dwarves.

  “I should have known that you were here,” Aron spat. Malevolence burned hot on his face as he followed Osric’s movement.

  “No need to act any further. You win.” Osric tried to reason with him, sheathing his sword and wand. He had known that he would make enemies while freeing the dragons, but losing Machai was an unacceptable price to have to pay. “Let him go, and you can have the weapons.” He could feel the importance of Machai’s life within as his various gifts barraged him with warnings.

  “The weapons aren’t enough. This dwarf needs to answer for his crimes, so I think I will bring him back with me.” Aron’s loathsome feelings were clear. It wasn’t only Osric that had gained his reproach, it was all those who helped to free the dragons from their enslavement, and defeat Aron’s men in the process.

  Osric could see the cold from Aron seeping deeper into Machai. He held out his hands to show he was unarmed, maintaining eye contact.

  “I don’t think you will leave here alive if you try to take him.” Osric motioned to the remaining dwarves. “We must be able to come to a compromise. You take the weapons, and leave Machai with us. I will make sure that you are allowed to leave.” He could hardly believe his own words, but he knew it was right. Making sure that Machai survived was more important than the weapons. He would make sure that Machai lived, even if he wasn’t able to understand the significance or discern which gift was prompting the impression.

  Aron watched Osric carefully, clearly considering his options with calculated animosity. He relaxed his grip on Machai slightly, and the dwarf’s breathing seemed to come a little easier. He ordered his men to get the wagons ready to leave for the city, but his eyes never left Osric’s. A predatory, cruel smile creased his lips as he backed down the road.

  “I suppose your head is worth a bit more than the dwarf’s after the little show you put on at the volcano. Throw in that fancy sword and your,” Aron arched his brow questioningly, “Gus wand?” Cold, menacing anger was thick in his tone. “I think you are correct. You will insure that I leave unharmed, as you will be accompanying me.”

  Osric held up his hand to halt the dwarves from raising their weapons. He felt within himself for the pull of his gift, and he came to the calm realization that it was the only way out of the situation.

  “If you allow everyone else here to leave, I will return with you willingly,” Osric continued without hearing Kenneth’s protest, “But you must take me to the man in charge. I want to see the man responsible for the purchase of these weapons.”

  “Oh, you will meet him.” Aron grinned viciously. “He will be the one who orders your execution.” Two of Aron’s men cautiously took Osric’s sword and wand and lashed his hands behind his back. They pushed him forward and told him to climb into the front of one of the wagons.

  When Osric was seated and sufficiently guarded, with multiple arrows trained on him, Aron released his grasp on Machai and shoved him to the ground with unnecessary force. Color quickly returned to Machai’s face, but he made no effort to soften his fall or rise from the rough, gravel road. Kenneth angrily thrust his sword into the dirt and walked toward Aron, unburdening himself of all weapons as he strode purposefully toward the wagons.

  “What will your commander say when you come back with just a handful of men, Aron? First you failed in your duties at Braya, and now you lose nearly all of the men on an errand to accept a delivery. Are you sure you should even show your face back in that city?” Kenneth laughed, coming face to face with Aron tauntingly. Kenneth cocked his head and returned Aron’s spiteful grin.

  Osric shook his head, wide eyed, while he watched Kenneth approach Aron. Fool, we have to avoid letting the visions play out the way I see them! Desperately trying to convey the message to Kenneth in only a look, Osric sat helpless as Kenneth did not so much as glance in his direction.

  “When I bring back the man responsible for isolating our armies, he will undoubtedly promote me. Two traitors are better than one, so you will come, too.” Aron’s men lashed Kenneth’s hands and shoved him toward the wagon to join Osric. Aron ordered two of his men with bows to stay behind and shoot any dwarf that tried to come after them, and then he jumped up into the front of a passing wagon.

  Osric felt annoyed at Kenneth’s actions, though he understood the reasoning. However, he knew where the trip would end - with him and Kenneth beaten, gagged, and chained against a cold wall. He would have to find a way out. The vision Kenneth had shown him ran through his head, and the words he heard rang clear.

  The High-Wizard’s heart will break or blight, casting success onto dark or light. When knowledge shared of knowledge gained is won, cast not the common eye upon the stone. First lay the stones from under ground to sky, then shift the sight and weave the flow of time. Build the order, Aranthians arise.

  Osric looked at Kenneth as the wagon rolled toward Rowain.

  “You didn’t think I was going to let you go head first into a trap without back up, did you?” Kenneth whispered with grim determination in his voice.

  Chapter 13

  ____________

  Changing Sides

  “We cannot be letting them torture and kill the most powerful wizard in Archana!” Machai shouted, frustrated at the obstinance of his clan members.

  “He be sacrificing himself for a reason, I be sure. What can we be doing to help? Even I do not be foolish enough to be attacking the Turgent’s palace, Machai!” Kablis responded gruffly.

  “He be sacrificing his life to be saving mine, and I willn’t be allowing it. Ye must be helping me get to him.” Machai could not help but admit that he had come to believe that Osric’s life was more important than his own.

  “Ye be stopping the delivery with grand tales and then be trying to recruit us to fight to free a man we never be seeing before? Ye be speaking the words of a fool, so why would I be rescuing a man on ye’r word alone? There be no hope of freeing him where he be held, and they will surely be watching for us to be trying!” Kablis shouted.

  “He’s right, Machai. I fear there is little we can do to help Osric now,” Thamas spoke with hopelessness in his voice. “They have the Dwarven blades, they have hundreds of men within the city, and we are so few. What could we possibly do?”

  Machai stomped away from the group, angry at himself for being caught unaware by Aron. If the strength of his glare at the walls of Rowain was enough to break them, they would have crumbled to dust. He hated Aron for besting him and yearned for nothing more than to have a chance to correct the mistake. Machai was not willing to let the conversation die, so he turned again to plead for the aid of his kin.

  “Ye all be fools if ye cannot be seeing the strength that lies in the men they took. I be swearing by the blood on me blade,” Machai shook the heavy axe in his hand, “that they be freeing the dragons. I be swearing that they inspired me to be fighting alongside them to whatever end they be seeing fit! And I be swearing by me bones that I will be doing whatever it takes to be seeing them walk out as free men!”

  Machai glared at his kin for their looks of disinterest as he spoke. They were staring off at the sky rather than being roused by his passionate argument. “Listen! Osric and Kenneth helped us to be freeing the dragons from ages of slavery!” Machai grew angry when even Thamas ignored him and just stared into the distance over his head, until he heard thud, thud, in rapid succession from behind him.

  Machai spun on his heels, ready to attack
any foe that stood on the path. His mouth dropped open as he beheld Treethorn and another large, grey dragon standing a short distance away. The great beasts were folding their wings after a rough landing, which sent dirt billowing into the air around them.

  “Treethorn, ye beautiful beast, what’r ye doing here?” Machai walked directly to her and placed his palm on her head as she lowered it to greet him.

  “Machai, Stargon sent us to find the High-Wizard. However, we recently heard that there has been a new development, and we need you to come with us to Braya.” Treethorn seemed a bit nervous when she noticed the number of armed dwarves standing behind Machai.

  “Ye be out of ye’r mind! Osric be captured by Aron and be taken to the city. I must be finding a way to be getting him out. Will ye help me, friend?” Machai implored. The much larger dragon took a step forward.

  “My name is Greyback. I owe more to Osric than perhaps any other creature on Archana, and there is nothing I would like more than to help you free him. Yet, we may not always know which actions will be the ones that change the course of fate. I trust Osric to do what he must to fulfill his destiny, and I trust the eldest of the dragons, too. You must return with us, Machai.”

  “Greyback? I be hearing Osric speak ye’r name fondly, and I be seeing ye’r as wise as he be claiming.” Machai glanced over as Thamas reached his side. “I be finding it a hard choice. Thamas, what do ye be saying of it? Do we be trusting in the dragons and be leaving our friend to the wolves?”

  “Perhaps the dragons have arrived to show us our path, my friend. There is no way I see to free Osric and Kenneth. If the dragons have information for Osric, we best be finding out what it is so when we see him again he can hear it,” Thamas answered, resting his hand on the dwarf’s shoulder.

  “Aye, ye be right. Let me be speaking with me kin, and then we will be leaving quickly.” Machai turned and walked angrily back to the other dwarves from the caravan. “Kablis, ye may be having reason to doubt me before, but now ye be seeing the truth in me words. It be likely that I will be needing ye’r help, but I must be traveling for a short time with the dragons on an urgent matter. I do not be asking ye to be attacking a fortified city. I only be asking ye to be waiting until I be returning with more information.” Machai looked to the leader of the group with pride and hope in his eyes.