The Phoenix Ring(52)

"Hang on Aaliyah, I'm coming!" he yelled back. Throwing caution to the wind, Aidan didn't even bother to remove the second locking spell, but smashed through it with a quick "Eslang!"

The wood cracked down the middle and the door fell off its hinges at the strength of the mage's onslaught. The door fell back and clattered down the steps, followed closely by Aidan, a red haze filling his vision.

When he saw Aaliyah, his anger only grew. The girl's face and arms were bruised and cut, and her eyes were wide. She hadn't even been given the dignity of a dry cloth for a gag, the rag was soaking wet. She was trying to tell him something, but he couldn't make out was she was saying. He ran across the room and pulled her gag down so she could speak.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"You idiot, he's behind you!" Aaliyah yelled.

Aidan spun around, the blade on his staff clicking into place, just in time to see the wizard shimmer into existence.

"Hello, boy. I hope you came ready to die."





14





The wizard flicked his wand nonchalantly, sending Aidan crashing into the wall. The young mage heard a crack as his left wrist slammed against the cold stone, while his vision exploded with white light. Somehow he managed to hold on to his staff.

"Well, technically I'm not allowed to kill you," Aidan heard the other sorcerer say through the pain, "But I can certainly make you suffer."

The mage instinctively rolled to the side as a blast of heat seared the place where he had been laying. His vision returned just as the wizard raised his wand.

Aidan was faster, but only barely.

"Ingo!"

"Morka!"

The two spells collided in midair, forming a ball of magic not unfamiliar to Aidan.

I have him, the mage thought, if I can defeat the most powerful warlock in a duel, then this traitor will never stand before me.

But then the boy felt a change in the magic. In every other duel he had fought, the enemy felt like a wall, or a house. If Aidan pushed hard enough, then he would eventually come crashing through. But this was different. As the wizard began to speak in The Sorcerer’s Tongue, far too fast for Aidan to comprehend, it was as if a hole opened up in this wizard’s wall, allowing all of Aidan's magic to drain into it. But this hole didn't lead to the back of the wall, instead it turned and twisted, becoming a chaotic maze that Aidan's power was soon lost in. And the more power the mage pushed into it, the more he lost.

"I expected more," the wizard said, "It is true that you are strong, but you know nothing about magic. And knowledge, not magic, is true power,"

Finally, the mage pulled back, though much of his magic was lost in his opponent's web. As Aidan's power faded, he was suddenly struck by the wizard's spell.

The pain was so sudden, so strong, that Aidan didn't even have time to scream. It seemed to come from every part of his body, but from none of it. Soon, everything ceased in Aidan's mind, except the light and the pain. He wanted nothing more than to curl up and die, but he was not granted even that small mercy.

And then, from somewhere deep within him-no- on the ring finger of his right hand, he felt one word. And that word, somehow, through the pain, sprung from his lips.

"Reklatorr." Open.

The pain ceased as quickly as it had come, accompanied by a scream. Aidan opened his eyes, his brow dripping with sweat.

Aaliyah was standing, her padlocks open and on the ground. In her hand was a long, bloody knife. The wizard was retreating backwards, holding a stump that had once supported his hand. Aidan nearly threw up when he saw the severed limb on the floor, still clutching its wand.

"If you think that was bad," Aaliyah said, fire in her eyes, "Then you should see what I'm going to do to you next."

The wizard began backing towards the stairs, though he did not seem to be afraid. In pain and annoyed, but not afraid.

"If you think this is over, mage," he spat, "then you are wrong. For I promise you that one day, I will be the one to take what is most dear from you."

With that, the wizard ran up the stairs, leaving a trail of blood in his path.

For some reason, Aidan didn't doubt his words.



"You're an idiot," Aaliyah said, turning to face Aidan. "You nearly got yourself killed."

Aidan sat up, slowly, cradling his wrist. It was definitely broken. "What was I supposed to do, walk to the isle?" he asked.

Aaliyah's eyes became cold again. "Oh, I forgot, you need the money in that bag over there."

Great, Aidan thought, it's good to know the old Aaliyah is back.

The amogh grabbed her things from the table and ran to Aidan. "We're going to have to wait ‘till we get back to the room to fix your wrist. You did get a room, didn't you?"