Free The Jade Mage: The Becoming: Volume 1 by William D. Latoria

to practice as much as he could. Every little bit helped, afterall.
    Tartum was irritated at Isidor for making him wait. Now that everything was in place, he really didn’t like the delay. Try as he might though, he couldn’t get angry with him. He wanted to be angry with him. He even told himself over and over again, that he was furious with Isidor. Yet, everytime he heard Isidor wailing for him, he found himself dropping whatever it was he was doing in order to tend to his mentor’s needs. He was concerned over his friend, and even though Tartum was irritated about the delay, he genuinely wanted to see his master get better. Even if it was just so that he could crush him. Laughing at the irony, Tartum resumed his practicing with his staff.
    So proficient with the staff had he become, he no longer had to think about the moves. One movement seemlessly flowed into the next. The weight of the staff and the green blur that marked its passing, was all that registered to Tartum’s mind. He was a fluid vision of skill and precision. One with his staff and the martial dance they wove. It was a good feeling. It made him feel strong and independent. The staff was a friend, a lover, the closest companion Tartum had ever known. It was his protecter when he was in danger, and his strength when he was weak. It was one of the few things Tartum loved. It was second only to his magic and his desire for power.
    Two hours passed, and Tartum never stopped moving. His muscles ached with the pain of prolonged exercise and strain. He didn’t mind. It was a sweet pain. One that left him knowing he was alive. He barely noticed the weight of the forty pound weapon anymore. He had grown into it as much as it had become a part of him. Finishing up his manuvers with a flourish, Tartum held his pose for a moment. He allowed his muscles to sieze a bit, and then exhaled slowly just as he’d been taught. He felt the tingle of adrenalin leaving his body, felt himself calming and his breathing slowed. His exercise done for the day, Tartum went to the back to clean himself up. Afterwards, he checked on his master and relaxed with his spell book for the rest of the day.
    The next day, Tartum woke up later than usual and realized it was almost noon. Shrugging to himself, he made his way out of his mess of pillows that functioned as his bed and walked to the bathroom area to wash himself up and find something to eat. He found Isidor sitting in the kitchen, making himself lunch.
    “Morning Isidor, I see you’re feeling better.” Tartum said genuinely happy to see his friend back on his feet. “Good thing too, I was getting sick of being your nurse.” Tartum jested. The wagon was beginning to feel a bit empty without the old man running around.
    Isidor rolled his eyes before responding, “Yea, yea. Maybe next time you could wear the dress a good nurse would wear. By the gods man, I swore you left me to die there sometimes!” Grinning, Isidor clapped Tartum on the shoulder.
    “I’m sure you’re anxious to get your head caved in by another one of our sparring sessions. Which is good, because I could use the exercise after being bed ridden the past few days. Eat, and then meet me in the front of the wagon. You might have a shot today. I might be a little slow, thanks to the hangover.” Laughing, Isidor didn’t wait for a reply and headed off to the training area.
    Tartum simply smiled. “Not today old man.” he said to himself, “not today.”

CHAPTER 6
    The fight was brutal. If Isidor had ever been sick, he gave no sign. His metal staff swung effortlessly all around him, as if it was possessed by a demon, hungry for Tartum’s blood. It was all he could do to keep up and parry Isidor’s furious attacks. Tartum was driven back, forced to give ground, over and over again. He could keep up his defense for a while, he knew, but he was running out of space to fall back in. Soon, he would be up against the wall of the training area, and then Isidor