By the Sword - By Sara Flower Page 0,23

him to fit with his armor on. He eyed the gangly magician.

There was obviously a reason why Aterun was being so accommodating. No one ever offered help unless he wanted something in return.

“You can fit through the opening. Bring me something,” said Naeshi.

Aterun glared at him, but he stepped under the trickling water and entered the cave.

Naeshi paced back and forth until the magician came back out.

Aterun was grinning.

Naeshi’s eyes widened. Within Aterun’s spindly hands were several golden nuggets.

“Are you convinced now, foot soldier?”

Naeshi tore his armor off. He was still barely able to squeeze his bullish frame through the narrow crevice, but he made it to where it opened into a large a cave. A ray of light from an opening above shone on an abundance of gold, gems, and diamonds.

His jaw dropped open. If he took all of this, he would be richer than Ittonifer himself. He wouldn’t tell anyone of his discovery, naturally. He had to kill Aterun.

“Yes, that’s what I’ll do,” Naeshi said rubbing his hands, “and then I will sail for the eastern continent and make myself a king.”

“You selfish fool!” yelled Aterun from the entrance.

Naeshi glanced casually at his elder. He drew his sword and walked toward him.

Surprisingly, Aterun did not even flinch. Instead, he lifted his hand and began to chant.

Before Naeshi had a chance to blink, his body was lifted from the ground. Something held him in place. He tried to struggle, but he could not move.

Aterun repeatedly cast surges of electricity at him. His body convulsed in agony. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t yell. The pain seemed to penetrate through his skin and into every fiber of his insides.

Then, the electrical surges subsided. Quivering, Naeshi gasped for air, grateful for the relief.

The warlock scowled as he lowered Naeshi back to the ground.

“If you even think about pulling a stunt like that again, I will kill you. Now, go show Ittonifer a sampling of the wealth that you are about to bring him. He will favor you once again.”

Naeshi shook his head. That would never happen.

“Listen to me, Naeshi. Ittonifer’s greed is even stronger than his lust for blood. Trust me. You will have everything you could ever want, including his beautiful daughter.”

Chrissa had been the cause of both his missing eye and his new lowly status. Still, he wanted her. Every red-blooded male that laid eyes on her did.

If Ittonifer gave him his old position back, Naeshi would marry her right away. She was the most stunning woman that he had ever seen. Taming her to be the wife that he deserved would be well worth the effort.

Naeshi studied Aterun. The magician could have just killed him if he’d wanted to.

“Why are you being so accommodating?” Naeshi asked.

“I have my reasons, but like I said: If you try to kill me again, you’re finished.”

“It won’t happen again.”

The old man was more powerful than Naeshi had imagined. He wondered why Aterun never tried to overtake Ittonifer and rule Malinor himself.

The warlock hummed a few notes and opened his clenched fists. Within each of his hands was a round, purple fruit. Naeshi had never seen anything like it before.

Aterun handed one to him.

“This won’t fill me up,” grumbled Naeshi, but after three bites he was already satisfied.

He ate the rest of it anyway.

“Now, go and show your ruler how worthy you really are,” the warlock grinned.

“What are you going to do now?”

“I am going to stay back here for a while.”

Energized, Naeshi ran as fast as he could back to Malinor. Once he got his title back, he would make Chrissa pay for her insolence. She had been toying with him for far too long.

*****

In the royal stable, Queen Roselyn paced back and forth in front of General Edandir. He had just told her what he had learned of Ittonifer’s plans. It nearly killed her to think that she had almost lost him to a storm created by the devil’s spell. Ittonifer was more involved in witchcraft than she would have imagined.

Roselyn’s white mare whinnied softly, sticking her head out of the stall. The queen smiled and gently rubbed the horse’s smooth neck.

It was bad enough that the empire had one crazy leader, but now it would appear that Ittonifer’s young nephew had become just like him.

“I am sorry. I probably spoiled your mood to go out for your evening ride,” said the general.

“No. It is all right. You were right to come find me here. It is better that I know now.”

Edandir