Born of Magic (Channeler Series) Read online

  The castle was full of them, and while they maintained a similar set of colors, their designs differed greatly. The ones in my room were themed around women sitting or standing near trees. The woman was never the same, but the tree seemed a little repetitive. I recognized it as one that was common only in this area, and they were scattered outside the kingdom walls everywhere. Or they had been, before they were burned by the fires.

  In Tevon’s room the tapestries were themed more around mountain ranges. They lined up with the ones that could be seen from the very windows in his room. I found the choice to be a little boring at first, considering all he had to do was look outside his window to get the same view. However as I inspected his more, there was an interpretation to the mountains that you could not see yourself by looking out the window. The proportions were severely altered as the mountains were made to look gargantuan in size in comparison to the landscape around them. The only thing that stood anywhere near them in stature was the shadow cast by this castle.

  Tevon was in his room, sitting on the side of his bed with one of the potted plants that could be found in our rooms resting in his hands. He stared down at it as the plant that was in the pot changed. It turned from a simple set of white flowers in bloom to a single stunning purple flower with a big collection of pollen at the center. From the flower I could see a yellow mist leak out into the air, and it stirred around Tevon’s face.

  “That should help,” he said, not having to turn around to know I was there behind him.

  “What is that?” I asked. The flower continued to release the yellow mist.

  “It will help heal Yurios. It’s a mending tulip. The pollen is released into the air and as you breathe it in, it helps heal your body, particularly the mind,” he answered with a happy tone, now holding the plant towards me for closer inspection.

  “How’s he doing?” The question left me with a bitter taste from fear of the possible answer.

  “He’s doing better. They said it will be a bit until he’s back to normal, though,” Tevon answered, his voice showed a bit of happiness while his eyes revealed distraught.

  “Can we see him?”

  “Not until tomorrow, he needs his rest. I’m going to have the guards leave this at his bedside for now. If he sees us, he’ll be tempted to visit rather than sleep.”

  While I knew he was right, I hated the answer. I wanted to see Yurios with my own eyes, so that my heart would believe he was going to be all right. At this moment, no amount of comforting could do what just a single glimpse could for me. Frustrated, I sat down next to Tevon.

  “Jasminis, if you hadn’t done what you did, we wouldn’t be alive here. Yurios wouldn’t be alive.” He attempted to comfort me for at least the confliction I felt for what I had done. “It appears as though this may be part of the curse that comes with being a channeler, at least for the moment.”

  “For the moment?” I was a little hopeful at what he had said.

  “While it still isn’t the most pleasant of sensations, it was a bit easier for me to handle the magic you channeled into me a few days ago back at the village.”

  This was a little helpful to hear, but it was a long draw from making me comfortable with who I was, and what I would have to do to others in time of need. Then I remembered what I was able to do to Yurios when he was passed out, when I was able to take his power from him and use it myself. Although I don’t know if that had a negative effect on him, it was a possible solution for me, though it would require me being much closer in any battle that may require my help. It would put me in direct danger rather than my friends.

  Tevon had not mentioned it yet, causing me to wonder if that was a concern of his as well. Was he opposed to the thought of placing me directly in harm's way? Either way, I knew at some point I would have to do such a thing again, and that I would be in harm's way many times to come.

  There was little left to say as we were both emotionally and physically drained. The proximity we shared between one another was all that we needed for now. At some point I fell asleep, though the terrible day was still young. I assume Tevon had carried me back to my room, as I later awoke to find myself there. It was dark out, but I could sense the night was still young. Sleep came to me as a haunting shadow rather than a comforting blanket; I had to find something else to pass the time.

  With no guards posted outside our rooms, I was able to freely walk about. While still remaining cautious, I explored the empty parts of the castle. It was empty and very still, with guards only posted at the outer portions of the castle closer to the main entrance. They appeared to have little distrust for their own people or for us either anymore.

  Empty hall after countless empty hall, I searched with no real direction or intent, passing the time away, one mocking second at a time. I paced, uninhibited by anyone, until I turned down one hallway to find Dhamlaic standing there. I could see through the corner of his eye he had noticed me. His attention stayed focused on the window he looked out while he still watched me.

  “Out late are we?” He spoke, his soft words managed to carry down the hallway to me with little effort.

  I stood at my end of the hallway without answering, intimidated by his catlike demeanor. On the surface he seemed calm and docile, but beneath hid an agile killer that had fended off four men at once. He was a vicious fighter disguised as an artist. He seemed brittle, gentle, even kind, but all it took was one glance at his eyes and your heart could turn to stone.

  He walked towards me, his cloak playing a game of cat and mouse with his legs as it drifted behind him. His steps were silent and synchronized; each one took the same amount of time as the previous one had, covering the same distance as well. The sway of his arms was unnoticeable as they remained loyally at his sides.

  In what seemed like a brief heartbeat he was standing next to me. He stopped at my side, then turned around. Now to my left as we both faced down the long hallway, his right arm poked out from his cloak and signaled me to follow him. At first I wasn’t sure if I was in trouble or not for having left my room so late at night.

  “Walk this way,” he said, lifting his leg out until it was almost parallel with the ground then bringing it down two feet in front of him. He continued to walk, kicking each leg up in a very straight, scissor like manner.

  I followed him at a casual pace but he stopped and looked over at me, “I said walk this way.” He continued to walk in the unusual manner, lifting each leg to nearly his waist then dropping it down a little in front of him. I began to do the same, struggling not to laugh. As we walked in unison down the hallway, our legs kicking out in front of us with each step I could not help but let a simple chuckle escape my shut lips.

  Dhamlaic stopped and looked down at me, his eyes glared at me as though he were angry, “Quiet, do you want them to hear us?”

  I shook my head.

  “Good, then follow me.” He continued to walk until we were back to where I had first found him at the other end of the long hallway. He stopped there and returned to his window. “That was a bit of a feat.”

  I looked up at him as he stared out the window once more. “What was?”

  “Getting you to join me down here. You’re a difficult one,” he said with a stealthy smirk on his face.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I should be asking you the same thing,” he answered. “But we both are up for the same reasons. Our thoughts betray us. We are both facing troubling times where much will be required of us, if those we care for are to survive.”

  The man was a mystery to me. He had started off as a simple, kind-looking killer. Now he was both humorous as well as willing to share his thoughts with me. It was here I realized that if I were to spend my entire life around this man, I would still never truly know him.

  “You did a wonderful thing today, yet here you find yourself feeling lower than a fly, moments before the frog’s tongue reaches it,” he said as he swiped his hand out into the air. “It’s not easy protecti
ng people, but it’s our role in life. Our minds allow us nothing else. Were we to ever stop helping those we care for, we would never have a moment's peace.”

  “Do we ever get that peace when we do help?” I knew that I had managed to help many today, yet still had not found any peace with myself.

  Dhamlaic looked down to me and smiled, “No, but the lack of peace we gain from worrying, is far friendlier than that of guilt. It’s in our nature. I was unsure of you at first, I think you were as well, but now I see it. You cannot escape it. Many more days like this one will be in your future. With this war coming, you’ll have more of them than you care to know or admit.”

  “What about when it’s over?”

  “When it’s over, you’ll find something else, someone else, in need of saving. It’s who you are.”

  I hated what he said. He had only met me earlier this day yet he thought he knew me. It infuriated me even more when I realized he was right. Since I had first left Saltren every action I had taken had been in concern for another, even when I should have been worried about my own well being. I was drawn to the cries of another in some way. Aton must have seen that in me, as it kept me by his side longer than I should have been.

  “What happens now?” I asked him, hoping he would reveal more of what the General planned to do.

  “Tomorrow we begin rebuilding and preparing. I’ll begin recruiting and strengthening the armies of Ordana. Hopefully you stay for all of this, otherwise we’re all dead.” He spoke of death with a calm embrace. He already knew I would be staying.

  “Do you think we can win this?” He was a man of war, far more experienced with it than I cared to know, so he seemed the best person to ask if there was any hope of winning this.

  “I don’t know the enemy, they’re dangerous though. What I do know is we’ll give them a fight like they’ve never seen. This castle can stand any war; it has for countless generations. Just as the walls of the castle will survive, so will the people who seek shelter within them,” he said, placing a hand on the stone walls, his fingers tracing their firm surface.

  “Now come, you should go to bed so you don’t annoy anyone else tonight,” he said, joking, or at least I hoped so.

  Dhamlaic guided me back to my room and closed the door behind me. I found a small amount of peace in what Dhamlaic had said, how he described me. It didn’t offer any promise of many peaceful nights, but I was comfortable knowing what price I would be selling my rest for.

  ~13~

  That morning I sprung up in surprise from the sight of a woman sitting across my room in a chair. She sat there staring at me, patience in her eyes.

  “Sorry to startle you miss,” she said with a warm voice. “I was sent here to wait for you to wake so that we may bring you breakfast. I’ll return shortly with it, if you’re ready?”

  Still groggy, I rubbed my eyes in confusion. “What?” I asked beneath my yawn.

  “Breakfast, miss, would you like your breakfast now?”

  “Shouldn’t I go to the dining hall for that?”

  “No, miss, I was instructed to bring it to you in here. General Loken has asked that I see to your every need,” she answered. She was already standing up, ready to fetch my breakfast.

  I found the idea unsettling, someone waiting on me as she was, seeing to my every need. Could I really accept such a thing? I tried to convince myself to let her do so but it felt far too wrong. “There’s no need,” I said, trying to sound as polite as possible.

  “As you wish,” she said with a short bow. “If you need anything, just ask, please.” With that, she left the room.

  I climbed out of bed and made my way to Tevon’s room. He wasn’t there. The hallway outside of our rooms was equally as empty, now that the woman had disappeared somewhere into the castle. Uncertain of where to go, I began walking down the hall. At the end, there was a man standing next to a door. He was not dressed like a guard, but in a uniform similar to that of the woman who had been in my room this morning. I figured they were both servants and asked him where I could find Yurios.

  He knew Yurios only by name, but was able to direct me to the castle’s infirmary. It wasn’t far from my room. The door was open and inside there was a series of beds. It looked very similar to where I had stayed in Laharah, though sadly none of my friends from Laharah were here.

  I found Yurios and Tevon talking. Yurios was sitting up with his back to the wall in his bed while Tevon stood next to him. Yurios had noticed my entrance and waved me over. “Good morning,” he greeted me.

  I rushed over and hugged him tightly. “How are you doing?” I asked, happy to see he was moving at all.

  “I still have a bit of a headache, but much better now. They say I should be fine by the end of today,” he said while he rubbed the back of his head.

  “I’m so…” I began to say, but was cut off by Yurios.

  “For what? Making me into a hero?” He said with a sense of pride. “I’ve been declared a hero of Ordana for what I did yesterday. It’s worth it.”

  Tevon hid his discontent for Yurios’ showboating poorly. While I to found it unbecoming of him, it was still good to see he held no grudge against me for what had happened to him.

  “We should let him rest some more,” Tevon said. “We have much work to do today.”

  While I was reluctant, I left with Tevon, giving Yurios another big hug before he brushed me off and told me once more not to worry about him. Tevon and I ate breakfast together in the General’s private dining hall.

  The room was well decorated with lit candles, gorgeous tapestries depicting fields of red flowers with a rising sun, and two large chandeliers overhead. The table was hidden beneath a thick red silk cloth. It was the first time I had ever seen a table covered in such a fashion. It made me nervous to eat on it but I followed Tevon’s lead as he seemed fine with it.

  The General joined us just after we had started, and greeted us with a simple, “Morning.”

  He did not seem as hostile towards us, but he wasn’t warm either. He sat down at the end of the table and began to eat away. His appetite was similar to Tevon’s as they both dug through the mountain of food set before them. The table was covered with plates of steaming hot food, all of which smelled delicious. I helped myself to a large plate as well, stacked high with enough mashed potatoes, warm biscuits, roasted chicken, grapes, and beans to crack the stone. My plate looked like a small hill in comparison to their plates.

  “Our scouts have seen no trace of any more of these Southerners in our lands, but they will continue searching,” the General said as he shoveled food into his mouth. “The river is running back to normal now as well, though the damage to the land it flooded is extensive,” he continued, taking brief breaks between bites.

  “We should be able to restore the crops within a week,” Tevon added.

  The General looked at him. “Good, we shall start after breakfast.” His words seemed like more of an order than a thanks. I doubted he would ever be friendly with any mage, even the ones who had just helped save his city. “I’ll have you meet with my supplies advisor; he will help determine what crops we need to replace those that were lost.”

  While the General continued to be less than kind, Tevon showed no sign of discontent towards him as he nodded in response, always remaining respectful. We remained silent the rest of the meal and were then escorted to the supplies advisor.

  He had an office in one of the towers that overlooked the land surrounding the castle. The servant that guided us was very informative. “The supplies advisor is responsible for keeping track of all of the kingdom’s supplies. He tracks how much food and water the city needs, as well as how much it produces, always ensuring there is more than enough each year.”

  The advisor pulled back the sleeve over his right arm and extended his hand out to Tevon. Tevon gave him a soft shake. “Thank you so much for seeing me. Please, sit.” He gestured towards two empty chairs stationed around a large table that sat in the middle
of his office. Large, wrinkled maps were scattered atop the desk.

  “We have lost so much from the fires that without your help, over two thirds of our population would starve before we would be able to replace what was lost,” he explained, far more appreciative than the General had been.

  “Which ones shall we start with?” Tevon said. He seemed eager to get to work.

  “We’re going to need to replace these crops first; our reserves on these are very low as they were just about to be harvested again,” he said. He handed Tevon a list of various crops that had been drawn on a map as to where they needed to be. “I’ve been informed as well that we are to bring the supplies up to our war time levels, correct?” He asked. There was a nervousness accompanied with his voice.

  “Yes, unfortunately, the General is already building up the army and preparing the reserves,” Tevon explained. “We’ll have to increase the supplies to compensate for this.”

  “Agreed, shall we get started?” The advisor seemed to be in a hurry to see the reserves filled up to their proper levels. He must take personal responsibility for ensuring everyone in this kingdom is fed.

  It didn’t take us long to get our day's work planned out. The advisor accompanied us outside to the fields, where all of the crops had been burnt to the ground. Most of the land was a black sea of ash. Every so often a wind would pick up some of the soot and spread it across the rest of the land.

  Most of the crops on the Southern side of the kingdom had been claimed by the fires. We felt thankful that the capital was the only city that had been hit by this destruction. Had the mages been allowed more time, the other cities and villages would have certainly seen similar attacks from the same team of mages.

  “I think this was just an effort to weaken our spirits, to make their victory all the easier when they did choose to attack. We’re fortunate we stopped this first strike before the damage became too severe,” Tevon said.