Page 45 of An Archer's Redemption

WhenIneeded him?

In response to my rising rage, my tunic flared, lighting every corner of the chamber with the brilliance of a hundred candles. I stood and stepped back from the bed, then spoke in a measured, commanding voice. “Arch Mage Atikus Dani, get out of that bed before I lift you out.”

Atikus’s head slowly turned, and he squinted through the tunic’s glow. “Fine. I’ll get up. Just turn that thing down, will you?”

I couldn’t suppress a grin and willed the tunic to dim, but only slightly.

Atikus sat up, his spindly legs dangling off the side of the bed, then rubbed his eyes with both palms. “I’m up. You happy?”

“Look at me,” I commanded.

“You sure got bossy since somebody taught you magic,” Atikus said before looking up. When he saw my eyes, he froze, his mouth agape. “Sweet Spirits. What in the—”

“We don’t know, and it’s not important right now. I came to restore your magic. Do you want my help or not?” I wasn’t sure if this approach would work, but I sensed the comfort I’d plannedto offer was doomed to fail against the rocky shoals of the Mage’s languishing misery.

“You are wasting your time. I have been severed. There is nothing to restore.”

I reached forward and gripped his arm, shocked at how wraithlike the formerly hale man had become. I focused my intent into the center of Atikus’s chest and allowed my magic to flow into the man’s spirit.

There was nothing.

My Light flowed through every memory and thought, through every emotion, through every part of the Mage I could search, and still I found no remnant of magic.

I searched for more than an hour.

“See? Nothing,” Atikus grumbled, ready to return to his wallowing.

“Hush. I’ll be done when I’m done.”

Frustrated, I allowed my Light to dim.

My attention had turned to other thoughts when something caught my mental eye. It was a tiny, almost imperceptible dot, something so small and dim I never would’ve seen it while my own brilliant Light shone. I focused my inner sight and approached the dot, surprised when it didn’t grow larger as I came closer.

But something did change when I neared.

Itpulsed—faintly.

Excitement thrummed in my chest.

I reached out with my magical sense to grasp the dot, hoping beyond hope, but was repulsed by an impenetrable wall that sent a shock wave through my soul. It wasn’t a wave of pain but rather a sickness orwrongnessthat oozed through my mind.

I shivered at its touch but was determined to save my mentor.

I redoubled my effort, drawing ever more power from my internal reserve and the tunic. I hammered into the barrier with all my might—only to receive an equally powerful retort.

Bile rose in my throat.

My mind swam.

I staggered and lost my connection to Atikus before tripping backward to land on the floor.

Atikus was down in a flash.

“Are you all right? Declan, can you hear me?” Concern marred the haggard man’s face. “I knew this was useless. Please, stop. I can’t have you hurt on my account.”

“I’m fine.” I shook my head to clear my mind, then looked up at Atikus. “But I think you’re wrong about being severed. I saw a Light, but it’s blocked by . . . something. When I tried to break through, it tossed me back as if I was made of paper.”

“That’s impossible,” Atikus muttered, shocked. “Our Mages searched. None of them could see anything. Are you sure?”

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