• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Lord Cytok

Kerith-Ayxt puts the letter down and takes a moment to savor the last of his wine before leaving his tent. Outside he finds his aide Aezyl standing by the fire with a mage of the First Circle.

“…Baerustin and other places like it are the reason the School was founded in the first place,” Aezyl says to the First. “When you achieve the Second Circle you will learn in more detail the events that turned this once thriving city into what you see today.”

“You mean a mage destroyed Baerustin?” the First asks.

“In a way yes,” replies Aezyl. “An experiment gone wrong in a time when mages worked blind, trying to discover ever more powerful spells and enchantments. Many of the rules and laws that you have already been taught were just speculations at the time. Magic was unleashed here, magic of a most fearsome sort. Before the citizens understood the danger they were in, many were killed.”

Kerith-Ayxt listens as his aide relates the tale of Baerustin to the First.

“Brother beset brother, father turned on sons,” he continues. “None now recall just what the mage who unleashed this upon Baerustin was attempting to accomplish. But the magic is still active, even after a millennium.” He turns to gaze directly in the First’s eyes and says, “It turns you mad if you are exposed to it for any length of time.”

“Then, we are to go mad?” he asks in apprehension.

Shaking his head Aezyl says, “No. Here above the sand we are safe.”

Kerith-Ayxt clears his throat.

Aezyl turns and sees his lord standing there. “Yes milord?” he asks. The First bows to him and then moves away.

“We are moving north at first light,” the High Lord Magus states. “The Emperor wishes us to deal with the invading army before it can reach friendly territory.”

“Then we are to destroy it milord?” he asks.

Nodding, Kerith-Ayxt replies, “Yes. To the last man.”

Chapter Twenty Five

______________________

The sudden plunge into darkness disorients Jiron just enough for James to wriggle free. “Come back here murderer!” he hears Jiron saying not too far from him.

“I didn’t murder anyone,” replies James as he gets off the dais and moves quickly around it. He can hear Jiron’s breathing as he follows.

The room has grown cold, very cold. He tries to formulate a spell to use against Jiron but he simply can’t concentrate well enough. The blow to his head still has him unable to summon the magic. The ring! Reaching into his pouch, he searches for the ring all the while continuing to back away from Jiron. He steps lightly so as not to announce his exact location. His fingers search the pouch but fail to find the ring.

“Tinok told me of how you sent him away the night Cassie died,” he says.

Tinok? Tinok was here too? A feeling that something’s definitely not right comes over him. Dave and Tinok being here at the same time? Unlikely. His mind begins to throw off the anger and rage as cool logic asserts itself.

Vague outlines begin to appear as his eyes adjust to the darkness. “Jiron,” he says. “When did you talk to Tinok?”

“After you fell in the water,” he replies. “I followed you and found him.”

“You followed me?” he asks. Suddenly, his orb springs to life in the palm of his hand. It’s a strain to hold even that much magic, his head is throbbing so badly. Seeing the knife rise to strike, he says, “Wait!”

The knife pauses. “Why should I, murderer?” Jiron asks.

“How did you get past the monster in the water?” he asks.

“There was no monster,” he says. “I did find where the Empire was holding Tinok. He was mutilated!” His eyes still show the intensity of emotion at what was done to his friend.

James sees the knife begin to move and hollers as fast as he can, “If the Empire controlled this area, then why didn’t the mages follow?” He closes his eyes and braces for the knife to strike. When the attack doesn’t come, he opens his eyes to see the knife but inches from his throat. Jiron stares at him with a thoughtful look on his