power,” Jack said. “I just wish there was more I could do.”
“I know,” Alexander said, willing the door to his Wizard’s Den closed. “Zuhl wants the book, the one that will make him into an immortal undead. He called it a lich book, says he’ll trade it for Abigail.”
“As much as I want her back, you can’t give him that book,” Jack said.
“I know, but maybe this is an opportunity,” Alexander said.
“You want to give him the other book.”
“I think the ruse has a better chance of working against Zuhl than Phane,” Alexander said, “especially since he’s already done the hard work for us.”
“What do you mean?” Jack asked.
“Well, we’d have had to convince Phane that the book exists,” Alexander said, “then entice him to come and steal it. Zuhl already knows it exists and he wants it badly enough to abduct Abigail to get it. The more I think about it, the more I like it.”
“So how do we get it to him?” Jack asked.
“We’ll have a Sky Knight come and get it,” Alexander said. “Bragador might be reluctant but I think I can persuade her, especially once I tell her that Zuhl has collared half a dozen dragons.”
“What?” Jack asked.
“Apparently, he’s very interested in old books,” Alexander said, “seems he’s discovered the process for enchanting dragon collars. In fact, he was riding one during the battle, or so Abigail thought when she jumped off her wyvern in midflight and cut him in half.”
“What?!” Jack said.
Alexander recounted the battle for the Fellenden shipyards to a stunned Jack and explained how Zuhl had cheated death. Jack sat listening, slack-jawed and shaking his head slightly until Alexander finished.
“And she tells you to be more careful,” he said.
“My thoughts exactly,” Alexander said. “I have to give it to her, though. It worked. If she hadn’t taken that dragon out of the battle, there’s no telling how things would have turned out for us.”
Chapter 16
The following morning, Alexander slipped into the firmament again, mindful of his limitations and intent on taking care with his new ability. He wasn’t sure what kind of damage it could do to him if he projected his illusion for too long but he didn’t want to find out, especially in the wake of such a painful experience the day before.
He went to the fortress island where he requested that Cassandra send two Sky Knights to the Spires. She was reluctant but agreed after he explained his reasons and assured her that Bragador was willing to permit the intrusion.
He’d spoken to Bragador the night before about Zuhl’s use of the collars to control dragons. She’d been incensed at the idea, nearly beside herself with rage. After she’d calmed down, Alexander explained his plan and the need for speedy couriers to take the book to Fellenden for the exchange. The fact that the Sky Knights were part of a plan to kill Zuhl was the thing that persuaded her to permit wyverns to encroach into her territory—an unthinkable breach of security under other circumstances.
Cassandra also reported that the coven was nearly fully assembled, and the Reishi witches were making preparations for the spell that would undo the link between Isabel and the Sin’Rath witch Clotus.
His message delivered, Alexander returned to his body.
“How do you feel?” Jack asked.
“My head hurts a little, but nothing serious,” he said. “I’m going to talk to Zuhl next … tell him that I agree to his deal.”
“Why don’t you wait awhile? At least until your head stops hurting,” Jack said.
“I agree with Jack, My Love,” Chloe said. “It always worries me when you’re away, but now more than ever. You should go slowly and be careful with this new power, at least until you understand it better and understand your limits better as well.”
“There’s just so much to do,” Alexander said.
“I know, My Love, but you only have one healing draught left. What happens if you overdo it again? There’s time to implement your plan. The most urgent part has been set in motion.”
“Maybe you’re right,” he said, relaxing into his bed and closing his eyes.
After lunch, he took the next step, sending his consciousness into the enormous white marble fortress on the southern tip of the Isle of Zuhl.
He found Lord Zuhl in a room that would have made Lucky giddy. It was easily a hundred feet square with forty-foot ceilings supported by a row of polished white marble pillars. The entire room was filled with worktables, each occupied by a different project. The