Sorcerer from Another World

Well, that was quick.

I sighed, "Fine, but not right now. I have dozens of lives relying on me. I will not endanger them to satisfy your pride." I said coldly.

She nodded.

“Are you not going to ask for victory conditions?” The Druid asked with surprise.

I merely raised an eyebrow at him.

“I won’t lose so why should I bother?” The red cloaked woman said.

“You haven’t even introduced yourself to him!” The Druid said with exasperation.

“I am Làidir, Alba’s strongest warrior.”

“I’m not sure if your brother would agree with that claim.” The Druid whispered.

Làidir stared ahead into my eyes with steadfast determination. Unfettered by petty criticism or even my perspective. There was something admirable in her selfishness and authentic desire to fight.

I smiled, “If I lose I will give you a halberd far superior to that one. If I win, you can join my group. Fair?

“Fair.” She answered. "If you are travelling to Elkilbour then once we are there we duel.”

"Yes, we can duel."

She smiled and I admit; she made my heart flutter. It was probably fear. She started to walk away, her task seemingly done. Not a carer by any means then? But a tool to send to kill your enemies.

A warrior of the battlefield, but a piss poor guardian. Fair enough.

The Druid smiled at me with an overtly obvious desire to please.

“Hullo, my name is Tomlin. If I may be so bold to ask? Who are you robed stranger who merits a duel from Làidir upon first meeting.”

I shrugged, “I didn’t do anything.”

“Yes you didn’t, Sorcerer and yet here we are. You have a Druid at your side, and an acknowledgement of your power from Làidir. Pardon my curiosity, but I have never heard of a Damian of the Greys before. Are you perhaps a secret apprentice of Merlin?”

I shake my head, “I’ve never met the guy. I hear good things though.” I said casually. I don’t think a disney movie, and a few stray words while here counted for much as a biography of the guy.

“The Kings of Gelt will be happy to have a powerful sorcerer on their side, though and I may be overstepping myself when I say this…” He glanced to the side.

My eyes tensed, “Go on.”

“The Circle of Druids, of which I am a member, may not take kindly to a rival. I myself am grateful, but others behind the safety of stone walls may not share the same clarity as I do.”

“Well we’ll see. I slew Maradon the Unseelie Lord. Not sure a bunch of Druids will be a threat.”

“You did?” He squeaked.

“I did. Sadly, Galen Pendragon fell during the fighting at Ferisdarm as did most of his people. I’ve got to do better next time.”

He stared at me with blank eyes.

“I’m sorry to hear that. I have no doubt you did everything you could, but not everyone can be saved.”

“I did.” I patted his shoulder. It was nice to have my efforts recognised by someone who wasn’t there.

“What happened here?” I asked more to change the topic than out of genuine curiosity.

“Unseelie scum have been trying to find these caves for months. An Elf had been casting a disguise over our location.” The Druid smiled, but it seemed odd to my eye. “They met with an accident trying to stand between two enraged farmers. They passed away from their wounds and the Unseelie found our caves shortly after.”

“That was unfortunate and rather stupid.”

“These are desperate times, and a long time in the dark has twisted some minds I’m afraid. But our luck seems to have changed for the better now that you have saved us.”

“We can take you as far as Elkilbour as well.”

“How gracious.” The Druid beamed.

“As well as all the other refugees here.”

“Kind as well as powerful. I feel you have changed the game we had going on with your presence, Sorcerer Damian. Next you will be telling me Morgana Pendragon has returned from exile to challenge her brother for the throne of camelot.”

“About that…”

It was at that point Iris came up, “They are ready to head out. Can you make space?”

I smiled at her heartfelt concern, “Of course.”

Walking through the cave proved a little challenge for the injured. It was quicker to heal them and keep everyone moving on. I started to receive those same awed looks I did back at Ferisdarm.

Maybe my little cult will grow bigger. What a bother.

There were no warriors among the survivors, they were farming folk from all around some from the south and others closer by. There had been nearly a hundred in the cave slowly starving, now their number was less than thirty.

A sizable increase to those following us, if sad statement to how many of them had been slaughtered.

The barge was unwieldy to fly, and it was worse now that I had made it bigger. But it was my current answer to flying a bunch of people across the land. A magical hoverbarge.

We follow back along the river. Me, trying to control the even larger vehicle. Làidir never left my side, she stayed within arm’s reach and it was as awkward as it sounds.

“Impressive. Can you make a small one that can be ridden like a horse?” Làidir asked.

She wasn’t stupid then.

“Most likely.”

“You should.”

“Should I?” I countered.

“Yes. It would be most useful.”

I bit back saying - would it? She took bluntness to another level.

“Can’t you fly?” Samiya asked.

Làidir was flying right now. Also, I hadn’t seen the child approach. Iris who held her hand nodded in agreement with the question.

I winced internally seeing Samiya cling to Iris. The once confident child stuck to Iris like glue. It had only been hours since her parents passed. No doubt, her emotions will get worse before she gets better.

Làidir lowered herself.

“It takes effort and I am sure the Sorcerer can make a metal horse that goes even faster.”

I grunted in agreement, “I can.”

A crow with a rope around its neck fluttered overhead. It was one of a murder of crows feasting on the flesh cast by the wayside. They are as common as stray packs of Unseelie that we passed with minute regularity.

We zoomed past worse creatures. Horrors and wonders of flesh and magic. The marshy and hilly lands seemed to slow the Unseelie, the fantastical monsters and, sadly, any refugees down. Wildlife as well was scarce, and Iris had mentioned her worries about her nature had been disturbed with all the chaos.

Morgana touched my arm. Then…

Làidir pointed her halberd directly in front of Morgana.

“You dare touch him!” Làidir said with cold fury.

My eyebrows raised, I was more surprised than angry.

Morgana, however, was quicker to process the situation.

“I’ve done far more to him than touch his arm, you know?”

Morgana’s seductive smile said it all. I can’t tell if I was imagining it, but she seemed to meld closer to me as if the boundaries between us were being erased. Her clinging screamed our familiar intimacy more than words could that we were a couple (including Iris we were a poly or whatever word is used).

“He is not yours to play with, Witch.” Làidir turned her angry gaze to Iris after she spat those words. “Do not entertain any ideas either, Druid. You’re even weaker than the witch.”

I licked my lips. This was a new situation for me. Well newish. Ignoring the matter even slightly had led to Umbra and the evil eye. Jealous women are another increasingly pressing problem with this new life.

“Làidir, I am flattered. But…” I changed my mind. I was flattered. “Can you lower your weapon?”

I’m not sure if it was the sternness of my gaze or perhaps I was giving off puppy eyes, but Làidir lowered her Halberd.

“And I say this sincerely, that I will protect them against everything the world throws at them. That includes insults.” I said with my most professional call centre smile.

“So, that is your flaw.” She replied with the same stone-faced candidness that seemed to be her charm.

“Flaw?” I asked with more tension that I would like to admit.

“All great people have them.”

I smiled an easy grin, “Not sure, I am great. Just another person in a wide, wide world.” I said gesturing to earth and heavens above.

“It isn’t arrogance then, but women.” She shrugged and muttered something to herself. I heard the word, “Training.”

In context, I wished I hadn’t. I didn’t want to go through any ‘training’.

Morgana frowned, a hand resting at the hilt of her sword, “He is our partner, your rudeness can only go so far.”

How long is a piece of string? I have little doubt that this is the limit of Làidir’s frank speech.

“I am the strongest here. No one touches what is mine.” Làidir declared with confidence.

“Prove…”

“No.” I said rather forcefully. “We have many refugees here. Wait until we reach safety in Elkilbour before we pursue this any further.”

The three beautiful women do not agree or disagree with me.

Then I caught Umbra’s murderous gaze directed at Làidir. I felt the slumbering evil eye contracted before the charm enchantment repressed it.

What the fuck have I found myself in? Harem? Two devoted bi’s were enough to satisfy me. I’d let the situation get carried away by fucking Umbra as well. I also had Tulisa to play with on the side. I didn’t do anything to peak Làidir’s interest. I existed and now she was adding complication to my life.

Wow, is this what pretty people have to deal with? Not exactly the problems of poverty or depression, but what a pain. No wonder they whine about it in songs.

Iris watched on, silenced by Làidir’s earlier comment. Samiya hugged the bottom of Iris’ robes. The strain in her face showed she was clearly upset by all the arguing and drama.

No wonder, in a time where everyone is dying, our already precarious relationships just got hit by a storm Làidir.

I turned my thoughts to puzzling out Làidir motives. I came to the belief that she wanted to fight me because I was powerful. She recognized my power, but she treated everything else with little to no respect. Perhaps she felt like a human on a planet of apes. She found a man. That put her possessiveness into perspective. Well, a little.

Rebecca, the recent widow of Galen, and leader of the refugee’s from Ferisdarm came over.

She bore her grief as well as any can. Resolved in leading her people, the marks of loss though very recent, however were noticeable in the redness of her eyes and an ever present exhaustion.

“Our new arrivals are settling down, M’Lady Morgana. Thank you again, Sorcerer, your wonderful craft has saved more lives.”

“That is good to hear, Rebecca.” Morgana said.

I smiled at her and mouthed a thank you.

Rebecca, boldly, addressed Làidir, “Perhaps you would like to join the rest of our guests and let the Sorcerer focus on steering…”

“No, I would not.” Làidir said frankly.

Rebecca gave me a weak smile. I could almost hear her thoughts of ‘I tried.’

“It’s okay, you are doing good work here.” I said.

Rebecca bowed and took her leave.

Right after her another followed. Gainor of Yolin’s Hill and the leader of the cult about me. I say cult, but it was closer to being a proper religion than I would like to admit.

He kneeled in utter submission offering his neck to me. Seeing such an act in a movie was impressive, but having it happen to me was unnerving. It clashed with my views that we were unequals, however unequal my vast magical powers separated us.

It was that very power difference between us that made Gainor treat me as some kind of godly figure.

“Stand up.” I asked him, though it may have come across more as a command.

He rose. He glanced at Làidir and then back at me. His smile was far too knowing for my liking. He seemed to notice my displeasure and smoothed his expression.

“Your glorious work continues.”

I looked over to the refugees.

“Yes, I suppose saving lives is glorious work.”

The man cried at hearing my words and I was rendered speechless by the depths of his feelings.

“We follow your will, Saviour.” He said.

“Keep safe.” I said as a goodbye.

He bowed, “Your wish is our vow.” and then returned to the others. They chatted excitedly amongst themselves.

Well, they seemed happy enough.

“Master!” Tulisa said with high-pitched excitement.

My maid glued herself to my side. Lovingly-looking at me, she seemed almost apologetic for her desire to keep close.

Eye-catching long hair like a seam of gold and rowan-berry lips, the chubby, blue-eyed woman wore a lapis lazuli shaded peasant dress at an age circling thirty. Yes, I’m one lucky sorcerer.

“Master Sorcerer.” Byrette said with a formal, polite tone. The younger dark-eyed, brunette mostly aided Morgana in all things from public affairs to good private fucking.

“Any trouble down there?” Tara, my oathsworn guardian asked. Her steel-eyed stare levelled on me, my eyes flickered to her distinctive small vertical scar above her lip and back to her eyes again.

Bombards from ship decks have been less intense than the three women’s attention suddenly placed on me. I gulped, the barge wobbled, and I focused.

“Nothing, Iris couldn’t handle. I did have a bit of trouble…” I explained my strange encounter with the undead that had a giant’s strength.

“It was stupid of me to leave you unguarded. I’ve failed you.”

I placed a hand on Tara’s shoulder, to the pine of Tulisa, “I owe you my life. Really, everything was fine.”

She sulked, a little playfully but with sincere distress.

“Next time, I promise not to go without you.”

She held out a weathered hand, “Promise.”

I took her hand, “Promise.”

That seemed to satisfy the asexual warrior.

Sensing a disturbance in the (universe?) I side-eyed glance at Iris. A sinking sensation tightened in my stomach. She looked pissed. I gulped as she leaned in close.

“I never should have said it.” Iris complained into my ear.

Làidir, still within arm’s reach, frowned at my lover’s intimacy. My hand shook from fear. Iris was already annoyed, and I was quickly coming to the understanding that I also didn’t want to frustrate Làidir.

I was caught between anguish by fire or torture by stabbing. I took a breath trying to give myself time to unstick my thinking and say something that would resolve the situation. Words floated to the fore of my mind.

Tulisa who was closer than arm’s reach let out a near silent whine like a mistreated puppy. Red alarms ringing in my head, I acted with great fear.

I whispered into Iris’ ear in turn.

“Said what?”

“Follow that girl!”

“Hmm…we’ll see.” I said with zero sense of commitment to either side. Choosing a side took bravery. Facing Làidir on one side and Morgana and Iris on the other. Tulisa was there somewhere. Well, they make me into a coward.

In time, I was sure I would work something out. Hopefully.