Battle Mage: The Lost King (Tales of Alus) (43 page)

Ducking the flying metal, Sebastian slashed the Hollow Sword across its black armored stomach. Cutting like butter, the troll was left in shock as both weapon and armor were defeated. The sword swept up in the mage’s hand driving point first up through the base of the troll’s jaw. Forward of the exposed neck, the flesh gave as the weapon pierced through flesh striking its brain.

He removed the blade and began to give chase to the remaining orcs even as the troll fell lifeless behind him.

Retreating to their black ship wasn’t easy as they used rope lines to pull themselves up to the higher deck. Sebastian closed chasing the enemy foolishly. He gave it no thought as he bounded up an orc to jump onto the black deck. Another orc fell to the blade and the mage spied a handful of warlocks standing behind a pair of captive wizards from Southwall.

He charged without thinking and changed the sword’s spell to darkness. The two wizards moved their arms like puppets in a show. Wind and ice attacked the battle mage and were absorbed into the outthrust sword. Like a dark shield, the weapon strengthened on the elemental magic surprising the warlocks a moment and in that moment the battle mage reached the closer of the two wizards.

“Sleep,” he said touching the blond haired water wizard on the arm. Dropping like his strings were cut, the wizard fell to the ground. “Sleep,” he repeated dropping the air wizard beside him leaving just the handful of warlocks standing.

Spells of darkness leaped from the warlocks’ hands and swords of ebony were drawn against him. They moved like trained swordsmen and he knew that they weren’t just wizards unable to fight a battle mage in close.

His light shield arose catching the combined attack and it shattered. Their power was too great for a simple shield. He erected another and caught the nearest warlock’s sword strike. A barrier spell attempted to ensnare the mage, but his reflexes were still too quick for them. The spell was waning with age, but his speed was enough for now.

The warlocks attempted to hem him in with their numbers spreading into a circle. He had dared to attack them on their ship alone and they wanted to make him pay. Darkness struck and the curse spells lashed out trying to catch him or stop the dancing mage.

Light spells continued to recharge the sword and replace broken defenses. Sweat was beginning to get in his eyes as his body worked hard against so many powerful foes. It was a battle he might not win even with his new spells and sword.

As quickly as he was beginning to fear the worst, a helping hand reached out striking the warlock closest to the Sea Dragon. A spell of light struck the warlock stunning him and shattered the armor on his back. Seeing the opening, Sebastian slew the man with his sword. Then there four, but he was no longer alone.

Frell had managed to join him though the spell had not been from the mage. Seeing the new foe, the warlocks were left to break their circle to defend against the new opponent. Three held off Sebastian while the last attacked the attacker.

He knew Frell was good. Sebastian had sparred with all of his mages training and testing their skills. The warlock didn’t back down and proved his ability quickly. Casting spells like a battle mage with
his left hand, the man parried her sword with his own. Frell quickly renewed shields and enchantments on her sword in an attempt to keep up with the warlock’s skill.

Sebastian couldn’t watch or help as the three remaining men continued to attack. His reflex spell was beginning to wear off and it was dangerous to use it again too soon. Keeping one’s body revved up beyond human too long had caused heart attacks before the danger was known. The mage would have to rely on his long trained abilities now.

“Lightning,” he charged his sword knowing the spell wouldn’t work against the night shields and armor. Instead of attacking directly, the mage plunged the blade into the deck before him releasing the power. Like the strike of a lightning bolt, the sword shattered the deck scattering shrapnel and warlocks alike.

Sebastian felt some pain realizing the attack hadn’t been able to push only away from him. Splinters had struck him as well to a lesser degree, but they still stung. It didn’t matter as the mage caught a stunned warlock removing his head from his shoulders.

“Light!” he cast the spell from his left striking another warlock in the chest shattering his armor and driving him back further.

The last warlock looked at him fiercely readying for a final act. “What kind of wizard are you?” he spat angrily.

“I’m not a wizard anymore than you are,” Sebastian said as they circled each other waiting for an attack or opening. “I’m a battle mage.”

Sniffing the air, the warlock shook his head, “You’re no battle mage like I’ve seen. Your power is greater than theirs.” His eyes were drawn to the sword enviously and back to Bas again.

“And what are you, warlock? I’ve faced them before, but this armor and magic are new to me as well,” Sebastian continued the banter trying to relax his enemy in vain.

“You fight with our spells. Someone must have taught you the light and dark, but those spells are trivial compared to the curse magic shared by the emperor with his wizard hunters. My leader is stronger than I and, even if you succeed in defeating us, he will show you true power before you die,” the man sneered. His attack was sudden, but not unexpected.

A curse attack as quickly spun as any mage spell lashed out for Sebastian before he attacked with his sword.

The mage was slower now and moving like a human again, but he was a skilled swordsman having honed his reflexes to fight both blade and magic. Ducking the thrown spell, Sebastian wove in and out countering the warlock’s blade waiting for a better opening. The warlock was an expert with his weapon as well and the match was pretty even.

Sebastian missed the movement of the warlock his light spell had struck. The man had recovered and would have taken him from behind if not for Mecklin’s arrival. Battle mages and warlocks numbered three. On even terms having lost their reflex abilities, the mages fought with men as well trained as they.

“Light,” Sebastian recharged his sword for the first time since his lightning attack. He was tiring and even the help of the sword drew out his magic each time he used it. His power was waning and the spell was his best hope of defeating the warlock now.

Letting the light flash as his sword met the black, enchanted steel; Sebastian caught the warlock off guard. The attack blinded the man while the mage had closed his eyes as the spell went off. Still there were purple dots partially masking his vision, but he could see as the blade countered going for the warlock’s throat. The strike cut deep and the warlock stumbled back reaching for the wound with his free hand. Sword pointing towards the deck, realization of his impending death was beginning to dawn on his face. He was defeated and dying. His throat slashed the warlock could get no more threats out as air gurgled through blood attempting to drown his lungs.

When the warlock fell into a pool of his blood, Sebastian quickly looked to the others and found Frell leaning against the rail. She was bleeding from several cuts and breathing hard, but the young woman had defeated her opponent. Mecklin sat on the deck on the other side of him resting with his sword pointed into the deck.

Bloodied as the well, the older man looked at Sebastian with a shake of his head. “Lighting into the deck? Really, sir, you need to stop trying to kill us all,” he finished with a laugh.

With a rueful smile, the tired battle mage nodded, “Yeah, not one of my better ideas, but it did accomplish the proper result.”

Looking over to the Sea Dragon, Sebastian saw a similar end to the fighting. Trolls, orcs and goblins littered the deck. Several sat against the Sea Dragon’s rails defeated, but still alive. The ship looked to be relatively unscathed beyond the dead. There were men of Malaiy amongst the dead as well, he knew.

The condition of the black ship was much worse than the Sea Dragon he noted from the broken deck. Two of the three masts had suffered damage. The front mast lay broken and dragging in the water, while the central mast was shortened by half and leaned besides.

He sensed no other danger on the ship and led the other two back to the Sea Dragon wearily.

As the sun continued to fall, the Sea Dragon tried to recover from the battle. Cannon were disabled on the black ship and the defeated troops that remained were replaced on their vessel. A quick search provided little of use though a small chest of gold and gems was taken from the captain’s room.

It was strange to see gold and coins commonly used by the countries that Southwall traded with as well. Sebastian didn’t know if it was loot taken or if they had established commerce beyond the borders of their enemies, but either way it seemed odd to the young man who had only seen the fighting and animosity between their nations. It was added to money they had for their mission and went forgotten quickly as other matters took precedence.

Yara, complete with tray of food and drink beside her, began to treat those most in need of healing. Everyone else did their best to bandage wounds and check on their fellow crewmen and women. Sebastian wanted to help as well, but he was too drained from the battle. Taking food and drink, the battle mage hoped to be able to heal the injured as soon as he could. He needed a reserve of magic before he could attempt the draining magic.

Bairh’loore looked tempting. He had used it rarely in the fight sharing its power reserves with Yara for the light spells. The mage knew the penalty of trying to harness the earth’s power with little personal energy and knew that he would only hurt himself if he tried to use it now.

He moved to be near Yara, but the healer barely noticed him as she used her magic to delve into a wounded sailor. He was breathing shallowly and was pale as death. Blood covered the man and a long slash across his chest and abdomen would have meant imminent death if not for the skilled healing wizard. Bandages alone weren’t enough for such a wound.

Sadness filled Sebastian’s chest as he looked on the wounded man, one of many. It had been his order to fight and though he knew that they could not have avoided the battle, he still felt responsible. He led and they followed, whether to safe harbors or into battle. It was a heavy responsibility for anyone and he was only twenty years old.

The weight of the world was upon him. He had known that this mission might have its dangers, but being pursued by the Dark One’s forces hadn’t been planned though not completely ruled out.

They had cut the lines leaving the wounded vessel to limp home or to a harbor. Even that meant possibly sentencing living beings to death. They had supplies, but if they failed to reach a place before their supplies ran out, their deaths would be on his hands as well. While the Sea Dragon had no room for enemy troops, the three new additions were another matter.

Since he could do little to help Yara at this point, he corralled the three wizards along with Annalicia, who appeared unharmed physically though red eyes proved that the young woman grieved for the lives lost. Collin and Mecklin sporting bandages joined them.

“Ashleen, what are you doing here?” he asked bluntly.

The girl, still wrapped in her blanket to preserve some decency, reddened for a different reason as she confessed, “Lord Romonus had planned to return by ship to Kardor, but when he learned that you were going to sea he decided to follow you. He said that it was to help protect you if you ever got into danger, but even when we told of the dangers,” she gestured to the other air wizard that had yet to be introduced. While the sleep spell and collars had been removed soon after the fighting had stopped, the man sat quietly looking almost ashamed for his part in the situation. “Even when we told him the forest attacked you or the castle was a danger, he kept us back saying that you could handle it.

“We told him that we would do nothing to harm you or anyone from Southwall, and we didn’t. We also wanted to keep an eye on him. If we didn’t go with, the lord might have just hired people that didn’t care.”

“So you followed us to see if you could reap some reward,” Sebastian stated reducing the truth to a single sentence. It was a flat excuseless representation of their motives that made all three look away ashamed. “Then how did you come to be on this ship?” he was tired and worrying over the wounded too much to have any interest in taking too much time to get answers.

Hyren smiled trying to ease the tension among them. “That is a sad, funny story, falcon. Unlike you, we found that castle to be more trap than we could handle. Lord Romonus and some of our colleagues found themselves trapped in the cellar behind one of those cursed barriers. No matter what we tried, we could not free them.

“How you and your team can destroy them so effortlessly still amazes me. Needless to say, with our team halved, and facing three times as many warlocks as you just did, we had little chance against them. The lady did well with her lightning, but these wizard hunters were prepared even for her.”

Not falling for any such charm, Sebastian frowned, “I knew I should have finished off that castle. So where are the others?”

The three exchanged worried glances. Themenor answered, “We’re not sure. We awoke on the ship you found us on and never found out where they had been taken.

“The best we can tell from the way the warlocks talked, their leader left the pursuit of you to them and went ahead to check something important.”