Newblood - A fantasy novel for NaNoWriMo 2018; CHAPTER- 10: Resistance

Autumn- Winter, Year 21 of Koram

From the information he had gathered over the years the Lord Pilem Darkson, the governor of Ashvale, was not an administrator but an old and cranky warrior, now beset with gout. All the local affairs were taken care of by his son Riker and his second in command Commander Hardy Sharver an old but diligent man. Riker had a roving eye for women of all age and a liking very young boys and commander Hardy was pleased to feed that vice and make money on the side. This attitude filtered down to the garrison officers also.

Like Shamarank, Ashvale was a divided community. All the affluent people were Elven or mixblood and the humans lived in shanties and ghettos. There were very few elven families in Ashvale and the mixblood families here were tolerated more than elsewhere. Ashvale being hilly country, winter meant rangers. Rangers to fend off animals from attacking the live stock and destroying property. Animals which came to these hills for the winter were wild dogs, wolf packs, lynx tribes and great boars. Pinnet, as Loran Minder, was one such ranger recruited by Riker's men- he had paid a bribe of course and "gifted" spiced wine to the garrison.

Loran was soon nicked name "Fleet" a typical military joke highlighting his limp. The duty was light and pay was good, which Loran made a point of sharing at the local pub with his superiors and Riker's house servants. From one of the servants he came to know about Jemain Grelshae the healer who stayed at the Governor House. The servant had mumbled in his drunkenness how commander Hardy was more afraid of Jemain than of Riker. Loran could not inquire directly but he paid a young maid servant to update him on Jemain's activities, as far as the maid was concerned, this was done on behalf of master Riker- elven politics. After ten days in service Loran arranged the troop leader to have an accident and break his arm, naturally the friendly Loran was selected temporary troop leader. That day he also got the information that Jemain had received papers from Harden, brought by Valor Highmeadow's own valet. This confirmed his opinion that the healer was reporting to other Elven lords.

As troop leader Loran could move freely around Ashvale.He began to look and listen for people angry at the Elven rule. Soon he found out about Riker's night raids. Once in every ten days or so Riker would send his men to fetch a particular lady which he would have previously noticed- in the garrison or the governor house or the market square. When he was finished raping and beating her he would send her back with a sliver coin. Sometimes he would send for the same woman three or four times, no woman had lived for more than five sessions. If they refused or fled Ashvale Riker's men would chase and kill all the family and get the woman back.

One such victim was the miller's wife. She had been called twice. Her ribs were bruised and her left arm was lacerated and there was a curious burn near her right eye. Loran called on the miller and his wife, they had a ten year old son and they were miserable. Loran told them of his plan and convinced the wife hat she would die even if she did not act, maybe ten days later. She had to drug Riker- just rubbing the powder on lips was enough- and let Loran into the room by opening the window and fastening the rope he would throw.

After a few nights when the opportunity came Loran was ready. He had managed to steal commander Hardy's personal dagger and he had forged a letter from the Governor of Harden warning that commander Hardy was going to assassinate Lord Pilem Darkson. When Loran climbed up the rope into Riker's room, he instructed the woman to leave and ask the guards that Riker had ordered more food and wine. Soon the servant came bearing wine and finding Riker asleep kept the wine and left. While one guard had gone to call for wine, Loran had slipped out of the room after killing Riker by plunging the commander's dagger in his heart and covering it up with bed covers. Then he killed the lone guard and carrying him, made his way to Jemain's quarters and slipped the seal on One of Myanse's bombs planting it at the door of the healer's rooms. Laying down the guard a little away with the forged letter clutched in his hands. Arranging it that the dead man's feet would be blown away but the rest of him would not be damaged much.

When the bomb exploded Loran had made his way back to Riker's room. He quickly climbed out taking the rope with him. The climb down was precarious but manageable, the last twelve feet drop was the worst of it. He headed for the garrison where the soldiers were already marching for the governor house. At the gate house Loran saluted the guards and entered as if to talk. Loran killed them and changed his clothed and shoes with one soldier. Pinnet planted the second bomb and rode away as Loran 'died' in the explosion.

On the main road outside Ashvale, the millers family were waiting for Pinnet. The miller, his wife, their ten year old son and nineteen year old niece. Pinnet headed with them into the forest. They would avoid main roads for two days and make for the main road via farmlands. Winterfest was twenty two days away and Pinnet had a lot to do.

Myanse pushed Mahon hard and Mahon till now was upto the challenge. The basic exercises which an apprentice mage practices for two hours every day Mahon did for four hours. Then he learnt the how to reach out to living things, not only sense them but affect them. In the evenings he taught Mahon shielding, so that no one could sense his magic unless he used it to attack. After ten days Myanse noticed that Mahon's power was not increasing with his skill, when the latent power should have bloomed. He was sure Mahon's magic was powerful but it was not being released. Somehow Mahon's magic was blocked.

Even simple tasks of levitating or creating a light or growing plants and ripening fruit or shaping wood or moving fast were difficult for Mahon. Only creating fire came easily to him. Myanse could not pin point the reason for this but he was sure that a new approach would be required. He called Mahon and told him plainly that the normal methods were not working. Mahon replied that they were, he felt more powerful and he could feel the flow of magic and sense Myanse from far. Myanse replied. "With your power we should have accomplished ten times this much." Saying this he jabbed mentally at Mahon.

Mahon staggered under the attack and dizzily fell to the ground. Myanse continued. "This is a basic attack and I did not use more than a fraction of my power."

Mahon bowed in acquiescence and asked. "Master is there a solution?"

"I am not sure. I have read about this method in ancient scrolls. But it is very risky."

Mahon replied. "There is too much to lose, if I can not even defend myself. Master, I am willing to try it."

After two days Myanse took Mahon to new cavern. There was a square hole in the floor three feet across. "This is a stone room accessible only by this opening ." Myanse pointed at the hole. "It is fourteen feet wide and fourteen feet long and fourteen feet deep. A trickle of stream water flows in from a corner and a small one inch wide hole for air to enter. You will get in and I will seal the opening. If in three days you cannot climb out, your magic can not be harnessed. There is a chance you may die inside due to suffocation as air circulation is very limited. Keep in mind that survival is not your goal, it is escape."

Mahon was very afraid but he replied. "I am ready master."

Without ceremony Myanse lifted him and let him down inside the chamber and sealed it.