Death Mages Ascent: Revised Edition (Death Mage Series Book 1)

by Jon Bender

  As Jaxom turned to face the creature, he heard it issue a deep chuckle. As the shadow advanced, Jaxom brought his sword into a ready fighting position and waited. Halfway to him, the shadow raised a clawed hand, releasing a bolt of pure darkness. Turning the blade flat, he intercepted the bolt. The blade absorbed most of the energy as the rest split around him, shattering the stone walls. The shadow roared, no longer amused by its game, and released another bolt. The sword absorbed it. Jaxom was pushed back a few feet by the sheer power of the energy released, and he could feel the strain of his enchantment as it tried to contain that energy.

  The shadow charged forward, running towards him with its claws out to the side. When the creature was no more than thirty feet away, Jaxom pointed his sword at the shadow and released all the energy the weapon had absorbed. The blast was staggering, throwing the shadow back down the hall and tossing Jaxom onto his back as well. He would have to remember to brace himself better next time.

  As the creature struggled to rise, Jaxom wasted no time retreating to the door where Cribble and his men stood staring at him slack-jawed. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the creature begin to dissolve, its shadowy body breaking apart to meld with the shadows around it. Once Jaxom made it through the door, they slammed it shut and threw the bolt back into place.

  “Now, what was that?” Cribble demanded.

  Sliding down the wall into a sitting position, Jaxom shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  Chapter 6

  As Cribble and his men gathered a larger force to sweep the cells, Jaxom headed to one of the small dining areas near the kitchens. He had just sat down to eat a plate of roasted pork when everyone in the room stood up. Corin entered with a pair of his personal guard half a step behind him. As he approached, Corin gestured for Jaxom to remain seated. Sitting down opposite him, Corin eyed the food then plucked a particularly juicy piece of pork from Jaxom’s plate and began eating. Jaxom gave him a withering glare.

  “Not an hour out of your death bed, and you are off fighting nine foot tall monsters in my cellar?” Corin said, otherwise appearing to concentrate on his pork. “One would think a loyal vassal would inform his lord when he intended such things.”

  “It was only seven feet tall, and it’s not like I went looking for the damn thing.” Jaxom said, taking the bait.

  Corin gave a small smile of victory. “That’s beside the point. You were only supposed to investigate the shades.” He plucked some peas from Jaxom’s plate.

  Jaxom gave his friend an evil look. “I did that. Something was there waiting for me.”

  “Waiting for you?” Corin said, leaning back.

  “Yes. It was in the room with the bodies. I believe that when it realized I had seen it, it tried to kill me.”

  Corin looked around, as if signaling that this was not the place to have such a discussion. He stood and motioned for Jaxom to follow. Lamenting his unfinished meal, Jaxom complied. As they left the dining hall, the king’s personal guard maintained an unobtrusive distance that allowed them a measure of privacy.

  “What do you mean something was waiting for you?” Corin asked.

  “When I was in the shade’s memories, something powerful found me,” Jaxom heard his voice shaking.

  “Do you have any idea what it was?”

  “No, but I think I have a way to find out,” Jaxom said and instantly regretted it. On the trip from the holding cells, Jaxom had thought over what he had seen in the shade’s memories. The man on the throne must have been their leader. He did not think the man had been the source of the voice, but he was connected to it. The shades had traveled south for nearly two weeks, moving only at night, which gave Jaxom a good idea of where they came from. All signs pointed to the great forest. “I believe the shades came from the Teriken Forest.”

  “That’s at least a ten-day ride from here.” Corin shook his head. “I can’t send you north while the Azurian and Dradon armies creep toward us from the South.”

  “If we win this war but don’t stop whoever started it, they will just try again. We need to know what we are up against,” Jaxom said. Corin stopped and stood staring at a painting depicting a beautiful blond woman in a long, flowing red dress. Jaxom could almost see the wheels turning in his friend’s head. “You’re right. I would rather have you with me when all this starts, but my reasons are more personal than strategic.” Breaking his gaze from the picture, he looked at Jaxom. “You can be handy in a fight.”

  “You’ll allow me to go, then?”

  “Yes, though I’d rather not. I can’t devote a lot of men to this little… adventure,” Corin said, continuing to walk, “but I won’t let you go alone.”

  Jaxom had envisioned himself simply riding out alone, but bringing others was sounding better and better. Besides Corin, Celia, and Nelix, he didn’t have any friends, and all hands would be needed in the kingdom to face the coming invasion. Not for the first time, Jaxom ached at having so few people in his life.

  “You can take three of the guard if you wish,” Corin offered.

  “Cribble,” Jaxom said on impulse, “and let him pick two more.” He did not know why he had picked Cribble. By all accounts the man despised what he was, but the Captain had just proven himself willing to put prejudice aside when needed as he had done down in holding cells.

  “Cribble?” Corin sounded as surprised as Jaxom felt by his own choice. “You’re sure?”

  As Jaxom thought about his decision, it became more of the logical choice. He didn’t like Cribble anyway. If he was going to risk someone else’s life, why not his? That was a horrible way to think of it, but there it was. He then remembered that two other men he did not know would also be taking the same risks.

  “Yes, have Cribble look for volunteers,” Jaxom said.

  Corin began laughing loudly. “Oh, Captain Cribble is just going to love this. He has no choice, but he has to ask for volunteers. You, my friend, have a mean sense of humor.”

  Jaxom had not considered the implications, but found that he enjoyed the idea of it. “Do you think he’ll have a hard time?”

  “Dozens of men will jump at the chance,” Corin replied.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You truly have no idea what goes on in this palace, do you?” Corin’s laughter resumed. “You’ve become quite the hero among the men. Even those who were not there last night know what you did. They know that you saved many lives, possibly even mine. So no, I don’t think he will have any problem finding volunteers.”

  Jaxom considered. That explained why the Guard had been saluting him. “We’ll need horses, supplies, and money.”

  “Anything else?” Corin said.

  “How strong are your ties to Sarinsha’s temple?” Jaxom asked. “Strong enough. They will provide a priest if I require one. The clergy have as much a vested interest in Ale’adaria winning as we do. The citizens of Dradon and Azuria do not have the choice of worshipping what gods they choose. If we are conquered, all the people will be commanded to worship Trell.”

  “Good, will you send word that we require the services of Da’san?”

  “I’ll have a messenger sent to the temple, and I’ll inform Cribble myself that you requested him.” He began laughing again. “I assume that you’ll only need four horses for the journey as you’ll be riding that creature that has been frightening my stable staff?”

  In truth, Jaxom had forgotten his risen mare. Looking inward, he could still feel the small trickle of magic reanimating the horse.

  “Four will do,” Jaxom said.

  “See the Quarter Master, and tell him what you need. He will see to it that everything is waiting in the stables when you’re ready. I will also have Cribble inform you when he has his volunteers,” another small chuckle. Jaxom nodded to his friend, who gave him a pat on the shoulder before moving down the hall. His two guards shadowing every footsteps.

  After visiting the Quarter Master, Jaxom found Celia in her rooms with Nelix going over battle
plans. They, with other lords and officers, were to take a small force to the south in an attempt to harass the invaders while the king assembled the main army. This would buy the people time to flee north out of harm’s way. Jaxom explained what had transpired, and what he was to do. At first, Celia demanded to send twenty of her own soldiers with him. He eventually got her to see that so many men would not be able to move freely. Nelix, in his usual stoic manner, shook his hand and wished him good luck.

  Back in his room, Jaxom loaded a pack with spare clothing. He grabbed a dagger from the stand near his bed and secured it to his belt next to a money pouch. The treasurer had given him a hefty sum totaling twenty gold and forty silver pieces.

  With nothing to do but wait, he pulled a book from his shelf titled The Teriken and sat down to read. The book mostly covered the forest’s trees and geographical boundaries, which stretched for hundreds of miles north to the mountains and west to the edge of the ocean. The author conceded that he had never been deep within the forest himself, and described some of the strange animals that had been reported near its borders at night. The book also contained a brief history, most of which Jaxom already knew. The Teriken had not had any known inhabitants since before the Mage Wars, but the author could only speculate as to why. All such knowledge had been lost during the war.

  A loud knock at his door drew his attention away from the book. He opened it to find a disgruntled Cribble in full chain armor. “Everything is ready, Magus.” Cribble even made Jaxom’s proper title sound like an insult.

  Scooping his black traveling cloak from the chair, Jaxom followed Cribble out. At the stables, all the horses had been saddled and readied. His own mare stood unmoving at a distance from the others. The stable boy was busy securing her stirrup while all the other staff kept their distance. For his part, the boy seemed completely at ease.

  Cribble joined the small group of guards who stood talking amongst themselves. Da’san in his blue robes waited quietly next to a guard whose back was turned to Jaxom. Next to him, stood a man wearing a light leather jerkin with a recurve bow slung over his shoulder. A quiver of arrows hung from his right hip and a short sword from the left. The bowman was as young as Da’san, around twenty-one years, with short blond hair and, like Da’san, a bright smile that never quite seemed to leave his face. The group quieted when they saw him, all but Cribble watching him expectantly.

  Da’san broke the silence. “Hello again, Magus. I did not expect to be seeing you so soon.”

  “Yes. It seems I need your help once more. Thank you again for the healing.” The priest bowed his head in recognition.

  “Allow me to introduce Brenin,” Da’san said, indicating the bowman, whose salute drew a loud snort from Cribble. “And Jerup.”

  As Jerup turned to Jaxom and saluted as well, the long cut on his face and his greying beard made him instantly recognizable. “You were in the hall last night.”

  “Yes, Magus. I would not be standing here now, and my wife and children would be mourning me, if you had not been there. When Captain Cribble said you were looking for volunteers, I knew this is how I would repay you.”

  “They may mourn you yet,” Jaxom said, wincing a little at the harshness of his words.

  “The odds could not be any worse than they were last night, and I owe a debt,” he replied. Jaxom nodded and looked to the smiling bowman.

  “I have never been outside the city before, Magus. This is as good a time as any to see some more of the kingdom,” Brenin said.

  Cribble sighed and looked at Jaxom. “He is young and inexperienced, but he is the best archer I know.”

  “He will do just fine,” Jaxom said, gratified to see the bowman square his shoulders a little more. “Let us begin. We only have another three hours of daylight.”

  The boy had just finished setting the bit in the mouth of Jaxom’s risen mare, a completely unnecessary piece of equipment. Jaxom did not need the small metal piece to control the animal, but the reins would help to keep him secure on its back.

  “She wasn’t any trouble was she?”

  “No, Magus. She just stands there unless I lead her. She won’t move for anyone else.”

  The mare had been brushed down well, which had probably taken a good amount of courage from the boy. Untying his money pouch, Jaxom fished a silver out and flipped it to the boy who caught the coin and looked from his hand to Jaxom and back again. It was probably more then he earned in a month. Stuffing the pouch into a saddlebag for safekeeping, Jaxom climbed into the saddle and led the way out through the stable gates. His small band followed behind in single file.

  They traveled away from the palace into the main part of the city where the streets were busy with pedestrians going about their business. Women carried groceries while laboring men hauled boxes to various store fronts. Nobles in fine clothes rode along, taking no notice of the commoners around them, and people selling wares from small carts called out their goods to those passing by. Jaxom felt a tension in the air. Everyone knew by now that a war was coming.

  As they passed a brothel, women dressed in scandalous clothing called out to them. Brenin waved to one of the women and smiled broadly. She winked and blew him a kiss. Cribble rode up beside the young man and slapped him on the back of the head. Jaxom noticed people staring at him. Mothers pointed at him and whispered to their children. At the gate, they passed a column of soldiers and wagons carrying supplies into the city. These men were not as well trained as the city Guard, but they made up the bulk of the kingdom’s fighting force. Once through the iron portcullis, Jaxom slowed so they could all ride abreast on the wide road.

  “Where are we heading?” Cribble asked.

  “North,” Jaxom said.

  “North? Where north?” Cribble pressed.

  “The Teriken Forest.”

  “Great, we are looking for a deadly enemy in a cursed forest, just the five of us. I’m glad I had my will scribed before we left,” Cribble said.

  “Did you think it would be easy?” Jaxom demanded, though he couldn’t be angry with the man. Cribble was right, but that didn’t mean they had a choice.

  “I know of a town near there,” Da’san said. “The area is technically part of Ale’adaria, but with so few people living there, they do not ever see tax collectors or soldiers.”

  “How do you know that?” Jaxom asked.

  “I have traveled much to bring the word of the Goddess to others. I have visited this town in the past, but I would not expect a warm welcome from them. They do not trust outsiders and do not think much of Ale’adarian soldiers,” Da’san said.

  “But we are not soldiers,” Brenin pointed out.

  “They will not see a difference. Patrols rarely ever go that for north if at all, so they are left to fend for themselves against bandits.” Da’san replied.

  “It’s as a good a place to start as any,” Jaxom said, grateful the priest had agreed to come along. Da’san would prove useful.

  “I know a small inn that traders on the road use. We can be there just after dark,” Cribble said, perking up. Jaxom nodded his assent, and the small group made their way down the road.

  Chapter 7

  Celia had spent the day since Jaxom left with Nelix going over the plans for slowing the enemy advance. Her father’s men--her men now--would arrive from her family’s holding today. Tomorrow, the entire force of a thousand cavalry would move south. The plan was simple. They would harass the scout units and baggage train or any other weak spots in the invading forces. They would never engage in any fight they could not easily win, and they would retreat at the first sign of a situation turning against them.

  Even though she had feigned confidence with Corin and Jaxom, she still felt unsure of her ability to lead men into a fight. She had not lied when she told them that her father had been teaching her to do so, but she neglected to mention that her training had been informal—not at all the kind received by young lords. Her father had indulged her interest in battle tactics as
a hobby, and she had learned her skill with the sword from a retired instructor. Celia’s father had never stopped hoping that she would marry. Celia loved her father but had no intention of settling down to raise children, at least not anytime soon. It hadn’t helped that the young nobles who had pursued her over the years had been pompous and arrogant.

  After convincing Corin that she could lead, she had sent a message to her father, Lord Andel, brother of Corin’s mother, that the king needed men for the coming war. In the message, she had written that the king recognized his uncle’s failing health and would not ask that he himself march to the call. Celia knew that last part would hurt her father’s pride deeply, but it was the truth. By taking command of the men herself, she could keep her father from the field.

  A knock at the door brought her out of her reflections. She opened the door to find a man she had known much of her life standing in the hall. Graydon had served as her father’s master-at arms for more than fifteen years and had taught her how to use a sword. His average height and build belied his deadliness with any weapon. She would need his help if she was going to pull this off.

  “Lady Celia,” Graydon said, bowing slightly forward. She threw her arms around the man, giving him a hug which he returned with as much strength.

  “I have so much to tell you,” she said. She invited him to sit and poured wine for both of them, then recounted the events of the past few days involving Jaxom and the shades, the impending war, and finally her slight deception.

  The man leaned back, whistling through his teeth. “That’s quite the story. I’m not sure how I feel about lying to your father, and the king.” Graydon ran a rough hand through his short salt and pepper hair.

  “You know my father wouldn’t survive a war in his condition,” she said. Celia’s father had been having problems with breathing for the past two years, and the priests had all said that his illness was beyond their power to heal. “What do you need from me?”