family at the same time. He was a mere Captain. Had it not been for political ties, he would have been a full commander, more than likely one of the Army’s Regional Commanders, which would have been a more accurate measure of his skills. He didn’t mind. He had other goals to occupy his thoughts.
None of the Guild’s Warrior Casters with their crystal-topped staffs augmented with the runes of combat magic precisely carved into the hardwood shafts, rode with them today. That was partially due to the fact that he should be in no danger that required protection by the elite Casters, and partially because he didn’t like or trust them overly much. Had the Guild leadership offered them for this trip he would have refused, as politely as he could, but still refused.
Kall knew more about them and the magic they controlled than they would have expected. They would be surprised to learn he could even execute some of the spells, and if he laid hands on one of the staffs would be a formidable Caster himself. What most didn’t realize was that the more complex spells with multi-symbol composition and activation phrases matched to the runes, could be executed without the runes being present at all. This wasn’t true of the simple spells with the commonly known shared activator. Perhaps that was because the appropriate rune or glyph was needed to define which spell the activator was to trigger. In the case of the complex spells, a poorly defined version of the true spell could often be called by anyone who could master the complex wording. He had practiced the phrases of select combat spells and had demonstrated to himself that this was true. Of course, with the proper runes and glyphs present to link to the activator, the result was immensely more powerful and precise. That was why the Warrior Casters carried the staff with the appropriate symbols pre-engraved into the shafts. The addition of the multiplier crystal on top further extended the power of their magic.
Kall rode with the same practiced ease with which he did most things, despite the fact he spent far too little time astride his horse these days. Although sixty-one years old, with one time black hair that had now gone entirely gray, he was still a strong man, and walked upright without bending to the advancing years as did many with a similar number of seasons under their belt. His pale blue eyes missed little, and he constantly observed and interpreted what was taking place around him. He had a wide scar under his leather armor, a reminder from his early years in the Army what a moments lapse in concentration could do. A blade from one of the Baldari, far less common in those days, had nearly removed his arm. A second or two slower and he would have had a much less glorious career.
That encounter had caused him to put his full effort into being the best swordsman he could. Unknown to most, he was actually a Master of Blades . Most thought he had advanced only as far as Swordmaster , but he had continued his training in private, and now could match blades with the very finest in the land. Like his secret ability with the verbal magic, what your enemy didn’t know about you could be used to advantage. Kall didn’t need the fancy titles or recognition. He was more interested in the practical advantages the knowledge offered him.
“I didn’t realize they were so large,” Tant said softly off to Kall’s left where he had been riding silently for the past glass.
Kall looked where the man was pointing. One of the north country’s most fearsome predators, a fully grown Jurten was lifting an impressively sized bison up into one of the trees where it would feast on it. The Jurten was distantly related to the familiar house pet, except it was a hundred times its size and was extremely dangerous. Its claws were a hand span long when extended and its mouth contained a double row of extremely sharp teeth designed to
None of the Guild’s Warrior Casters with their crystal-topped staffs augmented with the runes of combat magic precisely carved into the hardwood shafts, rode with them today. That was partially due to the fact that he should be in no danger that required protection by the elite Casters, and partially because he didn’t like or trust them overly much. Had the Guild leadership offered them for this trip he would have refused, as politely as he could, but still refused.
Kall knew more about them and the magic they controlled than they would have expected. They would be surprised to learn he could even execute some of the spells, and if he laid hands on one of the staffs would be a formidable Caster himself. What most didn’t realize was that the more complex spells with multi-symbol composition and activation phrases matched to the runes, could be executed without the runes being present at all. This wasn’t true of the simple spells with the commonly known shared activator. Perhaps that was because the appropriate rune or glyph was needed to define which spell the activator was to trigger. In the case of the complex spells, a poorly defined version of the true spell could often be called by anyone who could master the complex wording. He had practiced the phrases of select combat spells and had demonstrated to himself that this was true. Of course, with the proper runes and glyphs present to link to the activator, the result was immensely more powerful and precise. That was why the Warrior Casters carried the staff with the appropriate symbols pre-engraved into the shafts. The addition of the multiplier crystal on top further extended the power of their magic.
Kall rode with the same practiced ease with which he did most things, despite the fact he spent far too little time astride his horse these days. Although sixty-one years old, with one time black hair that had now gone entirely gray, he was still a strong man, and walked upright without bending to the advancing years as did many with a similar number of seasons under their belt. His pale blue eyes missed little, and he constantly observed and interpreted what was taking place around him. He had a wide scar under his leather armor, a reminder from his early years in the Army what a moments lapse in concentration could do. A blade from one of the Baldari, far less common in those days, had nearly removed his arm. A second or two slower and he would have had a much less glorious career.
That encounter had caused him to put his full effort into being the best swordsman he could. Unknown to most, he was actually a Master of Blades . Most thought he had advanced only as far as Swordmaster , but he had continued his training in private, and now could match blades with the very finest in the land. Like his secret ability with the verbal magic, what your enemy didn’t know about you could be used to advantage. Kall didn’t need the fancy titles or recognition. He was more interested in the practical advantages the knowledge offered him.
“I didn’t realize they were so large,” Tant said softly off to Kall’s left where he had been riding silently for the past glass.
Kall looked where the man was pointing. One of the north country’s most fearsome predators, a fully grown Jurten was lifting an impressively sized bison up into one of the trees where it would feast on it. The Jurten was distantly related to the familiar house pet, except it was a hundred times its size and was extremely dangerous. Its claws were a hand span long when extended and its mouth contained a double row of extremely sharp teeth designed to
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