The Sword of Ages: The Mage Breaker Book 1 (2 page)

              “Blessed one are you ready for tonight?” Tanner said in a mood as cheerful as he could let on. “Oh I see you even have the Baronet here with you!” Tanner said as he took a bow towards Greenley hoping that his calling the fop by his father’s title put him in a better mood. “My lord tonight we wish to finally know the pleasures of a female and if the words of the girls in the village are true, you are well versed. People as lowly as us cannot hope to know these pleasures unless we had help. My lord can you give us some advice?”

              Greenley was speechless; his normal sneer was gone now, replaced by puzzlement. That was exactly what Tanner had hoped, unfortunately the sneer returned.

              “Only a desperate whore would let peasants touch her” Greenley said with a sneer as his cousins started laughing.

              “You are mistaken my Lord” Tanner said with a smile. “We have met desperate whores and they refused despite me offering three silvers. Just today I was told by Gwendolyn Banks I was not have the man you are and I could not hope to land that prize. Since you are here now my Lord I hoped you could help me out, I will always be of low birth but hopefully your wisdom can make me more than I am right now, at the very least it could help out me and Golden, as he has been told he doesn’t measure up either”.

              “Gwen the peasant girl is too much of a prize?” Greenley said laughing as he and his cousins passed a knowing glance.

              “She turned me down too my Lord” Golden said catching on to Tanner’s plan. “I come to you with hat in hand hoping you could persuade her to marry me”.

              “Fucking peasants” Greenly said as he looked at his two cousins. “Me and the boys had her not even two nights ago. You think you are high and mighty because you are going to wizard school with me huh? You are fucking pathetic, can’t even land a whore, let’s go boys”.

              Tanner tried his best to stifle a laugh as Todd and his cousins whose names were not important enough to remember left behind him. Although Tanner definitely wouldn’t ask what that was all about Tanner was sure he knew already, Greenley just liked picking on people. It was said his family lost much when the Tavorians attacked so long ago. They executed the royal family along with a lot of high ranking noble families. Being just a baronet Greenley’s family kept their lives but lost a lot of land and peasants. Not only that but to keep any noble from becoming too powerful the new King had established limits on what nobles could tax their peasants. Tanner had nowhere near their wealth but his uncle had always told him they would be much poorer under the old regime.

              “Thanks Tanner” Golden said, his voice somewhat sad. “It has been harder and harder to avoid Todd. At least if I pass Wizard school I will not have to worry about him too much since I will also have some kind of rank”.

              “I don’t worry about that idiot at all” Tanner said smiling. “If I could get away with it I would slide my sword between his ribs”.

              “That’s bad talk Tanner” Golden replied shaking his head. “No man should murder another”.

              “How do you know I couldn’t beat that horse’s ass in a duel?” Tanner replied.

              “Because he is a wizard Tanner” Golden said as if it should be obvious.

              “I have never seen any magic stop an arrow” Tanner said as he pat Golden on the shoulder. “Let’s stop talking about that idiot already, I have precious few days to spend with my best friend and I will not lose another second talking about him”.

              Golden inhaled deeply before letting out his breath and letting a smile fix on his face. “Have you thought about what we last spoke of?”

              “Yeah I thought about it Blessed one but you have to be dense” Tanner said with a smirk as he followed Golden into the smithy. “With you and Todd gone I’ll be more likely to land me wife. Maybe I will marry Gwen after all”.

              “Seriously Tanner” Golden replied.

              “I don’t know if the army is for me man” Tanner replied as he picked up a sword that Golden had made, his craftsmanship getting a little better. “It would be cool to get a chance to see you occasionally, but how many wars have we had since we been born? The Daviz, The Torrernors and there is even talk of war with the Tavorians despite having an Tavorian on our throne”.

              “Well if war did break out you would just be pressed into service anyway” Golden retorted.

              “Probably but my job would be catching food, tanning hides and things like that, they don’t put skilled craftsmen on the front lines” Tanner said as he now gave the sword a couple of practice swings.

              “Well maybe I can persuade you too change your mind one day, how do you like the sword?”

              “You are getting better at it” Tanner said with certainty. “But what does your father think of this, there is more money to be had making horse shoes or farm equipment”.

              “He really has let me be since the time for my departure is coming rapidly” Golden said as he took the sword from Tanner and placed it in a familiar scabbard. Tanner’s uncle had made Golden that for his 11
th
birthday, it made Tanner mist up a little seeing that Golden still kept it and had it in great condition. “Did you see Mary on your way here?”

              “Yeah I saw her walking with the love of your life” Tanner said laughing. “I even managed to insult Gwen first this time, she looked at me in my clothes and was left speechless”.

              “Yeah I bet she wasn’t the only one left speechless” Golden said giving Tanner a knowing wink.

              “What are you getting at blessed one?” Tanner said with a look of curiosity.

              “Open your eyes Tanner, Mary has been trying to get your attention for a while now, it is a running joke in our family, just as funny as all the girls trying to catch my attention” Golden said as he walked around the smithy to the small stable behind his house.

              “Mary likes me?” Tanner said unbelievingly. “Blessed one you must have let the blonde hair of your do you thinking for you. I have known your sister ever since I could remember and I am sure there is nothing going on there. Even if there were, I can’t be with Mary, she is your sister. If I had a sister she most definitely would not be with a tall muscle bound dandy with more looks then brains”.

              Tanner ducked as he knew Golden was going to through a playful jab. He would miss this time with his friend, he did not get along with any of the other boys in town. It’s not that they were unfriendly it’s just that they worked the Baronet’s lands like most people. Some saw him as lucky even as he gave some of his extra meat away, they just didn’t get along. Add to the fact that everyone other than Golden did not care for the smell of his small tannery and there you have it.

              “Let’s break our fast man, I have been working out with the sword all morning and I am as hungry as an ox” Tanner said as he grabbed ahold of the small horse he kept stabled at the smithy. The heat coming off of the smithy was a great place for it, the harsh winters in Kol was known to kill people, let alone horses. It was because of that many people often left their horses with Diamond for a small fee. Other than Tanner and Diamond, there weren’t to many permanent businesses around, save for the pub. Most people sold whatever their wares were, usually something they farmed from the Baronet’s fields on the sixth day of the week, right after church and the only day they had off from the Baron’s fields.

              “Well I brought you back here to the horses because I figured we can eat at the pub this time, they are having some kind of special breakfast there for me” Golden said as he hopped on top of the old pony his father had given him on his last birthday. Tanner followed suit and soon followed Tanner along the streets. The pub wasn’t that far away, but in was in an inconvenient position. It used to be along the main road where everything else was but Baronet Greenley after the war in an effort to assert his power Tanner’s uncle had said ordered it moved. It was now between the Baronet’s estate and the town of Kol. It took most people an hour to walk to the pub from the village proper so it was a wonder they stayed in business at all. Tanner had thought someone would be smarter and make another pub that people can actually use, but if the other one goes out of business maybe they would be forced to move too.

              The ride was in silence, Tanner figured his friend had a lot on his mind with his leaving and all. As the duo neared the tavern they could see men on horseback outside in the colors of the Royal Army, holding torches and threatening to set the whole place ablaze. Golden ever the hero started galloping towards the commotion, Tanner let out a sigh and decided to join his friend.

              “I don’t have time for this peasant” Tanner could hear a man in wizard robes say. Tanner had only seen a wizard once before, in Daum and instantly did not like the man. Wizards had a reputation for thinking they were above everyone else, like nobles but only more dangerous.

              “What is the meaning of this” Golden said as he leapt off his horse.

              “War is upon us, you and every man in this village is requested by his majesty to report for training at once” The soldier said as took a step back, obviously intimidated by Golden’s height and build. “Any who does not will face the King’s justice, like this pub owner trying to hide their son”.

              “Their son is twelve” Tanner said as he got off his horse and walked up to the crowd. “He is too young to fight anyway. Why don’t you lot come off it and stop bullying people. Does the Baronet know you are on his lands causing trouble?”

              “Who do you think you are boy?” the wizard said as the troops with him stepped aside. The man looked no more than 25 summers and had long brown hair which he kept in a ponytail. His face was unremarkable, he couldn’t have been called handsome by anyone but the sneer he had on his face would make even the most nearsighted call him ugly.

              “I am someone wondering why are you doing this, we are all on the same side” Tanner said as he stepped to side so if there was any trouble, the wizard would have to at least turn his head to fight Golden. “If whatever war you are talking about is so great, asking will get you a hell of a lot more help than telling. What would you plan to do after you have killed your way through recruiting and have all the men in my village? Do you think these men could take all of us?”

              Tanner saw the mage’s face grow red as an older soldier stepped in front of him with a tone that suggested he had plenty of practice at diffusing tense situations, especially since Harpo, the owner of the pub had now walked out the door with the old sword he kept, and more peasants were coming from the direction of the Baronet’s lands.

              “Listen son” the old soldier began. “We are at war and every unmarried man from 16 to 30 is to present himself for the army. We didn’t make this decree but we are enforcing it. The Tavorians are attacking and we need every able bodied man to report, including you two”.

              “I am already reporting” Golden began. “It was found out that  have the gift of magic and I was to start training in a week”.

              “A magic user in this backwater?” the wizard spat. “Well then you are with me, are there any other supposed magic users in this place?”

              “Only the Baronet’s son” Golden replied. “We were to start together”.

              “And where is this noble at now?” the mage said the question as if he were talking to two idiots.

              “Do we look like his keepers you twit?” Tanner said as more men from the village started gathering around.

              “You watch your tone boy or I’ll” the wizard said before Tanner cut him off.

              “Or you’ll do what exactly?” Tanner said as he drew his blade. “I’ll run you through before any of those fancy words leave your mouth. Even if you manage to get me you won’t get us all”.

              “Now see here!” Tanner heard a loud voice say. Tanner turned around and could see the Baronet was among the group, his coat of arms showing plainly on his doublet. “What is this all about some soldiers threatening to burn down my town? Talk quickly, I don’t have time for peasants no matter what rank you hold”.

              “My lord” the old soldier replied. “We were sent to gather men immediately; we are at war with Tavor. If your men don’t come along we were advised to persuade them. If not us then a larger group will come after us and consider ever men here a traitor to the crown. We only seek those 16 to 30 who does not have a wife or child at home. But I suspect once the war is in full swing that will change”.

              “Where are they supposed to go and who exactly is supposed to work my fields?” The Baronet said, his protruding belly jiggling along as he got more excited.

              “You can take that up with the King” the mage said clearly unimpressed by being in the Baronet’s presence. “Now where is this son of yours with magical ability? He is to come with me at once along with every other magic user you know of. Failure to comply will resort to you and the rest of this rabble being labeled traitors. Right now just looking at this group I count at least twenty able bodies along with two magic users. I don’t care what kinds of skills these men have, I will see them all made into infantry fodder that serves on the front line. You will have until two days from now to get this lot to Daum, after that I will return with more men”.