Myrkron (Volume Two of The Chronicles of the Myrkron) (36 page)

Chapter Thirty-
Four

After leaving Micah, Michael teleported back to the elven encampment.  Merric was there gathering more men to transport to The Slot.  As Michael, Reek and Branik appeared; Merric stopped and motioned for Michael to come over.  He walked over and started to explain, but Merric stopped him with a raised hand.

“I can tell by your face that whatever it was it was important
, and I would like nothing more than to hear what you have to say, but first things first.  We need to get the rest of these men to Commander Salic.  Then, if time permits, you can tell me,” Merric said interrupting him.

“
Ok,” Michael replied.  He looked around trying to assess how many men were left to be transported.  He was not very good at estimating, but it appeared to be between two and three hundred.  “Is everyone ready?”  He asked Merric.

“Yes
, but I do not want you to tire yourself.  Perhaps we should each take half of them,” Merric suggested.

“It is better you save your energy
; besides, a couple of hundred will not tire me.  I brought more than that from the Avari Isle and didn’t feel any negative effects,” Michael commented dismissively.  Without waiting for Merric’s reply, he quickly spoke the words of transport and, as Michael blinked his eyes, he and all the men were outside the mouth of The Slot. Merric had opened his mouth to say something, but instead, closed it audibly and studied Michael for any sign of weariness.

“You really should be more conservative with the way you spend your power, Michael,” Merric chided gently.

“When we are not preparing for a war, I will take that suggestion under advisement,” Michael replied sharply.  Seeing the look on Merric’s face, Michael sighed heavily.  “I'm sorry, Merric. I am just stressed with the pace of everything recently.  I am anxious to begin this war and, at the same time, it scares the hell out of me.”

Merric smiled and
, once again, Michael saw the grandfatherly figure instead of the Headmaster of Kantwell.

“That’s quite alright
, my boy.  I understand how you feel.  Quite frankly, I would be more worried if you were not terrified.  At least that lets me know you are still human.  Everyone is anxious for it to begin.  The waiting and worrying are almost as bad the battles themselves.  Now remember, there are going to be vastly greater numbers in the battles ahead.  We cannot afford you incapacitating yourself like you did the last time you were here.  Choose your targets carefully.  Conserve your powers.  The Great One only knows how long this will drag out, and if you spend everything you have in one big blast, there is no telling what might happen,” Merric said, with concern.

“Point taken.  Do you need me to do anything else right now?”  Michael asked.

Merric thought for a moment and shook his head.

“Then I think I will go look for Dain.  I have not yet
had a chance to actually talk to him, and I have some questions about his healing ability.”

“Anything you can learn about healing can only benefit all of us
, so by all means.  You should find him at the camp a ways back into The Slot,” Merric pointed out.

Michael smiled faintly at Merric then checked over his shoulder to assure himself that Reek and Branik were close
. Seeing they were right behind him, Michael began walking to the pass.  As he glanced around at the rock walls, he noticed a slight movement, but when he focused in on the spot where the movement had been he didn’t see anything.  Shaking his head, he continued forward.

“You are not seeing things,”
Branik said from right behind him.

Michael stopped and turned to look at the big Avari.

“The elves are positioned up there.  They are quite adept at not being seen when they choose,” Branik explained.

Michael turned to the wall again and looked more closely.  He still didn
't see anything even knowing what he was looking for.

One of the elves stood and nodded down at him.

Michael had to do a double take.  It seemed one second there was nothing but blank rock and the next the elf just appeared.  “Could you see them?”  Michael asked Branik.

“Not unless they move
, but I could sense someone was nearby,” Branik replied.

“
Fateor,
” Michael whispered as he scanned the rock walls once more.  He was surprised to suddenly see dozens of the elves perched all over the walls.  The places where they stood or knelt seemed barely big enough for birds to lite on, but the elves seemed relaxed and steady.  Michael released the spell and watched in fascination as the elves disappeared from view once again.  He chuckled faintly and continued walking into the pass.

Though the guards on duty did not know Michael
, they did recognize two Avari flanking him, and they stepped apart, allowing the threesome to pass.  They had gone only about a hundred feet into the pass when, rounding a corner, Michael almost ran straight into Commander Salic and Captain Hamil.  Stopping suddenly, Michael bowed his head to Commander Salic.  “Pardon me, Commander,” Michael said, in embarrassment.

Commander Salic looked Michael up and down without recognition until Captain Hamil spoke.

“Wizard Michael, we did not recognize you without your robe.  I had thought wizards wore them at all times?” Captain Hamil inquired.

“Wizards of this world may very well
, but I find they are not very practical for fighting,” Michael explained.

Commander Salic looked closer at Michael’s face.
  “I am sorry I did not recognize you, Wizard Michael.  Captain Hamil is correct.  We rarely, if ever, see a wizard out of robes and never one dressed for battle,” Commander Salic admitted.

“Sydoj Michael is trained in the use of the blade.  His training is far from complete
, but he has shown a level of skill most would envy,” Branik said a bit defiantly.

Michael was as stunned as Commander Salic and Captain Hamil looked.  Branik had never said anything about his skill before
, and Michael just assumed he was passing fair.  To hear Branik’s praise made Michael smile broadly.

“Michael has been allowed to train with the Avari?”  Captain Hamil asked in shock, looking back and forth between the Avari and Michael.

“Sydoj Michael is Avari,” Branik stated.

Commander Salic looked at Michael with a new found respect.  Not only had this young wizard saved countless of his men’s lives
, he was Avari as well, which probably meant he was better with his sword than any of the men fighting under his command.

“If you are half as good with your swords as you are with your magic
, then I thank the Great One you are on our side,” Commander Salic said sincerely

“Commander, could you tell me where I
might find the young dwarf healer, Dain?”  Michael asked feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Certainly.  He is in the center of the camp.  His tent is setup near the wounded.  If he is not there just ask anyone in camp.  They all know Dain,” Salic told him.

“Thank you, Commander,” Michael replied and stepped around the pair heading further into the pass.

Stepping around Captain Hamil, Michael was struck by the man
's size.  He was a couple inches taller than Branik and built along the same lines.  If it wasn’t for Branik’s Avari training, he wasn’t sure who he would give odds to in a sparring match.  As they continued on, they saw Colonel Bastise walking toward them.  There was another cut from the same cloth, Michael thought to himself.  Until all this began, Michael had never seen men as big those three except on television.  He would hate to be on the receiving end of any of them.

Colonel Bastise saw them and smiled hugely.
  “Ah, my friends it is good to see you here.  Is Micah with you?”

“No, sorry Colonel
.  Micah had something to attend to.  He said he would try to be here by this evening,” Michael told him.

“Ah, that is good.  I find myself looking forward to fighting with him once again.  It has been a long time since we went into battle together
.  I have missed having him at my side,” Bastise said smiling.

“While I do not share your enthusiasm for the coming fight, I do understand your feeling.  I could think of no other I would want at my side during this time than Micah.  Present company excluded, of course,” Michael said nodding to Branik and Reek.

“We take no offense, Michael.  We are poor substitutes for Lord Micah,” Reek replied sincerely.

“
You two are not poor substitutes for anything.  You are obviously the best or Lord Micah would not have assigned you to me.”

“Aye, young Michael is correct.  Micah would not have entrusted his safety to just anyone.  Well
, I must to speak to Commander Salic, perhaps I will see you later,” Bastise said with a slight bow of his head and continued on his way.

Michael finally made it to the area designated for the wounded and saw Dain’
s small tent.  Sitting on the ground outside the tent was a giant ogre with two red feathers depending from a red leather headband, directly in front of him sat Dain.  The two were conversing in serious tones and, as Michael got close enough to listen, he realized the ogre was instructing Dain on the uses of various plants as healing agents.  Dain’s expression was one of rapt attention until he caught sight of Michael.

As
Dain saw the three approaching, he jumped to his feet and a big smile lit his face.  “Wizard Michael, I had no idea I would be seeing you so soon,” Dain exclaimed in excitement.

The ogre turned his body to see who was there
, but remained seated.  He had already determined that the humans were more intimidated by him if he stood.  As he was eye level with all but the tallest of the humans when seated, Mardak preferred to remain that way.  “I heard Dain address you as Wizard and, as the two with you are obviously Avari, I assume you are the Michael that Dain has told me about.  I am Mardak, Shaman of the tribes under my brother’s leadership,” Mardak said inclining his head in greeting.

“I am pleased to meet you.  Yes
, I am Michael,” he said extending his hand.

Mardak took Michael’s hand carefully and shook it.
  “I sense you are a wizard and a powerful one at that; but you dress more like a nobleman.”

“The clothes were given to me by Lord Micah and are much more
fitting to fight in than a robe,” Michael explained.

“Have you come for that talk, Wizard Michael?”  Dain asked excitedly.

“I have.  Please Dain, it’s just Michael, and my two Avari brethren are Reek and Branik,” Michael said introducing the pair who each nodded in turn.

“As you wish, Michael.  I cannot offer you chairs
, but you are welcome to sit here with Mardak and me.  It is not very comfortable, but the conversation more than makes up for it,” Dain offered.

“I
f you like hearing about healing roots and herbs, that is,” Mardak said, chuckling.

“I would very much like to hear about such things.  In fact, healing is what I came to speak
about with Dain,” Michael replied taking a seat on the ground and crossing his legs.

“Do you require healing?” Mardak asked with concern.

“No. Dain took care of that earlier.  My interest is more in the practices and procedures.  I am new to healing and was hoping Dain could teach me more about it.”

Mardak’s eyebrows drew down
, and he looked more closely at Michael.  “Wizards cannot heal,” Mardak stated flatly.

The look on the big ogres face caused Reek and Branik to move closer to Michael.

“That is what I have been told, but then, I am not a wizard.  I am a Myrkron.”

Mardak’s eyes
went wide, and he stood up suddenly.

Reek and Branik both drew their swords and interposed themselves betwee
n Michael and Mardak.

Mardak ignored the two Avari and went to his knees.  Bowing forward
, he touched his forehead to the ground in front of Michael.  “Myrkron, please forgive my ignorance.  I had no way of knowing it was you,” Mardak blurted out in embarrassment.

Michael stood up and touched both Reek and Branik on the shoulders, gesturing for them to put their swords away.  Both Avari complied without hesitation
.  Michael studied the prostrate ogre for a few seconds before kneeling down in front of him.  He sighed lightly and placed his hand on the back of Mardak’s head noticing that the ogre began to shake slightly at his touch.

“There is nothing to forgive, Shaman Mardak.  Please get up.  It seems I have questions for you as well,” Michael said quietly
removing his hand.

Mardak hesitantly glanced up.  His yellowish complexion turned an ugly red at seeing the Myrkron kneeling before him.  Seeing the tired expression on Michael’s face instead of anger, Mardak raised himself up into a kneeling position
, but diverted his eyes from Michael’s as they met.

“You obviously know what a Myrkron is, my question is how you know.”