Shadow Mage

by John Forrester

  Palarian sauntered over to the fountain where the spring bubbled up, and cupped several drinks. He sighed, his face expressing delight from the taste.

  “Indeed, you’re quite right. A magical spring. I feel rejuvenated already. Shall we roast this fine creature?” His fingers snapped and red-hot coals and fire appeared on the ground near the boar. He mumbled a few words and an iron roasting spit appeared over the coals.

  “There, that will do nicely. I always loved the idea of hunting, but hated the messy parts of preparing the roast. Perhaps that’s why I turned to magic at a very early age?” His fingers formed an edge, and a brilliant skinning knife appeared near the boar. His other hand raised, and the boar lifted into the air. The magical knife made quick work preparing the boar for roast.

  “How did you learn such a thing?” Mara said, her mouth gaped in fascination.

  The sorcerer chuckled. “I’ve had years of practice…” He commanded the boar to move and connected it with the spit roast iron. “Now, the special lathering oil my grandmother taught me: garlic and black truffle infused olive oil soaked in rosemary springs.”

  Nikulo literally drooled as the low flames from the coal sizzled after the oil had splattered off the boar. The air smelled hideously rich as the boar roasted. “And the wine, kind sir? You mentioned a good red wine. We wouldn’t want to disrespect this fine boar with anything less, would we?”

  “Ah, yes, the wine.” Palarian scratched his silver and black mangy beard. “I’ve had wines from all over the world, and I have to say I’m partial to Jiserian vintages from the south.”

  Talis, Mara, and Nikulo went silent, staring at the sorcerer like he was a viper. Were the Tarasen Isles allied with the Jiserian Empire, their enemies? Was this sorcerer sent here to challenge Talis in a duel?

  “I see I’ve struck a sensitive chord with the young masters. The war still not over yet?” Palarian flicked his wrist and the boar circled around on the roasting iron, pops and crackles of oil on the fire sending out a smell that made Talis ravenous with hunger.

  “Please, sit by the fire. The roast will be ready soon.” The old man reached into his robes, and withdrew a bottle of red wine. “The finest vintage in Carvina, stolen from the Jiserian emperor’s own cellars.”

  Palarian’s eyes sparkled devilishly. “Now how about that drink?”

  Talis released a sigh, and sat, warming his hands by the fire. “Anyone who steals from our enemies is a friend of Naru. I’d be happy to share a drink with you, traveler.”

  The sorcerer pulled a crystal goblet from the other sleeve, popped the cork, and poured a glass of velvety-smooth red wine that wafted aromas of cherry and oak and honey into Talis’s nostrils.

  “There, now, and a glass for the young lady, and for the young gentleman….”

  “I’m usually called worse things,” Nikulo said, and grunted. “But I’ll gladly take your wine, and a cup or three more.” He took the goblet and raised it in toast to the others. “To new friends and old enemies, may our friendship bloom and our enemy’s arses wither.” Nikulo downed the full glass, and tried stifling a belch, but it came out as a rumble instead.

  Palarian let out a small laugh. “Colorful friends you have, young wizard. This one has the gift as well?”

  “Healing.” Talis took a sip of the wine, and let the smooth liquid roll around in his mouth. “And other useful magic.”

  Nikulo squinted in appreciation. “And you, traveler? What’s your story? All this way to simply pay your respects?”

  The corner of the sorcerer’s mouth raised in a half smile, and to Talis’s eyes, the expression of deception. “Word has spread across the world of your power, young wizard. The boy who holds the magic of the Goddess Nacrea in his hands. And of course, of the new Temple of the Sun.”

  “Along with the black crystal.” Talis studied Palarian for any hints, but the sorcerer’s face remained unmoved.

  “A rare power indeed flows here from the earth, bringing life-nurturing energy to the land surrounding the temple.” The sorcerer closed his eyes and inhaled a long, noisy breath through his teeth. “I can feel its power flowing through me… I do not wither, nor die, it nurtures me too, as you.”

  Talis frowned. Could Palarian channel the magic of the black crystal? Was there danger of losing the temple and its power to this stranger? He took another sip, and searched the old man’s eyes. No, if he intended to fight and control the temple he’d have done so awhile ago, if he could even command the crystal’s power. Talis always had a feeling that the black crystal was alive and sensed those drawing from its source. The sorcerer was unknown to the crystal.

  “Eat, eat, what are we waiting for? I know I’m famished and you appear starving as well, especially the young master with the hungry belly.” Palarian grinned at Nikulo. He flicked his fingers and the knife appeared once more and began carving the roast. The sorcerer pulled a fine silver platter from a misty shadow, and positioned it underneath the magical knife.

  Nikulo scrambled forward to get his portion, nearly knocking Mara aside in the process. He shoved a slice into his mouth, closed his eyes, and chewed with a look of complete satisfaction.

  “How is it that the roast is ready so soon?” Mara inspected a slice of the meat.

  “Fire Magic,” Talis said. “There’s knowledge of sending controlled amounts within a creature.”

  The sorcerer raised an eyebrow at Talis. “This is known here in Naru?”

  Talis nodded. “By one master, and now by his apprentice.”

  “I see. Such a rare wizard well-versed in a wide set of knowledge. And from the rumors surrounding your deeds, have gained mastery over at least one of the greater arts.” Palarian placed the platter filled with slices of boar on the earth between them, and motioned them to eat.

  But the sorcerer didn’t eat, his mind appeared lost in thought as he stared at the fire. “There’s something unsettled here in your fair city, and I can’t quite place it. Something is wrong? The hero of Naru away from his family, alone with his friends, and hungry.” He peered into Talis’s eyes. “Yes…yes, something has gone wrong. The prophetess did not foresee lies. She glimpsed truth in her vapor-induced visions. The hero cast aside from the ones he saved. The child of the sun plays with shadows. The gods strike fear amidst believers.” Talis felt a chill run down his spine at his words.

  Palarian released a long, tired sigh that caused his wrinkled, sun-worn face to appear hundreds of years old. “There’s only one thing to be done, you know. The ancient sages spoke of this thousands of years ago. Mastery over the power of the sun must be followed by mastery over shadows. Otherwise unbalance occurs, and the mind bends and distorts and becomes unstable.”

  He leaned over and pierced the earth with his finger, and drew the ancient symbol for darkness.

  “You must learn Shadow Magic.”

  9. ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE

  Talis felt like a mallet had slammed into his stomach. His hands dropped to his lap, and he stared at the fire. A flutter of pops and crackles launched from the coals, sending a shower of sparks into the air. Mara was right, he’d taken dangerous steps on the path to learning forbidden magic, and now, the sorcerer was telling him he had to go even farther? Would it take him away from his family and city, the very things he’d fought so hard to protect?

  “And you plan to teach me Shadow Magic?” Talis smirked as he stared at the sorcerer.

  Palarian found a stick, broke it and tossed it into the fire. “Ah, but you misunderstand me. I lack the knowledge of the dark arts.”

  “You what?” Talis said. Mara and Nikulo stared at each other with a puzzled look on their faces.

  “I believe you heard me just fine. I cannot teach you Shadow Magic.” The sorcerer curled his fingers together and blew smoke rings into the air. “However, I do possess certain information that could guide you in your quest to gain a deeper understanding of dark magic.”

  “But why should I try to learn Shadow Magic?” If Palarian lacked
the knowledge of Shadow Magic, who would be there to guide him if things went wrong? Talis remembered all his failed attempts at Fire Magic, and how Master Viridian had patiently guided him in his training dreams.

  The sorcerer frowned at Talis, as if he was watching a patient slowly die. “You’ll go mad… Why do you think the Goddess Nacrea gave you the black crystal? Think about it. She wanted you to learn dark magic to balance out the burning force of Light Magic. Just as the ancients have done for thousands of years.”

  Palarian stood, and brushed off his robe. “And not only the ancients knew this…but here within your very city, deep in the locked and barred subterranean passages of the Order of the Dawn, lies the knowledge of Shadow Magic.”

  “Within the Order, you say?” Nikulo’s face held an incredulous expression.

  “Yes, indeed, hidden away for centuries, available only to a select few wizards.”

  “And how do you know all this?” Talis said.

  “While I may lack the actual knowledge of these dark arts, I do possess knowledge of worldly going ons through my vast experience here on this world. I’ve watched the rise and fall of kingdoms, the movement of scrolls, sages, wizards, sorcerers, and mystics over the years. Starting from the source, on that ancient island, Lorello: the twin cities of Urgar and Darkov. The fall of that great city of light, and the diaspora of knowledge throughout the world.”

  Palarian sighed, and ran his spindly fingers through his hair. “Yes, I’ve been one of the Watchers. Watching and waiting over thousands of years.” Was this man one of the ancients?

  “Waiting for what?” Mara ran a finger along the rim of her wine goblet.

  The sorcerer’s eyebrows flicked up and down in amusement, and he wagged a finger at her. “What’s important is how do we get inside the Order’s archives? If you’re to learn Shadow Magic, that’s the only place for you to start…unless you plan on sneaking into the Jiserian Empire. The Order of Shadows in the magnificent City of Corvina contains a wonderful collection of scrolls on the dark arts. But I’m guessing you’d have an impossible time getting inside, let alone figuring out how to translate the secret code the scrolls are written in.”

  Talis pictured the Order’s archives, filled with dust and scrolls and clay tablets. Since the destruction of the Temple of the Order of the Dawn, the Order had forbidden entry to the library. But now, in the confusion since the incident with the gods, perhaps the archives would be unguarded?

  “And will Talis truly go mad if he fails to study Shadow Magic?” Mara said.

  A grave expression came over Palarian’s face. “Sadly, yes. I’ve seen firsthand the insanity strike a fellow magician. A boy, a few years older than Talis, his name was Fineas, if I remember correctly. He’d mastered Light Magic and was forced to use it to defend his Order against a rival group of sorcerers. The exertion drove his mind too far in one direction, and caused him to go mad, each day worse than the one before. There was a plan to teach him the dark arts to balance the force of light, but the only sorcerer in the Order with the knowledge of Shadow Magic had been slain.”

  “That’s terrible!” Mara’s eyes were tensed and worried listening to the story. “What happened to him?”

  “He ended up going over to the side of his enemies, to learn Shadow Magic, and turned traitor. Most likely the dark arts compelled him unconsciously in that direction. He remained quite mad throughout his life, and was eventually slain by his former Master.”

  Talis shuddered, thinking of the fate that had befallen Master Viridian. “I’ll do it. Let’s sneak inside the archives.”

  “Are you sure?” Mara said, placing a hand on his arm.

  “We have no choice. Besides, I’ve been meaning to visit the Temple archives.” After all this time studying runes with Mistress Cavares, he needed to fill in a few gaps in her teaching. Talis glanced at Palarian. The question was, did he trust the sorcerer to come with them?

  The old man seemed to read Talis’s expression, because a grin spread over his face. “I know, you don’t want me to come. Go ahead, but you don’t really know what you’re looking for. You need a guide.”

  “How do we know you’re not going to sabotage the archives, and try and steal something you need?” The wind gusted up and sent the sorcerer’s hair twirling. Talis put a hand behind his neck and studied the old man’s face.

  “You don’t know.” Palarian shrugged and suppressed a yawn. “I suppose I could give you my word.”

  “And how do we known your word even means anything?” Mara said.

  “Well, there’s a way to bind one’s word to magic, a harmful spell for instance would strike, if you break your word.” The sorcerer pushed out his lower lip thoughtfully. “Do any of you know the art of runes?”

  Talis felt his heartbeat thump ahead erratically. He tried to keep his face stony, but the sorcerer picked up on something.

  “So, you do know the hidden art. Rare, very rare to see in wizards these days. There was a time, quite a long time ago actually, when Rune Magic was all the rage. Now you’d be hard-pressed to find a runemaster in a kingdom.” Palarian sighed, and rubbed the back of his hand across his lips. “I’ve learned a thing or two about runes over the years….”

  “Follow me.” Talis grunted, and led the sorcerer inside the Temple, summoning an orb of Light Magic to guide their way. If the old man had something to teach him concerning the use of runes, he was more than happy to learn. Shadows sprung to life as Talis sent fingerlings of flame to light the many candles scattered around the workroom.

  Palarian’s eyes went wide as he caught sight of all the runes spread across the worktable. He lifted a rune too quickly for Talis to stop him. “So much for worrying about how we’ll get inside the archives. You surprise me boy, you do. Who taught you the portal spell?”

  “Err, no one exactly taught me, we”—Talis gestured to Mara and Nikulo—“sort of figured it out.”

  “You did most of the work.” Mara sauntered up alongside Talis, until he felt her hand brush lightly against his wrist, sending a shiver up his arm.

  “Let’s just say we solved a puzzle.” There was no way Talis was going to tell this stranger a thing about his interactions with Aurellia. Palarian knew too much about him already.

  “I suppose that’s good enough.” The sorcerer crinkled up his forehead and frowned. “Since you can open a portal, and I assume you’ve been inside the archives before, we should be ready to go.”

  “You forgot something…” Talis pointed at a rune with a Fire Magic spell inscribed. A quite specific spell afflicting one’s internal organs. Like a kidney roast. “Teach me how to bind your word to that rune. If you break your promise….”

  “I wouldn’t want that to happen.” The sorcerer rubbed his stomach, an unpleasant expression lingering on his face. “The binding is quite similar to any other rune binding, except I say my words of promise, and you bind them through your intent to the rune. Easy enough?”

  Talis nodded uncertainly. “I’ll give it a try.” He placed the rune on a chair, and closed his eyes, waiting for the old man.

  “I, Palarian, do humbly swear before the gods old and new, roaming the skies and ruling the deep, that I will bring no harm to the Order of the Dawn temple archives, nor steal, nor bring any ill deed to the archives. If I do, may the spell inscribed on this rune strike me down.”

  At the completion of the old man’s words, Talis focused his mind on the binding spell, drawing the sorcerer’s intent foremost to his thoughts, and pushed them inside the rune tablet. He opened his eyes just as the rune dissolved into dust, and left a shimmering silver ghost atop the chair.

  “Could we perhaps test it on a mouse first?” The sorcerer shrank back a bit as he stared nervously at the chair.

  “How could you even think of doing something to harm a poor innocent mouse.” Mara scowled at him.

  Palarian glanced left and right, as if searching for an escape. “I suppose you know what you’re doing?”

  �
��Not really.” Talis stared blankly, remembering he’d just cast his first rune binding a few days ago.

  “You’re not inspiring much confidence.” The old man ran his fingers along the top of the chair, and pulled it around. “Glass of wine to pair with my roasting?”

  Nikulo chuckled, and filled his glass. Palarian gulped down the red liquid and exhaled. “Here goes….”

  His face paled as he sat, the chair croaked in response. Nothing happened, at least from what Talis could see on the outside. The sorcerer cleared his throat, flashed a quick nervous smile, and stood.

  “Well, then, it appears you’ve done at least one thing right in your casting. Shall we proceed to the portal spell? I’m fed and slightly drunk and ready for adventure.”

  Talis took the portal rune from the old man’s hand. He also grabbed a few extra runes laying on the table he’d crafted before. Near the edge of the workroom, he positioned the portal rune on the floor.

  “Before you cast,” Nikulo said, “consider one thing. The Order of the Dawn is in a bit of a mess now, and any interaction with them would be perilous. Tread carefully inside. I don’t want to fight my fellows at the Order.”

  Talis agreed, especially after all that had happened. “We should be very quiet inside.”

  “I know of something better. Better to go in unseen and unheard, don’t you agree?” Palarian brushed his fingers against each other and mumbled to himself. “Who is first?”

  Mara frowned. “You’re going to make us invisible?”

  “Precisely. Are you ready, my dear?” Palarian aimed his fingers at her.

  “Wait, let me go first,” Talis said.

  “You don’t need to be so chivalrous,” Mara said. “Ladies first, after all.”

  The sorcerer nodded, and flicked his wrists. Mara vanished.

  “Did something happen?” she said.

  “I can hear you but not see you.” Nikulo reached out to the space where Mara once stood. “Hey, don’t touch me there, you pervert.” Talis heard a slap, and the back of Nikulo’s hand went red.