She was on her stomach and couldn’t see Zollin, but he saw her. He reached out with his magic to lift her to safety. The magic was so hot it was like picking up live coals with his bare hands, but he did it anyway. She rose up and then came down on the ledge beside him.
“Oh, my God! Zollin! You’re alive,” she said.
Then everything went black.
Chapter 39
“I have plans for you,” Gwendolyn said.
Quinn and Mansel stood side by side in a small room with Gwendolyn, Wilam, several other men, and the woman Gwendolyn called Mina.
“Tell me about the wizard in the north,” she commanded.
“His name is Zollin,” Quinn said anxiously. “He’s my son. He discovered his powers last year, and he defeated three wizards of the Torr, and a dragon.”
“So the rumors of the dragon are true?”
“Yes, I’ve seen him. Zollin is going to kill the dragon.”
“I see,” Gwendolyn said. “Mina, we simply must bring Zollin to court, don’t you think? He would make a fine addition to our army.”
“He’s in love with a girl from our village,” Mansel said. He didn’t like Gwendolyn talking about needing someone else. “He won’t want to leave her.”
“He’ll come if I say come,” said Quinn angrily.
“Cotyn will take you north, to find the wizard,” she told them. “I want you to find him and bring him to me,” she said in a pouty voice, but everyone in the room seemed not to notice.
The men were all entranced by Gwendolyn. They fought to be near her, to make her smile or laugh. Quinn had forgotten all about his mission. He couldn’t think of anything but his desperate need to be with Gwendolyn. He wanted to take her in his arms and run away with her. He had to hold himself back from killing the men around him who took her attention away from him.
Mansel was smitten, too, although his mind struggled to remember something or someone important. He pushed the distractions down so that he could focus on Gwendolyn. He felt his heart beating and his blood boiled with desire for her. Her pouting voice seemed to say that if he could do this one task for her, she would give herself to him. It was all he wanted—well almost all, but he couldn’t remember what the other thing was.
“We will get him and bring him to you,” said Mansel. “He trusts me. He’ll come if I tell him to. He owes me his life.”
“I’m his father,” Quinn said angrily. “He’ll do what I tell him to, not you. He doesn’t owe you anything.”
“Boys, boys,” Gwendolyn said. “Don’t fight. Work together and bring him here. Then you can have your reward.”
“I will take them across the Great Sea of Kings, majesty,” said Cotyn.
“Good, take them quickly. Leave today and make haste. Then wait for them and bring them back to me.”
“I will, your highness, I promise.”
“Good,” she said. “Now leave us. I am tired.”
The men shuffled away, none of them happy about leaving Gwendolyn. Only Wilam and Mina remained. Since they had gone to the Castle on the Sea and seen her, Gwendolyn had insisted that Wilam stay close. She called him her bodyguard, but the truth was she wanted the King of Yelsia’s son close. If the Prince became King, he would pledge his allegiance to her. And if the other kings brought armies against her, he would bring Yelsia’s forces to protect her. She knew he was under her spell; all men who saw her were, except for her old master. Offendorl had kept her locked away in the tower too long. Now she was free and she had no desire to return, but she needed help to defeat the great wizard. She needed Zollin, the boy everyone was talking about. The Wizard of Yelsia was a dragon fighter, they were saying. She didn’t know about dragons, but she knew Branock and Whytlethane. They were old, but crafty wizards, two of the strongest at the Torr. And Cassis had been young and cocky, but capable. It was impressive that Zollin had killed Cassis, and even more so that he had slain Whytlethane. And he had defeated Branock, she had heard of that even before Quinn and Mansel had told her.
She knew if she could control Zollin that she would be a match for her old master, and with that meddling fool out of the way, she could have anything she wanted. She had come to Lodenhime to find out why she couldn’t sense Zollin. There was an extensive library at the Castle on the Sea, and when she’d arrived the noble who lived there fell under her spell. She had sent the women away and sent the noble to scour the library, but men were lazy. He was most likely loafing his days away, daydreaming about being invited into her bed. Now she had a real chance to bring the boy wizard under her control, and if that happened... She savored the idea of becoming the most powerful wizard in the Five Kingdoms.
“Come, Mina,” she told her sister. “We have work to do.”
Wilam followed them down the stairs and through the throngs of men waiting to see about her every need. The library was a large, long room, almost as big as a feasting hall. The collection of books and scrolls was extensive, although very few contained the kind of information she needed. As a sorcerer, she could control magic users, but Zollin, like her old master, had found a way to keep her out. He and his power were hidden from her, and she needed to find a way to get that power back.
* * *
Mansel and Quinn stood on the deck of the ship called the Wind Whisper. It wasn’t as large as the Nightingale, but it would take them north, which was all either man cared about. They needed to go north to find Zollin. Then they could bring him back and marry Gwendolyn. That was what they both wanted. The only thing standing in their way was the sea.
Quinn thought that once he found Zollin, he would quietly end Mansel’s life. He would get the young warrior drunk, he thought, then slip a knife between his ribs. The thought of killing Mansel made him sad, but he didn’t want the big warrior vying for Gwendolyn’s affection. Quinn wanted her all to himself, and he wasn’t going to let Mansel stand in his way.
Mansel had similar thoughts. He would need to dispatch Quinn. But he wouldn’t wait, instead he would toss the old man overboard when he was helpless with seasickness. The thought of seeing Quinn sink beneath the dark waters was difficult, but he couldn’t let anything stop him from being the one who brought Gwendolyn her prize.
They set sail quickly, the ship gliding through the water, heading north with dire intentions. The men on board all felt the eagerness of beginning their quest. They all longed to please their mistress. She had become their master.
Chapter 40
Brianna shook Zollin, but he didn’t stir. He was breathing, but just barely. She looked up at the dragon, who was roaring in pain on the mountaintop. It was trying to pull the arrow she had shot it with from its own chest with its tail. The thought that she had wounded the beast gave her a sense of satisfaction she had never known before. She only wished she still had her bow and could finish the job, but at that moment she knew she had to find a way to get Zollin off the mountain or he would die. The air was too thin and he needed food, wine, and rest. They had saved a portion of their wine just in case Zollin needed it after fighting the dragon, but it was all the way back down the mountain.
She had a length of rope that she kept slung over her head and one shoulder. It wasn’t enough to lower Zollin down the mountain, but would come in handy. She still had her quiver of arrows that was attached to her belt. And she had a few odds and ends in her pockets. She looked around and realized that they were on a part of the mountain that would be impossible to descend and going into the cave was not an option. Their only chance would be to go over the mountain and hopefully find a way down.
“Zollin,” she said loudly, slapping him in the face. “You have to wake up!”
His eyes fluttered and then closed again. She tried to lift him, but she couldn’t. Tears stung her eyes. She had to save him, but she didn’t know how. Then she heard the sound she had been dreading, the whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of the dragon’s wings.
She looked up and saw the beast taking flight again. She knew she had to do something.
There was still snow on the sides of the mountain, and she grabbed a handful and dropped it on Zollin’s face. He sputtered, and she rubbed his cheeks with the snow. His skin turned bright red and he opened his eyes.
“What are you doing?” he said in a weak voice.
“We have to get off this mountain, or we’re going to die,” she told him.
“Can’t,” he whispered. “Leave me here.”
“I will not,” she said. “I’m jumping off the ledge, Zollin. I’m going to pull you to the edge, and we’re falling off together. Are you listening to me?” she said, slapping him hard in the face when his eyes started to close. They snapped back open and she told him her plan.
“There was an avalanche,” she said. “The valley is full of snow. All you have to do is slow us down enough that we aren’t killed. Can you do it?”
“No,” he said. “I’m too weak.”
“Then we’ll die together,” she said. She pushed him right to the edge of the ledge. Looking down the drop was terrifying, but she could see the snow far below. Her hope was that the snow would soften their landing.
“Stay with me, Zollin,” she shouted.
She glanced up and saw the dragon swing toward them. Then she lifted Zollin’s head and shoulders so she could wrap the rope around him. Then she lay on top of him and wrapped the rope around her back as well. The sounds of the dragon were growing louder. She could hear the wings flapping as it swooped down and the deep growl in its voice.
“We’re going to die if you don’t help me, Zollin!” she screamed as she tightened the rope.
“I love you,” she whispered. And then she rolled off the ledge.
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Table of Contents
Wizard Rising
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Book II
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue
Magic Awakening
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Part II
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Part III
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Part IV
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Epilogue
Hidden Fire
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Five Kingdoms: Books 01, 02 & 03 Page 119
