A Coursing Passage (A Life of Magic Book 3)

by Matthew Mitchell

  We all jumped up and took our places behind Breaker and Stain.

  "I will lead you out. Then you shall be on your own." Breaker started down the tunnel that we entered three days before.

  The wagons rolled gently over the rock and we were on our way. Within a short time I could see daylight at the mouth of the tunnel. The door was wide open.

  "Goodbye, Breaker of Mines. May your warren flourish." Stain shook his massive hand and followed us out of the tunnel.

  The light was blinding for a moment. When I could see my surroundings I was surprised, green trees marched right up to the rock face. I could hear water pouring down from a high height. It reminded me of home.

  "It sounds like home!" Pat cried out.

  Stain looked around and frowned. "That is because it is the woods you called home." He looked back at the rock face, but the opening had shut already. "I fear something is amiss here."

  "What is amiss is that you have escaped too many times old man!" The shadow's voice rang out into the clearing.

  We all jumped and looked for the danger. No soldiers, no mages, not even the shadow appeared.

  "Show yourself!" Stain cried out.

  "Very well, I shall do as you ask." The shadows snickered. The shadows of the trees grew and took shape. The dark shadow oozed upwards and soon a living shadow stood before us. "I am the shadow of my master. He commands you to surrender."

  Stain laughed and shook his head. "Never shall we surrender. A shadow has no power here." I could feel the pull of magic as he cast a brilliant light spell, attempting to dispel the shadow. It wavered and danced but refused to disappear. It stood like an ink blot before the light.

  "Very pretty, old mage." The shadow laughed. "I am a creature of pure darkness. Light has no power over me. Surrender or face my power." Purple energy writhed from within the shadow.

  "Shields!" Stain yelled to everyone.

  Mophar jumped to my shoulders as I threw up my strongest shields. He yipped as they snapped into place. "That was close. Everyone else can shield. I am just a lemur."

  "Surrender or be destroyed!" The shadow cried out one last time, his voice full of power and lashing at my shields.

  We all replied together, "Never!"

  "Very well, be destroyed!" The shadow cast out with power, the purple energy filling the clearing. It wrapped around all the shields and enveloped them all in darkness. The power was immense, pressing in on all sides until it felt as if I was holding my shield against an entire mountain.

  "Hold on Ott!" Mophar called out as I shook from the strain. "Just keep holding your shield."

  "What about the others?" I asked him as I focused on keeping my shields in place.

  He looked around, "I can not see them. The shadow is blocking my view."

  "Surrender!" The shadow's voice rang around my entire shield.

  "Never, not even in death!" I cried in pain and desperation.

  "Ott! Hold it! Hold it please!" I heard Mophar's voice fading as I passed out, my shields still holding the shadow at bay.

  ***

  "Master, he awakes." The shadow's voice penetrated my brain.

  I sat up and looked around. I had been captured. A metal box surrounded me on all sides. Bars marched around near the top, allowing me to see out of the box. The air was damp and smelled of the ocean. I stood up and looked through the bars. Other boxes hung from a series of chains. Walkways ran between the boxes, providing access to each box. Beyond that I saw rock walls and could hear waves crashing against rock.

  "So he does." That voice that haunted my dreams whispered out. "Welcome to my home, Ott." He stepped into my view. "I hope you will let me call you Ott." He walked towards me and leaned on the bars. "Now, where is the rest of your party? More importantly, where is my FATHER?"