The Sword of Ages: The Mage Breaker Book 1 (11 page)

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Tanner stood near the front door dressed uncomfortably. The clothes he had borrowed from Herod were fancy and fit well but he looked like a regular dandy prancing around with all the frill on this thing. Tanner’s job was to simply hang out near the front and cancel out all magic as folks walked in. Instructors from the wizard guild were already here to identify their students and others were present to identify the nobles arriving. So far most of the noble’s had gotten through with no problems, Tanner smiled inwardly as he had noticed a couple of the wives and daughters giving him the once over. He had to practically bite off his own tongue to pretend to be ignorant when he saw Caroline’s ladies in waiting after the whole swallow incident. For the most part Meredith and the crew went about acting as snobby as ever but he saw a knowing glance go on between them. She can act as high and mighty as she wanted, she still had his cock in her mouth at one point.

Tanner was buzzed with excitement as the last of the noble families came through the door, the wizard’s were next. Tanner watched as the daughter of the Duke of Blax changed into right before his eyes into an older woman with red hair. She looked shocked as she apparently noticed the transformation and Tanner locked on to her and started rapidly draining her as she pulled out a wand. Tanner did not move for his part, he looked as shocked as the Duke as guards from all over descended on the woman who was desperately trying to fling any spell she knew. One guard knocked her over the back of her head and the woman fell down unconscious as another pulled her wand away from her. She was led away, presumably to the dungeon as the Duke and his family left quickly. Tanner thought they were going to check on their real daughter. This wizard was not as powerful as the other one Tanner thought. Her energy didn’t feel as explosive and his body was handling it well, he was a little jumpy but that was all. When the excitement from that died down the wizard students were led in and the last one was the friend he was looking for.

“Well don’t you look like some puff pastry all fancy like the painted girls from the whorehouse in Daum” Tanner said to Golden’s back.

Golden spun around quickly, took one look at Tanner and started laughing. “You’d do well to stop having a giggle at me while you’re dressed like that”.

“You look like the mutt’s nutts walking around like that” Golden said still laughing. “I wish Mary was here to see it”.

“Well she ain’t and you better not tell her about it either” Tanner said as he glared at Golden.

“Well now that we both look like idiots, can you relax here or are you working?” Golden asked. “I would like to have a drink with my best friend, this school is not anything like I thought it would be”.

Tanner could see worry in Golden’s eyes and walked him over to a servant holding a try full of wine in goblets.

“Is this the bloke you are always going on about?” asked Daphne one of the laundresses.

“Aye, this here is Golden Diamondson” Tanner said with a smile. “The fanciest dressed man Kol ever spit out”.

“Fuck you tosser” Golden said as he grabbed a wine glass and downed the contents. “I am Golden ma’am; it is a pleasure to meet you. I know it had to be difficult putting up with Tanner, he has been heartbroken since his best friend the Todd left for wizard school”.

“The hell I am!” Tanner said and grabbed a glass himself. Daphne gave Golden the once over and smiled as she walked off to do her duty.

“This place has been doing well by you Tanner” Golden said seriously. “You look like you have put some smithy muscles on that frame of yours”.

“That I have” Tanner replied. “Now I ain’t never seen you like this, what is eating at you?”

“That damn school Tanner” Golden said as his face showed frustration. “I don’t fit in there at all. First it started with Todd, he appointed himself my boss and was angry when I started outperforming him. When the instructors let us know we are not vassals to any lord anymore no matter where we live and that extended to our families I told him to go get stuffed. He organized the other men there and they hate me. They go out of their way to make my life harder than it has to be, it doesn’t help that I am so far ahead of the class they are thinking about putting me with the second years”.

“Do you need me to punch one of them in the nose for you?” Tanner asked.

“That’s why I miss you Tanner” Golden said with a sigh. “You always knew what to say in situations like these”.

“Well fuck Todd and fuck those other tossers” Tanner said with a laugh. “Let me introduce you to someone, you’ll get a kick out of this”.

Tanner spotted Princess Caroline surrounded by all sorts of noble men each vying for her attention. Golden looked on in horror as Tanner bullied his way through the fray and led him right up to the princess and her ladies in waiting. “Your highness I would like for you to meet Golden Diamond, wizard from Kol” Tanner said as Caroline’s eyes went wide.

Tanner had heard of love at first sight and figured this must be it. The princess stared at Golden and then started blushing furiously. Golden was dumbfounded and just stared, to flummoxed to say anything. Tanner looked around and could see he wasn’t the only one noticing, men looked at the pair and started leaving.

“You are supposed to bow dumbass” Tanner said as he elbowed Golden in the stomach. “I told her highness that you were a regular gentleman not some idiot who has been in his cups or smoking too much of the seven leaf”.

Golden snapped out of it and gave a slight bow and blushed a little. “These ladies here said all country folk are stupid inbreds so I am sure they don’t want to be insulted by me introducing you to them” Tanner said as he felt a tug on his sleeve

“Aren’t you going to introduce me peasant” Tanner turned and saw Todd Greenley along with two other men.

“Of course I will” Tanner said with a smile. “Your Highness this fat piece of shit is Baronet Greenley. He should have been left a stain on the bed but somehow he grew into the worse thing ever to fall out of a woman’s arse since the speckled pox the soldiers all have from visiting prostitutes. He can’t stay long you see, his boyfriends behind him want to know if they can borrow pig fat from the kitchen so they can each have a go trying to stuff their cocks up his arse”.

The group went silent as Tanner finished. Greenley along with everyone else looked to shocked to reply. The silence was eventually broken by Golden told Tanner not to use such language in front of the princess while trying his very best to stifle a laugh.

“How dare you!” Greenley bellowed.

“I’m sorry lads, I should have told you her highness is no skinflint, you and the rest these jinx flingers can find the kitchens that away, we have more than enough pig fat for your needs” Tanner said as he pointed in the direction of a door.

“You want to take this outside peasant” Todd said shaking mad.

“Of course I wouldn’t Todd, I don’t want to have a go at you too” Tanner replied. “I don’t judge but men are not my thing”.

“Is there a problem here Your Highness?” Herod said as he folded his arms.

“These gentlemen were just leaving to the kitchen” Tanner said and pointed at the three wizards. “Her highness would be ever so grateful if you could show them the way”.

Tanner looked as Caroline nodded and Herod gruffly took Todd by the arm and led him away.

“You Cur!” Princess Caroline said and hit Tanner’s arms. “Who was that poor man you embarrassed so deliciously!”

“He was a puffed up son of a Baronet who imagined himself a king” Tanner replied.

“You should watch your mouth” Meredith said practically growling.

“And you should wash your mouth also” Tanner said smiling.

“I said watch servant” Meredith replied.

“And I said wash” Tanner replied and gave her a wink which made her first go into shock then blush.

“So Golden, I have heard a lot about you” Caroline said breaking the tension. “Tanner said his manners would be far worse if you were not there to reel him in”.

“That is the truth Your Highness” Golden said shyly. “I don’t know what my sister sees in him”.

“Oh the much talked about Mary” Caroline said with a small laugh. “If they do get married I think I would very much like to be there”.

“You talk about Mary?” Golden asked looking at Tanner.

“Easy there blessed one” Tanner said as he held his hands up. “I aim to make her my wife when this is all over but only after I talk it over with your Da. I haven’t been speaking ill of her”.

“Well you better hurry” Golden said as his blank face turned into a small smile. “They have taken to calling her the Tanner’s wife behind her back since someone I know kissed her full on the mouth when he was leaving”.

“I-I am sure I don’t know what you are talking about” Tanner stammered. “But if I find the guy I’m going to give him a stern talking to!”

Tanner then heard a commotion as the King walked into the room yelling at the top of his lungs. The Tavorians had crossed over the border, the troops stationed there had first contact sometime yesterday, the king had received a bird and an exhausted messenger just arrived confirming it, Ket was at war.

“We need to send our wizards to the front now!” said an angry noble.

“We lost the last war because we waited too long and they picked us apart” said another.

“We have to end this ball” the King said as everyone calmed down somewhat. “Contingency plans have already been thought up in case this happened, we are prepared. In the morning we ride out to meet this enemy”.

Tanner quit listening after that, all he knew was that war was definitely upon them. He should be out there fighting to kick the Tavorians off of his land, if it wasn’t for them he would know who his father is. Instead he would stay here watching over Caroline while Golden was out there doing what he should be.

“Well it looks like I will be needed soon” Golden said solemnly. “Walk your old friend out?”

“Stay right here” Tanner said as he looked around for the Princess. Tanner found her near her father’s side. Tanner squeezed through all the outraged talking nobles and went up close to the King where the guards recognized him and let him pass. Tanner caught Caroline’s eye and went up to her.

“Your Highness” Tanner began. “I have never asked you for anything before. But my friend Golden is most likely going to be in the thick of it soon. I want either release from your service to join him, or even better if could make him one of your staff. I hate to ambush you like a snake in a rabbit hole but I have no choice”.

“I’ll talk to my father, but now is not the time” Caroline said and motioned for him to go away.

Tanner found Golden and let him know what he had done. Tanner could see a small glimmer of happiness when he heard Tanner say he would fight alongside of him.

“Well then, walk me halfway home, they wouldn’t let me bring my horse” Golden said as he made for the door.

Tanner sighed and followed his friend out of the Sun palace and down the main street when Golden whispered to him.

“I think we are being followed Tanner”

“I know we are being followed blessed one” Tanner replied. “I just wanted to give Todd a chance to back away. The King has offered he a small house in the city somewhere when this war is over, I’m not one of his vassals anymore and I have always hated that tosser”.

“Tanner they have magic, they are not as good as mine but there are three of them” Golden said hushed.

“Well I did beat that tosser in Daum and he was a full-fledged wizard” Tanner said as he led Golden down a side street. “I’m just upset I haven’t got my good luck arrow you made me a while back, but it won’t matter none”.

“Tanner this is a dead end” Golden said in alarm and started looking around for an exit.

“Well then we can stop running, follow my lead Golden, it’s about time you stopped worrying about this tosser anyway” Tanner said as he turned around and waited for Greenley and his thugs to round the corner.

“See Golden, he is right on time like I said” Tanner said loudly and started unbuckling his pants. “I told you if we brought something to grease ourselves he would show, he can’t help it”.

“You think you are real fucking funny don’t you peasant” Greenley said as he pulled out his wand.

“No I am tired of your shit Greenley”  Tanner said as he latched onto Greenley and the other two without drawing away their power. “You are not in Kol anymore, you need to stop acting like it”.

“I have been owing you two a beating for some time, your mouth won’t get you out of this one” Greenley said as Tanner readied himself.

“This ends here” Tanner said as he took off at a sprint towards the men and cut off their magic flow. He could see Todd fire off a spell then look on in shock as it never materialized. By the time the other two had their wands out Tanner felt a fireball pass over him and scatter the other two. Tanner grabbed Todd’s wand and yanked it out of his hand and tossed it. Tanner could see he was much bigger than Todd now, he towered over the older man and thought the fight not fair but quickly dismissed it.

“You said something about a beating you piece of shit” Tanner said as he grabbed Todd by the collar and slapped him as hard as he could. “Here I am you fat piece of shit, now beat me”!