The (sort of) Dark Mage (Waldo Rabbit) (9 page)

Watching the pointless display of fury only made Waldo shake his head.

“You’re pathetic,” Waldo said and left with him still pinned. “Goodbye brother.”

Walter screamed after him but Waldo didn’t bother to listen.

XXX

As was tradition Waldo had a big breakfast before setting out. His mother said very little and did not ask him what his plans were. Waldo could remember her acting the same whenever the others went out.     

The kitchen slaves brought him two full waterskins and a pack filled with jerky, nuts, dried bread, and other travel food. The slaves spoke well wishes and hoped for his safe return while keeping their eyes lowered.

When the meal was finally finished he put on his backpack and waterskins and proceeded out of the castle proper, through the courtyard, and towards the main gate. His back was bending forward just a bit under the weight. Having to travel so many miles on foot toting everything on his back was going to be wearying.

The morning sky was a barely visible ash grey. His mother was the only one to accompany him. When his brothers and sisters were still alive they would come and see whoever was leaving. Since Gwen and Walter could not join them for obvious reasons, it was just him and his mother. He wondered what it was like for her to be sending the last of her children off on a First Quest. It had to be hard, especially given the circumstances.

Whatever she was feeling his mother gave no sign; her face was rigidly set and her demeanor utterly calm. She was certainly not behaving like this might be the last time she ever saw him.

“I will definitely come back,” Waldo said as they came to the opened gate.

The wooden drawbridge was down over the dry moat with its rusting iron spikes. Beyond was a rutted dirt road that led down to the city of Alter. From there he would follow the north road and begin his journey.

Now that the moment had really come Waldo felt really scared. He looked back at the dreary castle and the undead shuffling along the battlements. He looked out at the volcanoes in the distance spewing ash into the sky and bleeding lava into the rivers of fire. The morning breeze was heavy with the stench of sulfur. How he would miss this place!

His mother looked at him and there was a miniature smile beneath solemn eyes. “I am sure you will,” she agreed.

Reaching into her cloak she produced a leather sack that jingled in her hands.

“Take this; it is a hundred gold coins. I made sure they are all foreign mint, you will only find ducats and denari; no gold skulls. It’s all I can do for you.”

“Isn’t this against the rules for a First Quest?”

“Oh it’s completely against the rules, but then so is setting impossible conditions. Now go ahead and take it.”

“The whole point of the First Quest is to prove yourself as a Dark Mage. You’re not supposed to take anything with you beyond the necessities.”

“That’s how it normally goes,” Lilith agreed. “But if the council is going to bend the rules I am too.”

“Did you ever give any of the others money when they went out?”

“No,” Lilith admitted. “But they all went on normal quests.”

Waldo looked closely at the purse his mother was holding. Not having to worry about acquiring gold would make things easier.

He shook his head. “I can’t take this.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s against the rules and I want to face this the way I am supposed to, the way the others did.”

“The others went on normal First Quests,” Lilith reminded him. “For them it was a fair test of their abilities and their courage so I didn’t give them any extra help. Your situation is completely different.”

Waldo again shook his head. “I want to do this the right way so that when I return you can know I succeeded on my own and be proud of me.”

His mother blinked. “You really mean that? You honestly don’t want this gold?”

“I mean it.”

His mother stood there a moment, still holding the leather purse. “You are very brave my son.”

“Thank you mother.”

“You are an idiot, but a brave idiot.”

She grabbed him by a shoulder and roughly turned him around. He could feel her tugging and opening up his back pack.

“Mother what are you doing?”

“What else? I’m putting the gold in your pack.”

“But I said I didn’t want it!”

“I heard you, why do you think I called you an idiot?”

He opened his mouth to try and argue but his mother cut him off.

“What did I always teach you about following rules?”

Waldo sighed. “That rules only matter when you know you’ll get caught.”

“Exactly, results are all that count my son. Just succeed and come home, that is all I care about. We are Corpselovers; we are bound by no laws.”

“Not even the ones made by the council?”

Finished Lilith tied shut his backpack. “We have to follow their dictates of course, at least as far as they can see. You don’t ever need to worry about what I think of you. I am only sorry I cannot do more.”

“It’s okay mother. It makes me happy just to know you’d break the laws to help me.”

“Well of course I would,” his mother said and placed an affectionate hand on his cheek. “After all you are my son, and more important to me than the council or anything else.”

Waldo blushed and a simple happiness filled his heart and pushed away all the fear that had been there just moments before. His mother had never really shown him a lot of warmth growing up. “Thank you mother.”

She gave a single nod and withdrew her hand as though afraid she’d already shown him too much kindness. “I will pray the Dark Powers to watch over you and see you safely home. I will offer a hundred sacrifices.”

“Ah, I would be grateful for the prayers, but please don’t make any sacrifices for my sake. I have never liked having people die because of me, even if they are only slaves.”

Lilith gave an amused shake of her head. “You have always been a bit strange my son, but if that is your wish I will honor it.”

“Thank you. Goodbye mother. I will see you again.”

“Goodbye my son. I will wait for your return no matter how long it may be.”

Taking a deep breath Waldo took a step out onto the drawbridge and began his journey.

Chapter 3

Melissa

Peabody was a small village in northern Lothas. It was located near the marshlands that were infested by goblins. Thousands of the vile creatures festered there, living in their filth and squalor. They kept mostly to themselves, but small packs would often go out to do a little hunting.

It was said that human flesh was a goblin’s favorite food.

There were forts and strongholds all along the frontier, manned by local militia and the King’s troops. They did what they could. The soldiers patrolled constantly and killed or captured any goblins they came across. The men couldn’t actually go into the bogs, those who did never came out again.

Every few years the goblins would come out in force and go on a rampage. Whole families would be slaughtered and eaten, villages and forts would be burned to the ground. When that happened the king would raise the levies and lead the army into battle. The goblins would always be crushed and sent fleeing back into the marshes. The army would follow after, in hopes of being rid of them once and for all.

It never happened, in their bogs they knew how to disappear when they wanted to. The army would burn down the thatch huts they found and kill a few stragglers, but most of the goblins would simply vanish and be impossible to find. After a couple of weeks the men would start to complain and want to go home. The army would disband and the cycle would continue again.

“They lack commitment,” she said to herself. “You can never accomplish anything lasting without commitment.”

This world belonged to man. Monsters, all monsters, were an abomination, a disease that needed curing. And the only real cure was to purge them from this earth, with fire and steel. It was a plain and obvious truth, and if you asked most people they would agree with you. Yes, get rid of all the monsters and the world would be a much better place. If words alone were enough the world would have been purified long ago.

The problem was that most were unwilling to pay the price.

Creating a new age of peace and justice would not come easily. Ridding the world of monsters demanded tremendous sacrifice, of both blood and treasure. Most of the nations were unwilling. They fought when they had to, when the danger was obvious, but then sought accommodation rather than continue fighting to achieve a lasting victory. There were monsters all across the Shattered Lands, in almost every country. Most rulers chose to compromise with them and tolerate their existence within certain limits. Much as they would a certain amount of corruption and crime.

“Compromise.” She spat as if to get the taste of that foul word out of her mouth.
There can be no negotiation or agreement with evil. What is just is just, what is wicked is wicked, there can be no compromise.

“Those who do not understand that must be taught the error of their ways.”

XXX

Like every village near the marshes, Peabody was surrounded by a wooden stockade. There was a single watch tower that was manned day and night. The people here and in the other villages lived in fear because their king was not strong enough to do what was truly necessary.

As she approached the people inside the village proper all quickly noticed. It was not surprising, people in white robes were a rare sight, especially in a place like this. A small crowd of twenty to thirty gathered near the gate, openly gawking at her.

She was used to this reaction and did not hold it against them. A White Mage always drew stares and made people nervous.

Her hood was down so that they could get a clear look at her face. She was attractive and exotic for this part of the world, with the blonde hair and yellow eyes.

She came to a halt before the villagers and offered them a slight bow. “Hello, I am Mistress Melissa Cornwall, an archmage of the Order of Mist.”

The locals looked nervously at one another and turned their focus to a burly man with a salt and pepper beard.

The local chieftain
, she thought.

Stroking his bead he took a hesitant step forward and gave her a much lower bow than she had offered. “Greetings to you Mistress Cornwall. Welcome to Peabody, my name is Lorimer, it has been a long time since a White Mage has visited us. To be honest I am not sure one ever has.”

“Well that’s not surprising, there are only so many of us outside of Avalon.”

Still stroking his beard Lorimer looked around, as if asking for help. Everyone remained silent.

“Well then Mistress Cornwall, is there some special reason you have come to visit us?”

“I was told there was an attack by a very strong monster in this area. I have come here to rid you of it.”

Her words produced an excited murmur.

Lorimer took on a stern air. He motioned for silence and everyone soon quieted. “You heard right, there was an awful attack two weeks ago at the Hampton place. The whole family, father, mother, and four children were all done in. We have all been very nervous about it.”