Rogue Magician (The Magician Rebellion) (11 page)

“
Now
you listen to me-” Tannys began.

“
It
is alright,” said Byrn putting his hand on his father's shoulder, “The priest
is right. I am starting to feel better. The dizziness is not as bad as it was
at first and besides some soreness I think I am fine.” He looked to Tannys'
injured ribs and then to a man with his head wrapped in bandages soaked red
with blood. “Besides I think there are people in need of healing more than I
am.”

Tannys
made no reply except to nod in agreement.

Byrn
got settled on a bare cot and Tannys sat next to him as they waited. The sounds
of battle rang out around them only blocks away.

“
I
should go,” said Brennan, “The fighting is getting closer and there is nothing
more I can do here.”

“
Understood
and thank you for your assistance, Brennan.” said Tannys with a short nod.

“
Agreed.
Thank you,” Byrn added extending his hand and shaking the guardsman's.

As
they sat waiting Byrn wondered just how many ogres were left. He had killed one
and saw two others die, but there were more than thirty altogether. “Do you
think there is more that I could do? Magically, I mean.”

Tannys
seemed to think about it for a second then shook his head. “If there was a
magical solution to this I think it would be provided by your new master,
Sane.”

***

Baj
Prison sat atop a hill overlooking Colum in the distance. Following the guards'
alarm many of the Kenzai guards mobilized to help quell the ogre threat leaving
Sane and Sari along with a skeleton crew of guards to keep the prison secure.
The pair was standing on the balcony of the southeastern spire watching the
fires burn in the city. Sane hoped the fires came from the defenders’ arrows
and not a byproduct of the ogres' destruction.

“
Kellen
would have activated the militia and with the Kenzai providing support I am
sure they will be able to beat back the ogres,” Sane said unsure if he was
trying to reassure himself or the lovely elf standing next to him.

Staring
out into the night Sari said, “Their behavior is not normal- the ogres, I mean.
They do not normally attack cities.”

“
It's
the enchantment,” said Sane. “That girl must have hypnotized them or put some
sort of illusion over them. They might see all of the humans as goats or be
consumed with rage driving them to kill.”

“
Is
it developing as you saw it?” wondered Sari.

“
I
am not sure,” the sorcerer considered thoughtfully, “There were two parts to
the vision and my distress was so great over watching Kellen die that I
neglected the second half involving Byrn at first. When my mind started to calm
I did try to relive that part of my vision, but I misunderstood it thinking it
was a sign showing me what must be done to save Kellen. When in reality it
portended a much greater threat. Until we saw the ogre horde I did not
understand that it was Kellen's battle that was the warning and Byrn's
confrontation at the temple that would mark the true threat to the city.

“
In
my vision Byrn did not distract the ogre during the initial attack. Kellen was
the first guardsman on the scene. He just happened to be wandering by on a
morning constitutional or patrol. He fought bravely and did kill the beast, but
his injuries were too severe. He collapsed next to it and died before a healer
could arrive.

“
The
second part of the vision could be occurring now. Tannys Lightfoot is most
likely a member of the city's militia as most men his age are. He probably
joined his militia squadron and Byrn stayed behind with his mother to protect
her, but she was gravely injured when one of the ogres attacked their home. The
boy carried her to the Temple of Ashura, but it was under attack. He was
scared, but stood bravely against the monster sword in hand.

“
It
may be that my earlier interference in the boy's life will prevent that from
occurring. Byrn rode out with us and so would not have been home when the ogres
attacked to protect his mother. She could be dead now and it would be my fault.
As for Byrn it is impossible to guess what might have happened to him. He could
end up at the temple as I foresaw or events could transpire completely
differently from now.”

Sane
moved closer to the edge of the balcony, but instead of the sky he scanned the
ground for any sign of the powerful magician girl. He silently hoped that he
had somehow done enough to change his new apprentice's fate.

“
Byrn
should be fine. He is your apprentice after all,” Sari told him reassuringly.

“
If
he sees the night through unharmed it will not be for anything I have taught
him. His apprenticeship has barely been a half-day and all I have taught him is
the basic forms of magic. We did not even get to how to perform the simplest of
magic spells...or the inherent dangers. If he somehow did any magic with his
current understanding the results could be catastrophic.”

Sari
took his hand. The events of the last few hours did much to sober her both in
mind and spirit. She smiled at the sorcerer weakly, “He will be alright.”

Byrn
was pinned to the ground by the wrathful ogre's foot. He wriggled underneath as
he tried to free himself, but could not budge the monster's massive girth.
Ogres were never known for their intelligence, but this one was now nothing
more than a mass of pain and rage. Arrows stuck from its arms and back. It was
bleeding heavily from multiple cuts and at some point a soldier buried a dagger
into its shoulder where the weapon still resided.

The
priests of Ashura are renowned healers, but they are not known for their
ability to fight. Ashura abhors violence and it is commonly known that she will
not grant her blessing to those who would do harm to others. Instead the
priests did their best to support Byrn and keep him alive as the beast pressed
harder and harder with its enormous foot. One cast an aura of regeneration
while another projected a weak shield of energy to cushion the pressure. Unlike
Byrn's own shields which lasted only a few seconds the healer's shield had been
erected for much longer forcing the ogre to use all his strength to reach Byrn.

His
head was getting light again and he began to see spots like little bright
lights dancing in his vision. Tannys was unconscious and bleeding- possibly dead.
The only fighters were among the injured and could barely stand let alone wield
a sword effectively. Byrn had to do something soon or he was going to die.

The
blood felt like it was boiling under the young magician's flesh. Magic deep
within him began to stir and well up. Now his skin and bones began to feel like
they were on fire too, burning from the inside out.

“
Get
off of me,” Byrn roared. He raised his arms, palms out toward the ogre above
him and to his own amazement, as much as anyone else’s watching the exchange, a
ball of fire shot from his hand and knocked the monster off him forcing it to
stumble back.

The
pungent smell of cooked ogre filled the air. Wisps of smoke wafted off the
beast's chest where the fireball hit, but it would not be stopped. Regaining
its footing the ogre raised its fists to deliver a killing blow, but Byrn threw
another ball of fire into its gut forcing it back once more.

The
healers were screaming for Byrn stop, but he barely heard them through burning
of red rage that consumed him.

A
red mist of blood in the air swirled around the magician contracting with every
ball of flame that he threw expanding out again between shots. He threw flame
after flame at the beast until he lost count. The magic was a part of him, but
it was more than that. It flowed through him as if he was little more than a
portal for the power to escape through. He absorbed it from the world around
him and released it in blasts of energy. It was an intoxicating feeling, to
hold such sheer power at his disposal. Eventually the ogre finally gave in to
the onslaught and toppled backward, dead, and a moment later Byrn fell to his
knees with exhaustion. The young magician suddenly felt dizzy, as he had after
conjuring the shield and feinted.

“
Tell
me, Sane, what happened to the young man who was supposed to be your new
apprentice, Byrn?” asked King Kale.

He
was sitting on his throne and they were the only two in the large room. The
morning sun was shining through a mural depicting Vailon, god of battle and
war, towering above an army with his arms spread wide encompassing his
worshipers.

“
One
of the ogres attacked the temple of Ashura,” began Sane, “Byrn stood against it
to protect the injured people there along with his father. The ogre killed the
man and was about to do the same to the boy. In his desperation Byrn tapped
into the blood source. He has a great talent for magic, but without training
and guidance he released it very violently and having no knowledge of magic to
restrain himself and no staff or grimoire to use as a focusing device he
powered his attacks directly through the blood source. His own source and that
of nine others: Four men, three women, and a young boy. Only Byrn survived the
process, but not without harm. He gave up a great deal of his own blood and
nearly sacrificed himself as well.”

“
Where
is he now?”

“
Byrn
was imprisoned in Baj and is awaiting your judgment,” Sane told him, “Given
what occurred and the number of witnesses there was little else that could have
been done at the time. He was tended to by a healer until his life was no
longer in danger, but he has yet to awaken...”

King
Kale eyed the sorcerer shrewdly, “You look like you have more to say. I assume
you have a recommendation on the boy's fate.”

“
He
is young and inexperienced. Brash perhaps, but Kellen told me that Byrn fought
bravely in the assault on Colum. He cost some lives, but he probably saved
more. I dragged him into this conflict and those deaths could be laid just as
easily at my feet as they are at his. I would still like to take him as my
apprentice. He has great potential and could be a valuable ally to the kingdom
with the proper guidance and training.”

Kale
weighed his decision for what felt like a much longer time than it really was.
After being the king's adviser for years, Sane could usually guess where the
king would land on any given dispute, but this time the sorcerer was unsure.

Eventually
King Kale came to a conclusion, “He has been exposed as a magician and killed
several people. The people of Colum want his head... and you want him freed.
Sane, your judgment is held in my highest regard and for that reason Byrn
Lightfoot will live.

“
You
may apprentice this young man, but he is a danger to others and to himself if
anyone from Colum should recognize him. He will stay in Baj for a minimum of
eight years. One year for each person he killed. During that time you can visit
and train him.

“
Once
the eight years have passed and you are convinced that he is no longer a
danger, then I will meet him and determine his ultimate fate at that time.”

It
was not exactly what Sane had hoped for, but it could have been worse. A public
display of magic resulting in so much loss of life could have been a death
sentence.

“
Thank
you, your majesty.”

When
Byrn opened his eyes he found that he was lying in a serene garden. The sun
felt warm on his face, almost comforting him, as if the gentle heat was telling
him that all was once again right with the world. There were no ogres here. He
did not have to fear being hunted or fear being taken from his home and forced
into a life that was so foreign to him that he was not sure if he even wanted
it no matter what power or privilege some old man promised him.

Flowers
of myriad colors, some he recognized most he did not, decorated the gardens
painting the landscape in bright reds and yellows perfectly contrasted by deep
blues and purples. This place was calm. It was a place of peace. It was truly
magical.

Magical...
The word suddenly made him uneasy which was an even more unsettling feeling to
think that he could feel uneasy in this wondrous place.

“
Get
off of the flowers,” a decidedly firm, but feminine voice commanded from behind
him.

Turning
to see who was there Byrn found himself face-to-shins with easily the most
beautiful knees he had ever seen in his short existence. His gaze shifted
upward to reveal a woman wearing a short flowing dress of pure white that cut
off just below her thighs. The dress was soft and frilly. Two straps held its
top in place with lightly frilled edges instead of short or puffy sleeves as
was more traditional. Her hair was a shining gold going past her shoulders and
down her back framing her face perfectly, which in and of itself was also
without imperfection. Staring at her face, the young man absently thought that
her delicate features brought her rather lovely knees to shame. The only thing
he found wrong with her was the fact that she was scowling at him and even then
he found it a terribly lovely scowl.