Rogue Magician (The Magician Rebellion) (23 page)

He
nodded.

“
Good!”
said the excited fairy. Instantly taking a mock serious tone she said, “Now
question number one: Who told you to seek out Avelice Necros?”

“
Her
husband, Xander Necros,” Byrn said sitting up and rubbing his eyes to clear the
sleep away.

“
Question
two: Why do you seek her?” the fairy acted as if she was writing something down
although she lacked anything to write with or on.

Byrn
looked around for the stable master as the strangeness of what was happening
occurred to him. Seeing that they were alone, he continued, “I seek training
and someplace safe to stay… at least for a little while.”

The
fairy flitted around the stable a bit and returned to her original position
opposite the drowsy magician. “I do not know if I believe you,” she told him in
a mock serious tone, “This is a really nice barn. Why would you ever want to
leave?”

He
opened his mouth to tell her it was a stable, but found he did not really care
and doubted that the little fairy really did either.

When
no answer came the fairy continued, “Question number three: Why were you in
Baj?”

Byrn
considered lying and telling her that he did nothing wrong- that he was
unjustly imprisoned. He had gotten good at lying lately, but instead he told
her the truth, “There was an ogre attack in Colum, my hometown, last year. I
helped to fight them, but I… lost control. Nine people died from my actions. I
had only just found out that I could use magic that day and unwittingly drained
the blood source from those innocent people. My father was among those killed.”

The
fairy woman looked very sad, “That is so tragic.” She fluttered over to him and
grabbed his shoulder squeezing it in her outstretched arms. Byrn found he was a
little surprised at the tiny woman's strong arms. When she let go she smiled
and said, “You looked like you could use a hug.”

She
looked at Byrn closely as if she was making some decision and then said, “Stay
here.” Without waiting for a response, she flew in a small circle before flying
out an open window so fast that Byrn could barely follow her movement with his
eyes.

Byrn
sat in his bed watching the horses sleep in their stables below. Hours passed
slowly as he waited for the fairy's return and the sun began to rise. A ray of
sunlight came through the window and the rogue magician knew she would not
return. He was alone. Turshyn and whoever else he was conferring with had decided
not to help him.

It
did not matter, he thought. He could get by on his own. Sane had not yet found
him and Byrn could still leave Lion's Landing at any time. He could start over
anywhere. It would be a simple matter to board a ship and sail to Mollifas. From
there he could leave behind Aurelia completely and sail north to the dwarven
kingdom of Ghant. He could even travel as far north as Tempest where magician's
ruled the land.

Grabbing
the small pouch of coins he earned working in the stable, he left for the pier
to find passage north. If he stayed in Lion's Landing too long, then his
pursuers would discover him eventually. Mollifas was the largest city in the
kingdom and the seat of the king’s power. He doubted Sane would think to look
for him there, assuming that would be the last place that a rogue magician
would go.

An
older woman in her fifties was watching him as he left the stable. Her hair was
black, but beginning to show signs of graying. She wore a gray cloak and had
what appeared to be a decorative walking staff, but Byrn guessed it was more
magical in nature.

“
You
were told to stay put,” said the graying magician when Byrn approached her, “I
have decided to help you, but would speak with you directly first. My name is
Avelice Necros.”

Byrn
extended his hand, “It is good to meet you.”

Shaking
it, she asked, “We need to speak freely. Is there anyone in the barn?”

“
Just
the horses.”

They
entered and Avelice placed her hand on Byrn's shoulder, “Let us go.”

He
felt any easy lightness flow through him before entering the white void and a
few seconds later he was in a grove surrounded by trees. “We are in the forest
outside of Lion's Landing?” he guessed.

“
Yes,”
answered Avelice, “about a half mile from where you met Turshyn yesterday. You
got very close to us before Turshyn happened upon you.”

Avelice
Necros moved to a bench not far from where they transported in and pat the seat
next to her indicating that Byrn should sit. “You met my husband in Baj and he
sent you here to find me, is that correct?”

“
Yes,
he did,” Byrn answered hesitantly at first judging her expression. “We realized
there was an opportunity for me to escape and he told me that if I found you
and used his name then you would help me.”

“
I
am not looking to start a war as my husband was. When you ask for 'help' what
do you mean?”

“
I
am still new to the ways of magic and would like to practice under you. In
truth, I have been told that I am very talented for my age, but there are
glaring holes in my education due to the circumstances of my training. If you
are unwilling to take me as a student, then I would request aid in the form of
a staff or grimoire if you can spare one or would be willing to learn if you
would show me how to make my own.” Byrn looked at his scabbed over palms and
flexed his hands as he said the last bit.

“
Self
inflicted?” the graying magician nodded at his cuts.

“
It
has been a difficult trek getting here,” Byrn admitted.

Avelice
nodded and smiled softly, “Without a proper staff, spell casting can be a very
taxing exercise, but I will show you how to make your own so that should you
ever lose it, you can replace it on your own.

“
Now
I would like to hear the rest of your story. Tell me how you escaped from Baj
and came to be here.”

Byrn
began his story with his lessons of magic from his fellow inmates and recalled
his tale up to the point where he met Turshyn. It was morning when he started
his story and when he finished it was midday. All the while Avelice sat nearly
motionless giving the young magician her undivided attention. When he finally
finished talking they sat in uncomfortable silence for several long minutes
while Avelice thought. Finally she said, “Byrn, if what you say is true and I
have no reason to doubt your claims from what Turshyn told me of your brief encounter,
then I would like to invite you to join my school.”

She
waved her hand beyond the grove and indicated a medium sized cabin in the
distance that Byrn hadn't noticed before. He briefly wondered if it had always
been there and he simply missed it or if it had been concealed by magical
means.

Three
students by the looks of them walked out of the cabin as if summoned. Turshyn
led the others and was closely followed by two young ladies. One was an
attractive blonde girl close to Byrn in age, dressed in a simple blue robe and
the other was a youngster of about twelve or thirteen years also with blonde
hair, but wearing a simple shirt and trousers.

“
You
know Turshyn Necran,” said Avelice introducing the newcomers, “and the others
are Mellani and Minerva Truthsayer.” Avelice pointed to the elder sister and
then the younger as she spoke.

“
Everyone
just calls me Minnie,” said the younger girl flashing a big grin that was
reminiscent of the little fairy from the previous night.

“
It
is good to meet you,” Byrn told her bending down so that he was at eye level.
To Turshyn, he asked, “Are you of any relation to a Tell Necran?”

“
I
can not say that I am,” said Turshyn, “I take my name as a sign of my skill as
a necromancer rather than a family name.” Byrn nodded showing he understood. It
was not an unheard of thing. Most commoners did the same, preferring to
identify with their trade rather than take a family name. Most children tended
to follow in their parents footsteps, so they usually shared the same family
name anyway.

“
And
this is Byrn Lightfoot,” Avelice told the others.

“
Lightfoot?
Are you a foot-pad?” asked the older girl, Mellani.

“
Lightfoot
is a master courier name,” Byrn told them. “It was my father's name.”

Mellani
looked as if she was about to ask another question, but Avelice shook her head
slightly and the girl simply said, “I am sorry. I meant no disrespect.”

Byrn
wryly smiled and said, “No worries. Now that you bring it up I can see how you
might think that, my lady.”

When
he called Mellani “my lady” she blushed and did her best to prevent a smile.
Quickly excusing herself she ran back to the cabin to retrieve something
inconsequential and a giggling Minnie followed after her.

“
Byrn,
would you please follow the girls?” Avelice suggested, “Ask Minnie to show you
to Turshyn's room. You will be bunking together once I can get an extra bed.
For now the floor is yours.”

***

Once
Byrn was well out of earshot Avelice said to Turshyn, “Mellani seems a little
taken with him. I know you have feelings for her. Will this cause a problem?”

“
For
me? Almost certainly,” answered the young necromancer, “but if you are asking
if I intend to leave or cause problems if she chooses him over me then your
fears are misplaced. Mellani has told me plainly that she regards me as a
brother. If it is not Byrn, then it will be someone else, but it will never be
me.”

“
Turshyn,
you are wise beyond your years.” Avelice put her arm around her favorite
student amicably. She added as they headed toward the cabin, “Have I ever
introduced you to my daughter? She is a little older than you, but she could
use a nice level-headed young man in her life.”

“
Is
this the same daughter that set a boy’s hair on fire when she found out that he
liked another girl?” Turshyn asked with a half laugh.

“
Did
I tell you that story, already?” Avelice joked, “She was barely Minnie’s age at
the time and the boy’s hair grew back in hardly any time at all.”

Turshyn
laughed again. “If it is all the same to you, I think I will forego anymore
girl problems for a while.”

Kellen
ate his breakfast greedily while the sorcerer watched in amazement. A plate of
fried eggs, ham steak, and bacon sat in front of the warrior and was rapidly
disappearing. This was his third plate and Sane looked as if he was guessing how
long it would be until the knight-captain's belly would burst from his plate
armor. Kellen grinned, “Not eating?”

“
Somehow
I lost my appetite,” Sane tried to smile back. Weeks of searching for Byrn had
turned up nothing and the old sorcerer's spirit was beginning to wane. To make
matters more complicated it was clear that Sane was still unsure what to do
with the boy should they find him.

The
door to the inn opened allowing a soft breeze to blow in for a moment carrying
the scent of lavender from the woman who had just entered. She wore a black
cloak and had flowing black hair with touches of gray. Seeing the magician and
warrior eating she approached them and pulled up an empty chair at their table.

“
Avelice?”
Sane asked surprised, “It has been a long time.”

Kellen
looked to the woman and back to Sane. When no introduction came he extended his
hand, “I am Knight-Captain Kellen. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,
my lady.”

Avelice
shook his hand, “And yours as well. You may call me Avelice, knight-captain.”
To Sane, she said, “I wish we were meeting under more pleasant circumstances.
You are looking for a young magician.” It was not a question.

“
I
am,” Sane nodded in agreement, but said nothing more.

Both
magicians wore grim expressions and their eyes stayed locked on each other as
they spoke. Kellen suddenly felt like an intruder on their conversation and
guessed that there was much being left unsaid between them.

“
To
what end?” Avelice asked. Kellen noticed her hand move ever so slightly towards
her cloak. It was an unconscious movement on the woman's part as she sought the
comfort of her grimoire that was undoubtedly hidden underneath. Simply touching
it would be enough for her to cast a spell if need be.

When
Sane did not answer, she turned to Kellen as if making some sort of decision.
Her hand crept closer to her cloak and the warrior leaned forward grabbing her
by the wrist. “Let us keep this a civil discussion. We are not your enemies.”
The warrior looked to Sane. “Are we?”

Sane
laughed a tired laugh and the tension broke a little. “No, we are decidedly not
enemies.” He placed his hands on the table and Avelice did the same. Amongst
magicians placing their hands in front of them was a common sign that neither
would use magic. “I am unsure what I am going to do. The king has decreed that
the boy should die for his crimes, but I do not know if I can bring myself to
do it.”

For
the first time, Avelice smiled, but it did not last long. “You care for him.”
Again it was not a question. “He is safe with me and I will see that he gets
the education he needs. Will that suffice?”