Pillar of Flame by Ree Soesbee

Author:Ree Soesbee [Soesbee, Ree]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7869-4248-0
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2007-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

“Keep going.” The agent shoved Nagato from behind, and he stumbled. He regained his balance quickly, his elf dexterity helping him manage even over twisted roots. Nagato’s hands were tied behind his back with a chafing piece of cord. His velvet sleeves kept getting twisted together, catching on everything as he tried to keep up with the man’s pace. Loreddion walked behind him, tied to the same cord. Each step jerked Nagato back and forth as the rope cut painfully into his skin.

Every once in a while, the cabal agent poked them both with the copper rod. He didn’t leave it against their skin very long, only tapped them lightly. The sensation tingled, setting Nagato’s blood on fire. Each time he did it, Nagato felt sick and weak. They were stealing his magic, tamping it down so he couldn’t use it. And without it, he was helpless.

Loreddion grunted, and Nagato knew that the agent struck the other wizard as well. That was worse. While Nagato’s magic was primarily divinatory, Loreddion had already proved to be a monster in a fight. Taking away Loreddion’s spells ruined their best hope for escape.

At last, the woods parted in front of them. As soon as he stepped past the treeline, Nagato knew where they were. “The stone table,” he breathed, seeing it by moonlight. Solinari’s last few rays sparkled on the lettering on the side of the granite slab, catching silvery mica that outlined several of the characters.

The agent lifted something from his boot that looked like a small padlock. He held it in the air, chanted a few words, then turned the top of it away from the bottom, nearly twisting it in two. There was an audible snap, and the air in the grove lightened. A wind suddenly started blowing through the area, only now making Nagato aware of how still the little clearing had been before. The black-garbed agent smiled and put away the little device.

“So that’s how you do magic.” Nagato said. “You’re not a wizard at all.”

“Shut up.” The man shoved Nagato forward so hard that he tumbled to the ground, the rope jerking into his skin hard enough to draw blood. Unable to stop himself, Loreddion fell too and landed hard on top of Nagato. Nagato felt an elbow in his rib cage as they rolled down the slight slope toward the table. Loreddion cursed, elbows and knees going everywhere, and the two of them ended up in a pile against the stone.

“You’re late.” The voice didn’t come from their captor, but from another man emerging from the far side of the woods.

Loreddion only growled deep in his throat. “You shouldn’t anger them,” Nagato whispered.

“What, play the sheep like you do?” Loreddion’s scorn was obvious.

“Aruk and Darex are still behind me. There was a third wizard.” Their captor went to greet the other man with a strange handshake. “They’ll catch up in a little while. I was sent on ahead.”

“Two wizards? Are either of them capable of creating magic items, Zann?”

“Yzor will question them when we arrive at the Pillar of Flame.

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