Questing Sucks! Book II (45 page)

“Take it,” he said. “It’s okay.”

Sehn hesitated at first. He didn’t trust any of these men, but the temptation was too great to ignore. Cautiously, he extended his own hand. With a surprisingly powerful grip, Archmage Bennet seized it. Despite his bony, shriveled fingers, the Archmage was no weakling.

“Such a shame,” he whispered, his voice eerily quiet.

“What is?” Sehn asked, for some reason speaking in a matching whisper.

“You.”

Sehn restrained himself, fighting the desire to rip off the old man’s arm. “Did you just call me a ‘shame’? Don’t think I won’t destroy you in front of your friends.”

“You misunderstand me, elf. I don’t mean to say you are a shameful person. I meant that your life…” His eyes, which until this point had been only half-opened, widened somewhat in caution. “Ah, before I say another word, I don’t wish to be the one breaking this news to you. You wouldn’t by any chance have discovered your particular…ailment, have you?”

Sehn turned his head away, spat on the sand, and then again locked eyes with the old man, who was now too close for comfort. It was awkward being so near this elderly robed figure.

“If by ‘ailment’ you mean the curse, then yes, I know about the curse. I found out not long ago. But how do
you
know about it?”

“It’s our business to know these sorts of things, elf.”

“And how do you know that I’m one of them? One of the cursed.”

“It’s obvious by the very fact that you’re here with us now, for there’s only one reason Archmage Duncan would throw someone like you in here. Either you’re a high-ranking member of Magia’s ruling council, which we both know you’re not, or you’re one of the cursed—which leads me to what I was trying to say. It’s a shame.”

“
What’s
a shame?”

Archmage Bennet again narrowed his eyes. “Your talent. I can see it in your eyes. You have so much potential that will go unused—such a pitiful waste of talent. You could have been something, you know? Ah, forgive me, is that rude of me to say? Despite my old age, I never developed very good social skills.”

Sehn, who at this point had remained passive, decided to return the grip on the old Archmage’s hand. He squeezed hard, but the elderly mage gave no sign it bothered him.

“Cursed or not, I’m not dead yet…unless this really
is
hell.”

Archmage Bennet laughed. “No, no, you’re very much alive—for now. The loss of potential is worth weeping over, however. I can feel your spirit.”

Sehn turned his attention back to the awkward hand-holding. “Is that what you’re doing? Feeling my…spirit?” He grinned. “I bet it burns.”

“It’s warm, but it doesn’t burn. And the reason I’m doing this is because I’d like to use you as a medium.”

“A medium for what?”

“It seems you’re the only one capable of using magic in this world, so I’d like to use you as sort of an extension as myself: to cast a spell
through
you. It’s how I intend to show you what you need to see. It only requires a minimal amount of magical energy.”

Sehn stopped himself from smirking as he sensed an opportunity. “Are you saying you wish to use my magic?”

“To put it short, yes.”

“Well then, why didn’t you say so sooner? I’m offering a special one-time package today. For the low price of—”

“I don’t have any money,” the Archmage blurted out. “Consider the power you’ll get when this is done as my payment.”

Sehn grumbled to himself but allowed the old mage to continue whatever he was doing. The Archmage closed his eyes, and for a few minutes, he was silent. A short time later, Sehn felt a tingle run down his shoulder, travel through his arm, and enter his fingertips. Archmage Bennet released his hand. A blue, luminescent, cloudlike mist appeared just above Sehn’s fingertips. Archmage Bennet waved his hand back and forth, slowly, just above Sehn’s, and the blue glowing mist floated away from Sehn and towards the Archmage.

“What is that?” Sehn asked.

“A spell.”

“A…spell?”

“Yes, one that hasn’t been cast yet in its purest form. Please, give me your hand again. I need to do this once more.”

Fascinated, Sehn held out his hand and allowed the Archmage to repeat what he’d just done. Once again, and this time far more quickly, he felt the tingle travel down his shoulder, his arms, and then through his wrist and into his fingers. Like before, another mist, this one orange, appeared. Bennet, this time only waving one hand, repeated the earlier motion, taking the orange mist away from Sehn.

The Archmage took a few steps back. He held his arms wide and smiled. Now, the orange mist floated above his left hand and the blue above his right. The two mists moved along with him as well, because when Bennet took another few steps backwards, they still floating exactly above his palms, traveling with him.

“Thank you, Sehn,” Issius said. “And well done, Bennet.”

Bennet spun around and gave a slight bow while still keeping his arms wide. Sehn wondered if he could “drop” the magic if he bent over too far. A devious part of him wanted to push the old man and see.

“Issius, you have always been the better lecturer,” Archmage Bennet said. “Would you like to explain while I…show?”

“Works for me.”

The Holy Magus got to his feet and stood to Bennet’s side. The other Archmages and the twelve called “High mages,” watched on with unblinking eyes. Sehn had the sense that they were looking forward to whatever they were about to see. A feeling of excitement entered the air. Even Nero and Rina came hurrying over as if realizing something special was going to happen; the two had been building digging holes in the sand, which for some reason was fun to them.

“I haven’t seen this in many years,” remarked a High-Mage to one of his peers. “Have you seen Bennet’s Greater before?”

“I’ve never had the good fortune of witnessing his, no,” the other High-Mage said. “It’s a shame, too, because I hear he comes out a lot.”

Sehn listened to their chatter, confused. To Bennet, he asked, “What has these vermin so excited?”

Issius answered in his place. “We do everything we can to keep this sort of magic secret. There are…certain ethical considerations involved in its use.”

Hah
!
These fools have ‘ethics
.
’

Sehn merely nodded. “Get on with it, then. The Great Sehn thirsts for entertainment! Nero! Bring me some ale.”

“But I don’t have any ale, Sehn.”

“Then what good are you?”

“Sorry, Sehn!”

“Bah, forget it. Let’s just get on with it.”

Issius rubbed his hands together and cleared his throat. Although he spoke as if he were addressing all present, he kept his eyes pinned on Sehn.

“You are about to learn something that just may become one of your most invaluable tools. Of all the spells that I believe you possess the capability of learning, this is, by far, the most important. At first, it may not seem so…‘powerful’. But I assure you, this spell is one that grows with time. Of course, in your case it will become very powerful very quickly.”

Sehn shivered with excitement. “What is it?”

Issius took a few steps back, so that he no longer stood directly next to Bennet, but somewhat behind him as if giving his fellow Archmage the spotlight. Sehn listened to Issius speak while keeping his eyes firmly planted on Bennet.

“You are about to witness the secretive art of summon magic.”

“What’s summon magic?” Nero asked. He mumbled something else, but Sehn couldn’t tell what is was; Rina covered his mouth and shushed him.

“It’s okay, child,” Issius said. “You may ask questions.”

Nero struggled with Rina until finally managing to peel her hand off his lips. “See? He said I can ask questions.” Nero straightened his back, grinned, and repeated the question. “What’s summon magic, mister mage person?”

Keeping his eyes on Sehn, Issius answered the boy. “Summon magic is what allows us to call forth power from the other realms. But to fully answer this question, you must first understand that there are actually several
kinds
of summon magic: lesser, greater, and forbidden.”

Sehn nearly stood on his tiptoes at the sound of the third. “I demand you teach me the forbidden one!”

At this, Issius grimaced. “That won’t do, Sehn. The forbidden summon magic is necromancy: returning the dead to the world of the living. There is only one condition upon which that is permissible, and it requires a precious resource.”

The words went through Sehn like a sword. He had no idea such powerful magic existed. But more importantly, it was just the sort of thing he needed. Feeling the first bit of longing tugging at his heart, a picture—no, a face formed in his mind. Pain entered his chest, a sadness that he’d locked away and still hadn’t come to terms with.

“I must learn this forbidden magic. You
will
teach it to me, or I will force you.”

“I refuse,” Issius said. “Even under the pain of death, there is not one among us who would teach you necromancy. It is disgusting. I respect your desire for power, Sehn, but you will not—”

“This has
nothing
to do with power!” Sehn shouted, surprised at the rush of emotion in his voice. He looked pleadingly at the Archmages and then at the Holy Magus. “In a recent battle, my frien—ah, someone who served me lost his life. His name is Daniel, and I have not released him as my slave. I need to bring him back.”

“So that’s what this is about,” Archmage Bennet said with a sigh. “I see there’s more to you than just a desire for power. Elf, if you are here, then that means you must have encountered the one called Archmage Duncan, yes?”

A disgusting taste rolled over Sehn’s tongue at the mention of that vile creature’s name. “Yes, I bested him in combat, and when he knew he had no chance of defeating the Great Sehn, as a final act of cowardice he sent me here.”

“Did you get a good look at him?”

Sehn nodded. “I did. I have seen many manner of beasts in my long, heroic life, but this beast was the foulest of them all. He—
it
—was but an animated corpse.”

“
That
,” Issius said, “is necromancy.”

Sehn’s mouth fell open, horrified. He looked away to gather his thoughts, and then more to himself than to the others, he said aloud, “As a minion of the Great Sehn, Daniel deserves a better fate than that. You’re right. Necromancy will not do.”

Issius smiled compassionately, as did Archmage Uramore, who lowered his head in respect from where he sat with the other Archmage.

“You have the capacity to be wise, I see,” Uramore said.

Sehn grunted at the insult. The “capacity?” He made a note in his mind to mark that particular Archmage for death when this was all over. For now, he wanted to hear more of what the Holy Magus had to say. As if sensing this, Issius continued from where he’d left off.

“Now that you know about Necromancy, that leaves the other two: lesser and greater. Unlike most forms of magic, the magical energy needed for these spells does not work quite like those you are familiar with. The power for greater comes from within, and the power for lesser depends on the need.”

Issius pointed to a spot on the sand, halfway between Sehn and the Archmages who now watched in eager silence.

“Let’s start with lesser summons. A lesser summon brings forth a creation from the realm of magic itself. There is no limit to how little or how much magic is required to make these spells function. It ranges. In some instances, a single use can drain you completely. In others, it requires only the smallest bit of magical energy. Archmage Bennet, if you would please.”

“With pleasure, Holy Magus.”

Bennet bent down, lowered his right arm, and then released the glowing blue mist so that it floated just above the sand. The mist began to spin; it became thicker, more smoke-like, as if turning into a miniature storm. Then it changed color and form. It became brown, rounded, and it took the shape of a small rodent. The last of the blue mist took form and shape, and now Sehn realized he was looking down at a rat, which looked back up at him and squeaked.

Rina clapped her hands together. “Wow-ee! Rina cannot believe her eyes!”

“Amazing,” Nero whispered.

Sehn took his eyes off the rat and noticed the joyful faces all around him. He couldn’t believe how such a pathetic little rodent was causing such a fuss. One of the High-Mages pointed and laughed as if this were some sort of miracle.

“I am unimpressed,” Sehn said. “Is this what you call destructive power? This is pathetic! I cannot believe I wasted all this time just so you can teach me how to make animal puppets! I demand you rewind history and return to me the five hours you stole while making me endure this pointless bullshit!”

“You’re not easily impressed I see,” Issius said. “But you will be. Just see this through. And this isn’t a rat, Sehn.”

“It isn’t? Perhaps it’s a mouse, then. I get the two confused sometimes.”

“It’s not either of those things. It’s magic.”

Sehn looked back and forth between Issius and the rat. “You mean it’s a magic rat?”