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.The dark stranger stood impassively, staring back at Delgar with impatience in hisstance.He didn t quite tap a foot, but Chinux would have bet he was about to start whenDelgar finally spoke. Tegus?www.total-e-bound.comAUTUMN QUEST Serena Yates207Chapter SixBayar almost stopped breathing.That was Tegus? The legendary sorcerer whose body,according to Delgar, had never been found? Now they knew why.While the man didn t lookvery healthy, he seemed to be very much alive. So, you do remember me. Tegus sounded as if his voice hadn t been used in a verylong time.Delgar nodded. Let me tell you that your answer to this next question isn t going to change yourpunishment.However, I would like to satisfy my personal curiosity. Tegus crossed his armsin front of his chest. Why did you make no attempts to save me after that unfortunateaccident? Because&  Delgar swallowed. Because I assumed you were dead.Nobody couldhave survived the sort of explosion your experiment caused. You have no idea, do you? Tegus cackled. You are such a disappointment.I thoughtyou were my greatest apprentice, and instead you proved to be just like all the others. What& ? Delgar looked dazed. Silence! Tegus uncrossed his arms and pointed at Delgar. I am done with you.Delgar shrank back against the wall.There was a small flash of pale grey lightningwhere the man touched the crystal.Bayar blinked.That couldn t be right.He must be seeingthings. You! Tegus stepped forwards and pointed at Bayar. You will show me the way. I will? Bayar tilted his head.He had no intention of showing this guy anything.Butmaybe they could find out more about his plans if he kept him talking. It was very considerate of the Khan to send you personally.I must admit thatsurprised me. Tegus grinned. It did? Bayar thought he understood where this was going.But he needed to makesure. The way to where?www.total-e-bound.comAUTUMN QUEST Serena Yates208 The gods save me from another idiot! Tegus rolled his eyes. It should be more thanobvious, but I will spell it out for you.Qara has become too small for me.A sorcerer of mypowers deserves a larger khanate to rule.And Naiman is of a size that can profit from mypower.In fact, I suspect that successful development and its future prosperity will dependon my ability to lead its people into a new era.One that returns magic to its proper place.It was Bayar s turn to drop his jaw.Tegus was after Naiman s throne? He wasn t evenin the line of succession.How was he going to convince the Council of Ministers that he wasthe rightful heir to the throne? Forget that.Tegus did not look like a man who was going touse the legal process.Judging by the ruthless way he d conducted his so-called experimentand destroyed all life outside the castle walls, Tegus didn t care about the cost of gettingwhat he wanted.He d just march into Naiman and kill anyone who opposed him.He had to be stopped.But how? I m sorry, but I m not going to help you. Direct opposition was the most likely way toinfuriate Tegus to the point where he d make a mistake. Oh, but you will. Tegus pointed at Chinux. If you don t follow my instructions, or ifyou try to lead me in the wrong direction, your lover will suffer.Shit, there went his plan of upsetting Tegus.The thought of Chinux being hurt wasenough to turn his stomach.He glared at the dark sorcerer.Was there a way to get rid of himonce and for all? And how could they find out about it quickly enough? I may have a few problems with my brother, but I don t want to see him hurt. Delgarlooked up from where he d been staring at the floor. We need to stop him.Bayar nodded. You can try. Tegus threw his head back and laughed. That s exactly what we ll do.I think we need to turn the tables on you and use yourown magic against you. Delgar rose to his feet and motioned them to do the same.Bayar got up, still feeling very weak.When he touched the wall to stabilise himself,there was another of those grey flashes of light.First Delgar and now him? What was goingon? Chinux stared at his hand, then met his gaze and raised his eyebrows.Clearly, his loverhad seen it, too. Bring it on. Tegus lifted his arms.www.total-e-bound.comAUTUMN QUEST Serena Yates209 We ll need to make him disappear, send him back into the realm he came from.Delgar frowned. The realm he came from? Bayar had no idea how that would work.Tegus chose that moment to interrupt their strategy discussion.It wouldn t have led toanything useful anyway since the enemy was listening in.They d just have to improvise.Delgar lifted his arms and Bayar did the same, deciding to follow his uncle s lead.Tegus started chanting and a small black cloud appeared in front of him.It swayed andswirled, moving from left to right.When it started growing and moving towards them, Bayarsuddenly felt icy cold.This was a vanishing cloud, and if it touched him, or any of the othermen, they would not be able to prevent disaster.Moments later, a smaller but equally strange white cloud appeared in front of Delgar. Now you add your power to it, Bayar, and together we might be strong enough todefeat him. Delgar focused on the cloud in front of him and it started to grow.Tegus snarled and the black cloud started to move towards Delgar.Bayar focused andadded his own strength to the growing white cloud.It pushed back against the black mass ofswirling energy and soon had Tegus in a corner.Nothing more happened and Bayar wasbeginning to think he d be stuck here for the rest of his life.His arms were beginning to shake when Chinux stepped up to him, slid his strong armsaround his waist and held him upright.He could almost feel the vibes of support the otherman was sending, and it helped him to stay focused.Bayar poured all his energy into thewhite cloud, but it didn t seem to be enough.The black cloud started advancing now,pushing them into a corner.Tegus followed with an evil grin.From the corner of his eye he noticed that had Chinux stretched out an arm, pushing hishand against the wall to stop them from being crushed against it.A sudden flow of energystartled him.It coursed through his body and strengthened not just his resolve, but made thewhite cloud grow. Whatever you do, Chinux, don t let go of the wall. He had no idea what this was, buthe was going to use it to best advantage.www.total-e-bound.comAUTUMN QUEST Serena Yates210Within minutes, Tegus had been pushed completely into a corner and was forced tofocus on trying to stop the black cloud from touching him.But Delgar and Bayar weredetermined to end this once and for all, so they kept pushing the black cloud closer to Tegus. I don t want to go back. Tegus looked horrified. Go back where? Bayar thought it was a very strange remark to make. I didn t think he was part of this reality anymore.I would have found some sort oftrace.Instead, I believe he s spent his time in another dimension.One he clearly isn t fondof. Delgar grinned [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]