The Sorcerer's Destiny (The Sorcerer's Path) by Brock Deskins Page B

my employ save me. Does that suit you?”
    “I serve at your pleasure, sir.”
    “Wonderful. Please bring me the wizard Eva and see to the ship.”
    “Aye, sir.”
    Tobias returned minutes later, gently pushing Eva through the door. Daebian motioned to the gag in her mouth and Tobias cut it free. If Eva was offended by her treatment, it did not show on her face. She took a seat in the chair Daebian indicated and smiled.
    “Thank you, Tobias. I am sure Eva will behave herself,” Daebian said in dismissal. “Nice to see you again, Eva. The former Captain of this ship had some decent taste in wine. Would you like some?”
    Eva glanced over her shoulder to her wrists bound behind her back. Daebian twiddled a finger and the rope became dry and brittle and fell apart.
    “You have learned some new tricks,” Eva said as she rubbed her wrists before reaching for the glass of wine.
    “You have no idea the things I have learned.”
    “We all wondered what became of you after you left. You seem to have done rather well in such a short time.”
    “I do hate to remain idle.”
    “Is it true you stabbed your father before you ran off?”
    “I did, and I took a bit of him with me when I left. How does he fair?”
    “I’m not certain. I was put on ship duty and left with Captain Zeb shortly after you did. I cannot imagine anyone having the gall to attack Azerick. He is so powerful.”
    “He is also a bit stupid in some ways, and it is going to get him and a lot of people killed. How do you like ship duty? Is it preferable to being at the school?” Daebian asked.
    “I had never planned on setting foot on a boat in my life, but the constant training was so stressful and exhausting at the school, I agreed to go when they asked.”
    Daebian quirked an eyebrow. “Father still actually asks people what they want? Well, that consideration certainly won’t last much longer. Do you want to go back?”
    Eva sighed and thought. “They need me. Azerick says they need every wizard they can find to defeat the Scions.”
    “He is going to fail. What if I told you that you could be of greater use elsewhere?”
    “Doing what?”
    “Have you ever thought about being a pirate? It’s a lot of fun.”
    Eva returned Daebian’s smile and sipped from her glass.
     

 
    CHAPTER 5
    The forsaken gods of old hovered above their bleak prison world from within their crystal fortress. The Scions looked down at their countless minions, clawing at the detestable barrier keeping them from their sole purpose for existing: the total destruction of the mortal races.
    “The false guardian’s abominable progeny has been absent, and the barrier suffers from its absence,” Zyn remarked.
    “Our time draws near,” Xar affirmed.
    “I trust our weakening has gone undetected?”
    “Indeed it has. We have successfully diverted the false guardian and his mutant offspring’s attention to other flaws.”
    “Let us take advantage of their neglect and awaken our pets.”
    “Agreed.”
    The Scions placed their hands upon the raised crystal sphere in the center of the room and focused their awesome power. A thin but incredibly powerful ray lanced out from the tower and struck the barrier. Unlike the previous breaches, this one was not intended to smash open a gaping wound to allow hordes of their violent killing machines through, but instead seared a surgically precise hole to allow their dominating consciousness to reach out into the mortal realm.
     
    ***
     
    Sandy luxuriated in her huge bed of deep, dry sand, heated with her magic to what humans would consider intolerable warmth. She had spent the last several weeks within the school grounds, adding realism to the humans’ training and improving her own magic in the process. She enjoyed the one day off per week Azerick allowed them all to take so they could rest and reflect upon what they learned. Sandy hoped to reflect upon twenty hours or so of uninterrupted sleep.
    “Hear us and obey!”
    Sandy’s