“There’s a small town I know called White Hills. Ascelin Ares, the human I saved from Dothra, lives there. The townspeople know about magic, and most use it, so it’s kind of a safe haven for all things supernatural. If there’s a safe place for her on Earth, it’s White Hills.”
* * *
I returned home to Keira and my mother. We had told my mother about Witness, but gave her time to adapt. Time was up, unfortunately. “What do you want to do?” I asked.
“I want to go home to my husband.”
“Husband?”
“The wizard who healed me is a great man. He accepted me for who I am.”
She hadn’t once mentioned anything that happened to her before she was taken by Maori. I had assumed she was abused. “He didn’t do a very good job of protecting you.”
“Neither of us knew I needed to be protected.”
“I don’t know that sending you back would be the safest thing for you or him. Maybe I can send you both to Syndrial, to the historians.”
“I don’t want to go back to Syndrial.”
“I understand. The priests aren’t all that great. The historians are better, though.”
“That’s not the reason. I don’t even dislike the priests. It’s only one priest that I have an issue with.”
“We’ll do everything we can to make sure Witness never gets his hands on you.”
“It’s not Witness I’m worried about.”
“I thought you didn’t know any other priests.”
“I wasn’t supposed to. My father, however, never followed the rules. He snuck in to see me at least once a month, yet he never helped me. I don’t want to see him again.”
“Who is your father?”
“He is Keeper, the High Priest of the High Temple.”
* * *
We ended up sending her and her husband, Christopher, to White Hills, as Painter suggested. Christopher was a middle-aged Earth wizard. My mother had told him about Painter and me. Although he was glad she had been reunited with us, he had been worried sick over her disappearance. When I told him about Witness, he agreed to do whatever it took to keep her safe…
Except take the kitten.
I told my mother never to let Painter find out she had a husband, because my brother would undoubtedly kill him. Nevertheless, I appreciated the way Christopher encouraged my mother to be independent, rather than coddling her like everyone else, including me. Around him, she got her voice back. She said what was on her mind.
I knew she was going to do well. I just had to figure out what to do about my grandfather, the secret keeper. Until I knew more, I decided not to tell my brother. Stopping Witness and recovering the Sword of Draskara was the priority. Fortunately, it seemed he was lying low.
I called a meeting with the gods, which was not actually that difficult when they were all waiting on me to retrieve the weapon. All I had to do was call Thoth’s name and with a flash of light, I was standing in the pyramid. Along with Thoth, there was Anubis, Set, Osiris, and Isis gathered around me. My girlfriend was absent on account of work.
“Did you attain the weapon?” Thoth asked.
“I did… well, Painter did. We managed to destroy Maori with it. What we didn’t know was that the Sword of Draskara transfers the victim’s godly ability to the wielder when it kills. Painter is now in charge of Kradga.”
“That’s my power-hungry son,” Set said. “Well, what of the sword?”
“It was stolen by another caster called the Witness.” Isis groaned. “Yes, that is the correct response,” I said.
“What do you plan to do about it?” Anubis asked.
“I am going to continue practicing magic until he is found. You all need to keep your eyes peeled. He could be anywhere in the universe. Eventually, he will show himself, and we’ll be ready.”
“You want to wait while he gains power?” Set asked.
“Magic is not power, and I won’t be idling, either. I have a lot more magic to learn and a lot of people to learn from. Painter also has some issues to work out. By the time Witness is brave enough to stick his head out of the sand, Painter will probably have an army of the dead, and I’ll be better at fighting with magic.”
“Very well,” Thoth said. “We will be watching for him.”
“So will I.”
Table of Terms
Syndrial – Home world of casters
Kradga – Moon/World of fire
Sword of Draskara – a powerful magic sword that can kill gods
Domatago – Lower magic
Getatago – Higher magic
Kitmas – Light
Voska – Dirty; the derogatory name for people who live outside the kingdoms
Khapma – Predatory creatures that move in the loose sand of Syndrial’s desert.
Omtakha – Blast
Hokra – Rebound (this reflects whatever magic you are using behind you)
Ikem – Protect/shield
Senfaws quesur, ques ineur – Blood to bone, bone to stone
Sekha – Reveal
Megyar – Pain
Sjokve – Come
Hasha – Away (throws someone back)
Tekriyar – Reflect (this reflects someone’s attack on themselves)
Tremsa – Freeze
Kerar – Extinguish
Hogra – Itch
Dje – Levitate
Ketmeek – Unlock
Tradje – Levitate (self) up
Kromakha – Open
Darmat – Search/find
Rakma – Twin moon to Kradga
Draskara – Son of Rakma
Senef sakur nedj iam – Blood is spilled to spare the innocent
About the Author
Rain Oxford is a teacher who has been writing for more than half of her life. She does most of her writing in a secluded cabin in the woods with a four-pound Maltese as a companion. When she’s not teaching or creating worlds, she usually enjoys cooking, playing the piano, or photographing exotic wildlife.
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/rainoxfordauthor
Website: rainoxford.wordpress.com
Amazon Page: amazon.com/author/rainoxford
This book was made with 100% recycled electrons. If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review. Thanks for reading!
Books by Rain Oxford
Casters of Syndrial 1: Book of Names
Casters of Syndrial 2: Sword of Draskara
The Sorcerer’s Saga Book 1: The Sorcerer’s Quest
The Sorcerer’s Saga Book 2: The Wizard’s Secret
The Sorcerer’s Saga Book 3: The Raven’s Curse
The Sorcerer’s Saga Book 4: The Dragon’s Price
The Sorcerer’s Saga Book 5: The Hero’s Peril
The Guardian Book 1: The Guardian’s Grimoire
The Guardian Book 2: The Dragon’s Eyes
The Guardian Book 3: God of the Abyss
The Guardian Book 4: The Demon’s Game
The Guardian Book 5: The Wizard’s War
Elemental Book 1: Dark Waters
Elemental Book 2: Hungry Earth
Elemental Book 3: Furious Flames
Elemental Book 4: Insidious Winds
Elemental Book 5: Soul Guard
Abyss of Shadows Book 1: Hunting Shadows