Dimwater's Dragon Read Online Free Page A

spell that Cyrus was weaving around him, nor did he comprehend the silver orb that encased him a moment later, all he knew was that he had been saved from his terrible torment and was now lying still and wet upon the ground.
    “Your body is indeed broken, Janik. However with a will as strong as yours, I can save you. I can end your torment and restore you to your body. It will not be easy, and I doubt I can fully save your arm and leg, but I can preserve your life.”
    “I thought you said there was nothing you could do for me.”
    Cyrus nodded his head slowly as he brought a hand up and smoothed his hair. He knelt down on to the stone floor on Janik’s left side. He waved a hand over Janik’s left eye and the blood was gone so that Janik could see out of both eyes again. With the vision in his left eye restored, Janik could see that the left side of his nose was gashed open and a bit of flesh from his eyebrow hung over his eye as well. The wizard brushed the flap of skin away and to Janik’s surprise there was no pain as the flap was moved.
    “There was nothing I could do for you unless you vowed to serve me.” Cyrus brought up his left hand and pulled a small dagger from his belt. “If I offer you your life again, will you dedicate yourself to my service?”
    “What would you want me to do?” Janik asked.
    Cyrus sneered, stretching his thin lips across his face. “I have not come to save Lady Caspen. I am willing to give you the glory of saving Lady Caspen and restore your life to your body so that you may enjoy a comfortable retirement according to the ways of the Middle Kingdom. In return I want a wizard’s oath that you will serve me and any request I shall make of you for the rest of your life. I should warn you that if you make this oath, your heart will cease beating should you ever decide to go against it.”
    Janik hesitated, he could tell by Cyrus’ voice that the wizard had no good intentions. The fact that he had not outright said what he wanted Janik to do was more than a little unnerving. Cyrus must have sensed Janik’s hesitance and reticence, because whatever spell was keeping his pain away weakened enough so that Janik got another taste of the horrible agony and fire. Janik spasmed and clenched his jaw.
    “It would be useful for me to have somebody like you,” Cyrus said. “I will not ask for much, mostly information and books. However, when the time comes there will be individuals who will need to be removed from the plane of the living. Do these things for me and I will take away your pain now. What do you say?”
    Janik nodded. The pain was gone instantly. Cyrus drew a line horizontally across his palm with his dagger. It was not so deep that the flesh hung open, but it was deep enough that droplets of blood formed and started to run down his palm and wrist.
    “Now repeat the words that I will say to you, and your life will be restored and your power renewed.”
    Janik held his right hand up, reaching out towards Cyrus’ hand. “I want magic too,” Janik demanded.
    “What would you do with magic?”
    “I will serve you, wizard, but to do so I want to be more than what I was. If I am to be your servant, then I want enough power that I will not need to serve others around me anymore.”
    “That can be arranged. I will restore you, and I will give you a great portion of magic. Then together we will go and rescue Lady Caspen and return her to her family. You will take her back, while I remain here and look for something that the vampire has in his possession.”
    “What is it you search for?”
    “That is none of your concern. It is something I am looking for, something personal. We will do this and you will do your end of the job. When I need you I will call upon you. Otherwise, do not speak of me to anyone ever again.”
    “You are not Cyrus, are you?” Janik asked. “For Cyrus was recommended by the Academy to aid me, and I doubt they would have sent someone like you.”
    The