The Ways of Mages: Two Worlds Read Online Free Page A

did.
    Mud was certainly where he and Tep were wal k’ n. But they were n’ t wal k’ n with them pigs anymore! Tolivier had seen to that.
    The grizzled sergeant had spent most of the last month hiding the young boy Tep from his perverted commanding officer.  When the camp was split, some staying near Vandenburg and some going with Captain T’ nere to the south, Tolivier had been elated because he and Tep were to be in the group that stayed. Unfortunately, T’ nere needed a cook and mess tent crew.  Somehow Tolivier and Tep were chosen.
    Tolivier solved the problem by showing the lad how to hide in an empty cooking oil barrel.  The barrel was kept with the full barrels in the mess wagon, near the mess tent.  Whenever Tolivier saw or heard an officer approaching, off Tep went for his bolt hole in the barrel.
    This had worked fine while they were marching south but as soon as they started their mad rush west, things fell apart. First, all excess supplies, containers and barrels had been discarded. Second, the food stores were spread out evenly amongst the men. Finally, the wagons were burned. The captain was going to march in a straight line for the capital and roads suitable for wagons would be a rare luxury.
    Tep was out of hiding spaces and it was n’ t three days before T’ nere had spotted the boy.  Tolivier saw the lecherous grin on the captai n’ s face and knew something needed to be done.
    That night, while pulling guard watch, Sergeant Tolivier fled north with Tep at his side.
    ***
    3000 years before present- Thioden
    The vase lifted shakily from its perch on the table. Once it was three feet above, Kairevasigh bent her will on the silk ribbon and sent it to wrap about the vas e’ s middle. Her brow furrowed as she concentrated. She set about sewing the ribbon together with her mind. It was a tricky exercise she had been working on during the long hours of council meetings. She focused too much attention on her sewing- fine, precise movements were complete hell from five feet away- and the vase dropped.
    A second before it shattered on the table, it halted. Kairevasigh stared at it blankly. Her concentration broken; the sewn ribbon fluttered to the ground.
    “ Balance your focus, Light of Dawn Silence. Remember ?” Kaizir said from the doorway, translating her name. His translation of her name was prettier. Apparently the language, as languages are want to do, had shifted meaning. The word for word translation of her name in her time was Light Dawn Silence.  His translation would have been Kair sé evasigh: more of a mouthful, which was why her mother had dropped th e‘s é ’ . 
    She sighed .“ My head hurts .” He entered the room. The vase settled down without a sound onto the table. With gentle fingertips, he brushed her forehead with a warm thread of soothing magic.
    “ You are doing much better .” Kaizir said showing her the ribbon he had called to his hand .“ Perfectly sewn. You also managed to mask most of your usage of power . ”
    “ You noticed . ”
    “ As I said, most. Not all. Not yet .” He said seating himself in a push chair stationed next to the warmly glowing fireplace. His copper hair was slipping out of its queue.  He looked very tired.
    “ Council not going well ?” She asked setting the ribbon in the vase.
    Kaizir looked surprised .“ What ? ”
    “ You do n’t… look s o… u m… good .” She replied shyly, staring into the fire.
    “ Ah, I t’ s not council. I t’ s just me .” At her quizzical glance he grimaced .“ I have n’ t been sleeping well. A repetitive, chaotic dream . ”
    Something about what he admitted pulled at her .“ Bad dreams ? ”
    He snorted. Kaizir was not what she had expected of the Great King of Legend. He wa s… human and very easy to like. He was what people here calle d‘ a man of fait h’ .  “ It is very melodramatic. The end of the world, wars, a child of light and a child of darkness.. .” His voice turned somber