The Archmage

by Whiskey Flowers

  “She tastes like sweet cake,” Tobin laughed. “But I will play your game. I hope these idiots will not, they are only tough when they are in a group, just like you.”

  “You keep trying me,” Jonathan said. “Your day will come. The rest of you get ready.”

  Jonathan started the horses again and reached the inn. He and his group got off and walked into the inn, the main room was just coming to life. Jonathan could see that the mundane girls and their families were early risers, they were probably just excited to see mages in action. Jonathan had either met or seen most of them, they ignored him for a bit and instead focused on the new people with him.

  “Mage Jonathan,” Julian began. “I do not see any others that want to cause trouble here.”

  “Go ahead and have your fun,” Jonathan said. “When you start seeing mages you don’t recognize then come find me.”

  Jonathan sat down at a table and almost immediately Poppy sat down next to him. Jonathan looked at her oddly as she then produced a ring. The ring was gold, Jonathan could tell that by looking at it. Jonathan was about to ask her what the ring was for when it came to him, was she trying to marry Red? Jonathan’s eyes got big as Poppy nodded her head.

  “You must be joking,” Jonathan said unbelieving.

  “As soon as he gets here,” Poppy said. “Frisha already told him that they should take a break. It cost me the rest of the year giving her and whoever she wants magic but it is going to be worth it.”

  “You know how many mages you will piss off?” Jonathan asked.

  “Xalen is going to be here to see it,” Poppy said. “So will my parents and anyone else who cares. Grace already has a priest, this is happening. No way he thinks I am not serious after this. He will marry me and then that will be that.”

  “You are serious,” Jonathan said just as Red walked through the door.

  “I am going to wake my parents and Grace up right now,” Poppy said. “Don’t you go anywhere and don’t let him go anywhere.”

  Jonathan watched Poppy practically run up the stairs, Jonathan wondered where her parents were staying. Maybe they got a room in Vashing, when they booked it they would have done so as friends of the Prince. Jonathan was happy he hadn’t seen Xalen yet but was sure the Prince was there. Red sat down in the seat Poppy left and Jonathan could see Red’s eyes followed her all the way up the stairs.

  “What was that bird on about?” Red asked. “She went from begging forgiveness to running at the sight of me.”

  “Oh she is coming right back,” Jonathan said smirking. “So have you thought about a family name?”

  “What are you on about?” Red asked.

  “Well I hear you are about to married in a few moments,” Jonathan said barely holding back his laughter. “You are going to be married, you need to have a name.”

  “Married to who?” Red asked confused.

  “Poppy wasn’t running away,” Jonathan said. “She said something about waking people up for the wedding.”

  “You are full of it,” Red said as Jonathan could tell he was having second thoughts. “That loon would do it. She is doing it isn’t she? You ain’t funnin with me?”

  “Nope,” Jonathan said. “Even showed me a ring. You better think of something quick or you are going to be stuck with whatever.”

  “This isn’t happening,” Red said as he grabbed his chest.

  “So, I guess you are going to say yes?” Jonathan asked.

  “Of course I am going to say yes idiot!” Red said. “I told her she was full of it and that she would run off with the next pretty face.”

  “Well this ought to be good,” Jonathan said. “Here she comes and the two people with her have to be her parents.”

  “Pit,” Red said as he looked around nervously.

  “And here comes Prince Jeffrey,” Jonathan said as he stood up. “Give this knobber a bow and let the show begin.”

  “Thunder,” Prince Jeffrey said as he rolled his eyes at Red. “I hear you have decided to fight for the Mage Commander, why should I let you?”

  “If you do not think I should, then I will not Your Highness,” Jonathan said. “I was only thinking about it.”

  “Stop playing around with me Thunder,” Prince Jeffrey said. “I should deny you the privilege. You have plans on becoming Mage Commander now? You should be thankful that I am going to talk the Mage Commander about accepting your request.”

  “Thank you,” Jonathan replied as he just wanted the royal to go away.

  “Maybe you can be one of his Battlemages,” Prince Jeffrey said. “You like to fight anyway.”

  “I don’t want to be in charge of anyone or anything,” Jonathan said. “At least during a battle.”

  “What do you mean?” Prince Jeffrey said angrily.

  Jonathan knew the royal was trying to lock him into a position but would decline it. Prince Jeffrey had tried to kill him, Jonathan just wished there was a way to pay the Prince back. Jonathan was trying to think of a way to separate from the royal but didn’t have to. Poppy had just given Red the ring she had and her father started making a fuss. Jonathan was sure no one in the room knew what Prince Jeffrey looked like or perhaps they would have been quieter. Prince Jeffrey looked over just as the priest came through the door.

  “What is all of this?” Prince Jeffrey snapped.

  “A wedding,” Jonathan said smiling. “Between my best friend and a nice noble girl. You know Initiate Poppy don’t you Your Highness? She was to marry Prince Xalen once upon a time.”

  “She is marrying a commoner?” Jeffrey said as he looked over at her.

  “Yes she is,” Jonathan said smiling. “Red is going to be excited to learn he has Prince Jeffrey here to witness his nuptials.”

  “This is a farce!” Prince Jeffrey said as he walked over. “What is all of this? Stop this now!”

  “I am getting married Your Highness,” Poppy said looking at Prince Jeffrey.

  “You are marrying a commoner!” Jeffrey screamed. “You are so pathetic! Xalen finally came to his senses and now you are dooming yourself. Find yourself a noble mage, if you cannot I am sure I could.”

  “I am marrying my Redford,” Poppy said. “I don’t want anyone else. I am going to have my wedding right here.”

  “You are not going to do anything!” Prince Jeffrey said.

  “I don’t think you can stop her Your Highness,” Jonathan said. “Well right now you can but not in a week when you would be gone.”

  “You don’t tell me what to do Thunder!” Prince Jeffrey snapped. “I am the King!”

  Jonathan was going to correct him but decided not to. Jonathan just raised his hands in surrender as all eyes in the inn was on Prince Jeffrey. More people had piled in and Jonathan looked around at them. Initiate Rebecca and her parents stood out, they were stopped awkwardly on the stairs and Prince Jeffrey paused when he looked at them. Other people were trying to hide a smirk, Jonathan noticed Tobin was one of them and shot the boy and angry stare. Tobin was smart enough to look away but Jonathan knew Jeffrey had saw him. Jeffrey didn’t say anything else and left the room. Jonathan thought Rebecca and her parents practically jumped off the staircase as Prince Jeffrey stomped up it.

  “Well now that is over,” Poppy said. “I want this to happen right now while I have my man.”

  “He is a commoner Poppy!” Frank, her father said.

  “He won’t be in a second,” Poppy said. “And you are here because I want you to be here. I am not marrying whatever old man or friend you have.”

  Jonathan smiled as he thought about the first time he met Poppy. She had told him that her father wanted her to marry some man and she ran away before it could happen. Now she was here yelling at the man, Jonathan was proud. He wondered what Red was thinking, his friend just kept staring at the ring on his finger. The priest looked around and Poppy told him to start. The priest was brief and Poppy couldn’t wait to get it over with. Red hesitated for a bit when it was his turn but finally agreed.
The papers were drawn up immediately and Jonathan had to take a look at them. Redford Harrington. That was the name Poppy had written up and Jonathan laughed as he reread it.

  “What are you on about Johnny?” Red asked as he fiddled with his ring.

  “Nothing at all, Redford,” Jonathan said laughing.

  “I thought Red sounded to plain,” Poppy said.

  “You were just in time,” Jonathan said and gestured with his head as other people started coming down the stairs. “Here comes Xalen, Russell and the rest. You two better get out of here while you can.”

  “That sounds like a good bit of information,” Red said.

  “I got this,” Jonathan said. “Hurry now, I’ll distract them.”

  “Let’s go,” Poppy said. “We can go to your inn.”

  Jonathan walked right up to Russell who had his eyes narrowed at a retreating Red. Jonathan stood in his way and put on the fakest smile that he could manage. Jonathan started talking as Russell tried to get around him.

  “You said that you could get me a position like Gerald has?” Jonathan said looking at Russell.

  “What are you talking about Thunder?” Russell snapped. “Get out of my way.”

  “I guess that is a no then,” Jonathan said as he moved out of the way. “I guess you can tell Kevin Wilson that I decline.”

  “Wait, what?” Russell said.

  “Nothing,” Jonathan said and bowed to Xalen. “You have yourself a good day Lord Russell.”

  “Stop right there,” Russell said. “What are you talking about?”

  “Nothing,” Jonathan admitted. “I was just trying to give Red and Poppy a chance to get out of here without you embarrassing them.”

  “And I have something for you Thunder,” Xalen said smiling. “Your little friend Grace is going to want nothing to do with you. I am going to see to it personally. All you are going to do is run off in shame, I might give that commoner that took Cara off you a medal or something.”

  “You are not being fair to me,” Jonathan said trying his best to act disappointed.

  “And Russell knows about Poppy,” Xalen said.

  “You are a complete liar Thunder,” Russell said as he gave Jonathan all of his attention. “You had her feeding you power.”

  “Nice story,” Jonathan said.

  “Lauryn was just some commoner,” Russell said angrily. “I had my mouth all over hers, over a mundane’s! What if I had of married that girl, that is what you wanted wasn’t it?”

  “It would have been funny,” Jonathan said. “To see your plans laid aside.”

  “You watch yourself Thunder,” Russell said. “You watch yourself real closely now that I know your secret.”

  “You should save your threats,” Jonathan said.

  Jonathan was about to say something else but could see Griffin out of the corner of his eye trying to get his attention. Jonathan looked at the initiate who gestured to Tobin. Tobin had been cornered by two mages, Jonathan knew one of them was Gerald Morningstar. Jonathan walked over as fast as he could, Tobin would do something to get himself killed.

  “You look just like a girl,” Tobin said. “I bet you have seen a few cocks up close, haven’t you?”

  “You want to take this outside commoner?” Gerald said grinding his teeth.

  “For what?” Tobin laughed. “So people can say big Tobin beat up on a girl? Now if your mum is around you can send her over.”

  “Tobin why don’t you find somewhere else to be,” Jonathan said as he stepped in front of Gerald. “Like outside with the rest of the initiates getting ready for the tests.”

  “Of course,” Tobin said. “I’ll leave you and your friend alone. I think I saw Cara somewhere around here.”

  “You taking me with you or what?” Jonathan asked. “I need to get out of here.”

  “You need to keep your idiots in check Thunder,” Gerald said angrily.

  Jonathan noticed Gerald didn’t answer his question as he left. Jonathan watched the little man go stomping over to Xalen and Russell as he went outside. Jonathan saw his four commoners outside and it looked like they were getting along okay. Well they weren’t fighting each other. Charles came outside and started warming up as well, Jonathan had to snap at Tobin twice to leave Charles alone and he finally did when the rest came out. Charles went through his test and Jonathan was not surprised to find out that many people started discrediting his apprentice immediately. Tobin was underwhelming, a lot of the mages forgot about Charles and spent their time tearing him down. When all of the commoners had went, Jonathan quickly brought them back to their inn in the slums of Vashing. Jonathan could tell that they were excited to go and knew that before long some of the parents there would be venturing to see them.

  CHAPTER 14

  The Mage Corps.

  Jonathan was not surprised when he had gotten back to his inn that he had company waiting on him. Gerald Morningstar was there along with Kevin Wilson. Jonathan turned down their offer of some kind of leadership position again and was whisked off to the battle after he signed some papers. Wilson made him sign for two months, Jonathan thought that was too long but he was guaranteed his job when he returned. Jonathan was sent to the battle, Jonathan wasn’t sure if he would be facing the barbarians or the Donalians but his coin would be on the latter. Jonathan had been practicing against fighting against their armor and thought his lightning magic would do well.

  Jonathan looked down at his robes and wanted to laugh but didn’t. He was now called a mage soldier, it was the name given to the lowest ranking mages in Kevin Wilson’s group. They had changed the name finally to the Mage Corps., the lowest were called mage soldiers, above them were the Deputy Commanders who were called Battlemages. The robes the lowest ranking had on looked like military uniforms. It was snug up top and the bottom flared out like a robe would. There was still a hood attached and Jonathan thought they were trying too hard. The Battlemages had uniforms that were different, they were regular mage robes with extra embroidery on par with Jonathan’s Champion robes. The Mage Commander had robes that looked like the Archmage’s but was even busier, Jonathan thought clearly the man was compensating for something.

  Jonathan had been traveling in a separate carriage. It looked more like a converted wagon and Kevin let him know it was how mages of his caliber traveled and he should have been happy he got a carriage at all. Jonathan ignored his barbs, he couldn’t wait to head to wherever he was supposed to go and be done with Kevin. Kevin had two fights going on and had two of his Battlemages looking at the barbarians and another one facing the Donalians. Gerald was supposed to be the other one, the only reason Kevin had let Gerald go was because he thought Gerald could talk others into joining the Mage Corps.

  “We are here,” Jonathan heard his driver say as the carriage stopped. Jonathan climbed out of it and was in the middle of a group of soldiers. Jonathan could see Gerald and Kevin were already outside of their carriage, instantly five soldiers formed up behind them. Gerald looked over at Jonathan and snapped his fingers at him. Jonathan wanted to break those fingers but would play the game. Jonathan would never stay under someone like Gerald and Kevin and would definitely never take any leadership position. Doing that would keep him in the Mage Corps. permanently and he would have to give up the Tower and his dreams of becoming Archmage.

  “Took you long enough Thunder,” Gerald said. “You are in the Mage Corps., when a Battlemage calls you come running.”

  “Yes,” Jonathan replied.

  “Yes what?” Gerald said.

  “Yes Sir,” Jonathan replied.

  “That is better,” Gerald said. “I have to pick you out a personal guard and find out what has been going on since I left. You can go find the rest of my mages.”

  Jonathan nodded and walked away, he was first unsure of how he would find the mages but it soon became clear. There were small tents around him, all he needed to do was look for the big garish ones and he would be set. There were ten of them that Jonat
han could see right away, most were probably for the mundane forces. Jonathan figured that Kevin Wilson would have one and it would be the biggest in the camp. Wilson wouldn’t be staying long, he let it be known that he had to see about the Barbarians. The Battlemages probably had a larger tent as well, from the carriage ride over Jonathan surmised that the mage soldiers were most likely sharing tents. Jonathan started checking the tents and finally thought he found the right one. The tent was surrounded by mundane soldiers who seemed to be working instead of joking around like Jonathan had seen some of the other soldiers doing. Jonathan walked towards it and the soldiers parted as he walked inside. Jonathan was right about his earlier assessment, there were ten men in the tent and they were drinking what Jonathan assumed was ale and eating.

  “Are your Gerald Morningstar’s men?” Jonathan asked.

  “You mean the Battlemage?” one of the men said. “You the new meat?”

  “Looks like it, I just got here,” Jonathan said.

  “Well pull up a stool then,” a dark haired mage said. “Might as well meet us all. I am sure since he is back that we will be thrown into the shit tomorrow.”

  “How has it been?” Jonathan said as he sat down.

  “Those Donalians are nothing to play around with,” a green eyed mage said. “You a commoner?”

  “He means were you born a commoner,” the dark haired mage said.

  “I was and I am,” Jonathan said. “Jonathan Thunder, pleased to meet you.”

  “Jonathan Thunder!” the green eyed mage said as he spat out his ale and fell off his stool. “You are the Jonathan Thunder? As in the Queen’s Champion?”

  “The same one,” Jonathan replied.

  “You should be running this shit,” the dark haired mage said.

  “No thank you,” Jonathan replied.

  “My name is Curt,” the dark haired mage said. “Him with the green eyes is Lancel, the others can introduce themselves later. You walked in on a shit show.”

  “That bad?” Jonathan asked.

  “On we can kill them,” Lancel said. “But it takes too long to take one of them down and they are good with their weapons.”