Vetus Venificus, Part 3

Guards rushed into the throne room as the doors slammed against the walls. With their spears ready, they faced the invader as he strode through the doors.

He was a tall man, wearing a blue hooded cape. He was a very young man, still barely a child compared to the previous two tutors. He had a full, black beard, bespectacled hazel eyes, and a neatly trimmed bowl cut. He carried a long, metal staff with a small green crystal on the top. His eyes cast around the room at the guards surrounding him, then beyond them to the king and princess.

“I understand you're looking for a tutor, my lord?” He said.

“Who are you? What are you doing in my castle?” Excerder demanded.

“I believe you advertised for a tutor, my lord. Forgive the rumbling, I simply would not have made it up the mountain by nightfall without the aid of my magic.” The man answered. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Nawen Tipyta, and I have mastered nearly every school of magic.”

“I think that this is the third tutor, Father.” Princess Angelina said.

“He can't be. He's just barely older than you are.” Excerder said.

“Were you not already an All-Mage at 19? You took the throne before I was born. It's not unheard of.” She reasoned.

“Alright. Guards, let the man speak.” Excerder chuckled. “We have an old field medic who has saved the lives of countless soldiers, and an alchemist who holds at least forty years of study. What is your resume, Tipyta?”

“I have been trained in all schools of magic since I was old enough to walk. I've worked in education before, I believe I included a glowing recommendation from my former employer in my application, and I have much more than a single school of magic to teach.” Nawen explained.

Angelina leaned close to her father. “I have a good feeling about this one, father.” She whispered.

“There's no way. He's not old enough to have the experience he claims to.” Excerder replied.

“Why did you even have me sit in if you weren't going to listen to my input?!” Angelina demanded quietly. Excerder growled.

“Leave us, all of you. I must deliberate with my daughter.” Excerder ordered.

It's a bit late tonight, a bit short, and I'm not sure I'm happy with it. Fortunately, I have a lot of time off from my job next week, so next week's installment should be longer, be better edited, and start to make sense.

Vetus Venificus, Part 2

Excerder stretched out on his throne. The first and second tutors had already arrived and were taking their twenty minutes to eat and clean up. They were both older gentlemen, as expected, and when the time came, he sent for his daughter.

Princess Angelina Excerder was a pretty, young woman. Her brunette hair was done up in a bun, and she wore yellow and green robes, covered in fancy embellishments.

“You sent for me, father?” She asked quietly.

“Yes, I'm going to be interviewing tutors for you, and I want you to sit in.” Excerder said, indicating towards the smaller princess throne on the opposite side of the queen's throne.

“I already told you, I don't want to learn advanced magic.” Princess Angelina objected.

“Nonsense. You would make an excellent All-Mage, at the very least. You may even become Queen.” Excerder said.

“Mother didn't know advanced magic.” Princess Angelina muttered, sitting down.

The first candidate up was an elderly man, who wore white robes with red trim. He introduced himself as Fredrick, The White.

“I understand you are a master of living magic, correct?” Excerder asked.

“Yes, My lord. I've spent fifty years in service of the royal army as a healer. I've brought men back from death's doorstep itself.” Fredrick said.

“I see. Living magic is a useful school, sweetheart. Would you like him as your tutor?” Excerder asked.

“I can already heal small cuts and bruises. When am I ever going to need to do more?” Princess Angelina said coldly.

“Very well...Send in the next tutor.” Excerder ordered.

The second tutor was a slightly younger man, still in his late fifties, by the name of Edward The Alchemist.

“You specialize in chemical magic, correct?” King Excerder asked.

“I do, my lord. Since I was a boy I have studied the secret properties of plants and animals. I can teach your daughter to make all manner of potions, cure-all medicines, restorative drafts, and deadly poisons.”

Excerder glanced at his daughter, who merely had a wicked smile on her face.

“You know, the third tutor said that he had mastery over three schools.” He said. “Let's see how he is. Send him in.”

“He's...not here yet, sire.” an aid called.

“Not here yet? Well...” Excerder said. “I guess I have no choice but decide between these two. I will hire...” Excerder was cut off as the palace shook.

“What the devil was that?!” He exclaimed, as the doors to the throne room swung open.

The first part of my first-ever story.

Vetus Veneficus

Long ago, in the northern mountaintops, there was a kingdom whose power and influence knew little bounds. Their civilization was great, and much of their architecture remains on the mountain for all to see for miles around.

The kingdom was known as Magius. It's citizens had unlocked the secret and arcane arts of human will, commonly referred to as magic. They were governed by a council of 14 All-Mages, masters of every school of magic, and their king was the most powerful of the All-Mages. The king at the time was one Dolnum Excerdar III, a large, powerful man who reigned dignity and respect with as much mastery as he did his arcane arts. We begin with him, sitting amongst his council, as he did every day.

“What is the business for today, fellow All-Mages?” His voice boomed through the vaulted ceilings of the chamber, which had been carved out of the mountain itself.

“Our first order of business should be to address our economy.” One of the council members began. “Our total annual income presently matches our costs. It's a fragile balance, which could be shattered at any moment and drop us into a deficit.”

“Is this again? Or still?” Excerdar asked, annoyed.

“...Still, sire.” The council member replied. “Our biggest expenditure seems to be the expansion of our territory. Perhaps we should start working on improving the quality of what we have, rather than expanding.” The mage spoke tentatively. Excerdar groaned.

“I've told you again and again. We must continue to push our borders. If we stop, Disaster will befall our kingdom.” He explained.

“But why, sire? What kind of disaster? Is there any other way we could stop it?” The All-Mage argued.

“I'm afraid not. We shall speak no further on this matter.” Excerdar stated. “What of the Queen of the Caverns? Has she made any response on our offer?”

“I'm afraid not, sire. I believe she thinks that in our economic state, we can't afford to start a war.” Another All-Mage responded.

“War? Hah.” Excerdar scoffed. “It's not a war if any one of us could make her entire kingdom collapse about her. How are the people faring?”

“We've received few complaints, sire, mostly small land disputes.”

“Excellent...What of the tutor I sent for?” Excerdar asked.

“We haven't received many responses...but the candidates should be arriving throughout the day today.”

“How many?”

“Um...Three, sire.”

“Three!? Good Lord, We're offering enough jewels to bathe in, and we still only got three?” Excerdar exclaimed. “Well, fine. That just means fewer to go through, I guess.” Excerdar sighed and rose. “I think that should cover everything for now. When the first tutor arrives, give him 20 minutes to freshen up or rest, then send him to the throne room. Good day.”

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Alright, there it is! I appreciate any comments or criticism, and hope to see all of you again next week!

Welcome to my blog!

Hello, Internet! My name is Quinton Tighe, and I'm an amateur author. I will be using this space to post short stories for you to enjoy on (hopefully) a weekly basis. Each installment will generally be short, and will probably have an even shorter paragraph at the end for my adventures that week.

I hope to see a lot of you guys soon!
-Quinton Tighe