Dread Mage

“Wake,” came the voice, and Inure startled awake in an unfamiliar bed, surrounded by strange and unfamiliar faces.

He bolted upright, instantly withdrawing his knife, ready to fight at a moment's notice.

A swift motion of a staff from the first man sent his knife spiraling out of his grip and into the hands of the staff-wielder.

"Dread Mage," Inure hissed.

"Easy, ‘friend’," Vell replied.

“Friend? You’re an enemy of state! How can you even utter such a word?"

“Enemy? Not anymore. In fact, I am an official ally,” the mage responded, unrolling a piece of parchment and pointing to a seal at the bottom. "Stamped with the official seal of King Aduaine."

Inure grabbed the document from Vell, scanning it quickly. "This can't be! It must be a forgery or some trick."

"Calm yourself," Languor advised. "You may find the next piece of news even more unsettling."

"What could be worse than this betrayal?" Inure's voice was laced with fury.

Vell shared a quick look with Languor before focusing back on Inure. "You are to train Sonder. As of now, you are no solider but a teacher," he announced.

Inure's anger turned to disbelief. "Train her? The Dread Mage's apprentice? You can't be serious."

"Very serious," Vell assured him. "King Aduaine has accepted my terms. In return for my protection over the city, Sonder will receive the best training available, and you, Inure, are the most skilled warrior."

Inure shook his head, his eyes filled with frustration. "Why would I agree to this? Why should I help you?"

"Your king ordered it.”

"There must be some error," Inure tried to reason. "You must have deceived the king or bewitched him. You've used your magic on him!"

"I may be many things, Inure, but I am not a liar," Vell lied.

Inure took a deep breath and sat back down on the bed.

"I need some time alone," he said.

"Take as long as you-" Vell began, but vanished into a cloud of smoke to the sound of a distant bell.

He rematerialized at the south gates, next to a bell-wielding soldier.

"That was sooner than expected," he remarked. "What's wrong? Are we under attack?"

"No, but we have another assignment to ensure the city's safety."

"I'm here now, anyway," Vell said, surveying the scene. "What's the plan?"

"We've been observing a group of Garrions for the past week."

"I see."

"We haven't been able to muster the necessary forces."

Vell considered the soldier's words. "I don't believe that's quite accurate."

"What do you suggest, Mage?"

"I suspect the king wishes to test my commitment, or perhaps you wish to leverage my abilities to clear the hideout, sparing your own men from danger."

"Regardless, they pose a serious threat to the city and its surrounding roads and those who travel on them."

"Very well and also understood," Vell replied, his voice steady. "I'll handle it."

As the mage prepared to depart, the soldier interjected.

"Don't you want to know their location, numbers, defenses, and so forth?"

“Huh? Sure, why not?”

The soldier hesitated, confused at the mage’s behavior. “We’ve only managed to send scouts near their hideout. They’re well-hidden in the ruins of an old fort in the south, and we believe they have at least two dozen, possibly more. They're well-armed and dangerous and seem to have a leader who organizes their attacks. I'll assemble a team to assist you, but if you're right, we'll need to act quickly.”

"No, I'll handle it alone."