The Mage of Orlon: The beginning (25 page)

Nathan made his way down to the last place in all of Orlon he thought he would go willingly.
After passing through the arches of the entrance he called out,
“
Crolin, are you here?
”

“
Daarrrrrrllling!
”
The wispy voice answered.

Crolin appeared wearing a silken red cape with an outfit that reflected all the colors of autumn.

“
How did your little camping trip go with the princess, was she naughtier than you could handle?
Do you need Crolin to rub lotion on all your achy bruises?
”
He pouted.

Nathan shook his head and laughed,
“
That would have unnerved me when I first met you, but now it is refreshing to hear.
”

Crolin smiled,
‘
I am glad that you have finally lightened up, what can I do for you?
”

“
I need something special.
”

“
You are going to propose to the princess!
I knew it!
”

“
What, no Crolin, this is for the Dark Queen.
”

With a frown Crolin replied
“
Give me a little more time and you can have my chamber pot.
”

Nathan smiled,
“
I had something a little prettier in mind, but something more damaging.
Can you make something for me, something magical?
”

Crolin didn
’
t like where this was going,
“
For the Dark Queen, you mean?
”

“
Yes, I have an idea in mind, but I need this thing made as quickly as possible.
Can you do it?
”

Crolin eyed Nathan wearily,
“
How soon do you need it?
”

“
I need it before the Dark Queen
’
s next attack.
”

“
I can try, what is it?
”

“
A special bracelet.
”
Nathan said smiling.

Tirana stalked into her throne room.
She was dressed from head to toe in a midnight blue colored hooded cape.
The hood covered her hair and most of her face only her mouth could clearly be seen.
All had gone well with Tehara, now all she had to do was wait.
Maybe she would even entertain herself with the court jester, how long had it been since she had him locked up?
Two, four years?
The Queen
’
s silent musings were interrupted by a solider.

“
Your majesty.
”
The soldier went to one knee.

“
What is it, I am busy!
”
Tirana shouted.

“
We have regrouped the soldiers that fled, what should we do with them?
”

“
They obviously need re-encouragement as to why they are in my army.
Feed them and give them plenty of wine!
”

“
Your majesty?
”
The soldier questioned.

“
Do not question me!
Do as I command!
”
Tirana shrieked bolting up from her throne.

“
Yes your majesty right away!
”
the soldier stammered.

Tirana sat back down in her throne, the potion was light in that last round of food, and seeing Mordenar burn to death didn
’
t help either.
The newest batch of love potion was the strongest yet.
Her craven soldiers would fight to the death after eating and drinking it.

“
Meeka.
”

“
Oh shit.
”
Tirana whispered.
The last thing she needed right now was her least favorite ghost to appear.

“
Meeka, see you didn
’
t kill the soldiers who fled their posts. You are not evil, at least not entirely.
”
The specter breathed.

“
Why couldn
’
t you be a ghost of a past lover that just needed to touch me again?
No, instead I get a ghost who is trying to turn me into, into, what are you trying to turn me into?
”

“
Why, yourself of course.
”
answered the spirit.

“
If I had put all those soldiers to death, who would I tell to charge into battle?
It is a matter of numbers, if I have the largest army then I will win, plain and simple.
Specter, I really do not have time for you, so if you could just get to the point and leave I would be grateful.

“
You will lose!
”
the specter screamed and disappeared.

Tirana thought about it for a second and smiled.
If I do then I still have a plan.
Now back to the jester, was he even still alive?
No matter, she had plans to go over, everything had to go just right or she would surely die.

The first attack had not caused many casualties.
But some of the elven army had been injured by the flaming arrow parts that rained down when Nathan lost consciousness.
Ezra had set up a makeshift shelter and was tending to the injured.
Nathan had wandered into the courtyard after talking to Crolin.
Nathan saw the tent and went over to help.

“
You will be fine, just get some rest.
”
Ezra said to the soldier who had limped in with a gash in his leg.

“
Thanks Ezra, you are the best!
”

“
I know.
”
She said flirtingly.

“
Excuse me, but did he call you Ezra?
”
Nathan asked.

“
Ahhh, finally we meet, Nathan.
”
Ezra chimed.

Nathan looked at the high priestess in training.
She was short by elf standards, but she seemed to possess great magic.
Her robes seemed to change colors every few moments.
Her brown eyes looked Nathan up and down.
A slight grin played across her face.

“
I see why Lela is so confused by you.
Are you injured?
”
Ezra asked, a slight bit of concern in her voice.

“
The mage slayer nicked me, but I healed it.
Can I help you with the troops?
”

“
Let me see where that arrow hit you, and then I will answer you.
”

Nathan pulled the neck of his shirt down.
The place where he had been nicked was gone.
But Ezra looked deeper and saw where the magic that poisoned him still left its mark.

“
You have a magic scar Nathan.
But considering that no other magic was used on any of the other weapons sure you can help.
”

The next soldier was brought in.
He only had a few minor scrapes.
Ezra let Nathan heal this one to see how good he was.

Nathan focused on the wound, it closed without much concentration.
Ezra was impressed, he had only been here a month and a half and Nathan was already healing like a first level healer!
The next soldier came in, his wound was worse.
Again Ezra let Nathan heal him.
The wound closed up again.
Nathan smiled the practice with Shinto was paying off!
He wasn
’
t feeling nauseous or anything!
The soldier looked at Nathan.

“
Telana, she is a scout, she is trapped under a tree by the castle wall.
Please mage help her!
”
The soldier pleaded.

Nathan looked at Ezra, they both went to the outside of the castle to find Telana pinned under a fallen tree.
Nathan was the first to get there.
Telana looked bad, her color was pale and she wasn
’
t moving.
Nathan touched the side of her neck and found her pulse, it was weak and thread.
The trapped scout looked Nathan in the eyes, pain was all he saw.
Ezra made it to stand by Nathan pity filled her eyes.

“
I don
’
t think we can help this one.
The tree is too large to move Nathan.
”
Ezra said quietly.

Nathan looked at Telana again, the agony she was in was too much for him.
He had to do something!
Nathan began to concentrate.
It was the tree that had to go, a thought occurred to him.
If one of the branches had impaled her she might be bleeding to death.
Nathan touched Telana
’
s hand he followed her body to the part the tree was on.
She had broken bones, but no impalements.
A smile spilled across his face.

“
Nathan we can
’
t move the tree it is too heavy.
”
Ezra repeated.

“
It is now, but not for much longer!
”
Nathan turned looking at Ezra.

Ezra put a hand up out of reflex to ward off an attack.
Nathan
’
s eyes had turned black.
Focusing on the tree Nathan began to look at the oak that had the scout pinned.
He couldn
’
t burn the whole tree, it would cause more injury to the scout however he could burn most of the tree!
His black eyes gazed down on the scout who was terrified of him now!

“
Hold very still Telana, you will have to trust me okay?
When I tell you to put your head down and close your eyes tightly.
”
The voice was calm that came from Nathan
’
s mouth.

The scout only nodded her head.
Focusing on the tree Nathan decided to burn it quickly with the wall of fire.
The trick was he would have to make the wall only large enough to destroy the tree.
His focus redoubled as he began to bring the smaller version of the green fire to life.

“
Cover your head now!
”
He commanded.

The scout
’
s head went down, and she closed her eyes as tight as they have ever been!
Ezra watched in shock as a wall of flame leapt into the air only a foot above the scout
’
s head!
The wall zipped down the tree seven feet and then went to the ground and continued burning the tree to the roots where it faded out of existence!

What was left of the tree was a light weight board that was easily removed by Ezra and Nathan.

“
Ezra I can
’
t heal her, you will have to do it.
”

Ezra only stared at the young mage who was now sitting on the ground.
He was taking in gulps of air, and was looking ill.
Ezra went to work on the scout.
In all Telana had three broken ribs, a broken leg and four broken fingers.
All the wounds were healed by Ezra
’
s expert skills.

“
Rest is all you need now Telana.
”
Ezra said.

“
Thank you Ezra.
”
Telana walked over to where Nathan was sitting.
“
Thank you, mage of Orlon.
”
With that Telana went back to her chambers to rest.

Ezra eyed Nathan for some time.
She walked over to the mage who still seemed sick to her, but she could see no illness.
She sat down beside him.

“
That was an extraordinary show of control and power Nathan.
Have you done that before?
”

“
No Ezra, usually I use the wall to destroy spears and on one occasion two howlers.
Today was the first time I have ever controlled it.
It took a lot out of me to control it like that.
”

“
Why are you so sick?
”
Ezra asked.