Dimwater's Dragon Read Online Free Page B

wizard smiled wide. “No, my dear Janik. I am not Cyrus, nor am I a wizard who has ever dealt with Kuldiga Academy. However, my name shall not be made known now. It is enough to say that I am a warlock from a land far, far away.”
    “So you killed Cyrus to take his place with me? Let me see your true form.”
    The warlock shook his head. “It is not so simple as that.”
    “Then at least tell me what it is you’re looking for. If I am already bound to your service I will further covenant not to speak of you to anyone without your permission on pain of death under this wizard’s pact that you are giving me now. I must know what it is the vampire has.”
    “It is simple Janik, he has a book. The book is called Aikur’s War. It is the story of a man who managed to infiltrate Hammenfein, and rescue loved ones who had been falsely imprisoned in hell.”
    “Who do you know that is in hell?” Janik pressed.
    Cyrus bristled and his tone turned cold. “That is a question for another time. Come, let us finish this pact and this nasty business with this foolish vampire. Remember, you are now bound to me. Play your part as the valiant knight of the kingdom, but remember that I will and can come for you at any time to request your services. I swear to you now that if you ever betray me your death will make the pain you suffered at the demon’s hands feel as a warm, gentle spring by comparison.”
    The warlock took Janik’s hand and the two made their binding oath.
    “Come, we will destroy this vampire and then you will be the hero, and I will get the items I came for.”
    Janik nodded and then paused as the wizard began to walk away.
    Items ? The wizard had only mentioned the book. What else did he want?

CHAPTER TWO
     
     
    Five years later, Cyrus paid Janik a visit in his home late one night. The wizard had arrived suddenly, appearing at a time when Janik was alone.
    “Why him?” Janik growled. “Why should my brother get the girl when I am the one who saved the mother?”
    Cyrus grinned from across the table in the dimly lit chamber. “I know it has been a few years, but surely you don’t believe that you actually had anything to do with Lady Caspen’s rescue, do you?”
    Janik huffed and folded his arms across his chest. “I only mean that it doesn’t seem appropriate. Why should my younger brother be the one to wed the girl?”
    Cyrus sneered and scraped a long fingernail across the table. “It isn’t important,” he said. “The simple fact is that your brother is closer in age to her. You are several years older than your brother. Beyond that, you are not publically viewed as a Master anymore. We will have to pander to Lord Caspen’s greed, which will include throwing him a son-in-law that still has a proper title and fame.”
    Janik shook his head and hooked his finger into the loop on the ceramic jug before him. He pulled it up to his lips and pulled a long drink of whiskey. “Fine. I will set my brother to marry the girl, but it won’t be an easy task. I have to convince Lord Caspen, and my brother.”
    “How’s that?” Cyrus asked.
    Janik took another drink and then set the jug down. “My brother is a very honorable sort. He won’t readily accept the offer. He will fight me on it and insist that I claim her hand. After all, as far as he knows, I was the one who rescued Lady Caspen.”
    Cyrus reached down below the table and brought his hand up with a small leather bag clutched tightly in his fingers. “Make your brother drink this. You can mix it with anything. It doesn’t matter what the drink is so long as it is mixed with this powder and goes down his gullet.”
    “What is it?” Janik asked.
    “It is an enchanted blend, something of a proprietary secret, you might say. Get him to drink this, and then you should be able to control his mind. Come, I will teach you a charm spell. It won’t take long to master, but it will enable you to manipulate him in almost any way once he drinks the