Read Online Shadow Mage (Blacklight Chronicles) by John Forrester - Free Book Online
Authors: John Forrester
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wine.” Nikulo rubbed his stomach. “I don’t recall ever trying to hunt in the dark.”
“Hunt indeed!” the traveler interrupted. “A fine idea, my boy. Fine indeed .” He glanced around the air liked he’d spotted moths fluttering about in the night. Quick as a falcon, he grabbed something from nowhere, and pulled out a long spear. Talis choked back his surprise, and coughed.
“Here we are, a mighty fine spear to go hunting with, don’t you agree?” Then the old man stumbled forward, like a drunk or a man possessed by demons, and aimed his spear at the ground like he was hunting for snakes.
He jumped back suddenly, as if startled by something approaching. “There, there! Can’t you see how magnificent he is? What a specimen. You don’t see many like that these days… A real prize-winner, he is.” If it weren’t for the fact the man was obviously a sorcerer, pulling spears out of thin air and talking in riddles, Talis would probably have judged the man mad.
“Move out of the way! Here he comes,” the old man shouted. He took several confident steps backward, and deftly threw the spear at the place where he’d been staring all along. Just when Talis thought the spear would fall onto the earth, brilliant white tusks and a massive boar’s head appeared from a kind of blur in the air, and met the full force of the spear as it penetrated at the crown of the creature’s chest. A direct strike. The creature squealed in pain, and writhed around with the spear still stuck inside its body.
The boar toppled over, panting last breaths, eyes open in fury.
“I had no idea you’ve such fine game here in the south! To think I’ve spent all these long years on Tarasen and never ventured to your city before…” He withdrew the spear from the boar’s chest, and let it slide down into the sleeve of his robe where it disappeared. Talis found himself gaping at the old man’s feats of magic, so strange and unconventional. No one at the Order had performed such magic, it would’ve been deemed low and useless, like common street performers and court jesters.
“You’re from the Tarasen Isles?” Talis jutted his chin towards the man.
The traveler covered his mouth and coughed slightly. “I rule the Tarasen Isles. Much like you rule the land surrounding this fine Temple of the Sun.” He shifted his head towards Talis. “Thanks to the immense power of the crystal planted directly underneath our feet.”
Talis took a step back defensively, and had to force himself to keep his hands lowered. But he stared at the old man, refusing to let his concentration waver.
“You may relax, young wizard…I’m no threat to you, especially not here on your stronghold. I’ve merely come to pay my respects and to see you and this fine temple with these old, tired eyes. I’ve been rude…please allow me to introduce myself, I am called Palarian by those close to me. To the inhabitants of Tarasen, they know me as The Shelterer, the protector of their lands. Kind and cruel master of Tarasen.” Palarian took a low, elaborate bow. “At your service.”
“Welcome… It seems you know much about the temple and about me.” Talis glanced at the man hesitantly. “You’ve traveled a great distance to visit Naru. As you said, food and drink is in order. The food”—Talis gestured at the boar—“you’ve provided, as to the drink, all I have to offer is water from the Temple’s spring, which is fine, I can assure you.”
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
“Hunt indeed!” the traveler interrupted. “A fine idea, my boy. Fine indeed .” He glanced around the air liked he’d spotted moths fluttering about in the night. Quick as a falcon, he grabbed something from nowhere, and pulled out a long spear. Talis choked back his surprise, and coughed.
“Here we are, a mighty fine spear to go hunting with, don’t you agree?” Then the old man stumbled forward, like a drunk or a man possessed by demons, and aimed his spear at the ground like he was hunting for snakes.
He jumped back suddenly, as if startled by something approaching. “There, there! Can’t you see how magnificent he is? What a specimen. You don’t see many like that these days… A real prize-winner, he is.” If it weren’t for the fact the man was obviously a sorcerer, pulling spears out of thin air and talking in riddles, Talis would probably have judged the man mad.
“Move out of the way! Here he comes,” the old man shouted. He took several confident steps backward, and deftly threw the spear at the place where he’d been staring all along. Just when Talis thought the spear would fall onto the earth, brilliant white tusks and a massive boar’s head appeared from a kind of blur in the air, and met the full force of the spear as it penetrated at the crown of the creature’s chest. A direct strike. The creature squealed in pain, and writhed around with the spear still stuck inside its body.
The boar toppled over, panting last breaths, eyes open in fury.
“I had no idea you’ve such fine game here in the south! To think I’ve spent all these long years on Tarasen and never ventured to your city before…” He withdrew the spear from the boar’s chest, and let it slide down into the sleeve of his robe where it disappeared. Talis found himself gaping at the old man’s feats of magic, so strange and unconventional. No one at the Order had performed such magic, it would’ve been deemed low and useless, like common street performers and court jesters.
“You’re from the Tarasen Isles?” Talis jutted his chin towards the man.
The traveler covered his mouth and coughed slightly. “I rule the Tarasen Isles. Much like you rule the land surrounding this fine Temple of the Sun.” He shifted his head towards Talis. “Thanks to the immense power of the crystal planted directly underneath our feet.”
Talis took a step back defensively, and had to force himself to keep his hands lowered. But he stared at the old man, refusing to let his concentration waver.
“You may relax, young wizard…I’m no threat to you, especially not here on your stronghold. I’ve merely come to pay my respects and to see you and this fine temple with these old, tired eyes. I’ve been rude…please allow me to introduce myself, I am called Palarian by those close to me. To the inhabitants of Tarasen, they know me as The Shelterer, the protector of their lands. Kind and cruel master of Tarasen.” Palarian took a low, elaborate bow. “At your service.”
“Welcome… It seems you know much about the temple and about me.” Talis glanced at the man hesitantly. “You’ve traveled a great distance to visit Naru. As you said, food and drink is in order. The food”—Talis gestured at the boar—“you’ve provided, as to the drink, all I have to offer is water from the Temple’s spring, which is fine, I can assure you.”
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
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