Master Mage

by D. W. Jackson

  “Thaddeus. Going back out again, I see,” the old stable master said when he saw Thad. “Want me to get your Lady saddled?” he asked with a bit of a smirk.

  After Thad had returned, Maria still tended to give Thad a hard time where women were concerned. Though the queen was too proper to voice her displeasure that Thad had courted other women, she had no problem showing it discreetly. When Thad had requested a horse, he was given a young filly that was named Lady with the comment that she was a gentle ride. The sly comment had sparked numerous rumors among the palace staff.

  Thad had no complaints with the horse itself. She was young yet well trained and had more speed behind her than most he had ridden. If it wasn’t for the sly jokes, Thad would have thought it a perfect gift.

  Once mounted, Thad quickly left the palace grounds and headed into the city proper. He had little on his agenda today, so he decided a quick stop to check in on Shariel would be nice.

  Thad had not been back to his own home since returning to the city. There had been so much to do that he had not even given it much thought. Shariel visited often, though she tended to spend more time with the princess than she did with him.

  Opening the door, Thad found his charge sitting in the kitchen, enjoying an early morning meal. Shariel had changed a lot since he had first left the capital. Then, she had been nothing but a seven-year-old child. Now, she was nearing her teen years. Unlike most children her age, she knew she didn’t know everything, though there were times she liked to pretend she did.

  “Thad,” the young girl said, rushing up and giving him a peck on the cheek. “I didn’t expect you,” she added, looking at the sparse amount of food she had prepared.

  “I have already had my share of food from the palace kitchens,” Thad replied with a wink. “I just stopped by to see how things were going with you. It has been far too long since we had the time to simply chat.”

  “Not much, really,” Shariel said, shrugging her shoulders. “I do tend to have a lot of nobles trying to hoist their sons on me. I don’t know if being called your sister is a blessing or a curse. The gifts are all nice, but I don’t want to think of dealing with boys yet. If I have learned anything from you, it’s that boys are nothing but trouble,” Shariel added jokingly.

  The two sat talking for a short time before the sun had fully risen into the sky. As the light started streaming in, Shariel ran off for her studies, and Thad was left with nothing else to do but start on his own work.

  Everything around the capital was in order, and the first signs of snow were beginning to show. Once the ground froze and the land was blanketed in a sheet of white, traveling would be much harder, so Thad took it as a perfect opportunity to check on the new fort being built near the Rane border.

  If he was lucky and didn’t take too many rests, it would be a three-day trip there with one day for inspection and rest and another three days back. He had left a note for the princess, but he was sure that she would most likely call him to her dreams to let him know of her displeasure.

  The ride over open ground with little to think about was refreshing. The idea that he would have more than an afternoon of peace, without the bickering and arguments that he found in the capital, felt refreshing. As he rode along, Thad had the urge to slow down his pace and extend his holiday for as long as possible, but he knew that each day wasted might cost him dearly in the end.

  You could keep riding. Turn your horse toward Abla and then north into the desert. Not even the Brotherhood would follow you there.

  “Living out the rest of my days in the harsh desert doesn’t sound fun. I would much rather fight now than spend the rest of my life worrying if the Brotherhood would find me,” Thad told his staff proudly.

  I figured as much, but whenever I try and agree with you, it never works out. I find it much easier to state the opposite and have you fill in your own answers.

  “You keep that up, and one of these days, it is going to come back on you. I might just decide to do just what you suggest,” Thad said, laughing.

  Thad saw few travelers on the road, though he wasn’t surprised. All merchants from Rane had been banned from the country, and with the snows coming, most people were keeping close to home in front of the fire. As a cold wind blew through the air, forcing Thad to pull his cloak tight around his shoulders, the thought of a nice fire seemed like pure bliss.

  Once the sun began to set, Thad continued on for a short time until the darkness was so thick he could no longer see the road. Unable to continue further, Thad unsaddled Lady and pulled a bag of oats out of his magically extended pack. After Lady was fed and brushed down good, Thad pulled his own heavy bedroll from his pack and started making a fire.

  Within moments, Thad had a large blaze roaring to stave off the frigid air. Watching as the fire burned, Thad wished he had brought a few traveling companions with him. Alone, Thad had no choice but to cover the burning coals with dirt to ensure he didn’t wake to find himself or the countryside on fire.

  Pulling the thick blankets around him closely, Thad curled into a tight ball. After a few moments, his body heat warmed his blankets, and he was able to drift off into a relatively peaceful sleep.

  The next two days seemed as uneventful as the first, and Thad quickly started to grow bored. At first, the peace and quiet was much enjoyed, but Thad had spent so much time in the company of others that the quiet surroundings felt void and lonely. When he caught the first glimpses of the new fort, Thad could have yelled for joy, knowing it means an ending to his lonely travels.

  From the position of the sun and the distance to the fort, Thad knew that it would be nearly impossible to reach it that day unless he wanted to risk killing his horse. Sighing, Thad decided to travel as far as he could with what daylight was left so he could arrive at the fort even an hour earlier the next day.

  That night, as he sat near the fire, his spirits were high once again. He cared little for whom he would have the company of on the morrow just as long as it was someone.

  You could always talk to me.

  “I fear that I might start to lose my mind if I talk to you too much. Even worse, I might start to think like you, then the world would truly be in danger,” Thad replied half-jokingly.

  You might have company sooner than you might wish.

  Without a word, Thad drifted into a meditative state and used his magical senses to check the area. Thuraman had been right. Less than fifty yards off and moving slowly, five men with small magical dead areas approached.

  “Tell me when they near the tree line,” Thad told his staff as he began to search through his pouches. Thad pulled fifteen metal slugs from his pouch as well as two thick metal rings. At first, Thad had to use his own stores of magical energy to fire the metal slugs at the Brotherhood soldiers. To alleviate that need, he had made rings that acted on the slugs with their own stored energy. They could only fire six to seven before needing the recharge for a span of days, but it was easier and faster than using his personal stores of magic.

  Other than his slugs, Thad pulled out the magical orbs that would cause vines to grow. The vines were not a very offensive spell, but they would ensnare the soldiers so he could reduce the number he had to fend off at once. “What are they doing?” Thad asked Thuraman once everything was ready.

  They have spread out along the tree line and are staying still.

  “They must be waiting for me to go to sleep. Might as well oblige them,” Thad said, setting his staff down next to the rest of his gear. When he crawled into his bedroll, he was careful to conceal his sword under its folds.

  His eyes closed, Thad reached out with his mage sight. It wasn’t as clear as a picture he could see with his normal vision, but thanks to the void spots created by the white metal, Thad could easily tell where the five men were. The assassins waited until almost a half hour after Thad lay down before they started to move.

  Thad’s first instinct when they started moving was to jump up and start his assault, but he
pushed it aside and waited. He had three of the metal slugs in his left hand as well as his sword in his right, with more slugs not far away. If everything worked out the way he wanted, then Thad would kill most of them before they had a chance to recover from their surprise.

  When the first assassin was only a stone’s throw away, Thad threw aside his blankets. Jumping to his feet, Thad fired one of the slugs, catching the closest man in the chest and blowing him backward. Thad quickly shot off the remaining slugs, missing with one and the other catching one of the men in the leg, ripping it off as if it were a sheet of parchment. As the man fell to the ground, screaming, Thad scooped up the three vine orbs and threw them across the ground.

  The vines shot up from the ground, snaking around and grabbing hold of anything near. The assassin to the far left, as well as the one on the ground grasping at his bleeding leg, was quickly wrapped up by the vines. Thad watched for a brief moment, making sure the two were out of the fight, before returning his attention to the two remaining assassins.

  The two remaining assassins circled around him, moving slowly, but with intent. Thad bent down and retrieved three more of his metal slugs as he tried to keep from presenting his back as a target to either man.

  With the slugs now in hand, Thad took a more defensive posture. From the look of his opponents’ eyes, he knew that they wouldn’t be caught off guard easily. Doubting that his slugs would get another direct hit, Thad launched two of them at the man farthest away and one at the other as he charged him.

  Thad didn’t look to see if his other attacks had worked. He continued to keep his attention focused on the man in front of him as he attacked vigorously with his sword. Using his final trick, Thad called his staff to his now-empty hand as he swung forward with a vicious overhead chop. The assassin, seeing only a bare hand, paid it little heed as his eyes were focused on the sword in Thad’s right hand. By the time the assassin realized his mistake, it was too late, and the staff slammed into his skull, shattering it like a porcelain bowl.

  Thad, ready to defend against the other assassin, spun back around but found the man lying on his back, trying to stanch the blood flowing from his side. Thad’s slug must have just grazed the man enough to rip a fair-sized hole in his side. Without mercy, Thad walked over to the wounded man and quickly ended his struggles as he separated his head from his body.

  The assassin who had lost his leg was already dead, his body limp and pale as the vines continued to wrap around it. The last assassin was still very much alive, but in no condition to put up a fight. The vines had sprouted right under him, tangling him before he had a chance to move. His arms and legs were held tight, and his white dagger lay almost a foot away.

  “What luck, looks like I have a nice present for my friends down at the fort,” Thad said as he sent his magical energy into the vines, making them wrap around the man so tightly he looked as if he was swathed in a green blanket.

  “Curse you to the abyss, foul mage,” the assassin spat.

  “If I remember correctly, I was simply getting ready to sleep for the night, and you attacked me. If you should curse anyone, it should be your own stupidity,” Thad replied tauntingly.

  When the assassin didn’t respond to his taunts, Thad ordered the vines to wrap the man tighter. “Now just why and who were you out hunting tonight?” Thad asked, his face only inches from the assassin’s.

  “We were looking for soldiers or abominations that made for easy targets. We have already killed more than two dozen on your roads, though I fear some of them might have been no more than simple farmers,” the assassin replied, his voice thick with intent.

  “Looks like I won’t be getting much sleep tonight. The moon is full enough. Why don’t we see if we can make it to the fort?” Thad asked, pulling a rope from his pack, a devious smile plastered on his face.

  CHAPTER IV

  Even with the moon out, the trip down the road was slow. Thad’s earlier boredom was gone, replaced with the pleasant sound of curses from the man being pulled across the ground behind him.

  It took slightly over two hours to reach the fort. Had he known he had been that close, he would have pushed on even after darkness had fallen, but then he would have missed his party. The sentries called him to a halt but quickly let him pass once they noticed the brand of two crescent moons on his forehead. General Bache had to be roused from his bed and sounded none too happy from outside the small building Thad waited in until he saw what Thad had brought.

  “Looks like you caught a nice-sized rat, but couldn’t your visit have waited till the morning hours?” the general asked groggily.

  “Well, I didn’t feel all that safe sleeping under the stars after running into five of his lot,” Thad said, his tone serious and dry.

  “There have been reports of bandit activity along the roads, but I never thought much of it,” the general replied, shaking his head. “Guess we better send out some patrols to make sure the roads are safe, or the queen will have my hide.”

  “Now I know that you didn’t come here just to bring us this fine gift, but if it’s all the same to you, can we wait until daybreak for further business?” the general asked, yawning.

  Thad agreed and was led to a large barracks and given an open bunk. The room smelled of sweat and feet, but it was warm, and within moments, Thad was fast asleep.

  Thad was woken early the next morning thanks to the bustling soldiers as they prepared for their morning exercises. Thad followed the group out, his head still fuzzy from lack of sleep. Once he stepped outside, he noticed that the sun hadn’t even graced them with its presence yet.

  Thad thought it odd that everyone wore such light clothing given that the air outside was cold enough for an ice room. He quickly learned the reason after half an hour of pushing himself up from the ground and running in place. His heavy tunic and cloak were drenched in sweat, and his body felt hot and cold at the same time. As soon as the sun touched the edges of the horizon, the army went on a long run around the fort. Thad had thought he was in good shape, but the army regimen quickly proved him wrong. Long before Thad was halfway around the perimeter of the fort, he had dropped to the ground gasping and spewed the contents of his stomach upon the ground.

  His body aching and his body quickly cooling down, Thad forced himself to his feet and back to the barracks. He was caught halfway by the general, who had a probing look on his face. “I had heard you were quite the fighter. Given your reputation, I would have expected the little workout this morning to be a breeze,” the general said as his lips curved into a smile.

  “It seems I have spent too much time in dark rooms hunched over parchment and scrolls,” Thad replied weakly.

  The general took Thad back to his office, which was no more than a rough log cabin with a fireplace. The insides might have been sparse, but it was warm, and at the moment, that was all Thad needed.

  “If you plan any extended fighting, I would suggest you start working on your physical capabilities. Most of the time, it is not skill that wins in long battles but stamina. The most skilled swordsman in the world will fall before the blade of a child if he finds himself out of breath during a fight,” the general said teasingly.

  Thad tried to laugh, but his muscles had already started to tense and hurt. “I think I will take your advice. Do they do that every day?” Thad asked, amazed at the soldiers’ resolve as he watched them through the window as they continued their run.

  “Heavens, no,” the general said, laughing. “They change up the routine daily, though it does follow a set pattern. They do it twice a day, though, and most of the free time is used for endurance training as well. In the army, there tends to be a lot of downtime, and we have found filling it with exercise keeps the troops from killing each other.”

  “I don’t think I will take it that far, but I think a little more exercise wouldn’t kill me,” Thad said, his voice slightly in awe.

  “Now why don’t we get down to business? What has brought the queen’s
personal guard dog all the way down here? I don’t think the Rane army would try to attack right before the first snowfall.”

  “Honestly,” Thad said, looking slightly embarrassed, “I needed a reason to get away from the capital, and looking in on you was the only thing I could think of. I have also brought with me a little over seventy shield rings for your troops. They won’t protect them from everything and should only be used in a real battle, but it should help keep some of the men alive.”

  “I can understand wanting to get away for a few days. I often feel the same way when my captains start in on me about policies and procedure meetings. Don’t get me wrong—I know that a declined army needs well-defined rules, but I had one captain in here wanting me to mandate the proper way to use the latrine,” the general said, shaking his head in disgust. “Now about these rings, if they work as you say, then I will distribute them as soon as possible. I would like to have enough for everyone, but the soldiers in the most need will get what we have, and the rest will have to suffer.”

  “We are working to make more, but it is a slow process. I will have them delivered to you as they are produced, but I doubt we will have enough by the end of winter for every troop. There just is not enough time in the day.”

  “Time, the one thing we all need more of but can’t get. You get what you can and leave the rest to us. We have fought for years without magical aid, and we can continue to do so. Those that complain will spend a week mucking out the latrines,” the general said coldly. “How long do you plan to stay and inspect our work?” the general asked slyly.

  “I wish I could stay a week, but sadly, I will need to be on my way back to the capital tomorrow morning,” Thad replied sorrowfully.

  “Duty calls. That is one thing every man here would understand,” the general said in an understanding voice. “While you’re here, why don’t you try to enjoy yourself? Many of the lower ranks tend to have a fair bit of fun. They don’t really exclude the officers, but it’s seen as bad form for them to try to involve themselves. I think that since you’re not really a soldier, I doubt they would mind you joining in their amusements.”