Warded Mage (Reawakening Saga)

by Jackson, D. W.

  “That is a noble idea but if you chain yourself to a government you know your students will one day be used for war. That is the way of the world; people in power use everything available to them in attempts to grab more power. It might not be even while you’re alive, but someday, those mages will become the tools of men greedy for power. Then there is the Brotherhood, do you think they will allow you to set up a school that goes against their very nature? They will seek to destroy you and everyone who has ever heard of you.” Sae-Thae said as if it was a simple fact.

  “I know you speak the truth friend, but I will not allow the Brotherhood to stop me. It is past time that mages sttod firm instead of hiding and cowering from the likes of the Brotherhood. In the past the brotherhood had a whole empire at their call, now they work in the shadows, and if they do bring an army to my doorstep I will not shy away, I will bring everything I have down upon them.” Thad said vehemently.

  Sae-Thae smiled as he often did whenever Thad showed any desire to fight. “I swear you should have been born my brother. If a time comes when you have this school of yours I will find a way to get the books to you. I shall also petition the priestess to talk to our god and see if we cannot pledge warriors to your cause. There is no Vathari alive who does not wish to see the Brotherhood wiped from the face of all lands. They are a blight, one that needs to end before the word crumbles around our feet.”

  “If a time comes when I need the finest warriors I will call on you brother.” Thad said smiling at Sae-Thae.

  “We have found the books that will be the most use to you, and I have taught you all that can really be taught. I fear the time for our parting is soon at hand brother. Today we can escape this dust cell of a library and enjoy the town. The people of Xi’han had heard of your arrival but most are starting to disbelieve the rumors as you have not stepped foot outside since you have arrived. Tomorrow I will arrange for you to undergo the rite of blessing. Within a fortnight you shall be back on your way to play with the overly serious dwarves.” Sae-Thae said as he thumped Thad hard on the back.

  His friend was right he had spent too much of his time cooped up simply reading. What was the point of adventuring if one didn’t take the time to explore what was around him? You could learn a lot from a book, but some things had to be found out on your own.

  Sae-Thae took Thad first to the Warrior’s Hall a large set of barracks surrounding a large open area where warriors fought and trained for coming battles. Thad and Sae-Thae sat and enjoyed a few matches before a large and brutish looking Vathari warrior called out to him. “Little human, have you come to just watch, or would you like to try that little blade out against a real warrior?”

  Sae-Thae nudged him with his elbow. “You should take him up on his offer. We have excellent healers so in the off chance he wins they will take good care of you.”

  Thad knew by the way his friend was talking he didn’t mean the healers would simple take care of his wounds. If nothing else he had learned the Vathari were very open about their women and the pleasure they could bring. Shrugging his shoulders Thad stood from his seat and made the slow walk to the area below to the cheers of the many spectators.

  Thad circled around his opponent his sword drawn and at the ready. The Vathari warrior was about his size but his bulging muscles made Thad look like a child in comparison. It wasn’t the warrior’s size that bothered him, It was the tattoo on the brute’s right hand. He had seen some like it before and cursed himself for not asking Sae-Thae about their significance before. Thad allowed the warrior to make the first move as he kept a close eye on every move the Vathari made. Though large, the warrior was impossibly fast and was in front of Thad attacking with a vicious overhand chop almost before he knew what was happening. Thad got his sword up in time but the jarring strength from the attack sent shivers down his arm that reverberated inside him as if he were standing at the center of a bell as it was being rung.

  Thad moved quickly backward and reset his footing and continued watching. The Vathari was too strong to fight toe to toe with, in no time Thad would have been left on the ground waiting for the final sword stroke, no he had to watch and wait for an opening. There was always the option to use his magic but in a sparring match that seemed too much like cheating. He wanted to win, felt the burning desire for it, but he wanted to do so on his own terms. Thad wasn’t sure how the warrior had moved so fast, so Thad watched his feet for any sign of movement.

  Thad saw it, though it was only the briefest of hints and the Vathari leaned back putting his weight on his dominant foot. Anticipating what was coming Thad dove to the side and struck with his sword at what appeared to only be empty space but the second before his sword passed through the warrior’s body seemed to suddenly appear. Thad’s blade caught the brute full in the chest as a twinge of energy shot down the blade lighting it up like a lightning bolt, sending the Vathari flying backward as blood flowed freely from the deep wound Thad’s sword had made.

  Thad looked down at the still glowing blade as tendrils of energy flowed around it. “Wonderful, I knew the blade had a hint of magic about it but never would I have expected the dwarves to give you such a prize.” Thad heard Sae-Thae say from behind him, though through his pounding heartbeat it sounded as if he was worlds away.

  “It’s not of dwarven make….I made it.” Thad said his voice mired in disbelief at what his own eyes witnessed.

  “Truly, I have never head of a mage mastering the art dwarven blacksmithing, though it would have to be possible especially considering your birthright. I should have expected something was amiss when the blade used energy as its medium instead of earth. Only a dwarf with the blood of Moriudonius could make such a thing.” Sae-Thae said as he lightly pulled the sword from Thad’s hand and began to inspect it. “Did you choose energy on purpose, it is very effective I must say.”

  Thad sat down heavily on the ground as the world seemed to spin out of control around him. How had he made such a thing? He had heard of all kinds of mythical weapons, but never one that struck with the power of lightning. “I…..Don’t know….Crusher said to simply let my magic flow into the weapon with every stroke of the hammer……I worked on it……for a whole season…… this is the first time I have used it.” Thad said haltingly as each word rang in his own mind like an accusation of the Vathari he had just killed.

  “What is wrong with you brother. You seem to be out of sorts. You have won and in grand style. You have beat one of the dark gliders in fair combat, a great feat indeed, especially since you didn’t use your magic…well except for the sword, even without its power it was clear to everyone you had won.”

  “It was a simple sparring match yet I killed my opponent. I cannot be happy with such an outcome.” Thad said dismally.

  “Ah! I forgot you are the honorable sort. You should not worry, he shall live, the priestess’s are already fast to work on his wounds. Give him a few days and he will be roaring for you to fight him again. The dark gliders hate losing especially to one unmarked by the gods.”

  “Dark glider?” Thad asked as the churning in his stomach settled. The warrior would live, he had not killed needlessly.

  “Ah yes, we have been so busy I have not mentioned much about the blessings of the gods. As a mage, I went through the rite, I was only given a blessing that increased my ability to wield the dark element.” Sae-Thae said lifting up the sleeve of his shirt to expose a strange rune that dimly glittered on the mage’s skin. Our god gives one of four blessings. One like I have, or the mark of the priest like your fair Bahia has. There are also two marks for the warrior. The one you fought today, called the dark gliders, it allows the user to hide things he doesn’t want his enemy to see. It works much the same as an illusion. The warrior was not moving fast he simply made you think he was standing still while he was moving closer to you. I don’t know how you figured it out on your own, marvelous indeed, some instinct you have brother. The other is much more sinister in nature, the dark assassins. It allows
the user to blend into the shadows and merge with them using any darkness as a portal to move around. They can kill you before you even know they popped out of your own shadow.”

  As Sae-Thae spoke he remembered the two warriors he and Crusher had fought when he had been horribly injured. They had to have been dark assassins. Sae-Thae was right they were sinister and deadly beyond compare of a normal warrior.

  The two watched a few more bouts in the Warrior’s Hall before Sae-Thae took Thad to the Hall of the Gods where the priest and priestess lived, and where his own rite of blessing would take place in the morning of the following day. It was dark though still kept bright enough to see by low burning black flames. In the center of the room stood a statue of what Thad was sure was a human. Thad studied the statue trying to figure out why it would earn such a place of honor in a temple of the Vathari.

  “That is Mantara, our god and lord of the darkness.” Sae-Thae said as he bowed toward the statue.

  Thad followed Sae-Thae’s lead and bowed low before the statue of the god. “He looks human?” Thad asked slightly puzzled.

  “Laughing lightly Sae-Thae looked at Thad as if he were daft. “Remember what I told you brother. All of the gods were born of human that is why I said that in a way humans are the father of all the other races.”

  Sae-Thae was right he had told him the story but part of him didn’t truly believe it. Throughout history many different people claimed to have gods. Today still people in foreign kingdoms claimed that they followed the will of the gods, but Thad, as well as most people from Farlan, believed that the gods were simple platitudes made up by people looking for something to believe in that was bigger than themselves. Thad had never truly believed that gods of any kind ever existed. “Does he truly exist?”

  Sae-Thae shook his head sadly. “You will find that out tomorrow.” He simply replied though his voice showed that he pitied Thad for his lack of belief.

  “Have you come to warm my bedchamber tonight?” A seductive voice said from behind him.

  Turning around, Thad found Bahia standing as if she had just won a battle. “I am simply showing my good friend around. Also we need to make arrangements for his rite of blessing to be tomorrow. His time with us grows short, as he has other places to visit on his long pilgrimage.” Sae-Thae said bluntly to the priestess who looked more than slightly aggravated.

  “I will make sure that the high priestess is made aware of this. As you well know master mage this is no place for simple visitors. We are preparing for our evening prayers so I must ask that you and your friend depart.” Bahia said politely, though anyone could see the hate looming in her eyes as she stared at the Vathari mage.

  As they walked out of the large hall Thad took a peek over his shoulder at Bahia. “She didn’t seem too pleased with you my friend.”

  “She is just mad that she has not got with child yet. From what I have heard, she tried very hard on the journey and has agreed to visit you a few times since you have arrived at the city. As I told you it is seen as a great honor to have the babe of a child of Moriudonius. While most priestess view serving Mantara enough of an honor, my sources have told me your friend back there is eager to earn more. I wouldn’t be surprised if she makes a few more trips to your bedchambers in the next few days.” Sae-Thae said smiling. “Be wary my friend she might just entrap your soul so you are forced to stay until she can conceive.”

  The last leg of their trip took them to the market. Thad had seen bits of the market when he had first arrived but had not taken the time to explore it in any great detail. The shops sold many of the wares you would find in any town; clothes, tools, food, but many of the items were unique to the Underearth. One in particular caught his eye, it looked like a simple cloak but whatever material it had been made from was so dark it seemed to chase the very light that shone upon it away.

  “I see you have an eye for quality, as well as women my friend. That is a Sha cloak. The Sha are very rare creatures that live in the deepest parts of our world. They are small little creatures but fierce. Like many of the unnatural creatures, they were created many years ago by wild magic. As you can tell no light can touch the cloak even on the surface at high noon the cloak would make the wearer seem as if he were walking in complete darkness.”

  “Seems like it would be the perfect tool of an assassin, not something I would get much use of.” Thad said giving the cloak a final look. “You said they were created by wild magic, what do you mean?”

  “You see when the twin god and goddess disappeared into the abyss their job of regulating the flow of magic went to the goddess’ children. The first few centuries were hard on them so they created their own creatures to share in their burden, but still it wasn’t enough. In truth the gods are only a pale comparison of their mother, but as the children of Moriudonius spread, the burden was made much easier. During the Fae war it was thrown in turmoil again, not only as vast amounts of the human mages were killed but also the rest of the god’schildren were slain in great numbers. The world is still recovering and as long as the children of Moriudonius are hunted then the magic will grow increasingly unstable. I do not know what the future holds, only the gods know that and they have not seen fit to let me in on the secret.”

  As they made their way back to the mage’s tower, Thad contemplated everything he had learned that day. Nothing was as he had thought it was when he had been in Farlan. Gods might actually exist, that alone was hard for Thad to believe. Then there was the fact magic was growing increasingly more out of control. Shaking his head, Thad let all thoughts of such problems fade away. There was only so much he could do and the job of the gods was far outside his realm of possibilities.

  That night Sae-Thae’s premonition came true as he found Bahia had found her way to his chamber. He tried to talk to her but she remained quiet. There was only one thing she wanted and it didn’t involve an idle chat.

  CHAPTER VII

  The next morning when Thad awoke, he was amazed to find that Bahia still occupied his bed. Most of the time whoever had shared his chambers were well gone before he chose to rise. “I see you finally decided to open your eyes, I thought you might sleep past your rite.” Bahia said with a slightly devious face.

  “It is just so hard to make myself wake up when the first face I have to see in the morning is yours,” Thad replied quickly as he swung out of bed.

  “Quite the impertinent one this morning, makes me want to drag you back under the covers.” Bahia said in a near growl. “Sadly we need to get the Hall otherwise you might just miss your ceremony.”

  Bahia insisted on escorting Thad all the way. It felt odd having Bahia on one side and Sae-Thae on the other. It was almost like a funeral march for a condemned prisoner. Unlike the day before the hall was bustling with priests and priestess all wearing their finest garments. Thad was led to a large stone door that had archaic looking inscription covering it. “This is as far as we can accompany you brother, the rest you must do on your own.” Sae-Thae said giving Thad a slightly concerned look. As the stone door opened, all Thad could see beyond was complete darkness. Slowly he put one foot in front of the other until he was surrounded in darkness so thick he couldn’t see his hand if he touched his nose. His heard as the stone door closed behind him, locking him in and taking away his only means of escape.

  With nothing else to do Thad sat down on the cold stone and waited unsure what he was supposed to do or what was going to happen. “What is the dark?” a detached voice echoed through the darkness.

  “I don’t know.” Thad answered honestly.

  “The dark is absence. All who seek the dark are missing something. What is the power of the dark?”

  “Thad thought hard on the question remaining silent for a good time. “It can conceal the presence of things.” Thad said unsure of himself.

  “Correct, the darkness hides what we wish to keep away from the world. Do you know what is hidden in the dark? Can you see what others wish to keep others from seeing?
Can you see what others hide from their own hearts?”

  Images started flashing through Thad’s mind. He could see himself as he had been that morning when he woke beside Bahia. The look on her face was serene. “I was hoping you would never wake, I do so enjoy watching your sleeping face, love.” Bahia said as she wrapped her arms around him. Then the vision changed to Sae-Thae’s study where Thad lay motionless on the floor. Sae-Thae held his staff in one hand and his sword in the other. “Why won’t you work for me? Am I not the better mage? I have worked tirelessly to get to my position and hone my skills and this young pup thinks he can outdistance me without even proper training?”

  “These are what those around you keep hidden away. The desires and truths of their heart, they fight against what calls to them, love, hate, and resentment. Both have received my blessing and both had to face what they keep hidden away. Now it is your turn. What do you hide from yourself? What do you shroud in the darkness?”

  Thad looked deep within himself and tried to picture what he might have kept from himself but nothing came to mind. Concentrating harder Thad found himself as a young child, his mother standing over him. “You shall train to be a good slave won’t you?” Thad’s child self simply nodded his head. Then he was in the academy each vision was of one of the mothers asking him to do something and each time he obliged without question. Finally he found himself in front of the Farlan queen beaten and near death from the treatment she had caused him and once again he is asked to set aside reason and he simply agrees.”

  Thad remembered each moment and at the time it had seemed like the right thing to do but now looking at them all at once he noticed something, he had never turned down a request from a female. He had never simply said no. “That is right Thad. You have been trained well by the mothers of the academy, so well you don’t even know that you are the perfect slave. They don’t need chains or whips to force you to work, they need but ask and you will bend your entire being to the task without consideration of what you truly want.”