THE DRAGON MAGE: THE KNIGHT MAGE 2 Read online

  The Dragon Mage

  The Knight Mage 2

  CHAPTER 1

  “Whatever this is I don't want any part of it” John said as he saw his sister Sara sitting in his home. “Stand up and walk out the same way you came inside."

  “John we need to talk” Sara replied.

  “We have nothing to talk about, I don’t like you and I doubt that will change” John replied. “Why don’t you go spend time with that great idiot of yours and leave me alone."

  “Why are you being so mean to Dawn?” Sara asked as she placed her hands on her hips. “We have a chance to further our family’s legacy. All of our children can be noble.”

  “I don’t care about being a noble and neither will any of my hypothetical children, now get out” John said and pointed towards the door.

  “How do you know what your children would prefer?” Sara asked. “With Dawn you have the chance to become somebody important. You can forget about this Knight of Justice nonsense and become a respected lord.”

  “I am already respected” John replied. “And I did that myself, without help from anyone.”

  “John you are not respected; you are seen as a joke” Sara replied. “Someone who couldn’t make it as a mage so instead went to act like a big deal around the non-magical.”

  “And these people that do not respect me” John began. “Are any of them brave enough to say that to me in an arena? It was I who killed the Downey leadership running the battle and I who chased off the Downey dragon knights while the rest of you were shitting yourselves.”

  “Father killed more dragons than you did, you didn’t even kill one during that fight” Sara replied angrily.

  “And I saved father” John replied.

  “Well Rusty killed the Downey, you were just his mode of transport, like a horse” Sara replied.

  “And Rusty stayed unconscious for most of the battle and I saved his ass as well” John said. “All of these people who claim I am some kind of fraud, do you think any of them have the stones to meet me in battle? I slapped around that great oaf of yours like a spoiled child who was caught stealing the last piece of candy and everyone talks about how great he is. What about Gerald Morningstar? I completely embarrassed the twat and I have only gotten better since then. They all know that and they are scared.”

  “Why would they be scared of you?” Sara asked annoyed.

  “They are scared of me but that is not what I was talking about” John replied. “Being a mage is no longer as prestigious as it once was. People are looking towards the Knights as the new heroes and are questioning why do they need to pay as much taxes to keep mages living well off when Knights make hardly anything. Already they are not receiving all of the free items they once did.”

  “You are a mage” Sara said angrily. “There are good mages and bad mages, just like there are good and bad knights.”

  “You haven’t heard any stories about a misbehaving knight” John replied. “You mages are just angry that your time is passing, it won't be long before all of you will be getting paid roughly the same amount as the military in regards to rank and time served.”

  “And you are just eating all of this up aren’t you?” Sara asked. “John you are making things difficult for our parents. People have been calling for you to resign from the Knights, very powerful people.”

  “None of those powerful people would dare approach Jonathan the Lightning with any kind of threat” John laughed thinking about his father. “His scars from the last fight makes him look intimidating, that and he is not shy about blasting anyone who threatens him into paste. He was the Queen’s champion way before me and has the title Champion Emeritus. Only a handful of mages could claim to be better than mother is, she may not have father’s raw strength but she can refill her magic at a rate no one else can, only I am close to her. Mother and father can take care of themselves.”

  “What about me John” Sara said looking at him.

  “What about you?” John asked. “Whatever happens to you, as long as no one is trying to kill or defile you I could care less."

  “John I came here to tell you that you will be kicked off of the Knights of Justice” Sara replied. “Too many people are starting to talk about you like you are some kind of hero and many people don’t like you.”

  “I am a hero” John snapped. “A real one."

  “If you did not downplay your magic then maybe things would be okay” Sara replied. “But you don’t and you dismiss mages at any opportunity in front of common folk, just like all of the Knights of Justice do. Three different ways have been discussed to remove you from the Knights and mother or father cannot do anything to help you. When this information reaches father he will throw a fit but will soon see he cannot do anything about it."

  “How do you know information the Tower Mage does not?” John asked. “Mother must know about this already."

  “Of course she does John” Sara replied. “Mother knows how the world works, it is only you and father who live in a fantasy world. Mother is proud of everything you accomplished but does not want you throwing away your heritage. As the Queen’s Champion you are going to be given another responsibility, you are going to be her eyes, ears and strength within the military.”

  “That is the job of the Archmage” John replied.

  “The Archmage plans and gives advice on what happens to mages” Sara replied. “You will be embedded in the army in case they come across something they cannot defeat. You will lead a group of mages to kill off things like the dragons you have fought before. The other choices are already being implemented, most mages have more education than the people the prince threw at this Knight of Justice thing, they are in training to become just as knowledgeable in the law as you all are. They will challenge to become Knights themselves by making the case that they are smarter and avoiding all of that dumb stuff by just challenging current knights to acceptance by combat."

  “I’ll embarrass and hurt everyone of them” John replied.

  “Maybe, but you can’t take on every challenge” Sara replied.

  “I could and would” John replied. “I just slapped Rusty around, the rest I would legitimately hurt. I would make what happened to the Defiler seem like a tickle fight with a favored lover."

  “Doesn’t matter, they would just keep coming until they fight someone other than you” Sara replied.

  “Our Knight Commander would refuse them then” John laughed. “Part of the training eliminates those with questionable morals. That plan would never gain traction, even if it did, the first time a mage did something based on the standing of the accused instead of the law it would be a scandal. Not to mention the offender has to take on five other Knights in combat to the death. No mage wants to subject themselves to that.”

  “Well the last plan is very simple” Sara replied. “The ten most powerful or creative mages must teach at the Tower during their commitment to the kingdom. They will be groomed to take over as next Archmage and being a teacher instead of just a fighter is a great way to accomplish this. Can you guess who number ten out of that group is going to be? The great dragon slayer John Thunder. All of these things will happen, the army would take you out of the public eye and so would teaching. By having mages join the Knights it would take away the impression that mages are no longer in control of the kingdom. Of course none of this has to affect you in anyway. Lord Nettleton does not have a male heir and Dawn stands to gain much prestige. You could become the next Baron of Nettles, that title alone would force you to resign from the Knights. You could get the girl and add to your wealth.”

  “Me and Dawn are not working out” John replied.

  “I know you
are not working out because you are mistreating her” Sara replied. “She is feeling the same pressures we all are. All she wants you to do is choose her over some job.”

  “The Knights are not just some job” John replied. “Dawn wanted me to quit and gave me an ultimatum, she lost. Now if you are through pretending to be a big sister or someone who cares, the door is behind you. Now use it or I will throw you out of here.”

  “You wouldn’t dare” Sara replied. “I may not have mother’s limitless magical energy but it is more than anyone else you have come across.”

  “You also don’t have father’s strength” John replied. “I do.”

  “Your little shields don’t mean anything to me” Sara said angrily. “You are a fool if you do not think every mage worth anything hasn’t already come up with contingencies in case they have to fight you.”

  “You sound like that great oaf I had to slap around” John laughed.

  “That was before people started taking you serious” Sara replied.

  “Well then it looks like I do have respect” John laughed. “If all of you big and scary mages need to worry about me.”

  “John I can't stand out here and wait all day for you and your sister to stop fighting” came a voice from outside. John recognized the voice as Knight Samuel’s, Samuel had gained popularity by being a part of the group that helped scour the Downey influence from Kirby’s border towns and was arguably the second most famous Knight of Justice.

  “Sam come on in” John replied. “My parents’ other child was just leaving.”

  “Well she seems pissed that you are one of us” Samuel said as he walked through the door.

  “I am right here” Sara said gritting her teeth. “You will address me with respect.”

  “The hell I will” Samuel replied. “You don’t hold any special power over me and I have spent enough time around all of you mages to know you aren’t anyone special.”

  “Jealousy” Sara replied. “That is the problem with all of the Knights, they are jealous they are not mages.”

  “Sure” John laughed. “I am so jealous that I am not a mage, more like the other way around."

  “You know what I meant” Sara said angrily.

  “You should listen to your brother” Samuel replied. “The problem you have is that the people cannot connect to you. Why would a little girl or boy want to be a mage when they know it could never happen? You might as well dream about being the Queen of Kirby or something else not realistic. Knights are taken from the people; anyone could theoretically become a knight. Knights don’t look down on common folks the way you mages do, we help without acting like we are above everyone.”

  “Say what you mean” John replied. “We don’t have to act like total twats while we do a job.”

  “You said it, not me” Samuel replied. “But what I am saying is that you need a change of image if you want anywhere near your former glory. My thoughts about mages have changed a little, while we were cleaning out the border towns they proved to be more than capable in a fight and made everything easier. You are all still a stuck up lot but you pull your weight. It gets to me that only the Knights were given credit by the commoners and not the mages. It was a group effort on both sides and many of us walked away with scars from those battles, not all of them physical.”

  “We don’t need to change anything” Sara said eyeing Samuel.

  “Not even you believe that” Samuel replied. “Anyways John, the Knight Commander wants to talk to every Knight and Squire here immediately.”

  “Squires as well?” John asked.

  “Them especially, what he has to say affects them more than anyone” Samuel replied. “It seems your sister knows a lot about the Knights but things have changed.”

  “How so” Sara asked.

  “None of your business” John replied as he walked passed her. “Do we need to put on armor for this meeting Sam?”

  “Not yet” Samuel replied. “I have mine on because people expect to see me in it along with Sunlight whenever they see me outside of our compound.”

  “How is Sunlight doing?” John asked. “You are the only one riding an Akbal Tehe.”

  “Akhal-Teke” Samuel replied. “And that horse was given to me by Prince Jordan just like that giant beast you have. The prince told me he got it far away from someplace called Turksten or something. He really is a pretty horse, looks like freshly shined gold. Way more athletic than the Destrier you all ride and way less temperamental. His armor though is not as thick as the other horses, he just doesn’t have the strength to fight with it on. Sunlight is doing fine, he is a bit too playful for the other horses, some have already tried to attack him, especially that beast you have.”

  “Shadow is just Shadow” John replied. “He doesn’t like me too much either, my father though has him under control. And stop talking about my horse shining one.”

  “You cut that out right now or I am going to give you a fat lip” Samuel said angrily. “The prince has it in his mind that we need to be some larger than life heroes. I was little jealous when it was just you, now that it is me I want to go back to being Samuel.”

  “Oh no Shining Knight” John teased. “It is I, that should be jealous of you. With all of that aluminum powder and gold flake in your armor and sword you shine brighter than the sun. Who would look twice at me while I am standing next to such a massive man?”

  “Have your fun” Samuel replied. “If you were me you would appreciate your anonymity.”

  “What anonymity do I have?” John asked. “I have a giant solid black horse and a royal steel sword I have to pull out every time I talk to someone who has done wrong. I don’t even get to patrol anymore; I am only called out to fight known threats while the rest of you get to walk around all normal. Trust me, everyone notices me when I am out. Well maybe not if I am standing next to you.”

  “You get to work and go home” Samuel replied. “My life is filled with endless women throwing themselves at me which doesn’t sound bad until you realize that mage I am saddled with treats me like her own personal concubine. What is worse than that is that any small thing I do is greatly exaggerated. I would rather be the shadow than the sun.”

  “Well Prince Jordan loves his heroes” John replied. “I am sure whoever the next one is will be even more garish and memorable. All of my shiny stuff has been replaced by this dark metal, I look more like a storybook villain than a hero."

  “Well enough of all of this, let’s go” Samuel said.

  “John our conversation is not over” Sara said. “Dawn was forced into a corner by her parents, the Archmage, the Crown Prince and a bunch of other people. You need to make amends with her, she still loves you and now feels all alone.”

  “Whatever” John replied as he left. John hated to admit he missed Dawn, she had even stopped talking down on people and was pleasant to be around. The Knights of Justice liked her as well and thought she was real down to earth compared with the other nobles or mages they had met. John thought it didn’t seem like her when she came demanding he give up being a Knight. Dawn had loved the attention of being attached to him and the Knights, she even insisted on riding Shadow double half of the time when she wasn’t talking him into making a unicorn or a dragon appear for them to ride. Maybe he would eventually talk to her, it would at least get his mother off his back and Sara as well. John was just surprised Dawn wasn’t a surprise guest during the times he had dinner with his parents.

  “John when are you going to get a squire?” Samuel asked. “I know many people would be thrilled to squire for you.”

  “When are you going to get your own squire shining one?” John asked.

  “Don’t know but it has to be soon” Samuel replied. “This next class is almost finished and Knight Commander Steele wants the class after them to have many squires. I still don’t know anyone that could pass all of that stuff we went through.”

  “Well here we are” John said looking at the Knights of Justice headquar
ters. It already looked packed with the amount of people there. There were only thirty seven Knights of Justice not including the Knight Commander and it looked like at least twenty of them were there along with their squires.

  “Finally we have the two nancy boys join the rest of us” Thomas replied. “Were you both out getting your hair done?”

  “Sod off” Samuel replied. “We can trade anytime you wish.”

  “Oh no we can't” Thomas replied. “I don’t have your golden blond hair or your size. You have the look that everyone wants, I am happy being a faceless Knight. I get all of the prestige and none of the bullshit. Any of you know what this is all about?”

  “I do and you are not going to like it” Samuel replied. “But I will let the Knight Commander talk about it.”

  “Knights and Squires” Knight Commander Steele said loudly, hushing all other conversation. “I have grave news about our order. We have not even been official for an entire year and already there are those who wish to disband us. Effective immediately we are going to have to change some things to remain an order. The Crown Prince wants us disbanded or regulated by the Archmage as helpers for the magi instead of the way things are now. This of course was rejected, no one can deny the success we have had so far. But our Queen is old and we cannot afford to make an enemy of the Crown Prince, however he is still committed to destroying us, this time he is trying to do it from within.”

  “What is he doing?” Gilbert asked. John looked over at Gilbert and gave the man a smile. Gilbert came in last in the selection, he was smaller than the rest of them but the man didn’t know the meaning of the word quit. He worked harder than anyone to get his spot and trained even harder than John did day after day.

  “A number of things” Knight Commander Steele replied. “He wants to start paying you a lot more, that may not seem like a bad thing but it is. Right now each of you know you could leave to do other things that will make you a lot more money than a silver a month. You are all here because you want to be here, not for the money. More money would bring more people looking to get rich first and serve the kingdom later. Such men cannot be fully trusted, the low pay is one of the main reasons our attrition rates are so high, many men don’t think the job is worth the pay. The prince doesn’t know what training entails but wants mages to get an automatic selection into the Knights of Justice training process. Trust me when I say it was the lesser of four or five evils. Finally they are on a tear to get rid of Knight Thunder, at least Prince Jordan has already foreseen this and has taken steps to push another face forward to represent the Knights.”