Lord Atwater snorted derisively. “Dragons, yet more of your nonsense. Several times my army, and others, have fought these creatures you claim belong to some ancient gods, and each time we defeated them handily. You once asked us what you would gain by having us build up our defenses. We only need look across Argoth’s border for the answer to that. Oh, you were quite clever and very convincing, Lord Giles. Creating this fiasco so that we all build up armies so no one questions the power you are amassing was a stroke of brilliance. Your friends in Sumara attack us from the south while your army strikes from the north eliminating any further resistance to your plans of conquest. And do not think I don’t know about this magic well of yours, all to increase your power so you can make yourself king. You have even managed to create a navy with your ships and your son’s pirates.”
“My son captured three of my ships and took the crew hostage,” Azerick responded tersely, “and the Source pool aides all who can channel magic.”
“But none as much as you.” Lord Atwater turned his eyes to Headmaster Florent. “Am I right, Headmaster?”
“From what little I know of such a thing, your argument appears correct.”
“You may have the King and others fooled or cowed, but not me! I will not stand idly by while you march your foreign friends into my kingdom. Nor will I allow anyone to take what is mine. I bought my army with my gold, and I will use it as I see fit. They will march south and drive those desert dwellers back from whence they came. If the King wishes to hand over the crown to you then so be it, but do not expect me toss in my gold or lands as well.”
“This is your final word on the matter? Think well, Lord Atwater,” Azerick said, his voice as cold as a grave carved in the ice of the northern wastes.
“I have thought well and given my answer. Do not think to intimidate me, sorcerer. I am here under the King’s protection and sworn word of safe passage.”
“You, all of you, are fools if you think anyone can promise safety in these times.”
Azerick thrust his staff at the nobleman. A black and silver ray lanced out of the arcanum sphere, struck the surprised man in the chest, hurled him from his seat, and pressed him against the wall fifteen feet above the assembled crowd. Several people cried out and made to race from the room. With his free hand, Azerick struck them all down with an invisible wall of force carrying the strength of an ocean wave.
An acrid smoke filled the room as Azerick’s abyssal beam destroyed Lord Atwater’s body and turned it into something unrecognizable. Azerick ignored several protests and even the ringing of armor and swords being drawn as guardsmen rushed into the room and formed a defensive wall around their King. When the arcane assault finally ended, nothing of the rebellious lord remained except for a black silhouette permanently scorched into the marble.
“Lord Giles, cease this at once!” Jarvin shouted above the tumult. “What have you done?” he asked when Azerick finally acknowledged his protests.
Many of the nobles cowered on the floor where Azerick had casually tossed them, fearful they might well be the sorcerer’s next target.
“I have carried out the execution of a traitor. Something you should have done the instant he opened his mouth in dissension.”
“That was not an execution, it was murder!”
“If you did not ask me here to do what you did not have the stomach for, then why waste my time?”
“I asked you to come reason with them, convince them of the dire consequences of creating divisions within the kingdom!”
“You asked me here to be your stick to beat them into submission!” Azerick turned the assembly. “The time for sticks is behind us! Now is the time of the sword, and I will put anyone to the sword who threatens the safety of the kingdom. Let us hope Lord Atwater’s heir is of a more reasonable and tractable mind.”
Jarvin quivered with fury. “You overstep the bounds of your authority. With a single act, you have undone what I have fought to create since I ascended the throne. I created this council so all have a voice. We have laws and courts to deal with matters such as this so no one man, not even the King, shall become a dictator. If I allow that to happen, then we are already lost. I charge you with murder, and you will stand trial!”
Azerick turned his baleful glare upon everyone in the room. “And who will arrest me?”
Jarvin’s soldiers looked to their King but did not move. The fear in their eyes showed clearly. Jarvin looked to Headmaster Florent and her cadre.
“Is there nothing you can do?” he beseeched the powerful wizard.
“Our ability to contain or control Lord Giles has long passed. Even if I had the entire might of The Academy behind me, the destruction would be terrible and the Scions would wash over us like a flood.”
Jarvin looked back to Azerick standing impassively at the foot of the dais. “History will condemn you, Azerick Giles.”
“I welcome their condemnation, for it takes a people to survive to have a history. Send your runners to Lord Atwater’s heir and command him to order his soldiers to stand garrison in Brightridge. If he does not, inform him I will personally come and open a rift above his castle and send him and entire family straight to the abyss.”
“And if I refuse?” Jarvin asked through clenched teeth.
“Then you are a threat to the kingdom, and I hope your heir is of a more reasonable and tractable mind.”
“I may not have the power to enforce my justice upon you, but I denounce you and strip you of all title and authority! When this threat has passed, know that I will use every resource at my disposal to see you tried and punished for your crimes if it takes my dying breath to see it done.”
“If any of us survive, then I welcome your justice. Let the people decide if the man who saved them deserves your punishment.”
“Will you submit to the judgment of the people and my sentence?”
“I will.”
“On your word, on your sons, and on whatever may still exist of your soul?”
Azerick nodded before turning his eyes to Headmaster Florent. “I assume you have a method of communicating with the Hall of Inquisition. Please order them and Duchess Paulina’s forces to allow Sumara to pass. They will then escort them north to the place of the final battle. If Senior Inquisitor Elias refuses, elevate Inquisitor Fennrick to his position. I feel he may be of a more reasonable mind.”
Maureen looked to Jarvin who gave a single nod. “It will be done.”
“The Scions are coming soon. I recommend you start moving the outlying towns and villages toward Brelland or Brightridge. Anyone outside the walls when they arrive will have very little time to flee and will not likely escape the slaughter.”
Azerick turned and left the stunned assembly behind him. Several minutes passed before anyone began to speak and move about. The gathered lords whispered nervously of what would become of them even if they survived the invasion. It was apparent that Lord Giles was beyond the power of anyone to control.
Jarvin motioned to Headmaster Florent to join him atop the dais. “We cannot allow this man to continue to exist unchecked.”
“I would agree with you, Highness.”
“Surely there is something you and your people can come up with to defeat him?”
“It depends on what exactly you mean.”
“I mean that if by some miracle we prevail in this battle, Azerick Giles cannot live one minute to enjoy his victory.”
“He swore to abide by your judgment,” Maureen said.
“Promises easily made are even more easily broken,” Jarvin countered. “We cannot take that chance. We need him if we are to have any hope of surviving this war, but he cannot be allowed to exist beyond its conclusion or all may well have been for naught. Can you create a weapon capable of killing him?”
The Academy Headmaster thought for a moment. “I believe it is possible. Everything living can die.”
“Good. Speak with Bishop Howarth. Given Azerick’s particular physiology, the Church
may be of invaluable help. Speak to no one of this unless their support is vital to its success. We cannot know where he may have ears.”
“I understand. I just pray we are successful. If he learns we have turned against him, I honestly fear his retribution.”
“He turned against me when he made his threats and murdered my subject within my hall while under my sworn protection. I must believe that even he has physical and magical limits, and those will be nearest at hand immediately following the battle.”
“Who knows, maybe the Scions will kill him with their dying breaths?” Maureen said with wry smile.
“We can only pray it is so.”
***
Upon returning to North Haven, Azerick immediately opened a portal to the tower entrance. He had not been gone long, and people still hurried about cleaning up the mess, clearing away the rubble from two collapsed buildings, and carefully searching for anyone who might be trapped beneath.
Miranda spotted him as soon as he stepped through the portal, broke away from the cleanup and rescue efforts, and rushed into his arms. “I was on the training field when it all happened. What’s going on? What did Jarvin want?”
“He needed me to resolve a dilemma.”
“Were you able to?”
Azerick inclined his head. “Yes, but not in a manner he liked. Miranda, I want you to know that no matter what happens, no matter the things I have to do, I do them for the sake of all humanity and beyond.”
“I know, Azerick. What are you saying?”
“Do you know of Lord Atwater?” Miranda nodded her head. “I killed him just minutes ago. He threatened to block Sumara’s soldiers from coming to our aid and secede if Jarvin tried to stop him. The King was extremely upset at my reaction. He denounced me, and I will stand trial if we survive this.”
Miranda looked into her husband’s eyes. “I know you did what you thought needed to be done. You are not an evil or selfish man, and Mother and I will stand behind you no matter what. All of North Haven will support you.”
“No, you must not do that. I alone must face the consequences of my actions. If we prevail, Valeria will be shattered. She will need great people like you to gather up the pieces and make her whole again. You must stand with the King and keep our people united.”
“You are asking me to abandon you!”
“I am asking you to do what must be done no matter how hard or painful it is just as I have done. There are times when necessity outweighs the moral right, as it did today for me, as it will for all of you one day. Let us pray those times do not come again in your lifetimes, but you must be prepared. Promise me.”
Miranda swabbed away her tears on Azerick’s chest. “I promise.”
“Have you heard of what Daebian has done?”
Miranda nodded. “I do not understand him. My son a pirate! And now he has turned against people he called his friends. Why is he doing these things?”
“He wants to punish me for slights I cannot begin to understand I have made against him. He wants to show that he is stronger than me, show that I am vulnerable.”
“No wonder I have a hard time understanding this stupid war. I cannot even understand my own son. Is Sandy going to be okay?”
Azerick sighed deeply. “I don’t know. I need to see what they have done to her, what kind of compulsion they have over her.” Azerick looked off into the distance. “I wonder…Have you seen Allister?”
“He’s out helping with the cleanup. What is it?” Miranda called after Azerick as he darted out the door.
Azerick quickly found the old archmage near the center of the destruction using his magic to shift stones and timbers. Dozens of workers and soldiers loaded debris into carts and wagons to be hauled away or stacked elsewhere to be used for rebuilding. Brother Thomas stood nearby with another of his Chosen to provide aid to any injured they might find.
Azerick stepped next to the cleric. “How bad was it?”
“Fourteen injured, three seriously but no fatalities praise Solarian,” Thomas replied.
“Praise him indeed.”
“What happened?”
“The Scions pierced the barrier and dominated the minds of the dragons just as they did before.” Azerick’s face twisted in a mix of anger and self-loathing. “I should have prepared for this! I knew about the dragons, and I should have devised some way of preventing it from happening.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, boy,” Allister said reassuringly. “You’ve had a goodly number of things occupying your mind. We’ll figure out a way to fix this.”
“That’s what I have come to see you about, Allister. I was thinking that maybe the compulsion the Scions put on the dragons is not much different than the one used on Hati,” Azerick explained, referring to the woman a hobgoblin shaman had mutilated by attaching the wings and talons of a blood hawk and mentally dominating her as part of a grotesque army. “Perhaps we can free Sandy as we did her.”
Allister stroked his beard. “Yes, it’s certainly possible, but I imagine these gods have a far more formidable form of domination. Then again, the dragons have vastly stronger wills, so perhaps there exists the possibility.”
“I would like to try as soon as possible.”
“Go ahead, Allister,” Brother Thomas said. “We haven’t found any injured in the last half hour. My Chosen are doing a fine job of tending our wounded. If I can be of any assistance with Sandy, please come get me.”
Azerick clasped the cleric’s shoulder. “Thank you, Thomas, I will.”
The two powerful spell casters descended the stairs of the new tower and made their way to the large laboratory located beneath. Raijaun was there stroking Sandy’s scales. Azerick’s heart broke upon seeing the thick chains securing her to floor and the iron muzzle keeping her jaws clamped shut.
“Father, you are back. How did it go?”
“About as badly as it possibly could, but I was in too much of a hurry to return to take the time to devise a solution acceptable to all. How is she?”
“Still asleep. I thought it prudent to restrain her in case she woke before you returned.”
“It was a wise decision. How fairs the barrier?”
Raijaun’s face dropped. “The barrier is in a shambles. I hardly know where to begin to make repairs. I reinforced a couple of the worst breaches, but at this point I fear our efforts will not make much difference. There are dozens of weakened areas the Scions could exploit if they had a mind to. I am surprised they are not already through.”
“They do not want to expend the energy to create a full breach. Best to bide their time to allow the barrier to fail so their power is at its full potential when they arrive. Despite their boasting, I am certain they are wary of facing us and our gods with less than their full strength. Let us just be thankful for their patience.”
Raijaun nodded. “I have been studying the compulsion they have placed upon her. It is unlike anything I can imagine. It is vastly complex and supremely powerful. I dared not do anything but observe it.”
Allister grumbled, “If only both your sons showed such wise restraint. All right, let us see what we are dealing with here.”
The three of them used their magic to delve into Sandy’s mind and studied the complex magic surrounding it. Azerick could see Allister’s arcane hands gently probing the weave in an attempt to unravel its secrets. Azerick too plucked at the ethereal strands holding the powerful magic together. The Power, convolution, and shear scope of the magic the Scions employed was incredible, but Azerick expected nothing less. There was another aspect to it, far more insidious than the spell used on Hati. The weave of magic did not just surround her; it appeared as though it was part of her. The strands burrowed and grew into the very essence of her spirit. After more than an hour, Azerick and the others were forced to give up their current approach.
Allister wiped the sweat from his wrinkled brow. “I’m not going to lie to you son, that is some formidable work. It was like pushing water uphill. As so
on as you stop pushing, it flows right back into place.”
“Then I will have to devise some sort of dam,” Azerick responded. “Did you notice how the magic was attached to her aura? It reminded me of how mine and Klaraxis’ souls were intertwined. I will have to find a way to separate them.”
“Can you do that, Father? Can you block them from controlling her mind?”
“I think so, but she is unlikely to thank me for it,” Azerick said grimly.
CHAPTER 6
“When are we going to get there?” Trielle complained for the hundredth time that day. “We’ve been walking for days!”
“I have been walking for days. You have been mostly riding on my shoulders and complaining in my ear the entire way,” Bron countered.
“You would complain too if you had to smell nothing but your stinky neck sweat the whole time!”
“You could get off me and fly.”
“Why should I have to? It’s your smelly neck that’s the problem! When are we going to get to the valley of big stinkies?”
“We entered the valley two days ago.”
“What?” Trielle shouted in Bron’s ear. “We’ve been on this briar-entombed goat path for days, and I haven’t seen a single stinky ogre.”
“They are amazingly adept at traveling through this terrain and using their surroundings for camouflage. Three of them have been following us for nearly a day and half.”
“Is that why that walking fur rug wandered off? What a coward! Where are they? I can’t see anything.” The wood sprite tried to penetrate the thick, nearly impassable thicket lining the narrow trail they followed but could not see into the brush and brambles more than a few feet. “I still should have smelled them.” She looked at Bron’s neck. “Well, probably not.”
Only Bron’s Druidic mastery of wood lore enabled him to detect and track their watchers. Bron knew little of ogres other than they were hulking brutes with ferocious tempers and cruel hearts. The fact that the three monsters tracking him and Trielle showed significant patience and mastery of their environment surprised him.
The Sorcerer's Destiny (The Sorcerer's Path) Page 7
