Chapter One
Daniel I
Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop. It was the sound of water creeping its way underground, running through cracks and down walls and into the deepest darkest depths of Isseaos. Here in these cells sat Daniel Stonevien, a young fire mage, awaiting trial for inflicting near fatal wounds on Mako Endaure, son of Itro Endaure, Lord of Isseaos and Headmaster of the Isseaos Magical Academy. Chained at the ankles, with bindings around his hands, Daniel had been imprisoned alone for what seemed like an eternity. He could not remember how long he had been there, for he stopped keeping track after the first few days. He was no longer being brought food, but only the occasional flask of water seasoned with piss and saliva.
Yet it was not the hunger or the darkness that dominated his thoughts, but rather his curiosity about whether or not Mako was still alive. He had fully intended to kill him, but Tinʼat, hulking brute that he was, felt the need to restrain his friend. The damage done could have been sufficient to kill the boy, but still, Daniel preferred to finish the job himself. The finality of a lifeless body in his own two hands was the reassurance he desired.
Yet it was not the hunger or the darkness that dominated his thoughts, but rather his curiosity about whether or not Mako was still alive. He had fully intended to kill him, but Tinʼat, hulking brute that he was, felt the need to restrain his friend. The damage done could have been sufficient to kill the boy, but still, Daniel preferred to finish the job himself. The finality of a lifeless body in his own two hands was the reassurance he desired.
“Rise, boy!” said a voice as his cell opened.
“Is it time?” he asked. “Tell me, did I at least kill the bastard?”
“Shut your mouth!” the jailer yelled, jerking him to his feet. “I’ve orders to clean you up.”
“Clean me up? What, do they want me to die well dressed? Why don’t you undo these bindings on my wrists and I’ll just clean myself up?”
“Nice try, boy. We all know who you are, not that your magic will do you any good down here. High Mage Sissold himself has placed enchantments on these cells that make it so that mages like you ain’t a threat to nobody”
“Why not unbind me then? If I ain’t a threat to nobody?”
“Just move along,” said the jailer as he undid the chains on his ankles and began to pull him out of the cell. His feet were free and Daniel knew that was enough. He could kill this man right here and he could kill the other three guards at the end of the corridor. He’d have his bindings off and a sword in his hand before any more of them arrived. That was all he needed to get away. But where would he go and what would he do? He didn’t want freedom; he just wanted Mako dead. Why should these men die for him to be free? But on the other hand, why should he be imprisoned for giving a monster what he deserved?
“Is it time?” he asked. “Tell me, did I at least kill the bastard?”
“Shut your mouth!” the jailer yelled, jerking him to his feet. “I’ve orders to clean you up.”
“Clean me up? What, do they want me to die well dressed? Why don’t you undo these bindings on my wrists and I’ll just clean myself up?”
“Nice try, boy. We all know who you are, not that your magic will do you any good down here. High Mage Sissold himself has placed enchantments on these cells that make it so that mages like you ain’t a threat to nobody”
“Why not unbind me then? If I ain’t a threat to nobody?”
“Just move along,” said the jailer as he undid the chains on his ankles and began to pull him out of the cell. His feet were free and Daniel knew that was enough. He could kill this man right here and he could kill the other three guards at the end of the corridor. He’d have his bindings off and a sword in his hand before any more of them arrived. That was all he needed to get away. But where would he go and what would he do? He didn’t want freedom; he just wanted Mako dead. Why should these men die for him to be free? But on the other hand, why should he be imprisoned for giving a monster what he deserved?
As they came out from underneath the ground he created a small ember in the palm of his hand behind his back. He was able to use his magic again and his escort was merely two members of the Endaure household guard, which increased his confidence in his ability to escape. Still, Daniel’s curiosity was piqued, and he decided to see it through and find out what was going on. They led him to the office of the headmaster. It was likely that Itro wanted to see him privately; perhaps he realized that his son’s actions were not punished harshly enough or that if word of what Mako had done got out that it could ruin his family. Daniel was interested in the conversation he was to have with Itro, but when they opened the doors it was not Itro who sat in the chair of the headmaster. Instead, it was the broad shouldered Daerunt Danford, King of Ruinous.
“Your Majesty. What a surprise.”
“Sit, Daniel,” the king sternly commanded, as he sat there dressed in his fine blue and white tunic with a golden crown embroidered on his chest.
“Yes, my king,” Daniel said defiantly, rushing to a chair after they removed his bindings. It was then he was able to survey the room and noticed that they were not alone. To the right of the king he recognized the sleek grey haired Ser Dyard Graniteworth, commander of Daeruntʼs Royal Knights, but to his left was a complete stranger, from the look of him, someone who had seen better days. His face was bruised, his eye swollen, and the corner of his mouth still marred by a gash. In front of Daniel was a plate with two lamb chops and diced-up carrot.
“Sit, Daniel,” the king sternly commanded, as he sat there dressed in his fine blue and white tunic with a golden crown embroidered on his chest.
“Yes, my king,” Daniel said defiantly, rushing to a chair after they removed his bindings. It was then he was able to survey the room and noticed that they were not alone. To the right of the king he recognized the sleek grey haired Ser Dyard Graniteworth, commander of Daeruntʼs Royal Knights, but to his left was a complete stranger, from the look of him, someone who had seen better days. His face was bruised, his eye swollen, and the corner of his mouth still marred by a gash. In front of Daniel was a plate with two lamb chops and diced-up carrot.
“Eat!” the king commanded. “You look thin, boy. Have they been feeding you here?”
Daniel began to dig into his food, gorging on it as a wolf would a fresh kill. “You mean in my cell, or in general?” he quipped. “Because either way, the answer is not very well.”
Daerunt placed his palm to his forehead tussling his brown hair that mirrored Daniel’s. “Do you know why I’m here?”
“I don’t imagine you came all this way just to see me fed,” Daniel replied, with lamb falling out of his mouth.
“No, in fact I did not. Are you aware of the goings on in the capital? The Shadow Fox? Have you heard of them?”
“Some whispers here and there. They’re a bunch of bandits, right?”
“Not exactly. We thought that for some time, but now it appears that their intentions are beyond those of common criminals. They made an attempt on my life.”
Daniel spit his food back out onto his plate as he burst out laughing. “An attempt on your life? Do tell me how that went for them!”
Daerunt leaned in toward Daniel. “Not very well, but still, the audacity of it! Bandits do not simply decide they wish to assassinate kings. The activity of the Shadow Fox of late has crippled Stallworth. Trade in the city is down and many of my subjects fear to walk the streets at night. Most of my household guard, too. It has come to my awareness that the Shadow Fox’s goals are centered on attacking me. The assassin who made an attempt on my life let on that they are being financed from an outside source, contracted to destroy me and destroy my kingdom.”
“Well, Your Majesty, that’s very tragic and all, but I’m not quite sure what that has to do with me. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m in a bit of a situation here myself.”
“I am well aware of your situation, and I have taken the steps necessary to alleviate you.”
“Alleviate me? Let’s pretend for a second that I actually know what that means. Why are you doing it?”
“It means he’s going to pardon you for your crimes, you fool,” the old knight Dyard interrupted.
“And I’m doing so because I’m in need of your services.”
“And pray tell, what kind of services can I offer the great Daerunt Danford?” That snide remark was rewarded with a swift smack across the face from Dyard’s gauntlet. “Ow!” he cried, rubbing his head.
“Watch your tone, boy. You are in the presence of your king.”
“Oh, my king! My great and wonderful king! My king who seven years ago shipped me off to this hellhole and left me here to rot! Let me ask you something, Daerunt. Did you know? Did you know what this place was? Do you even?” Again he was met with another smack from Dyard. This one quieted the boy.
“Daniel, I am well aware of everything that takes place in my kingdom and I am also aware of its laws. You are a mage, and by law you must reside here and be educated.”
“Educated? What do I need any of this for? Philosophy, mathematics? I can barely count the nine fingers I have.”
“Ten,” Daerunt corrected.
Daniel began to dig into his food, gorging on it as a wolf would a fresh kill. “You mean in my cell, or in general?” he quipped. “Because either way, the answer is not very well.”
Daerunt placed his palm to his forehead tussling his brown hair that mirrored Daniel’s. “Do you know why I’m here?”
“I don’t imagine you came all this way just to see me fed,” Daniel replied, with lamb falling out of his mouth.
“No, in fact I did not. Are you aware of the goings on in the capital? The Shadow Fox? Have you heard of them?”
“Some whispers here and there. They’re a bunch of bandits, right?”
“Not exactly. We thought that for some time, but now it appears that their intentions are beyond those of common criminals. They made an attempt on my life.”
Daniel spit his food back out onto his plate as he burst out laughing. “An attempt on your life? Do tell me how that went for them!”
Daerunt leaned in toward Daniel. “Not very well, but still, the audacity of it! Bandits do not simply decide they wish to assassinate kings. The activity of the Shadow Fox of late has crippled Stallworth. Trade in the city is down and many of my subjects fear to walk the streets at night. Most of my household guard, too. It has come to my awareness that the Shadow Fox’s goals are centered on attacking me. The assassin who made an attempt on my life let on that they are being financed from an outside source, contracted to destroy me and destroy my kingdom.”
“Well, Your Majesty, that’s very tragic and all, but I’m not quite sure what that has to do with me. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m in a bit of a situation here myself.”
“I am well aware of your situation, and I have taken the steps necessary to alleviate you.”
“Alleviate me? Let’s pretend for a second that I actually know what that means. Why are you doing it?”
“It means he’s going to pardon you for your crimes, you fool,” the old knight Dyard interrupted.
“And I’m doing so because I’m in need of your services.”
“And pray tell, what kind of services can I offer the great Daerunt Danford?” That snide remark was rewarded with a swift smack across the face from Dyard’s gauntlet. “Ow!” he cried, rubbing his head.
“Watch your tone, boy. You are in the presence of your king.”
“Oh, my king! My great and wonderful king! My king who seven years ago shipped me off to this hellhole and left me here to rot! Let me ask you something, Daerunt. Did you know? Did you know what this place was? Do you even?” Again he was met with another smack from Dyard. This one quieted the boy.
“Daniel, I am well aware of everything that takes place in my kingdom and I am also aware of its laws. You are a mage, and by law you must reside here and be educated.”
“Educated? What do I need any of this for? Philosophy, mathematics? I can barely count the nine fingers I have.”
“Ten,” Daerunt corrected.
“See? Exactly why I should never have been sent here. Seven years being treated like pure garbage and now you want my help. Fuck you!” Dyard’s hand came swiftly crashing down upon him again, but this time Daniel caught it with his own. “Touch me again, old man. Go on, touch me.”
“Dyard, at ease!” Daerunt commanded, and then turned to Daniel. “I know you may be upset with me, but I gave you a life, and an opportunity to make something of yourself.”
“You gave me nothing and you left me in the hands of filth. Do you know what that filth’s son did?”
“As I said, I am aware of the situation. What did or did not transpire—”
“Smaller words, please.”
Daerunt sighed. “What did or did not happen is not important. The fact is that you are a guest in the House of Endaure and you attacked your host’s son. Itro has called for your head, and if not for my arrival here he likely would have it by now. Lucky for you, I have made arrangements.”
“What kind of arrangements?”
“A common boy will be executed in your place. As far as anyone will know, Daniel Stonevien will die. You will in reality be infiltrating this Shadow Fox. Our friend Keath here will aid you to do so, and explain further.”
“Why should I? Why trust you again?”
“It is likely that the contractor dealing with the Shadow Fox is one of my own lords. When you uncover who the guilty party is, you will be rewarded with their lands, castle, and titles. You will be a lord, and mage or not, you will be free to serve me as you wish.”
“Dyard, at ease!” Daerunt commanded, and then turned to Daniel. “I know you may be upset with me, but I gave you a life, and an opportunity to make something of yourself.”
“You gave me nothing and you left me in the hands of filth. Do you know what that filth’s son did?”
“As I said, I am aware of the situation. What did or did not transpire—”
“Smaller words, please.”
Daerunt sighed. “What did or did not happen is not important. The fact is that you are a guest in the House of Endaure and you attacked your host’s son. Itro has called for your head, and if not for my arrival here he likely would have it by now. Lucky for you, I have made arrangements.”
“What kind of arrangements?”
“A common boy will be executed in your place. As far as anyone will know, Daniel Stonevien will die. You will in reality be infiltrating this Shadow Fox. Our friend Keath here will aid you to do so, and explain further.”
“Why should I? Why trust you again?”
“It is likely that the contractor dealing with the Shadow Fox is one of my own lords. When you uncover who the guilty party is, you will be rewarded with their lands, castle, and titles. You will be a lord, and mage or not, you will be free to serve me as you wish.”
If Daniel were a lord, things could be different. He’d have an army and he could wipe the damned Endaures off the face off Ruinous. But faking his death? What about the boy who would be executed in his stead? He wanted to ask if this boy was even guilty of a crime punishable by death but he knew it didn’t matter to Daerunt. The king never really showed much an interest the common folk. What about his friends, Tin’at and Keliea? It would only be for a little while, though; once he was a lord he could save them too. Keliea’s father might even join forces with him. Even Daerunt wouldn't be able to stop him because he would owe Daniel for his work.
“Fine. I’ll help you, but I really want to be made a lord and given an army, no false promises. And when I come to power I am going to change things in your kingdom and you are going to help me. No more, no more of what’s going on here. The exploitation has to stop.”
“Hefty demands.”
“Meet them or you can infiltrate the Shadow Fox by yourself. But I think we know what you’re going to do. Obviously you came to me for a reason.”
“Very clever, Daniel. Find my traitor and yes, we will change the world. I promise you.”
“Don’t. Your promises are worthless to me. Just do it.”
“If any other man talked to me that way, he’d never talk again.”
“But I am not any other man, and you already owe me.”
“Fair. Your request will be met.”
“Thank you. Mako? He lives?”
“Correct.”
“It’s a shame. I really wanted to kill him. I don’t suppose—”
“No.”
“I see. His time will come. I will kill him and you will not stop me.”
“You will find my traitor.”
“Yeah, yeah. I got it. Find your traitor.”
Daerunt rose and began to make for the door, along with Dyard. “Keath will guide you from here. Don’t let me down, Daniel.”
“When have I ever? Do me one more favor, though?”
“Yes?”
“Keliea, the Nyis girl. Can you arrange for her to return home? Please?”
“I cannot, but I have spoken with her already and with Itro. No harm will come to her. Our young light mage will continue her studies here.”
Daniel was not happy with the king’s response, but it could have been worse. Now his path would take him with Keath, a beaten and battered man. Now was his chance to truly escape.
“Fine. I’ll help you, but I really want to be made a lord and given an army, no false promises. And when I come to power I am going to change things in your kingdom and you are going to help me. No more, no more of what’s going on here. The exploitation has to stop.”
“Hefty demands.”
“Meet them or you can infiltrate the Shadow Fox by yourself. But I think we know what you’re going to do. Obviously you came to me for a reason.”
“Very clever, Daniel. Find my traitor and yes, we will change the world. I promise you.”
“Don’t. Your promises are worthless to me. Just do it.”
“If any other man talked to me that way, he’d never talk again.”
“But I am not any other man, and you already owe me.”
“Fair. Your request will be met.”
“Thank you. Mako? He lives?”
“Correct.”
“It’s a shame. I really wanted to kill him. I don’t suppose—”
“No.”
“I see. His time will come. I will kill him and you will not stop me.”
“You will find my traitor.”
“Yeah, yeah. I got it. Find your traitor.”
Daerunt rose and began to make for the door, along with Dyard. “Keath will guide you from here. Don’t let me down, Daniel.”
“When have I ever? Do me one more favor, though?”
“Yes?”
“Keliea, the Nyis girl. Can you arrange for her to return home? Please?”
“I cannot, but I have spoken with her already and with Itro. No harm will come to her. Our young light mage will continue her studies here.”
Daniel was not happy with the king’s response, but it could have been worse. Now his path would take him with Keath, a beaten and battered man. Now was his chance to truly escape.