God Mage - D.W. Jackson Page 0,33

the temple. He wondered for a short moment if anyone would find it and what they would think of it. As he thought of the wagon, Bren thought of the other things his father had left behind that had helped him along the way. He hadn’t really had the chance to use either of the rings but they still comforted him when he was nervous. Bren looked at the pack that hung on his shoulder. Of all the things his father had created, it had helped him the most. It was a simple thing but had so many uses. Bren thought it was weird that it was the least flashy uses of magic that made the most difference in the world.

Is there a reason that you are thinking such silly notions? You should be forging ahead, not thinking of what was left behind.

“You know, something has been bothering me,” Bren said as he looked down at his staff. “You constantly tell me how many mistakes my father made, and how bad he was, yet all you have worked toward for the past few years is making me retrieve him…Why?”

I wish I knew. Your father did many things that I did not agree with. He was never truly free; his own mind made sure of that. Given all of that, Thad was my creator, and I can still feel the pull of his will. If it were possible, I would jump to his side now but my path is blocked.

Bren just shook his head as he followed the rest into the town proper. Thuraman always complained, but he was just as mixed up as the rest of them.

Cass used what little money they had left to purchase enough horses for them all and a new map. He also bought an assortment of other things that left Bren scratching his head. He didn’t know why they would need spare straps of leather, wire, and oil.

Once Cass was sure they had everything they needed, they left the town heading north. It was still a long journey to reach the location of the valley, but there were plenty of villages along the way—at least for most of the journey.

As they left the village, Bren noticed that their little group had split off into their own small groups. Brenda spent most of her time riding next to Jin, who Bren still had trouble looking in the eye. Faye stayed close to Bren though sometimes she would move back to talk to Lillian and Shariel. Bren found it slightly odd that the two girls who used to be at such odds with each other now talked as if they had been friends for life. Cass was like Faye and switched between riding point with Bren and riding beside Phena.

Ever since they had left Torin, Phena and Cass had grown very close. Bren was used to seeing his friend with beautiful women, but he never thought that Phena would be one of them. In truth, Phena was the last person he thought would ever take an interest in another human. Phena still wore her disguise most of the time allowing her to look like a normal human. She didn’t draw much attention, but then again with Avalanche still running around, they didn’t need much help in that area.

“Do you think Phena would make a good mother?” Cass asked as he watched Phena out of the corner of his eye.

The question caught Bren by surprise. On the long rides, there was little to do but think and talk to those around him, but Bren never thought that Cass would bring up anything of a personal nature. The warrior liked to pick at Bren’s open wounds but never offered himself up for the same treatment.

“I’m sure that she would make a suitable mother for the child of a warrior,” Bren replied, trying to imagine what such a child would be like.

“I think so as well,” Cass said with a half hidden grin. “Now, if only she would think along the same lines.”

“What did you need the oil for?” Bren asked desperately trying to change the topic. He was used to Cass talking about women, but Phena was his sister, and that was the last person he wanted to think of in that light…It just felt wrong. “You know that if we need light I can just use Thuraman or my own magic to create it.”

“The oil is in case we need to make a fire for other reasons,” Cass