THE FAE MAGE
CHAPTER 1
“Your son is a complete waste” Martha said as threw some papers down on David’s desk in disgust. “All he had to do was nod and keep his mouth shut and he would be on his way to the other side of the Kingdom to Lemory.”
“Why would he want to go to Lemory?” David asked as he could see his wife was so annoyed random veins were bulging from her face.
“So he could” Martha said then stopped. “So he could go and do something with himself.”
“Then why don’t you send Tavin?” David asked thinking about Martha’s son.
“Don’t be ridiculous” Martha snapped. “My Tavin is a full mage, the level he can reach is far beyond that of your son.”
David sighed and looked over the papers Martha had slammed on his desk. Martha had been his wife for sixteen years, he married her right after he had gotten back from the Inhospitable Forest where he fought with the Salsian army to kill off the elves, nymphs, fae and goblins that had been killing citizens in the kingdom. During his time in the forest he had done what almost every other mage and fighting man had done after battle, they killed the males and raped the females. David was young and stupid and would have regretted laying with the Fae he had captured if it wasn’t for Glen. Glen was the son that came from that union, David had eventually released the Fae after he had his fun over a few days and thought that was the end of it until she somehow tracked him down and showed up at his home seven years later with a boy that was definitely his. Glen had his strong jaw, wide build and high cheekbones, as Glen grew up David could still tell Glen was his boy but thought Glen had far better looks, those he got from his mother.
The Fae were humanlike creatures, from a distance it would be hard to tell them apart from humans, from up close it was easier as they had all purple insectlike eyes and had long translucent wings. Up close they were beautiful, not a blemish anywhere on their skin and their features were too perfect. The Fae were evil creatures, they would seduce human men and women and force them to lay with them. The humans would have sex with them and forget about everything else, eating, drinking and sometimes even breathing. When the human finally died they would turn the body over to the goblins who would eat them. Goblins loved human meat and would trade the Fae fruits or vegetables for them. David still felt bad for forcing himself on the creature, Glen’s mother had been untouched. Glen had purple eyes but they were human looking and had no wings. Glen looked like a human, well Glen looked like what an artist would draw if he was trying to draw a hero in a painting or a love interest. Glen had wide shoulders but did not have the belly David was getting, Glen was filled with corded muscle and had many veins popping out all over his body. He wasn’t exactly bulky but Glen’s athletic frame was so low in fat that David thought it looked weird instead of good on him. Glen had not inherited David’s gift of magic. Glen could do magic, it just wasn’t very good magic. The only thing he was decent at was his control, well David thought his son was better than decent. He once saw Glen cast a tiny fireball and make it race across the room and ignite a candle. The problem was that tiny fireball was at the limit of his magic, all of his other spells were equally as weak. That was the reason David had made Glen pursue other things, the Fae in him made him an excellent swordsman and he was the best with a horse that David had ever seen. Glen never gave David trouble and was pretty much the perfect son, unlike Tavin.
Tavin was Martha’s son from a former marriage, her husband had been killed by a goblin who snuck up on him. Tavin was a full mage and full of himself. Tavin was a year older than Glen and hated Glen, David thought it was out of jealousy. Tavin’s father was one of the strongest mages in the entire kingdom of Balen, the man combined outrageous strength with superior endurance, it was the reason many had thought he would become the next Archmage. Martha herself was a strong mage, probably one of the top three or four in the kingdom. The problem with Martha and her former husband Tavin Sr. was that neither of them were much to look at. Tavin looked like his father, long hooked nose, weak chin and crooked teeth. Martha had a pleasant looking face but a rather mannish build, she had wide shoulders, a short thick neck and small hips. The loose robe she always wore hid most of it but David had seen her naked and thought if her nipples weren’t so big he wouldn’t even know he was looking at a woman’s chest. Tavin at least got her build instead of his skinny father’s, but he looked like someone had taken the head of a skinny person and put it on a short squat body. Tavin was barely taller than most women although he acted like he was the best looking man in any room he went it. Tavin was quick to dismiss David and tell David that he was not his father. Tavin would tell anyone who would listen that David only married his mother because she was a powerful mage. Tavin always got into trouble and David had been past the point of even being nice to him, if one of the boys had to go he would rather it be Tavin.
“My son is not without different avenues himself” David said. “And you have been horrible to him since he showed up, why would he want to listen to you?”
“Because I had a minor noble willing to give your son a place in his household as beastmaster” Martha said. “He would have been in charge of the small stable of horses, all of the hunting dogs, and the falcons he kept there. It would have been perfect for one such as him and he could have gotten on with some desperate commoner woman.”
“Glen is going to be a soldier or anything else he wants to be” David said. “And he doesn’t need to find some desperate girl to be with him either.”
“Well if he is going to be a soldier then why doesn’t he leave?” Martha asked. “You are coddling him.”
“Why doesn’t your fucking son leave?” David said angrily as he stood up. “He is a full year older than Glen and a fucking pain in my ass. Why doesn’t he go shovel shit somewhere and marry some damn tavern girl?”
“Don’t you talk to me like that about your bastard son” Martha said angrily. “If I had known you had a child we would have never been married.”
“My son is not a bastard, he has a father” David growled.
“And a Fae whore for a mother” Martha said. “The fact you stuck it in that thing then laid up with me makes me sick to this day.”
“And your ex-husband, do you think he wasn’t sticking it to any wet hole he could find during the war?” David asked.
“My Tavin was flawless” Martha said. “How did I ever go from him to you still puzzles me.”
“Then leave” David said. “Grab your things and leave. Go see if anyone wants a forty summers old woman who can't have kids and has a shitty attitude to boot.”
“And you think they want a forty summers old man who can only get it up every other day and even then only with extreme coaxing?” Martha replied. “Don’t flatter yourself, you are not the young pretty thing you were, your black hair is not hiding the streaks of gray I see.”
“This is getting nowhere” David said as he fixed his wife with a stare. “Glen is going nowhere, he is my son and this is my house. If you want him gone then kick Tavin out as well. Glen has never done anything but show you respect while you have been a horrible woman. That is final.”
“What do you mean that is final?” Martha snapped. “I am not one of your servants, you don’t talk to me like that. You should be lucky I haven't sold him into slavery.”
“I want you to fucking try it” David said as he shot out of his chair and towered above his wife.
“You don’t scare me, I am the better mage” Martha said as she stuck out her hand and cast a spell. David flew across the room hard and crashed into a wall. David shook himself and jumped back to his feet.
“I hope you are ready to do that for real” David said. “Because I will kill you, I would burn your fat as
s alive and you would not know a moment’s peace until either I or you have died.”
“Why are you letting him tear us apart David?” Martha asked. “We would have the perfect family if not for him. I already gave you another child.”
“Why are you letting Tavin tear us apart?” David countered.
“Tavin is going to boost our family” Martha said. “My son is a perfect mage with unlimited potential. Even the Queen’s daughters have taken a good long look at him as well as several prominent mage families.”
“And what does that have to do with anything?” David asked. “I had money before I met you and plenty of money now. Whenever we go out young women always stop to stare at Glen.”
“That is only because of that damn Fae blood” Martha snapped. “He is supposed to look pleasing, there is no difference between him and a good looking whore, only good for one thing and he probably isn’t even that if I am judging by you.”
“I have had enough of you” David said. “I am leaving and I am taking my children with me.”
“Darla is going nowhere” Martha said angrily. “Touch her and I’ll really make you sorry.”
“Use magic on me again and you will be sorry” David said. “I am through with you, I mourn more for Tavin Sr. than you ever will. I wish he was still alive so I wouldn’t have to deal with you, you would be his problem.”
“You are not going anywhere” Martha said as she stepped in front of him. “What will the others think? Mages don’t separate.”
“This one does” David said as he passed by her.
“If you leave it will be the last time I let you in this house or in my bed” Martha shouted.
“You act like that cavern of horrors is somewhere someone really wants to be” David replied. “I have never once stepped out on you, never once slept with some random woman and I even agreed to Glen sleeping out back in the servants quarters instead of being up in the house with the rest of us. No more Martha, no more.”
David walked out of his study and surprised several of his servants that had been listening to the argument. David gave them a brief smile and continued walking trying to get his thoughts in order. He was amazed Martha had even said she would sell Glen, finding a buyer would be difficult but not impossible. The Salsian empire would definitely take him, he was big, strong and a good worker. Martha had tried to get rid of Glen for a while but didn’t know how to do it, she had always made comments and treated his son horribly, even forbid him to eat with the rest of the family. Martha had yelled at David whenever he went out to eat with Glen and acted a complete maniac for days afterwards. This would be no more though, Martha had made her last mistake when dealing with him. Martha already had a son that was a complete waste of life and their daughter Darla was acting like a copy of her mother, all insults and putdowns to whoever were of a lower status. David knew he could be an ass sometimes too, taking care of Glen though had tempered that somewhat and David was happier for it.
“I am not going with you father” Darla said as she stood in front of him and crossed her arms. “Mother is right about somethings. People look down on us for having him around. Having a mage as bad as Glen is a detriment to our family. More than one boy has openly wondered that if they were to be with me would our children wind up with the disability. If Glen was gone I wouldn’t have to hear any of it. I know the war is long over but he does have Fae blood in him and most mages just don’t trust him.”
“That is your mother speaking” David said as he looked down at his daughter. “Your friends don’t seem to mind Glen whenever they see him.”
“And yet no one has asked you his plans on marriage, have they father?” Darla asked. “You and mother have something good here, your son has to eventually leave your home anyway. You should get rid of him now and save your home and your marriage. There are plenty of men who wish they were where you are.”
“He is not, my son, he is your brother” David said correcting his daughter. “When did you start hating your brother? He is the one who taught you how to dance and helped you practice your magic.”
“When I got older and started seeing how the world works father” Darla replied. “I care for Glen but I am not going to let him hold me down. I am a decent mage, not on my brother’s level but decent enough. I should be marrying into a great family, one far richer than ours with great power. I am not going to settle for some boy from a lesser family that is trying to increase his own family’s power and riches. We are barely invited to certain functions despite you being one of the most reliable mages in the entire kingdom. Glen is the reason for that.”
“Your mother is the reason for that” David replied. “What decent mage wants to put up with her constant stream of criticisms and unhappiness? Me and your mother are through, at fifteen summers you are able to make your own decisions, some girls your age are already married. If you want to stay here I won't stop you or begrudge you for it. I am leaving though, I am leaving right now and I am taking your brother with me.”
David ignored whatever else his daughter had to say, at the end of the day she would always have her mother, Tavin and Martha’s family while Glen only had him. David’s family had disowned him for keeping Glen, the other few mixed race children were turned away by their fathers instead of raising them. David’s own father suggested he should sell Glen to one of the pleasure houses that specialized in young boys and make some coin off him. David walked outside of his home and over to the servants quarters, Glen was outside and had his staff with him. The staff was whipping around the air so fast David was sure he could hear it from where he was standing, Glen had been taught with other weapons but favored the simple wooden staff more than the other weapons. Glen could strike from either end with the staff and always struck hard and struck fast. The staff master who had taught him could no longer keep up with the speed and power Glen struck with, the man found himself retreating almost immediately which was the wrong thing to do against someone with the accuracy and precision of Glen. David thought perhaps his Fae blood helped him out with the speed and power and his mage blood gave him the precision.
“Hello father” Glen said as he put down his staff.
“Still practicing with that staff instead of the fine sword I bought you?” David asked amused.
“I practiced with it earlier” Glen said. “I wanted to get in some moves with my staff though, I am much better at it.”
“Well every warrior knows his weapon” David replied. “At least that is what I have heard somewhere before.”
“And I know mine father” Glen replied then looked serious. “I heard your argument father.”
“From out here?” Glen asked.
“I am part Fae” Glen replied. “Our ears are better and I cast my hearing spell. It doesn’t have to be very strong, I can focus it to an object, I picked the window of your study.”
“Why are you spying on me?” David asked.
“Because I knew what Ms. Martha wanted from you when she found out I refused to go work for Lord Raptor” Glen replied. “The man wanted me to muck out his stables and warm his bed when his wife was away.”
“He wanted what?” David said shocked.
“Ms. Martha knew about him” Glen replied. “She told me all Fae were whores anyway and that I should be happy I would get paid to be one.”
“I should-” David growled then the fight left his eyes. “I should do nothing. I have already made up mind to leave that woman. It is not worth fighting over.”
“I’m making your life horrible here Da” Glen said. “I should leave.”
“You leaving would have no effect on my relationship with Martha” David replied.
“Father she hates me for being me” Glen said. “It doesn’t matter how nice I am to her, how helpful I am or anything else I may do. Just like there are many mages that hate you for keeping me. The dark ones killed many mages during the war. So what it is over, they hate me and see you as a sympathizer. It doesn’t matter how well y
ou do your job, how many times you have came through for the kingdom or how many times you volunteered to take assignments no one else wanted. If I am gone then your life could go back to what it was before I came.”
“Before you came I didn’t know what love really was” David said and grabbed his son by the face. “My problem is that I was trying to please people, I was trying to please them so they would accept you instead of doing me. You are right when you said they would never accept you, I am going to stop trying to make them. Mages are nothing but a small part of the kingdom, I already have my fortune and I don’t need them.”
“Father I have already signed the papers to go” Glen said. “I am going to become a duelist, I think I stand the best chance of making something of myself if I go that route.”
“A duelist?” David said shocked. “Duelists get injured or even killed. It is nothing but poor men fighting for the amusement of the rich and powerful.”
“It was either that or the Royal Army” Glen said. “I figured you would get me a commission, we have talked about that before. I just figured being a duelist would be a good way to get experience by actually fighting someone instead of just sparring. There are plenty of dueling schools around, the one I signed up for wants me to stay there for a few months of training before they let me loose. If I can prove myself worthy then they said they would let me get a few low-level fights to boost my record before seeing what I am really made of. I can’t train for my commissioning until I reach eighteen anyway, the two years would do me well. You shouldn’t leave your home for me Da, I was going to leave in two years anyway.”
“I know that Glen” David said gritting his teeth. “And she knows that as well, that woman and I are through no matter if I stay here or not. Tell me more about this Duelist School.”
“It’s called the Tavern” Glen said with a smile. “They are a real low level school, others use them to boost their duelists records up. More established schools try and get their duelists a fight no more than once a month. Elite duelist fight no more than a few times a year for a lot of money.”
The Fae Mage Page 1
