Knights of the Wizard (of Knights and Wizards Book 2) (15 page)

MARCUS AND RAINA HAD BEEN TAKEN INTO THE KINGDOM of Kaday where they were permitted to spend the night, sharing a small room in a large log cabin. He was worried about Ryxa and troubled about his golden knights too. What would they do to Brother and Kadyn? They had seemed pretty much indestructible but he was sure that given enough time they would find some way to hurt them; he also knew that should they free themselves it would be big trouble for them. He also wondered if they escaped would they be able to find their way back to him.

Raina was awakened almost four hours after sundown with the wizard having a heated discussion with the wall, fascinated to see him sleepwalking although frightening as well, should he cast a spell she was too close for comfort. Marcus’s hands were moving, gesturing as if he was making some sort of point to whoever he thought he was seeing, and then trying hard to push someone that wasn’t there, some sort of imagined confrontation.

“My father the king will throw you in the dungeon for that,” said Marcus. He paused as he listened to his opponent. “I did not turn that horse into a cow! Well I can see that the horse has the head of a cow but I didn’t do it.”

Raina giggled and Marcus immediately turned in her direction, taking two steps towards her then stopped, looking down curiously as if he had stepped on something peculiar, staring at different spots on the ground. He detected something and began to cast a spell, pulling magical element out of the earth, balls of different colors floating around him, the process of forming yet another knight. At first two golden feet appeared and then the legs, then the rest of the body and finally the head appeared with a pop. The boy gestured at the ground and the hilt of a sword pushed its way through, and then knight reached down and pulled it out of the ground, satisfied at the quality of his newly formed weapon, in fact he was impressed by it.

The knight stood in the corner crossing his arms and was prepared to defend Marcus from all enemies. The wizard lay down and went to sleep as the knight gazed down upon him; he liked his creator a lot.

An hour after sunrise Marcus’s scream awakened Raina. “Brother’s back! Brother, where’s Kadyn?”

Raina sat up and stretched. “God you scared me. Marcus, that’s not Brother.”

“Of course it is.”

She stood up and wiped the sleep out of her eyes. “You conjured that one last night.”

Marcus tried to remember. “No I didn’t. Did I? Another knight?”

“I watched you do it.” Raina went over and stared up at the new knight. “You’re gonna need a name for this one too.”

Marcus was disappointed at the realization that it wasn’t brother and yawned and stretched because of having such a restless night, cracking his back in the process. “Another name, another knight. Let’s just call him Kevin.” Again he yawned, longer this time. “My eyes are burning.”

“Marcus it’s so strange to see you sleepwalking, in a world of your own, talking to imaginary people.” Raina tapped the knight on his elbow. “Your name is Kevin. Do you like it?”

Kevin nodded.

“Marcus, what do we do now?”

He considered what to do next. “I guess we’ll search for the wand, if we can find it maybe I can rescue Brother and Kadyn. Maybe even heal Ryxa if it’s not too late. I’m worried about her.”

Raina thought that she hadn’t looked good when she left. “Dragons are pretty tough, hopefully she’ll be okay.”

A funny looking serf with a nose too big for his face entered. “Our wizard will see you now.”

Marcus, Raina and Kevin were escorted to a chamber in the castle, accompanied by two guards with halberds; all were tired as it was a long way up the spiral stairs. In the center of the chamber sat a boulder, how odd, and a gangly wizard with a braided beard in a yellow robe standing beside it. Kevin stood beside Marcus ever vigilant.

“Kevin, not so close,” said Marcus.

“You must be the boy wizard. I could feel your energy from outside. Everyone is talking about you.” Endemald struck the boulder with a hammer, causing sparks to fly, closely examining the location that had been struck.

“I can just imagine,” said Marcus.

“You conjured that knight?” asked Endemald.

“I did.”

The lanky wizard examined the knight, pushing up his visor and seeing nothing inside. “Oh my. How utterly interesting. A good fighter I presume? It’s very complicated magic, a mixture of more than a dozen components, several extremely rare.”

Marcus didn’t know what he was talking about. “I guess.”

“The very best fighter,” said Raina.

“Can you conjure one for me?” He stared at the boy with anticipation.

Marcus wasn’t expecting that. “I’m sorry but I was sleepwalking when I did it and I don’t know how I did it.”

Endemald shook his head. “Oh my.” That sounded dangerous. “A wizard that walks in his sleep.” He reached inside the knight feeling around. “So you believe that you are a wielder of the wand? Extremely rare you know, very uncommon but stranger things I suppose, although that knight is totally fascinating, created by very powerful magic.”

“In any case,” said Marcus. “I’ve been told that the wand is in this area but I have no idea where. Told I would feel a pull to it but I don’t feel anything. What’s with the big rock?”

“There’s a magical ingredient within.” The sorcerer went back to work on his rock. “There’s an island near here, some call it the Island of Tears, most everyone avoids it because of a pocket of magic that surrounds it, but there is a legend that a wizard once found his wand there, can’t say with any certainty that’s it’s a factual story.” Endemald again struck the rock, taking a small piece out of it; examining it closely as he placed it on the table. “I can give you a map to its location and of course you’ll need a small boat for the crossing.”

“I’ll bet that’s the spot,” said Raina. “The wand is probably on that island.”

Marcus wasn’t convinced that the wand was there but it was the only lead that they had so he knew he would have to go and see. “How dangerous is the magic on the island?”

Endemald commenced to break the small rock into smaller pieces, finding a glowing black speck he appeared enthused, placing it into a leather pouch around his neck. “I’ve never been to the island. Beware the niiwu, for some reason they like the area. But if you are truly a wizard of the wand you have no choice but to seek it.” He went over and searched through scrolls on a dusty shelf, taking one down he opened it but it was the wrong one, exchanged it with another and when he unrolled that one he was satisfied. He showed the map to the both of them. “You are here, and the island is right there. You can keep the map because I have others.”

“Thank you,” said Marcus.

“That map is not free boy; a lot of things in life are not, even some that appear to be.”

Marcus looked at Raina and then back at the wizard, of course he wanted to be paid. “How much gold do you desire?”

“I desire no gold.” Endemald hit the rock again, knocking off an even smaller piece this time, having to search for it on the floor. “You now owe me a favor, of which I can call upon at any time, for anything. Is it agreed?” He pointed at Marcus.

Marcus thought hard on it, agreeing to such a request could mean big trouble in the future. What if he was asked to kill someone that didn’t deserve it? He was reluctant to make such an agreement but since he might never see him again. “Agreed.”

Endemald waved his hand and three locations on the map appeared in red. “I can tell you right now if you ever figure out how to conjure those knights I will want one. Those locations are the most dangerous, avoid them at all cost.”

MORE THAN A HUNDRED OF THE DWAGORD were sent out on a scouting mission, their black horses galloping through the countryside, but they had no intention of ever going back. Every single one of them felt slighted by their king and had volunteered for the mission just to be able to escape Kai’s clutches. This land appeared to be more fertile than their homeland and with their knowledge they should be able to prosper by themselves, deer were certainly plentiful. They had to get far away from their king as he would have all their heads on pikes as an example, but unless they were discovered he would believe that they had encountered trouble, a dragon perhaps, and not survived.

The group rode for almost a week, making sure to go around anyone they encountered, lest they inform the king that they had passed this way. They entered the forest and when they considered that were deep enough they rested and ate, most feeling a sigh of relief to be away from Kai’s clutches. They felt a sense of freedom for the first time in their lives. When they heard the sounds of a nearby brook giving them all the water they needed they decided that it was as good a place as any to build their new home. Soon they were cutting down trees, they would build a single large dwelling to get them in out of the elements and in time they would expand with more homes. The Dwagord were taught to kill at an early age, indoctrinated into their conquering ways before they could think for themselves, pounded into them in more ways than one. But some had learned to think for themselves.

After a week had passed they discovered that they were on the land of a kingdom that was almost a mile distant from their location, having to decide whether to swear fidelity to the kingdom of Carmeltin or to move on. After a tour of the kingdom they decided to settle in and start a new life.

IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING the wizard Chancailu was snoring loudly, annoying the two guards that had turned away from him outside his chamber, joking earlier that they should stuff a potato in his mouth. Brother was busy sawing the rope that bound his wrists on Kadyn’s visor; the snoring muting the sound of the cutting, close to being free but not quite there. Guards of the Dwagord were always severely punished when something untoward occurred on their watch and so they tried to stay vigilant. One was compelled to look inside the chamber, seeing what was going on he charged in but it was too late, Brother had snapped his binds and grabbed his sword, the fools had left it in the chamber because the wizard had wanted to examine it, to test its properties and magical strength.

The guard managed to strike Brother with his enchanted halberd, the point stuck into him but the penetration had no effect, giving Marcus’s knight the opportunity to run him through. The golden knight cut the rope from around his feet; Chancailu and Brother jumped up at the exact same time and the golden knight swung his sword, before the sorcerer could cast a spell he lost his head, literally. Brother ran his sword through the chest of the other warrior as he entered with his halberd, kicking him and sending him flying as he removed him from his sword, blood dripping down on the castle floor.

Brother freed Kadyn and they both started down the hall, the fracas had summoned more warriors to battle, but the knights were now wary of being knocked down and tied up, so even though they tried their best to take them down they were unable to do so, one ending up with Kadyn’s sword through his spine as he had launched himself at her legs. Fighting in the confines of the castle halls was tricky business for everyone.

Brother faced one way and Kadyn faced the other as they were attacked from both directions. Brother ran his sword through two of them simultaneously, when a mighty blow from one of the pointy helmet warriors deflected off Brother’s shoulder; he removed his sword and split the attacker almost completely in two. These knights had the strength of seven men and magical abilities to go with it.

Kadyn blocked a halberd and then cut it in two with her sword; subsequently taking the owners head and kicking it down the hall, she then thrust her sword through another’s chest. One attempted to penetrate Kadyn armour with a spear but it slid off to the side; she hacked into his shoulder at an angle, cutting down into his sternum and through his heart, stopping it. The knights were going through the Dwagord like wolves through rabbits.

General Dochacra appeared at the end of the hall. “They’ve killed Chancailu; let them out of here before they do more damage. They are magical creatures! Let them pass!”

More than fifty of the Dwagord made way as Brother and Kadyn walked past them exiting the castle, a difficult thing to swallow simply letting the enemy escape. Outside brother looked at Kadyn who was splattered with blood from the battle, they commenced to walk then they both halted and stared at one another.

“I’ve lost connection with the boy,” Kadyn whispered. “I can no longer feel his pull. How odd.”

Brother completed a full circle as he searched for Marcus’s location, it was discouraging that he couldn’t detect him either, downright depressing. Their main reason for existing was to protect the boy. “I ah seem to have loss my sense of direction? How are we ever going to find Marcus? That spell must have done something to the both of us. We are useless without the boy to defend. Something has disrupted our abilities.”

They started off dejectedly, not knowing where to go or what to do. The next morning they remained in a state of confusion.

THE DIRTY WHITE CAT ran with Berhtram in his mouth, the raven was not yet dead but thought that he soon would be as he let himself go limp, his thoughts returning to king Darius and his kind face. If he could fly he would at least have a chance to escape. The cat stopped and was ready to kill the bird when a black dog came out of nowhere, barking loudly. The cat froze not knowing what to do, hissing as best he could to show his displeasure. The dog showed his teeth to indicate that he meant business. The feline reluctantly dropped the bird and arched to put up a defense, unsure of whether to run or not, the dog circled it barking loudly.

The raven sprang to the side of the fracas, the cat attempted to grab it once more but was almost bitten by the dog and again it froze in its tracks. Berhtram was waiting to see what was going to happen as the dog confronted the bony cat, which turned as it followed the dog around and around ready with its sharp claws, not wanting to leave its back exposed. It didn’t want to abandon its meal but it also didn’t want to suffer an injury that might cripple it or worse.

The cat was brave for a time but finally decided to run off being no match for the big canine, leaving Berhtram to the fate of the mongrel. The dog was perplexed by the raven, going up to it and pawing it gently before sitting down and watching it curiously, releasing a short sharp bark in greeting. The dog appeared to enjoy the bird’s company, he so desired to be part of a pact.

The day was hot and the raven bounded off for the shade of a large sycamore tree, the dog following close behind all the while taking in its scent. The bird rested in the shade as the dog sat and observed the raven, not quite sure what to make of a bird that didn’t fly but soon realized that the bird was injured. They kept their eyes on one another for quite some time but finally Berhtram closed his eyes and went to sleep; the ordeal had taken a lot out of him.

The mutt wandered off, returning a few minutes later with a dead rabbit that it had pulled out of a snare, ripping it apart so that it could get at the meat, spitting out some of its fur. The smell of the fresh kill made the raven open his eyes, staring at the dog as it ate, thinking that he would like a bite of that but definitely not wanting to risk being killed by the dog, but maybe he could manage some of the scraps when the dog was finished.

Having had a rabbit earlier that morning, another that had been pilfered from a snare, the dog nosed the food toward the raven, offering him a bite. Berhtram considered whether he should risk it or not, hopped over and after staring at the dog took a single bite and then another. The meat was so tasty and he definitely needed some protein. Blackie panted loudly as he watched, cocking his head at the bird, finally lying down to take a nap.

Less than an hour later the dog awoke with Berhtram on his back; he stood up and looked back at the bird balancing itself. He walked around in a circle with the bird remaining on the flat of his back and it felt strange having him up there. The dog then went off to explore with the dark passenger hitching a ride, a peculiar sight but at this point in time both were in desperate need of a friend.