Free Magic (complete)

Chapter 23

Lying on the stone roof, his body throbbing from Ghilda's attacks, Jak woke to see Anders aglow with power. He watched Anders in wonder and horror. A waterfall of white lightning rushed to him, and through his body. Jak could scarcely move, but he did register that he couldn't see out of one eye. The first blast of water that knocked the glass lens into his head made sure of that. Anders was clearly concentrating on whatever in Spirit's hells he was doing, but Ghilda was massing an enormous blob of water overhead while he did it.

Jak moved both his arms. Good, at least those worked. He pushed himself up and stood. He still had his daggers, which was a blessing. He crept around to the edge of the roof behind Ghilda, not that he needed to sneak too carefully, she was rather preoccupied gathering her huge swell of water.

The door Anders had come through opened up and Harlow poped out followed by an endless stream of soldiers, watching the scene in awe. Jak was nearly to Ghilda, when she pushed her mass of water at Anders. At nearly the same moment, Anders let go his hold of power and fell backwards. With the lightning gone, Jak could see he didn't have one stitch of clothes left on his body. The moment Ghilda released her wave of anger and hurricane Jak moved forward. Anders's body still had uncontrolled strings of lightning crawling over it. Now that he was unconscious it was hard to say if there was much power left, but he wasn't awake to control it anyway.

Ghilda's storm crashed into Anders, Jak ran forward to try to either stop Ghilda or catch Anders before he fell off the roof. The moment the water hit the unconscious mage's body, it lit up. Lightning surged through the water in thick currents of power, reaching like hungry serpents towards the only connection to the ground they could find. Ghilda.

As soon as the power surged out of Anders's body Jak stepped away from the whole mess. He watched, horrified, as jolts convulsed through Ghilda's body. She writhed on the roof like a piece of meat cooking, shining lightning crawling on her skin and her screams of pain echoing over the wind and across the cliffs.

The roof was so awash with water that the wire rings, Anders's body, and what was left of Ghilda threatened to spill over the edge. Jak grabbed Anders by the arm as Harlow reached his side and grabbed the other. Jak put his cloak around Anders and threw him over his shoulder. Soldiers cautiously approached Ghilda while the remaining lightning worked itself out of her system. Two men were sent to collect the wire rings and what remained of the broken gemstones. What followed next was a series of lies from Harlow's mouth that would make any rogue proud.

Jak was introduced as a personal servant of Harlow, free to come and go in Whitethorn as long as Harlow was there. Then the soldiers questioned Jak for his part in the mess on the roof. Harlow stayed by him and added in his own parts of the story. The Guardmaster arrived with more men, and had Anders carried downstairs. Jak and Harlow were lead to his office to finish their story and the soldiers that kept them in the rain were reprimanded.

The account drew in the ears of every available soldier. The clerk in the office struggled to write down their account of the last few weeks, as she stopped in shock at some of the things they said. There were a few parts of the story involving Jak that were not clear or that didn't match up with other parts of the story, but Harlow gave a look to the Guardmaster and they weren't questioned further.

Somewhere in the story they were brought warm drinks and dry towels. By the end of it several of the higher officers were crowded in the office and many guards could be seen peeking through the doorway.

"Well Magister, thank you for your account of the matter." The Guardmaster sat back in his chair. "l don't want to keep you any longer, we'll let you know if we need anything else."

"Thank you." Harlow nodded graciously. "I will see you tomorrow, I think for now I need a warm bed and a good night."

"Good night Magister." The Guardmaster showed him out, Jak close behind. They walked out of the soldiers' hallways and towards the front gate. Jak stepped away from Harlow as they rounded the last corner.

"I think I'm going to go find him." Jak said.

"There isn't much to be done for your cousin now but quite a bit of sleep I'd wager." Harlow said sympathetically. "Why don't you come back to town with me? We could use a meal and some company I think. And someone to tend to that sunset over your eye."

"Sunset?" Jak touched the tender flesh over his still blind eye. Sharp pain shot from his cheek bone to his eyebrow, likely in the shape of a round glass lens. He winced.

"Come on my boy, I'm worried for Anders too, but a mage who expels that much power simply needs sleep. I will buy you dinner, have you heard of the Rivers Edge? Wonderful little kitchen!" Harlow took Jak's elbow and steered him out the gate.