Questing Sucks! Book II (4 page)

“Read it again!” Sehn demanded, choking on his own laughter. “You, Lekar, you do it this time.”

Sehn knows their names
? Patrick wondered.
Don’t tell me he’s actually making friends with the prisoners
.

The man named Lekar stepped forward. Like most Drashians, he was large, muscular, dark, and his brown hair was short-trimmed and neat. He held up his hand while he struggled to stop laughing.

“Okay, this is what the Frithian wrote.” He took a breath, then recited what the smaller soldier had written. “Sehn is be
the bestest
that is ever be having had. Nothing about Sehn is having be ever bad. Sehn is—” His words broke off into laughter. “I can’t do it. I can’t do it!”

Sehn barked out more laughter. “I shall spare his life on the grounds that his stupidity amuses me. Next!”

Patrick sighed while he watched the spectacle take place. Alan merely chuckled. “At least things are peaceful around here,” he said. “There’s always that to be grateful for. I’d rather hear the sound of laughter than more screams.”

Patrick nodded. “I agree, though there is little to laugh about.” He felt his mood darken. “I don’t like this. I don’t like this one bit. If the Hawk has killed King Raygor, then he’ll have complete control over the Drashian armies as long as the king’s son is in his care. Gods know we can’t take on the combined might of every Drashian, rogue elf, Frithian, and who knows what else. Out there somewhere, the Hawk has an army large enough to make the one that attacked us seem like child’s play by comparison.”

“So what do you plan to do?” Alan asked.

“I don’t know,” Patrick said. “But if we can find some way of rescuing that boy, then we can stop the Hawk’s armies before they strike us again.”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

“You’re supposed to be the genius at these things, Alan. Why don’t you tell me?”

“I guess I’m gonna have to think hard on this one.”

Ren threw his toy to the ground and spat on it. “I don’t like this one! I want a different toy.”

He was six-years-old now, which meant he was a big boy. He wanted better toys—at least, maybe something better than the dumb little farmer people his mother had gotten for him. He wanted the toys with swords and other amazing weapons with the hands that he could move to pretend they were fighting.

It was hard to see with the crown over his head. It was intended for a size bigger than his own, and the thought made his eyes grow moist with tears. He missed daddy. He missed him so much. He knew momma missed him too, because she cried every night before she tucked Ren into bed.

A tall elf walked over to Ren and knelt down, a scowl plastered on his face. He looked really mean and scary. Ren didn’t like this “Koren” person one bit. Not at all!

“
Your
Majesty,” the elf said as he scooped up the toy. “What have I told you about throwing your things on the floor?”

Ren puckered his lips at the stupid elf. He hated being told what to do in his own home. The room was wide, furnished with illustrious red carpets. Two Chandeliers hanging low overhead lit the throne room a sparkling golden color. Much like his crown, the throne was also too big for Ren, and he sat on the edge of it with his legs dangling freely, his feet several inches from touching the floor.

“You told me I’m not supposed to.”

“That’s right,” Koren said. “So why did you do it then?”

“Because I’m a Drashian!” Ren snapped. “And that means I can do whatever I want.” He spat in Koren’s face to show his defiance. The elf hissed in anger and drew back his arm to slap Ren. He’d done it before, and it always hurt. Ren closed his eyes and waited for the sting.

“Stop it!” his mother cried. “If you hit my son, then I swear to you I’ll make you regret it.”

When no pain came, Ren opened his eyes. Koren’s palm was only an inch from his face.

“If your brat of a son would behave, then there would be no need for this. The Hawk put me in charge for a reason, and I intend to do my job. Tell your runt to stop acting like such a child.”

“He
is
a child! Of course he’s going to behave like one.”

Ren didn’t like when people called him a child. Okay, so maybe he was only six, but he was also the king now. Not that he wanted to be.

Koren gave dirty looks to both Ren and his mother. Ren never hated anyone as much as he did this elf. It just wasn’t fair. This was supposed to be his kingdom now—his people. Why did Ren have to take orders from some stupid elf?

The crown came close to falling off Ren’s head, so he readjusted it. It really was too big for him. He always wanted to be king someday, but he wanted it to be when he was bigger and his daddy said it was okay. He didn’t want to wear it now. He wanted…he wanted…

“Don’t cry,” his mother whispered. She leaned over in her chair next to the throne and patted his right shoulder. “I miss him too.”

“I want him back,” Ren whimpered. “It’s not fair. I want him to take me fishing again.”

“You have to be big now, Ren. You have to be strong. It’s what our people…your people need from you now.”

“But daddy was strong, and daddy was—”

“Enough of that.” His mother released him. “Your father isn’t with us any longer. You’re our king now.”

“But how can I be a king with Koren around?”

His mother shot Koren a deadly glare. The elf was now on the other end of the room, whispering something into the ear of a servant. His ears were pointy—even pointier than the few other elves Ren had seen pay visit to his father’s court.

“I know your brother will save us someday, Ren. I know it.”

“But he can’t, momma. Kellar is one of the mage people now, right? He isn’t one of us anymore.”

Ren’s mother shed a tear, but she shook her head. “I don’t care what the mages say. No one abandons being a Drashian—no one. He will come back for us. Kellar would never leave us to suffer.”

“I hope so. I only got to meet him twice. I don’t even remember him.”

“You would’ve loved him, Ren. He was special. Even among royalty. And he will save us. I promise you, he will come.”

Ren didn’t know much about how things worked, but he knew enough to know that once someone became a mage of the order, they officially rid themselves of any former ties, families, and nationality. But Ren prayed to the Gods that his mother was right. Maybe brother would come for them someday. Maybe he would beat up the bad people like daddy promised and free them with his magic.

“I hope you’re right, momma,” Ren said. “I hope Kellar comes to save us.”

For the first time in Shina’s memory, she didn’t enjoy the flight back to Magia. Normally all it took was the warm wind, exhilarating speed, and the sight of the clouds to bring joy to her heart. Not this time, though: not when she knew what awaited her.

Us
,
she corrected.
They’ll be waiting for all of us
.

Shina tugged on Pancake’s fur, and the gryphon slowed enough to allow two anxious riders behind her to pass. When not obscured by the clouds, she could spot worry on the faces of the other mages. There was no way that fifty mages of the Order could all depart or arrive from Magia at once without causing a stir. Mistress Orellia had done well in organizing a last-minute effort to assist Saerina in her cause, but there’d be a steep price to pay once they returned.

The first of the floating buildings came into view, and Shina’s stomach rushed with nerves. Even Pancake sensed something was wrong, because he released a soft purr instead of his usual loud cry. As the fifty mounted riders entered Magia, Kellar, riding behind her, reassuringly squeezed her shoulders, making her grateful to be wearing her rubber gloves, or she’d spark so violently that she’d kill them both. His own gryphon was still unable to fly, so he’d again ridden double with Shina.

“It’ll be all right,” he whispered. “Mistress Orellia will handle this.”

Shina doubted Kellar’s words. She looked over to her mistress as the woman’s form appeared from within a transparent cloud. Of all present, Orellia seemed the most tense. After all, she’d been the one to organize the raid on the Hawk’s army, and so she’d now be the one to receive the biggest brunt of the discipline.

Even the discipline chamber might not be enough for her
.

Shina didn’t know what to expect upon their arrival. She knew there’d be someone to welcome the returning mages, perhaps even dole out their punishments on the spot, but she didn’t expect the sight that greeted her. As soon as the arrivals dock came into view, Shina spotted several-hundred robed figures crowding around the landing pads, and she froze for a moment in terror.

“Looks like they brought out everyone just for us,” Kellar said. Oddly, he gripped the sword at his hip. He was still in poor condition, bruised and breathing heavily from his battle with the Item. Yet there was still a great deal of fight in his eyes—there always was.

Only four gryphons could land at a time, so Pancake—along with all other waiting gryphons—circled around the arrivals dock in a holding pattern until it was their turn to descend. Shina heard an angered shout from a nearby mage. Orellia broke formation and her gryphon almost collided with another as she pulled up next to Shina.

“What is it, Mistress Orellia?” Shina asked. “That was a dangerous maneuver.”

Orellia brushed her red hair out of her eyes and leaned over in her mount to grab Shina’s arm. “Do not mention anything about Sehn or Nero,” she warned. “Let me do all the talking. Things are about to get very bad very quickly, Shina.”

“But why?”

“The ‘why’ doesn’t
matter.
Just obey me.”

When it was finally Pancake’s turn to land, Shina had prepared herself for the worst, and she was ready to face whatever punishment the council demanded. One’s ranking in Magia worked on a five-tiered hierarchy. On the lowest level, trainees, acolytes, and newly ordained mages obeyed their Masters and Mistresses, such as Orellia, who were in turn subservient to the High-Mages of the order. Above the High-Mages, the Archmages governed all of Magia, answering only to the Holy Magus, the most powerful mage of the Order. Shina had never met the man—if he was even a man—but she shivered at the thought of ever facing the Holy Magus.

As Pancake touched down on the landing pad, Shina could make out the expressions on the faces of those who’d been waiting for their arrival, and they certainly didn’t look happy to see her. Contempt decorated their features, and as one solitary body, she, Orellia, and the rest of their party found themselves surrounded. But why were there so many of them? What were all these mages doing here? Shina had expected one, maybe two High-Mages to be waiting, but glancing around, she counted seven—not to mention the close to two-hundred nosy mages observing as if taking some kind of sadistic glee in watching other mages be disciplined.

Shina hopped off Pancake’s back, and her boots clicked against the bronze surface. Everything in Magia was elaborately decorated, including the very ground upon which they walked. Spiraling patterns decorated the rough floor. Each stone had enough spirals to give off something of a hypnotic effect to any who stared into them.

“Now this is unusual,” said a voice behind Shina. She turned and smiled at the face of Iona, one of Orellia’s closest and oldest friends. Orellia had only brought along mages she trusted implicitly, mages who Shina had come to admire by the association. Orellia sighed while she closed the pack around her gryphon’s neck and gave the animal’s ear a loving tug. “Whatever happens here, we know we did what was right. That’s all that matters.”

Shina and the other forty-nine mages marched in loose formation through the crowd, which parted to allow them to pass. As unsettled as she was, it did help somewhat that Kellar walked by her side. God he was gorgeous. He shifted his eyes towards her, and she immediately turned away, blushing.

Maybe it won’t be so bad
,
Shina thought.
I mean
,
we can explain what happened
.
We can tell them how bad those men were and about all the horrible things they did
.
Maybe things will work out after all
.

Shina’s hope burned up in flames the moment she spotted the man standing in front of the entrance to the exit terminal, surrounded by seven High-Mages. The man was tall, old, and hideously ugly. His hair was bald except for a single thick braided lock, which ran from the center of his scalp to just in front of his eyes. In his left hand he held a wooden staff with a green bulb at the end. Even from several feet away, Shina’s nose twitched at the unclean scent coming from his grimy white robe. But the smell barely registered to Shina. She feared for her life at the murderous glare in the man’s eyes. He looked up at her as though she were not one of his mages but cur to be thrown off Magia and left to plummet down to the surface. The arrivals dock quieted as Orellia and company approached until the only sound was the wind.

Then Orellia stepped forward and began to speak. “Archmage Duncan,” she said in greeting. “It is a pleasure to stand before you.” She bowed deeply, bending low and throwing out her arms. “I am honored that you have chosen to receive us. Truly, it is a blessing of—”

Rather than terror, Shina felt a cold anger as the Archmage silenced her mistress. He stepped forward, quickly, and with a loud smack, the old, awful-smelling man slapped Mistress Orellia across the face with enough force to knock her down to her knees.

“You will speak only when spoken to, foul bitch.”

“Forgive me,” Orellia pleaded, blinking as though confused. “I was merely—”

Again Archmage Duncan cut her off, backhanding Orellia and causing spittle to fly from her lips. “What did I just say?”

For the second time, Shina was grateful to still be wearing her antistatic rubber gloves, because without them, she’d be practically exhaling electricity at the Archmage for his treatment of her mistress. Thankfully, he didn’t hit her a third time. He motioned for Orellia to stand and then turned to take in the rest of the assembled mages that Orellia had brought with her to defend Hahl from the Hawk. Many stiffened and averted their eyes—not Kellar, though. It almost seemed as if he was hoping Archmage Duncan would meet his eyes.

The Archmage’s chest expanded as he took in a slow, menacing breath. “Problems,” he said. “Oh, how you fools have caused me so many problems.” He shook his head like a disappointed parent and tsked. “Do you even know what I’ve done? How much I’ve had to throw away?”

Shina regretted being the closest to him aside from Orellia, because he turned his sights on her next. “Involving yourselves in a surface-dweller’s war,” he continued. “What have you become, my children? Taking sides in a military conflict, and even using your magic offensively! What am I to do with you?”

There were whispers from a dozen of the mages who observed from a short distance. Shina tried to remember their faces so she could know later on never to be nice to them, since, really, it was pretty clear by now that the only reason they were even here was to gossip about this afterwards. Yet they soon fell silent; Archmage Duncan turned his right eye on them, peering out at the spectating mages from the corner of it, and they quieted without another word.

“You,” the Archmage said, addressing Shina. “Would you like to explain what has taken place here?”

Shina wasn’t sure how to respond. Orellia had asked her to remain quiet. “Ah, I—”

“Please,” Orellia said, “she is my pupil, and I will answer any—”

“You dare to interrupt me again?” Duncan thundered. This time, he hit Orellia with his fist, spinning her around and knocking her onto her belly. “Speak again and you lose an arm. Do you understand me?”

Before responding, Orellia gave Shina a desperate look while blood dripped from between her lips, splashing onto the pavement. “Yes, I understand you, Archmage Duncan.”

The seven gathered High-Mages winced at Orellia’s abuse as though even
they
felt the Archmage was out of line. Shina had to bite her lip to prevent herself from attacking the man. Not that she’d be able to do anything against one of the Archmages, though.

“Now, back to you, my dear. It’s…Shina, is it?”

Shina wasn’t surprised that the Archmage knew her name, and not simply because she was both a sensor and a highly talented mage. Her father was also the chief of Elvar and a high-ranking official in Prince Saerith’s court.

Shina nodded. “Yes, Archmage Duncan.”

“Why don’t you tell me what possessed your superior here,” he said, referring to Mistress Orellia; his words were riddled with scorn. “To lead fifty of my mages on an illegal, unsanctioned, and potentially fatal mission to involve themselves in some surface-dweller’s war?”

Every ear in the arrivals dock inched just a little closer, all eagerly waiting for Shina’s response. She needed more time—she needed to think of what to say, yet there would be hell to pay for any who made an Archmage wait, so without guidance from Orellia, Shina decided upon the truth.

She forced moisture into her mouth. “Okay, you see…the thing is…what happened was…” Shina could see the Archmage growing impatient, so she took a breath and struggled to voice an explanation that made some sort of sense.”

“It wasn’t
just
a surface-dweller’s war, Archmage Duncan. There is a man out there. A very, very bad man, and he’s going around ordering the death of children and the rape of women. He’s even looking for the Items—if he doesn’t have them already. So we went to stop him. Or his army, I mean, because they were gonna destroy the human city of Hahl.”

The Archmage stroked his chin and nodded. “You’re referring to the Hawk, yes?”

Not expecting the response, Shina exclaimed, “You know about this guy?” Then she clasped her hand on her mouth, remembering she’d spoken without permission.

The Archmage didn’t strike her, thankfully. Instead, he said, “Yes, of course I know of him. And like I have said, it is a surface-dweller’s problem. Do you really believe a few magical artifacts and a pack of surface-dwellers could pose a threat to the combined might of our entire magical army? If this is the only reason you’ve decided to involve yourself in a war, then I fear the consequences will be grave, indeed.”

“Only reason? That’s nonsense!” Shina yelled. “You didn’t see what we saw. You didn’t see how—”

The world seemed to blur for a moment, followed by an intense ringing sensation in Shina’s ears. She was dizzy, and her eyes struggled to remain focused. Why did she taste blood in her mouth? Then she felt the pain. She found herself on her back, her jaw on fire.

The Archmage looked down on her. His voice turned to a low, rumbling growl. “To be insulted by a lowly mistress is a disrespect so terrible that I shudder at the memory! But now, to also be disrespected by her pupil? I will teach you a lesson you will not forget.”

He drew back his arm, ready to strike Shina a second time. She flinched even before he hit her. How badly would it hurt? She looked away and hoped he didn’t knock out one of her teeth. When nothing happened, Shina dared to turn her head back in his direction. She heard gasps of surprise from all around—both from the mages observing and Orellia’s company.

The Archmage groaned in pain, and Shina thought her eyes would pop out of their sockets at the source of his discomfort. Kellar stood in front of her with the Archmage’s arm clutched tightly in his right hand, preventing him from moving let alone striking Shina.

“What kind of man strikes a lady?” he growled. The veins in his forehead bulged as he squeezed even more tightly. The Archmage yelped and dropped his staff. It clicked once against the ground before lying still.

“What are you doing, you stupid boy?” he whispered. “Unhand me at once, or I’ll have you thrown off this platform.”

Kellar released the Archmage while his seven High-Mages stepped protectively in front of him. This was bad. This was really bad. Kellar was powerful, perhaps even as strong with magic as one of the High-Mages, but with a single wave of his hand, the Archmage could incinerate Kellar.