The Jade Mage: The Becoming: Volume 1 (49 page)

“Possibly not, Half-breed, possibly. Not at first though. I would have been superior at first...yes...yesss...You have become very entertaining...more so than even this vessel...yes...Perhaps one day...yes, one day...We can speak as equalssss...yes, yesssss!” Her final word trailing off in a wicked hiss that Tartum knew meant Calimsha was giving control back to Rashlarr. He waited patiently for the transfer to finish and for Rashlarr to begin talking. After a minute, his patience was rewarded.

“Ugh, she took over again, didn’t she?” Rashlarr asked as he spit. He looked like he had just bitten into a spoiled lemon.

“Yes, Rashlarr, we had a pleasant conversation as always.” Tartum replied.

Rashlarr nodded and looked around the room. He started when he saw Jeth on the ground, but then he had one of his internal conversations with Calimsha and she seemed to bring him up to speed. Tartum wondered when she had taken control of his body and how much Rashlarr had seen and how much she had told him about.

Rashlarr held out his hand and spoke a word, “
Recover
.” Tartum looked around and saw the rocks and debris from his final fireball melt into the floor and clean itself up. The torches rematerialized along the walls, and the ceiling took on its sphere shape again where the explosion had damaged it. After a few moments the room was mostly back to normal, and Tartum extinguished the light from his staff. The room was a little worse for wear, but it was mostly just warped spots along the floor where the green flames of his fireball had melted the stone. It was an impressive bit of magic, and Tartum grunted his approval.

His spell cast, Rashlarr looked up at Tartum and spoke, “Well done Tartum. Very well done. No one has ever killed an ogre during their final stage of training. I, myself, summoned food for Gurth until he passed out. My appraiser, at the time, decided that was good enough and allowed me to pass. I honestly did not think you’d be able to kill him as much as just wound him. I am very proud of you, and in Jeth’s, um, absence, I’ll act as your appraiser and let Savall know you’re ready for your over exam.”

Tartum raised an eyebrow at the mention of an over exam; “What’s an over exam?” he asked. He had never heard of such a thing, nor had anyone told him about one.

Rashlarr smiled, “The over exam is your final test given to you by none other than Savall. I can’t tell you much, but basically he tests you personally and then sends you on a mock mission which tests all your skills. Both trained and untrained. After it’s over, if you’re still alive, he judges your performance, and if he deems you worthy, you are a full-fledged member of the guild. If not, then you’re probably dead.” Rashlarr said the last part like he was telling him his robe was torn. Tartum was getting sick of being tested.

“So after this
over exam
I’ll finally be a member?” Tartum asked.

Rashlarr nodded, and Tartum sighed, “Good. I don’t know how many more of these damn tests I can endure.” He said, only half serious. With a laugh, Rashlarr clapped Tartum on the back, and they walked out of the training room. They left Jeth lying there, unconscious, and broken. In Tartum’s mind, everything about the day was as it should be.

CHAPTER 19

“So he put his arms up to try and block it, and BAM! It blasted him into pieces! It was incredible! There was fire everywhere, and after I put it out I walked up to Jeth and knocked him on his ass. For all I know he’s still in there! Yea, babe! It was something else!” Tartum was gushing.

As he regaled Elizabeth with tales of his battle she looked up at him and smiled. She looked slightly bored and once or twice he could have sworn she rolled her eyes, but Tartum didn’t care. His moment of triumph wouldn’t be ruined by anyone or anything, and he was enjoying telling his story so much, he really didn’t care if she was listening or not. Finishing his tale, Tartum sat down at the table beside her and beamed with delight. He couldn’t think of a victory he was more proud of.

Elizabeth simply sat in her chair smiling at him. When it became apparent he wasn’t going to say anything else, she spoke up, “Sounds like you did great, Sweetie! I guess that means your over exam is all that’s left for you to become a full-fledged member.” Elizabeth said. Tartum thought she seemed preoccupied by something.

“Yes, Rashlarr told me about it as we were leaving the training room. Something about Savall testing me and then sending me on a mock mission. If I survive I’m in, if not I’m dead; sounds about par for the course around here. Tell me something, not a lot of recruits make it, do they?” he asked.

Elizabeth paused and then nodded, “No, most don’t make it past combat training to be honest. Jeth has been known to kill his recruits; especially casters. It’s what first attracted me to you. Don’t get me wrong sweetheart, I thought you were attractive the minute I saw you all shy and quiet in front of us. Even Buddy was a cutie!” Elizabeth winked and gave him a little grin as she remembered the moment, “Then a few months later, I see Jeth missing an eye and everyone saying the new recruit had done it. Well, now that I knew you were a contender and that you had potential I decided to see if my attraction towards you was more than skin deep.” She finished with a demure look on her face. Tartum saw where this was going and took the bait happily.

“So, what have you determined?” he asked, sliding over towards her.

Elizabeth smiled wickedly before she responded, “Well you’re attractive enough to be sure, but you’re really needy and you talk too much. Plus, you study that stupid book of yours sooo much. What does a girl have to do to get your attention anyway?!” as she said it she began to laugh and leaned in for a kiss.

Tartum was having too good of a day to allow her to get in the last word of their feigned fight. Teasingly, he turned his head away from her and folded his arms across his chest. With the most hurt, childish, voice he could manage he replied; “Harrumph! If that’s the way you feel then I guess me and Buddy will just have to find a new girl to be around that appreciates a well-read man.” He barely finished his retort without bursting with laughter.

“Oh that’s it, you brat! I’ll show you just how much this
girl
appreciates her ogre slayer!” she said with just enough venom in her voice to get Tartum’s blood moving. She threw herself at him, and they both fell to the floor laughing as they kissed. Their moment of bliss was cut short by Buddy, jumping out from under the bed and barking at the doorway. Tartum couldn’t see who was there because the table was obscuring the view.

From the doorway, a throat cleared. “Tartum, I hope I’m not interrupting, but I need to talk with you, son.” the voice said. Tartum and Elizabeth recognized who said that immediately and jumped up at the sound of Savall’s voice. Straitening their clothing in an attempt to make themselves presentable, Tartum gave Buddy the command to relax.

“Down, Buddy. Its ok, it’s ok! Savall can enter.” He patted Buddy as he coaxed his pet’s anger down. “Friend, friend, Buddy. Down!” Buddy looked up at Tartum and back at Savall. With one last woof, he went back under the bed. Tartum smiled, he really loved that dog.

Remembering who was in his room, Tartum stood up and greeted his leader. “Boss! Sorry about that, Buddy was just doing his job. Please come in and have a seat.” Tartum pulled out a chair and offered it to Savall.

Waving away the offered chair, Savall walked inside the room, keeping half an eye on the space between the bed and the floor. “Never have I seen a dog so loyal to its master. You did well to rescue him from the urchins in the alley.” he said. Tartum was confused at the topic of conversation Savall had chosen and didn’t know how to respond. Instead of taking the chance of saying something to make himself sound foolish, he simply nodded. It seemed to be the right response.

“Sorry, I didn’t come down here to ruin your celebrations. Truly, from what Rashlarr and Vaund have told me, you have earned yourself quite the victory; almost destroying the training room in the process.” Savall smiled as he spoke. “That’s not why I’m here either, although congratulations are in order. No, I’m here because Rashlarr and Vaund also told me what Jeth did, and how you overcame his treachery, and how you handled him afterward.”

Tartum began to speak up to defend himself, but Savall held up his hand to silence him. “No, Tartum, I’m not mad at you, son. Truth be told, Jeth has had that coming for a long time, and I’m surprised he would try such a foolish thing. No, I came to stop anymore retribution from occurring on either side before it can be plotted. I’ve already talked to Jeth and informed him that if he ever does anything to hinder, harm, or betray you again, that I would be the one he would answer too.” A sinister look crossed his face as he continued; “He knows that if he tries something like that again, with any recruit or member of my guild, I’ll gut him and feed him to your dog!” The tone of his voice and look on his face made Tartum’s mouth dry. He looked down at the pitcher of water on the table for just a moment, but decided this was not the best time to look weak in front of his boss. He had a feeling that murderous intent in his eyes could easily transfer from Jeth to himself.

Savall’s demeanor changed, and the predatory look in his eyes was replaced by a humbler one. Reaching into a hidden compartment in his armor, Savall drew out an exquisite double edged knife. The handle was made out of solid jade that had been hand crafted to look like the neck and head of a roaring dragon. The blade was folded steel and had dual, razor sharp edges. The blade was flawless and had been well cared for. Savall saw Tartum admiring the blade and sheathed it in a rounded scabbard made from the same jade as the handle. It was nine inches long from the top of the hilt to the tip of blade and was the most beautiful knife Tartum had ever seen.

“I told you after you took Jeth’s eye that there would be no retribution from either side. I gave you my word, and Jeth broke it. The only reason he’s not dead at my hand is because I need him for a big mission coming up. I need you as well, son. Which is why I’ve come here, I apologize on behalf of Jeth and my inability to keep him to his word. I offer you this knife as a token of my promise to keep him true to his word this time, and that there will not be any more retaliations. I also give you this knife as a prize for killing an ogre that has been an irritant to me for almost a decade. It cost me a fortune to keep that brute fed and entertained, just so he could kill recruits not worthy of the guild. So, I’m sorry, Tartum, and thank you.” His apology given, Savall walked over and placed the knife in Tartum’s hands.

“Rashlarr tells me he calls you the Jade Mage now. I thought that this knife suited that name. It goes well with your staff and dome spell in any case.” He said. With a smile, Savall headed back towards the door. Stopping at the doorway, he looked back at Tartum; “I have big plans for you, son. Don’t let me down by failing your over exam. I’ll come for you in a few days. Be prepared.”

Looking from Savall, to the knife, and back, Tartum’s pride swelled; placing the knife in his belt, he nodded at Savall. “I’ll be ready, Boss.” Savall smiled and walked out of his room.

Elizabeth had been silent and still as the scene played out before her. Now she went over and looked at the knife in Tartum’s belt. He noticed a hint of jealousy in her eyes as she looked up at him. Smiling at her, Tartum couldn’t help himself; “Weren’t you about to show me how much you appreciate me before we were interrupted?” he asked her.

Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth smiled and shoved Tartum on the bed. “I’ll show you that I’m a better reward than any stupid knife, sweetheart!” she stated, as she began kissing him on his neck.

Tartum closed his eyes and let Elizabeth do all the work. This was truly one of the best days of his life!

CHAPTER 20

Having the next few days off, Tartum decided that this would be a good time to do something he had meant to do since he got out of the Null Box. He gathered up his staff and headed towards Vaund’s room. He decided it was time to figure out how to heal himself with magic, instead of always relying on Vaund to do it for him.

He found him in his room on the second floor. He was sitting in a heavily cushioned chair positioned next to a round table in the center of the room. The chair’s twin was across from it on the other side of the table, unoccupied. Vaund’s room was small, but Tartum found it strangely inviting. It was completely carpeted from the floor all the way to the ceiling with a dark red, thick, and shaggy material that made the room look like it was the inside of a fur ball. There were lanterns on the tables and shelves that cluttered the room and a large bookcase that took up the wall that shared the doorway. A hammock hung from the ceiling against the far side of the room, and just like in Elizabeth’s room, the shelves were full of items and trinkets of all sorts. Unlike Elizabeth’s room, Vaund kept the lights dim so that his room was bathed in a perpetual twilight, and there was incense burning in numerous small pots. The smoky atmosphere combined with the dim light of the lanterns and red hue of the walls seemed familiar to Tartum. He didn’t quite understand it, but he really felt comfortable inside Vaund’s room. Looking up from his book Vaund noticed Tartum admiring his room. He smiled his sad smile and put his book down on the table.

“What can I do for you, Jade Mage? Are you hurt?” Vaund asked. His genuine concern touched Tartum, and he shook his head.

“No, my friend; I’m fine. I actually came to see you to ask you about your magic. Do you have a moment?” Tartum asked.