God Mage - D.W. Jackson Page 0,17

first trying to reach a favorable compromise.”

“As I said, the map itself means little to me,” Bren repeated himself. “I am only interested in one place. It is a valley where no one lives, surrounded by mountains with only a small hidden entrance.”

“I would like to help you, but this is too large a decision for my family alone,” the man replied, his voice sounding sincere. “Let me speak with the village elders. There is a chance they may be able to identify the place you are looking for. I can’t say for sure, but there might be more to the map than even I can guess at, though I doubt any of the elders would let me, let alone you, know if there was.”

Bren’s first thought was to grab the map and return to his own studies of it, but he quickly reconsidered. He was sure that if needed, He could take back the map and escape the village, but that was only if he went alone. It also meant that should he go against the head of Hayao’s house now, it could mean the same thing in the end. “It would seem that for now I have little choice but to agree to your request.”

As the man left, Bren shook his head and looked over to Hayao. “I have talked to your father a number of times, yet I still do not know the man’s name.”

Hayao laughed a little and shook his own head. “My father’s name is Hayao Sun.”

You and your father have the same first name?” Bren asked slightly confused.

“No,” Hayao replied with a slight smirk. “Have you not noticed that the family name is said first? It is the more important of the two, so it is given precedence.”

“Ah,” Bren said blankly as a feeling of embarrassment washed over him.

That night, after most the others had fallen asleep, Bren once again found himself in the courtyard that lay right outside their room. It wasn’t overly large and was by no means an outstanding place of beauty, but it was a place that made him feel calm, and after the day he had, he could use a little calm.

There were only a few clouds in the sky letting the moon shine through clearly. Pulling in a little magic, Bren made it look as if the moonlight was dancing over the ground. There was no practical reason for his antics; it was just something to busy his mind.

“Looks beautiful,” Faye said, sitting down beside Bren and laying her head softly on his shoulder. When Bren didn’t say anything, she gave him a gentle shake. “No one else in the world around, and I still can’t hold your attention.”

“Sorry,” Bren apologized.

“Don’t apologize,” Faye said, grabbing him and pulling him close. “Just pay attention to me. That’s all I really want.”

“Oh,” Bren replied feigning surprise. “Is that all you really want?”

“Didn’t you know that is all any woman really wants,” Faye responded with a sly smile as she pulled him close. “Well most of the time.”

Chapter 6

Bren’s eyes fluttered open as he heard footsteps quickly rushing toward there room. Almost without thinking, Bren—careful not to wake Faye whose head rested on his arm—grabbed the hilt of his sword. The sound of the footsteps grew louder, and the sliding door to their room was thrown open, causing many of the men in the room to jump to their feet ready for a fight.

“There is a problem, my lords,” a young man nearly his own age said breathlessly. “Master Hayao is waiting for you outside.”

As the young man rushed off, Bren and the others quickly dressed and rushed to find out what had caused such an uproar in a normally subdued people. The look on Sun’s face said much more than the frantic words of the messenger. “The elders wish to see you,” Sun said before moving toward the elders building.

During the last few visits to the elder’s building, Bren had felt a strong power emanating from inside, but now that seemed only a farce compared to what he felt now. The pressure coming from the building was so intense that it made Bren’s stomach tighten, and it seemed to be getting stronger with each step he took forward.

Looks like that the old men are worried about something. Don’t they know it seems a bit childish to let their magical energy run wild?

“It’s their magical energies that are causing the pressure?” Bren asked not completely understanding. He knew that it had