Lusam: The Dragon Mage Wars Book One

by Cadman, Dean

  “Ah … wonderful, dinner has arrived,” announced Mr Daffer, breaking the silence.

  “Is everything alright Lusam?” asked Lucy, looking a little concerned at how quiet he had become since he'd been given the news.

  “Yes … yes of course. Why shouldn't it be?” replied Lusam, squirming a little in his seat as he said it.

  “It's just you seem a little … preoccupied ever since we told you that you were both welcome to stay here as long as you like with us. I thought you might be happy here,” Lucy said, catching him completely off guard.

  “Oh, no. I mean yes. Yes of course we'd be happy here with you both. Your offer is a very kind one. I … we … Neala and me, kind of had plans for after we finished here, but we haven't had time to talk since before, you know, before what just happened,” Lusam stammered, his face flushing to a bright red.

  “Oh, is that all it is?” asked Lucy, looking relieved. “I thought we had done something to offend you in some way.”

  “No … no, not at all,” Lusam quickly replied. “You've both been incredibly kind to us. The last thing I want to do is insult either of you by refusing your generous offer, especially after all you have done for us.”

  He was about to continue, when Lucy laughed and said, “Oh, I'm sorry Lusam. I think you may have misunderstood our intentions. Of course you'll have plans for your future together, you're both very young still. You should know the offer remains open for you both, no matter what you decide to do now. If you decide to go off together and explore the world now, but need somewhere to stay in the future, our home will always be open to you both. What we're really trying to say is: if you ever need help, now, or in the future, and it's within our power to help, we would always do so willingly, you need only ask.”

  Lusam sat at the table trying to absorb the information that Lucy had just given him. He now had a home to return to, and for the first time in a long time, he also had a place he could call home.

  He was lost deep in thought when Neala took hold of his hand and gave it a small squeeze, bringing him back to the present. “I don't really know how to thank you both for your kindness,” Lusam replied, slightly choked up and with tears of joy starting to form in his eyes.

  “Nonsense! We have thanks enough already. I have my Lucy back, when I thought I had lost her forever. So I propose a toast … To the future, and whatever it brings!” said Mr Daffer, raising his glass. They all lifted their glasses and repeated the toast; 'To the future, and whatever it brings.'

  It was the day of the carnival, and both Neala and Lusam were looking forward to spending some time together, as well as spending some of their hard-earned cash. Lusam had never been to a carnival before. Once a year the carnival would come to Helveel, but the street kids were forbidden to enter the town square while it was running. Any street kid caught within the town square while the carnival was taking place, would be treated as a thief and dealt with accordingly. Once the carnival had packed up and left the town square, it became rich pickings for the street kids. So much wasted food and other items lay discarded all around the square, the guards turned a blind eye to the street kids taking their fill. Lusam knew the more the kids cleaned away, the less the local officials would need to arrange to be removed later.

  Lusam never tried his luck with any of the items left behind by the carnival. The amount and relative quality of the plunder meant it was often fought over by the street kids. They would form gangs and alliances days before the carnival would even arrive. It was a dangerous time of year to be a lone street kid: many found themselves targets of the gangs around that time. As fast as the gangs and alliances were formed, they would just as quickly disappear again, as soon as the carnival had left town and it's remains fully plundered.

  Lusam remembered his first year in Helveel, when he almost became a victim of one of these gangs, but he'd been fortunate enough to lose them in the back streets of Helveel. He remained mostly in his grate for the next few days until the carnival had left town, and things returned to normality again. The following year he had decided not to take any chances, and instead spent the time in the forest outside Helveel.

  This year would be different. He was no longer a street kid of Helveel. He would have money in his pocket to spend and clean clothes on his back. No one could accuse him or Neala of being street kids any longer, they would be free citizens of Helveel, and would have the freedom of the city at last.

  Mr Daffer had paid them for their work cataloguing the books, and together with the gold coins Lusam had made from the river, they each now had a good sum of money. Lusam had never had more than a coin or two in his pocket in his whole life. He didn't really know how to deal with having such a large amount of money on his person at any one time. Neala had shown him how, and where, best to carry his coins for safety, using the special leather coin pouches they'd bought in Helveel. She'd also suggested that they leave most of their coins in one of the chests, in the basement of the shop, while they visited the carnival, and only take with them what they might need for that day.

  Mr Daffer had offered them both rooms upstairs in the main house after Lusam had recovered, but both Lusam and Neala felt more relaxed in their old sleeping cells, and had politely refused his offer. Lusam looked around his sleeping cell and knew he would really miss this place when they finally left. He was very happy knowing he could return here if he needed to, or wanted to, in the future for any reason.

  “Hey! Are you ignoring me?” Neala asked.

  “Er … no. Why?” Lusam replied confused, standing up from his bed.

  “I called your name three times. I thought you'd gone without me.”

  “Sorry … I was just thinking about things, that's all. Are you ready to go?”

  “That's what I was trying to ask you. So, I guess we're ready then.”

  “Great. How much money do you think we should take with us?” Lusam asked, weighing his coin pouch in his hand. “I doubt we'll need more than one gold between us. But make sure you take small value coins, and distribute them in different pockets. I know the street kids are not permitted to be there, but there'll certainly be plenty of cutpurses and pickpockets watching the crowds. You don't want to be pulling out large numbers of coins, or high value coins, in plain view,” Neala said, in a mother to child type voice.

  “Okay, thanks. I'll do that,” Lusam replied sheepishly.

  “Good, let’s go then. Oh … wait a minute. I'll be right back,” Neala said, as she quickly vanished from Lusam's room and headed for her own sleeping cell. One minute later she reappeared in Lusam's doorway, still buckling on her throwing knife belt.

  “We're going to the carnival, what do you need those for? Unless you intend to entertain the crowd with a knife throwing exhibition,” he said, with a smug look on his face.

  “Ha! Ha! Very funny! You never know when you might need your weapons. It's always better to have them with you, than find out later that you need them, and not have them.”

  “I suppose so,” agreed Lusam; less than convinced. Clicking his fingers together in a flamboyant gesture, he extinguished the light that was glowing on the ceiling of his cell, plunging it into darkness as he left the room and headed for the stairs to the shop above. Neala just rolled her eyes and followed in his wake, muttering something about boys and show-offs to herself. Lusam just smiled to himself, and pretended not to hear her.

  As they approached the carnival they could hear the music playing in the distance, and smell the deliciously tempting foods on offer at the numerous stalls around the town square. People filled the whole area, all buffeting each other for a better view of the latest act on stage at the far end of the square. Jugglers dressed in motley costumes dotted the crowd, some high up on stilts, others balancing on the shoulders of their partners. One was juggling with a set of flaming torches, while another used vicious looking knifes. Everywhere they looked, something was happening.

  There were signs depicting various acts and attractions. Eac
h sign had both a picture representing the activity, and the words above it for the few people who could read.

  “What should we see first?” Lusam asked, still overawed by the sheer scale of the event.

  “I'm not sure. Maybe we should just work our way around and see what we find as we go?” Neala suggested.

  “Sounds like a good enough plan to me,” Lusam agreed, taking hold of Neala's hand as they started making their way towards the first tent. Outside, there was a large picture board depicting a knife and a lady wearing a tunic and leggings. Above the picture were the words: The Great Ormando.

  “I wonder what this is?” Lusam asked. A skinny man wearing a black suit overheard his question, and answered before Neala even had the chance.

  “Only one silver coin each to witness something so spectacular, you will be telling your grandchildren about it years from now. Roll up! Roll up! The show is about to start. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the amazing skill of the Great Ormando!”

  “What do you think? Shall we go see? Come on, let’s go see this amazing Great Ormando,” Lusam said excitedly, all the time tugging on Neala's hand.

  “Okay, okay, let’s go see what all the fuss is about,” Neala agreed.

  Lusam placed two silver coins in the palm of the skinny man's hand, and then headed directly for the door to the large tent, with Neala following close behind him. When they entered the tent they saw several rows of chairs, most of which were empty, and a large stage at the front. Lusam headed directly for a seat on the front row, and Neala followed his example. They sat down, still holding hands, while Lusam looked around the large tent with a child's curiosity.

  Neala smiled at his reaction to a simple tent containing nothing more than a few props of a carnival attraction. It was then she actually realised just how restricted Lusam's childhood and adolescent years must have been. Although she'd not had a family in the usual sense of the word, she had grown up with a lot of freedom. She had seen many carnivals over the years, even working as a thief at some. To her, this was normal. To Lusam it was something special. She loved his innocence, and she loved him beyond words. She released his hand and turned his face towards her. Looking into his innocent eyes she whispered, “I love you Lusam.”

  Lusam flushed a little at her unexpected declaration, but returned the words without delay, “I love you too Neala.” Then he kissed her tenderly on her lips, before they both enveloped each other in a much more passionate kiss. Lost deep in the effects of young love, they didn't notice the props being brought onto the stage in front of them, ready for the main attraction.

  A few minutes later, their over exuberant kissing was interrupted by the same skinny man from outside, announcing the show was about to start, and that everyone should now take their seats. Glancing behind him, Lusam was shocked to see an almost a full tent of people now seated behind them. More than a few looking in his direction with a look of disgust on their faces, obviously due to his and Neala's prior activities. Turning around to face the front he sank a little lower in his chair, before reclaiming Neala's hand and settling in for the start of the show.

  “Ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome on stage … The amazing! … The magnificent! … The stupendous! … THE GREAT ORMANDO!”

  The crowd roared and clapped as a man dressed in a frilly white shirt and black trousers walked onto the stage. He was closely followed by a young woman dressed in a tight fitting tunic and leggings. The young woman was escorted to the far end of the stage, where she was attached to a large wooden board by her wrists and ankles. Then the Great Ormando returned to the other end of the stage, before removing a knife and demonstrating how sharp it was on a piece of paper.

  Lusam realised what was about to happen just as the man let loose with his first throwing knife. It thudded into the board, just missing the young woman and gaining him huge applause from the crowd. Neala just laughed loudly, and the man on stage actually turned to look at her as it interrupted his next throw. Feeling so silly for making Neala come and watch something like this, he turned to Neala and said, “Sorry, I didn't know it would be … ”

  “It's fine. Don't worry. Let’s watch this Great Ormando. Maybe he can teach me something,” Neala replied, still giggling at Lusam's expense. “Would the young lady in the front row care to share with the rest of us what she finds so amusing? Or maybe she thinks the unmatched skill of The Great Ormando is something to laugh at. If you wish to steal the attention of The Great Ormando, maybe you should be the one up here on stage young lady,” came the sneering voice from the stage.

  Lusam saw the immediate reaction in Neala's face to his challenge, and cringed at the potential outcome. “Neala … don't,” was all he managed to say before she vaulted onto the stage, taking the audience and even The Great Ormando by surprise. The hushed whispers coming from the audience behind Lusam were getting louder as each person gave their prediction of what would happen next. He doubted any of them had as good an idea as he did, as to what might happen next.

  The Great Ormando looked visibly shaken that Neala had responded by leaping onto the stage the way she had. He'd obviously expected a different reaction from her. Neala walked calmly over to him. She removed a knife from her belt, placed the tip of it on his chest, and walked him at least ten paces further back than where he'd thrown his earlier knife. Then she turned back towards the woman, who was now struggling frantically, without success, to free herself from her bonds. Neala removed her remaining five throwing knives, and threw one after the other, so fast that it seemed like all six were in flight at the same time. The young woman screamed and the audience's reactions ranged from gasps, to words Lusam had never even heard before. Six loud thuds confirmed all the daggers' flights had ended. Each of the six daggers were perfectly arranged to create a halo effect above the young woman's head.

  The crowd were stunned into immediate silence, as each of them tried to decide if this was in fact actually part of the show. Neala casually walked over to the young woman and retrieved her knives, before whispering something to her. Jumping off the stage, she walked over to Lusam and offered him her hand, which he took as he stood up, then they left a completely silent tent behind them, and exited out into the hustle and bustle of the carnival outside. Neither Lusam or Neala noticed the two men exit the tent behind them.

  Lusam waited until he thought Neala had calmed down enough. He was about to apologise for taking her to see something that she obviously would never have enjoyed, when she said, “Sorry Lusam, I didn't mean to spoil the show for you. He just really annoyed me.”

  “Oh, don't apologise. It was my fault for taking you to a show like that. I'm the one who should be saying sorry, not you. Besides, now he has to change his name.”

  Neala looked rather confused, and asked, “What do you mean, change his name?”

  “Well. He can hardly claim to be The Great Ormando, unmatched in skill any longer can he?” Lusam replied, trying very hard to keep a straight face.

  “No, I guess he can't,” agreed Neala, laughing at Lusam's joke. “Come on, let’s go get something to eat, then we can find a show to watch that we can both enjoy,” Neala suggested.

  “Okay, but only if you promise me not to throw any more of your knives at the people on stage,” teased Lusam.

  “That depends how bad the show is,” Neala replied, grinning back at him. Both laughing, they headed off to buy something to eat.

  They eventually bought some sweet pastries and other items to eat from one of the food vendors, and then made their way towards the main stage area. The man who sold them the food had informed them that the main attraction would be starting on stage in the next few minutes. He'd suggested they should try and get a good vantage point to see the show, as it was a truly excellent spectacle. Having heard similar claims from the skinny man outside the knife throwing tent, Lusam was a little sceptical about how good it would actually be. He decided to ask the man what kind of show it was this time, and was amazed to hear it would
be a magic show.

  Apart from his grandmother, Lusam had never seen anyone else do any kind of magic before. He was very interested to see what this man or woman would do on stage. He was also very surprised that anyone would openly display their ability to use magic in public; even advertising the fact.

  Maybe his grandmother had been wrong after all. Maybe letting others know he could use magic wouldn't be as bad as she had thought it would be. After all, how dangerous could it be if this person was about to perform magic on a stage in front of all these people?

  They both tried to make their way towards the front of the crowd, but there were just too many people in front of them, all waiting for the main attraction to start. They decided to stay where they were, which left around twenty rows of people in front of them. The view from here was not ideal, but it was a lot better than where they had started, which was at least twice as far back.

  It seemed like a long time later when a strange looking man wearing a black cloak, covered in white stars and half-moons walked onto the stage. The audience applauded loudly as he came to the centre of the stage and bowed deeply to them.

  “Ladies and gentlemen. What you are about to witness is magic in its purest form. No trickery or slight of hand, only magic. Please, enjoy the show,” the man announced, before taking another bow to the audience. The audience applauded loudly again, even Lusam became excited at the prospect of seeing another person perform magic, and clapped his hands enthusiastically.

  Lusam instinctively slipped into his mage-sight to take a look at how bright this man's aura might be, but he was stunned to see that his aura was no brighter than most other people's in the audience. He knew this man could not possibly perform any kind of magic. In fact, he would be very surprised if he was capable of even sensing magic in others. Lusam was about to tell Neala that he was a fraud, when something else caught his attention. Right at the front of the crowd, next to the stage, was the unmistakable crimson aura of the man they'd seen several months earlier in the west district: the one who had been inspecting the bodies they had left there. A shiver ran through Lusam when he remembered the feeling this man had caused, as he probed his mind that day.