In the mirror, a new man had joined the captain by the magical device. He was dressed in a simple, hooded robe of brown homespun cloth. A yellow strip of cloth cinched it closed about the man’s waist. The hood was thrown back and a thin tonsure donned the man’s scalp. On the left breast of the man’s robe, lay a circle of white within which had been embroidered a miniature to the starburst engraved upon the magical artifact and a match to the one on the captain’s uniform.
“That is a priest,” Miko announced.
James nodded. “So, not a mage but a priest.”
“Does this change anything?”
Glancing to Jiron, James shook his head. “I don’t think so. They still mean to catch us for reasons unknown. That, and the fact that their ship is overflowing with soldiers does not bode well for a simple request to join them for tea.”
His gaze roved from one to the next of those gathered around him as he asked, “Does anyone recognize that starburst symbol?” In answer he received several shakes of heads and a couple “no’s.”
“I would think it holds great importance to them,” Miko said.
James returned his attention to the mirror. “So do I.”
The robed man absentmindedly scratched his tonsure as he gazed at an object resting upon the palm of his hand. It was crystal in nature, cut into the form of a miniature dove. James increased the magnification until the dove filled the mirror.
Running through the center of the dove glowed a ribbon of yellowish light. The man’s fingers turned the dove sculpture ninety degrees to the right and then let go. Slowly, it rotated until the dove’s head returned to its former position.
Zooming out, James realized the dove faced their ship. He glanced to Miko. “We’re being tracked.”
Scar laughed. “I don’t think they will be happy should they catch us.”
“If their intention is less than friendly,” James replied, “no, they won’t.”
“We have to assume that is the case,” Jiron stated.
“I’ve already come to that assumption.” Standing, James let go the magic and slipped his mirror back into his pack. He turned to his apprentices.
“You boys ready?”
Eager to show their worth, Azhan and Hikai nodded vigorously.
“Azhan,” he said then pointed up to the rigging. “Steal the wind from the sails.”
“Hikai.”
“Yes, Master?”
“Gather clouds to us. Prepare to rain lightning down upon them.”
The young mage grinned and nodded.
“Are you proficient at having the lightning strike where you wish?”
“More often than not,” Hikai replied with pride.
“Then target their magical device and the area surrounding it.”
“Yes, Master.”
“But,” he said with great emphasis, “do nothing until I give the command.”
He bobbed his head. “Yes, Master.”
Above, the sails grew slack as Azhan stole their wind.
Sailors cursed, Captain Anyn spat vitriol at the gods for their ill fortune as the ship came to a halt. Men came down from the rigging and took arms. Every man watched the oncoming ship.
A clap of thunder drew their attention to the north where a bank of dark clouds rolled in toward them. Sailors grew fretful and more than one offered prayers against the unnaturalness of such a quickly moving storm front.
“I do not think our efforts will go unnoticed by those approaching,” Miko observed.
“Can’t be helped.”
Captain Anyn eyed them from where he stood back by the helmsman.
James met and held his gaze until the captain turned away.
By this time the other ship had grown close enough to see those on board. The captain stood at the rail to the right of the magical contraption while the robed man stood directly behind it.
“Are they going to plunder us?” Kip asked.
James didn’t answer; the vision of the derelict ship and her dead kept replaying through his mind.
“We’ll know soon enough,” Father Vickor replied.
As the ship came abreast, the robed man swiveled the magical contraption so its large end continued pointing toward their ship. Then the ship drifted to a halt.
“Good day,” Captain Anyn hollered across to them.
“And a good day to you, Captain,” the other captain replied. His accent was heavy and unfamiliar.
“Something we can help you with?”
“We seek the minions of the Unclean One,” the captain replied.
“Unclean One?”
“He who would bring ruination upon this world.”
“We are but peaceful merchants,” Captain Anyn said. “We seek no one’s ruination.”
“Alas, his guile is without peer. They are among you. Hand them over and you shall be spared. Fail to do so and…”
The tonsured man laid both hands alongside the magical device; his lips moved silently. A yellow glow sprang to life and surrounded the man.
“Priest,” Miko said just as the crystals on the device flared and a golden beam shot forward.
Men dove out of the way but it was over before they even began. Smoke rose from a section of wall on the raised area at the stern where the beam struck. It was an exact match of the area discovered on the derelict.
“I think we now know…,” began Jiron but stopped upon seeing a look most unfamiliar in his friend’s eye. On many others he had seen that look, but for James to exhibit it proved somewhat unsettling.
Rage consumed him.
Smoke rose to the sky. Fires burned everywhere. The clearing that housed his workshop was littered with burning debris, branches, bushes, even whole trunks that still smoldered. He turned his gaze toward where the path emerged from the forest. There he saw a yellow glow, similar in aspect to the protective shield he had utilized on more than one occasion. Within the glow walked a man.
“James? Jiron asked.
The mage stopped ten yards from the trees and stood waiting for him. The yellow protective shield had been deactivated. Now, only a yellow glow emanated from the mage’s left hand. Something clutched therein inexplicably drew James’ gaze.
Understanding came. Not a mage…a priest!
“James,” Miko said as he laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “What is it?”
“He..,.” James began but the rage threatening to consume him made it difficult to speak. All he wanted was to destroy that priest and vent his pent-up frustration and fear for his family.
The tonsured one’s gaze moved from Captain Anyn to him.
“The priest’s glow is the same as the one who attacked my island.”
Every eye turned to the priest.
“He the same one that led the attack?” Jiron asked.
The face of the man that invaded his island was indelibly etched into his memory. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “It was an older man.”
Scar spat. “But this one should know who it was.”
“We need to take him alive,” Jiron said.
Pragmatism won out over vengeance
The priest laid hands on the magical device and swiveled it on its base so it aimed toward James. A second later, the crystals upon the device flared and James reacted instinctively. A barrier sprang to life between them and deflected the beam.
“Hikai,” James said.
“Yes, Master.”
“Change of plans. Target the masts.”
“As you wish, Master.”
The first strike slammed into the main mast. Timber blasted apart and rigging burst into flame. Those standing nearest the base were thrown back. Over a dozen didn’t move again.
A second beam shot for him and James easily deflected it. About to attack in return, he saw a flight of arrows launched into the air.
“Azhan!” he yelled then deflected yet another blast from the magical device.
“On it, Master.”
At the apex of their arc, a gus
t of wind knocked them off course to strike harmlessly into the water.
“Next time,” Scar said to the young mage, “send them back to their owners.”
Captain Anyn raced toward them with several sailors in tow. “What are you doing?”
Jiron, Scar and the other pit fighters drew their weapons and created a barrier between the sailors and James.
“Protecting your ship, Captain,” Jiron said.
“I demand you stop this immediately!”
Scar laughed. “I don’t think so.” Then he sobered as he raised his sword. “Stay back, or die.”
One sailor armed with a short sword rushed forward. A single pass of arms left him falling to the deck, blood gushing from a gaping wound where Tinok’s knife had been but a moment before.
White light sprang to life as Father Vickor leapt forward and caught the sailor before he could hit the deck. Morcyth’s glow flowed from Father Vickor to the injured man.
Several of the sailors gasped upon seeing the glow.
“These are not our enemies,” cautioned Miko. He turned to Tinok. “Death is not their due.”
The pit fighter met the high priest gaze without flinching and without remorse. Only when Hikai’s lightning slammed into the other masts, splintering them and killing more sailors did they look away.
“Will he live?” Kip asked from where he knelt next to Father Vickor.
Though in deep concentration, the priest turned to the novice and nodded. “Yes, Kip. Now leave me to my work.”
Attacks from the magical device came one after the other. James had little difficulty in deflecting them. Summoning magic, he envisioned the magical device blasting apart, then released it.
A sphere of magic sprang to life surrounding the mage and the device, blocking the attack.
Another volley of arrows arced toward their ship and as Scar suggested, Azhan grabbed hold of them with magic and sent them back to their owners. Men cried as arrowheads pierced flesh.
James tested the priest’s defenses, discovered the reach of the protective shield. Then he created his own spherical shield, one that completely enveloped the shield protecting the priest and his device.
“Azhan, Hikai,” he hollered. “Here’s a lesson, boys.”
Two shields now glowed upon the deck of the enemy ship, one inside the other. One keeping magic out, the other keeping magic in. James subtly altered the aspect of his shield and could feel deck planks part where they intersected it.
Then while maintaining the sphere, he created a secondary spell and his apprentices gasped in awe as the sphere with priest and magical device, rose from the ship’s deck. He glanced to Azhan. “Sink it. Leave none alive.”
Grinning, his apprentice slapped Hikai on the back. “Ready to have a little fun?”
“This is for Sami.”
The vision of the young mage’s dead body on the derelict ship quickly sobered Azhan. He nodded. “For Sami.”
James didn’t pay his two apprentices any further attention despite the cries of men and splintering of wood as the two young mages made short work of the other ship. No, his attention was on the sphere containing the priest and his magical device.
Captain Anyn stood aghast as the other ship was sundered and lightning struck water full of sailors. When a final crack split it from keel to stern and the ship sank beneath the waves, he turned to James, “Who are you?”
James kept focused on the sphere containing the priest until it came to rest upon the deck not far from him. Then with eyes never leaving the priest, he said, “I, am The Dark Mage.”
Chapter Forty-Two
The priest made no indication he recognized the name, his attention was drawn to where Father Vickor worked to save the life of the fallen sailor. Captain Anyn on the other hand, went pale and took two steps back.
“What…” the captain began then licked his lips. “What do you mean to do?”
“To you and your men?” James replied. “Nothing, Get underway and let’s get out of here before any of his friends show up.”
The captain bobbed his head and shouted orders to his men. Sailors climbed the rigging, sails were lowered, and the ship got underway.
“Azhan, bring the wind if you would.”
“Yes, Master.”
The sails filled and the ship flew across the water.
His two apprentices stood nearby, looking anxiously at him.
“You did well.”
They grinned.
“Thank you, Master.”
“Yes,” said Azhan. “We thank you.”
Miko came to stand beside him. Gesturing to the priest in the shimmering sphere, he asked, “What do you plan to do with him?”
“Get some answers.” He glanced to the two Pit Masters. “Ready your darts.”
Scar held up his hand and showed the one already prepared. “Way ahead of you.”
The enemy priest remained at the device, his hands gripped firmly upon it. Eyes moved from Father Vickor to James and back again, he finally settled upon James. The gaze he shot him would have killed him in his tracks if such were possible.
James stepped toward the sphere-trapped priest.
“Who are you?”
“The bane of all who serve the Unclean One.”
“I serve no one but myself,” James replied.
The priest looked unconvinced.
“Do you know me?”
“Yes, you are an usurper, a perverter of all that is good and holy. One who seeks to defy the laws set forth by the one most high.”
Miko joined James before the priest. “What god do you follow?”
“He who would bring light and goodness to the world. He who battles against all that is evil. He who would balm all hurts. He that is supreme in the heavens.”
Scar nudged Potbelly, “He that is way too full of himself.”
Righteous anger overcame the priest and in a flash, he swiveled the magical device toward Scar.
“Don’t!” James cried.
The crystals flared and the beam shot forth. It hit the inside of James’ shield and ricocheted back, striking the priest. The man’s painful cry was cut short as he burst into flames.
James dropped the sphere and Miko rushed forward with glow ablaze. He enveloped the man with the power of Morcyth as he knelt beside him and the flames vanished.
The smell of burnt hair and flesh was strong as the others gathered close. Most of the priest’s chest was gone and several of the ribs poked through.
Sighing, Miko released the glow and stood. “He is gone.”
Furious, James rounded on Scar. “We needed to question him!”
“How was I to know he would be so touchy?”
“There will be others.”
Turning to Miko, James asked, “What?”
“I said,” Miko replied patiently, “there will be others.” Gesturing to the smoldering remains of the priest, he added, “It is hardly conceivable that he is alone. He had to come from somewhere.”
Slowly, James nodded. “You’re right.”
Pulling out his mirror, he searched the surrounding ocean for signs of other ships. Three, identical to the one the priest had been on, were sighted coming from the south-southeast. Zooming in revealed that they, too, carried a tarp-covered object at the bow that James was certain hid another of the magical fire-beam devices.
“We can take ‘em,” Azhan said with utter surety.
“No doubt,” agreed Jiron. He eyed James, “Do you plan to?”
He zoomed out and continued his search. “If we must. But a single ship would be better.”
Scar glanced to the mirror, then out to the ocean. “Which way were those ships?”
James pointed to the south-southeast. “That way.”
“That’s what I thought.”
Unsure what his friend was getting at at first, understanding dawned on Potbelly when he realized James’ arm aligned with the keel of the ship. The enemy ships were dead ahead. And if that were so, they
had to be coming from the general vicinity of…
He turned a worried look to Scar who nodded. “Exactly. Corillian.”
The enemy ships vanished from view as James hurriedly altered the spell to bring Meliana into view. The mirror went black.
“What happened?” Jiron demanded.
The black was not absolute as indistinct shadows could barely been seen with the greater darkness.
“I don’t know…,” James began, then a sliver of light appeared as a door was opened.
Kendrick, Meliana’s father, stood at the door, peering through to the other side. One hand was held up as if to demand silence; the other held a sword. Several moments he stood there, eye pressed against the opening then he thrust open the door and waved for the others to follow.
Five men whom James recognized as sailors and two of Kendrick’s merchant captains followed him out. Each carried a weapon; three held the sailors’ preferred short sword, one a stout cudgel and the rest carried crossbows. After them came over a dozen civilians including Meliana, Kenny, and Aleya.
Rushing out onto the street, they followed Kendrick through a mob of terrified citizens. He thrust them aside, making a path through for the others could follow. If people did not get out of the way fast enough, they got an elbow. Any that argued got a fist, but move they did.
Meliana clutched a small bag, as did all but a few of those who followed Kendrick. Fear was clearly evident upon her face.
Aleya had her bow slung across her back along with a quiver of arrows. Where Meliana wore fear, she looked nothing but determined.
“What is going on?” Shorty asked.
They passed a familiar eatery, one that Meliana had taken him to many times. “They’re heading for the docks.”
“Fleeing?”
James glanced up to Miko and spat, “Yes.” The anger he felt before was a candle to the inferno that filled him now.
“Is the island under attack?” Tinok asked.
Though he was loath to abandon Meliana, James expanded the image.
Warships of Warlord Azkimal were locked in battle with the enemy off the coast of Corillian. Several were aflame and others were in the midst of either boarding the enemy, or exchanging arrow fire. Beams of yellowish light were hitting those that had yet to engage. Masts exploded upon impact and sails burst into flame.
Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two Page 53
