Spirit of Magik (The Dothranan Chronicles Book 1)

by Richard Cluff

  Never again. He thought.

  He went to the weapons rack and grabbed the long spear with the thick shaft. Then he grabbed one of the Axes.

  High Lady Vallad walked to him and asked, “Mr. Tangarth, may I see your wounds?” Her voice was quiet, and she looked at him as if he was the most dangerous thing she had ever seen. He could smell her fear.

  That was something new to him. He had never smelled fear before. Just felt it. This was different. It was as if everything were more vivid. He could hear the whispered conversations as if they were speaking to him. The colors and patterns popped in his vision, he could even see the minute cracks in the marble of the floor that he hadn't been able to perceive before.

  Thorel turned and looked her in the eye with a calm sense of purpose he had never felt in his life. He said, “Of course, Milady.”

  She opened his shirt where Ricard had stabbed him. She probed him with Magik drawn from her staff. He knew what she saw.

  Nothing, but bare, unbroken skin.

  “Are you done, Milady?” He asked, looking her in the eye intently.

  “Yes,” she nodded to him with wonder in her eyes.

  He turned away from her and knelt to the ground. His hand marked the right height on the spears shaft. He brought the ax down on it as hard as he could.

  The floor quivered with the vibration. Gasps erupted from people in the room. He left the rest of the spear there on the ground, beside the ax that was sunk three inches into the marble floor.

  Thorel pushed himself up with his staff.

  “What do you intend, Mr. Tangarth?” The High Lady asked questioningly.

  “I intend to finish this duel,” he said with determination.

  “But you lost! He lost, we all saw it!” Jacon Quarrel yelled.

  “But he isn't dead, Milord,” Lord Guithenus said with a broad smile.

  “No, he isn't,” Lord Niral said in wonder.

  Thorel rested his staff on the rack and ripped the bloody rags of his shirt off of him. “Are you afraid to come finish this?”

  A servant brought the High Lord a new glass of wine since he had dropped the one he had been drinking. “How should we proceed?” He asked his wife.

  Thorel enjoyed the fact that he saw this man's mouth open now. It made him feel a lot better about when he'd arrived.

  “There is no victor until one is dead or concedes. The victor does not have to accept his opponent’s concession though,” she said, with her wary eyes on him.

  Jacon Quarrel pushed his son forward. Ricard nearly stumbled. “Finish it. And take his head this time, son,” he said, trying to conceal his astonishment.

  Ari walked weakly towards him, giggling strangely. Siri held her arm and guided her. Thorel walked to her and took her into his arms.

  “I was sure you were dead,” she wept on him.

  “I think I was. But I feel better now,” he kissed her forehead.

  She made a sound that was a combination of a choking sob and a laugh.

  “Come Mistress, let us get you some wine,” Siri said quietly.

  Thorel saw the House Dothranan guards were being held at blades point by Vallad guards.

  “Milady, why are our guards being held?” He asked Lucia Vallad

  She looked at them and replied; “There was an incident during your nap. But things seem to have calmed down,” she nodded to her guards, and they were released.

  “Thank you Milady,” he said.

  She nodded to him. Her look was as intense as death itself. Thorel knew what that looked like now, he had seen it.

  Ricard Quarrel took a sword nervously from the other weapons rack across from him. Thorel picked up his staff and walked into the circle.

  Ari came to the side of the circle, with Siri on her arm. She helped hold the glass of wine she held steady so she could drink it. The eight Dothranan guards were formed up around them in a semicircle, half of them watching behind them. All of them had their hands on their blades.

  Lucia Vallad spoke. “Bow to the High Lord.”

  Thorel waited for Ricard to turn, and turned with him. They both bowed.

  “Just get on with it, men!” Erlac Vallad yelled.

  Thorel turned and spun the staff around him. He held it with one hand, ready. The bulk of it was at his back, he held his free hand in front of him.

  Ricard channeled his Magik; he had seen this just before he died. Thorel activated the eagle ring on his left hand.

  He met Ricard's fast and furious assault dead on; with the ring of speed activated, his perception also improved so he could use the speed he now had. He knocked the blade out of its deadly arcs several times, faster than the audience could see.

  He dodged Ricard's next swing and took his feet out from under him with a backswing of his staff.

  Ricard hit the marble hard and lost his blade. Thorel saw the Raccoon spirit pick it up in his mouth and run off with it. It looked strange to see it run off with something that big, but the spirit didn't seem concerned with size the way flesh and blood was.

  Ricard sprang up quickly, and in a frenzy, began launching fireballs at him. There was no channeling, it was from a talisman he couldn't see for some reason. But Korin's three hunting hounds leaped up and snapped them out of the air like they were chasing butterflies.

  Ari started laughing again, but it was more balanced than before. Good. He thought.

  Thorel attacked, with the speed of the eagle ring. Ricard brought up the same shield Thorel had learned. As his staff struck it, the spirit of Korin's horse Betsy, the first one he'd ever ridden reared up and brought her ethereal hooves down on it, shattering it.

  His staff struck Ricard's arm in the bicep. He heard the sickening sound of breaking bone. Ricard screamed. He swung the staff around and struck again, breaking the other arm. He had never hit anyone as hard as he could until now.

  He pushed him on his back with the head of his staff. Ricard screamed when his broken arms hit the ground.

  “Milady, this is madness!” Jacon Quarrel said to Lucia Vallad. “Put a stop to this!”

  She turned to him coldly, her mass of dark curls bouncing as she did. “No, Lord Quarrel. You and your son started this. I will not intervene. If you try to interfere, I think you may wish to remember what happened when Lady Dothranan tried to do the same.”

  Quarrel paled and said; “You are right, of course Milady. Forgive me.”

  Thorel held the staff in front of Ricard's face, and said; “Apologize, and denounce any interest in my Mistress, or I will kill you right now.”

  He could see Ricard using his Magik. Thorel guessed it was to heal himself, by the look of it.

  “Kill him!” He heard Ari shout excitedly.

  He touched her mind; “He is a coward that isn't worth staining myself with the blood of. I want him to concede. That will be worse because he will have to live with his shame, forever.”

  “I love you Thorel,” she thought to him, he could feel the truth of it.

  “I love you Ari,” he replied.

  “Hmmph. Never mind,” Ari said loudly. She took a moment to wipe some of her previous tears away. “He's Quarrel scum. Better not to stain your boots with that filth, it isn't as clean as my stables.”

  Thorel smiled broadly before he looked at this man on the floor. Thorel saw his now healed right arm reach for the dagger on his belt. Thorel's foot stomped on his hand, crushing bones for certain. Ricard screamed in agony.

  Thorel grew impatient. He took all of his anger for everything that had happened tonight and focused it into his shout: “APOLOGIZE, SCUM!”

  The force of his shout pushed all the nearby objects away and forced several of the nearby observers off-balance. Two of the large windows nearby cracked from bottom to top.

  Ricard screamed with tears in his eyes, “I'm sorry sir, I won't ever bother your Mistress again. Please spare me!”

  “Done,” Thorel said. He pulled Ricard's dagger out of his sheath, put his boot on the blade and broke
it. “I'm not going to leave you something to stab me with when I walk away though.”

  He walked away from him, directly to Ari. He saw her hand was steady with her wine now. She still looked like hell though.

  Siri nodded to him, with a look of true respect in her eyes. It was the first time he had ever seen that from her. He put his arms around Ari and held her tight. He felt a hand on his staff and heard Siri say; “I can take that if you like, Mr. Tangarth.”

  “Thank you Siri,” this was the first time he had felt worthy to call her by name, instead of ma'am.

  “Milord, if you will excuse us, I would like to take my son home and see to his healing,” Jacon Quarrel asked politely.

  “Granted,” Erlac Vallad said, still stunned.

  Lord Quarrel and his party walked to the lifts. Thorel saw the elder Quarrel slap his son on the back of the head as they entered. Thorel couldn't help but chuckle.

  They drew back from their embrace and kissed deeply. It seemed to last forever. But as always, when it ended it was too short.

  “I will not grant you leave to marry this commoner and keep your Nobility,” High Lord Vallad said, with a look of petty triumph in his eyes.

  “I don't care. I'll marry him anyway,” Ari said, looking into Thorel's eyes.

  “That will not be necessary,” Siri said, stepping forward. “Milord, you may wish to examine these documents. They are copies I had made by the steward in our carriage. I had the messenger take the originals back to the Manor.”

  Lucia Vallad walked up beside him to examine the documents as well.

  “Who is this Lord Quedesham? I have never heard of such a Lord. This document from the Crown is obviously a forgery!” The High Lord exclaimed.

  Lord Quedesham? Thorel mouthed in disbelief.

  Ari looked into his eyes and smiled broadly.

  “I know him Milord,” Lord Handal spoke. “He was granted Lordship twelve years ago, for his deeds at the Battle of Vox. He had spoken to me of it before he claimed his land in my territory. I confirmed it with the Crown myself. He told me he did not wish to exert his authority over anyone and wished to live quietly. He asked that I not speak of his presence. Since he has held true to his word, I have as well,” the older man inclined his head with respect.

  Lucia Vallad spoke; “I was there, I recall it. I seem to recall your presence as well, Miss Fenel,” her eyes narrowed when she looked at Siri.

  “Where?” Erlac Vallad asked.

  “In the throne room of our King, Milord. I witnessed the King grant him his Lordship,” Siri said seriously.

  “Korin is a Lord?” Thorel asked, not able to wrap his mind around it. That's impossible! He thought.

  “Yes he is, Mr. Tangarth. And the document..,” Siri started.

  She was cut off by High Lady Vallad; “This document says he claims you as his own son since your father has passed. It has a signature, which will need to be verified. But this would make your marriage perfectly legitimate,” she said with an odd look on her face. It was as if the High Lady could not decide how she felt about this turn of events.

  Erlac Vallad screamed, red-faced in hysterical anger; “I will not allow it! This is rubbish! He is a commoner!”

  Thorel saw the High Lady channel some Magik; “You look very tired, dear. Rest. We will discuss it tomorrow.”

  His tirade was interrupted as a huge yawn cracked his jaws, “Yes, I am very tired..,” he took a step and nearly stumbled. Lucia nodded to his guards, who assisted the High Lord to the lift.

  “That was a neat trick. How do you do that, Ari?” Thorel thought to her.

  “It looked simple, I'll see if I can figure it out,” she replied, seeming impressed.

  He kissed Ari again. Now I know why Siri wanted to know where I grew up. She didn't have to be so sneaky about it. He thought. But after everything that had happened tonight, he could be wrong about how much caution was needed.

  “I will congratulate the two of you when you have taken your vows,” the High Lady nodded to them. “But first, I wish to know how did you come back to life? How did you channel Magik without me being able to see it?” She asked, her face wearing a very serious look.

  “I'm not really sure how to answer that, Milady..,” Thorel said.

  “Directly, would be my preference,” the High Lady replied with a hint of impatience.

  “These things are all related to new techniques he has discovered, Milady. I am encouraging him to make them the subject of his Master's thesis,” Ari said seriously.

  She looked at them both, and then used the truth seer on them.

  “Is this true, Mr. Tangarth?” Vallad asked.

  “I would say stumbled across more than discovered, Milady. I hadn't even considered a thesis until my Mistress suggested it,” he answered.

  “Saying something specific and useful would be far more productive,” Lucia replied irritably.

  “Milady, with respect, he cannot discuss it if he is going to make these techniques the subject of his thesis. As a Master of the Council, you should be able to appreciate this more than most. These techniques are revolutionary!” Ari said with conviction.

  “Yes, they certainly are. I will respect your silence on this, for now. But I will be discussing this matter with the Council, and I cannot guarantee that they will see it your way,” she said, looking at Thorel intently.

  He no longer smelled the fear from her; it had changed to something more akin to caution and suspicion. But even that was fading; as his heart calmed the room seemed to dull a bit. As if the color, smell, sounds and feeling of it were less than they were. It was frightening; it reminded him of when Ricard had stabbed him; the way his senses had suddenly begun leaving him.

  He felt dizzy for a moment and saw Ari activate a talisman. She grabbed him with enhanced strength when he began to fall forward.

  “Thorel?!?” She said in alarm. “Are you alright?”

  “I'm so tired, I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open,” he said with a yawn.

  “Milady Vallad, would you please excuse us? My betrothed has never had cause to use so much Magik. He needs rest,” Ari said, helping him stand.

  She nodded. “Of course. I think any man who has died once in a day deserves his rest. It was a true pleasure to have your party here tonight, Lady Dothranan. I do hope you will not take my actions personally; I assure you I would have done exactly the same to Quarrel had he attempted to interfere with the duel.”

  “Of course Milady,” Ari said. “I would like to apologize to you for losing my composure. This I think, aside from a brief moment, has been the best Groundbreaking party I have ever attended.”

  Lucia Vallad smiled without mirth. “I accept your apology, Lady Dothranan. And I will tell my husband you said so. I'm certain he will be quite pleased.”

  “Thank you for your hospitality, Milady,” Thorel yawned.

  “You're welcome, Mr. Tangarth. Perhaps the three of us can share some time in a less formal setting in the future,” she said with a nod to them.

  “It would be an honor Milady,” Ari said and began walking him to the lifts.

  * * *

  Lucia Vallad lay naked on the comfortable massage table, it was near the twenty-fourth hour. Four of her favorite slaves massaged her body thoroughly with scented medicinal oils to keep her skin young and soft. Her hair was done in a tall pile of curls on top of her head, and she had the expensive salve she used to help keep her skin young spread across her face.

  She looked out her favorite window. The not so small fortune in talismans she wore were on a tray in front of her where she could keep an eye on them, and they could soak up the nearly full moon's restorative light. She could see the moon's reflection off of the waters of the Azure Ocean to the south. But when she lowered her eyes she could see Dothranan Hold. That was much closer to her thoughts than anything else right now.

  Her discussion with the Council did not go as she had expected. They were astonished and did not believe
what she had told them at first. That was why she had taken Crown Lord Kendal with her, so that he could confirm it.

  She had put forth the motion that Thorel Tangarth must be taken for study and interrogation to secure this knowledge. At first, there had been a five to three majority in favor of the motion, until Council Master Osium spoke.

  “To start taking brilliant apprentice's work from them just to satisfy our own lust for knowledge would completely destroy the trust and goodwill of the Council. Wizards would begin training in secret, and not reveal themselves. As was the case with the Cabal uncovered by Councilor Zaichu earlier this year. It could give rise to a dangerous rogue order that in time could rival our own. Without the Council being able to watch over them, it could lead to another purge similar to the slaughter that occurred before this Council was formed. Or worse yet, a war between two polarized factions of Wizards. Either one would be disastrous. We must respect an apprentices discoveries as we respect each other’s; or there will be no more apprentices for us. We must maintain unity, and control. The sightless outnumber our kind ten-thousand to one,” Master Osium said with conviction.

  She had to admit to herself that he was right, but she had argued creative ways to keep their actions secret anyway. The motion was defeated, six to two.

  Council Master Osium did order her to keep a close eye on this apprentice though; and to inform the Council immediately if anything occurred that may affect their previous judgment.

  A close eye. She thought with irritation. She would love to keep a very close eye on this one. She would like to know if he was as well endowed as he appeared, or if he had stuffed his trousers.

  She hadn't realized when she had approached him how dangerous he really was. With his undetectable techniques, he could kill her before she even knew he'd planned to. She realized now how a sightless commoner must feel when confronted with a Wizard. It was terrifying to consider someone had a power she could do nothing to stop.

  It sent a shiver of odd excitement through her though. It was like when she was about to drop a political axe through an unsuspecting opponents position, she always feared they may have something hidden that she hadn't accounted for. It stirred her blood more than her sex life had for the past decade.