Authors: James Mallory

Tags: #Fantasy - Epic, #Fiction - Fantasy, #Fiction, #Fantasy, #General, #Epic, #Fantasy Fiction, #Magic, #American Science Fiction And Fantasy, #Elves, #Magicians

The Phoenix Unchained (62 page)

“Then you’ll know exactly what to do with these. Come on. Don’t be shy. You’ll hurt my feelings.”

“Why am I worried about that?” Harrier demanded. Even though the day was warm, his clammy leggings weren’t that comfortable, and his boots were probably ruined. There was also the matter of the lost tunic.

“Because you’re much nicer than you want anyone to think. Because it’s a present. And because I’m tired of wearing this collar around my neck. I can’t exactly hand it to you, you know.”

Harrier hadn’t actually thought of that. He reached out cautiously. The fur of the unicorn’s neck was cool and soft under his fingers. It felt like the softest down imaginable. He got his fingers under the strap and lifted. She lowered her head so he could pull it free.

“Hey!” Harrier said irritably. “Watch the horn!”

“You’re very irritable, aren’t you?” the unicorn asked pertly.

“I’m very wet,” Harrier said. He wiggled his toes. His boots squished.

“Now open it,” the unicorn said.

“I ought to just throw it in the stream,” Harrier grumbled.

If unicorns could smirk, he would have sworn she did.

“Oh, you could. But really, it wouldn’t change anything. If I say
I’m sorry for making you walk into the stream—I’m really not, and you
did
look funny—will you open the pouch? Leaf and star, I’m a unicorn! A creature of the Light! You’re supposed to trust me!”

“Hmph,” Harrier said. He had to admit that she did have a point, though. She might have a horrible sense of humor, but she couldn’t possibly be
evil
.

He unbuckled the pouch.

Inside it were three small slim books.

“It
is
books,” he said with a groan. “These aren’t for me. You’re looking for Tiercel.”

“I think I know exactly who I’m looking for and who I’m not looking for,” the unicorn snapped, switching her tail in irritation. “Why don’t you look at them before making up your mind?”

Grumbling to himself, Harrier pulled out the books. At least they were small; three little books bound in red leather, with some sort of gold decoration on the spine that he didn’t examine too closely. There was no title on any of the covers.
Probably can’t cause too much trouble
, he thought to himself. He flipped through them quickly. They were all handwritten, and the writing was very small. He closed them again and prepared to stuff them back into their carrying case.

“Why don’t you look at the title pages?” the unicorn said, sounding exasperated now. With a sigh, Harrier pulled out a book and leafed through it to the title page.

The Book of Stars
.

With a terrible sinking feeling, he quickly checked the title pages of the other two books.

The Book of Moon
.

The Book of Sun
.

Harrier stared at them for a long moment.

These were the Three Books of the Wild Magic. The Three Books that came—mysteriously, unbidden—into the hands of every person fated to become a Wildmage. Once given, it was possible to renounce them—supposedly—but never to lose them.

“You cannot possibly be serious,” he said weakly.

“Why would I want to be serious about something that’s just changed your whole life?” the unicorn said, stamping her foot. “And don’t even suggest that these would be better off in
Tiercel’s
hands. No, Tiercel has other things to do with his life. You, on the other hand, get to protect him. And guess what that makes you?”

“Stupid?” Harrier suggested. “Suicidal?”

“A Knight-Mage!” the unicorn cried cheerfully. “First one born since Kellen Tavadon! See? You don’t even have to guess—I’m just going to tell you, and now you can stop being all grumpy and we can be friends. So you don’t have to worry too much about casting spells, because you’ll never really be very good at it. But you probably should have paid more attention when those silly Elves wanted to give you sword lessons. Oh, well. Too late now. Just read your Three Books and hope for the best. Let’s go tell Tiercel and Ancaladar! Oh! And my name is Kareta! I almost forgot to tell you!”

Kareta tossed her head, reared up on her hind legs, and crossed the stream in one fluid bound.

Harrier stared after her clutching the Three Books.

His Three Books.

“Hey!” he shouted after her. “What if I don’t want to be a Knight-Mage?”

“You should have thought of that back in Armethalieh!” Kareta called back over her shoulder.

Harrier stared down at the books in his hand for a moment longer before stuffing them back into the bag. He slung it over his shoulder, then walked to the log and began to cross, slowly and carefully. As he reached the other side, a sudden thought struck him.

The Wild Magic never sent gifts without need. If it had just decided to turn him into the first Knight-Mage born since the time of Kellen the Poor Orphan Boy, then things weren’t just bad . . .

They were really bad.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: The Flower Festival

Chapter Two: A Naming Day Gift

Chapter Three: The Beginning of the Quest

Chapter Four: A Life Between Sand and Stars

Chapter Five: A Killing Frost