Battle Mage: Forging New Steel (Tales of Alus Book 9)

by Donald Wigboldy

  The men of the arkhein looked nervous and their eyes moved from each other to three men and a young woman trying to hide in the shadows. While the druids had never officially come to speak with him, the battle mage knew them from catching sight of these four with magic. They weren’t the only druids and perhaps not even their most powerful; but when he exposed the magic defenses hiding inside the camp, they didn’t even seem to respond. Certainly they didn’t seem surprised, though Falconi Neven certainly was as well.

  Arkoness Smrajni held a slight smile as she asked, “You have discovered something about the camp?”

  Nodding to the woman, Sebastian replied, “I sensed something dangerous guarding the camp before we arrived inside, but since we are not enemies nothing triggered. While we worked, it felt a little like a cold breeze that would make my skin tingle.

  “Your druids never decided to do more than watch, though I would gladly have tried to teach them how to heal. Their magic is on your warriors and on your homes. Just because I can’t be sure what it is, doesn’t mean that I haven’t felt it.”

  One of the druids, the woman, or perhaps he should call her a girl given that she looked to be younger than Ashleen, stepped forward to ask, “You can feel our magic, but we can feel yours as well. You in particular should not be strong enough to sense our sealing spells.

  “We work with nature and that makes the magic more subtle, but you have seen through it. Does your familiarity with the runes mean that you have discovered our magic as well?”

  Sebastian smiled at the girl and replied, “A tribe from the sea passed on the runes as gifts and said only those who could decipher their creation could be trained to learn more. A lucky accident let me both use them beyond the way I had seen them used by those people and learn how to recreate those I had.

  “While I may not be able to create unique runes yet, I can copy them and teach others with the healing skill to create more.”

  He paused in thought and nodded, “Any of your druids capable of runes might be capable of learning to heal, I think. There is certainly a tie between the two kinds of magic that would make it seem logical to me.”

  This information made the girl’s eyes show surprise. She hadn’t believed that he could see through so much. Sebastian held his face calm; but thought in satisfaction that he intrigued them now.

  Retreating to the other druids behind her, the girl became the center of their attention as the four began to discuss this news.

  Smrajni ignored the druids and stated, “Their magic is designed to repel invaders. You came to us with open hands and even chose to help us. For that we are thankful and appreciative of your time here, but now what will you do?”

  Wizard Oltus took the conversation back over answering, “We will return to Hala. If you wish us to send others to work to bring peace between your tribes and our nation, I can make sure to let the king know. With the Dark One’s disregard for life, you can see why we continue to fight against his armies.”

  “As if the emperor would give us any other choice,” Falconi Neven added with controlled anger. “If he doesn’t even see the tribes as allies, you would do well to find a way to end his threat as well. We might be able to do that soon and then our two peoples would have the chance to live in peace together.”

  Oltus managed to hide his annoyance at being interrupted, but the arkhein nearly nodded as one. Arkon Eratoi answered, “Your people have shown us goodwill. We will consider your words. You may let your king know that the eastern tribes at least, give you permission to return to speak more.”

  Concluding their meeting positively, Sebastian and the other men left the tent feeling that real progress had been achieved. In over a hundred years, the northern tribes had never been a real threat; but adding them as allies was certainly better than having them as enemies.

  Sebastian had barely walked outside when the four druids appeared to face him. Oltus and Neven stiffened at their unexpected approach, but the owl mage smiled and nodded his head in greeting. While the three men ranged from light brown skin to dark brown, they all had dark brown hair. There were a few runes showing on their skin as well. The girl stood out with blonde hair glinting with red in the sunlight. Her green eyes sparkled as she led the four to greet him.

  “You called us druids,” the girl said acting as spokesperson for the four once more. “We have chosen the name derashti from the old language of our people.”

  One of the men placed a hand on her shoulder and she glanced back at him saying, “I am getting to it.”

  Looking at Sebastian once again, the girl stated, “Our leader extends his wishes that you return one day to speak with him to share magic.”

  “I will make sure someone comes to speak with him then,” the mage replied, as he never knew his exact duties with the mage corps, Sebastian wasn’t sure that he should commit more. “I am sure that I could take the time now even.”

  The girl frowned slightly and shook her head saying, “Only you, the derashti have seen that you are special even among your kind and wish to speak with you more, but not now. Return home and come back again to us here in the spring.”

  Falconi Neven had heard the brief conversation and replied, “I can make sure that he has time to return to speak with your derashti.”

  With the falconi’s declaration, the four started to leave; but Sebastian queried, “And who are you anyway?”

  The girl paused and stated, “I am Erasme, speaker for the derashti.”

  That was all the more she would say as the speaker followed the men disappearing into the circling tents.

  Oltus frowned hearing what had been said. “That is strange behavior. While I admit that Sebastian is certainly unusual, I am surprised that these derashti or druids or whatever; think he is so special that no one else will do.”

  Neven shrugged and replied, “If that is what it takes to make these people allies of Southwall for the first time in over a hundred years, I think Sebastian can be made available in the spring.”

  “Well, I guess I know where I will be then,” Sebastian replied with a sigh.

  The platoon traveled for dozens of miles from late morning to early evening as the sun descended into the west bringing shadows and the first moon in the east. With Ashleen’s help, Sebastian opened a portal back to the stones outside of the city of Hala. With all those trying to recover from their wounds even with magical healing, it had been decided that they would travel far enough to be well beyond the tribes’ territory before using magic associated with the emperor’s warlocks.

  Given the shared power of the two, the doorway stood eight feet high and nearly ten wide. Riding two by two, the column proceeded as efficiently as they could before the holders of the gate became too tired to hold it open.

  Sebastian held Ashleen’s hand as they passed through the gate. The silver light was nearly blinding in the flash as they passed through from the darkening prairie to the path north of Hala, which was equally dark.

  Not wanting to walk more than he had to, the mage opened a second portal after warning Falconi Neven, who told him to see him around noon so he could get some rest. Ashleen joined him and was surprised to find the portal led to their room in the Black Smith Inn.

  “I forgot that you had a doorway here,” the girl stated before lighting the lanterns in the room with her magic.

  “That is why I asked Hilda to hold the room for us.”

  Tossing their packs onto their respective beds, Sebastian sat down tiredly. Ashleen looked at him and said, “You know, you never did have Elzen heal those cuts for you.”

  “I just figured that I could pay the wizards’ hospital a visit in the morning. He was as exhausted as I am and there wasn’t much time once we were riding again anyway.”

  The girl pulled off her short boots. She refused to wear the typical long boots used for riding by most women. With the benefit that they were easily pulled off unlike some of the longer versions, Ashleen was soon barefoot but kneeling in front of th
e mage.

  “You know, you have been trying to give me practice at healing. I suppose this would be as good a time as any to try. After all, you said that they are all minor wounds, so I shouldn’t be too exhausted when I finish,” she offered taking his hands with hers.

  Sighing tiredly, the mage nodded his head. While the cuts had been minor enough to treat with mere bandages, the man knew that he would feel better after a healer had finished with him. Ashleen wasn’t a true healer though, so he was curious to see if she could manage such a feat.

  “Heal,” the wilder called trying it the way of a mage. A cool feeling moved into the mage as Ashleen’s consciousness passed along healing the minor cuts and a few that were deep enough to bring a frown to her face.

  She mumbled to him sounding distant, “You lied. Some of these wounds are pretty bad, but you used your magic to block the pain didn’t you?”

  The mage chuckled at her observation. “I can’t heal myself, but after using magic to push the runes; I figured out a way to numb the nerves around the wounds.”

  “Your body gives you pain to make sure you know that you are hurt,” she informed him in annoyance. “Dulling the pain and telling everyone that you are fine is a good way to cause yourself permanent injury.”

  “When did you become the expert in healing?” he laughed at her definite opinion on the subject.

  “When the boy I like decided to try and teach me to heal,” the girl replied opening her blue eyes to look at him. Her voice had returned to normal as her mind returned in full from the work of healing inside his body.

  “Hmm, I may have created trouble with you,” Sebastian stated with a grin.

  Turning her head, Ashleen laid her head on his right leg as if to rest after the healing magic and corrected him, “No, I’ve always been trouble. Now I can just heal a little bit as well.”

  “Should we go down and get some food?” he asked. Noise came from down the hallway to their door. There was no music yet, though Sebastian didn’t doubt that the musicians would start soon in the dining hall.

  “Not yet, just give me a minute to rest. I’m not quite ready to share you with anyone just yet anyway,” the young woman replied sounding tired now.

  Chuckling at her attempt to stall him, Sebastian stood. Still holding her hands, he helped her to stand where the mage could see her lip pouting at the change in plans. “You don’t want to fall asleep without eating after healing. Trust me, it happened to me and I was a mess the first time it happened.”

  “I have more magic than you,” Ashleen contradicted his assessment, but quickly stole her right hand back to cover a yawn.

  “But you don’t know how to use it properly in healing.”

  Sebastian opened the door pulling the girl into the hallway.

  “My boots,” she reminded him. Ducking back in to grab the boots, he carried them as the girl walked the wood floor barefoot.

  Descending the stairs, he was surprised to see the patronage was rather light for the inn’s dinner crowd, but the mermaids, Yaroma and Naoromi, were sitting at one of the tables with two unknown men. The dark haired sisters looked up at the two as they descended the stairway and waved them over.

  “When did you two return?” the older mermaid asked. “We didn’t hear or see you come back.”

  Ashleen’s eyes darted from the girls to the men who looked confused by the interruption. “We used the back way,” the wilder said concealing the fact that they had used magic to return directly. “Who are your friends?”

  “Deleth and Qurlan are two new friends that we met the other day wandering near the markets,” Yaroma stated. Her eyes revealed that they weren’t there because she wanted them. Sebastian thought that the young woman was spoken for by Olan, but her younger sister had no such ties to anyone so far.

  “Sebastian and Ashleen!” a woman’s voice interrupted the discussion before the men could respond. Sebastian had watched the one known as Deleth frown at the introduction, before the mage turned to see Hilda hurrying towards them.

  “Good evening, Hilda, can we have two specials with extra bread and cheese for the table? We’ve just come back from our trip and could use some food.”

  The woman nodded with a smile before she replied, “I didn’t see you return. I wish you had taken a moment to warn me, but it is good to have you two back.”

  As the inn keeper herded one of her daughters before her to pass along the information to the kitchen, Sebastian and Ashleen sat on a pair of unoccupied chairs at the table. Sitting beside the larger of the two men, who was the blond haired Qurlan; Sebastian asked belatedly, “I hope it is all right to join you? After all, we are old friends of the ladies.”

  The dark haired man sitting beside Naoromi retorted barely masking any annoyance, “Sure, ask now. We were finished eating anyway. Once the music starts the table is all yours. We figure to keep the girls occupied all night.”

  “Well, thank you for your hospitality then,” Sebastian replied with a slight smile. He didn’t like the feel of the men, especially Deleth as he sat beside the mermaid. Her eyes were near mirrors of her older sister’s and told him that the meeting between them might have started as a mutual decision; but the girl was no longer certain she wished to be near the man.

  He didn’t wish to just assume that was her thoughts and the mage added conversationally as they waited for their food, “So what is it you two do for a living?”

  Deleth replied looking proud of himself, “We are police with the city guard. We keep the peace and make sure rowdy patrons don’t get too out of hand.”

  “That’s a noble profession and I am sure with all the taverns and restaurants in the city there is never a quiet night.”

  The larger man, Qurlan, grinned and nodded his head saying, “Between those in the taverns and those who can’t make it home, we find that the jail cells are often needed to sober them up properly by morning.”

  Deleth added, “Then there are the barroom brawls that we have to break up also. Sometimes we have to crack some heads to get our point through to them.”

  Their dinners arrived while Sebastian felt out the guardsmen. Unfortunately, though the city needed policing to maintain the peace at times, too often those in the guards were there because they enjoyed fighting as well. Being a guardsman made the fighting legal, so many of that sort of man joined just to be able to push others around. While there were good men as well, he had heard too many stories of those who were as much thugs as those fighting in the bars.

  “Were you two making your rounds in the markets when you met the ladies?” he asked curiously.

  Again Deleth responded, “Yeah, we couldn’t miss these two beauties wandering through the shops. We started up a conversation and eventually found out they were staying here. They agreed for a night of dancing, so here we are.”

  “Yes, the two of them are pretty cautious in getting to know others,” Sebastian stated glancing occasionally to the girls receiving a shrug from Naoromi. Apparently the girls felt safe enough in the Black Smith Inn under the eyes of Hilda and her family. Now that the mage had returned, he knew that an early night was unlikely. He didn’t trust the guardsmen and would wait until the mermaids were safely in their room tonight before retiring with Ashleen.

  The music began and some of the tables were moved to the side making more room for the dancers. Just before the music had begun, the crowd began to swell. Not everyone could afford to eat out on a regular basis, but the dancing was a communal event nightly that didn’t require coin if they didn’t need drinks. Of course, most dancers would get thirsty and buy alcohol anyway adding to the take for the night for the inn.

  As the two men led the young women onto the dance floor, Ashleen said quietly leaning over her plate to watch them go, “I don’t know about those men. Is it just me or do they seem untrustworthy?”

  His fork paused above the plate with a cut piece of beef waiting for him to bring it to his mouth. The mage’s eyes flicked to Ashleen as he nodd
ed, “I hope that you aren’t as tired as you were telling me, because it looks like we are going to need to keep an eye on the girls.”

  “Too bad we didn’t bring Olan back with us. He would like to see Yaroma again and we wouldn’t need to worry over them as much, since Olan could dance with her and keep an eye on Naoromi.”

  “Falconi Neven sees him as part of the local corps. He is expected to stay at the hall. If he stayed here, you would have to sleep over with the girls instead and I thought that you wanted me for yourself tonight,” he finished with a chuckle bringing up the words she had used earlier.

  “True, that was the plan. Being surrounded by soldiers and nomads for a week, it was a little hard to truly spend any time with you,” Ashleen agreed looking at the dancers. “Well, I am not quite as tired as I said, I suppose. As long as you dance with me for awhile, I should be able to remain awake.”

  “I can always carry you around if you fall asleep,” he replied with a smile.

  Finishing their meal, Sebastian offered a hand drawing the wilder into the swirl of dancers. He quickly realized that, for all her yawns; Ashleen wasn’t quite as tired as she had pretended to be while up in the room. While they watched over the girls with their questionable dates, the couple spent nearly an hour with only the pauses between songs for a respite.

  Yaroma managed to separate from Qurlan for a few songs when other men asked for a dance with the pretty girl. Deleth wouldn’t let Naoromi go, however, though the girl seemed more resigned to the fact and didn’t push overly hard when he made other men leave her alone.

  When Yaroma made to get away for a drink at their table, Sebastian and Ashleen joined her. The blond haired guardsman found another woman to dance with and left the mermaid to join her friends.

  “Are you all right with him?” Ashleen asked showing her worry more than Sebastian, whose eyes watched over the younger sister with Deleth.