Wizard Spawn Read online

  "—were themselves," Duran said, with a chill.

  "There are those worth saving," Old Man said, "those that aren't so blind. When we come across a mind like yours—we make every effort to draw it to us: we make no difference of race."

  "We," Duran said, and looked at the dark faces in the firelight. "Who is this—we?"

  "Northeast of here. We've a place there. If this kingdom falls—we'll not be part of it. We'll wait. We've waited before. A thousand years."

  Duran's head spun. The Old Empire—

  "Dajhi," Duran said. "Are there—alchemists where we're going? Are there those—who can transmute metals—turn base metal into gold?"

  Old Man laughed. "Once an alchemist, always an alchemist. No, Duran, I'm afraid not. That's something no one has ever been able to do."

  "I wonder why?" Duran mused, staring into the flames.

  "Maybe that's something you'll discover," Old Man said.

  Silence fell, and in that silence Duran heard his pulse beating in his ears. He was not so old. He had his medicines and his alchemist's tools. He had his Sabirn friends—

  A cold nose touched his hand. He put an arm around Dog's neck, and stared off to the west where Targheiden lay, hidden by the darkness and rain.

  Strange: he mourned the loss of home with a real grief, but at the same time that life seemed pale and distant. Few men were ever given the chance to start their lives over.

  Duran smiled, and turning his eyes east, began to dream of what he could find.