The Archmage

by Whiskey Flowers

  “Can you cast only three spells at a time?” Segdrick asked.

  “Three?” Jonathan asked confused.

  “That is the maximum number of spells I can toss out at one time,” Segdrick said. “I thought it was something to be proud about but now I am not so sure.”

  “Three spells is something to be proud about,” Jonathan said. “Well make your move.”

  Jonathan put up his shield as two mage bolts slammed into it, his opponent was slower than the other two but more cautious. Segdrick had a shield up and was waiting for whatever Jonathan would throw at him. Jonathan nodded at him to show his appreciation for his technique. Segdrick then launched a fireball, Jonathan knew the fireball was coming around since unlike many spells it could be controlled after it left his hand. Jonathan tossed water at the fireball to douse it, three magebolts then slammed up against his shield breaking it. Jonathan had another shield up quickly before anymore spells came and smiled as three more strong mage bolts slammed up against his shield.

  “Nice try,” Jonathan said. “You have been covering yourself in an attempt to make me open up. Your mage bolts were stronger than I expected and got through my shield but I am quicker to cast than you are. My shield was up before you could take advantage of it being down. Being cautious will not beat me, I invented the game.”

  “Then how about this?” Segdrick said as a huge mage bolt came flying over at Jonathan.

  Jonathan thought this was a deadly mage bolt if it caught him without a shield. The mage bolt slammed up against his shield and he thought it had good power, far stronger than whatever the boy Wallace could toss. As Jonathan’s shield absorbed the big spell it was hit with another. The move was so sudden Jonathan was not expecting it and was caught off guard. Shatter hit his shield and broke it apart, before Jonathan could bring another one up two mage bolts knocked him on his behind. Jonathan had two shields up and tried to clear his head when he was hit from above. Jonathan turtled himself and had three shields covering his body. The students roared in approval as Jonathan could feel mage bolts slam into his shield. Jonathan thought his magic would hold when he was hit with shatter again followed by more mage bolts. Jonathan was dizzy but flew straight up as fast as he could, he couldn’t see where he was going and hit the top of his head on something as he flew upward. Jonathan grabbed his head and started trying to heal himself with the pitiful healing magic he had. Jonathan only had one shield up, he gave his word that he would only use three spells and currently was at his limit. Jonathan’s head started to clear and looked around for his opponent.

  Jonathan would find out later that day that his flying spell caught his opponent by surprise. The top of his head caught his opponent in the lower jaw almost like an uppercut, Segdrick was unconscious before he hit the ground. Jonathan only knew at the present that his opponent was down and was not moving. Healers were seeing to him as Jonathan landed. Jonathan looked around at the training area and could see the students were silent. Jonathan found Mage Tabitha and spoke again.

  “That is three,” Jonathan replied. “Anyone else wants to get sat down?”

  “We haven't even done the initial testing yet Jonathan,” Tabitha said.

  “There are always more that think I am full of it,” Jonathan replied. “I want to give them the chance to come close my mouth. I don’t think any noble here is special and if they have anything to say about it then they can come here and do so or hide like cowards.”

  Jonathan looked around and was not surprised no one else came forward. Jonathan floated up towards the fifth story of the tower where he saw the Archmage, the Tower Mage and his friend Red waiting for him. Jonathan was sure the Mage Commander, his cronies and possibly Prince Xalen were also around somewhere. They would have wanted to see him face Danica but wouldn’t want to be seen if she had lost. Red smirked at him as he flew through the window.

  “You were as lucky as a bum who just found a gold piece,” Red said.

  “Your matches,” the Archmage began. “What can you tell me? Her Majesty knows you normally challenge the new initiates and although she is not found of it, she has never told you anything either directly or indirectly. She wants to know about her potential daughter in law.”

  “She was fast,” Jonathan said. “Faster than I am and she has the power behind it. I do not think she is hype, she can fight and use what she has.”

  “She lost,” Red said.

  “She lost because she let herself be lured into an air fight,” Jonathan said. “I think any mage would find her a tough fight to have.”

  “What weakness did you find?” the Archmage asked.

  “No staying power,” Jonathan said. “I could feel her blows getting weaker even though the fight wasn’t that long. In a mage on mage duel I am not sure many people can beat her. To put it frankly, first I was amazed that she has beaten Gerald, now I am amazed that she has not beaten the Mage Commander.”

  “Who says she hasn’t?” the Archmage said. “She has been in constant training with the Mage Commander and all of his Battlemages for this fight. If you didn’t pick it, she probably would have.”

  “So she beat Wilson?” Jonathan asked.

  “Once,” the Archmage said. “He was trying to instruct her like you were doing with the last initiate. Their follow up fight was close enough that I hear it impressed anyone who saw it.”

  “If we fought again I am sure I could beat her and take less damage,” Jonathan replied. “I was thrown off my usual plan a bit by facing someone faster than I am. If we fought again I would keep my shields up and launch big mage bolts at her until her shield crumbled. The other one, the first boy was more skilled with his speed. He was just smoother in his delivery, but I don’t think he had the power to really make him a threat. I think all of you would find him a tough fight, if he lands first he can be hard to shake off.”

  “What do you think about the last initiate?” the Tower Mage asked.

  “Little Russell?” Jonathan laughed.

  “I thought the same thing when I saw the lad,” the Archmage giggled.

  “Probably the best mage in the class,” Jonathan replied. “Not the best fighter but the best mage. He will be someone important in a few years. This is the toughest couple of fights I have ever had.”

  “You haven't even faced the rest of them yet,” the Archmage said. “Earl Gillespie’s sister Emma is as strong of a mage as you will find. She is just as strong as Danica and Kevin Wilson. Duke Raley’s daughter Ashley is also in this class. She is a quiet little thing but do not let that cloud your judgement. She is as capable as they come and I think she will be one of the top ten mages in the kingdom eventually.”

  “Another class of headaches,” the Tower Mage said. “Except this time you get to be on the other side of it.”

  “Other side?” Jonathan asked.

  “It was the pit dealing with the Big Four,” the Tower Mage said. “Even Quevin knew he had three mages that could cause some serious trouble with the power they had. He didn’t count you among their number, he thought you were a distant sixth behind His Highness and Gerald Morningstar. We stayed scrambling to deal with you lot. Now you have five mages here that could challenge for Archmage in a decade or two.”

  “I believe you,” Jonathan said.

  “You are taking this well Johnny,” Red said. “I thought you would be throwing a whomper over someone telling you your class aint the best.”

  “For what?” Jonathan asked. “So what they are good? That has nothing to do with me. I am going to be Archmage, I don’t care how many obstacles are in my way.”

  “Well I have another obstacle in your way,” the Archmage said. “I want you to handle some business on my behalf.”

  “Bollocks,” Jonathan replied. “You don’t ever ask me to do something that nicely.”

  “Prince Jeffrey wants me to do something in the Gills,” the Archmage said. “Something about mage fighting which I know is a farce. Earl Gillespie or his brother Blaine are t
alented enough to deal with whatever mage is down there. Their little sister just left and she could have taken them easily by herself. The job is to provide protection for the Earl while he stands up a mage fighting force.”

  “There is already mage fighting forces all around the Kingdom,” Red replied. “Who be this lad that has you all riled up.”

  “No one important I am willing to bet,” the Tower Mage said. “There is probably a reason for wanting Jonathan there.”

  “Prince Jeffrey wants Prince Jordan of all people to shadow me,” the Archmage said. “I am an old man, not a stupid one. I know he doesn’t even like his younger son. All of this is under the guise of helping Jordan understand mages and their strengths better since he is expected to be one of Prince Xalen’s advisors when they get older.”

  “How did I get involved in this then?” Jonathan asked.

  “Because he said either me or the Champion should go,” the Archmage said. “He held an official summons from Earl Gillespie asking for help.”

  “Well then that looks like where I will be,” Jonathan replied.

  “Don’t worry about anything,” Red said. “Poppy has me topped off. Right now, I think I have more power than Lord Golad.”

  “Are you certain?” the Archmage asked.

  “Pretty certain,” Red replied. “I would paste almost anyone right now. I still have the same speed and things but if I let loose somebody would get hurt.”

  “Your wife has perhaps the most useful spell in the kingdom,” the Archmage said. “But enough of this, Winchell can see to the test. I have your driver and carriage already out front.”

  CHAPTER 2

  The Gills

  Jonathan looked over his room and made sure he had grabbed everything, he didn’t need much since all of his expenses would be covered by the crown. John just grabbed a few extra robes and some small clothes along with his coin purse. Jonathan left his room and decided to walk through the Tower instead of fly down. The initiates he saw gave him a wide berth, they were all second years and had already had a go around with him. Jonathan ignored them and got to the ground floor, he wanted to head straight for the carriage but couldn’t help himself. The new class were doing their initial exams and Jonathan wanted to take a peek. Jonathan quickly found them, they were already on the pedestal portion. The small girl Danica was there, she had just been in a fight but still had enough to move the iron block a bit. Jonathan nodded his head in silent agreement that this class could be something to watch out for.

  Jonathan got into the carriage and sat down. As the carriage took off, Jonathan wondered again what was so important in the Gills? Earl Gillespie might have not wanted his hands dirty dealing with some rogue mage but his little brother could handle it. Blaine Gillespie was one of the better mage duelists, whoever they were worried about probably was self-taught or some weak commoner. Jonathan thought it just didn’t make any sense, at least he couldn’t say Earl Gillespie was an enemy. Earl Gillespie was an associate of Xalen’s but Jonathan didn’t think they were all that close. The Earl was a few years older than the Prince and Jonathan had only seen them together once. The Earl however was there when some mage tried to fight Jonathan’s father and had indirectly given the mage the go ahead. Earl Gillespie could tell the power level of a mage and had let everyone know Jonathan’s father was weak. That mage was killed by Joshua Thunder, Gillespie didn’t know about lightning magic then. Jonathan would still treat the Earl with a soft touch, he would do a job and then leave.

  Jonathan’s carriage rumbled along and almost immediately there was a problem. The carriage threw a wheel and Jonathan was thrown into the wall of the carriage. It was always something Jonathan thought as he got outside. The wheel was all way off, normally it would be shattered or something but the entire thing came off. The road was nice and smooth, Jonathan thought whoever put his carriage together was an amateur to have the entire thing fall apart in conditions like the one he was in. The wagon driver looked like he could care less, Jonathan thought more than likely the man had probably been paid off.

  “Bring my things when this is fixed,” Jonathan said. “I will meet you there.”

  “Well can’t you take your bags with you?” the driver said and rolled his eyes. Jonathan had rarely ridden in the carriage the Queen gave him as her Champion, normally he was with the Archmage or the Tower Mage and traveled with them. The driver Jonathan had only had to stay ready if Jonathan needed him and spent most of his time collecting pay for no work.

  “You are fired,” Jonathan said. “I will see to my own carriage.”

  “What do you mean fired?” his driver asked.

  “Just like I said, dismissed,” Jonathan replied. “If you want to make something more of it, I am right here.”

  “You mages think you are all that,” the driver said. “You ain’t nobody special, you ain’t no noble.”

  “You are right on both accounts,” Jonathan said. “If I were someone important you would be falling all over yourself to help me out. You look irritated and I cannot even say this wheel was an accident. You can leave now.”

  “You can’t fire me,” the driver said. “One of the Queen’s people hired me.”

  “And I am firing you,” Jonathan said. “Now get away from my carriage or I will put you away from it. Go ahead and try me, there won’t be enough of you left to fire afterwards.”

  “If I am leaving I am taking a horse with me,” the driver said as he went for a horse.

  “Touch any of them and I will put you down,” Jonathan snapped.

  “You expect me to walk?” the driver said unbelieving.

  “I don’t care what you do,” John said. “I just know you are doing it away from this carriage. You had a nice job and let a sour attitude end it for you. Now go.”

  Jonathan grabbed the wheel, it was heavy as the pit itself but it looked to be in good condition. The steel cap holding it on had fell off somehow or was missing. Jonathan could see the driver was still looking at him but the joke was on him. Jonathan had grew up around horses and wagons and knew exactly what he was doing. The air magic to get the carriage up was tough, it required both power and a delicate touch. It took Jonathan three tries to fix the carriage wheel in place, he was still missing the steel cap so he would have to watch the wheel to make sure it didn’t fall off. John saw no way around it, he would have to stop and get the wheel fixed at the next town he came across.

  “Wait mage,” the driver said and took off his hat. “I was paid to sabotage your carriage and give you a hard time.”

  “By who?” Jonathan asked.

  “I can’t answer that,” the driver said. “I cannot risk it getting back to him. I was told to just have a little fun with you. It is supposed to rain later on and you should arrive at your destination both wet and miserable.”

  “Was it a mage?” Jonathan asked.

  “I don’t know if that would give too much of it away,” the driver said as he folded his hat in his hands.

  “You listen to me good,” Jonathan said. “This doesn’t happen again. If it does I will turn you out faster than you can blink. Why was I supposed to arrive uncomfortable?”

  “A gold piece shuts my mouth to the point I don’t ask any questions,” the driver said.

  “You are going to have to tell me,” Jonathan said. “I got no reason to keep you on, the only reason I am is because I like seeing good people get ahead. Anyone who will not tell me who my enemy is has to be looked at as an enemy himself.”

  “Twas the Prince,” the driver said. “Him and the Mage Commander. How could I turn them down? I am supposed to give you a hard time whenever you travel, I make an extra silver a month to do so. Since you never call on me I thought it was good money for doing nothing. When they gave me the gold, how could I say no?”

  “You have the cap for the wheel?” Jonathan asked.

  “I got it in my pack,” the driver said.

  “Well let’s fix this carriage,” Jonathan said. “Next
town we come to we can sabotage it again and I can set out. I wouldn’t want to disappoint His Royal Highness. The bags are still yours though, I have a small travel pack I can stuff a robe and a fresh pair of small clothes in.”

  “Thank you, Sir,” the driver said.

  “What is your name?” John asked.

  “Wilbur, Sir,” the driver said.

  “You can call me Jon,” Jonathan said. “Now let's get going, I didn’t notice those clouds coming in until you said something. I am going to get wet; you might as well be somewhere out of the weather when it rolls in.”

  Jonathan fixed the wheel in its entirety and started going again. The pettiness of nobles never amazed him. Their big plan to get back at him was to make him wet? It was childish. Jonathan thought getting back at the Prince wouldn’t ever happen. He would be King and Jonathan had no intention on antagonizing the man. Jonathan figured the less he saw of the Prince and his father the better. Jonathan didn’t care how Kevin Wilson made out, Jonathan wanted to kill the man and their business would never be handled. The carriage pulled into the next town and Jonathan made sure it broke down near a wagon maker. They would know how to fix the wheel, Wilbur could get himself out of the rain and meet Jonathan tomorrow. Jonathan took towards the sky, he was a good flyer and would reach the Gills a bit sooner than he would have if he stayed in the carriage.

  Jonathan poured on the speed but then decided to slow all the way down. If there was some trap or mage waiting for him he wanted to be in good fighting shape before they met. Jonathan ended up travelling to the next town and commandeered a horse from one of the messengers in town. Jonathan figured he could travel that way by exchanging horses and should arrive in plenty of time. Stupid mages forgot that he was a horse man, most noble mages never bothered with them unlike their mundane counterparts. Jonathan traveled that way for hours, the rain started coming down just as Jonathan could see what had to be the estate of Earl Gillespie. Jonathan figured the Earl would look at him and tell him to come back tomorrow or something. Jonathan was not expecting to stay with the man but knew if he did not show up to ask, the Earl would probably act deeply offended like Jonathan relieved himself in the man’s drink. Jonathan let the water drench him a bit and then went up to the door.