Battle Mage: A Hero's Welcome (A Tale of Alus Book 8)

by Donald Wigboldy

  Nodding at her appraisal of the merfolk shipwrights, Sebastian altered from praise to his appraisal, “With help, it should be functional by the end of the week at this rate. I am hoping to launch it and see if the Grimnal will step up his time table for coming with us.”

  Nara wrinkled her forehead uncertainly and asked, “Is there something wrong with waiting two more weeks like he originally planned?”

  While the wizard wasn’t his closest of confidantes, she was often in the mix since Collin had become so close along the way. He was pretty close with all his wizard friends now including Liam and also Annalicia, who was technically not one of his team but the benefactor whose ship he had used to find Gerid. With all that being the case, Sebastian answered her question without frowning in spite of his worrying thoughts, “Darterian used the compass the way it was originally meant to be used and there is a strong portal to the west of here. Without moving to triangulate the mark, we can’t be sure how close it is or where it is.

  “While we doubt that it is a ship, at least from as powerful a spell as they used the first time; I have a feeling that it is close enough to be in response to our coming here. We also know that the last ship, and those stranded on the beach when this ship was lost, escaped through new portals. The destination was probably Ensolus so it is just a matter of time before they test us again.

  “I would just as soon not be here where they expect us.”

  It was Nara’s turn to frown at his candid observation. “We have more strength here with the merfolk and rune warriors than at sea, even with the Carnivore or this ship carrying more warriors. Unless you are going to convince the sea folk to all come with us, this is probably as safe a place as any to be.”

  Sebastian wanted to sigh. Battle, and its tactics, was another area where wizards and battle mages differed. “Staying here to put them in danger isn’t right either. This isn’t their fight, unless they choose to join it.

  “I know many islanders and even merfolk can trace their lines back to the Grimnal, but that doesn’t mean his fight is theirs either.

  “We are just endangering them all, while we are here. They have the means to escape should the black ships return, so I don’t have to worry over their safety without us here. Leaving, and soon, is the best thing for everyone.”

  Her eyes wandered to the blackened wood looking a bit sad. “I’m surprised that you don’t want to stay longer. Maybe you could find a way to convince the merfolk elders to gift the rune magic spells to us. Arming our soldiers with this magic could help turn the war against the Dark One. If every soldier could use the magic of runes...”

  “It would certainly give them an edge, but the runes aren’t perfect protection either. There were deaths among the men fighting on the beach in particular, even if the mermen took out the black ship virtually unharmed. Our soldiers won’t have fins and the water to protect them, only the runes.”

  He shook his head and added, “Our staying won’t change their minds anytime soon. We can send ambassadors and envoys of wizards to try and share what we know with their shamans in exchange for the magic, but we don’t have the time to worry over it now.”

  “Worry over what?” Collin’s voice asked as he walked up leading Liam and Vewen, one of Maura’s protectors.

  Nodding to the men who had been working inside the ship to remove water and mold that could make the ship rot and potentially bring illness to a crew, Bas quickly clarified, “Our time table and if we should wait as long as Gerid originally asked.”

  Vewen was the most impartial of the three as he was a bit of an outsider to Sebastian’s team of wizards. He was also the closest to him of the three sent by Hala’s wizards to monitor the mage and assist with the journey. Being a third party in essence, the wizard offered, “Is it wise to question the wisdom of a man over a thousand years old? I would think that he understands that the emperor’s ships and army could return at any moment as well.

  “We bloodied his wizard hunters’ noses by taking out two black ships and driving off the third, but that hardly makes the island safe. Perhaps the Grimnal prefers waiting to make sure that his island is ready for his leaving?”

  Sighing at the conflicting view, Sebastian replied with calm understanding as the thought had been in his mind for weeks as well, “It is one reason to stay and an equally valid reason to leave as soon as possible. The emperor isn’t known for giving up and the Grimnal is an exceptional prize.

  “I would expect him to send more soldiers and ships soon. Like I told Nara, I would prefer to be at sea heading towards Southwall before he manages to complicate our lives too much.”

  Liam chuckled and echoed, “Complicate is an awfully polite way of saying ‘before he tries to kill us again’, Bas. The question remains how quickly he can send new forces to this island. If he could just open a portal here, you would think that he would have done so already.

  “His people that escaped should have at least an idea of how strong the island’s defenses are and if they kept hitting us with enough numbers we couldn’t possibly hope to hold off the Dark One’s soldiers forever. Shouldn’t that mean they would keep hitting us?”

  Shrugging, Sebastian answered as best he could without knowledge of the emperor’s true ability to send reinforcements, “That would be my thinking, but we haven’t seen any new ships or found any new soldiers on the island. Since we can leave and possibly avoid that eventuality, I just would like to be underway sooner than later to avoid pushing our luck.”

  It was Vewen who questioned with a wry smile, “A battle mage trying to avoid battle. That seems rather odd.”

  Bas shook his head. “A battle mage doesn’t go looking for combat. In fact, half our job is actually protecting wizards so they can use their magic better. We’re a shield as much as a sword in battle in spite of our name.”

  The other three wizards frowned at Vewen who merely shrugged in recognition of the mage’s opinion. “I suppose I stand corrected. The role of battle mages seems to be ever changing, especially of late, though I have heard many tales of you charging into the thick of battle with your mages. Mecklin and Olan certainly demonstrated both the shield and sword during our sea battles, I know.”

  Not wanting to get into an argument or even a discussion over the role of battle mages, Sebastian was happily interrupted as a pair of dark haired girls stepped out of the water with smiles on their faces. A young man ringed in necklaces of shells and pearls, as well as several bracelets on his left forearm, followed slightly slower and looked a bit uneasy as he walked on land. He also sported several tattoos like those on the rune warriors, but Sebastian felt magic inherent in the man that surpassed the power in the tattoos.

  “Falcon Sebastian, this is Shaman Porleyr. He has agreed to show you a little of his people’s rune magic,” Yaroma stated happily and with a twinkle in her dark purple eyes. The mermaid was one who felt she owed him and had joined his crew with her younger sister Naoromi to help him on his journey. How long the two would remain with him, Bas wasn’t sure. Since he had told them from the beginning that he had helped without a need for repayment of service, the mage just went along with their need to repay him as long as it didn’t interfere with Southwall business.

  At her words, the mage looked to the merman walking on land wearing a strange green toga style robe. The cloth shimmered and caught the light in a way that looked like wet kelp to Sebastian’s mind. He also looked younger than most of the shamans whom he had met since being on the island and wondered if the feminine wiles of the two mermaids had managed to tow him from his elders in spite of their previous refusal to share their unique magic.

  The shaman smiled a tight smile and inclined his head towards the mage before agreeing with Yaroma, “My fellow shamans have given me the duty to give you a gift. I can create a tattoo for you and a handful of your warriors. During the creation you may watch how I perform the magic and if you or your wizards can dissemble how it is done, then you will be able to create more on your o
wn.”

  Sebastian listened to his words and understood that the offer had its limits, but it was still more than he had been led to believe the merfolk would ever offer him. Quick to take what he could get, the mage asked, “Can we do it in the village after I have called my wizards and mages? I would like for as many to see this process as possible, if that would be alright.”

  After a polite nod from the shaman, Sebastian began to call his wizards working on the black ship to join him on the trip back to the village.

  Chapter 7- Runes and Portals

  Once again Sebastian was using the Grimnal’s home for a meeting, but this time the center of attention was the shaman Porleyr. An unassuming looking man physically with his slightly long brown hair and eyes to match, only his strange green clothing, necklaces and bracelets would make one look at him more closely. To look closer, one would notice his strange collection of tattoos and, for those with the ability; they would feel the magical aura surrounding the shaman.

  Porleyr looked a bit uncomfortable as nearly a dozen men and women looked to him for the answers to the magic of his people. It was understandable to the mage, who often had been the focus of attention as he demonstrated the new magic he had translated for the battle mages. Still the young shaman seemed able to fight down any nerves by the time the last of his observers arrived.

  “We appreciate you taking the time to show us your unique magic,” Sebastian said for the group, even as several nodded agreement. He had allowed not only his wizards and mages to see this, but had asked if Annalicia and Ashleen would like to be present as well. That added a handful of wizards from Taltan since Anna and her cousin Darterian were joined by three more Malaiy wizards from her entourage.

  Maura added, “As a researcher of magic, this is a rare privilege to have someone outside of Southwall willing to demonstrate something new as well.”

  Her tone was a bit dry to Sebastian’s ears, but for her it was a strong sentiment of gratitude. Maura was a researcher used to hiding in her libraries and labs while seldom dealing with people outside of her brown and black robed associates. Apparently it was enough for Porleyr’s ears as he nodded in appreciation of the response.

  “My elders were, at first, reluctant to reveal any of our art. Rune work is a specialty that has been passed down for generations of shamans and is guarded closely; but you are the Father’s countrymen and helped to protect the island and its people.

  “While the elders weren’t willing to teach the skill, one of the ways of discovering who might have the talent is to perform a rune before them. If you can work out at least some of the magic behind the forms, perhaps one day the elders might choose to share more with your wizards,” the young shaman replied.

  It was Maura who asked a less favorable question. “Why have the elders sent you in particular, Shaman Porleyr? You are fairly young. I would have thought that they would have chosen to send an elder so that they would know just how much we have seen of your magic.”

  A tight lipped smile preceded his response of, “I have been studying since I was young to perform the practices of runes. My elders know that I will place at most five runes on your choice of subjects. If a certain rune chosen takes longer, then you will receive less.

  “That is the conditions set by the others.”

  Sebastian heard the amount and had to assume that each tattoo took more time than a wizard’s spell as it seemed to be permanent. Few wizard spells were designed to last a lifetime, and those were long intricate weavings he had heard. A tattoo was both a design and magic, he assumed, so there was obviously time involved in the creation of each one. “What runes do we have to choose from, Shaman Porleyr?”

  “You can just call me, Porleyr. We rarely use shaman as a title in our world,” the man replied first wrinkling his face at the continued use of the title by the foreigners.

  “Rune work covers many things, but the most common are those for defense, offense and calling of weapons from beyond space we see,” he clarified. “Other runes can give strength, speed or even convey powers like special sight.”

  Thinking that most of these sounded similar to what a battle mage’s magic tended to offer, or had only offered before Sebastian had expanded the library of spells recently; it was the fact that those without magic could use them that was especially interesting. He had brought one man into the discussion, who had no magic, just to see what a shaman’s runes could create on someone without magic.

  Quickly pulling the handful of recipients together to discuss what they might wish to try, Maura surprised him by asking the shaman while his back was turned, “This rune which draws a weapon from the body, would that reduce the number from five?”

  With a shake of Porleyr’s head, Maura stated, “I wish to have one placed on my arm, if that is acceptable.”

  The battle mages in his circle turned to look at the researcher in annoyance. Unlike Sebastian, they felt that Maura was as much an outsider and add on to their group as they could find. The woman had been arrogant from the first and acted as if she could just walk in and push Sebastian from his position as leader.

  Her resolve had been tested when he had given her the appearance of being in charge on a couple missions; while he made it known that he was still leader from the start. As a researcher, Maura wasn’t much of a leader in the field and certainly had little experience on a battle field. She had become meeker after her failings were shown to the rest of them and had been less of a nuisance since then, which made Sebastian a little surprised by her sudden bravado shown in requesting her own tattoo.

  The mage understood that she was a research wizard, however, and stilled the others letting Maura take her shot at understanding the runes. After all, he had called her with her two guards, Idenlare and Vewen, to sit in because of their ability with magic. Turning to huddle the others back together, they had to now decide who would not receive a rune. Frell had been the least enthusiastic about the magic and opted out, while the four men chose which runes they would request.

  Porleyr had noted the turn of the mages, but hearing no words to prevent him from working with the woman; he said, “It is a powerful rune, but I can still do four more if that is satisfactory with your people.”

  Receiving a quick nod from Sebastian, Maura was urged to sit on one of the chairs beside the dining table. A rolled piece of leather was unfurled on the table revealing needles and other thin blades designed to cut. The wizard’s face went a bit white at the sight, but she held her tongue. She wouldn’t be the first research wizard to endure pain to acquire knowledge and she wouldn’t falter in her resolve at the mere sight of the devices.

  “Like a normal tattoo, we need to embed the ink under the skin,” Porleyr stated while pulling several small jars of ink from his pouch. “The magic placed in the ink and added to seal the spell creates the rune. Still much of the time taken is creating the image to focus the magic.

  “What diameter do you wish to have for placing a weapon?” he asked surprising the wizard.

  Maura had to decide and produced a long knife with a small guard from her belt. It was similar to a knife a hunter might use to skin a deer, though it was close in size to a true dagger used for combat. She was a wizard and combat was far from her usual training.

  “Something big enough for this or maybe a short sword,” the woman stated as she looked at the size of the guard on the blade and wondered if this was such a good idea after all.

  Porleyr turned her arm and used a brush to create a circle on her forearm closer to the bend than she would have thought, but the form covered the wider part of her muscle. With a last check to see if the wizard was still determined, the shaman began to use needles and ink working it beneath her skin.

  To Sebastian, who watched closely with the others, it appeared similar to what a normal tattoo process might be, until Porleyr started to add gestures with his fingers calling out bits of magical power here and there. It was a subtler magic than the mage had hoped to see. Pretty quic
kly, the mizard had a feeling this would be beyond his skills, at least in the form the shaman was using. No piece of weaving drew power beyond what he could use, but this was magic so far outside of what he knew that he doubted he could mimic it.

  Battle mages had many abilities to augment their bodies. Speed and reflexes, special vision, and others that these runes seemed capable of creating were theirs already, but few could transfer their magic to others and seldom for long. The runes weren’t for his people to use as much as he had hoped to bring their soldiers rune magic to help protect and save the lives of the soldiers who had to face the creatures of the Dark One.

  Using his magic to speed up some of the work, Porleyr was surprisingly quick in his creation of the circular rune and soon he leaned back to take the dagger in hand. He held it to Maura and said, “You simply push the weapon to the circle and the rune opens. This particular magic takes little energy from the wearer to open and close the portal.”

  Maura looked a little apprehensive at the idea of stabbing herself with a dagger, but both Yara and Bas were there and could fix such a minor wound. Having enough faith to try, the wizard pressed the metal of the dagger to her forearm and watched as the weapon disappeared into the ink.

  “How do I retrieve it?” she asked looking a little pale from the worry. The long knife had vanished without a trace. There was no blood spilled and it was long enough to have extended to the other side of her arm; but the point was not there.

  Giving an understanding smile, Porleyr stated, “You have to envision the blade returning to your hand as you place it on the rune. It will respond to your call and then you may retrieve it.”

  He turned his head to look at Sebastian and asked, “Who is next?”

  As Maura began to play with the retrieval and subsequent replacement of the knife in the rune, Mecklin sat requesting one of the barbed wire looking tattoos that could extend from his skin acting like a harpoon tethered to the rune warrior possessing it. While Porleyr worked, the battle mage asked, “How often do the runes need to be recharged with magic?”