Wizard Dawning (The Battle Wizard Saga, No. 1) Read Online Free PDF

surreal. Finally, he said. "I have magic? How could that be? I've never felt magic; never done anything magical."
    Grampa barked out a laugh. "What do you call what just happened?"
    Taken aback, Sig felt his face redden. "I didn't do that; this did." He held up the amulet.
    Grampa shook his head. "Remember, I said Aðalbrandr focuses your magic."
    At the sword's name, Sig's eyes widened in apprehension, and he looked between Grampa and the amulet.
    Thor waved a hand. "Don't worry, it won't happen unless you say his name while you're holding him, so everything is copasetic. That's lesson number two—don't say his name if you don't want to change. As you saw, it happens quickly and impressively, if I do say so myself." A smile wrinkled his lips.
    "You keep referring to it as 'him'. Why is that?"
    "Hmmm. Never thought about it. It's always been a him, long before my time. Maybe because it focuses our magic and Battle Wizards are always men. Or maybe because it's a sword."
    Sig held out the amulet. "Why don't you keep this and give me another one? Don't you need this?"
    "There isn't another to give you. The mountain dwarf who made them, thousands of years ago, took the secret of the sword to his grave. Each family that has one of the few amulets made guards it jealously. Only one family tried to give theirs away after no child born to their line had magic. No one they tried to give it to could make its magic work. Eventually it was lost. I thought that would happen to our family. Edward had no magic and Meredith was his only child."
    "But you said she has magic."
    "Magic she has isn't the kind needed to control Aðalbrandr. I feared I would be the last in my line. But the first time I held you, I knew you had it."
    "Where is it?" Sig growled in frustration.
    "In some it takes longer to develop. Unfortunately, I don't have longer. The sword is yours now until you can pass it down our line. It will be what you make of it. It can be just a pretty necklace or you can step forward to take the lead. Your training starts now. Third lesson ― if you remain a Battle Wizard for an extended period, the more likely you are to develop a battle rage."
    "A rage?"
    "Have you ever heard of Viking berserkers?"
    Sig nodded. "Living in Minnesota? You'd have to live under a rock not to have heard of berserkers."
    "Berserkers were often Battle Wizards too long in battle shape, or Vikings following them into battle. Some of those early Vikings were nuts." He chuckled. "Hell, some of the current Vikings are nuts from what I see at football games."
    His face grew serious. "How are you feeling now? The first change can be a shock, especially if you aren't adequately prepared for it by someone knowledgeable." He looked remorseful.
    Sig stood stared at the wall. Playing quarterback on a 3A football team is the closest he'd come to leadership. That's a far cry from leading a fight against black magic.
    Grampa Sig smiled and waved his hand for Sig to get up. "We've kept your mother in suspense long enough. If you're up to it, we should join her downstairs."
    Sig took a deep breath then exhaled forcefully. He nodded and got up from the bed. "Let's talk to her before I lose my courage."
    Grampa clapped him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit. Forward, into the valley of death."
    Sig didn't like the sound of that.

 
    Sig and Thor walked into the great room where Mom waited.
    A modern addition to the old farmhouse, the great room had expansive windows and a lofty ceiling. Meredith sat in a chair next to a wood fire snapping in the large stone fireplace. She had a slender glass of chilled white wine and a worried expression. With a gesture to the large recliner that had been Dad's and then Grandfather Edward's, she said, "Have a seat there Grampa. Your Stoli with a lemon twist is on the table beside it."
    She looked at Sig for a moment then said, "You can have a beer if you'd like one."
    Sig hesitated, then nodded, and headed to the kitchen. He returned quickly