by Jon Bender
“Good morning,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. “This will be ready in a moment.”
Jaxom took a seat at the simple wooden table as the apprentice served him a plate. “Thank you,” he said, taking a bite. It tasted far better than he had come to expect from army supplies. “This is really good.”
Lexa smiled, something he had not seen her do since Warin lost his arm. Whatever the man said to her had improved her mood “My mother taught me, and there are plenty of spices here,” she said.
Getting a plate for herself, she took a seat opposite Jaxom. “You have never spoken about your family before,” he said.
She sat quietly for a moment, not touching her food, then met his eyes. “My mother and father owned a tailor shop in Denra before the Kelrans came. They were good people who didn’t deserve what happened to them,” she said.
“I’m sorry,” Jaxom said, suddenly feeling ashamed.
“For what?”
“When we first came here, I did not think about your feelings towards the Kelrans,” he said.
“At first, I was glad to come. I saw it as an opportunity to get back at the people who killed my parents, but now I don’t blame the Kelrans. They have suffered as much as I have at the hands of Or’Keer.”
“Things will get better. After we finish this, you will be able to do whatever you want, even start a family if you want.”
“I don’t know--” she began, but was interrupted as Darian and Da’san came into the room.
“I hope there is more of that,” Darian said, pointing to Jaxom’s plate.
Lexa gestured towards the stove. The two men fixed their own plates before joining them at the table. “What is the plan for today?” Da’san asked.
“Dillion wants our forces to rest before moving north tomorrow,” Jaxom replied.
The priest gave him a disbelieving look. “After we eat, I will return to help the wounded,” his friend said.
“What are you going to do?” Darian asked.
“Lord Wilbrin will be here soon, so we can check on the state of the Teriken soldiers and riders. Afterwards, Warin and I will meet with Dillion and Enrick to discuss how we are going to deal with the remaining enemy forces,” Jaxom said.
“I will go with you, then,” Darian said.
“I would like to come as well,” Lexa added.
Jaxom thought it was a good idea for her join them. When it was decided to make her a full mage, she would need to know how to integrate magic into a battle strategy. “You are both welcome.”
Adriana joined them a short time later with Warin only a few steps behind her. The magically constructed arm was gone, of course, the bindings of the bone too complicated to hold while sleeping. When all of his friends were present, they enjoyed their meal and talked. For the first time in a while, Jaxom relaxed and enjoyed himself, laughing with the others as Darian told stories about his time at the mage’s castle in Ale’adar. Darian compared some of the older, more reserved mages’ behavior to Da’san’s while the priest adamantly rejected Darian’s imitation of him. For a short time, they were able to forget where they were and why.
When they finished eating and the moment faded, the small group of friends cleared the table to start their day. Da’san left for the buildings where the wounded were being kept. As the priest walked out the door, Wilbrin arrived to take Jaxom and the others to inspect the men.
The group walked to the small cluster of houses that soldiers and riders were using as a temporary barracks and found the men assembled outside in two neat formations. Adriana left to speak quietly to her riders while Darian and Lexa hung back to watch. Leaving the emora with them, Jaxom walked in front of Wilbrin’s men, looking them over. The first thing he noticed was the absence of those they had lost. Of the hundred men that had come with him to Kelran, only about seventy remained and many of those wore bandages. Even with the loss of friends and comrades, the men stood straight with pride. All had taken the time to clean their armor as best they could in preparation for his inspection. The chainmail they wore shone brightly in the sunlight, and their heavy black cloaks looked recently cleaned. It was not that long ago that many of these men had been refugees fleeing for their lives. Now they were here, pushing back the darkness that had enveloped the kingdoms.
Jaxom moved on to the smaller group of durgen riders. Adriana had positioned herself with them, waiting. The losses they had suffered had been far less, but each one that fell in battle was a blow that affected them greatly. Not many had the skill to fight from the backs of the flying risen, and the durgen themselves took time to create. The loss of either lessened their advantage over Tandis’s forces. Like the Calvary, the riders had cleaned their tanned leather armor and stood straight with their eyes forward. Looking to Adriana, Jaxom could see the approval in her eyes at how they presented themselves. He knew that all those present deserved more than just recognition for volunteering and sacrificing so much. For now, all he could offer were his meager words.
Moving in front of the two groups, Jaxom took in the sight of them one more time before speaking. “The journey to this point has been hard, but we must push on. I want you to remember why we are here. Remember what will happen to your families and all people should we fail. Tomorrow, we move north to finish off what remains of the dark god’s forces in Kelran. Afterward, we will return to Terika, where we will prepare to march again with King Corin. Kelran will be only the first victory against Or’Keer, and I will be honored to stand beside you in that victory.”
The cheer that erupted from both groups of men surprised Jaxom with its fervor. Adriana smiled at him in admiration while Wilbrin nodded his approval.
“Nice speech. How long did you rehearse it?” Warin asked when he rejoined them.
“I didn’t rehearse anything,” Jaxom replied. Warin grunted in disbelief as Adriana joined them.
“That was a good speech, but I don’t remember you practicing,” she said. Her words sent Warin into a fit of laughter. She gave the mage a strange look but continued on. “I have to speak to my men, but I will be there when you meet with King Dillion.”
“I will see you then,” Jaxom said, leaning in to kiss her before she left.
“We have some time. Should we find a spot to train with Darian and Lexa?” Warin asked.
“No. We haven’t had time to mend any of the risen, and this would be a good opportunity to repair them. The more damage they sustain, the less effective they will be in a fight.”
Nodding his agreement, Warin followed behind, talking quietly to Lexa as Darian walked beside Jaxom. “You have become quite the leader since we first met,” the ice mage said.
“I am only doing what I have to,” Jaxom replied, uncomfortable with praise.
“I know that. You should keep in mind that not everyone is happy. A mage has not led men into battle since before the law,” he said.
“You mean Tamrick.” Jaxom said, thinking of the green mage.
“And others in Ale’adar. Danika and I are not as worried about you becoming lord of Terika, which is why the Mage’s Castle has not openly objected. Just be cautious about how far you take this. The law was written for a good reason, and many are fearful of what your actions could lead to,” he said looking at Jaxom with concern.
“All I want is to defeat Or’Keer and restore my school. I have no wish to become a king,” “I know, but others may not see it that way,” he said, looking forward again. “I am just saying to be careful. You and the death mages are gaining power very quickly, and such a quick ascent will make others nervous. When Corin finally marches, you may find that it is not only Or’Keer who stands against you.”
They walked the rest of the way in silence as Jaxom considered his friend’s words. He understood that Corin had been walking a fine line when he appointed him lord of Terika. The kingdoms of Dradon and Azuria had been defeated last summer, which may have stayed their hand when they learned of Jaxom, afraid to lose should they attack Ale’adaria
again to enforce the law. Denra no longer had any nobles to object, and King Dillion was in the middle of a civil war. So far, there had been no true resistance to Jaxom’s leadership, but that could change. Perhaps he could speak to the king of Kelran to see where he stood on Jaxom’s position. Jaxom thought it likely that, given the aid Jaxom was providing, Dillion would not openly voice any objections.
They arrived at the large stables where they kept their risen force, with the exception of the emora which stayed by Jaxom’s side. The group entered to find just under fifty of the risen standing as statues. Their pale skin and white glowing eyes marked them for what they were.
“There are times I wish I had been born a death mage,” Darian sighed, taking in the risen.
“You wanted to be born alone and persecuted by mages and men for what you are?” Warin asked sarcastically.
“Or to be feared by people you tried to help?” Lexa added, raising an eyebrow.
“Perhaps you want to feel the anger of people whose friends and family you have brought back to fight?” Jaxom said, unable to resist joining in.
Darian raised his hands in surrender. “I just mean it’s amazing. With a thought, any of you could take control of these and confront a number of mages alone.”
“It is also a lot of work to maintain them after every fight, and we have not had much chance of late,” Warin said.
Jaxom looked at the sorry state of the risen, agreeing completely. With the exception of five shades, the rest were Kelran soldiers dressed in torn and dirty green livery. Most had opened wounds that had yet to be sealed, making Jaxom grateful that there were no insects in the cold of winter. The risen would not rot as long as magic reanimated them, but open flesh would invite a swarm of vermin to feast on the exposed flesh. The chainmail and leather armor they wore was broken in many places, and many no longer carried weapons. There was nothing to do about the arms and armor until replacements were found, but they could restore the damaged muscle and bone so the wounds would not hinder their movement or strength.
“Let’s get to work,” Jaxom said, walking up to one of the shades. Warin and Lexa moved towards other risen while Darian sat down to watch. The shade’s shadow-made mask closely adhered to its face. Jaxom remembered the first time he had seen such a mask while fighting for his life in Ale’adar’s palace halls. Beneath the mask, the risen had been disfigured. With a thought, he commanded the shade to banish the shadow, revealing a large gash in the check and jaw exposing broken teeth and a severed tongue. He could not regrow the missing parts, but restoring the face was within his ability. Placing a hand over the destroyed area, he began to knit the flesh back together. When finished, he pulled back to admire his work and looked into the face of a young man. Mostly, he never gave a thought to who the risen had been in life, seeing them as nothing more than tools. Sometimes, like now, he was forced to confront what they really were. This had been someone’s son, someone’s brother. The fact that he had chosen to become a weapon for Or’Keer did not seem to matter at the moment. Jaxom wondered what his life had been before believing the lies of the dark god. Did he work a farm, or in some shop? Was he an apprentice with hopes for the future? Was there a girl he cared for and planned to marry?
The questions left Jaxom with a feeling of sorrow at the boy’s loss. Forcing himself to focus on his task, he commanded the risen to return the shadow mask. He now stared into the face of his enemy, an enemy who would not hesitate to kill innocents should his god wish it.
“Is something wrong?” Warin asked.
“Nothing,” Jaxom replied and was surprised to hear his voice waver.
“It’s best to avoid looking too long into their faces,” Warin said.
Jaxom took his friend’s advice and avoided mending that area when possible. He spent the next few hours doing his best not to think about who these people had been before, but no matter how much he wished to be numb, the sadness would not leave him. When the last risen had been repaired, Jaxom cast the blight over the bodies of the ones from which they had removed the stones--those that were missing limbs or other parts that would make them ineffective. As the corpses decayed to nothing under his magic, he was again torn by feelings that left him feeling hollow.
Chapter 20
The war council was conducted in an abandoned inn. Unlike the meetings Corin held, where it was all business and everyone stood, King Dillion treated the assembly as an informal dinner party. Several tables had been pushed together to form one long surface with the king at its head. Seasoned steak and boiled vegetables were served with a sweet wine, and two servants scurried about, ensuring that cups remained filled. With the exception of Jaxom and his friends, the lords and officers around the table carried on as if there was not a war going on just outside the doors. Next to Jaxom, two commanders talked idly of their wives’ constant need to commission new dresses. Only yesterday, those same men had been covered in blood. Even Enrick, sitting at King Dillion’s right hand, seemed to be at ease making small talk with the man he had recently plotted to kill.
“What do you think, Lord Jaxom?” Dillion’s question brought Jaxom out of his thoughts.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. My mind was elsewhere. What were you asking?”
Dillion regarded him with an annoyed look. The man was obviously not used to being ignored. “I want to know your thoughts on how to proceed with Denra once I have dealt with my traitorous son. Do you think I should place the younger sons of my nobles in the holdings there, or should I try to find some commoners to elevate?”
“I think it is premature to be planning how to handle Denra when we have yet to find Prince Tandis,” Jaxom replied, a little annoyed himself. They were to move north tomorrow, and they had been sitting here almost an hour without having discussed a single strategy.
The king waved away the statement. “I have stripped my son of title. He is no longer a prince. The dogs are beat and on the run. This is now a simple matter of rounding up what remains of the rabble.”
Jaxom boiled at the man’s dismissive attitude. No matter his son’s title, Tandis would happily rip his father’s heart out before taking his throne, and those “dogs” had dozens of dark priests and nearly a hundred shades amongst them. Jaxom was about to voice those thoughts when he felt a hand on his leg, drawing his attention to Adriana. She smiled at him before returning her attention to the young lord across from her, who was flirting intently. She must have noticed Jaxom tensing. Jaxom took a deep breath. The man was an ally Ale’adaria needed, and he could not risk upsetting him over something so trivial. He wished Corin were here to deal with the man as he was far better suited to diplomacy.
“I would suggest finding Denrans to lead the people of Denra, Your Majesty. If you put your nobles in charge, the Denrans may see that as an occupation following a defeat,” Jaxom said.
Dillion sat back, considering. “You’re right, but I doubt there are many left in Denra who are capable of restoring the kingdom. Perhaps advisors placed in Mendon and other large towns would be of help.”
“I think that would be wise, Your Majesty. King Corin is the one best suited to discussing such issues,” Jaxom said.
“I do not need your brother’s advice on how to run Denra,” Dillion said firmly.
“I thought you were going to restore Denra to its people, not take control of it,” Jaxom said.
“You forget yourself, Lord Jaxom,” Dillion said, his voice cold.
“Respectfully, Your Majesty, I think it is you who has forgotten whose forces are in Denra to remove the warlords, and who is responsible for your being here now instead of a slave to Or’Keer.” The conversation around the table dropped into silence. Jaxom had spoken more loudly than he had intended. Dillion looked calmly at him for a long moment before bursting into laughter. Those around the table released the breath they had been collectively holding.
“I appreciate a man who is willing to show his teeth, especially when he has the strength to back it up,” Dillion, sai
d slapping him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. I was being truthful when I vowed to repair the damage done to Denra, and I fully intend for it to be sovereign once more.”
“I’m glad to hear you say so, Your Majesty,” Jaxom said, earning himself another heavy slap on the shoulder.
“Let us move on to the reason we are,” Dillion said loudly, so everyone could hear. Instantly, the two servants began taking away the plates as a soldier laid maps on the table. “Thanks to Lord Jaxom, we know that the traitor Tandis is still in Kelran. As you can see, there is not much between us and where we believe the enemy to be. Lord Enrick advises that we break our forces into smaller units in an effort to encircle our foe. He believes it would be best to contain what is left of the dark god’s forces and whittle away at them.”
“With respect to Lord Enrick, I do not think separating our forces is wise, Your Majesty,” said a well-dressed man Jaxom did not know. “If the information we have is correct, we outnumber them two to one. We should press that advantage.”
“As I myself have said, Lord Kavin, but there is sense to his strategy,” Dillion said, indicating the maps before them. “Lord Enrick, if you would please explain.”
Enrick stood to address the gathering. “As you can see, Tandis has chosen this area for a reason. Much of the terrain is broken and rocky. Should we attack, we will be forced to march through one of three passes. The forest is not dense, but we could be harassed every step of the way by archers and dark priests”
“What do you suggest?” someone asked.
“We will break our forces into three parts with large scouting parties placed between and to the flanks. The three columns will then each take one of the passes as the scouting units traverse the more difficult areas,” Enrick explained.
