Read Online Spell Fade by J. Daniel Layfield - Free Book Online

questioned the man kneeling in front of his throne, who nodded his bowed head vigorously.
    “Yes, sire,” he managed to finally stammer. With his rough hands and deeply tanned skin, the man was obviously a farmer, but his clothes hung loosely on his skeletal frame. Tough times, of which Jarel was reaping the benefits.
    Jarel had one leg thrown over the throne armrest, and regarded the man silently. “Very well,” Jarel was convinced. He moved his leg to the floor, sitting up straight on the throne. “The Northern Kingdom thanks you for your loyalty. Your deeds will not be forgotten.”
    “Thank you, sire,” he said, struggling to his feet. His head bowed, he backed out of the room, adding, “I live to serve,” as he left.
    “You could learn a lot from that man,” Jarel said to what appeared to be an empty room after the farmer left.
    A deep shadow in the far corner stirred, and from it emerged Roal. “I hope you’re not talking about farming,” he said, approaching the throne. “Because he didn’t look like a very good one.” When he reached the royal crest etched into the stone in front of the throne, Roal kneeled, bent his head low, and waited.
    “He does what is asked of him,” Jarel explained, leaning forward. “Exactly what is asked of him, and nothing more.” Roal remained on one knee, but raised his head to meet Jarel’s eyes.
    “So, he has no initiative? No ability to think for himself or react when things don’t go according to plan?” He flashed a quick smile, then added, “Sounds like a dangerous man to entrust with much of anything.”
    “Not quite,” Jarel replied calmly. “He doesn’t presume to know more than his king. Especially where it concerns the task he was given.”
    Roal lowered his head. “Forgive me, sire. I would never presume to know more than my king.”
    “Really?” Jarel leapt to his feet, smiling when Roal flinched, but didn’t move any closer. “Tell me then, did you use the scale?”
    Roal didn’t immediately answer, silently fighting the urge to stroke the scale hidden under his shirt. He cleared his throat, shifted uncomfortably, and kept his head bowed as he answered. “I thought a test of its power was necessary.”
    Jarel let out one clear laugh, and took a single step down towards Roal. “You thought? And who asked you to think? Where in my simple instructions were you led to believe I wanted you to think?” His voice had risen loud enough to be heard outside the room, but he wasn’t screaming, which was the most unnerving thing to Roal. He knew that calm tone heralded the storm to come.
    “Nowhere, sire,” Roal answered quietly.
    “So, you do presume to know more than your king.”
    “No, sire. I-“
    “And what were the results of this test you conducted?” Jarel interrupted. Roal took a deep breath, dreading answering this question even more than admitting he had used it.
    “The wizard easily overcame my defenses,” Roal admitted. “The scale failed.”
    “Stand up,” Jarel commanded. Roal hesitated for a moment, unsure of what he heard. When he looked up and saw Jarel waiting on him, he quickly rose to his feet.
    “Use it now,” Jarel said. Roal raised his eyebrows, again unsure. “The scale,” Jarel clarified. “Use it now to protect yourself from me.”
    “What?” Roal’s eyes widened as he saw Jarel pull his wand from his sleeve. “Wait!” he said, fumbling for the scale resting against his chest.
    “Too slow.” Jarel pointed the wand at Roal’s arm and snapped his fingers, but it was the snap of bone that echoed back. An explosion of pain started in his arm, then raced up his shoulder to his head, where it pushed out everything else but the pain. He had no idea how long it lasted, but when it subsided enough to allow rational thought again, Roal realized he was screaming.
    The arm that had been reaching for the scale now hung uselessly at his side. The bone above his elbow protruded through his sleeve, and blood