The Book of Warlock

The Book of Warlock 14. Battle Ready.

Standing in silence, he stared, dumbfounded, at his hands once more. The power ran through him, living within him, reaching out whenever he commanded, changing reality around him. All he had to do was set it free.

Luci's order, along with the look in her eyes, was all the motivation he'd needed to believe, even just for a moment, that he had absolute power. That nothing was beyond his range of capabilities.

The other mage's spells of defence had held him back, but he knew that if they had not turned tail and fled, he would have broken through those flimsy shields in time, smashed through and done fatal damage to their flabby bodies. Wonderful mystical orbs could only do so much to protect them.

Even now, as he stood breathing softly, feeling the rise and fall of his deep chest, he could sense his power regenerating. It would never stop. He would never stop. How could you stop cosmic energy from beyond the stars? An element bound to living things such as dragons?

His mind reached out. He saw the landscape ahead, a land he'd never set his physical eyes on before. But it was there, in his head. He saw the swarms of brave goblin warriors holding off Nisgarant's attacks. Saw the gnolls slipping into the sewers, heading for the inner city, unseen. Saw Hemlock the bulky reptid officer wiping sweat from his scaly brow as his horse rode back and forth along the advancing battle lines.

This should have been his war.

It still could be.

"That was amazing."

The girl's voice cut through the commotion of the distant battle flashing before his eyes, and he snapped back to the present. He looked at Lucinder blankly for a moment, before returning that gaze to his wondrous hands.

"He looks knackered," declared his Lieutenant.

"I'm fine," he said softly.

Brook sniffed. "Sure. So... what are our orders, now, sir? Not that we're going to be doing very much while you're busy flinging lightning about."

"He's somewhere else right now," The Dragon explained gently. "He's experiencing what it's like to be one of us. To be everywhere at once, to have seen all, and to see all. It's... quite the mind melter."

"Oh, is that right? I'll bring him back." The spunky goblin kicked him in the shin. "The universe isn't going to stop collapsing by itself, you know!" she yelled. "Sir," she added, just to be on the safe side.

It worked. He lifted his grey head; "I'm sorry you missed your chance to go home, Luci."

She shrugged, "if the universe really does collapse, it doesn't make much difference where I die, now, does it? And I suppose I kinda do feel a bit responsible for Bromor. Maybe I wished or believed him away, while I was healing him? In a sort of 'He needs a safe place' kind of way? My heart may have spoken louder than my words."

Anar smiled a small smile, "your heart is very big, to keep all of us in it."

"I suppose it is," she smiled back.

"Awww, look at you two, being all cute. Now, what's the plan regarding the rat and that stupid stick of his?" Brook demanded.

"Kill him, of course. Take the Sceptre. Give it back to The Dragon who can return it to a Dark magic universe. Hope our universe repairs itself. That's about it."

"And what, no more army? Everyone go home?"

He thought a moment more and nodded. "That's about it. If The Dragon can travel around at will, perhaps it can send Luci back to her world."

Brook pulled a face, "Luci won't go back to that miserable lot! I heard them. They were patronising! Belittling!"

Anar held out his hands, calling for reason, "they can't all be like that. Calm down. I'm sure Luci has lots of friends and family who will miss her."