“Help to do what?”
“Not much,” he replied as he strode down the corridor. “Just save the world.”
CHAPTER 2
“Your son is in a brothel?” Ellyssa asked disbelievingly as they approached the house of disrepute.
“In these times, it was the most reliable place I could think of.”
A shrill cry split the air from somewhere within. Azerick bolted through the doors and up the stairs, following the source of distress with Ellyssa chasing hastily behind. Azerick burst through the door and found Raijaun clinging to the ceiling in the corner of the room. The brothel Madam cowered against the far wall of the room covered in the spilled contents of the empty skin lying in front of her.
“You failed to add blood to the milk,” Azerick said.
“I-I’m sorry!” the woman wailed. “I couldn’t bring myself to do it!”
Azerick faced his angry son. “Raijaun, come down this instant, and stop your tantrum. That is no way to behave. You have terrified this woman who only wanted to take care of you. Come apologize,” he said firmly.
Raijaun dropped to the floor and looked at his feet. Ellyssa stared at the creature and said nothing, but she had plenty of questions for later. Azerick turned back to the frightened woman.
“You already have your payment. We will be leaving shortly. You may go.”
“W-what of the spell upon the bag?”
“Other than the locational, there was no spell.”
The woman looked unconvinced but fled the room. Getting away from the terrifying man and his pet demon was far more important than wealth at the moment.
Azerick faced Ellyssa. “We both have many questions, but they must wait for now. We need to be away from this place immediately.”
Azerick slashed the air with his staff, slicing open a portal to somewhere outside. He pulled Ellyssa and his son through the rift and stepped into the rocky, open terrain of the desert. Ellyssa swooned heavily and her knees nearly buckled from the disorientation. When she caught her balance, she looked behind her and saw the city lying at least a mile away.
“So far,” she whispered.
“Steady yourself,” Azerick advised. “We must gate several more times to put as much distance between us and the city as we can.”
Before Ellyssa could ask why, Azerick ripped open another portal and pulled them through. When Ellyssa was able to focus her eyes once more, she could barely make out the tallest towers in Argoth. Azerick’s gate spells easily took them five times farther than anything she had ever made or even heard was possible. He was already opening a third gate and pushing them through.
“Azerick, please…” Ellyssa tried to protest before being shoved through.
This time, Ellyssa did fall as she stumbled through the gate. She braced herself on her hands and knees as she tried vainly to heave out a nonexistent meal.
“Azerick, please, no more. I can’t take another one,” she pleaded.
Azerick looked back in the direction of Argoth and sat on a boulder while Raijaun turned in circles with his arms outstretched, enjoying the dizziness caused by the gate travel.
“All right, we can wait here for a bit, but we need to move away soon.”
Ellyssa rolled over and propped her back against another boulder. “Why? I thought Duchess Paulina let me go?”
“She gave me what I demanded because she had no reasonable options at the time. She is as an ambitious and covetous woman as they come. Now that she has had time to think and prepare, she will foolishly begin to reassess her options and will act to recover the Codex.”
“Can we beat them if they come after us?”
“The outcome of any battle is largely based upon proper preparation,” Azerick explained. “They will have the superiority of numbers and even raw power, particularly since I cannot bring my full power to bear without risking losing control. I also do not want to kill them.”
“Why not? They’ll kill you to get the Codex back, won’t they?” Ellyssa demanded.
“Probably, but they aren’t convinced of the danger I warned them about. Humans are just too short-term thinking.”
“You said we had to save the world. I thought you were joking.”
Azerick smiled and shook his head. “No, I am not much for jokes these days. We are all in a great deal of danger.”
“From what?”
“An ancient foe, banished by the gods, is returning. They will annihilate nearly every intelligent race on the planet if we do not stop them.”
“Can’t the gods destroy them, or at least banish them again?” Ellyssa asked.
“It will be a war between gods, and the old gods are stronger. They will need our help to have a chance at victory, and that means I need every man, woman, and wizard to fight with me. That is why I cannot simply kill the Inquisitors or The Academy wizards who will invariably resist what I tell them. I need to beat them soundly without killing them, at least not many of them, and hope it is enough of a deterrent to keep them from trying to take the Codex by force. As the only ones able to use it to its fullest, it must remain with us so that we can prepare for the final battle.”
Talk of a war between gods made Ellyssa feel very small and insignificant. “How could I possibly help with that?”
“First, I need you to help me keep Raijaun out of trouble and teach him some basics, like manners, reading, and writing. I’m not ready to return home right away. I need to write a training doctrine for my students to follow. Once that is complete, you will use it to take over the training of the school.”
If Ellyssa had not been sitting, she certainly would have fallen over. “What? I can’t take over the school! I’m not even a full wizard!”
“Tell me how you ended up branded a criminal and stuck in the Inquisitor’s prison.”
Ellyssa sighed and looked shamefully at her feet. “I don’t know. I blamed myself for your dying, like everyone else. At least that’s how I thought. I started having nightmares when I went to sleep, and then they were even coming when I was awake. Sandy said it was because the man who took me captive was still alive and I couldn’t feel safe again until he was dead.”
“It sounds like Sandy has gotten wise while I was gone.”
“Yeah, and as big as a house,” Ellyssa said with a smile.
“So what did you do?”
“I started looking for him, for Captain Jake, and killing slavers when I found them. I made a real mess. The Academy sent some idiots to bring me in. They failed.”
“Quite a feat for someone of your inexperience.”
“They knew I had the Codex and that it spoke to me, so they couldn’t risk killing me,” she explained grimly.
“All the same, it takes some strength and very clever use of magic to defeat even wizards who aren’t battle trained. So they failed and sent the Inquisitors after you.”
“Right, but I trounced them the first time we met too. They got me after your friend Andrill betrayed me in Southport.”
“I see. Would you like to make a stop in Southport and deal with Andrill?” Azerick asked.
Ellyssa sighed and shook her head. “No. Andrill did what he thought he had to do. Chasing revenge only made everything worse. The Academy is now running the school, and I got thrown into prison where I would still be if you had not rescued me again. It’s not worth it.”
“It sounds like Sandy is not the only one who has grown in both size and wisdom.”
“Well, five years of absolute torment will do that.”
Azerick stared into the distance and whispered, “Five years.” He brought his attention back to his apprentice. “All those things are why you are the best qualified to take over the teaching of my new curriculum. Rusty is good, but he is purely Academy trained. Allister and Aggie are both powerful beyond measure, but I don’t think either of them is willing to push the students the way they must. Josh and the other former Black Tower students are probably as close to being familiar with what needs to be do
ne as anyone can be, but they have not had the real world combat experience you have had. I know you have suffered a great deal these last few years, but I need you to be strong for me. Can you do it?”
Ellyssa desperately wanted to deny it as she fought to control her fear and sense of unworthiness. She knew she could do this. She knew what it was like to fight for her life, and that was what Azerick needed her to teach the others.
“I can do it.”
“Don’t look so fatalistic. You have the easy job.”
“If taking over the school is the easy job, I’m afraid to ask what would be a hard one.”
“I have to convince The Academy to accept it also. Now tell me about these Academy wizards in my school.”
“I don’t know much except what Wolf told me. Some man named Harvey is in charge now. They didn’t shut it down, even though Harvey would love to do just that. Several wizards from The Academy came with him and took over teaching. Wolf thought there was going to be a battle. The Academy brought a lot of wizards and soldiers with them, and Duchess Mellina was furious. She brought her soldiers in behind them, but they all decided not to fight.”
“So, Allister had a defensible position with the enemy between two strong forces. What would you have done?”
Ellyssa studied the ground as she thought. “I would not have given up the school. I would have tried to convince them to leave. If they would not, I would have fought them.”
“People would have died. Probably a lot of people.”
“Better to die than let someone walk all over you, telling you that you are unworthy or inferior. That’s what The Academy thinks of us, that we aren’t good enough to be wizards.”
Azerick nodded and smiled. “That is why you are the one to take over training. Allister and the others believe in peace at all costs when we are at a time where we must believe in freedom at any cost. We are facing a battle like no other. Even the Great Revolution cannot compare to the number of people who will fight and die for their right not just to exist, but exist as a free people able to choose their own destinies. Come, we need to move again,” he said as he rose to his feet.
Ellyssa stood with a sigh. “I wish we would have had the time to get something to eat before we left the city. I’m starving.”
“I wish we would have had the time for you to take a bath. You reek,” Azerick quipped as he wrenched open another gate.
***
Duchess Paulina gulped down the last of her wine and hurled the empty glass against the wall. She grabbed the bottle from the table and, upon finding it empty as well, sent it flying after the glass. Fennrick ducked to avoid the flying shards as he stepped into Elias’ office.
“This is beyond intolerable!” the Duchess railed once more.
Elias jumped up from his chair and began searching a cabinet. “I am certain I have more wine somewhere, Your Grace.”
Paulina grabbed a stylus case from his desk and began beating him in the head with it. “Not the wine, you simpleton! How can a man walk in here, destroy my hall, free a prisoner condemned to death, and walk out with the most important artifact in the kingdom?”
“He was not exactly a man, Your Grace!” Elias cried out from beneath his protective arms.
“I don’t care if he was Solarian himself! A score of Inquisitors filled that hall, and all they could do was cower and wet themselves!”
“Your Grace, we were not prepared!”
“Then you had best get prepared!” The Duchess spun toward Fennrick. “Fennrick, ready as many Inquisitors as you can, and go get my book. I no longer care about the girl. She has proven less than useless.”
“I think not, Your Grace,” Fennrick replied.
“Excuse me?” Paulina exclaimed incredulously.
“You have no idea what we face, none of us do, and I will not throw away the lives of my people for your selfish desires. Lord Giles was correct, you truly are a fool.”
“You forget yourself, Inquisitor!” the Duchess raged.
“No, Your Grace, we have all forgotten ourselves, and I think it is time I remind The Hall of who we are,” Fennrick replied forcefully. “We have forgotten our real mission to protect the realm and now bow to your desires, defy The Academy by hoarding artifacts, and torture children.”
Shaking with outrage, the Duchess spun on Elias. “Elias, order your man to obey me this instant!”
“Fennrick, have you lost your mind? Prepare a full company of Inquisitors to recovery the Codex!”
“Elias, the only thing I will recover for you is a rough hewn staff. If you are unsure of what to do with it, I was given a detailed set of instructions that I am more than happy to share with you.”
“You are insubordinate, Inquisitor! I will have you expelled from the order!”
“And you are the moron your precious Duchess continually proclaims you to be. I think we both know the only reason I do not have your job is that after seeing how it has pushed you to twist and corrupt our order, I no longer want it. Now, if you will excuse me, I have better things to do than waste my time with fools.”
“Where are you going, Fennrick?” Elias demanded.
“I am going to go prepare my people for the end of the world.”
“Do you honestly believe the words of a self-proclaimed demon?” Paulina asked heatedly.
Fennrick gestured irritably. “Whether I do or not is irrelevant. We have gotten lax in our training and duty since Jarvin ended the war, and I will ensure my troops are prepared for whatever arises, be they Sumarans or gods.”
“It appears Fennrick has lost his stomach for this business and replaced it with a very annoying conscience,” Paulina said when Fennrick left the room. “I hope you are not turning on me as well.”
“Of course not, Your Grace,” Elias answered sycophantically.
“Good, now I want you to rouse every wizard in your command. You are to kill Lord Giles, his petulant apprentice, and get back my book. He was killed before and he can be killed again.”
“At once, Your Grace. It will take a few days for us to prepare.”
“See to it, Elias. Is there no more damned wine in this place?” the Duchess shouted.
***
Azerick finally relented and allowed them to camp after four more gut-wrenching gate spells. While Ellyssa lay on the rocky ground willing the world to cease its spinning, Azerick magically excavated a depression in the rock and pulled up the water hidden beneath the surface. He stuck the silvery end of his staff into the water and heated it to the point it was just bearable to soak in.
He pulled a few articles of clothing out his travel pack and set them by the steaming pool. “I liberated these from the brothel. They aren’t exactly travel clothes, but they will serve better than the rags you are wearing.”
“I don’t suppose you liberated any food as well?”
“I’m sorry, it’s been so long since I had to worry about that I forgot,” he replied abashedly. “Raijaun is a good hunter. We’ll scare up something while you clean up.”
Ellyssa gasped in pain and pleasure as she slipped beneath the hot water. She groaned as the heat pulled the filth away from her skin and a great deal of tension from her muscles. It sure beat the prison’s weekly washrag and bucket of cold water.
The smell of cooking meat eventually coaxed her from her bath. Azerick was right, the clothes were too thin to withstand the weather and rigors of travel, but they would suffice. Her magic would keep the worst of the weather from reaching her, and they only had to last until they got home.
Ellyssa descended the low hill to where Azerick had made camp and was cooking a large lizard and desert hare over a fire. Raijaun sat on a boulder, eagerly devouring the remnants of a thick lizard tail or a snake.
“I hope you like lizard,” Azerick said as she took a seat.
“I would eat a buzzard right now and swear it was chicken.”
Ellyssa quickly finished off the lizard and started in on the hare. It was stringy and would have
been bland had Azerick not found some desert sage to rub into the meat.
“So tell me about Raijaun,” Ellyssa said between bites.
Azerick gazed contemplatively at his son, who looked up at the mention of his name. “The elves created a creature they called a Guardian by combining the physical and spiritual essence of a dragon and elf. The last of the Guardians freed me from the abyss and combined my essence and hers to create Raijaun. Right now, his demonic nature is dominant, but I believe I can bring out his other heritages. It is why I am not rushing back home. I need him to behave properly before we get there. Once we are back, a lot of things need to happen, and I cannot afford to be distracted.”
“You think that will be enough time?” Ellyssa asked dubiously.
“He grows very fast, both physically and mentally,” Azerick assured her. “From what I understand, their toddler phase passes very quickly. He was nearly animalistic just a few weeks ago and has already grown into a petulant child. I expect us to take about a month to reach North Haven. I hope that with your help and example, he will come into something nearing middle human childhood.”
“What exactly do you want me to do?”
“Teach him to read, write, and act like a human. I do not know how quickly he will come into his magic, but help me contain it as best you can. It resembles sorcery far more than wizard magic, so I will have to do his actual training. For now, I just need you to help me keep him from setting everything on fire when he gets mad,” Azerick admitted with a grin.
Ellyssa’s face dropped and she looked at the ground. “I lost your ring and bracelet. I’m sorry. I needed them, but the Inquisitors took them when they caught me.”
“You mean these?” Azerick opened his hand, and glittering in the late sun was the ring and bracelet. He handed them to Ellyssa. “Here, you will need these more than I will.”
Ellyssa took them and looked at him in wonder. “How did get them back? When?”
“The same time and the same way I got my book. I am not easy to steal from,” he chuckled.
“Do you still think they are coming after us?”
The Sorcerer's Return (The Sorcerer's Path) Page 3
