troll? Or do you mean when I saved us from your zombie
army? I don’t think---”
“I can’t leave. I already told you; a life debt is
unbreakable. You can kill me or use me as a shield, but until I save your life
or die trying, I cannot leave.”
I sighed. “Maybe you---”
“Besides, I was hoping your aunt could help me get
rid of the zombies.”
“How would she help you? She’s not a necromancer.”
“No, but sorcerers always have the right plants and
spices to ward off the dead. I haven’t found another necromancer in years, so I
don’t know who else to go to.”
“I told you my aunt locked away her dark magic.
That’s why I’m going to her.”
“She still might have something.”
I sighed. “Fine.”
The sun was below the horizon and the sky was dark by
the time we reached the docks, but the bright moonlight made it easy to see my
aunt’s island. I grasped Asiago’s arm again and held up my staff. This time, I
didn’t close my eyes.
This was something I had learned to do out of pure
panic. The first time, I transported myself and a pirate ship full of people to
another island because a sea monster was trying to swallow the ship. The second
time, I transported Merlin, myself, and Bralyn into the pirate ship without
thinking. The third time, I left my aunt’s castle and appeared in Red Rock
because I felt betrayed and needed to be alone. Although Merlin seemed very
impressed by the ability, I never questioned it.
Since all my brothers could do it from the time they
were little, I knew the limitations of it. Our mother warned us that if we couldn’t
see the location in our mind perfectly, we could end up lost… or worse. I read
about sorcerers and wizards who messed up in the middle of transporting
somewhere and would arrive missing body parts. It was also extremely exhausting
magic.
I shuddered and focused on the island. Red and blue
magic surrounded us, and then suddenly, we were standing before my aunt’s
castle… which looked nothing like it had the last time I was there.
What was once a grand castle that anyone could be
proud of, was now barely more than remains. Most of the outer walls had
collapsed and I could see fire damage inside. My aunt’s castle had been
attacked.
Chapter 5
I started for the front door,
but Asiago grabbed my arm to stop me. Dizziness gripped me even harder and I
had to brace myself with my staff. Transporting us twice in a row was hard on
me, but not enough to change my mind.
“You can’t just walk in there! Your aunt has
obviously been attacked. Whoever attacked her might still be in there.”
“Good. Then I can stop them.”
He let me go. “You want to get rid of your sorcery,
yet your first response is to run headfirst into a dangerous situation! A
wizard would never do that!”
“I’ll worry about it later.” I walked right up to the
front door and tried to push it open. It fell off its broken hinges. The castle
had been almost identical to Magnus’s castle. In the entryway, there was a
large throne chair, two winding staircases, and decorative furniture. All of
the furniture and the stairs themselves were destroyed. The rich, green, velvet
chair was shredded and a letter was stuck to it with a dagger.
I sidestepped the debris until I reached the chair
and removed the letter. It had an unfamiliar, red wax seal, which I broke to
unfold the letter.
Magnus,
if you ever want to see your wife again, you will bring the crystal to me. You
know where to find me.
That was all it said. I sighed. “I need to go back to
Magnus. My aunt was kidnapped. I take it you refuse to be left behind?” I
folded up the letter and stuck it in my pocket.
His eyes widened. “I’m not staying here. I still owe
you my life. I promise I’ll be useful.”
I didn’t even bother to argue; I just turned and
started walking out, wondering what I should do next. After using so much magic
transporting Asiago and myself, I was running out of
army? I don’t think---”
“I can’t leave. I already told you; a life debt is
unbreakable. You can kill me or use me as a shield, but until I save your life
or die trying, I cannot leave.”
I sighed. “Maybe you---”
“Besides, I was hoping your aunt could help me get
rid of the zombies.”
“How would she help you? She’s not a necromancer.”
“No, but sorcerers always have the right plants and
spices to ward off the dead. I haven’t found another necromancer in years, so I
don’t know who else to go to.”
“I told you my aunt locked away her dark magic.
That’s why I’m going to her.”
“She still might have something.”
I sighed. “Fine.”
The sun was below the horizon and the sky was dark by
the time we reached the docks, but the bright moonlight made it easy to see my
aunt’s island. I grasped Asiago’s arm again and held up my staff. This time, I
didn’t close my eyes.
This was something I had learned to do out of pure
panic. The first time, I transported myself and a pirate ship full of people to
another island because a sea monster was trying to swallow the ship. The second
time, I transported Merlin, myself, and Bralyn into the pirate ship without
thinking. The third time, I left my aunt’s castle and appeared in Red Rock
because I felt betrayed and needed to be alone. Although Merlin seemed very
impressed by the ability, I never questioned it.
Since all my brothers could do it from the time they
were little, I knew the limitations of it. Our mother warned us that if we couldn’t
see the location in our mind perfectly, we could end up lost… or worse. I read
about sorcerers and wizards who messed up in the middle of transporting
somewhere and would arrive missing body parts. It was also extremely exhausting
magic.
I shuddered and focused on the island. Red and blue
magic surrounded us, and then suddenly, we were standing before my aunt’s
castle… which looked nothing like it had the last time I was there.
What was once a grand castle that anyone could be
proud of, was now barely more than remains. Most of the outer walls had
collapsed and I could see fire damage inside. My aunt’s castle had been
attacked.
Chapter 5
I started for the front door,
but Asiago grabbed my arm to stop me. Dizziness gripped me even harder and I
had to brace myself with my staff. Transporting us twice in a row was hard on
me, but not enough to change my mind.
“You can’t just walk in there! Your aunt has
obviously been attacked. Whoever attacked her might still be in there.”
“Good. Then I can stop them.”
He let me go. “You want to get rid of your sorcery,
yet your first response is to run headfirst into a dangerous situation! A
wizard would never do that!”
“I’ll worry about it later.” I walked right up to the
front door and tried to push it open. It fell off its broken hinges. The castle
had been almost identical to Magnus’s castle. In the entryway, there was a
large throne chair, two winding staircases, and decorative furniture. All of
the furniture and the stairs themselves were destroyed. The rich, green, velvet
chair was shredded and a letter was stuck to it with a dagger.
I sidestepped the debris until I reached the chair
and removed the letter. It had an unfamiliar, red wax seal, which I broke to
unfold the letter.
Magnus,
if you ever want to see your wife again, you will bring the crystal to me. You
know where to find me.
That was all it said. I sighed. “I need to go back to
Magnus. My aunt was kidnapped. I take it you refuse to be left behind?” I
folded up the letter and stuck it in my pocket.
His eyes widened. “I’m not staying here. I still owe
you my life. I promise I’ll be useful.”
I didn’t even bother to argue; I just turned and
started walking out, wondering what I should do next. After using so much magic
transporting Asiago and myself, I was running out of
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