The Magus (A Chronicle of Rebirth Book 1)

by J. M. Fletcher

  Caleb noted no one introduced her to actual injury during combat, as her body was in shock. “Hurts, doesn’t it?” He drove his dagger into her other shoulder until its tip reached out through her body before he pulled it back out.

  “Mercy,” she could taste the blood in her mouth pooling, its warmth trailed down her chin with drops of her blood hitting the floor.

  “Mercy is not his to grant,” Ru’ark’s eyes glazed black, and with an abnormal quick agility, he placed himself between her and Caleb. “My commands were to be adhered to.” Pouring forth from his hands were thick, long, black coils, which lashed out and rapidly latched onto Caleb encompassing his whole body, which lifted him off the ground.

  Orson, standing at his Queen’s side stepped out in front of her to become her living shield with his sword drawn.

  Adar, moving as fast as a flicker from a flame was in front of Orson.

  Orson was taken aback by the clanking of his sword on the stone floor after Adar disarmed him with such swiftness, he did not have a chance to blink.

  Adar had wasted no time in sending Orson, who was stunned and unable to react down to join his sword on the floor with a quick sweep of his leg.

  Caleb’s mouth opened for a cry that never escaped his lips, his armor and clothing melted away from his hanging form. The strands of black tendrils against his naked body peeled away the top layer of his skin from the rest of him displaying the fat and muscle beneath similar to the layers of an onion being torn away. His eyes were wild with the burning away of his flesh and his lipless, skinless mouth with its exposed tongue sought to yell out to no avail.

  Nelina clutched the bottom of Ru’ark’s robe as her crumpled body gave way to a convulsion.

  Ru’ark’s hands moved faster, causing the man’s muscle and fat to dissolve away, similar to peeling the layers of an onion away, leaving his organs. The spark of life left his eyes, and followed by his organs all that remained was Caleb’s bones clanking down to the floor.

  Ru’ark’s eyes reverted back to their normal blue color as the black tendrils retracted back to his palms. He crouched down to Nelina. “Stay with me, Sweetling” He closed his eyes, and the smoky wisps once again came forth and slithered into her open wounds.

  Nelina’s eyes flung open, her speech broken, “Failed, I failed you Magus.”

  His smile was calm and gentle. “You’ve not failed your Magus,” he watched her smile to him, the trauma from the blow to her abdomen had her bleeding from the inside causing blood to pool more in her mouth. He needed her to be unconscious. “Listen to me, you will dream my sweet one and when you wake all will be well again.” The dark strands emanating from him did their task of putting Nelina into a state of sleep which she would not wake from until he was ready for her to. “Adar, bring her to my chambers and wait for me until I get there.”

  Adar turned away from Orson and the Queen to pick up Nelina’s limp form and left the balcony.

  “He’s never done anything like that before,” whispered Celeste to Agnar under her breath.

  Ru’ark’s anger with Agnar and Celeste was evident as he stepped before them. “How dare you, was I somehow not clear?”

  Orson staggered to his knees as his dazed expression switched over to one of fierce anger, with his hand he picked up his fallen sword.

  The corners of Ru’ark’s mouth curved into the beginning of a smile. His fingers drummed almost playfully with his arms at his sides. Killing Orson would be enjoyable.

  Agnar’s dark eyes cut over to Orson whose hand was reaching for the hilt of his fallen sword. “Orson hold,” his eyes went back to the Magus. “Our Apologies Magus,” he dropped to his knees before the Magus.

  “You will stay on your knees.” The weight of Ru’ark’s icy blue stare, then bore into Celeste. “Know your place in your Master’s presence.”

  Celeste knelt to Ru’ark in the same way Agnar was doing. “Forgive us, please Magus.”

  “If any harm befalls her from your hand again, what happened to your lowly palace guard will be nothing compared to what I do to one of you.” His threat was not an idle one, but a promise. “While this wasn’t the display that I had in mind, it will certainly do.”

  Agnar, Celeste, and Orson, remained silent.

  He glared at the three. “Do we understand each other?”

  Celeste was the first to nod, followed by Agnar and then Orson.

  Adar laid Nelina on the floor next to the large table in the Magus’ chamber, he cleared off the long table, then went back and scooped her up to lay her down with a focused gentle precision. Over his time with the young woman, he had come to like her and he hoped the Magus would succeed in helping her.

  Ru’ark entered the room while closing the door behind him and went over to Nelina, it was going to take him many hours to heal her. He founded it touching that while dying, her concern had been about whether she failed him, and he was determined not to fail her. He wondered for a brief second if he should have just killed the three and claimed the throne as his own and been done with them. No, they still had their uses and he did not have the time to rule the Kingdoms yet. His eyes became black again, and thin, small wisps of dark smoke slipped out from his fingertips and spread itself out with each strand burrowing into various points of her body. One dove into her forehead head, while others slithered into her abdomen and through her shoulders. Still, even more still made their way in and around her legs, arms, and hands until her body was no longer visible and she was covered from head to toe. Her injuries required a delicate precision, his body stood upright and rigid with his fingers moving in a slight up and down rapid motion. Healing was not something he was accustomed to, not from a lack of skill, but because it formed an unbroken intimate connection. He knew it would be stronger with her given the depth of his own emotions. Once the bonding with her was complete, his work began in earnest. Hours passed, and when the midday meal approached, he did not pause or take a rest but instead continue his ministrations. He maintained his steadfast vigil until well past the evening meal. Hence, when he was satisfied he could do no more for her, he called back his own smoke essence as his eyes reverted to their blue color. “You will need to rest,” with a chaste kiss on the forehead, he picked her up and carried her body up the small stone cut stairs.

  “I love you,” she was not conscious, so the words were a quiet, gentle mumble as she curled against him.

  “And I you,” He kept his steps slow walking over to the bed, and then with tender care set her beneath its covers. She would be sleeping for quite some time yet, and with a twinge in his stomach he decided to eat. He gave a light nod to Adar, who had remained motionless at the door while he had healed Nelina. “Have a slave brought in.” He knew with it being this late, he would have a wait for his food, he walked over to the table pulling off the blood soaked cloth. Part of her survival was the strength of her own will to live. Clutching the blood dripping cloth, he realized how lucky she had been to survive. Given the severity of the wounds she suffered, most would not have survived even with his weavings. In his connection with her, he could sense her unwillingness to leave him.

  “Master Ru’ark?” Elian carrying a heavy tray pushed past the door and Adar and then slammed it shut with his foot.

  “Elian,” Ru’ark cast the bloodied cloth to the side with little fanfare, and then faced the young Captain in his usual unabashed manner. “I see you’ve brought my evening meal yourself.” Pulling out one of the large polished oak chairs, he seated himself.

  “I did, rumors are abound Magus,” placing the tray on the table, he lifted the cover off displaying cut bread, carrots, fruits, and nuts with a small covered dish in its center containing a small roasted game bird. “People say she bled out in your arms on the balcony.”

  “Indeed, she lost a lot of blood, but she will be fine.” Taking a small piece of the bread he ripped off the hardened edges before it made its way to his mouth.

  Elian went over to the nearby spirts table and g
rabbed a bottle of the Tibree lowland red along with two glasses, then walked back to the Magus and poured wine for them both. “I’m glad to hear she’ll be alright.” He studied Ru’ark’s face, if he was upset about Nelina there was no sign of it. “Also, it is said the palace soldier who tried to slay her had been skinned alive without the touch of a blade to his skin.” He pulled out one of the other heavy chairs across from Ru’ark taking a seat and a drink from his goblet.

  “It was my intention for him to remain alive until the very end.” After cutting off a piece of the roasted bird he ate it.

  “Painful then, it sounds fitting.” Taking a heavy drink from his glass and draining its contents, he reached for the bottle filling it once more.

  “It was,” Ru’ark drank some of the wine himself to wash down his last bite of food. “And so you are aware, it will be a little while before Nelina can return to her training.”

  “I expected as much,” he was relieved to know she would be okay. “Tell her I’ll stop by for a visit if she’s up for it at some point.”

  “It seems you have found a friendship with her?” Ru’ark’s right brow arched upward.

  Elian inclined his head. “I suppose I have, she is both smart and clever, it’s my belief she stays here because she wants to,” he shrugged, “She’s humble to the point that people will underestimate her and she’s knowledgeable enough that if she chose to leave, she could do so with ease and disappear from here.” He laughed, “However, I must admit I enjoy teasing her, I have only to refer to you as her Master and her cheeks will flush to a pretty scarlet color.”

  Ru’ark nodded, before making use of his cloth napkin and then dropped it onto the tray of food with a grin. “In a day or so, I think a visit from you would suit her well, she is fond of you and has told me more than once at the evening supper that she finds you to be an apt mentor.”

  “She takes instruction well, and I don’t mean with just weapons.” Elian paused, “I’ve molded her duty to be one of devotion and loyalty to you, to where she would forfeit her own life before yours. Stretching his arm over to the tray he ate a small piece of the remaining bread popping it into his mouth.

  “Indeed, while dying, she expressed great regret she had failed me.” Taking a small sip from his wine he held his glass up to Elian. “Needless to say, your training took.”

  “Then I’ve served you well Master Ru’ark,” he smiled. “Speaking of that, my tasks are never done and the Queen’s Lady in waiting Taryn is expecting me soon.”

  “I thought it was one of her other ladies you were seeing?” His lips found the glass for one last drink before placing it down near the tray.

  “I am, the other lady’s name is Mary-Anne. My intention is to create discord in her Majesty’s inner circle. I figure by bedding her two most loyal Ladies their eventual jealousy will allow me to pit one rabid dog against the other.” A roguish grin spread across Elian’s handsome face while he gulped down the last of his wine.

  Ru’ark smiled, “I won’t keep you any longer then. But, before you leave me, remember, that as you play them, they play you as well.”

  Elian stood up from the table with a bow. “Then I bid you Goodnight, Master Ru’ark, and as always I will heed your words.”

  “Good Night,” Ru’ark waited until the door closed behind Elian. Standing, he made and his way back up the stairs to his bed chamber and stopped at the end of his bed to undress. Nelina was in a peaceful sleep, and once he was in the bed, her soft body pressed into his as he held her. His slumber for the next few hours was a sound one, and when he awoke, he found he was refreshed in both body and mind. One of the slaves would soon be along with his breakfast in the chamber room below and he figured there should be plenty for the two of them.

  It was the smell of fresh marmalade made with the tender grapes from the kingdom of Tibree that made her stir. Nelina was sore all over, it took her eyes a few seconds to adjust to the incoming stream of early morning light before propping herself up to take in her surroundings.

  Ru’ark after uncovering the tray of breakfast foods and adding jam to the thick porridge only moments before, turned around toward Nelina. Walking over to the bed, he sat down on its edge with a warm smile at seeing her awake. “Good Morning.”

  Ignoring the stiffness in her shoulder and the twinge of pain in her side she threw her arms around him. “I’m back here with you.”

  He held her close for a moment before moving back to an arm’s length. “Where else would you be Sweetling?”

  “Not here, a place I’ve never been to,” her eyes darted around the room as if to reaffirm her surroundings. “A bed chamber, with a round bed in its center, covered with blankets so thin and softer than any I have experienced. The walls were nothing akin to the ones here, they were crystal where you could see through at parts.” Pausing, she collected more of her jumbled dream. “There was a balcony overlooking these crystal structures that I think they were buildings and towers, but they were larger than any in Danthamore stretching into the sky. Beyond it I saw and a desert that had no end. Your sigil, I saw that too, in the room on the wall above the bed.”

  “Interesting, you are describing my rooms in Aghadine.” His brows arched upward. “Your wounds were deep, and we were connected through my weavings for some time, is there more to tell?”

  “A dress, sort of, I guess, it was strips of silks tied together, which when you undid one the entire ensemble came undone. In the dream you did that when you brought me to the bed.” She blushed bright red, “It’s all I can remember.”

  “What you were wearing is the standard fare for what a pleasure slave wears for her Magus.” With a sensual smile gave her hand a light squeeze. “It pleases me you are on the mend and I also think you need to eat.”

  She smiled with a light flush of red in her cheeks. “Well, I am hungry and a morning meal would be most welcome.”

  “Good, the two of us will break the morning fast and I’ll remain with you for the entire day.” He stood up. “Perhaps afterward if you are up for it, we will get you into a nice relaxing bath.”

  “I would be grateful to bathe after eating,” The prospect of having Ru’ark with her for the whole day delighted her. She watched him walk away to arrange with the guard for her bath. Injuries or not, she intended to make the most of her time with him today.

  Celeste paced back and forth frantically around the chamber. “He’s going to kill us.”

  Agnar filled his cup with wine “After today, with what Orson pulled he might, and what occurred with Caleb was both disturbing and unnatural.”

  She wrung her hands together with nervous agitation. “I was frightened Agnar, we need to get rid of him.”

  Agnar rubbed his forehead, his head was pounding. “And what might your plan be to accomplish such a feat, hmm?

  “I don’t have one, be a King for a change and figure out how we get rid of him!” Her thoughts returned to Malark and his warning for her to remain safe.

  Agnar sat down at the table. “We can’t fight his power, yet we still might have a chance if we bring one of the Soul Seers from the Ruby Isles here.”

  She stopped her pacing. “It will take whomever they send, time to get here. What do we do in the meantime is the question.”

  Agnar drummed his fingers on the table. “We do anything needed to not have the Magus kill us.”

  Celeste waved her hand. “You’re right, but we need to act, did you notice what I did?”

  “You mean, how the Magus looked at his slave woman Nelina?” He said with a slow bob of his head.

  Celeste sat down across from Agnar “She’s what we need.”

  His eyes were fixed on Celeste “And?”

  “And I will make time to speak to her.” She sat back in her chair the woman was important to the Magus, the violence he inflicted on Caleb demonstrated that.

  Agnar leaned in, “Do not upset her, lest you will bring his wrath down upon us.”

  Celeste pushed her chair b
ack and stood up. “It will be fine, and we should make haste in sending our message to the Ruby Isles.”

  Agnar standing, gulped down the last of his wine. “I’ll take care of that and I’ll speak to Orson about setting extra men around our sleeping chambers.”

  Celeste nodded as they departed their sitting room together.

  Ru’ark had his and Nelina's evening meal brought to the Chamber rather than dine in the Solar. Their dinner was a quiet one and afterward as he did most nights, he devoted himself to his research at his desk far into the evening hours. When he did join Nelina in their bed, she was usually fast asleep.

  Nelina managed to fight off the waves of sleep that threatened to take her and stay awake until he was finished for the evening.

  Ru’ark disrobing climbed into the bed and put his arm around her.

  Nelina turning to face him, put her arms around his neck. “You saved my life, thank you.” She pressed her lips to his, with an inviting a sensual kiss.

  “You are quite welcome,” while returning her kisses his hand moved along her thigh to rest on her hip. “I see that you have waited up for me?”

  She lowered her head to kiss his chest with a shy smile seeking seeking to explore more of her desires for him. “I have,”

  “While I without question want you, you need to rest if those wounds are going to heal. Otherwise, I would not hesitate to sample what you offer.” His admonishment was a gentle one. “We’ll talk more in the morning.”

  “Alright,” With a final soft peck to his lips and smile, she turned back around.

  Embracing her, he held her close until her breathing became even and steady from sleep.

  Pulling up his breeches Elian stood up, leaving the thin sheet of the bed while the heat of the morning air greeted him.

  The young woman, Mary-Anne stirred beneath the sheet, smiling up to him while he donned his fine tunic fit for any noble below royal stature. “Elian, you are leaving so early? It’s rare that you even come to my chambers in the palace. Yet, the exception is of course, Taryn’s chambers which you visit far too often as it is. My heart bleeds that you treat me this way.”