Catalyst (Book 1) (37 page)

“The princess sends her regards and wants to know if you require anything, Wizard Hellsfire,” the guard said.

I told him what I needed. “And please give Her Highness my thanks.”

The guard, along with a few others, came back later with a cart carrying the materials I needed to construct a pyre.

“You know, this wasn't the first time I ran into one of those annoying birds,” Cynder said as I worked.

“It wasn't?”

“Nope. Years back, me and the old man ran into them. He was much younger then…”

Cynder regaled me with countless stories of him and Stradus and the adventures they’d had, while I built the pyre. Cynder had told me one or two of the stories before, but only to help with a lesson. These were different. They were him remembering an old friend. I saw why Cynder didn't think Stradus could die, with all they had survived together.

The dragon lent his strength to me with his words. I also told stories of Stradus. They weren't as entertaining or numerous as Cynder’s, but I still told them. They helped me remember the man he was, and told of better times. The laughter Cynder and I shared helped hold back the tears.

I spent the rest of the day building the pyre, which consumed all of my remaining strength. Other funerals and burials went on all around me. Dusk was approaching by the time I was done. I lifted Stradus's light body onto the pyre.

“Would you like to do the honors?” I asked Cynder.

Cynder set Stradus's body ablaze with a long stream of fire. “I'm going to miss him.”

“Me too. He was amazing, wasn't he?”

“He sure was, even for a wizard.”

I walked closer to the fire and bowed my head. “May the gods guide him on his journey to the afterlife.”

“We have company,” Cynder said, and motioned with his eyes.

King Sharald walked closer to the pyre. “Goodbye, great wizard.” Sharald bent down and grabbed a handful of dirt. He flung it into the flames, symbolizing Stradus's return to the earth and completion of life. “I'll see you soon, old friend.” Sharald nodded at us, then left.

I stared into the roaring fire as it glistened against the violet-blue sky, consuming my former master's body. I gazed deeper into the flames, seeing the life and magic that lay there. The fire pulled me into it, and I became lost in its translucent beauty.

I enjoyed the warmth, and the flames comforted me. The power wrapped around my spiritual being as I became connected to it. The fire mana within me grew. I explored it, like Stradus would have wanted. Deep within the fire, there was something else—something dangerous. I recognized it. It was the power I had used to defeat Premier.

The powerful, ancient magic called out to me, saying it was mine to command. I wanted to reach out to it and take hold of it. I didn't want to use it, but I did want to explore it. I wanted to know more about it. Therein lay the problem.

Stradus had told me of those whose magic overpowered them and controlled them, or they became lost in it. I worried this could happen to me. Something about this magic was different. It was something I had never experienced before, or learned about in any of my lessons. It wasn’t even in the books I’d read. I stared at Stradus's burning body, wishing he was here now. I needed his advice and wisdom. There was no other wizard I could turn to.

Someone touched me on the shoulder, and I jumped.

“Hellsfire, are you all right?” Krystal asked.

“I'm fine, Your Highness.” I glowered at Cynder from the corner of my eye, for not warning me about her approach. He grinned. I bowed to both her and King Furlong. “Is there something I may do for you, Your Majesty?”

“No,” King Furlong said. “I came over to thank you for what you did in saving my kingdom.”

The princess gave her father a stern look. He looked uncomfortable. “I also came to…apologize for how I treated you earlier. I owe you a great deal, Wizard Hellsfire.”

I fought to hold back a smile. In my humblest voice, I said, “Think nothing of it. You were under Premier's spell. Do you mind if I check you out to see that there are no lingering effects?”

The now healthy and vital king nodded. He was pale and thin from lack of sunlight and food, but that could easily be fixed. I extended my magical senses into King Furlong. I poked and prodded him until I had checked every part of him. He squirmed and tried not to move. I wasn't very good at being subtle, and I couldn't afford to be. I had to make sure nothing was left behind. There's something unnerving about someone probing you with magic. If you let them go deep enough, it's worse than standing in a crowd naked. It's more like baring your soul to them where there’s no place to hide. I didn't immerse myself in him that way. I stopped before that.

It all seemed so simple now. His mana was damaged in a way I couldn’t see before. It was weaker and had gaps in it. The gaps were filled in now, but were dangerously thin. With rest, he would recover.

“You’re fine, Your Majesty. Whatever Premier did to you seems to be gone.”

“Thank you, Hellsfire,” Krystal said. “For everything.”

“If you need anything at all,” I said, staring into her eyes, “I'll be here for you.” I remembered the king and cleared my throat. “For Alexandria.”

King Furlong eyed me, then his daughter. He gave us both a disapproving look and let out a small sigh. “I'll keep that in mind, Wizard Hellsfire. If we ever have need of your services, I shall let you know.” The king glanced at his daughter one last time before walking away.

“I'm glad to see he's feeling better,” I said.

“Me too,” she said. “It was all thanks to you and Wizard Stradus.”

“It was my pleasure, Your Highness.”

She gave me a playful smile. “What did I tell you?”

I smiled back. “Sorry, Krystal.”

“Here.” Krystal pulled her hand from behind her back. In it was a well-crafted wooden urn. On it were six triangles that composed the hexagram—the symbol of magic.

“This is beautiful.” I took the urn and inspected it. It was old, but there was something special about it—magical even. “Where did you get this?”

“It’s been in my family for generations.”

“Thank you. Did you tell your father about Premier?”

She shook her head. Her face became somber, and she narrowed her eyes. “Not yet. I wanted to give him a few days to rest and recover. He also has to worry about rebuilding, and we both have to fix all the things Premier did. I didn't want to burden him even more. At least, not yet.” She brushed back a lock of her hair that dangled in front of her face. “Are you really going into the Wastelands after Premier?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“It's dangerous. At least you'll have a dragon with you.”

Cynder opened one eye. “Who says I'm going? I'm not
his
guardian.”

“Cynder, show the princess some respect.”

The dragon snorted and grumbled. “Humans. You're all beneath me. I'm the greatest of the gods' creations.”

“Forgive him. It's been a long day, and he's still upset that Premier’s bird got the best of him.”

Before Cynder could respond, the princess said, “It's quite all right. It's been centuries since we last had a dragon in Alexandria. We appreciated your services, Cynder. You gave us hope and made us even prouder to wear your insignia.”

Cynder's smile was so wide it exposed all his pointy teeth.

“Stop it,” I said. “You're encouraging him.”

“I meant every word of what I said.”

“That just makes it worse.”

Cynder couldn't stop smiling, but at least he had enough sense to not talk.

“Are you going to leave soon?” she asked, her tone full of worry.

“No. I need to rest and plan. We still have time before Premier recovers. Besides, someone promised me a tour of Alexandria.”

“Someone did? I'll see if I can work you into my schedule. I am a princess, you know. I'm a very busy woman.”

“I'm a wizard and I'm equally busy, and my services aren't cheap, Princess. I expect to be well paid when you hire me.”

I realized that despite all the death and destruction I’d seen and caused, I was more comfortable with Krystal now than I had ever been. Part of it was because I was now a wizard. While I may never have to know what ruling a kingdom is like, I had my own responsibilities—responsibilities that included others. No matter what happened, we would always share this moment, and the time when I had first met her. She would always be a part of me and my life.

“I have to go, hero,” Krystal said. She brushed her hand across my arm, letting it linger. “I'll see you later. Goodbye, Cynder.”

“Goodbye…Your Highness,”
Cynder
said, opening an eye.

“Goodbye, Princess.”

“Some advice?” Cynder asked, after she left.

He'd tried this before, and it had usually resulted in a joke at my expense. However, every once in a while, he's given me some insight. Seeing the serious expression on his reptilian face, I risked it.

“Sure,” I said.

“I don't understand what the princess sees in you. You're ugly, you smell, you have hair on your head but not on your face.” I began to regret saying yes. “But she likes you. She's a keeper, that one. Hang on to her for as long as you can. Dig your claws into her and don't let go.”

I watched the princess go back into the fold of her people. “I will.”

The exhaustion from the day finally hit me. Aside from all the emotions I had gone through, my body screamed for rest. I couldn't ignore it any longer. I put the urn on the ground and sat down against Cynder's rough hide. His rhythmic breathing lulled me. I forced myself to stay awake, staring at the dancing flames on the pyre while they consumed my former master's body. I didn't reach into its magic, fearful of what I might see.

There was only one thought on my mind—Premier. He was out there. And I was going to find him.

To be continued in…

WHAT ONCE WAS ONE

The Passage of Hellsfire series, Book 2

by Marc Johnson

Lead by the dark wizard, Premier, the kingdom of Alexandria was almost overrun by the foul creatures from the Wastelands. With the help of his friends and neighboring kingdoms, Hellsfire was able to defeat him, but only at the cost of his mentor.

Hellsfire is now a wizard, but he must finish what he started by hunting down Premier and retrieving the
Book of Shazul
. He must venture deep into the Wastelands, bypassing his way through thousands of creatures bent on killing him.

Beating in the heart of the Wastelands, is something far more dangerous than Premier or his beasts waiting for Hellsfire. It will force Hellsfire to make a devastating choice—a choice that will have repercussions not only for the Wastelands and Northern
Shala
, but for the entire land and the one he loves the most.

What once was one, will then be two, and never again be as whole…

AUTHOR’S NOTE

If you enjoyed
Catalyst,
please think about posting a review or mentioning it to your friends and followers. I would be extremely thankful. A good word of mouth always helps an indie author and it would make me strive to finish up
The Passage of Hellsfire
series a little faster.

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