Chains of the Forest

by Darin Niemann

  “Tomorrow, we’ll teach you about sparring and why it is necessary. You’d best get a good night's rest.”

  I nodded as I stood. At the door, I paused. Glancing over my shoulder, I spoke. “Thank you.”

  Riken merely nodded as I left.

  Chapter 5

  “This is Brandt. He’s an old friend of mine. I trained him way back when.”

  I cautiously shook the hand of the man in front of me, quickly suppressing the uncomfortable urges that presented themselves with the physical contact. After a quick breakfast, Riken had taken me to a large area that was clear of any of the normal doings of the city. It had a wide, stone building that he called a garrison. The garrison housed the guards that were in training along with being the central command center for the city’s guard. The place also had its own sizable stables and training yard, the latter being our current whereabouts.

  “I hear you want to learn to spar.” The man said. He wasn’t quite as big as Riken; however, he was much bigger than my half-elven size and I guessed his age at to be around thirty or so, maybe a few years younger. The man stood a bit taller than me, likely a bit over six feet tall, with light brown hair and a weathered face. He had a smile that seemed quite natural to the point that I suspected he spent a great deal of time wearing such an expression.

  I nodded, glancing around the training yard. There were a few others spread out here and there. Some seemed to be going through routines similar to the one I used. Others fought together in pairs that Riken told me was sparring. They battled with either wooden or blunted weapons in order to not seriously wound or kill each other.

  “We will stick to wooden weapons for now.” Riken ordered as he handed me a wooden sword. It must have been weighted somehow, as it felt similar to the real swords I had used before.

  Brandt also grabbed a wooden sword from a nearby rack filled with various weaponry. We stood across from each other within a marked area. There were decent sized circles on the ground, marking the edges of the ‘battlefield’. If you were knocked out of the circle you lost. If you scored a hit in a vital area or your opponent surrendered, then you won the round.

  As I faced Brandt, I calmly stood in the circle. Even though it was different, my mind was already back inside the arena. I was ready to fight to the death. I twirled my sword in my hand, to loosen the tension I had acquired. Brandt raised an eyebrow at the small display.

  “And don’t kill him.” Riken said.

  Brandt chuckled, “Of course not.”

  Riken snorted, “I wasn’t speaking to you.”

  At this, the brown haired guard looked closer at me. He saw how serious I had become and narrowed his gaze. It seemed he finally was taking this seriously.

  “Begin.” The former general’s voice called out.

  Brandt, thinking to teach the new recruit, rushed forward immediately, thrusting at my midsection. I easily dodged to the side, though I held back from counterattacking. I desperately attempted to keep in mind that I wasn’t fighting to the death, only training. I chanted in my mind, Don’t kill, over and over.

  My opponent followed through with another blow, though not at full strength so as to leave him unguarded after the swing. I dodged or parried each of his blows, getting into the rhythm of the fight. I made no offensive move, merely continuing to dance around the man’s attacks. I was beginning to relax. It was the first time I hadn’t fought someone with the intent to kill. I liked it.

  But then Brandt cursed, frustrated at being handled so easily, and swung a vicious, downward chop at my head. My calmness vanish as my instincts took over. I rushed forward as his blow was descending meeting his sword with my own halfway through its descent. Shock spread across my opponent's face as I shoved his sword back over his head. I swiftly continued forward, shoving into his chest with my shoulder, causing the man to stumble off-balance. Before he could recover, I brought my sword along quickly in a horizontal sweep aiming straight for his neck.

  “Stop! Ruvaen!” Riken’s voice reached me nearly too late, but I halted my swing just before my wooden sword collided with Brandt’s neck. I wasn’t even breathing heavily. I noticed that Brandt was staring at me in complete surprise. Rage shown in my eyes. I wanted to kill him. Brandt stumbled back from me, a hint of fear crossing his features.

  “Ruvaen!” Riken shouted once more. I shook myself physically as I lowered my blade. I had lost control. Despite fighting with wooden swords, they were weighted to feel like real ones. If my strike had landed, it would likely have broken the man’s neck. I had nearly killed him. I looked at the ground, not knowing what to say or do.

  Hand’s on my shoulders turned me to face Riken. He looked into my eyes. Surprisingly I didn’t flinch at the contact and my eyes widened. Riken smiled. “It seems to be working, though you have a long way to go.”

  He let go and turned to Brandt. “I told you he was fierce. He lacks control and, apparently, so do you.” I gathered that this last remark was due to the guards last strike on me. The one that had caused me to snap.

  “And you lot, get back to your own training!” Riken shouted out, causing me to glance around us. It seemed our fight had drawn a small crowd. I couldn’t help but think that it was a smaller version of the arena. I shook the thoughts from my mind. No, the arena was gone. This was sparring. Training. There was no killing here.

  Riken turned to me. “My thoughts are that you lack control. For the past two years, you fought mostly on instinct albeit guided by my training, limited as it was due to our being locked in separate cells.” He then grinned, “This means that we will be having you spar as often as possible until you can learn to control yourself during a fight.”

  The former general then glanced at my sparring partner. “Brandt, I did warn you that this would be rough. I won’t think less of you if you wish to excuse yourself.”

  Brandt had since recovered and was giving me a thoughtful look. He shook his head. “No, I will keep my word and help you train his control.” He smirked then, “And perhaps I could learn a bit as well.”

  Riken laughed, “Ha! Never thought I’d hear you, of all people, say that. Even if it is true enough. Well, are you boys ready for another round?”

  We both nodded, though I tried to apologize to Brandt but he waved it off. He smiled, saying that it was nothing and that we were likely to both have bruises and scratches by the time we were done. We faced off once more and began round two.

  ~

  By the time Riken and I returned home, Brandt’s words rang true. My body bore the evidence in the scrapes and bruises covering me. It wasn’t merely the physical strain that had me tired though. The mental strain of constantly staying in control and fighting my instincts and urges was exhausting. We had briefly paused for a short lunch taken with the rest of the guards. They had a cook who made meals for those on duty and those in training. It wasn’t nearly as good as what Riken’s wife, Meriel, had made but it was still filling. And it was still much better than gruel.

  Once home, Riken forced me to bathe. I nearly fell asleep in the tub, though every time my face sank under the water I awoke coughing. I didn’t say much during the evening meal, though Riken explained to his family why I was so exhausted. I was excused from helping with the cleanup and told to retire early to rest for tomorrow’s training. Upstairs in my room, I promptly fell asleep as soon as I laid out on the bed.

  I spent the next two weeks in a similar way. At first, I still had problems with control and would occasionally snap, losing my restraint. I learned quickly that Brandt was a better swordsman than I had originally thought. The only reason that I won handedly the first day was that he had underestimated me. It had happened numerous times in the arena as well, with my half-elven heritage making me less bulky than a pure-blooded human.

  A few times I was offered to spar by other members of the guard, but both Riken and Brandt said I wasn’t yet ready and didn’t want to risk me losing control during a fight with a weaker opponent. So I kept spa
rring with Brandt, day after day, losing myself in the time spent training.

  At night I would eat with Riken’s family and listen as they talked of their days. Riken had decided to take the king up on his offer and was planning with the current Captain to take over his position smoothly. Meriel mentioned how her acquaintances were overjoyed at her husband’s return and happy for her. Amara invited me to visit with her friends again but I told her I wasn’t quite ready for that yet. She said she understood, though she appeared a bit disheartened.

  One night while we were eating, I heard Amara say something that caught my interest. “You’re going to become a mage?” I asked her, to make sure I hadn’t heard incorrectly.

  Surprised that I had spoken, she nodded, “Yes, I will be leaving in the fall for the Towers.”

  “The Towers?” I asked.

  “Well, it's The Towers of Wisdom but everyone simply calls them The Towers. Untrained mages go there to be taught magic.” Amara explained.

  I leaned forward a bit in my seat, “And they will teach anyone?”

  She shook her head, dark hair swaying gently, “Not just anyone. It is a renowned school that only accepts those with the most potential as a mage. Those who aren’t quite as… powerful are sent to the Towers’ Annex. They still teach magic there, just not at such a high level.”

  Ever since I had been freed from the slave collar by that mage, Kolten, magic had become much more intriguing.

  Riken asked, “Are you interested in magic then, Ruvaen?”

  I nodded a bit shyly, though Amara thought it was great because she had a huge grin on her face, “That’s wonderful! We have something in common now. I have loved magic since I was a kid.”

  For a moment, I was taken aback. With Amara’s wide smile and eager expression focused on me, her beauty seemed even greater than it had been seconds before. I nodded quickly and smiled, then focused on my half-empty plate in order to have an excuse to look away. I had fought countless men and beasts in battle, but this was an altogether different fight. I wasn’t sure at all on how to deal with it.

  Amara didn’t seem to notice my discomfort and kept on talking excitedly. “If father agrees, we could have you tested as soon as tomorrow.”

  I glanced at Riken with my hopeful gaze. He saw my look and laughed heartily. “Of course, of course.” His laughter faded to a low chuckle. “I’ll allow you to take a break from sparring, and Amara can take you to get tested.”

  Both Amara and I were enthused over my testing. After dinner, she spent our time cleaning up telling me about the testing and how they measured one’s capacity for magic. According to her, each person was born with a limit to how much magic they could control safely and only those with the highest capacities were accepted into The Towers. The rest were sent to The Towers’ Annex.

  I awoke the next morning feeling restless and excited at the same time. Restless because I had been up late, unable to sleep due to my thoughts of the testing today. Could I really become a mage? If I did, would I be a battlemage like Kolten? What if I failed the testing today? With such thoughts running constantly throughout my mind it had taken me some time to finally fall asleep.

  Amara and I ate a small breakfast and said a hurried goodbye before making our way to the place of the testing. I realized I didn’t know where that was and asked my companion about our destination.

  “Oh,” she said abashedly, “I suppose I should have mentioned that. The Council of Mages, which is made up of the most powerful mages in our country, have maintained a Consulate within each of the major cities of Turnival. Those stationed there are required by Council Law to have at least one mage on the premises for testing at all times.”

  I thought over the new information I had just learned. A Council of Mages? Curiously, I wondered how powerful a Council member was compared to a battlemage such as Kolten. I wasn’t even sure how powerful Kolten was. Perhaps he was a ‘lesser’ mage who had learned from The Towers’ Annex. Another thought crossed my mind.

  “Is it possible to learn magic outside of a school?” I asked.

  Amara frowned, “People who train outside the schools are considered wilders. Wilders are looked down upon by those of both schools.”

  It was my turn to frown this time. “Why is that?” I questioned.

  She thought for a moment before answering, “It likely has to do with the risks involved in self-training. Without an experienced mage guiding you through the process, accidents can occur. And magical accidents can cause a variety of chaos and destruction, from merely harming yourself to harming those around you.”

  If magic was anything like fighting, then accidents could happen regardless if a teacher was nearby or not. I wondered if there was more to the dislike of wilders than what Amara knew. Our conversation was halted as Amara stopped and said, “We’re here.” We had finally arrived at the Mage Consulate.

  I had seen many large and elegant buildings upon entering the capital city. The Mage Consulate, though not as large as some, seemed more luxurious by far. The two-story building was a combination of wood and stone, though most of the visible material was polished wood. It appeared as though untouched by the elements of nature. I mention this to Amara.

  She smiled, “I had the same reaction when I first came here. I was told that magic prevents weather from damaging the building. It’s no doubt a show of extravagance as it is difficult to make the magic work without completely blocking off vital elements like the air we breathe.”

  I returned to staring at the building as we approached, trying to visually see the barrier in effect. I gave up when we reach the gates, having noticed nothing out of the ordinary. The guards at the front let us pass without incident. They even waved a small greeting to Amara, confirming that she had been here more than a few times. The inside appeared just as pristine as the outside had looked, with paintings and trinkets decorating the walls and furniture.

  Amara led me to a sitting room that had enough chairs and couches to accommodate at least two large families. We sat in a pair of chairs while I stared at something that had caught my attention. There were small, hand-sized spheres resting in discs. I wasn’t sure what they were made of, though it seemed to be some sort of dark metal. The amazing thing that had caught my interest was that the sphere gave off light, at least as much as a basic torch.

  Amara noticed my gaze and smiled, “Magelights. Have you ever seen them before?” She asked me.

  I shook my head still studying the spheres scattered throughout the room, though I didn’t dare touch them.

  She continued, “It was one of the first things that made me want to become a mage.” When I looked at her, a light pink hue marked her cheeks, “When I was little I didn’t like the dark. Always having a light nearby was my dream.”

  We grew silent as we waited. It took me a moment to realize that nobody knew we were here. I asked Amara if we should attempt to find someone. She shook her head and smirked, “The mages knew we were here the moment we set foot into the building. They have magical wards that can tell when people cross them.”

  The more I learned about magic and what it could do the more interested I became. I decided then and there that even if I wasn’t strong enough for The Towers then I would at least learn all I could in The Annex.

  We only had to wait a few moments longer before someone came to greet us. Amara stood when he entered, so I did the same. He appeared to be around thirty years old with long, brown hair and a white robe of fine silks with an emblem indicating five colored towers sewn near his left breast. The sleeves of his robe had three black bands.

  “Greetings, Amara. It is good to see you. And who might this be?” The man had a lightness to his voice and a warm smile sat upon his face.

  Amara smiled in return, “Well met, Mage Franek. This is my friend Ruvaen. We are here to test his potential.”

  “I figured as much. Come, sit. Please, call me Franek.” We sat and the mage sat across from me, pulling his chair close.

&n
bsp; “Now, all you need to do is close your eyes and attempt to clear your mind of all thoughts. If you have ever meditated, this is quite similar. I will place my hand on your forehead and attempt to sense your capacity for mana.”

  I nodded, closing my eyes and clearing my mind of thoughts. I was proud of the fact that I didn’t flinch when his palm touched my forehead. We sat this way for more than a few minutes before Franek finally removed his hand. I opened my eyes to see him looking at me thoughtfully.

  Amara leaned forward expectantly, “How was it?”

  The mage smiled at her enthusiasm, “He does have potential as a mage. It seems that his mana is leaning towards the wind attribute. However, he likely doesn’t have the capacity to be accepted into The Towers of Wisdom. If he wishes it, he could be a top student in The Towers’ Annex.”

  Her smiled weakened slightly, though Amara still congratulated me. “How does it feel having potential to be a mage?”

  Even if I couldn’t enter The Towers, knowing that I could learn magic made me grin. I wondered what the wind attribute meant? I would ask Amara later. “It feels somewhat unbelievable.”

  “I know exactly that feeling.” Amara stated. “It was the same for me when I was tested.”

  Franek coughed politely to get our attention. He stood as he spoke. “Well, if that is all then I shall be returning to my work.”

  We stood as well and shook hands with him before we made our way out. I didn’t have much trouble with the contact which improved my already good mood. Riken’s sparring was really helping. I supposed that finally living free for a couple of weeks may have had an influence as well.

  I couldn’t help but feel excited at the thought of learning magic. I had finally found something I wanted to do rather than something that simply needed to be done. When we returned home, Amara and I discussed mages in more detail.