God Mage (24 page)

“Bren,” Thad called out to him as he ran
toward him.

Bren was lifted off the ground as his father
pulled him into a tight hug. “Father,” Bren said as he tried to
release himself from Thad’s grasp. “You look just as you did when I
last saw you.”

Thad let his son go and pushed him back to
arm’s length so he could have a good look at him. Even though he
had seen his son through the magical mirror, seeing him in person
was much different. It didn’t escape his sight that Bren now had
the same silver skin as Humanius and Belaroan. “To me it has only
been a month at most since I left. You have grown so much.”

“I hope you are over your little reunion.
Right now, we do not have the time for chitchat. The abyss is gone,
the space between the two words is gone, and soon the very fabric
between our world and yours will open,” Humanius said, coming
between Bren and Thad.

As if on cue from Humanius, the area began to
twist again. Where there was once a shining silver door, now there
was just a tear in the area, and on the other side was a billowing
storm land just like that of the Deadlands.

T
he people in the
vail turned toward the opening in the valley. Bren looked around
and couldn’t count the number of souls that must have been lost in
the abyss. Most of them were mages, but also a few were soldiers
belonging to the Brotherhood. They were from all ages, and some
obviously dated back to before the Fae War. The worst were those
who had been mortally wounded before being thrown into the abyss
and now who finished what had started many years before. Some of
the people around tried to help those that lay dying, but nothing
could be done.

Most of the people wondered where they were,
or when. There were tears, screams, and even a few fights. Seconds
after they had appeared, new figures joined the group, appearing
out of nowhere.

“My children,” Belaroan yelled as her
godlings appeared out of nowhere. The gods’ first actions were to
start attacking Humanius, who had been their fear since their
mother had been taken from them, but Belaroan stopped them. “Now is
not the time for that. He has agreed to help, and that is more
important than revenge.

“Sister, I do not think you will get what you
wish,” he said, pointing toward the doorway between the two worlds.
“Look.”

When Belaroan turned around and looked
through the doorway, she let out a gasp. “What has happened?”

Large gem pillars stood on the other side of
the gate, and Bren could feel the immense magical powers flowing
from the other side. It was ten times stronger than that in the
Deadlands. Bren had never imagined so much power in one place
before. In the distance a manlike figure appeared, though instead
of flesh and blood, he was made of a dark obsidian crystal.

“Scion,” Belaroan said, her voice sounding
slightly scared.