Songs of the Silver Wizard

COMPENDIUM

"And what did we learn?”

“That you can’t cast a fireball in a wooden hut.”

“No, that's what happened. What did you learn?” Headmaster Sefodarus sighed when Thaddeus greeted his follow up question with a blank stare. “Thaddeus, you must learn that you cannot go about destroying timbers and expect the house to remain upright. At some point, you must build.”

Thaddeus curled his hands through Antonia’s black hair, cold skin growing ever colder. Many paths lay before him, most promising victory…

And one path that led toward his death. Gavool was cunning, Thaddeus had to admit. More cunning than even he thought possible. One path remained for Antonia’s salvation, and both him and the werewolf knew it. He’d be there in all of his strength. Waiting. Stalking.

Thaddeus would be defenseless if he took that path. If he brought their gathered strength, his path to Rannia would close. The logical choice was to leave her to her fate. March on Rannia. Hells Antonia’s death might make it easier to sway the dwarves, sway Shaggurt. Something told him even she’d curse him for thinking about any other path. Assuming of course, she awoke.

But it wasn’t enough to destroy, and the dead were starting to pile in Thaddeus’s wake. How many blood sacrifices did it take to turn a man from liberator to conqueror? Thaddeus did not know, nor did he care to find out.

So, amongst his circle of friends, on that path into the mountains, Thaddeus made his decision. Well a series of decisions in truth, for sometimes the right path required forging a new one through the bramble.

He hoped whatever Gods above and below watched their struggle blessed him. He took the distinct lack of protest as a sign.

From atop a nearby oak, an owl hooted and took flight.

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A/N:

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