Spell Fade by J. Daniel Layfield Read Free Book Online Page A

yours, and nothing stopped me.” She turned to look at the fields behind her. “Nothing, until I saw your fields. That slowed me down a bit, and when I saw your mother on top of that packed wagon, I knew.” She turned back to face him. “You really are leaving, aren’t you?” Dartan merely nodded his head, unsure if he should speak yet. “Where will you go?” she asked quietly. “What will you do?”
    “He doesn’t know where he’s going yet.” The answer came from behind Dartan, but he didn’t need to turn to know who it was. Aliet, however, couldn’t hide her surprise. She peeked around Dartan as the voice continued, “And I think those are questions both of you will have to answer for yourselves.” Dartan watched as the wide-eyed surprise changed to wild-eyed fear. The wizard had done it again.
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    She didn’t scream. Although, it was only because she was concentrating so much on trying not to faint.
    “Oh, my. I’ve frightened her again, haven’t I?” Alain sounded sincere enough that Dartan was able to restrain himself from turning and yelling at him.
    Instead, he managed a simple, “Yes, you did.” He moved closer to Aliet and placed his hands on her arms. “Are you alright?” he asked softly, trying to catch her eyes. Aliet continued trying to peek around Dartan, but his firm hands held her gently in place.
    “It’s him,” she finally stammered out. “That’s the man I saw the last time I was here.”
    “I know,” Dartan replied, “and he’s very sorry for scaring you,” he added in a louder voice.
    “Who is he?” she whispered.
    “The Great Wizard, Alain,” Dartan answered. He was not able to stop her from leaning over to catch another glimpse this time, and unbelievable as it seemed, he saw her grow even paler.
    “Why is he here?” Dartan barely heard the question, and wondered if he had read her lips rather than actually heard it.
    “He’s not really here,” Dartan said loudly enough for Alain to hear.
    “Actually, for all intents and purposes, I am here,” Alain argued. Aliet looked confused as Dartan released her and stooped down to pick up a rock. He hurled the stone at the wizard, which passed straight through causing no more than a flicker in the image, and a small puff of dust farther down the path.
    “Well, alright, so in the physical sense, I’m not here,” the wizard conceded.
    “I’m beginning to see why Mother doesn’t like wizards,” Dartan grumbled.
    “So, he’s here, but he’s not here,” Aliet said. “What does he want?”
    “Best wait until you’re all together before I explain everything,” Alain said. “I’ll join you two back at the girl’s home.”
    “The girl has a name,” Dartan called out to the now empty space Alain had occupied. Aliet blinked several times, almost expecting him to pop back in for one more remark.
    “Is this a normal occurrence for you?” she asked, finally convinced he was gone.
    “Not until two days ago,” Dartan admitted.
    “And he’s really the Great Wizard?”
    “According to him, and Mother.”
    “He doesn’t look anything like him.”
    Dartan barely concealed his smile. “We’d better get moving,” he said, scooping up the single bag of possessions at his feet. He then put his fingers to his mouth and blew a loud whistle across the yard. “Josie!” he called out, and got a loud snort as his reply.
    “Are we taking Josie?” Aliet asked.
    “If I can get the nag to come out of the barn,” Dartan grumbled.
    “Let me try,” Aliet suggested. “Josie!” she called towards the open barn doors, and was answered by a sweet whiny followed by the clop of hooves coming at a fast trot. “That’s a good girl,” she added as the horse came straight to her and nuzzled her neck.
    “I’ll walk,” Dartan said. He secured his pack to Josie, who started to complain until Aliet gave her a soothing scratch between the ears. Aliet climbed onto Josie’s back and