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

by Pratt, Brian S.

  Coming to stand before his scrying table, he laid his hand upon it to activate its power. The table was also powered by the heart of the latticework which made things much easier, and less draining, on himself. A small amount of magic was still required from his own reserves, mainly to focus his thoughts and direct the image, but the majority of the power used to bring the image to the table came from the lattice.

  Over the years he has grown very adept at using this table and it took only a few seconds before an image of open water came into crystal clarity upon the table’s surface. “Now,” James said as he focused on the image, “let’s see if we can find him.”

  Jiron remained silent as James concentrated, shifting the image first one way then the other. Rather than having the mirror search for Kendrick, he had the mirror start in one area and then moved the image as he manually searched for him. He found it to be less magically draining this way. Having the table hunt for Kendrick would have caused magic to be sent out in a three hundred and sixty degree radius while it searched. And as the area being searched widened, the magic drain increased accordingly. But knowing from which direction Meliana’s father was coming, it was easy to focus on one area of the ocean and search from there.

  Waves were high and the image was less clear due to the sheets of rain pouring down. “Can you find him?” asked Jiron quietly.

  “Should be able to,” replied James. “Not sure exactly where he is, but we’ll locate him.” It took him over ten minutes before the familiar sight of Kendrick’s ship came into view.

  Waves were pounding the ship, crashing over the starboard side and deluging the sailors on deck. As he brought the image in closer, he saw Kendrick on deck shouting to his men. His expression didn’t seem panicked or fearful, but remarkably business-like as he orchestrated the efforts of his men.

  “He may be late.”

  James nodded. “We’ll see.” Concentrating on the image once more, the ship grew in size until it seemed as if they themselves were upon its deck. Then, the image passed through the wooded walls of Kendrick’s quarters. It was hard to keep the image stable as the undulation of the waves caused the ship to violently pitch back and forth. Just when James had Kendrick’s room in sight, the ship suddenly pitched and he was looking into the cargo hold.

  “This is much easier when the sea is calm,” explained James. Concentrating, he once again reacquired Kendrick’s quarters and brought the image to bear on a piece of parchment. It was held in place by a knife embedded through it and into the table. He brought the words written upon the parchment into view.

  Worry not. Will be late. Give my regards to my grandson.

  --K

  “He knew you were going to check on him?” asked Jiron.

  “We worked this out long ago,” his friend replied. “If he was late or something untoward was happening, he would leave a note.” Returning his gaze back to the image, he concentrated and a pulse of magic left him. On the parchment below Kendrick’s “K”, a “J” appeared.

  James looked up at his friend. “So he will know that we got the message.”

  “Handy,” praised Jiron.

  “It would be better if I could come up with a way of actually speaking over long distances.”

  “What’s stopping you?” Jiron asked.

  “Hard to explain,” James replied. Canceling the image, he sighed. “Guess I better tell Meliana that her father isn’t going to make it for the party.”

  Before he left, he took a soft cloth from the edge of the desk and cleaned the smudges from the surface of the table made during his search for Kendrick. Then, with a word he opened the archway and passed through, making sure to reseal it once again.

  Chapter Four

  ________________________

  There have been many events witnessed throughout the lands, events so unbelievable in their scope as to boggle the mind. One such event was taking place on an island off the coast of Cardri. Were the average man to hear of it, he would scarcely believe it to be true. For the mage who took on the Empire and lived to tell about it, who had assumed the appellation of The Dark Mage, was even now walking in an awkward gait with a tuber trapped between his knees.

  He and Jiron, much to the enjoyment of their wives and children, were having a race to see who could make it around the house while holding a tuber between their knees first. And to everyone’s surprise, James was in the lead.

  “Come on, daddy!” whooped Kenny.

  “You’re falling behind, dear,” Aleya said to her husband.

  Three feet behind, and with the last corner of the house to be rounded, Jiron tried to increase his speed. But every time he did, the tuber would slip out from between his knees and precious time was wasted as he put it back in place. Just as James turned the corner, Jiron’s tuber slipped to the ground yet again. Putting it back in place, he hurried forward and around the corner only to find James farther in the lead.

  “Come on, father,” shouted Jira. “You can still win!” Decked out in the dress her mother had bought in Cardri, she jumped up and down cheering her father on.

  Jiron thought that prospect highly unlikely seeing as how James was already nearing the finish line. Still, he wouldn’t go out without a fight. Giving up was not in his creed. Determined to at least make a good showing, he tightened his knees about the tuber and quickened his pace.

  Two steps later, the tuber hit the ground. Replacing it, he again tried to close the gap only to have to pick up the tuber once again. When it fell the third time, James was only ten feet from the finish line and enough was enough. He had been vanquished. Picking up the tuber, he went to congratulate his friend.

  Kenny was the first to greet his father on the other side of the finish line. With a “Yay, daddy!” he raced forward and wrapped his arms around James’ hips.

  James patted his son on the head and gave him the winning tuber. “Here,” he said. “This is for you.”

  Taking his prize, Kenny raced off.

  “Not bad,” said Jiron.

  “Well, to be honest,” admitted James, “I’ve been practicing.” Grinning, he said, “I wanted to be able to win at least one of these games.” At Kenny’s last birthday party, he hadn’t done nearly as well.

  “So that’s it. For a minute I thought you were using magic to hold the tuber in place.”

  “Don’t think I didn’t consider doing just that,” he chuckled. “But that wouldn’t have been fair.”

  Jiron grinned and turned to his wife. “Is the food ready yet?”

  “Almost,” she replied, directing his gaze over toward the picnic table situated beneath the limbs of a towering pine.

  The large wooden table was laden with meats, bread, and cheese, all the accouterments necessary for sandwiches. A light meal guaranteed to leave room for cake and ice cream afterward. Overhanging boughs were decorated with festively colored ribbons, and wisps of sparkling light danced throughout courtesy of a spell created for just such occasions.

  James had revived many traditions from home. First and foremost were birthday parties complete with cake, ice cream, and games. He had fond memories of those from his youth and wanted to give Kenny those same, joyous memories. Birthdays in this world were normally greeted with far less celebration, often a gift or two and perhaps a special meal. Of course, if one didn’t have the means, birthdays often passed with little fanfare.

  Meliana was at the table with Jira and Kenny. She waved the two men over indicating it was time to eat. Lorri emerged from the manor house with mugs and drink for everyone.

  “Thank you, Lorri,” James said as he came to the table.

  “You are welcomed, sir,” she replied. Setting the tray on the table, she turned and returned to the manor.

  Helping himself to the sliced beef and cheeses, Jiron put together a sandwich reminiscent of a Dagwood.

  “You do realize you can have two don’t you?” James asked.

  Jiron only smiled as he took a bite.

  The two ch
ildren were eating their sandwiches with great speed so they could get on to more important things, like ice cream. No sooner had the last bite entered their mouths than they were making it clear the time had come. Kenny looked at his father pleadingly, but remained silent. Jira on the other hand was somewhat less circumspect.

  “Ice cream, now?” she asked. When James hesitated, she added, “We finished our food and everything.”

  James glanced to Meliana, who nodded.

  “Hooray!” both kids exclaimed.

  “Can I at least eat my sandwich first?” Holding out a sandwich with only two bites missing, he looked questioningly into two sets of eyes.

  Apparently not. Jira grabbed him by the hand and practically dragged him back to the manor house. Kenny skipped along behind, anticipating the delights to come.

  Within the front room of the manor sat the ice cream machine. Encased in a magical protective shield to prevent unauthorized, premature distribution, it hummed as magic moved the inner churn. Condensation beaded its outside and a small pool had collected on the floor.

  Upon entering the room, James canceled the protective barrier and the kids rushed forward. “Hold on, there,” he said as Jira tried to remove the top. Moving her aside, he picked up the ice cream maker and carried it back outside to the table. By the time he returned, Lorri had already brought out the bowls and spoons.

  “Hurry, daddy!” cried Kenny.

  “Ice cream!” exclaimed Jira.

  On several occasions Delia had suggested he create other ice cream machines to sell, saying they would fetch a very high price. But he had declined. The last thing he wanted was to spread more magical items around the world. As it was, too many were already out there. He worried that others might try to duplicate what he did, and without the knowledge learned back home on Earth, things could go wrong. Well did he remember his and Jiron’s time beneath the sands in Baerustin.

  With bowls filled to brimming, the kids ate furiously despite repeated warnings to take it easy in anticipation of a second bowlful. James watched as spoonful followed spoonful in rapid succession. It was only a matter of time before…

  “Ow!”

  Brainfreeze.

  As his son complained most abjectly about his head hurting, all James could say was, “Maybe you’ll listen to me next time.” He couldn’t help but grin at his son’s discomfort.

  Jira too was feeling the affects though she did a better job at hiding the fact. Fortunately, such is the nature of brainfreezes that they never last long and the pair soon had their bowls emptied and ready for more.

  James always made lots of ice cream whenever he did, and a second bowlful was readily dished out. “Take it easy this time,” he advised. Perhaps it was the warning, or maybe the memory of the pain from earlier, but whatever the reason, they ate at a more reasonable rate.

  “This is really good, James,” praised Aleya, before taking another bite of the frozen goodness.

  “Thank you. But I have to admit, the stuff back home would put this to shame,” he explained. “I still haven’t perfected the process.”

  “It’s fine dear,” Meliana assured him.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I love this.” To accentuate his point, he took a large helping, much too large and his back teeth paid the price. “It’s just not up to what I remember.”

  “So what is the next game on the agenda?” asked Jiron.

  “The egg-toss,” he replied. About to continue, he was interrupted by the appearance of a small creature roughly two feet in height. With skin the color and texture of cowhide, it wore a woolen cloak with hood pulled over its features. A gnarled wooden staff several inches taller than itself was gripped in the creature’s left hand.

  “A ship has entered the outer perimeter master,” the creature announced.

  “Understood,” replied James whereupon the creature up and vanished. The little creature was a magical construct, something that presented itself to James no matter where on the island he happened to be should a vessel of any kind come within three miles of the island. Magical sensors situated in strategic locations along the ocean floor continuously searched for possible intruders. Most of the time though, it was nothing more than a merchantman sailing past.

  “Could it be father?” asked Meliana hopefully.

  “I would think so,” James replied. “You keep things going out here and I’ll see.”

  “Can I come?” asked Kenny.

  His father shook his head. “Sorry, bud. But you know you are not allowed in my study.”

  “Oh rat poop!” he exclaimed.

  “Kenny!” his mother admonished.

  Jiron immediately cast a disapproving glance to his daughter. It was no mystery where Kenny had learned that particular expression.

  As Kenny offered his apologies and the adults began explaining the proper way to speak to grown-ups, James headed off toward his study with a grin that would not be denied. He wasn’t nearly as upset by Kenny’s exclamation as Meliana. Though he wouldn’t admit it to his wife, he thought it cute.

  He found Lorri inside straightening the front room, with a duster in hand. “Why don’t you go join the fun?” James asked.

  She turned toward him and said, “It would not be proper, sir.”

  “Nonsense,” he replied. “You and Sty are like part of the family.” Over the past five years, he tried his best to bridge the gap between employer and servants with her and Sty. Sty was much less formal than his wife and would joke with James when she wasn’t around. Lorri on the other hand has always done no less than what she deemed proper given the circumstances. Not pressing the point, he continued past and made for his study. Once inside with the way closed, he crossed to his scrying table and quickly located the ship.

  It was in the right position for it to be Kendrick’s. He found it south of the island and just a bit to the east, a lone ship upon the water. Despite being in the right spot, he knew by the cut of its lines, it wasn’t Kendrick’s. For one thing, this ship was much larger, boasting a third mast.

  Moving in for a closer look, James enlarged the image and saw that it flew the Empire’s flag. The sailors upon its deck were dressed in Empire sailor attire, civilian not military. By this time, he well knew the difference. “A merchant,” he muttered to himself.

  The ship was not moving in his direction, rather, it was heading northward as if on its way to Port Haeydan, a Cardri port farther up the coast. But it was out of the shipping lanes for this area. Perhaps it had been caught by the same storm that had delayed Meliana’s father and had simply been blown off course.

  Just the same, he watched it for several more minutes to ensure that it had no plans to turn and make for his island. When he was satisfied the ship would continue past, he canceled the image and returned to the party.

  A few short seconds after James ceased his observation of the ship, a hatch opened and a man emerged from the hold. Glancing up to the sky with a half-smile, the man soon had the ship’s course altered until it was heading west.

  Ice cream, cake, the inevitable singing of “Happy Birthday,” a tradition unique to this island, all had to be completed before the presents could be opened. Sure, Kenny pleaded for the order of events to be altered, mainly for the opening of presents to come first, but such was not to be. The presents came last. After all, once they were opened, play would commence should he receive any gifts that would warrant immediate examination.

  First came the gifts from Jiron and family. Jiron’s sister, Tersa, had sent along one of her teddy bears as a present. This one had a jingle-type bell within both paws, an idea James suggested last year when she mentioned competition was heating up. Married as she was to a baker and eight months along with their second child, she had not been up to the trip over.

  Next was one made by Aleya, and to no one’s surprise, turned out to be a smaller version of the bow she carried. The dozen arrows accompanying it had blunted points so they posed little chance of causing damage. Kenny whooped whe
n he saw it and was all set to go “kill” a neighboring tree when his father quickly explained he still had a couple more presents to open first.

  Jiron gave him a wooden, carved horse with rider. Obviously of interest to the boy, it still didn’t garner the reaction of the bow.

  From his parents he first received the presents all children dread. Clothes. A new tunic, trousers and shoes, not to mention the half dozen each of underclothing and socks to round out the ensemble. True to form, he faced such gifts with barely concealed disappointment. The sunken face and quick placement far to the side of his other gifts denoted their rank in childish pleasure.

  His mother’s gift was greeted with only slightly more interest. It was a wooden replica of his grandfather’s ship, The Zephyr. “It floats,” she explained with a grin.

  “Wow!” he marveled. Putting it quickly aside, he turned his attention expectantly to his father.

  “Hmmm,” began James. “Seems to me you have more gifts here than any one boy should have.”

  “No, he doesn’t,” argued Jira.

  “Jira!” admonished her mother.

  Jira had the good sense to look chastised.

  James grinned at his son as he whipped out a small stick roughly twelve inches in length. “But I suppose one more wouldn’t hurt.”

  “Ooh,” said Kenny as he stared at the stick in his father’s hand. “What is that?”

  “A magic wand, of course,” he replied.

  “For me?” he asked excitedly.

  His father nodded. “There are three different spells you can cast with this.”

  “What are they?” Kenny asked. Reaching out for the wand, his attempt to take it was forestalled by his father shaking his head.