The Rogue Sorcerer: The Caldronian Guild : Book 2 Read online

  Realising it would soon be dawn, Leo sat up and thought he would go fetch a drink of water from the nearby stream to quench his dry mouth. After kneeling down, he reached in with his hands letting his fingers dangle in the cool flowing waters for a little while before cupping them and bringing them up to his lips. After repeating the process, slurping in the refreshing liquid, he decided to splash his face; it was going to be a long day, and with him having so little sleep, probably a testing one as well.

  After standing and walking slowly back to where he had made his bed, in the diminishing darkness he was surprised to see Samuel already there sat waiting for him. “Can’t sleep?” the warrior asked in a whisper barely loud enough for him to hear. Leo shook his head, before realising it was still dark and Samuel might not be able to see him doing so, “No,” he eventually replied, a little louder than he intended.

  An awkward silence fell, and Leo was wondering why the man had come to sit with him if he had nothing to say. He then started thinking that perhaps Samuel was waiting for him to say something, although quite what he was expecting he did not know. “They all hate me don’t they?” he eventually said in a whisper.

  “No they don’t hate you Leo,” came the reply.

  “They have all blanked me since.”

  “No they haven’t, they have wanted to come and see you, but I told them to leave you be,” Samuel replied, catching Leo a little by surprise.

  Leo explained that he thought they were all avoiding him because of what he had done, but now it appeared they were doing so because Samuel had ordered them to. He was just going to ask why he had done that, when the answer was explained to him. “I actually thought it would give you time to think and work out what went wrong,” the warrior said, “I didn’t mean for it to make you look like you were being ignored…So for that I am sorry Leo.”

  There was another silence as Leo took the words on-board, as he actually felt a little better knowing that his friends were not treating him like some kind of pariah after all. “I think Sasha sneaked up to me earlier during your meal anyway. Don’t tell her I could hear her though will you,” Leo asked not wanting the young ranger to think she was not as skilful in moving about as she thought.

  “I don’t know what you mean Leo, Sasha was sat beside Carlton the entire evening and as far as I’m aware has not left his side since…well you know.”

  Leo thought it a little strange and wondered who or what it was that he could have sensed earlier, but eventually put it down to him having made a mistake. Pushing the thought to the back of his mind, he stifled a yawn as he listened to Samuel talk quietly, explaining how he wanted the group to be close knit. They had several towns on their list that they needed to visit and had only crossed the one off so far, and even that had not been without its troubles. “Yes, but I think we left it in better hands than we found it,” Leo told him.

  Watching the sun rising had Leo remembering back to the days when he had lived with his Step-Mother. With only being allowed into the house at certain times he had often sat out and watched the dawning of a new day, and thought it quite wondrous to behold. His dreamy state was interrupted as Samuel gave him a nudge, “Come on, the others are waking and I want today to go without incident,” he said with a grin on his face. Leo nodded and smiled back, happy in the thought Samuel at least was still his friend, although how the others would react, he guessed he would soon find out.

  Not wanting to cause any alarm, Leo decided it was probably best to seat himself as far away from Carlton and Deana as possible. Despite that also meaning being away from Sasha, he deemed it the best way to go for now at least. It was clear his being back in the group was greeted with some uncertainty, especially from the newer members.

  Samuel however, decided it best to show a little authority, and told them all in no uncertain terms what was expected of them. “What’s done is done, we move forward together,” he told them before sitting down. Leo could not help but keep glancing over to the youngster he had almost killed the previous day, not to intimidate him but more just to check he was okay. Carlton however was clearly more interested in being pampered by Sasha and Deana to give him much heed, although Leo decided at least it was a step in the right direction as far as he was concerned.

  Their young commander gave instructions whilst they ate their rather lumpy, stodgy porridge, making sure everyone knew what they should do and where they should be. Already being behind schedule, Samuel knew that he could ill afford to lose any more time. The new apprentices, Carlton, Deana, Jon and Theo, were all to remain with the wagons on the outskirts of the town, along with the wagons and their drivers. All of the others would proceed in to the town and announce their purpose, waiting only a short while whilst any prospective candidates gathered. “If they are not lined up and ready within that time, we move on, we are already a day behind schedule,” Samuel told them all.

  After they had cleared away their camp, and readied the horses, the sun was fully up. Leading them on, Samuel once more rode alongside Alec, albeit in silence as his young group followed dutifully behind. Content in hearing the gentle clip clopping of hooves and early chorus of birdsong as opposed to any conversation. Having camped a mile or so east of the town they were visiting, it did not take long before the quite impressive perimeter walls came into view, as they passed over the next rise.

  “Why are we in such a hurry to move on from here,” Alec eventually asked, wondering why Samuel wanted in and out so quickly.

  “Because my young friend, I thought if business was all done and sorted, we might have time for you to visit your folks this afternoon,” came the somewhat unexpected reply. Alec smiled, he had assumed with his parent’s house being a mile or so further west of the main town, they as a group would merely continue on past, as their planned route took them slightly north. It was clear the literary apprentice seemed pleased with the idea, and sat up on his horse feeling today was going to be a fine one.

  As they neared the town of Gardham, Samuel was a little concerned at what he saw. Not wanting to worry his young friend beside him, he kept his observations to himself. He noticed immediately the town gates were closed, and he counted several guards patrolling across the top of the wall. Naturally this might have just meant the townsfolk being vigilant and careful, considering the troubles of late, although Samuel had a feeling that might not be the case here.

  Alec was a little surprised when Samuel pulled his horse to a halt, “Move back down the line please. Sasha, Leo, to the front with me,” he added shouting the order over his shoulder. Alec had the look of concern on his face, and although he instantly had questions he wanted to ask, did as was requested without voicing them. Leo took a few moments for the words to sink in, as the gentle rocking movement of his horse had him dozing in the saddle. Only after Kenton had given him a further shout did he eventually spring in to life, awkwardly galloping his horse forward to the front of the line.

  After pulling his horse to a stop he looked forward at the walls of the town, before glancing over to Samuel and Sasha who both gave him the look of ‘What took you?’ “What do you think?” the warrior asked.

  “About what?” Leo replied without really thinking, looking at the men on the town walls staring back at them. “I think the question was asked to me Leo,” Sasha then replied, “And I think those are soldiers atop the wall that look wary of our approach,” she added. Leo was about to ask how she could possibly make such a judgement from this distance, but after opening his mouth to talk, decided against speaking.

  Samuel nodded and agreed with Sasha, and suggested they approach carefully. With Leo wearing the robes of a guild Sorcerer, and Sasha the garb of a ranger, Samuel hoped that on seeing them, the soldiers would see they meant no harm. After edging nearer Leo kept his eyes front, looking at the figures pointing their direction, still wondering how Sasha and Samuel could assess things from the distance they had. Even now he was closer, he could not tell anything any different, and thought they both
must have been guessing.

  “I would say these parts have seen a little trouble of late,” Sasha added as Leo could now see the faces looking back down at them. The number of men on the wall had probably doubled in the time it had taken to get this far, and several were holding crossbows pointing down at their direction. “I was worried that might be the case,” Samuel said clearly wary of not panicking any of the townsfolk into firing. “If a bolt comes our way Leo I want you to throw up a shield, understand?” Leo nodded, and although a little nervous felt he could probably mange that without causing anyone any harm. “Do you not think Jake or Mason would be better suited?” he said having seconds thoughts and doubting his own abilities. He glanced over to see Sasha shaking her head, clearly not impressed by what he had just said, and felt a little hurt by her reaction.

  A man shouted down from atop the wall, asking who they were and what they wanted. Samuel pointed to Sasha and Leo, both wearing instantly recognisable items of clothing, “We are from the guild in Surmont. We are here to recruit new members,” he added, shouting his reply. The man on the wall turned to a colleague, who in turn ran off, probably disappearing down to speak to someone else.

  Samuel decided to give the soldiers as much time as they wanted, despite the crossbows that were still pointing their direction from the wall, he felt somewhat less threatened by them. What he did not want was Alec trotting up to the front, although that is exactly what the lad did despite apologising profusely for doing so. “Something is wrong isn’t it?” he asked looking worried. “Please go back Alec, we don’t know anything for sure,” Samuel said in a much calmer voice than he expected. After a moment or two of staring between the bespectacled literary apprentice and the burly framed warrior, Alec dropped his head and trotted his horse obediently back to where he had been.

  It took several minutes for the one of the men atop the wall to shout again, “You recruited a short while back…Why are you here again?” Samuel heard Sasha sighing, but immediately held a hand out to stop her saying anything in reply. “We have need of more recruits due to the attack on the city, and Gardham is on our list,” he shouted back. They were forced to wait once more as one of the soldiers disappeared off again, and reappearing a few minutes later. “Why all the doubt?” Leo mumbled not sure what was going on, although neither Sasha nor Samuel gave him any reply as one of the men atop of the wall started shouting back down to them.

  Eventually word was given saying that they could enter, and Samuel puffed out his cheeks as he signalled for the rest of the group to catch up. Alec immediately moved to the front enquiring what was going on, and as much as Samuel wished he could tell him something reassuring, the truth was he had nothing for him.

  They all moved slowly forward as the large wooden gates creaked open, and although they had been allowed to enter it did not stop the men on the wall from still pointing their weapons at them. Leo watched Sasha as her head moved just ever so slightly left and right, her eyes scanning every new detail of their environment as the pair passed into the town itself.

  Waiting for them was a tall middle aged man, standing tall with the chain of office around his neck, indicating him to be the Mayor. Already a small crowd of people had gathered around, gingerly approaching but remaining a safe distance away. Samuel asked the others to remain as they were, before dropping down from his mount and walking over to the man in office. After what could only be described as a lukewarm welcome from the Mayor, Samuel explained their purpose to him directly.

  Only after explaining what had gone on in Surmont did the Mayor gesture the warrior to follow. “You are not the only ones who have been hit,” the man said in a rather nasally tone. They stopped near two wagons covered with tarps, and Samuel already knew what was going to be lying underneath, before one of the Mayor’s men lifted one corner. “We brought these in late last night after attacks on the outlying homes a little further west, women and children too,” he added clearly not wanting to look at what was being shown to Samuel.

  Samuel nodded, as the first feeling of dread overcame him. Knowing Alec had family living in exactly those parts the Mayor had just described, he knew what he had to do. Firstly, he explained the situation to the Mayor, who nodded his understanding. “I fear the worst,” the man told Samuel, explaining that he was all but certain that some of the bodies in the other wagon had come from the area he described. Samuel admitted to not knowing more about Alec’s family, and whether those dead in the wagons were his family or not he knew there was only one way to find out.

  After taking a deep breath he walked slowly towards the others who were all still sat atop their horses. Samuel felt his heart beating a little faster as he caught Alec’s eye, and judging by the youngster’s face, he had already guessed something was wrong. Samuel waited for his friend to dismount before talking, and although he was by far the stronger man he did not feel so tough as he attempted to explain what had happened.

  It was quite noticeable Alec was already fearing the worst case scenario as Samuel stood beside him, watching as the cover on one of the wagons was lifted ever so slightly. “No that’s not them,” he said, as Samuel puffed out a sigh of relief, knowing one wagon down yet still one to go. The same man stepped over to the other wagon, and repeated the earlier process, and as Samuel could see the cold lifeless faces he awaited Alec’s reply.

  There was a silence, as Samuel slowly turned his head to look down at Alec. The youngster’s eyes were already welling and the first of the tears rolling freely down his cheeks, and the warrior knew all he needed to know. Like a big brother he placed a comforting arm around Alec’s shoulder and waved a hand for the bodies to be covered back up quickly.

  Leo sat just a short way off, watching on as Samuel and Alec slowly walked back his direction. His friend had removed his specs and was openly sobbing, and Leo felt an all too familiar pain. Having lost his own father when he was younger, he knew exactly how losing a loved one felt. Yet as powerful a sorcerer as he was supposed to be, he knew there was absolutely nothing he could do to help his friend at that moment. The only thing he could think of doing was getting down from his horse and placing a friendly hand on Alec’s shoulder. Samuel nodded for Leo to walk Alec back to the others, who had all started dismounting.

  Samuel took a deep breath as he watched Alec for a few moments, before once more directing his attention to the town’s Mayor. He asked the man if all the bodies could be buried with some kind of ceremony and was willing to wait for that to be completed before any guild business was even thought about. The Mayor gestured for Samuel to walk, and was directed to a rather fine looking house just set back off the main street. It was brightly painted with white shutters on the windows, and had a small flowerbed running along the short pathway that led to the door. “Come on in, and we can discuss what needs to be done,” the man told him as he gestured for Samuel to enter.

  Inside he was greeted with a much duller interior, with plain wooden panelling to the walls, and a dull brown carpet covering only part of the wooden floor. He did notice a vase of freshly picked flowers placed on a side cupboard, giving the entrance hall a small oasis of colour. “Just through here,” the Mayor said leading on through a stained timber door, and into what Samuel could only describe as probably the tidiest office he had ever seen. There were several rows of books all lined in size order along a shelving unit on the far wall, and upon a highly polished desk, lay three tidy piles of paper. A pewter inkpot and stand holding a pen was placed to the left and a small lamp to the right. The carpet beneath his feet was a bright reddish colour and spotlessly clean, and upon a sideboard sat another blue vase containing fresh flowers. “I’ll have my wife bring us some tea,” the Mayor said gesturing for Samuel to take a seat.

  A middle-aged woman wearing a long light blue dress walked in with a big smile on her face. In her hand she carried a silver tray upon which was a small silver teapot and two porcelain cups. “Thank you my dear,” the Mayor said as he watched his wife place the tray
on his desk. Both he and Samuel waited as the woman poured out the tea into the cups before pouring in a little cream, and handing one to each man.

  Only when the woman left the room did the Mayor’s demeanour change from one of happily married man, to that of a concerned and worried town leader. He firstly gave his condolences for Alec and the loss of his parents, before explaining what had been going on of late. Over the past several nights, small raids had been hitting the outlying farmsteads and villages, and each morning the small garrison at Gardham would venture out and bring back the dead. Men, women, and even children had been found dead, although seemingly killed by different means.

  Samuel listened on as the Mayor explained further how some had succumbed to what he called normal weapons, whilst some had been the victim of a sorcerer’s blast. “A few,” he said taking a sip of his tea, before placing the cup back down on the saucer, “Usually younger ones, appear to have had the very life drained from them.” Samuel nodded his understanding, knowing he had seen and heard this now all too familiar tale before. That however was not the end of it, as he was then told about strange looking carcases, left at a few of the sites, “I have no idea what they are, the men reckon they resemble some kind of pod, but I have them burned whatever they are.”

  From the knowledge gathered by the guild on these strange pods, Samuel knew exactly what the mayor referred to, but more sickeningly was what they once were. He felt it best not to tell the Mayor any more than he needed, and just sipped his own tea before explaining once more the reasoning for them being in Gardham. “I’m afraid we are not here to aid you, we are too few in number to go tracking any enemy,” Samuel explained although he was certain by the Mayor’s face those were not the words he had wanted to hear. “We also have four new guild apprentices, who have not yet had any training,” he added hoping to make the man understand.