The Archmage

by Whiskey Flowers

  “Yeah he did,” Jonathan laughed. “Good punch too. He is lucky he is going up against the instructor version of me. Right after my parents died, I would have left him a smear like Quevin Wilson.”

  “Speaking of Wilson,” Red said.

  “I know he is on Tower grounds somewhere,” Jonathan replied.

  “I know, I talked to him,” Red replied. “He gave me the creeps. Wanted to know if I was interested in joining whatever force he is putting together.”

  “He wanted you as one of his leaders?” Jonathan asked surprised.

  “Pit no,” Red said laughing. “He wanted me to be one of the people he can send in to die. For less coin than I am making here. Not much less, but still less.”

  “That sounds like the tosser,” Jonathan replied.

  “He has already chosen one of his junior commanders,” Red said. “I at least heard that much.”

  “Who?” Jonathan asked.

  “Gerald Morningstar,” Red replied. “And he is on Tower grounds. When I turned Wilson down he said in his nasty voice that it was a pity. Told me I could have served under his newest Commander who had a talent for putting commoners in their place while getting the most out of them. Next thing I know I saw Gerald walking up as angry as I have seen him.”

  “What did he say?” Jonathan asked.

  “He wants to go another round with me,” Red laughed. “He is still sore we tricked him. Blasting that knobber was the highlight of my year. I told him I had nothing more to prove and that I already beat him up once. He of course threatened to attack me and I dared him to.”

  “You did?” Jonathan asked.

  “Told him if he finds it necessary to attack Tower Instructors then that he should do so,” Red laughed. “I told him I am sure that everyone would understand, especially other Tower Instructors who would probably attack him first despite him saying he had no wish to fight.”

  “He doesn’t want anymore of this,” Jonathan laughed.

  “Not with Xalen and the Golads gone,” Red laughed. “He just glared at me. I am sure Wilson knew what happened between me and Gerald. Pit, I think it is probably all over the kingdom.”

  “Why would it be?” Jonathan asked.

  “I wasn’t pit before but some commoner who had a bit of magic,” Red replied. “Now I am one of only two commoners to officially teach at the Tower. I bet all sorts of things are known about me right now. It is known that I have only a bit of magic and I survived the dragon attack by hiding. I am sure my fight with Gerald is well known, as many times as I have saw them tear you down by focusing on every little weakness. The Queen herself might know Gerald beat me.”

  “You helped fight off the Raelinians without anyone forcing you to,” Jonathan replied. “You were not safe like Gerald who spent most of his time torturing those tossers. You also beat Gerald in a straight up fight.”

  “I know that is probably around as well,” Red laughed. “It has to be chafing the pit out of Gerald’s backside. Well let me get ready lover boy. Don’t think I hadn’t noticed your face covered in lip covering before Tobin socked you one.”

  CHAPTER 10

  Alliances

  Tobin had threatened Charles and they had met in the middle of the night. Charles stayed away from him and landed at will, whenever Tobin got close he either blew him back or moved out of the way. Once Tobin was down, Charles did not approach him. Charles instead walked away through the crowd and went back into the Tower. Tobin jumped up once he realized that Charles did not take his bait but instead had left. A lot of the nobles cheered Charles but none had the heart to take Tobin’s stare. All except for Davin who had announced he wanted to take on Tobin next and shut his mouth permanently.

  Jonathan was not surprised when the next night came and could see well from his hidden vantage point high in the night sky. Davin was being watched over by Gerald who had put himself in a battle that was unofficially initiates only. Jonathan had heard Gerald had killed another mage in the arena, he was getting a name as some kind of gladiator and was rumored to become the personal executioner for some Duke. Well he would have been if he did not take Kevin Wilson up on the job offer. Tobin went down quickly from the onslaught Davin threw at him, Davin had a lot more power than Charles did. Davin went up close to burn Tobin like Gerald did Red and it was his undoing.

  Tobin screamed as he was being roasted but had gotten to his feet and charged through the fire. Davin was surprised when the flaming mage worried about smashing him in the face rather than putting his robes out. Davin went down to the blows and Tobin straddled him quickly. Tobin was on fire but so was Davin now, Tobin started smashing his face in when Gerald blasted Tobin off of him. Tobin was now rolling on the ground when Gerald blasted him again. Jonathan was high in the sky but had a good aim as he attacked.

  The lightning tore through the night sky and hit Gerald so quick that Jonathan was sure the mage had no idea what happened. Jonathan flew down quickly and cast water spells on the unconscious Davin as well as the screaming Tobin. Jonathan landed as Gerald started to get up and blasted him with more weak lightning. Gerald screamed and put up a shield only to see it torn apart and more lightning course through his body.

  “Stop this!” Monica said as she dropped out of the sky.

  “No,” Jonathan said as he attacked again. “This man attacked a student in full view of a Tower Instructor. I was sleep when I was awakened by a student screaming something about a fight,” Jonathan lied as he knew no one could disprove it. “I came quickly and found this idiot attacking a student, now he will pay.” Jonathan blasted Gerald one more time before Monica stood in front of him.

  “Go ahead then if you are so tough,” Monica snapped.

  “Where did you come from?” Jonathan asked as he narrowed his eyes. “Were you watching this idiot torture a student? It would not be the first time.”

  “I uh,” Monica said as Kevin Wilson came over to tend to Morningstar.

  “And you even have the Mage Commander in on this as well?” Jonathan asked.

  “I heard a commotion and found you attacking one of my men,” Kevin snapped as healing power flowed through him and into Gerald.

  “Your man is lucky he is not dead,” Jonathan replied. “I do not care how many men he has killed in the arena.”

  “I saw you sneak him,” Monica said as she went to Davin to start healing him.

  “Keep telling yourself that,” Jonathan said as he looked over at Tobin. “This other student requires healing.”

  “Then heal him yourself!” Kevin snapped.

  “Am I to understand Mage Commander than you and your men are on Tower property trying to kill initiates and refusing to heal them?” Jonathan asked. “If that is the case then I am going to take this as a personal attack on the Tower and as the Queen’s Champion, justice must be carried out. Or we can call this a misunderstanding and the Tower Mage or the Queen would never know. Provided that both students are healed fully.”

  Jonathan wanted to laugh as Kevin, Gerald and Monica rolled it over in their minds. Monica had said too much when she said she saw Jonathan take Gerald unawares. If she saw that then she saw Gerald attack a student unaware. That would get her kicked out of the Tower. Gerald would be kicked out of whatever group Kevin Wilson was trying to start up and Wilson himself would have to explain what he was doing there. Jonathan was positive he could get people to lie and say they woke him up to stop the fight. Jonathan was not surprised that after they had healed Davin, that the group started on Tobin who sat there taunting them the entire time about how he had bashed Davin’s face in and how multiple instructors had to pull him off Davin.

  Jonathan started the morning after that fight tired. It took Jonathan a moment to realize that the mountain girl Wendy was headed straight for him with a tray of food. Jonathan normally had the dining room to himself since he was an early riser. Jonathan knew he was out of it when his mind went blank and then jumped as he realized someone had sat down next to him. Wendy smiled
as she realized what she had done.

  “Sorry,” Wendy said shyly and blushed.

  “I normally do not see anyone here at this time,” Jonathan replied. “How are you doing this morning?”

  “I saw you last night,” Wendy replied. “I saw your lightning.”

  “Saw it, did you?” Jonathan said shaking his head. “Not my best moment but I hate the Mage Commander and all of his hangers on.”

  “A lot of us saw it,” Wendy said. “Could you had of beaten him if he had saw you coming?”

  “Did you see him in a hurry to demand a fight?” Jonathan replied. “He had his people around him and I am the Queen’s Champion for a reason.”

  “I heard that man has killed more people in the arena than anyone in history,” Wendy said. “And he looks so young.”

  “He has and he is,” Jonathan replied. “And if he was so tough then he would have challenged me to the arena. I would accept in a heartbeat.”

  “You are so brave,” Wendy replied.

  “So what are you here for?” Jonathan asked. “No way a pretty thing like you wakes up this early to eat, especially with someone like me.”

  “Someone like you?” Wendy asked.

  “I know many people here either hate or fear me,” Jonathan replied.

  “Cara doesn’t,” Wendy said then looked away.

  “If you know she doesn’t, then why are you here?” Jonathan asked. “Weren’t you worried about Lady Farrah?”

  “I talked to her before she left,” Wendy said. “She told me that you have nothing going on with her and that she would give her blessing should anything happen between us.”

  “She did, did she?” Jonathan said.

  “She also told me that Cara girl really hurt you once,” Wendy replied. “She thinks you are just settling for her because you have no one that would love you.”

  “Farrah speaks too highly of herself,” Jonathan said as he put a grape into his mouth. Jonathan was about to speak again when he saw Grace Story heading over with her tray. The look on Jonathan’s face made Wendy turn around. Jonathan could tell by the looks on both girl’s faces that they had no love for each other.

  “Mountain girl,” Grace said as she turned her nose up and sat down.

  “You watch your mouth,” Wendy snapped. “I know how to sort out girls like you.”

  “You should be ashamed of yourself,” Grace snapped. “Throwing yourself at this poor commoner like you are a basic harlot. No wonder you are so quick to fight.”

  “We were having a nice breakfast until you came along,” Wendy began. “What are you even doing here anyway? I thought commoners were below you.”

  “They are below me,” Grace replied. “Some more than others. I came here to have a pleasant conversation with Champion Thunder.”

  “Then you shouldn’t mind me being here,” Wendy replied. “Instructor Thunder and I were talking about his last real love, Lady Farrah. I heard he has a thing for tall busty blondes, I mean, who could blame him?”

  “I agree,” Grace replied. “Those long legs have to be good for something. Boyhood crushes mean little to a man. They want more than just a pretty face, they want the entire package.”

  “Maybe I should let you both hash out whatever this is,” Jonathan said as he stood up.

  “Sit down!” both women yelled at him simultaneously then went back to glaring at each other.

  Jonathan sat down quickly and wanted to laugh. The suddenness of their command made him obey but he didn’t need to. Jonathan wasn’t an idiot, he was sure both of them were trying to see if he was interested. Both would also keep their options open if something better came along. Wendy was put there in the hopes Jonathan would find her attractive which he did. Duchess Golad’s big plan was to bring a mage back to settle down by the mountain. The only reason Duchess Golad wanted it to be Jonathan was so she could be sure that he would leave Farrah alone.

  “This is ridiculous,” Grace said as she returned to her food. “My pedigree is much too high to fight over some man. I know I am the most desirable woman here and that is including those pitiful mage girls.”

  “Fight?” Wendy said. “You are only here for noble mages anyway.”

  “I am not here for anything,” Grace said. “I could leave here with no one and still be highly sought after.”

  “Then you should go live your fabulous life,” Wendy replied.

  “I want to get this all straight,” Jonathan replied. “Are you both over here to be friendly or are you trying for something more?”

  “I just came over for conversation,” Grace replied quickly.

  “I came over to be a friend,” Wendy replied.

  “Then why are you both snapping at each other?” Jonathan asked. “I am sure you know the mage women here hate you both.”

  “All they have going for them is that they have magic,” Grace said dismissively.

  “Well then you won’t mind that Initiate Poppy is on her way over,” Jonathan said as he saw Poppy enter the dining hall.

  Jonathan could feel the ice in Grace’s glare as Poppy grabbed her food and then sat down carefree. Poppy looked at both of them then let off a little laugh.

  “Easy there girls,” Poppy replied. “I wasn’t raised around a bunch of mages so I don’t hate you one way or another. My family has very little money compared to whoever yours is so I am not trying to measure up to you. If you both are over here trying to romance Jon, then go for it. When I was single people tried to put us together but I went for Instructor Red, not him.”

  “That small red-haired commoner?” Grace said surprised.

  “He will grow on you,” Poppy replied. “Jon is just a friend and I woke up this early to ask him about someone we both care deeply for.”

  “What do you want Poppy?” Jonathan asked.

  “I want to know how he is doing?” Poppy asked. “He hides it well but I know he is still hurting. Is he talking to anyone yet? Is there any way I can support him?”

  “You know I can’t answer any of those questions,” Jonathan replied.

  “Jon you and him both know I do not hate him,” Poppy said. “And I expect for him to do the exact same thing if the situations were reversed. I have a chance to have it all Jon.”

  “Have what?” Grace asked dismissively. “Nothing worth anything.”

  “She is the Crown Prince’s betrothed,” Jonathan replied.

  “Her?” Grace said amazed. “She isn’t even pretty.”

  “Jealous much?” Poppy asked with a smirk. “I have magic, do you want some?”

  “We have not betrayed you,” Jonathan said as he thought about Poppy’s gift to give others magic.

  “I know,” Poppy said. “But I have no need to hide my gift now. I already have the man and I already told my parents.”

  “What do you mean by want some?” Wendy asked.

  “She is just being facetious mountain girl,” Grace said. “Ignore her.”

  “No I am not,” Poppy said. “My special spell is that I can give you the ability to use magic. Do you want some or not?”

  “Sure you can,” Grace said as she waved Poppy away.

  “Suit yourself,” Poppy replied. “Don’t say I never offered. You are such a twat I may never give you the opportunity again.”

  “Whatever,” Grace replied. “As if I would want anything from you.”

  “How does it work?” Wendy asked.

  “Just close your eyes and take a deep breath,” Poppy replied. “It leaves me a little tired afterwards. You will feel really jumpy and awake after I blast you with it.”

  “Does it hurt?” Wedny asked. “Will I feel any...”

  Wendy squeaked as the power of Poppy’s spell washed over her. Jonathan had seen it done before and watched as Wendy briefly glowed a bright blue. Grace even looked surprised, Jonathan could tell she was as curious as Wendy now looked.

  “Okay,” Poppy said. “Couple of things about borrowed magic. It is real easy to cast from, you d
o not have to worry about focusing too much and everything else a normal mage has to in order to use magic. You could cast like an experienced mage if you wanted to but I think you wouldn’t like waiting for all of that. The spoken word is the easiest way to cast and I am sure you would like it. Wanna try?”

  “I feel funny,” Wendy spoke. “Can I really cast?”

  “Try it and see,” Poppy said. “Say Esto Lumo.”

  Jonathan had not cast that way in a while, it took him a moment to realize what spell Wendy was casting. Mage light wasn’t power intensive and most importantly it wasn’t dangerous. Wendy shrieked when the power flooded her hands and a dim light appeared. Jonathan saw the wonder in Grace’s eyes for the moment she let it show. Grace’s face instantly went back to what it was as Poppy smiled at Wendy.

  “Don’t wear it out because I don’t have much,” Poppy said. “I gave you about a quarter of my daily power with that jolt.”

  “Give some to me,” Grace demanded.

  “Pit no, who do you think you are talking to?” Poppy said unamused. “I don’t answer to you and I never will. I can beat the pit out of you and whoever you think you can grab does not compare to your future King.”

  “I think she has you there,” Jonathan replied.

  “Why did you give the mountain girl powers?” Grace said smoothly. “I can be a powerful ally for you to have around here. I know many of those mage girls do not like you, especially the little tart Mage Jonathan is seeing.”

  “And what exactly can you do for me?” Poppy asked.

  “Money talks,” Grace said. “Even when others want everyone to stay silent,” Grace finished as she looked at Jonathan.

  “So you are peddling information?” Poppy asked.

  “I am the Queen Bee wherever I go,” Grace said. “So what these mage girls hate you, you could have a ready-made group of friends. And since your friend you were talking about earlier is the liaison for the boys next door to our quarters, you can hear about him often.”

  “I just want him to be happy,” Poppy said. “Not with me, but someone. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth the way I left him and I know he is hurting.”