The Mage of Orlon: The beginning

by Gene Rager

  “You have me at a disadvantage King, I am already enemy number one with the Dark Queen. My survival depends on her defeat, so I still have to defeat her and her army. I just need to know is there anything else out in the wild waiting to pounce on the elves’ newest weapon?”

  “No, you have met everything that we have created.” Mordenar said.

  “The Candle of Resurrection is destroyed, the castle is open for attack, and the trust we had is even thinner than it was before, if that is possible. I have a plan to get rid of the Dark Queen, but I will need a few people’s help, if you can spare them?” Nathan said quietly.

  Mordenar relaxed, as did his guards. “Just ask and you will get it.”

  Chapter 35

  Nathan made his way down to the last place in all of Orlon he thought he would go willingly. After passing through the arches of the entrance he called out, “Crolin, are you here?”

  “Daarrrrrrllling!” The wispy voice answered.

  Crolin appeared wearing a silken red cape with an outfit that reflected all the colors of autumn.

  “How did your little camping trip go with the princess, was she naughtier than you could handle? Do you need Crolin to rub lotion on all your achy bruises?” He pouted.

  Nathan shook his head and laughed, “That would have unnerved me when I first met you, but now it is refreshing to hear.”

  Crolin smiled, ‘I am glad that you have finally lightened up, what can I do for you?”

  “I need something special.”

  “You are going to propose to the princess! I knew it!”

  “What, no Crolin, this is for the Dark Queen.”

  With a frown Crolin replied “Give me a little more time and you can have my chamber pot.”

  Nathan smiled, “I had something a little prettier in mind, but something more damaging. Can you make something for me, something magical?”

  Crolin didn’t like where this was going, “For the Dark Queen, you mean?”

  “Yes, I have an idea in mind, but I need this thing made as quickly as possible. Can you do it?”

  Crolin eyed Nathan wearily, “How soon do you need it?”

  “I need it before the Dark Queen’s next attack.”

  “I can try, what is it?”

  “A special bracelet.” Nathan said smiling.

  Tirana stalked into her throne room. She was dressed from head to toe in a midnight blue colored hooded cape. The hood covered her hair and most of her face only her mouth could clearly be seen. All had gone well with Tehara, now all she had to do was wait. Maybe she would even entertain herself with the court jester, how long had it been since she had him locked up? Two, four years? The Queen’s silent musings were interrupted by a solider.

  “Your majesty.” The soldier went to one knee.

  “What is it, I am busy!” Tirana shouted.

  “We have regrouped the soldiers that fled, what should we do with them?”

  “They obviously need re-encouragement as to why they are in my army. Feed them and give them plenty of wine!”

  “Your majesty?” The soldier questioned.

  “Do not question me! Do as I command!” Tirana shrieked bolting up from her throne.

  “Yes your majesty right away!” the soldier stammered.

  Tirana sat back down in her throne, the potion was light in that last round of food, and seeing Mordenar burn to death didn’t help either. The newest batch of love potion was the strongest yet. Her craven soldiers would fight to the death after eating and drinking it.

  “Meeka.”

  “Oh shit.” Tirana whispered. The last thing she needed right now was her least favorite ghost to appear.

  “Meeka, see you didn’t kill the soldiers who fled their posts. You are not evil, at least not entirely.” The specter breathed.

  “Why couldn’t you be a ghost of a past lover that just needed to touch me again? No, instead I get a ghost who is trying to turn me into, into, what are you trying to turn me into?”

  “Why, yourself of course.” answered the spirit.

  “If I had put all those soldiers to death, who would I tell to charge into battle? It is a matter of numbers, if I have the largest army then I will win, plain and simple. Specter, I really do not have time for you, so if you could just get to the point and leave I would be grateful.

  “You will lose!” the specter screamed and disappeared.

  Tirana thought about it for a second and smiled. If I do then I still have a plan. Now back to the jester, was he even still alive? No matter, she had plans to go over, everything had to go just right or she would surely die.

  The first attack had not caused many casualties. But some of the elven army had been injured by the flaming arrow parts that rained down when Nathan lost consciousness. Ezra had set up a makeshift shelter and was tending to the injured. Nathan had wandered into the courtyard after talking to Crolin. Nathan saw the tent and went over to help.

  “You will be fine, just get some rest.” Ezra said to the soldier who had limped in with a gash in his leg.

  “Thanks Ezra, you are the best!”

  “I know.” She said flirtingly.

  “Excuse me, but did he call you Ezra?” Nathan asked.

  “Ahhh, finally we meet, Nathan.” Ezra chimed.

  Nathan looked at the high priestess in training. She was short by elf standards, but she seemed to possess great magic. Her robes seemed to change colors every few moments. Her brown eyes looked Nathan up and down. A slight grin played across her face.

  “I see why Lela is so confused by you. Are you injured?” Ezra asked, a slight bit of concern in her voice.

  “The mage slayer nicked me, but I healed it. Can I help you with the troops?”

  “Let me see where that arrow hit you, and then I will answer you.”

  Nathan pulled the neck of his shirt down. The place where he had been nicked was gone. But Ezra looked deeper and saw where the magic that poisoned him still left its mark.

  “You have a magic scar Nathan. But considering that no other magic was used on any of the other weapons sure you can help.”

  The next soldier was brought in. He only had a few minor scrapes. Ezra let Nathan heal this one to see how good he was.

  Nathan focused on the wound, it closed without much concentration. Ezra was impressed, he had only been here a month and a half and Nathan was already healing like a first level healer! The next soldier came in, his wound was worse. Again Ezra let Nathan heal him. The wound closed up again. Nathan smiled the practice with Shinto was paying off! He wasn’t feeling nauseous or anything! The soldier looked at Nathan.

  “Telana, she is a scout, she is trapped under a tree by the castle wall. Please mage help her!” The soldier pleaded.

  Nathan looked at Ezra, they both went to the outside of the castle to find Telana pinned under a fallen tree. Nathan was the first to get there. Telana looked bad, her color was pale and she wasn’t moving. Nathan touched the side of her neck and found her pulse, it was weak and thread. The trapped scout looked Nathan in the eyes, pain was all he saw. Ezra made it to stand by Nathan pity filled her eyes.

  “I don’t think we can help this one. The tree is too large to move Nathan.” Ezra said quietly.

  Nathan looked at Telana again, the agony she was in was too much for him. He had to do something! Nathan began to concentrate. It was the tree that had to go, a thought occurred to him. If one of the branches had impaled her she might be bleeding to death. Nathan touched Telana’s hand he followed her body to the part the tree was on. She had broken bones, but no impalements. A smile spilled across his face.

  “Nathan we can’t move the tree it is too heavy.” Ezra repeated.

  “It is now, but not for much longer!” Nathan turned looking at Ezra.

  Ezra put a hand up out of reflex to ward off an attack. Nathan’s eyes had turned black. Focusing on the tree Nathan began to look at the oak that had the scout pinned. He couldn’t burn the whole tree, it would cause more injury to
the scout however he could burn most of the tree! His black eyes gazed down on the scout who was terrified of him now!

  “Hold very still Telana, you will have to trust me okay? When I tell you to put your head down and close your eyes tightly.” The voice was calm that came from Nathan’s mouth.

  The scout only nodded her head. Focusing on the tree Nathan decided to burn it quickly with the wall of fire. The trick was he would have to make the wall only large enough to destroy the tree. His focus redoubled as he began to bring the smaller version of the green fire to life.

  “Cover your head now!” He commanded.

  The scout’s head went down, and she closed her eyes as tight as they have ever been! Ezra watched in shock as a wall of flame leapt into the air only a foot above the scout’s head! The wall zipped down the tree seven feet and then went to the ground and continued burning the tree to the roots where it faded out of existence!

  What was left of the tree was a light weight board that was easily removed by Ezra and Nathan.

  “Ezra I can’t heal her, you will have to do it.”

  Ezra only stared at the young mage who was now sitting on the ground. He was taking in gulps of air, and was looking ill. Ezra went to work on the scout. In all Telana had three broken ribs, a broken leg and four broken fingers. All the wounds were healed by Ezra’s expert skills.

  “Rest is all you need now Telana.” Ezra said.

  “Thank you Ezra.” Telana walked over to where Nathan was sitting. “Thank you, mage of Orlon.” With that Telana went back to her chambers to rest.

  Ezra eyed Nathan for some time. She walked over to the mage who still seemed sick to her, but she could see no illness. She sat down beside him.

  “That was an extraordinary show of control and power Nathan. Have you done that before?”

  “No Ezra, usually I use the wall to destroy spears and on one occasion two howlers. Today was the first time I have ever controlled it. It took a lot out of me to control it like that.”

  “Why are you so sick?” Ezra asked.

  “I over exerted myself.” He said with weak grin.

  “You know, you can’t save everyone.” Ezra said quietly.

  “No I can’t! But I can try Ezra! I lost someone I had gotten close to in Cravenwood! She died because of my choice! I might as well have killed her myself!” The last was said through tears.

  “You love Lela, Nathan. You had to make a choice and you chose Lela.” Ezra said as she wrapped her arms around the weeping mage.

  “I see Ileana in my dreams Ezra, she calls for help and burns to death because I am not there. I only sleep three hours at a time. Any longer and I dream of her.”

  “It is not your fault Nathan. Lela told me what happened out there. She is feeling guilt too.” Ezra explained.

  Nathan looked at the tiny elven healer. “Lela feels guilty too?”

  “Yes, she liked Ileana, it was tragic that Santrose was her village, but Lela was trying to do the right thing.”

  “Lela tried to kill Ileana, or at least what she thought was Ileana.” Nathan said.

  “Ileana had betrayed Lela twice. Ileana tried to sedate Lela with an herb for alone time with you. She turned on Lela when she learned it was Lela’s spell that caused Cravenwood.” Ezra said.

  “The king said Cravenwood was done on purpose, Ezra”

  Ezra looked down at her feet. Nathan’s head snapped up. “You know something about that don’t you?”

  “All high priestesses know what happened that day Nathan. Lela’s spell didn’t go wrong…it was switched!”

  Nathan was in shock! Who would switch the spells? The answer hit him. The king had switched them! It had to be the king. But why not tell Lela? She might not have stayed an elder, but the guilt she feels was not hers to carry.

  Chapter 36

  The orcs had been gathering in the forest outside the elven castle. The horses stamped with unbridled anticipation, the soldiers’ swords all had a fine edge on them. All the preparations had been worthwhile, victory was theirs this day! The Queen had indeed given the soldiers a heavier dose of the love potion. These orcs would fight until every last elf was destroyed and the mage was thrown to her feet a bloodied stump of what had once been a man! As a bonus, the Dark Queen herself was riding into battle with them. Their Queen would keep them focused and under control.

  “Attack!” the Queen screamed.

  The army of orcs raced forward, there were no arrows or boulders that would fly. The attack plan was simple, the orcs would simply go through the holes made the night before and take the castle. The elves had time to make repairs, but not on all the walls and the walls that didn’t fall were weakened!

  A horn blast cut through the air and the elven castle gates opened! Two cloaked elves wearing hoods emerged, carrying Nathan between them. Nathan was being dragged to the battlefield he looked to be unconscious! The two elves dropped the mage on the ground and raced back to the castle.

  The Queen saw this display. It made no sense! He was their weapon, and they drop him on the battlefield and leave him! It must be a trap!

  “Halt!” Tirana screamed.

  The army stopped immediately, eagerly waiting their Dark Queen’s next desire.

  “You two.” She pointed to the two orcs closest to the mage. “Bring him to me.”

  The two orcs bowed and went to retrieve the mage. When they touched him the Queen had expected the two to be destroyed in a rage of fire, or melt, but when they brought the mage to her, she was even more confused. This wasn’t supposed to happen! The curse for more land raged through her veins, if she didn’t conquer a land soon it would kill her! She kept this to herself.

  “Pull his head back, I need to know it is the mage.”

  The orcs obeyed and pulled Nathan’s head back to show his face.

  “What trickery is this? You in the castle, why have you thrown your mightiest weapon out like garbage?” The Queen yelled.

  “I am Mordenar King of the Elves. The mage grew too insolent; he stormed my throne and demanded to be heard as an equal! I told him he could have whatever he wanted to defeat you, and slew him when he wasn’t looking! Do with him what you will, but accept his death as a bribe to leave the elven people alone!”

  The Queen couldn’t believe her ears! The little cowards killed their only hope of survival to bribe her to leave them in peace! The curse hit her body and caused the Dark Queen to fall forward in her saddle, she recovered by laughing a dark evil laugh. It appeared as though she was doubled over from joy when in reality the curse was ripping her apart on the inside.

  “My answer to your bribe is. Attack!” She screamed.

  The orcs over ran the barriers the elves had set up. The pit falls they had dug soon filled with orc bodies, but the orcs simply ran over their dead. When the castle gates fell and the orcs met no resistance the day was the Dark Queen’s! The battle was over as soon as it had begun; unlike most of the battles for land the orcs encountered not one elf in the entire fight. The traps that had been set where sprung, but not one elf was in sight. The store rooms were empty, the armory was as well. Not one important thing had been left behind by the elves. The castle was deserted.

  The Dark Queen was astonished, the elves really were cowards! They had left before the army had got back into position. It was the only explanation! They had killed the mage so she couldn’t get the whereabouts of the new village from his lips! The curse that tore at her insides stopped, sated by the newest castle added to the Dark Kingdom.

  The orcs looked to the Queen for their new orders. The Queen thought about it for a few moments. This battle had not gone the way it was supposed to, but what if the elves were waiting on them to leave to retake the castle? That seemed more likely.

  “I want forty of the orcs to man the elven castle, the rest will return with me. Bring the mage’s body. I don’t trust the elves; he might be of use to me yet!”

  The elves watched silently from their perches in the trees. The cam
ouflage was excellent, even the birds couldn’t tell what was tree and what was elf! The mage’s plan had worked so far, but all they could do now was wait for the orcs to leave. When they saw that so many orcs were remaining behind their hearts fell, it was up to the mage now.

  Chapter 37

  The Dark Queen stormed into her bedchambers. “Chama!” She screamed.

  Chama appeared with wide eyes. The Queen had never yelled at her before.

  “Get Tehara now! When she is here, no one is to disturb us is that understood?”

  “Yes my lady, right away!”

  Chama reappeared a few moments later with Tehara.

  “You summoned me my Queen?” Tehara purred looking through up turned eyes.

  Her whole demeanor had seemed to change Chama thought. The last time Chama had left the slave in with the Queen she seemed nearly scared to death, now it seemed as if she were aroused by the interaction. Chama shook her head, it was the Queen’s business what went on behind her closed bedroom door. Chama left closing the door behind her.

  Tehara circled the Dark Queen smiling seductively. Her circles drew Tehara closer to the queen until she was behind the armor clad Queen. Slowly she began unbuckling the snaps that held the armor in place. When Tehara was done, the queen stood naked and Tehara circled again.

  “Do you remember the last time this happened? You were so scared of what I was going to do to you.” Tehara said.

  The Dark Queen stood upright, a single tear slid down her cheek. Tehara quickly ran up to the wet cheek and licked the tear away. With a sinister smile she quietly said. “You are still afraid of what I am going to do to you? I have already taken your body, what more is left?” Tirana said.

  “Tirana I have news, things didn’t go like we thought they would.” The Dark Queen said.