Warded Mage (Reawakening Saga) by D.W. Jackson Page A

and at the ready. The Vathari warrior was about his size but his bulging muscles made Thad look like a child in comparison. It wasn’t the warrior’s size that bothered him, It was the tattoo on the brute’s right hand. He had seen some like it before and cursed himself for not asking Sae-Thae about their significance before. Thad allowed the warrior to make the first move as he kept a close eye on every move the Vathari made. Though large, the warrior was impossibly fast and was in front of Thad attacking with a vicious overhand chop almost before he knew what was happening. Thad got his sword up in time but the jarring strength from the attack sent shivers down his arm that reverberated inside him as if he were standing at the center of a bell as it was being rung.
    Thad moved quickly backward and reset his footing and continued watching. The Vathari was too strong to fight toe to toe with, in no time Thad would have been left on the ground waiting for the final sword stroke, no he had to watch and wait for an opening. There was always the option to use his magic but in a sparring match that seemed too much like cheating. He wanted to win, felt the burning desire for it, but he wanted to do so on his own terms. Thad wasn’t sure how the warrior had moved so fast, so Thad watched his feet for any sign of movement.
    Thad saw it , though it was only the briefest of hints and the Vathari leaned back putting his weight on his dominant foot. Anticipating what was coming Thad dove to the side and struck with his sword at what appeared to only be empty space but the second before his sword passed through the warrior’s body seemed to suddenly appear. Thad’s blade caught the brute full in the chest as a twinge of energy shot down the blade lighting it up like a lightning bolt, sending the Vathari flying backward as blood flowed freely from the deep wound Thad’s sword had made.
    Thad looked down at the still glowing blade as tendrils of energy flowed around it. “Wonderful, I knew the blade had a hint of magic about it but never would I have expected the dwarves to give you such a prize.” Thad heard Sae-Thae say from behind him, though through his pounding heartbeat it sounded as if he was worlds away.
    “It’s not of dwarven make….I made it.” Thad said his voice mired in disbelief at what his own eyes witnessed.
    “Truly, I have never head of a mage mastering the art dwarven blacksmithing, though it would have to be possible especially considering your birthright. I should have expected something was amiss when the blade used energy as its medium instead of earth. Only a dwarf with the blood of Moriudonius could make such a thing.” Sae-Thae said as he lightly pulled the sword from Thad’s hand and began to inspect it. “Did you choose energy on purpose, it is very effective I must say.”
    Thad sat down heavily on the ground as the world seemed to spin out of control around him. How had he made such a thing? He had heard of all kinds of mythical weapons, but never one that st ruck with the power of lightning. “I…..Don’t know….Crusher said to simply let my magic flow into the weapon with every stroke of the hammer……I worked on it……for a whole season…… this is the first time I have used it.” Thad said haltingly as each word rang in his own mind like an accusation of the Vathari he had just killed.
    “What is wrong with you brother. You see m to be out of sorts. You have won and in grand style. You have beat one of the dark gliders in fair combat, a great feat indeed, especially since you didn’t use your magic…well except for the sword, even without its power it was clear to everyone you had won.”
    “It was a simple sparring match yet I killed my opponent. I cannot be happy with such an outcome.” Thad said dismally.
    “Ah! I forgot you are the honorable sort. You should not worry, he shall live, the priestess’s are already fast to work on his wounds. Give him a few days and he