Haunted Tree (The Magus Family Chronicles Book 1) by Scott Robert Scheller

Author:Scott Robert Scheller [Scheller, Scott Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PsiScribe Publishing
Published: 2015-03-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Marc, Sean and Oren approached the gate. Putting his hands upon the bars, Sean studied them and the surrounding stonework.

“I’ve been here before... when I was little.” His gaze traced the curve of the structure above him. “This arch seemed huge to me then. It still does.”

Marc nodded in the direction of the house. “After you.”

Sean tried to enter. “It’s holding fast. I see no way to open it.”

“This gate is magical. Watch.” Marc swept his arm in an impressive gesture and commanded, “Aperīte!”

Sean gasped, his eyes following the door as it swung along its arc. “Amazing! Such powerful magic.”

“Come,” Oren said, walking past them. —Good use of show, Marc.—

Marc fought off a smile as he ushered Sean in. “Actually, it’s simple magic. It’s the first spell I learned.”

“Oh.” Sean eyed the gate a moment before asking, “What was the second?”

Again Marc put on a show. “Claudite!”

As the gate closed, Sean chuckled. “Of course.”

“This way,” Marc said, following his master. After several steps, he felt an odd, prickly sensation on the side of his face and found Sean studying him. “What is it?”

Sean dropped his gaze, embarrassed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to stare, but finding out my best friend’s a wizard is a bit of a shock. I wanted to see if there was any difference in how you looked.”

“There isn’t. What has changed is I can listen to and speak with the magic.”

Sean nodded, seemingly accepting Marc’s words, then looked around at the wizard’s land. “You have so much inside your walls, Great One. I especially like your many trees.”

“Call me by my name,” Oren said.

Sean shot Marc a questioning glance. “Uh, yes... Oren.”

That surprised Marc as well. —Master?—

—We can be less formal with him. He will be your faithful friend for the rest of his days.—

Hearing that pleased him. —And I, his.—

Oren veered off the path and into the trees. “I planted most of these myself, Sean.”

As Oren talked with Sean about his orchard, Marc remained where he was and thought about what might happen now that the king had died. While he knew little of the power structure that once surrounded the king, he did know of one member of the inner circle who often expressed views opposite those of his monarch: Crowe. It was widely rumored he bragged he would be king one day. Maybe now he would seize his chance. That did not concern Marc much for he had no say about who would be the next king.

What did concern him were men like Thaddeus—those who thirsted for wealth and power and would do anything to achieve it. Men who showed their enemies little or no mercy. A chill slid down Marc’s spine as he hoped Thaddeus would be too occupied with filling his pockets elsewhere to think about returning to Oak Creek to seek revenge upon him or Oren. Further worries fell away as a familiar sensation came from his right. He turned toward the house to see Valeria bounding toward him.

“I thought I felt you,” she said as she neared.

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