The Ancient Ones (The Legacy Trilogy Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

black-cloaked magician smashed to the ground like a stone fallen from heaven, his dark robes whipping around, disappearing in a shower of sand as his impact shook the ground.
    The other stream of magic faltered. Its tail was reduced to almost nothing, and it circled back towards the sea to collect further mass. Perhaps his father’s decision had been rash, for it left them alone and defenceless with the magician, but Leopold knew what to do.
    He ran towards the fallen stranger as the fellow was shaking his head and struggling to climb from the bottom of the impression he had made with his landing.
    Leopold stood above him, readying the magical relic in his hand. ‘I won’t let you hurt my father!’ he cried as he shoved the silver ring upon his finger and pointed towards the stranger.
    He had expected something marvellous—wild magic to burst forth and smite the man—but nothing happened at all; only the magician pointed his finger to Leopold in return. Palm up, he made a beckoning motion, slowly waggling his finger.
    ‘No, Leopold!’ came a cry and his father vaulted down from the sky to land beside him, leaving his magical tail to continue and dissipate, a spatter of salty rain across the dunes.
    He was too late, for the ring turned to liquid around Leopold’s finger and flew away. Fluid streamed through the air directly into the magician, disappearing beneath the cloth of his robes, absorbed into his skin.
    With that, the man was rejuvenated. He stood straight and strong, and stepped brazenly from his sandy crater, returned to full strength.
    ‘Stop this!’ Leopold’s father commanded, standing between them.
    Fatigue was evident through the cracks in his brave facade. Leopold had never seen his father weary, yet now the man looked exhausted, trembling upon his legs to stay upright.
    The magician pulled back his hood to speak. His face was not youthful, yet set before his middle years. Deepening wrinkles crowded upon his brow and crept from the edges of his eyes. He looked morose and incapable of humour. ‘You have certainly aged gracefully, My Lady,’ he said, turning to Leopold’s mother. ‘You have caught up to your husband somewhat in years, while he has not aged a day since I last saw him.’
    Mother put her hands on her hips and furrowed her brows, unsure of what he was suggesting.
    The magician then returned his attention to Leopold. ‘And Leopold certainly takes after his father in nature, if not in appearance. Does he know?’
    ‘Hold your tongue!’ Leopold’s father commanded, incensed.
    ‘Don’t worry, Thann,’ he said. ‘I’m not going to harm you or your boy. Let us go somewhere warm to talk. I need your advice.’
    ‘Damn you, Samuel. I told you to leave me be. I want nothing to do with you or your vendetta against the world.’
    ‘My feud is not with the world. I want what you want—to protect my son.’
    ‘To protect your son is to damn the world. It is not possible to save both and you know it. I want no part of your schemes.’
    ‘You have little choice in the matter,’ the magician replied, taking his time to look along the shoreline, watching the disturbed waves tumbling upon the sand. ‘We have both changed since we last met. You are more powerful than I remember.’
    ‘You have seen no measure of my strength, Magician. I hold myself back lest I risk destroying this isle and my family with it.’
    ‘And I would say the same.’
    ‘But there is a difference between us, Samuel. You have grown stronger, but not all the power you wield is your own. Your presence is rank with the magic of the dark ones.’
    ‘I do what I must, Edmond, as we all do.’ The magician turned up one side of his lip, as part of his face momentarily attempted to smile. ‘Come, I have missed the company of you and your wife all these years. I would speak with you both in a more comfortable setting.’
    His father had no choice but to agree. ‘Very well, Samuel, but I cannot say the same thing in