She nodded at Riley.
“You have no faith in magic, only in your sword. You need faith.”
“How do I get it?” Riley asked.
“Lie down,” the queen commanded.
Riley looked down. “Here? In the sand?”
“If you see some water, you may lie in that instead,” Alexandra offered. “I don’t see any, though, so the sand might have to suffice.”
She winked at Riley.
“You’re as bad as Worth,” Riley remarked. She sat down on the ground, then laid back so that she was staring at the cloudless sky. “Still not feeling any faith.”
“See what Worth mean?” he called from the side. “She so stubborn.”
“Worth, you keep it up, you’re gonna feel my boot right in your ass.” Riley grinned.
“Focus,” the queen demanded. “Close your eyes.”
Riley did.
“Now I want you to start thinking about the good things magic can give you,” Alexandra directed. “See them, Riley. See them as if you’re living them.”
“Like what?” Riley didn’t fully understand.
“What can magic give you right now that nothing else can?” the queen asked.
Riley closed her eyes.
What can magic give me? she wondered. Why am I here? Why am I trying so hard to learn all this?
The answers were simple.
Mason.
New Perth, the kingdom she loved.
“What can magic give you?” the queen asked. “See it, Riley. Let your mind feel it.”
Riley went back to the compound, to the battle where Rendal took Mason.
She didn’t focus on what actually happened, but on what she wanted to happen. Riley saw Rendal holding Mason, the mage’s shoulder injured. Fire blazing from someone to her left.
But instead of coming for him with a blade, fire swept from Riley’s hands. It moved in a blazing tornado, and it wrapped around the dark mage’s legs, burning him.
He released Mason.
“That’s good.” The queen spoke softly. “But magic isn’t just for vengeance, Riley. That’s part of the same false beliefs you’ve been fed. Think about the good that can spring from it.”
The good? Riley wondered.
New Perth. She went there. Mason was home. Worth was there with his remaining clan. William.
She saw kids playing in the street, but instead of toys rolling around on the ground, they were flying in the air.
Riley heard the kids’ laughter.
She saw the head doctor standing over a sick person, but instead of his instruments, he used only his hands. He was healing them. With magic.
Riley saw William training future warriors. Flames and electricity flowed from their hands, their eyes red. They weren’t angry, though. They were righteous fighters. They would only fight on the side of good.
“You see, Riley?” Alexandra whispered. “Those are things you want. Those are things that will help all of New Perth.”
Riley nodded, still watching the images in her mind.
“But you can only have them if you believe in them. You can only use magic if you believe it’ll bring good, not pain.”
Riley’s hands dug into the sand.
She saw herself kneeling in front of Mason, eyes red, ready to do his will. Her magic was his magic because she served him.
Her magic was New Perth’s magic.
And wasn’t that the point of all this?
“YEEEEESSS!”
Worth’s shout broke Riley’s concentration. She was rising to her feet, her eyes open and her sword free of its sheath before she realized what was happening.
Worth was dancing around, shaking his hands at the sky.
Riley spun to Alexandra.
The queen was smiling, but Riley didn’t understand.
“Is it her?” Thomas asked from behind. Riley had forgotten he and Rachel were there. She turned to them, and that was when she finally saw.
A circle of fire burned around her feet. She hadn’t seen it because she’d been focused on Worth’s scream.
It encircled her, the flames reaching as high as her ankles.
“I’m not doing that,” Riley whispered.
“You magic!” Worth shouted at her.
“If not you, then who?” the queen asked.
Riley glanced at her. “You. Them. I don’t know, but it’s not me.”
“Are any of our eyes red, Riley?” Alexandra responded. “Because yours are.”
Riley looked down at the flames.
“They haven’t gone out, and you’re not in any danger.” The queen stepped a bit closer. “Go on. You can control them.”
Riley realized she could. She realized that the fire she saw at her feet was the same as her sword—something she would control as its master.
She squatted down and gently placed a finger above a single flame. It reached up and licked her skin but didn’t burn her.
She raised her hand six inches and the flame grew with it.
Riley grinned. “I did that.”
“Yes, you did,” Alexandra answered.
Riley put both palms over the fire.
She held them there for a second, then rose to her full height in a graceful spin, her hands sweeping around the circle of fire.
It exploded upward, surrounding her completely and shooting into the sky like a geyser.
“Oh! Oh!” Worth shouted. “Look!”
Riley stepped into the fire. It moved around her body like water, causing her no pain at all.
The Right Hand grinned as she spoke. “It’s time to go to Sidnie. It’s time to kick that mage’s ass.”
FINIS
Author Notes - Jace Mitchell
December 10, 2018
Whew! You made it to the end! Have a beer (or wine, as Worth would urge)!
As a writer, I never truly know where my characters are going to end up. They take on their own lives and more or less direct me. I know that may sound kind of pretentious, but it’s the truth. Watching Riley evolve during this book was breathtaking for me. I knew she would end up being able to use her magic, but I didn’t know how she would get there.
I’m glad she finally made it. It’s going to make her ass-kicking ability that much better.
As this book progressed, I really started hating Rendal more and more. His desire for power and his willingness to do anything to turn Riley… I’m looking forward to the day when he gets his comeuppance.
I’d like to thank Michael again for giving me the opportunity to write in his world. It’s a fascinating set of parameters he’s set up and I’m truly enjoying building off it.
I can see this series stretching on for quite a few more books. Riley is just now learning her powers, but is that going to be enough to attack Rendal? Or is it going to take her training longer and harder? But will she even be able to wait that long?
Okay, enough of me pontificating. I’m going to get back to the salt mines and start writing some more. See you in book 3!
All the best,
Jace
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
December 18, 2018
THANK YOU for not only reading this story but these Author Notes as well.
(I think I’ve been good with always opening with “thank you.” If not, I need to edit the other Author Notes!)
RANDOM (sometimes) THOUGHTS?
Seriously Jace?
You are starting to hate Rendal more and more?
I need to pay more attention to where you live and come have a heart to heart about a certain someone’s death.
Hmmmm.
Well, that seems kinda murder-minded of myself, doesn’t it? Like I’m a serial killer let loose to discuss the death of someone who could just be misunderstood, right? Hell no, off with their head!
And now, a picture of white bunnies so Michael has a moment to collect his thoughts.
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AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
One of the interesting (at least to me) aspects of my life is the ability to work from anywhere and at any time. In the future, I hope to re-read my own Author Notes and remember my life as a diary entry.
Dec 18th, 2018
So, I am sitting in the restaurant at the Trophy Club Country Club … club. (Seems redundant.)
I am at one of the booths that I used to write at when I was just starting out, looking out over the golfers and golf range down below. The grass is all brown for us those of us here in Texas (most don’t seed their homes with winter rye) and it’s just a degree or four too cold for me to sit outside to eat.
This might be the last time I ever visit this location, as (I hope) we get the house here in Texas sold. I’m a little melancholy about the whole experience, and while I don’t think (when I’m in Vegas) that I want to come back and visit, it feels like putting on a comfortable set of gloves when I’m here. I’ve got about twenty items I’m late with at the moment, with all of the time working with contractors and stuff, so I’m going to drop off.
Before I do, thank you once again for making this job of creating stories so damned wonderful. I hope you (whatever day(s) you are reading this) have a wonderful week, weekend and a fantastic life.
And that we kill that SOB from up above.
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Ad Aeternitatem,
Michael Anderle
Other Age of Magic Books
THE RISE OF MAGIC
*with CM Raymond and LE Barbant*
Restriction (1) – Reawakening (2) – Rebellion (3) – Revolution (4) – Unlawful Passage (5) – Darkness Rises (6) – The Gods Beneath (7) – Reborn (8)
STORMS OF MAGIC
*with PT Hylton*
Storm Raiders (1) – Storm Callers (2) – Storm Breakers (3) – Storm Warrior (4)
TALES OF THE FEISTY DRUID
*with Candy Crum*
The Arcadian Druid (1) – The Undying Illusionist (2) – The Frozen Wasteland (3) – The Deceiver (4) – The Lost (5) – The Damned (6) – Into The Maelstrom (7)
A NEW DAWN
*with Amy Hopkins*
Dawn of Destiny (1) – Dawn of Darkness (2) – Dawn of Deliverance (3) – Dawn of Days (4) – Broken Skies (5) – Broken Bones (6)
TALES OF THE WELLSPRING KNIGHT
*with P.J. Cherubino*
Knight’s Creed (1) – Knight’s Struggle (2) – Knight’s Justice (3) - Etheric Knight (4)
THE HIDDEN MAGIC CHRONICLES
*with Justin Sloan*
Shades of Light (1) – Shades of Dark (2) – Shades of Glory (3) – Shades of Justice (4)
PATH OF HEROES
*with Brandon Barr*
Rogue Mage (1)
HAND OF JUSTICE
*with Jace Mitchell*
The Dark Mage (1) - Chasing Madness (2)
Books by Michael Anderle
For a complete list of books by Michael Anderle, please visit:
www.lmbpn.com/ma-books/
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Chasing Magic (Hand Of Justice Book 2) Page 19