The Mage Wars

Gaerwn

20 Astris of the year 13004

Everest's Pov

Kaelen waves Altair and me over. 

I look up at the captain. He shrugs and tells me we may as well see what my brother wants. We were discussing the book we found in King Roven's ruins. I had been trying to read the dragonic language. But have come up with nothing. And now I can't even try to read it.

Too risky.

Altair and I wander over to Kaelen and Galen at the foremast.

"What?" I ask.

Galen raises an eyebrow. My bluntness does not amuse him. Kaelen makes an effort to ignore it. He points behind him, and in the distance is Solarin, Gaerwn's capital.

The harbour is alive with life. Merchants selling products, children running about, and guards patrolling the port. Spirits, if we weren't at war, I'd love to walk around Gaerwn.

"Do you remember Father what told us about Gaerwn? His stories weren't far off," Father mentioned when he was younger. A few years older than Galen and Altair, he and Uncle Ignatius came to Gaerwn to study under Queen Tegwen and her husband.

Queen Tegwen was Father's Aunt. She was Grandfather Atlas' sister. She was the second to die in the 20-year war. Her husband was murdered hours before her. She was in Gaerwn when Korbin became King. Before he waged war on the rest of Seraphina, he killed off any high-ranking fae.

It's been said Korbon kept Queen Tegwen's High Mage.

Many old Kings and Queens either died in the old wars or still wander this continent, or they leave to explore Kaladrielion. Sometimes King Vaughn, the King who was King before Uncle Ignatius, pops up in Séverin.

Very few royals from the 5 generations since King Vesryn's reign still live. I've met a few. Mostly when I was younger. Queen Bryce, Uncle Carys's predecessor, was the first. Aunt Bryce was nice. She reminded me of Uncle Aveyard. Smart, but not to be insulted. I think she used fire magic.

Although I could be wrong, I was 8 when I met her.

I don't remember much about Grandfather Atlas and Grandmother Calista. They were nice and had bright smiles. They lived with us until Grandfather Atlas rode to war and never came back. Grandmother Calista was lost when she left for Evanath.

I loved them. Still do.

Kaelen pats my head. "We were quite young. Although you're the same height back then as you are now,"

I shove Kaelen's hand off me.

Kaelen grins. He's not wrong. I'm barely over five feet. Galen is the tallest, then Altair, two inches below, and then finally, Kaelen, who is an inch shorter than Altair.

I punch my brother's arm.

Turns out it's a terrible idea.

Spirits! What was I thinking? Clearly, I wasn't. Uncle Carys's spell has us experiencing pain all over the place. Not to mention having to relearn things we used to do ourselves. I've never felt so helpless.

I clutch my sore fist to my chest, and Kaelen hisses in pain.

"This spell needs to wear off," I don't disagree.

Galen and Altair howl with laughter. Apparently, our reactions are funny. It's not funny! I'm in pain! My fist hurts!

"You try going from fae to not fae," I hiss, smacking the closest one. This only proves to be less effective as Galen howls more. Damned males.