David Wells - Cursed Bones

Jack stood up, looking around uncomfortably. “Dear Maker, there’s no telling what he’s learned. Is this the first time you’ve seen him?”

“Yes, but I have no way of knowing if this is just a new ability or if this is the first time he’s watched us,” Alexander said.

“Let’s assume it’s a new ability,” Jack said, sitting down again. “What have we told him?”

“He’s got to know that Isabel’s on Karth,” Alexander said. “He probably also knows that Hector and Horace are on the way. They’re in trouble.”

“He also knows you can cast illusions through your clairvoyance,” Jack said with a sigh, “so much for the element of surprise.”

“But he doesn’t know that I can see him,” Alexander said. “We can use that.”

“How, My Love?” Chloe asked.

“It’s risky, but it might give us an option later,” Alexander said.

“What do you have in mind?” Jack asked.

“When the Wizard’s Den first opened, there were a number of magical books inside,” Alexander said. “Two in particular might be used to lure Phane into a trap. Both are in that strongbox.” Alexander pointed to the heavy steel box in the corner.

“Only a few people know about these books, and I’d like to keep it that way. If either fell into the wrong hands, the results could be disastrous.”

“Well, you certainly have my attention,” Jack said.

“The first book will draw the mind of anyone who reads even a single word of it into the netherworld, to be lost forever.”

“A trap,” Jack said.

“One set by Malachi for Phane should his wayward son murder him and claim the Stone,” Alexander said.

“What a twisted way to live,” Jack said, shaking his head sadly.

“The second book is even worse. It contains a spell that transfers one’s soul into a specially prepared item, effectively killing the caster, yet animating his corpse at the same time. The result is an undead version of the caster that can’t be killed without destroying the item containing his soul. Malachi was trying to become immortal.”

“Dear Maker,” Jack and Chloe whispered at the same time.

“So you want to let Phane know that this book exists and then trick him into reading the other one, the one that sucks his mind into the darkness,” Jack said.

Alexander nodded.

“That’s risky. If he ever got his hands on that undead book, there’d be no stopping him.”

“I know, but it might be the best chance we have to kill him,” Alexander said. “Let’s face it, my magic will never be a match for his head-on.”

“That’s a terrible gamble,” Jack said.

“You should destroy that book right now,” Chloe said.

“I know, on both counts, but I just can’t bring myself to do it,” Alexander said. “I can’t explain it, but for some reason I think it might become vitally important later.”

“Hmm … I wouldn’t bet against your insight,” Jack said. “For all we know, your magic could be giving you that feeling. But the thought of an immortal and unkillable Phane running around the Seven Isles for all eternity is beyond insanity.”

“I know,” Alexander said, “but this is the first time I’ve been able to see a way to actually kill him. How can I pass up that chance?”

“Maybe you don’t pass it up,” Jack said, “maybe you put it off until you’re healed. The moment Phane gets a whiff of that book, he’ll send everything he can muster after it and you’re not exactly in fighting form right now.”

“You’ve got a point there,” Alexander said, closing his eyes and considering his options. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to wait. I’m sure there’ll be other opportunities to set the ruse in motion.”

“I really think that’s for the best,” Jack said. “In the meantime, what should we do about Phane’s snooping?”

“If you see me tap my finger three times, it means he’s watching us,” Alexander said. “For now, let’s be careful what we say and have any important discussions inside the Wizard’s Den with the door closed.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Jack said.

“Why don’t you start a fire?” Alexander said. “I don’t want Phane to know I can see him watching us … and I closed the door because Chloe was cold.”

Jack smiled and winked at Chloe before going to the hearth and stacking up logs over a bed of tinder and kindling. Once the fire was burning brightly, Alexander opened the door to the Wizard’s Den.

He was surprised to see a young woman standing a few feet away, looking around with a mixture of curiosity and sadness. She was startled when the door opened, then she smiled broadly when she saw Alexander.

She was just over five feet tall, thin, not quite a woman yet. Her coppery red hair was cut short, flaring out just over her shoulders, and tiny freckles spread across her nose and cheeks. Her golden eyes reminded Alexander of his own.

“There you are, Alexander,” she said.

He stared incredulously, focusing his all around sight on her intently. He’d never seen her before, yet her colors were unmistakable.

“Anja?”

“Do you like the way I look?” she asked, a bit self-consciously.

“You’re beautiful … but how?”

“She snuck into the Temple of Fire and used its power to cast a shapeshift spell … without permission,” Bragador said, striding purposefully into the cavern.

Anja looked down sheepishly, like she was trying to disappear.

“What have you to say for yourself?” Bragador asked her daughter.

After a moment, she looked up defiantly. “I wanted to be able to talk to Alexander,” she said. “I can’t make human words with my real mouth yet, and I have so many questions.”

“Why didn’t you come to me and ask for permission?” Bragador asked.

“Because I knew you’d say no,” Anja said.

“You are but a child,” Bragador said. “Your ability to wield magic is limited for a reason. In time, you will grow into your power. Until then, it is very dangerous to attempt to cast spells without guidance.”

“But why? It didn’t seem that hard.”

“That’s because the Temple of Fire was acting as a buffer between you and the firmament,” Bragador said. “Without it, attempting such a spell would surely cost you your life.”

“I still don’t understand,” Anja said. “When you cast a shapeshift spell, it doesn’t hurt you.”

“I am several centuries old,” Bragador said, “you are a child.”

Anja fixed her mother with a defiant scowl, still refusing to accept her answer.

Bragador continued in a more measured tone. “Dragons can access the firmament much like human wizards, but without the need to undergo the mana fast because we are innately magical creatures. Unfortunately, the firmament still tugs at our psyche as it does with humans, and we can become lost in the limitless potential just as easily, especially if we’re careless.” She fixed Anja with a stern glare before going on. “You must learn to master the passion that only a dragon can know and temper it with stillness of mind before you’ll be ready to cast spells on your own. Until then, you risk your life each time you link with the firmament.”

Anja swallowed, nodding a few times before looking down at the ground.

“Where did you even find a shapeshift spell, Child?” Bragador asked.

“There’s a big pile of books in the treasure chamber,” Anja said, suddenly excited. “Most of them are boring, but a few are really interesting.”

“I’ll have to have a closer look at those books,” Bragador said.

Anja frowned, suddenly realizing that she’d given away too much.

“Come, Child, release the spell and return to your true form,” Bragador said.