“Following that logic than Hana and I should be wary of you as well as the other mages!”
“Not for a long time,” she smiled, “we have to defeat them before that happens.”
“I can see that you’re very ambitious and I applaud that. But there is more than just exploitation of strengths and weaknesses to be concerned about. Sometimes a cunning opponent understands the use of knowledge can be stronger than blatant magic.”
“And I plan to destroy them while they’re wasting time thinking about it.”
Asleth cocked his head to the side, “well, I guess you have it all figured out. Just don’t let your ambition turn into blind ambition.” He watched her stuff some provisions in her traveling pack. “Say, I have been meaning to ask you. How long have you been training as the green mage.”
Teoni stopped packing and gazed off into space, “I’m going to be honest with you. My family has had the privilege of having a green mage in it for several generations. At this point, at the century mark, we are all trained with the possibility that one of us may become the green mage.”
“All of you?” Asleth asked.
“Yes, all of us. My ancestors have left us copious notes on the subject. In a way, I’ve been trained to be the green mage most of my life.”
“I’m disappointed that you can’t come with me back to Vestia. I think you’ll really like Hana.”
“Oh, that reminds me, even though I can’t come along, I do have something that may help you and Hana.” She rummaged through one of her packs and produced a green gem. “This gem is called the Well of Life. I learned how to make it from one of the books at the Arsenal of the Way. It is of limited uses so make sure that Hana understands she must only use it in the direst of circumstances on the worst wounds.”
“I will. When were you at the Arsenal of the Way?”
Teoni flushed red, “I visited the place; it isn’t a crime. I thought it might be helpful.”
“All right,” Asleth said holding out his hand. “What made you think to give this to Hana?”
Teoni handed the gem to Asleth who took it and placed it in his own pack, “simple, she’s going up against the black mage whose principal powers delve in death. This gem will help her to negate that death magic. She’ll know what to do with it.”
“It was good to meet you, Teoni. I wish you the best of luck with finding the blue mage. I will be in touch.”
“It was nice meeting you as well, Asleth. I look forward to our next meeting and I look forward to meeting Hana. I promise I won’t stay away too long.” She closed the strap on her pack and then hesitated, “Hana is facing her nemesis the black mage, I am facing my nemesis the blue mage, I hope that you will consider facing the white mage as soon as you are able for the sake of our alliance.”
“Don’t worry I plan to. But first I have to fulfill my obligation with Hana.”
“You’re a good man Asleth.”
Asleth looked amused, “hmm, you think so huh?”
“I’m sure when I get to know you better my assessment of you won’t change much. I get the feeling you’re the kind of person that is very set in his ways.”
Asleth nodded, “You’re not wrong.”
Teoni finished packing her things into her backpack, she whispered a few lines and then folded her backpack as if it were a sheet of parchment and placed it in her tunic pocket. This is a trick she learned so that she may travel more freely yet still carry all of her needed necessities.
“Good luck to you, green mage,” Asleth said. “And nice trick with your provision packs. You’ll have to show me how you do that.”
“I will the next time we meet. I will see you soon, grey mage. Good luck helping the red mage and her blood-feeder friend. What was her name again?”
“Thessa. I don’t know much about her yet, but she is fiercely loyal to Hana. I don’t think she is actually a blood feeder anymore either.”
“Hmm, that’s interesting. I hope to meet them both soon.”
Asleth nodded, “You will.” And with those final words, he took his leave of her.
Teoni swallowed, took a deep breath, held her arms straight out and formed the image in her mind of a Hawk. Her body begin to shimmer and she leaped into the air flapping her newly formed wings to gain lift. Soon she was soaring high in the air heading north.
****
The southwest upslope winds carried Teoni easily north. Other than occasionally skimming lakes and ponds for a meal of fish, the trip went better than expected. It was nightfall when she reached the forest at the foot of the northern mountains. She landed in a clearing and returned to her human form long enough to stretch and work the kinks out of her neck. She wasn’t sure how she was going to confront the blue mage yet so she was not in a big hurry to reach his village. She unfolded her backpack and expanded it to its normal size. She reached inside and removed the volume she had taken from the Arsenal of the Way. She read the passage describing the blue mage’s powers to familiarize herself with the possibilities that might occur upon meeting him until it became too dark to see the words. Before she closed the leather bound tome, she came across the passage of the tourney master apprentice. I hope it went as I foresaw, she thought. If it did, I dread the day I have to face Ephaltus and Marlee in person. All I can hope is that they both understand.
She put away the book and refolded her backpack so that it was small enough to carry, and she took on the form of the barn owl to help with night sight. She was amazed at how well she could now see in the dark. She flew up to one of the top branches of a nearby tree where she could make out a light in the forest. She spread her wings and took flight silently gliding toward the light. When she was close, she perched herself in a nearby tree with large leaves for cover. She realized the owl was a large bird and she didn’t want to be easily discovered. The light turned out to be a campfire. There were ten hefty men huddled around the campfire holding out tin plates ready to receive the beans or stew or whatever was in the large pot cooking over the middle of the campfire.
At the foot of the campfire was a bulky canvas tent and surrounding the outskirts of the clearing were ten smaller ones. After the men had filled the plates and settled down to eat, another man exited the prominent tent. He wore armor of a design that Teoni did not recognize, his hair was cropped short, and his face was clean shaven and pristine. He was obviously the leader of the bunch.
“You men eat your fill and then get a good night’s sleep. We will be at the witches Citadel tomorrow morning or afternoon at the latest.”
“Sir Danton, may I ask a question?” One of the men spoke up.
“Certainly,” he replied.
“We all know the witches may have powers to contend with but what of the blue mage? What’s to stop him from burning us alive in our armor?”
The leader of the men smiled with amusement, “That’s the beauty of it, my father says that he has no control over his powers. He’s as lost with them as a newborn babe. If we attack them by surprise, he will be so befuddled I doubt he will be able to do anything before I run him through with my blade. And then I, of course, will become the blue mage. And with my father’s help, I will win the tournament of mages and take my father’s place as leader of the six kingdoms before nightfall.”
“And the witches power?” The man asked.
Danton held up a golden scepter, “The scepter of Benera, goddess of Tamania. When I evoke its power, no witches spell will harm us!”
Teoni was a bit shocked at hearing the assassins plan. But from what he said she could guess that the man’s father was the current blue mage leader of the six kingdoms, King Thaegar. Apparently, he had sent his son to kill the blue mage so he can be sure his line will continue to rule. This complicates things, she thought. Should I let this assassin kill the blue mage? She adjusted the feathers of her wings. Logically, I would think that the son of the current blue mage and leader of the six kingdoms would be the greater threat.
She decided she would meet
with the blue mage before this assassin would get a chance to surprise him. She suddenly realized that she didn’t have much time. She quietly spread her wings and leaped off the branch gliding to the next tree. She stopped and looked back to make sure that no one had heard her take flight. Satisfied, she flapped her wings and took to the sky circling back around toward the mountains. As she flew, she thought about the Citadel and how she hoped that it had defenses. Even though it was called a Citadel, she suspected that it was more like a small exiled village that an actual working fortress. If it was no more than a small village, eleven trained soldiers could easily overwhelm it. At this point, she was just speculating but her guesses in such matters were usually correct.
Sure enough, when she reached the village at the foot of the mountains and then flew north until she reached the clearing with small wooden buildings at the mouth of a canyon with more buildings carved to its sides, the place was more of a village than a fortress. There were no guards, no fortifications, and no visible defenses. Even if all the witches had powers, she doubted they would last long against a surprise attack. She circled around above the Citadel several times before perching herself on the crest of one of the wooden buildings. The light from home fires illumined through the glass of the windows warmly. This was not a place prepared for a surprise attack.
She took flight again and flew around the Citadel until she found a place hidden from view where she could land and resume her human form. She had to consult the volume from the Arsenal of the Way so she could more easily recognize the blue mage. She knew from before she met Ephaltus that the blue mage was a boy but she had not seen him for quite some time and she worried she would no longer recognize him. As she got settled, she realized that she had more time. The leader Danton said they would attack morning or afternoon. Leaving her pack and things in her hiding spot, she reverted back into an owl and took flight, bound for the assassins camp. She searched around the floor of the forest with her mind until she made contact with a family of green snakes. The little snakes were venomous but their poison was relatively mild. She commanded the snakes to go to the assassins camp and bite the men in the tents. Her snake friends complied and slithered along the forest floor. Although the snake's venom would not kill the men, it would make them very sick for a couple of days, enough time for her to seek out the blue mage and warn him of the impending attack.
She perched herself on a branch above the assassins camp and watched as the snakes slithered into the tents. The little snakes did their jobs and moved on. Their little fangs were much too small and delicate to wake the men. In fact, the soldiers would feel little more than they would from a mosquito bite. Teoni spread her wings and flew back to her hiding place satisfied the attack would be delayed.
Chapter 3 - The Citadel
Arran went about his morning as usual. He woke up and splashed some fresh water on his face, got dressed and went about his morning chores. He had about two hours before his first lessons with Glea, his instructor. The witches of the citadel had their own morning tasks to do. They blessed the crops and livestock of the neighboring village each and every day to ensure the mutual respect between the citadel and the village remained intact. It was believed by all that the rains and therefore the water that fed the rivers and streams from the mountains depended on the rituals of the citadel. Arran often wondered why only the witches of the citadel were allowed to bless the village and keep the dangers of the night away. Why didn’t some of them live in the village? He would have to ask Glea when he went for his training.
He stopped for a moment to watch the sun peek out over the horizon into the mountains. The crisp, cool air of the morning would begin its transition into the hot mugginess of midmorning now that the sun had appeared. Only a few more months until the harvest equinox when he would be officially inducted into the citadel covenant for life. There was still much to do. He had been practicing the rituals and traditional spells of the elements, but he had not yet gained total control over the forces raging within him from being the blue mage. He found them very difficult to tame. Each element was so different and had its own set of rules. Arran snapped his fingers and a spark of lightning jumped from one hand to the other. Even a simple act such as absently snapping his fingers excited his abilities. How was he supposed to control it when he was actually trying?
Arran fed the chickens, watered and fed the pigs, put fresh hay out for the cows and horses, and restocked the feed in the barn. He visited the drinking water barrel, got a sip and then removed his linen shirt. He washed from one of the rain barrels under an awning designed to catch the rainwater and guide it. While ladling out the water and pouring it over his head he decided to cheat and use his elemental abilities to make the water leave the barrel and rain down on him. he found water the easiest to control out of all the elements and fire the most difficult. Both elements seemed to have a consciousness of their own, almost as if they were alive, but of the two water seemed friendly and accommodating while fire seemed obstinate, mischievous, and sometimes hurtful. Both elements cleaned and purified but both were also destructive.
After he cleaned up from his chores, it was time for his lessons with Glea. He found the youthful witch waiting for him in the main building of the citadel. She was sitting in the common room at a table sipping tea. She wore a white robe with lace trim and a warm smile. Even though witches ages might be deceiving, Arran got the feeling she was genuinely young for one of such a position of power within the citadel. Without a word, she led him to her chamber where she had two desks and a table with various potions. Arran was surprised, upon entering, to see his father seated at the table.
“What are you doing here?” He asked.
“Glea asked me to come,” Gunar replied.
Glea seated herself behind the big desk and indicated for Arran to have a seat. “I have just come from the village this morning. What I have to report might seem unfair or even disturbing but hear me out. There is some kind of blight attacking some of the grain crops. The rains have been intermittent and the people have gotten it into their heads that Arran’s presence at the citadel is somehow bringing the gods disfavor.”
“What are our options?” Gunar was not one to mince words.
“Well, we could show Arran openly leaving and then hide you two away somewhere until the blight has passed and then bring you back in secret. Or, we could find a place for you in the mountains and I would come to you twice a week to continue instruction.”
“You don’t believe Arran is behind any blight, do you?” Gunar asked. “It seems your solution is for us to leave.”
“Of course I don’t believe it. You leaving is strictly for show. I have no intention of abandoning you here or leaving Arran’s training.”
Arran shifted in his seat, “Why not bring in Helda? That’s what you would do if I were any other person sitting here.”
“The seeress? Are you sure you want to know?” Glea asked. “Your future is somewhat different, potentially, than most.”
“Potentially different, maybe, but I don’t think it is any worse than any other. I am to learn how to control my power and fight in the tournament in a few years. Other than telling me if I win or not, I don’t see the harm in knowing what the right course to follow in the meantime would do.”
“All right,” Glea said. “It may actually be helpful.” She left the room for a time and returned with a large woman or middle age. She had a pleasant face and shoulder length brown hair. She took a chair from the table and moved to sit opposite from Arran. She reached out her hands and Arran took them.
“The spirits tell me it is a good idea for you to leave the citadel for a while.” She said.
Arran was immediately skeptical. She could just be saying that to get him to leave.
“Not long from now your destiny will be tried.” Her face wrinkled with concern, “A great enemy approaches and a great obstacle.”
“An obstacle to what? My training?”
“Yes, there
are four quests you must complete to gain control over your powers. They were designed and left by blue mages who came before you. We should have tried this before. We have been training you all wrong. You will never reach your potential without the training left to you by your brethren.”
“How do I find these quests?”
“There is a red leather covered book guarded by a fire demon left by the last blue mage. You must defeat the fire demon and get the book.”
“Is that the obstacle you spoke of?” Gunar asked.
“No, the obstacle is different. The fire demon is the first quest. He must defeat it to gain control over the tempestuous fire spirits. But beware, the demon is cunning and will possess you if it can!”
“Where is this fire demon?” Arran asked.
“It appears to be in these mountains but the location is unclear to me. I know you must face the demon alone. Any help in defeating it will destroy the book. The former blue mage did this to make certain only one of strength and cunning could obtain the book.”
“What else?” Arran asked.
“Destruction and death. You will be known by your terrible deeds.”
“What?” Arran was surprised.
Helda’s eyes rolled back into her head, “The land will tremble and shake! You will scorch the crops and burn those who cross in your wake, great floods, and dreadful storms.” She yanked her hands away from Arran and took a dagger out from under her white robes and clumsily attacked him. Arran backed away. Gunar grabbed her arm and subdued her. She whispered a few words and Gunar was paralyzed and then he went unconscious. Glea moved to intercept her.
“Out of my way, Glea!” Helda said. “I have seen the evil that follows him. He must die!”
“Come to your senses, Helda! You can’t kill him. If you do, you will be the blue mage in his stead.”
Blue Mage Equinox: Book 2 of Tournament of Mages Page 2
