Smart Alec in the Dark Lands
By
Donald L. Wigboldy Jr.
Copyright May 2019
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https://www.facebook.com/BattleMageATaleOfAlus
Other books by Donald L. Wigboldy Jr.
From the Tales of Alus series:
The High King: A Tale of Alus
The Emperor’s Shadow War
Battle Mage: A Tale of Alus
Battle Mage: Winter’s Edge
Battle Mage: The Lost King
Battle Mage: Dragon Mage
Battle Mage: Dark Mage
Battle Mage: A Hero’s Welcome
Battle Mage: Forging New Steel
White Hall
Battle Mage: Winds of Change
Battle Mage Visions
Battle Mage Bonds
Battle Mage Broken Empire
Battle Mage Caves of Time
Other stories from Alus:
The Unexpected Heir: A Tale of Alus
Slaves to Magic: A Tale of Alus
Slaves to Magic: The Hunter's Path
Modern Tales:
Voran the Night Guardian
Standing Before Monsters
The Mermaid’s Chest
Beyond the Nebula Series:
Technomancer
Chapter 1- Winds and Storms
The air was filled with the sounds of battle as well as the screams of those unprepared for war.
It had only been meant to be a training mission, but the two small forces of novice wizards and battle mage cadets had suddenly gone from practicing war games to being thrown into real combat with a force of unknown, strange creatures. Northwall was supposed to protect the country from the monsters thrown at Southwall by the Dark One. South of the great wall spanning well over a thousand miles from one side of the upper peninsula to the other was supposed to be safe.
Alec had only just turned fourteen a short time ago, a novice wizard leaning towards air who showed some promise, according to his teachers. He was reasonably well liked by the rest of the novices in his class, though some teasingly called him 'Smart Alec' since he often appeared capable of learning the new spells presented to them first.
"Down!" a deep voice ordered shoving Alec behind him. His protector was his mentor, Ellis.
A blast of air swung towards a dark furred and feathered winged beast. The very nature of it didn't make sense to the boy as he knelt on one knee and looked up to see the head of a shrike in appearance suddenly rear back as its black wings stalled the monster's approach as if it could see the burst of wind coming for it.
The monster was large, large enough to pick up a man in one of its nasty looking front talons. The lead feet looked liked those of a predatory bird while the back feet had the fur and claws of some sort of large cat. Black and gray in coloring, the creature men in Southwall would name grayven, ignored the front line of battle mages fighting against more strange creatures that Alus had never seen in its history.
Minotaurs, ox-like beasts towering over the men and women struggling to keep them from the softer targets like the wizards and novices behind them, attacked with smaller dark skinned goblin type creatures with heads more akin to dogs or bears from the front. Trying to skirt the line of battle mage veteran mentors and a few older cadets were agile creatures that stood like men but had the legs and hooves of goats. Horns, often curled like rams, sprouted from their heads while their faces ranged from goat like to having the sharp beaks of birds.
A second line of wizards supported the battle mages casting spells over their heads. Fireballs lofted over the thirty or so mages wielding blue magic shields and swords coated in fire. An occasional black shield could be seen, but there was no magic for them to eat aside from that of their wizards. Air spears and lances slid through the gaps driving back ambitious hobgoblins, but the massive minotaurs had heavy shields to shrug off all but the most determined of casters.
Holding the slight rise between steep hills that sloped towards the mountains around them, the mages were nearly out maneuvered by the ram men. Bounding up steep, rocky slopes, only the magic of the wizards behind them managed to throw the nimble creatures back in time.
If that had been the extent of the strange enemy's forces, Alec was pretty certain that the outnumbered veteran troops of Southwall would have held. It wouldn't have been easy for the battle mages, but with wizards in support they were doing it even so.
Winged shapes had been directed forward by a dark blue elven leader even without line of sight. He directed them forward with his hands from the near side of a tall hill and they had responded lifting over the crest from beyond the vision of those fighting. With the aerial units in play, Alec and those watching from the third line could only hope and pray that the small force of dragon mages would return in time to do something about them.
Katya was with them. A novice like him, she was perhaps his main rival. She was smart and kept pushing to learn more magic. Her power was great and she had even required a special gem to keep her magic in check. She had told very few of her friends about it, but Alec had been included at least.
She had managed to join the new group of dragon mages to learn the new spells brought from their allies in Mar'kal. Chief among the spells were the wings that let them fly. Unfortunately, they were the only ones in all of Southwall who could and they were limited in number.
When the dragon mages finally joined, the novice missed it. Several grayven had tested the second line of wizards and decided that their magic was too strong. As if they smelled the youth and inexperience of the next line of Southwall, the monsters swept in to attack the novices along with a handful of veteran wizards left with them to help protect the line.
Various protective shields were thrown up around him as the young wizards went into survival mode. A few spells were thrown upward in an attempt to knock the monsters from the sky, but the grayven attacked them otherwise unhampered.
Screeches screamed out terrifyingly as several of the black and gray beasts attacked. A novice was knocked to the ground as his blue shield shattered under the force of the grayven's weight generated by its descent. It didn't even seem to slow as its talons went for the poor boy huddled underneath.
The novice screamed as the hooked beak latched onto his neck before the grayven shook him violently. Snapping the boy's neck, the body went limp before he was thrown aside without mercy.
Alec's eyes narrowed angrily. On one hand he was frightened, but he had known the boy. Bertrum had been in his class from his first days at White Hall. Slightly larger than Alec, Bertrum had been undecided in his magic. While Alec was best at air, the other boy was still trying to figure out his true strength. It didn't mean that he was bad at magic, however. The shield had probably been as strong as any he could make at this point as well.
The spell came to mind and was on his tongue before the grayven could lift back into the air again. Scythes of wind were thrown from each hand in succession sweeping forward to strike the monster. The first made the raven's head rear back bringing a surprised squawk, while the second drew blood as it cut into the wing and side.
Predatory eyes looked at him as it recovered instantly. They were separated by less than fifteen feet of space. Where it landed novices had scattered in fear. The veteran wizards closest to the grayven were still turning to cast more spells at the beast, but they would be too late, the boy could tell.
"Shield!" he cried out like some battle mage. As a wizard, it wasn't in the style of his kind. He had friends that were battle mages, of course, but it had been Katya who had continually frustrated her mentors by cheating on many of her new spells. The girl had an older brother who was
a battle mage of great renown, so maybe she wanted to be more like him even though Katya had greater magical power.
Having seen her do it enough, Alec had practiced casting the spells he knew best like a battle mage as well. It was part of why he had been able to keep up with the girl for the most part.
Even so, as the grayven leaped towards him, its mass was too great. The boy was driven back though his shield held up for the first hit. Its beak tried to grab him like it had Bertrum, but the glowing blue shield remained intact as it was pushed backward into the novice wizard.
It reared up and crashed onto the large blue shield trying to crush Alec into the ground.
"Alec!" Ellis cried out forgetting his training for a moment. Using his breath for a spell would have accomplished more but the man sacrificed that time even if it was a single word uttered before the next spell could be started.
More grayven landed or struck the third line of Southwall. Other novices and wizards were scattered by their attack. Ellis was almost killed as another of the beasts tried to grab him as it flew past.
The air went out Alec's lungs as the grayven refused to give up. It was as if the blue shield infuriated the beast and it was determined to break the protection no matter what. Surely the monster would be more dangerous in flight, but it didn't care. Another novice threw fire at it. Ellis finally tried a powerful gust of wind to push it away as well.
It shifted and jumped back onto the blue shield cracking it as Alec's head struck the ground dizzying him. Stunned by the latest blow, the boy didn't even notice as its claws grabbed his arm and leg. Another sharp blast of wind stopped it from biting the novice for a moment.
With likely only moments away from being killed like Bertrum, a piercing cry driven by magic made the beast look up instead. As its brethren suddenly responded to the magic call of the dark elf, the grayven decided to keep its prize. It rose up into the air carrying the dazed boy in its talons.
The wind rushed past his face, but Alec didn't begin to rouse from his stupor until the sight of a strange gate made of swirling dark clouds and lightning was nearly in front of the grayven. The beasts of the land army were already retreating through the gate held by half a dozen dark elves.
They knew magic as well, Alec thought dumbly as the grayven touched down in front of the portal. His body struck the hard earth, but it only let go of his leg to drag his body the last few steps to the storm gate.
Other grayven had returned with prizes as well, but not every one of the beasts returned from the fight. Their number had been thinned as had the monsters which had come with them. Noses bloodied by the unexpected resistance, the alien enemy had decided to retreat for now.
Alec groaned as his body was dragged across the stone covered ground. It was a small sound and ignored by the beast as it stepped into the storm.
Entering the portal, the grayven kept its hold as it moved through a world of roiling clouds and glimmers of lightning. Alec stirred and looked up at the beast. He couldn't see where they had come from or where they were going, but the boy knew if he remained with this beast he was going to become its next meal.
A fire spell was summoned to his free hand. Jamming the flames into the claw holding his other arm, the grayven screeched in pain. The grip loosened letting the boy slip free. Squawking angrily, the monster tried to catch him with its beak; but it was too late.
While the grayven continued on a straight line disappearing from Alec's sight, the novice fell through a world of storms for several minutes before a dull field of gray seemed to appear within the clouds. He couldn't tell what it was. Still only half aware of his surroundings, Alec fell through the rectangle of another portal. Where it would lead him, the novice couldn't know; but the deed was done and the storms around him disappeared.
Chapter 2- The Silver Dragon
The sound of a sigh could be heard from the silver scaled creature concealed by his hooded cloak. The dark leather matched that of his gloves, belt and boots; but his pants and sleeveless shirt were simple brown. It was the clothing of someone who wished to hide or simply perhaps as that of someone who seemed to lack imagination.
A long staff only a foot taller than the very tall cloaked figure was the only weapon or tool visible in his hands, though a pouch remained tied to the belt on his left hip. The bag was held in a strangely loose looking knot as if the creature didn't care if the contents fell free or not; or perhaps because he wished to have it nearly opened for quick access.
Standing in the shadow of a stone twice as tall as the figure hiding beside it, the creature hadn't moved for a long time. He was being vigilant, but nothing had drawn his reaction for hours. Nearing the extent of his patience, the shadowed figure was ready to return to the tall stone walls of a fort less than half a mile away where it sat overlooking a flat expanse spreading out from it in three directions all around the figure.
As he readied to leave his hiding place, a gray rectangle formed in the air perhaps three hundred feet away. It was odd in that it was nearly horizontal to the ground, though not quite parallel either. Noting the oddity curiously, the watcher remained hidden until something broke from the gray surface. He heard a voice cry out as something flailed at the air for only a moment before meeting the ground from the short five foot drop.
Air released as a quiet sigh from the vigilant watcher. Other stones were between him and whatever had fallen from the gray portal. He was pretty certain that it was a portal at least. Though not privy to the spell, the watcher had seen them before but most had resembled storm clouds contained to a rectangular shape touching the earth. They stood vertically, unlike this opening in the air that he had seen. It was confusing and the figure debated on moving closer.
He was wary, but again the one covered in silver scales sighed. The watcher might be wary, but he refused to be afraid. Moving out of the shadow of the large stone, he moved trying to catch sight of what had fallen from the sky. Other stones were in the way. Just as he had used the large stone to hide his presence, so too whatever had fallen was concealed by the scattering of obsidian stones in the field.
Hills framed the field, but they weren't close enough to give him an advantage of a view or to otherwise obscure it as the cloaked figure stealthily moved from one jutting rock to another. He was silent even though the wind was still and there seemed to be no other sound to find. Likewise, whatever had fallen through hadn't given up anything since the cry as it fell. If it was a sorcerer using a portal, the magic user was surprisingly clumsy, the figure thought to himself.
Finally moving past the last of the stones obscuring his view, the cloaked one stopped to see something dressed in a white tunic and gray pants. It was smaller than the watcher and had brown hair on what he was pretty sure was its head. Curious, he moved closer to the shape which continued to lie still on the ground. Uncertain if it was dead or stunned, he moved closer again.
Though he had given in to his curiosity, there was caution to his approach as well.
A cough shook the figure lying on the ground and a moment later it rolled onto its back groaning. The cloaked watcher stopped waiting to see what more it might do.
Giving a groan mostly caused by hitting the ground so hard, the boy in the white coat debated on sitting up feeling both bruised and tired from his use of magic in the battle. While Alec had held back a bit like most of the other novices who were uncertain of what to do in the face of such strange monsters, the young wizard had still cast several spells with enough power to kill or at least wound the monsters attacking his closest allies.
His eyes opened looking up at a strange sky. Dark clouds with a tinge of dark red either hid the blue he was used to or there was none to see. Southwall often had cloudy days or even weeks. During the long winter, the sun hid making the land even colder.
Alec sat up with a frown and realized that there might not even be a blue sky to look at here. Since he didn't know where the storm portal had left him, the novice also had no idea if he was somewhere
on Alus or if he had stumbled across another world with different rules.
Looking around, the boy saw many large stones standing on end in a field lacking grass or other vegetation. Looking around him, Alec managed to spot a couple clumps of green hidden at the base of the standing stones after a moment's search. The dozens of stones were odd to him also. Black or obsidian, the rocks had a sheen that glistened like raw onyx, a somewhat common stone in Alus. Few seemed to cherish it or even to scavenge the material, though those few often made the black stones into rings or pendants for necklaces.
"Where am I?" the novice questioned the air and found that his voice sounded thin. Taking in a breath with deliberate intent, Alec tasted it finding the air seemed tinged with a dust that he couldn't really see. It was like entering a room that hadn't been used in years that had been sealed off, but wasn't proof against the buildup of dust.
Another groan escaped him as he felt the pain of his bruised skin. His hands were scraped and his forearms and wrists hurt from breaking his fall, but at least the boy was fairly sure that nothing was broken. Bringing his legs under him, Alec slowly managed to stand. Looking like an old man, the fourteen year old would have found such a comparison amusing if he wasn't already beginning to feel fear for his situation.
It wasn't like the boy had traveled that much of his own world. Perhaps there were regions where Alus looked like this, but it wasn't like any of Southwall that he had seen. Not so pompous as to think that his country on North continent held all the possible looks his world might have, the novice also knew that he had gone through a foreign portal. These creatures were new to his mentors, some of which had fought the Dark One's army of monsters for many years.
None of the creatures they had fought seemed familiar to them, though they had little time to express very much to the novices around them as the battle had begun so quickly. Still, the boy knew that whatever the creature was that had carried him into the stormy portal world, it was more likely that breaking free of it inside that portal would strand him somewhere that wasn't Alus.
Smart Alec in the Dark Lands Page 1
