The Dark Path by James M. Bowers, Stacy Larae Bowers Page A

head. "I bought it in a magic shop here in the village a time ago. The merchant told me that it would help him, but only to put it on him when he was having one of his attacks."
    "Do you still have the amulet?" Gen turned to look at Paul, his gaze intense.
    "No, I destroyed it yesterday. I used it that last time and it acted different. It was glowing red and I had the feeling it was looking back at me. So I did as instructed and smashed it to pieces."
    "Sounds like a cursed amulet to me. I've read of those. They were made to put on mages in prison. It draws the magic out of a person till none is left, but if they are filled too much they become somewhat sentient. I have never seen one though."
    "Can you help him? I'm at my wit's end here. Gwen and I don't know what to do anymore."
    "Yes, I can," Gen said as he felt Duncan's forehead and wiped the blood from his nose and ears with the wet napkin. "Magic is killing him. He has great potential for it, but since he never uses any, it builds up until he can't hold any more. It's like a water skin that is filled too full. Eventually something has to break. In Duncan's case it just rips its way out of him. It will kill him or he will go mad if he doesn’t learn how to control it."
    "I feared as much. He... He isn't my son," Paul said with a great sigh. "He should know but I've never had the heart to tell him. I raised him like he was my own. When Gwen couldn't give birth to a child, we had all but lost hope of ever having one. Then one morning we found him on our doorstep. We thought him a gift from the gods and everything was well till this started happening." He put his head in his hands and began to weep quietly. "I just don't know what to do. I don't know any magic to teach him and we couldn't afford to send him to the Schola."
    "I can teach him how to use his gift," Gen said softly. "It will keep the magic from killing him, but he will have to come with us. I don't have the time to stay here, or you could send him to the Schola. Don't worry about the cost. Just tell the Headmaster that I sent you."
    "Will you take him with you please?" Paul asked, his face streamed with tears. "I will leave tonight and write him a note. It will be easier this way."
    "Very well. You do that. I'll take Duncan up to our room. Meeka, will you go with Paul and get Duncan's belongings?"
    "Sure Gen," Meeka complied. She looked a bit shaken up, but she quickly composed herself and followed Paul out of the room.
    "Gen? Where did you learn that spell? The one you just cast on Duncan. I've never heard it cast before, not even by the master," Thomas whispered.
    "A book the librarian gave me before I left. I haven't had much time to study it. It's a rather odd book. I get the feeling sometimes that it watches me. Come on. Help me with Duncan here and I'll tell you about it on the way."
    Thomas nodded and got up to help.
    Gen cast another levitation spell on Duncan and floated his body up to their room. Aaron stared at where Duncan had lay convulsing for a long time. He thought of a lot of different things, then his lips curled up lightly in a sneer. He thought back to when he had first met Gen.
    "I'll get even with you. Not now. You hold all the cards now. The day will come when I am stronger. When that day comes, I will crush you!" Aaron crushed the pewter mug he drank from. Tossing a couple gold coins on the table, he got up and walked back into town.
     

 
    XIV
    New Beginnings
     
     
    Duncan awoke disoriented and staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. He looked around and saw Meeka asleep in the chair beside the bed he lay upon. He reached for the glass of water that sat beside the bed and accidentally knocked it off the table. The crash woke Meeka up and she hurried over to the bed and pushed Duncan back down.
    "You rest," she ordered. Then left the room.
    After a few minutes, Gen walked in and sat down beside Duncan on the bed. He held an unlit candle in his hand. "How are you feeling?" Gen asked.
    "My