Warded Mage (Reawakening Saga) (5 page)

Sae-Thae slapped Thad on the back while laughing. “You would have never made it back in magic’s heyday my friend, but here you will fit in just fine. I think I can come up with something that will match your style and still remind you of the mages of old.
”

CHAPTER VI

Over the next score of days Thad fell into a routine. He would wake up and would spend his morning hours training with Sae-Thae. He learned a lot from the Vathari mage, things he could have never found out tinkering on his own. The two spent countless hours reading through the books of mages long past and how they worked their spells. Thad was amazed at the sheer number of spell books left behind. Sae-Thae had told him at one time all mages were required to write down everything about their magic so that it could be passed down to future generations. The Vathari often requested copies of such books from the mages council in trade for various items that were hard to acquire on the surface. At night Vathari women were brought to him, twice Bahia had been the one summoned. At first he was unsure of the situation but it quickly grew commonplace and lately he gave it little thought

“I think I would like to start my own school of magic when I return to Farlan. If the queen won’t agree to it I know her daughter will once she takes the throne. And to start I will need copies of some of these books
, as well as make some of my own.” Thad said watching Sae-Thae for any hints to his thoughts on the subject.

“That is a noble idea but if you chain yourself to a government you know your students will one day be used for war. That is the way of the world; people in power use everything available to them in attempts to grab more
power. It might not be even while you’re alive, but someday, those mages will become the tools of men greedy for power. Then there is the Brotherhood, do you think they will allow you to set up a school that goes against their very nature? They will seek to destroy you and everyone who has ever heard of you.” Sae-Thae said as if it was a simple fact.

“I know you speak the truth friend
, but I will not allow the Brotherhood to stop me. It is past time that mages sttod firm instead of hiding and cowering from the likes of the Brotherhood. In the past the brotherhood had a whole empire at their call, now they work in the shadows, and if they do bring an army to my doorstep I will not shy away, I will bring everything I have down upon them.” Thad said vehemently.

Sae-Thae smiled as he often did whenever Thad showed any desire to fight. “I swear you should have been born my brother. If a time comes when you have this school of yours I will find a way to get
the books to you. I shall also petition the priestess to talk to our god and see if we cannot pledge warriors to your cause. There is no Vathari alive who does not wish to see the Brotherhood wiped from the face of all lands. They are a blight, one that needs to end before the word crumbles around our feet.”

“If a time comes when I need the finest warriors I will call on you brother.” Thad said smiling at
Sae-Thae.

“We have found the books that will be the most use to you, and I have taught you all that can really be taught. I fear the time for our parting is soon at hand brother. Today we can escape this dust cell of a library and enjoy the town. The people of Xi’han had heard of your arrival but most are starting to disbelieve the rumors as you have not stepped foot outside since you have arrived. Tomorrow I will arrange for you to undergo the
rite of blessing. Within a fortnight you shall be back on your way to play with the overly serious dwarves.” Sae-Thae said as he thumped Thad hard on the back.

His friend was right he had spent too much of his time cooped up simply reading. What was the point of adventuring if one didn’t take the time to explore what was around him? You could learn a lot from a book, but some
things had to be found out on your own.

Sae-Thae took Thad first to the Warrior’s Hall a large set of barracks surrounding a large open area where warriors fought and trained for coming battles. Thad and Sae-Thae sat and enjoyed a few matches before a large and brutish looking
Vathari warrior called out to him. “Little human, have you come to just watch, or would you like to try that little blade out against a real warrior?”

Sae-Thae nudged him with his elbow. “You should take him up on his offer. We have excellent healers so
in the off chance he wins they will take good care of you.”

Thad knew by the way his friend was talking he didn’t mean the healers would simple take care of his wounds. If nothing else he had learned the
Vathari were very open about their women and the pleasure they could bring. Shrugging his shoulders Thad stood from his seat and made the slow walk to the area below to the cheers of the many spectators.

Thad circled around his opponent his sword drawn and at the ready. The
Vathari warrior was about his size but his bulging muscles made Thad look like a child in comparison. It wasn’t the warrior’s size that bothered him, It was the tattoo on the brute’s right hand. He had seen some like it before and cursed himself for not asking Sae-Thae about their significance before. Thad allowed the warrior to make the first move as he kept a close eye on every move the Vathari made. Though large, the warrior was impossibly fast and was in front of Thad attacking with a vicious overhand chop almost before he knew what was happening. Thad got his sword up in time but the jarring strength from the attack sent shivers down his arm that reverberated inside him as if he were standing at the center of a bell as it was being rung.

Thad moved quickly backward and reset his footing and continued watching. The
Vathari was too strong to fight toe to toe with, in no time Thad would have been left on the ground waiting for the final sword stroke, no he had to watch and wait for an opening. There was always the option to use his magic but in a sparring match that seemed too much like cheating. He wanted to win, felt the burning desire for it, but he wanted to do so on his own terms. Thad wasn’t sure how the warrior had moved so fast, so Thad watched his feet for any sign of movement.

Thad saw it
, though it was only the briefest of hints and the Vathari leaned back putting his weight on his dominant foot. Anticipating what was coming Thad dove to the side and struck with his sword at what appeared to only be empty space but the second before his sword passed through the warrior’s body seemed to suddenly appear. Thad’s blade caught the brute full in the chest as a twinge of energy shot down the blade lighting it up like a lightning bolt, sending the Vathari flying backward as blood flowed freely from the deep wound Thad’s sword had made.

Thad looked down at the still glowing blade as tendrils of energy flowed around it. “Wonderful, I knew the blade
had a hint of magic about it but never would I have expected the dwarves to give you such a prize.” Thad heard Sae-Thae say from behind him, though through his pounding heartbeat it sounded as if he was worlds away.

“It’s not of dwarven make….I made it.” Thad said his voice mired in disbelief at what his own eyes witnessed.

“Truly, I have never head of a mage mastering the art dwarven blacksmithing, though it would have to be possible especially considering your birthright. I should have expected something was amiss when the blade used energy as its medium instead of earth. Only a dwarf with the blood of Moriudonius could make such a thing.” Sae-Thae said as he lightly pulled the sword from Thad’s hand and began to inspect it. “Did you choose energy on purpose, it is very effective I must say.”

Thad sat down heavily on the ground as the world seemed to spin out of control around him. How had he made such a thing? He had heard of all kinds of mythical weapons, but never one that st
ruck with the power of lightning. “I…..Don’t know….Crusher said to simply let my magic flow into the weapon with every stroke of the hammer……I worked on it……for a whole season…… this is the first time I have used it.” Thad said haltingly as each word rang in his own mind like an accusation of the Vathari he had just killed.

“What is wrong with you brother. You see
m to be out of sorts. You have won and in grand style. You have beat one of the dark gliders in fair combat, a great feat indeed, especially since you didn’t use your magic…well except for the sword, even without its power it was clear to everyone you had won.”

“It was a simple sparring match yet I killed my opponent. I cannot be happy with such an outcome.” Thad said dismally.

“Ah! I forgot you are the honorable sort. You should not worry, he shall live, the priestess’s are already fast to work on his wounds. Give him a few days and he will be roaring for you to fight him again. The dark gliders hate losing especially to one unmarked by the gods.”

“Dark glider?”
Thad asked as the churning in his stomach settled. The warrior would live, he had not killed needlessly.

“Ah yes
, we have been so busy I have not mentioned much about the blessings of the gods. As a mage, I went through the rite, I was only given a blessing that increased my ability to wield the dark element.” Sae-Thae said lifting up the sleeve of his shirt to expose a strange rune that dimly glittered on the mage’s skin. Our god gives one of four blessings. One like I have, or the mark of the priest like your fair Bahia has. There are also two marks for the warrior. The one you fought today, called the dark gliders, it allows the user to hide things he doesn’t want his enemy to see. It works much the same as an illusion. The warrior was not moving fast he simply made you think he was standing still while he was moving closer to you. I don’t know how you figured it out on your own, marvelous indeed, some instinct you have brother. The other is much more sinister in nature, the dark assassins. It allows the user to blend into the shadows and merge with them using any darkness as a portal to move around. They can kill you before you even know they popped out of your own shadow.”

As Sae-Thae spoke he remembered the two warriors he and
Crusher had fought when he had been horribly injured. They had to have been dark assassins. Sae-Thae was right they were sinister and deadly beyond compare of a normal warrior.

The two watched a few more bouts in the Warrior’s Hall before Sae-Thae took Thad to the Hall of the Gods where the priest and priestess lived, and where his own rite of
blessing would take place in the morning of the following day. It was dark though still kept bright enough to see by low burning black flames. In the center of the room stood a statue of what Thad was sure was a human. Thad studied the statue trying to figure out why it would earn such a place of honor in a temple of the Vathari.

“That is Mantara, our god and lord of the darkness.” Sae-Thae said as he bowed toward the statue.

Thad followed Sae-Thae’s lead and bowed low before the statue of the god. “He looks human?” Thad asked slightly puzzled.

“Laughing lightly Sae-Thae looked at Thad as if he were daft. “Remember what I told you brother. All of the gods were born of human that is why I said that in a way humans are the father of all the other races.”

Sae-Thae was right he had told him the story but part of him didn’t truly believe it. Throughout history many different people claimed to have gods. Today still people in foreign kingdoms claimed that they followed the will of the gods, but Thad, as well as most people from Farlan, believed that the gods were simple platitudes made up by people looking for something to believe in that was bigger than themselves. Thad had never truly believed that gods of any kind ever existed. “Does he truly exist?”

Sae-Thae shook his head sadly. “You will find that
out tomorrow.” He simply replied though his voice showed that he pitied Thad for his lack of belief.

“Have you come to warm my bedchamber tonight?” A seductive voice said from behind him.

Turning around, Thad found Bahia standing as if she had just won a battle. “I am simply showing my good friend around. Also we need to make arrangements for his rite of blessing to be tomorrow. His time with us grows short, as he has other places to visit on his long pilgrimage.” Sae-Thae said bluntly to the priestess who looked more than slightly aggravated.

“I will make sure that the high priestess is made aware of this. As you well know master mage this is no place for simple visitors. We are preparing for our evening prayers so I must ask that you and your friend depart.” Bahia said politely
, though anyone could see the hate looming in her eyes as she stared at the Vathari mage.

As they walked out of the large hall Thad took a peek over his should
er at Bahia. “She didn’t seem too pleased with you my friend.”

“She is just mad that she has not got with child yet. From what I have heard
, she tried very hard on the journey and has agreed to visit you a few times since you have arrived at the city. As I told you it is seen as a great honor to have the babe of a child of Moriudonius. While most priestess view serving Mantara enough of an honor, my sources have told me your friend back there is eager to earn more. I wouldn’t be surprised if she makes a few more trips to your bedchambers in the next few days.” Sae-Thae said smiling. “Be wary my friend she might just entrap your soul so you are forced to stay until she can conceive.”

The last leg of their trip took them to the market. Thad had seen bits of the market when he had first arrived but had not taken the time to explore it in any great detail. The shops sold many of the wares you would find in any town; clothes, tools, food, but many o
f the items were unique to the Underearth. One in particular caught his eye, it looked like a simple cloak but whatever material it had been made from was so dark it seemed to chase the very light that shone upon it away.