The Making of a Mage King: White Star Read Online Free PDF Page B

but he was having his own problems.
    The woman in the palace room slowly looked up at the sound of the old woman’s voice. She took a deep breath, “Mama?” Her voice was thin as she wavered to her feet and tottered unsteadily toward them.
    Sean felt a small hand slip into his as the old woman rushed forward to help her daughter the rest of the way into the room. As soon as they cleared the door, Sean let the spell go and felt Larry’s strong hands keep him on his feet.
    As Larry guided him to a seat on the end of a small cot, Sean looked up to see mother and daughter becoming reacquainted in a confusion of tears, then he looked down at Shim who was at his knee.
    “You do something wrong when you do that,” he said. He looked at Sean as if he could see where he sat; he cocked his head as if he was puzzled by what he saw then he reached up and rested his small hand over Sean’s ear. Something fell into place and his headache was reduced to a residue. “There,” he said matter-of-factly. “It shouldn’t hurt so much anymore.” He looked toward the door as if he could see it. “What was it that you did anyway?”
    Sean raked his fingers through his hair, dislodging his crown. “I opened a door directly to the room in the palace where your mother was staying,” he said, as he replaced the silver circlet. “I’ve done it once before, just not nearly so far.”
    “Magic doesn’t understand distance,” said the little boy, sounding like his aunt when she had helped him bring Elias from New York City.
    “I’ll have to remember that.” Sean ruffled the boy’s hair. “You should go meet your mother. Mothers are very important, you know.”
    The boy cocked his head at him again then turned to find his way across the floor to the two women. They included him in their tears and hugs, so Larry and Sean let themselves out quietly.
    As they rode out of town, Larry asked, “What did that kid do? Can he use magic too?”
    “Yes he can, as a matter of fact; he’s pretty strong in white and green magic. I’m not sure what he did, but it was right; I’ll have to test it.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Gate
     
    It didn’t take them long to come across Seth’s trail, but they didn’t catch up with him until almost sundown. As they made camp, Sean watched first Larry, then a little later, Cordan get greeted by their respective mates. He handed his helmet to Charles and strode to the edge of their forming camp. “Armelle, can you hear me?”
    “I hear you, Sean,” she said.
    Her voice washed through him and he choked up. “I miss you,” he said, after a long pause.
    “I love you,” she said back.
    “Tell me I’m doing the right thing. Tell me…”
    “You are doing the right thing and you are the only man who can do it right.”
    “God, I miss you so much.” He dug out the little plastic bag and crushed her scrunchie to his nose.
    “Dance for me,” she said, and it occurred to him that he always got background impressions through a link. He shed his shoulder piece and plate and added his sword belts to the pile. He ignored the smaller metal pieces and drew his grandfather’s swords. Taking a few steps away from the pile, he wrapped her scrunchie around his right hand.
    He began to dance and felt Armelle begin as well. Then his mind was flooded with the memories of a dozen women, all of them were superimposed together with his Armelle and all of them were dancing with the many of him. They danced until they reached the point where he would have carried her upstairs to bed, but when he reached for her, she wasn’t there. The loss left him wilting and tired, and feeling even more alone.
    “Dream of me,” she said.
    He broke the connection before she could feel all of his wrenching loss. After this, he would indeed dream of her. He turned around to find the entire camp in utter silence. Everyone had been watching him. Someone had removed his armor, so all he could do was walk through camp to his tent. Once