Light in the Barren Lands: Travail of The Dark Mage Book One Read Online Free PDF Page B

the midst of something critical. When he was but ten feet away, James glanced over his shoulder.
    “Jiron,” he said with a grin. “Glad you and your family could make it.” Around his waist was secured the slug belt that had been with him since before the end of the Empire/Madoc war. But it had been modified so that now instead of only having slots for his slugs, it had three pockets, each able to hold a crystal.
    “Wouldn’t miss the chance to come out here for anything,” his friend replied.
    Setting the screwdriver down on the platform, James turned and gave his friend a hearty hug. “Man it’s good to see you,” he said. “Family at the house?”
    He nodded. “Jira and Kenny are already at play.”
    “Kenny cry yet?” he asked. From past experiences, he well knew Jira’s predisposition to play rough.
    Jiron chuckled. “Yes, and I’m sorry for that.”
    James shrugged. “He doesn’t get to play with others his own age much,” he explained. “Jira’s good for him, even if the price is a few tears.” He loved his son dearly, but wished Meliana wouldn’t mother him so. With Jira here for the next couple weeks, Kenny would have ample opportunity to get into trouble the way a boy should. He was by far one of the most timid boys James had ever known.
    Nodding toward the platform, he said, “That’s one of the reasons I’m working on this.”
    “Oh?” asked Jiron. Coming closer, he gave it a more thorough inspection. “What is it?”
    “Do you remember those portals the priests of Dmon-Li used to move from temple to temple?”
    “Yes,” he replied.
    “I hope to make this do the same thing,” he said.
    “Does it work?” he asked.
    “Not quite. There are still a few bugs to work out.” Leaving the platform behind, he walked with Jiron over to the workshop. Inside, he went to an upright ceramic box and opened the door. A puff of cold air came out as he reached inside to remove a bottle of ale.
    “My refrigerator,” he said with a grin. “Good to keep things cold on warm days.” Pulling the cork, he took a drink before handing the bottle to Jiron.
    After draining the last of the ale, Jiron wiped his mouth and said, “You never cease to amaze me.”
    “Frankly, I grew tired of not having a cold drink when I’m working. So I put this together. Rather easy, actually.”
    “Easy you say,” Jiron replied, rolling his eyes. “You do things with magic no one has ever thought of before.”
    “Perhaps,” he said. “But most people think of magic in terms of a weapon, or to accomplish grandiose stuff. I, on the other hand, think of ways in which to make my life better.”
    “Like keeping your ale cool?” he asked with a grin.
    Opening up the refrigerator again, he removed another bottle. “You know it.”
    The interior of his workshop was very similar to the one he had back at The Ranch; two worktables with uncompleted projects lying atop them, a rack of tools hung on one wall, and a stack of boards leaning in a corner waiting to be used. The only difference was a flat, mirrored table in the far corner. James found it much preferable to use a wide surface for viewing rather than that of a small, hand held mirror.
    There were also two barrels in the corner, one filled with slugs and the other crystals of varying size. During his experiments, he went through crystals like a carpenter goes through nails. In fact, a long handled broom was propped in the corner with shards of many broken crystals lying swept to the wall beside it.
    Taking a seat at the worktable, James glanced to his friend. “If I can make teleportation work, you won’t have to make the long journey out here when you visit. Instead, merely step on a similar portal there, and step off here.”
    “Aleya would like that,” he said. “She often wishes to visit with Meliana, especially when the days are short and the snow is deep.”
    “Meliana feels the same way,” he admits. Once it’s ready, I plan to have the master