Hand Made Mage

by James Haddock

  They turned to me as I entered, "it was as I thought. Your lands have some silver and gold on it."

  "How long will it take to get it out?" Mathew asked.

  I shrugged my shoulders, "A few minutes at most."

  "Ghost," Maddie said smiling.

  "It's in your treasury vault. You should go look. There should be enough to hold you for a while." We walked down to the vault and Mathew unlocked the door, opened it and looked in. Emily saw inside the vault and began to cry and hugged Maddie.

  We walked into the vault with lit lanterns. They stared at the piles of coins. Mathew picked one up looking at it and laughed.

  "A gift from Southland," I said.

  Maddie looked at the coins smiling. "Poke the bear much?"

  "Not me, that's Kade, I'm the sensible one."

  "You are both crazy, but you are the worst. It's a good thing you have each other. And it's a good thing I have both of you." She hugged me.

  "Yes," Mathew said flipping a coin, "I believe this will hold us for a while."

  ✽✽✽

  Crown Prince Mathew's words turned out to be prophetic. A month later Kade started receiving messages from King John. They ordered Kade to present himself at the King's Court.

  Kade replied:

  "No thank you. I Abdicate. You told me to make it on my own, or not you did not care which. I made it. I have court duties of my own to attend to."

  -King Kade the first, King of Southland.

  I didn't deliver the letter. We sent it back by a messenger from West Gate.

  I foresaw trouble coming and advised Arthur Williamson to move all of his businesses and monies from Port West Gate to Southland. Which he did. I moved the blocks of silver and gold into the Southland Treasury Vault, and turned them into Kade, and Maddie coins.

  Arthur and Mr. Hicks opened trading agreements with Hinterland. They were also in search of other nations to trade with.

  I went to the slave pens in West Gate and bought all the slaves that had a trade to offer or were farmers. I opened a portal and took them through to Southland. We put them in a warehouse temporarily until we could get farms opened or a place for them to live while they served. They were all working toward freedom.

  Kade sent letters to third Sons of our former Kingdom. Inviting them to come serve in our army. Swear fealty to King Kade, and once their service was complete, they would be awarded lands to start their own houses.

  Little was mentioned that our officers would be trained by Sergeant Major Miller, then work with the mercenary Companies. They would earn the lands they got.

  The four Centuries had completed their training and augmented the Castle and Harbor guards with the mercenaries. Top-Sergeant Cooper was made their Master Sergeant.

  Things had been relatively quiet. Maddie's belly was getting bigger, but she had no more morning sickness.

  Maddie wrote letters to third daughters, recruiting ladies-in-waiting for her Royal house.

  Hinterland's civil war was still going just not as strong. Neither side had enough support for a final victory. It was looking like I might have to go make good on a threat.

  Kade handed me a letter at breakfast. It was from King John. Once you got past all the flowery words, what it boiled down to was, they were at war with us. They were seizing all of our assets in the Kingdom. They would seize any of our ship they found wherever they found them. And they were blockading our harbor. I looked out to sea, there was indeed a ship sitting just offshore.

  "I'll be right back." I dropped through the floor and flew under to their ship. I took all of their black powder, even what they loaded in their cannons. I brought it all back and put it in our powder houses. I then raised crags up under their ship lifting it up out of the water holding it in place. I then went back to breakfast.

  "That should keep them busy." I said.

  "What did you do dear?" Maddie asked.

  "I stole all of their black powder. Including what they loaded in their cannons. And raised their ship up out of the water." I said smiling.

  Kade laughed, shaking his head.

  "I think I'll take a message to the King of my own. Nothing dangerous, just a warning. Would you like to send a letter?"

  "No, but no killing... yet." Kade said.

  "No killing... yet." I answered.

  "Can you take one to Mother for me?" Maddie asked.

  "Of course."

  ✽✽✽

  I left Maddie's letter to the Queen on the Queen's desk. I would wait until early morning before I acted, so I slept deep in the earth.

  It was about two in the morning when I put my plan into action. I slowly lowered all the castle wall down into the earth. All the Castle walls and watch towers floors were now only three feet off the ground. I left the main gate alone so traffic could still flow. I drained the moat and raised the bottom so there was only flat ground outside the walls.

  I flew under following the river to the coast where it met the ocean. I raised a reef and crags blocking ship's passage, but the river could still flow. I went back to the Castle and waited. I didn't have long to wait.

  There was lots of shouting and running around. The King and Queen were up and walking the walls.

  "I told you to leave them alone, but you wouldn't listen. How do you plan to fix this, now that we are all but defenseless?" The Queen asked. The King said nothing, he just turned and went back inside. The Queen following. That would keep them occupied for a while. Since I was here, I went down to the slave pen to see what was available.

  I went in the guise of Orcus. I entered the slave market and was approached. "I would like to see the Slave Master," I said handing him a Southland gold coin. I thought I'd start them in circulation.

  He bowed, "a moment, sir."

  He returned with the Slave Master. "My Name is Orcus." I handed him five Southland golds. "I wish to buy slaves. I need craftsmen, house servants, farmers, anyone with a skill. Family units are better. I'm not looking for concubines, no cast offs or troublemakers."

  He bowed, “of course sir, this way and I will have the best brought in for your inspection.”

  He did as I asked, he only showed his best. I bought one hundred slaves, including a dressmaker, and her family who were there because they had defaulted on a debt.

  When he had shown me all he had, he approached me. "Sir that is all the common slaves I have that fit your request. I have another that you may be interested in."

  "How so?"

  "Three ships were taken, two were guarding the third. When they took the ships, their cargo was rich. It was also carrying the niece, so she says, of a foreign King. I have sold all the captured soldiers and sailors except the lady and her four ladies. I must say she is beautiful, as are her ladies."

  "You did not try ransom her?"

  "In truth I tried, no answer ever came. I've had her for six months. You are more well-travelled than I, perhaps you could ransom her, where I could not." He was telling me the truth, as far as it went.

  "I will see her, then decide."

  "We must go to another house where they are kept, as they are ladies."

  I nodded, "lead on." They took me to a nice house in a good section of the city. We went inside and they served me wine. The ladies we brought before me. They were all pretty women. The niece was the prettiest of them.

  "Has my Uncle, The King, sent you to ransom us?"

  I shook my head, "He has not, Lady. I am here on my behalf."

  "You will buy us to ransom?"

  "Perhaps."

  I looked at the Slave Master, "A moment." I opened a portal to the Royal Gardens in Southland Castle. Maddie was there. I motioned to her to come.

  She came through the portal to me. "Talk to them, see if they are Royals."

  She nodded and went over to them.

  I closed the portal and waited while the women had their heads together talking. After a few moments she came back to me and whispered, "buy them."

  "Slave Master
, give me a total price for all I have bought today plus these five women."

  "Fifty thousand golds," he said. Maddie laughed.

  I opened a portal, "Good luck," I said, and Maddie stepped through.

  "Twenty-five thousand." He said

  "I'll give you eight thousand for all."

  "fifteen."

  "Twelve, and the portal is closing." I stepped through. The portal started closing.

  "Done, twelve thousand," he shouted.

  "And all the ladies' clothes," Maddie added.

  "And their clothes," he said.

  "Done," I said. I paid with Hinterland bills. When the Slave Master was satisfied, I sent the ladies, and their clothes, through the portal to where Maddie stood.

  The Slave Master and I returned to the market, where my other slaves were waiting. We gathered them in one place, and I opened a portal to a warehouse in Southland Harbor. There, they would be taken care of. I followed the last ones through.

  Chapter thirty-two

  Once I had our new people seen to, I went up to the Castle. Maddie and Kade were on the balcony drinking wine.

  "Who are our guests?" I asked.

  "I'm not sure, they are Royals, but how high is uncertain. She said niece, but I believe the daughter of the King of CastiIlia. King Fredrico Castile."

  "And that would make her?"

  "Martina Castile."

  I looked at Kade, "well, King Kade what will you do with your guest?" I asked smiling.

  "Me?"

  "Oh yes, this is one of those Royal problems that you get to deal with. I just build things. Ok and steal things... and kill people. Anyway, you get the idea."

  "Speak of the devil," Maddie said.

  Turning I saw that Princess Martina, and her ladies were approaching.

  When they got to us, "Princess Martina, may I present King Kade of Southland and his sister Princess Madison."

  Before she remembered who she was supposed to be, she curtsied, "Your Highness."

  Kade nodded, "Princess Martina, welcome to Southland."

  Kade turned to me, "Sir Mage, perhaps we could sup in your pavilion?"

  I smiled, "Of Course, Sire." I lay the pavilion book down and opened it. Once it had finished opening, we went inside. Kade took the head of the table as he was acting host.

  "How very nice, dear," Maddie said, giving me the "we'll talk later look." I chuckled.

  Food appeared that Princess Martina and her ladies were used to, and we spent a pleasant evening talking. They were indeed from Castillia and she was the Princess. She had said niece to keep the ransom lower, and not to be used against her father.

  "King Kade, will you ransom me to my father?"

  "No, Princess, you may leave anytime you are ready. Send your father a message so he may send a ship to get you."

  "No, order your Mage to open a portal and send us home. I do not wish to spend all that time cramped in a ship. Then my father will buy the Mage from you."

  Kade's eyes went hard. "The Mage is my brother, and not for sale at any price. And if he chooses to open a portal to send you through that will be his choice." He looked at me," do with her as you will, brother." He stood and walked out of the pavilion.

  I stood, "ladies I believe dinner is over." They all stood and left my pavilion. Once we were all outside, I closed the pavilion and put it away. I searched my gathered memories, and found that the alchemist had been to Castillia, so I could open a portal to there.

  I stepped to the balcony away from them. Set my concentration on Castillia and gathered my strength. My runes began to glow, when I felt ready, I opened a portal straight into King Fredrico's throne room. Which was pure luck but made me look good. Guards were drawing swords.

  I stepped aside, "ladies you may go."

  "Our clothes," one asked. I concentrated and their trunks came up through the floor and through the portal. The ladies walked through, the last one turned after she was through the portal.

  "What boon would you ask of my father?" The one who had said she was Princess Martina was a ruse. Now the real Princess spoke. The others were on their knees behind her.

  "Nothing… You have offended my brother, and his hospitality." I closed the portal.

  ✽✽✽

  After a week, I let the blockade ship back down into the water. They set sail for home right away.

  Our first of the third sons appeared and began training with the mercenary companies. Two more showed up a month later. The Sergeant Major put them to work straight away. So far, they were sticking with the training.

  Our town was growing, as were the number of farms. Now we were only buying slaves that were farmers and those with families if we could get them. We now had fifty active farms and they should all be self-supporting by next year.

  We had also brought in hog farmers and a few more drovers for our cattle. I was going to Hinterland once a week and buying young cows to increase our herds. We now had over a thousand head.

  Kade had been working with the mercenaries to keep busy and active. I brought Crown Prince Mathew and family in for a feast to give everyone a break. Maddie also needed some woman company. Kade and Mathew rode over much of the area looking over things and talking.

  Over dinner Mathew asked, "Ghost will you come back and build more farms for us at the price Maddie quoted?"

  I smiled, "I take it people are moving out to the farms."

  "There is a waiting list to go out on them. I could fill twenty farmsteads tomorrow."

  "I'll make you a deal, I'll come build twenty farmsteads for nothing, if Emily stays with Maddie until after the birth."

  "I would do that, anyway."

  "Quiet woman, men are bargaining here." Mathew said. Everyone laughed.

  After breakfast the next morning I opened a portal to Vigil Castle, and Mathew and I went through. I raised ten farms on the West Road, and ten farms on the South Road.

  "I started one time to raise a small fort on your East Road about ten miles out. This would be an early warning outpost and to keep bandits under control. Would that be something you'd like me to do?"

  "I like it, make it big enough for two squads of troops to stay there full time."

  "I can do that, what about on the north Road? The south and west are secure."

  "Yes, do that too, that will make the farmers feel even more safe." It took me half a day to raise all the farms, and the two forts. The two forts also had stables for all their horses, wells, and storage to hold in a siege until help came from the Castle. I also raised ten miles of road going west like I had done in the other directions.

  Once I finished my work, I told Mathew we'd see him in a week. I headed home. Curiosity got the better of me, I fast-travelled to the Capital Castle. Workmen were around the Castle digging a new moat. They were using logs to build a palisade. Well, at least the King was putting people to work. I wondered if he was paying them. I fast-travelled to the coast where I had blocked the river. They were digging a canal down to go around the crag blockade. My curiosity satisfied; I went home.

  ✽✽✽

  It was all rather anticlimactic when it happened. I had brought in a mid-wife for the birth. They went into the Royal suites and three hours later came out with a baby boy. I guess Royals did things differently. I acted suitably impressed. Everyone survived and was healthy. Which was a good thing. I must admit my son was perfect. Just like his father.

  He was crying when they handed him to me. I held him in my arms close to my chest. All the runes on my body lit-up. He stopped crying and was peaceful. My runes stayed lit for a while then went out. When I handed him back, I noticed a rune on the center of his chest. No one said anything, so I didn't.

  The mid-wife stayed with us for a while. I took Emily and children home. Time seemed to fly by. The boy who we named Maximilian and called Max, seemed to grow daily. Maybe it was because I had never been around babies before, but I thought he seemed inquisitive. He wanted to see and touch everything. Which Maddie sa
id was natural.

  We were at our normal breakfast, when my hand started tingling. This time it was different. I sensed I was being called, maybe summoned would be a better word. All the runes on my body began to glow. Kade and Maddie stared at me, Max laughed he liked the lights.

  "I have to go, I'm being summoned. I'll be back, when I can."

  "How long will you be gone?" Kade asked.

  "I don't know. This has never happened before."

  "This is a Mage calling?" Maddie asked.

  "Yes, I'll return when I can." I kissed her and Max. I clasp wrists with Kade. "Watch over them until I return."

  "You know I will." I nodded.

  I sank into the earth and fast-traveled to the Capital City Graveyard. I flew under the crypt that was calling me, but I could see nothing. There was no one around the chapel so I emerged there and went inside. On impulse I took a large purse of gold out of my pouch and put it in the collection box.

  I looked toward the crucifix at the front and bowed. "I am healed, and doing well, thank you for the water and bandage." I walked through the chapel and down the side steps to the crypts. The doors we still open and the stone knights stood silent watch at the outer doors.

  When I approach they came to life. I held up my hand. "I have been called." They stopped, stepped aside, and the doors opened. I entered, and the doors closed behind me. The room had not changed. The rotting corpse sat on his dais watching me as I entered.

  "Ah, the thief returns," he said in his hollow sounding voice.

  "Not by choice, I can assure you."

  "Much of life is not by choice."

  "True, but I never thought to see this place again."

  "And I see nothing else."

  He seemed to want to talk, so I did. "How did you wind up in this place, and in this condition?"

  "Arrogance... arrogance pure and simple." I waited for him to say more. "I was an artisan, a maker of jewelry. Then I discovered I had a talent for making my jewelry finer, more exquisite. I learned the art of runes, arcane runes. My work became true works of art, and I became jealous of them, no one deserved them but me. Until they possessed me rather than me possessing them."