Wizard's Funeral Read Online Free PDF

been chosen as the next King Magus. He may be in danger. Whats he doing in the woods? Practising wizardry. Oh, he cant have been chosen, Uthellen said, distressed. Hes not ready for anything like that yet. Hes only just beginning to master his skills. Hes not yet mature enough. Hell need to gather more wisdom. Surely theres another wizard, a much older and wiser one who takes precedence over my son? HoulluoH proclaimed with his dying breath that the next King Magus would be the son of a woman called Uthellen. Whats the matter, why are you crying? Its not just because hes young and inexperienced, is it? Theres something else. Uthellen choked out the words. I shall lose him. Lose him? muttered Spagg, who hated women crying in front of him. You cant lose im. Everyone knows where the King Magus lives. In the Seven Peaks. She stared at him fiercely. Once he becomes King Magus hell be lost to me. What does the most powerful wizard in the world want with a mother? Hell be out of my reach. She broke down, sobbing again. Hes only eighteen. I dont want him to go. The insensitive Spagg cried, Well, them wizards live moren seven hundred years, dont they? Hes got a bit to go yet. Youll have turned your own toes up long before hes due for the box. She means go away, Soldier said. Look, Spagg, you and I are going to have to fetch him from the wood. Now, before something happens to the boy. Come on, lets go. No grumbling. Im not in the mood for it. Ill come too, said Uthellen, composing herself I know where to look.
    Chapter Three
    They found Ixonnoxl in the wood, talking with fairies. Soldier was not fond of fairies. He seemed to be attractive to a particular kind of that race of creatures: fairies known as drots, who bit into flesh and lapped the blood of mortals with their rough little tongues. However, the wizard-boy dismissed his fairy friends and joined his mother, Soldier and Spagg. I know why you have come, he said, nodding to Soldier. And to his mother, Im sorry. I have been called. Its not what I wanted. I know mother, but its my destiny. He drew a deep breath. However, Im not yet ready. HoullouH has died too soon. I must have more time to prepare myself. The funeral must take place before I can be installed as King Magus, that will give me a little more time to prepare myself, mentally, for the position I must occupy. First I must go to Zamerkand, where I was born, to meet with other magi. They will be journeying there, even as we speak. The inauguration must take place in the city of my birth, presided over by the Fraternity of Wizards. This was all news to Soldier. You know all this for a fact? Ixonnoxl stared at Soldier with those penetrating eyes. I can guess what you are thinking. Youre wondering about my powers now. Have I the gift of far-sight? Can I tell what others are thinking? Can I conjure legions of demons, jinn, genies or giants, to defend me? The answer is, no. I am almost as defenceless as the day I was born. I can do nothing more than a magicians tricks at this time: raise the dead, walk on air, bring on an eclipse. My great powers will come to me all at once, within the space of a second, at my inauguration. Until then I am as vulnerable as any of you. Soldier said, Im alarmed to hear this. Youre under my protection until we reach Zamerkand. I think the sooner we start out, the better. News will travel the land of the death of HoulluoH. There will be those out there seeking to take advantage of the situation before the inauguration. We must be on our way. I agree. Soldier was amazed at how much the boy had changed in physical appearance since the last time he had seen him. Then Ixonnoxl had been an awkward-looking - almost deformed -gangling, angular youth, all pointed elbows and sharp knees. Now he had a remarkable physique: muscular; finely-shaped; strong, straight bones. Soldier had been convinced he would grow up to be a hunched, wizened man, yet here he was, a tall and handsome creature with a body like a