“What weapon are you going to use “Golden asked worriedly. “He needs a little distance to use his spells; I doubt he will give you enough chance to use your sword. Wizards need some kind of focus to use their magic; it is normally a wooden instrument of some type. I heard Korvan favors a small wooden stick called a wand; somehow you have to get that away from him. He has been bragging on how he plans to kill each accused with their own weapon in front of the king”.
“Maybe my bow then” Tanner said as he checked his quiver. “I have some broad heads in here but they are all metal tipped thanks to you. Maybe I can find a use for that all iron arrow you made me a couple of years ago, it could be used as an up close weapon”.
“You still have that thing Tanner?” Golden said as he peered into the quiver and took it out. The arrow was somewhat round like a wooden one but the fletch was as well as the rest of it was all iron. The tip of it was a more like a tiny dagger than an arrow head, a dagger Golden could see Tanner kept sharp.
“I use it for skinning fish” Tanner said answering the question that was in Golden’s eyes. “It is too heavy and uneven to be used as anything else”.
“I’m scared Tanner” Golden stated, the first time Tanner had seen his friend worried about anything.
“Don’t you go soft on me now Blessed One” Tanner said trying to make his voice sound light. “If you think some dandy in fancy robes could spark me out then you are really not a friend at all. While we are waitin’ around for me to kill that twat we might as well have something proper to eat”.
Tanner and Golden walked into a pub and could hear the excitement in the men’s voices about the upcoming war and the King’s visit. Tanner and Golden ordered the house special, some kind of soup made with carrots and other vegetables. Tanner decided to have water instead of mead or ale he needed his mind to be clear. As he was eating he heard an uproar outside as a man busted through the pub doors an announced loudly “The King had arrived”.
Golden and Tanner looked at each other and became nervous, if that wizard really wanted to fight then the time wouldn’t be long now. Tanner stopped eating and shared a look with Golden as the got up to see what the fuss was about. Tanner walked outside and could see a carriage rolling down the street pulled by four white Destriers, their well brushed manes blowing in the distance. The carriage stopped in the middle of the square, already me were clearing a path as a soldier opened the door. Out stepped a man dressed in purple who could only be the King.
The man was in purple robes outlined with gray, which told onlookers he was a wizard. He had a gleaming silver crown on the top of his graying hair and was clean shaven. The man looked to be about 50 Tanner thought, this man carried himself like a king. The man stepped down from his carriage and Tanner could see he was tall, not as tall as Golden, but definitely taller than the guards around him. The King turned around and offered his hand to someone still inside the carriage. A hand took the King’s and out walked a woman of about 30 if Tanner was right. Her visage was all over the newer coins, Tanner immediately knew her as the Queen. She was slim and had a more pleasant face that Tanner could see showed worry, she was also dressed in purple and had long flowing blond hair that went all the way down past her bottom. She hiked up her dress a little and stepped down as the King put his arm out again and out walked the most beautiful woman Tanner had ever seen.
She was between 16 and 20 summers, Tanner was sure of it. Her faced looked like it was made from porcelain; there wasn’t a blemish he could see from his vantage point. She had long red hair, a color unusual in Ket but not in Tavor. Her body was slim like her mother’s but she looked to have a larger bust, she definitely was no Mary but it was still nice to look at. The purple robes she wore also signaled that like her father she was a mage, luckily they made female wizard robes that were pleasing to the male eye and cut different. The princess stepped down as Tanner heard men gasp and quietly remark on how lovely she was. Tanner was still in a trance as he saw the king’s family head over to the Inn while he himself stayed put.
“Ketians” the King said too loud to be normal, probably magically enhanced Tanner thought. “Since I came to power I have tried to keep your way of life, that way of life is now in danger. My brother, the King of Tavor has died. His sons went about killing each other for power until only the youngest remained. Wayland the Fierce as he wants to be known wants Ket, his way of rule would be vastly different than they are now. All members of the royal house can ravish any woman they wish, legally whether she be married or not. The wizard class are granted slaves from the populace depending on how many men they kill. We are at war, not even four days ago did a wizard assassin try and kill your princess! The cur was cut down but he could have succeeded. I will be staying here until the royal palace can be searched for all undercover agents. Know that when the time comes for war, your King will not be hiding safe at home, I will be out there with you!”
A deafening roar went up at the end of his words, Tanner couldn’t help but to be caught up in the excitement even though he was supposed to battle. “All hail the King” the crowd shouted over and over again as the king made his way inside of the inn. Tanner turned to walk back inside when he was approached by a man in some type of uniform wearing a red sash across his chest.
“You are Tanner” the man stated. “You are to follow me on the orders of the magistrate to present yourself for trial by combat, you are to be the third man today, grab whatever weapons you have. If you do not have any one will be afforded to you”.
Tanner glanced at Golden and could see slight fear in his eyes. Tanner already had his weapons on him and followed the man to the center of the square. Soldiers were already running about clearing the area and setting up barricades of some type that had walls at least 10 feet which looked to enclose the entire square. Merchant carts were moved and Tanner could look up to see if the King was on the top floor of the three story inn, he would have an excellent vantage point. Two benches were laid out in opposite sides from each other, two scared looking men were led in, each holding a small sword. On the other bench Tanner could see the wizard Korvan, his face looking smug as he smiled at Tanner, the way a bear would smile at a fat pig with four broken legs. The man in the red sash directed Tanner to sit on the bench with the two scared men as another young wizard entered into the ring, looking unsure of himself.
It took about an hour to get everything set up, men climbed on top of the barricade to get a better look at the participants. Just then the man in the red sash came forward and pointed to one of the men to the far right of Tanner sitting on the bench.
“You are accused of raping a girl and killing her so your deed would not get out how do you plead?”
“That fucker is guilty” an anguished voice rang out. “He killed my Meredith and if the watch didn’t catch him he would have gotten away with it. The Magerium said I don’t have to go to the regular courts and he could be tried by combat, kill the fucker!”
Just then a loud roar sounded as the men all around the barricade shouted or death. Tanner looked up and could see the king was out on the balcony, looking down at the events, the princess or Queen was nowhere in sight. Probably too weak stomached Tanner thought, women shouldn’t have to witness things such as this.
“Sod off old man” the condemned man said as he rose off the bench and faced the speaker. “So what I killed the bitch, if you had any stones you would be facing me instead of some wizard, it ain’t fair!” Just then Tanner saw something fly out of the crowd and hit the man full in the face, it was horse shit. The man wiped it away as the crowd laughed. Tanner looked over and could see the wizard they had brought out was young, probably Tanner’s age or maybe even a year younger.
“I know you wish we had that fucker” the man next to Tanner said. “To become a full wizard you have to execute at least one condemned to show you can kill if you have too. This is probably his final test and he looks so nervous he can’t cast a single spell, look at him”.
Tanner could see the boy was scared but seemed resigned to his fate. The man in the red sash was helped over the wall by some guards and ordered the two to opposite sides of the square, he then yelled fight and the condemned man charged at the youth, sword held high. The young magician pointed out a staff of wood and mumbled something as a fireball shot out which was easily dodged by the man who rolled to the side and came back up on his feet. The youth pointed again as he was backing up and fell on his backside. As he was getting up the man shot towards him with his sword over his head for a sure fatal blow as the boy pointed his staff. The condemned man flew backwards light he was shot out of a bow and landed five feet away. As he got up dazed the wizard was already on his feet and Tanner could see in his face he was going for a killing blow.
“I hope you all die in the war, even that cunt the king” the man said as he stabbed himself in the chest with the sword. The crowd booed lustily as the youth looked relieved. They wanted to see blood shed by a wizard and they were robbed of their chance.
“Fuck lad” the man next to him said. “I’m next. I shouldn’t have killed that whore but I was drunk the man said as he walked over and picked up the first man’s sword so he now had two.
Tanner looked as the dead man was carried off to the side of the bench Tanner was on. The man with the red sash was back in the arena and began talking again. Tanner looked up and could see the King and the rest of his family were watching, apparently women had stronger stomachs than he thought.
“You!” the man with the sash pointed at the man who had gotten up off the bench. “You have been accused of killing Spoiled Dove, a prostitute in the brothel. 15 people say they saw you stab her in the back as she ran for her life, including the four off duty city guardsmen. You should be executed but you are lucky one of our wizards thought to give you a sporting chance! If you win you are to join the army immediately and can visit no more prostitutes or be seen in the company of a woman under the pain of death. Do you wish to take this challenge or do you want to walk up to the headsman’s axe?
“I’ll fight the damn wizard” the man said as Korvan rose out of his seat.
“Then may the pit take you” the man with the red sash said as he spit on the ground. “This wizard has dealt with fifteen of your kind, I just hope he makes you suffer”. The man with the red sash was raised out of the pit as Korvan beckoned the man forward.
The man took off at a sprint moving from side to side as Korvan got his spell ready. Soon a wave of flame shot out, not just a fire ball but a continuous flame. Korvan waved it from left to right until it made contact with his target, sending the man’s clothing up in flame. Korvan wiped his forehead as the men rolled around on the ground trying to put the flames out, both his swords forgotten. Korvan picked them both up and slowly walked over to the far side of the square where Tanner was sitting and placed one at Tanner’s feet.
“You watch closely boy” Korvan said in a whisper. “You won’t go as easily”.
Tanner watched Korvan walked towards his prey who had just put out the flames. The man tried to stand as Korvan rammed the sword inside the man’s right calf, he roared in pain as Korvan withdrew the blade.
“Is this how you stabbed they girl?” Korvan asked as he stabbed the other calf. The man cried out and grabbed his leg as Korvan then stabbed him in a shoulder. The crowd was in a frenzy as Korvan raised his sword and soaked up the adulation.
“It does me no great honor to kill this man” Korvan said as he walked towards Tanner and pointed. “Or even this man. But we have laws for a reason, perhaps if future criminals see suffering instead of an easy passing at the block they would be less likely to kill women or in this one’s case threaten those who were only trying to follow the king’s laws recruiting men from all over. It is my hope that these men serve as an example to those of you who would break the law for your own gain”.
Korvan then turned around and smiled at Tanner as he got a running start and kicked the downed man full in the face, laying him out on his back. Korvan placed his sword tip against the man’s neck and pressed down slightly. With his other hand he pulled out his wand and began burning the man’s legs. The condemned man roared in pain but if he moved the sword would surely skewer him. The smell of burnt flesh made Tanner sick as he took out an arrow, knocked it and put it into the dying man’s skull. Korvan looked at the arrow and turned around enraged, shouting the whole time.
“You dare interfere with justice?” The wizard said as he stormed over to Tanner.
“That wasn’t justice you twat” Tanner said as he got up in the wizard’s face. “That was you torturing a man!”
Tanner towered over Korvan and could see he made the wizard a little nervous, the wizard backed up a few places and let a knowing smile leave his lips. Korvan went over to the far side of the arena and was stroking his wand with a nasty gleam in his eye.
Soldiers came down off the barricade and drug the dead man with the arrow in his head and piled him atop the first dead guy. The man with the red sash came down snarling at Tanner and he could see barely contained rage.
“That man killed the best prostitute in Daum and you let him off easy” the man in red sash said.
“That poor bastard is still dead aint he?” Tanner shot back. “You got what you wanted”.
“I hope you suffer archer” the man with the red sash said loud enough for the crowd to hear.
“And I hope you catch rotten crotch from bedding whores you tosser” Tanner said as he spat on the ground. “I bet after I am finished with this one you don’t have the stones to pick up a sword and face me one on one in combat”.
“If you survive this boy I will be happy too” the man said as backed up.
“You have been accused of stifling recruiting and threatening to kill the king’s soldiers, a wizard among them. How do you plead?” the man with the red sash asked.
“I told them tossers to stop trying to burn down our town” Tanner replied. “If I was stopping recruiting then why are all the men from Kol here, myself included?”
“Don’t weasel your way out now” The man with the red sash said as he was helped out of the square. “Now fight!”
Tanner quickly nocked an arrow and sent it as he saw Korvan readying a spell. A strong wind suddenly came which knocked the arrow off course. Tanner drew another arrow and was about to send it when fire shot out at him. The fire was too quick for him as Tanner instinctively ducked, he could feel some heat but did not feel the flame. Tanner opened his eyes and could see fire stopped in front of him; maybe the wizard had a range limit. Tanner knocked his arrow and fire into the middle of the inferno, suddenly the fire stopped. Tanner looked up and saw Korvan was grazed in the arm; he looked down at his arm as a red spot was rapidly forming. Tanner knocked another arrow and let it fly in haste, the shaft stuck proudly out of the bicep of hand hold the wand. Korvan screamed as he dropped his wand and Tanner knocked another arrow and sent it without aiming as good as he should have, the arrow stuck into Korvan’s right shoulder. Korvan screamed and grabbed at his wand just as Tanner took off towards the wizard gripping the iron arrow. As soon as Tanner closed the distance he saw his mistake. Why didn’t he just stay shooting arrows into the wizard? Now Korvan had his wand in his opposite hand and chanted, just as Tanner got towards him fire shot out around Tanner.
The fire should have hit him full on but it stopped a couple of feet from Tanner. Tanner looked around the blaze and could see the fear and confusion in Korvan’s eyes. Tanner took a step and held out his hand to grasp the wand, the flame died suddenly as Tanner grabbed the wand and snapped it in two. Tanner then held his arrow aloft and was going for the killing blow but paused and turned to address the crowd.
“I believe this man to be an idiot and a twit” Tanner said as he hoped his voice would carry. “I will let this poor idiot live if that tosser in the red sash would bring his ass down here and face me one on one. If he has the bollocks I am just a boy and he is obviously older than me. I
will give him until the count of ten to drop down inside this place with me. He can back up his boastful words or be labeled a coward”.
Tanner turned around and could see the wizard was trying to pull himself together; Tanner held the iron arrow to his throat and began counting. When he got to ten the man still didn’t come down. Tanner sighed and looked at Korvan and said loudly, “Do you renounce your claims against me? We can both leave here alive or only I can leave the choice is yours!”
Tanner could hear how silent the crowd was, before Korvan could answer he could hear the unmistakable voice of the king ordering him to be seized. Tanner looked around and saw men enter the area and knocked another arrow, if he were to die at least one of them would be going with him.
“Come on then you lying fuckers, I’ll get at least one of you sure as spit” Tanner said as he aimed towards and older man who looked like he might be in charge.
“Drop your weapon!” Tanner could hear the King say behind him.
“Sod off you tosser” Tanner replied. “I’ll not go out listening to some idiot, I won your little game and at least one man will know the penalty for cheating me”.
“That is the king you are talking to!” Tanner could hear the guard he had an arrow trained on say.
“Well why don’t you come over here and teach me my lessons” Tanner said as he could see if he let the arrow loose it would go through an eye socket.
“Enough boy, you will drop that weapon or you will die right here and now” Tanner could hear the king say.
“I was a dead man anyway” Tanner said as he was about to fire. Suddenly he could see the warriors facing him look up towards the king, Tanner was about to release his shot when the king himself landed off to his right and started walking towards him. Tanner spun his arrow towards the king but the man kept coming until he was right up in Tanner’s face.
The Sword of Ages: The Mage Breaker Book 1 Page 4
