single entity, then a
spell that can remove all light, air and life from that dimension must, at its core, understand that life. Hence it could potentially give rise to any spell for any purpose you care to
mention.’
‘What!?’ said Auum, hoping he was mishearing but knowing he was not.
‘That doesn’t follow,’ said Drech. ‘If my understanding of Dawnthief is correct, it merely, if I can use that word in this context, removes light and air and hence life.
You do not have to understand the basis of the genesis of life to know how to remove it from something that is living.’
The slap of Auum’s palms on the table overturned all three mugs and jolted Drech and Stein from their ridiculous discussion. Both looked at him like guilty schoolchildren, Stein’s
expression instantly became anxious. There was silence but for the
drip-drip
of spilled infusion from the table to the floor. Auum’s face was hot with anger.
‘And there you both sit. Smug examples of exactly why magic is so dangerous and its practitioners must be treated with maximum suspicion. One of your own has developed a spell that, unless
I misheard you, can kill everything in a heartbeat, and yet you sit there and discuss the finer points of the theory?
‘How can you have been so . . .
careless
? Yniss preserve us, but I thought I’d heard it all. But in all the thousands of years I have enjoyed blessed life, I have never been
so astonished, so
furious
, that another sentient being could do something so . . . so
stupid
!’
Auum pushed back and got up, unable to sit any longer. He walked around the kitchen, trying to get his thoughts in order and failing completely.
‘To be fair, we weren’t the ones who were careless,’ said Drech.
‘It’s the whole sorry lot of you!’ Auum shouted. ‘Don’t you understand? This is the curse of magic. It endangers innocent people all over Balaia and Calaius. I
don’t care if you call yourself a mage or Il-Aryn, you are all complicit in this. Of course Ystormun and the Wytch Lords want Dawnthief. Why by all the gods of elves and men did you let this
Septern create this thing and, worse, allow it to be announced to the entire dimension?’
Auum rubbed his hands over his face as if that would cleanse him of this reality. But when he looked back at Drech and Stein his anger intensified.
‘Have you really nothing to say?’
Stein had a sheen of sweat on his brow and was rubbing his hands together.
‘The spell is hidden. The Wytch Lords can’t get their hands on it.’
‘They are fighting a war to do just that,’ said Auum. ‘Clearly they think otherwise.’
‘They have no choice,’ said Drech. ‘They need to get to the spell before any of the other colleges.’
‘And are you lot going to fight for it too? Can any of you resist such power?’
Stein didn’t reply at once, considering his next words carefully.
‘It is only natural that the colleges should seek the spell. Not to use for destruction but to analyse, research and to keep safe against those who desire its capacity for
destruction.’
Not carefully enough.
‘Do I have IDIOT tattooed on my forehead?’ demanded Auum, tapping it. ‘I must do if you expect me to swallow that cup of frog poison. “Not to use
for destruction”? Yniss bless me, but Takaar is sending adepts to Julatsa to learn battle magic. It is
what you do
. And if you captured the spell that could devastate your enemies
you expect me to believe you wouldn’t use it to gain more power?’
‘It’s a moot point,’ said Stein, shifting nervously. ‘None of us know where it is.’
Auum had emitted a derisory laugh before he could swallow it.
‘Then praise be to all we hold dear, we’re all saved. Stand down the armies, go back to your homes and tell your children they are safe for eternity!’ Auum leaned over the
table and shouted straight into Stein’s face. ‘How can you know that the Wytch Lords can’t find it if you don’t know where
spell that can remove all light, air and life from that dimension must, at its core, understand that life. Hence it could potentially give rise to any spell for any purpose you care to
mention.’
‘What!?’ said Auum, hoping he was mishearing but knowing he was not.
‘That doesn’t follow,’ said Drech. ‘If my understanding of Dawnthief is correct, it merely, if I can use that word in this context, removes light and air and hence life.
You do not have to understand the basis of the genesis of life to know how to remove it from something that is living.’
The slap of Auum’s palms on the table overturned all three mugs and jolted Drech and Stein from their ridiculous discussion. Both looked at him like guilty schoolchildren, Stein’s
expression instantly became anxious. There was silence but for the
drip-drip
of spilled infusion from the table to the floor. Auum’s face was hot with anger.
‘And there you both sit. Smug examples of exactly why magic is so dangerous and its practitioners must be treated with maximum suspicion. One of your own has developed a spell that, unless
I misheard you, can kill everything in a heartbeat, and yet you sit there and discuss the finer points of the theory?
‘How can you have been so . . .
careless
? Yniss preserve us, but I thought I’d heard it all. But in all the thousands of years I have enjoyed blessed life, I have never been
so astonished, so
furious
, that another sentient being could do something so . . . so
stupid
!’
Auum pushed back and got up, unable to sit any longer. He walked around the kitchen, trying to get his thoughts in order and failing completely.
‘To be fair, we weren’t the ones who were careless,’ said Drech.
‘It’s the whole sorry lot of you!’ Auum shouted. ‘Don’t you understand? This is the curse of magic. It endangers innocent people all over Balaia and Calaius. I
don’t care if you call yourself a mage or Il-Aryn, you are all complicit in this. Of course Ystormun and the Wytch Lords want Dawnthief. Why by all the gods of elves and men did you let this
Septern create this thing and, worse, allow it to be announced to the entire dimension?’
Auum rubbed his hands over his face as if that would cleanse him of this reality. But when he looked back at Drech and Stein his anger intensified.
‘Have you really nothing to say?’
Stein had a sheen of sweat on his brow and was rubbing his hands together.
‘The spell is hidden. The Wytch Lords can’t get their hands on it.’
‘They are fighting a war to do just that,’ said Auum. ‘Clearly they think otherwise.’
‘They have no choice,’ said Drech. ‘They need to get to the spell before any of the other colleges.’
‘And are you lot going to fight for it too? Can any of you resist such power?’
Stein didn’t reply at once, considering his next words carefully.
‘It is only natural that the colleges should seek the spell. Not to use for destruction but to analyse, research and to keep safe against those who desire its capacity for
destruction.’
Not carefully enough.
‘Do I have IDIOT tattooed on my forehead?’ demanded Auum, tapping it. ‘I must do if you expect me to swallow that cup of frog poison. “Not to use
for destruction”? Yniss bless me, but Takaar is sending adepts to Julatsa to learn battle magic. It is
what you do
. And if you captured the spell that could devastate your enemies
you expect me to believe you wouldn’t use it to gain more power?’
‘It’s a moot point,’ said Stein, shifting nervously. ‘None of us know where it is.’
Auum had emitted a derisory laugh before he could swallow it.
‘Then praise be to all we hold dear, we’re all saved. Stand down the armies, go back to your homes and tell your children they are safe for eternity!’ Auum leaned over the
table and shouted straight into Stein’s face. ‘How can you know that the Wytch Lords can’t find it if you don’t know where
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