Wielder's Rising (42 page)

“Long days in the saddle and rough nights sleeping on the ground,” he replied.  Blaize looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“That sounds like something I’d say.”

“I learned from the best,” Traven said with a smile.

“I hope you do remember what I’ve taught you,” Blaize said seriously.  “With all your new power, you’ll need to be careful of what you do.”

“Don’t worry, Blaize,” he said.  “I’m the same as I’ve always been.”

“I hope so,” the grizzled warrior said.  He was quiet for a few moments as he continued staring at the large sphere of ice.  Traven wondered what his friend was thinking.  He didn’t want his new power to change their relationship.

“So,” Blaize finally said, “I hope you haven’t given up your sword work now that you can blast others away with who knows what.”

“I still practice every day,” he replied with a smile.

“Really,” Blaize said as he gave him a calculating glance.  “Then I guess you wouldn’t mind sparring with me today.”

“I’d love to,” Traven replied.  “But I might not be easy on you this time.”

“That sounds like a challenge,” the warrior stated as he turned to face him.

“It is!”

* * * * *

Shaman Azulk looked out over the desolate battlefield from his position high in the mountains.  Even in the dark of night he could clearly make out the last remnants of the sphere of ice that had crushed Kadrak and turned the tide of the battle.  He had enjoyed watching the pitiful humans fight amongst themselves.  The Balthans had been defeated, and the Kalians had marched victoriously to the west earlier in the day.  Both armies had been weakened by Kadrak’s selfish quest for power.

The time had now arrived for Azulk to call his warriors into battle.  Not to gain power but to eliminate the human race.  The humans had tried to destroy his ancestors hundreds of years ago, and now it was time for the galdaks to destroy them.  The humans had enjoyed hundreds of years as masters of the land.  Now it was time for a new race, a stronger race.

The humans wouldn’t last very long.  Their only hope for survival was the young human wielder who had shown up to defeat Kadrak.  A low rumble gurgled in his throat.  It had been entertaining to watch as the two wielders battled.  He supposed the arrogant wielder Kadrak had never imagined that the young man would defeat him.

Kadrak hadn’t known how his aura of power compared to the young wielder’s aura.  If he had realized that the young man’s aura had been shining brighter than his own, he would have been more cautious.  Kadrak’s arrogance had led to his death.

Azulk had no doubt the young wielder could eventually grow to be incredibly powerful, perhaps even more powerful than himself.  However, the young wielder would never have a chance to grow to his full potential.  Azulk would personally make sure of it.

He looked down at the remnants of the Balthan Army camping in the pass.  They would be the first to feel the wrath of the galdaks.  From there he would split his army, sending half back towards the human country of Balthus.  He would lead the rest of his army to face the young wielder and the soldiers of the Kalian Army.  They would then work their way south, destroying all in their path.

He stretched his creaking bones and readied himself.  It was time for him to let loose the call.  His people were anxious and ready.  They had been waiting for centuries.  He cleared his throat and took a deep breath.  He then let loose the loudest scream he could muster.  The blood curdling sound echoed off the silent mountains.

He smiled and gazed up at the starry sky.  He had finally done it.  The call had been given.  There was a short period of intense silence after the otherworldly sound.  Then the silence was once again shattered.  The night was soon full of galdak screams as his people responded to the call of their shaman and leader.

The screams expanded and spread north through the tunnels of the mountains as the message raced to every galdak.  The call spread like wildfire on a dry summer plain.  No matter how far away a galdak’s burrow was, they would all know it was time.  They would stream towards him from the far reaches of the Parched Mountains.  By the following night, there would be plenty of warriors to begin exacting their revenge.  Others would continue to flow towards him, reinforcing his army.  Tomorrow the domination of the galdaks would begin.

Look for the final book of the
Wielder Trilogy.

Coming Fall 2012.

About the Author

T.B. Christensen is an accountant and a dreamer in his late 20’s.  He has a wonderful wife and two darling children.  He grew up in the hot desert and now lives in the cold mountains.  You can learn more about T.B. Christensen and his current and future books by visiting his blog at http://www.tbchristensen.blogspot.com/.