The Enduring Flame Trilogy 003 - The Phoenix Transformed

by James Mallory

  “I can’t believe you don’t know the difference between a promise and a prophecy,” Harrier said crossly. Even without the Dragonbond, Tiercel had learned a long time ago how to tell when Harrier was covering up worry for somebody’s safety with a show of bad temper.

  “Destroyed is better than bound,” Ancaladar said firmly. “And—as I know well—while one may invoke the Ancient Powers, and even petition them, one may never compel them. All goes as the Wild Magic wills.”

  “Oh, don’t mention the Wild Magic to me just now,” Harrier snapped, pulling Tiercel back toward the stairs. “The results are great, but I’m not happy with the methods. If the Wild Magic had wanted to finally pay off Vielly Whasises MagePrice, it could have come up with a better method than starting a war.”

  Trust Harrier Gillain to decide that the Fourth Endarkened War was entirely designed by the Wild Magic to annoy him, Tiercel thought, digging in his heels. “Fine. There’s a tehuko right behind you, and I know you’ve got your Three Books with you right now. Toss them in and renounce the Wild Magic.” He hadn’t exactly meant it as a joke, but sometimes the only way you could get Harrier’s attention was to say something so outrageous that it made him stop and think. To Tiercel’s alarm, Harrier actually seemed to be taking his suggestion seriously. What would happen to the Bond if Harrier did renounce the Wild Magic? What would happen to him and to Ancaladar?

  But after a moment, Harrier smiled just a little. “Somebody has to keep the two of you out of trouble, and I figure it’s probably going to take a Knight-Mage to do it. Come on. Let’s get out of here before this thing either explodes again or Saravasse decides to push me into it.”