by P. Tempest
I hesitated, unsure where to go. The mage academy might be closed to me now. I don't know how quickly I would be registered as rogue. A rogue mage, one of the things we were informed didn't happen. None of us questioned it back then, I'm wishing I had now. I decided that going anywhere else would be cowardly.
I set my feet in the direction of the academy, it was my home. It was Sophia’s home the only one she had, I would be severed before I let them take it from her.
My anger rose again, taking with it my fear.
We walked in silence bar the loud echo of our steps on the solid paving beneath use.
The academy was lit, brightly lit in contrast to this side of town, but there was no one stood outside barring my way. We marched into the lobby. Empty. The only sign that Jase, Fion and Avery had been there was a small tracery of blood, probably from Jase. He had been the only one that was really wounded. I turned towards the entry to the halls. I stopped a moment looking at Airis, unsure if he would fit, but it looked as if I worried needlessly.
On we went through the empty halls until we reached our apartments. The door was stood open.
I stopped Airis with a raised hand. “Let me go in first, we don't know why the door is open.” I looked at him intensely, for a moment I thought he was going to argue, then he inclined his head slightly.
I took a deep breath and pulled my magic up, ready to trigger in a moment. A raw blast, but I doubted I would be facing gnomes in here. Raw would be fine.
I stepped through the door, Fion was sat at the dining table. His massive frame dwarfing the wooden chairs. He was sat facing the door while he fiddled with something, I couldn't see what.
“Put up your magic, boy,” he said without looking up from whatever he was tinkering with. “You don't want to fight me.”
“Why are you here?” I asked as I let my magic subside. He was right, I really didn't want to fight him.
“Did you find your girl?” he asked ignoring my question.
I walked further into the room, but not within arm’s reach of Fion through
“Airis, it should be fine, come on in,” I called, not taking my eyes of Fion.
Airis stepped into view, his warrior form looking even larger than if had in the woods. His eyes were so bright. Sophia was cradled protectively, almost out of sight.
Fion jumped out of his seat, his eyes widened in shock.
“What the fuck is going on here Tristan, where is the boy?” he asked quickly.
I smiled, a thin strained smile, “This is the boy, as you put it.”
Fion looked between me and Airis, his gaze lingered on Sophia. He looked back to me again. “You clever little fucker, you made a mortal golem,” he crowed, a smile so wide that my own twisted into something more real. I also resisted the urge to correct him. Airis was his own being not a ‘mortal golem’.
“How’s Jase?” I asked while he was distracted.
“Oh, he’s fine,” Fion said offhandedly, his attention was firmly fixed on Airis. He looked like a giant child, his mouth open eyes wide and roaming. “He is beautiful Tristan, you’re going to get yourself in a lot of trouble for him.”
“It’s not like I can make things worse, you heard Orb earlier,” I said. I looked away I couldn't bear to see how he felt about the matter.
“Bah, I didn't, I don't really care what Orb had to say. You got a healer here for Jase and the woman,” Fion said. Real emotion coloured his voice for the first time, gratitude.
I looked back at him.
“That's what mattered to me. Any ways you left. How was I supposed to hear the little ball?” he said with a shrug.
I didn't have anything to say to that, so I moved on.
“Can you help Sophia? I don't know what to do for her,” I said. I held my breath.
“She’s awakened. What have you done this time? For fuck sake, boy, she’s a child! We can’t have a child mage,” he said heatedly as he looked at her, with his distant look.
I assumed he used oversight to check her over.
“Help her, please! She is all I have left,” I said, desperation roughened my voice. It was bubbling up with the fear that she would stay like this.
“Calm yourself, she is fine. She should wake up soon. How long has she been like this?” Fion asked he looked at me.
I turned to Airis.
“Just under two days, since the wave,” Airis said. His first words since entering.
Fion looked at me seriously for once.
“She's been out for two days, see it’s nothing. You were out for a week if I remember Jase right. And more importantly you made a stone golem that speaks,” his childlike glee came back, as a little hitch in his speech. “That is so amazing, you knew the old ones couldn’t talk? Only the air and fire ones, they were a nightmare to build you couldn't attach them to anything,” Fion just shook his head in wonder.
“Airis could you take her to bed please? Oh and guard the door. Don't let anyone enter, not anyone,” I asked sternly.
Airis nodded and carried Sophia to her room.
Fion and I watched him go.
“What did the ball say?” Fion asked.
“It doesn't matter now. It’s done.” I said softly. I wavered on my feet. Now Sophia was safe, my drive was gone. The last few days caught up with me in a rush. “I need to sleep.”
I walked off leaving a dazed Fion standing there.
“Oh, could you shut the door on your way out please," I called as I left the room.
I heard a faint grunt then the door hit the frame. A small click as it caught.
I made it to my bed, mine for how much longer I had no idea but it was for now.
That was the last thing I remember as my exhaustion rolled over me.
Chapter 24
“Tristan get up!” Came Airis’ rocky voice.
I blinked and moaned as I rolled over. I was still dressed. I smelt and felt disgusting. My chest was sticking to my clothes, my wrist hurt and I couldn't remember why. I was in my room. How did I get here? I asked myself. My sleep fogged mind refused to give me the answer. I wiggled to the edge of the bed and sat up. I blinked my bleary eyes, then remembered what had woken me.
“What is it?” I called after a moment of croaking. I looked down at my wrist, a nasty looking gash along it. It stung when I poked at it, the sticky feel of the blood as I pulled my sleeve off it.
“There are some people here," Airis called back.
Shit, it all came back to me. The cell, Vance, Jase’s son. Sophia and my choice.
I stood far faster than was probably good for me the blood rushing from my head. I felt dizzy and sick. I wobbled, but didn't fall. I racked my brain for a moment, where is my bracer? Where did I last see it? I know I didn't take it to the woods. It would have been useful there.
I took a deep breath, the worst of the sickness faded. I looked around my room, I must have left it in here somewhere.
“Tristan!” Airis shouted. I trusted him to keep Sophia safe. I just needed a moment.
“I’m coming,” I called as I couldn’t seem to find my bracer anywhere. Another thing lost. Maybe someone had been in here while I was away.
I walked slowly to the door, this is it. My only thought.
I wasn't angry, I was scared. So scared that my knees felt weak, and I thought I might throw up.
I opened the door.
Airis was on the other side of the hall outside Sophia’s door. He was looking toward the main room, that I still didn't know what to call, there were a couple of figures there.
“How is she?” I asked stopping briefly.
“She’s still not woken, but she’s moving and talking in her sleep,” Airis said his voice pitched low.
I smiled, a small gentle smile.
“Thank you. Stay with her please,” I said and patted him on his rough stone hand.
He nodded and looked at me strangely. It’s hard to read a helmet for emotion, normally it doesn't come up, but my life is just full of stran
ge.
I stood taller, lifted my head high, set my shoulders and walked to my fate proudly.
I chose this. If this is the price I gladly pay it, for her.
I didn't rush, they could wait, but I wasn't slow.
I walked into the room.
Two very old, but strong looking men were waiting. Black cloaks with the hoods up. I couldn't see their hair, but each had one blue and one orange glowing eye set in heavily wrinkled faces. They were stocky and about average height. On their wrists were bright silver bracers crawling with glyphs.
I won't deny, I felt a shiver down my spine as I realise who they were.
The council’s executioners. These were the two men that had passed judgement on the nobles after the waves. Their names escaped me, but their descriptions were everywhere, as was their legend.
Twins that had been born back when our lands were whole before the nobles turned against each other. The throne has been empty a long time now. The line of the mage king died out about a century ago, but the nobles had waited maybe ten years till they started the wars to see who would become the next king.
The twins had turned ten the year before, the first crown war as it became known. They lived on one of the borders between nobles. Their village was turned into one of the largest battle grounds. The twins had gotten separated, they awakened at the same time. Fire. They tore the battle field apart in a firestorm, trying to get back to each other, they failed. They were some of the first children conscripted by the nobles. Each sworn to an enemy. They faced each other many times. But never fought. They refused. Each battle they would walk off to the side and watch together. They were a legend before the new legend.
When the waves ended, and the council rose to power, they had a decision to make. What to do with the nobles that had torn our land apart. While the council deliberated, the twins visited the head of each noble family. They left with the heads. Detached from the bodies.
They then travelled to Greenlaw, to the wizards now floating city, and presented the heads to Velar, the leader of the council. Grateful that they had saved the wizards having to worry about it, but upset that they had taken it upon themselves. The judgement he gave them was harsh, but ultimately wise.
They were bound by their oath, I didn't really understand what it had meant back when I first heard the story, to serve the council. All this went through my mind as I stood looking at them. Shivering in my boots with fear at what they were empowered to do to me if they chose.
“Tristan Sodden, for disobeying a lawful order given by an empowered being of the council. You are to come with us for judgement,” said the one on the left, his voice was strong but gentle. There was no hint of age in it.
Neither moved, they stood there, blank expressions that could mean anything.
I looked from one to the other, took a deep breath, nodded and stepped towards them. Time to face my fate.
The one that spoke went to the door while the other walked alongside me. He didn't touch me. He actually kept his distance, which surprised me. I nodded to him. I was thankful not to be clapped in irons after all that had gone on before.
He nodded in return a slight upturn to his lips.
I had no idea what to make of that, probably best not to read too much into it.
They led me out the door and through the halls, deeper into the depths of the academy. We walked in silence.
I considered making a break for it, but no I chose this. The least I could do was face it. We went down halls I didn't even know existed deep beneath the building. We ended up in a huge sunken room. Steps cut into the rock led down to an open floor, roughly hewn out of the natural stone the building was built on. As we walked down I could feel the magics of the room. This was the very core of the academy the first thing built. Embedded in the floor were old, old spells that I couldn't begin to decipher. I knew I was distracting myself from the moment, but I just couldn’t help it. Better to be distracted than piss myself in fear. I had been escorted here by two of the most legendary mages even with a reputation for bloodshed. Maybe this is why we never heard of rogue mages. They were led down here like cattle to the slaughterhouse.
I shook myself hard. I took another deep breath and set my face. I wouldn't show my fear. I lifted my eyes to the far side of the room.
My heart froze in my chest. I recognised one of the men. From a dream. He was older now, but not as much I would expect. He looked to be in his early forties, still slim, deep set eyes that blazed with power. A shimmering rainbow trapped within them. I never heard his name, but I saw him pass judgement on a couple then proceed to burn them at the stake. He wasn't alone, but I didn't recognise the other two.
“Thank you for joining me, Mage Sodden, and thank you for bringing him Delec and Kelec. We are here to decide your fate, Tristan. Do you mind if I call you Tristan?” he asked, his friendly voice crossed the room easily.
“No,” I answered. All other answers dried on tongue, unable to be spoken. I stood in the centre of the floor, almost an arena. The sides rose gradually up. The tribunal looked down on me. Just behind me the twins Delec and Kelec. It was intimidating.
“Good, right let’s move right along then, we need to get back to Greenlaw tonight. Shame about the wave, but we have lent a hand where we could while we were here. So Orb gave me the facts while the twins were fetching you. Rysan is livid, but then again, he always was excitable,” he chuckled to himself at that. “Oh, I'm Velar, sorry for being rude. I forgot we haven’t met. I missed your exam. I normally make a point to attend every one. But something came up. I’m sorry,” he waved his arm, dismissing it but looked really sincere. “Anyway you are charged with disobeying a lawful command, which is a direct breach of your indenture,” he looked at me sternly, the humour fading from his face, it left him looking stern and cold, his eyes swirled with colours. He stared at me intently watching my every movement. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?” his voice, hard and uncompromising.
I felt something rise in me, I bit it back. I looked down at my feet.
“This is your last chance, do you have anything to say in your defence?”
The memory of those words from his lips, made me forget caution.
“In my defence no. I disobeyed. Just as I should have,” I said anger forced my words. “It could have cost my apprentice her life. I did the right thing. I would do it again. If it costs me my job, my freedom, my life, it’s the least I could do for her,” I shouted.
I looked up at him. The head wizard, the man I had seen burn people alive. “Who the fuck do you think you are, standing in judgement of me? I've seen you in action. That couple, here in this very town. You tied them to a stake. You burnt them alive and made everyone watch. I chose not to blindly follow as you should have done. Do what you will. I will not defend my actions to you or to anyone else,” I spat the last words at him.
I was shaking, my magic was trying to help me, I pushed it back. It couldn't help me here.
Velar stood, he looked like I had slapped him. His mouth opened and closed a few times as he looked down at me.
I felt the twins move up beside me, they grabbed an arm each twisting them behind my back. I was forced to my knees.
I struggled.
“Get off me, you can’t force me to give respect to anyone, it’s earned. I will not bow my knee to him of my own will,” I shouted. My blood was pounding in my ears. My head felt as if it would explode.
“Let him go,” Velar said.
They clearly didn't hear, they seemed intent on breaking my arms. I let my magic rise. I felt a tingle in my head as something shifted. A sigil surfaced behind my eyes, in my mind’s eye maybe. Oddly enough I recognised it. It was my bracer’s concept. I channelled my magic into it.
Power exploded out of me. The twins went flying away as my shield flowed out from my skin in a rush. I stood up, glaring.
Velar looked astonished.
“Who taught you that?” he asked sharply.
; “Fuck off, I don't owe you answers. Let the others judge me, not you,” I said harshly. I stared at them.
The other two men up high, started whispering rapidly to each other, I didn't care enough to listen in. But whatever it was there was an argument going on between them about something.
Velar looked between his two colleagues, they each nodded once. Velar looked back to me, a smile on his face. “Tristan despite the irregularities, we accept your defence. In fact we are pleased you chose to do what you did.”
“Huh?” my shield faltered as I tried to work out what he meant.
“We are not the nobles, I don't want you to think we are. We want agents, be they mages like yourself or wizards who can think. We encourage it, but we also want men like you. That will spit in the face of injustice. That will do the right thing, no matter the cost. You have proven that you deserve to hold the power you have,” Velar said.
I looked from face to face all were smiling, except the twins who were still on the floor, groaning.
“I don't understand,” I said softly, confusion and hope warred within me. My anger fled in the face of that.
“Welcome, Mage Tristan Sodden, Welcome to the new order of the world,” he said smiling broadly.
Velar and his colleagues stood and as one they bowed to me, a deep bow.
I just stood staring at the wizards, leaders of the world bowing to me, the son of a farmer from a once unimportant town. Emotion overcame me. The exact emotion I couldn’t name.
I sunk to the floor, and I cried.
Chapter 25
I sat on the hard floor of the arena, racked with sobs, I spend a long moment trying to control my breathing to stop it, there was an odd hiccup as I suppressed it. I wiped my eyes to find Velar standing next to me. Well, over me.
“Come on, there is no need for tears,” Velar said, as he looked down at me. He offered a hand.
I nodded more to myself than anything and stood on my own.
He lowered his hand and his smile slipped a touch. “Can we talk a moment? I understand that you might not be feeling up to it. Jase and Fion mentioned what happened,” he said with what was apparently sincere concern.
