Spectra's Gambit Read Online Free Page A

have spent the last ten thousand years in a sort of timeless sleep, only to be woken recently by your return,” she said.
    “I see,” I said, not really understanding. “Why was this?”
    “Grandmaster, as you know we, um, the wizards of old put an end to all magic ten thousand years ago. At that time my husband, myself and many others fled the certain death that would come to those of us bound too tightly to the weave. I escaped into a timeless realm where I waited for the return of the Wizards’ Council, and now I am here to once more honor my oath of loyalty to the Council,” she replied.
    I examined her aura and saw that she was a powerful wizard, at least elite level. When the weave was torn most magi of her level died with it. The council of sorcerers survived by hiding in the Spirit Realm, and we were currently deploying our forces in an attempt to eliminate them before they could rise up again, but I did not know how many others had survived. There was something wrong with her aura, though; something unclear to me. I wished I could ask Spectra for her opinion, but she was currently deep in the Spirit Realm hunting for clues to the location of the sorcerer stronghold.
    “I am honored to meet you, Raquel. Are there any others with you?” I asked.
    “There was once, but I lost him,” she started. She took a deep breath and then continued, “He died chasing a necromancer through the Spirit Realm; one who had been trying to take over out here.” She briefly recounted the details of the fight she had had with the necromancer, and how some brave warriors out here had helped her.
    “Where are these heroes now?” I asked.
    “I don’t know. After tending to the body of my late husband I came here, as I had sensed your presence when I passed through previously,” she said.
    “Well, come back with me, if you do not mind. I would like to hear everything you know about this necromancer, and any others who may be returning from the past. I would also like the rest of the Council to hear your report,” I said.
    “Certainly, Grandmaster,” she said. “Grandmaster, I must also appeal to your mercy - ”
    “I am sure we can work all that out,”I interrupted her. “But this is not the place for that. We have a war to fight back home, and right now we need everything you can tell us about the tables and the sorcerers that are using them.”
    “Yes, Grandmaster,” she said.
    Over the next several months I had to turn my attention back to the battles we were fighting at home. I left the hospital in the care of Doctor Leslie, who introduced many improvements in efficiency and slowly began to turn it into a teaching hospital.

Chapter Four
    “Oh, Dusty, do we really have to go back?” Spectra asked softly.
    At that moment, lounging on the beach with Spectra, I felt I had found paradise. Her silky obsidian fur was damp from our swim, and her long black tail was suggestively wrapped around my leg. I could feel her heart beat as she cuddled me in the sand. Her whiskers tickled my cheek as she breathed and her warm breath caressed me as she exhaled. There was no better place in the universe to be right then.
    Here on our private beach, there was no one to bother us; just ourselves and the sound of waves gently lapping at the sand. She gently traced the outline of my scales with one of her claws as we let the sun bake us dry. “Not until morning.” Much as I hated to admit it, our all-too-brief honeymoon was coming to an end.
    She sighed and tried to pull me closer. “Let’s just stay here in the sun for a while longer.”
    “Sure.” We both loved the natural light of this world. The spectrum of the star was just right for warming us without being overbearing. We had slept out here on several nights of our holiday, causing me to wonder why we had wasted money on renting a private cabin.
    “Do you think we will ever have children?” she asked.
    “Children? I wonder if that is possible?” I could not imagine