Battle Mage: Forging New Steel (Tales of Alus Book 9) (47 page)

“You followed the burned path and the enemy struck again,” Arkon Eratoi stated the fact sadly. Eldest of the arkons, Eratoi was allowed to start though Smrajni’s tribe was the largest and considered the host of her allies. “You also say that you are sure that this was the work of the emperor, or Dark One, as you call him.”

Oltus nodded trying to take the lead once more. The wizard had been able to forge a solid connection with the arkons while Sebastian and Elzen healed the wounded. It was time the mage had gambled would give the wizard time to work his magic, so to speak.

“Sebastian and Nartreya went ahead with your tracker, Vrejna. The falcon and wizard state that they believe the enemy used magic to see through a shrike’s eyes to call a portal onto the prairie. Using nature magic to see through the creature’s eyes, they were able to conceal their presence because they didn’t need to walk on the ground or be near to create one of their doors here.

“The falcon killed the bird after the enemy created new gates and attacked us with the monsters that had attacked you previously.”

The arkon frowned and interrupted, “We lost more warriors.”

Nodding again, Oltus replied, “As did we, but we found their weakness. We would have killed them all, but the enemy warlocks brought reinforcements. While we still prevailed, that was when most of the deaths occurred as we tried to deal with a new front and beasts with new powers.”

“So these birds worked with the fire monsters and then these new winged cats with snakes for tails,” Arkon Anax spoke up looking ready to jump in from the start. He was the leader of the Zelesh tribe, but being youngest, their tradition kept him in check while his elder started the dialogue. “They have created monsters like we have never seen before, but why would they come here to attack us?”

“For an experiment or test,” Falconi Neven stated gravely. “Southwall has never seen their like either; but to bring them so far to the east, they either have a fortress nearby or they decided to use you since you are about as far away from the other tribes as they would find.”

“Still why us?” Anax asked angrily.

Sebastian followed the falconi’s track and said, “Why not? They know that you are usually broken into single tribes with few defenses. Whatever your druids are hiding doesn’t deter them, because they can not see the hidden power you have here.”

The men of the arkhein looked nervous and their eyes moved from each other to three men and a young woman trying to hide in the shadows. While the druids had never officially come to speak with him, the battle mage knew them from catching sight of these four with magic. They weren’t the only druids and perhaps not even their most powerful; but when he exposed the magic defenses hiding inside the camp, they didn’t even seem to respond. Certainly they didn’t seem surprised, though Falconi Neven certainly was as well.

Arkoness Smrajni held a slight smile as she asked, “You have discovered something about the camp?”

Nodding to the woman, Sebastian replied, “I sensed something dangerous guarding the camp before we arrived inside, but since we are not enemies nothing triggered. While we worked, it felt a little like a cold breeze that would make my skin tingle.

“Your druids never decided to do more than watch, though I would gladly have tried to teach them how to heal. Their magic is on your warriors and on your homes. Just because I can’t be sure what it is, doesn’t mean that I haven’t felt it.”

One of the druids, the woman, or perhaps he should call her a girl given that she looked to be younger than Ashleen, stepped forward to ask, “You can feel our magic, but we can feel yours as well. You in particular should not be strong enough to sense our sealing spells.

“We work with nature and that makes the magic more subtle, but you have seen through it. Does your familiarity with the runes mean that you have discovered our magic as well?”

Sebastian smiled at the girl and replied, “A tribe from the sea passed on the runes as gifts and said only those who could decipher their creation could be trained to learn more. A lucky accident let me both use them beyond the way I had seen them used by those people and learn how to recreate those I had.

“While I may not be able to create unique runes yet, I can copy them and teach others with the healing skill to create more.”

He paused in thought and nodded, “Any of your druids capable of runes might be capable of learning to heal, I think. There is certainly a tie between the two kinds of magic that would make it seem logical to me.”

This information made the girl’s eyes show surprise. She hadn’t believed that he could see through so much. Sebastian held his face calm; but thought in satisfaction that he intrigued them now.

Retreating to the other druids behind her, the girl became the center of their attention as the four began to discuss this news.

Smrajni ignored the druids and stated, “Their magic is designed to repel invaders. You came to us with open hands and even chose to help us. For that we are thankful and appreciative of your time here, but now what will you do?”

Wizard Oltus took the conversation back over answering, “We will return to Hala. If you wish us to send others to work to bring peace between your tribes and our nation, I can make sure to let the king know. With the Dark One’s disregard for life, you can see why we continue to fight against his armies.”

“As if the emperor would give us any other choice,” Falconi Neven added with controlled anger. “If he doesn’t even see the tribes as allies, you would do well to find a way to end his threat as well. We might be able to do that soon and then our two peoples would have the chance to live in peace together.”

Oltus managed to hide his annoyance at being interrupted, but the arkhein nearly nodded as one. Arkon Eratoi answered, “Your people have shown us goodwill. We will consider your words. You may let your king know that the eastern tribes at least, give you permission to return to speak more.”

Concluding their meeting positively, Sebastian and the other men left the tent feeling that real progress had been achieved. In over a hundred years, the northern tribes had never been a real threat; but adding them as allies was certainly better than having them as enemies.

Sebastian had barely walked outside when the four druids appeared to face him. Oltus and Neven stiffened at their unexpected approach, but the owl mage smiled and nodded his head in greeting. While the three men ranged from light brown skin to dark brown, they all had dark brown hair. There were a few runes showing on their skin as well. The girl stood out with blonde hair glinting with red in the sunlight. Her green eyes sparkled as she led the four to greet him.

“You called us druids,” the girl said acting as spokesperson for the four once more. “We have chosen the name derashti from the old language of our people.”

One of the men placed a hand on her shoulder and she glanced back at him saying, “I am getting to it.”

Looking at Sebastian once again, the girl stated, “Our leader extends his wishes that you return one day to speak with him to share magic.”

“I will make sure someone comes to speak with him then,” the mage replied, as he never knew his exact duties with the mage corps, Sebastian wasn’t sure that he should commit more. “I am sure that I could take the time now even.”

The girl frowned slightly and shook her head saying, “Only you, the derashti have seen that you are special even among your kind and wish to speak with you more, but not now. Return home and come back again to us here in the spring.”

Falconi Neven had heard the brief conversation and replied, “I can make sure that he has time to return to speak with your derashti.”

With the falconi’s declaration, the four started to leave; but Sebastian queried, “And who are you anyway?”

The girl paused and stated, “I am Erasme, speaker for the derashti.”

That was all the more she would say as the speaker followed the men disappearing into the circling tents.

Oltus frowned hearing what had been said. “That is strange behavior. While I admit that Sebastian is certainly unusual, I am surprised that these derashti or druids or whatever; think he is so special that no one else will do.”

Neven shrugged and replied, “If that is what it takes to make these people allies of Southwall for the first time in over a hundred years, I think Sebastian can be made available in the spring.”

“Well, I guess I know where I will be then,” Sebastian replied with a sigh.

The platoon traveled for dozens of miles from late morning to early evening as the sun descended into the west bringing shadows and the first moon in the east. With Ashleen’s help, Sebastian opened a portal back to the stones outside of the city of Hala. With all those trying to recover from their wounds even with magical healing, it had been decided that they would travel far enough to be well beyond the tribes’ territory before using magic associated with the emperor’s warlocks.

Given the shared power of the two, the doorway stood eight feet high and nearly ten wide. Riding two by two, the column proceeded as efficiently as they could before the holders of the gate became too tired to hold it open.

Sebastian held Ashleen’s hand as they passed through the gate. The silver light was nearly blinding in the flash as they passed through from the darkening prairie to the path north of Hala, which was equally dark.

Not wanting to walk more than he had to, the mage opened a second portal after warning Falconi Neven, who told him to see him around noon so he could get some rest. Ashleen joined him and was surprised to find the portal led to their room in the Black Smith Inn.

“I forgot that you had a doorway here,” the girl stated before lighting the lanterns in the room with her magic.

“That is why I asked Hilda to hold the room for us.”

Tossing their packs onto their respective beds, Sebastian sat down tiredly. Ashleen looked at him and said, “You know, you never did have Elzen heal those cuts for you.”

“I just figured that I could pay the wizards’ hospital a visit in the morning. He was as exhausted as I am and there wasn’t much time once we were riding again anyway.”

The girl pulled off her short boots. She refused to wear the typical long boots used for riding by most women. With the benefit that they were easily pulled off unlike some of the longer versions, Ashleen was soon barefoot but kneeling in front of the mage.

“You know, you have been trying to give me practice at healing. I suppose this would be as good a time as any to try. After all, you said that they are all minor wounds, so I shouldn’t be too exhausted when I finish,” she offered taking his hands with hers.

Sighing tiredly, the mage nodded his head. While the cuts had been minor enough to treat with mere bandages, the man knew that he would feel better after a healer had finished with him. Ashleen wasn’t a true healer though, so he was curious to see if she could manage such a feat.

“Heal,” the wilder called trying it the way of a mage. A cool feeling moved into the mage as Ashleen’s consciousness passed along healing the minor cuts and a few that were deep enough to bring a frown to her face.

She mumbled to him sounding distant, “You lied. Some of these wounds are pretty bad, but you used your magic to block the pain didn’t you?”

The mage chuckled at her observation. “I can’t heal myself, but after using magic to push the runes; I figured out a way to numb the nerves around the wounds.”

“Your body gives you pain to make sure you know that you are hurt,” she informed him in annoyance. “Dulling the pain and telling everyone that you are fine is a good way to cause yourself permanent injury.”

“When did you become the expert in healing?” he laughed at her definite opinion on the subject.

“When the boy I like decided to try and teach me to heal,” the girl replied opening her blue eyes to look at him. Her voice had returned to normal as her mind returned in full from the work of healing inside his body.

“Hmm, I may have created trouble with you,” Sebastian stated with a grin.

Turning her head, Ashleen laid her head on his right leg as if to rest after the healing magic and corrected him, “No, I’ve always been trouble. Now I can just heal a little bit as well.”

“Should we go down and get some food?” he asked. Noise came from down the hallway to their door. There was no music yet, though Sebastian didn’t doubt that the musicians would start soon in the dining hall.

“Not yet, just give me a minute to rest. I’m not quite ready to share you with anyone just yet anyway,” the young woman replied sounding tired now.

Chuckling at her attempt to stall him, Sebastian stood. Still holding her hands, he helped her to stand where the mage could see her lip pouting at the change in plans. “You don’t want to fall asleep without eating after healing. Trust me, it happened to me and I was a mess the first time it happened.”

“I have more magic than you,” Ashleen contradicted his assessment, but quickly stole her right hand back to cover a yawn.

“But you don’t know how to use it properly in healing.”

Sebastian opened the door pulling the girl into the hallway.

“My boots,” she reminded him. Ducking back in to grab the boots, he carried them as the girl walked the wood floor barefoot.

Descending the stairs, he was surprised to see the patronage was rather light for the inn’s dinner crowd, but the mermaids, Yaroma and Naoromi, were sitting at one of the tables with two unknown men. The dark haired sisters looked up at the two as they descended the stairway and waved them over.