Truth of Magic (Soul of Magic Book 5)

PROLOGUE

The golden rays of the spring sun shone greatly on the landscape as a man rode across it, his short black hair fluttering in the wind as he directed his horse up a hill and stopped.

He looked towards the horizon where in a distance was a land; at least he assumed it was a land. Everything in front of him was covered in fog, as it had been ever since he could remember.

Although it was still the early hours of the morning, a tired expression could be seen on the man’s face; the tiredness seeming to get more pronounced with each breath he drew. Contrary to what might have been thought at the sight of it, his weariness didn't actually stem from the distance he’d travelled to get where he was. In truth, he had barely spent two days on the road.

What really weighed the man down was the length of the journey to come. This was the length that would go on to decide how everything would turn out for him; and the realm too for that matter.

"Having a change of heart, brother?" A man suddenly rode up next to him on the hill, effectively snapping him out of his thoughts.

The second man sported black hair of similar shade to the first man although his was a lot longer than the latter. In fact, the second man’s hair was so long that he had been able to tie it into a ponytail and so didn't get bothered by it as much the other man’s whose the wind was swirling into circles around his face and he had to swat it away more than a few times already.

"Actually, brother, I'll be lying if I said that a part of my mind isn't screaming at me right now to turn back and just bolt anywhere but here," the first man replied, turning to face the other man whose brown eyes turned a shade of gold in the sunlight unlike his own green ones. "But going through with this is the right thing to do."

"But is it really, Winchmore?" the other man returned, his expression full of concern, frustration, and even a little bit of fear on his face. Apparently that wasn't the first time they were having that discussion. "I mean, you're going into a cursed land where countless people have gone and never returned,” he said, “where the lost are without any hope of ever being found again."

"I know that, Tramenton. I do." Winchmore’s voice was calm in response but his eyes had taken on an intense look that showed that he completely understood the severity of the matter at hand and wasn’t taking it lightly. "But what other choice is there?” he asked. “Go back home and sit on our asses while the realm gets destroyed?"

"Of course not," Tramenton returned, the vigour in his response matching Winchmore's. "But you and I and our brothers can stand and fight this monster. We've already been doing that for a while now."

"There's a higher chance that that course of action will end up in our deaths than a victory and you know that," Winchmore returned, the frustrating reality of the situation causing him to make his statement sound a lot harsher than he intended to.

He sighed, trying to calm his mind before another plea for understanding again. "Brother, I was able to find the elusive seer that everyone’s been talking about a few days ago,” he informed Tramenton. “She assured me that the salvation of the realm lies beyond that fog in the f*******n lands.”

“And did she also assure you that you won’t become among the lost?”                                                  

“Those people got lost because they didn't know what to seek."

"And what are you seeking, brother?"

The question put Winchmore to silence. Truth is, he knew undoubtedly within himself that all Tramenton was doing was to ensure his safety. He was his elder brother; and although they were over two years apart in age, the bond they shared was like that of twins. They were closely linked in their souls and any tragedy to one would absolutely devastate the other; hence, the attitude.

But that didn’t make light of the importance of Tramenton's question. In fact, it was the same question that had kept Winchmore awake all night ever since it’d crossed his mind too. It was something he mused over ever since he begun to prepare for the journey; and even at the moment as they were speaking.

And now he knew what to say. "What I seek, Tramenton, is the truth of magic," he replied, looking to the other man with an assurance in his eyes that would be recognised for years to come even as he didn't know it at that time. "The truth of everything."