Light in the Barren Lands: Travail of The Dark Mage Book One

by Pratt, Brian S.

  Not long after the expulsion of the Empire from Madoc, The Pits had been rebuilt, or rather, made to function. The original Boss of the Pits had never returned, so Scar and Potbelly took over, and now the Pits had become even more popular than before. The fact that the two new Bosses were close comrades to the one who was instrumental in throwing off the yolk of the Empire played no small role in its newfound prosperity. Where before the Pits was underground and considered to be criminal, now it was borderline legitimate.

  But with legitimacy came a price. No longer were fights to the death, though those still happened on occasion. Instead it was more about the fight, than the kill. Many of those who had frequented the Pits before the Empire invaded thought it was but a shadow of its former glory. But, the new Bosses could arrange a clandestine fight like the old days, if the price was right. And for those who were in the know, knew that there was the Pits, and then there was the Pits! As often as not, Tinok would fight in the latter.

  Jiron worried for his friend, but knew there was little he could do. When asked if he wished to accompany them on this trip, Tinok had declined.

  “Look!” Jira cried excitedly.

  Brought out of his reverie, Jiron followed his daughter’s little arm to where it pointed in time to see a fish splash back into the water. He glanced to his wife and grinned. Their daughter’s excitement was infectious.

  The Water Sprite emerged from the harbor and set a course to round the southern end of the narrow island, due west of Cardri. The water was smooth, the air salty, and a little girl was in heaven.

  Not long after entering open water, the Captain came forward to join them. “Good to see you again Captain,” greeted Jiron.

  From her vantage overlooking the prow, Jira glanced back to give the Captain a warm smile. Though as affable as Tobias, there was a greater sense of propriety when dealing with Captain Smythe. There would be no jumping into his arms as she had done with Toby.

  “You too Jiron,” replied Captain Smythe before giving Aleya a brief bow of respect. To Jira he asked, “Any dolphins yet?”

  Turning back to scan the water’s surface, she replied, “Not yet Captain.”

  “Keep looking,” he replied. “They usually appear before we round the horn.”

  Glancing back to him, she gave him another grin and said in her best imitation of sailor speak, “Aye, aye Captain!”

  The adults laughed as she turned back to hunt for the elusive dolphins.

  “She has grown quite a bit since last you sailed with us,” commented the Captain.

  “Yes,” agreed Aleya. “She’s becoming quite the handful.”

  Jiron laughed. It was all too true. “So Captain, do you think we will reach the island by nightfall?”

  The captain nodded. “Wind’s out of the west which will slow us, but at least the water’s calm. We’ll make it.”

  “Father!” exclaimed Jira. “Dolphins!”

  Glancing over the rail, they spied three riding the waves created by The Water Sprite’s passage. “Right on time,” commented Captain Smythe. For up ahead, the island’s horn was drawing near.

  Once around the horn, the helmsman turned them southwest as the sailors unfurled the remainder of the sails. With the sails fully extended, The Water Sprite fairly flew across the water.

  “Sail ho!” cried the lookout high above in the rigging.

  “Where away?” hollered the captain.

  “Ten degrees off the starboard,” replied the sailor.

  Moving to the starboard rail, the captain sought the vessel.

  “She’s turning toward us Captain!” the lookout cried.

  Coming up behind the captain, Jiron asked, “Trouble?”

  Ignoring the question, the Captain closely examined the boat. He couldn’t quite make out if it was flying colors or not. “Whose is she?” he hollered up to the lookout.

  A moment’s silence, then, “She’s not flying colors Captain.”

  “Pirate then,” he replied to Jiron and his family. “Mister Tobias!”

  “Yes, Captain?” said the sailor.

  “Run up the flag,” he replied.

  “Aye, sir.” Hurrying to the captain’s cabin, he re-emerged a moment later carrying a folded, white flag. In short order he was attaching it to the color’s line and running it aloft. When the wind hit it and the flag billowed out, all could see the black tower insignia adorning it.

  “What’s that, father?” asked Jira.

  “It tells everyone who sees it that this ship is under the protection of your Uncle,” he explained.

  “Oh,” she replied.

  “Once in a while you get a new captain who’s gone rogue who isn’t familiar with its significance,” explained the captain. “Though we haven’t had a problem with pirates for two years now. Word has spread.”

  Jiron nodded. He well remembered the never ending parade of people drawn to James after his exploits in the Empire. Being relatively good natured, James endured it far longer than Jiron would have. Had it been him, he would have knifed a few as an example long before it grew so bad.

  James didn’t have a moment’s peace. Trendle was being inundated with people from all over looking to curry his favor and ask for help in all sorts of endeavors, none of which was of interest to James. And along with those searching him out, came the riffraff. Crime in Trendle skyrocketed.

  He finally came to the decision to move so those he cared about could have their lives back. But where to move? He needed a place located where a person could not just show up unannounced and one that people did not want to venture to in the first place. He finally came up with the Captain’s Archipelago, a group of islands some distance off the coast of Cardri

  On the face of it, it was perfect. Only way to get to it was across a large expanse of water, which would preclude all but the truly desperate from even making the attempt. It also had a notorious reputation as being a lair for pirates and other ne’er-do-wells. The threat of pirates would have scared off another man, but after what James had already gone through, pirates were of little consequence.

  So off he went with Meliana, who at the time was pregnant with Kenny, and settled on the Archipelago’s southernmost island. Jiron, Aleya with baby Jira, and others came to help them build their home and get settled.

  Lord Pytherian convinced the Madoc Council to spring for a master carpenter and a master builder. Illan provided an elderly couple from southern Madoc whose family had been lost in the war to help maintain the residence and see to the basic needs such as cooking, grounds work, etc.

  The manor house went up in record time and all seemed to be going well. Then the trouble started. It was about a month after those who had helped him get established on the island returned to the mainland that a pirate raiding party came calling one night. Morning’s light found two score dead pirates. James had wiped them all out.

  Their ship was still anchored off the beach on the southwestward side of the island. Determined for there to be no further attacks, he loaded the dead pirates on the ship, returned to shore, and waited. It wasn’t long before another pirate ship appeared, perhaps seeking to discover why the dead pirates failed to return, or intent on pillage of their own. Whichever the case, James was going to put a stop to it once and for all. As the ship came alongside the one now crewed with the dead, he summoned the magic.

  Jiron still grins whenever he thinks about how James made the dead pirates appear to rise, how spectral shapes from some hellish vision emerged from the water and swarmed toward the newly arrived pirate ship. Needless to say, that was the last time a pirate sailed within sight of James’ island.

  But though he kept the island free of pirates, out on the sea was another matter.

  His island was predominantly self sufficient, but they still required periodic supply shipments of those items they could not produce for themselves, such as cloth, bowls, and crystals. Also, friends would come calling, and Meliana’s father’s ships would stop by from time to time to se
e his daughter and grandson. He needed a way to designate ships so pirates would leave them alone. So he came up with the flag.

  Meliana’s father was acquainted with Captain Smythe and vouched for him to be an honest trader. James approached him and arranged for him to be the sole supplier to his island. In return, Captain Smythe would receive several items of magical interest with which to sell for his troubles, such as a knife that cuts hair but not skin. Those knives have begun to be sought after and fetch a handsome price, especially by the owners of large flocks of sheep.

  The first year, James had to send three pirate ships to the deep before they finally got the message. Now, he hardly ever had to worry about it. About once a year a captain tested his resolve only to feel the “Dark Mage’s” wrath. For that is what he was beginning to be called. Frankly, he didn’t care as long as it kept people away and they could have their privacy.

  The unknown ship drew closer over the course of the next half hour until veering off and heading for the horizon.

  Captain Smythe nodded. “That flag comes in handy,” he announced.

  Jiron grinned. “I bet it does.”

  For the remainder of their journey to the “Isle of the Dark Mage”, as James’ new home is now called, no other ship was sighted. Which wasn’t too surprising given that they were entering waters notorious for pirates.

  By midafternoon, land was spotted coming out of the horizon to the west. “Is that it father?” asked Jira.

  “Yes it is,” he replied. “Wonder what your uncle has been up to this last year?” Their last visit coincided with Kenny’s previous birthday. It being a long trip from The City of Light to this far west, they weren’t able to make it as often as they would like.

  James had offered a place on his island for them, but Jiron had declined. The City of Light was his hometown and he didn’t wish to be parted from it. Also, many of his friends from his early years still called the city their home. At least Kenny’s birthday afforded them an excuse to make the long journey once a year.

  Footfalls upon the deck foretold the approach of Tobias. “Captain said we’ll be dropping anchor in a little over an hour,” he said as he came to the rail. Glancing down to where Jira leaned over the rail, he asked her, “Seen anything unusual?”

  Coming upright, Jiron’s daughter turned her head toward him. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I hear the Dark Mage has monstrous creatures that patrol his island,” he explained.

  Jiron noticed him glance sidelong at two sailors who were new to the crew that stood not far off. At the mention of “strange creatures”, they grew quiet and turned a little further in Toby’s direction. Not so far that they would be conspicuous in their eavesdropping, but far enough that Jiron had picked up on it.

  Playing along, Jiron asked, “On the last trip over, didn’t we see one drag a pirate ship under?”

  “Indeed,” replied Toby with a grin. His head was turned just far enough to shield his grin from the two sailors. “But that isn’t the half of it,” he continued. “A band of Glerhan have come and offered him their allegiance.”

  Wide-eyed, Jira asked, “What’s a Glerhan?”

  “Creatures from the deep in the shape of a man,” he explained. “They wear no clothes and are coved in scales. Fins protrude from their backs and atop their heads.”

  “Ooooo,” said Jira.

  While casting glances over the rail to the sea, the two sailors began edging closer.

  “Their mouths are filled with razor sharp teeth,” he said.

  “Really?” she asked.

  “Yes, Jira. Really!”

  Jiron could hardly contain his amusement as the two sailors kept eyeing the water nervously.

  “And do you know what is the most curious thing about them?” he asked her.

  “What?” she asked.

  “They ride giant kraken,” he answered. “Themselves monsters of great power, yet to the Glerhan are nothing more than steeds.”

  “Wow,” she said. “Do you think we’ll see one?”

  “Let’s hope not,” he said in mock seriousness. “For once they smell you…” Leaning closer he brought his face closer to hers. Then with great speed, his arms shot forward and his fingers tickled her middle. “They eat you!”

  Jira laughed and giggled as Toby seemed to find all her most ticklish spots.

  Jiron grinned broadly too. Whether at the reaction Toby brought out in his daughter, or because of the two sailors talking in hushed, nervous tones as their gazes scanned the surface of the water. Shaking his head, he wondered how long until this tale made the rounds and became part of the growing lore surrounding the Dark Mage.

  Chapter Two

  ________________________

  The island steadily grew closer. It was a lush island of verdant greens, which was one of the reasons James had been attracted to it. The northern half was rugged and mountainous, its outward shoreline peppered with dangerous crags and hidden coves. The southern was much more level and closer to sea level.

  It was to the southeastern shore of the island that Captain Smythe set his course, for there was built a long dock to which ships the size of The Water Sprite could moor. It extended far enough from shore that ships with deeper keels needn’t fear running aground.

  As they drew closer, more of the island’s detail came into view. Just north of where they were to dock, the land began rising to a height of several hundred feet. Atop a plateaued area in clear view of the dock stood a dark, ominous castle. Clouds ringed its height and flashes of lightning arced with alarming frequency.

  “What is that?” Jiron heard a sailor ask. Glancing over his shoulder, he recognized the sailor as being one of the two eavesdroppers from earlier. The man stared with unease toward the castle.

  “It’s his lair,” Jiron said. “It’s where he takes those his Glerhan capture.”

  “Wha…What does he do with them there?” asked the sailor.

  “Things you couldn’t imagine even in your darkest nightmares,” he replied.

  The soldier swallowed hard.

  Jiron saw Jira staring at him with eyes wide. To allay her fears, he gave her a quick grin and nodded ever so slightly toward the sailor.

  She immediately grinned back upon realizing her father was having a bit of sport with the man.

  They were coming in on their final approach, now less than five hundred feet away from the dock, when suddenly The Water Sprite gave a shudder and came to an abrupt halt. The unexpected cessation of forward momentum caused everyone to stumble, all but a few catching themselves before losing their balance altogether and landing ignominiously upon the deck.

  “Why have we stopped?” asked the sailor in fear.

  Then, from out of the water surged the Glerhan. A dozen emerged to surround the ship and they were truly as terrifying as Toby had made them out to be.

  Their skin was the color of the sea and the kraken they rode were the color of the sludge that blanketed the bottom far below. The kraken’s tentacles writhed as the Glerhan faced the ship. One, slightly larger than the rest and with more of a reddish hue, moved its kraken toward the bow.

  Jira clutched her father so hard that her shivers went right through him. “It’s okay,” he assured her. “Your uncle would not harm us.”

  Those sailors who had made this trip before were calm, while the others looked on in fear.

  Captains Smythe strode to the bow.

  The reddish Glerhan looked up at the captain. “Whhy hhaff you commmmme?” it asked, the hissing speech with which it uttered the words gave it an even more alien and fearful aspect.

  “To see the great and powerful Oz,” answered the captain.

  Without a word, the Glerhan moved away from the bow and as one, he and his entire company sank as one beneath the surface.

  The last time Jiron and family visited, it had been a spectral manifestation that greeted them. And the password that time had been, “Following the yellow brick road”. He wondered how h
is friend came up with such odd phrases. Whoever heard of a road constructed with yellow bricks?

  Once the Glerhan disappeared beneath the surface, The Water Sprite was released by whatever had taken hold of it and continued the last leg to the dock. The sailors cast fearful looks toward the water. Even a few of those who had made this journey before were unnerved by the sight of the Glerhan.

  Aleya leaned closer to Jiron. “That was better than the ghost,” she whispered.

  Jiron nodded. “Much more realistic. I wonder how he does it.”

  The sense of foreboding brought upon by the appearance of the Glerhan was quickly forgotten as sailors scurried to obey Captain Smythe’s shouted orders for their final approach.

  Sails were furled and the ship slowed. The last hundred feet was agonizing slowness as the ship crept at a seeming snail's pace toward the dock. When the prow finally came abreast of the wooden structure, three sailors hopped over the rail where they caught guy ropes and secured them to the pilings. The Water Sprite groaned as the ropes pulled taut and brought the ship to a halt. The gangplank was then extended.

  The passengers had their belongings in hand and were met at the top of the gangplank by Tobias and another sailor. “Thank you for another enjoyable voyage, Captain,” Aleya said.

  Bowing respectfully, the captain replied, “Always a pleasure having such a lovely lady aboard.”

  Jiron extended his hand, which the captain took.

  “Are you sure you won’t need us for your return trip?” the captain asked. “We should be putting back into Cardri in a week or so.”

  “No,” answered Jiron. “But thank you. Kendrick plans to be here for the party and we can catch a ride with him when he departs.”

  “Still, if you should need one, you know how to get a hold of me,” said Captain Smythe.

  Jiron nodded. “I do.”

  “Wish we could stay,” the captain said, “but our cargo must reach its destination within four days. Give the ‘Dark Mage’ our regrets.”