Chapter 18

Last Chapter of the first book of the series...I think

 

“Boy, you’re going end up on the ground again if you keep moving like that!”

            Marcus, focused on the sword moving towards his face, ignored the taunt along with the men currently surrounding him and his opponent.

The one lesson in swordsmanship Geoff had been able to give him had unlocked similar memories. Wanting to keep up the practice, knowing his skills were less than adequate, Marcus had finally asked Geoff if he could participate in the field with the men. Still annoyed, Geoff had told him to ask Darian and then contact him again. It had taken three days of asking back and forth and doing odd chores around the camp before both of them had agreed.

            “You’re footings still off, boy! You swing that sword it’ll end up in you!”

            Muttering under his breath so only his opponent heard him, Marcus said, “If you’d shut up, I wouldn’t have to worry about my footing.”

            Jason chuckled, “Ignore them. They’re trying to remind you that it won’t be quiet on a battlefield.”

            Marcus rolled his eyes, “They don’t stop to watch others fighting in a true battle though.”

            “True, but you’re an unknown apprentice and you’ve run off on the boss. Once things calm down, they’ll back off.”

            “It’s been two weeks since I ended up here, if they were going to back off, they’d have done so already.”

            “They’ll back off when Geoff gets here and deals with you, not until then.”

            Marcus groaned. He already dreaded facing his teacher when Geoff finally caught up to this band of outlaws, he did not need to know he’d be facing the man with an audience in tow.

            Almost three weeks ago, he had felt Max’s taint heading towards Kingston. Without thinking and without informing anyone of his plans, Marcus had used his power to pack up and disappear before Max had found him. For the rest of the week and two days into the second one, Marcus had wandered around the forest. Staying outside of cities and little towns, living on whatever he was lucky enough to actually catch, Marcus woke up one morning surrounded by a few of Geoff’s men.

            They had brought him to Darian immediately. The man had ignored him while sending out orders and setting up a scouting expedition for the next few days. When the group surrounding him had finally departed, Darian had turned to him.

            “You’ve been a hard person to track down.”

            Marcus hadn’t said a word, not recognizing Darian at first glance. The four months had changed the man he’d seen outside of Sirhc and he refused to give Max any advantage of finding Geoff, Ailora or Astra if he could help it.

            “Smart move, staying quiet,” Darian murmured, turning back to some papers on the makeshift table in front of him. “Your teacher was right about you it seems.”

            “Which one?” Marcus mumbled, surprised at himself for even asking.

            Darian had looked up at him, anger flashing in his eyes. “You only have one teacher now, boy. I would suggest you start realizing that before you lose the chance Geoff is offering you.”

            Unable to stop himself, Marcus had asked. “I’m still his apprentice? After what I’ve just done?”

            Darian straightened from the table and came to stand in front of him. Crossing his arms, Darian studied him a few minutes, not saying a word. Marcus met his gaze, his confusion allowing him to stay still as he waited. Finally, Darian had relaxed his arms, saying, “I would suggest you contact him and ask him yourself, Marcus. Only he’ll be able to answer those questions.”

            Darian had walked away then, giving Marcus some space to talk to Geoff alone.

 

            “Marcus!”

            Jason’s voice brought Marcus back to the present, giving him a second to bring up his sword, blocking Jason’s steel from slicing through his left shoulder. Jason grunted, than scowled at him. “You can worry about Geoff killing you once he gets here. If you don’t pay attention, you’re going to end up in the med tent again.”

            Marcus scowled back, the reminder as unwelcome as the news of Geoff’s upcoming appearance. But, Jason was right; if he didn’t start paying attention to what was going on, he wouldn’t have to worry about Geoff killing him, he’d already be dead.

            Pushing Jason’s sword back, Marcus set his feet for the next attack. Cold air pushing towards him from behind sent Marcus back into the past. As his eyes clouded over, his body lunged forward, meeting Jason’s newest attack with one hand as his other created an invisible shield, blocking the spell coming for him.

            When Marcus finally came to- he was breathing heavily, his right arm was fully extended in front of his body, the sword in his hand pointed at Jason’s heart as his left arm quivered, his left hand, palm facing out, continuing to extend the power shield blocking Geoff from reaching his side. Marcus blinked, immediately dropping both the shield and his sword. “What in the world just happened?”

            The question seemed to echo around the camp and Marcus realized that the men surrounding them had finally quit talking. Instead, they were staring at him with an emotion Marcus didn’t know how to read. Ignoring them as he had been trying to do all morning, he turned back to Geoff, dread and curiosity fighting for control.

            “We just figured out why you suck at sword fighting.” Jason muttered, leaning over, trying to catch his breath. “Geoff, don’t ever do that to him when he’s facing me again. I have no plans on dying anytime soon.”

             “You wouldn’t have died.” Geoff muttered, “Marcus would have stopped himself in time.”

            Jason looked up at him, “Did you not see his eyes? He didn’t know where he was, let alone who I was.”

            “I still don’t know who you really are,” Marcus pointed out.

            “That’s not my point.” Jason growled, “You weren’t here any longer. There is no way you would have recognized me.”

            “He would have, Jas.” Geoff insisted, “Trust me. Now, if your practicing is over?”

            Jason nodded, looking back down at the ground and waving Marcus away. “We’re done for now. I want the images of my life flashing before my eyes out of my head before I try that again.”

            “Fine.” Geoff rolled his eyes. “Marcus, let’s go.”

            “Yes sir.”

            “Hey, Geoff,” Jason called as they started to walk away.

            “Yes, Jason?”

            “I like having him around, even if I did almost die.”

            Geoff waved the comment off as he continued walking away, Marcus a silent form beside him. When they were far enough away from the field where no one could hear them, Marcus broke the silence.

            “What happens when an apprentice breaks the agreement?”

            “It depends on the teacher,” Geoff answered.

            Marcus lapsed into silence again. They left the clearing where Geoff’s men were camped, heading into a grove of trees before Marcus tried again.

            “What happens when one of your apprentices breaks the agreement?”

            “I haven’t decided yet.”

            Marcus stopped walking, a tall oak blocking his back. Geoff stopped as well, turning to stand in front of him, waiting. Marcus breathed in deeply, before saying. “I’m in a lot of trouble.”

            Geoff nodded, leaning slightly on his right leg. “Yes.”

            “Saying I’m sorry isn’t going to make a difference this time.”

            “It’d be nice to hear, but no, it won’t help you.”

            “Neither would explaining what happened.”

            Geoff shook his head, “Again, it’d be nice to hear, but no, it won’t make a difference.”

            Marcus sighed, “Before you tell me to go find someone else, could you explain what happened on the field?”

            “I’ll think about it. Right now, you’re going to explain how you ended up here after I told you to come to me first when there was a problem.”

             “It just sort of happened.”

            “Just sort of happened?” Geoff repeated, angrily, “You were gone an entire week by the time you contacted me and that was only after Darian suggested it when you got here. What just sort of happened during that week that you ignored my orders? Or did they just sort of slip your mind?”

            Marcus winced.  “I did warn you things weren’t going to get easier even if I agreed.”

            Geoff’s eyes blazed silver. “That’s your defense? You warned me! Boy, I’m inches from either strangling you or beating you and you’re going to tell me you warned me!”

            Marcus, his back stiffening, stepped back away from him; barely missing the tree roots sticking up around him. “Go ahead, do both if you really want. It’s not like I don’t deserve whatever you decide.”

             He backed up another few steps, ignoring the signs that his power rose to match his own anger. “I mean, why should I expect you to be any different from the lunatic I’ve just gotten away from? You are related to him after all, probably learned everything from him too.”

            “Now hold on a second,” Geoff started.

            “Why?” Marcus asked, his feet starting to leave the ground. “I’ve agreed to this. Can’t really back out especially since you won’t let me, might as well figure out what I’ve gotten myself into. So what’s it going to be, sir? What are you going to do to your ignorant, lowly, diso…oh, hell, not again.”

            “I take it this has happened before?” Geoff asked, watching him finish turning upside down in midair.

            “Only once.” Marcus muttered, grabbing the medallions as they fell free from his shirt and stuffing them back down. “And I was arguing with him as well.”

            “Him?”

            “Payne McClean, Astra’s uncle, can’t remember what about exactly, but this is what happened.”

            “How did you get down?”

            “I don’t remember that either.”

            Geoff watched him try to create a spell to hold the medallions in place as his face began to turn red from the blood rushing down. “How about explaining to me what happened now instead of that crap you started with?”

            Marcus sighed and mumbled, “I don’t know what happened. I just freaked and took off. I realized it that night when I finally stopped to take care of Gemini.”

            “Why didn’t you contact me?”

            “Because I didn’t think you’d listen if I did.”

            “And you thought I’d be more willing to listen a week later after no word from you and Max’s minions running around every new town I went by?”  Geoff asked, his left eyebrow lifting.

            Marcus shrugged, sending the medallions back into his face. Growling at himself, Marcus muttered. “It wasn’t my idea. Darian told me to. I didn’t think it’d be a good idea to have ignored your orders and than his as well.”

            “And if Darian hadn’t said anything?”

            “I might have contacted you on my own. Probably not right away, but within the first few hours of being here I might have let you known.”

            Geoff sighed, backing away from Marcus. He turned to the forest behind them, breathing deeply to ease the anger burning within him. The boy had reacted as past experiences had taught him. Nothing could have stopped it from happening; the boy had warned him about this exact possibility before agreeing to be an apprentice.

            “How did you know Darian could be trusted?” Geoff asked.

            “I didn’t at first.” Marcus answered, “But than I had opened my big mouth and figured it was really him when he defended you.”

            Geoff turned back around. “Defended me?”

            “Yeah, he told me my teacher had been right about me and I asked which one before I could stop myself. He got mad and said I’d better remember I only had one teacher before I lost the opportunity you’d given me.”

            “So you figured after that support, he couldn’t possibly be a traitor.”

            “Uh, no, actually, I haven’t told him very much. I figured if you really wanted him to know you’d tell him yourself. I’ve been trying to stay away from the others here at camp as well, just in case.”

            Geoff nodded. Marcus watched him, unsure what to do next. He couldn’t leave, whatever he had done still holding him in the air. But, he didn’t want to know what Geoff planned for him now that the man had his answers. At least I’m not suspended like this and being attacked by magick.  Marcus thought.

            Suddenly remembering the magick Geoff had attacked him with earlier, Marcus ventured the question again. “Sir, what happened back in the field?”

            “As Jason said, we learned why you suck at sword fighting.”

            “But what did he mean?”

            Geoff countered Marcus’ spell, turning the boy upright as he answered. “When you were learning how to use that weapon originally, you were in Max’s custody, probably forced onto the field of battle and told to fight. Whatever minimal skills you had obtained, you perfected them into a protection against anyone aiming a sword at your head. Max combined your attempts to protect yourself physically with attacks of paralyzing or damaging spells, forcing you to learn to protect yourself from all sides and all people.”

            “So what happened today?”

            “Your fear of my reaction once I arrived took over as the spell of air I aimed at you was detected. You were immediately sent back to a time when everyone stood against you and you protected yourself accordingly.”

            “Would I have killed Jason like he said?”

            Geoff shook his head. “No. You were at that point when you suddenly stopped, lowering your guard and allowing me in.”

            “Is that when I came to?”

            Geoff watched Marcus drop several inches. Whatever he had done, he was slowly descending to the ground. “When you finally get out of that, come find me. I should have your punishment planned by then.”

            Marcus nodded, “Yes sir.”

            As soon as Geoff walked out of sight, the spell collapsed dropping Marcus to the ground. He fell onto his back as his legs gave out. “How do I get myself into this stuff?”

He stared up at the sky through the canopy of leaves, watching the few clouds drifting past, wondering what he would be facing once he finally decided to head back to camp. Geoff hadn’t done anything before, probably because he knew Marcus would have never agreed to be his apprentice if he had. Now, there wasn’t really anything stopping him. Geoff had every right to do whatever it was teachers normally did to runaway apprentices.

            Marcus sat up, a frown forming on his face. What did normal teachers do to runaway apprentices? He would have to ask Jason before finding Geoff so he’d have some idea of what to expect. He knew what Max would do, but Geoff wasn’t like that. He’d never have agreed if Geoff was anything like Max.

“He’s going to kill me.” Marcus muttered. “I accused him of being exactly like that madman. How stupid can I get?”

Sighing, Marcus got off the ground. If he found Jason before finding Darian’s counsel tent, he’d ask him about it. Otherwise, he would have to hope that Geoff decided to keep him around a while longer and that whatever the man planned was not going to cause too many bruises.

He made it back to camp as afternoon shadows started forming around the tents. Avoiding the others as he skirted the practice field, Marcus ended up behind the tents. Knowing he’d never figure out which one was which without asking, he started to go around one when he heard his name. Stopping Marcus listened closely, hearing Jason say his name through the material next to him.

Not wanting anyone to know he was eavesdropping, Marcus dropped to the ground. Curling his legs towards him, Marcus leaned closer to the bottom of the tent. He pulled a small section up, just enough to hear the conversation inside without alerting them that he was there. Jason, Darian and Geoff were the only ones inside and their conversation froze Marcus in place.

“So what are you going to do?” Darian asked.

“I don’t know. I’m hoping that spell takes him awhile to get out of so I have time to think.” Geoff answered; his voice and footsteps fading and growing louder as he moved about the tent.

“Does he know?”

“That he might be my dead brother? No, I haven’t told him about that yet. He needs to trust me before I throw that at him.”

“Don’t you think he’ll trust you if you tell him first?” Jason asked.

“Jason, as much as I wish that would be true, I have a feeling Marcus won’t believe me at first. If he does start believing it, his reaction will most likely be the exact opposite. I did set up our link to begin with as children. You would think I would have figured out he was still alive after all this time instead of continuing to believe Max’s lie.”

“So you believe Marcus is your brother too?” Darian asked.

“I’m not sure if I do or not. It is quite possible with all he can do and that link I had created to my brother is active in Marcus, but there is always the possibility that he isn’t. There is a possibility that Max somehow found a way to recreate my link and implant it into another child.”

“You don’t really believe that, do you?” Jason asked.

“I don’t want to.” Geoff answered, “But, with all the lies Max has fed me over the years, I have to think of all the possibilities this situation brings.”

“When are you going to tell him?” Darian asked. “It will come up eventually and you really should be the one to say something before the others. You are the only one he trusts right now besides Astra.”

“I know that, Darian.” Geoff sighed. “But how do you tell someone with absolutely no memories that you are his brother and the people who have claimed him are in fact his real family?”

            Marcus lowered the material, muffling the rest of the conversation. Slowly, as the shadows around him deepened, Marcus inched away from the tent. When he was far enough away, Marcus stood up retracing his steps into the line of trees. He leaned against the trunk, his legs moving into his chest, his eyes filling with tears.

            “Damn you, Max.” Marcus growled, his head lowering to his knees. A drop of water fell unnoticed. A small puddle formed between his feet as other drops followed the first. “You’ve taken everything away from me.”