When the strike finally came, Thad faded into the darkness, appearing right behind Cyrus. His blade dug deep, plunging into the mage king, as his sword cut through Thad’s image, destroying the magic that had formed it.
Thad lowered the lifeless body to the ground. Slipping his own sword back in its scabbard, Thad retired the fallen white-bladed sword and held it firmly in his hand. The odd sensation of the metal drawing at his body made his stomach lurch, but he found it a much weaker sensation than he had when he had held the other swords of its kind.
Strapping on the sword, Thad tapped its hilt strangely. He didn’t know if Cyrus had spoken the truth, but he needed to know. Laughing to himself, Thad wondered if it really mattered. Even if the world was overrun with gods, he would still fight to live. That would not change.
EPILOGUE
Thad looked out the window of his room at the large monument that now stood at the palace gates. Thousands of names belonging to the major races of the realm were carved into it. Even after five years, the sadness of all the losses from those days still struck him.
Killian was now the king of Rane and had ruled thus far with kindness. Monique had overtaken the merchant guild and rebuilt it. Crusher had stayed in Farlan. Though the dwarf still walked with a limp, it didn’t seem to slow down his enjoyment of life.
“Dear, you need to get going if you are going to reach the council in time,” Thad heard Maria say sweetly behind him. “Without you, there is no telling what the mages will decide to do with their new school,” she added with a wink.
Thad looked at his wife and her bulging belly. “Do you think this is the right time for me to be leaving you alone?” Thad asked, his voice laced with worry.
“Me and the baby will be fine,” Maria assured him. “I doubt the Brotherhood will send an assassin for me. They seem more interested in you. I swear, when will they give it a rest? Already four attempts this year.”
“They do seem to want my life badly,” Thad said with a dark chuckle. “I will be back as soon as I can, dear,” Thad said, cupping his wife’s cheek in the palm of his hand.
“Just make sure that the mages don’t get too full of themselves. I may have given them part of my land that borders Rane, but that doesn’t mean I will let them do whatever they wish inside my borders,” Maria said forcefully.
Thad laughed and grabbed his cloak. The mage’s school had once been a dream of his, and now it was realized. It was not just a school, but a small independent country with land from both Farlan and Rane. Thad, by right, was the king, though he didn’t really make much issue on his title. His only real goal was to create a place where all beings of the magical races would feel welcomed. The school was a starting place for their reemergence back into the rest of the realm.
As Thad put his foot in Lady’s stirrup, he gave the monument a last look. “Sleep well, my friends,” he said softly as he mounted the horse.
Master Mage Page 24