Battle Mage Visions (A Tale of Alus Book 12) (2 page)

One of Cordeb's friends moved into position to check the angle of their hands. Even though the orc might be racist and a bully, no one wanted to see him destroy the human challenger even easier than would be fair.

"Go!" the orc referee ordered as he released their hands.

In a rush, Drayden slammed his opponent's hand to the wood of the bar. It was so sudden that everyone in the bar barely noticed the movement before it was over.

Cordeb pulled back angrily. Shock was written on his face even as he complained, "Wait, I wahn't ready! No fair, hooman!"

Shrugging Drayden replied, "Well, we could make it the best two out three. I wouldn't want to be accused of cheating or taking advantage, but be ready next time."

The tension in the bar changed quickly. No one had expected the outcome or the graceful reception of the request for a second chance.

Moving back into position, it was written on the orc's face that he wouldn't take the man's ability for granted this time. He hadn't truly tried his best believing that his strength would be too much for the man to move his hand even without giving it his all. Luckily, Drayden was an easy going type and Cordeb went from anger to solid intent to win.

The referee did as he had the first time, but when he released this time, the two hands clasped together trembled but barely shifted at all. Veins in the competitors necks began to bulge and the human's face turned red with effort. It was harder to see the color change on the orc's face, but as the two remained in a deadlock he stuck his tongue to the side of his mouth from concentration.

Despite the cool air in the tavern, Cordeb and Drayden's foreheads began to bead with sweat as they exerted all they had. The orc was quickly establishing that the first time had been a fluke from mistaking his human opponent as being weak. Still the human was showing that he was no push over either.

As they struggled, only the young man noticed a slight glimmer to the ink on Drayden's hand. A wizard or warlock would probably have been unable to see the magic of the tattoo, but he could tell, of course it helped that he had been there when it had been applied to the man as well. With the power of it applied to Drayden's strength and technique, their hands started to go the man's way.

Cordeb struggled for all he was worth, but once the turn was begun it was inexorable. Slowly their hands moved towards the bar top even as the orc turned with it trying to find the leverage to push back the other way.

The thump as the back of the orc's hand hit the wood released a sigh from the patrons of the bar who had been watching the two go at it. Many had ignored the first try, but seeing the unexpected result everyone had been drawn in to watch the second round.

"Yoo strong for a hooman," Cordeb said shaking out his hand and his head at once. He was stunned, but the ire was out of the creature and respect had replaced it in his eyes. "Yoo all right, Drayden."

Without complaint the orc ordered a pair of ales for the two men who drifted to the corner of the tavern where the light wasn't as strong. After all the time in the spotlight, the younger man thought that it was probably too late to try blending in to the background.

"Is that how you blend in, Drayden?" the younger man asked slightly bemused by the idea. There was seriousness in his eyes that belied his youthful looks.

The other man had seen the look before in him and replied with a good-natured smile, "Well, sometimes being seen is as good as not, especially when a friend walks onto a bear trap."

"I could have dealt with him," his companion said with a shrug. Such was the confidence in his tone that anyone listening would have believed him, though no one would have understood why.

"You could have, but it makes more sense for a man somewhat known here to take the fall. The orcs have needed me to prove myself a few times. Not every human is allowed here as you have been warned. These orcs are mostly military. When they aren't being ordered around by humans all day, they want to drink in peace away from our kind.

"At least, that is what most have wound up saying after I managed to get them talking. They are surprisingly chatty once they approve of you."

"And have your chats proven fruitful?" the younger man asked.

"Somewhat, but here is not really the place, Bas."

"You have somewhere better?"

Nodding the bearded man drained his mug before standing. The younger man took a sip making a face. Alcohol, especially that made for orcs; wasn't a favorite of Sebastian who preferred a cleaner way of living. His work required a strong mind and body; since he didn't have a strong taste for alcohol; it was easy enough to leave out of his usual menu.

The two men walked out of the bar without too many eyes on them. It was a bit of a surprise to Sebastian. After such a spectacle, he had feared that everyone would be watching them; but these were orcs so fist fights and arm wrestling were like casual conversations. Albeit a human winning a match was rather rare.

Their steps took them to the east and north towards the large lake hidden within the mountain. Whether it had always been there or the emperor's warlocks had found a way to create the fresh water source, he didn't know; but it made Ensolus very self sufficient should it ever be besieged. It had never in its history come under attack though. The emperor and his army of monsters had instead attacked the human population after the Cataclysm driving off or killing many. Some thought to grovel at the Dark One's shadowed feet. Such early allegiances had led to men being elevated to the status of lords under the emperor.

Whether the elves and orcs serving the Dark One cared mattered little. No one questioned the decisions of the emperor publicly for fear of his power. Even rich and powerful men might disappear if they disputed the throne.

They found a building, a two story house; but instead of walking up the steps to the main floor, they descended a set of steps along the side of the house. It was fairly sheltered from curious eyes and served well for the man and his purposes.

Opening the door led the two into a basement which was already lit by lanterns. The younger man noticed that none of the lights were close to the door, however, and he assumed it was to conceal the fact that there were other men already hiding in the basement.

Eyes went to the door as they entered. Weapons were close by or in hand as they looked to see who had stepped into their sanctuary. It was no holy place, but one that let them sleep in relative safety in a city that would kill them all in an instant if they knew the purpose of these people. Spies in any realm were horribly treated if they were caught, he had heard.

"You're using an abandoned house now?"

Shrugging in response, Drayden answered, "I wouldn't say it was exactly abandoned. There is someone who owns the place, but not everyone wants to rent a house inside of a cave, especially this deep inside."

"So you're helping them out by keeping it lived in then?" Sebastian answered jokingly.

"Exactly!" replied his companion good naturedly.

Turning to business, the younger man asked, "How has it been going here?"

"As good as one can hope I suppose, especially considering the type of city we're dealing with here. As humans we can move freely through much of the east side of the cave, even among the orcs, since humans live on both sides of the elite orcs," Drayden answered. It wasn't completely new information to the younger man. He was the one who had brought the others into the city and he was the one who would get them out if need be, but Drayden was in charge of the small network of men and women trying to discover as many of Ensolus' secrets as they could.

A young woman wearing a heavy cloak pulled over her shoulders moved to join them. She had long brown hair and an attractive face, but still managed to avoid drawing too much attention to herself as she moved. Sebastian also noted a red dress peaking from beneath the dark cloak. A few gold rings glittered from the hand holding the edges of the cloak closed in front of her stomach. She looked cold, but managed to avoid shivering.

"You've met Jana," Drayden commented with half a wave to the woman. "She's come the closest to getting into the emperor's fortress so far."

She smirked and said, "Well, some men will overlook a woman as a threat, especially when he believes that she has half a brain. A certain officer has become enamored of me, but the emperor's guards won't let just anyone inside those gates."

Nodding at her opinion, Drayden added, "If we try sending someone over the wall, we don't know enough of the defenses and guards inside; so it is likely a one way mission. We've tried finding a way in through the various services a place like that needs. Servants don't all sleep in a king's castle usually, but getting through his security has been virtually impossible aside from Jana's officer."

"What good news do you have?" the young visitor asked as he listened to what they couldn't do.

"We've mapped out most of the inner city. We know every garrison, place of importance and, we think, enough weaknesses to exploit; but that is if we can bring a strong enough force here.

"The only problem is the emperor's castle and maybe the emperor himself." The head spy asked Sebastian, "Can you sense him from here? They say that he's probably the most powerful wizard in the world."

Jana looked to the newcomer and added, "But isn't he just a battle mage?" At their looks, she amended, "I mean isn't it wizards that can read magic strength? I don't have magic, but that is what I have heard."

The old man laughed at the woman's discomfort and explained, "Calling Bas just a battle mage is like saying that North Wall is just another wall."

North Wall ran from Hala in the east to Raven Hurst, a run of well over a thousand miles. It was a major feat of building, especially considering it was built while they were at war with the emperor's forces. Countries had been decimated and thrown into turmoil, but the first king of Southwall rose up from Hala to pull the people together to push them back.

"I didn't mean any insult," Jana tried again blushing with embarrassment. "Battle mages are weaker in magic, so I wasn't certain that skill carried over to him."

Drayden looked ready to tease the girl once again, but Sebastian answered with a kind smile and said, "He understands what you meant. I know Drayden well enough to know that much at least.

"I can feel the emperor when he wants to be felt," the young man added as he closed his eyes. He faced towards the castle near the center of the cavern and continued to speak, "He is old and talented enough to know how to mask his power also. I have been here and felt incredible power radiating from the castle, but it doesn't seem to just be one powerful being either. His power is likely the strongest though."

The older man nodded and said, "We've all heard of the emperor's power, but he does have several warlocks of great power we know of as well. Plus there is word that the emperor has a sister now."

Waving off the comment as common knowledge, Sebastian replied, "Garosh was considered a brother, or a son maybe more accurately. He's said that the emperor was dying, or at least that was the excuse for some experiment his warlocks whipped up. He told us that the emperor has a new, younger body and split his power between a sister and lesser brother."

Lifting his hands up over his head, Drayden acted like he was giving up and explained why sounding annoyed, "If this Garosh knows so much, why am I trying to crack this castle? He probably knows all about it from being his brother!"

Sebastian could appreciate the man's complaint, but gave him a sympathetic smile as he explained, "We can probably get you some sort of floor plan to use, but Garosh was exiled from here roughly a year ago. He escaped south of North Wall and spent much of his time there even before his break from the emperor. That is a lot of time for things to change and a good reason for it too probably.

"Unfortunately you still need to do your best to figure it out. We need real time, current information; if we ever hope to put together a plan to bring him down."

The older man replied sarcastically, "Thanks for explaining how to do my job, Bas. I've only been doing it since you were in diapers."

He finished with a barked laugh and moved on. "So you'll need a few reports to bring back to Southwall like usual, I suppose. I don't know how much they expect."

Sebastian shrugged. "I'm just the middle man. If I had the time and talent, I would have done it myself and kept everyone safe in Southwall until something was figured out."

"No need to be that modest, owl mage. If not for you, we'd still be stuck trying to send in spies the old fashioned way, which has only yielded a lot of dead spies. They have a knack for keeping anyone out that they don't trust and seem able to sniff out a spy from Southwall in particular."

"Did you know anyone that tried?" the younger man asked as Drayden moved around picking up a few loose papers. Jana stepped back to sit on a stool. Though the basement was sparsely furnished it was more than one might expect for an unoccupied building. The spies had likely scrounged up most of what was here, though Sebastian was unsure how they had done so.

Glancing at the mage, the spy master replied, "Not for certain. I don't make it a habit to spy on my own people, but I have had associates disappear amid rumors of testing the walls of Ensolus. It is a game for spies and secrets are part of that, Bas.