Enough is enough! You are forbidden from practicing your magic indoors until you have learned some basic principles of control. You nearly drowned your guards; in their armour, they cannot swim if you flood the cellars again. Practice outside and try not to destroy your mother’s flowerbeds, or she is liable to kill us both.

  Lord Ulric Wolfsbane, first of his name

  said unto his daughter, Zaria Wolfsbane

  in Tinyburrow, Pacryle

  Soloman’s strong dexterous hand firmly grasped the withered old tome from the shelf. With a gentle, even loving, tug, he wrestled the grimoire free of its home on the shelf. He was high up in the keep’s library, pursuing tomes of knowledge as was his want, greedily devouring the knowledge contained within the weathered books. He strode quickly from the shelf to his favourite cubby, a nook rich in warmth and darkness, with no light other than the soft flickering of the candlelight. Like many in that library section, the tome focused on arcane matters like creating and maintaining elemental forces. This book specifically covered the shaping of elemental force with a thread of life energy to create a sentient elemental capable of following basic instructions and completing simplistic tasks at the summoners’ discretion.

  As he flipped through the antiquated pages, Solomon made several observations about the nature of the elementals’ subservience. The cost of summoning an elemental was determined based on the source of magic and the summoner’s will. Done correctly, it was a nearly costless spell, basically effortless on the side of the caster. The summoned elemental was bound to the task given to it, chained to the desire of its’ master. The source of magic was typically the summoners’ power, so most mages specialize in a specific elemental school of magic. Those in touch with the land, such as farmers and masons, had the innate power to bring forth earth elementals if they had the power. Those graced with the blessing of the water, such as sailors and clerics, had the innate ability to bring forth water elementals. Fire elementals were commonly associated with smiths and warriors. Other types of elementals were less common. Shadow elementals were seldom heard of – they were associated with assassination and necromancy. The author of this treatise on mastering elemental summoning was a demihuman working closely was one of the dragonkin. It was unusual that the author explicitly stated that magical power can be sourced internally or externally.

  Solomon took up his private notebook with a frown, jolting down several quick notes. His thoughts were in a fury, alight with the possible applications of casting magical spells that are powered by an external source of power. Based on the premises within the tome, a talented mage could leverage an external power source such as a fast-flowing river and provide only the magical spell structure. The summoned water elemental would possess the harnessed force of nature, maximizing the elemental being's raw elemental power. The challenge would be forming a partnership with such a powerful temporary lifeform. Establishing goodwill with the elemental and commanding it to complete a task at the summoner's will would be challenging. The spell's effectiveness would vary greatly depending on how strong the summoner's will was and how effectively they could impart their desires into the raw elemental forces.

  There was also a question of the spellcaster’s ability to thread the summoned elemental with concentrated life energy from the environment to endow additional intelligence and personality to the construct. This could allow a summoner to leverage elementals for highly complex tasks and instructions. Finally, Solomon could envision a few modifications of the summoning incantations’ spell structure, changing the flow of magical power…

  The sound of light footsteps and the scrape of silken robes against the library’s stone floors alerted Solomon that he was no longer alone with his thoughts and the magic tome. The cheery voice of Zaria rang out with a tinge of laughter in her voice, echoing throughout the forlorn library. “Greetings, Solomon! What are you reading now?”

  Solomon hid the evidence of his note-taking from his childhood friend, quickly sliding his notebook into a secret pocket woven into his dark grey cloak. There was little to do about the magical tome, but Zaria would not probe too deeply. Even as a mage-in-training, there was little chance that she would understand the magical text. The book was titled Mastering Constructs, an advanced guide to the Arcanum. It would be a challenging read for Zaldimere, her master and tutor from the capital’s magicians’ college. The magical tome was one of the many forbidden books in Lord Ulric’s library. However, Lord Ulric was permitted to retain the books due to his position as a high lord.

  “Ha!” Zaria shouted as she emerged between the old bookshelves. Solomon and Zaria were close in age, although it was impossible to know Solomon’s age. Lord Ulric had found Solomon in the woods as a child, presumably abandoned by his parents. He had taken Solomon under his protection rather than just dumping the lost child at an orphanage. Zaria and her older brother Felix had taken to the orphaned child, much to their mothers’ ire. Lord Ulric eventually declared Solomon a guest of his household, granting Solomon a lavish lifestyle that would have been out of reach for an orphaned child living in squalor. Zaria was frequently sick as a child, so Solomon had often doted on her, hoping for her health to improve. This continued when they became teenagers, at least until Zaria’s health improved and Solomon was summoned before Lady Caroline, Lord Ulrics’ wife. After a not-so-subtle discussion with Caroline, Solomon was careful not to show a romantic interest in Zaria. Unforeseen by Caroline was her daughters’ stubborn persistence in flirting with Solomon, even when he showed no interest beyond friendship. Today was no different as Zaria leaped like a lightning bolt into Solomon’s arms, grinning widely as Solomon threw his right arm wide to protect the tome. While Zaria’s build was slender, almost lithe, the force of her impact still elicited a grunt and a wince from Solomon as she made herself comfortable in his lap. Looking proud of herself, Zaria continued. “I found you!”

  Despite himself, Solomon could not help but smile. Zaria had a bubbly, bright personality and sunny disposition, a wonder to most in the castle, considering her mother was famously moody. Unlike most born nobles, Zaria was kind to everyone she met, especially servants, guards, and peasants. When he could breathe again, Solomon spoke. “Good morning, my lady. I only just managed to get cozy here before you arrived.”

  “Since it is the afternoon now, maybe I will join you,” Zaria said, a wide grin following her words. It was apparent to anyone that the young lady adored Solomon and teased him whenever the opportunity was present. When neither Lord Ulric nor Lady Caroline was around, Zaria would double down on her flirtations. With her twentieth birthday approaching, Zaria was coming up on the end of her apprenticeship with her test to become a full-fledged magician scheduled a few months away. It was past time for her to start seeking eligible suitors. Unfortunately, she was only interested in the suitor that her mother had forbidden. She swung her legs up, folding them into Solomon’s lap, the momentum causing Solomon to fall back into the cushions with her deeper into his lap. Solomon sighed loudly, as only someone forced to endure such torment could.

  “Well, the topic of this particular book is one that I think you will find of interest.” Solomon teased, presenting the book up for her review. Zaria was talented at healing spells but struggled with most other schools of magic. She particularly struggled with summoning elemental constructs; they tended to collapse inwards or explode. Luckily, no one had been permanently hurt as she worked to learn the skill.

  Zaria’s giggles quieted, her face overtaken by a rare frown. She snatched the decrepit book from his hands. “Mastering Constructs? I can barely summon a basic water elemental, and you are here reading an arcane tome about mastering the school of magic?”

  She flipped through a few of the pages, wistfully pausing on a few of the diagrams. Shaking her head and grinning slightly again, she continued. “I cannot even read the words in here; they are enchanted against novices trying to do what only a learned mage should do. Are you planning on putting down the sword to take up spell hurling Solomon?”

  Zaria’s grin was infectious, and Solomon could not help producing a wry grin himself. While sword training with Kastytis and Felix was not his favourite activity, Lord Ulrics’ command was to train alongside Felix and Zaria. Having shown interest in sword fighting as a child, Solomon had been classified as a future warrior or knight when he had failed a test to awaken magical talent. Little had he known then how much his failure would impact his future. The current king had outlawed mastery of magic and physical combat, putting anyone who dared to defy him to death. Whispers in the shadows hinted that the king feared that those talented with sorcery and steel were of the dragonkin bloodline. The dragonkin were a particular class of demihumans that had ruled over all other races for centuries until their untimely demise. As a result, when Solomon accidentally awakened his magical power, he kept his new ability private. He sought to train his magic in secrecy. “I would not mind being a mageknight or spellblade if I had the talent. I have no plans to put down my sword anytime soon as I have only recently figured out how to forge my blades. I was trying to figure out what you find so appealing on such a complex and confounding subject as summoning elementals.”

  “Also, the pictures look epic.” Solomon mused. Solomon could not help but wonder if the author had used magic to transcribe the volume with the fine handwriting and detailed artwork. The illustrations looked like they would leap from the page with primal ferocity.

  “It is not a picture book!” Zaria said. “If you want to see an elemental in action, you can come to watch me practice in the courtyard. After I summon an elemental, you can fight it. My elemental will teach you how poorly a swordsman does against a well-prepared mage!”

  The boast fell flat as Solomon rolled his eyes at her confident exaggeration. Zaria was likelier to create a watery deluge and soak him than form a functional elemental construct. “More likely, we will both get cold drenched.”

  “Well, there is always that possibility. I am only a mage apprentice when everything is all said and done.” Zaria said pragmatically but with zero humility. She was also done waiting on Solomon to get the hint. At this point, Zaria was not going to tolerate any more dilly-dallying. “Come with me to the courtyard, now!”

  “Yes, my lady,” Solomon said, helpless to her demands. He watched as she imperiously swung her legs from his lap and reached down to tug him to his feet. She walked towards the stairs without looking back to see if he would follow her - she knew he would, just to make her happy. Even if it resulted in Lady Caroline’s wrath.

  Alas, for a simple life of a farmer, thought Solomon.

  Zaria had nearly exited the library by this point. Glancing swiftly around to ensure that no one was watching, particularly Zaria’s guards, he leaped over the railing. Solomon landed nimbly on the library’s main floor with minimal impact noise. Walking swiftly, he quickly fell into step behind her. A few moments after leaving the library, Solomon noticed that Telesilla and Chrysame, Zaria’s guards, were tailing them at a distance. Close enough to see them and ensure no harm could befall their charge but far enough away to give the two young adults some measure of privacy.

  Despite taking the time to add a bit of a flirtatious sway to her step, Zaria walked quickly and purposefully through the twisting corridors of the keep down to the courtyard. The courtyard was not far from the library. Still, each step felt like a slight torment as Zaria teased Solomon with a sly grin and continued antagonizing him with the subtle swaying of her hips. Luckily, the courtyard was not far from the library. Neither was the slightly forested section where Zaria tended to practice her magic. In addition, the area had a conveniently placed river and pond, constructed as a mechanism to obtain freshwater within the keep's walls in a siege.

  Solomon grinned at Zaria. He recalled that she had accidentally flooded Zaldimere’s tower study a few days ago, peeving her instructor. Zaldimere had banished her practice with water to the courtyard to prevent any reoccurrence of disastrous consequences.

  Aside from when it was used for training, the courtyard had a quiet beauty. The dragonkin had constructed the keep and surrounding facilities as an outpost against orcish and demonic incursions. Despite their war-like and destructive nature, the dragonkin had quite the talent for creation. The pair halted in a secluded part of the courtyard, with Telesilla and Chrysame not too far away. The area was in the more heavily forested part of the enclosure, north of the pond and near the small iron gate where the river entered. The place was shielded from view for the most part, with evergreen trees on both banks. It was a convenient location to practice creating a water elemental as an area with water eased the summoners’ creation process.

  “This should work!” Zaria said. “Lots of water to use to make the elemental and with a lot left over for the elemental to use to defeat you with!”

  “I will observe your spellcasting from over here if that is okay with you, my lady,” Solomon said with a grin, walking to a gently shaded mound beneath a tree. He watched as Zaria carefully chose the position from which she would cast her spells. Once she had decided, she spun around and tossed her spellbook at him.

  “Hold onto that book carefully if you could,” Zaria said. “Feel free to read it if you would like. It is my notes from my lessons with Zaldimere, so the notes should be readable. It would be great if you would read it and see if you can notice anything I am doing wrong as I cast the spell.”

  Solomon could not help a grin as he reviewed her notes from her lessons with Zaldimere. He could not help wincing slightly whenever he spotted the occasional error in her spellbook. Often the error was not necessarily wrong and was often technically right – the best kind of correct – but many of the notes ignored the delicate intricacies of magic. The accumulation of errors would limit Zaria to more rudimentary spell castings.

  Mages are divided into various ranks and specialties. The levels are generally from rank one to rank seven, with several nuances to observe. The first three ranks are called initiate, associate, and apprentice. When a mage achieves apprentice status, they will choose a specialization. The specialization can be evoking, conjuring, alchemy, necromancy, affliction, demonology, or wizardry. After advancing in several domains, a mage can earn the rank four magician title. Rank five is called a master magician and permits a mage to teach lower levels. Rank six confers the lord magician title. Each position requires you to be of that proficiency or higher in a certain number of specialties. Rank four involves a minimum of two grade four specialties, with ranks five and six requiring three appropriately ranked specialties. Rank seven requires four specialties at that proficiency. The precious few who achieve the highest rank are permitted to take on the Archmage title. Those who attempt to obtain the position of Archmage will typically specialize in evoking, conjuring, alchemy, and wizardry. This is because of the difficulty and unpopularity of the other specializations.

  Zaria was currently targeting the completion of her apprentice mage ranking to be promoted to a magician title. She had basic skills for manipulating magical power and cast spells of fire, water, ice, and lightning in raw and concentrated forms (like a firebolt). She could generate a shield to protect herself, levitate light objects, and ward against iron. She was recently taught the rudiments of enchanting items, making healing potions, and summoning water elementals. When it came to healing magic, she was more capable than Zaldimere.

  Solomon quieted his thoughts as Zaria placed her hand out and over the water. Her hand trembled slightly, showing her nervousness. She took a steadying deep breath before trying to cast her first attempt.

  “Elements! Hear me and obey my commands! Let the waters rise to do my bidding!” Zaria called out, focused on the task at hand. “Arise now, and strike down my most dreaded foe, Solomon!”

  Solomon snorted in laughter at her incantation, but it did the trick and focused her magical power. The trickling stream rippled weirdly as her mana threaded itself into the water. Zaria’s strain was evident as she struggled to keep her focus. She was rewarded for her perseverance as the ripples increased in frequency. Then the water slowly started to coalesce at her center of power. With a firm motion, Zaria rotated her hand and folded it. Theoretically, the hand movement is supposed to work as a hook to guide the mana effectively and raise the construct. But her actions were not quite fluid enough for the forming water elemental. With a sudden burst, the mound became a giant waterspout, soaking the caster’s immediate vicinity.

  Slightly embarrassed at her failure and now soaked, Zaria scowled at Solomon as if he had jinxed her somehow. Noticing that he watched her while reading her notes calmed her emotions and renewed her determination to succeed. She sighed, but she tried a second time. And she sighed again as she made her third attempt. As she shakily started to attempt her fourth casting, Solomon stopped her before she passed out from exhaustion with no results.

  “Are you sure you are doing this right?” Solomon asked her cautiously.

  “Yes, I am sure.” Zaria snapped at him, angrily pouting. “I am nearly there, and Zaldimere has not been able to pinpoint why the spell is failing me. He thinks I need to work more on imparting my will correctly. I was hoping that by trying to get the elemental to soak you with its water, I would be able to get the summoning to work.”

  “In that tome from earlier, the illustrations depicted a different set of hand motions to guide the spell casters’ mana than what your notes suggest,” Solomon said. “So, I think if you adjust your hand motions a bit and stop folding your hand that your spell will probably work. In the book, the illustration seemed to depict the spellcasters’ hand as transitioning from a right-side-up cup to an upside-down cup – and then the water would form into the shape of an elemental construct.”

  “What?” Zaria exclaimed. “That’s nonsense. What impact can a mere hand motion have on a spell?”

  “Does not the hand motion of a caster impact the angle, speed, and direction of a firebolt?” Solomon asked. “Plus, if I recall correctly, everything you are doing impacts your spellcasting and the instructions you are trying to impart to the elemental. I am sure that you will eventually succeed in casting the spell and creating a water elemental with what you are doing. But maybe you can get a better feeling for the spell by following the illustrations from that tome.”

  “It is possible,” Zaria admitted. “But experiments like this could have disastrous consequences.”

  “That is Zaldimere talking. Here, watch me, and I will act out the illustrations.” Solomon said with a mischievous grin. He got up and walked close to where Zaria was standing. Solomon stood at the water’s edge and gracefully dipped to one knee to gently scope water into his hand. Slowly standing, he let the water drip from his hand.

  “Seriously, what are you doing?” Zaria asked, amused.

  Solomon rolled his eyes at her and continued his demonstration. Flipping his cupped hand over, he returned the water to the stream. Then he repeated her earlier incantation but with a slight mocking twist. “Elements! Hear me and obey my commands! Let the waters rise to do my bidding! Arise now, and strike down my most dreaded foe, Zaria!”

  Careful not to use any mana, he paused and waited momentarily. Twirling his fingers slightly, he twisted his hand upwards. Cupped facing upwards now, his fingers looked like he was waiting for someone to take his hand. After a few moments, Solomon let his hand fall to his side.

  “Try it like that, and maybe we will see a difference?” Solomon said.

  “I do not think that is going to be right either,” Zaria said, looking at Solomon dubiously. “Let us just hope it does not explode the both of us to pieces.”

  Slowly, awkwardly, Zaria copied Solomon’s previous movements. Starting from a kneel at the stream’s edge, she scoped some water into her hand and stood. Letting her hand slowly drain, she twisted her hand into an upside-down cup.

  “Elements! Hear me and obey my commands! Let the waters rise to do my bidding! Arise now, and strike down my most dreaded foe, Solomon!”. Zaria said sternly, directing her power into the stream. Instantly a mound formed and semi-detached itself from the stream. Small globules continued to rise into her floating orb of water. Her eyes alight with excitement, Zaria twisted her hand upwards while roughly mimicking Solomon’s earlier finger twirl. It was not quite right, but it was close enough. The orb shimmered and transformed. It took on a roughly human appearance, torso conjoined to the stream. It dipped its head slightly, acknowledging her.

  “I did it!” Zaria shouted, then screamed in delight as the elemental threw water bolts at Solomon. She quickly commanded it to stop as she caught sight of his irritated expression. Changing tactics, Zaria commanded the water elemental to strike a nearby tree instead as her guards arrived to investigate her scream. Raising an arm, the elemental construct attempted to obey. Still, Zaria’s control wavered, and the elemental returned to the stream. Zaria giggled as the magic unravelled.

  “I did it!” Zaria repeated as her guards alternated between glaring at her and Solomon. Unlike Zaria, they did not seem too impressed.

  “Sure, barely.” Solomon acknowledged smiling. “Maybe next time, you will manage to summon it on your first attempt instead of your fourth.”

  “I cannot wait to show father!” Zaria cheered. She performed a short victory dance, then laughed. “And my master, I guess. Thank you for your help, Solomon. This would not have been possible without your keen eye.”

  “It is nearly time for dinner, but I think you look like you could use an after-magic snack,” Solomon smirked at her. “Go to the kitchens. I am sure Cortana will give you something, at least if she is around.”

  Zaria’s face wiggled its way into a disapproving look. She did not like Solomon’s servant on principles of romantic rivalry. Her grumbling stomach quickly reminded her of the more critical matters.

  “Fine,” Zaria said with an overly dramatic sigh. “On my way, I go. Sit with me at dinner?”

  “Perhaps,” Solomon replied. He knew that there was no way that Lady Caroline would permit such an atrocity at her dining table. She would ensure that he would be otherwise occupied if she caught wind that he had spent time with Zaria this afternoon.

  Zaria’s eager smile lit up her face and elicited a sigh from Solomon. A smile like hers just was not fair. Leaning back into his comfy spot under the tree, Solomon saw Zaria dart away. Undoubtedly to the kitchens. Smiling, Solomon closed his eyes to consider his earlier readings of Mastering Constructs, an advanced guide to the Arcanum in more detail. The subtle details flitted out of his mind as he quickly drifted into an afternoon nap under the shade of the tree and the warmth of the sun.

  ***

  “Where am I?” Solomon’s thoughts were sluggish, and he could not move, could not speak. The world seemed to slow around him as the chaos in the memory increased. “The dream world?”

  Faces flickered around him as arcane energies fluctuated around him. A tall lady with long golden locks of hair surrounded a delicate, gentle face was giving orders furiously as two guards moved to assist her. An older man scrambled to leave the room. Solomon could feel the concern and tension in the room as a young maiden attended to him and another child. Solomon thought he could recognize a few of the faces in the scene when the lady in charge looked at him with large reddish-orange eyes shaped into a slit. “One of the dragonkin? And Kastytis? And Cortana?”

  The scene faded and flickered as the memory fragmented. A hand reached down towards Solomon and brushed against his face. The hand was gigantic. Tilting his head, Solomon realized someone else was near him. “A child? Is this one of my memories?”

  The scene faded again as the face withdrew. Light threatened to overwhelm the memory as the frustration Solomon felt rose. A new memory surfaced with a wooden door erupting into splinters. A person covered in black cloth wielding a serpentine dagger in a tightly clenched fist appeared. “Some sort of an assassin? Why? What is happening?”

  Suddenly the memory dissipated in blue light with searing pain. A new face appeared and faded as unintelligible words echoed in the memory fragment. As the blue light faded, a new feeling emerged. Exhaustion and hunger while surrounded by a green blur. “I was lost in a forest when Lord Ulric found me wandering… is that what this is? Am I walking through my memories?”

  “Are you okay, lad?” A much younger Lord Ulric said. “Are you lost? Where are your parents? It is dangerous out here.”

  Solomon could feel Lord Ulric lifting him from the ground as his dream body slumped. “Interesting. I do not quite know what to make of you, child, but you’ve been wandering here for a few days. You can stay with my children until I find out who your parents are.”

  The memory faded to black as arcane energy sparked once more, interweaving itself through the memory and binding it in magical chains. Darkness surrounded Solomon as he was cast adrift in a void of shadow.

  ***

  The chill of the twilight wind was the first sensation Solomon realized upon waking up in the courtyard. The sun had descended below the horizon, casting long shadows throughout the area. His thoughts were abuzz over what he had just experienced. The realization of his predicament slowly sank in through the fog of his thoughts. His stomach growled at him.

  “I am so late,” he sighed. The lady Caroline would not be impressed.

  With a jerk, he jumped to his feet and bolted to the private dining hall. With luck, Caroline would be in a good mood and not harp on his lateness too much. The hallways and winding stairs passed quickly. Entering the dining hall, he pulled up short at Caroline’s furious glare.

  “What happened to you?!” she snapped angrily at him.

  Solomon glanced down at himself and started. He was covered in dried mud and grass. Movement in the back of the hall drew his eye - Cortana, with her fiery hair, was the attendant on duty tonight. Technically she was Solomon’s maid and not in service to Lord Ulric. A few years ago, when he was sixteen, he had rescued her from a small spot of trouble. She pledged herself to his service. Ulric had reluctantly granted his permission to stay on the condition that she would help other staff accordingly. Caroline had been furious at everyone at the time.

  “I fell asleep in the courtyard around midafternoon,” Solomon stated calmly. “I did not realize I was so blasted filthy, though! Lord Ulric, how did you manage to remain clean back when you served with the army?”

  Ulric grinned, recognizing Solomon’s desperate distraction tactic. “Those were the days! We fought fiercely with sword and axe, and spear. Rare was the meal where we were not covered in mud, dirt, blood, and gore!”

  As Ulric continued, Cortana quickly served the meal, gesturing for Solomon to sit. “I remember one fight over twenty years ago. We were with our then ruler, the Empress.”

  Forks and knives clattered in the dramatic pause.

  “Unlike our present King, the Empress often would fight alongside her warriors in battle.” Ulric continued. “On the battlefield, she was feared beyond the reckoning of most folks. When she fought, her eyes glowed red with fury and passion.”

  Ulric looked up at everyone hanging onto his every word, including Solomon. “She was terrifying.”

  “We were in the northern passes, fighting off foreign forces. Mostly half-human mutts, gnolls, trolls, goblins, orcs... those that worship the void. There were a hundred of them to each of us, including the support staff we brought along.” Ulric paused, collecting his thoughts. “A giant was coming right at me. My arms felt like lead, and the blow from its club shattered my sword and knocked the wind from me. Then I thought I saw death.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “Death?” Zaria whispered.

  Ulric smiled fondly at her. “Yes. Luckily for me, the empress appeared out of nowhere, cut the giant in half with a backhanded swing, and kept going. She decimated the enemy forces, easily responsible for more than ninety-five percent of the kills.”

  Felix, Ulric’s son and heir, spoke up. “How is something like that even possible? I had read that during the battle of the winter wolf Empress Ausrine had over three thousand kills.”

  At this, Master Magician Zaldimere spoke up. “The empress was of the dragonkin bloodline, extremely talented in magic arts and melee combat.”

  Looking at Zaria, he made an observation. “She was an archmage class mage, with a focus in the wizardry class of talents. Her primary element was wind if I recall correctly.”

  “That aside,” Ulric said wryly. “That giant fell on me and covered me in its’ guts. Pretty sure I wore them to dinner that night. There is only eat now or do not eat on the march.”

  “Luckily,” Lady Caroline said. “We are not on the march.”

  Caroline glared at Solomon, who had nearly finished his meal. Sensing her malice, Solomon quickly wrapped up his dinner and excused himself to the library. The walk was colder than usual but just as swift as always. Solomon had heard tales of the keeps and castles in the south, sprawling entities where one could easily be lost in their halls and wander for hours. Why build a castle, keep, or fort so large that it is hard to maintain and is left primarily unused?

  The pretentious pride of nobles thought Solomon with a grin. Felix was always grumbling that Solomon lacked a nobleman’s dignity, despite being taken under Ulric’s guidance at such a young age. It was mostly true; what pride could be found in being born lucky? All that separates most of the upper class was whether you were fortunate enough to be taken into a wealthy family. Of course, being retained by a named family did have its advantages. Advantages such as a colossal library of books, some of which are rare, others common. Still, most detailed adventure, combat, magic, religion, and lost cultures. Solomon felt a touch of pride at the tenacity of Lord Ulric’s insight in collecting the tomes scattered around the library. Many wealthier families have lesser private libraries. There were even tomes in Ulric’s library labelled as forbidden and kept in a well-disguised room. Those forbidden tomes primarily dealt with perilous forms of magic and the practices of the dragonkin.

  Solomon had accidentally discovered the secret room when he attempted to pull a book titled “The Lords of the Past: A Family Lineage” from the shelf off a particular bookshelf. The book was a fake, and it unlocked the bookshelf to shift slightly. That had been an exciting time for Solomon. He spent close to half a year reading and memorizing as many of the tomes as he could. Eventually, Ulric caught him as he was relocking the secret room. The punishment was light, though – basically just forbidding talking about the room ever or accessing it further.

  Solomon glanced towards that hidden room but began his accent to his favourite alcove. He needed to finish reading that book on constructs. When Solomon and Felix were of an age to wield practice swords, Ulric had immediately started their training. There had been no questions, no doubt in Ulric’s mind that they would become warriors through and through. He had been disappointed when Zaria had proven herself inept with most forms of combat and resigned himself to hiring a mage tutor for her.

  As far as tutors go, Zaldimere was not terrible. He was a master magician and permitted by law to teach others the magical arts. Zaria was doing well by his estimation and would be ready for her trials soon. From Solomon’s perspective, they were both on the na?ve side, having been taught to observe specific limiting controls on their magic.

  Even reading this tome on constructs was mildly annoying. The author was clearly knowledgeable, and the book covers all the way to rank seven constructs. However, despite being very in-depth on constructs, it missed or misconstrued several core magical concepts covered by the forbidden library books. As such, every line had to be read, reconsidered, abstracted, reconstructed, and reapplied for the spell to be at its strongest. Solomon was forced to repeatedly wonder why every spellbook glossed over the obvious.

  A rank seven construct is close to an artificial divine entity – large, powerful, and ominous. Solomon would need to be cautious if he were to try to summon a rank seven construct; otherwise, he would likely be caught with his secret exposed. Yet, he would need to perform such a summons to test his mastery of elemental magics.

  Closing his eyes and slowing his breathing, Solomon began to drift into a state of meditation. The goal of mastering a spell school was to invoke the magic without any spell components, chanted words, or even gestures. To shape the physical world with the mage’s mental model, thusly bending reality to the desired result. He let his imagination pull details from the environment and from the magical eddies that formed around a spell caster. Solomon could picture the construct he would summon perfectly; an astral lady made from pure arcane energy, with flowing purple hair that sparkled with the light of the stars. The arcane elemental would probably be categorized as an upper-class rank seven construct. Maybe even a legendary construct.

  Cautiously Solomon started to feed his mental model with the raw arcane energy that such a construct needs to consolidate its form. There are various types of magical power that magicians can shape. Still, generally, most will use the primordial core elements – using arcane and temporal magical elements is forbidden to all except the highest-ranking magicians. Even they shy away from using them. Arcane energy is dangerously hard to master and is vengeful to those who dare to try. Temporal magic, more commonly called time magic, generally results in dead mages. Often, dead cities.

  Solomon paused a moment. The shell of his planned construct was ready. Generally, a lesser mage would finish filling the vessel with their will and any remaining required magic. Solomon wanted something more, though. And so, he waited. And waited. He could feel the steady drain of his power. Finally, his hands began to tremble. But still, Solomon was determined to succeed.

  Suddenly something happened. Solomon gasped and buckled. He felt as though someone had punched him in the stomach, hard. Nevertheless, he maintained the construct through the pain and was rewarded for his efforts. Standing before him was an arcane elemental. A stunningly beautiful elemental, unlike any he’d seen depicted in any of the tomes in the library.

  The construct lifted her eyes to meet his. “How curious.”

  Solomon glanced around in a panic, but he was alone with the elemental. No one was nearby, so the thoughts had to come from the construct! It was capable of telepathically communicating its ideas.

  Her eyes boring into his, she spoke again. “My name in your language would be something like Morgana little mageling. Who are you, and how did you manage to summon me?”

  Solomon spoke slowly, hesitatingly. “My name is Solomon, guest of Lord Ulric Wolfsbane. I merely heralded a call for whomever to answer that would.”

  “*An intelligent answer, and yet so foolish. I am ancient, and you have yet to even be trained in the magical arts.” *Morgana said. “You are a self-taught child, are you not, little one?”

  “Lord Ulric is a military man, the way of the sword and battle-axe is closer to his heart than the pedantic mumble jumble of sorcery,” Solomon said sadly. “To him, there is just something beautifully simplistic about a well-aimed thrust of a blade into an opponent’s torso….”

  “*Hmm. Well, I like you, so I won’t kill you today. Possibly tomorrow. I want you, child. In the future, intone my name and I will come to your aid… probably. No promises.” *Morgana said. I suspect I should go now since you have summoned me in secrecy. Would you like me to escort you to your room?

  “My room?” Solomon said with a touch of confusion in his voice.

  Morgana’s smile looked slightly wicked. She bent over and slowly reached over to touch Solomon’s shoulder lightly. Everything tingled for a moment, and Solomon looked around in surprise. He was back in his room with a very confused Cortana.

  ***

  Sunlight crested the horizon and pierced the tapestry that served as curtains in Solomon’s room. Cortana raised her head off the pillows and grunted softly. With a flick of her hand, a blanket flowed to cover the window and darken the room. She quickly snuggled back under the covers with Solomon.

  Unfortunately, the sun’s first rays of light had done their job, and Solomon was waking up. While Solomon would have enjoyed the opportunity to canoodle with her, Lord Ulric was clear that no one would sleep with any servants. And while Cortana was Solomon’s maid to serve at his pleasure, Lord Ulric was clear that he would distribute punishment to anyone who broke the rules.

  Zaria would also be heartbroken and vicious in her vengeance against Cortana. She was already slightly mean to Cortana and suspicious of the girls’ origins.

  Solomon rolled out from beneath the covers into the brisk morning air. Looking at his window, he smiled slightly. Of course, Cortana would want every extra moment she could manage in his bed.

  But it matters not. The morning had begun, and Cortana and Solomon had duties to see to. Cortana would have to clean both their rooms and start on lunch detail. Her afternoon would be dedicated to cleaning the church used by some for their prayers. And in the evening, she will work through the library until it is time for her to draw Solomon’s bath.

  Solomon had to get down to the yard for training. There he and Felix would train at combat while Zaria practiced her magic under Zaldimere’s tutelage. Once they were finished, they would take a lunch break, and Solomon would be free for the afternoon until sundown. Felix would suffer education on effectively and efficiently running a keep under Ulric’s glaring eyes.

  Sighing heavily, Solomon got up and got dressed in light leathers. The leather Solomon wore was a soft grey mixed with cotton that he made himself. He draped a finely meshed set of custom-made chainmail over his leathers to enhance his stealth while ensuring he was well protected. Unlike Felix’s suit of armour, the combination of light leathers and fine chainmail allowed Solomon an excellent movement range, far more than most combatants. It also allowed him to jump, leap, and roll – something few wearing plate armour could even consider, even amongst the fabled dragonkin.

  Slipping into his boots, Solomon draped his cloak over his shoulders, glancing back at Cortana. Last night was undoubtedly a success beyond his immediate realization. Morgana would likely be a good ally should he ever dare to cast any spells in the presence of others. But when he explored the woods alone, it would be fair to summon and practice such castings. Solomon headed to the kitchen with a sigh to snag a quick bite of bread before the morning’s combat practice.

  With his hunger slightly abated, Solomon arrived in the practice arena. The area was deserted still, so he had his choice of practice weapons. He picked up his usual – two swords, three daggers, and a bow and quiver. All the items are balanced, but each weighed a lot more than the piece of equipment usually would. Each practice sword weighed about three or four times what you would usually wield in combat. Using heavily weighted blades during combat practice would make them much fiercer during actual warfare, according to Kastytis. They would also be more likely to strike a death blow to an opponent before the enemy could harm us. After adorning his battle gear, Solomon started to jog around the courtyard. The movement and weight would get his blood flowing and give him an edge in the morning training.

  As part of an unspoken rule between the two warriors, Felix would have to win most of the sparring matches. Solomon had been intentionally losing to Felix for years. It was harder to pretend to fail than it was to just outright win. If Solomon lost too quickly and too often, he would receive extra training until he was good enough to pressure Felix again. So the goal of the morning was only to lose the majority of fights while forcing a few hard-won victories.

  Solomon started to sweat slightly at the exertion as he increased his pace to a run. The courtyard slowly became a bit of a blur; there was only the next step or the next leap over an obstacle. The wind generated by his swift passage felt good and cooling on his skin. After about ten laps of running, Solomon drew his two practice blades and continued to run furiously. The weight in his arms while running was slightly awkward but became more familiar as time wore. The real challenge with the practice blades out was to run and always be coordinated. When Solomon had first started running with the swords out, he looked like a drunken buffoon swinging his sword at random. Nowadays, when he ran, he could also parry, riposte, thrust, and turn both blades in a coordinated fashion.

  “Are you going to run all morning, or are you here to learn how to fight? Eh, Solomon?” Kastytis called out. The old grizzled war veteran looked slightly ill this morning. A bit peaky. And he was favouring his left arm, rubbing it gently. When he served in the army under the former Empress, he had received quite a wound from his stories. For today though, it would suffice to recognize it as a weakness to exploit during training.

  The rest of the gang had already assembled from the look of it. Zaldimere and Zaria were off in their corner near the stream. He insisted the sound and distraction of combat were necessary for her training. Kastytis and Ulric were standing next to each other, conferring quietly. Felix was clanking around in his armour, swinging a broadsword and brandishing his shield. Feeling a little chagrinned with himself for not noticing their presence, Solomon joined the group. With Ulric there, something must be going on.

  Kastytis cleared his throat loudly. “Zaldimere, Zaria, you should join us too.”

  The two spell hurlers also joined the group. Zaldimere immediately began to complain about the interruption. “I was just discussing the proposal with Zaria.”

  Kastytis frowned. “I believe Ulric wanted to cover it with all the trainees.”

  Ulric waved away the admonishment. “It doesn’t matter. If she’s heard it once, she can hear it again.”

  Ulric started to pace back and forth a bit. “I am not sure if you would have heard, but there is a band of goblins and orcs that raided a nearby village last night. Regularly, I would just send a troupe of our guards after the raiders, but I have been convinced to send the five of you this time. Both Zaldimere and Kastytis have spoken highly of your progress.”

  Felix’s eyes were lit with excitement at the possibility. Zaria, in contrast, looked scared but determined. Solomon just stood there, unsure of the point of this game Ulric was playing. For a game, it undoubtedly would be to the lord.

  Waving away Felix’s excitement, Ulric continued. “So, I have decided that if you can pass a minor test, I will send the lot of you – Zaldimere and Kastytis included – to drive off the raiders. Sound good?”

  Felix, of course, was the first to blurt a response. “I am ready, father.”

  Zaria and Solomon nodded their agreement. It would be a pleasant change of pace to face live combat and see how their skills matched up against real foes.

  “Are you? Well, I will be the judge of that. Or rather, I will be on a panel of judges.” Ulric finished with a wink.

  “Anyways, Zaria, I hear from Zaldimere that you have nearly managed to summon a water construct. If you would like to participate in this battle, you need to summon a water construct multiple times and defeat one of our fierce warriors in combat with it. Just mind your water bolts, young lady. If you injure them too badly, they will not be able to join the party. And this is an all-for-one affair in case I forgot to mention it.” Ulric glanced around sternly at the group.

  “Felix and Solomon, you must strike Kastytis three times,” Ulric stated. “If you win, you get to go. Otherwise, Kastytis can exact any penalty that he wants from you.”

  Solomon shivered. The skilled warrior would likely choose a penalty worse than torture if they lost.

  “We all clear?” Ulric asked firmly.

  “Yes, sir!” Rang out five different voices.

  Zaria and Zaldimere walked over to their corner to practice. Kastytis walked to the center of the ring, sword and shield at the ready. Felix and Solomon looked each other in the eyes. Slowly Felix nodded and gestured for Solomon to go first. Since Solomon’s armour was the lightest of the three combatants, he could engage and draw his opponent the easiest. This would tire Kastytis out a bit for his bout against Felix.

  Kastytis shook his head as Solomon approached him, blades at the ready. There would be no time to coddle novices in this fight. It would be a hot, heavy, and potentially bloody bout. Even with practice weapons, it was still possible to crush and break bones, smash noses, or even tear flesh.

  Solomon charged at Kastytis, wielding just a singular blade. His other weapons would remain sheathed until needed. They met in combat blade to blade, Kastytis grunting under the sudden pressure. Solomon noticed that Kastytis had strapped his shield onto his arm for a change – a potential easy score.

  Using his superior agility and burstable strength, Solomon grabbed onto the top of the shield Kastytis was using. He yanked it down, exposing the man’s left side entirely and forcing his body into an awkward contortion. Solomon slashed his practice sword from hip to heart across Kastytis’s torso and kept sliding back and to the side while turning to prevent a revenge blow.

  “One point to Solomon,” Ulric called out. “Well struck.”

  Kastytis was irate. Solomon had effectively called him out as being weak with his clean strike. In actual combat, it would have been a death blow. Solomon was also slightly taken aback. He had not expected such a quick and decisive blow to fall so easily. It was a wrong move considering that Solomon had only wanted to exhaust Kastytis for his fight against Felix and pass from the exercise.

  Solomon raised his blade and held the sword aloft, ready to guard against retaliation from Kastytis. He stepped back several steps to give the man the time to sort himself out. Kastytis quickly removed his shield, realizing that Solomon would wait for him to resituate himself. The broken guard was more of a hindrance considering the painful flare-up of his arm injury.

  The shield dropped to the ground with a loud thud. Solomon winced slightly, hearing it, feeling somewhat bad for using it as a tool to force Kastytis into a compromising position. But there is no right or wrong in actual combat, just victory or death. Kastytis and Ulric were seasoned veterans who had grilled both Felix and Solomon that mercy was a luxury they could not afford during combat. Kastytis grimly nodded his thanks for the brief respite. An unnecessary but noble action.

  Kastytis started to circle Solomon slowly, breathing heavily. Not willing to play cat and mouse, Solomon balanced his blade in hand. Slowly he closed his eyes and waited for Kastytis to finish with his game and continue the fight. The sounds of his opponent made it clear to Solomon where Kastytis was.

  Kastytis darted forward, the tip of his practice sword leading. Solomon spun around at the change in pace and swept his sword in an arcing block. His blade clipped his opponent’s, causing Kastytis’s lunge to overextend. In a single fluid motion, Solomon drew one of his daggers and plunged it into a stabbing blow to Kastytis’s back.

  “The second point to Solomon,” Ulric called out again, looking mildly amused. “I think the boy is taking pity on you, Kastytis.”

  “I think I have been training him too well of late,” Kastytis said, grunting. He winced with a groan for his already injured shoulder as he felt up his latest acquisition from Solomon. The blow was likely bruising already, and it also made his left arm a practically useless liability. Grimly he shifted his stance and took up his sword. The warrior was ready to continue the match, even with his disabled arm.

  Solomon started forward with a wild one-handed overhead chop. Kastytis raised his blade to block and then witnessed a brief blur before the wind was knocked out of him. He dropped his sword and fell to his knees. Clutching his gut and arms, he looked up at Solomon, who had a sheepish look about himself. Solomon had thrown a dagger at Kastytis’s stomach while the arms master had been raising his sword to block the feinted vertical chop. Not honourable at all, but highly effective.

  “Solomon, you passed. Good job,” Ulric called out.

  Solomon collected his equipment and moved to the edge of the space, closer to where Zaria demonstrated to Zaldimere her new construct summoning skill. He had passed spectacularly due to his eagerness to be permitted to fight a real threat under actual combat conditions. With his injuries, Kastytis would not be able to give Felix too much of a hard time. Due to his heavy armour, Felix generally received a lot of abuse during combat training.

  Felix met Solomon’s eyes and nodded. Striding forward in his heavy plate mail, Felix walked to the center of the training space. He drew his broadsword in a wide arcing slash – not even waiting for Kastytis to recover or get his bearings. Luckily for Kastytis, the blow was slow. Otherwise, he would never have been able to get his sword up in time to prevent the impact. Even with his blade up for the block, the heavy sword pushed onwards to hit Kastytis in the shoulder.

  Kastytis grunted. While it was not his injured shoulder that Solomon had hit repeatedly, it still smarted and caused his other hurts to throb harder. Thinking Felix would back off and let him up, Kastytis dropped his sword tip to the ground and started to get up, using the practice sword as a prop. Felix was not like Solomon, however. Felix’s armoured boot collided solidly with Kastytis’s chest, knocking the air from his lungs and causing him to collapse in a heap. Whereas Solomon allowed his mercy and kindness to enable Kastytis to recover, Felix did not hesitate to grind his opponent into the dust. Felix swung his sword, striking Kastytis on the hip and running a line to his shoulder.

  “Three swift strikes to Felix – well fought, my son!” Ulric called out. “Zaldimere, how has Zaria faired? Is she ready for her final trial against the warriors?”

  “She’s done very well, my lord,” said Zaldimere. “A marked improvement in her casting and good mastery of her summoned water elemental.”

  “Good, good. Felix, would you like to take on Zaria first?” Ulric asked his son. Zaria looked up nervously and took up a fighting stance. She held a stave, like a staff, that she could use for defending herself in combat if needed. In this situation, where Ulric wanted her to strike Felix with a water bolt, she should not require the weapon. However, Felix did have a bit of a cruel streak, and if he could hit her, he probably would. Not hard enough to harm her, of course, and he would be careful to ensure that she could still participate in the group adventure.

  Felix moved into position. Zaria looked on nervously, waiting for someone to say start probably. Felix raised his sword up high in a salute and charged at Zaria. Eyes as wide as they could open, Zaria eked out the incantation in a hurried blob. “Elements! Hear me and obey! Let the waters arise now, and strike down my most dreaded foe!”

  Solomon winced. While Zaria had invoked the spell correctly, her fear would affect the magic. The air warped in front of her, and a water elemental formed quickly. The water elemental did not even wait for the command. The elemental created a wave of water to sweep a charging Felix into a wall, knocking the warrior out of active combat for the moment.

  “By the gods! Are you okay, Felix?!” Zaria called out.

  Ulric and Kastytis walked over to Felix to check his vitals. Ulric called out a response, “You knocked him out! Very ferocious for a little twig of a lady.”

  “Looks like you are up next, Solomon,” Kastytis said.

  “I thought that Zaria only had to hit one of us with a water bolt,” Solomon said suspiciously.

  “Where would the fun be in that?!” Ulric laughed.

  “Besides,” Zaldimere said. “She did not manage to cast a water bolt, and she lost control of her construct.”

  “Yes, so fight!” Ulric said.

  Solomon grimaced. Fighting Zaria was something he would have preferred to have avoided at all costs. Solomon left his blades sheathed and started to run at Zaria. He ensured his path to confront her was curved so that she would not feel directly threatened and would be able to get an attack or two off before he was within her guard.

  Zaria felt less afraid this time. She was calm and centred as she raised her hand and voiced her incantation. She was determined not to let her focus waver in the slightest. Her water elemental reformed. Calmly Zaria lifted her arm and instructed the construct, “Hit Solomon with a water bolt, please!”

  The water elemental turned quickly and launched the water bolt. Unfortunately, it went wide, but that did not deter the magical entity. It fired three more Solomon’s way. Solomon threw a practice dagger at one of the bolts to cause a watery explosion and temporarily veil Zaria’s and the construct’s vision of him. Using the distraction, Solomon charged directly inwards. Drawing his sword, Solomon brandished it above his head – ready to throw the blade as though it were a spear.

  Catching sight of his rapid approach, Zaria started to panic. She knew Solomon would not hurt her, but she did not want to lose too quickly. She shouted at the water elemental. “Hit him, hurry!”

  The water elemental heard her but continued to wait on Solomon’s approach. To Solomon’s advanced eyes, what the water elemental was doing was obvious. The elemental sensed that Solomon would be too swift to just hit at a distance, so to ensure victory, the construct gathered energy to maximize the size and shape of the water bolt. It was also waiting for him to close so his margin to dodge would be minimal.

  Solomon continued his rush to Zaria, watching the build-up of power. A window would briefly appear wherein he could dodge the water bolt, just as the magical surge burst forth. The water elemental released a meteor storm of about twenty water bolts. The construct’s arm glowed – the magical energy surging forth. Twisting and turning, Solomon leapt as high as he could manage just as the bolts burst forward, casting a wide arc in front of the elemental. The elemental had miscalculated. It had not expected such a jump. Solomon threw his sword straight into the elemental’s core binding, causing it to dismantle into a gentle mist. Landing nimbly like a cat, Solomon tackled Zaria to the ground and held a dagger to her throat.

  Even with frustrated tears in her eyes, Zaria managed a jab. “You know, if you wanted to be on top of me, you could have just asked.”

  Solomon’s expression twisted into a grin. Zaria will always be Zaria. Never a dull moment. Suddenly he realized what she meant, though. While one hand held his dagger to her throat, his other was pinning her down while tightly squeezing her breast. Zaria’s eyes were a touch smoky, and her smile was too eager for Solomon’s comfort. Shifting uncomfortable, Solomon ran away from the situation, jumping up quickly and offering her a hand. Zaria, never one to let an opportunity like this escape, seized his proffered hand. With a slight yank, she was standing again.

  Ulric was beaming at the display of his daughter’s combat prowess, even though she lost. “Good job Zaria! You held on very well, and those casts seemed very precise!”

  Looking back at Zaldimere, Ulric continued. “What are your thoughts, Zaldimere?”

  Zaldimere was silent and had a horrible frown on his face. He looked deep in thought. Slowly he began to speak. “Her water elemental summoning is fairly strong, more so than I have usually witnessed her cast. Possibly a stronger base elemental construct than I can summon personally. Zaria needs to iron out her control, but the elemental was clearly not hostile to her.”

  Zaldimere began to pace. “Her victory against Felix was probably only due to her loss of control. But had the construct chosen its actions differently, either one of them might have been injured. In actual combat, water elementals tend to use ice magic.”

  “And she lost against Solomon,” Ulric stated.

  “Yes. Unlike Felix, Solomon’s mobility is extremely high and talented at evading strikes.” Zaldimere confirmed. “The dagger throws into the water bolt to cause a misty discharge to cloak his approach was very strategic, very well done. His timing for his leap at the end was simply incredible, and I have never seen a warrior undo a construct in that manner.”

  “It was awe-inspiring,” Zaria said. “I think I learned a lot from this.”

  Ulric smiled at his daughter. “I think we pass them, which would mean you two would be on escort duty. What are your thoughts?”

  Zaldimere did not hesitate. “I agree, a hard-earned pass.”

  “I think I would vote a fail, but I can see I am outnumbered already,” Kastytis said. “Neither Zaria nor Felix really met the requirements.”

  “What?!” Ulric exclaimed.

  “Zaria’s challenge was to hit either warrior with a water bolt. Technically she hit neither with a water bolt, despite an impressive display. Similarly, Felix was knocked out, and his victory in his fight with me was gained through Solomon’s actions.” Kastytis explained. “Even if I were to leave the matter of Zaria’s results to Zaldimere, I am not sure that Felix is ready for this.”

  Ulric listened to this in silence, but Solomon spoke up. “Felix seemed to dominate in his fight against you, Kastytis. Are you sure this is not just pettiness on your side?”

  Kastytis laughed. “No, child, I am not trying to be petty. You set me up well for Felix’s fight. Felix just had to hammer me down. My concern is that real combat will not be very forgiving. Nor as staged.”

  “Alright,” Ulric said. “Your arguments make sense, Kastytis, but I think my decision stands. Try and make sure my son does not die.”

  “As you wish, my lord,” Kastytis said with a slight bow.

  “Zaria, Solomon,” Ulric said. “Go and prepare yourselves for this job. And remember, to lose on this adventure is to die. So, make sure you win. You leave at noon.”

  Ulric and Kastytis walked over to check on and wake Felix. Solomon and Zaria walked back to the halls and headed towards the living quarters. Zaria looked over at Solomon and pouted as she walked. “You know, you did not need to be so blasted victorious. Why did you not let me hit you?”

  “Why would I let you hit me?” Solomon said. “Sounds painful.”

  “It is a water bolt!” Zaria exclaimed.

  “Exactly, I would have been soaked through! And if I had let you win, what would have been the point of Lord Ulric’s game?” Solomon asked.

  “You just did not want to lose,” Zaria complained.

  Solomon laughed and said. “True, very true. But you had just destroyed Felix. I cannot have your opinion of yourself get too high and mighty, Zaria.”

  Zaria snorted back her laughter. She had indeed destroyed her older brother; he would be pretty hurt by the damage to his image. Turning back to the main keep’s bedrooms, she called out a parting remark. “Maybe next time, I will have your unconscious body at my disposal.”

  A chill ran up Solomon’s spine. Even if his Zaria was joking, it was a dreadful thought. Such a union, even if unwilling, would result in Solomon’s immediate and painful death. Even if Ulric was tempted to pass it off as harmless, the sweet lady Caroline would ensure Solomon died. While Solomon was their guest at Ulric’s discretion, he would not be considered a fit partner for a nobles’ daughter. As such, he would be regarded as the violator under the law regardless of whether he was a willing participant. And the punishment for violating a lady and potentially ruining her potential suitors would be death from one thousand cuts. Or just a simple beheading if the lord wished to be merciful.

  Solomon watched as Zaria jaunted up the stairwell. While attractive and cute, she was forever out of his reach, and he knew that her infatuation would pass one day. Turning, Solomon walked to his chambers.

  Pushing open the door to his chambers, he halted just as he had begun to enter his room. His room was a disaster, clothing everywhere, collected items and keepsakes tossed about. On his bed were his self-forged armour and weapons, including his newly made cloak. Cortana was in the middle of hurriedly cleaning up the mess when he entered.

  “Um, what?” A surprised and confused Solomon asked.

  Cortana giggled and said. “Sorry, master, I was told you would be going out for a battle, so I tried to get everything ready for you. You are just too good at hiding your things! I have been at this for over two hours this morning!”

  Solomon half-smiled, bemused. “So, you destroyed my room for me to prepare me for battle?”

  “Uhh, yes, I mean not really. I am cleaning it up! Geez.” Cortana pouted slightly as she returned items to where they belonged. “I think I got all your gear onto the top of your bed. I do not understand why you hide it all; what if you need it suddenly?”

  “Most of it is keyed magically, Cortana,” Solomon said wryly. “You missed the clothes that are kept within the bed sheets, by the way.”

  “What?! Arg!” Cortana exclaimed. “Well, you can gather those yourself!”

  Laughing, Solomon did so. Waving his hand, he applied a light telekinetic push to his door, closing it. Solomon then began to strip, letting his clothes fall to the floor. First, he grabbed his under armour wear, dark grey clothing that is velvety soft to the touch and helped prevent chaffing or clanking while wearing his armour. Solomon’s armour was primarily dark grey mesh chainmail and sections of soft black plate armour. The armour was designed to be silently fashionable and not draw every enemy's eyes to him as a target. The plate sections covered his most vulnerable parts, while the chainmail lightened the armour and allowed increased flexibility. It was also quite flattering and looked professional once it was worn. Solomon stepped into it backwards and clipped the chainmail's right side into the specially designed slots on the breastplate.

  Next, Solomon started to adorn his weapons. In practice, one of Solomon’s favourite strategies was to throw a dagger at an oncoming opponent. Solomon had incorporated sheaths for eighteen daggers into his armour to strengthen this tactic. Two additional blades were sheathed on his belt. He also carried three swords for general combat. Two would be sheathed at his hip, with the third strapped across his back. Generally, Solomon fought with a sword and a dagger against Felix. Still, he often preferred to dual-wield two swords or two daggers when in live combat.

  To accommodate so many daggers, horizontal sheaths were forged into the back of Solomon’s armour. This created a flexible plate armoured spine protecting his back. A hooded cloak was draped across his shoulders to conceal all this weaponry and help Solomon look more professional. The cape was long and nearly brushed against the ground. Like all his other armour, Solomon had also made his cloak. It was a recent addition to his collection – painstakingly made from ultra-fine mesh chainmail interwoven with cotton and silk. The cape was the same soft dark grey as the rest of his armour.

  Standing talk in his crafted armour, Solomon looked in the mirror. He was not usually a vain fellow, but he did think that he looked outstanding indeed.

  “You look like death walking,” Cortana said from across the room. She had halted her cleaning to watch him and see what his efforts in the castle forge had wrought.

  Solomon was forced to agree with her evaluation. He looked like an assassin or an experienced raider. He replied to Cortana. “Thanks, I guess.”

  “Be careful.” He warned Cortana as he drew his swords in a blurred, fluid motion. He swung the blades through the air before him and then slid them rapidly back into their sheaths. The swords felt like a natural extension of his arms, and his armour moulded to his movements. Solomon vaulted against the wall without warning, rolled across the ceiling, and landed silently behind Cortana.

  Whirling, Cortana said, “Impressive, my lord!”

  With a grin, Solomon walked around Cortana and left her with the mess she had made of his room.

  ... TODO (I'm new and definitely experimenting with formatting/display options, patience is appreciated!)