a great deal of his own blood and
nearly sacrificed himself as well.”
“ Where
is he now?”
“ Byrn
was imprisoned in Baj and is awaiting your judgment,” Sane told him, “Given
what occurred and the number of witnesses there was little else that could have
been done at the time. He was tended to by a healer until his life was no
longer in danger, but he has yet to awaken...”
King
Kale eyed the sorcerer shrewdly, “You look like you have more to say. I assume
you have a recommendation on the boy's fate.”
“ He
is young and inexperienced. Brash perhaps, but Kellen told me that Byrn fought
bravely in the assault on Colum. He cost some lives, but he probably saved
more. I dragged him into this conflict and those deaths could be laid just as
easily at my feet as they are at his. I would still like to take him as my
apprentice. He has great potential and could be a valuable ally to the kingdom
with the proper guidance and training.”
Kale
weighed his decision for what felt like a much longer time than it really was.
After being the king's adviser for years, Sane could usually guess where the
king would land on any given dispute, but this time the sorcerer was unsure.
Eventually
King Kale came to a conclusion, “He has been exposed as a magician and killed
several people. The people of Colum want his head... and you want him freed.
Sane, your judgment is held in my highest regard and for that reason Byrn
Lightfoot will live.
“ You
may apprentice this young man, but he is a danger to others and to himself if
anyone from Colum should recognize him. He will stay in Baj for a minimum of
eight years. One year for each person he killed. During that time you can visit
and train him.
“ Once
the eight years have passed and you are convinced that he is no longer a
danger, then I will meet him and determine his ultimate fate at that time.”
It
was not exactly what Sane had hoped for, but it could have been worse. A public
display of magic resulting in so much loss of life could have been a death
sentence.
“ Thank
you, your majesty.”
Chapter
14
When
Byrn opened his eyes he found that he was lying in a serene garden. The sun
felt warm on his face, almost comforting him, as if the gentle heat was telling
him that all was once again right with the world. There were no ogres here. He
did not have to fear being hunted or fear being taken from his home and forced
into a life that was so foreign to him that he was not sure if he even wanted
it no matter what power or privilege some old man promised him.
Flowers
of myriad colors, some he recognized most he did not, decorated the gardens
painting the landscape in bright reds and yellows perfectly contrasted by deep
blues and purples. This place was calm. It was a place of peace. It was truly
magical.
Magical...
The word suddenly made him uneasy which was an even more unsettling feeling to
think that he could feel uneasy in this wondrous place.
“ Get
off of the flowers,” a decidedly firm, but feminine voice commanded from behind
him.
Turning
to see who was there Byrn found himself face-to-shins with easily the most
beautiful knees he had ever seen in his short existence. His gaze shifted
upward to reveal a woman wearing a short flowing dress of pure white that cut
off just below her thighs. The dress was soft and frilly. Two straps held its
top in place with lightly frilled edges instead of short or puffy sleeves as
was more traditional. Her hair was a shining gold going past her shoulders and
down her back framing her face perfectly, which in and of itself was also
without imperfection. Staring at her face, the young man absently thought that
her delicate features brought her rather lovely knees to shame. The only thing
he found wrong with her was the fact that she was scowling at him and even then
he found it a terribly lovely scowl.
The
desire to please her was overwhelming and he quickly found himself up and off
of the flowerbed
nearly sacrificed himself as well.”
“ Where
is he now?”
“ Byrn
was imprisoned in Baj and is awaiting your judgment,” Sane told him, “Given
what occurred and the number of witnesses there was little else that could have
been done at the time. He was tended to by a healer until his life was no
longer in danger, but he has yet to awaken...”
King
Kale eyed the sorcerer shrewdly, “You look like you have more to say. I assume
you have a recommendation on the boy's fate.”
“ He
is young and inexperienced. Brash perhaps, but Kellen told me that Byrn fought
bravely in the assault on Colum. He cost some lives, but he probably saved
more. I dragged him into this conflict and those deaths could be laid just as
easily at my feet as they are at his. I would still like to take him as my
apprentice. He has great potential and could be a valuable ally to the kingdom
with the proper guidance and training.”
Kale
weighed his decision for what felt like a much longer time than it really was.
After being the king's adviser for years, Sane could usually guess where the
king would land on any given dispute, but this time the sorcerer was unsure.
Eventually
King Kale came to a conclusion, “He has been exposed as a magician and killed
several people. The people of Colum want his head... and you want him freed.
Sane, your judgment is held in my highest regard and for that reason Byrn
Lightfoot will live.
“ You
may apprentice this young man, but he is a danger to others and to himself if
anyone from Colum should recognize him. He will stay in Baj for a minimum of
eight years. One year for each person he killed. During that time you can visit
and train him.
“ Once
the eight years have passed and you are convinced that he is no longer a
danger, then I will meet him and determine his ultimate fate at that time.”
It
was not exactly what Sane had hoped for, but it could have been worse. A public
display of magic resulting in so much loss of life could have been a death
sentence.
“ Thank
you, your majesty.”
Chapter
14
When
Byrn opened his eyes he found that he was lying in a serene garden. The sun
felt warm on his face, almost comforting him, as if the gentle heat was telling
him that all was once again right with the world. There were no ogres here. He
did not have to fear being hunted or fear being taken from his home and forced
into a life that was so foreign to him that he was not sure if he even wanted
it no matter what power or privilege some old man promised him.
Flowers
of myriad colors, some he recognized most he did not, decorated the gardens
painting the landscape in bright reds and yellows perfectly contrasted by deep
blues and purples. This place was calm. It was a place of peace. It was truly
magical.
Magical...
The word suddenly made him uneasy which was an even more unsettling feeling to
think that he could feel uneasy in this wondrous place.
“ Get
off of the flowers,” a decidedly firm, but feminine voice commanded from behind
him.
Turning
to see who was there Byrn found himself face-to-shins with easily the most
beautiful knees he had ever seen in his short existence. His gaze shifted
upward to reveal a woman wearing a short flowing dress of pure white that cut
off just below her thighs. The dress was soft and frilly. Two straps held its
top in place with lightly frilled edges instead of short or puffy sleeves as
was more traditional. Her hair was a shining gold going past her shoulders and
down her back framing her face perfectly, which in and of itself was also
without imperfection. Staring at her face, the young man absently thought that
her delicate features brought her rather lovely knees to shame. The only thing
he found wrong with her was the fact that she was scowling at him and even then
he found it a terribly lovely scowl.
The
desire to please her was overwhelming and he quickly found himself up and off
of the flowerbed
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