The Mage

Chapter Eleven

The pain stabbed his heart as he ran. Stopping Bask, felt the weight in his chest. One of the brothers had died. He howled in pain, anger and sadness. The anger in his heart fueled his speed, forgetting all thoughts of rest. He knew the others would feel it too. Dammit, who was it? Dagan, Loth, did the blood mage get them? Were Brhom or Ratheke felled by some lucky hunter? Banishing these thoughts he sped towards Dagan and Loth's last known position.




Her body ached, slowly opening her eyes. She tried to sit up but couldn't move her hands. She struggled against the ropes binding her wrist, feeling the ropes around her legs she rolled onto her back. Slowly, propped herself up into a sitting position. The bright midday sun burned her eyes, she turned her attention to the area around her. The large man was sitting on the ground not far away, his gaze was on the coat covering what she assumed was the body of the man called Loth. 

"Your finally awake." Said the large man. "Mage, you're either very brave or foolish. I would kill you for taking my brother's life, lucky for you the Master ordered us to spare your miserable life."

She stared at him, listening to what he said as she turned her attention to her own injuries. Nothing felt broken, bruises covered her body and her throat was sore from where  the large man had crushed it.

"No words," he said. "It doesn't matter, soon the others will come and we'll take you to the Master. I have your knife and totem, you have no power now." He put a hand out on the body. "Rest easy brother, I still don't know what to tell Hayden or the others." He was silent thinking about them. "Of the brethren, he is the only one I was close with. We were six foundlings raised together. Bask, Ratheke, Brhom, Loth, our Sister Hayden and me, Dagan. Loth and Hayden were my best friends." A sob caught in his chest.

She watched as he raised a bandaged arm to wipe tears from his eyes. Why is he telling me this? "Why do you serve him? If you let me go I will let you live."

He looked at her with bloodshot eyes."I cannot, I know you want to kill the Master, and we are bound to him. The summoning of Volasit bound us to him for life. I cannot let you harm him for it will mean our death."

They fell into silence, she laid back down and rolled on her side to relieve the pressure on her arms. She glanced at Dagan who had turned his attention back to Loth's body.




The wolf arrived late in the afternoon. It gave her a look before trotting over to Dagan. It kneeled down and changed into a man.

"What happened." He demanded. 

Dagan sighed. "The blood mage there, came in the night. Loth was on watch. He alerted me, we nearly had her subdued before she cast a spell. A power blast of some kind, knocked us all down. I woke up, bound her and went to find Loth. His neck was broken when he slammed into the rocks, ribs punctured his lungs. He died not long after I found him."

"We knew this could happen. Do you have her totem." He asked, turning towards the mage.

Dagan held out the ruby as well as the piece of Lascraith. "Her totem and the missing piece. I take it the others are retrieving the last two."

Bask took the ruby and examined it before handing it back. "Yes, they will join us shortly." He walked over to the mage who still lay on the ground. Reaching down he pulled her up.

"So you're all the trouble we've been going through. Tobin's first born." He dropped her. "Dagan how bad are your injuries."

"Besides the cuts, and stab wounds, the worst is a broken leg. Loth took the brunt of the blow."