The Black Wizard: The Black Wizard, #1

By Jack Curtis

The Silver Coven reigns supreme over the Empire of Magic, the emperor but a figure head guided by the will of the five wizards. Them and their fellow mages guide every aspect of life inside the empire. For good or evil as one may perceive it.

Enter Grady, a thief who has just been found guilty of murder and is awaiting his execution. While in his cell he is visited by a nobleman who gives Grady the most the unlikely and impossible of tasks. The task in question is to destroy the Silver Coven and the wizards who control it.

Such a task would be impossible for any normal man to accomplish. How does a regular person fight not only one person with magic but a whole organization of mages? The answer is that Grady is not ordinary man, he is in fact the sixth wizard, the Black Wizard.

The Black Wizard is a grimdark historical fantasy novel. If you like George R.R. Martin, Joe Abercombie or Mark Lawrence then this is novel for you. Filled with magic, sword fights, and twists and turns to keep readers delighted.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jack Curtis
• Release date: May 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223608363

Book preview

The Black Wizard

By Jack Curtis

All rights reserved

Copywright 2023

Chapter 1

The rain poured down hard on Grady’s head, big, huge droplets that splashed on the hood of his cloak.  Grady looked up the road and saw a light up ahead, hope fluttered in his chest at the promise of some place dry and warm.  Grady pulled up the hood of his cloak, trying to block more rain, and headed towards the light.  It proved to be a large house, he walked alongside its grey stone wall.  He didn’t hear anyone out and about, but the time of night and weather would be keeping them inside.  Grady ran to the gate and hoped it would be unlocked.  The gate, large black, and iron was held fast by a padlock.  Grady rattled the gate hoping to get someone’s attention.

The rattling brought forth a guard from a small gatehouse attached to the wall.  He had a sour look on his face, Grady got the impression that the man had just been roused from sleep, something that did not help Grady’s chances of getting someplace out of the rain.  The guard sauntered over through the mud towards the gate and looked at Grady from under a large hat to keep off the rain. 

What do you want? asked the guard.  He had a large bush mustache the color of mustard and beady eyes, he wore a leather jerkin that bulged in the middle from his gut.  He held a club loosely in one hand.

Someplace dry and warm till this passes, Grady pointed up to indicate the rain.

Hmm, the guard mused, he eyed the sword on Grady’s belt, and then looked at Grady.  Grady looked to be of an average background, sometimes better than average. Grady was a contrast in two colors, black hair, and eyes with pale white skin. His appearance could have been judged as being almost angelic, or demonic when he had a sneer on his face.  Grady did not look that scary, now.  He tried to present the reasonable face of a young man who just wanted to get out of the rain.  He was trustworthy when it came to his looks. Grady’s eyes were not overly large or too small and beady.  His nose was small and came to a delicate point at the end.  Grady had high cheekbones and no blemishes or scars marred his skin.  Grady was not large; he was of average height and had a slender build though his shoulders were somewhat broad.  Grady even looked younger than he was.  Grady was more pretty than handsome to be fair, something he was not a fan of, handsome men could command attention, pretty boys got hurt.

The guard chewed his lip, and then a light appeared to go on in one eye, the other twitched. Yes, I believe my master will want to meet you, smiled the guard.

Of course, said Grady but the stable will do fine you understand.  Grady didn’t trust people, especially when they had a weird look in their eye like the one the guard was giving him now.

Not at all, my master is a kind sort, very generous, the guard continued to smile at Grady like he was looking at a prize pig from the country fair.

Grady nodded his thanks and followed the guard up to the house.  Grady had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, but he needed a roof for the night.  He rattled his sword in its scabbard which caused the guard to stop in his tracks.

Right, breathed out the guard nearly forgot, I’ll need to take that from you, you understand of course? smiled the guard pointing at the sword on Grady’s hip can't be too careful my Master being old and frail and all.  

Grady looked at the guard who just smiled at him, Grady thought it was a stupid move but when the wind blew and the rain started to hit him in the face, he had no choice.  A night out in the rain could be the death of him.  Grady nodded his head and handed the sword over.  

The dagger too, added the guard, which Grady also handed to him after a moment’s pause.  Then Grady motioned for the guard to continue up the way, to which the guard smiled and led on.  

The house was a large manor house, nothing that a Kurfurst would own or even a rich Graf would dwell in, but someone who was perhaps a wealthy merchant or minor noble might live there.  The house looked warm, like the kind of place where a person could sit in a soft chair before a roaring fire reading a book.  It was of dark stone, as most buildings in the empire were, wooded shingles were upon its roof and a few stone gargoyles could be seen here and there as a terrifying decoration.  

Grady looked on the demons as one might look on a long-lost brother.  Don’t fret now, said the guard who misread the look completely none of them will hurt you.  Grady gave him a small smile and followed after the guard up to the large wooden doors.  

The guard walked over to a smaller door within the doors and knocked a few times.  It was opened by a tall thin man with a bald head except for a small grey cloud of hair at the back of his head, he was richly dressed in a black doublet and hose that shone from the fine material they were made from. The thin man had a nose and teeth that a rat would find alluring in a mate.

Hmmm? was the only question the man gave.  The guard indicated Grady, the thin man leaned closer to get a good look at him causing Grady to lean back in response, then the tall man stood up suddenly after getting a good look at Grady’s face.

Of course, he smiled at the guard who smiled back.  The feeling in the pit of Grady’s stomach only got worse.  He couldn’t say what it was but something about these two just seemed off.  When the tall thin man gestured for Grady to follow inside the house, Grady dried swallowed once then followed the man inside.

You’re just being silly, Grady told himself as he walked into the house behind the tall thin man.

After a few turns down hallways lined with dark panels of wood, they entered into a parlor where there was indeed a man sitting on a comfortable looking chair with a book in his hands before a roaring fire.  The man looked up when they entered.  He wore fine clothes under a fur gown to fight off the chill, on his head was a reddish cap, with matching slippers on his feet, a gold chain was around his neck.  

Rich and wealthy merchant, thought Grady, he suppressed a smile, rich and wealthy merchants had money lying about ripe for the taking.  

What is this Ber, began the man, then he saw Grady oh! Well hello.  The man got up and walked over to Grady smiling, he seemed friendly but there was something wrong with his smile, something like hunger was burning in his eyes, it made Grady nervous.  His hands went for his sword and dagger and found both missing, Grady swallowed once at their absence then schooled his face to a smile.  

Are you hungry? Thirsty? asked the man still smiling.  He was old, but not frail, there was still some strength to his limbs.  There was a strength to the man’s grip when he shook Grady’s hand, that much Grady was sure of.  

A bit, responded Grady.

The man continued to smile at Grady like a starving man looking at a fat juicy roast pig when he turned around and looked at the thin man.  Well, Bernard? Go get our guest some food and wine!  The thin man bowed his head once and walked back the way Grady and he had come from.  Follow me, follow me, laughed the old man as he walked Grady toward a different hallway.  The old man put his hand on Grady’s shoulder and rubbed it in an odd way Grady thought.  Grady was reminded of the way some men might rub a woman’s shoulder, but he quickly dismissed the thought.

What’s your name? asked the man.

Grady, said Grady And yours's sir?  He remembered his manners at the last minute.

Oh, call me Alfred, smiled the old man.

Alfred? said Grady.

Yes, a simple merchant who has done well in life, smiled Alfred.  Alfred led Grady to a large dining room which contained a long table like the ones used for banquets and portraits of people who looked like Alfred and were probably dead hung on the walls looking down.  

They sat down and conversed about what had brought Grady out into the rain and also Alfred’s business.  Alfred’s conversation about business was rather dull, but Grady was trying to figure out how much money and how many guards the man had.  Grady was a little low on thalers himself and thought this might be a golden opportunity to make his travel a little less of a hardship.

Is it safe with only one guard sir? asked Grady.

Oh, I have two more, chuckled Alfred.

Oh, that is good, said Grady with a smile.  In his mind Grady was trying to remember the way back to the front gate and where the other two guards might be.

Back to you though, back to you, smiled Alfred You’re a law student?

Well yes sir, smiled Grady.  Grady thought he could have been a writer with the story that he had weaved up on the spot or an actor with the way that Grady had presented it masterfully to this old man.  There was no mention of the two guards back in Oldenburg who thought they were so funny, laughing, and joking, well until Grady had slit their throats.  The middle of the street had not been the best place for it, in hindsight Grady had come to realize.  Grady continued to smile at the old man.  

An Englishman? Studying law in the Empire? asked Alfred.

Yes, the best schools are in the Empire you know, the Coven likes to keep them close, Grady smiled.

So that’s what brings you towards our neck of the woods, Alfred giggled.

Grady smiled and nodded his head.  He did not mention the feeling or pull as would be better described that was leading him east.  Grady needed a ship for that, and the closest would probably be in Hamburg or farther north.  No Grady described himself as a law student headed toward Wittenberg.  

They talked some more till the food arrived, a whole roast chicken, vegetables covered in butter, and some black bread.  Grady ate heartily and drink a good amount of red wine, Alfred always smiling and offering more food, but the old man didn’t touch any of it.  

That feeling in the pit of Grady’s stomach would not go away.  It only grew worse and worse to the point that Grady thought he might throw up.  Grady tried to dismiss his unease, Why would an old man hurt him? he asked himself.  A memory swam up from the depths of his brain of his father.

Pretty boys get hurt, his father had smiled.  Grady’s father had been bald as an egg with a scar running down the side of his face, one hand mangled when a cannon had dropped on it, Grady’s father was still able to use a knife and deliver a beating with it though, as Grady well knew.  Pretty boys get used? Grady’s father has sneered.

What does that mean? asked Grady.

You’ll find out someday, just be meaner and nastier than the bullock licker after ya.  Grady shook the memory from his mind and focused on the present.  He focused on food and wine.  I’ll just wait till they’re all asleep then sack the house and quick and quiet as a mouse make my way, he told himself.

After dinner, Alfred and the thin man, Bernard, lead Grady up the stairs to a guest room.  The room contained a four-poster bed with curtains, a wardrobe, and a table of a dark word.   Grady thanked them, closed the door, put out the candle, and then he laid down on the bed and waited.  The enveloping darkness of the bed curtains gave him a feeling of comfort before long he passed into the sleep despite his best wishes. 

During the middle of the night, Grady awoke to a strange feeling, his head was fuzzy but Grady focused his attention on what was happening around him.  The door was open, the bed curtains pushed aside, the covers were thrown to the floor, and there was Alfred completely naked and trying to pull down Grady’s breeches while growling Come on stupid things!

What the? Grady half-shouted and murmured.  He pushed Alfred away.  Alfred stumbled back and ran into the table across from the bed.

Gah! croaked Alfred, before pointed at Grady Now, drop those, spread um wide and take it like a good boy, smiled the old man.

Fuck you! shouted Grady.

That’s the idea, said Alfred with a sick smile well sort of the other way around actually, Alfred raised his eyes in thought then leered back at Grady.  

Not going to happen, Grady’s voice had taken on a darker harder edge.

We will see about that, said Alfred either your free to move or you're chained to a table while it happens, but it will happen, mocked the old man.

Try, smiled Grady.  The old man came at Grady, who grabbed Alfred by the throat and squeezed for dear life.  Alfred gagged and tried to pull Grady’s arms and hands away from his throat, the old may have been strong but he couldn’t force Grady’s fingers off his throat. 

Alfred's face went from fear to rage as his thumbs went towards Grady’s eyes.  Grady kneed the old man between the legs.  They wrestled on the ground till Grady had was behind Alfred and both legs wrapped around the old man’s body with one arm around Alfred’s neck holding the bicep of the other arm and the other grabbing the back of Alfred’s head.  Using his arm for leverage Grady broke the old man’s neck.   Alfred’s body fell to the ground like a crumpled blanket.  Grady moved quickly, he got his clothes arranged, grabbed his stuff and went out the door.  

Bernard was sitting quietly and looking bored on a stool in the hallway.  He looked up in surprise at Grady, then put two and two together and came at Grady with a knife.  Grady blocked the arm with a knife in it and punched Bernard in the nose. 

Bernard fell back, then produced a second knife from somewhere else on his person and came at Grady again.  Grady grabbed both arms and used Bernard’s knives to stab him in the stomach and heart.  Grady looked down at Bernard, then looked closer at the knives.  

The knives were a matching set, of good quality too.  Grady figured he could get some thalers for them.  He removed the knives from Bernard’s body and put them in his belt after wiping them off on the dead man’s doublet. 

Grady searched the house but hadn’t found anything to really steal other than coins that he put into his bag.  Grady made his way out of the house and down to the guard station.  

The guard was asleep with his foot upon a stool.  There was a large bag of coins on a table next to him. 

Grady walked in and banged the door shut after him.   The guard woke with a start then looked up at Grady then looked around the guardhouse in a daze, before coming out of it and looking up at Grady again surprised.  

He came out of his chair with his wooden club in his hand.  Now, began the guard before quick as a whistle Grady threw one of Bernard’s knives into this throat.  Surprise showed on the guard’s face before he crumpled like an empty sack.

Grady walked over to the Guard who was drowning in his blood, pulled the knife from this throat and scooped up the coins putting them back into the bag from which they came, grabbed his sword and dagger from inside the guardhouse then opened the gate and was out on the road back into the rain.

Grady was in a small town within a couple of hours and drenched to the bone.  It was just a one-road town.  Most of the buildings were whitewashed and had wooden tiles on the roofs.  They had slanted roofs in the northern style to keep the snow off when winter came.  

Grady spotted an inn and made for it.  The sign said the name of the inn was the Fat Friar, Grady grimaced at it. The inn’s sign showed a fat man with a bald head in a long brown robe, reminded him of his childhood, Grady hated his childhood.  

Having no better options, he went into the inn.  The public room had a few chairs here and there, most were filled with men drenched and drinking mulled wine or strong beer.  Some had bowls of stew or other German delicacies in front of them.  At one end was a counter with some kegs of beer behind it, taps were sticking out of them, the taps had the telltale signs of beer having been recently released from them.  There was a fat man behind the counter who could only be the innkeeper.  Grady walked up to him, the fat man looked at him smiling.  Help you, young master?

Need a room, said Grady.

Oh no problem but with the weather not many left, said the man smiling down at Grady.

I got money, said Grady.

Oh well, we have rooms, smiled the innkeeper I was just making small talk you see.

Right, nodded Grady How much? 

They haggled over the price for a few minutes during which the innkeeper saw Alfred’s seal on the bag of coins.  Grady commented on doing legal work for Alfred.  The innkeeper smiled and nodded his head.  Grady was sure the man had bought the tale.  Grady had never been to university, but he had read enough on the law to be a lawyer.  He also had been in enough courts to know how the law worked or in most cases didn’t.

They eventually reached a price that Grady was comfortable with.  Grady handed over the marks and the fat man gave him a key for the room.  When Grady moved his cloak to put the money back, the innkeeper saw one of Bernard’s daggers and raised his eyes at it.  Butler likes to gamble, commented Grady smiling.

Hmmm, responded the Innkeeper Let's show you that room. He smiled at Grady, but Grady knew the man had his suspicions.  Still, he followed the innkeeper up the steps.  As far as Grady knew it was the only inn in town, and he needed to get out of the rain.

For the second time in only a few measly hours, Grady again awoke to someone else being in the room with him.  This time however, they were clothed, and there were four of them standing around his bed.  All wore a grey uniform, and all had a wooden club in their hand.  Grady rolled his eyes and curled up into the fetal position to better protect his head and midsection.  This was not Grady’s first beating received from law enforcement.

Chapter 2

Grady stood before the magistrate, a bored look on his face.  The court was held in the town’s church and the magistrate stood at the podium.  The mage from the order of Johan who ran the church had walked out in the rain to attend her herb garden.  None of the rain touched the auburn-haired woman while it soaked the poor sap who ran after her to help pick plants.  A few locals sat in the pews to see the trial.  

You are charged with a most serious crime, the murder of one, began the judge.  When Grady rolled his eyes and made a get on with it motion with his hand, the judge stared at him a fury rising in his face.  This is serious young man; I suggest you respect the law and this court! Grady looked at the guard next to him and shook his head.  The guard’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

The magistrates face turned the color of tomato in a rage You will show! the magistrate began.

It would be the first time, stated Grady.

The magistrate shook with anger Just hang the bastard! We have enough evidence! his gavel coming down on the table.  

The guards looked out the window at the rain in unison then back at the magistrate with pleading faces.  The magistrate looked at them Fine! Do it tomorrow! But teach the bastard some manners first! he bellowed at the guards.  At this Grady sniffed and looked at his fingernails to see if there was any dirt in them.  

Grady was flogged, till the guard doing the flogging thought his arm would fall off.  Grady had kept the same bored expression on his face the whole time, much to the annoyance of the guards, they wanted to hear him scream.  

After the flogging Grady was hung by his ankles in a cell in the town barracks.  A bucket was placed in the corner; Grady was told it was in case he needed a chamber pot to which all the guards laughed.  

Grady made a few comments about their mothers having sexual relations with farm animals that enjoyed the mud, and a promise to use their necks as an outhouse once he