Battle Mage: The Lost King (Tales of Alus) (13 page)

“We’ll head to the southwest of the island. The main port of Fallum is centered on the southern side of Folley anyway. If we do need to stop there, that is where we would need to begin the search. Once we’re south of the island I can double check the compass to see where it will lead.”

Yara glanced to the other wizards standing near the far rail. Thanks to the wind the two could still speak at normal levels without much worry of eavesdropping. She could feel the air shields surrounding both of them like Sebastian and the healer wished, not for the first time, that she could implement such a spell. Being a healer, Yara was never able to do much beyond her own school of magic. It was said healers were unlikely to ever learn combat magic since it conflicted with their basic need to save lives and prevent harm. Perhaps for that reason air spells, even of a protective nature, were beyond her.

Many of the other wizards were similarly affected making the deck sparsely populated most hours of the day. Weather affected the sea and ocean beyond at differing speeds, but winter still held the air this close to North Continent.

Taking a moment to remove a hand from holding the cloak with one hand to wipe at a slightly running nose, Yara felt a new chill as the air snuck within the folds. Sebastian noted the girl’s discomfort and issued an order to his shield, “Extend.” The magical barrier flowed from the mage to surround the girl as well and drew a curious glance from Maura. He hadn’t meant to draw any attention from them. Despite having dealt with Maura and the other newcomers with a strong hand, Sebastian still felt uneasy with the extra crew members.

Yara immediately noticed the change in the air around her. First, the breeze quieted and her ears noticed the drastic silence. Second, the wizard felt the warmer air. It was by no means warm, but the temperature neared comfortable and was certainly quite a bit warmer than the air cooled breeze. “Nice,” she replied releasing one hand from the cloak. Refusing to release the full warmth until she heated up a bit more, Yara held on with the remaining hand and welcomed the change in air. “If you could have done that a few moments earlier, I might have enjoyed it more though.”

Chuckling Sebastian retorted, “But would you have appreciated it as much?” He stopped at the girl’s frown, also a bit false in truth but she felt that she owed him at least that much rebuke for his words. “No, I’m sorry. I just wasn’t thinking about it until I noticed you rubbing your nose.” Sebastian produced a handkerchief and passed it to Yara as his eyes returned to the wizards across from them. Maura turned to look at the sea, while Idenlare remained holding the rail staring off blankly at the water beyond the rail. He still rode the winds apparently.

Holding the handkerchief with her free hand, the girl followed his look while keeping the cloth at the ready. Without the breeze chilling her, Yara no longer had a need for it. “Are they part of your distraction? What is Idenlare searching for around here anyway? This close to Southwall and Folley Island there shouldn’t be too much to worry about.”

He shrugged. “They’re not that worrisome, though I can’t say that I completely trust having them around me. I wonder if they’re here to take over in a pinch or if they’re simply here hoping for my failure. As to Iden’s searches, the man just might be doing it for practice. His main magic is fire and he also uses air, though I don’t know if it is fully mastered.”

“His bands say that he is a master, though he isn’t wearing white just yet,” Yara basically agreed in her assessment from the outward signs. “I think his versatility with both schools as well as Vewen’s led the masters to send them as bodyguards. Who knows what Maura might be good at since she’s a researcher type?”

Shrugging indifferently once again, Sebastian knew that he would keep as much of an eye on their guests as they did him. Although a minor annoyance, the mage figured there was likely to be a lot more to worry over before the trip was over. One lesser item was to keep Lady Annalicia and her captain in the loop. Offering an arm to Yara, he said, “I’m going to check in with Anna and Captain Delfren. They should know what I plan by now, but it is always good to make sure. Besides, it is a good excuse to step out of the cold,” he finished with a big smile.

With a little snort of derision, the girl took his arm and replied, “Like the cold is an issue for you with this air shield. I wish I could make one as easily as a simple mage,” she finished with a giggle knowing that he was anything but a simple mage.

Retreating into the main cabin holding both the steering wheel and the captain, Sebastian had a quick conversation to affirm that they were all of the same mind. Annalicia and her constant shadow, Reynolvan, were there as well. Minds turned to small talk as they waited for the time that the Sea Dragon would be in position to check the compass once more.

Nearly two hours passed as they set a course to the west of Folley Island. Once around the western edge, Sebastian produced the device and set it upon a table laden with maps mostly showing the waters the Sea Dragon was now sailing through. Annalicia and the others looked on as the mage placed his hands on the nodes letting his magic flow into the magic compass. The northwest dull orange glow of Hala remained as it had all day and the strong red to their southeast still said that was their course of action. Folley Island had no significance to their cause.

“We continue on our way southeast,” Sebastian stated as even the captain had moved to see the results. Captain Delfren nodded and told the current helmsmen to return the wheel to their original path before detouring around the island.

The cabin door opened letting Maura and Idenlare inside the cabin. To their inquiring eyes, Sebastian simply answered, “We’re continuing onward. Folley was just between us.”

Looking unsurprised, Maura replied, “That is as we had assumed. The island has been examined from one end to the other over the years while wizards and farmers prepared the land.”

The woman said no more and left the cabin for whatever distractions the two wizards might have in mind.

Sighing, Annalicia chimed in after the two had exited, “I can see why she is a researcher. The woman has no idea how to talk to people.”

“Apparently people aren’t her field of study,” Yara added with a smile.

All in agreement, Sebastian spent a little more time talking with the others even as he wondered how many more days they would have to travel to find the sign they were hoping for. The man called Grimnal was out there. He could feel it, even if they had yet to find that first sign.

“They’ve passed by the island,” Themenor stated after feeling for his seal.

Deiclonus and Lord Romonus were joined by Wendle, Helena and Ashleen. The two younger wizards were confused by the words.

“Do we pause at Folley Island, my lord?” the elder wizard asked even as the younger ones remained in the dark. They knew only that the lord had another mission for them before they could return home.

Romonus considered a moment before consulting with Themenor, who had remained silent after his official word. “If we stopped at Fallum, how many hours would we have before you would lose the signal you’ve set, Themenor?”

The wizard from Southwall seemed a bit wary with such a strange mission, but the money the lord had offered him for simply helping Kardor was significant and this didn’t seem to be harming anyone. He certainly was no traitor and would quit if Romonus ever required such a change of loyalty. He could assume the other wizards from Southwall onboard would be of a similar mind. If the Kardorians were up to no good, he was sure that the five of them could handle their current employers even with their three wizards and men.

“We know their general course of direction. If they do nothing to change that heading, the captain can return the ship to the same heading. Even without magic for a guide, it wouldn’t matter the distance. The Malaiy frigate doesn’t seem to be at full sail right now and your warship may be a little faster. With
our air magic,” he gestured to Ashleen while inferring his own abilities, “we can probably add some speed to the ship.”

The lord grew impatient, “But if they decide to change course, how much distance can you truly have between you? I will gladly pass the island by if we need to maintain this distance. If it will keep them from noticing that we follow them, then we can make port for as many hours as you believe prudent.”

Eyes narrowing slightly at the words, Themenor felt that tingle of worry again. A man of his strength in magic feared little and it had become a time to challenge fate. “My lord, why are we following this ship? I can not do anything that will harm my people. Our lands are allies after all, but this plan seems rather... unattractive to me at the moment. If you can not settle my mind as to your intentions perhaps it would be best to stop at Fallum to drop me there and you can continue on with your plans without me.”

Ashleen looked uncomfortably at the lord as well. The young woman had become close with Sebastian and many others from Southwall. Feeling that Themenor had a good point, the woman was growing equally uncomfortable with Lord Romonus’s intentions. The fact that he had lured away five of their ally’s wizards was a little suspicious, though men had a right to choose where they lived and worked. Now they were following ships for who knew what purposes.

Sighing, Romonus patted the air as if to settle the man, “Harming our friends is the farthest thing from my mind, dear Themenor. In fact, I have the utmost regard for my friend, the mage, who sails aboard that ship. He saved my caravan north of the wall, did you know? I owe him my life!

“I have simply heard rumors that lead me to believe that our friend may be on a mission that could get them into trouble. I simply wish to guard them from afar and let them do what they must. It must seem strange to do so, but I have had a feeling that this is something both important and necessary.” He smiled and gestured to the air wizard, “You are with me now. Stay and see if I am right. To leave now,
would mean that you condone my actions more than staying alongside to make sure that my intentions don’t go astray. Themenor, you and the other wizards with me from Southwall are the best safeguards against any evil that you may fear.”

Again Themenor found that the lord’s words rang true. He would tell his brother wizards about this conversation and the actions that had been taken so far. Though he had done nothing wrong, they could judge his actions, but more importantly they could act as guards to what Lord Romonus might intend. The lord was right that someone needed to watch over them and make sure that his countrymen remained safe.

The captain cleared his throat from where he held the wheel, “Do I turn or follow, my lord?”

“Follow, my lord, there is no point in hiding in Fallum, if your words are true,” the air wizard stated simply.

Ashleen’s eyes followed from one man to the other where Lord Romonus suddenly smiled warmly and nodded agreement, “We follow as we have, captain. Maybe someday I will have to visit Fallum, but that is not this day.”

Letting go of a breath that she had been holding since Themenor’s decision, Ashleen glanced to Wendle who appeared similarly conflicted. There was more going on than they had been led to believe as well, she thought. More than the wizards of Southwall would need to watch the lord’s actions. Ashleen would not let him bring harm to her friends, even if she was kardorian.

Passing Folley Island, the Sea Dragon found larger waves as they cleared the island that was large enough to reduce the waves for the sea to its north and west. Sebastian didn’t mind so much, though several of his compatriots began to grow seasick. Collin had disappeared into their cabin almost immediately. An earth wizard by nature, it wasn’t a great surprise that the extreme movement of water
would affect someone grounded by land. More amusing was Liam, a water wizard, was nearly as strongly affected. Sebastian did not see much of Idenlare on deck for a time. The wizard had been a near constant as he often went there to search the winds.

He didn’t necessarily dislike the fire wizard, but more the one he was associated with, Maura.

Stepping on deck, the mage moved to the front of the Sea Dragon. The sky to the south worried him a bit. Twisting his head to the skies behind them, the mage wondered if the two systems would collide. With the conflicting weather patterns, the Sea Dragon could wind up dealing with storms in the near future. If they were lucky, the compass would lead them to an island for shelter so that those already seasick wouldn’t have even worse conditions.

Yara found him as looked unsteady crossing the rocking deck. The girl appeared a little green from the sea herself. “There you are,” she stated. “What are you doing out here?”

“Looking at the sky,” the mage said pointing towards the clouds to the southwest. “With people getting seasick already, I think we’re in for more of it. Is there a way that you can heal it magically?”

The pretty blond grimaced. “You know how the healing bond works. For most injuries, we can set up a certain amount of pain blocking, but something like a queasy stomach is a little harder to deal with for a healer.”

“What do you mean?”

“We feel what the patient feels, right?” he nodded. There was a certain amount of separation when a healer delved into the body that they wished to heal, but while searching for the source of pain a wizard could get feedback of new pain. “Well, if you aren’t seasick and you attempt to settle the patient’s stomach, a little of their queasiness tends to pass itself over to you in the process. It’s like an echo and can often make the healer’s stomach react similarly.”