Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Callan slid through the shadows and into a garishly oversized magic shop. Nothing had changed since the last time he’d visited, save for the stronger spell on the doorway—one that extended beyond just the door, now.

The owner was in the back room, dissecting a basilisk eye with such concentration that he didn’t notice Callan emerging from the shadows behind him.

“Good afternoon,” Callan said, smirking when Izar startled.

Izar whirled around, eyes wide. “You!”

“Yes, me,” Callan answered. He strolled over and perched himself on the table, ignoring how Izar glared at him. “Did you consider what I told you?”

Izar fumbled for his necklaces, but in the end, he didn’t cast a spell. “I can’t find a dragon horn.”

He sounded so upset about that too. He must have spent quite a while searching.

“No? I think there are at least two living in Phassis. And of course, Kithage has a dragon on the throne—”

“I think they would notice if that one went missing,” Izar interrupted. “And without a real dragon horn, I have no way of even testing anything.”

Callan nodded along, enjoying the enticing little hints of hunger he sensed from Izar. “You at least know where to start, once you have the horn?”

Izar rolled his eyes. “I’m the most powerful sorcerer in Phassis. Yes, I know where to start. Maybe you need to be the one reviewing the literature. Theories on Trans—”

“Theories on Transformational Magics, yes,” Callan finished, more than a little amused. When he’d penned that work, he hadn’t expected it to become the basis for so much future magical theory. Oh, he’d always planned on publishing, but he’d expected it would become one of the more obscure tomes, reserved for the sorcerers who specialized in esoteric fields.

“I’ve heard rumors of a phoenix, though,” Izar said. “One was spotted outside of Naran a few months ago.”

“I believe the book also mentions that phoenixes only deal with those they find worthy.” Callan bent himself unnaturally to meet Izar’s gaze. “Do you think you’re worthy?”

When no response came, it was clear even Izar knew that his plans were… less than noble.

“Dragons are far less rare than phoenixes. I propose a trade.” Callan skirted away from the work table and over to the cabinet of spells. Magic kept the drawers firmly locked.

“A trade? I don’t deal with demons, and I certainly don’t deal with lesser shades.”

Lesser. Callan debated pulling Izar down into his shadows, just to show him how lesser he was.

But Izar’s opinion of him didn’t matter.

“You’ll have to deal with demons, if you want to fulfill your goal,” Callan pointed out instead. “But my trade won’t be nearly as painful. I need a few spells. And in return, you’ll get a dragon.”

A sudden, unbidden hunger filled the room. Oh, that Izar pretended, but in the end, he was just like all other humans.

“What kind of spells?” Izar asked, as if he were truly considering refusing.

“A necklace to ward off nausea,” Callan said. “And a ring to keep chill at bay. Not a warmth ring, mind you. Simply one to keep bones from getting stiff in the cold.”

“And how do you expect to deliver a dragon?” Izar adjusted his glasses and stood, though, approaching the cabinet. “A dragon would simply eat you up.”

Callan chuckled, remembering his last confrontation with a dragon. “They would try, it’s true. But I can assure you. All you need to do is give me these two things, and a dragon will appear before you.”

Izar eyed him warily, but he unlocked the cabinet with a single touch and rifled around. He found a thin necklace, and a ring with a simple pattern in the band. “How did you know these were here?”

“The cabinet is very, very dark. And mere shade though I may be, I assure you I am quite adept at finding things in the dark.” Callan held out his hand for the items.

Izar hesitated for only a few seconds before placing them in Callan’s hand. “Demons aren’t allowed to go back on their words.”

“It depends on the demon,” Callan said, tucking the magical items away. “But I generally give people what they want.”

Izar stared at him.

The bell to the front door rang out, announcing a new customer.

“Excuse me?” a clear voice called out. “Is anybody there? I wanted to buy some potions.”

Izar turned toward the door to the front of the shop. “What…”

“Your dragon,” Callan said. “What you do now is up to you.” Then he disappeared into the shadows.

He raced back to Myth’s side, right where he’d left him at the side of the road to Priyana, stretched out for a nap.

Myth’s nose scrunched up when he felt Callan block the sun. “I’m still resting,” he grumbled. “Go bother somebody else.”

Callan smirked and dropped the magical items onto his chest. “I did. And now I brought you gifts.”

Myth opened his eyes and fumbled for the necklace and ring. “What’s this?”

“To help you tolerate travels through my shadows. This way, we can move a lot faster.” Callan lay down beside Myth. “We can spare your poor little feet all the walking.”

Myth smiled a little shyly. “Might come in handy when we need to get out of a bind really fast. I’m glad the feather is gone, but I didn’t realize how much it was keeping the nausea at bay.”

“Just let me know where you want to go.” Callan stroked the hair on Myth’s forehead. “Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”