To Kill a Wizard: Rose's Story (The Protectors of Tarak Book 1) (36 page)

Stretching, she leaned back in her chair, propping her legs against the edge of the table. Then, gestured for me to join her.

I sat in the chair across from her. “I’m here for the battle, but there’s more than that.”

Her chair came crashing to the floor, and she leaned towards me. “Go on.”

Taking a deep breath, I straightened my shoulders. “What do you think of wizards?”

Norma flung herself against the back of her chair. “What is this? I don’t got time for horse dung.” She looked at me, and then raised a brow. “Fine, I don’t know what you’re getting at, but I spend my days killing’ wizards. Is that enough for you?”

“No,” I said, hoping not to anger her too much, but not willing to risk Asher’s life. “I mean
living
wizards.”

“I think you mean
when
they were living, but fine, girl, I was sad to see them go. No one deserves to be slaughtered like animals.”

I took a deep breath, the weight on my shoulders lessening just a bit. “And what if I was to say that not all the wizards died?”

Her eyes narrowed. “First, I’d wanna call you a liar, and then I’d remembered that you don’t strike me as a girl to waste my time or yours with foolishness. So, I guess I’d ask you if these wizards are on their side or ours.”

“He’s on our side,” I rushed out. “I think it might be enough to stop the war altogether, if a wizard is found living.”

A gentleness transformed her features. “Girl, your heart’s in the right place, and maybe that’s possible, but one wizard ain’t going to win us this war. Swords and magic will. That don’t mean we won’t take him as a soldier, I’ve got no war with a living wizard, in truth I’m glad to hear of it.”

“But maybe it’ll work,” I insisted. “They were only given revenge because we killed
all
of them.”

“But Hadia ain’t going to be on that battlefield sorting out a word in her agreement or two, she’s going to be sitting on her throne of bones, waiting for us to be sent into her kingdom.”

I shivered. Norma was right. “But Zeuita helped us because of him, so
maybe
…”

She reached out and placed one of her powerful hands on my shoulder. “Maybes are good. They keep hope alive. But, we got to be practical too.” Then, she squeezed my shoulder, painfully. “That wizard is going to be useful though. Let’s see the goddesses let their only living wizard die. No, I think one or two of them won’t be able to sit idle during this battle.”

“You think a goddess might help us?” I asked, my hope returning.

“Not directly, no, the goddesses are almost as frightened of Hadia as we are, but they’ll find a way to help.”

She released my shoulder, and I rolled it, trying to take the sting of her fingers away. “Would you like to meet him?”

Her brows rose in surprise. “The wizard’s here?”

I nodded.

She paused cracking her neck loudly in both directions. “A living wizard. It’s almost more than I can believe.” Her knuckles rolled at the back of her neck. “But I guess I’ve seen a lot of things I never believed in.”

“So, you believe me?”

“I’ll believe you if I see his magic,” she said, grinning. “Now, where is he?”

“Just outside the door.”

“Ugar!” she yelled, making me jump. “Send him in.”

The door opened with a slight movement of the curtain, and then shut with a clunk. Asher peeled back the curtains with a slow, cautious movement, his other hand hovering just above his sword.

Norma rose, eyes narrowed. “You must be the wizard she’s been going on about.”

“I am,” he answered, hesitating just within the curtained area.

“Forgive me, boy, but I’m going to need some proof.”

“Proof?” he raised a brow. “I can give you that.”

He pointed his hand at Norma. She fidgeted, and then, right before my eyes, shrunk. She grew smaller and smaller until disappearing from our sight behind the table.

“Asher!” I cried, racing around the table. And there, on the floor, sat a Norma so small she could fit in the palm of my hand, squeaking like an angry rat.

Kneeling down, I placed my hand in front of her, and she scrambled into it. As I brought her closer to my face, her tiny voice became clear.

“Turn me back!” she squeaked.

“Asher,” I said, whirling towards him. “Fix this!”

To my annoyance, he chuckled. “She wanted to see my powers, so I showed her my powers.” Something in my frown seemed to reach him, because he sighed. “Fine, put her back on the ground.”

I did as he told, then stepped back. “How did you do that anyway?”

He sounded smug as he answered. “That’s the difference between wizards and witches. Women can only tap into the magic inside of themselves. We can use magic from the earth, or like now, I used her own life force against her.”

Images of the twisted, aged survivors of the battles with the wizards flashed in my mind. Some of them had wished they’d been entirely drained of their life forces, like their loved ones, rather than being crippled and aged far beyond their years.

My stomach turned. “Like the Blood Wizards?”

“No,” he replied sharply. “She’ll have a bit of a headache, but she’ll be fine.”

As if to prove his point, he turned to Norma.

Instantly, she grew again, until she reached her gigantic height once more. She towered over both Asher and I, which was no easy thing given Asher’s own above-average height.

“If I had a temper,” she said, grasping her forehead. “I’d cut your head from your shoulders.”

Asher stiffened.

But suddenly Norma was roaring with laughter. “I did ask for it though, didn’t I?”

Asher’s smile returned, and the tension in my shoulders vanished.

Her laughter slowly died down, and she clasped Asher’s shoulder in her firm grip. “We’re glad to have you boy. We ain’t got no shrinkers in our Order. You’ll come in mighty useful.”

“Rose thought we might not even have to battle,” Asher said, his smile gone.

Norma’s laughter died. “Oh, there’ll be a battle. That’s one thing you can count on. But, I also think with you on our side, the goddesses’ favor may come our way.”

Asher nodded. “So then, Chief, what’s our plan?”

She released his shoulder. “With you here now, we’ll have to make a few changes, and there’s not much time left. We better run through this quick and then gather the others.”

“Will Blair and the others be joining us?” I asked, suddenly aware of how strange it was that they weren’t with us.

Norma rolled her neck. “Not sure about them exactly, but Queen Gaudias refused to leave. She’s gathered Protectors, ones I planned on having for reinforcements, around her at the castle.”

Asher frowned. “Her selfishness, especially in a time like this, is amazing.” Then, his gaze met Norma’s. “Did we need those women to win?”

Norma sighed. “Most of them weren’t warriors anyway, but I didn’t think we had much shot, even with them. Now though…”

The truth settled between us.

“If Marcalus can actually stop them from using their Blood Magic,” Norma shrugged. “Then maybe.”

Fear coiled deep inside me.

“I never thought I’d be involved in a battle.” The words slipped past my lips before I could stop them, and I looked away, embarrassed for showing my weakness.

“Rose, I’m cut from a warrior’s fabric, but it don’t mean I’m not afraid. Only a fool wouldn’t fear what’s to come tonight.”

I straightened and looked straight into her eyes. “I’ll be ready.”

When darkness fell, a hush came over the women and men beneath the white trees streaked with blood. Swords flashed as the torchlight bounced off the warriors, who stood waiting. Perhaps a hundred well-dressed Protectors had been weaved throughout the warriors. I sensed their powers drawn taut, like an arrow in a bow.

Asher took my hand.

I squeezed his.

A sudden icy dread slowly moved through my veins. Would having him here really be enough?

My heart pounded. Somehow, I’d never really imagined a battle. But now, I wondered if I’d just been a fool.

Ahead of us, our red shield shimmered reassuringly, marking a physical separation between us and the blackened earth. But still, no wizards appeared. For an instant, I wondered if these women had been wrong. Perhaps the wizards were attacking from a different tunnel from the Underworld. Perhaps the battle was already lost.

My hands grew clammy as I lost all sense of Asher’s touch. I willed my feet to keep me standing as I took deep breaths, trying to push away all dark thoughts.

Against my throat, my necklace warmed. But rather than heightening my fear, it reassured me. This wasn’t a time for doubts. The wizards would come. And we would stop them.

As if my thoughts formed reality, dark shapes flickered into life on the scorched earth, slowly taking the form of men and boys. At first, only the greenish tint to their flesh suggested they were Undead. However, it wasn’t long before an orange haze gathered above them.

I swallowed. The haze had grown since our last battle, a physical reminder of the strength of their magic.

Marcalus stepped free of the group. His gaze swept over our warriors and Protectors. A frown touched his lips. “Where’s Blair?”

Norma approached him and stopped just beyond the shield. “Did you really think she’d come?”

Rage transformed his features. “But this is her last chance to face us, to face me. To pay for her betrayal.”

Norma crossed her broad arms in front of her chest. “I know that’s what you’d hoped for, but this is it.”

He swore, turning his back to us.

Asher and I exchanged a worried glance.

“I guess it changes nothing,” Marcalus said, addressing his men. “Today we’ll get our revenge. And wherever she’s hiding, we’ll find her.”

My legs trembled as I sensed the inevitable moment approaching.

Asher squeezed my hand. His touch soothed the edges of my fragile nerves. We gazed at one another, and slowly, he nodded. Moving as one, we approached Norma.

She gestured for us to speak.

I licked my dry lips and cleared my throat. “Marcalus?” His name came out a squeak.

Still, he turned back to stare at me. “You again?”

Squaring my shoulders, I forced myself not to look away. “This is Asher. A wizard.”

He startled, his gaze snapping from me to Asher. His eyes narrowed, and I swore I could feel his magic stretching out.

He gasped, his magic no doubt confirming my words. “How is this possible?” The volume of his voice rose. “A living wizard!”

Behind him, murmurs grew from the crowd of Undead wizards. They strained forward, gathering closer behind Marcalus, and staring at Asher with wide eyes.

Sazar separated himself from the crowd, his hunched figure shuffling towards us. “They’re trying to distract you. This boy changes nothing. Ask him whether he sides with us or not. All we need to know is if he’s a friend or enemy.”

“It does change something.” I squared my shoulders. “This is your last battle, no matter what. Zeuita has proclaimed that if you die today, you die forever.”

My words ran through the wizards like a storm. Voices rose. The men turned to one another, fear and disbelief increasing their tones to nearly hysterical levels.

“Enough!” Marcalus barked.

Silence followed his command.

“I shall discover if this is true.” He closed his eyes as the orange haze around him grew.

I held my breath, praying to the goddesses.

Moments later, he opened his eyes. Anger tugged at the corners of his mouth. “She speaks the truth.”

His nephew stepped forward. “But how could Hadia…?”

Marcalus’ frown deepened. “She’s angry too, but the decision has been made.”

“So we can die again?” His nephew’s voice was small.

“Yes.” Marcalus spoke the word loudly, for all his men to hear.

The boy drew closer. “Will it hurt as badly as the first time?” Tears glimmered in his eyes.

Marcalus gave a sharp nod.

Sazar spoke, his voice like the slithering of snakes down my spine. “This doesn’t matter. We will win tonight.”

Indecision filled Marcalus’ face.

Fighting the urge to scream, I imagined the terrible death Sazar would finally experience in the Underworld. Cruel men suffered for eternity there, and he’d been a very cruel man both in life and death. I’m sure many of his victims would rest more peacefully knowing he’d finally gotten what he deserved. Unexpectedly, the thought gave me courage.

“But no one needs to fight tonight. No one needs to die. Let’s just end this now.”

Marcalus pierced me with a glare. “We can’t do that.”

“But a living wizard has been found!” I took a step towards him. “I know you all want revenge, but how many innocent lives will be taken in the name of revenge?”

“None,” Marcalus answered, too quickly. “We only want the lives of The Protectors and the queen.”

I raised my voice, striving to be both heard and believed. “No one here believes Sazar, his brothers, and the other Blood Wizards are going to stop at just killing The Protectors.” My gaze held his. “Do you honestly think we’re wrong in that belief?”

“They’ve given me their words.” Marcalus’ expression was like stone as he looked to Asher. “How can you trust a Protector after knowing what happened to us?”

Asher forced a smile as he glanced at me. “She’s not a Protector, but she doesn’t want bloodshed any more than I do.”

My heart stopped.

Marcalus glanced at me, a slow look of realization dawning on his face. “Don’t you see, boy? She’s a Protector, and she’s tricking you. Just like Blair tricked me.”

“She’s not.” Asher’s answer held a warning.

My head spun and suddenly I knew the truth was about to be revealed. In the worst possible way. And there was nothing I could do about it.

“Look beneath her bracelet, boy.”

He turned to me.

Pressing my hand to my mouth, I fought the sob threatening to explode. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, and my heart twisted, bleeding soundlessly. I’d lied and deceived the man I loved and now I’d have to face him, to see if he could understand why I had to do the things I did… to see if he could forgive me for my betrayal.

I met his gaze. “I’m sorry,” the words cracked as they dropped from my lips.

Disbelief filled his eyes, replaced by anger.

He grabbed my arm and ripped the bracelet from my wrist.

It fell away. And the Protector’s mark stood, naked for all to see.

Tears obstructed my vision. “Asher, you don’t understand.”

“You lied.” His voice condemned me.

“I wanted to tell you—”

“You lied,” he repeated, dropping my wrist as if my touch alone was painful.

Marcalus’ voice came, as if from far away. “So, boy, now which side will you stand on?”

“No,” I sobbed, grabbing for Asher.

He shrugged away from my hands. “Don’t touch me.”

“I had—to lie. It was—the only way— to save— everyone,” I sobbed so hard that my stomach ached, willing him to hear me, to forgive me.

“No more,” he growled.

I stared at Asher’s tortured expression from a curtain of tears. The muscles on his jaw clenched over and over again, making his scars wave as if dancing. Hurt teamed with rage swam in his deep blue eyes… eyes that refused to look at me.

He didn’t answer Marcalus for a painfully long time. “It’s true I’m a wizard, but I’m not a Blood Wizard. I’d never fight alongside them, and I think anyone who willingly does so, is a fool.”

“Thank you,” I whispered to him.

His words were for me, even though he didn’t look my way. “I’m fighting because you’re right, Blood Wizards can’t be allowed back in Tarak. But as for you and I, there is nothing between us.”

Claws dug out my heart, and I clutched at my chest, gasping. How could words hurt so badly? So deeply?

“Remember, boy,” Marcalus said, “you made this choice.”

Asher walked away from me.

I reached for him. “Please…”

He shook me off.

Someone grabbed me from behind.

I whirled, staring through tear-filled eyes.

“Focus on the battle,” Norma ordered me. “Being distracted during a fight will get you killed.”

A hysterical sob escaped my lips, but I wiped the traitorous tears from my eyes and cheeks. She was right. I couldn’t morn what my lies had cost me, not now.

She let me go.

A rush of hot, angry magic swept over me, and Norma screamed. I closed my eyes, knowing that I didn’t want to see her blood, or her transformation.

When the heat died down, I opened my eyes. She was a she-demon again, with skin the color of fresh blood and long, wicked nails. Ugar lumbered to stand next to her, matching her height and size. But with his oily black skin and milky white eyes, he was his own nightmare come to life.

Around them, their creatures howled in triumphant. The wolves with scales darted into motion, stretching and moving in their new gigantic bodies. Tall creatures covered in silver spines shrieked, their lipless mouths twisting into eerie smiles.

Beads of sweat trickled at the back of my neck, and in the palms of my hands. I took deep breaths, reminding myself that these creatures fought on our side.

The Protectors looked oddly out of place in their expensive dresses, standing amongst the monstrous beasts. Many wore expressions of shock, while some looked pale as ghosts, terror plucking away their confidence. Most were older women, but just as many looked to be girls younger than myself. Were these women really going to do any good in this battle?

I wondered if Norma had even offered to transform them too, in exchange for their True Names. If she had, perhaps these women had simply been too afraid of what she could do with such precious information. Did they regret it now?

My stomach clenched. I couldn’t worry about anyone other than Asher. The Fates had decreed that somehow I’d defeat these Undead wizards. All I could hope for was that the man I loved could still be the key to ending all of this, even if it wasn’t going to be the bloodless solution I’d imagined.

I walked towards Asher, who waited near the shield, his sword in hand. He didn’t glance at me as I came to stand at his side, but his flesh was ghostly white.

“It’ll be all right,” I whispered.

He stiffened, but said nothing.

“You still have time to leave.” My heart ached as I spoke the words, unsure of what I wanted.

If he left, he would be safe. But if he walked away in this moment, The Fates’ decree would fall on my unworthy shoulders alone.

Something unnamed shivered along my spine. Tarak’s destiny couldn’t lie in my hands. I was no one. A girl with special powers, but weaker than Blair. A girl who could fight, but no better than Meisha or Clarissa. There was no logical reason for my destiny, other than that I had Asher.

“I’m staying,” he said, his harsh words interrupting my spiraling fears.

I longed to let my walls fall, to reach out to him through our connection and reassure him, but I couldn’t risk it. If I lowered my walls, he’d feel my pain in battle, something I couldn’t allow. And even more dangerously, I might subconsciously reach out to the magic in the flowers. I’d promised myself no more girls would die at my hands, and I wouldn’t break that promise, even if it cost me my life.

Marcalus shifted, crossing his arms over his chest. “Done?” he asked, with a hint of amusement.

Norma bellowed. “We’re ready! And this time, your men can bleed like mortals… die like mortals.”

Her words sent a wave of motion through the Undead wizards. What must it be like for them to be so close to their goal, but also risk experiencing death all over again?

“It’ll be your people suffering this night.” He paused, raising his voice. “I want every man, woman, and child to know that when we win this battle, it was won fairly. We’ll show all of Tarak that Queen Gaudias and her precious Protectors were wrong about us. We are men of honor.”

You can’t keep your honor in war.
The thought hurt even as it came to me. Of course he could, but there was no longer an honorable way this battle could end. We were fighting men who died at the hands of Protectors, just because of what they were. And they were fighting for revenge, which was always wrong.

Marcalus turned to his men. “It begins!”