Jonathan Thunder, page 9
part #5 of Lightning Mage Series
Jonathan made his way over to where he knew the Queen was. Jordan was inside and looking relieved. Jonathan squeezed the Prince’s shoulder and looked over at the Queen. She looked at him square in the eye, her features held no warmth.
“This was not an accident,” Queen Mildred said.
“What wasn't an accident,” Jordan asked confused.
“Oh, him not being awakened, baby,” Queen Mildred said. “Can you run off and get me something to drink? I need to have a small conversation with the Archmage.”
“Not an accident?” Jonathan said as Jordan left the room.
“Jeffrey was a little more handsy than usual and Kevin was always around,” Queen Mildred said. “I just knew something was up, I couldn't prove it. Jeffrey gave me things to drink and things to eat. I believe he had something contaminated and slipped in my food and other things. Once I started getting sick, he and Kevin got far away from me.”
“What do you want me to do about it?” Jonathan asked.
“Nothing for now,” Queen Mildred said. “I owe that young woman you like a lot. I owe you a lot. I’ll come up with my own plan while you are gone. We will see who gets the last laugh.”
“I think the people I am visiting will not be laughing,” Jonathan said and handed Queen Mildred his list.
“These landed Nobles will be on their best behavior,” Queen Mildred said. “Jeffrey is most likely hoping that you go for Marian Hinter. She is the third daughter of Earl Hinter and she is a Mage. Earl Hinter is a decent man and more importantly, he is an ally. Marian, if she was still single in a few years, would be at the top of my list for you as a bride.”
“That good, huh?” Jonathan asked.
“Jordan’s lady Ashley reminds me of her,” Queen Mildred said. “She is soft spoken and stays away from drama. She is a Mage, her magic isn't strong but with your skillset, it probably isn't mandatory.”
“I don't think that it will work,” Jonathan said. “Maybe if I don't have a chance with Crystal but barring that, I don't think any girl could make me think differently.”
“She would be much too shy to say anything to you,” Queen Mildred said. “I am sure Jeffrey is expecting you to say something to her and then it will begin.”
“Anything else that I should know before I leave, Your Majesty?” Jonathan asked.
“Nothing for now,” Queen Mildred said. “You know everything that you are supposed to. Just stay away from the bandits near Maytag for now. The others you find, feel free to stop. If something changes I will get word to you.”
“One more thing, Your Majesty,” Jonathan said.
“Yes?”
“Healing is not my thing but I think I may have a way to heal the Fever myself,” Jonathan said. “It takes a Mage constantly using up their power so it remains real low. I think my lightning magic fries whatever the sickness is. I don't have definite proof, but it is something that I would use. I am sure Crystal’s way is a lot safer and feels loads better though.”
“Keep that to yourself,” Queen Mildred said. “Good luck Jonathan.”
Jonathan left. He needed to get things ready and thought that he would take Red with him, at least part of the way. Jonathan would need to grab a sword and perhaps a few daggers. If he were to off someone, he didn't want anyone looking into it to know that a Mage caused the death. He wanted to make it seem like it was just some brigand.
CHAPTER 6
I hope that you are listening to me. That man is nothing to play around with. I am not accusing you of anything, I am looking out for you. If you know anything about stealing anything then you should stop right now. Jonathan Thunder is not a man known for his mercifulness.
-Torrenor Riley talking to anyone within earshot
“I don't know Jon, this seems dangerous,” Red said as he and Jon talked about Poppy’s ability.
“You know people are already conspiring against us,” Jonathan said as the carriage went down the road.
“I know. I know that we have been on this for weeks now while we are traveling. That tosser Prince Jeffrey would do something about us. He would send someone after me and Poppy like he sent after you that one time.”
“Not if we stick to helping noble couples,” Jonathan said. “Those with a bit of magic in their families already. I just want you to have some income if things go bum over elbows.”
“I know Jon,” Red said. “I’ll talk to Poppy about it. Right now she is going to kill you and me both for taking what she calls a boy’s trip.”
“I don't blame her,” Jonathan said laughing. “I figured that we should go off in the farthest direction and then work our way back to the Kingdom. Don't worry about it none, you don't have to stay the entire time.”
“So who is first up?”
“Prince Jeffrey wanted me to visit Earl Hinter first,” Jonathan said as he wondered how he could tell Red that Jeffrey was likely to send assassins. The Queen swore him to secrecy. “I decided to try for somewhere else. This is the Summersong family. I don't know too much about them other than they are rich. I don't even know if they have magic or not.”
“A mundane would have to have plenty of pull to be on Prince Jeffrey’s list,” Red said. “That nutter only cares for other wankers and tossers. I bet this group is at least noble and if Queenie had no pick in it, then they are definitely Mages.”
“No,” Jonathan said. “Many people still have dreams of me being with some noble girl with no magic. I am willing to bet that if Grace Story wasn't a Story, that she would have been tossed all in my face. Jeffrey’s best case scenario is if I marry some mundane noble. I am sure there are a few of them on the list, just no Storys.”
“Yeah but isn't this a trip to meet the Mages of the Kingdom?” Red asked. Jonathan hadn't told his friend anything the Queen had told him. He gave her his word and temporarily forgot that Red didn't know the true purpose for the trip.
“Yeah you are right, my mind is just out there,” Jonathan said as he handed over the list.
“Cyprian Summersong,” Red read. “That is a bit of a mouthful. Says that he is the Magister of Greenley.”
“Good for him,” Jonathan said. “We will just stop in, say what's what and hopefully be on our way. If he wants us to hang around then I have to give him three or four days. Poor Wilbur has been earning his keep out there. He and his friend have been doing all of the work while we have just been kicking it.”
“You help him out,” Red said.
“Yeah but my help only comes when I am bored or the elements are nasty outside. You don't think he wants a few days to himself?”
“I still don't like him,” Red admitted. “He was working with the Royal Tossers to put you down Jon. You are the type to forgive, I am from the street and there is only one way to end things.”
“He has proven himself since then,” Jonathan said. “Don't let him bother you.”
“Whatever you say, but I'm still watching him,” Red said. “Well we are in Greenley, so we can't be too far away.”
“I don't even know if this man is expecting us or not,” Jonathan said. “I guess we will find out in a moment. Wilbur knows his address. I plan on meeting him at his office and then seeing what is what. You all can run off and find an inn. If I am staying with him, I’ll stop by and let you know I need my robes and things.”
The carriage rode on for ten more minutes until it came to a complete stop. Jonathan hurried out of his carriage and could see that he was in front of a building. There were a few men outside that looked like they belonged to the City Watch. Jonathan had never seen their uniforms before but the fact that they had a uniform said a lot. Jonathan walked right up to one of the men who looked at him warily. He put his hand on the pommel of his sword.
“Draw it,” Jonathan said. “You will be nothing but a smear in the spot that you are standing in.”
“You can't threaten me,” the man said and went to draw his blade. One of the others grabbed his hand and then motioned to the carriage.
“Who are you exactly?” the other City Watchman asked.
“The Archmage,” Jonathan said. “The Queen’s Champion. You pick whatever title you need. Now let this idiot draw his blade.”
“He don't want any trouble,” the City Watchman said.
“I do, now what?” Jonathan said as he stepped closer. “Go ahead big man. You wanted it and I want it.”
“You wouldn't happen to be the bloke that killed all of those dragons would you?” another Watchman asked, from behind the first group.
“Same lad,” Jonathan said. “What I hate more than anything is people who try to throw their weight around. If this idiot isn't out of my face like the coward he is before I count to ten I am going to take that as a direct challenge and act accordingly.”
“Well, I, I didn't,” the Watchman said as Jonathan started counting. The man wisely moved out of Jonathan’s way and then down the road.
“How can you all work with someone like that?” Jonathan asked. “You aren't protecting a great Lord or anything, you are the City Watch. Your job is to serve the people, not intimidate them.”
“Forgive him,” the City Watchman who tried to diffuse things said. “Brady didn't mean anything by it. It is just that the Bandit King is about and there are rumors that he has Mages working for him. All do respect, you look like you could be him.”
“What is your name?” Jonathan asked.
“Liam, Milord,” the Watchman said.
“I ain't no lord,” Jonathan said. “I am just a commoner with an attitude and the stones to back it up. What do you mean by what you just said?”
“Show him Quinn,” Liam said as he looked back at the other Watchman. The man dug into his shirt and pulled out a drawing of the Bandit King. He handed it over to Jonathan. The man was described as tall, thin, with dark colored hair. His face was normally covered by a scarf and he sported a sword on the right side of his hip. He is believed to either be a Mage or have men that are Mages. The drawing was very basic of a dark haired man with his locks pulled back into a pony’s tail the way nobles wore theirs.
“You tell that idiot that I just chased out of here all is forgiven for right now,” Jonathan said. “He threatens to pull another blade on me, I’ll kill him where he stands. Now who is this Bandit King? I have heard rumors about bandits all throughout Kirby. I didn't know it spread this far.”
“He is the underground King of Kirby,” Quinn said.
“I wouldn't go that far,” Liam said. “He just showed up and we believe that he has inside help. He has hit merchant caravans, coin carriages, anything and anyone that has money. Poor travelers have passed unmolested. We were getting away with just dressing people up as poor to bring things out but that only worked for a few weeks. Now they have been stopped and robbed. A few people have been killed, he means business.”
“And what have you all done about it so far?” Jonathan asked. “What has Baron Devine done?”
“We have sent people out but could never find any trace of them,” Liam said then leaned in close. “The Magister thinks that maybe some of the men we gather to go after them are on the take. Either them or even some of the City Watch. He is terrorizing more than this city. Several other cities have been getting hit. Our best case scenario is that he doesn't last in one area too long. At least he hasn't, we can wait him out, in another month he will be gone.”
Jonathan nodded and then walked inside. This was probably the real bandits that he should be after. Jonathan wasn't sure if he could use them or not, Bandits were far down his list of priorities. Everett Devine, nephew of Baron Asher Devine, was one of his targets. How Jonathan would get at the man would be a problem. There was a man stationed at what Jonathan thought was some sort of receiving table or maybe the man was just there as an assistant. Jonathan walked right up to him and noticed the man tense.
“I am looking for the Magister,” Jonathan said. “Tell him Thunder is here to see him.”
“I don't jump for you,” the assistant said as Jonathan saw the man was nervous.
“Let me help you out,” Jonathan said as a nobleman came from the back wearing Mage robes. Jonathan slapped the man soundly. He stumbled and fell down then jumped back up and saw Jonathan crackling with lightning.
“Go ahead and make your move,” Jonathan said. “If I were you I would say whatever you think needs saying to your God before you do. You will be meeting him in a moment.”
“What is the meaning of this?” said a Mage as his hands glowed with power. Jonathan ignored him until the man spoke again.
“Your Luminous?” the Mage asked.
“Yes,” Jonathan replied. “Tell your man to make his move.”
“Jamon, you should stand down,” the Mage said. “This is the Queen’s Champion. The Dragon Slayer.”
“Don't listen to him Jamon,” Jonathan said. “You don't jump for no one. Now make your move.”
“I don't want any trouble,” Jamon said as he started backing away.
“I do,” Jonathan replied. “Now make your move.”
Jamon backed away into a wall with his hands up. Jonathan let the lightning die down and got right up on him. Jonathan could tell that the man was nervous, now that Jonathan was in his face Jonathan could see that he was a lot taller than his opponent.
“I asked you about the Magister and you wanted to make it something more like that idiot outside. Now I am in your face coward. I want you to keep that same energy you had when I walked through that door. I am done letting idiots talk to me like I don't matter. Now make your move.”
Jonathan eyed the man down. In response the man turned his head away and closed his eyes. Jonathan was done with it. He supposed that he got his point across. If they thought he was someone else, then they should have been worried about drawing their weapons instead of insulting him. Jonathan turned away and looked at the Mage. This was a younger man, someone Jonathan recognized.
“Torrenor Riley,” Jonathan said as he looked at the man. Torrenor was in the Tower last year and had been sent off to fight Dragons. He hung around a loud mouth named Llewellyn Shrike that Jonathan had to deal with harshly on more than one occasion.
“Your uh, Luminous,” Torrenor said.
“You should train your people better,” Jonathan said. “In the Tower I only crushed pride. Out here in the real world I crush lives. This is the second idiot that has come at me and I have only been here a few moments.”
“I-I’ll remember that, Your Luminous,” Torrenor said.
“Nice to see that you made it out of that war with Downey,” Jonathan said. “They weren't playing around when it comes to killing. Just like I don't, which is why I don't understand how lesser men like the idiot behind me wanted trouble.”
“I think he has learned his lesson, Your Luminous,” Torrenor said. “No need to keep insulting him.”
“Oh yes there is,” Jonathan said. “By letting everyone in earshot know that this man is a coward, it will make them think twice. They will see me coming and remember what happened to this idiot and decide that it is just best to let me be. Same thing I do when I am in the Tower. Your boy Llewellyn for some reason just needed the lesson twice.”
“I don't want any trouble,” Torrenor said. “And I am sure all of the Watchmen know who you are now and they don't want any trouble either.”
“Then I can drop this,” Jonathan said. “So how have you been? Going to face down dragons and not dying has had to change you. It’s not easy getting thrown into the fire or having the fire thrown into you. I know you must have lost more than one friend. Dragonfire doesn't care if you are a noble or not.”
“I am doing okay,” Torrenor said. “No I am not, but I am managing.”
“That is all anyone can do. You are not a lesser man because of it. Those battles replay in my mind often. They were neither fun nor romantic like the plays that have popped up. But you know that already, you were there.”
“You saved my life,” Torrenor said. “You may not have realized it, but you did. A dragon had me dead to rights. I looked up and could see the fire about to erupt from its mouth as I threw my shield on. If I was going to die, I wanted to see it coming. A bright light streaked by and then I saw it drop out of the air. It was all I could do to just fly out of there without being crushed.”
“Well I am happy you made it,” Jonathan said. “You should take your second chance at life to become a better person. Now why are you way out here?”
“Unlike the rest of them in the Tower, I already had a girl lined up. There is a girl going through the Tower right now. Erin Riley. I don't think anyone realizes that Riley is her married name. My family and the Summersongs are more than friendly with each other. When they found out Erin had magic, they informed my family and I went right after her. It helped that married women didn't have to go to war. We were married right before she entered the Tower. In return, I am on the Greenley City Watch. I help out the Magister with his papers and go with the mundanes to take down dangerous people. I can't tell you how happy I am that you are here. I am just not sure what you can do. Those Bandits disappear whenever we are close.”
“Is the Magister in?” Jonathan asked.
“He is in the back,” Torrenor said. “He heard the commotion and sent me out here. He is in a meeting with the Lord Mayor.”
“About these bandits?” Jonathan asked.
“Well they have been costing everyone money,” Torrenor said.
“That’s not the Magister’s business, his job is to adjudicate, where is the head of Watch at?”
“In there with them,” Torrenor said.
“I’ll offer whatever services I can while I am out this way,” Jonathan said. “Don't know how much I can help but I have put down bandit leaders before. A group of renegade Dragon Knights. It didn't get much publicity, it was out in Jubilee.”
