Stain nodded, "True. You had good instincts even then."
Raven came in after straightening her hair. "I am starving."
"A meal is heading our way right now." Stain took his seat. "Sit down and we will eat quickly and discuss what our plans will be for the foreseeable future."
We all sat down and a troupe of servants brought in a large meal, enough for all of us and maybe even Tag and Evins. Mophar claimed a bowl of fruit and a pitcher of juice as his alone. Everyone grabbed food and started eating. Sounds of food being consumed and content noises was all that could be heard for a few moments.
"Well, I feel much better." Raven pushed away her bowl and drank some juice.
Stain nodded and pulled apart a roll. "Food always helps. Now, I need to set some ground rules while we are in the capital."
We all looked up at this. "Ground rules?" I asked.
He nodded, "Things are different here. First, you both are under my protection. If anyone messes with you or orders you to do something you must clear it with me first, even the king."
Raven and I looked at each other. "That sounds reasonable Stain." She stated.
"Good. Second of all, you are not to discuss our travels with anyone. Not anything about the locations, actions, even the food you ate. I will be filling the king in with what he missed. Once I have done that we must make plans and take actions. Even the least bit of detail could provide the enemy information. I would rather that not happen." He looked around and smiled. "It is nice to be back home. Finally, you both need to work on all your magic, all the families and types. So I have to clear some practice space. I have rooms here for both of you, so that is not an issue. Conium has her own quarters." He stood up. "I am going to go see the king. I imagine I will be gone a while, as we will be discussing strategy and plans. Get all of our stuff unpacked and put away. Conium knows where everything goes and where your stuff can be placed. Work on that and then eat again. I should be back later tonight." He walked out and his footsteps could be heard going slowly down the hallway.
"Well, my two fine friends, let us get to work." Conium stood up and pulled on the rope again. "When they get here have all the dishes and such hauled off. Keep the fruit and drinks. We might need them while working. I am going to get some people to help haul everything from our two pack shell friends. I will be back in a few moments." She walked out of the room.
* * *
"The king feels it is our best interest to stay in the capital for an extended period of time. So, both of you will have plenty of time to work on your magic studies." Stain had returned late from meeting with the king. "I am going to work with both of you. However, Conium and a few hand picked others will be working with you also. I will have many other responsibilities while we are here, so please keep that in mind. If you have questions, make sure to ask." Stain was sitting down, looking quite tired.
"Who all is going to be helping?" Conium posed this question.
Stain scratched his beard, "I am not sure right now. Everything is still chaos from the spell and I am not sure who all is in the capital. I know a few I would like. Also we need to work in some weapons training. Everyone needs to be in their best shape and prepared for all trials we might face." Stain smiled, "I do know that plans are underway for a wedding. Lightfoot has responded and agrees with the match. He also wants to be at the ceremony. The king has offered his help also with the wedding. I believe he wants to give a gift of some sort. I think we are looking at having the wedding two seasons from now. The cold season is about to be upon us and then the sprouting season will occur. I think a wedding at the end of that would be best. It gives everyone time to make plans. I do know I need at least half that time for my preparations Also we will be stuck here until around then. I will need to leave the capital shortly after the roads are passable again, after all the rain has eased. There are places we will have to travel and people to see." He leaned back in his chair and grinned at our expressions. "I know it is a lot to think about. However, you two have a lot of work and I can almost bet that time will seem to pass quickly. There is much to be done and many things to occupy us." He stood up and stretched. "I am going to bed. Make sure to find your own before too long." He walked out of the room and into his personal area, shutting the door decisively
Conium grinned, "It sounds as if we will have a lot of excitement in our future. Lots of magic to learn, weapons practice, planning a wedding, and being prepared for leaving once more." She stood up. "I just hope we have all the time we need, that the enemy does not move against us during the cold season." She walked over to the door. "Good night my friends. I am going to bed. We start many projects tomorrow. Best to be rested in the morning." She shut the door.
Raven looked across the table and I could tell she was worried, "You still want to marry me?"
I smiled hugely, knowing I looked silly. "I sure do. I understand the wait and I think it is fine."
"I think so also." She smiled shyly. "I am glad your dad approved."
"I had no doubt he would. We had talked about marriage before. He told me I would just know one day that I had met the woman who would be my partner in life." I reached across the table and laid my hand over hers. "I do think we are going to be very busy till then."
Nodding she blew out some candles, "We both should be going to bed. I think they plan on wearing us thin by the sound of it."
Mophar jumped from the table and headed to the room set aside for me, "I know you all are going to be busy. I think I will be bored out of my mind stuck here all that time."
We laughed and finished clearing the room, then we both headed to bed. I laid in bed thinking. I was excited about this new part of my life. I had gained control of all my magic and now I was going to learn how to truly become a master mage. Stain had told us it would be a lot of hard work. We would be challenged in ways beyond our understanding. I knew all of this but it was worth it. A dark thought flickered across my mind just before sleep. There was an enemy out there. One who desired harm and destruction of those of the kingdom.
* * *
"Get up!" Raven's voice was panicked "Ott. Wake up!" She cried harshly in my ear.
"I am awake. What is going on?" I shrugged off the effects of sleep.
"The capital is under attack. We have to flee." She pulled me out of my bed, thrusting my weapons into my hands. "Stain sent me after you. Gather whatever you need now and follow me."
I grabbed my magic sack, the one that held so much without ever getting heavier. Most of my stuff from our travels was still inside it. "Where are we going?" I woke everyone else up. Mophar climbed to my shoulders and held tight in fear. Pat simply listened. Fiosrach woke quickly.
"I do not know. He just said to get you and meet him at the stables." She walked into the main room and grabbed her stuff piled there. "Follow me." She rushed out of the room and headed towards the stables.
"I will meet you at the stables, I can travel there faster and assist master Stain." Fiosrach stated this calmly and walked into the wall.
The sounds of soldiers fighting and huge creatures could be heard faintly.
"Where is the fighting happening?" I asked as I ran after her. Other people ran through the hallways. Some armed and obviously heading for the fighting. Others rushed away, fear plain on their faces.
"The lower city is under attack now. Stain said we are going to be overrun. The king has ordered Stain and us away. He is staying and going to fight." She made a sharp turn, almost running over people in her haste. "We have to hurry."
We raced through the keep, getting closer to the stable at each turn. Mophar struggled to hold on at times, there were so many people racing through the corridors. Pat flew above us, keeping an eye out for possible danger. We finally reached the stables to find Stain and some of the stable hands loading Tag and Evins.
"Just throw it on!" Stain yelled at one man. "We can balance it later. We must get away soon." He threw another parcel onto Tag's shell and strapped it down. "Move
people! The king has ordered us to be gone before the lower city is taken." A pile of sacks and parcels were piled off to the side. Men grabbed them at random and strapped them to the pack shells. Other men brought packages from all directions and set them into the pile. "Hurry! We have to be under way!" Turning Stain saw Raven and me watching. "Grab something and strap it on. We are leaving before the sun rises."
Raven and I strapped our stuff to Tag and Evins and joined the throng of men loading them. We all rushed and loaded as fast as possible. The pack shells soon were loaded.
"That is done. Everyone scatter. It is time for us to leave." Stain grabbed Raven and me. "Wait." He said softly to us.
We stood there and waited for everyone else to leave. Soon the stable was empty, the only sounds that we could hear was the sound of fighting. It had grown and was closer.
Stain led both of us deep into the stable, away from the entrance. "I did say there was only one secret way in and out of the capital. However, that is only partially true. That was the only secret way on that side of the mountains." He walked up to the back wall of the stables and cast a spell. A chunk of the wall moved sideways revealing a gaping hole. "That path is not open to us, enemies guard it too well. We will have to take this one." He led us through the wall and down a long path. "This path leads through the mountain. It comes out on the other side of the mountain and opens into the wilderness that is there. We must hurry to get free." He hurried into the tunnel. The sounds of fighting slowly fading into the distance.
"What is going to happen to the capital and the king?" I finally asked Stain.
Stain frowned, "The capital might fall. The king chose to stay behind and fight. Knowing him he will do a lot of damage and then break free if he can not hold the capital. He does love this sort of thing. Overwhelming odds and impossible situations." Stain looked over his shoulder. "Conium escaped as well as the others who have befriended flying creatures. They were ordered to flee at the same moment as the king ordered us to flee."
We walked in silence for a long time. Raven finally spoke up, "Why did we flee? Why not stay and fight?"
Stain shook his head, "Magic would not have worked. Maxius is the one who is attacking and he is using the contents of the vault. We can not hope to withstand him at this point. There are defenses that will help to deflect the weapons he has stolen. The king is confident he can withstand or escape. Knowing that our capture or destruction was likely he ordered us to flee. So we listen to him and flee."
We walked for a long time, listening for footsteps chasing us. Occasionally Stain allowed us to take breaks and rest, however they were always short and we got back underway. Once or twice we had to adjust the load on either Tag or Evins. Things kept shifting. Finally Stain stopped us.
"Wait here a moment. The end of the tunnel is just ahead. I will check to see if it is clear." He walked forward into the gloom. His light providing just enough glow to see him walk away.
Raven and I sat, waiting. Stain came back and motioned to us. "The way is clear. We need to keep moving." He led the way to the tunnel opening.
The sun was just rising over the horizon. Trees like I had never seen rose up from the forest below. Strange birds called out to one another. Large animals could be heard moving through the brush. We stood there looking out for a time.
"Welcome to the lost land. We will have to find our way around the mountains and back to the kingdom." Stain seemed strained. "This tunnel must be sealed to keep us safe." He put his words into action and we could hear the tunnel collapse behind us as his spell worked.
"Where do we go from here?" Raven looked around at the untouched wildness around us.
Stain grinned tiredly, "We go on. We keep on. And we make our way back and defeat our enemies."
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter I: Lost and Found
Chapter II: A Few Moments, Then the Storm
Chapter III Air Guardian
Chapter IV Moments of Insanity
Chapter V Fire Burning Brightly
A Deepening Knowledge (A Life of Magic) Page 29
