Spell Fade by J. Daniel Layfield

Author:J. Daniel Layfield
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Lazy Fields
Published: 2015-07-18T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

The boy was safe … for now. Alain opened his eyes and smiled. Despite the weakness he felt, and the cold of the room, he smiled. Why was the room so cold?

He had been following Dartan’s progress as a mere shadow, using as little magic as possible, unable to interact. He had slipped in and out of physical contact with his own body during the past few days, but this was the first time he had felt the chill.

No matter. Conserving magic or not, he should easily be able to raise a fire from the embers in the fireplace. He reached out and found only cold ash. Most decidedly harder to conjure into a warm blaze. What worried him more though, was how long had his chambers gone unattended? Where was Norrick?

He picked up the bell next to his bed, rang it, then laid back and waited. His thoughts drifted from Norrick back to the boy, to Dartan. The Kinsley elders were right, there was much he still needed to know. It was almost absurd, a bad joke even. How could someone who had lived for so long, now be in such danger of running out of time? And yet, it was happening. Spell stones?! How could he have forgotten that lesson? Which reminded him again of Norrick.

He rang the bell again, louder and longer this time. Perhaps it was finally time to zap a couple of people. He looked down at his thin fingers, sprouting from a bony hand attached to an only slightly larger arm, and almost laughed at the thought of threatening anyone with it. He didn’t even dare use the small amount of magic it would take to summon Norrick, instead relying on the bell next to his bed.

He eyed the bell again, ready to toss it across the room. He actually had it in his hand, wondering if he could even reach the door with it, when the door opened a crack. The face that appeared was one he recognized, but not one he expected.

“Did you need something, sir?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, and she refused to put more that her head into the room. It was a position he was used to seeing.

“Norrick,” he replied flatly.

Somehow her face managed to find another shade of pale, and her eyes betrayed the surprise she felt. “No one has seen him, sir,” she stammered. “Not for days.” She was afraid to meet the wizard’s eyes. “We thought he was acting under your orders. He told us you wished not to be disturbed, for any reason.” It was a wonder he hadn’t had to open the door and yell out for someone. How long would that have taken him? He brushed the thought from his head to focus on more important matters. Norrick – gone for days. He was going to have to use a little magic after all.

He didn’t waste any energy on Norrick, instead focusing on the box. With its protective net of spells, it should shine like a beacon.

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