The Mage of Orlon: The beginning (16 page)

Nathan could go back to the land of the living!
Then why was he here?
Did healing someone take that much out of him?
Did he dare ask Shinto and look even more foolish?
What choice did he have?
He was flying blind here!
Shinto seemed to know a great deal about phoenix mages so why not pick his brain for a little bit.

“
How did I get here Shinto?
”

“
Finally a descent question!
You needed to talk to me, most likely on a subconscious level.
You probably felt you needed to apologize about destroying the spell book.
”

“
How do I get back?
”

“
In due time Nathan, I would hate for you to rush off before learning a little more about yourself!
”

“
Can you teach me some of the basics I need to know Shinto?
”

“
Only what I know Nathan, the rest will be up to you to discover.
You will be able to talk to the other mages, but I would strongly suggest you limit your time in the land of the dead.
”

“
Okay, teach me what you can, and I will talk to some of the others at a later time, as long as you can show me how to get back into my body.
”

“
I can do that Nathan, by the time we are through with you Nathan you will be one of the most powerful magic users Orlon has ever seen!
”

“
Nathan the first thing you need to learn is how to heal properly.
You say you healed Lex, well to be honest you used too much of your essence to do it!
”

A body appeared in front of Nathan, the face was an empty space, but the body was injured.
The injuries were everything from a slight scrape to a death blow delivered by an ax.
Nathan approached the body looking sick to his stomach.
It was strange none of the wounds bled.
Turning back to his would be teacher, Nathan questioned with his eyes what to do?

Shinto grinned,
“
This is a golem Nathan, a being made out of clay.
It is what first month healers use to practice on.
”

Nathan understood,
“
Practice makes perfect right!
”

“
That
’
s right, now try to heal the minor wounds first.
You are using the power of your mind only Nathan.
It won
’
t take much to heal the scrapes and shallow cuts.
”

Slowly Nathan focused on the clay figure.
The scrapes vanished from sight.
Nathan then focused on the shallow cuts.
Slowly the shallow cuts knitted together, and vanished.

“
Very good Nathan.
How do you feel?
”
Shinto asked.

“
Pretty good, I see what you mean I poured way too much energy into Lex.
”

“
Now try the deeper cuts, like the ones on the golems leg.
”

There were three short, but deep wounds on the golem
’
s legs.
Nathan focused on the deeper cuts, slowly they began to close.
The deep cuts vanished from sight.
Nathan was starting to feel tired.
He looked at Shinto who nodded.

“
Very good, how are you feeling now Nathan?
”

“
Okay, but I feel a little tired.
”

“
That is to be expected, and now for the death blow to this clay warrior.
”

Nathan focused on the battle ax wound.
The wound stayed open.
Nathan tried harder.
The wound remained open, and Nathan was growing tired at a faster rate now.
Shinto watched with interest, at what Nathan would do next.

Nathan redoubled his efforts to close the ax wound. He felt his essence pour into the clay figure.
The wound closed suddenly, but the clay statue shattered spraying pottery bits everywhere!
Shinto nodded.
Nathan fell to his knees wheezing.
He had failed!

Nathan looked up,
“
It was too much for me to heal Shinto.
I failed you.
”

Shinto laughed,
“
Do you know why healers use golems Nathan?
”

Nathan shook his head no.

“
To teach new healers only one lesson.
You cannot save everyone.
The ax wound was too deep, any mortal that had that severe of a wound would bleed to death in a matter of moments.
You tried to save something that was outside of your abilities to save.
This is dangerous Nathan.
You should have stopped the moment you started feeling weak.
Now if I were an enemy you could not defend yourself against me.
”
To prove his point Shinto pushed Nathan over and held a knife to his throat, Nathan couldn
’
t raise his arms.
Pulling the knife away Shinto looked down on his pupil.

“
If you learned nothing else Nathan, learn that healing to the point of making yourself vulnerable is a good way to die!
”

“
Nathan, practice healing small wounds and progress to broken bones if you have the chance.

“
He
’
s dead!
”
Ileana sat next to Nathan
’
s unmoving body; she could not see the heat in the motionless vessel anymore.
Kira had done something to him she knew it!
Lela sat on the other side of Nathan holding his lifeless hand. Tears stung her eyes as she sat there in silence, struck dumb by grief for the young mage.
Lex had opened his eyes right after Nathan touched him the lump where the pan had hit him completely gone.

Kira pressed herself back against the counters trying to blend into the background as much as possible.
Lex was healed, but Nathan had collapsed after healing her Delphi.
It had been bizarre to say the least, but now the accusing red eyes of the demon hunter landed squarely on her.
The elf princess looked like she was in shock, but if both of them gained up on her she was done for!

“
I did nothing to him!
He had a seizure or something, but it was not my fault!
”
Kira
’
s voice cracked with panic.

Lela fixed her blue eyes on Kira.
The green haired woman began shaking her head back and forth denying the silent accusations.
Lela was fairly sure Kira had done nothing, but the quick denial was beginning to make her think otherwise.
Lela slowly stood up, Kira
’
s bowels iced over.

“
I swear to you princess I did nothing to injure him.
You saw it yourself he helped Lex and then collapsed!
You have to believe me I did not harm Nathan!
”
Kira was nearly in tears.
She hadn
’
t meant to sound so weak or guilty, but even she wouldn
’
t believe what she just said.

Lela stalked over to the water nymph that began to slink down to the floor.
It wasn
’
t a combat stance it was one meant to invoke mercy, though Lela
’
s eyes showed no intent of mercy.
The movement was so fast it was barely a blur; Kira was on the other side of the kitchen, her eye swelling shut from the blow Lela had delivered.

“
Princess, please do not vent your wrath on my wife!
We have done everything we could for you!
And this is our payment?
”
Lex yelled,
“
It is tragic what has happened, but my wife would never lie and then cower, she was telling the truth!
Get out!
Get out of my house and take the dead mage with you!
”

The words broke through Lela
’
s rage.
She had just hit a cowering woman, one that was begging for mercy!
She was becoming a monster!
Ileana walked over to Lela and put a hand on her shoulder, Lela quickly shook it off.

“
Do not comfort me Ileana!
Lex is right.
I hit Kira when she was begging for mercy!
I deserve every bit of guilt I feel right now!
Lex we will leave immediately!
”
Lela said quietly though she knew Lex could hear her.

“
What happened in here?
”

Everyone turned to see Nathan sitting up.
Nathan was looking at Kira
’
s unconscious body on the kitchen floor.
To stunned to speak they watched as Nathan put his hands on Kira, and the swollen eye eased down and vanished.
Kira
’
s breathing became regular as she opened both eyes with no feeling of pain.
Her first reaction was terror as Nathan was the first person she saw.

“
The elven swine killed me with one hit!
”
Kira whaled.
“
I did not kill you specter!
”
Kira held her arms up in defense to ward off any blows that the ghost might throw at her.

“
Kira, it
’
s okay.
You are not dead, and neither am I, anymore.
”
Nathan said calmly.

Kira lowered her hands slowly as if still waiting for blows to rain down on her.
When the blows didn
’
t come she slowly looked around, she was in the kitchen.
Kneeling next to her was her Delphi!

“
Lex, I love you!
”
Was all she managed before pulling the elf into her embrace.

Lex
’
s anger slipped a little as he fell into Kira
’
s arms, and then he remembered what happened, causing the rage to flare up again.

“
Nathan, not that I am not grateful for what you did for us, but get out and take those two villainous women with you!
”
Lex ordered.

“
Lex please
…”
was all Lela got out.

“
You attacked my wife when she was begging you for mercy!
You are not my princess, and hold no sway over me, now leave!
”
Lex bellowed.

The wind howled across the field that was strewn with gashes, and blast marks from the battle that took place before.
The three walked in silence.
Nathan was trying to piece together what had happened between the two women and Kira.
Lela was in front her shoulders where hunched over as if she carried an unseen weight.
Ileana was even quiet.
The Sun rose high in the sky blasting the land with a heat, and humidity, even the insects seemed to be taking a break from aggravating the potential buffet that was walking so gloomily through the cursed forest.

“
Lela what happened back there?
”
Nathan asked.

Lela replied by shaking her head no.
She did not want to talk about it.
She scarcely knew what happened herself, and she had been there!
Ezra would know she had to!
Something was wrong with her; she would never strike someone begging for mercy not even an enemy.
What was wrong with her?
She could see herself crossing the kitchen and striking Kira, but she felt cold, numb, and angry was it some sort of spell?

Ileana was quietly contemplating what had happened in the kitchen.
Lela attacked Kira when she thought the nymph had something to do with Nathan
’
s death.
These two where so strange!
Nathan clearly liked both of us, and Lela said she doesn
’
t feel romantic feelings towards Nathan, but both attacked with a vengeance when the other was hurt!
If they were only friends sure they would probably hit the attacker, but the two of them attack so ferociously that surely there must be more to their relationship than just being friends.
Ileana dove into a depression; Lela said she didn
’
t want Nathan so why change her mind now?
This was all she needed; now she would be in competition with the elf for Nathan
’
s affections.
It wasn
’
t fair, Lela has known Nathan longer than I have!
Lela probably knows some sort of love spell on top of everything else.
Ileana began to drag her feet as she walked.
It was too much to think about, she had finally found someone that liked her and before she could progress the like into love the sneaky elf princess was going to swoop in and steel Nathan away from her.

Nathan watched as both women seemed to delve deep into their own little worlds.
This was almost as distressful as being dead and talking to Shinto.
It was weird how no one had asked what he had seen while dead.
Now the only question was how long would it be before the Dark Queen found out that he was more than just a mage?

“

Tirana was still being visited by the white specter at night which had not only cut into her beauty sleep, but also her nerves.
She paced back and forth in her private chambers trying to figure out what the ghost wanted.
The nightly visits were always at different times, keeping her a nervous wreck.
She had been so distraught that she had not noticed the servant that came to her room.

“
Your majesty.
”
The servant said quietly.

Tirana jumped, and in the same motion spun around sending a ball of green energy at the servant who promptly dove to the side escaping the spell that had splattered against the wall and was now eating through the blocks.

“
What is it you worm?
”
Tirana bellowed trying to cover for being startled.

“
There is an elf in the parlor that wishes to have an audience with you.
”
He said calmly.

“
Tell the elf king
’
s emissary I have nothing to discuss with him.
”

“
He is not the emissary your highness, rather it is Lex Ripsnorter, the merchant.
”
The servant said dryly.

With a perplexed look on her face Tirana countered,
“
Strange, he was peddling his wares here only a month ago, why has he returned so soon?
”

“
I do not know my Queen; do you wish me to have him put to death for interrupting your thoughts?
”

“
No I will see him, show him to the throne room.
”

“
As my lady commands.
”
With that the servant disappeared through the doorway.

The throne room had twenty foot high ceilings which stayed drafty during winter, but during the summer they allowed a breeze to blow through the great hall.
The metal sconces were shaped like claws holding three pronged candle operas, as if demons had been searching the halls in the dark and had gotten trapped in the walls.
The throne where the Dark Queen sat was made entirely out of obsidian with spear like protrusions forming the back.
The honor guard lined the walls waiting to pounce on the first fool that would make an attempt on their Queen
’
s life.
Lex seemed smaller than usual in the behemoth of a room.
The Dark Queen sat on her throne and was staring at him, no through him as if looking into his soul.

“
So tell me peddler what do you have for me that would be worth risking your very life over hmmm?
”
Tirana purred.

“
I know the whereabouts of the mage you seek.
”
Lex squeaked.
Sure when he was still mad about the attack on Kira this had seemed like the perfect way to avenge his wife, but looking at the Dark Queen he wasn
’
t so sure now.

“
What makes you think I need your help to find this upstart magic user?
”
Tirana hissed.

This wasn
’
t going well, he needed to get the information out and hopefully she would be grateful enough to let him leave in one piece.

“
Because the people who have the mage are protecting him from your scouts, also there is something else you should know about him.
”
It was a wager that she would grant him his life in return for the information. If it ever got out he betrayed the princess he could never show his face in the elven kingdom again. But then again they never really needed to buy much from him.

“
I grow tired of this banter, either speak what you know, or I will have the guards tear out your tongue!
”
The glimmer in the Dark Queen
’
s eyes told volumes of the various torchers she would put him through.

“
His name is Nathan, he is from a world without magic, but here he has become a phoenix mage!
He destroyed the spell book of the mages, and travels with princess of the elves and the demon archer of Santrose!
They are going back to the elven kingdom. The boy is nearly helpless now, and he doesn
’
t understand how to work magic!
”
Everything came blurting out including the fights with Kira.
When Lex was finished he could only beg for his life now, he had broken the first rule of the merchants: when dealing with information tell just enough to spark interest, but keep as much back as possible until the price was paid.

The Dark Queen smiled at the mistake Lex just made,
“
Not that I care now, but what do you want as payment for this information you so graciously offered me?
”

Realizing that the thin ice he was standing on was now cracking, he said the only thing he could,
“
My life, my freedom, and that justice be done by your hand your highness.
”
Lex bowed as he said the last part sweeping his hat in a grand gesture.

“
Ha, ha, ha you amuse me Lex Ripsnorter.
Not only will I grant you all three of your requests, but I will guarantee you a place in my dark kingdom.
I can only imagine how angry King Mordenar will be when he finds out one of his own elves betrayed their little secret.
”
Tirana mused.

“
You may go merchant of betrayal. Oh, and Lex if I find out that the information you gave me is a lie I will personally set fire to Cravenwood until I reach your home and that lovely wife of yours. Give her my wishes for a speedy recovery will you?
”

“
Of course your majesty.
”
Lex was sweating profusely; he had stared into the eyes of a being that could order his death at any time!
Lex began his long journey back to Cravenwood, but for some reason he felt as if he had lost a part of himself.
It didn
’
t feel like he thought it would.
The trees seemed darker, the streams seemed quiet, it all felt wrong.

Tirana smiled cruelly.
She knew where they were going; all she had to do was gather the army and attack.
The mage Nathan would be dead, or in her dungeon within a few nights. The elves were harboring him, giving her the perfect reason to attack them as well!
She would eliminate two problems with one assault, now all she had to do was get rid of the specter and she would be able to get at least one night
’
s rest.