Holtsclaw, page 16
part #3 of The Master Mage Chronicles Series
“You struck your wife?”
“None of your business what happens here. Where did you go?”
‘I simply took Wilhelm to see his mother. To say his farewell. I have a mind to give you what you have so liberally given to your wife and son. Though respect for my elders forbids.”
“You think you could take me? You little piece of dross? Come on. Show me what you’ve got!”
Marcus shrugged. “Certainly, since you have invited me to do so.” Melee might be the only good thing that came out of assassin training. Thank you, Captain Morris, Sinifir. Marcus didn’t need to suspend time to overtake Wilhelm’s father. He easily dodged several wild blows then landed one squarely on his chin. Master Samson went down like a sack of grain.
“Thank you. He deserved that.”
Marcus turned to face Wilhelm’s mother. His two brothers and sister were standing in the doorway behind her. She had her arm around Wilhelm’s waist. “He was able to return your coin?”
She nodded. “Thank you. He says you paid his tuition.”
“Yes. But he will be paying it back, over time. I find your son to be a very clever and capable mage-to-be. And a good and loyal friend, as well.”
“Yes, I am proud of him. I only wish his father could see him as I do.”
“As we do, Mother,” echoed the brothers and sister. “Do you think you will ever be back? Father said…”
“Yes, I heard. ‘You leave here, you’re not coming back. Do you understand me? This will be your home no longer’. What about that, Mother. Is this no longer going to be home?”
“Son, as long as I live, this will always be your home. Maybe what your friend did to him will knock some sense into his hard head.” She looked at Marcus. “You can bring him back here, from time to time?”
Marcus nodded. “Yes. Whenever he wishes.”
Wilhelm gave his mother a kiss on her uninjured cheek, shook his brothers’ hands, and gave his sister a parting hug.
Marcus opened a portal and they walked through to the rear of the Holtsclaw stables.
----- o0o -----
Wilhelm was full of questions and stumbled through them on their walk back to the Academy. Marcus managed to avoid answering any of them. They arrived just in time for last-meal. Corinne was the first to see them coming. She jumped from her chair, turning it over in the process. She ran to Wilhelm and threw her arms around his neck. She was about to plant a kiss on his cheek when she saw the terrible bruise.
“Bless the fata! What happened to you?”
“My father objected to my return. Fortunately, Marcus persuaded him to let me come back.”
She turned to Marcus. “How did you do that?”
“You don’t really want to know, Corinne.”
“He did to my father what my father did to me, only better. He will wonder what hit him. When he wakes up!”
She looked at Marcus. “And his mother? She just stood there watching you beat up on each other?”
“Well, not exactly,” responded Wilhelm. “My father hit her first. When Marcus put him down, she stood in the doorway cheering for Marcus. Along with my older brothers and my sister.”
“Did you get everything done? How was your trip there? What about your return?” asked Corinne.
Wilhelm looked at Marcus. “Now I know what you mean. So many questions, and all at the same time!” He turned back to Corinne. “The trip there went fine, no problems. Which reminds me. I shouldn’t be carrying this around.” He unbuckled the long-blade and slipped it to Marcus. “No problems going there. And things were going well until my father came into the room. He had seen that the horse was back, so he came looking for me. Before he had a chance to say a thing, my mother stepped between us. He didn’t even hesitate. Just knocked her down. I’ve never seen him do that before! My brothers got between him and our mother. He backed off, but managed to pull me outside.” He turned to Marcus. “That’s when I summoned you, Marcus.”
Marcus nodded in agreement.
He turned back to Corinne and the others. “My father pushed me around a bit. Told me I had abandoned the family for some useless dream of becoming a mage. He wanted me to promise not to come back here, but to stay home and help with the business where I was needed. He knows I have merchant-gift. And wants to make more use of it. He could care less about what I want to do with my life. That’s when I made my big mistake. I told him exactly that! He called me ‘ungrateful’ and a series of other names I won’t mention here. Then he pulled back and hit me, as you see. He dared me to get up. He told me he’d just keep on knocking me down until he had pounded some sense into my head. It was about then that Marcus showed up.”
Corinne was listening with rapt attention. “And then what happened?”
Wilhelm shot a quick look at Marcus. Marcus shook his head. “Well, a few things. In the end my father attacked Marcus. Big mistake! Marcus knocked him out. And I got to say good-bye to everyone else before we ported back.”
“Do you think you will be going back next third turning?”
Marcus spoke up. “Well, he has a pretty big debt to repay. If he does go, it will only be for a very brief visit.”
CHAPTER
EIGHT
D ays drifted into seven-days into another turning. Cold weather came and went, replaced by a storm-filled second turning. Classes went well. Marcus and Moriah were pleased with the progress the interns were making in blade. The trained group, for the most part, had acquired bad habits in their previous blade work. This presented the untrained group many opportunities to exploit. And by learning effective defensive moves, the untrained became much more difficult opponents to defeat. An intense, but good-natured, rivalry arose between the two groups. It was to the benefit of them all.
By evening, Marcus studied the vast array of documents he had acquired. He had been summoned once more by Darius, who reported dwindling success in acquiring more. “Word’s spread quite widely, Marcus. All the peddlers know to ask. You want me to keep tryin’?”
“Perhaps not. I have many, many to study. Thanks to your good efforts. I give you these in gratitude.” He had given Darius five silvers. “Return to me your summoning stone. And may fata bring you safe travel.” From the look on Darius’ face, he had been relieved to be rid of it.
Mage Castor’s documents were incredibly helpful in unlocking Kult. By the time Marcus worked his way through the two bundles of documents, he had a much better working knowledge of the language. And was able to decipher a growing portion of his fathers’ chronicles.
The second turning, and end of their second-turn at school, was rapidly approaching. Moriah’s father again became a matter of concern. And much discussion. There was no question regarding their three-way relationship. Melania was now aware of Marcus’ true endowment, a master mage, and actually embraced it more readily than Moriah. She had grown up around mages. The prospects of accessing greater gift power had strong appeal to her.
----- o0o -----
Melania’s daily routine was abruptly interrupted by a summon to the Lord-mage’s office. Marcus was told to accompany her. They finished their first-meal and immediately followed the maid who had been sent to find them. They arrived to find the outer door closed, voices within. Marcus used mind-touch, finding a strong mage present. But not one he recognized.
The door opened. Melania let out a gasp. “Father!” She flung herself into his arms with a squeal of delight.
He returned her embrace. “You are looking well. Your classes?”
“Better than I ever hoped. Father, I’m even enjoying my classes in blade! Well, thanks to him.” She tilted her head in Marcus’ direction. “He and another second-turn have been our instructors.”
He looked at Marcus, sizing him from foot to brow. “So, a blade master. On top of everything else. Interesting.”
A chill ran through Marcus. And everything else. He had a feeling where the conversation would be going.
“Lord Petros. Would you mind entertaining my daughter while I have a discussion with young mage Marcus? He and I have several matters to discuss. It shouldn’t take too long. Or maybe it will.”
“Of course, Julius, happy to visit with your daughter while you two have your visit. Come, Melania. Join me in first-meal.” They departed, hand-in-hand.
Melania’s father went to the inner office, first making sure the outer door was securely closed. “So, we have matters to discuss, no?”
Marcus chose to remain silent.
“Let’s begin with the account of a roving mage. Traveling about our Kingdom removing bandits. Dispensing what he calls ‘king’s justice’ to the worst of them. Do you deny that is you?”
Marcus still chose to remain silent.
“You don’t need to speak. We know it was you. It took quite some effort to separate fact from fiction. Let’s see, what else have we learned. A young male, Iberian accent, traveling with horse, mule and hound. Studying at Holtsclaw. Strong in earth- and battle-gifts. And with the power to port. Kind of narrows it down, wouldn’t you say?”
Marcus still sat quietly.
“Of course, the thing that made it all come together was when we learned his name was Marcus. Marcus of Iber. Let me guess. Your surname is Aurelius? Would that be, let’s see, eighth, nineth? I’m afraid we’ve lost track of all the generations that have passed since the first.”
“Ninth.”
“Ah. Excellent. Your grandfather, Saul, was a fine man. We were sad to hear of his passing. It was you who defeated Sinifir?”
“You know much about the affairs in Iber. And much about me.”
“Yes, well, the world is a smaller place than many believe. We have had a friend in Iber for many turns. You have a bounty on your head, or had. I believe it has now been lifted.”
This caught Marcus’ attention. “Lifted?”
“Yes. With the passing of King Justin last turning. It was one of the first things the new king, King Jared, decreed. He would like you to return to Iber. Take your rightful place as his Lord High-mage. But,” he paused, “that is unlikely. Now that we know who, or rather, what, you are.”
Marcus was afraid of what was coming next.
“Your are a master-mage, correct? We asked Bartholomew, but he refused to confirm our suspicions. He said only that ‘you were unique in your power’.”
“So, you are here to fulfill your oath to have me stilled?”
“Oh, so you know about stilling? Yes, your Grandfather would have explained that to you. To answer your question, no, I am not here to do that. My father, the Lord High-mage, and I have discussed this extensively. The last time we fought your kind it led to the death of many mages. And several armies as well. And the destruction of an entire kingdom. And the exile of its king and people. At least, the few that survived.”
“Athenia.”
“So you do know your history. Yes, The destruction of Athenis and the kingdom of Athenia. Do you have plans to restore Athenia to what it once was?”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead. You just confirmed matters of which I have only had suspicions until now. I’m not sure I have the power to do that, quite frankly.”
“Hmm. Perhaps not now. But you will, in time. We are divided, whether that would be a good thing or bad. There is much guilt, even after four-hand generations, for what we did to your people. The ruins sit within the city of Atimia, yes?”
“Yes, that is so.”
“The name Atimia. Do you know its meaning in ancient Kult? Shame. It means shame. Our shame. We feared Marcus the first. But in reality he did nothing to merit the war that was waged to silence him. And as I said, there was much bloodshed in doing so.”
“And it would be worse, now. For I would not be fighting alone.”
“Oh? And what do you mean by that?”
“Since we are being explicit, there is more you should know, things that all the kings and high-mages should know. What do you know about pairing?”
“Pairing? Mage-marriage? Becoming life-bound with another?” Are you saying you have created a life-binding with another mage? How did that come about?”
“Not with one, but with two. We were born at the same moment and have identical gift. Mages with similar gift are attracted to each other. The strength of the attraction depends on their gift power. Identical gifts, yes it happens, have an attraction all their own. If the two gifts are strong enough, gift itself, not the mages, control the attraction. Think of it as a compelled pull, over which the two, or in our case three, have no control. The attraction is so strong, the stronger, or in our case, the strongest, actually pulls the gift from the others. Normally it would lead inevitably to their death. I was the strongest. There was nothing within my power to prevent it. This you must believe.”
“So you paired?”
“Yes. Pairing caused the two gifts, or in our case three gifts, to become one, through an irrevocable life-bond. Each of us is incredibly strong in our own way. Pairing has made us equals. But together, our combined power has been multiplied many times over.”
“That is...” He paused, searching for words, “...unbelievable. You are sure of this?”
Marcus laughed. “Mage Julius. I, we, could hardly be mistaken in something such as this.”
“So, do I dare ask who these two other mages are?”
“Since we are being completely open with each other, and you have already discovered my true nature, there seems to be reason no longer to keep it hidden. I have paired with your daughter, Melania. And with the daughter of Tumano’s king, Princess Moriah. Your daughter, as you know, is a powerful mind-mage, Moriah is equally strong as a battle-mage. I cannot imagine any kingdom willing to bring battle to the three of us. On the other hand, the three of us balance each other. None of us is ambitious or cruel by nature. And as inseparable persons, it is hard for one to act contrary to the disposition of the other two.”
Julius had thought to surprise Marcus with his accusations. It was he, though, that was struck speechless. After a long moment of silence, he finally spoke. “I know of Melania’s endowment and the power she holds with it. It is why we were so demanding she come here. Without training, without understanding the potential of the power she might someday wield, she could become a most dangerous foe. And as for Princess Moriah, stories of your blade-dancing have reached even our ears in Suerca. But there is a problem there. Her father is a greedy man, and has already been plotting and scheming her marriage for both coin and power. He has even suggested to our king that a match between their children could be an advantage to them both. And he would certainly oppose any effort on your part to resurrect the kingdom of Athenia.” He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. “This is all too much to take in at one time. Does anyone here at the Academy suspect any of this?”
“No. They are surprisingly ignorant of history. And appear to have little ability to assess the power held by those who attend. They mean well, of course. And teach wisely. But we are speaking of issues far outside what is normal. Thus, it is beyond their imagining, let alone their understanding.”
“Yes, I agree. This is beyond them. What do you see happening, going forward? What would you suggest?”
“We have not discussed any long-term plans. Moriah and Melania know little about Athenia, for example. And there is a bigger issue upon us. One much more serious and more immediate. Illium.”
“Illium? The desert kingdom? What do they have to do with this?”
“You mentioned Sinifir? Bartholomew told you about him, yes?”
“Of course. It was a most remarkable story. An evil mage from Illium, intent on war between Iber and Caldonia.”
“Do not ask me how I know, but trust me that I do. Sinifir was but one of a number of soldiers the dark kingdom has sent forth. Each is a mind-mage and is instructed to cultivate a relationship with royals, bending their will to do their bidding. They seek riches and power. They will invent conflict and wars to reach their ends. Over time, they hope to weaken the mainland kingdoms sufficiently to be taken over in their entirety by Illium and its army. They have a means of coordinating their work most effectively. I have defeated Sinifir and cast another of his kind our of Holtsclaw. Though I doubt Lord-mage Petros understands the true nature of the instructor he dismissed.”
“And you know of others?”
“Know? No I do not. But I have reason to suspect Tumano has such a problem. There is a mage there, by the name of Gideon, who should be carefully watched.”
“Gideon? Yes, that we can do. Any other surprises I need to know about?”
“Of course,” said Marcus. “But perhaps we let them remain a secret for the three of us, who are paired.” He chuckled. It seemed to break the seriousness of the moment.
“Then what say we join my daughter and Lord-mage Petros for what might be left of first-meal. Quite frankly, I’m starving.” He started to rise. “Oh, there is one more thing for you to know. The four mainland kings meet once every half-hand of turns, at the middle of the third turning. The location rotates from kingdom to kingdom. This turn it falls to Caldonia. Giving this development with Illium, I am thinking of inviting you to attend. Would you be willing to do so? It would be a hand of seven-days from now. If you will visit us in Castella, I can confirm the details. You can port as far as Castella, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Amazing! Then let’s go to first-meal. It’s late, I know. But I’m sure Lord Petros can persuade the cooks to stir something up for us. Hah! And then I will need to have a long conversation with my daughter.”
“Yes. She would like that very much. Let her know we have been explicit with each other. It will relieve her of much anxiety. And lest I forget, I would be willing to port you back to Suerca when you are ready to go.’
