SORCERER (The Elemental Magic Series Book 1) by Michael Nowotny Read Free Book Online Page B

Kingston so he wrote one letter to a highwayman he'd used in the past. Pulling out a small book he thumbed through it till he found the name of a wizard who was attending the academy that he had helped out in the past. He wouldn't put it past the wizard to find some enjoyment in taking care of this little problem for him.
    With most of his work done for the day Father Tillman reached into the bottom drawer of his desk and brought out a very old and worn book. He should have turned it in by now or destroyed it himself but curiosity had been nagging at him to read through it. It was the work of an old man held in the custody of the temple. The man was considered an oracle and had proven himself numerous times before his death. The book was his life’s work.
    The book started the same way as the official temple manuscript telling how the gods had taken responsibility for their world. The only difference was the book’s explanation of how man came to be. The temple version said that man was created by the gods, each giving a little piece of themselves to breathe life into man. The hearse said that man and the gods were once one and the same and that man was basically the product of gods that weren’t able to gain access to the realm of pure spirit because of their lesser power. Father Tillman looked at the book in disgust, that anyone would actually believe the crap in it was beyond him.
    He threw the book back into his drawer to look at later when he was bored.
     
    James and the boys rode through the high rolling hills with wheat fields on both sides of the road for a while. They only stopped to eat lunch at one of the farms along the way before continuing on till the sun began to set. After riding through a hillside that had been gradually flattening out James found them an easy camping spot along the side of the road as the sun began to set. Starting a small fire and setting out their bed rolls, James set to putting together a light but tasty stew with chunks of salted pork that Karen had packed for them. With the pace of trip and not really knowing what to say to one another conversation was light or nonexistent.
    After eating quietly Alec and Jake both climbed into their bedrolls without any encouragement from Peter. The two of them were sound asleep in no time being sore and exhausted from not being used to riding a horse.
    James stayed up awhile gazing into the flames of their fire and occasionally looking over at the boys. They couldn't be more different he thought to himself.
    Jake had the body type and size of a warrior being a little over six foot tall and probably weighing over two hundred pounds. Alec on the other hand was a lot smaller. Being maybe five and a half feet tall James doubted if Alec weighed close to a hundred and fifty.
    He looked at Alec trying to see Patten in him. Hopefully Alec would sprout up and fill out like he remembered Patten doing. Patten had finished growing later than would normally be expected too, if he remembered correctly, and never had really gained the big bulky muscles like most warriors. He certainly hoped Alec would do some more growing.
    Peter’s thoughts turned to worry as crickets started up another chorus. If news from the capital had any weight behind it a continuation of the war might be stirring within the next few years. He dreaded what might happen to them if it came to war again, especially the young men in his community. With the fire having died down enough he rolled himself into his bedroll to sleep fitfully with the worries and memories of war on his mind.
     
    Far out amongst the rolling sand dunes of the Northern Desert Lord Marcus watched the sand as it slowly shifted from one hill to the other. The moon was in its third phase and he was spent having added a large portion of his own power to that of the shield.
    The Lady Silvia slowly walked down the nearest dune letting the sand slide passed her feet before stopping next to Lord Marcus.
    “How bad was it?”