The Mageknight

chapter 2

Groggily, Jace woke up. They were in the middle of the countryside, with a large house that looked very out of place in a simple field. It was very big, and Jace couldn't believe he was going to be living here for the next month. "Yes, I expect it's quite big compared to the house you and your father lived in. but before we go in, we're going to the nearby town to get you some equipment. Come along."

Jace stretched his legs, and they both started towards a town in the distance, walking in the afternoon heat. The town wasn't that far away, and after a ten-minute walk, Sorin and Jace had walked in, and headed towards the blacksmith. As they walked through the streets, Sorin was greeted by many people. They seemed to know Sorin well, and Jace felt very out of place; he didn't know anyone here.

Finally, they reached the blacksmith. As they opened the front door, the sound of a bell tingling signalled their arrival. The man at the counter was a muscly fellow, with a bright red beard, but hardly any hair on his head. He seemed to be polishing a blade but put it down as Sorin and Jace approached. The Shop seemed quite bare, except for behind the man; there were anvils and weapons and armour on stands, and blueprints for equipment on boards. There was no one back there as far as Jace could see. "Hello, Sorin. It's been a few days since I've seen you. Out travelling ey?"

"yes, quite. I've even managed to pick up an apprentice. Say hello, Jace." Said Sorin, tipping his head in greeting

"Hello, sir." Said Jace.

"Hello, boy. My name is Rowan." Said the bearded man "You're in real luck to have Sorin as yeh master. He's one of the best Mage knights I've seen, maybe even better than his master."

Puzzled, Jace asked, "what's a Mageknight?"

"I'll tell you later Jace," said Sorin, then he turned to Ronald, "I'll be needing a sword for Jace here, and some light chainmail armour for him too. The sword needs to be hollow, like mine. You know what I mean."

"aye, it'll be ready by tomorrow. You can come and pick it up. I'll have it ready." Said, Rowan

"Thanks, friend. I'll see you tomorrow then." Said Sorin "come along Jace."

After saying goodbye to Rowan, Jace and Sorin left, back to Sorin's house. As Sorin opened the gate to the perimeter wall, Jace had a good look around. Behind the perimeter wall was a large open space, like a garden, then the house which staggered 4 stories tall, and wider than 20 trees. Sorin must be rich to afford something this big, thought Jace. They walked through a small dirt path that leads through the garden to the front door of the house. For some reason, the door was unlocked, and Sorin swung it open easily. As Jace walked in, he was amazed at how much space was there inside. He walked in in a trance, looking at the stuffed deer heads on the walls, to the fur pelt of an unknown animal on the floor, to the huge staircase that leads upstairs. The place looked like a palace, but it had a homely feel to it as there was a fireplace and many comfy chairs. A door to the left lead to what looked like a kitchen, and upstairs lead to a corridor that went left and right. The whole place was lit up very well, but there were no light sources in sight; the fireplace was unlit.

Sorin pulled up a chair and gestured Jace to a seat opposite him. Jace sat down as Sorin started talking. "I know you've got many questions. But I will answer only one. you asked back at the blacksmiths what a Mageknight is? I am one, and you are going to be one.."

"but-" Jace started, but Sorin cut him off.

"questions at the end please," Sorin said. "now, a Mage knight is a knight, who uses mystical powers, as I will teach you to do. Many believe our power is divine and confuse us with paladins, but we are very much arcane, not divine. It will take years for you to master our trade. The reason you have been chosen is for your birthmark. Only those with your specific mark can channel the arcane forces we wield. No one knows why, but I suspect it has something to do with the way we were born. Now, don't tell your father this."

"Why not?" asked Jace

"just don't. do as your told. Now, we have about a few hours until nightfall. I will teach you a bit of swordplay. He picked up 2 swords that were resting near the fireplace and tossed one to Jace. Jace leapt out of the way as it clanged to the floor in front of him.

Sorin sighed. "the first lesson, do not fear a blade. Pick up your sword and come outside. I will clear the garden a bit for us to learn."

He opened the front door and walked out into the sunlight. Jace gingerly picked up the sword, which was overlarge for him but was mostly like a standard-issue sword. Suddenly he remembered something that Sorin had asked Rowan. He hurried after Sorin, who was waiting in the field. Before Sorin could speak, Jace fit his question into the conversation, "why did you want my sword to be hollow at the blacksmith's."

Sorin faltered, taken aback by how sudden Jace had blurted out his question, and right about when Sorin was going to speak. How rude!. "well, because you're going to need to be able to channel your power through it."." He said. "while other magic users use wands, or orbs or sceptres, we use hollow swords to maximise our physical and fighting capabilities."

"you said that I'm going to learn how to use magic?" asked Jace. "can you show me what you can do? I've never seen magic before."

Sorin sighed, and he reached his hand out to the sky and shot a flaming ball of fire into the air out of his hand. It fizzled out about a mile into the sky, but it was splendid. Jace looked back down at Sorin in amazement. "you going to teach me to do that?" asked Jace in amazement

Sorin smiled. "that and a lot more. But only after you know how to use a sword. Now come, you have much to learn about swordplay."

Jace hefted his sword and stood opposite Sorin, who drew his blade. "now come at me, and try to hit me."

Jace pulled his sword back and charged at Sorin, who easily sidestepped. Jace swung, missing Sorin entirely and fell over as the weight of the sword pulled him over.

"keep light on your feet, Jace." Said Sorin. "and also, keep on your feet"

The afternoon passed like this, with Jace practising how to stay upright when swinging, and learning how to anticipate and block. He wasn't doing very well and had gotten a few nicks and cuts where Sorin had gotten a little varied away.

All in all, Jace was exhausted, but Sorin looked like he was ready to run a mile. Eventually, the sun started to go down, and aching all over Jace walked to the house behind Sorin.

After an uneventful dinner, during which Jace scarfed down his food like a starving wolf. The dinner itself wasn't much, a cut of chicken, some gravy and a bit of lemon on the side for flavour, but to Jace, it tasted like a meal of a king's.

Sorin showed Jace upstairs to a room. "this is your place to sleep and do whatever. Keep the sword I gave you here." The room was smaller than the others Jace had seen in the house, but still quite big. The was a bed, an armour stand and a chair and desk with a book, an inkpot and a quill on it.

"you can use that book however you like." Said Sorin, gesturing to the one on the desk. "but I'd advise you to use it to write the incantations for the spells. But I'll be teaching you all those later, so for now you can use it as a diary or journal."

"Okay, thanks." Said Jace, who looked at the comfortable bed longingly. Sorin must have seen how tried Jace was because he chuckled and said

"Goodnight. It's getting dark. I'll be downstairs until I turn in. my room is just across the corridor from your door." And with that Sorin left and closed the door to the room.

Jace walked over to the bed and slumped onto it. He fell asleep on the pillow almost immediately.