Read Online Diary of a Conjurer by D. L. Gardner - Free Book Online

Armel’s
wrist, causing him to drop his weapon. The two wrestled for only a
moment before Kaempie had him flat on the ground, knee in his
ribcage. “I will not heal you again,” Kaempie warned as he held the
man's arms. “From now on, any wounds you get, either from me or
from the forces around us, will be yours to contend with.”
    Releasing Armel, Kaempie picked up his bow
and quiver, gave Jacques and Hermaz each a warning look, and then
began his walk back toward the creek.
    “Wait.” It was the young one, Jacques, that
called him. “Don’t go. Help us. Please!”
    Kaempie stopped and turned to face him.
    “If you can find food for us, we’ll protect
you from this fool.” Though Hermaz had stayed in the shadows up
until now, keeping his opinion to himself, he echoed Jacques’
request.
    Kaempie glanced at Armel on the ground. The
man held his inflamed hand, his head bowed. Perhaps he’s had
enough pain. Perhaps he’ll relent.
    As he pondered what to do, a breeze jostled
the golden leafs at their feet, the sound of which sparked
Kaempie's attention. On it, he caught the musty smell of a deer. He
pulled an arrow from his quiver, stepped toward the scent, and when
he saw the rack of a buck peeking through the trees, he shot. The
deer fell. Jacques and Hermaz raced to Kaempie’s side.
    “Butcher it and cook yourselves some
dinner.” Kaempie said. “Wrap the rest of the meat in its hide and
bury it in the coals to roast, and then come with me. I need your help.”
     
     
     
    Pursuit
     
    It may not have been wise, bringing these
renegades along with him to find Meneka. But Kaempie had a deep
desire to learn who they were and where they came from. Leaving
Armel behind him didn't seem like a good idea, either. Jacques and
Hermaz were friendly enough, but Armel carried bitterness. Kaempie
would just as soon keep the man by his side rather than have him
sneaking in the bushes behind his back.
    In addition, the mention of a portal roused
his curiosity .
    Weighed down with bedrolls and packs filled
with supplies from their ship, the men trudged alongside the
wizard.
    “So who is this person we’re set out to
rescue? Is he a wizard, too?” Jacques had made a point of keeping
step with Kaempie, stirring up conversation whenever he could think
of something to ask.
    “He is. He’s also as young as you are.”
    “How did he come to need rescuing? I mean,
if he’s a wizard, wouldn’t those tribal people be afraid of him?
Wouldn’t he scare them by showing off his magical powers?”
    “Is that what you would do?”
    Jacques laughed. “I don’t know. Maybe.
Probably. When you have magic, you'd want to boast a little, I
would think, especially if you're around folk who aren't nearly as
gifted. It just seems the natural thing to do.”
    “Well, I suppose it’s possible he showed off
his magic. If so, I hope it was effective. However, the last I saw
of him, he was swimming toward a surge of arrows. Whether they hit
him and he died, or was wounded and captured, I don’t know. But I'd
like to find out before we enter the village. It’s not my intent to
cause trouble with those people, nor to show off my magic.”
    Jacques glanced at him. “You did,
already.”
    “No. I was using my magic. There's a
difference.”
    The boy fell silent, keeping pace with the
wizard.
    Kaempie added quietly. “If Meneka's been
slain, I would like to retrieve his body and give him a proper
burial.”
    “That’s kind of you,” Jacques said. “My
family would do the same for me. If they knew where I was, I mean.”
He stopped. Kaempie sensed the boy’s unrest as they waited for the
others who had fallen behind.
    “Where is your family?” he asked.
    Daylight was fading, and they had just
reached a summit overlooking the ocean. Where they stood, the air
was fresh and carried a taste of the salty sea. Jacques pointed
toward the cloudless heavens now turning pink and gold with the
setting sun.
    “Out there somewhere. I'm afraid