The Tomes Of Magic (29 page)

“We feel the same about you and Caitlyn and we will pledge the same to you upon your wedding day,” Gareth said.

*

Thanos tapped on Taleveth’s back as Alamor came into view. The skeletal dragon nodded before dropping into a dive. They dove down to ground level and veered off to the side so that nobody would be afraid of the dragon.
One day they will accept you
, Thanos said as he patted Taleveth’s head. The dragon let out a soft roar before disappearing into the woods. Thanos looked down at his hand, realizing that he had more in common with the dragon than any in the castle. It was busier than he expected. The elves had transferred a majority of the prisoners to the city. Seeing the former Valorian Isle soldiers mixed in with the citizens was what led him to the realization that they had lost the battle. The lack of Holy Order troops allowed him to surmise that the elves won. They were skilled warriors that had little need for a castle city like Alamor. Their expertise was much more pronounced when fighting in the forests. Thanos stopped as he reached the gate.

“What can we do for you?” The guard asked.

“I am looking for Talia,” Thanos replied.

“You’re in luck, she is at the Lucky Clover. It is down two streets and to the left.”

“Thank you, much appreciated.”

The Archwizard pushed through the crowded gate and made his way down the street. He turned the corner and saw the sign to the tavern in the distance. It was a picture of a green four-leaf clover.
Must be the Wielder’s hideout
, he thought as he walked through the crowd. It was widely known among magicians that four-leaf clovers were rumored to enhance magical powers. Thanos had never put much stock in the theory, but the symbol would cause some to think twice before entering the tavern. He pushed open the door to the tavern and immediately spotted several people who he could tell were magic users. The Archwizard entered the tavern undeterred by the presence of magicians. He had likely seen more battles than all of them combined, but they had no reason to suspect that he meant them harm. Thanos approached the bar and waited for the innkeeper.

“What can I get for you?” The innkeeper asked.

“I’m looking for Talia. Is she here?” He asked.

“Who wants to know?”

“A friend.”

“I’m going to need more than that.”

“All right, my name is Thanos. We were traveling together until recently and I wanted to meet back up with her.”

“It’s fine, Donald. He is a friend,” Talia said as she came up behind Thanos.

“Talia, it is good to see you,” He said as he turned around.

“You as well, come let us get something to eat.”

“I would love to, we have much to discuss and dinner would be much appreciated.”

Talia took him by the arm and led him across the room. He was surprised to see that the room was nearly empty.
She must be more connected to this place than I realized
, he thought. The Wielder motioned to the innkeeper and he told the others they could return to the common room. She led Thanos into one of the back rooms as the inn filled up again. They took their seats at the table and began talking. They paused when one of the serving girls entered with their drinks. Thanos thanked her and then turned to Talia. She smiled and held up her hand. Another server entered the room and delivered their food. Thanos shrugged and took a bite. Talia giggled before taking a bite for herself. The Archwizard followed it up with a swig of tea before speaking.

“Listen, there is something I need to tell you,” he said.

“I’ve got information as well,” She replied.

“No, it isn’t that. That can come after.”

“What is it then?”

“Talia, I think I am falling in love with you.”

“Thanos, I had no idea. This is wonderful. I mean, I think I am falling in love with you too,”

“Well, that was far easier than I expected. We can return to that in a moment, first I must tell you what happened.”

“Please do.”

“I fought off the dragon King while
Taleveth and Rowles freed the other Wizards and their dragons. They joined me in the battle and we were able to kill the King or so we thought. His minions were not happy at all and they swarmed us, but we managed to escape. James and I were able to mop up the remaining dragons and propose a truce to them. Not all of them agreed, but we drove the others off. I sent Rowles to check on Rolin, but I didn’t have the resources to see what Paul or Janessa were up to. Thankfully, Rolin was able to finish off the dragon King. Unfortunately, it seems that he has gone quite mad,” Thanos said.

“That sounds frightful,” Talia replied.

“Yes, to think that one of the greatest minds of our time has become unhinged. We need to keep a close eye on him.”

“He isn’t the only one. Septimus was able to escape. Nobody knows where he has gone. The elves were supposed to be holding him, but he got away when they started preparing for a wedding.”

“That is troubling news. I take it the elves won the battle?” Thanos asked.

“Yes, they did. It was a gruesome scene. The Holy Order managed to kill Leoth and it nearly drove Cassandra mad.”

“I suppose it was only a matter of time before we faced a roadblock such as this. Let us keep our ears open for information on Septimus and Rolin. In the meantime, we should see to it that Alamor is as protected as it can be. As much as the two could be a threat to us, we deserve a bit of respite.”

The End

Born and raised in Southern California, Cody Sherer was always fascinated with Science Fiction, Fantasy, and similar type genres. His interest led him to read a great many books and watch a great many shows and movies. These were the kindling that ignited with a spark that led h
im to begin writing seriously at the age of twenty. Since then, he has released three books: Pioneers of the Stars, The Wizard’s Council, and The Tomes of Magic. His writing mainly consists of Science Fiction and Fantasy, but he is also working on other genres as well.

In loving memory of: My Mom -
Karen Sherer

A truly wonderful mother

Special Thanks to: My Dad – Rocky Sherer

World’s best dad

My Wife – Sarah Sherer

Who I am truly blessed to spend the rest of my life with

My Brothers – Jay (and his wife Jessica) and Jesse Sherer

Who have always and continue to always have my back

My In-Laws – The Hogelands

Thank you for truly welcoming me into the fold

My friends – David Brandon and Erik Rowley

Always up for some good clean fun

My Small Group

Thank you for the prayers and support

My granny – the best granny ever

The title says it all

Friends and Family

Thank you for the joy, laughter, and good times

Everyone on this list has helped to shape who I am in some way or another and for that I am truly thankful!

Very Special Thanks To: You!

Thank you for taking the time to read my book, I hope that you enjoyed it! Thanks to everyone who has ever picked up any of my books and given them a chance!