Birth of a Wizard

by MJ Schutte

  Slowly, silently, Brighton approached the window on the far side of the room. He took up position next to the window, his back to the wall. Ashley and Donic watched him with wide eyes.

  Brighton gestured for them to blow out the candle, turn their backs and act as if they were sleeping. The silver moonlight coming through the window provided very little light.

  Brighton stood in the darkness, controlling his breathing. He did not have to wait long. Slowly the window swung open. A man climbed through the window, the knife in his hand reflecting the dull moonlight.

  Silently he approached the bed. Brighton did not move. A second man climbed into the room. Brighton stepped out of the darkness and swung the cane. The thick oak crushed the man’s skull with a loud thud, killing him instantly.

  Before the first assassin could react, Brighton jumped forward, grabbed the man by his shirt, and yanked him away from the bed. The man stumbled backwards, but remained on his feet. The walking stick flashed again sending the knife flying across the room.

  Donic jumped out of bed and grabbed his sword. The assassin realised that he had no choice but to flee, so he turned towards the window.

  Brighton’s big arm closed around his neck.

  ‘Not so fast. Let’s have a little talk first,’ he growled.

  The man struggled with all his strength but he was no match for Brighton. Ashley quickly lit the candle again as Brighton dragged the man towards the door.

  ‘I’m going to have a little talk with this man. Feel free to join me,’ he said.

  Looking back at the couple, he added, ‘But get dressed first.’

  He dragged the man down the passageway and into an empty room. Shoving him onto a chair, he said, ‘Sit.’

  The man tried to get up but Brighton’s fist connected heavily with his face. In the near darkness, the man did not see the blow coming.

  ‘I said sit!’ Brighton repeated.

  The assassin scrambled to his feet and tried to run again. This earned him another heavy blow in the face. Brighton leaned over, grabbed him by the throat and yanked him up.

  Shoving him into the chair once more, he repeated, ‘Sit.’

  Finally, the man realised that trying to escape would be suicide so he slumped into the chair.

  Donic stormed into the room, sword in his hand. Ashley followed holding a candle.

  ‘Ashley, get us a few more candles, please,’ Brighton asked.

  She nodded and rushed out of the room.

  Brac also stormed into the room, followed by Adri and Lilian.

  ‘What is going on here?’ he demanded.

  ‘This man and his accomplice snuck into Ashley’s room. I was just about to ask him why,’ Brighton replied.

  Donic took a step forward, sword raised.

  ‘Wait, we need to find out what’s going on here first,’ Brighton stopped him.

  Ashley returned holding two more candles. Brighton turned around and looked at the three women in their skimpy nightgowns.

  ‘Perhaps you three should go get dressed,’ he suggested.

  All three suddenly realised that they were practically naked and rushed out of the room.

  ‘Close the door,’ Brighton said to Brac.

  He turned back to the assassin and said, ‘Who are you?’

  When the man did not answer immediately, Donic struck him right on his broken nose with the hilt of his sword. The man covered his bleeding nose with his hands and started whimpering. Brighton stepped behind him and grabbed him by the throat.

  It was as much a threatening gesture as it was a way of establishing an energy link to the man without him knowing. He could not hide his thoughts from Brighton.

  ‘Who are you?’ Brighton asked again.

  ‘Roland,’ the man mumbled past his hands.

  ‘Why did you sneak into Queen Ashley’s room?’ Donic asked.

  He did not answer, but his thoughts betrayed him.

  Jaclyn ordered me to kill her.

  Brighton gave Donic a nod, indicating he should carry on with the questioning.

  ‘How many assassins are there in Weston?’

  ‘It was only me and my friend.’

  Five more.

  ‘How did you get into Weston?’

  ‘We snuck in with the people from Fenton,’ Roland answered truthfully.

  ‘How did you know about Queen Ashley?’

  ‘Everybody knows the queen.’

  We captured and interrogated one of the messengers.

  ‘What else were you planning?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  To kill Donic.

  Brighton nodded to Donic again. They had learnt all they could from Roland. He drained Roland’s energy and quickly shared what he had learnt from Roland’s thoughts.

  ‘I will interrogate every person in Weston! I will find the other assassins and kill them!’ Donic boomed, sword held high above his head.

  ‘Calm down Donic. This is probably what Jaclyn wanted. She knew that, even if the attempt on your lives failed, it would make us panic. There is no better way of breaking our defences down than to make us distrust our own people,’ Brighton said.

  ‘Have you got a better idea?’ Donic asked, still waving his sword around.

  ‘Yes, I do,’ Brighton smiled.

  Donic frowned for a moment, then snapped his fingers and said, ‘Adri!’

  Brighton nodded and said, ‘I also have another idea. Many years ago, I learnt a little trick from Jaclyn. It’s time to use it against her.’

  Everybody returned to their rooms, although Brighton was certain nobody got any sleep for the rest of the night.

  He constantly used his sense to make sure there were no more assassins around.

  The following morning, Brighton and Lilian were sitting at a table in the dining room having some fruit for breakfast.

  Ashley walked in and immediately cast her eyes down.

  ‘Morning,’ she mumbled.

  ‘Good morning, Ashley,’ Lilian greeted back.

  ‘Um…I…I just wanted to say that last night, Donic...um… I mean we were not…Donic just came to my room to check the windows,’ Ashley stammered.

  Brighton smiled at her and said, ‘No need to explain, Ashley. Your secret is safe with us.’

  He could not resist the temptation to tease her a little, so he added, ‘It was clear that Donic was there to check something, but I doubt if it was the windows.’

  Ashley’s mouth dropped open, her cheeks going as red as an over ripe tomato.

  ‘Brighton!’ Lilian exclaimed as she slapped his arm.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he laughed.

  Brac and Adri walked in.

  ‘What’s so funny?’ Brac enquired.

  ‘We were just discussing what Donic was really doing in Ashley’s room last night. Apparently he was checking the windows,’ Brighton managed through his laughter.

  ‘I am sure the view was excellent,’ Brac said straight faced.

  Brighton doubled over with laughter, holding his stomach. Ashley did not know where to look, a horrified expression all over her face.

  ‘I…no…Brac, that’s not…’ she stuttered.

  ‘The more you defend, the more they will tease you. I don’t think these two will ever grow up,’ Adri said.

  ‘Besides, we’re all adults. I know what happened in our room last night and I’m sure Adri and Brac are not all that innocent either,’ Lilian tried to comfort Ashley.

  Donic walked in. He shot a quizzical look at Ashley, who just turned up her shoulders.

  ‘Ah, the man with the view,’ Brac said, then burst out laughing as well.

  Brighton was wiping tears from his eyes, trying his best to breathe normally.

  ‘Stop it, both of you. Don’t you have better things to do?’ Lilian scolded.

  ‘I’ll stop as soon as Donic gives Ashley a kiss,’ Brighton replied.

  Donic shook his head and said, ‘That is inappropriate.’

  Another roar of laughter came
from Brighton and Brac. Brighton tried to say something, but he could not get the words out. Even Adri and Lilian giggled behind their hands.

  ‘Look, we all know you two love each other. Just admit it and give each other a kiss. It’s the only way they will stop teasing you,’ Lilian said.

  Donic looked at Ashley. She gave him a shy smile. He stepped closer and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

  ‘No! A proper kiss!’ Brac roared.

  Ashley lifted her head up and looked Donic in the eyes.

  ‘I do love you,’ she said softly.

  He answered by putting his arms around her and giving her a long, tender kiss. A small round of applause came from the other four. Donic stepped away from Ashley and said, ‘We should discuss our next move.’

  ‘I’ve already thought about it. Ashley and Adri should do a little tour of the town, offering encouragement to the people. Adri will be able to spot anybody who wishes to do Ashley harm. The three of us and perhaps a few more trusted soldiers will stay close. Adri can point out the other assassins and we will capture them,’ Brighton replied.

  ‘That sounds like a good plan,’ Donic agreed.

  ‘I will go too. Everybody is used to seeing Ashley and me together and I can defend us with my talent, if need be,’ Lilian added.

  ‘Thank you, Lilian, but…’ Ashley started.

  ‘It’s a good idea,’ Brighton cut her off.

  Ashley nodded her agreement.

  ‘Brighton, I wanted to ask you about your meeting with Jaclyn,’ Brac said.

  ‘You went to see Jaclyn?’ Lilian gasped.

  ‘Yes, yesterday. I was hoping she would see reason and leave us and the three Kingdoms in peace,’ Brighton replied.

  ‘What did she say?’ Ashley asked.

  Brighton relayed what had happened the day before.

  ‘So, you were not able to break down her defensive barrier? That is bad news,’ Brac said worriedly.

  ‘I did not use the full force of my power. I believe that there is a way to get through her defences, but I will need help,’ he said as he turned to Lilian.

  ‘My help?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes. If we work together, I believe that we can get through her defences. Your talent is strong, even though you don’t use it often,’ Brighton explained.

  ‘Didn’t you almost kill her in the elf forest all those years ago?’ Donic asked.

  ‘Yes, she tried to kill Clarissa. My instinct to protect my child took over, I suppose,’ Lilian answered.

  ‘Think of that time when you go up against her,’ Donic advised her.

  Ashley, Adri and Lilian were strolling through the town streets. They stopped often to talk to people and offer words of encouragement. The streets were busier than normal with all the people from Fenton also being in Weston. Two of the assassins had already been pointed out by Adri and had quietly been taken away.

  She gestured to Brighton. He quickly established an energy link to her. In the bright sunlight, nobody noticed the thin white link between them.

  Which one?

  The man with the red shirt to my left.

  Brighton pointed the man out to the three soldiers at his side.

  ‘That’s three,’ he said to Donic.

  The soldiers approached the man and politely asked him to accompany them to the palace. Their orders were not to harm the men or make them suspicious. They were to simply take them to the palace pretending that Queen Ashley wanted a word with them. Each assassin was placed in a different room.

  Adri spotted another assassin and the process was repeated. It took the rest of the day to find the last one.

  Back at the palace, Ashley sank into a chair.

  ‘I can’t remember ever being that nervous,’ she sighed.

  ‘You did great,’ Donic replied.

  ‘I’m going to have a talk with our guests. They must be allowed to escape and inform Jaclyn of the terrible news,’ Brighton said.

  As he walked out, he said over his shoulder, ‘Ashley, Donic, be sure to stay behind closed doors until they have left. If they see you, this won’t work.’

  Brighton walked into the room where the first assassin waited. He put his hand on the man’s shoulder and quickly established an energy link. As he spoke, he planted an image in the man’s head.

  ‘I am sorry that you had to wait this long, my friend. Queen Ashley wanted to have a word with you, but that is no longer possible,’ he said to the man.

  ‘Why not?’ the man asked.

  ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t give you any detail,’ Brighton replied.

  He planted another thought in the man’s head.

  ‘I need to get back to Fenton to find my family. May I go now?’ the man asked.

  ‘Of course you may. I will see to it that the soldiers allow you passage through the pass,’ Brighton answered.

  He left the room, went to the next one and repeated the same little act. This man, however, got confused about going back to Fenton since he did not have any family there. Brighton ended his life quickly.

  The next two assassins accepted Brighton’s subtle suggestion but the last one also did not have family in Fenton. His life also ended swiftly.

  Walking back into the dining room, Brighton said, ‘It is done.’

  ‘Why did you not simply tell the assassins that Ashley was dead?’ Donic asked.

  ‘Because they would want to verify it. I planted an image of Ashley and Donic lying on the floor with their throats slit. This way they will “remember” the event, rather than having to rely on my word alone,’ Brighton explained.

  ‘Clever,’ Donic commented.

  ‘Do the guards know to let them through the pass?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘Yes, I’ve sent word already,’ Donic confirmed.

  Jaclyn looked at the man standing before her.

  ‘Are you certain?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes, ma’am, I saw it with my own eyes,’ he confirmed.

  ‘Thank you, you may go,’ Jaclyn responded.

  As soon as he left the tent, she said to Lance, ‘Bring the next man in here.’

  Lance motioned for a soldier to do as Jaclyn commanded. A few moments later, the soldier returned escorting another man into the tent.

  ‘You have something to report?’ Jaclyn asked.

  ‘Yes, I do. Queen Ashley and General Donic were killed yesterday,’ he replied.

  ‘How?’ Jaclyn asked.

  ‘Their throats were slit,’ the man answered.

  ‘You saw this?’ Jaclyn prodded.

  ‘Yes, with my own eyes,’ the man confirmed.

  ‘Thank you, you may go,’ Jaclyn said.

  The third man was brought before her. He confirmed what the other two had said. Jaclyn sat back and smiled.

  ‘Their leaders are dead. We are almost ready to attack.’

  Turning to Lance she said, ‘How long before those troops you sent will be on the other side?’

  ‘Assuming that they will find the cave easily enough, maybe five days,’ Lance answered.

  ‘Another fifteen or sixteen days to get through the cave and travel to Weston. We will begin our attack in about ten days to tie up all Brighton’s forces. They will not stand a chance!’ Jaclyn smiled.

  ‘You are assuming that the messengers we interrogated gave us accurate information,’ Lance warned.

  ‘I’m sure the maps they drew are accurate enough,’ Jaclyn replied.

  Donic strained his eyes to see through the mist. He and Brighton were standing on the wall between the archers. A low wooden railing had been erected along the top of the wall to give the archers some protection.

  ‘I don’t sense anybody out there. They are all still in the camp,’ Brighton said to Donic.

  ‘Why are they not attacking?’ Donic wondered.

  Brighton cast his sense wide.

  ‘I don’t know. I cannot sense anything unusual going on in their camp. They are not even getting the troops ready,’ Brighton replied.

&n
bsp; A deep frown appeared on his forehead.

  ‘Go fetch Carlia,’ he said to one of the archers.

  A short while later, Carlia joined them on the wall.

  ‘Erostagnos,’ she said with respect.

  A conversation ensued between Brighton and Carlia.

  ‘This is very strange,’ Brighton said, mostly to himself.

  He thanked Carlia and sent her back to the barracks.

  ‘What was that all about?’ Donic asked.

  ‘I thought that Jaclyn had roughly three hundred thousand troops. Carlia just confirmed this estimate and also said that she saw thousands of horses. When I used my sense a moment ago, it felt like roughly a third of her troops went missing and there is only a handful of horses,’ Brighton frowned.

  ‘Perhaps they got tired of this war and left?’ Donic offered.

  ‘With all the horses? No, Jaclyn would have stopped them. I don’t think it’s that simple, there is something else going on here,’ Brighton frowned.

  ‘Just be glad we don’t have to fight all of them,’ Donic replied.

  Brighton nodded, deep in thought.

  For the next three days, things stayed the same. Brighton and Donic spent most of their time on top of the wall waiting for an attack that never came. Brighton could still not work out why most of the horses and a large portion of Jaclyn’s army went missing. It bothered him constantly.

  Standing on the wall, he cast his sense wide again. Still there was no change in the enemy camp.

  ‘This just does not make sense,’ he muttered.

  ‘Are you still wondering why half of Jaclyn’s army ran away?’ Donic sighed.

  Brighton did not correct him, he hardly heard the general. He climbed down the ladder again.

  ‘I’m going to Brac’s house. Send a messenger if you need me,’ Brighton called up to Donic.

  Without waiting for an answer, he strolled off, walking stick in his right hand. Being surrounded by the forest always gave Brighton a sense of security and cleared his mind. Slowly he walked, thinking of Jaclyn and the missing troops.