Shadow Mage (Blacklight Chronicles) (28 page)

Palarian wailed in agony, waving his hands at Aurellia to stop, but the three Elder sorcerers sent shadow cords around his waist and neck and wrists and ankles, and tied the cords onto the iron rod that Palarian had summoned to bind the turtle. Tears streamed from his old, wrinkled eyes as he stared hopelessly into the World Portal that had promised to take him home.

“You pitiful old fool,” Aurellia said. “Did you really believe you could kill me so easily? I am ashes and light, a child of death, a mother giving birth to demons. Your thousand years of studying the dark arts was only fodder to fool you into believing you could best me… A perfect ruse.”

Aurellia laughed with his eyes but kept his mouth wrinkled and fixed. “You’ve found the legendary turtle, created by the gods at the founding of this world… I see your magic was sufficient to tame her. And now you share an interconnected fate. She upholds the twin portals through the force of her life, and you, through your magic and power, are fated to keep her alive. If she dies the portals collapse, and your hope of ever returning home dies with it. Keep her alive, faithful servant, and perhaps one day I’ll relieve you of your duties and allow you to return home.”

Rikar strode over to Talis, his black robe flapping under the north wind, his dark hair long now, eyes black and glowering. He surveyed Talis and Mara and Nikulo slowly, his expression content and pleased. With the flick of his wrist he opened his hand and a stream of golden moths poured into the dark sky, swirling around like fireflies, their wings radiant.

“The wisdom of nightmares brought you here to this world…I feel flattered that you still care for me enough to take the bait. Couldn’t stand the idea of me being tortured?”

Talis shook his head. “I pitied you…but what brought me here was Mara. After spending time locked in the Netherworld caves, I pity you even more….”

Rikar scoffed lazily and wagged his finger. “Pity yourself more.” He snapped his right finger and a web of shadows screamed out and yanked Mara away from Talis. With Rikar’s other hand, hundreds of shadow threads wrapped around Mara’s waist and flung her screaming into the World Portal leading to Vellia.

“Mara, no!” Talis shouted. Not into Vellia, it was the wrong portal. But she was gone, and there was nothing he could do except clench his teeth and raise a hand to strike Rikar down, vowing to kill him for what he had done to her.

“Now…now, my loyal apprentices,” Aurellia said, chuckling to himself. “Such eagerness and passion! Save it for the mission ahead in Vellia…you will need it. And remember your vow to me, young Talis, you are bound to me….”
 

The dark lord turned to his Elders. “Faithful Raelles…enter the portal to Yorev and bring word to my loyal sorcerers and necromancers, come join the fight!
 

“Relech! Rolovian! Through the portal, secure our entry, claim Vellia once again as our own.” Aurellia smiled as the wight-like Elders flew into the portal. “Now we leave diligent Palarian to mind the portals as we go to conquer Vellia.”

Aurellia motioned Rikar and Nikulo towards the Vellia portal, and turned back to stare at Talis. Charna hissed at Aurellia as he came close, choosing protection inside Talis’s arms.
 

“Your lynx…a gift from the Goddess…interesting… Unfortunately, you’re still unprepared for the dangers inside the world ahead…stay close to me, stay close to the Elders, else you and your friends suffer. Go now! On to Vellia, on to victory….”

Talis stumbled towards the Vellia portal, his throat dry, heart heavy; he felt like a ghost walking. He never should’ve even thought of opening twin portals. At least with the portals open, the Jiserian sorcerers would leave Naru and join the fight in Vellia. Perhaps his family and city would be safe, for the time being. But his world might be in even greater peril in the future….

I swore fealty to a monster
, Talis thought. How could he have done it? Death would have been better… Holding Charna tight, he took one more step, and could feel the sickening pull of the Vellia portal as it yanked him aeons away through space.

His first breath in Vellia: the sound of crashing waves, the smell of coconuts roasting, tanned villagers fleeing the ensnaring shadow spells of Rikar and Rolovian and Relech, and Mara cowering behind a wooden boat, shivering despite the heat.
 

He ran to her, wrapping his arms around her trembling form, and whispered reassuring words in her ear. She nodded and sobbed softly, tears spilling from her eyes.
We’ll return home, we’ll return home, I promise, someday we will.

Above the vibrant palm and coconut branches, filtering between lazy clouds meandering across the blue vastness, Talis gaped at three gigantic shapes scarring the sky.

Dragons.