Death Mages Ascent: Revised Edition (Death Mage Series Book 1) (17 page)

              “These are not the men we want. We need to see where they take him,” he said.

              The men led Cribble away. Using only alleys and dark streets, they walked for half an hour before finally stopping in front of a large, empty warehouse. The men dragged Cribble through a door in the side. Jerup led Da’san around to a large set of doors meant to allow wagons access inside. The wood of the doors was rotten and broken with several boards missing, which allowed them to slip through without making any noise. Once inside, they were surrounded by large empty crates. They might once have held fabrics and dyes, but now the containers provided excellent cover.

              Da’san and Jerup crept toward the sound of voices in the gloom. Near the center of the building, the light of a lantern sitting on a table came into view, illuminating the area with a harsh yellow glow. Cribble had been propped on an old wooden chair, and Da’san could see the dagger sheath at his waist hung empty. His four captors stood by, waiting. Just outside the circle of light, a dark-robed figure stood speaking to the Captain. Risking discovery, they moved closer to better hear the conversation and be in a position to help their friend when the time came.

              “You have a choice, Master Redfield. You can swear now to serve the great god Or’Keer, or we leave your corpse in the sewers for rats to feast on,” the robed figure said.

              Cribble leaned back, considering the other man’s words. “Sarinsha will protect me from this god of yours,” he replied.

              “The goddess does not have the power in this world that my lord does. She can do nothing for you. If you give yourself over to the god of the dark, he will grant you great power and his protection. All he asks in return is your unquestioning loyalty,” the dark figure said.

              “How do I know Or’Keer is what you say he is? I have never heard of him before. For all I know, he is some weakling with only handful of followers. How can I know that he is everything you promise?” Cribble said.

              “We number in the tens of hundreds in this city alone,” the figure said in anger. “Soon the whole city will either convert or die.”

              “Yes, but--”

              “Enough!” the man yelled. “Accept Or’Keer or die. Decide.”

              Time had run out. Jerup drew his dagger and crept closer to one of the men. Da’san started to pray. He whispered his prayer to Sarinsha asking her to imbue him with her power and felt her respond as energy quickly filled him. When Jerup was as close as he could get, Da’san released the energy in a shout of power. The wave of sound ripped through the air, throwing crates into the circle of light, knocking over both Cribble and the table holding the lantern. The oil spilled to the ground, catching fire instantly and illuminating the dark figure. He was a common looking man in black robes, someone Da’san would never have given a second thought if he passed him on the street.

              Jerup jumped behind one of the four men and drove his dagger into his back. Before the man fell to the ground, Jerup drew the dagger from his belt and slid it across to Cribble. Grabbing up the blade, Cribble rushed toward another of his captors and slammed the dagger into the man’s ribs, embedding it deeply. Da’san heard a chanting coming from the dark priest and realized he was praying. As the final word left his lips, the shadow around him coalesced into four lashing tentacles. Two struck Jerup, throwing him into a pile of empty crates. The third appendage swept at Cribble trying to take the Captain’s feet from underneath him. Cribble dove to the right, tucking his shoulder and rolling to avoid the attack then popping back up to face one of the two remaining thugs. This one carried a large cudgel. 

              With both guards momentarily occupied, the priest focused his attention on Da’san, sending the tentacles his way. With no chance to avoid them, he shouted again, releasing the remaining energy. The darkness receded slightly, and the other priest staggered before righting himself.  Switching tactics, Da’san prayed again, and two large blue glowing hands appeared on either side of him. Flying forward each gripped a tentacle and ripped it away from the priest. Their connection with the darkness severed, the appendages quickly dissipated into the air. The two remaining wrapped around the glowing hands, trying to crush them. Da’san continued his prayer, calling for another gift from his goddess. His next shout was not aimed at the dark priest’s body but at his mind. His opponent cringed, holding his head as a terror he had never felt before gripped him.

              The tentacles loosened their hold, allowing the blue hands to gain a grasp on them. Da’san looked to how his friends were faring. Cribble was holding his own, ducking and dodging the swings of the other man’s club, the reach of the weapon far greater than the captain’s. Jerup was worse off. His attacker brandished a short sword as his friend tried to untangle himself from the crates. Putting the dark priest from his mind for the moment, Da’san reached out to the attacker and lifted the man from the ground, pinning his arms to his side. Jerup freed himself from the crates, blood smeared across one side of his head, and walked purposefully to the helpless Or’Keer servant. He drove his dagger into the man’s heart, killing him instantly. Da’san released the corpse, letting it drop in a limp pile as the short sword clattered to the ground. Switching his dagger hand, Jerup scooped up the fallen blade and moved to help Cribble, who now cradled his left arm close to his body.

              Returning his attention to the dark priest, Da’san found the other man had recovered from his fear and was deep in chant. Even as their two manifestations battled, the darkness seemed to thicken in the warehouse, absorbing the small light of the burning oil. As it grew darker, Da’san realized he would soon be at a severe disadvantage. He needed to strike back quickly and with enough force to end the fight. Once more, he called to his goddess, chanting as fast as he could. Not for the first time, he envied how mages could call on power with a thought. However, the versatility of prayer far outstripped what a mage could accomplish. When the prayer was finished, he released the power in a great ball of light that pushed back the darkness. The dark priest increased the volume and speed of his own prayer and the darkness surged from the corners of the warehouse, attempting to smother the glowing orb.

              Da’san closed his eyes, pitting his will against that of the other man. They struggled. Light and darkness ebbed back and forth, each seeking the advantage. Suddenly, the resistance of the dark priest was gone, and the light of his orb flooded the entire building as if the sun had risen inside. Opening his eyes, Da’san saw the remaining hand floating in the air before him. Dismissing the manifestation, he found both his friends standing over the dark priest who lay face down on the ground.

              Cribble met Da’san’s eyes. “Next time, you get to be the bait, and we will do the praying,” he said with a laugh.

Chapter 21

              Shadows passed over Jaxom’s head, and he looked up to see the durgen flying overhead. It was only a little after midday, so they must have found the enemy if they were returning already. He reached them a few minutes later, arriving in time to see Adriana and Brenin dismounting. The huntress greeted him with a big smile, running over to plant a kiss on his lips. Brenin followed.

              “We have a problem,” the archer said. “We need to speak to the king immediately.”

              “Why? What did you find?” Jaxom asked, looking from one to the other.

              “The southerners are moving this way. They will be here by tomorrow afternoon at the latest,” Adriana said. “And that is not all. We saw around five hundred of our cavalry moving this direction and pursued by almost twice their number.”

              “Celia and General Blackburn,” Jaxom said. They must have lost half their men harassing the enemy to slow the advance.

              “It would seem so. We tried to get a better look at their pursuers, but as soon as we got close, the mage attacked us,” Adriana said.

“I was nearly taken down by a bolt of ice. Luckily, the durgen are not living. Otherwise I would be dead,” Brenin said.

Jaxom looked over to the risen mount and spotted a large hole in the beast’s chest. The wound would have killed any breathing animal, but the risen did not require air to function. “We have no time to waste.”

On the way to Corin’s tent, Jaxom considered what could be done to help Celia and Nelix. If mages were among those chasing them, he would need the help of other casters as well as a sizable force to repel them. The Guard at the entrance to the large tent did not hinder their entrance. The larger area was empty, and Jaxom was concerned they would have to search the camp for Corin. Then the flap in the rear of the tent moved, and the king emerged.

“I assume you have bad news,” Corin said, indicating that they should join him at the map table. He looked expectantly to the two scouts.

“Your Majesty, the southerners are moving north against us right now. They will likely reach our camp in the early afternoon tomorrow,” Brenin said.

              “How many?” Corin asked.

              “We counted around seventy thousand, Your Majesty,” Adriana said. “Their numbers are divided into separate forces.”

              “Show me,” Corin said, clearing some of the smaller maps away to reveal a larger one depicting all of southern Ale’adaria. He placed ten red blocks in a circle where their army currently sat. Each block represented five thousand men. The position they held was centered between a large river to the west and dense forest to the east. If the invaders wished to go any further, they would have to come straight to them, or cross the river over one of two bridges that could support an army of that size. If they did choose to cross, they risked an attack from the rear that could leave half their forces stranded on the western side.

              Adriana began taking black blocks and placing them into four groups in a half moon shape with more blocks in the leading two groups. When she was finished, it was clear even to Jaxom that the enemy intended to surround them. With their superior numbers, the plan was sound. If the enemy managed to encircle their camp, any break in the line would insure their defeat. Once the invaders got to the center of Corin’s forces, everything would collapse around them.

              Corin shook his head slowly. “I knew they had the advantage in numbers, but this puts us in a bad position. You are sure of your count?” Corin asked.

              “Yes, Your Majesty. We had a good view from above, and they are positioned just as Adriana placed them,” Brenin said.

              “We can punch through their center, but that would only allow the rest to flow around us like water around a stone. If that happens, they could simply push north and force us to chase them all the way to Ale’adar,” Corin said. He began moving the red blocks into a half moon of his own, placing them so that four blocks made the front line and the remaining six curved back to protect the flanks.

              “There is something else, Corin,” Jaxom said. “Celia and Nelix are on their way here.”

              “Good, we will need the cavalry as a reserve if the southerners break through anywhere,” Corin said looking up.

              “They are not alone. Adriana and Brenin saw a force twice the size behind them, with mages,” Jaxom said, studying his friend’s face. Corin returned to looking at the map. Sending out another force to rescue the first would weaken his position if things went badly. With an unknown number of mages involved, he would have to commit his own casters or risk losing the soldiers he sent.

              “When will they reach us?” Corin asked.

              “If they keep their current pace, no later than tonight. That is, if the enemy does not catch them before then, Your Majesty,” Brenin said.

              Corin walked to the entrance of the tent and leaned out to speak to the guard. Returning to the table, he looked at both Adriana and Brenin. “How well can you shoot from those flying monsters?” he asked.

              The two of them looked at each other and shrugged. Adriana had hunted in the Teriken since she was a girl and had been shooting animals on the run since she could draw a bow, and Brenin was likely the youngest member of the Guard because of his ability with the ranged weapon. As far as Jaxom knew, though, they had yet to attempt archery from the air.

              “If we could rig a harness to the saddles, I think we would be able to hit our marks,” Adriana said.

              “Good, I will be sending a force to aid General Blackburn, and I want you two there to spot enemy mages. Your task will be to kill them from above if possible, or at the very least to keep them distracted,” Corin said.

              Brenin smiled at the King. “Yes, Your Majesty. With your leave, we will go see the leather workers to have the saddles fitted.”

              Corin nodded. “Tell them to work fast. The men I am sending will leave within the hour, and you will need to catch up to them.” Both Brenin and Adriana bowed at the waist. The huntress gave Jaxom a wink and a smile before they left the tent. As they left, two men walked in to take their place, both bowing to the king. Lord Wilbrin, the noble who had provided their tent, wore his plate armor and sword, while Serin, the leader of the mages, wore simple, blood red robes.

              “You bade our presence, Your Majesty?” Wilbrin said.

              “Yes, I need seven hundred men ready to march immediately. General Blackburn and my cousin are heading to us, and they are not alone. You will lead the men and go to their aid,” Corin said. The noble bowed at the waist again and left without another word. Serin kept his eyes on the king, the smile he held never leaving his face. He reminded Jaxom of a snake.  “And what would you have of me, Your Majesty?” Serin drawled. The mage made the title sound almost mocking, as if it was simply another word that held no meaning.

              “Those in pursuit have mages among them, and you will provide some of your own to match them,” Corin said, his words clipped and to the point.

              “Your Majesty would have me risk so valuable an asset for such a small undertaking?”

              “You believe the lives of five hundred of our bravest men, our most experienced leader, and my cousin not worth saving?” Corin said quietly.

              “Risking so much to save so few makes little sense,” Serin replied.

              Corin placed his fists on the table, and Jaxom could hear the wood creak as he bore down. Corin needed the mage’s cooperation to counter his enemies, and Serin knew it.

              “Since the time of my father, you and your mages have been provided for with very little asked in return. It is time for you to earn your keep,” Corin said with steel in his voice. “Five of your mages will leave with the men I am sending.”

              “Your Majesty’s family has been generous over the years, but this fight is only ours so long as I make it so,” Serin replied. “I will send three of my mages with your men when they leave, but I cannot in good consciousness send more.”

              Jaxom could see the fury building in his friend. He prepared himself to back Corin up if he decided to attack the fire mage. In a surprising display of control, Corin nodded and waved his hand dismissively. Serin bent marginally at the waist, and Jaxom could swear that his smile had grown ever so slightly. The mage left.

              “When this is over, I will see to it that there is some rearrangement in the mages’ castle, or they will no longer be welcome in my kingdom,” Corin said.

              “Do you think you can trust him until then?”

              “What choice do I have?” Corin barked. Standing, he gave Jaxom a hard look. “I will deal with Serin after we win this war,” Corin replied sharply. Turning, he clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing. “I’m sorry, my friend. I don’t mean to take my anger out on you.”

              “I know,” Jaxom replied. “What do you need me to do?”

              Corin stopped pacing. He looked at Jaxom and seemed to relax a bit. “Just you being there is enough. For now, we must get Nelix and Celia back. I doubt that the Southerners will have sent more than three mages of their own in pursuit. I assume you will want to go with the force I’m sending?” he asked. Jaxom nodded. With Celia and Nelix in danger, and now Adriana involved, Jaxom would be nowhere else. “Good, I don’t think Serin will be sending his most experienced mages into this fight. I want you there in case things go badly for us. You always seem to find a way out of whatever trouble you find yourself in, and we may need that now.”

              Corin walked over to him and offered his hand. Jaxom took it, meeting his friend’s hard gaze. “We’ll get them back,” Jaxom said. Corin nodded before turning away.

Jaxom left the tent in a dark mood. For once, he was glad that he had never been accepted into the mages’ castle. He could not think of living under Serin’s control, required to obey his commands. With so much on his mind, he walked aimlessly through the camp. It seemed clear to him now that rebuilding the Death Mage School was more important than ever, and not only for his own interests. Without the mages, Ale’adaria would be vulnerable in times such as these, and Corin would need someone to fill that vacuum.

So lost in contemplation, Jaxom did not notice anything or anyone he passed until he stood in front of his tent. Inside he found Adriana sitting on the cot, staring at the canvas wall, fingers interlaced on her lap. When he entered, she stood without speaking and went to him. She held him against her and kissed him passionately. The smell of her was intoxicating, and the feel of her pressed against him sent tingles throughout his body.

Finally, she broke the embrace. “I was hoping that you would not be long,” she said staring into his eyes. “Brenin is with the leatherworker having the saddles altered. We have some time.”

Looking into her eyes, he could see uncertainty there. “You don’t have to do this,” he said.

She punched him in the arm, and her eyes changed from uncertainty to frustration. “Do you think I am worried for myself? I know that you will be among those on the ground. You would not leave your friends when they need you most. I will be safe, high above it all, when things turn ugly.”

“I did not mean to upset you,” he said, hoping to calm her. Instead, he received another punch, harder than the first.

“I do not need you to coddle me as if I were one of your fine ladies. I hunted the Teriken since before you could fling your magic about. I took care of myself before I met you and will continue to do so.”

He was becoming angry now. “Then what do you want from me?” he demanded. “Do you not get it? I do not want anything more than I want you,” she said, tears springing to her eyes.

Not knowing what else to do, he kissed her again with as much fervor as before. She struggled at first, trying to push him away, but her resistance evaporated quickly. She kissed him back just as hard. After removing their clothes as fast as possible, Jaxom found himself on his back atop the small cot. Climbing on him, she leaned down to kiss him again as her hands roamed over his chest and stomach.

Stopping suddenly, she leaned back and looked into his eyes. “I love you,” she said. Before he could respond, she resumed what she had been doing even more passionately than before.