Spirit of Magik (The Dothranan Chronicles Book 1)

by Richard Cluff

  They could feel the end of the shock wave as the thirty-story Tower fell into the cistern, its structure collapsing with the impact.

  Flying debris from the tower wreaked havoc among visitors and holders alike.

  Ari laughed loudly, “Look at them scatter! I'll bet we've already killed ten times as many of theirs as they did ours!”

  “I'm sure we have Mistress,” Siri breathed in awe. Until now, I didn't take what you told me about your abilities seriously, Mistress. My sincere apologies, she thought.

  She swung her glass to the last target.

  Ari watched intently as well. “Even if they do figure out where you placed it, there will be no way they can get to it in time.”

  And then House Quarrel's Granary's foundation exploded outward. Pieces punched through other structures and crushed people. The huge silos fell into the cistern and collapsed under their weight.

  They were going to rue the fact that Ari had already had her Guild Master of trade acquire all the cheapest grains in the realm.

  “That was very effective Siri, filling the bowls with poured stone to direct the blasts,” Ari said with a huge grin, watching the carnage with her telescope.

  “The idea works well with conventional explosives, Mistress. It is far more devastating with these, as we can see,” Siri replied.

  The lift stopped after the fifteen-minute ascent. Ari and Siri both quickly closed their telescopes.

  “Milady, welcome.” A House Vallad Guard Commander greeted them; he seemed shaken, likely by the explosion that rocked the lift. He was still well composed though.

  Ari said. “We need to depart immediately; something urgent has come up.”

  “Of course, Milady.” He closed the door to the tower there, and the lift began descending after a moment.

  Siri couldn't help laughing. “Well played, Mistress.”

  “Of course,” Ari said with a smile, pulling her telescope out to enjoy the havoc she'd wrought.

  Monday May 6th 1624th year of the First Great City

  Surrender

  Thorel noted that the Mistress seemed to be in a good mood this morning. She greeted him with a reserved smile.

  The Manor was bustling with activity, particularly in the stables on the ground floor. Everyone was rushing about for some unknown reason. Most of the people rushing and yelling commands were House Dothranan guards.

  He asked her about it, but all his Mistress said was, “They are preparing for a busy day.” She would not elaborate further though.

  They boarded her carriage and rode to the Academy.

  During the ride, she talked to him about different kinds of Magik, and how a basic knowledge of a phenomenon made it easier to create with Magik. Fire was a good example of a phenomenon that most people had an instinctual understanding of, making it easier to produce compared to lightning.

  When he asked her about healing, she told him that it comes naturally to some like fire. But most, including herself have had to study anatomy in order to learn about how things are supposed to look and work normally.

  She had hopes he had natural ability, considering what she observed in the Apprentices’ Tower and was particularly fascinated by the fact that he seemed to do it while unconscious.

  “Why is that significant?” Thorel asked.

  “If your unique abilities can be used while unconscious, it would be another advantage. A Wizard must normally be conscious to use any power, including a talisman,” she stated.

  When they arrived, they went to a three-story building with a short iron fence around it. Lanterns were on inside, and he could see people moving about.

  “My father purchased this building when I started attending the Academy, so I could stay here and study. I had staff come to make it ready so that you can use it,” Ari said.

  “You shouldn't go to any trouble for me, Mistress,” Thorel replied.

  “It is no trouble. In fact, the less often you have to make the trip from here to the Hold, the safer you will be. It is unlikely you would be attacked here since it is against the law for any House war actions to occur on the Academy's grounds. You will come with me to the Hold on the weekends. If you need to go to the Hold on other days, it would also be best if you traveled with me,” she said seriously.

  Mistress Dothranan introduced Thorel to the guards that were outside. They bowed to her and greeted him. Then they walked to the Apprentices tower to get him enrolled.

  Several students changed directions when they saw them coming. They studiously pretended they hadn't even seen them. Thorel felt it was one of the rudest things he had ever seen. It wasn't as if he had ever done anything to them.

  When they arrived, they were greeted by an older brunette woman in Wizards robes. She was only a touch taller than Nigel, and an ornate staff leaned on the wall behind her. She had five spirits that were attached to her by threads of light.

  Ari bowed and said, “Mistress Thenna, this is Thorel Tangarth. He will be enrolling in the Wizards curriculum.”

  “This is the one that you acquired my lesson plan for, Milady?” Thenna asked.

  “He is, Mistress,” Ari replied. She handed the woman a sheaf of papers, which had one of Thorel's assignments on top.

  The Master Wizard looked at the papers and said, “Not bad, Mr. Tangarth. Very well, do you have the Crown to upgrade your path?”

  Ari produced the heavy gold crown from a pocket of her black coat.

  “Excellent. I will find a place for you immediately. You will need to attend these classes.” She handed him a paper showing he had spirituality for his third class, basic Magikal principles for his fourth class, and energy flow/meditation for his fifth class.

  “Take that to Master Stiral and tell him that you need the first semester Wizards requirements put in where he would like. And do it quickly. You only have one-quarter of an hour before your first class,” Mistress Thenna said briskly.

  “Yes Milady,” Thorel said, opening the tower door.

  Thorel was startled by a man at the door, wearing a silken suit with a sigil on his breast Thorel had not seen. He walked in as if Thorel had opened the door for him, and spoke. “Milady Dothranan,” he said addressing Ari, “My Mistress, High Lady Lucia Vallad, representative of Vallad on the Wizard's Council wishes to see you immediately.”

  “I am not surprised. I will be along shortly,” Ari said, sounding annoyed.

  Thorel was extremely curious, but he had no time to linger. He ran as quickly as he could to Master Stiral's office.

  “My Mistress has commanded that I not let you out of my sight until you meet with her, Milady,” he said.

  “I think she likes you about as much as I do at this moment then,” Ari said menacingly.

  “I will inform Master Rema, Milady,” Thenna interjected diplomatically.

  “Very well,” Ari said. “But you may not ride with me. You will follow.”

  * * *

  Ari entered the High Lord's ornate reception chamber from the south outside lift being escorted by her personal guard. Her boots clicked on the white marble floor. The walls and ceiling were made of the same material, with light stones lighting the windowless interior. Guards of the High Lord were spaced at regular intervals throughout the reception area.

  There she saw Jacon Quarrel, with his disgusting shaved and tattooed head wearing the black Masters robe of his station. It had glowing red and green runes, and he held his staff arrogantly. Eleven spirits were connected to him by ethereal chains like hers were.

  He looked at her with complete and utter hatred.

  Ari said, “Lord Quarrel. My sympathy for your recent disaster,” her face was flat, but her eyes were lit with mockery.

  “I will prove that you did this to me, you little bitch,” he grated out, his nostrils flaring.

  “I will take that insult out of your flesh, Lord,” she said coldly.

  “I very much doubt that, apprentice,” he said arrogantly.

  “I read about your d
uel with my stepmother in her journal. She spared your life,” Ari's eyes twinkled.

  “She was a superior Wizard,” he conceded with a sharp nod.

  “Do not forget, I killed her for my father's vengeance,” she said chillingly.

  They locked eyes for a moment; Ari was just a bit taller than him while wearing her boots.

  “Milady Dothranan, Milord Quarrel, the High Lady will see you now,” the steward said bowing from behind his desk, trying to hide his discomfort.

  Ari smiled at him predatorily and quickly turned to walk ahead of him; blatantly showing her back. She extended her senses to him, should he be fool enough to try something here though.

  She entered the lift, with her guards, and he followed with his. The House Vallad servant asked them, “What level, Milords?”

  That bit of etiquette annoyed Ari to no end. Anytime there was a Lord and Lady of equal rank; the proper plural was the masculine version of the address. It had never seemed to be anything other than a minor irritation until Siri had pointed out how it reinforced the status quo.

  “One-hundred-ninety-sixth floor,” she bit out irritably.

  They rode the lift together in silence. Ari was at the back wall with her guards, and Quarrel in front of the door with his guards. The tension was palpable. Each of their guards gripped their weapons. The unfortunate lift attendant seemed to try to make herself smaller and less obvious by the wall.

  The lift stopped, and opened into the High Lord's Audience chamber. The chamber itself was over two hundred yards in diameter, and at least thirty yards tall. There were large stained glass windows on the dome above them. The colors lit the white stone of the room beautifully with the morning light.

  There were also two balconies that happened to be occupied by at least two-hundred of the High Lords guards holding loaded crossbows. Another one-hundred were spaced evenly on the walls of the white marble chamber, holding spears.

  High Lady Lucia Vallad occupied the High Lord's throne, and a pair of Master Wizards with robe and staff flanked her. The woman's big black curls dangled springily past her waist. Her staff rested on the arm of the throne, and the runes on her white Master's robe glowed a pale blue. She wore more talismans than Ari and Lord Quarrel combined.

  The High Lady had nearly thirty spirits attached to her by what appeared to be a gossamer web that flowed behind the throne. The other Wizards had ten, and twelve respectively.

  Ari knew that due to her sight age, the nine she possessed were nearly equal to the power of the Councilor's twenty-nine, since her sight age was seven. The High Lady's staff would easily make up the difference between them she knew.

  She would be careful and proper with the High Lady though. Even though she was married into the Vallad bloodline, it was well known to all the Nobility in the Vallad region that she was the true power in this tower.

  Ari stepped forward and knelt properly. “Milady, you have summoned me?”

  Jacon Quarrel followed suit. “Milady, how may I serve you?”

  High Lady Vallad just sat looking at them for a moment. She touched each of them with the truth seer to test their words.

  “It seems the two of you have been playing stones with each other,” she said dryly, looking at them.

  “What evidence is there of this, Milady?” Lord Quarrel asked.

  “You are not as clever as my husband is, Lord Quarrel. I would suggest it is best to be honest,” Lucia Vallad said seriously.

  “Asking for evidence is not dishonest, Milady,” he stated factually.

  “I agree Milady,” Ari said. She never thought she'd have a reason to agree with Jacon Quarrel ever, let alone here and now.

  “Let us just say, there are those who are more loyal to the High Lord than they are to you, Lord Quarrel. If it comes to a case of formal charges, the witnesses will speak,” High Lady Vallad said seriously.

  “As to you, Lady Dothranan, there is no other person living or dead who could have produced a detonation stone of the magnitude that shook this tower. Even though there are several who have gained their staff who cannot safely make one. I believe you have once again exceeded Master Rema's expectations. Congratulations, apprentice,” she said with a cold eye on Ari.

  “Thank you Milady,” Ari said simply.

  “My Lord husband was so incensed by this incident, he asked me to come in his stead. The very glasses were shaken from our table as we tried to enjoy our dinner last night,” High Lady Vallad said with an unpleasant look at Ari.

  “I am very sorry to hear that, Milady,” Ari said politely.

  “He was also very upset that you used the northern lift to enjoy the view, shall we say? At the time of this occurrence,” Lucia said dryly.

  Quarrel shot her a hateful glare.

  Ari almost managed not to smile. “It was an unexpectedly potent display,” she replied, trying futilely to wipe the smirk off of her face.

  “Nearly thirteen thousand of my Holders died! And over one-hundred visitors!” Quarrel screamed at her.

  “You should have protected them better,” Ari said mockingly, turning to him.

  “You had no right to make such an attack!” He yelled at her.

  “You condemned them all to death the day you attacked me. When I am done, I will kill your son in front of you before I take your ugly head off in this very room,” Ari said menacingly.

  “ENOUGH!” High Lady Lucia Vallad bellowed, using Magik to amplify her voice.

  They both quieted quickly; Lord Quarrel stared at Ari in utter disbelief.

  “Your argument does not matter now. What does matter is that critical damage has been done to the supporting structure of this city in your Hold Lord Quarrel. How long will it take you to repair the damage to the supports?” High Lady Vallad queried.

  “Six months minimum Milady, likely longer,” he said tearing his eyes off of Ari.

  “Very well. Lady Dothranan, you will offer one hundred gold crowns to the High Lord as an apology. The High Lord will match this apology and hire engineers as well as skilled laborers to assist in critical structural repair of your hold,” the High Lady decreed.

  “Milady, there is no law about using the cistern in House warfare. Why am I being penalized when I have broken no laws?” Ari asked seriously.

  “Ah, there is a decree from my Lord Husband banning the use of any explosives in the cistern from this day forward. But you are correct. There was no such decree yesterday. If you wish, you could take the matter up with him. I am only here because he felt too angry to judge impartially,” she gave Ari a challenging look.

  “Very well, I see your point, Milady.” Ari grated out.

  “Good. I thought you might,” The High Lady drifted down from the throne and walked within two yards of them, with her staff in hand. The House Vallad Wizards trailed behind her.

  “So, are the two of you going to continue this war? If so, let it be in the open and honest,” Lucia Vallad looked to each of them.

  “I will set my anger aside if Lady Dothranan does the same,” Jacon Quarrel grated out.

  High Lady Vallad looked to Ari questioningly.

  “I will if you surrender to me,” Ari said flatly, looking at Quarrel.

  “WHAT?” Lord Quarrel yelled.

  The High Lady held her hand up to silence Quarrel. “Why should he do this, Lady Dothranan?”

  Ari breathed deeply to calm herself. She did not wish to answer this question in front of Quarrel. But she had no choice now; she could not afford to make another enemy, particularly one with the High Lady's power.

  “I know exactly how much damage I did to his hold, soldiers, and morale. Two-hundred-thousand are preparing to march with siege engines as we speak. They will be at the north gate tomorrow. When the fire attacks begin, due to the damage and water shortages, his holders will begin leaving. I will go to the Wizard's Tower today to contract as many Wizards as are willing to assist in defending my armies. Even those who do not wish to swear to me would be willing to consid
er such an arrangement. I only need to defend against his Wizards and watch the fires spread. Then it is over,” she said with certainty, positively incensed that the High Lady had forced her to detail her plan.

  “I will either have your surrender here and now or I will have it tomorrow, Lord Quarrel, which is it?” Ari asked seriously.

  He started to say something in anger, but the High Ladies hand silenced him. “You are quite right about the likely outcome,” Lucia nodded to Ari seriously.

  “If you will not surrender to her Jacon Quarrel, I will not intervene. But you will make no demands of this surrender, Lady Dothranan. One cannot set terms when the battle has not been joined,” Lucia Vallad stated plainly.

  “Thousands of House Quarrel soldiers sinking into the cistern with their tower collapsing on them should satisfy my holders need for vengeance,” Ari said venomously.

  Jacon Quarrel looked at each of them briefly and weighed his options. “I will have my surrender penned and sent within the hour.”

  “Good. You are dismissed, Lord Quarrel.” Lucia Vallad said magnanimously.

  “Thank you, Milady. Lady,” he bowed properly to the High Lady and left quickly.

  Lucia Vallad looked at Ari thoughtfully. “You are almost too impressive, young Lady Dothranan. Impressive enough that I think my husband would do well to find a reason to kill you. Dismissed,” She said coldly.

  “Thank you Milady,” was all Ari could think to say before she left, quickly.

  * * *

  Thorel had only seen Ari in passing briefly since the morning. He was curious about what happened today. But one look at her told him it was best not to bother her now. She looked to be in a foul mood.

  His new schedule didn't share any classes with Nigel or Eliel, unfortunately. But he did see them at lunchtime. He told them about the house that the Mistress had provided and invited them to come see it with him after class.

  They met behind the Headmaster's office when classes were done. Thorel was a little late since he stopped at the dorms to pack his belongings.

  They walked past the Apprentices Tower and found the house by itself near a corner of the walls. There was a one-yard tall spiked iron fence around it, and two House Dothranan Guards patrolling. An older man wearing a Dothranan slave collar was trimming the hedge quietly.