The Tomes of Magic: Tales of Canai, #2

Tales of Canai

The Tomes of Magic

By Cody J. Sherer

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.

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Tales of Canai

The Tomes of Magic

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Cover art by www.selfpubbookcovers.com/Saphira

Copyright ©2014 by Cody J. Sherer

All Rights Reserved.

Tales of Canai Series

Book 1: The Wizard’s Council

Book 2: The Tomes of Magic

Book 3: Fall of a Guardian

Other Works

Legends of Canai Short Story Compilation

Chronicles of George Jackson

Book 1: Pioneers of the Stars

Table of Contents

Map of Canai

The Hunt Begins

Battles in the Dark

The Tome of Illusion

A Time of Changes

Alliances are Born

The Coming Storm

An Emperor is Born

Betrayal, Assassination, and Treaties

Death

Preparations for War

A Dance with the Dragon King

Battle is Joined

Mourning, Marriage, Missions, and Madness

The Fall of a Guardian Excerpt

Author Bio

Map of Canai

The Hunt Begins

The cool breeze pelted Septimus with spray from the ocean as he leaned against a crate near the end of the dock. Over the past two months, he had grown quite annoyed with island life. The promise of adventure and lure of treasure seemed like distant memories. Much to his surprise, his traveling companion, the former Wielder named Talia, had stuck by him the entire time. Her fascination with the Warlock had him puzzled, though he was thankful for the company. All of the other Wielders that he had heard of had seen the Warlocks as their nemeses. The pair had stumbled across a ship Captain who had promised them a great many things. Unfortunately for the two travelers, none of the promises had panned out. Though they had managed to leave the mainland behind, Septimus was displeased with their progress. Their journey had brought them to the Valorian Isles. Each island was home to a warlord that claimed sovereignty over the entire island group, resulting in frequent raids between the islands. One such raid had cost Septimus and Talia their ship, forcing them to throw in their lot with a Captain whose reputation was less than stellar.

I’m afraid that the illustrious Captain Ryan has, once again, left us high and dry. He promises that he will have a boat by the end of the week. If empty promises could sustain a voyage, he’d be the King of the high seas themselves. Septimus let out a sigh.

It is quite all right, we’ve only been at this for two months. There has to be a usable boat out there that we can procure. We will learn to do better in the future. Talia placed a hand on his shoulder to reassure him.

I hope you are right. Rumor has it there have been dragon sightings on the western most isles. If true, this could change everything. My information is spotty at best, but I’ve also heard that they have invaded the mainland. Much of Canai is abuzz with talk of flying beasts.

Why does this worry you so? Talia asked.

The people of these islands are pirates, scoundrels, rogues, and ruffians. They would stop at nothing to loot a dragon’s treasure hoard. I’m sure the thought of dragon treasure had many of them riled up already. If even just one of the warlords were able to get a hold of a dragon or its treasure, he would be able to wrest control over the entire island group. As for the mainland, the tumult could be highly problematic. The Holy Order has already enough excuses to move forward with their conquests.

Perhaps we should look to our old allies for assistance. You’ve mastered the art of teleportation. Can you not return to the mainland and acquire us a boat?

I could, but I don’t think it prudent. Things were far too dangerous before the rumors started. It is impossible to know how things would be now. I’d prefer not to bring attention to us, the Wielders, or the Warlocks. We could send a message via a bird. Thanos is quite skilled at keeping a low profile. If he survived that incursion from the Holy Order, it is possible he would be willing to provide us with assistance.

Is it wise to trust a Necromancer?

Not a Necromancer, an Archwizard. He has always skirted the line between Wizard and Warlock. He is no enemy of ours.

*

Thanos looked out over the vast plains below. The small phoenix lightly pecked at his boot. He found it hard to believe that the creature had grown so much in less than two months. It stood on his left while the skeletal dragon lounged to his right. Taleveth and Rowles had been instrumental in the Archwizard’s survival. He used the phoenix as a scout and for distraction when necessary. The skeletal dragon was used to spread terror through the nearby villages, allowing Thanos to harvest the food he had needed to survive the past few weeks. It was a way of life that was becoming quite the burden on the Archwizard. He still clung to his title as if it still meant what it had not so long ago. Few approached him and those that did rarely stayed long enough for him to invoke the title, but those who did often treated him with a heightened respect. He had expected the Holy Order to be searching high and low for him, but they had set their sights on the dragon council. It was something of a relief to the Wizard, but a part of him knew that either side winning was a losing prospect for him. He wanted to war to continue so that he could fade into obscurity. Never again will you be able to live a normal life, he thought as he rubbed his hand against the skull side of his face.

A bird approaches, bloodkin, it appears to be propelled by magic, Thanos was interrupted by the dragon’s telepathy.

Hold, Thanos commanded the Phoenix. What makes you so sure? He inquired of the dragon.

It appears to be homing in on our location. Should we destroy it? The dragon asked.

No, but be prepared to hunt it down if it shows any sign of giving away our position, Thanos examined the bird as it slowly drifted down toward them.

He held his arm out to the side, inviting the bird to land. It landed on his forearm and began pecking at the small scroll attached to its leg, begging Thanos to remove it. The Archwizard gently pulled the scroll from its holder and began to unfurl it. Where most might feel a sense of dread, the death magic master could feel the eyes of the long dead dragon staying at him in disapproval. He shrugged it off and unrolled the rest of the scroll. It read Thanos, my friend. You may not recall me, but I am in need of your assistance. My colleague and I are stranded on the Valorian Isles and we are in desperate need of a ship. It is too much of a story to tell in a letter, but I shall do my best. We are on a quest for a book of great power. I am of the belief that it could change the balance of power on the mainland, perhaps even the world. We do not wish to attract attention with the use of magic, it would be preferred if you would answer by using the bird that delivered this message. Again, we are in desperate need of your help. It was signed, Septimus, Grand Warlock of Canai. Grand Warlock now is it? Thanos wondered as he turned to address his two companions.

I need to look into this. Septimus may be a Warlock, but we are in desperate need of allies. The two of you need to stay here and be my eyes and ears. I will need information on this council the dragons have formed, but it is far too dangerous for either of you to spy on them. You will need to be extremely careful and keep out of sight. Report to me on the major news of the day and I will fill in the details when I return.

Thanos caught Rowles as the Phoenix flew up toward him. He had heard stories of the phoenixes, but had dismissed them as legends. Not even Taleveth, with his vast array of knowledge, could provide him with solid information on the fire bird, but it seemed that some of the stories had to be true. I had no idea that Rolin’s phoenix was a real creature, he thought as he gently ran his fingers along the bird’s back, nor that there were two of them. The phoenix’s feathers glowed orange as he touched them. It chirped softly before gliding back down to the ground. The Archwizard turned to face the dragon, ready for a reprimanding. Much to his surprise, Taleveth just nodded slowly. Thanos placed his hand on the head of the dragon. You will be missed, my friend. The dragon made no reply, but he could tell that the majestic beast felt the same way.

I won’t be gone too long and Taleveth and we should be able to communicate through out connection when needed. Stay out of trouble, both of you. Thanos grabbed his staff before turning to leave.

*

Grand Cleric Bartholomew flipped through the papers on his table. The disappearance of Gareth had been both a blessing and a curse. It had allowed him to solidify power and assign a Grand Crusader of his choosing, one who would follow him without question. Unfortunately, his disappearance had also given rise to paranoia and fear within the ranks of the Holy Order forces. Gareth’s replacement, a man named Xander, had been placed in charge of building the Fortress of Exaltation in the Telmac Valley. Bartholomew named it thusly, treating their victory over the witches as a gift from the Creator. He shoved aside the letters and looked down at the map laid out before him. The Holy Order had been in conflict with the newly established Dragonwizard Council and both sides were taking a beating. The dragonwizards had their magic and their dragons, but their armies were weaker than those of the Holy Order and lacked the training that Bartholomew and Gareth had seen as paramount. The rumors spoke of the dragons creating their armies by enthralling the weaker minded members of the populace, a practice that the Grand Cleric saw as an abomination. In a stroke of genius, Grand Cleric Bartholomew had forged an alliance with the Barbarians. In exchange for assistance against the dragonwizards, the Holy Order had sent some of their best soldiers north to fight the ogres. Serith, one of his more competent Crusaders, had been assigned to lead the army.

Timothy, one of the monks of the Holy Order, entered the war room and bowed to the Grand Cleric. Bartholomew waved him forward as he continued to study the maps. They had been created after the return of the dragons. Things were much simpler than they had been before. The north was largely owned by the Holy Order and its allies while the south mostly belonged to the Dragonwizard Council. There were small pockets of resistance against both groups, but none were strong enough to make a lasting difference in the war. The elves and the dwarves had not been heard from for some time and both sides desperately wanted more information on each group. All of the Holy Order’s attempts to contact them had been unsuccessful. It seemed that the dwarves were staying underground and that the elves preferred to stay hidden.

Any news, Brother Timothy? Bartholomew asked.

The Fortress of Exaltation is nearly finished. Gareth remains missing. Our enemies have put down several more rebellions. Ever since the Barbarians entered the fray, the dragons seem as apprehensive as we are to continue this war. I can only imagine that both sides are close to equally matched. We will need to find a way to gain the upper hand, Timothy didn’t seem to care that his words annoyed Bartholomew.

We are stronger than this. We should not be cowering behind our walls. Perhaps we should look to bolster the rebelling factions. Subversion is always a viable tactic. Our people are too afraid to face these dragons in battle. I will not sit by and let these fools gain power. Get me the Swords of Justice. Their skills are required.

*

When messenger the bird had failed to return after a week of waiting, Septimus’ mood changed for the worse. He had already been terribly on edge, but now he was going to extremes so that others wouldn’t learn that he was a mage. It was rare that either he or Talia went into town and when they did they only stayed for short periods of time. Their Captain had, unsurprisingly, failed to live up to his many promises. The Warlock’s mood changed when he had heard a rumor about a stranger arriving in town via a ship. It was something he would have normally passed over, except for the fact that some reports claimed that this man was a walking skeleton. A smile crept onto his face as he began to gather up his belongings. In his rush to leave, he had forgotten to inform Talia of what was happening.

Where are you going? She asked.

We are going to meet Thanos! He replied, his face alight with excitement.

He contacted you?

No, the town is abuzz with rumors of a skeleton walking among the living. It must have something to do with him.

How have you kept appraised of the town rumor mill? Did you visit town without me?

I made use of a simple eavesdropping spell that William discovered. Brilliant bit of magic, really.

Septimus kicked dirt over the smoldering remains of the fire in the middle of their campsite before turning toward the path. Talia sighed as she picked up her things and began to follow. The Warlock had made an effort to investigate the books that had sparked his quest to the Valorian Isles, but his success had been limited. Talia was getting angry at what she felt was him keeping her in the dark. I’ve nothing of import to share, he had thought when he told her he would divulge more once they were on their way. He was uncertain if she looked forward more to the break from the isles or the information. The Wielder was still something of an enigma to him. Any further information would have to wait, as the town of Kellim was but a short walk away.

Tell me, have there been any visitors to the town of late? Septimus asked one of the guards as they arrived at the outskirts of town.

There is a man that has arrived recently, he is causing quite a stir among the populace, the guard answered.

Where might I find him?

In the jail, of course. That or at the end of the hangman’s noose. Same as any mage.

Septimus gritted his teeth and tugged at his goatee. It was all that he could do to stop from unleashing a flurry of spells on the man. As he attempted to enter the city, the guards lowered their spears to block his path. He looked from one to the other, trying to ascertain if they were going to inform him why they were impeding his task. Talia growled as she stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Septimus. The guards appeared no more likely to let her enter than the Warlock. In fact, they seemed to gain some sense of pleasure from seeing her adverse reaction. Septimus let out a chuckle as he stepped back to allow her to handle the situation. These two fools have no idea what they’ve just unleashed upon themselves, he thought as he watched things unfold. Talia turned to the larger of the two guards and cleared her throat before addressing him.

I demand that you allow my friend and I entrance into the city of Kellim, She said in a remarkably calm voice.

The town is off limits to outsiders on account of recent happenings. You see, there is to be an execution and we can’t have anyone disrupting it, the guard replied.

What prevented you from informing us of that detail earlier?

You didn’t ask, the guard’s reply drew a chuckle from his colleague.

Let us pass or face the consequences!

Is that a threat?

Talia placed her palm on the man’s chest and shoved ever so slightly. The guard was knocked back against the wall and held in place. His companion pivoted and thrust his spear at the mage. She dodged the attack as she turned toward her attacker. He reared back and attacked again, throwing his weight into the strike. Talia’s hand morphed into a metallic substance as she reached out and caught the oncoming spearhead. She snapped the spearhead off of the shaft and tossed it to the ground. Undeterred by the far better opponent, the guard sidestepped as he swung his newly created staff at her head. Septimus stepped forward and grabbed hold of the weapon before it connected with its intended target. He tightened his grip and disintegrated the remnants of the spear. The Warlock took a step forward and grabbed the guard by the throat.

It was a warning, not a threat, he said before shoving him back against the wall.

What now? Talia asked.

We stop this execution,

*

Thanos struggled to no avail against the magic dampening shackles. His arrival on the island had stirred up trouble and it seemed that, in his ignorance, he had underestimated the locals. The nefarious warlords and their pirate allies had long since uprooted any form of magic that they could not control. Septimus and Talia’s time spent on the island had already put the residents on high alert, but it was Thanos’ appearance that ultimately landed him in trouble. A rival to the ruling warlord had approached him with the proposition of assisting with the overthrowing of the current ruler. The Archwizard refused the offer and nearly killed the man with one of his spells. This drew the attention of the warlord, who in turn tried to jail Thanos. He fought off the warlord’s men for several minutes before one of them was able to get the magic dampening shackles onto him. After that, things just got worse.

The Archwizard stood at the bottom of the stairs that led up to the gallows. He glanced up at the hangman’s noose, wondering if his body would be able to survive the ordeal. His enemies had never tried to hang him before. It was not a pleasant thought, but the question of his ability to survive was difficult to ignore. His thought process naturally jumped to whether or not he could even be killed by conventional means. The Holy Order had attempted to burn him at the stake, but Taleveth had come to his rescue. He made a mental note to study the dragon mindmeld process if he survived his adventure on the Valorian Isles. Perhaps the connection strengthens the physical as well as the mental aspects of those connected, he thought. The crowd erupted in cheers as he was forced up the stairs and onto the platform. A large man in executioner’s garb grabbed hold of him and pulled the noose around his neck.

"What greets those that conspire against our beloved Leoth? The executioner asked.

DEATH! The reply from the crowd was astounding.

Thanos took a deep breath as the executioner continued to rile up the crowd. It seemed that treason was a common crime in the Valorian Isles. The locals had turned it into a form of entertainment, which Thanos found disgusting. The Archwizard was blindfolded and the executioner turned back to the crowd a final time. He tried one final time to break free from the magic dampening shackles, but it was no use. A loud crack sounded underneath Thanos’ feet, but he didn’t fall. There was a loud commotion and he felt somebody grab his arm. A cold wind whipped around him and was gone as soon as it came. The noose was yanked out from around his neck and the blindfold was taken away. Thanos was standing in a clearing with Septimus and a woman he didn’t recognize. The Warlock looked exhausted as he motioned for the other two to follow him.

Where are we headed? Thanos asked as he followed.

They will be on the lookout for us. I found a cave that we can take cover until things boil over, Septimus replied.

Good idea. Who is your friend?

I am Talia of Alamor. You must be Thanos, Talia replied.

That I am, but we best keep up with Septimus and leave further introductions for later.

The three magicians headed off into the forest with Septimus at the lead. Thanos, like most citizens of Canai, had never been to the Valorian Isles. He looked down at his wrists, wondering how Septimus had freed him from the shackles. A shiver went down his spine as he remembered what it felt like to wear them. He felt a mixture of fear and anger as he followed the Warlock. His former colleagues would find the information to be quite valuable, but he could no longer seek their assistance. They’ve made their choice, he thought. The Archwizards siding with the dragons had more of an effect on Thanos than he was willing to admit. Though he had often felt the black sheep of the group, they had been his family for some time. Septimus motioned for the others to stop as they got closer to the lone mountain on the island. He turned to face both of them and paused for a moment before addressing them.

The rumors are quite rampant about what we might find in the caverns. I need both of you to be at your best, the Warlock’s face was like stone as he spoke.

We must hurry, there is much that needs to be discussed. The past few months have changed many things on Canai, Thanos grabbed Septimus’ arm as he spoke.

Understood, we will find a safe place within the caverns and then we will discuss.

*

Warlord Leoth slammed his fist against the table in a fit of rage. The magic dampening shackles that sat on the table in front of him only furthered the insult of losing the magic user. It was the first time that a magician had successfully escaped from his grasp. The warlord stood up, his massive frame towering over all those gathered. He grabbed hold of his oversized hammer and raised it above his head. His grip tightened as he let out a roar and swung the hammer with all his might. It came down directly on the shackles and crashed through the table they rested on. He lifted the hammer above his head a second time as the restraints clattered to the floor. His anger was unquenchable as he delivered blow after blow to the shackles. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and threw his long black hair over his shoulder. As he knelt down to examine the damage, he sighed deeply.

How does a puny magician escape these? He asked as he held up the still intact shackles.

There were two others that assisted him, my dearest, the warlord’s wife ran her fingers along his muscled back. Her presence brought an immediate calm to the warlord. Though small in comparison to Leoth, Cassandra was tall and strong. She took pride in being strong enough to join her husband in battle when the need arose. Her long black hair matched his in length, though her stern features often made others wish to deal with him instead. Leoth let his hammer drop to the floor as he straightened up and turned to face his wife. Those gathered began to slowly creep out of the room, but both Leoth and Cassandra held up a hand to stop them. The warlord took his wife in his arms and lifted her off the ground. He gently placed her on her throne and took his seat next to her. She cleared her throat and waited for the first of the eyewitnesses to step forward.

Your majesties, I was there for the whole thing. You see, there were three of them, perhaps more. It all happened so fast, you know. One minute, Executioner Reddick was riling up the crowd and the next minute a robed man overpowered him with a single flick of the wrist. The man we caught was strong, no doubt, but his rescuer was something else. There was a power that emanated off the man. My words do not truly do the tale justice, both Leoth and Cassandra recognized the man speaking. He was one of the few merchants that traveled from the mainland to Valorian Isles.

It is a start. Does anyone else have something to add? Cassandra looked out at the others who were gathered in the Hall of the Warlord.

The robed man was in the crowd one moment and then on the platform the next. His accomplices did not seem to have the same power that he did. It was he who freed the man of his restraints. He is the one you want to look for, a female mercenary named Kaylin stepped forward and spoke.

We need to know what they are plotting, Leoth said as he rose from his chair.

It had been nearly fifty years since a true magician had visited the isles. They had gotten their fair share of tricksters, charmers, and entertainers, but none of them had any real power. The majority of the warlords throughout the history of the Valorian Isles had positive dealings with magic users. However, the last visit had put them all on edge. The great Wizard, Tyvar, nearly destroyed all of the warlords. His actions led to the banning of most forms of magic within the Valorian Isles. Leoth paced back and forth as he thought of ideas for getting the magicians to assist them. Even a temporary alliance would be enough to tip the scales of power in my favor, he thought as he finally sat back down. The warlord looked up at those gathered before him. His eyes narrowed and the guards instinctively knew to escort the others out of the Hall of the Warlord. Cassandra took his hand in hers as they both stood up from their thrones. The once splendorous hall was now collecting dust. Tables and chairs were strewn about as though no one cared. It had been this way for more than a month, but Leoth didn’t want to waste resources on cleaning the area. The bigger problem was that, even in tip-top condition, the hall no longer drew loyalty as it once did.

Perhaps an alliance would be beneficial, Leoth said as he glanced around the room.

You truly think we need it? Cassandra asked.

Each day our enemies grow in number. Our ways are no longer accepted by the populace. The youth grow impatient of our warmongering. It is hard to swallow, but the days of the warlords might be coming to an end.

You knew that would be true when we married, my dearest. My experience outside of the Valorian Isles was part of what drew you to me. We shall make a decree, the days of petty fighting are over. No longer shall there be several claims for kingship of the islands. You shall be the first Emperor of the Valorian Isles.

Cassandra’s willingness to push for more power took Leoth by surprise. He knew that his wife was ambitious, but she had