To Kill a Wizard: Rose's Story (The Protectors of Tarak Book 1)

by Lisa Morrow

  His grip tightened. “No, it wasn’t you. I just.” He looked to the sky, as if the answers could be found there, and then back at me. “I guess I was just embarrassed. You’ve been so strong to refuse The Protectors, and I submitted so easily to her teachings. All along I thought I might learn something I could use to escape. At least that’s what I told myself, but perhaps, I should’ve ignored her, treated her how she deserved to be treated.”

  “And yet you can’t forgive your sister?”

  “Let it go,” he grumbled.

  We walked in silence for an uncomfortable minute.

  “I asked Blair why I couldn’t use my powers all this time, and she said that they’d been locked somehow.”

  If his powers had been locked, someone powerful must have known he was a wizard. But I asked the more important question, “how were they unlocked?”

  He hesitated. “She thinks it was my need to protect you that broke the ties on my magic.”

  “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

  “She said it must have been powerful magic.”

  For some reason, I wondered if Blair was responsible, and then shook my head. Blair would’ve imprisoned him long ago if she’d known he was a wizard, or killed him. Someone else must have locked his magic, someone who wished to keep him safe.

  “Did you ask your mom about it when you returned?”

  He stopped, looking up at the unique leaves above us. “Yes, but she didn’t seem to know any more than me.”

  I could see Asher doubted her, and I was glad, because I doubted her too.

  “You there!” someone shouted, we turned to see Ugar walking quickly towards us, his sword drawn.

  In an instant, Asher was in front of me, his sword clutched in his hand.

  I knew what he must have seen: a man tattered and filthy, face smeared with mud, and an ugly red scar only too visible beneath the mud. He looked dangerous, and he was, but not to us.

  “Ugar!” I cried, moving out from behind Asher. “It’s Rose, and I’ve brought a friend to help.”

  He lowered his sword, but didn’t put it down. “Tell your friend, it’s a dangerous thing to draw one’s sword in Sereus.”

  Asher glared. “One against one. I can handle those odds.”

  “My archers feel a little differently,” he said, nodding up to the trees.

  Squinting, I saw nothing at first, until a slight movement drew my gaze to a man, his arrow pointed squarely at Asher’s chest.

  “Re-sheath your sword,” I hissed.

  He did as I told him.

  “Just so you know,” Asher whispered, his lips touching my ear. “I knew they were there. I was going to knock them out of the trees with my magic.”

  I tried not to look impressed. “I guess that’d help a lot, if they didn’t shoot you first.” Then, I turned to Ugar. “Can you take us to Norma?”

  Ugar said nothing; instead, he turned towards the village.

  In no time at all, we were among the blackened buildings.

  “What happened to this place?” Asher asked in horror.

  “We can keep the wizards out with enough magic,” Ugar said, looking back at us. “But their little Undead beasts slip through the little holes the wizards make and usually cause quite a ruckus before we send them back to Hadia.”

  Asher paled.

  I put my hand in his. “They have a magical wall around all of Tarak. The Protectors use their powers to keep it strong, but it hasn’t been enough.”

  An awkward silence followed my words as we both stared at Asher, waiting for his reaction. Luckily, it didn’t take long.

  “What are the Undead creatures like?” Asher asked, meeting Ugar’s gaze.

  “Unpleasant,” he said, and then added, “they have the heads of lizards and the bodies of men. They’re quick little buggers, and strong, but not very bright.”

  “Delightful,” Asher muttered.

  I tried to change the subject before Ugar said more to frighten Asher. “And Norma knows about the deal I made with Zeuita?”

  A grin spread the man’s scarred face. “Goddesses’ teeth, you know she does, and she can’t wait to send those creatures to Hadia, once and for all.”

  We walked through the rest of town, past the charred temple, where the Oracle knelt alone on the gray marble. A few stray warriors stood talking, leaning against burned walls, but there was an air of tension sizzling through them as they glanced our way.

  “Why do your men always seem so alert?” I asked, trying to ignore the lingering concerns the glances of the warriors left festering inside of me.

  Ugar stopped at Norma’s door. “Sometimes the stronger beasts will make Forever Shadows, shadows that stay even through the day. They’ll wait till mornin’, when we think we’re all safe, and pop out and kill a few of us. Or burn a home or two, before we either kill ‘em or the sun fries ‘em alive.”

  It all made sense now. Not just the tension among their warriors, but also the deep shadows beneath the trees. Just thinking about what they might conceal, even now, was enough to make any man as agitated as a cat surrounded by dogs.

  “Go right on in,” Ugar said, and I realized he was holding open the door for us.

  I took a step forward. “Wait, Asher, maybe I should talk to her alone first.”

  He frowned. “Why?”

  No good lie came to mind. “Because she knows me.”

  He didn’t seem happy, but he shrugged.

  I entered Norma’s home and pushed back the heavy curtain. She was there, as if she’d never left, seated before her table of maps and papers.

  The strong smell of Oryens’ Potion overwhelmed the windowless room, and the fire crackled far too loudly in another section of the curtained room. The light from the fire was softened by a thin curtain in front of it.

  Norma looked up, her harsh features made worse by the light of the fire. “You here for the battle, girl?”

  Stretching, she leaned back in her chair, propping her legs against the edge of the table. Then, gestured for me to join her.

  I sat in the chair across from her. “I’m here for the battle, but there’s more than that.”

  Her chair came crashing to the floor, and she leaned towards me. “Go on.”

  Taking a deep breath, I straightened my shoulders. “What do you think of wizards?”

  Norma flung herself against the back of her chair. “What is this? I don’t got time for horse dung.” She looked at me, and then raised a brow. “Fine, I don’t know what you’re getting at, but I spend my days killing’ wizards. Is that enough for you?”

  “No,” I said, hoping not to anger her too much, but not willing to risk Asher’s life. “I mean living wizards.”

  “I think you mean when they were living, but fine, girl, I was sad to see them go. No one deserves to be slaughtered like animals.”

  I took a deep breath, the weight on my shoulders lessening just a bit. “And what if I was to say that not all the wizards died?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “First, I’d wanna call you a liar, and then I’d remembered that you don’t strike me as a girl to waste my time or yours with foolishness. So, I guess I’d ask you if these wizards are on their side or ours.”

  “He’s on our side,” I rushed out. “I think it might be enough to stop the war altogether, if a wizard is found living.”

  A gentleness transformed her features. “Girl, your heart’s in the right place, and maybe that’s possible, but one wizard ain’t going to win us this war. Swords and magic will. That don’t mean we won’t take him as a soldier, I’ve got no war with a living wizard, in truth I’m glad to hear of it.”

  “But maybe it’ll work,” I insisted. “They were only given revenge because we killed all of them.”

  “But Hadia ain’t going to be on that battlefield sorting out a word in her agreement or two, she’s going to be sitting on her throne of bones, waiting for us to be sent into her kingdom.”

  I shivered. Norma was right. “
But Zeuita helped us because of him, so maybe…”

  She reached out and placed one of her powerful hands on my shoulder. “Maybes are good. They keep hope alive. But, we got to be practical too.” Then, she squeezed my shoulder, painfully. “That wizard is going to be useful though. Let’s see the goddesses let their only living wizard die. No, I think one or two of them won’t be able to sit idle during this battle.”

  “You think a goddess might help us?” I asked, my hope returning.

  “Not directly, no, the goddesses are almost as frightened of Hadia as we are, but they’ll find a way to help.”

  She released my shoulder, and I rolled it, trying to take the sting of her fingers away. “Would you like to meet him?”

  Her brows rose in surprise. “The wizard’s here?”

  I nodded.

  She paused cracking her neck loudly in both directions. “A living wizard. It’s almost more than I can believe.” Her knuckles rolled at the back of her neck. “But I guess I’ve seen a lot of things I never believed in.”

  “So, you believe me?”

  “I’ll believe you if I see his magic,” she said, grinning. “Now, where is he?”

  “Just outside the door.”

  “Ugar!” she yelled, making me jump. “Send him in.”

  The door opened with a slight movement of the curtain, and then shut with a clunk. Asher peeled back the curtains with a slow, cautious movement, his other hand hovering just above his sword.

  Norma rose, eyes narrowed. “You must be the wizard she’s been going on about.”

  “I am,” he answered, hesitating just within the curtained area.

  “Forgive me, boy, but I’m going to need some proof.”

  “Proof?” he raised a brow. “I can give you that.”

  He pointed his hand at Norma. She fidgeted, and then, right before my eyes, shrunk. She grew smaller and smaller until disappearing from our sight behind the table.

  “Asher!” I cried, racing around the table. And there, on the floor, sat a Norma so small she could fit in the palm of my hand, squeaking like an angry rat.

  Kneeling down, I placed my hand in front of her, and she scrambled into it. As I brought her closer to my face, her tiny voice became clear.

  “Turn me back!” she squeaked.

  “Asher,” I said, whirling towards him. “Fix this!”

  To my annoyance, he chuckled. “She wanted to see my powers, so I showed her my powers.” Something in my frown seemed to reach him, because he sighed. “Fine, put her back on the ground.”

  I did as he told, then stepped back. “How did you do that anyway?”

  He sounded smug as he answered. “That’s the difference between wizards and witches. Women can only tap into the magic inside of themselves. We can use magic from the earth, or like now, I used her own life force against her.”

  Images of the twisted, aged survivors of the battles with the wizards flashed in my mind. Some of them had wished they’d been entirely drained of their life forces, like their loved ones, rather than being crippled and aged far beyond their years.

  My stomach turned. “Like the Blood Wizards?”

  “No,” he replied sharply. “She’ll have a bit of a headache, but she’ll be fine.”

  As if to prove his point, he turned to Norma.

  Instantly, she grew again, until she reached her gigantic height once more. She towered over both Asher and I, which was no easy thing given Asher’s own above-average height.

  “If I had a temper,” she said, grasping her forehead. “I’d cut your head from your shoulders.”

  Asher stiffened.

  But suddenly Norma was roaring with laughter. “I did ask for it though, didn’t I?”

  Asher’s smile returned, and the tension in my shoulders vanished.

  Her laughter slowly died down, and she clasped Asher’s shoulder in her firm grip. “We’re glad to have you boy. We ain’t got no shrinkers in our Order. You’ll come in mighty useful.”

  “Rose thought we might not even have to battle,” Asher said, his smile gone.

  Norma’s laughter died. “Oh, there’ll be a battle. That’s one thing you can count on. But, I also think with you on our side, the goddesses’ favor may come our way.”

  Asher nodded. “So then, Chief, what’s our plan?”

  She released his shoulder. “With you here now, we’ll have to make a few changes, and there’s not much time left. We better run through this quick and then gather the others.”

  “Will Blair and the others be joining us?” I asked, suddenly aware of how strange it was that they weren’t with us.

  Norma rolled her neck. “Not sure about them exactly, but Queen Gaudias refused to leave. She’s gathered Protectors, ones I planned on having for reinforcements, around her at the castle.”

  Asher frowned. “Her selfishness, especially in a time like this, is amazing.” Then, his gaze met Norma’s. “Did we need those women to win?”

  Norma sighed. “Most of them weren’t warriors anyway, but I didn’t think we had much shot, even with them. Now though…”

  The truth settled between us.

  “If Marcalus can actually stop them from using their Blood Magic,” Norma shrugged. “Then maybe.”

  Fear coiled deep inside me.

  “I never thought I’d be involved in a battle.” The words slipped past my lips before I could stop them, and I looked away, embarrassed for showing my weakness.

  “Rose, I’m cut from a warrior’s fabric, but it don’t mean I’m not afraid. Only a fool wouldn’t fear what’s to come tonight.”

  I straightened and looked straight into her eyes. “I’ll be ready.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  When darkness fell, a hush came over the women and men beneath the white trees streaked with blood. Swords flashed as the torchlight bounced off the warriors, who stood waiting. Perhaps a hundred well-dressed Protectors had been weaved throughout the warriors. I sensed their powers drawn taut, like an arrow in a bow.

  Asher took my hand.

  I squeezed his.

  A sudden icy dread slowly moved through my veins. Would having him here really be enough?

  My heart pounded. Somehow, I’d never really imagined a battle. But now, I wondered if I’d just been a fool.

  Ahead of us, our red shield shimmered reassuringly, marking a physical separation between us and the blackened earth. But still, no wizards appeared. For an instant, I wondered if these women had been wrong. Perhaps the wizards were attacking from a different tunnel from the Underworld. Perhaps the battle was already lost.

  My hands grew clammy as I lost all sense of Asher’s touch. I willed my feet to keep me standing as I took deep breaths, trying to push away all dark thoughts.

  Against my throat, my necklace warmed. But rather than heightening my fear, it reassured me. This wasn’t a time for doubts. The wizards would come. And we would stop them.

  As if my thoughts formed reality, dark shapes flickered into life on the scorched earth, slowly taking the form of men and boys. At first, only the greenish tint to their flesh suggested they were Undead. However, it wasn’t long before an orange haze gathered above them.

  I swallowed. The haze had grown since our last battle, a physical reminder of the strength of their magic.

  Marcalus stepped free of the group. His gaze swept over our warriors and Protectors. A frown touched his lips. “Where’s Blair?”

  Norma approached him and stopped just beyond the shield. “Did you really think she’d come?”

  Rage transformed his features. “But this is her last chance to face us, to face me. To pay for her betrayal.”

  Norma crossed her broad arms in front of her chest. “I know that’s what you’d hoped for, but this is it.”

  He swore, turning his back to us.

  Asher and I exchanged a worried glance.

  “I guess it changes nothing,” Marcalus said, addressing his men. “Today we’ll get our revenge. And wherever s
he’s hiding, we’ll find her.”

  My legs trembled as I sensed the inevitable moment approaching.

  Asher squeezed my hand. His touch soothed the edges of my fragile nerves. We gazed at one another, and slowly, he nodded. Moving as one, we approached Norma.

  She gestured for us to speak.

  I licked my dry lips and cleared my throat. “Marcalus?” His name came out a squeak.

  Still, he turned back to stare at me. “You again?”

  Squaring my shoulders, I forced myself not to look away. “This is Asher. A wizard.”

  He startled, his gaze snapping from me to Asher. His eyes narrowed, and I swore I could feel his magic stretching out.

  He gasped, his magic no doubt confirming my words. “How is this possible?” The volume of his voice rose. “A living wizard!”

  Behind him, murmurs grew from the crowd of Undead wizards. They strained forward, gathering closer behind Marcalus, and staring at Asher with wide eyes.

  Sazar separated himself from the crowd, his hunched figure shuffling towards us. “They’re trying to distract you. This boy changes nothing. Ask him whether he sides with us or not. All we need to know is if he’s a friend or enemy.”

  “It does change something.” I squared my shoulders. “This is your last battle, no matter what. Zeuita has proclaimed that if you die today, you die forever.”

  My words ran through the wizards like a storm. Voices rose. The men turned to one another, fear and disbelief increasing their tones to nearly hysterical levels.

  “Enough!” Marcalus barked.

  Silence followed his command.

  “I shall discover if this is true.” He closed his eyes as the orange haze around him grew.

  I held my breath, praying to the goddesses.

  Moments later, he opened his eyes. Anger tugged at the corners of his mouth. “She speaks the truth.”

  His nephew stepped forward. “But how could Hadia…?”

  Marcalus’ frown deepened. “She’s angry too, but the decision has been made.”

  “So we can die again?” His nephew’s voice was small.

  “Yes.” Marcalus spoke the word loudly, for all his men to hear.

  The boy drew closer. “Will it hurt as badly as the first time?” Tears glimmered in his eyes.