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

and sat on the raised stone hearth, elbows on his knees, hands cradling the bottle of beer.
    Mom frowned as she studied Sig's face. Grampa Thor cleared his throat. "Meredith, as much as I'd like to pretend what happened to your son upstairs didn't, I guess I have some 'splainin' to do."
    Meredith heaved a sigh and nodded.
    Grampa Thor looked down at the floor for a moment then looked up. "Yes, you saw magic upstairs. Our family comes from old magic—from before the world changed. We have been practicing for thousands of years. Sig also carries the old magic. I sensed it the first time I held him, before magic changed ten years ago." He looked at the fire. "I never sensed magic in you or Edward, though I wished for it. Perhaps I am mistaken about you dear. My only excuse is that if you have magic, it differs from what I'm used to."
    Grampa continued. "If a man in our line has magic, he can use Aðalbrandr, as Sig has."
    Sig got up and handed the medallion to his Mom.
    She took it in her hand, and then almost dropped it, reacting as if it had shocked her.
    Meredith recovered, looked between them, and said, "It feels funny, like it's vibrating."
    Sig and Grampa looked in surprise at each other. Grampa turned back to Mom. "I should have had you hold it years ago. Then I might have known about your magic."
    He looked apologetic. "With changes to magic that have happened in the world, and mistakes that I've made, I'm not certain of things. Sig never demonstrated any magic … until today. Because of that, I didn't expect what you saw upstairs."
    Mom smiled wryly. "Upstairs was impressive. Sig could revolutionize the position of power forward in the NBA, but what does it really mean to him?"
    Grampa looked intently at Sig.
    Growing uncomfortable, Sig said, "Does that mean it's time for me to leave the room so the adults can talk?"
    Grampa blinked and then chuckled. "Sorry, lost in my thoughts. No. If anything, this would be when your mother left the room, while you and I talk. I wonder what it does mean to you. Normally, you would have already been exhibiting magic and I would train you, until you're ready."
    He steepled his hands and pressed them against his lips. He looked from under his thick eyebrows at Meredith. "I've told Sigurd and I need to tell you. The little bug in my chest is more serious than I led you to believe." He exhaled a deep sigh. "I don't have much time left. I've recruited someone to train Sig—if I can't finish— someone at Northwestern University. I've established a trust for Sig to attend Northwestern. I know I'm interfering again, but it's in the boy's best interest." He looked at Sig and smiled. "Sorry … the man's best interest."
    Grampa took on a pensive look. "Battle Wizards oppose dark sorcerers. This problem," he patted his chest, "is caused by black magic. The zombies" He waved towards the window which faced the barn. "That was more black magic. Creating zombies is necromancy. That's black magic. A Dark Sorcerer had to command them."
    He pursed his lips and looked up at her. "Martin's body was found in the field that burned next to the cemetery. You questioned the medical examiner's decision that he was struck by lightning from a storm miles away."
    "Yes, he said it was 'a bolt out of the blue'. I understand that those things happen, but I questioned why the lightning blasted through him instead of running horizontally, like you see on trees." She said.
    "I should have listened better. You described what now sounds like the effect of a Wizard throwing a lance of fire or lightning. And it happened next to the cemetery, the probable source of those zombies we fought."
    "Do you think that is why Dad had his shotgun with him when he died?" Sig asked.
    Grampa nodded. "That well could be. He may have intended to protect his family and find out what was going on next to his farm. Perhaps he caught the Necromancer in the act and was killed. He wouldn't have known he was completely outmatched."
    Meredith