“Two days, if you count from when I woke up.”
“All right even two days is miraculous. How are your powers?”
Grampa Thor looked around and spotted a candle on the window ledge over the sink. He raised his hand and made a flicking motion. The candlewick flared as the candle floated through the air toward the sink. With another gesture, the faucet turned on as the candle floated under the running water and extinguished. It then glided to a stop on the kitchen counter.
Sig stood up, reached behind his head, and pulled the amulet chain over his head. He held it out to Grampa Thor. “Here, now that you’re well, you can take this back.”
Grampa took the proffered chain and looked at Sig. “It doesn’t work that way. Once you have it, it’s yours. It’s no longer mine.”
“Grampa, I’m not a Battle Wizard. I don’t have any other magic. You can do more good with it than I can.”
“But I can’t, watch. He clutched the amulet in his hand and said, “Aðalbrandr.”
Nothing happened.
He handed it back to Sig. “It doesn’t work for me anymore. Once I passed it to you, I lost the power to wield it. It’s yours now. I know you will make me proud.”
Sig took it from him with a frown. “Thank you Grampa, I’ll try my best.”
Grampa Thor held out his hand and clasped Sig’s firmly. “Don’t worry, I may not be able to amplify my magic through Aðalbrandr anymore, but I still have magic, and you’re a Battle Wizard. I pledge to you that together we will find the Black Wizard who did this to you and get your powers back. Agreed?”
Sig continued to grip Grampa’s hand as he smiled at him and said, “Agreed. Whatever it takes.”
The End
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I thank all of my Beta readers who have helped make this novel better. Kjersten Lance spent many hours reading it at least twice and provided valuable input as well as the beautiful cover design. Kris Lance read it countless times and supported me with advice, critiques, encouragement, and love. She kept me going.
Curt Lance, a fan of contemporary fantasy helped with ideas. Karin Frank supplied detailed writing guidance. Nancy Crews, C. W. Richardson, Mary Beth Ricci, Debbie Ruben, and Steve Dupus gave me advice and encouragement.
The Kansas City Writers’ Group and EPub group offered support and direction.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
An Aerospace Engineer, Accountant, Product Manager, Operations Director, Sales Executive, and Writer in that approximate chronological order.
He’s always enjoyed writing, even though early writings were mostly Product Specifications, Sales Proposals, and Departmental Budgets. Most readers assumed those were fictional.
Currently resides in Kansas with his Interior Designer wife and two Granddogs.
Three grown children span the United States from New York to Austin, TX to San Diego.
To find out about other book projects and more about the Battle Wizard visit:
http://CM-Lance.com
Table of Contents
Pronunciation Guide
Beginning
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR