New Excerpt

“Last time you fought Grithinshield he barely bested you after

he had used his tricks. That was not your fault, Master. He could

use the full power of the Red Sapphire and you were limited in

your output from the Blue Sapphire because you do not have the

matching staff for it to give you access to its entire might. It would

even heal your wound permanently. With the proper staff, you

could kill the fox and save your lands.”

The crowd cheered again. Mandrean used his hands to gesture

to them for silence. He looked at Necromancer with curiosity.

“Before you openly criticized my fighting abilities and said I could

not defeat him even with the proper staff. Your change in opinion

leaves me skeptical of your motives.” He bore in mind Gramlick’s

last warning.

“I was rash in my statements before,” the wizard pleaded. “I

trust you have enough savvy to devise a way to vanquish

Grithinshield if your magic is even.”

“You said before that you could not find the staff. What has

changed?”

Necromancer smiled and produced the ancient garment from his

pocket. “This has changed the dynamic of the situation. Rub this

magical garment over the Blue Sapphire. The stone has been in

contact with its staff before. Some trace of it should have been left

on the gem.”

Mandrean did not fully understand but took the cloth anyway.

He polished his prized possession and returned the woven material

to his court magician. Necromancer smiled his most insidious

smile and hovered over the map of the world on the floor.

Necromancer closed his eyes and fell into a trance. Without

warning, his body began to glow and change shape. The

metamorphosis looked grotesque. His body shifted and twisted

before the amazed onlookers. When the light from the magic

faded, Necromancer was an old man in appearance. Disguised as

Gallatrium he proceeded to speak to the cloth.

“My old cloak, that magic stone has touched the staff that

makes it whole. You have touched it. Now show me the location of

the staff so that they may be reunited.” He cast it high into the air

and cried out, “Show me where the blue staff is located.”

The cloth flashed a blinding white light as it landed on the map.

Mandrean joined Necromancer beside and watched. The fabric

grew into a vast moving picture on the floor with a view

descending through clouds. Such speed and imagery was similar to

what might be seen while falling off a cliff. In fact, a violent wind

blew over them with just such a force. When it seemed that they

would be blown away, the picture finally focused on the location

of the staff. The image centered on a structure.

“Now show us who possesses the staff.” Necromancer

demanded.

The picture changed, and both men smiled at once. They looked

at each other and for the first time ever had the same goal.

“That is amazing,” Mandrean muttered.

“I never would have looked for it there,” Necromancer said

unemotionally.

“Now that we know where it is, I have a job for you,

Necromancer. A scheme is coming together in my mind that is

perfect for this. I could not have planned this better. Our troubles

are about to end.”

“Indeed they are,” agreed Necromancer.