Spirit Blade: Book III of the Dragon Mage Trilogy (39 page)

Until now, the dark wraith watched in disbelief, not believing that Kazin could cast such a spell. It thought he was just bluffing. But now it became nervous. “What - what is going on? You can’t seriously believe a mortal can cast the ‘lifeforce’ spell, can you?”

Kazin braced his feet and raised his staff, pointing it at the wraith. His expression became grim as he concentrated on this complex spell.

Too late, the dark wraith realized this was no joke. It tried to flee, but Kazin’s spell prevented it from escaping. A bolt not unlike a lightning bolt erupted from the staff and surged into the wraith. At first nothing happened, but then the wraith screamed. “No! You can’t destroy -!”

The bolt intensified in brightness and the wraith wailed in agony. Every dark corner of the wraith’s cloud was lit up with the ‘lifeforce’ spell. Soon the dark wraith began to undulate as its parts became disassembled. With a final horrific scream, the dark wraith was no more.

Kazin collapsed to the ground, his magic expended. Many others joined him as the earth shuddered with thunderous force. All of the elementals now had their energy at work in this plane of existence. The forces of fire, water, air, and earth collided and reformed many parts of the world.

While all this was happening and attention was on Kazin and the wraith, a goblin snuck up to the warlock’s dead body. Then the goblin collapsed as a spirit left its body and entered that of the warlock. Slowly, the warlock rose to his feet and looked at his hands. He smiled a wicked grin and withdrew the sword from the sheath at his back.

At last! At last he had his real body back! Now he could complete his objective! With his body back, he could rule the world! The warlock frowned as he looked at Sherman, who stood with his back toward him. He should kill that annoying barbarian once and for all.

Slowly, silently, he crept toward the big warrior.

Chapter 37

“L
ooking for someone?” asked a voice behind him.

The warlock turned to the speaker. Facing him was a fierce looking minotaur wielding a spirit blade which glowed. Beside him stood an unknown creature with a bow.

“Don’t interfere!” snarled the warlock.

“It’s time for you to die!” snarled Zylor in return. He stepped forward, brandishing his sword.

The warlock raised a hand and chanted a spell. Nothing happened. He chanted again with the same result. Then he shrugged. “Oh, well, I’ll do this the hard way. I can’t be killed anyway.” He brandished his sword and took a wary step toward the minotaur, ready to vacate his body the moment the minotaur tried to stab him with the spirit blade. The goblin body was close by and could be used to escape if necessary. As long as he jumped from body to body, he couldn’t be caught.

As he approached the minotaur, he was surprised by the creature’s next move. The minotaur calmly lowered his sword.

“Huh?” said the warlock. Too late, he noticed the presence of someone behind him. A sword suddenly pierced his chest from behind. He looked down in surprise at the spirit blade within his body. The warlock was oddly amused by the irony. Twice in the same night he was slain by a sword in the back.

The magic from the spirit blade radiated outward, engulfing his senses and entire being. Slowly, painfully, his spirit began to melt away. Screaming, he half turned to see who his attacker was even though he already knew the answer. His spirit vanished in a puff.

“Why don’t you just stay dead?” growled Sherman as he kicked the warlock’s body down. “The Sword of Dead is not to be trifled with!” He pulled his sword free and sliced the warlock’s head from his body as an extra precaution.

“I second that,” said an invisible dwarf beside him.

In the darkness, unseen by the heroes, Paul made a hasty sketch of the spirit blade that Sherman wielded. He made a note to himself to follow these mysterious people to see what transpired next.

Everyone turned back to Kazin, who was slowly getting back to his feet. Amelia was all over him but he didn’t appear to have any noticeable injuries.

A dragon landed nearby and a mage with a pointed hat disembarked with a white-robed cleric.

The mage with the pointed hat took two long strides before he noticed he was in the presence of a minotaur and a strange creature like a lizardmage. He stopped in his tracks and was prepared to cast a spell.

“Don’t shoot!” said Sherman, realizing the danger. “They’re allies!”

The mage relaxed a bit and walked over to them uncertainly. He gave Tyris an appraising glance before addressing Kazin. “I’m Arch Mage Gresham. Who are you? What just happened here?”

Kazin smiled. “It’s probably better if I don’t tell you the answer to that. All I can say is that I’m from a different time and place. What happened here is an event that had the potential to change the future; possibly even erase it. I’m here to correct something that could have upset the balance.”

“I see,” said Gresham. He looked unconvinced. “Well, all the same, I’d like to thank you for what you did. That warlock was almost invincible.”

“That’s because he was possessed by a dark wraith,” said Amelia. “We destroyed it before it could cause any more trouble.”

The arch mage looked at Amelia and his eyes narrowed. “I know you. Aren’t you one of the ones I encountered after that dragon fight a few days ago?”

Amelia smiled. “Yes.”

Arch Mage Gresham nodded. “I should have known.” He nodded at Sherman and noticed his wrapped wound. “Let us attend to your wound! It’s the least we can do.” He nudged the cleric with him and she immediately set about un-wrapping the injury.

The arch mage looked around. “Where’s your dragon?”

Amelia giggled and handed the ring of youth back to Kazin. “Right here.”

Kazin shrugged and put on the ring. It didn’t matter now, anyway. He immediately appeared as his younger self.

Gresham looked perplexed. “You’re that young mage who fell off his horse, so you told me.”

“It’s a long story,” said Kazin, smiling. “You’ll find out some things about dragons eventually.”

Sherman watched in amazement as the cleric healed his wound. Not only did the wound close up, it healed up almost completely. He swiveled his body. There was no pain, only a little stiffness. Wide eyed, he thanked the cleric. “I’ve never seen healing that effective before!”

The cleric shrugged. “It was nothing. We do it all the time.”

“Kazin did say magic was stronger in this time in history,” said Harran. He had removed his invisibility ring and was visible again.

“We’d better get going,” said Kazin. He quickly walked over to a spot well away from the others in preparation for his transformation into a dragon.

“Kazin!” exclaimed Amelia. “Your limp! It’s gone!”

“What limp?” asked Kazin. “I never had a limp.”

“But -,” she looked at Sherman helplessly. He had a curious grin on his face. “Sherman, he had a limp, didn’t he?”

Sherman looked at the red-haired mage. “Not that I know of. But I remember when we were kids and he stubbed his toe badly. He hopped around on one foot for hours!”

Kazin laughed. “I still remember that! It was no fun, let me tell you.”

“But, Sherman!” pleaded Amelia, “he limped ever since I met him!”

“You must be mistaken,” said Sherman with a twinkle in his eye.

Harran was grinning too. He realized what Sherman was doing. “I never saw him limp either.”

Amelia glared at him. “That’s not funny!” Then she looked to Zylor for support.

The minotaur simply shrugged. “It appears our quest was successful.”

Amelia was red faced now. “But -.” She just shook her head in confusion.

Harran put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Just let it be, my dear. All is well.”

At that point, Kazin’s orb flared and he transformed into a dragon.

Arch Mage Gresham whistled. “Well, I’ll be! That explains a few things. I thought that was a dragon orb atop his staff. Funny I never noticed it earlier.”

A sudden shriek from a nearby dragon coincided with another major earthquake, drawing Gresham’s attention. “All this powerful magic has sent the dragons into a serious frenzy. We need to get airborne again. With all of the lizardmage dragon riders defeated here, we should check on Belham’s progress on the northern edge of this battle.” He turned to Kazin. “Thanks again for your help, all of you. After this war is over, we’ll have to get together to talk.” Without waiting for a response, he led the high cleric back to their dragon. They climbed onto its back and it leapt into the air. Within moments they flew out of sight.

“We’d better get going too,” said Kazin, lowering his wing to the ground. The companions climbed on, including Tyris.

“I’ll protect us from the wild dragons,” said the fire elemental. “They will not bother us with me along.”

Kazin carried his group back to the spot where Sir Galado’s body lay. Miniature elemental creatures stood guard around the fallen soldier.

Everyone disembarked and Kazin returned to his human form.

“If I hadn’t used the ‘lifeforce’ spell to destroy the wraith, I could have used it to revive Sir Galado,” said Kazin sadly. “That spell can only be used once per year for reviving, and once per month for killing. I can only revive Galado within three days of his death, but now I have to wait a month before I can use the spell again.” As he finished speaking, Kazin realized with a shock that he could have used up the ‘lifeforce’ spell earlier when he thought that Amelia had died. It was fortunate that he didn’t think of it at the time. Had he used that spell, he wouldn’t have been able to defeat the wraith, and his mission would have ended as a failure!

A gentle hand rested on Kazin’s shoulder and interrupted his thoughts. “Don’t let it bother you,” said Sherman. “You had to do what was necessary.” He lowered his hand. “We will have to find a place to bury him, though.” The warrior wobbled as the ground shook beneath his feet.

“I can incinerate his body,” offered Tyris.

“Burial is more proper for an honourable warrior,” said Zylor. “Cremation is for enemies.”

“No offence was intended,” said Tyris. “I can send my minions to take him to a safe place within the earth.”

“That would be acceptable,” said Sherman. “It beats digging a grave.”

“What about his sword?” asked Zylor, holding up the second spirit blade.

“Those two spirit blades should be separated,” said Kazin. “They shouldn’t be in two places at once.”

“I can see to it the sword will be put to rest with your friend,” offered Tyris.

Zylor was about to lay it down beside the body of Galado when Sherman stopped him. “Wait! Shouldn’t my sword be the one that should have to stay behind?” He looked at Kazin. “The sword Galado used was the one that should have stayed in the future.”

“Very perceptive, Sherman,” said Amelia. “It’s good to make that point. It’s also important for when you retrieve the sword in the future. The new sword is magically connected to you and will be drawn to you when you come across it many years in the future. Your original sword is also connected to you, but it is much older. It is possible it will not retain the magic for you to use when you find it.”

“Then let’s keep history accurate,” said Sherman firmly. He laid his new sword by Galado’s body and took his old sword from Zylor. “This one will do me just fine.”

“Will you require any more favours?” asked Tyris. She looked beautiful in her fiery orange flames.

Kazin shook his head. “No. You have done well, Tyris. It was good to see you again.”

Tyris nodded. “Then I will return to my plane of existence after depositing the soldier’s body.” She looked over her shoulder. “I sense there will be guardians for your friend.”

In the distance, the companions saw some vague figures shambling toward them.

Harran drew his axe. “Undead!”

“Do not fear them,” said Tyris. “They mean you no harm. They are the ones your friend - or should I say your friend’s evil spirit - has slain before their time. They are linked to him. They will guard his body until they are no longer needed. Then they will be set free of their attachment.” The fire elemental opened her arms to encompass everyone. “Farewell to all of you.” Then she lifted off the ground. Her minions followed, carrying Sir Galado’s body and sword with them. Slowly, they floated to the west. The group of undead turned to follow the elemental’s trail.

“Where will they take him?” wondered Amelia.

“The Plains of Grief,” said Sherman solemnly.

Watching from a distance again was Paul. He had been running toward the spot where the companions had gathered, and was out of breath. As he dove for cover behind an outcrop of rock, he had overheard the last part of the conversation despite the noise of battle in the distance. He watched intently as Tyris flew off with Sir Galado and the Sword of Dead. Later, he would spread the first rumours of a powerful spirit blade that was hidden in a secret location to the west. He didn’t know what the Plains of Grief were, but remembered the name.

“So can we go home now?” asked Harran.

Kazin smiled at him. “Yes, my friend.” He looked at Amelia. “Is the future restored?”

Amelia stared as she looked within herself. Then she smiled. “Yes. Some damage has been done, but history has corrected itself. A few of the things that have disappeared early on are gone, but the anomalies are too few and minor to have an impact.”

“Good,” said Kazin. “Then we are done here.” He regarded his companions with a sad expression. “It’s time to go home.”

“Do we have to cross that bridge again?” asked Olag.

Kazin shook his head. “No. You’re in luck, Olag. The magic I used to go back in time to get you is how I’ll be returning you to the future. I can use that magic to go to places I have already been, in times when I’ve been there. That’s why we had to cross that bridge to get here. I’ve never been to this place or time in history before.”

“Good,” sighed Olag in relief. He looked at Amelia. “Are you sure history will be correct when I get back? I’d hate to go back only to see my race never existed or something like that.”

Amelia smiled. “Your race will be there, Olag. They will be building ties with the humans and the mermaids.”

Olag wrinkled his nose. “Oh, I forgot about those pesky little -,” he paused. “How do you know about the mermaids? You sound almost like the oracle I once knew. She had that ability to see into the -.” His voice broke off and his eyes widened momentarily. Then his eyes narrowed. “Of course. I never considered the possibility before.”

A giant hand suddenly clasped the skink warrior’s shoulder. “I hope you come and visit me when you get a chance.”

Olag looked up at Zylor in surprise. “Really?” Then he looked crestfallen. “I’d be killed on sight if I even showed my face in your realm.”

Zylor frowned. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

Kazin laughed. “I can help you with that.” He took a ring from Amelia that he had given her earlier and handed it to Zylor. “Here. This is the master ring I wore that is magically connected to the other rings I gave you earlier to come to me after you found Harran. Olag, if you rub your ring, you will be transported to a spot near Zylor, because he now has the master ring. That way you won’t even have to physically travel anywhere to see him. When your visit is over, simply rub your ring again and you will go back to the place you started from.”

“That’s settled then!” said Zylor happily. He slapped the skink warrior on the back. “I expect to hear from you on a regular basis. I rarely get accurate reports on things going on near North Lake. It’s good to know what is happening there, despite our race being so far away.”

Olag winced at the minotaur’s enthusiastic slap. “You know, it might actually be fun. I’d like to watch the election battles someday.”

“You will be invited,” said Zylor proudly. “You can sit with me in the upper stands.”

“Won’t the minotaurs object?” asked Sherman. “They know how you hate lizardmen. You wouldn’t want them to think you are under a spell.”

“He’s not a lizardman,” said Zylor sternly. “He’s a skink warrior - an honourable one.” He looked a t Olag. “Perhaps he can show his skill at archery in the events leading up to the election battles. Archery is one of the contests. It would be interesting to see if anyone could out-shoot Olag.”