“You are dead,” Krait said as he hopped off Devin and went down to his knees.
“It was a decent body kick,” Senior Ashley said. “But you would have died. In a close quarters battle you would have been done for.”
“I would have,” Devin admitted. “But I do not fight with a sword really Senior.”
“You cannot carry a bow into a Wizard battle,” Senior Ashley said.
“I have hatchets, and throwing knives,” Devin replied. “I think I am better than most full Wizards Senior.”
“You are passable in the sword,” Senior Ashley said. “I have seen enough, I have a need to put more Acolytes in the field and with a master you will not get yourself killed.”
“He just got here Senior!” Krait said.
“And he can already do magic,” Senior Ashley said. “I have seen enough of you both to pass you through. Fox you need a new name.”
“Wasp,” Devin said.
“Wasp it is,” Tasha said. “How many Acolytes am I getting?”
“All of the males for now,” Senior Ashley said. “This may change according to Charlotte's wishes. As for our other Acolytes, if they are at least passable at fighting I am going to push them to focus on nothing but magic. It is a horrible and dirty way to teach but even the best fighter has no defense against it.”
“Then I will start training all of my Acolytes immediately,” Tasha said. “How long do I have?”
“Up their dose of powdered magestone,” Senior Ashley said. “The highest recommended dose and get them through. It should take no longer than a week for the basics to be taught followed by another few days of practice. They only need killing spells, I am sure the people we go up against will be taught the same.”
“You would have died little Fox,” Krait said.
“In a real fight I would have killed you long before you got to me,” Devin said. “I wouldn't have let you get close to me.”
“Because you are a coward little Fox,” Krait said.
“And you are an idiot who was getting beaten so bad the Senior had to pull me off of you,” Devin said.
“We will see how you do in magic,” Krait said. “I don't care if you call yourself Wasp or whatever. You are not one of us.”
Devin let Krait speak his garbage and just smiled at the boy. When Tasha took both of them to practice their magic while the other two sparred, Devin was happy. Devin watched Krait hold his magestone. His rival took a deep breath and blanked his mind as he held the stone in front of him. Krait chanted and Devin could see he messed up the spell. Krait grunted and tried again as fire left the stone and impacted the wall on the other side of the room.
“You need more powdered magestone,” Tasha said. “I think two large doses should be enough. We normally only do it in increments so you can learn all of the spells slowly. I am going to have to make all of you learn quickly. Wasp go ahead and cast the same flame spell. We are all Wizards here and your secret is already out. Now cast.”
Devin stuck out his hand and flame erupted from it. Devin thought it felt natural as the fire left his body and impacted on the wall. Devin smirked at a shocked Krait. Devin knew the boy didn't expect him to be so talented with his magic in a fight it was now clear to Krait who would win. Devin stuck out his other arm and a combination fire and wind spell erupted. It normally took two magestones and two mages to cast fire serpent. It was a rope of fire that the wind user could direct at a target like a striking snake. Devin had his spell impact the same spot and let it die out.
“Sure you can take me,” Devin said. “You wouldn’t even get close and that is without my bow and every other thing I have I can throw at you.”
“Enough of this,” Ashley said. “The enemy is not in this building. Devin that spell was something I have never seen one Wizard perform. You have been really holding out on me. While I train the others up, I am going to have you at my home. I have nothing more to teach you and perhaps you and my husband can come up with a better fighting style.”
“The Knight?” Krait said. “We all heard that you married a Knight and you make him stay home to clean your dishes and wash your clothes.”
“I suppose he does that,” Tasha said. “But he is my husband and does those things because his job is in the home and mine is out here. He was Wasp’s Knight back when Wasp was a Squire.”
“So that is who is teaching him how to cheat,” Krait said.
“Wasp is talented, that doesn't make you less so,” Tasha said. “And you should try marriage or a relationship at least once. It is nice to come home to another person.”
“Why would I need that?” Krait said disgustedly. “It is embarrassing how some men act over a woman. They are ready to kill themselves and others over some physical pleasures. It is lunacy.”
“Not all relationships are that way,” Tasha said.
“If you were with another man, would your Knight try and kill him?” Krait asked.
“Well yes, but we are married,” Tasha said.
“What if you were just together and not married?” Krait asked. “Your Knight would try and hurt the other man. I have heard the women here carry on multiple relationships and get all manner of men jealous. The female acolytes here all try to sneak and converse with little fox. They think his stiffness is charming even if he tried to hide it and stopped coming to bathe. The only reason they haven't tried more is because my room and the rooms of your other acolytes are close by and we are always around. I am not going to have that in my life. I hear the female Acolytes tell me all of the time that once they leave here they are going to find all sorts of men and leave me, Adder and Gila alone for good. You should hear the way they taunt us like they are something special or that I am supposed to suddenly get angry.”
“Girls are still girls,” Tasha said. “Your anger is misplaced though. They are young girls and have grown up hearing about how men were supposed to in a hurry to sweep them off their feet or do nice things for their attention. You or your brother Acolytes have not tried to do either. You are just someone to vent their anger at by comparing you to whatever else is out there. They are going to go out into the world and find out that most men are intimidated by them. At least the men they may want. Others are looking for a good time and they will be plentiful. They can still feel the pleasures of the flesh but it gets old quickly and soon they will want a husband. Do not think women have it better than you do. While we may still be able to enjoy pleasures of the flesh, very few men want a woman that cannot give them an heir. You on the other hand will find no shortage of women who want a relationship with you. Some already have children and were abandoned, some are just seeking a better life. You can train your body so that in the right circumstances with the right person you can meet their needs. But enough of that, I am sure the older male Wizards will tell you all about it.”
“Do you seriously think that within two weeks that we will be able to cast magic?” Adder said. “Like Krait and Wasp?”
“You and Gila both will,” Tasha said. “Then we are going to join the war. We are after Black Wizards.”
“What can you tell me about them?” Adder asked. “All we know is that they can cast magic.”
“They likely will not have your other abilities,” Tasha said. “You are taught how to fight and how to sneak. That is not to say that they are not dangerous. We think the Black Wizards are mostly soldiers who were chosen. They may already be good with the sword and other weapons and just added magic to their repertoire. They are not as elite as Knights would be if they had magic so you will still likely have an advantage but with magestone they may be faster and stronger than you may think. Do not underestimate them. We are going to operate under the assumption that their strongest members are as good or better than our weaker members.”
“They can fight us at range with unblockable attacks,” Adder said.
“We can always use magic against magic and for now we think they only have access to fire magic but that may be false,” Tasha
said.
"The ones I fought used wind and earth magic as well," Devin said.
"Those were actual Wizards," Tasha said. "Since you left, other wizards serving the Savians have been killed," Tasha began. They were not as skilled in combat and in one case a normal man who was pressed into service did the deed with a pike when the Wizard ran out of magic. “We think our renegade wizards are still in the battle and the Black Wizards have been receiving great instruction from our rogue members. There is credible evidence that those who washed out of Wizard training may be over there instructing. I just wish I knew what they could have offered our rogue members to join. Food and women is not something our men go for and they are already paid well. Maybe our women could be enticed by flesh but it still makes no sense. There is never a shortage of men willing to have fun. These next couple of weeks your intensity level is going to go up and I may bring my husband in to provide you a challenge you may not have had before.”
“The Knight?” Krait asked.
“He is slower than some but is heavily armored,” Tasha said. “It will give you an idea of how to face an elite opponent. For now I want you all to keep training, all except for you Wasp. Your breastplate has been helpful in giving you the confidence to fight. You have weaknesses that the rest do not have and it covered it for you a bit. I think my husband can help you out even further with what he already knows, the breastplate didn't seem to hinder you at all during your match.”
“I want to fight the Knight now,” Krait said.
“Not now,” Tasha said. “I still need permission.”
CHAPTER 12
“So this is the Grey Fortress,” Gerald said as he looked around. Gerald had some armor and things made as soon as he and Tasha had gotten married and this would be the first time he could use it. Gerald also had Devin some armor made that wouldn't hamper him too much and exploit his fighting style. It was not full body armor like Gerald had but it covered his weak spots and gave him added attacks. Some of his armored pieces were studded with small spikes and were good at causing injury if someone struck them or Devin attacked with them. There were even places that he could attach his throwing axes and throwing knives. Devin carried a small sword because he was expected to but his greatest prize was the bow that was made to be slung over his back.
“This is it,” Devin said.
“What do you think they are going to say about the shield you just had to have?” Gerald asked.
“If they can beat me with it then they can talk,” Devin said.
“You were too tough a fight for me,” Gerald said. “Only when I got in full armor could I hold you off.”
“All of that makes it tough to use my axes, my knives or my sword,” Devin said. “I am not sure about my bow either.”
“That magic of yours is the game changer,” Gerald said. “Tough to get around. So what am I walking in to?”
“A bunch of Acolytes and some Wizards want to see the fight,” Devin said. “I think they will clown because they will get hits on you but will not realize that their blows will not do much.”
“I am amazed they are even letting me into this place,” Gerald said.
“They have no choice,” Devin said. “The enemy already knows our tactics. They need someone else to learn the basics of this style of fighting and see what they can do against it.”
“How do you think I will do,” Gerald asked.
“I think you will surprise the lot of them,” Devin said. “Especially when they get close enough for you to grab. They are slipperier than I am but I am stronger than they are even with the magestone.”
“Well here is our welcoming committee,” Gerald said.
“This is my husband Gerald,” Tasha said to the Wizards and Acolytes around her. “As some of you know, he used to be a Knight and is wearing the standard uniform for a Knight, complete with helm. There is a chance that you may face armored Black Wizards, we really don't know what they will look like. They may even look like any old soldier in an attempt to blend in.”
“I want to fight the Knight first,” Krait said. “I don't think he is all that.”
“Come at me then boy,” Gerald said as he held a wooden club.
“Well then I guess let’s get started,” Tasha said.
“Rule number one of the Knight’s Code,” Gerald began. “Never expect a fair fight.”
Devin looked on in anticipation of what was going to happen. Hidden on Gerald were two small bladders filled with pepper juice and had a small spout. If the bladders were crushed in the hand they would spray out in whatever direction the spout was facing. Gerald went after Krait who had both of his swords out and swinging. Gerald charged through these and kept on Krait and the smaller boy was able to get at least six good hits on Gerald. Krait was still in full retreat, he was trying to get to Gerald’s shield side but Gerald would bash and spin with the shield, it made things difficult for Krait to get set. The kicks Krait gave might as well had been pokes with a feather the way Gerald charged right through them. Gerald didn't try to attack with his club, he was content to just charge after Krait. The moment of the fight came when Krait briefly gave his back, instead of charging in, Gerald threw the heavy club and Krait barely blocked it with his arm. The heavy club was solid and Devin knew the blow on the forearm hurt, at least it would have hurt him. Krait smiled when he saw the club gone and charged right into the pepper juice followed by a big boot to the chest. Krait was flat on his back struggling to breathe when Gerald stood over him with his big shield pressed to Krait’s neck. Krait tried to kick him in the stones and was met by armor.
“If I press down this fight would be over,” Gerald said as he backed away.
“What did you see?” Tasha asked.
“You need a weapon to get through this armor,” Gerald said. “It is solid plate and I think only your magic could make things uncomfortable. I was hit a lot but I am at least twice as big as this boy. If we were both unarmored then he would have won this fight. He was too fast for me and his strikes had decent strength. My armor is especially made with Wizards in mind. If the Knights could last against you, then common criminals have no chance.”
“I want to give it a go,” Adder said.
Gerald reset and charged when the signal was given. Adder spent most of his time staying away from Gerald and his only attacks were attempted trips. Gerald was too heavy and in some places on his leg armor there were spikes, it made Adder caution trying to strike one. Adder waited for Gerald to stop chasing him which is what the bigger man did. Gerald threw a bladder at Adder who foolishly brought his sword up to swat it away. Instead he cut the bladder in half and now was drenched in the pepper juice. A second later the club followed, striking true in the chest and then Gerald was up on him. Gerald bent his knee and the way his armor was made had a sizable spike that ran up his thigh when the leg was straight. Now it was poking straight out and he would have skewered Adder.
“This is pitiful,” Senior Ashley snapped. “We have taken Knights apart before.”
“Aye,” Gerald said. “But not in full armor in a one on one fight without using magic.”
“What do you recommend?” Tasha said.
“Bola,” Devin said as he held up a length of rope with two steel balls attached.
“You need a tripping hazard,” Gerald said. “Also my sight is limited in this helm, the pepper juice would work as well. I came up with the idea watching my former Squire fight. These are just boys so a full Wizard will be tough to take on but you get my point. My Squire and I killed two Black Wizards or traitors or whatever you call them. They couldn't get me down fast enough and were picked apart by arrows. You are also susceptible to this.”
“Do not kill my husband Gila,” Tasha said. “I want you to use magic to keep him off you.”
Gila pulled out his magestone and started chanting. Gerald threw his shield hard and it went right through the fire Gila had and hit the hand holding the magestone along with the Wizard behind it. Gerald was alread
y moving behind his shield, When Gila recovered he was hit solidly in the stomach and Gerald thought the smaller boy took the blow well. Gila went to power out of the grip Gerald had him in but soon realized he had no way to hurt the large armored man or get out of the bear hug he was in.
“That is enough Gerald,” Tasha said. “You are more formidable than I thought.”
“It is because you are fighting me at my strongest and I know how to fight a Wizard,” Gerald said. “Your strengths are not running to fight a large armored man on a field of battle. At night the Wizards were at their best, they were almost invincible. At night is when you will find people who may be out of their armor, Knights are taught to sleep in their armor and to become uncomfortable. It is doubtful the Black Wizards you fight will be able to wear this and keep this up. I have surmised that magestone gives you extra speed and power but at the cost of diminishing the power in your magestone. I am unsure how tough it would be to move around in this much armor but I think it is worth it to test it out. You could find out the average size and power contained in magestone and then have one of your Wizards move around in this much plate. It would at least give you a target time on how effective men like this would be if you met them under less than ideal conditions.”
“How many Savians did you fight that was armored like this?” Tasha asked.
“None,” Gerald said. “I was able to walk through almost every attack. My trouble was when they were content to grab and hang off of me. It opened me up to helm attacks.”
“Thank you Gerald,” Tasha said. “I know some others want to test themselves against you but that can wait for a later date. Wasp, I assume that you have found what you believe to be your best equipment?”
“Yes,” Devin said. “I have armor piercer arrows that won’t do much against good plate but can punch through weaker armor. When I was last on the battlefield the things I have could take out the men I was fighting.”
“If you need anything else, come find me,” Gerald said as he looked at Tasha. “And I told you to never count out good plate.”
The Wizard Page 13
