The Curse of Credesar, Part 1

  ***

  As they drew to within a half-day's journey from the city, near some rocky cliffs, Renstad warned that the Galds should travel no farther. But when Dameon whistled for the savages to give them instructions, they didn't show themselves.

  A gloomy, nagging mood settled over Kelden. It didn't seem like the Galds to just give up, but they had never failed to answer Dameon's summons before. Kelden should have felt secure with Renstad and his men to protect him, but he couldn't shake the feeling that without the Galds he was in grave danger.

  They stopped for lunch, and Thayan got into an argument with one of Renstad's men. No one was certain who started it, but insults were exchanged, and Thayan ended up making threats to the man's life. He received a strong reprimand from both Renstad and Dameon.

  "You won't be threatening my soldiers!" Renstad growled. "Not unless you intend to back it up. That's a good way to get an arrow in your heart."

  "You're acting like a fool, Thayan!" Dameon said, seizing the lad's shoulder. "And I guess I'm partially to blame. Some of the things I told you before were wrong. The way I acted was selfish."

  Thayan flinched away. "You think you've influenced me somehow? You haven't changed me at all, Dameon--other than to teach me some new tricks. And just because you're trying to act like some noble hero now doesn't mean I have to."

  "No, it doesn't," said Dameon. "But you desperately need a change of attitude and to let go of your rage."

  "Well said," Theodus spoke up, clapping.

  Thayan fell silent, gazing at the ground. "Sorry. I didn't mean to act like that. I'll try to work on my attitude."

  "That's a start," said Dameon. He sighed. "But I can already tell I made a mistake in taking you under my wing. You have a lot to learn, my young friend. Your conscience is badly eroded--perhaps worse even than mine was when I was shut away in that cave. I was blind, and I misjudged you."

  "What are you saying?" Thayan said, raising his hands in disbelief. "You're still going to teach me sorcery, right? "

  "Never again," said Dameon. "But take heart, lad--there is more to life than sorcery. Work on your character, for that's the most important thing one can build. That's what I should have been teaching you from the start."

  "I don't need your stupid lecture on character," Thayan said. "I wanted to be a powerful sorcerer. That's all. But now you've ruined my last chance at it." Thayan's eyes boiled with venom. "I thought you were a great man. Now I see you're just like all the other seers."

  Dameon's eyes widened. "Get out of my sight, swine! How dare you speak to me like that? I should teach you a lesson for that insult."

  "Go ahead!" Thayan shouted. "I don't care what you do--any of you!" With that, he ran off into the fog and vanished from sight.

  Dameon glanced at the others helplessly. "I shouldn't have lost my temper. But the boy had no right to compare me to the seers."

  "Thayan, come back!" Kelden called out. "It's too dangerous out there!"

  "The boy needs time to cool off," said Renstad. "He's a hothead like I used to be. He's probably going to have to learn his lessons the hard way, just as I did."

  "No, it's more than that," said Dameon. "I sensed it right from the start. He has too much rage and too little conscience. At first, I thought I could use him like a puppet and instill my selfish goals within him. Thus, I played a hand in bringing him to this point. He was very vulnerable, and I took advantage of that. Worse, I taught him some powerful sorcery."

  "Thayan was on a dark path even before he met you," said Theodus. "But there is good in that lad nonetheless. He has courage and heart."

  Dameon bowed his head. "All the more reason I'm to blame. Rather than enhance the good that was there, I gave power to the evil. I acknowledge my failing and bear that burden."

  "You're all a dramatic lot," mused Renstad. "So the boy got angry. It happens. He just needs his space for a while."

  Dameon shook his head. "I fear it's not that simple. I've looked into Thayan's soul, and it's a place where no light shines."