Epilogue
Ascelin emerged from his magic room and sat heavily in his chair. “I’m getting too old for this.”
He was a man of science thrown into a world of magic against his will. He spent many years with the most despicable beings he could imagine, on a world without a sun, where death roamed the shadows, and he fought his way back to the light.
After a moment, the door opened again. “They really think you’re dead?”
“They burned my body,” the Painter answered, emerging from the magic room and leaning against the door casually.
“Merlin might be the only one who would ever be upset by that.”
The Painter was not offended. “Merlin was right not to train me. I wouldn’t be who I am today if he hadn’t rejected me.”
“So you’re not going to kill him?”
He laughed. “I have someone much higher on my list.”
Ascelin wondered if the Painter didn’t actually have a deeper reason for letting the older wizard live. Perhaps someone has grown a heart. He studied the Painter’s face, which he usually avoided doing. To him, the Painter was a hideous man, with scars and boils all over his skin, blue lips, black eyes, and patches missing from his hair. Then again, Ascelin had a very unique perception of people. No, he thought. That isn’t likely. “I thought you were doing all of this to kill him.”
“No. Death was too good for him. He will never forgive himself now. You can’t understand how wonderful it feels to get my revenge. I have just done more damage to him than anyone else could. He never feared killing before. Now he will. I’ve destroyed him, slowly. This will eat him alive like poison and I’ll be watching. He’ll feel me there and he won’t understand. It will drive him insane.”
“What about your mother?”
“Are you still going to take that dragon?”
“No. I got what I wanted, and I can get hundreds of dragons. I’m not going to be defeated by my own stubbornness.” The Painter studied the ring on his finger, which had absorbed his soul an instant before his death, enabling Ascelin to resurrect him. “You’ve done well, Ascelin. You brought back everything except my mortality.”
“At least we’re even now.” The Painter was an ally, but not a friend.
“I suppose we are… for now. They haven’t figured out yet that to become immortal, you first have to die. As long as I’m wearing this ring, there is only one person who can kill me.”
About the Author
Rain Oxford is a teacher who has been writing for more than half of her life. She does most of her writing in a secluded cabin in the woods with a four-pound Maltese as a companion. When she’s not teaching or creating worlds, she usually enjoys cooking, playing the piano, or photographing exotic wildlife.
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/rainoxfordauthor
Website: rainoxford.wordpress.com
Amazon Page: amazon.com/author/rainoxford
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Translation of Enochian:
“I revoke your gift, Rheim, for the good of mankind.”
Books by Rain Oxford
The Sorcerer’s Saga Book 1: The Sorcerer’s Quest
The Sorcerer’s Saga Book 2: The Wizard’s Secret
The Sorcerer’s Saga Book 3: The Raven’s Curse
The Sorcerer’s Saga Book 4: The Dragon’s Price
The Sorcerer’s Saga Book 5: The Hero’s Peril
The Guardian Book 1: The Guardian’s Grimoire
The Guardian Book 2: The Dragon’s Eyes
The Guardian Book 3: God of the Abyss
The Guardian Book 4: The Demon’s Game
Elemental Book 1: Dark Waters
Elemental Book 2: Hungry Earth
Elemental Book 3: Furious Flames
Elemental Book 4: Insidious Winds
Elemental Book 5: Soul Guard
Abyss of Shadows Book 1: Hunting Shadows