Chapter 1 Royal Summoning
Eric Yagaro awoke in his tower bedroom to the now familiar feeling of something walking on him. He opened his eyes and saw his pet opinicus, Opaw. The creature looked at him with eager amber eyes. He’d flown up from his basket onto Eric’s bed.
“Eric! Wake up! Wake up! We must go down and eat worms!” Opaw said as he circled around rapidly on the bed.
Eric grunted as Opaw pushed on his stomach with his front set of lion legs. He sat up. “Ow! Opaw! You little!”
He got out of bed and held the opinicus by the scruff of the neck.
“Uncle, uncle!” Opaw yielded.
Eric released him.
“Now can we go eat worms?”
“You eat worms. I’ll be having something else.”
“Ooh, what? What? Bacon, I like bacon! It’s good! Can I have some?” Opaw jumped up and down on the bed and Eric.
“Yes I quite agree,” Clauwing said.
Eric shielded himself with his arm as he got out of bed to get away from Opaw’s game of “Jump on the master”. But no doubt Opaw wanted that. Ever since he could walk, talk, and fly, the little opinicus had been a handful. Even more so than Clauwing (the opinicus spirit that lived in Eric as the manifestation of his beast sorcery) had ever been. With the opinicus inside his head, Eric had dealt with animal instincts that had made him act like a wild animal and even attacked some of the horses here as well as his cousin Myra. But Opaw, he was so needy!
“And he’s up! Cawmon! Cawmon! Go downstairs and get me some worms to eat!” Opaw ordered happily.
“First, I have to change clothes.” Eric said walking over to his wardrobe.
He put on one of his many red shirts, a pair of cotton pants, and well as his usual brown boots.
“Can’t you get your feathers on any quicker?” Opaw asked impatiently.
Eric scoffed at him. “This is cloth, not feathers.”
He put on a pair of fur trimmed boots for trotting in the snow-covered streets outside. Then threw on his blue Castle Scholar Robe and satchel, both of which were enchanted. The robe sold to all sorcerers at Castle Scholar students kept them comfortable in any climate, while his personal satchel could store many items inside, even ones that were heavy or larger than it and they would be much lighter. Eric had his books inside with his training clothes for Dueling class.
“You don’t have to wear that silly skin till you go to that place that keeps you away from me! Why put it on now?” Opaw asked.
“So, I don’t have to come back to the room for it later.”
Eric turned toward the door. It had been over four months since he first came to his ancestral castle of Soyagone from the island of Dragoran and moved in with his uncle. In that time, his bedroom turned from the nearly empty place it once was to a room he could walk into with a smile.
Eric’s weapons lay in a display case to his right. The enchanted sorsteel dagger that could change into a mace or spear, and his sorsteel sword, which now had a new blade on it after the first one had been melted off by a demon named Bloodfeather. Lastly, Eric had his enchanted sword, Sparespell, the Yagaro Ancestral sword that had been passed down for generations. All three weapons were wrapped in red leather with the Yagaro crest in the center of their guards.
Above the case containing the blades hung Eric’s shield, and a pair of paintings he’d made himself. It depicted Eric with people close to him. His family, the ghosts of his parents Margery and Derair on either side of him and his uncle Chosan. The other painting showed the best friends he’d made upon arriving in Sortar, the part fairy sorceress Karia Calamen, goblin Soron Knight Dargin Saru, Eric’s cousin Myra, and the lion man Morum. The friends that had become his comrades. When the time came for battle, the five of them would act as a squad against the enemy.
A tapestry covered the other wall. It depicted over a dozen crests, all donning the letter Y on a shield for Eric’s family, the Yagaros, who were famous for following the Protector Patron. While all members of the Yagaro family had the shield and Y, many of them had personal variants. Some had animal designs like a dragon coiled around the Y, or a sword on either side of the shield. The crest of Eric’s father Derair showed the Y with three smaller crests at each of its corners woven into the center. Eric would one day get his own personal variant as well, one that would be on his banners as he led the Yagaro forces into battle. He already had a design in mind in fact.
The heir to Soyagone opened the door to his room and walked down the stairs to his tower. He came down to the second floor where the rooms for the higher up members of the Yagaro Household were. Standing at the bottom of the stairs was a large white goblin.
“Morrow Eric!” Dargin greeted with a fanged grin. “Ready for the morning sparring?”
He didn’t give Eric time to answer, instead charging at him. Eric put his hands up, he and Dargin grabbed each other’s hands, they engaged in a wrestling match, which had become an everyday thing before breakfast. Eric’s arms glowed in red magic. He called upon his Greater Body power, increasing the strength and speed of his body. For a moment, Eric managed to hold his goblin friend at bay. But even with his Greater Body he couldn’t beat Dargin in terms of strength. Soon Dargin had Eric on the ground.
“Yes! I win! I win!” Dargin said before his grin vanished and he said in a disappointed voice, “Again. You must better yourself with hands.”
Eric sighed. “As though I could ever beat you in hand to hand without magic!”
Between the two of them, Dargin was the superior warrior. He focused more on physical combat training while Eric being a War Caster used magic first and weapons second. Dargin had a larger and stronger body, so he was physically stronger. They had fought by each other’s side several times already, and two of those instances had resulted in Dargin saving Eric’s life. Dargin was not smart, but he was dependable in dangerous situations. Though he came with the Eric got pinned to the ground every morning effect.
Laughing from their fun, the two walked down the stairs, across the courtyard to the Great Hall where Eric’s uncle Chosan sat at the head of the table. A fat man enjoying a large pile of food. He like everyone at the table wore bright clothing suited for upper classmen. A purple robe trimmed in gold, a matching hat on his head, and a dagger on his hip. He ran a napkin over his scruffy dark beard. Like Eric he possessed blue eyes. At his left side was his lover Madam Garlifa, who was also Eric’s music teacher at Castle Scholar. Helena Garlifa was a tiger beast woman, a human sorcerer who had transformed herself to look like a half animal. The parts of her body that were not concealed by her dress such as her face and hands showed striped orange and black fur. Her face showed whiskers, a cat nose, and bright yellow eyes.
Some of the Presteegs were seated with them as well. Others had been forced to move off the main table and dine at one of the longer ones since Dargin and Helena had joined the table these days. There was Orvalor, the head of the Presteeg family, his son Vikal, and non-sorcerer bastard Omulus. The three knights that served as protectors for the Yagaro family and captains of their forces, their helms bearing colored plumes. Orvalor green like Dargin, Vikal blue, and Omulus white. Also seated at the table were Vikal’s wife Lorala whose disdainful eyes were narrowed as usual. Their sons, the bear boys Rikal and Dikal. Both boys wore chainmail underneath their colored silk shirts, Rikal blue, and Dikal orange.
There was also Eric’s favorite cousin, Myra, the only girl among the Presteeg children. Last was her cousin Omaron who was Omulus’s bastard. Both had been sent away from the main table after Dargin and Helena began joining them on a regular basis. Eric took his seat at Chosan’s right, and Dargin did the same with Eric. Several platters full of bacon lay across the table along with buttered toast and fruits from their castle grounds.
“Ah good morrow Eric!” Chosan said as his nephew sat by his side. “Today should be a mighty good day!”
“Aye,” Eric said. “Karia is going to have her sorcery test!”
“Well, we shall have our New Year’s feast to celebrate tomorrow!” Chosan said eagerly.
“As though you need an excuse to feast, Lord Chosan,” Omulus grumbled.
Chosan ignored that remark. Omulus had admired Eric’s father Derair and felt that Chosan was unworthy as head of the Yagaro family.
“It will be wonderful to see Karia become a recognized sorceress. She deserves it!”
“I agree,” Lorala said. “She is a following the path of a true sorceress and not wasting time with swords. That’s what every girl should strive for.”
She looked over at Myra as she said that. The sorceress disapproved of her daughter being a Lend Hand and learning how to use weaponry. She believed girls were naturally born incapable of such things and that they should not, as men were inherently blessed with greater physical strength. Woman were considered more useful as healers and pure magic wielders. Eric knew that girls weren’t born as strong but given the proper training they could overcome their weaknesses. His mother Margery had been a formidable warrior that knew how to use swords and other weapons in addition to a great sorceress. She had taught Eric most of what he knew in both areas. Of course, Eric could not beat Dargin without calling upon his sorcery, the goblin knight was both stronger and in better shape than Eric.
They ate their meal, until the door to Soyagone’s Great Hall opened. A group of Sortar soldiers walked inside. At their head was a Soron Knight in red and gold armor. Eric froze as he took a bite of toast. A member of the Queen’s guard! What were they doing here? It had to be on the Queen’s orders.
The knight led his company to their table, then spoke. “Lord Yagaro.”
“Yes?” Chosan asked, as surprised as Eric.
“You and your nephew Lord Eric are summoned to the Queen’s throne room.”
“When?” Eric asked, fearing what was to come.
To his dread, the knight said, “Immediately.”
Eric grimaced. Today was the morning that Karia was supposed to take her test to become recognized as a decent sorceress. Eric had promised to be there.
“I doubt it will take long, you still have two classes before Casting,” Chosan said to him then grinned. “If you want though, you could send a sorcery manifestation to see the Queen! Just cut yourself and use the skin to make it look like the real you!”
“Chosan!”
Chosan chuckled at his joke. Though Eric could have done that if he wished. Using a bit of blood and skin in sorcery manifestations made them look exactly the same as their creator.
“No. This is not a time for deception,” Eric said. “Can’t do that to the Queen.”
Dargin got up from his seat and looked at the Soron Knight. “The only way you’ll get me to come to the Queen is if you beat me.”
Steel clad punches hit the goblin’s head.
***
Dargin rode alongside Eric and Chosan to the Crown shaped palace at the north end of Sortar with bruises on his face. The bay horse he’d gotten a couple months ago, snorted.
“That’s what you get for challenging a Royal Guard of the Queen herself!” Chosan said with a chuckle. “They are troubling opponents.”
“He strong,” Dargin commented. “One day I beat him!”
“It didn’t help that you aren’t wearing a helmet!” Eric told him.
The only response was a grumble. Dargin didn’t like helmets as it covered his face and concealed his identity. The royal knight led them through the snow-covered walkways outside Sortar to the side opening in the wall to where the Palace was. At the door stood a pair of red armored guards like the ones escorting them. Also, waiting at the door was…
“Morum!” Eric exclaimed.
Eric and Dargin gazed at their friend, Morum Carnos. Morum resembled a humanoid lion with a head of golden mane, whiskers, sharp teeth and ears at the top of his head like a cats. His entire body was covered in golden fur so he didn’t require to wear anything warm like them. He wore the same clothing as he had in summer. A sleeveless red shirt bearing his family symbol, the letter C in the shape of a bow and arrow. A pair of pants covered his legs and he didn’t wear any boots on his feet (or paws as they partially were).
“So, is that everyone?” Morum asked, looking at the guards blocking his way into the Palace.
The guard in front of the door checked a piece of parchment he drew from his pocket.
“There is still one person that needs to come. Karia Calamen.”
“Karia too?” Eric was amazed.
The guard nodded. “She’s not a noble like the rest of you though. Rare thing for a commoner to be summoned by the Queen.”
They had to wait for a while. Karia’s home was in the Peasant’s Peace Sector which was further to the south side of the city. But she eventually came through the portcullis leading to the southern parts of the city on the back of another Royal Knight’s horse.
“Eric! Dargin, Lord Chosan!” Karia exclaimed.
“A mighty good morrow to you!” Chosan said.
“Hello Karia,” Eric said.
“Hello,” Dargin greeted.
“Well, that’s everyone then,” the guard at the door said. “Please go in and see the Queen.”
He opened the door and allowed them to go inside. Eric, Chosan, Karia, Dargin and Morum all began the walk to see the ruler. As they entered the Palace, Karia and Dargin both looked around in awe, for they had never been inside its interior before. The entry room with the staircase leading upwards was covered in a massive red carpet. The walls were painted bright gold and supported by ancient looking finely carved pillars. They walked up the carpeted stairs to the top floor, through several twists and turns. It would have been easy to get lost unless one knew the paths leading where.
Finally, they entered the throne room Eric remembered the first time he’d been here, it had been filled with nobles from Sortar who gathered to hear the news of Corgo’s return. His late mother Margery had been labeled a traitor to the Sorcerer Kingdom during that gathering. That mistake had fortunately been corrected when Eric summoned Margery’s spirit and she told them the truth. This time however, the throne room was practically empty. Only the Queen, Taro Volk, Richan Greddy, and a bearded man with a circlet on his head that Eric didn’t know.
Chosan bowed to the Queen. “You summoned us, your highness?”
“Yes, Lord Chosan. I’m afraid I have bad news. The Demorians have started to attack again!”
Silence filled the room at this news.
“So we are at war again,” Chosan looked down.
“You want us to fight?” Dargin asked with an eager grin. “I ready!”
The goblin had long dreamed of the day when the Demorians would at last start open war again. This would provide him with the opportunity to face them in battle. He’d trained all his life for this.
“No,” Queen Razana said. “Not yet.”
Dargin grimaced. The Demorians were finally coming and he was not going to face them?
“For now, Corgo does not appear to be launching full scale attacks,” the queen continued. “He wishes to increase his numbers, which suffered greatly after his disappearance. You young ones might not know this… but after he was trapped within Margery Yagaro, there was a split in the Demorians. Many wanted to find him and return him to power, but others wished to take his place among them. Chief among that faction was a dark sorcerer called Laman Serfier.”
“Laman Serfier?” Karia repeated. “I’ve read about him! Isn’t he one of the highest-ranking members of the Demorians?”
“He was my dear,” Razana said. “Part of Corgo’s Black Council, eight sorcerers he handpicks to lead his armies. They stand above all the other Demorians and lead them, many have lived for at least a century through drinking demon blood, some say Corgo himself lets them drink his blood.”
“But Laman is not with the Demorians anymore, he betrayed them!” Chosan said.
“Yes, but even so he is not our ally. In fact, I believe he is planning something terrible. After he failed to seize power on Demoria, he and the Demorians that defected to his way fled to Eye Isle, one of our southern neighbors. That is where he comes in,” Queen Razana gestured to the man with the circlet on his head. He came forward.
Chosan looked at him. “Jarever?”
“Chosan Yagaro,” the man greeted. “Its been a long time.”
“You know him?” Eric asked.
“Lord Jarever Elorano,” Chosan said. “Ruler of Great Moon Island.”
Eric had heard of the two islands far to the south across the Soron Sea. Great Moon Island and Eye Isle. To the best of Eric’s knowledge, neither of which took a major part in the war. Though they did support the Sorcerer Kingdom’s side. At least until recently. Now Eye Isle was under the control of rogue Demorians.
“Lord Elorano is here at my request,” Razana said. “He has agreed to take you with him to Great Moon Island, Eric Yagaro.”
“I’m going to Great Moon Island?” Eric asked. “For what?”
“First, you will stay there hidden from the Demorians,” Taro Volk said. “You will train there and hone your skills for when the final battle will take place someday.”
“But I’m ready now!” Eric said.
“You are strong, I will admit. Your skills in weaponry, nature and core sorcery are impressive, but you still need much practice with the other inherited powers. You are not yet ready to face Corgo.”
“How do you know?” Eric asked.
“I’ve seen it in a vision,” Queen Razana told them as her violet eyes lit up with sight sorcery. “Viset fortuna bracalo Eric Yagaro e Corgo. Spreka!” See future battle of Eric Yagaro and Corgo!
The magic incantation the Queen spoke allowed her to share with all those present what her glance into the future revealed. Eric saw himself facing Corgo. He charged, but Corgo pinned him down easily. Then an evil laugh sounded and the area of the illusion grew red as a shadowy figure emerged.
Then they were back in the throne room.
“As you grow stronger, the vision can change,” Queen Razana said. “Right now, it is certain that you are no match for Corgo. If you were to face him, he will take you and use your power to enable Zaro to return. Then all will be lost.”
“So I must stay out of the war and grow stronger,” Eric said.
“For now, yes. You will go to Great Moon Island, and the rest of your chosen team shall accompany you,” Queen Razana said looking at the others present.
She walked by them one by one. First, she looked at Dargin.
“I know you hunger for battle, Sir Goblin, but your bloodlust may yet be satisfied. If Laman Serfier proves himself to desire more than just ruling his own island, you could very well meet him in battle.”
Dargin’s disappointed expression turned to an eager one. Queen Razana then looked at Eric.
“You chose a young girl to be your Lend Hand. Against tradition I might add. I pray for her safety.”
That gave Eric a bad feeling. Had the Queen seen Myra in danger? Razana didn’t answer before looking at Karia now.
“You are a promising young sorceress, my dear. You will provide support for Eric when he goes into battle I hope,” Razana said.
“I’ll… do my best… your highness,” Karia said.
“What about me?” Chosan asked. “You wish me to go as well?”
“No, Lord Chosan. You will stay here,” Queen Razana said. “We will need your potions now more than ever. You had best put together a portion of your household to guard young Eric while he travels. Lord Elorano will have his own army, but you had better take care. He is too leave Sortar within three days!”
That didn’t leave much time.
“Also… I believe you have a test to become a recognized sorceress, dear Karia,” Razana said. “You’d best get to that… oh… and don’t forget to enjoy your last day at Castle Scholar!”
