The Road to Magic (Book 1 of the Way of the Demon Series) by Alexey Glushanovsky Page A
Authors: Alexey Glushanovsky
Ads: Link
victorious yelp, the wee wizardlet halted his search and solemnly babbled some phrase in an unfamiliar language. The effect was immediate. The wizard swelled up, turned red, then sneezed. Smallish rainbow balls flew out of the wizard’s mouth and nostrils, immediately grew in size and began exploding prettily, filling the room with rainbow droplets.
Oleg glanced over to the girl, puzzled. She replied with an uncomprehending look and a shrug of the shoulders. Then they both turned to the wizard. Under their quizzical gazes he reddened once again, then mumbled: ‘I got a bit muddled up … no big deal... It’s an old book, the pages got stuck together…’ And as he said this he looked at Oleg with the sad eyes of a student who hadn’t studied for the exam and could now only hope for a miracle and the good will of his professor. Oleg was on the verge of saying something reassuring to him, something comforting along the lines of: ‘Never mind, it happens to all of us’ when he remembered, just in time, that evil demons rarely say anything comforting to flunked wizards who’d conjured them up. So in keeping with the strict rules, he had to dole out another portion of evil laughter.
The wizard pulled himself together at once. Throwing a glance at the girl giggling behind her hand he set about rummaging through his book even more desperately, mumbling to himself.
The wizard stopped. Peering into the book he walked round the pentagram three times with Oleg inside and solemnly read out a spell. When he’d finished, the wizard pronounced loudly: ‘Fall to your knees and acknowledge my power!’
And immediately pain swept over Oleg. Although nothing much at first, it became stronger and stronger by the second. Oleg somehow knew that all he had to do was fall to his knees and acknowledge the power of the wizard in front of him and the pain would pass. He also knew that he wouldn’t do that as long as he still had a shred of consciousness left; Oleg had no intention of becoming a slave.
Then he heard the wizard say to his companion: ‘Just a few more minutes and he’ll give in. Your Highness, you shall have your own demon!’
And now he understood full well all the wisdom of the salamander’s advice – squash the wizard against the wall as soon as you arrive. He understood and regretted that he had not followed such wise advice immediately. Livid with rage, Oleg threw himself at the wizard. He staggered, but the circle held. Either it was stronger than it had seemed to Oleg, or he himself was too weak from pain. Nevertheless, the candles at the corners of the pentagram kept flickering and almost went out, while the pain lessened for a few seconds. And those few seconds were enough for him to remember Heliona’s second piece of advice: “Put out the candles at the corners of the pentagram, and you’re free.” With genuine gratitude Oleg remembered the gay ex-goddess. Then, overcoming the new wave of pain, he turned to the nearest candle and straining what was left of his will, mentally ordered: ‘Go out!’
The flame flickered and wavered, then, unable to oppose his will, went out, giving off a thin stream of smoke. The pain decreased at once. Turning to the second candle, Oleg noticed that the wizard cried and staggered, clutching at his head.
Soon all the candles had been extinguished. There was no more pain, nor did Oleg feel the barrier any longer. He didn’t hesitate. With a great roar he bounded out of the pentagram and, extending his claws to the maximum, rushed at the wizard. Oleg had firmly made up his mind to follow the wonderful, wise advice of the salamander and smear the hapless fellow against the wall, preferably in as thin a layer as possible.
The lad didn’t protest. He stood, clutching his head, moaning weakly. A thin stream of blood flowed from his nose. Evidently the extinguishing of the candles or the broken spell was having a bad effect on his health. But as it happened, the wizard’s
Oleg glanced over to the girl, puzzled. She replied with an uncomprehending look and a shrug of the shoulders. Then they both turned to the wizard. Under their quizzical gazes he reddened once again, then mumbled: ‘I got a bit muddled up … no big deal... It’s an old book, the pages got stuck together…’ And as he said this he looked at Oleg with the sad eyes of a student who hadn’t studied for the exam and could now only hope for a miracle and the good will of his professor. Oleg was on the verge of saying something reassuring to him, something comforting along the lines of: ‘Never mind, it happens to all of us’ when he remembered, just in time, that evil demons rarely say anything comforting to flunked wizards who’d conjured them up. So in keeping with the strict rules, he had to dole out another portion of evil laughter.
The wizard pulled himself together at once. Throwing a glance at the girl giggling behind her hand he set about rummaging through his book even more desperately, mumbling to himself.
The wizard stopped. Peering into the book he walked round the pentagram three times with Oleg inside and solemnly read out a spell. When he’d finished, the wizard pronounced loudly: ‘Fall to your knees and acknowledge my power!’
And immediately pain swept over Oleg. Although nothing much at first, it became stronger and stronger by the second. Oleg somehow knew that all he had to do was fall to his knees and acknowledge the power of the wizard in front of him and the pain would pass. He also knew that he wouldn’t do that as long as he still had a shred of consciousness left; Oleg had no intention of becoming a slave.
Then he heard the wizard say to his companion: ‘Just a few more minutes and he’ll give in. Your Highness, you shall have your own demon!’
And now he understood full well all the wisdom of the salamander’s advice – squash the wizard against the wall as soon as you arrive. He understood and regretted that he had not followed such wise advice immediately. Livid with rage, Oleg threw himself at the wizard. He staggered, but the circle held. Either it was stronger than it had seemed to Oleg, or he himself was too weak from pain. Nevertheless, the candles at the corners of the pentagram kept flickering and almost went out, while the pain lessened for a few seconds. And those few seconds were enough for him to remember Heliona’s second piece of advice: “Put out the candles at the corners of the pentagram, and you’re free.” With genuine gratitude Oleg remembered the gay ex-goddess. Then, overcoming the new wave of pain, he turned to the nearest candle and straining what was left of his will, mentally ordered: ‘Go out!’
The flame flickered and wavered, then, unable to oppose his will, went out, giving off a thin stream of smoke. The pain decreased at once. Turning to the second candle, Oleg noticed that the wizard cried and staggered, clutching at his head.
Soon all the candles had been extinguished. There was no more pain, nor did Oleg feel the barrier any longer. He didn’t hesitate. With a great roar he bounded out of the pentagram and, extending his claws to the maximum, rushed at the wizard. Oleg had firmly made up his mind to follow the wonderful, wise advice of the salamander and smear the hapless fellow against the wall, preferably in as thin a layer as possible.
The lad didn’t protest. He stood, clutching his head, moaning weakly. A thin stream of blood flowed from his nose. Evidently the extinguishing of the candles or the broken spell was having a bad effect on his health. But as it happened, the wizard’s
Similar Books
