The Flames of Deception - A Horizon of Storms: Book 1 (28 page)

“
Who
is he?” Josephine asked. Matthias shook his head.

“
It is a place. Or it
was
a place, a
very
long time ago, situated near where the Seaport
City of Tekri rests now. It was a land built before Aralia even
existed. I think around two thousand years ago, if my memory serves
me. It was a land governed by sorcerers: the equivalent to the
Council of Mahalia, but for their own kind.”

“
How
is a sorcerer different from a wizard?” Thadius asked. “I don’t see
the distinction.”

“
From an outside perspective, it would seem very little,”
Matthias continued. “But a sorcerer uses a completely different
thread of energy than a wizard. It is a more raw, visceral power,
and much more dangerous.”

“
And
this Arash Malhat was a land filled with sorcerers?” Josephine
asked.

Matthias nodded. “It was a land of sorcerers, governed by
four Arch-Sorcerers. Aside from that, I must confess I know
precious little about the land itself aside from a few stories
passed down from generation to generation. In particular, there is
one I recall more than any other. The tale of the fall of Arash
Malhat tells of the final governors of that realm and the final
days of their land. They were greedy, selfish men, all of them, and
more often than not Mahalia was drawn into conflict with Arash
Malhat, against their blind ambitions. It was a time of immense
wars between wielders. But this was when the Akari still lived, and
such a thirst for power by the sorcerers was not tolerated. To stop
them, the Akari razed Arash Malhat to the ground and extinguished
all the sorcerers within its walls.”

“
They killed them all? How many?” Josephine asked, her eyes
widening.

Matthias shrugged, “I’m not sure. Hundreds? Definitely.
Thousands? Perhaps. Either way, they did what was necessary to
preserve the status quo. And as a final punishment, they made an
example of the four Arch-sorcerers and sent them into exile.”
Matthias took a breath. “They disappeared from history as far as I
know. I believe that was around six hundred years ago.”

Thadius laughed. “I may be mistaken, but you
can’t
possibly
think that the ‘four’ that Grimm was talking about are the
same men?”

Matthias shrugged, “It is, as I said, only a theory. But it
would fit the facts as they stand.”

“
But how could they live for so long? Six
hundred
years?”

“
When you use the powers of the world, they can do
things to your body. The deteriorating effects of time can be
slowed.” He cocked his head. “It is unlikely that such people could
remain alive for so long, but not
impossible
. They
may
have found a way.”

“
Your Council, ambassador. Did they not see
anything
of these
perpetrators through the seeing stone? Did it tell them
nothing
of those who would
release the dragon?”

“
The
stones are not able to be read like a book, princess. It isn’t
always easy to decipher their entire meaning. But I think that they
were investigating the possibilities as I left.”

“
What do you mean, ‘you think?’” Thadius grumbled.

“
The
Council have not been entirely clear with me about the details of
their investigation,” he said reservedly.

“
That’s
encouraging
,” Thadius retorted. “Why not?”

“
It’s a long story Thadius.”

“
We
have a lot of time it would seem,” the knight proffered.

“
Perhaps but I am not willing to tell it,” Matthias said more
sternly.

“
I
did say no more secrets, ambassador,” the princess said. “It sounds
very much like you are hiding something from me again.

“
A discussion around my people’s politics
would
bore
you princess. We haven’t enough
water
for such a
dry
story.” He took a breath. “Speaking of my people,
I had better talk with my contact in the Council and let them know
what has happened to us so far. Grimm’s ramblings might help them
and ultimately us, if they can find these people and stop them
before they are successful in breaking the dragon
free.”

Matthias shuffled in his spot and leant to where his bag was
lying on the grass. He fumbled inside it and pulled out the small
communication orb. “I use this to speak with my people,” he said,
at the looks from the others.

“
I
saw that in your room the other night when I was… making sure you
were comfortable,” Thadius finished abruptly. Matthias
smirked.

“
Think of it like, well…” he struggled for an
analogy.

“
A
carrier pigeon?” Thadius tried.

Matthias looked at him. “A carrier pigeon, in a glass ball,
flying messages back and forth between Mahalia and here
instantaneously.” The others looked at him blankly, and he shook
his head. “Perhaps not, Thadius.” He shrugged. “In any case, it
will let me speak with Mahalia straight away without having to wait
days or weeks for a response. It’ll only take a minute.” He
clutched the ball tightly in his palm and closed his eyes. Purple
light began to swirl around the sphere and his hand.

“
Amazing,” Thadius exclaimed. “I could do with one of those.
Imagine being able to speak with your father as we sit here. Or
give orders to soldiers on the battlefield.”

Josephine nodded. “The tools of wizards are impressive, I
will begrudgingly admit.”

There was a sudden, ferocious buzzing from the sphere.
Matthias looked down.

“
What is it?” Thadius asked.

“
I
don’t know. But something is-” In a second, the orb exploded in
Matthias’s hand, shattering into fragments. They dove away as glass
bit through the air, and Matthias closed his eyes with a cry and
held out his palm. Blood covered his hand where glass has embedded
itself into his skin. He was shaking.

“
Oh
my Gods!” Josephine shrieked, and grasped at his arm. “It is
alright! Stay calm! Thadius?”

The
knight slid besides Matthias. “We need to get the glass out,” he
said, and delicately placed his finger and thumb across the largest
piece. “I’m going to pull it out, alright?” he said. Matthias
nodded, grunting. In a swift movement, Thadius jerked the glass out
and Matthias cried in agony. “One piece out, five to go.” He moved
to the next, and prised it out delicately. Blood dripped from the
open wound.

Josephine scrabbled in her bags and pulled out a
handkerchief. She waited for what seemed like minutes as Thadius
removed the last of the glass and Matthias grunted in agony, and
then placed the balled up handkerchief into his palm and closed his
fingers shut.

“
Grip tightly Matthias,” she instructed. “We must stem the
blood flow. Do as I say!” she ordered, as his grip loosened, and
she closed it again, keeping her hands tightly over his bloodied
fist.

“
Are
you alright Matthias?” Asked Luccius, kneeling in front of him,
wide-eyed.

Matthias nodded. “I’m… fine,” he breathed. “It was just a
shock. Thank you,” he said, nodding to Thadius and then to
Josephine, who took her hands away slowly. He hissed at the pain
and then sat back, propping himself up against his bag.

“
What happened?” asked Luccius.

Matthias shook his head. “I don’t know. I was starting a
connection and then it just… exploded!”

“
Can’t you heal yourself Matthias?” Luccius asked. “You’ve
done it before.”

Matthias nodded. “The pain caught me off guard. I can’t wield
enough of the earth power just yet. I should be able to soon, when
I can focus.”

“
You
can mend your wounds with energy?” Thadius asked.

“
Minor wounds,” Matthias breathed. “But it takes a lot of
effort. It is easier sometimes to just let it heal naturally, for
all the effort it takes.” He shook his head and cursed. “They’re
behind this,” he growled. “The sorcerers! I know they
are!”

“
You
have no proof of that,” Luccius said. “It could be any number of
people surely?”

Matthias shook his head. “No. Why else would Taico
Grimm refer to ‘the four?’ What other fours
are
there?”

“
The
four elements?” Thadius suggested.

“
Four suits in a deck of cards!” Luccius continued.

“
Four wheels on a carriage,” Josephine added.

“
Alright. I see your point. But they’re the only ones who
could be interfering with the communications stones! I don’t know
of anyone else who could manage such a thing.”

“
It’s quite a large reach to suggest that the only possible
perpetrators could be six hundred year old men,” the princess
advised.

He
shook his head. “Maybe. I know Master Pym would be able to help us
find out though. And now I can’t contact him!” He sighed. “I really
am all alone in this now.”

“
We are all in this
together
,” Josephine said. “Is that not what you
have told me so far?
I
am the one who has to ward off this dragon, not you!
Perhaps you can appreciate some of the loneliness
I
feel, to be away
from my people, now you are cut off as well.”

Matthias looked up, and after a pause, nodded
silently.

“
Well this has been yet another exciting day,”
Thadius said, standing up and placing his hands on his hips. “It
would seem that danger gravitates around you wizard, like a fly
around
dung
.”

“
Matthias
,” Luccius said gravely, his eyes narrowing.
“Something is happening.”

Matthias leaned forward. “What do you mean?” He asked as
Luccius picked up a fragment of the orb.

“
I
can sense something...” his ears twitched. “An energy.”

“
Is
it coming from the remains of the orb?” the princess
asked.

“
No. It’s all around us, but I think it
has
touched the orb
somehow.” He stroked the piece of glass with a finger. It feels
wrong.
Dangerous
.” He swallowed. “I think you may have just showed them
where to find us.” His ears twitched again.

“
If
they know where we are then surely we should-” the princess stopped
mid-sentence and exhaled heavily, clutching her stomach.

“
Princess, what is it?” Thadius asked, kneeling by her
side.

“
I-I don’t
know
...
ungh!
” She hissed and doubled over in pain. The sky
rumbled menacingly above them.

Luccius gasped. “Matthias! It’s surrounding
Josephine!”

The
princess groaned, her mouth dropping wide open. Her hands shook and
above them, sheet lightning crackled, illuminating the
skies.

“
Matthias,” she breathed. “I think it is my power! It feels
like it did before.”

Matthias leapt up and gripped her shoulders, the bloodied
handkerchief still clasped between his fingers. He closed his eyes
and his brow furrowed.

“
They are suppressing your control somehow,” he
said. “Princess, I don’t know
how
they are doing this, but only
you
can stop the flow of energy from
overcoming you. You have to concentrate!” Josephine shook heavily,
her whole body convulsing. Her eyes met Matthias’s and tears rolled
down her cheeks.

“
I’m
scared!” she cried.

“
I know. It’s alright princess.” Matthias cradled
her face in his hands. “
Look
at me! You
can
stop this!”

As
Josephine stared at him, a tingling spread through her body and her
chest heaved. There was a flash of white light from her collarbone
and Matthias was thrown backwards, striking the ground hard and
tearing up the grass as he slid away with the force. Wind whipped
around Josephine, a cyclone billowing faster and faster. Leaves and
grass and flowers swirling around in the whirlwind. Luccius and
Thadius watched powerlessly, forced back by the gale.

Matthias gasped as he pulled himself up. The wind was growing
stronger by the second. He pushed his way forward, but his legs
fell from under him and he tumbled face down into the
mud.

“
Princess!
” Matthias called, but the wind was too loud for
her to hear. He forced himself up again and concentrated. His eyes
glowed and around his body a field of light radiated outward, a
bubble shielding him from the wind. He marched on towards the
princess, right at the storm’s centre, the bubble flickering as the
winds battered the shell. The twister had reached the clouds and
grew wider with every second. Luccius stabbed his spear deep into
the ground, forcing the metallic blade into the soul with a boot
where the blunt edge met the wooden haft. He clutched to the pole
tightly.