Tiberius felt an entirely different kind of pain. His father’s insides had been burned and blistered, and the ache Ti felt was sharp. Every breath and every movement sent waves of pain radiating through his abdomen. But there was a spell for healing burns, and Tiberius knew it well.
“ Acies Sano Cuticula, Acies Penetralis Resarcio Viscus ,” he said, changing his spell once again.
This time there was immediate relief. The magic flowed through his father’s body, healing the small burns in his intestines and organs. It reminded Tiberius of pouring water over freshly dug vegetables and watching the dirt swirl away. The pain eased until at last it was gone, and Tiberius opened his eyes. His father was staring at him, his breathing deep and regular. His mouth moved, but no sound came from the dry, cracked lips. Then one skeletal hand rose up and settled lightly on Tiberius’ head.
Chapter 8
Rafe
As soon as the figure appeared at the end of the corridor, Rafe knew he was in trouble. All the feelings of childhood, every bad decision he’d made, every poor performance on the training grounds, were suddenly fresh in his psyche again. Rafe’s father was the commander of the earl’s war band, which was in many ways a misnomer. Avondale was a wealthy city, and as such, the earl kept nearly a thousand trained warriors. But of all those soldiers, none was as feared as Grentz, the sword master, champion of Avondale and Rafe’s father.
Rafe watched his father approaching, waiting for the inevitable sign of recognition that he knew must come. Grentz suddenly stopped walking, his body stiff, his face completely unreadable.
“Yesper,” Grentz said with quiet authority. “You are relieved.”
“Yes sir!” the soldier said, snapping off a salute and then turning on his heel before hurrying away.
“What are you doing here?” Grentz asked.
“It’s a long story,” Rafe said.
“Then get busy telling it.”
“The short version is that we made it to Hamill Keep,” Rafe explained. “But the earl there was under some kind of enchantment. We stopped him, saved the earl’s family in their sky ship, and sailed back here.”
“That doesn’t explain how you got into the city,” Grentz said. “And where is the Hamill Keep sky ship?”
“It’s below the mists,” Rafe said, hoping that he wasn’t giving too much away.
If his father remained loyal to Leonosis, he might turn them in, even if Rafe was his only son. Still, Rafe knew it was a chance he would have to take. His father always knew when Rafe was lying.
“We came up and entered the city through a secret entrance under cover of darkness,” Rafe continued.
“A secret entrance?”
“Used by thieves to hide their goods,” Rafe explained.
Grentz nodded as if the explanation were ordinary, but Rafe knew his father was reeling at the thought that a person could get inside the city undetected. Grentz had given his entire life to securing the safety of the earl and guarding the city walls. Suddenly finding out that there were ways in that he hadn’t known about must have been distressing to say the least.
“The earl’s son is here?” Grentz asked.
Rafe nodded. “Tiberius is with his father now. Olyva’s family remained in their sky ship.”
“Tell me why our new king is so intent on finding you?” Grentz asked. “Tell me why I have war ships from Sparlan Citadel circling over my city? Did you kill Earl Marcus?”
“Earl Marcus was already dead,” Rafe said. “His body was being used by some foul magic.”
“All magic is foul,” Grentz said.
“No, Father, it isn’t. I’ve seen magic used for good.”
Grentz’s eyes narrowed, but Rafe pushed on. He knew he needed to tell his father the truth about Tiberius. There was no other way to explain what was really happening.
“Tiberius is a wizard. He saved my life the day we fought the graypees. I broke my back in that fall, but he healed me. He’s trying to heal his father right
“ Acies Sano Cuticula, Acies Penetralis Resarcio Viscus ,” he said, changing his spell once again.
This time there was immediate relief. The magic flowed through his father’s body, healing the small burns in his intestines and organs. It reminded Tiberius of pouring water over freshly dug vegetables and watching the dirt swirl away. The pain eased until at last it was gone, and Tiberius opened his eyes. His father was staring at him, his breathing deep and regular. His mouth moved, but no sound came from the dry, cracked lips. Then one skeletal hand rose up and settled lightly on Tiberius’ head.
Chapter 8
Rafe
As soon as the figure appeared at the end of the corridor, Rafe knew he was in trouble. All the feelings of childhood, every bad decision he’d made, every poor performance on the training grounds, were suddenly fresh in his psyche again. Rafe’s father was the commander of the earl’s war band, which was in many ways a misnomer. Avondale was a wealthy city, and as such, the earl kept nearly a thousand trained warriors. But of all those soldiers, none was as feared as Grentz, the sword master, champion of Avondale and Rafe’s father.
Rafe watched his father approaching, waiting for the inevitable sign of recognition that he knew must come. Grentz suddenly stopped walking, his body stiff, his face completely unreadable.
“Yesper,” Grentz said with quiet authority. “You are relieved.”
“Yes sir!” the soldier said, snapping off a salute and then turning on his heel before hurrying away.
“What are you doing here?” Grentz asked.
“It’s a long story,” Rafe said.
“Then get busy telling it.”
“The short version is that we made it to Hamill Keep,” Rafe explained. “But the earl there was under some kind of enchantment. We stopped him, saved the earl’s family in their sky ship, and sailed back here.”
“That doesn’t explain how you got into the city,” Grentz said. “And where is the Hamill Keep sky ship?”
“It’s below the mists,” Rafe said, hoping that he wasn’t giving too much away.
If his father remained loyal to Leonosis, he might turn them in, even if Rafe was his only son. Still, Rafe knew it was a chance he would have to take. His father always knew when Rafe was lying.
“We came up and entered the city through a secret entrance under cover of darkness,” Rafe continued.
“A secret entrance?”
“Used by thieves to hide their goods,” Rafe explained.
Grentz nodded as if the explanation were ordinary, but Rafe knew his father was reeling at the thought that a person could get inside the city undetected. Grentz had given his entire life to securing the safety of the earl and guarding the city walls. Suddenly finding out that there were ways in that he hadn’t known about must have been distressing to say the least.
“The earl’s son is here?” Grentz asked.
Rafe nodded. “Tiberius is with his father now. Olyva’s family remained in their sky ship.”
“Tell me why our new king is so intent on finding you?” Grentz asked. “Tell me why I have war ships from Sparlan Citadel circling over my city? Did you kill Earl Marcus?”
“Earl Marcus was already dead,” Rafe said. “His body was being used by some foul magic.”
“All magic is foul,” Grentz said.
“No, Father, it isn’t. I’ve seen magic used for good.”
Grentz’s eyes narrowed, but Rafe pushed on. He knew he needed to tell his father the truth about Tiberius. There was no other way to explain what was really happening.
“Tiberius is a wizard. He saved my life the day we fought the graypees. I broke my back in that fall, but he healed me. He’s trying to heal his father right
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