A Circle of Firelight by Curtis Edmonds

Author:Curtis Edmonds [Edmonds, Curtis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781734046427
Publisher: Scary Hippopotamus Books
Published: 2020-02-19T22:00:00+00:00

Stream of Consciousness

I am not quite sure what I expect to see when I walk through the door, but I absolutely do not expect to see T.J. Valentine sitting on my bed, trying to wrench the flaming sword Dyrnwyn from its scabbard.

“Put that down, you snake,” I say. I am angry—well, not dragon-summoning angry, not yet—and I don’t mind letting T.J. know it.

“Oh, wow. You came back. Wasn’t, you know, expecting that.” He tightens his hold on the scabbard.

“Really? What exactly were you expecting? Did you think the Dark Lord would, what, just swallow me up? And you’d inherit a new sword?”

T.J. has the partial decency to look a little shamefaced. “I had very specific orders from the Dark Lord. He gave me the portal—and said to make sure you went in there, and that you didn’t have that sword. That’s all he said, and that’s what I did. He never said you’d come out again, you know. He’s got a mean streak.”

“So, you sent me in there thinking I’d just disappear, is that what you’re saying? And that it’s okay because you were just following orders?”

“Yes! No! Wait. So, how was it? I mean, the Dark Lord, did he sound pleased?”

“He said you were fired, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Fired!” T.J. throws up his hands, but not long enough for me to sneak the sword away from him. “That’s gratitude for you. I built that big heavy wardrobe to put the portal in, and carried it around all over the place, just in case I ran into you. And I do exactly what he says, and he fires me? Unbelievable.”

T.J. looks a little down about this, so I take a few steps toward him, to sort of pretend to console him, but he figures out what I’m doing and grabs onto the scabbard with both hands.

“Does this mean you’re not a Dark Lord anymore?” I ask.

“No. Yes. I don’t know. I’m still Dark Side, I know that. I’m riding Dark Side all the way. But I worked hard to get to be Warden of the Eastern Marches and to have that taken away from me when I didn’t do anything wrong, that’s tough. What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” I am sidling toward the part of the wall of the tent where my sword belt is; T.J. took the scabbard off the belt, but I am guessing that he didn’t notice the wand. All I have to do is to keep him feeling sorry for himself a bit longer.

“It’s not fair. That’s what it is. It’s absolutely not fair. He’s such a jerk to me. I didn’t even get an invite to the Halloween party this year.”

“Wait a second. T.J., do you know where the Dark Lord lives?”

“Yeah. Flatiron Building in New York. Been there a couple of times. Got ranked out the last time and sent here. Why?”

“Because I just declared war against him, that’s why. Can you guide me there?”

“Ridiculous. Out of the question. What exactly are you doing, again?”

“I’m just putting my sword belt back on.

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