Underdog Mage Chronicles_The War

by R. D. Bernstein

  “But what is Gem Magic?” Raven asked. A sudden thought occurred to her that if she was able to learn and harness whatever these powers were from Gamayun, she might be able to destroy the Phoenix.

  “Only a few people out of hundreds of thousands are able to use Gem Magic,” Gamayun explained. “If what I think you have is true, you are fortunate to be one of them.”

  “How come I’ve never used it before?” Raven asked.

  “The powers usually start to reveal themselves around puberty and are brought on by a stressful situation. It typically is only effective with actual gems and not rocks or stones, so it makes me curious about what your abilities actually are.”

  “How does gem magic work?”

  Gamayun held up his hand. “Enough! Too many questions. Gem magic is something that can’t be explained, it must be shown. Here, come with me.”

  Gamayun led her to a table at the far end. Amongst the bottles and stacks of leather bound books was a small wooden chest. He grabbed a key from the side of his belt loop and unlocked it, pulling the top open to reveal a small pile of different colored gems, sitting in a purple-tinged bowl.

  He picked out a blue, a red, and a green gem and placed them into the palm of his left hand, rolling them about as if they were a set of dice.

  “A sapphire, a ruby, and an emerald,” Gamayun explained. “They have their aesthetic and market value to be sure, but to us gem magic users, they are priceless.”

  Raven marveled at how beautiful the gems were, the sunlight streaming through the archer slit windows glanced off of their brilliant surfaces.

  “The potency and primary use of a gem magic spell is determined by three factors,” Gamayun continued. “It would bode well for you to remember every word I am telling you from here on out. I do not want to waste my breath. Etch my words into that little brain of yours.”

  Raven resisted the urge to yell at the old man about speaking to her in that insulting manner. She hated being talked down to and this old man had a knack for doing that nonstop. But, she knew if she angered him too many times, it surely wouldn’t help her to get revenge on the undead creatures, and would assure her place in the dungeons. Instead, she bit her lip and nodded.

  “The color of the gem determines its use. Blue Sapphires for water related spells, emeralds for nature, rubies for fire, and many more. The size of the gem determines its potency and potential. The bigger the gem, the stronger the potential spell. Lastly, the Gem Magic user’s innate ability decides how much power they are able to withdraw from a gem.”

  “I think I understand,” she said.

  He gave her an annoyed look.

  “You have no idea what you do and do not understand,” Gamayun said. “You know nothing yet. There is a wide world of magic to learn and we still haven’t determined the true magnitude of your abilities. I must put you through extensive testing and training first.”

  Raven felt anxious to get started. She felt that if he really could teach her to harness her underlying and as yet undiscovered powers, whatever they were, she could put up with his superior attitude for the time being. “When do we get started?” Raven asked impatiently. The fire within her urged her to seek revenge for her deceased family and friends.

  “Started?” Gamayun asked mockingly. “The last time you started you nearly blew everyone up. You are far from starting. First you will clean this entire room from wall to wall. Every cobweb, every speck of dust gone. Each day you will study my books and read about the history and use of gem magic. Then maybe I will consider letting you use one.”

  There was a moment of silence as she tapped her foot anxiously and looked around the room again. “Okay, well, thanks,” Raven said and started to walk off.

  “Excuse me,” Gamayun called out to her. “First of all, I did not dismiss you. Secondly, your usual sleeping quarters are no longer yours, so I don’t know where you think you are going. After that fiasco you just caused, you will be sleeping on a blanket in the corner of this room until you learn the meaning of hard work and discipline.”

  Raven realized Gamayun had a way to push her buttons just when she thought he couldn’t find any more. She knew she would have to swallow her pride if she hoped to last here. Sleeping on the cold stone floor with nothing but cobwebs and dust to keep her company was an insult, but one she could do little about.

  “You’re serious?” Raven asked.

  “Does it look like I am the type of person that makes jokes?”

  Chapter 16

  Raven woke up completely stiff and sore, her body shivering with cold. The blanket Gamayun had given her had holes in it and she was almost certain he poked the large holes in it himself just for his amusement. She looked around and coughed as some of the dust settled from the nearby windowsill.

  Someone had left the window open and a chill was coming through. She jumped up and slammed the window shut.

  Turning around, Raven spotted Gamayun sitting on a wooden stool, bent over the table. He was slowly and methodically placing gems of all colors and shapes onto a balancing scale, peering at them while jotting down notes on a piece of parchment.

  Raven came over to get a closer look. Without turning around, Gamayun said, “You don’t get to just stand around and watch me all day. There is a pitcher and ewer in the small room over there. You can clean yourself up a bit and then I expect you to pick up a broom and finish cleaning this place.”

  Raven rubbed the sleep from the corner of her eyes and looked around the room, spotting a broom in the corner which clearly hadn’t been used in a long time.

  She began to sweep while Gamayun continued to work.

  After about twenty minutes, she stopped to rest and said, “I thought we were going to train? I thought I was your apprentice?”

  Gamayun turned around and glared at her.

  “I told you, you aren’t ready for training,” he said and turned back around.

  She rolled her eyes and continued to sweep.

  Another hour passed until she had almost finished sweeping the layers of dust and dirt into a pile.

  Gamayun put down a gem he was looking at and turned around to her, standing up.

  “Ah, good,” he said. “Looks much better. I’m going to grab some hot food from the kitchen. When you’re done with that, you can organize those books on the desks. Just put them back on the bookshelves. I wrote down the instructions on that parchment over there. Start with the historical books on the bottom shelf.”

  “Can I get some food too?” Raven asked.

  “Sure,” Gamayun answered. “Right after you finish those books and polish off all the tables and chairs until they are nice and shiny.”

  Raven looked around at the half a dozen long tables with many chairs, all with piles of books on them.

  “But that’s going to take hours,” Raven complained.

  “Then I suggest you get started,” Gamayun said as he walked out and closed the door behind him.

  * * *

  Raven was drenched in sweat and in a sour mood by the time Gamayun returned. She glared at him as he handed her a half loaf of hard bread and said, “Here you go.”

  She didn’t want to risk losing what she had so she sat down on one of the chairs and devoured the bread.

  “Am I done cleaning for the day?” Raven asked him.

  “With cleaning, yes,” Gamayun said. “I need you to deliver a message for me to General Kalsh. You’ll probably find him in the barracks. Return right back to me.” He handed her a rolled up and sealed letter.

  Raven glanced at it.

  “Don’t even think about breaking the seal,” he warned. “And don’t dilly-dally. Deliver the message and get back. There’s is still plenty left to do.”

  * * *

  Raven sat on a wooden bench in the east side of the sprawling castle gardens. She was going to take the opportunity to take a break regardless of what that crazy old man warned her. She looked down at the ruby she had swiped from Gamayun’s chambers on th
e way out. She rolled it around in her hand wondering if it was considered a large or small ruby and what she would be able to do with it.

  “What’s that?” A familiar voice asked from behind her.

  Raven jumped and nearly dropped the ruby. She hastily tucked it into her pocket and whirled around. She would have to be more careful.

  Goodwin looked at her with wide, curious eyes.

  “Nothing,” she said.

  “Are you always this jumpy?” Goodwin asked.

  Raven shrugged. “I wasn’t paying attention. You snuck up on me.”

  “That’s a first. My mom always says I’m as noisy as a herd of cattle.”

  Raven gave a half smile. Goodwin was more likeable than most of these castle folk.

  “So how was your first full day as an apprentice?” Goodwin asked.

  Raven gave him a dirty look.

  “That bad, huh? Yeah, Old Man Gamayun is a tough one.”

  “You don’t know the half of it,” Raven said. “He has me cleaning his disgusting chambers all day and he says I’m not done. I have more cleaning to do when I get back and who knows what else. If he even cleaned it once himself it wouldn’t be so bad.”

  Goodwin chuckled. “Hope you didn’t tell him that.”

  “Of course not. I’m stubborn, not stupid,” Raven said.

  “Well that sounds horribly boring and tedious for you,” Goodwin said. “But I have an idea that might cheer you up. Come on. Follow me!”

  Raven reluctantly followed. She didn’t want to be cheered up. She wanted to sulk and grieve for her lost friends and family. She also had to deliver the letter to General Kalsh and get back before Gamayun got too angry with her. Goodwin didn’t realize she had come to the gardens hoping to be alone. She was reluctant to leave the garden. It was a lovely place to be alone and lost in thought. It was one of the few places on the castle ground that wasn’t constantly bustling with people going to and from. All the same, she was somewhat curious.

  She ran to keep up with him. He ran up a set of steps and exited the gardens through a large swinging gate with finely polished iron bars. The guards standing on either side mumbled for them to slow down as they sped by.

  “Where are we going?” Raven asked when she had caught up to him.

  “You’ll see,” he responded, quickening his pace.

  It felt good to run. It reminded Raven of being outside in the Northern Valley with her friends, hunting and running through the snow. She remembered the joy running brought her, the feeling of being alive and one with nature.

  She closed her eyes for a few seconds as they continued on, feeling the wind gently blowing her hair back. It felt like Mother Nature was caressing her face in a gentle reminder that even though all of her family and friends were gone, she was very much alive and part of this world.

  “Here,” Goodwin said.

  Raven followed his gaze. They crested a hill and saw dozens of large tents set up across a seemingly endless field of emerald grass. Red, blue, yellow, turquoise, black, green, and even pink tents dotted the field, unique emblems of different houses decorating the tent flaps. Men sat on wooden benches, talking or sharpening swords. Others stood about practicing their sword fighting.

  “What is all of this?” Raven asked.

  “Stay low,” Goodwin said. “We aren’t supposed to be here. They’ve come from kingdoms all over, setting up for the tournament tomorrow.”

  “Why are your people so fascinated with this tournament?” Raven asked.

  “You’re kidding, right? It’s only the most exciting thing all year! Knights and adventurers from all over come to compete. There is sword fighting, archery, jousting, and even juggling! Merchants from all over bring exotic food and spices, toys and trinkets and many other rare things with them. There’s entertainment and…”

  Raven held up her hand. “I get it.”

  Just then, several people shouted in alarm. More people soon joined in. Raven and Goodwin looked up to see dozens of undead charging across the open field from the tree line, making their way toward the tents.

  Her people had dealt with them before and it had not gone well. They were murderers and had an endless supply of energy. The dead did not sleep. Her people hated them. They were wild and hateful, never staying in one place, always searching for their next victims.

  The people who had moments ago been practicing sword fighting looked around with uncertainty. The undead running at them moved together as one body, some of them carrying fiery torches to burn their victims and strike fear into their hearts. The people they had been watching at the tents a second ago did not know each other. They would be slaughtered before any real resistance could be organized. The castle guards would be too late.

  An image of her sister, and of her friends and family, lying dead on the ground, flashed before her eyes with a painful burst. Raven stumbled and gripped her head in pain. She had to do something. She had to prevent more innocent people from dying. She had seen too much death lately.

  With a grimace from the reminder of her terrible and all too recent past she suddenly remembered the ruby she had taken from Gamayun’s chambers. Raven had no concept of what the gem was capable of and didn’t even know if she could channel its powers on command. It was all so unknown and fresh to her. But she couldn’t bear to witness another slaughter. Not now, not ever again.

  Raven ran forward.

  “What are you doing?”

  She ignored him. She kept running, gripping the ruby tight enough in her clenched fist to cut her palm. The undead were nearing the tents. She wasn’t going to make it in time.

  With a last ditch effort, Raven threw the ruby toward the undead, as far as she could throw, and watched in amazement as it rocketed with unnatural strength toward the grass between the tents and the undead.

  * * *

  As she watched the ruby sail through the air, Raven concentrated. She imagined a wall of flame, blocking either side from fighting. The ruby landed and rolled, a trail of fire bursting from its surface as it went. Higher and larger flames erupted along the line. Both sides stopped moving. The undead began to retreat back towards the trees, called back by an unknown source.

  The flames grew hotter and larger, shooting across the grass with a focused fierceness. People began to panic as the fire drew closer to the tents. The first tent, a huge green one with a lion sigil was engulfed in the flames. It spread to the next tent until several of them were caught in the powerful flames.

  The intense heat and the rapidness with which it spread caused the people to run. There was panic. Horses neighed and tried to break free from their wooden posts. Men dropped swords and bows and fled. The fire was completely out of control, burning far faster than Raven had intended and she had no way to slow it down or stop it.

  “What is going on?” A voice yelled from behind them.

  Raven and Goodwin turned to see Gamayun and a group of at least three dozen heavily armored soldiers glaring at them.

  Gamayun took a sapphire out of his pockets, said a few words, and tossed it at the raging fire. With a hiss, the water spread, extinguishing every last bit of fire until all that remained was a giant cloud of smoke rising into the air.

  Gamayun spotted Raven and his eyes narrowed dangerously.

  “I should have known you were behind this,” he said.

  “I had to,” Raven said. “There were…”

  “I don’t want to hear it,” Gamayun interrupted. He turned toward the guards at his side. “Take her to the dungeons to cool off until I decide what to do with her. The rest of you clean up this mess and tend to anyone who has been burned or wounded. Get our visitors new tents and supplies. I want two dozen guards posted here at all times while the tournament is going on. Lord Reghan does not want the tournament to be turned into an embarrassment. Understand?” He turned toward one of the guards and added, “And you go directly to Lord Reghan and inform him that there are barbarians in the area. He will want to know immediately.�
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  The men nodded. Three guards walked towards Raven while the rest ran to see to anyone injured and to clear the debris left by the fire. Raven looked across the field toward the tree line. She could make a run for it. She was pretty fast and with their armor she might have a chance of outrunning them.

  But it was useless. Not only did she not know where she was, but there were dozens if not more undead waiting in those woods. An innocent girl with no means of defending herself would be an easy target. She certainly could not defend herself from them and besides, she hadn’t learned anything she needed to know about Gem Magic so she could get revenge on the undead forces.

  Raven took in a deep breath and fought down the urge to kick the guards. Instead she gave them a wide grin. They hesitated, confused by her expression, and then they came forward.

  Chapter 17

  The dungeon smelled like dried urine and feces. Raven’s nostrils stung with the acrid smells and her eyes strained to see in the sparse light. She sat on the cold floor. It was covered in rotting and who knows what other noxious materials. She felt like an animal locked in a cage.

  “Psst…over here,” a familiar whispered from the outside of the cell bars.

  Raven peered into the darkness beyond her cell. She could see the outline of a boy.

  “Goodwin, is that you?” Raven asked, her voice hoarse.

  “Of course it’s me,” Goodwin replied. “I know the guard. My mother used to have him over for supper once in a while. He let me come talk to you for only a few minutes. What the hell were you thinking? I’m starting to think you want to get in trouble.”

  Raven shrugged. She shifted her position and moaned, her body aching all over. She had slept outside under the stars with her people many nights, but that was either in a tent or on lush grass. The cold, hard stone here in the cell was a persistent discomfort. She was chilled through to her bones and her muscles ached from shivering all night. She didn’t think she would last too long in here.