The Archmage
Page 23
Jonathan flew erratically and gave Ronica and her golem something to target. Jonathan was hit a few times but could feel Ronica was running out of steam. Jonathan started shooting mage bolts at her golem, Jonathan was surprised when the thing seems to get a boost of energy. Jonathan quickly surmised that she must have some spell or something running on her construct that he didn’t know about. Jonathan wished again he paid more attention to certain things during his time in Tower but thought now was not the time. Jonathan focused on the golem and knew Ronica probably wouldn’t be prepared for his next move. Jonathan could use earth magic, it was rare and not really useable in everyday activities. Jonathan had used it during his first battle with the Raelians and soon pulled the golem apart.
“How did you do that?” Ronica said disappointed as she sat panting on the ground.
“You first,” Jonathan said. “How did you do that? I have seen a golem before but it didn’t move or behave that way.”
“Do you like it?” Ronica asked expectantly.
“Like it?” Jonathan said. “I love it! That thing looked like it could take my lightning magic easily. How did you make it so fast?”
“It takes me a while to get my magic up,” Ronica said. “I have a lot of it but it just takes too long for me to harness it. All except for earth magic and healing magic. Everyone says healers have a hard time fighting.”
“You have earth magic?” Jonathan asked surprised. “I beat the Blood Priests with my earth magic.”
“I know,” Ronica said. “I wanted my earth magic to be a surprise.” Jonathan could see Ronica’s face fell as she sat looking at the pile of gravel that used to be her golem.
“You are going to have to teach me the technique,” Jonathan said. “I have seen golems made but it requires a lot of air magic, physical strength and some other things to get it up and running. Even then the thing couldn’t do what I saw yours do.”
“I put some healing magic into it,” Ronica said.
“Oh,” Jonathan said and let his face fall.
“What’s wrong?” Ronica asked.
“I am horrible at healing,” Jonathan said. “In my class, I was not one of the top four, if I was I think I could have been second overall.”
“You can’t heal?” Ronica said.
“Not really,” Jonathan replied. “I mean I can pour my power into it but I am average at best. It takes a lot of concentration for me to do it as well.”
“My golem has gotten a few people, but it depends on where I am,” Ronica said.
“I hit it with a mage bolt and it seemed like it got faster for a bit,” Jonathan said.
“It did,” Ronica said happier. “Some spells give it more energy and some other either destroy it or does nothing.”
“Well I know earth magic hurts it,” Jonathan said. “I don’t know too many people who could have used that though. I am guessing healing magic in some way is the other one?”
“Yep,” Ronica said.
“So a few things that I saw,” Jonathan said. “First I want to tell you that I was lucky, I never saw or felt the golem. I ducked and felt your mage bolt impact on something. I didn’t know what it was, my training just told me to get out of there.”
“I surprise a lot of people at first,” Ronica said. “I have beaten a lot of people older than me because they do not take me seriously.”
“Well you surprised me,” Jonathan said. “I already guessed something was up because you were breathing too heavily for just a few mage bolts. I think your problem would be in the few moments before your golem is up and going. A lot of things could happen in those moments. I just fought someone that was much faster than I was, first time that ever happened.”
“I couldn’t hide behind my shield?” Ronica said.
“Can you cast a shield and get your golem going?” Jonathan asked.
“Yep,” Ronica said.
“Hmm,” Jonathan said. “It could work, the mage I fought wasn’t very strong, just very, very fast. Once that golem is on the field though that could be a game changer. Then again he could just fly straight up, it is still legal in a duel.”
“I thought you would try icicle or something,” Ronica said.
“What would that do?” Jonathan asked.
“My golem could suck that up and shoot that back out at you,” Ronica said. “She can use a lot of the things against the person I am going against if it is physical.”
“Well I think she is one of the best spells I have ever seen,” Jonathan said. “How long can you keep her going?”
“Fifteen minutes,” Ronica said. “If she gets hit with spells then she lasts a bit longer.”
“Well do you have enough to make her again?” Jonathan asked. “I want to meet her, not fight her. I should have enough to keep her going for a bit.”
Jonathan was assuming he would have to use mage bolts. One the golem was remade he hit it with lightning magic. The golem soaked up that magic and moved a lot faster. Jonathan hit it a few more times and the golem seemed to vibrate. Jonathan was about to say something to Ronica but noticed the girl seemed like she was barely keeping it together. She was sweating profusely and Jonathan used his earth magic to dissipate the golem. As soon as it happened Ronica breathed a heavy breath and then fell to the ground.
“Are you okay?” Jonathan asked.
“It was too much for me to control,” Ronica said as she breathed heavily. “I never had so much so quickly.”
“Well then she could be overwhelmed with many mage bolts and it would be tough for you,” Jonathan said. “But I am not sure how that would happen, she wouldn’t just stay still the way she did with me.”
“Do you think I could have fought the Blood Priests?” Ronica asked.
“You would be a tough fight,” Jonathan said. “How far can she go away from you?”
“As far as she wants,” Ronica said. “But she couldn’t do much since I can’t see out of her eyes and I do all of her movement.”
“So if you had a partner that could fly you up high, or if you could fly up high,” Jonathan said and let his statement hang.
“She could fight without me getting hurt!” Ronica said excitedly.
“Well if there is a fight going on when you get through the Tower then we will find out,” Jonathan said.
“You would let me fight with you?” Ronica said amazed.
“Of course I would,” Jonathan said.
“Oh great,” Ronica said and rolled her eyes. “Here comes Becca.”
Jonathan looked over to see Rebecca Gillespie, formerly Rebecca Goodhaire standing on a balcony overlooking the back of the estate. Rebecca was talking to someone behind her for a moment and then took to the air. Jonathan hadn’t really gotten on with Rebecca during her time in the Tower, she was convinced since she came from two long lines of mages that she was something special and therefore better than everyone else. She had lost to Jonathan’s then favorite student Charles, afterwards she had been beaten by Jonathan himself a few times. Unlike some of the other students who were looking to improve themselves, Jonathan didn’t bother carrying her during the fight. Others he would give tips to and let them get off whatever spells they wanted. Rebecca was always dealt with quickly since Jonathan had no reason to spend more time with the girl than necessary. As she landed, she took Jonathan’s breath away. Whatever he was thinking left his mind as he could see Rebecca was heavy with child.
“Lady Rebecca,” Jonathan said dumbfounded.
“Mage Jonathan,” Rebecca said in a cool tone.
“Whoa, Mage Jonathan is in the Tower,” Jonathan said. “Jonathan the Lightning also lives there. Blaine’s wife can call me Jon.”
“Jon?” Rebecca asked.
“Jon,” Jonathan replied. “I have been out here fighting with your sister. I think she is going to be on everyone’s lips in a few years. I think she is definitely one of the better mages I have come across.”
“You do?” Ronica asked with a huge grin on her face.<
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“I am rarely wrong when it comes to magic,” Jonathan replied.
“You are different,” Rebecca said.
“Of course I am,” Jonathan said happily. “At the Tower I have to deal with a bunch of kids who think they are the best thing ever to walk across the Kingdom and that I am just some propped up commoner. It gets real tiring real quick, none of the other instructors have to deal with half of what I do.”
“Commoners shouldn’t be instructors,” Rebecca said.
“Tell me something,” Jonathan said. “Are you a better fighter or a worse fighter since you met me?”
“What does that matter?” Rebecca said.
“Matters a lot,” Jonathan said.
“Better,” Rebecca admitted, Jonathan could sense the irritation in her voice.
“I know,” Jonathan replied. “And I am also the fighter in the Tower, who better to teach you? Your husband found out quickly that the Dragonknights did not care about nobility at all. Can you imagine, thinking how you did and suddenly a dragon is on you? They went after noble mages, I think til this day that they targeted them. The Blood Priests didn’t care about noble blood either.”
“Don’t bring that up around Blaine,” Rebecca said.
“I know the memory still haunts him,” Jonathan said. “It haunts me as well. I just deal with it by constantly training to be a better fighter. If there is a fight somewhere, I want a piece of it, and I am bringing the pit with me.”
“You were a good instructor,” Rebecca admitted. “You were just someone easy to hate.”
“Of course I am,” Jonathan said. “I think any self-entitled brat would. You have people from long lines of magic like yourself who think they are better than everyone. You were most likely one of the strongest people you knew in magic because of your background. Add to it that you were a pretty girl who no doubt had thousands of people smiling in your face and it was tough meeting some commoner who didn’t give a pit about any of that and had the bravado to back it all up. The boys in the class from long lines of mage blood think the same. They were from rich families and wanted to show off their magic for some girl. They were some of the toughest people they knew and was used to people getting out of their way. They met me and I beat the pit out of them and laughed while I was doing it. Then you have those with only one mage parent, those nobles wanted so hard to be like the rest of you. They wanted to look down on someone so they chose me. Normally those types get off challenging weaker commoner mages but Tobin nixed that almost immediately. They tried me to seem cool but of course they got dealt with quickly. Then you have those with no mage parents, just noble blood. They only wanted to fit into mage culture and acted like the rest of you.”
“Did you call me a brat?” Rebecca said.
“Oh you were,” Jonathan said laughing. “Just think back on your first day. Think about how strong you were and how tough you were. You believed with all of your heart and soul that I was a lucky thug and that you were going to beat some sense into me. You, a girl who barely learned how to do her own hair without any help thought she could throttle the Queen’s Champion even after you knew I was in two intense battles and killed a dragon.”
“It does seem ridiculous,” Rebecca admitted.
“It was lunacy,” Jonathan said. “Although this group going through the Tower now is going to be a handful.”
“Ashley Raley,” Rebecca said and let out a breath.
“Who is she?” Jonathan asked.
“Emma’s rival,” Rebecca said. “Emma is Blaine’s little sister and the strongest mage in their family.”
“I heard about her,” Jonathan said. “Is she stronger than you?”
“Emma reminds me of Mage Monica,” Rebecca said.
“That tough huh?” Jonathan said. “I know the three I fought were tough. Danica something, the girl His Royal Highness is with was both fast, strong and could cast multiple spells. Little Russell was also a handful.”
“Little Russell?” Rebecca asked.
“You weren’t supposed to hear that,” Jonathan said and laughed. “I honestly forgot his name or never knew it. Big light haired kid, strong magic and he knows what to do with it. That entire class is going to be rough and now you are telling me some Ashley girl should also be looked out for? I think they will leave me alone, I put them down pretty hard so that should hurt their egos a bit. I think it is good for them.”
“You mean it is good for your ego,” Rebecca said.
“It is good for my ego,” Jonathan admitted. “But like I said before, would you rather find out you are not as tough as you think you are fighting with me or a dragon?”
“I just wished we would have gotten into a big battle like the classes before us did,” Rebecca said. “The Tower Mage wouldn’t let us out at all.”
“Well the Donalians were ready and willing to mix it up with a mage,” Jonathan said. “Many mages died going up against them but I think it was poor leadership mixed with anger.”
“Anger?” Rebecca asked.
“Well the Donalians would suicide charge,” Jonathan explained. “A lot of them would be laid low but they had enough armor and technique that they could wound a mage. When things got bleak the mage would attempt to fly away for another day. The mundanes they were fighting alongside of were scared out of their minds. Some were angry the mages were leaving the fight so they would grab on to the mage to either keep them from fleeing or make the mage fly them to safety as well. One or two mundanes isn’t bad but they would have others grabbing on the soldiers who were already grabbing own and suddenly a decision had to be made. The mage would have to start blasting their own countrymen if they could. Every second counts in a war, the Donalians took full advantage and would kill everyone. Some of the mundanes were just happy they didn’t die alone. No way Winchell Rebelle would toss his students into something like that.”
“That sounds horrible!” Rebecca said.
“It was,” Jonathan admitted. “It got to the point that the mages would start flying away long before they became engaged, it gave them the time to get away.”
“Did anyone ever try to hold you down Jon?” Ronica asked.
“Everyone stayed the pit away from me once my lightning magic started ripping into people,” Jonathan said. “I was only in two fights, but no one wanted to be anywhere near me. I figure they realized that if I started running, then I wasn’t the lad they wanted to hold down and tangle with.”
“Did you run?” Ronica asked.
“No,” Jonathan replied. “My path only goes forward. Running from a tough fight is not something I can do. With that said, I am not looking forward to facing anymore dragons. They are bigger, faster and nastier than any mage I have come across. The only time I have been more scared or worried is when my parents were sent practically alone to fight off the undead. I am happy I have not felt that way since then.”
“Blaine told me your story,” Rebecca said. “Many people refuse to use reason but I can see why you hate the Mage Commander.”
“The man still hasn’t admitted he was in the wrong,” Jonathan said. “The only thing he focuses on is that I had more mages under me when I was fighting them than he did at the beginning. He always changed the subject when he was asked why he couldn’t handle it with two other mages since he sent only three commoners to fight them off at the start of the war. That is why one day it will be just me and him. But no need to bring that up now. Your sister is really promising.”
“Ronica needs to learn her place,” Rebecca said. “She is a noble girl, not some dirty commoner.”
“Dirty commoner?” Jonathan said and raised an eyebrow.
“Present company excluded,” Rebecca said rolling her eyes. “She needs to carry herself as a lady. Our family is esteemed for a reason, Ronica acts like she is a child.”
“I am not a little girl,” Ronica snapped.
“Well she is a really good mage,” Jonathan said. “Have you fought against her golem?”
> “I can beat my little sister,” Rebecca said and rolled her eyes.
“I beat you once!” Ronica retorted.
“You got lucky and surprised me,” Rebecca said.
“Well as long as I am around, I am going to tighten up her attacks a bit,” Jonathan said. “I don’t know how good that golem would be in a mage duel but against the Donalians it would have been a juggernaut on the field.”
“Maybe,” Rebecca said. “But all she cares about is fighting. She should be out meeting other girls her age and learning her place in the Kingdom, not fighting with her magic.”
“I don’t want to be like you!” Ronica said loudly. “You think you were lucky that you got to marry Blaine. I think someone like Blaine should be lucky that he got to marry me!”
“How could you not love this girl?” Jonathan said with a smile. “I look forward to seeing you go through the Tower, in fact I think I will tell the Tower Mage and the Archmage about you whenever my job here is done.”
“Gertie,” Rebecca said and gave Jonathan an odd smile.
“What was that for?” Jonathan asked.
“Nothing,” Rebecca said then let out a small laugh. “Now can you stop patronizing my sister? His Lordship is most likely going to want to have breakfast with you and I am sure Ronica took you right out of bed to come outside.”
CHAPTER 3
THE JOB
“Jonathan the Lightning,” Davney Gillespie, Earl of the Gills began. “You have to be wondering why I wanted the Archmage to help me out with something.”
“I am curious Your Lordship,” Jonathan said as he sat at the breakfast table. “Even more so since you did not turn me away when I showed up in his stead.”