Then I was lifted into the air and tossed down the corridor by a force I couldn’t see. I did my best to tuck myself into a ball before the inevitable impact. I felt my bones crunch as I hit the wall, and my world faded from red to black.
Chapter Forty-Four
Flame and I were making a final check of the gear for our hike when I felt power building in the hall nearby. Although power amassing in this school was not unusual in itself, the pattern of it was all wrong.
“Flame, I think something is amiss,” I said.
“Then we’d better check it out,” she said. I knew she sensed something also. We gathered up our gear and started to move, then I heard Phoenix’s voice loud and clear crying out for help.
“Come on!” I yelled and took off at a full run down the hall, leaving her behind. By the time I found Phoenix, it was too late; he was crumpled on the floor. There were traces of power all over the area, indicating that there had just been a fight.
I moved quickly to him, calling out mentally, “Headmaster! Phoenix is in trouble!”
Moments afterwards Headmaster Rannor appeared in the hall, and I heard Flame scream out. I turned and looked behind me just in time to see five prospects vanish, holding Flame captive.
“NO!” I yelled. I reached out and tried to grab her with power, but she was gone. I ran over to the place where she had been and searched furiously for any sign of her.
Master Mathorn and several others appeared in the hall, but it was too late. She was gone. I looked up at Master Mathorn and said, “Master, they have taken her.”
“Yes, it appears they have,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Shadow, she is probably safe for the moment. They will want to use her to get to you, and as long as they think they can do that she will be all right. That gives us a little time, at least.”
He hurried over to Headmaster Rannor and asked, “How is he?”
“Almost dead, but alive enough to recover fully with my help,” said Headmaster Rannor. “I need to get him to the medical ward. Can you arrange a sweep of the school and grounds to see if his attackers are hiding anywhere, and if there are any others?”
“Certainly, Headmaster, but I suspect they are long gone by now,” said Master Mathorn. Headmaster Rannor lifted Phoenix with telekinesis and then teleported away with him.
Master Mathorn walked over to me and said, “Do not worry, Shadow; we will find her. I am sure of it.”
“Thank you, Master,” was all I could say. The elite wizards left, presumably to perform the search, and I went down to the medical wing to see how Phoenix was doing.
When I arrived I saw Headmaster Rannor leaning over Phoenix; there was a cool, light blue power flowing from him into and around Phoenix. I watched silently while the power moved through them both, and Phoenix’s body became stronger. I could almost sense the bones knitting back together and could clearly see the skin growing back at a phenomenal rate. Headmaster Rannor finally stopped and sat down, looking quite drained.
“Headmaster, I can lend you my power if you need it,” I said.
“No, he has to do it on his own from this point. A few days’ rest and he should be as good as new,” he said.
“Headmaster, that is amazing! Can you tell me what happened?” I asked.
“It looks like they threw him into the wall, pretty violently. He would have died had you not called me when you did,” he said.
“He called, and I came as fast as I could. If I had only known where he was, I could have teleported and stopped them,” I said.
“Perhaps, but perhaps not. There’s no sense in fretting over that which cannot be changed. Instead, focus on what remains to be done,” he said.
“Flame,” I said.
“Yes. I agree with Master Mathorn: she is fine for now, but time is not on our side.”
“Any word from the search?”
“No, but as you know these things take time. It will be a while yet.”
“Shadow, please report to my office,” sent Master Mathorn.
“Headmaster, my master calls,” I said.
“Then go; there might be some news,” he replied.
Chapter Forty-Five
We were not allowed to teleport anywhere in the school unless it was a true emergency. This was intended to force some exercise and discourage the lazy behavior that learning magic can unintentionally encourage. I knew this rule and fully agreed with it, but when the headmaster suggested that Master Mathorn might have information about Flame, I teleported directly to Master Mathorn’s chambers.
“Now, Shadow, you know better than that,” said Master Mathorn as I appeared in his practice chambers.
“Yes, Master,” I said.
“I can certainly understand it in this case, so let’s pretend it did not happen,” he said.
“Thank you, Master,” I said. This was when I should have promised not to do it again, but I was not foolish enough to think I could keep that promise. “Master, do you have news of Flame?”
“Not much yet, but what I do have is good. She is definitely alive and still in this realm, but we do not yet know where,” he said.
“Master, that is great news; at least, it is the best I could hope for so soon,” I said. I wanted to believe that, and intellectually I knew it to be true.
“Right now we need to work on damage control, and we need your help for that. Come with me. Grandmaster Vydor is waiting,” he said and held out his hand.
When I took it I felt power whip around us and sensed our travel through the weave to Grandmaster Vydor’s office. There I saw several of Grandmaster Vydor’s master wizards and a few elite wizards from Mantis’ realm waiting for us.
“Shadow, I need everything you know that could be of help in this case,” said Grandmaster Vydor.
“Grandmaster, I would love to tell you what you want to know, but Phoenix would be the one with the most information. Headmaster Rannor said he should be well in a few days,” I said.
“Since we do not yet have him to question, whatever you know will have to do,” he said.
“Yes, Grandmaster. I can package a memory for the Council. I think that would be easiest,” I said.
“Gafar, would you do the honors?” asked Grandmaster Vydor.
“Yes, Master,” said Master Gafar and I felt him enter my mind. I offered up the entire exchange from when we saw Phoenix in the hall and he threw the fireball at Flame until I left the medical wing.
“Thank you, Shadow, that was very helpful. You got a good look at our kidnappers, and that will help tremendously in finding them. Is there anything else?” Grandmaster Vydor asked.
I hesitated a moment, but reminded myself that Flame was in trouble and they needed my help. “Yes, Grandmaster. I should have mentioned this sooner, but I assumed everyone must know, and maybe you do; I sense a shadow over the school. I cannot describe it, but it is still here. I think now that that means there are more sorcerers still about.”
“You are right that you should have said something, but you are also right that I too have sensed it. All spellweavers can. Is there anything else?” he asked.
He knew I was holding something back, but how I did not know. “Yes, Grandmaster, but I do not really understand it,” I said.
“Perhaps you can show it to Master Gafar, then?” he asked.
I had no choice now. I had no idea why I did not want to share this memory, but I was definitely resistant to the idea. “Yes, Grandmaster,” I said reluctantly.
I felt Master Gafar enter my mind again, and I offered up all my memories of the old man I had seen on the hiking trails. I sensed surprise from Master Gafar and then a deeper probe.
“Shadow, you have a charm on you. Master Gafar will deal with it, but to prevent any unintentional injury to you, you must not resist,” Grandmaster Vydor told me.
I am not sure what happened next. I think I lost consciousness. The next thing I remember is Master Mathorn catching
me and seating me in a chair.
“That was a very subtle charm, and of a kind I have never seen before,” said Master Gafar.
“This man he has been seeing is not connected to Flame, I believe, but all the same, find him,” said Grandmaster Vydor.
Instantly Master Gafar vanished, and then the room was silent for a while. I felt weak and tired, as if I had been in a major fight, but I did not remember doing anything to cause it.
“Flame’s parents,” I said out loud without meaning to.
“What?” asked Grandmaster Vydor.
“Sorry, Grandmaster, but it has just occurred to me that if Flame was really taken to get to me, then Flame’s parents will be their next target,” I said.
“Yes, that was my thought also. Her parents would be easier to bend to their will and force you into a more difficult position,” he said.
“Then, Grandmaster, please let me go to Flame’s parents,” I suggested. “The sorcerers would jump at the chance to get direct access to me again, and that would give me the opportunity to find out where they are hiding her. If nothing else, I can buy time that way.”
“This is a very dangerous plan, Shadow,” said Grandmaster Vydor.
“Grandmaster, if we react to this like the old Navy would, Flame will end up dead and the fights would potentially cause a lot of collateral damage. However, if I succeed we might be able to save Flame and limit the collateral damage,” I said.
“Shadow, if you fail, you will be killed or worse,” said Master Mathorn.
“Yes, Master, but I still believe it is the best option. We need to convince the sorcerers not only that kidnapping does not work but also that it is extremely dangerous for them, so that they do not try it again. We can accomplish that if we can find Flame and take away whatever access they managed to get to us,” I said.
“What is your plan?” asked Grandmaster Vydor.
“Simple, Grandmaster. I do what they want to believe I would do, what any foolish would-be hero would do: I travel to Flame’s parents in a foolish but valiant effort to defend them while others hunt for Flame. Then we wait for them to take the bait and show themselves,” I said.
Silence filled the room for a while, and I could see a spider web of power moving between everyone. I knew they were debating it out of my earshot. I wondered what additional information they had that I did not. Since they knew about the shadow, they must have been tracking it. I wondered if there were more sorcerers here and if they were watching them. If so, why did they not act sooner and prevent them from taking Flame? I had a lot of questions, but I did not ask them for fear of losing my chance to rescue her.
“Shadow, since you have training in missions like this from your time in the Navy, I am going to allow you to try. While you follow that route, we will continue to do all we can to find her through more traditional wizard means. Go and prepare yourself, and leave as soon as you are able. May the real god of Creation shine brightly on you as you go,” said Grandmaster Vydor.
Chapter Forty-Six
Master Mathorn teleported me back to his office so that I could get ready to leave.
“Shadow, this path you are about to take is very dangerous. I understand your desire to rescue Flame, but do not let that eagerness cause you to take foolish risks,” said Master Mathorn.
“No, Master. Flame and I have talked about this several times. We always knew she would be their first target. We realized that they would see an opportunity to control me through her, while a direct attack on me would be less likely to yield them any control,” I said.
“I am not entirely convinced that they took her to get at you. It is too obvious; sorcerers tend to be more subtle,” he replied. “Nevertheless, your plan makes sense since we know they are after you.” He sighed. “Remember, you might wear the robes of an apprentice wizard, but as a spellweaver you can call upon the weave itself to aid you. If all else fails, you can flee to the weave for safety. Just be careful out there.”
“I will try, Master,” I said, going quickly to my chambers where I kept my old navy chest. Once in my room I pulled out my previous armor. I had not worn it in well over a decade, but now was the time to change that. If I got into a fight with a sorcerer I would need every advantage I could find, and this armor would stand up well to energy blasts.
I dug through more of my navy gear. I still had my blasters and their heft and power was comforting in my hands. They had saved my life and the lives of many others more times than I could count. I was not supposed to have them still, but most navy men managed to take at least a couple of weapons with them when they left. Due to my position at Alpha Academy, I was no longer subject to the laws of my former nation, and the wizards had no rules against blasters. They did not really need them, as most wizards of my level and higher had access to much more powerful energies that made a blaster merely a slow and clunky toy.
Although they did bring a measure of comfort, I decided to leave them as they would cause me difficulty in getting through secure checkpoints as I traveled. Then I moved to my wizard’s box. I kept the two piles of equipment completely separate, since my two lives were now separate. In that box I kept the magical equipment I had acquired over my short life as a wizard. I put on some rings of protection and gathered a few wands, stashing them away in my armor’s inner pockets. I looked over my spell books but decided they would add too much weight. I might be on the run for a while; I would just have to make do without them.
Now I needed to look as much like a foolish hero as possible for my plan to work. What would the foolish hero do next? I wondered. Of course, he would call his family! I quickly powered on my secure comm and placed a call to my parents.
“Hello, son,” greeted my father.
“Hello, sir. I have some bad news,” I said.
“Go on,” he said.
“Flame has been kidnapped by a group of five sorcerers for reasons unknown at this time,” I said.
“Son, I am sorry to hear that. What is the plan?” he asked.
I had to think fast. If anyone was listening I needed them to think I was the perfect example of a foolish hero, but I did not want my father to see me in that light. “Too much potential for ears, sir, but let’s just say Grandmaster Vydor is taking the traditional approach while I am assigned to a different angle.”
“Well, son, I hope it turns out well. If they took Flame, they may come gunning for us, so we will take a little vacation and touch base with you in a while,” he said.
I knew that he would not go anywhere. I could also tell he was hoping they would come for him so that he could gun them down.
“I think that is a great idea, sir,” I said. It would be a great idea for them to hide for a while, but they would not do it. “Sir, I hate to make this so brief, but I have preparations to see to.”
“Understood. Good luck, son,” he said.
There, that was handled. Next, I needed a way to get to Aleeryon. A foolish hero would not have help and support from Alpha Academy, so he would have to find another means. I threw some travel gear into a light pack, put my robes over my armor, pulled my armor gloves over my now ring-covered hands, and headed for the spaceport.
Once at the spaceport I found the jump shuttle schedule and saw that the new trade outpost was operational. That would be a reasonable first stop. Since it was a major trade hub, a foolish hero could easily secure a ride from there to Aleeryon.
Getting a shuttle ride out there turned out to be fairly simple. While it was a major hub for the area, it was still new and the area was still slow for trade, making it easy to slide into an open seat on a jump shuttle that was already heading that way.
As the shuttle left the spaceport and the safety of Alpha Academy, I started to fully realize how dangerous a plan this was. The trip out of the gravity well to the jump point took forty-five painstakingly long minutes. All I could do was sit there strapped in and think about everything that they might be doing to Flame
while I sat helpless.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Back in the dark room made completely from stone, the seven magi gathered around the stone pool. As he had done previously, the red-hooded magus set the pool spinning. Eventually an image appeared in the silver liquid. It was blurry at first, but with time it slowly cleared.
A small shuttlecraft could be seen leaving a spaceport and heading into space. They watched intently as it traveled on; suddenly the shuttle seemed to deform, as if the front of the craft stayed put while the rest of the ship caught up with it. Then it was gone from the view in the pool.
“It seems they have finally made their move, but it was not what we were expecting,” said a magus with a deep blue hood.
“I am not convinced it was the move they were expecting either,” said another magus.
“It does not fit the normal subtlety of their plans,” said the blue-hooded magus.
“Still, their hand is tipped. Whether they were ready or not, they will be moving on to the next phase of their plan,” said the red-hooded magus.
The scene in the liquid quickly changed to another spaceport, much larger than the previous one. A sphere of energy pulsed around it as ships of various sizes and styles came and went. Among all the traffic coming and going from the station, the scene focused in on one shuttle and followed it as it traveled the remaining distance to the station and eventually docked.
“This is an uncharacteristically foolish move for him,” said the blue-hooded magus.
“Yes, yet there he is. Emotions can be the downfall of even the greatest,” said another.
They watched on as the shuttle was unloaded and the cargo and passengers made their way off the shuttle and into the launch bay. It seemed to be such a mundane scene to be following so intently; nothing about it seemed worthy of note, yet they watched with great interest.
“No, something about this is not quite right,” said the red-hooded magus.
‘What do you mean?” asked another.
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