Free Shadow Mage (Blacklight Chronicles) by John Forrester Page B

him.
    Palarian glanced left and right, as if searching for an escape. “I suppose you know what you’re doing?”
    “Not really.” Talis stared blankly, remembering he’d just cast his first rune binding a few days ago.  
    “You’re not inspiring much confidence.” The old man ran his fingers along the top of the chair, and pulled it around. “Glass of wine to pair with my roasting?”
    Nikulo chuckled, and filled his glass. Palarian gulped down the red liquid and exhaled. “Here goes….”
    His face paled as he sat, the chair croaked in response. Nothing happened, at least from what Talis could see on the outside. The sorcerer cleared his throat, flashed a quick nervous smile, and stood.
    “Well, then, it appears you’ve done at least one thing right in your casting. Shall we proceed to the portal spell? I’m fed and slightly drunk and ready for adventure.”
    Talis took the portal rune from the old man’s hand. He also grabbed a few extra runes laying on the table he’d crafted before. Near the edge of the workroom, he positioned the portal rune on the floor.  
    “Before you cast,” Nikulo said, “consider one thing. The Order of the Dawn is in a bit of a mess now, and any interaction with them would be perilous. Tread carefully inside. I don’t want to fight my fellows at the Order.”
    Talis agreed, especially after all that had happened. “We should be very quiet inside.”
    “I know of something better. Better to go in unseen and unheard, don’t you agree?” Palarian brushed his fingers against each other and mumbled to himself. “Who is first?”
    Mara frowned. “You’re going to make us invisible?”
    “Precisely. Are you ready, my dear?” Palarian aimed his fingers at her.
    “Wait, let me go first,” Talis said.
    “You don’t need to be so chivalrous,” Mara said. “Ladies first, after all.”
    The sorcerer nodded, and flicked his wrists. Mara vanished.
    “Did something happen?” she said.
    “I can hear you but not see you.” Nikulo reached out to the space where Mara once stood. “Hey, don’t touch me there, you pervert.” Talis heard a slap, and the back of Nikulo’s hand went red.
    Talis chuckled as Nikulo blushed. “I didn’t mean to do anything, really.”
    “Liar.” Mara started giggling.
    “Will we be able to see each other when we’re all invisible?” Talis said.
    “Yes, of course. But others unaffected by the spell will not.”
    Talis spun around as something tickled the back of his neck. The next moment someone pushed behind his knees, and he started tumbling down. But just as he fell, he caught that someone’s wrist (he knew it was Mara), and she landed on top of him.
    “Cute, Mara.” He could feel her squirming on top on him, but he held her with one arm, and tickled her with the other.  
    “Stop it!” she gasped, and squirmed even more, squealing and shrieking the more he tickled. Talis couldn’t help but notice that she only slightly tried to resist him. It was almost like she enjoyed staying put where she was.
    Palarian cleared his throat. “Perhaps we continue now? Are you next, young master?” He flicked a finger at Nikulo, and he disappeared in a vaporish flash. “Cast the portal spell, if you’re finished tickling her.”
    As Talis rose, he let his hand slide down her arm until he grasped Mara’s hand, and lifted her up. He spun around and faced the rune setting on the floor. He closed his eyes, pictured a favorite corner in the archives, and cast the spell.
    The swirling silver and black portal sprung to life in front of him, a dark eye inviting them inside. The sorcerer flicked his wrists at Talis and himself, and Mara and Nikulo reappeared, ghostly this time, as the world went grey. The sorcerer raised his hands towards them.
    “One last spell, so others won’t be able to hear us, but we’ll be able to talk amongst ourselves.” He cast the spell and it was done.
    Talis motioned Palarian and Nikulo towards the portal. Mara