He moved forward with a flurry of quick jabs. Damage wasn’t his intention, not yet at least. This was about poking and prodding. He was testing his foe’s guard. Looking for weaknesses, timing his movements, and getting a sense of his responses.

  At least that was what Jackson had intended, but Michael sloppily blocked a blow high and pulled his arm up out of the defense. Jackson couldn’t help himself. The opening in the ribs cried out to him. A quick pivot of his feet smoothly transitioned into a twisting of his hips, and his rear hand shot forward with the speed of a striking serpent.

  The blow impacted completely exposed ribs with an immediate cracking sound. The way that Michael had raised his arm to block left his midsection expanded. He hadn’t been able to tense in response to a blow that he never saw coming. Jackson could tell by the way that he crumpled over that he hadn’t even been expecting it.

  It wasn’t even fair. To borrow one of the lame expressions from back on Earth, Jackson needed to register his hands as lethal weapons. With his skill boosts, class advantages, and the bonus from his gloves, Jackson’s fist hit more like a mace than a hand.

  Then as he saw Michael laid out before him on the ground, gasping for air, unable to draw a breath because of the crushed ribs, his anger fled from him. Michael was not his foe. Michael was too far below him to be his foe. Michael was a test of his character, one that he had prevailed in by not giving in to the desire for revenge over the past months.

  The test had continued when Jackson didn’t follow up that punch with the knee to the face that he instinctively wanted to throw. It had almost happened before he caught himself, but he had just managed. Michael had first been a test of whether he would give in to anger, then he had been a test of if he would show restraint.

  Now Michael was a test of his humanity. Jackson might not be able to forgive Michael, at least not fully, nor could he allow the boy to die on the ground when he had the power to save him. Master Meyer had already poured a healing potion down his lips. Jackson now added his own healing spell to the mix.

  They all looked on as he tried his spell out. There had been precious little opportunity to try it out, but now it was needed. Still, that wasn’t enough. Another potion couldn’t be used right away. They had diminishing returns when used like that. Malten had been sent running for a healer, but it didn’t seem likely one would arrive in time.

  Jackson realized he needed to try out a spell he had yet to test. He had envisioned using it with Tabor or another friend in battle, someone he trusted, essentially anyone but Michael. Still, it was the only real option that the boy had right now. So Jackson began casting Lesser Companion Life Link.

  As the spell settled onto them, Jackson’s health pool and Michael’s depleted one merged and their very lives joined. Neither could die while the other was alive. Jackson didn’t feel any pain in his side. He actually didn’t feel any pain at all, even though when he looked at his character sheet, his 1040 health had dropped down to 670.

  He could only assume there must be some kind of internal bleeding for Michael to be losing health that quickly. Sure enough, it looked like every tick, he was losing another six health. That was only Jackson’s half, so whatever injury debuff was present was costing twelve health every six seconds.

  Suddenly a moment of true fear came over Jackson. It had not occurred to him that casting this spell in an attempt to stabilize Michael could kill him in just over eleven minutes. The test of his character went deeper than he had anticipated. He didn’t know if he could end the spell and stop the health sharing. He didn’t know how long he could wait until trying.

  Jackson asked himself if it would make him a coward to simply end the spell? Would it be bad if he waited till the last minute? Or should he try now to be sure that it worked?

  The questions raced through his head, and still he clenched his fist, trying to decide what to do. After a little more than five minutes, Priestess Fischer came running in. She took one look at the situation and then cast a joint Lesser Regeneration on both of the boys. Jackson didn’t know if it was a magic item like his mom had or just some skill she possessed, which allowed her to cast the spell on both of them simultaneously, but he honestly didn’t care.

  For the first time in these tense moments, his health total was moving upward. The internal injury was still there, but the regeneration rate was more than keeping up with the damage. Then he watched her go to work. He had seen his mom in Eris’ Rise, and Priestess Fischer was not as good as her, but she couldn’t be that far off.

  She managed to straighten the broken ribs. Michael’s cries were probably heard all the way to the palace. Slowly, with a series of spells and an odd green potion, she finally got Michael restored to full health.

  Jackson ended his spell at that point as Priestess Fischer turned to him. “That was a very dangerous spell to use. It was brave and likely the only reason that this boy is alive, but it was still dangerous. I hope that you learned something today. I hope you all learned something,” she said as she turned her eyes to all the boys but let them settle on Master Meyer.

  He responded, “Thank you very much for your aid. Now we will have to leave for our mission.”

  “Oh, no, Master Tornstadt isn’t going anywhere. Broken bones can be funny things even after being healed,” Priestess Fischer said.

  Master Meyer seemed perplexed at that moment until Captain Aremay said, “Let him stay. Even his friend should stay with him. It has all probably been a shock, but you have me and Captain Smart to replace them. Surely you consider us suitable replacements for two academy students.”

  “Very well, but I need all of you to meet at the stables. We can’t be delayed by this. The caravan for Rostock moves out in little more than an hour.”

  The students nodded and yes-sirred their instructor before moving to pick up their bags. Gregor allowed Michael to lean on him as they followed the healer to the infirmary. Max came up to Jackson. “That was amazing. You have really come a long way. I expect your father is very proud of you.”

  Still uncertain inside, Jackson asked Max, “Did I lose control there?”

  “Look, it is obvious that there was something between you and him, but I don’t know what that was, nor am I your judge. You dropped him like a toilet seat, Jackson. Remind me to watch out for you. Was that a punch or a jackhammer?” Max teased Jackson.

  “Jack, what? Is that a play on the lad’s name?” Captain Aremay asked.

  Max and Jackson looked at each other. They both struggled to control the smile one gets when someone is asking about an inside joke that you are sharing with a friend. Then both realized that this inside joke would cause more harm than good. Max said, “Something like that.”

  The captain stared at them both for a moment before he said, “I know you didn’t ask my opinion, but please don’t consider me too much of a boor for sharing it. You struck decisively and ended the conflict in the quickest way possible. That is laudable.”

  “But how can I be a man of peace, a man who will make the world around me a better place? I know that is what my parents expect of me.”

  “I can’t speak to your parents and certainly would never advise you to go against their wishes, but the simple fact is you can only be a man of peace if you have strength and choose to restrain its use,” Captain Aremay said, and Jackson listened closely. He finished with, “I think that you shall bear closer watching, Master Nelson. I shall see you soon.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Challenges show character as overturning a fallen log reveals all kinds of things, both lush soil ripe for planting and growth, but equally one can find bugs scurrying to escape being exposed. So too the challenge reveals either a man who can grow or and even nurture those around him, or a man who like vermin hides from the light of day.”—Sun elf proverb

  Rostock—Jackson Nelson

  True to his word, Jackson ran into Captain Aremay as they were organizing inside the academy grounds between the stables and the gate. Jackson was standing next to his horse, not far from Malten. Master Meyer was busy consulting with a pair of sergeants who were organizing the guards who could be spared for this mission. Apparently various household guards were being stripped as well as the academy guard for this mission.

  A total of forty soldiers were assembled here along with Master Meyer, two students, and when Captain Smart appeared, he took charge of the entire force. Leyna followed him around, taking down his instructions and making notes. It was when he was lost staring at Leyna that Captain Aremay suddenly appeared next to him. “She’s not for you. She’d eat you alive.”

  “What, I wasn’t…” Jackson began.

  “Don’t worry, she has that effect on all men. I’m not sure how much of it is magic and how much is that she is just so hot,” Aremay said.

  Jackson turned and looked at him. “Sounds like you are the one interested in her.”

  “Oh, she is interesting, in the same way that a deadly viper is interesting. Beautiful colors, a strange enticing way of moving, yet so very poisonous,” the griffon rider replied.

  “It’s okay if you like her. I’ve met her. I can introduce you,” Jackson said.

  “Boy, I’m not your friend to tease about girls, and I’m deadly serious. She is dangerous, and you shouldn’t get too close to her. There are three kinds of women. The most common is the woman who is a victory to be won. She is there to be conquered, but it doesn’t mean anything. You may end up married to her, and you may even come to love her in a way, much as you may come to love a good hunting dog.”

  Jackson started to protest, “Not sure my parents would want me to think of girls like that.”

  Aremay said, “No, this may not be the way your father would speak to you, but it doesn’t make it less true. Learn for yourself but listen to those with more experience.” He stopped speaking until Jackson nodded, and then continued, “The second type, which is far more rare, is the one who is a treasure. She is sought after. You chase her. She makes you into a better man, and if you end up winning her, it is because you are soul mates.”

  “That sounds like the way my dad speaks about Mom.”

  “Then he is a lucky man,” Aremay said.

  “He would say that she is his greatest blessing and his greatest challenge.”

  “That matches with the limited rumors we have of the first Chosen to appear in more than a generation. She must be quite the woman.”

  “Yes, Dad says she is a force of nature, but never to her face.”

  “Ah, perhaps someday I will have the opportunity to meet your parents.”

  Jackson replied, “Somehow that seems unlikely given how far Eris’ Rise is from Miromar.”

  “One never knows, they may find reasons to travel to Miromar at some point. It is a beautiful country with much to offer and well worth a visit.”

  Jackson felt very confused. He knew that there were times that adults spoke about one thing but were really hinting at something else. Yet he couldn’t for the life of him figure out what the captain was getting at. So he did what he always did when he was lost. He focused back onto another point, retracing his steps. “Didn’t you say that there were three kinds of women?”

  Aremay smiled at him. “Yes, indeed I did. The rarest of all women is the one who is neither there to be won, for she cannot be, nor to be conquered. No, she is there to conquer you. You can let her do so, and likely will enjoy it for a season, but I don’t take you as the kind of man who wants to be hunted.”

  Jackson was taken aback for a moment. Everything else that Aremay said to him was lost in the fact that the captain had called him a man. He replied as he felt he ought to. “Thank you, I will heed your warning.”

  “See that you do. Some mistakes cannot be undone. Now speaking of keeping you safe, I have a spell scroll to give you. Study it now, and it will transfer the spell Gate to you. Then if you bind here in the city, you will be able to escape if things go poorly.”

  Once again, Jackson was baffled. “Aren’t such things expensive?”

  “Yes, they are, but don’t worry, it wasn’t my coin that bought it,” Aremay replied.

  “Then whose?”

  “Never mind, just learn the spell and mark this as your bind spot.”

  The captain’s intensity made Jackson nervous, so he didn’t ask any further and instead started to study the scroll. He felt Aremay’s eyes still on him until a moment or two later the man nodded to himself, and then he strolled off.

  The ride to Rostock had been uneventful but interesting. Malten had approached Jackson once. Try as he might, Jackson couldn’t really bring himself to forgive the boy who had so quickly betrayed him before. It didn’t matter much though because within a few minutes of Malten riding beside him, a tall distinguished man in heavy plate armor and with the same house insignia as Malten appeared.

  Jackson watched him and saw that there was a striking resemblance between the older man and Malten. The reason for this became apparent as Malten nodded his head and said, “Father.”

  “Sir Schinhofen or commander while on this mission. Don’t make me tell you again,” the knight responded gravely.

  “And you must be the son and heir to our newest barony,” the knight said to Jackson without waiting for a reply from his son.

  “Yes, sir,” Jackson answered.

  “I hear good things about you and your family from Captain Smart. He isn’t a man to give praise easily, so I am inclined to believe them. I also have heard some things about your time at the academy. Know that not all knights will be comfortable with a new baron, but most of us faithfully serve Albia, and that means we all take our place.”

  Jackson wasn’t sure what to say back, so he stuck with one of the tried-and-true responses to adults. “Yes, sir. I will remember that.”

  “Well, I didn’t come over here to give you life lessons. I simply wanted to ask you to keep an eye on Malten. I’m sure that Master Meyer, Captain Smart, and most of the academy guards will do what they can to keep you safe. Once the fighting starts, all bets are off.

  “I don’t know how well you and Malten get along, but I have been told that you have seen real combat, so I am asking a favor of you. I apologize if you feel it is out of line for me to ask you as the heir of a barony for a favor, but Captain Smart implied that your family doesn’t stand much on formality.”

  “I will do what I can, sir. I remember how scared I was the first time I was in a battle,” Jackson replied.

  “Good lad, you have my thanks,” Sir Schinhofen said before looking at his son again. “Take care of yourself, and if things go to hell, try to stick with Jackson. Hopefully you will both make it out of this alive.”

  “Yes, Fa… er… Sir Schinhofen,” Malten said.

  Without another word, the knight rode off, and Jackson was left with only his thoughts for company, as Malten didn’t speak again. It gave Jackson time to look around. Sir Schinhofen had arrived with four other knights on horseback and fifty foot soldiers. Those seemed to be divided mostly into pikemen and archers.

  The force from the academy, in contrast, was mostly swordsmen or mace and axe wielders too. They were assembled from both the royal guard that protected the academy as well as from half a dozen nobles’ homes in town. Each of those houses had contributed three or four guards, and the total was forty soldiers plus the two captains, Master Meyer, and the two students.

  Not knowing what they were facing yet, Jackson had no idea if they were overprepared or being offered as a sacrificial defense till more of the army could get into place. The odd thing to Jackson was how few casters there were with them. From what he could see, there was one cleric of Shanelle, and he was the only healer with them.

  They didn’t have any official mages. Although, Jackson admitted that it was entirely possible that there were others like him who could cast but didn’t look the part. The question eventually got the better of him, and he asked Master Meyer, “Why are there no casters with us?”

  The master looked back from his horse with a genuinely perplexed look on his face. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean there are just over a hundred of us, but I only see one actual caster,” Jackson replied.

  “How many did you expect?”

  “I guess I just thought there would be more. Everyone in my family except my younger sister has some kind of magic, and she is only eight, so it’s too soon to tell. If this mission is so important, it seems like it would have been logical to send more magic users. I have seen how much impact they can have.”

  Malten interrupted whatever answer Master Meyer had been about to deliver. “You’re a liar. There is no way that an entire family can all be magic users. The ability is just too rare.”

  Jackson didn’t know what to say, but his hands tightened on the bridle he was holding. He wanted to punch the boy. Malten deserved it, after all. He didn’t really want to hurt him, just punch him. Just make him shut up.

  Then that voice sounded off in his head for the second time that day. “Never use violence unless you mean to carry through with it.”

  It shocked Jackson enough to make him pause. During that delay, the two captains allowed their horses to drift back so that they were next to Master Meyer and the two boys. Max said, “I didn’t know until today that Jackson could cast, but I have personally seen his father, mother and older sister cast a wide assortment of magic. Each of them has access to more than a single school of spells. His mother’s spells ended an invasion of undead. His father’s magic let him fight a death knight. And from what the royal mage has said, he seems to think that his sister is a once-in-a-generation magical prodigy. If you knew how hard it was to get that man to say anything nice about anyone, then you would know how significant that was.”