Page 101 of The Warlock's Trial

“Lucas…” I heard Nadine’s voice in the distance, warning me not to take things too far. It was too late.

I ignored my friends and aimed my gaze on Edgar. I would command this spell to destroy him if I had to. Surely it wouldn’t kill him here in the Abyss, but if the torture I saw in the woods was any indication, it would hurt like a son of a bitch. This kind of power could blast him apart, until there was nothing left to knit back together.

“I need that Wand, and I’m not leaving here without it,” I growled. “If you won’t give it to me, then I’ll take it from you.”

“You came here asking for my help, and now you want to hurt me?” Edgar sneered.

“If that’s what I have to do,” I stated. “Are you going to hand over the Wand, or not?”

He shook his head. “I will not.”

“You just want the Wand for yourself!” I accused.

I couldn’t say I hadn’t warned him. The magic I’d summoned via the dead exploded forward, following my command. It slammed into Edgar’s chest, and he was sent reeling off his feet, soaring backward over his cottage. Magic blasted straight through the walls of his home, reducing the house to mere splinters. Edgar landed hard on the ground behind the obliterated cottage. He didn’t move.

I thought I might’ve killed him—again. I carefully stepped forward, but I only got a few paces before Edgar sat up, shaking leaves out of his hair like the blast had merely tickled. I stopped in my tracks.

Edgar stood and reached into his robes. He withdrew a white wand painted to look like bone, with the shape of a rib cage carved into the end of it. My heart leapt at the sight of the Mortana Wand.

“You want this Wand?” Edgar asked. “Come and get it.”

I hesitated. “What kind of trick is this?”

“It is not a trick,” he stated. “You have shown how desperate you are, and the lengths you are willing to go through to get it. If you want it, take it from me.”

I wasn’t sure what he was playing at, because this was the last thing I expected of him. But he seemed dead serious.

I cautiously stepped toward him. My fingers curled around the end of the Mortana Wand, and I could feel its power pulsing through it. But when I tried to take it out of his open palm, the Wand wouldn’t budge.

“You see?” Edgar asked. “You can try, but even so, it will not work. The Reaper Order cast a spell long ago to protect this Mortana Wand, and the Wand accepts the protection spell. You could try to pry this Wand off of my soul, but my soul won’t give it to you until you become a member of the Reaper Order. I was never your enemy, Lucas, nor am I now.”

All my rage melted away, and I saw how ridiculous I’d acted. Edgar wasn’t trying to keep the Wand for himself. He was only being reasonable, because there was magic here at play I clearly didn’t comprehend.

My shoulders dropped hopelessly. “I attempted to hurt you and destroyed your home, all for nothing. You tried to tell me, and I didn’t listen.”

“I will find a new home,” Edgar assured me as he placed the Wand back in his cloak. “Your intentions are noble, Lucas, but your methods are foolish.”

“I’ve done everything I can. What more power do you want to see from me?”

“I don’t need to see any of this.” Edgar gestured around. “All this has shown me is that you are not ready yet. However, when the time comes, you will see me again.”

I wasn’t sure I believed him. “How will you find me?”

“You can put an end to my sentence and give me back control of my power,” he said. “If you can get me out of here, I will be able to cross the spiritual realms once again. I want to go home, but I need your help.”

“Will that earn me the Mortana Wand?” I asked.

Edgar placed his hands on my shoulders. I couldn’t explain it, but something deep in his eyes calmed me. There was caring nature there, like he really wanted to help, but he couldn’t. “There is no bargain you can make to obtain the Wand. The Warlock’s Trial is not for me to judge. I have no choice. I cannot physically give you the Wand until you’ve earned it.”

“We need the Oaken Wands,” I stated desperately. “The coven is dividing, and we’re losing access to our magic. If this continues, the coven will be destroyed. Then death itself means nothing, because our magic is what unifies us. If we don’t have our magic, we will have no religion anymore. Our descendants will stop believing. We either live together, or we die alone. The Wands will give us our power back, and our people will come together once again. Please, Edgar. I’ll do anything.”

“Perhaps that is the problem,” Edgar stated. “You will do anything, but all you need to do is the right thing. The Warlock’s Trial is not by my design, and therefore I cannot tell you what needs to be done.”

“You had to pass it in order to join the Reaper Order. What did you do?” I questioned.

He shook his head, like I still didn’t get it. “My trial will not be like your own. You must search inside yourself for the answers. Dig deeper, Lucas, because power over death is more than just magic.”

There had to be more to it than that. “I’ve done the inner work,” I pressed. “I know it’s not my job to carry other people’s burdens, but obtaining these Wands is up to me. If I don’t bring home the Mortana Wand, then I’m letting my people down. I can’t do that. The coven’s fate can’t rest on me figuring out who I am or some bullshit like that. There are people counting on me to save them.”

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