Target Of The Orders (Book 3) by Ron Collins

Author:Ron Collins [Collins, Ron]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Skyfox Publishing
Published: 2014-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

A pinpoint of golden light appeared in the middle of the clearing. It expanded, becoming a gleaming globe, then dissolved to reveal Braxidane's willowy form—a young man, this time, wearing a green tunic, leggings, and a thin rapier that hung from his belt.

Will clung to Garrick’s side like a frightened cub.

He put his arm around the boy’s shoulder.

“That was nice work, Garrick,” Braxidane said. “You are learning well. Someday you’ll come to trust that your magic is bound only by your imagination.”

“What price do you pay for intervening here?”

Braxidane chuckled. “You truly are learning, aren’t you—or did you just guess that?”

“I believe you are the one who taught me there are only actions and consequences.”

“Apparently you have a brilliant teacher.”

“So, I ask again, what consequence do you suffer for your action of interfering with me?”

“You are the consequence, Garrick.”

“What does that mean?”

“I didn’t start this chain of events, but I would be a poor example of a god if I didn’t take advantage of such an opportunity.”

“You are no god,” Garrick responded, quoting his now old teachings from Alistair. “You are nothing but a creature that can move between the many planes of existence.

“But,” Braxidane spoke on, “you are correct in one way, you see. Gods cannot easily intervene in the activities of individual planes. But sometimes one of us desires some specific power, or just grows interested to the point they are willing to pay the price to enter a plane. And when that happens, he—or she—opens the gate for others to follow.”

“Don’t be so convoluted,” Garrick said.

“I apologize. I forget your need for simplicity.”

“You’re saying,” Garrick replied, “that when a planewalker crosses into a plane, others can follow.”

Braxidane’s expression was a look of ebullience.

“There is hope for you, yet, Garrick. One god opening a path makes it easier for others to follow—the need for balance in all things is a natural one, you see? Actions and consequences.”

“Yes,” Garrick said. “I see.”

“You must work harder to understand this, Garrick. This need for balance permeates everything.”

“Everything?”

“Indeed.”

Braxidane hesitated then, waiting, his expression sharp and questioning, as if wanting to see what Garrick might say.

A truth built within him.

“The orders obtained their god-touched mages first.”

“Yes, Garrick, there is indeed hope for you. If others of my ilk hadn’t provided the orders with their mages first, I would not have been inclined to give this power to you. You are the balance, you see. You are the consequence.”

“Lucky me.”

“Yes, lucky you.”

“Why me? Surely there were better options.”

“You made yourself available.”

Garrick grimaced. “I’m not naive enough to think you would choose an apprentice based on mere convenience.”

“Do not sell yourself short, Garrick. I’m pleased. You are so much bolder today than the mere lad who cried out for help a few months ago was.”

“That’s no answer.”

“I feel no need to answer such a senseless question.”

“A magewar is brewing, Braxidane. There are no senseless questions.” Garrick stopped then. A sudden chill ran up his back. “You’re all just playing with us, aren’t you? The planewalkers, that is? You're just dallying.

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