Knights of the Wizard (of Knights and Wizards Book 2) (21 page)

NYDARIEN WAS DEEP IN THOUGHT as he stood in the castle tower staring out at the surrounding area, there were a myriad of trees with many of them enchanted to take care of intruders. It was a beautiful morning with the sun sparkling through the trees casting long shadows, the heavy rain having stopped overnight leaving freshness behind, wildflowers mixing their scent with the trees. Sometimes he would stare for more than an hour, like a statue unable to move and he was approaching that now. Evil was often a frame of mind and he was often enclosed within its borders, not wanting to leave; he so enjoyed thinking of nasty things.

Down below a black bear that had been sitting and staring up at the sorcerer in the window suddenly got an itch, attempted to scratch his back against the tree and its skin and fur immediately melted off his body and all that remained was its skeleton that slowly caved in upon itself. Purple smoke rose from the bear’s remains as Nydarien smiled at the turn of events. The bear had been a prince that the sorcerer had transformed years ago and even after all these years he was still looking for revenge. Since all his spells had been geared for people the animal had managed not to trigger them until he had unfortunately rubbed directly against one.

Remus approached Nydarien with a small basket of black pouches, a short fellow with balding hair, and even though he was used to the sorcerer’s grotesque face he couldn’t look at him for long, and as if he wasn’t ugly enough his left eye now ran with pus. Being ensconced in dark magic had consequences that the wizard was willing to endure, hoping to eventually make himself good looking once again. “Nydarien, here are the ingredients that you requested.”

“All seven of them?” The wizard turned so fast that it looked as if his brown cloak had caught the wind.

“Yes sire.”

Nydarien took the basket in his left hand and commenced to place the pouches on the window sill with his right, checking white markings on each black pouch to make sure they were in the correct order and when nothing happened he realized that two were out of place. Correcting the order an image appeared in the window, showing Marcus arriving in Leeander with Stone and the others. He had been keeping an eye on the boy for almost a year, his energy level caught his attention but now he almost couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“That little bastard has a wand? He cannot be the boy of the prophesy? That can’t be him. Wasn’t that event supposed to have been years into the future?” He was talking more to himself than to Remus. He believed that he had decades to prepare but what if he didn’t. It seemed there was always something to agitate him. Seeing the boy wizard with that wand was certainly disturbing.

Remus shrugged and flicked a small flying insect off of his robe.

“Leave me!” Nydarien screamed at Remus. He had to make preparations so that if the boy dared approach him he would not live to regret it and he laughed at that thought. Wizards of the wand were extremely resistant to magic and even though he was also a wizard of the wand he might not be able to kill him. The death of the boy was much preferred but it might be best to transform him into something nasty rather than attempt to kill him. If he were able to capture him he might be able to usurp some of his considerable magic and perhaps use it to accelerate his project now that would definitely be a step in the right direction.

Nydarien took his wand out of his inside vest pocket; it was coiled at the end and as red as fiery embers though not hot at all. He had gotten it out of a black oak tree several centuries ago. The wand had been straight when he had first cut it out of the tree and had slowly transformed over time. He hated to admit it but the boy worried him. The prophesy didn’t indicate who the victor would be when the two sorcerers of the wand fought, only that one would destroy the other. It had been written by a long dead sorcerer from a vision that he had had, how accurate the revelation would be was anyone’s guess; sometimes a vision was only partially correct. And sometimes centuries of time and events could also alter what would have been. But he also knew that just being in proximity of another powerful wizard could destroy them both, and perhaps that is what fate had in store for the both of them, a way of equalizing the magic in the world. But the sorcerer suspected the prophesy wouldn’t be that far off.

Nydarien smiled at the thought that the boy would lack experience but he had already discovered his wand, and it had taken him decades to find his. Was fate siding with the boy? It was best to push such thoughts aside and get to it.

Nydarien made his way down to the dungeon where he had a huge black cauldron simmering under a fire that was kept alight with dragon excrement. He loved the sight of it as it was to be his most potent spell ever, the yellow-green steam almost reaching the ceiling. Two of his serfs carried a rotting corpse down the spiraling stairs, accidentally dropping it and watching as it tumbled down the remaining steps awkwardly. After several attempts they picked it up and carried it over, tossing it into the cauldron as the sorcerer gave them both a dirty look. The body dissolved quite rapidly with a single eyeball floating to the surface before it was consumed by the toxic stew, releasing a stench that made Nydarien step back. The sorcerer commenced to stir it with a large silver spoon as green putrid bubbles formed and burst, filling the chamber with a horrible smell that only the wizard could stand; the serfs made their way back up the stairs practically gagging, making retching sounds.

The sorcerer needed the stew to turn a putrid glowing green not just the bubbles, and when it did he would let it cool and then have his workers carry it outside and spill it into a hole he had dug in the forest where it would spread a plague across the earth killing most. He did know that some would be immune to it, himself included. More than two hundred ingredients were in it and he still needed several more, one of which was extremely rare that only comes out of the heavens inside a rock. He had had a small supply of it years ago but it was exhausted. Nydarien could make rocks fall from the sky but tracking them down wasn’t easy and what elements they carried he had no control over. More than two dozen space rocks hadn’t produced much more than a miniscule amount of the desired ingredients.

Occasionally a spectre of death hung around the cauldron but he hadn’t seen it lately, not sure what it meant if anything. Perhaps it was a ghoul from the other side checking on his progress.

Nydarien left the contents simmer and went into his chamber to await the arrival of his food, well-cooked mutton and a bowl of fried onions along with some white bread. He preferred his food overcooked, even a little burnt was okay. It was a taste he had acquired long ago; burnt calf liver was his favorite. His food was delivered by an old woman wearing a bright red shawl but his meal was soon interrupted by Remus.

“They discovered another rock from the heavens sire.” Remus held the black rock behind his back and then showed it to the wizard, who’s pupils expanded at the sight of it.

Nydarien hated to be interrupted while he was eating but demanded that whenever a meteorite was discovered that it be brought directly to him. The rock was a lot heavier than it looked and Remus sat it down hard on the table next to the wizard. Remus departed the chamber and the wizard was going to wait until after his meal to test the stone but found that he couldn’t, the pull as strong as a dozen horses. The thought of having almost the entire planet to himself was very appealing. He pushed his food to the side as he took a pinch of ground up dragon scale and sprinkled it over the rock, holding both hands over it and infusing it with magical energy, after several minutes the meteorite broke into four equal pieces and he examined them closely. But the green-gray specks that he desired weren’t there and so he tossed the pieces hard against the wall and went back to his fried onions.

BENEDICT AND ALASTER COULDN’T BELIEVE THEIR EYES; the grey dragon was so huge they felt like ants in its presence, they wouldn’t be able to kill it or outrun it. Brother handed Berhtram to Kadyn and walked up to Charox who found it amusing that the knight was so brave; he could pound him into the ground like a nail should he choose to do so. The golden knight stared up at the dragon and could see that a portion of its snout was red and inflamed, having not yet recovered from the poison that continued to run through him. Brother jumped and stuck his sword into the dragon’s swollen nose and the dragon passed out from the pain, surprising everyone including brother.

A discussion ensued whether they would try to kill the dragon but it was so large that after several attempts by Alaster they decided to abandon the idea and move on. They had a stroke of luck and it was best not to press it.

King Darius was sitting in his chamber eating venison when he heard a dog bark, and then the sound of knights approaching in the hallway. Benedict pounded on the king’s door, a little harder than he should have being excited to show the king what he had and Darius ran to the door when he heard Berhtram croak. Could it really be that his beloved raven had returned?

“Oh my goodness! Berhtram you’re alive!” The raven jumped into the king’s arms and Darius was overjoyed. “Berhtram what’s happened to your wings? Oh you poor thing. Feels like both of your wings are permanently damaged. Where did that dog come from?”

“The dog was travelling with Berhtram,” said Benedict. “They seem to have become great friends.”

Darius thought it peculiar but he had seen stranger things. “Go down to the pantry and fetch some fresh bread for Berhtram and have the cook prepare a chicken for the dog.” He placed the raven on the bed and watched as he jumped around.

Blackie lay on the floor as Darius stared down at the dog. The king sat on his bed stroking the raven who was so glad to be home that he did a sort of dance with his head bobbing up and down. The king gently examined his wings once more and realized that he would never fly again, a sad reality for both but at least he was alive. “Looks like you’ve been through quite an adventure my friend, an unpleasant one. I can only hope that you managed to kill that damn crow.”

“Your majesty,” said Alaster. “Marcus’s magical knights are out in the hall. In fact they had Berhtram with them. The boy’s knights were taken by the Dwagord but managed to break free, they even managed to kill their wizard. Brother says that he chopped his head off.”

The king thought about it. “Dwagord you say, a peculiar name. Where is Marcus now?”

“His location is unknown,” said Benedict. “He was alive and well when his knights last saw him.”

“Send out a battalion of knights to search for my son and keep me updated on their progress. Have them take some carrier ravens with them so that we can communicate.” Darius thought that there was always something to worry about, never mind that Stone and his daughter had not yet returned. If only he could convince Alexa to give up being a knight, at least until Abbey was older.

Alaster nodded. “Right away your majesty.”

The king heard the sounds of horses arriving and when he went to his window he saw Marcus, Stone, Alexa and lots of golden knights and even four Dwagord prisoners. It was turning out to be a great day.

In the courtyard King Darius grabbed his son and hugged him, lifting him right off his feet, hugging him a little too tight. “Thank goodness you’re safe. I was so worried about all of you!” And again he hugged Marcus a little too hard.

“Father your squashing me!” said Marcus. “I may have survived the battle but what good will it be if you kill me with hugs.”

“Hug your father,” said Stone.

Marcus hugged his father as hard as he was able.

The king looked at his son, appreciating that he was heading towards manhood. He clasped his hands together and shook them towards the heavens. “I shall always remember this day.” Darius had a tear in his eye.

Alexa pulled her brother aside for a little private conversation. “Marcus, tell me more about this girl.”

“Well Raina is quite wonderful. She a princess from Linyth but both of her parents were killed by the Yurrosy. She tries so hard to hide her sadness. She’s wants us to wed when I’m fourteen but I’m unsure.”

Alexa decided to forgo the wisecracks. “Marcus you can’t just marry anyone, father will have to approve. Whoever you marry will become queen of Leeander.”

“No she won’t.” Marcus smiled. “Father and I have already discussed it. You will become queen and Stone shall be king.”

Alexa had never really entertained such a thought, when she was but a child perhaps but as an adult she had always assumed that her brother would be king. But if he refused it would indeed fall upon her. She doubted that Stone would want to be king; all she had wanted to be was a knight. “Marcus are you serious? You really don’t want to be king?”

“Alexa I’m a wizard and that’s enough for me.”

If Marcus was really refusing the throne then she would have no option but to accept, and knowing Stone she would be tasked with ruling the kingdom. It was just too much to take in she would have to think on it.

That night in the great hall the full moon was in the north window as they celebrated everyone’s safe return, a late meal at only two hours before midnight. King Darius was almost as happy to have Berhtram back, who was now on the king’s shoulder being fed scraps from the table. The king was also feeding Blackie who had a permanent home if he chose to remain with the king and the raven; the dog was very happy to get such a wonderful meal without having to risk his neck.

They were enjoying a great feast with venison, mutton and fried pig’s head. Wine, mead and milk flowed freely. Marcus’s eleven golden knights stood side by side watching and waiting; they knew that they would soon go on a quest with Marcus to kill a sorcerer, but all they wanted was to serve the boy and they were happy to follow him anywhere, even off a cliff if necessary. Everyone talked at the same time, a cacophony of voices that flowed throughout the great hall. The Dwagord were on everyone’s mind having already accomplished an act of war by kidnapping princess Alexa.

Marcus had his wand tucked into his belt and it tickled when it vibrated, making him giggle; he pulled it out to see what it wanted and everyone at the table took notice, making some of them nervous including Darius. What sort of magical accident was about to transpire?

“Don’t change anyone into a donkey,” said Alexa. Abbey had been running around in donkey form just before she was put to bed but now that she knew the little one could change back any time she wanted, Alexa was actually starting to get used to it.

Words appeared on the wand.
“Heal the bird.”

“What?” Marcus said aloud, all eyes were now on him and he had managed to silence the hall. “I can heal Berhtram?”
He aimed his wand at the raven and seven sparkles of blue light floated slowly from the wand across the table and into the raven as Darius watched the bird flew over and landed on Marcus’s head and then returned to the king’s shoulder. It felt fantastic to be able to fly again. The boy would always have a special place in the raven’s heart.

“Oh my goodness,” the king exclaimed. “My son has cast a proper spell. No one will dare mess with Leeander when my son becomes proficient.”

Hearing that from his father made the boy proud. Finally a little respect instead of ridicule, it appeared that the wand was just the thing he needed. One of Marcus’s unnamed golden knights attempted to hold Kadyn’s hand and Brother would have none of it, punching the knight in its visor and knocking him backward. The wizard was surprised to see his knights fighting and left the table to admonish them.

“No fighting,” said Marcus. “Once I figure this thing out I will make females for all of you but until then behave.”

Those words seemed to appease the knights as they all nodded. What a magical creation needed with a female companion was beyond his comprehension; they didn’t even have any bodies for goodness sake.

Marcus returned to the table as his wand vibrated once more.

“Transform the dog.”

“I don’t understand? What do you mean? Transform him into what?”

The great hall was full, every seat taken, filled by knights and commoners that the king had invited and everyone was watching and listening as Marcus questioned his wand.

“The dog is a human that was transformed some years ago. You are his only hope of a normal life. He desperately needs you to return him to human form.”

Marcus stood up and made his way around the table over to Blackie who was chewing on a bone near his father’s right leg. He bent down and scratched the dog’s head. “You were human?”

The dog immediately stood up excited. Blackie nodded several times. How had he figured it out? The dog started to bark, trying his best to communicate with the young wizard, and then threw his head in the air and howled. Everyone watched and listened wanting to know what was going to happen next.

“Return to your human form.” He pointed his wand at the dog and a ball with sharp points on it hit the animal, literally breaking the old spell, the shape of the dog fell away in three pieces and a handsome young man of sixteen with black hair and brown eyes stood in the dog’s place completely naked. One of the servants quickly gave the young fellow a cloth to cover himself.

King Darius stood up in shock, laughing and crying simultaneously. “Oh my lord! Bayle is that really you? I can’t believe it. What happened to you?”

There was an audible gasp from many in the Great Hall, everyone commenced asking one another what was going on but no one knew what was transpiring.

“Darius? You’re old! What happened to YOU?” said Bayle.

The king hugged Bayle as they both cried. “Bayle we were sure you were dead. Who transformed you into a dog and where have you been?”

“I was spelled by Nydarien on my sixteenth birthday. I spend years tied up with an old man in a small house with no windows until I finally managed to escape. I’ve been a dog for so long I don’t know if I know how to be human. Even now I desperately want to go under the table and chew on that bone!”

Darius laughed and hugged Bayle once again. It wasn’t going to be easy to explain. “We grew up together, were best friends. One day Bayle disappeared and I never saw him again, until now. I was devastated. My father sent out search parties to appease me but of course no one was searching for a black dog.”

“Have I really been gone that long? Darius you look ancient. I didn’t even recognise you earlier.”

Everyone laughed.

The king smiled. “Yes well I only look ancient compared to a young man of sixteen. For a man of my age I look fantastic. And I am now the king.”

Bayle stared at Marcus. “And who is this that has saved me?”

“This is my son Marcus. He’s a powerful wizard so you best stay on his good side. If you see him walking in his sleep you best run as fast as you are able, lest you be transformed into something other than a dog.”

Bayle shook his head. “Yes I see the resemblance now.”

There was lots of laughter as Marcus realized Bayle would probably have remained a canine forever if he had not found his wand. It was peculiar how lives intersected and played upon one another, like silk in a spider web, and how the black dog had been with Berhtram. No one could have ever imagined it, not even Marcus. The elevated celebration went long into the night.