Rogue Magician (The Magician Rebellion) (32 page)

Byrn
nodded and got down to one knee and placed his hand to the ground. “Come forth,
Sprite Lauralee,” he said solemnly.

Lifting
his hand up Byrn revealed a golden hued fairy about the size of his palm.
“Byrn, I missed you!” said the little sprite flitting about. She swooped in and
hugged his shoulder, as she was apt to do.

“
It
is good to see you too, Lauralee,” he told her warmly, “But I have a request of
you. Can you find this woman's parents and send them to the castle to meet
their daughter? She has been missing for some time and they are undoubtedly
worried.”

“
Yes,
of course,” Lauralee winked at her human friend and started examining Tian. She
flew around the lady like a hummingbird examining her from every angle. “There
is such pain written all over you, poor child,” Lauralee said to her clearly
upset. Then brightening added, “Ooh, a noble birth, but... not of the royal
line. Still you are highborn among your people... You are the child of a
warlord. Nightwind, perhaps?”

Tian
smiled at the aggressively friendly fairy. “You could tell my family just by
looking at me?”

“
I
like her,” Lauralee said returning to Byrn, but ignoring Tian's question, “and
she is very pretty.” Byrn swatted at her playfully and the sprite flew off
giggling to find the warlord and his wife.

Byrn
led the group heading for the castle. The day was just starting, but there were
enough people about that they garnered some strange looks from passersby at
seeing such a motley group escorting a bound priest through the city.

Mantellus
pulled at his restraints and shouted that he was being kidnapped at every
person they walked past, but seeing Byrn's grim determination and the haggard
look of the women that obviously detested the priest most thought it was better
to leave them unmolested as they passed through the warehouse district into the
merchants' areas, but the fire magician noticed several people running off
probably to get a guardsman.

It
was not long before Byrn was proven right and a squad of guardsmen wishing to
know their business with the clearly harried priest confronted them. Byrn was
about to tell them to clear a path when Marian stepped in front of him. Her clothes
were burnt and torn, but it was clear that she had been dressed as someone who
was of worth as was Lady Tian.

“
I
am Marian Lightfoot,” she told them with a certain air of nobility that Byrn
had never seen before and he wondered if it was just for show or if this was
how his mother now carried herself, “and this is Lady Tian Nightwind, who has
been missing for nearly two weeks. This
man
kidnapped Lady Tian
and tortured both her and myself.” She gestured at the bound priest. “We are
taking him to the king's court to await judgment. Do you seek to stop us or
would you be more inclined to provide us with an escort?” The squad leader
seemed to hesitate and Marian added, “There is plenty of glory to go around.”

The
squad leader looked to Marian; then to Tian and Byrn; and finally to Mantellus
who said, “Please! They are rogues attempting to kidnap me. Do not be fooled
good sir.”

After
an awkward minute the squad leader relented. “We will escort your group to the
castle and allow the magistrate to sort this out.” Then looking at Byrn, he
added, “If any of you try anything funny, then I will personally run you
through without a second thought. Is that understood?” Byrn nodded in agreement
and the group continued toward the castle reaching up into the sky with the
guardsmen escorting them on either side.

On
their way to the castle two more squads joined them, providing an escort of a
dozen men. Being surrounded by guards Byrn felt uncomfortable, but he tried to
stay calm. He reminded himself that they were not his enemies, at least in this
matter, and he could escape with a simple spell any time he wanted. The one
sided defeat he handed Mantellus was proof that he was no longer a simple
apprentice learning his craft.

The
rumors of Lady Tian's return preceded the group so that when they reached the
castle it looked as if every noble, courtier, and soldier within a mile of the
castle was in attendance. The crowd whispered when the group came into site,
now escorted by no less than two dozen guardsmen, and when those that new the
young lady whispered in awe that Lady Tian Nightwind had indeed returned it was
only moments later that the audience broke out in cheers and hoots of joy.

Soldiers
not part of the escort lifted their swords and spears in salute as Byrn and his
new allies crossed the courtyard into the castle. Byrn had never experienced
anything like this before and he tried to keep his pride in check. He coldly
reminded himself that these were the people that hated him for simply being a
magician and he had spent the last three years of his life hiding from them
after they locked him in prison. They were every bit his enemy as much as
Mantellus was if not more so.

Three
courtiers on each side pulled the huge double doors open leading to the great
expanse of the throne room. A man dressed in an exquisite shirt of brown and
purple silk that Byrn guessed was the magistrate motioned them in. Byrn,
Marian, and Tian shed their escort and entered the throne room with Mantellus
in tow. The priest had given up struggling by the time their escort had reached
a dozen men and now followed meekly behind.

King
Kale Aurel sat on his thrown atop the dais with his wife, Queen Wendi, sitting
to his right and his son, Prince Janus, to his left. Byrn looked around for
Sane and found his old master standing amongst the nobles in attendance to the
far right alongside his elf friend, Sari, who openly waved at his mother.
Marian gave the elf a nod and a smile in return remaining more reserved.

The
king descended the throne and stood before Tian Nightwind. “It is good to see
you safe and sound, child.” He looked to the priest with his hands tied behind
his back and asked, “This is the man who abducted you?” Tian nodded and King
Kale ordered that he be taken away for questioning.

“
A
word of warning, your highness. This man is no priest. He is a magician and a
very evil man,” Byrn warned. It was a break in protocol, but the king seemed
willing to let it slide under the circumstances and thanked Byrn for the
warning.

The
prince stood up and bellowed, “It is as I said all along...” He gave a sidelong
glance to Sane and added, “Wizards can not be trusted. We have been far too
lenient with them.”

“
Watch
your words!” Byrn shouted and the room fell silent. He knew insulting the
prince could mean his life, but he did not care. “I, too, am a magician and I
saved the Lady Nightwind. It was through magic that I was led to her and
through magic I defeated her captor. If not for the use of magic she would be a
prisoner still.

“
Magicians
can be evil. They can cause pain and suffering, but they are also equally
capable of doing great good. Locking us all up and separating us from the rest
of society only serves to turn us against you when we could be your allies.”

The
prince's face turned red with anger and more than one guard's hand went to his
sword, but King Kale held up a hand to silence his son. To Byrn, his voice was
harsh when he said, “Your insolence aside, I would speak with you. Rescuing
Tian is the only reason you have not been subdued already, so I would watch my
tone when addressing the royal assembly. What is your name, magician?”

A
more subdued, but still proud Byrn added. “My name is Byrn Lightfoot and this
is my mother Marian Lightfoot.” The young magician said indicating the
well-dressed woman beside him.

“
Your
grace,” Marian bowed as was proper. Seeing her, Byrn followed suit if a little
late.

The
king looked at Byrn as if trying to place him. “Your name sounds familiar. Do I
know you from somewhere?”

Byrn
shook his head, “We have never met... your grace.”

“
I
recognize the name! He is the boy who escaped from Baj a few years ago,
father,” Prince Janus looked to Sane with a wicked grin and to the king
continued, “Sane's lost apprentice. He is a wanted criminal.”

The
assembled nobles murmured at the revelation. Minutes ago they cheered for Byrn
Lightfoot now they looked upon him with mixed wonder and fear. The guardsmen
who stood by his side in the streets moved their hands to their weapons
discreetly. Waiting to see how this would all unfold, but prepared for the
worst.

The
sorcerer stepped forward to stand next to his former student. “It is true, my
lord. Years ago I vouched for this young man...” Sane’s eyes locked with Byrn’s
as if the sorcerer was trying to make his mind up about something, but Byrn
could not guess about what. “Now I will do so once again.”

“
Indeed,”
the king glared at his adviser as if there was some unspoken exchange, “Your
judgment is well regarded, Sane.” The king took his place on the dais and
addressing the gathered nobility told them, “Despite recent revelations we have
much to celebrate with the return of Lady Tian Nightwind who is like a niece to
me. The magicians, Byrn and Marian Lightfoot, will be treated like guests.
Tomorrow night we will dine together and rejoice in our good fortunes.”

Byrn
was about to object to his mother being mentioned as a magician, but she
whispered, “We will sort it out later.”

Before
dismissing them, King Kale added, “Sane, as the court magician, I am putting
our magic guests under your care. See that they use their best behavior.” He
shot a glance to Byrn.

***

Sane
and Sari escorted the three guests to a wing used for housing visiting nobles.
The sorcerer asked of the ladies' health and made polite conversation until
they reached the guest quarters.

When
it was only Byrn and Sane left the sorcerer told him, “I will have clothing
brought to you for dinner tonight,” matter of factly and turned to walk away.

“
Sane,
wait a moment. I owe you thanks for vouching for me back there.”

“
Do
you know I was ordered to hunt you down and kill you after you escaped from
Baj?” Sane chastised his former apprentice. Now the sorcerer's anger could no
longer be contained. He shoved Byrn hard pushing him into his room. “I trusted
you and you betrayed me! My life could have been forfeit for your rash
actions!”

“
That
was not my intention. I just wanted to be free.” When Sane did not respond Byrn
asked, “I knew you were searching for me and I don’t blame you for following
orders, but I have to know if you would have found me, would you have killed
me?”

Sane’s
eyes burned with intensity for a moment. Then with some great degree of
restraint the sorcerer put his anger in check. “When you meet the king you must
be on your best behavior. You represent not just yourself, but all magicians
whether they are in hiding or otherwise. Show him that despite all that has
transpired that I was not wrong about you.” The sorcerer began to walk away,
but turned and added, “When you return to Lion's Landing give Avelice my best
wishes.” The off-hand comment left Byrn dumbfounded and he wondered if Sane had
known where he was all along.

The
dinner party
honoring
Lady Tian's rescuers was a lavish affair. Venison, roasted duck, and chicken
sat on a large table nearly the length of the immense dining hall surrounded by
various fruits and berries from across the kingdom. At smaller tables various
nobles and guests of honor sat around making polite conversation, but the
attention of all of the party goers flickered to the head table for most of the
evening where King Kale ate with Byrn sitting to his right. Queen Wendi sat to
her husband's left next to Prince Janus, Sane, Edessa Nightwind, Warlord Ethiel
Nightwind, and circling back to Byrn's right was Lady Tian who appeared to be
no worse off for her encounter with Mantellus- at least not physically.
Although Marian Lightfoot was counted as a heroine to Lady Tian as well, she
was relegated to a nearby table where she ate with Sari and several others who
had the look of well off nobles.

Much
to Byrn's discomfort the subject of their discussion was the young magician's
fate. As an escaped prisoner from Baj and a rogue magician he was considered a
dangerous criminal and there was still an outstanding order from the very king
he now dined with to kill the magician on sight.

“
You
can see the predicament I face,” King Kale told Byrn during the second course,
“On one hand I am indebted to you for saving Lord Ethiel's daughter. On the
other you are a criminal and the only person to escape from Baj in nearly two
centuries.”

“
Agreed,”
Prince Janus added more subdued than during his earlier outburst, “It is a
difficult position my father now faces. He is honor-bound to reward you, but if
he were to do so, then he would appear soft on the magician sect and tacitly
condoning your actions as a criminal up to this point. Any sign of weakness
would embolden your fellow rogues.”

Byrn
took a drink of wine as he framed his response. Sane's warning that he would be
viewed as a spokesman for all magicians had been taken to heart and he wanted
to speak in a way that would make Avelice and his friends proud. “You may be
right. There are magicians out there who hunger for power or are sadistic
monsters. Mantellus Firekin is a perfect example of what a magician can be at
his worst, but there are also those who feel it is necessary to wage war on the
kingdom to secure their own freedom, but in my experience over the past few
years they are few in number. Most of the magicians in hiding simply wish to
live in peace and enjoy the freedoms that the rest of the citizenry have.