The Mage Wars

Trial by Maps

The Next Morning

The walk to the arena with Zorian and two of my uncles was delightful. It's pleasantly warm for a fall day. Sun's out, scarcely a cloud in the sky. It's a beautiful day for a picnic. Thankfully, Galen and I are having lunch with my family. It was Mother's idea. 

Due to piling up work that my uncle's wives sent over last night, they will be working while the trial is underway. It was Father's idea to hide them using refracting light—a test within a test.

A good thing, too. I've hardly had a chance to get to know any of the lords besides Lord Zarrak. I'd like to get to know them a little, if only to see how well they will work with my family.

I have a feeling some lords will look rested, others not so much. But that's to be expected. Competitions are fickle things. It's normal to stress and worry, primarily because the prize is Gaerwn and its Kingship. And that is not a small prize.

Zorian and I don't have to wait long. In fact, my uncles don't have much time to find a hiding place. My spell shorts off as Lord Zarrak enters the arena.

Josslyn's husband greets me with a smile and a good morning. The other lords file in one at a time over the course of ten minutes. They greet me in a respectful manner. Thankfully, Lord Kyler doesn't kiss my hand or try to grab it. But he asks if I want to take a stroll after the trial.

I would if I had the time. If only to gauge his capability to rule Gaerwn. Not a stroll in the terms he would like. But he would get his walk.

I have lunch to attend and a meeting with my Father and Uncles later. Tressa is the main priority and our first assessment of the lords. We've all made notes, and Uncle Carys wishes to discuss.

"I have duties to attend, perhaps another time,"

"As you wish," Lord Kyler bows and stands beside Lord Zarrak. The glares from both lords do not go unnoticed.

Galen approaches with an air of respect. He gives the two lords a look, and they nod to Galen. Thankfully, someone can keep them in check. If only for a moment.

Galen asks if we should wait for my Father and uncles. I shake my head and tell him my father is busy organizing lunch, and my uncles are working on things that need to be done in their respective kingdoms.

Then I mutter under everyone else's hearing that there is an underlying test to see how well they will work with me. And that the walls have ears.

Galen nods.

With the sun climbing above the arena wall, I ask for the Lord's attention. Once they settle into a blessed quiet, I begin.

"Today, you will be planning battle strategies. You will each be given a map with a circled landmass. Your objective is to plan a winning battle. You have 2 hours to complete this task. You may go anywhere in the arena. You may not talk to one another, and if you finish early, bring your work to Lord Galen or myself,"

I summon the maps and spare paper to my hands.

Galen takes them from my grasp. He hands Zorian the spare paper and begins handing maps to each lord. Following the duke's footsteps, Zorian hands out three spare pieces of paper. Out of politeness, the lords thank Galen and Zorian.

Once the papers are in the lord's possession, their time starts. I tell them as much to avoid any confusion.

The lords spread out.

Lord Zarrak moves climbs into the stands and makes his way to the base of the royal box while Lord Kyler moves opposite of his rival. Lords Darius and Thaniel take up a place by the east but keep twelve feet from each other. Lord Castor plops himself on a bench in the arena.

Galen, Zorian and I climb into the stands and up to the top of the rows—an easy vantage point to view all the lords. Beside me, Uncle Ignatius shifts and asks if I think Father would be mad if he left to grab a snack.

Galen chuckles and tells my uncle that Father would have his hide if he left. At Galen's reaction, Uncle Ignatius grumbles but agrees with the Duke.

"Do you have an extra map?" Galen asks.

"I should," I wave my hand over my lap, and sure enough, the map Father used to make smaller copies appears.

It shows Alasdair and the surrounding area. The kingdom that once controlled Seraphina before the great divide. Back when the spirit king ruled.

It's said that the Spirit King Olacaryn fell to the dragons at the end of the second age. He ruled for ten thousand years. That is no small feat.

The kingdom of Seraphina felt his loss. Lords and nobles took advantage. They squabbled amongst themselves, and it resulted in war. The war that would split Seraphine from Seraphina.

"How would you solve the trial?" Galen asks.

"Alastair is circled, and our forces are located in east Vespera. I'd split my calvary in two and keep two-thirds in reserve. My mounted soldiers will attempt to break through the forces using a contra-flanking technique. But that will only work if the forces from Alasdair attempt to flank us from the sides," I point out where I remember the forces from Alasdair and Vespera are. Then I show where I'd move my foot soldiers, archers and mounted archers and what they'd do. "What about you?"

"I was thinking the same manoeuvre as you," Galen states. He mutters that great minds think alike, and he's right. "But the double envelopment could work all the same,"

"Explain—"

"You're going about it all wrong,"

My head and Galen's snap over to Zorian. My cousin has a furrowed brow. He looks as if he's trying to fight an instinct taught to him by Korbin.

"How so?"

"What if the forces from Alasdair use archers on the walls? That will leave you open from above. But if they use enchanted bows, then they can reach even farther. Attacking Alasdair from the front is a fool's errand. You'd need a great amount of soldiers or a grand master strategist,"

"Then how would you go about it?"

Zorian blinks a few times then his face goes bright red. He was not expecting to explain himself.

"You don't know, do you," Uncle Ignatius states suddenly. He's been so quiet that I rather we forgot he was here.

"No, I don't know how to put it into words," Zorian states, his ears begin flushing.

"Try," Uncle Ignatius urges softly.

My cousin takes a deep breath and begins. For ten minutes, he explains why his strategy is better than ours. He starts with the archers and then moves on to the foot soldiers and mounted archers and knights. By the time he's finished it's safe to say my cousin is quite good at battle strategy.

So much so that I ask him again if he'll consider working under Altair when we return to Vanora, Zorian sighs and says he'll think about it.

I smile and reassure him he doesn't need to give me his answer just yet. But when we return, I will be looking for that answer.

Zorian nods and returns his focus to the Lords furiously working on their trial.