Flare stood Cassandra down beside the bed. She wobbled, but remained standing. When she almost fell, He quickly grabbed her by the arm to support her.
“Thank you,” She said smiling “I guess I needed your help, after all.”
She smiled at him as he helped her into bed, and pulled a blanket up to her chin.
“If you're okay, then I will start straightening up the outer room,” Flare said.
“No!” Cassandra exclaimed, sitting back up. “You must not touch anything out there. My magical supplies are also protected by spells. They can kill you just by touching them. All I want you to do is stand guard at the door, and I’ll clean it up later. Do you understand?” Her eyes burned with such a fire, that he almost took a step backwards.
“Yes,” he said hesitantly, “I understand. Anything else?”
Cassandra smiled, lying back down on the bed. “No, but thank you. You saved my life, and you have my thanks. Please stand guard outside my quarters for the remainder of your watch.”
He smiled and left the room. Walking through the rubble that had been her outer room made him grimace. He had the shakes for several moments as the excitement of the events hit him.
Flare was relieved of his guard duties when the sun came up, and he stumbled back to his barracks. Half of the squad had beaten him back, and they wasted no time collapsing into bed. He was asleep before the rest of the squad even struggled in.
After about four hours of sleep, the soldiers were awoken by Sergeant Latts beating two small swords together. “Wake up!” The sergeant shouted.
The soldiers, blurry eyed and weary, quickly got to attention at the end of their bunks.
Sergeant Latts looked them up and down with a nasty smile on his face, “You got five minutes to get your uniforms on and get outside.”
The squad drilled with the other squads, in regiment formation. The main emphasis of the practice was to improve the ability of the squads to function as a team, and to follow orders as a large group.
The practice lasted until sundown, at which time the squad was dismissed, and given four hours of free time. Most of the squad, including Flare, used this time to sleep.
Returning to the castle for another night of guard duty, Flare was exhausted. Lack of sleep combined with the intense physical drilling made it hard for him to focus.
The other squad members were also exhausted, which tended to make them testy. Ignoring their groans, he assembled the squad, and marched them to where sergeant Latts was waiting for them in the castle.
Sergeant Latts wasted no time assigning the guard duties once again.
As they walked away from where Atock had been stationed, the sergeant appraised Flare with a knowing smile. “So tell me, what did you do to impress the magician? She personally paid me a visit and requested you as her guard for as long as you are on guard duty.”
Flare felt the heat rise on his face, at what the sergeant’s grin suggested. “Nothing! All I did was help her with her experiment. Why? What did you think I did?”
“Come now. This isn’t the king’s daughter we’re talking about. If she wishes the pleasure of your company, well, good for you. But the least you could do is tell me about it.”
The feeling of heat spread across his face, “Sergeant. Nothing happened. I helped her with her experiment, and that’s all. Besides, even if something had happened, I wouldn’t be telling you about it.” Flare grinned, “Do you know what magicians can do to a person?”
“She is a beautiful woman, but did you know that she has been the dream of every man in the palace for some fifty years.”
Flare's forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. “What do you mean fifty years? She can’t be more than thirty at the most.”
The sergeant smiled. “You would think so, wouldn’t you? But you know what; her appearance hasn’t changed in the twenty two years that I've been here. Why don’t you ask her how old she is, I would love to know the answer myself.”
“But how is that possible? She’s human, and humans don’t live that long.”
Sergeant Latts shrugged, “She’s a magician. I guess she has spells that help her maintain her youth.” The sergeant seemed concerned, “But be careful Flare. Magicians are funny people. You can’t trust them anymore than you can a goblin. Magicians use people to further their own plans. Just keep your head about you, and don’t let your emotions rule your judgment.”
As they walked, Flare breathed a deep sigh, and once again thought, 'What have I gotten myself into?'
Flare was stunned when he entered Cassandra's rooms. When he left the night before, the room had been a disaster. But tonight, the room looked as if nothing ever happened. The books were back in their shelves, and the furniture had either been replaced, or magically repaired.
Cassandra also looked better than when he had left the night before. She was wearing an ankle length white dress, which was low cut and displayed her full bosom. Her hair flowed down her back and around her shoulders, and her lips were a deep sinful red. She smiled a dazzling smile.
“Hello Flare. How are you tonight?” Cassandra asked, sitting on a small couch.
“Good. How about you. How’s your head feeling?”
“Much better, Thank you. Please come here and sit down on the couch next to me.” She said, patting the couch. “I want to talk about last night.”
Flare sat down next to Cassandra on the all too small couch. He was extremely uncomfortable, and couldn’t figure out what to do with his hands.
She just smiled at his unease, as if she was used to the effect she had on men. “What do you think went wrong with my spell last night?”
“Well .... No disrespect intended, but you're the magician. Don’t you know what happened?”
“I want to hear your opinion. Perhaps you saw something that I missed.”
Flare paused momentarily, recalling the night before. “Your high elven is not very good, and possibly your miss-pronunciation of the elvish words caused something to go awry.” He went through the spell steps in his mind several times, before his face lit up. “Tell me. When you were tracing the runes in the sand, did you finish?”
“Yes. I finished, but I was in such a rush, that I think I made some mistakes.”
“Would that have caused the spell to fail?”
“It’s possible. You see each step in a magic spell must be precisely performed, and the more powerful a spell is, the more tragic a miss-step can be. How much do you know about magic?”
“Very little. I have seen some of the spells that the magicians in the guardians use, but those are only spells used in combat.”
Cassandra leaned against the arm of the couch, “Most of the spells used in combat are weaker spells. There is a very good reason for this. If a minor spell is miss-cast, then the results are usually insignificant, but if a major spell is miss-cast, then the magician’s life is in danger, and possibly the lives of those around them. In the thick of the battle, a magician doesn’t have the time or conditions to cast a major spell.”
Flare was becoming more comfortable, listening to Cassandra.
“Probably the only time major spells can be used in combat, is when a castle or town is under siege. Then the more powerful magicians can cast their powerful spells from the safety of the enemies’ camp.”
She paused, her eyes appraising Flare, “Do you understand?”
“Yes, but I have a question. If this is just a spell book, then why are you using such a powerful spell?”
“The magician that owned this spell book was remarkably powerful and talented. He invented spells that are actually multiple interwoven smaller spells, and his work is legendary. Magicians have died trying to open his spell books. I had never cast the spell that I used last night, but I felt it was my best chance of claiming the book. I think I am going to need your help.”
Flare sat up straight, surprised. “What did you say? Did you say my help?”
“Yes. You can help me with the elven language, and a
ssist me in the actual spell casting.” Cassandra leaned closer, placing her hand on his thigh. Her face was just inches from his, “I would be most grateful if you would assist me. If you make me happy, then perhaps we could find a way for me to make you happy. Will you help me?”
Flare’s heart was racing, and his whole body was on fire. The closeness of Cassandra, and what she was offering him was suffocating.
“Yes, if you’ll teach me about magic.” He was so surprised at the words that came out of his mouth that he almost looked around to see who had spoken.
Cassandra blinked in surprise, and pulled away. “What?! It's forbidden for warriors to use magic. You should know that.”
Flare had never had a desire to learn magic, but the events of the previous evening were intriguing. “You are asking me to use magic. I am only asking that I have enough knowledge to know what I’m doing, and the dangers I face. Besides, the knowledge you reveal to me may save my life someday.” Noting the look of confusion on Cassandra’s face, Flare continued, “We have magicians in our army. It’s likely that our enemies will have magic users, and if I know something of magic, perhaps it will save my life.”
“Flare, as an apprentice, I took an oath not to teach magic to warriors. I don’t think it wise to break my oath.”
“What do you mean when you say ‘teach magic to warriors’?”
Cassandra was flustered by the question. “It’s obvious; it means to impart knowledge of magic to warriors.”
Flare stood up, “When you were explaining the difference in spells to me, you were ‘imparting knowledge of magic to a warrior’. Your oath is already broken, and is no longer an adequate excuse. If you want my help, then you will have to teach me about the basic use of magic.”
Cassandra bounded to her feet, her face turning red, and fire dancing in her eyes. Her hands were gripped into tight fists by her sides. “Do not forget who you’re talking to! You’re a soldier, and your duty is to follow orders, and I’m ordering you to assist me.”
Flare was strangely calm, whereas Cassandra was in a temper. He answered her outburst quietly, but forcefully, “As far as you’re concerned, I’m just another guard. My duty is to guard you and your chambers, and I will do that to the best of my abilities. That is all that duty requires of me.”
He was amazed at his own calmness, considering he was staring into the face of an angry magician. It felt like he was watching the whole exchange instead of partaking. It felt so right, and the words seemed to flow out of him. “I don’t expect to be a master after several months of instruction, but I do believe that you can help me to understand the basic workings of magic.”
Cassandra’s mouth opened and closed several times, as she was obviously surprised at the path the conversation had taken. Finally, with a look of absolute amazement on her face, she asked, “You’re not the least bit scared of me, are you?”
“What’s to be scared of?” Flare replied, grinning.
Cassandra sighed, and absently chewed on one of fingernails. She sat back down, “All right then, if I instruct you, will you help me?”
“I have already answered that question once. You know I will.” He felt his excitement grow as she considered.
“Flare. If I do this, you must promise to take this to your grave. Do you understand? The punishment for what we are about to do is beyond horrible. Neither you or I ever want to be found out.” She wore a look of fear.
He smiled at her, his excitement growing. “Don't worry. No one will ever find out.”
She seemed slightly more relaxed, but only slightly. “All right, how much do you know about magic?”
“Nothing.” Flare answered smiling and sitting back down beside Cassandra. “I don’t know the first thing about magic.”
“Well, there are several different disciplines of the arcane arts. The most common is simply called magic. It's what I practice. Magicians use words of power, reagents, and rituals to influence and alter our environment. An alchemist who mixes a potion to help heal injury, a dwarven weapons master who forges a magical weapon or a magician such as myself are examples of this type of magic.”
She stood and paced back and forth in front of the couch. “My magic uses the desires or needs of the caster. You must focus your thoughts on what it is you desire, while you cast the spell. The great magicians can easily focus their thoughts on their needs and desires. This makes it easier for them to cast spells.”
Cassandra paused, as if expecting a question, Flare did not disappoint her.
“How does this differ from Sorcery?”
“Sorcerers control their spirit, and use this control to affect their surroundings. Magic is learned, but the ability to do sorcery is something a person is born with. Some people have it, while others do not.”
Cassandra paused, and Flare quickly interrupted her. “Sorcerers use their spirit?”
She didn’t seem to mind the interruption, “Each person has a life force, or spirit, which is what makes each person unique. Most people cannot exercise control over their spirit but some, a select few, can control their spirits and they use it to affect their surroundings.” She frowned, “Sorcery has been declining over the centuries.”
“Why? Why are there fewer sorcerers being born?”
“Nobody knows. King Osturlius was a master sorcerer, and ever since his death, ever since his curse, sorcery has been on the decline.”
He frowned at her answer but said nothing. It was always seemed to come back to Osturlius.
Cassandra continued her pacing in front of the couch. She was like a teacher warming to her subject. “Wizardry is also called summoning, or conjuring. A wizard uses the elements to create a doorway to another dimension, through which a demon is summoned. Then, the wizard uses his will to control the creature. I am sure you aware that the practice of wizardry has been forbidden since the times of Osturlius. He was one of the last known practitioners of this black art.”
“Cassandra, why was wizardry forbidden? I mean without the demons that the Dragon order summoned, the southern armies would have conquered the northern kingdoms, and plunged us into millennia of slavery. Why it is considered a black art, if it can be used for good?”
“Flare. Some things must be accepted, as they are told to you. If there had never been any wizards, then the Demon Lord wars would never have taken place, and thousands of men would not have died. The death and destruction that took place would never have happened.”
Something seemed wrong with this argument. If one person picked up a hammer and beat another person's head in, it didn't make the hammer bad, just the person. “Because the art was miss-used, does not mean that the art itself is bad. It just means that the art was abused by evil men.” Flare shrugged, “I mean couldn’t magicians abuse their power to hurt people?”
“Yes they could, but the damage a renegade wizard can cause is far more than what a renegade magician could, and wizardry has been declared a ‘black art’, and its use is prohibited.”
Flare interjected a question, when Cassandra paused. “How was wizardry banned? I mean, who decides these kinds of things?” He had a vision of an ancient room, where a group of aged men with long white beards decided what was allowed.
“Well, each discipline of magic is controlled by the masters from that art. And after the death of King Osturlius, the masters of sorcery and the master magicians joined with the leaders of the northern kingdoms and the church, and outlawed wizardry. It was an unheard of gathering, and it has never been duplicated since.” She looked thoughtful, “But you must understand that the gathering only outlawed wizardry because of the devastation of the Demon Lord wars.”
Flare wanted to continue the discussion on wizardry, but she did not look receptive.
“Well, Flare, that’s the background on the magic disciplines. It’s late, and I’m still tired after last night, so if you don’t mind, let’s stop here. We can start again tomorrow night.” Cassandra stood up and moved toward the bedroom. She stopp
ed, turning around, “Have you thought any more of the reward I offered you?”
She placed a hand on her chest as she spoke, and Flare remembered her promise of the delights she could show him. “Uh, Yes, I have.” A smile blooming on his face.
Cassandra walked over and placed her hand on his right cheek, she seemed to purr as she spoke, “Well, it's too bad you chose learning about magic to be your reward. Isn't it?” She turned and sauntered to her bedroom.
He watched her strut across the room and close the door behind her. 'Damn! I should have demanded that she teach me about magic and sleep with me.'
Over the next several months, Cassandra continued to teach Flare about magic. He showed a real aptitude for the art, and absorbed everything she taught him.
At first, Cassandra was amazed by how fast and easy he learned magic, but she soon got used to it. The instruction she was giving sped up as she became more comfortable with his abilities. Although Cassandra taught Flare the basics, she refused to let him cast a spell. That was a line that she still absolutely refused to cross.
At the same time that Cassandra was instructing Flare, his squad continued to drill with the other squads in mock battles. Their cohesion, both as a squad and as a regiment, continued to improve. He was impressed with the process made by the squad, but also worried what would happen after graduation.
With Flare's help, Cassandra quickly improved her high elven. Unfortunately, however, time was beginning to run out, as his guardian training was nearing completion. Soon, he began spending all his free time with Cassandra, trying to remove the guarding spells from the tome of magic. The inhabitants of the castle, and the other members of his squad, wrote off the numerous visits to Cassandra as young love. Neither of them minded, as the miss-conception gave them the time, and privacy, to continue working.
He was off duty the night before graduation, but instead of celebrating with his fellow guardians, he was with Cassandra.
The Guardians: Book One of the Restoration Series Page 14
