The Sorcerer's Destiny (The Sorcerer's Path)

by Deskins, Brock

  ***

  Daebian felt the wind pick up and saw the wall of clouds forming as he directed his crew to destroy the city he once called home without the slightest bit of remorse. He reveled in the destruction, finding a sort of dark poetry in the chaos he helped unleash. He turned his eyes from the death and flames back to the clouds. The rolling vapors had massed, taken on a sort of solidity, and begin racing toward him and his ships.

  “Tobias! Those clouds have the stink of my brother all over them. Put our arse to the wind and make for the sea!”

  “Aye, sir!”

  Tobias spun the ship’s wheel as others pulled levers and signaled the other vessels using flags and flares. The crew grabbed ahold of whatever fixed object they could find as the cloudbank struck with the force of a wave, lifting them and propelling the ships along its face. The stern of Daebian’s flagship lifted higher than the bow, putting the vessel at a steep decline and forcing crewmen to cling for dear life. Tobias and his two operators fought to control the pitch and avoid flipping end over end. One ship failed to do precisely that, and the stern continued to rise until it could no longer maintain the precarious balance and tumbled, spilling crew into open air as it fell and shattered against the sea’s surface.

  A second ship managed to regain control before suffering a similar fate when a dragon, caught in the same unnatural storm, lost control of its flight and smashed into the aft deck, killing the operator and destroying the controls. The dragon flailed in the tangling lines as the ship plummeted, sharing the same fate as it and its crew.

  Daebian peered through squinted eyes and saw Eva, a rope wrapped three times around her waist securing her to the mainmast, fighting to maintain the concentration required to work her magic. He was unsure exactly what she was doing, but from the way the ship eased in its wild bucking and rolling, he surmised she was enacting some sort of ward at the ship’s stern.

  The cloud pushed them farther out to sea like a piece of flotsam until North Haven was a speck on a distant shoreline. The roiling cloud wall slowed, became more vaporous, and Daebian and his fleet found themselves lost in the midst of a dense fog. The strange mists quickly dispersed, and Daebian made a quick count of his ships. His tally came up five ships short from his original number until he spotted a speck in the distance coming to rejoin the armada. He had lost three ships today thanks to his brother and one to the wizards during the first hour of battle.

  “Well played, little brother.”

  “What was that, sir?” Tobias asked as he shook the cramps out of his hands caused by the death grip he held on the wheel.

  “Point us back to shore, Tobias.” Daebian turned when Tobias failed to carry out his command. “Tobias!”

  Daebian felt the stifling weight of dread drop over him like a frigid, wet blanket. Nothing moved on the deck, not even the breeze. It took only a moment for him to find Zyn looming as dark, powerful, and malevolent as Raijaun’s cloud.

  “Your father was not in the city. Where is he?”

  “I do not know, master. I cannot imagine what would have kept him from this battle. It would not surprise me if he managed to get himself killed. The man has a significant lack of foresight.”

  “No, he is not dead, but his absence is disconcerting. We do not like surprises like these gates the humans used to flee our righteous justice. Why did you not inform us of their existence?”

  “Why did you not pluck it out of my head with the rest of my thoughts?”

  Daebian cried out as a sharp pain lanced through his brain. “Do not be impertinent, slave!”

  “Master, I meant no such thing! I meant only that I could not tell you for the same reason your all-knowingness did not discover it in my mind. I did not know about them. I know I cannot keep secrets from you, great master, and would not if it were possible.” Daebian felt the pain lessen as he braced himself on hands and knees near the Scion’s feet. “We are returning to the battle now to slay our enemies.”

  “The battle is over, for now. Most of the humans escaped through their gates to the city called Brelland. You promised me a leader of unparalleled ability yet your wretched brother defeated you and destroyed some of my ships. I allowed you to keep your pet wizard as a reward for your cleverness. Perhaps I should revoke it for your failure.”

  A thin line appeared across Eva’s forehead and blood trickled down her face.

  “Master, she was the only reason this ship survived my brother’s magic! If you kill her now, she will be but one of many dead this day. Surely the lives of your servants and this vessel are worth keeping her until the races are properly crushed and subservient?”

  “Perhaps you are correct,” five of Daebian’s crew collapsed lifelessly to the deck, “but examples must be made. Do not fail again, slave.”

  Zyn vanished, the oppressive pall lifted, and things moved once more. Eva wiped her brow and stared at the blood covering her hand. Daebian strode briskly to the main deck and helped Eva untie herself from the mast.

  “Are you all right?”

  Eva wiped the blood from her fingers onto her sleeve. “I think so. What happened?”

  “Just a visit from one of our lord and masters.”

  “I take it he was displeased.”

  “I think it is the duty and desire for gods to be displeased. It is the only time they are happy.”

  “Daebian, what is going to happen to me after this war? Your father said the Scions will kill everyone who can wield magic.”

  Daebian laid a hand on her shoulder. “I won’t let that happen.”

  “Can you prevent it? They are gods, Daebian.”

  Daebian snorted and waved a dismissive hand. “The gods suffer from the same weakness as my father. They are blinded by their own power and feelings of invulnerability. It is what has probably gotten my father into whatever bind he now finds himself and how I have been able to hide some of my thoughts and memories from our masters. I have no doubt they could find and tear out whatever they wished from inside my head, but they think so little of people like us and so highly of themselves they do not bother to probe that deeply. They have blinded themselves to all but the most obvious things.”

  Eva smiled and pressed against Daebian. “You think more of yourself than any man or god I ever met.”

  “Yes, but my faith is far better earned.” Daebian turned and shouted. “Tobias, turn us around and lead our ships back to North Haven!”

  “Aye Aye, Admiral!”

  CHAPTER 17

  As she had promised the irate merchant and crowd of frightened citizens, Miranda was amongst the last groups to pass through the gate. Raijaun was literally the last to cross over, singlehandedly holding the gates against a horde of creatures and several dragons as the final group made their way through. His last spell obliterated everything for several blocks, slew hundreds of ravagers, and destroyed the gates. As his magic created a powerful vortex in North Haven, pulling the gate pillars from Brelland into itself before violently exploding, Raijaun stumbled through and braced himself on hand and knee. He shuddered from the pain and exhaustion and fought to steady his breath.

  Miranda ran to his side as he knelt gasping. “Raijaun, are you okay?”

  He swallowed and nodded. “I will be fine, thank you.”

  “Miranda, thank the gods you are safe,” the Duchess cried as she ran to embrace her daughter.

  “I am glad to see you safe as well, Mother.” Miranda saw Jarvin step away from his contingent of Blackguards. “Your Majesty.”

  “Lady Miranda. I too am pleased to see you well. Forgive my anxiousness, but I would speak with you and your commanders as quickly as possible.”

  “Of course. I would like some time to see to my people.”

  “I understand, but please be swift. There are urgent things we must discuss.”

  “I know how urgent our situation is!” Miranda snapped. “My home was just destroyed and my people slaughtered!”

  Mellina held her daughter close. “Calm yours
elf, child. We have all lost our home, and we will lose even more. Everyone will, so we need to hold ourselves together.”

  Miranda sniffed loudly and pulled back her tears. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I know your concerns are just as great as mine and even more encompassing.”

  “There is nothing to forgive. I would think rather poorly of you if you were not so concerned. I will await you and your people at the castle. My chamberlain will meet you and show you to me when you arrive.” Jarvin stepped over to where Raijaun was now getting to his feet. “You must be Raijaun. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.”

  “The honor is mine, Your Majesty.”

  “Please, call me Jarvin. Will you be well enough to join us? Your input is invaluable.”

  “I will recover.”

  “Good, I will leave you all to your recovery and see you shortly.”

  Miranda went to Raijaun’s side. “The Scions know about the gates and are going to try to destroy them. We must warn Southport.”

  “I already have. I saw the increased efforts of our enemy to destroy them and informed the Headmaster to take additional measures to protect them.”

  “Of course you have. Mother and I need to see to our people. Can you manage on your own?”

  “I have become adept at doing so. I will make my way to the castle soon.”

  Scores of healers, priests, and Chosen aided Brother Thomas and his people with the numerous wounded while Brelland’s officers worked with the North Haven army to combine their forces and get them settled into barracks tents to rest. Miranda and the Duchess quickly conferred with the citizens’ leaders and ensured they were taken care of before riding to Castle Stonemount to meet with the King and his council. The mood was somber within the castle as people tried to put on stoic façades while they desperately tried to understand what was happening. The King’s Chamberlain said little as he led Miranda, the Duchess, Allister, and Aggie to the council chamber. Alex and General Brague were already seated with the assembled lords and representatives of the common people.

  “Lady, Duchess, you are right on time. Is Raijaun with you?” Jarvin asked as they entered and took their seats.

  Miranda answered. “I had hoped to see him here already. Perhaps he needs a few minutes longer.”

  “Of course. We can discuss the more mundane aspects of the battle in North Haven and our defenses in the interim. General Brague and your young commander have already apprised me of some of the greater details of the battle, but I would like them to inform the council of our enemies’ tactics.”

  General Brague stood and cleared his throat. “Our enemy came at us from the sea in ships capable of sailing through the air. Our wizards and heavy weapon crews had hoped to pluck them from the sky when they drew near enough, but somewhere near a dozen dragons attacked the city and defended the vessels while they unloaded their army. The ships holds must have been packed to the rafters with the creatures and dropped what we estimate to be thirty thousand ravagers onto the docks and into the harbor where they clamored out of the ocean and assaulted our seaward wall. In less than an hour, our army was forced off the main wall and to our second line of defense.”

  Murmured exclamations filled the room as the assembled group noted how quickly the ravagers were able to get through North Haven’s primary line of defense. All had heard that the dragons would aid the Scions, but to hear of their involvement added another layer of fear.

  The General nodded to Alex who stood and spoke. “At about the time the ravagers gained the seaward walls, another force of perhaps ten thousand struck the eastern and southern curtain wall. My troops were forced to surrender the wall about forty-five minutes after engagement. The primary means of breaching are by creating ladders and ramps using their own bodies and hacking through some of the more vulnerable postern gates and sally ports with brute strength.”

  “We can reinforce the gates and find a way impede their scaling of the walls,” someone suggested.

  “Our walls are higher and much stouter than North Haven’s. If this is the numbers we are facing, we should be able to successfully defend the city and end the battle here,” said another council member.

  “It is very unlikely,” Alex countered. “Azerick said there were possibly a million or more of these ravagers coming, and there is no way can we defend against them and dragons.”

  “We heard Lord Giles was not present at the battle and has been missing for some time. Perhaps we were right all along in being skeptical of his claims! Where is Lord Giles?”

  The room fell silent as a bright line made a vertical slit in the air near the doors. Two dozen Blackguards and several mages immediately converged on the spot and prepared to defend the hall from invasion as the line became a doorway and a hulking, grey monster strode into the room.

  “Stand down!” Jarvin shouted the moment he recognized Raijaun.

  “Forgive me. I had meant to arrive in the antechamber to avoid any shock at my appearance within the castle. My unfamiliarity caused me to misjudge my exit.”

  “That is quite all right,” Jarvin replied and turned to his council. “This is Raijaun, son of Azerick Giles. He has been instrumental in aiding our defense against these invaders and will be afforded every courtesy.”

  Subdued muttering filled the chamber but none spoke out. Rumors abounded about Azerick’s unholy offspring, but few were prepared to meet him face to face.

  “Raijaun, we were just discussing how the attack went at North Haven and the numbers we could expect to face here. Perhaps you could shed some light on that.”

  “The numbers I personally observed were likely around a million.”

  Jarvin cut off the outburst of exclamations. “From what we have heard of their ships, it would take months to move that many just to the mainland from wherever it is they are coming.”

  “I can almost guarantee the ships will not be required to transport the main body of their army. The gates we employ to evacuate our people are a Scion design my father observed many years ago. I am certain they are erecting a similar set of gates at this moment to bring in the bulk of their army.”

  “Brelland could never withstand those numbers. Even if they divide their army to attack us and Brightridge, we could not stand long.”

  “That is precisely why my father devised this plan. Yes, it requires the loss of our greatest cities, but it is our only chance at surviving.”

  “What do they want from us? Surely it cannot be total extinction? What would be their gain?” a council member demanded.

  “No, not extinction as a species, but the extinction of our society and way of life. It is the extinction of freedom and the rise of a world of subjugation even worse than what existed before the Great Revolution. We will live in a world of pain, sorrow, and loss, perpetually punished for the egregious actions of our forefathers. Only a handful will suffer this fate. The fortunate majority will die.”

  “It sounds to me like these gods want us, at least some of us. That means they would be open to a compromise, particularly if we are able to make fighting us too costly for them. We could pledge our subservience, worship them, and deny our gods. Surely this would satisfy them?”

  “Every man, woman, and child who possesses the smallest penchant for magic and everyone within their bloodlines are marked for immediate extermination. Would you simply hand them over to save yourself? Are you even certain you are not related to a wizard somewhere within your family? What of your wife’s family?” Raijaun took several steps toward the commoners’ representative and towered over him. “There will be no compromises sought or made. On this matter I will not bend.”

  The Lord of Commoners trembled and looked to his King. “He threatens us just as his father did!”

  “Will I face trial as my father does for trying to protect you as well?” A silence fell across the room. “I issue no threats. I merely inform you all of the reality we face. I am not nearly as reactive as my father, but do not mistake that as being less resolved o
r capable.”

  “Let us all remain calm and keep our focus on the real enemy,” Jarvin said. “Raijaun is right, there will be no quarter asked or given. I do not believe these creatures are capable of compromise or compassion. Look at how they hurl their own forces against us with no regard for their survival. How can we best defeat them?”

  “Thank you, Your Majesty. Their greatest strength is also their greatest weakness, and that is their sheer numbers and complete disregard for their own lives. While it makes them terrifying to fight, it also makes them vulnerable to our wizards for large-scale slaughter. It is why my father has insisted that trying to defend a city was impossible no matter the fortifications. By thinning their numbers as much as possible while behind these walls and retreating, we can concentrate the bulk of their army in the relatively confined space of the valley where we have decided to make our final stand.”

  “Where you and your father have decided we make our final stand!” one of the lords proclaimed loudly. “If we cannot stand against their numbers within the strongest city in the kingdom, how can we possibly stand for more than a moment in the open spaces of a valley?”

  “Because our numbers will also be concentrated. We will have every mage from North Haven, The Academy, and Hall of Inquisition there to rain fire down upon them. The Sumarans have an army and a corps of wizards nearly as large as our own converging in the valley as we speak. We have allies there we cannot hope to host within the walls of a city even as large as Brelland and Brightridge. Father also called upon the other races to aid us as well.”

  “What have you heard of their response? Are they going to come? Why should they do anything for us?”

  “Because they know the Scions hold the same hatred for them as they do us. My father has received assurances from the dwarves that they are prepared to fight beside us. We have heard nothing from the elves, but that is not entirely unexpected given their extreme aloofness.”