War of the Twins

Read War of the Twins for Free Online

Book: Read War of the Twins for Free Online
Authors: Margaret Weis
helpless under the wizard’s influence, Raistlin tensed. The moment fast approached.
    As if in answer, Fistandantilus appeared in his line of vision, leaning over the young mage with that look of eager hunger, the bloodstone pendant swinging from the chain around his neck.
    “Yes,” said the wizard, “you are skilled. More skilled and more powerful than any young apprentice I have met in these many, many years.”
    “What will you do to me?” Raistlin asked hoarsely. The note of desperation in his voice was not entirely forced. He
must
know how the pendant worked.
    “How can that matter?” Fistandantilus questioned coolly, laying his hand upon the young mage’s chest.
    “My … object in coming to you was to learn,” Raistlin said, gritting his teeth and trying not to writhe at the loathsome touch. “I would learn, even to the last!”
    “Commendable,” Fistandantilus nodded, his eyes gazing into the darkness, his thoughts abstracted. Probably going over the spell in his mind, Raistlin thought to himself. “I amgoing to enjoy inhabiting a body and a mind so thirsty for knowledge, as well as one that is innately skilled in the Art. Very well, I will explain. My last lesson, apprentice. Learn it well.
    “You cannot know, young man, the horrors of growing old. How well I remember my first life and how well I remember the terrible feeling of anger and frustration I felt when I realized that I—the most powerful magic-user who had ever lived—was destined to be trapped in a weak and wretched body that was being consumed by age! My mind—my mind was sound! Indeed, I was stronger mentally than I had ever been in my life! But all this power, all this vast knowledge would be wasted—turned to dust! Devoured by worms!
    “I wore the Red Robes then—
    “You start. Are you surprised? Taking the Red Robes was a conscious, cold-blooded decision, made after seeing how best I could gain. In neutrality, one learns better, being able to draw from both ends of the spectrum and being beholden to neither. I went to Gilean, God of Neutrality, with my plea to be allowed to remain upon this plane and extend my knowledge. But, in this, the God of the Book could not help me. Humans were his creation, and it was because of my impatient human nature and the knowledge of the shortness of my life that I had pressed on with my studies. I was counseled to accept my fate.”
    Fistandantilus shrugged. “I see comprehension in your eyes, apprentice. In a way, I am sorry to destroy you. I think we could have developed a rare understanding. But, to make a long story short, I walked out into the darkness. Cursing the red moon, I asked that I be allowed to look upon the black. The Queen of Darkness heard my prayer and granted my request. Donning the Black Robes, I dedicated myself to her service and, in return, I was taken to her plane of existence. I have seen the future, I have lived the past. She gave me this pendant, so that I am able to choose a new body during my stay in this time. And, when I choose to cross the boundaries of time and enter the future, there is a body prepared and ready to accept my soul.”
    Raistlin could not repress a shudder at this. His lip curled in hatred.
His
was the body the wizard spoke of! Ready and waiting.…
    But Fistandantilus did not notice. The wizard raised the bloodstone pendant, preparing to cast the spell.
    Looking at the pendant as it glistened in the pale light cast by a globe in the center of the laboratory, Raistlin felt his heartbeat quicken. His hands clenched.
    With an effort, his voice trembling with excitement that he hoped would be mistaken for terror, he whispered, “Tell me how it works! Tell me what will happen to me!”
    Fistandantilus smiled, his hand slowly revolving the bloodstone above Raistlin’s chest. “I will place this upon your breast, right over your heart. And, slowly, you will feel your lifeforce start to ebb from your body. The pain is, I believe, quite

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