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Page 46<br />
“Of course it is. I control the life of every person in my empire.”<br />
“You can take lives, but you cannot extend them. You summon death, but cannot hold<br />
it at bay. Age and time have power over your weak flesh. You are but a man when that crown<br />
is not on your head. When death calls, you will follow like any other.”<br />
The Magician had a way of moving in close and speaking like an intimate, and he used<br />
it to lull a person. Noel felt himself falling under the man’s sway and did his best to hold him<br />
off.<br />
“I know what fears prey on you at night, King.” The Magician said. “You see yourself<br />
stooped by the force of age. You would have rather taken a sword on the battlefield than<br />
wither away locked in this prison you call a home.”<br />
“Stop,” Noel said, so low he almost did not hear himself.<br />
“You surround yourself with young wives, hoping their vitality will seep into you and<br />
keep you alive even one moment longer. Instead, they remind you how old you’ve become.<br />
You should be dead already, and you are afraid to let go.”<br />
“DAMN YOUR TONGUE, MAGICIAN!” Noel erupted.<br />
“Why? Because I speak the truth?” He carefully regarded the king and his fury, just<br />
barely held in check. “Because I can help?” He watched the anger ebb as the king struggled<br />
to reign himself in. “I saw you watching me, and the answer to the question you are afraid to<br />
ask is yes. You hope I am the miracle you’ve been praying for.”<br />
“And? Are you?”<br />
It was as if the Magician had been waiting for this question all night. He comes to life,<br />
his eyes flashing read, his grin wide like that of a hungry wolf. “I am that and more. I can<br />
fight off the ravages of age and guarantee they never trouble you again.”<br />
Wary, Noel asked, “At what price do you offer this favor?”<br />
“At no price, Lord. I do this because my King needs it.”<br />
“If what you say is true…”