The High-Wizard's Hunt - By Ashley Delay Page 0,18

to investigate this murder. If you are tired and rundown from the duties of your office, you will be one step behind them every step of the way. We need you at your best.” Toby ran his hands over his smoothly shaven head. “Archana knows the next few weeks are going to be rough.”

Osric looked over at Toby’s weary eyes and admitted defeat. They all needed some time to think, and there was no need for them to be hovering around Stanton, watching the Vigiles work. His men were well trained, and Osric knew they would do their jobs, but he wasn’t going on a hunt alone.

“Go home, Toby, and get some sleep. You, me and Kenneth all need some time off.”

Chapter 3

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The Grove of the Unicorns

Gus was beginning to like the traveling spell, or at least he thought he did. It had certainly made things easier when they made their move to attack the guards at Braya. In one place, speak a few words, then appear in whatever location you wanted to be in. He was still pondering the mysterious circumstances of Osric’s power growth that allowed him to travel great distances, for long periods of time, without the sheer exhaustion that the rest of them experienced. He had lectured Osric on practicing magic that was unknown, but over the past few weeks of traveling with him, no noticeable dangers had presented. Yes, he was beginning to like traveling - that is, until they appeared in the grove.

At first, the grove was nice, or so he thought, as he looked down at the low branching Oak trees covered with snow. It was mysteriously warm, and Gus let out a sigh of pleasure; then the warmth quickly disappeared. The air seemed to draw the warmth from his body while he sat clinging to the shoulder of Bridgett’s dress. Gus glanced over to see if she felt it as well, and a shiver overtook him. He coiled tighter to preserve the warmth in his body. Bridgett seemed unaffected by the cold as she smiled and stepped forward. Pebble fell from his perch on Bridgett’s opposite shoulder onto the snow covered landscape, and Bridgett stopped suddenly in alarm.

“Oh, no!” Bridgett raced off in a hurry as Gus fell to the ground as well, the cold overtaking him.

All perception of time was lost as Gus’ breathing slowed. His vision blurred when he saw his son, Pebble, lying close to him on the snow covered ground. With the intensity of the cold, he knew that he should be panicking, but he couldn’t make himself care. He felt tired, and the only thing that mattered to him was taking a nap. A few voices echoed in his head, and he looked up lazily to see who it was. He thought he recognized one of the faces; it was a beautiful woman in a modest gown, and an amulet hung from her neck. She looked down at him and to his right with concern. The woman’s bright blue eyes were watering, and Gus wondered why he couldn’t think of her name, but the two women moved too slowly for his mind to make sense of what he was seeing. At least he thought they were moving slowly, but they were speaking quickly, or were they?

Suddenly, a flash of green hit Gus’ eyes, and clarity began to return to his mind. The return of understanding was slow, yet he knew there was danger. He felt his heart begin to beat faster, and warmth quickly returned to his frail, old body. He suddenly found himself able to focus his eyes again, and the numbness that had shocked him moments earlier ceased. It was an odd sensation to be brought back from death’s door, but he welcomed the release from pain and fear. His lack of concern rapidly turned into panic, and then anger, but at what, or who, he didn’t know. The flash of green that had started his transition back to reality grew in intensity as he looked around at the growth and beauty that surrounded him.

Gus sat back and examined the scenery as he shook his head. The fog lifted, and where he had seen a snow covered landscape there was sunshine and blooms. The grass he sat upon was soft and only slightly damp, not as wet as you would expect if snow had just melted upon it. The trees stood with majestic grace and stretched their branches in an evenly spaced formation, creating a