Marin, Book 1 (The Xortha Chronicles)

Chapter 18: Just A Farm Girl

Marin

Chapter 18: Just A FarmGirl

After being released from the infirmary, Marin went back to The Empty Pint; it was time for luncheon so she took a seat in the common room.

Megden came over with a haggis and potatoes on a plate and a pint of mead. "Ah heard aboot yer battle wi' tha drow. Cap'n Flintgart sent a letter o'r 'ere lettin me know ye wouldn't be in yer room."

"I'll have to thank the captain for that," said Marin. She ate her meal and drank slowly. "Think I'm getting the hang of this." she sat the mug down.

Marin went to her room and took out her spell books. She really felt she needed more practice with her spells since she relied heavily on the same few spells over and over.

A day passed with Marin spending all of her time in her room reading over spells. She only came out to eat and enjoy the nights entertainment.

Next day, an armored dwarf came rushing into The Empty Pint while Marin was in the middle of dinner. "Marin, come quick! The cap'n needs ye!" he shouted.

Marin jumped up, nearly knocking a dwarf out of his chair, and ran for the door. She followed the soldier out of the rear gate and down the tunnel until they reached a huge cavern. Marin spotted Captain Flintgart and went over to him, "Where do you need me?"

"Get somewhere so's ye can throw spells. Hurry lass!" then he turned his head and shouted, "VOLLEY!"

A wave of arrows arched up and over to the drow's side of the cavern and they returned fire. Marin couldn't find anywhere suitable to cast from in the back so she made her way past the front ranks and began casting a spell she hadn't tried yet: Tsunami. Suddenly a huge wave ten paces high and aswide as the cavern sprang into place and rushed toward the drow and crashed into them with such force that their front ranks were crushed! Over half the drow army was destroyed.

Marin ran forward as the wave dissipated and began casting Chain Lightning again and again.

The drow sounded the retreat, but Marin wasn't done. She teleported ahead of the retreating drow and hit them with Arcane Wave. A wave of pink energy as tall as Marin formed and rolled toward the fleeing drow, widening as it went. As it struck it's targets, each drow was vaporized instantly! The entire drow army was wiped out and Marin collapsed.

Marin awoke in the infirmary again. Her bed was surrounded by soldiers. "What happened? Did I get hit again?"

Captain Flintgart was by her side again, "Nay, lass. Th' nurse says ye'r fine, jus' overworked is all. Ye very nearly made me faint when ye ran after 'um by yerself!" he chuckled.

"I need to go back to wizard school," said Marin, "Those spells shouldn't wipe me out like that. I only have half the training of a proper Master Mage."

"Lass, if'n ye're askin' me, Ah'd say ye have plenty o' trainin'!" said the captain.

The nurse came over, "Alright, lads, break it up 'n let me through!" She made it to Marin's side, "Le's 'ave a look at ye." She looked into Marin's eyes then turned Marin's head from side to side checking her ears. "Stick yer tongue out," and Marin obliged. "Ye look fine, lass. Ye're free ta go." said the nurse with a smile.

Marin stood up to leave when Captain Flintgart said, "Thar's somewhere Ah need ta take ye first, Marin. Follow me."

The captain and the other soldiers escorted Marin to the palace where they went straight to the throne room and stopped just inside. To each side of the room there were other dwarves standing along the walls, all wearing purple capes about their shoulders and gold circlets on their heads. They must be lords and ladies of Kazak Deep, she thought.

King Arnolf IX was setting on his throne when they entered. "Approach."

Marin walked forward. She noticed the captain and guards didn't follow and got worried. Marin got within a few paces of the throne and the king stood and said "Kneel." Marin stopped and knelt where she was.

King Arnolf stepped from the throne and walked up to Marin. An aid walked up to the right of the king holding a purple velvet cape and a gold circlet. The king took the cape and placed it around Marin's shoulders and fastened it under her chin. Then he took the circlet and placed it on her head and took a step back.

"For yer deeds 'n battle an' for th' defence o' this city wi' out regard fer yer own life, I name ye, "Honorary Thane"! Rise Thane Marin."

There was applause from throughout the room. All the dwarves with capes and circlets approached Marin, congratulating her and thanking her for her service to the realm. They all asked her about the spells she used and where she learned magic from.

Marin shook hands with all of the other thanes and accepted a dinner invitation from the one that offered, and answered there questions.

After about thirty minutes or so, the thanes began to leave. Captain Flintgart walked over to Marin and bowed, "Thane, Ah have a letter fer ye," It was another letter from the king. It read: "Let it be known that Marin of ShinTzu is an Honorary Thane of Kazak Deep and is to be shown all courtesies given to any Thane of The Realm." At the bottom of the letter, it was signed by King Arnolf and there four wax seals: the personal seal of the king, the seal of Clan Goldforge, the royal seal, and the seal of Kazak Deep.

She turned to the captain, a look of shock on her face, "I seriously don't believe this is happening to me! I'm just a farm girl from the middle of nowhere!"

The captain smiled from ear to ear, "Nae anymore ye're nae."