Diary of a Conjurer (37 page)

Ivar turned his focus to Hacatine. If there
were anyone he hated more than the Kaemperns, it was her. He glared
into her crystal eyes, her pale skin glowed in the moonlight. She
winked at him as though they had some secret understanding, some
evil alliance. His knuckles gripped the dagger’s hilt until the
blood in his veins drained from them. Just as he would not
relinquish Silvio’s magic, neither was he going to let Hacatine
have the dagger. Not certain at this point what he wanted, he
stepped backward away from the sorceress.

He hadn’t seen the woman sitting on a
boulder behind him in the shadows. He tripped on her feet.
“Promise?” His voice trembled when he turned and saw her face.
“What are you doing here?”

“Where did you think I’d be, Ivar?” She
reached into the air with one arm and bounced her cane on the
ground as she rose.

“It’s true then. You’re blind.”

“I have no sight. It was taken from me.”

“Hacatine was right?” Another spasm of
guilt, another reason to despise himself. “I blinded you?” He
pointed at Amleth. “You! Because of you!”

Hacatine interjected his accusations with a
laugh. “Yes, indeed that Kaempern chief is to blame for another one
of your offenses, Daryl. I’m afraid the longer you live; the more
transgressions you’ll commit. How many innocents are you going to
hurt? And all because of the Kaemperns, because of this Amleth and
their nasty Dragon Shield.” Hacatine moved closer. “Hand me the
dagger. You obviously have no idea what to do with it, except to
make matters worse.”

Both Aren and Amleth drew their bows and
aimed his arrow at the queen.

“That’s not going to save you, mortals,”
Hacatine said to them, tossing her hair. “Do you really think your
silly little arrows are going to hurt me?”

Ivar ignored Hacatine. What he had done to
Promise wretched his heart. He fixed his eyes on her, shutting out
the others. “My life is nothing but evil. I shouldn’t even be here.
Everything I do is messed up.” So beautiful were her eyes, and yet
so vacant of life.

Hacatine laughed “You are so right! I’m
afraid though that if you die, these men will keep reviving you.
Hand me the dagger and let me take care of them, and you if you
want. For good!”

Promise moved her head, eyes roving in a
search for him. Ivar moved closer to her. “I should never have
taken your magic. I don’t want it. I don’t want to remember any of
this. I’m so sorry.”

When Hacatine followed, he held the dagger
out in warning. Green, white, and blue flames bounced from the
blade in threatening bolts. He had no idea how strong the power was
against them, still the others couldn’t possibly know either. They
froze. With the queen, Amleth and Aren at bay, he took Promise’s
hand “Take it back,” he said. “Take your magic and free me of
this.”

“I can’t take it back, Ivar. I have no
strength.”

“It’s too late for her, Daryl. Give me the
dagger.” Hacatine reached out, her pale fingers beckoning him to
hand her the weapon.

Ivar pulled Promise closer to him.

“Leave her alone, Daryl.” Hacatine shouted, a
spell mounted in her flesh as she raised her hand, spinning energy
that glowered in the night sky. “I’ll have to destroy the both of
you if you get any closer to her. I’m warning you, you’ll both
die.”

Ivar held his dagger up against the queen. A
shield of blue light streamed from it. Hacatine jumped away. Ivar
turned his back to the sorceress, took Promise’s chin in his hand,
and looked into her blank eyes, his with tears. “You saved my life,
and I destroyed you. I didn’t mean to? Why did this happen? Why did
you care for me?”

“I had hoped things would be different for
the Taikans someday. I had hoped that someone would save us. I saw
a little bit of your future.”

“Take it back. I should never had stolen it
from you.” He took her chin in his hands and touched his lips to
hers. As they kissed, he willed the magic of sight back into her.
Energy gushed out of him like a dam bursting. It was the best
feeling he had ever experienced, as though a huge burden poured out
of his soul. And then the magical warmth of a gentle sorceress and
a loving wizard joining together, sealed the transfer. He didn’t
want to let go, but Promise pushed him back. He laughed. “You can
see?”

“Look out.” Promise ducked. Ivar spun around
as a flaming projectile shot toward them. He held his arm up, the
wizard’s energy blazed, bouncing the fire that had been thrust at
him into the air.

“What are you after? This?” Ivar held the
dagger above his head. The light of the moon, cast a glow on its
blade. “You want this dagger, you disgusting witch? This is the
reason for murdering and maiming anyone that comes in your way?”
His sneer was as hateful as the queen’s glare. His eyes glowed
green in the night. The ocean had risen and waves broke around his
feet, trickling sand and shells over his toes as it receded. “You
wicked tyrant? Have your way then. I’ll give it to you. Take
it!”

Promise gasped and reached for his arm
struggling to grab the dagger that was well out of her reach.
“Ivar, no! You can’t give it to her! Don’t! It will be the end of
all of us! Don’t give it to her!”

Ivar switched the weapon to his other hand
and pushed Promise back. “Stay out of this, Promise.”

“Yes, sweetie. Let the boy return what
doesn’t belong to him.” Hacatine lifted her chin.

Ivar rolled back his shoulders. That was
enough! He’d heard more than he wanted from Hacatine.

“No, Ivar. Don’t!” Promise cried.

He threw the dagger. The sound of the wind
that carried the weapon was so loud it drowned her voice. The blade
sped through the air. Hacatine reached out to receive it with eager
hands, a wry smile stretching across her face. But she wasn’t fast
enough. The blade grazed her arm as it buried into her chest. She
doubled over as the projectile penetrated her heart. With the
dagger buried deep into her flesh, her body shook in violent
spasms, twisting and contorting, a cloud of smoke oozed from her
tortured body, dust and magic whirled around her as she transformed
before their eyes. A snakelike shape slithered out of the mass,
glowing until the green of Silvio’s magic faded. The creature
squawked a painful sound as it spiraled through the sky and dove
into the sea. Giant waves swelled over the black serpent. It
surfaced again with a wake of foam, the salts sparkled in the
moonlight. Again the serpent dove with a deafening screech and then
vanished into the dark of night.

Ivar watched in disbelief. No one else said
a word.

The sea boiled and then calmed.

The ships in the distance rocked. The
warriors who had waited on the beach stood still. No one spoke for
the longest time. Finally, Ivar turned to Promise and spoke softly.
“She’s gone. You’re free. Taikus is free.” He called out to the
warriors on the beach. “You’re all free!”

Silvio’s eyes were wide. His hair blew
against his face as he gazed at the ships and the quiet sea. Amleth
and Aren both watched Ivar, their bows were lowered. Ivar could not
read their expressions. It didn’t matter. He was done with
them.

“Let’s go.” Ivar took Promise’s hand.

“Your people,” she whispered and pulled
away. “They need you.”

“They aren’t my people.” He dropped her hand
and walked toward the man he once called his chief, his eyes locked
on Amleth. These would be his last words to him. After this he
would never have to look him in the eye again. “I wasn’t a
Kaempern. You lied to me. You deceived me. You made me live a life
that wasn’t mine. For that, we will never be at peace. I swear,
Amleth, I will always be your enemy. Now and forever!”

Amleth didn’t respond.

“Ivar . . .” Promise took his arm, but drew
back when Ivar stopped her with his eyes. The root of his scorn was
too deep. She needed to stay out of it.

Silvio cleared his throat and waddled
forward, his long knotty fingers shook as he held out his palm.
“You have something of mine.”

Ivar didn’t answer, nor did he acknowledge
the wizard. Instead he took Promise’s hand. “Come with me,” he
said.

He led her toward the beach and to the
skiff. He’d live out his dreams. He’d let the sea set his course
and take Promise home to the island of Taikus.

Thank you for reading the Ian’s Realm Saga,
book for and the short stories that weave history into them. This
is not the conclusion, there is more to come.

Next
Cassandra’s Castle.

Visit the website for more information about
the books, the TV series being produced, and other novels by D. L.
Gardner

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Other Realm Stories

Ian’s Realm Sagsa

Cassandra’s Castle

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