A Song of Snow and Ashes by S.J. Drew
brother, that may not be a good gage."
"I figure Alain will probably react best, you know? And if he gets all weird and afraid of me, well, then I know I can't expect better from anyone else," Donnan sighed.
"I see that. What about Aolani?"
"Oh, no, I'm never tellin' her. I'll never get past just bein' friends if I say somethin' stupid like that."
"So you're planning on making a move?" he asked, an eyebrow raised.
"Yes, thank you very much. I was hopin' to give her a new year's evening gift, but I'm not goin' near her with my eyes like this. So I'll try to give it to her next tutorin' session."
"Well, that's something."
"Glad to see you're supportin' me."
"So, what do you want to do today?"
"I don't know. I feel restless, like I should do somethin', but I'm afraid of what I might do," Donnan answered. "And that's makin' me grumpy."
"I see that."
"Thanks. Jackass."
"I'm here to help," Blake replied cheerfully. "What'd you get Aolani anyway?"
"A silk scarf. Women like that sort of thing, right?"
"I'm told so. What'd you get me?"
"What makes you think I got you anythin'?"
"Well, if you're goin' to be like that, I won't give you my present either," the acolyte sniffed.
"I left it at the apartment. I was goin' to give it to you later, but I was so upset I forgot to bring it."
"Ah, well, then I'll be patient."
"What'd you get me?"
"I'll give you your present when I get mine," Blake answered.
"Jackass."
"I thought we went over this. Did you get Alain a present?"
"Yeah, I did. I think I'll still give it to him. I think he might need it."
"What'd you get him?"
"None of your business. I don't even know if he'll take it," he replied tersely, standing up and starting to pace the room. "Dammit. Let's talk about somethin' else. Does Dwyer expect me to do somethin' tonight?"
"Not that I know of."
"Do you have to be here?"
"Normally I would, but I think I could be excused. On the other hand, don't you want to know what Dwyer's saying about you?" the acolyte asked.
He half-smiled. "It's good to know you're still on my side. More or less."
"I try as best I can." He lowered his voice. "You still hung up on meeting that woman?"
"I'm not hung up," he retorted. "It just bothers me."
"Well, it bothers me too. Have you thought about how to protect yourself from her?"
"I've got that Armor."
"True. But is that enough? I mean, I don't think my little dagger could do any damage, but what about an enchanted weapon or somethin'? She managed to cut down that darkling with magic."
"What makes you think she knows anythin' about magic?"
"Donnan, she was in Mulago, for gods' sake. What in blazes do you think she was doin' there?" he retorted dryly. "I'd lay good money down that she was there for the same thing you were."
"I'd already thought about that," he sighed.
"More to the point, though, do you think you could fight her with an ordinary weapon? One made of steel? A combination of fire and ore, which are her elements. Doesn't sound like a good plan to me."
"So what's your plan? How am I supposed to get a weapon that isn't made of steel? Honestly."
He started to clean his glasses. "You could make one."
"What?"
"Enchant a normal weapon. Mages do it all the time. Or they used to, before the Mage Wars anyway."
"I don't know how to do that."
"Well, you don't know how to bring in a storm, but you managed that just fine."
"That's not even close to the same thing," Donnan protested. But the power was moving inside him, and he started to wonder if he could do such an impossible thing.
"Don't know until you try," he replied, replacing his glasses. "It would be an interesting exercise to see just how far beyond a sorcerer you are, magically speaking."
"And dangerous."
"This temple's pretty warded," Blake shrugged.
"You aren't."
"I don't have to be here when you do it."
He started to pace faster, thinking. "I can't use metal. But I can't make stuff out of thin air."
"No?"
"Well, I'm not goin' to try just yet. One step at a time, alright?"
"It's up to you. You're the Avatar."
"Maybe you should've been the Avatar. You seem to know what you want better than I do."
"Donnan, my dear friend, for all my ambition, I do not at all desire your power for myself."
He paused in his pacing and gazed at his friend. Blake looked uncharacteristically serious and sincere. "That, my friend, isn't encouragin'."
"Sorry. How about you start with somethin' in your element?" he asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Like snow?"
"Snow, or ice, or something."
He snapped his fingers. "What about those big icicles outside? Those things are almost weapons to start with."
"Not a bad idea. You want to go pick one out? I believe there are some the size of spears on the north side of the temple."
"Wait. Is anyone goin' to notice?"
Blake shook his head. "I doubt it. Everyone's busy in meditation or whatnot for a few more hours, except the acolytes, who are stuck cooking and cleaning and makin' sure everything's ready for tonight."
"You owe me for this, you know."
"I don't think so. I didn't become friends with you so I could get out of my duties. That's just a nice side effect for me," he retorted as they walked outside.
Quickly they made their way around the building. The snow was still falling thickly, and the city was quiet. Donnan broke off a large icicle that was roughly the size of a longsword and they returned to his room. They saw no one during their errand.
"Damn, it's cold out there," the acolyte remarked, stamping his feet.
"Is it?"
"You should be freezin'. You didn't even bundle up."
"I don't get cold," he shrugged. "I don't get hot either, now that I think about it. Weird." He set the icicle down in the middle of the floor. "Now what, smart guy?"
He shrugged. "This is where you take over. You've been studying arcane magic, right? Isn't will the most important thing about it?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Right then." He sat down on the floor next to the icicle. He picked up the spear of ice, and started to concentrate, reaching out with his elemental magic. He ran his fingers over it, thinking of the shape of a longsword. The ice started to move under his touch, responding to his thoughts. Soon it was reformed into a perfect replica of a longsword.
As the acolyte watched, he began to glow slightly with an odd light, not exactly arcane, and not exactly divine.
He closed his eyes, and his awareness expanded as he considered the heft and weight of a sword. He thought of making it a sword fit for a mighty warrior, a true Champion. He held it lightly in her hands, willing magic to flow into the weapon. He felt the ice become heavier, the rough spots smooth out, the tiny cracks within the ice mend. He thought of strengthening the blade, making it unbreakable, and of making the edge so sharp it could cut through even the toughest armor.
Lightning started to flick across the sword. Blake looked alarmed, but didn't say anything since Donnan didn't seem to notice.
He thought of fighting the LightBearer, and thought of making the blade strong enough to withstand any force, any blow, making the sword into the strongest weapon possible, immune to the effects of time, weather, sorcery, divine magic, and fire. How long he poured magic into the sword, he did not know. When he was finished, he stood up and turned to face Blake.
The color had drained from his face, and he was looking at his friend with wide, dark fear-filled eyes.
He held the sword out for
him to examine. The blade was now black as the deepest night, but strong as the tempestuous sea. The hilt was plain silver, with no gems or decorations. The sword was so cold the air around it condensed, giving it a faint corona of steam. "What do you think?" he asked, his voice carrying a strange echo to it, like the rumble of thunder.
"Great. It's really great," he squeaked.
"Yeah, it's not too bad," he agreed, staring at the black sword. The power inside him seemed expended, but he could feel more starting to flow into him. For the moment, though, the pressure was lessened. He swung it around a bit, and found that it was perfectly balanced. "Heh. Maybe I should make stuff more often."
"I wouldn't," he stuttered.
Donnan suddenly realized just how terrified Blake looked. He sent the sword away. "Maybe not," he replied hastily.
"Where did it go?"
"The Shadow Realm, I think. I guess I connected the sword to that place. Huh."
"Yeah, maybe you shouldn't make stuff anymore. This was a bad idea."
"I don't think so. I've got myself a great weapon now, and I'm actually feelin' better. I'm hungry. Is it time for lunch?"
Blake cleaned his glasses nervously. "Yeah, it's about time for lunch. You were really out of it for a while there."
"And you just watched? Weren't you real bored?"
"I didn't know what was going to happen." He lowered his voice. "And I didn't want to leave you alone, in case somethin' went wrong."
"Thanks," he replied, nodding slightly. "Oh, right. I forgot. I can't go out with my eyes like this."
"I'll bring you something. I'll be right back." He scurried out before Donnan could say another word.
"Oh, damn it," he sighed, and fell down heavily on the bed. He didn't intend to fall asleep, but he passed out within seconds.
"Hey, Donnan, wake up," came Blake's voice.
"What time is it?"
"Getting on towards dinner time. You were really out."
"Why didn't
"I figure Alain will probably react best, you know? And if he gets all weird and afraid of me, well, then I know I can't expect better from anyone else," Donnan sighed.
"I see that. What about Aolani?"
"Oh, no, I'm never tellin' her. I'll never get past just bein' friends if I say somethin' stupid like that."
"So you're planning on making a move?" he asked, an eyebrow raised.
"Yes, thank you very much. I was hopin' to give her a new year's evening gift, but I'm not goin' near her with my eyes like this. So I'll try to give it to her next tutorin' session."
"Well, that's something."
"Glad to see you're supportin' me."
"So, what do you want to do today?"
"I don't know. I feel restless, like I should do somethin', but I'm afraid of what I might do," Donnan answered. "And that's makin' me grumpy."
"I see that."
"Thanks. Jackass."
"I'm here to help," Blake replied cheerfully. "What'd you get Aolani anyway?"
"A silk scarf. Women like that sort of thing, right?"
"I'm told so. What'd you get me?"
"What makes you think I got you anythin'?"
"Well, if you're goin' to be like that, I won't give you my present either," the acolyte sniffed.
"I left it at the apartment. I was goin' to give it to you later, but I was so upset I forgot to bring it."
"Ah, well, then I'll be patient."
"What'd you get me?"
"I'll give you your present when I get mine," Blake answered.
"Jackass."
"I thought we went over this. Did you get Alain a present?"
"Yeah, I did. I think I'll still give it to him. I think he might need it."
"What'd you get him?"
"None of your business. I don't even know if he'll take it," he replied tersely, standing up and starting to pace the room. "Dammit. Let's talk about somethin' else. Does Dwyer expect me to do somethin' tonight?"
"Not that I know of."
"Do you have to be here?"
"Normally I would, but I think I could be excused. On the other hand, don't you want to know what Dwyer's saying about you?" the acolyte asked.
He half-smiled. "It's good to know you're still on my side. More or less."
"I try as best I can." He lowered his voice. "You still hung up on meeting that woman?"
"I'm not hung up," he retorted. "It just bothers me."
"Well, it bothers me too. Have you thought about how to protect yourself from her?"
"I've got that Armor."
"True. But is that enough? I mean, I don't think my little dagger could do any damage, but what about an enchanted weapon or somethin'? She managed to cut down that darkling with magic."
"What makes you think she knows anythin' about magic?"
"Donnan, she was in Mulago, for gods' sake. What in blazes do you think she was doin' there?" he retorted dryly. "I'd lay good money down that she was there for the same thing you were."
"I'd already thought about that," he sighed.
"More to the point, though, do you think you could fight her with an ordinary weapon? One made of steel? A combination of fire and ore, which are her elements. Doesn't sound like a good plan to me."
"So what's your plan? How am I supposed to get a weapon that isn't made of steel? Honestly."
He started to clean his glasses. "You could make one."
"What?"
"Enchant a normal weapon. Mages do it all the time. Or they used to, before the Mage Wars anyway."
"I don't know how to do that."
"Well, you don't know how to bring in a storm, but you managed that just fine."
"That's not even close to the same thing," Donnan protested. But the power was moving inside him, and he started to wonder if he could do such an impossible thing.
"Don't know until you try," he replied, replacing his glasses. "It would be an interesting exercise to see just how far beyond a sorcerer you are, magically speaking."
"And dangerous."
"This temple's pretty warded," Blake shrugged.
"You aren't."
"I don't have to be here when you do it."
He started to pace faster, thinking. "I can't use metal. But I can't make stuff out of thin air."
"No?"
"Well, I'm not goin' to try just yet. One step at a time, alright?"
"It's up to you. You're the Avatar."
"Maybe you should've been the Avatar. You seem to know what you want better than I do."
"Donnan, my dear friend, for all my ambition, I do not at all desire your power for myself."
He paused in his pacing and gazed at his friend. Blake looked uncharacteristically serious and sincere. "That, my friend, isn't encouragin'."
"Sorry. How about you start with somethin' in your element?" he asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Like snow?"
"Snow, or ice, or something."
He snapped his fingers. "What about those big icicles outside? Those things are almost weapons to start with."
"Not a bad idea. You want to go pick one out? I believe there are some the size of spears on the north side of the temple."
"Wait. Is anyone goin' to notice?"
Blake shook his head. "I doubt it. Everyone's busy in meditation or whatnot for a few more hours, except the acolytes, who are stuck cooking and cleaning and makin' sure everything's ready for tonight."
"You owe me for this, you know."
"I don't think so. I didn't become friends with you so I could get out of my duties. That's just a nice side effect for me," he retorted as they walked outside.
Quickly they made their way around the building. The snow was still falling thickly, and the city was quiet. Donnan broke off a large icicle that was roughly the size of a longsword and they returned to his room. They saw no one during their errand.
"Damn, it's cold out there," the acolyte remarked, stamping his feet.
"Is it?"
"You should be freezin'. You didn't even bundle up."
"I don't get cold," he shrugged. "I don't get hot either, now that I think about it. Weird." He set the icicle down in the middle of the floor. "Now what, smart guy?"
He shrugged. "This is where you take over. You've been studying arcane magic, right? Isn't will the most important thing about it?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Right then." He sat down on the floor next to the icicle. He picked up the spear of ice, and started to concentrate, reaching out with his elemental magic. He ran his fingers over it, thinking of the shape of a longsword. The ice started to move under his touch, responding to his thoughts. Soon it was reformed into a perfect replica of a longsword.
As the acolyte watched, he began to glow slightly with an odd light, not exactly arcane, and not exactly divine.
He closed his eyes, and his awareness expanded as he considered the heft and weight of a sword. He thought of making it a sword fit for a mighty warrior, a true Champion. He held it lightly in her hands, willing magic to flow into the weapon. He felt the ice become heavier, the rough spots smooth out, the tiny cracks within the ice mend. He thought of strengthening the blade, making it unbreakable, and of making the edge so sharp it could cut through even the toughest armor.
Lightning started to flick across the sword. Blake looked alarmed, but didn't say anything since Donnan didn't seem to notice.
He thought of fighting the LightBearer, and thought of making the blade strong enough to withstand any force, any blow, making the sword into the strongest weapon possible, immune to the effects of time, weather, sorcery, divine magic, and fire. How long he poured magic into the sword, he did not know. When he was finished, he stood up and turned to face Blake.
The color had drained from his face, and he was looking at his friend with wide, dark fear-filled eyes.
He held the sword out for
"Great. It's really great," he squeaked.
"Yeah, it's not too bad," he agreed, staring at the black sword. The power inside him seemed expended, but he could feel more starting to flow into him. For the moment, though, the pressure was lessened. He swung it around a bit, and found that it was perfectly balanced. "Heh. Maybe I should make stuff more often."
"I wouldn't," he stuttered.
Donnan suddenly realized just how terrified Blake looked. He sent the sword away. "Maybe not," he replied hastily.
"Where did it go?"
"The Shadow Realm, I think. I guess I connected the sword to that place. Huh."
"Yeah, maybe you shouldn't make stuff anymore. This was a bad idea."
"I don't think so. I've got myself a great weapon now, and I'm actually feelin' better. I'm hungry. Is it time for lunch?"
Blake cleaned his glasses nervously. "Yeah, it's about time for lunch. You were really out of it for a while there."
"And you just watched? Weren't you real bored?"
"I didn't know what was going to happen." He lowered his voice. "And I didn't want to leave you alone, in case somethin' went wrong."
"Thanks," he replied, nodding slightly. "Oh, right. I forgot. I can't go out with my eyes like this."
"I'll bring you something. I'll be right back." He scurried out before Donnan could say another word.
"Oh, damn it," he sighed, and fell down heavily on the bed. He didn't intend to fall asleep, but he passed out within seconds.
"Hey, Donnan, wake up," came Blake's voice.
"What time is it?"
"Getting on towards dinner time. You were really out."
"Why didn't