The Phoenix Ring(58)

The amogh ran after him and grabbed Aaliyah, who still hadn’t said a word, by her legs, easily pulling her from the sorcerer’s grasp.

His opponent whipped around, knife in hand. Borin avoided the slash, but heard a high pitched scream from in front of him. Aaliyah had been cut across her face.

The amogh warrior covered Aaliyah’s mouth to prevent her from drawing attention, though he knew it caused her pain, and ran towards the exit. The wizard desperately threw fire from his wand at them, which hit an oil lamp.

Borin ducked out the door just as the lamp exploded, showering the bar in droplets of burning oil.

He never looked back as he ran for the forest, Aaliyah struggling in his arms.





Aaliyah wiped her cheek on her sleeve. “The wizard’s name is Ferrow. He was my last and cruelest master. He feared amoghs because he had no power over us. In time, that fear turned to hate. Every day he would take my blood, skin, nails… anything to experiment on. He never figured out why magic doesn’t work on us, but what he took from me can never be replaced.”

Aidan sat in silence for a few minutes, feeling sadness and anger swirl in his stomach. He knew that amoghs had been mistreated in the past, but he had never heard of anything like this.

“That’s why you hate sorcerers so much, isn’t it? And why you wanted so bad to free those slaves?”

Aaliyah nodded slowly. “When I saw you and Timothy in your robes… all I could think of was Ferrow. When they captured me, I thought it was over.” She turned her head to look into Aidan’s eyes. “But then you came back for me. You didn’t leave me, like I expected you to. Even though you stood no chance against them, you still risked your life for me. Why?”

Why did I go back? Aidan thought, his mind struggling for a response. He found that his thoughts were becoming sluggish as he looked into her deep hazel eyes as they reflected the moonlight.

“I don’t know,” he said, mentally kicking himself before the words had even left his mouth.

Was that the best I could come up with?

Aaliyah smiled and stood. “I’m going to go set up camp. You coming, cripple?” she asked, offering a hand. Aidan gratefully took it and pulled himself to his feet.

“By the way,” Aaliyah said, almost as an afterthought, “If you ever tell anyone about this, I’ll slit your throat.” She released his hand and then turned and walked to the campsite, leaving Aidan on the beach, unsure of whether or not she was serious.





Aidan was sleeping in a hammock when he felt some sort of power coming from his robe pocket. He snapped awake, his hand already grasping the crystal that was his sole link with his master.

Aidan, are you there? The stone asked.

“I’m here, master,” Aidan answered.

Have you begun to understand the ring at all?

“No,” Aidan said, feeling slightly ashamed. He hadn’t attempted to meditate since leaving Fort Phoenix.

I need you to try again. If you do manage to talk to Marcus, ask him how to kill a Black Thunder. He has slain one before. And hurry! No matter what, you must come to the isle as soon as possible!

“Master, what is a Black Thunder? Master?” But it was too late, Bartemus was no longer present at the other end of the crystal.

Aidan dragged himself out of his hammock and into the grass. He stumbled into the forest, hoping to not wake Aaliyah.

He found a nice little clearing, with a couple of birds just beginning to sing in the trees around it.

He sat down cross-legged, trying hard to focus on the ring, but to no avail. It was still very early, the sun had just barely begun to release the first rays of dawn into the night sky. The more he tried to stay awake, the sleepier he became. Eventually, his head slumped forward, and he slipped into unconsciousness, the ring at the forefront of his mind.

“Aidan? Aidan, wake up.”

Aidan slowly opened his eyes.

“It’s been a while. How is it in the outside world?”

Marcus Thunderheart was standing over him. He was laying in the middle of the cozy room, just the perfect temperature. He had never before noticed just how much like home it felt.

“Not good,” Aidan said.

“Were you captured? Are you in a dragon’s lair?” Marcus asked. Aidan suddenly remembered he hadn’t spoken to the hero since he had been attacked at Fort Phoenix.

Aidan laughed. “No, it’s not that bad,” he said, standing up.

The mage quickly filled the warlock in on all that had happened.

“The funniest part is, I couldn’t get into the ring until I fell asleep thinking about it. I don’t know why.”

Marcus chuckled. “It seems to me as if you are trying too hard. Instead of trying to control your thoughts, let them go. Daydream, but steer yourself towards magic. Eventually, letting yourself go will become almost natural.”