The Rifts of Psyche by Kyle West (i love reading .txt) 📕

Seven about the Burning Sands and Cupid’s eye. Of course, she went to go find it, believing herself the Chosen since the Manifold had revealed that information to her.” The Sorceress-Queen chuckled. “Of course, she was only allowed to see that information so she might one day pass it on to the true Chosen. You. She hopes you find the Orb and use it to destroy me, and somehow, this would naturally make Psyche a better place.”

The light spheres around the Queen burned brighter, as if in reflection to her anger, only barely restrained.

“I’ll tell you,” the Queen went on, “even if you were to accomplish such an asinine thing, it would be a disaster not only for Psyche, but all magekind. This world would revert to its days of barbarism, and it would be an evil far greater than killing me. You must set aside that foolish notion. We need each other, or all of this will be eaten alive by the Unarcane.”

“I think I understand what you’re saying,” Lucian said. “I just can’t . . . trust you. How could I? Your own men attacked me in the Darkrift. If you really want me alive, why would you have ordered that?”

The air in the room seemed to go colder. Or was that only his imagination?

“I must have words with Mage-Lord Kiani,” she said. “He can be . . . overzealous. Suffice it to say, Lucian, I can teach you. I don’t want to trap you. I don’t want your Orb. That is not my place. My place is to help you rise to the mantle. I dare not stand in the way of the Chosen.”

“I find that hard to believe. You would go from being the Sorceress-Queen to number two so easily?”

“I was more than number two for years under Xara Mallis. I would . . . advise. For without the Chosen, magekind can never rise to greatness.”

All of this was so unimaginable, sending Lucian’s mind reeling.

“As hard as it may be to imagine,” the Sorceress-Queen said, “if you won’t help me, you’re only helping the Unarcane, who would see us all dead.”

Lucian didn’t want to get into an argument with the Sorceress-Queen. That would be pointless. What was important was getting out of this dream. But how?

“I think I understand your viewpoint. At least a little bit.”

“Think of my offer, Lucian. You can’t run forever, and such running is pointless. You’ll only get yourself killed. You are too important to die. If you die, the Orb of Binding could fall into the hands of anyone. There’s nothing that says the Chosen can’t die. You need protection. And there is none better to do that than me.”

“I’m not going to die.”

The Sorceress-Queen laughed. “You betray your ignorance. You have much to learn. You need a teacher. Someone powerful and wise to temper your potential. Not since Xara Mallis has there been a mage with as much potential as you, even discounting the Orb of Binding.”

Was she trying to flatter him to lower his guard? The light spheres burned brighter, blinding Lucian with their brilliance.

“If you can’t learn to handle your Orb, it will reject you as its master.”

“I thought I was the Chosen.”

Though he could not see her face, the Queen seemed to smile. “Oh, you think that is permanent? No, Lucian. I’m sorry to say, you can’t just do whatever you want. Your life now is on a set of tracks toward your eventual goal. Go off those tracks, and I think you’ll find that the Orb stops doing what you want it to do. And if you do what you’re meant to do, as the Chosen of the Manifold . . .” She trailed off. “Well, the Orb will work fine. Doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know?”

Lucian clenched his jaw. “You’re lying to me.”

“Am I? Deny it all you want, Lucian. You are a child in the ways of magic. You need a mentor. How else do you ever expect to leave this world and fulfill your destiny?”

“You’re . . .” Lucian had been about to say evil, but he was old enough to know that evil people didn’t think themselves as such. Making her angry would do him no favors. At least, not until he knew he had the upper hand.

The Queen shifted in her seat. “Come peacefully to the surface. There is nothing down there in the Darkrift that can save you. The deeper you go, the worse it will be. For both of us.”

There was no way Lucian would ever do that. But what she had said about the Orb no longer obeying him was disturbing. And it had the ring of truth.

“I only wished to say this much,” the Queen said. “Since you were no longer warded. There’s no more need for that since I’ve said my piece. You are not one I wish to control.”

“What about Morgana?”

“The girl?” She chuckled. “I only wanted to get the measure of you. You handled yourself well in that situation. Most men would have behaved . . . quite differently.”

“You had no right. That was a violation.”

“There is a difference in our philosophies. If such minor mental manipulation might one day save the Worlds, it is a small cost.” The light spheres winked out, and all was darkness. “Return to the surface, Lucian. This is not a fight you can win. Find me aboard the Zephyr and I will take you to the Golden Palace and introduce you to my court. From there, we can fulfill your destiny in the Burning Sands. If you do not . . .” She snapped her fingers. “You will find yourself as helpless as a ghost eel out of water. One day soon, if you continue in your stubborn ways, the Orb of Binding will sense that you are not going down your prescribed path. And it will betray you without mercy.”

She paused, as if giving him a chance to think over her words. They made