A Wizard In Time

By C. DeWard

Marvin Dewin's life is on a downward spiral, divorced, no home, no job and no income. He's managed to alienate everyone close to him. Depressed with few options, prospects appearing grim he decides to leave Phoenix for a change in his life and possible opportunity for something better. The transformation which is thrust upon him is nothing he would imagine happening. Taking him farther away from what he knew than he ever expected. Marvin is recruited by an Aelf, to travel cross time becoming who is needed. He finds himself in an adventure he never could have dreamed of on his own. Defending time itself from those who would change the timeline to mold history to their vision of what is needed.

Finding himself in a feudal system at a time far removed from his former life, he struggles to protect history without losing who he is. Collecting to him those who lived on the edge of their society. A hedge witch, a goblin and a future king, are allies with Marvin using their abilities to aid him to accomplish the task he has taken on.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C. DeWard
• Release date: Feb 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370335794

C. DeWard

I currently reside in Florida, this being the last place I visited in my travels 50 years ago. When I was younger, our family traveled following my father, who served in the military and went where he was assigned. This was life until I was four years old, by that time we had settled in Wisconsin. There I stayed until I was seventeen and footloose, bound to take off on my own. Life placed certain events before me, I went where they led. Which is how I ended in the state where I now live. I've been here so long it's home. I am no longer footloose with a desire to move again. Snow has lost any appeal it may have had. Currently retired, my previous career was as a mechanical designer. I presently enjoy fishing, on occasion, scrimshaw, some attempts at watercolor painting and hobby machine work. Writing will interfere with these endeavors, especially when I feel an obligation to my characters. An idea will come and I'll feel motivated to develop it, following through to a finish. My wife is partially responsible for this, as she remembers when our children were young and at home. I would tell them tales and stories from an over active imagination. She was the one to encourage me to put some of them 'to paper'. Therefore, the things I write are just an extension of that imagination, taken in their own direction. Writing gives an outlet for the characters who have always resided with me. They relate the stories, I 'scribble' them down. I do this first, for my enjoyment, then for those who may read them. Please enjoy reading.

Book preview

A Wizard In Time

By C. DeWard

Copyright 2018 C. DeWard

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter 1 - Getting Away From It All

Chapter 2 - Stranger In The Night

Chapter 3 - A Lifetime of Learning

Chapter 4 - A Mage Awakened

Chapter 5 - Wizard Meets His Witch

Chapter 6 - A Wizard Bewitched

Chapter 7 - Taking Charge

Chapter 8 - The Saving of A Gobelin

Chapter 9 - Knight-Mares

Chapter 10 - Breath of Life

Chapter 11 - A Wizards Wrath

Chapter 12 - Merulin’s Entourage’

Chapter 13 - Witch Dilemma, Hex Vex

Chapter 14 - Into The Breech

Chapter 15 - Wizard's Dilemma

Chapter 16 - A Meeting Of Magiks

Epilogue - A Life Of Purpose

Appendix

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

A.C. Clarke

Chapter 1

Getting Away From It All

The Car rattled along the alley, a fog of blue smoke painting its path in a noxious afterimage. It’s wheels crunching along the gravel embedded in the dried mud base of the over grown deepening ruts. A severely thin man, looking as if he’d lost too much weight quickly, with a hawk like nose and cheekbones prominent in his gaunt features, sat in an old lawn chair with frayed webbing. He had stopped shaving, considering it more trouble than it was worth to someone in his situation, and had several weeks’ growth of beard. The chair in which he slouched was a familiar fixture on the concrete slab masquerading as a patio. The slab in turn was attached to the backside of a rundown apartment building, where cheap one bedroom accommodations were rented.

Marvin’s eyes followed the car of their own volition, as if snared by any movement on this quiet Sunday morning. A face peered out the side window at him, the same face he’d been seeing lately, in reflections of shop windows or in a quick glance when looking behind him. Even as he looked now he wasn’t sure it was there, sometimes there was just a glimpse as he rounded a corner. This face seemed to stay with him, never far away. Marvin chose to ignore it this time and crushed another empty aluminum can in his long bony fingers and dropped it with the rest in the half full cardboard box beside his chair. He ran a gnarled hand through his thinning hair, pushing the long strands on the side over his ear, the loose hairs immediately falling out of place again. If he refused to accept he saw the face it really wasn’t there, that way he wasn’t losing his mind so there was nothing wrong.

He pulled the tab on another beer and took a long pull at the warm liquid. He was ‘celebrating’ his prolonged unemployment yet again, it was how most of his days were filled now. After twenty-five years as a Chemical Engineer with the same company you would have thought his position was secure. You would have thought they would show some appreciation. You would have thought they might care. Marvin’s ever present anger started to bubble. Scowling he threw the half empty beer across the alley, then immediately regretted the loss.

He could still see Bob’s face, when he’d been called into the office, on his unexpected last day. They had often sat in the mornings, as the work week ended, and discussed the course of the job. Where they would like it to be heading and what goals they wanted to reach the following week. This time the conversation took an unexpected turn.

Marvin, Bob looked at his desk, tapping his fingers, You’re aware our sales have been down, with the economy being like it is fewer facilities are expanding. There’s very little new construction and little desire among our clients to commit to a contract until things turn around.

We don’t need to worry Bob, it’ll bounce back, it always does. Marvin gave a knowing smile, Things are always up and down in this business.

You and I both understand how it works Marv’ but upper management and the ‘bean counters’ are uncertain. Bob hesitated, They’re pushing us to make some reductions to reduce expenses.

What can we reduce Bob? Cut out coffee, no more free copies to save paper? Marvin barked out a short laugh.

Marv, it’s much more serious, they‘re cutting back on staff to save overhead expenses. Bob stressed, his voice flat. He watched Marvin for a reaction, when there was none, he became more direct.

Marvin, let me get right to the point, Bob shuffled through some papers, finally picking one up, We have to cut our department by twenty five percent. I’ve reviewed performance charts for our group and your efficiency has fallen off in the last two years.

I know Bob, what with the divorce and losing the house and moving, I’ve been distracted. Marvin began to tread the worn path over old ground they’d covered before, with a hint of a whine.

Just one time he’d let himself slip. Marge had found out about his affair with a woman at the convention, just once in the fifteen years of their marriage. Once was all it took to bring his world down around him. He’d been a fool to throw away what they had for a few moments with a woman he hardly knew. He kept thinking and wishing but that was a waste of time, spit in one hand and wish in the other and see what you came up with.

I’m working it out, just awhile longer and I’ll be back up to speed.

It’s been two years Marv’, the company’s been more than patient. Bob quickly finished, wanting to get this over. Marvin, I’m sorry, but we have to let you go, it’s not much but you’ll get the standard severance package.

What the hell do you mean severance package! Marvin’s voice rose, cracking, Like hell I’m leaving, I made this company I was here when you were still a kid in school wet behind the ears.

He saw Bob push his intercom button, Marsha, call security please, Marvin will be needing help taking his belongings from the building.

On the way out he had kicked the door open in empty defiance, followed close by the rent-a-cop, as he left the office carrying a small box of personal items. It had taken less than five minutes to clear his desk. Not much to show for twenty-five years. Even though he wasn’t the only one let go, it still hurt.

He had gone through his severance quickly and what savings he had were devastated by the divorce. Now the unemployment was about to end. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t tried to find more work, just like everywhere else the economy was down in New Mexico, circumstances just weren’t favorable, no one was hiring. He was two months in arrears on his rent, the landlord had already told him he needed to leave. Just yesterday the notice of intent to evict had come, it was another dilemma. He wasn’t sure where to go, he had no friends and his daughter didn’t want any relationship with him since the divorce. She blamed him for the breakup and what could he say, he had been the one that was unfaithful. He’d made an ass of himself when standing on the front lawn of her home, half drunk, trying to justify himself. Not knowing how he had come to the point where he found himself angrily accusing her mother. How many types of an idiot could one man be? Marvin hadn’t kept track but knew the count against him had to be high. Here he was at forty-nine, alone with no real prospects, no friends and soon to be out on the street. Dwelling on the fact overlong wasn’t helping, Marvin opened another beer.

Reaching down he retrieved a book, one thing which hadn’t let him down, the printed page. This one was a history of medieval culture, an obsessive interest with him. Half the books he read were on feudal societies, the others were in the field of chemistry and chemical engineering. Reading did help, as long as he was in the world of words the here and now didn’t exist. The reality of life stopped weighing on him when lost in some castle’s stone corridors. He opened to the page he had marked, a woodblock illustration of a fortress under siege, surrounded by armies and ancient war engines. Sometimes he wished he could have been there, so much simpler, lives less complicated. He had often wondered what it would have been like to be a ‘lord’ of that era. To have life and death in your hands, ruling the lives of other men. What would it be like to serve such a man, supporting his rule with your very life?

He looked up from the book and back through the glass of the sliding door at the stock of library books on various aspects of life in ‘medieval’ times. Most were overdue and held fines which would never be paid. He was reluctant to return them, they were like old friends. Something familiar to occupy his thoughts and keep them from spiraling down into the pit he had made.

He became aware of hearing the diesel running again, not really a diesel though it sounded like one, it was just the hum he’d been hearing for months, ever since the loss of his job. It was there constantly, never stopping, keeping him awake at night. Early on he’d cursed the construction crews, working twenty four hours a day. Didn’t they understand people had to sleep! Marvin had gone looking for them with a vague vengeance in mind. He even searched through the streets after midnight to seek them out. Driving around for hours he’d not found one municipal job, road work project or building being worked on in the quiet streets. Still the diesel had been with him.

He’d stopped a cop to ask where the construction was. The officer had thought him drunk and told him to go home. The cruiser even followed Marvin back to his apartment and waited until he was safely inside before leaving. It was after this incident Marvin decided to go to a doctor.

Doctor Sanjay, at the free clinic, was the only one who would see him. The seat in the dirty waiting room was cheap hard molded plastic, cold and uncomfortable. Marvin was inserted between the crying baby and the drug addict. He had engaged in a pointless argument with the junkie, becoming so loud the nurse had come out and told him if he wouldn’t quiet down she would call the police and have him removed. He sat quietly after she went back to her desk, pouting, wrapped up in self-pity. The clinic staff were overworked and when they finally called he only had a few minutes to see the doctor. The doctor was stressed and tired, wanting to get home after a day of unwed mothers, addicts, suspicious wounds and hypochondriacs. He felt like he was in and out before having a chance to really explain what the trouble was.

It hums all the time Doc, sometimes I can’t sleep at night, like a diesel running outside my door, just loud enough to be irritating. Marvin explained.

After a quick examination of his ears the doctor had said, Ummm, I think I have heard of something like this. If I remember its affects are most prominent in men of your age group, a couple of percent of men like you will experience it. They say it’s ‘natural’ and not something to worry about, it’s called... The Doctor searched his memory, I’ve heard it was called the Tao's Hum or something similar, nothing to worry about. I’ll give you something to help you sleep, just be careful only to use it when you really need it.

Could I be losing it Doc? I mean, am I unbalanced? Sometimes I feel like I’m being watched or followed, I keep seeing the same face watching me out of windows, at the bottom of stairways or in the reflections of plate glass store fronts. When I look there’s never anyone there mind you but I see them, just at the corner of my vision. I’m finding myself looking over my shoulders and constantly checking behind me on the sidewalks.

Doctor Sanjay, using his best sympathetic look, No Marvin, I don’t think we need worry about that possibility just yet. You mentioned you recently lost your job and you’d gone through a divorce prior to that? Those things cause a lot of anxiety in life I would guess this is just mild paranoia brought on by tension stemming from excessive emotion, exacerbated by your divorce, family problems and job loss. It would be strange if this hadn’t lowered your self-esteem somewhat and affected you in other ways.

Your mild paranoia, manifesting itself in this form, may also be a camouflage for a bit of depression. The Doctor suggested making a mark on Marvin's chart. Before we look at other options why don’t you try a change of scenery. Find someplace to go, out of town, make a different set of circumstances for yourself.

Those few words ended the consultation, no clear answers, just a get out of town and see if you feel better prescription. At least he'd slept better for a few nights until the sleep aids were used up. There had been a few sleepless nights when he’d gone out seeking another type of prescription from the suppliers on the streets. Going home empty handed when fear of the police and the street punks had kept him from making a deal. Perhaps he should get away, maybe to the place up in the hills he used to go to in his college days. What was it called? Eagles Nest, yes that was the one, he still had an old tent and some other gear and maybe a few nights camping in the wild would do some good. The car was well used but it still ran and he owned it free of any banks involvement. The tires were getting worn but they ought to have enough tread left for a trip or two. He had enough money to pay for the gas there and back to Phoenix. He could sleep in the car if the need arose, it wouldn’t be the first time. Yea, getting out of town wasn’t a bad idea, he’d leave this afternoon. At least the problems here in Phoenix couldn’t follow him.

Marvin rose unsteadily from the chair kicking the box of empties to the side. He dug the old tent, lantern and camp stove out of the one closet that held all his belongings. All his clothes fit into the one duffle bag he owned, barely filling it halfway. Aside from a few non-perishables in the pantry, he didn’t have anything else to call his own. Not much to show for forty-nine years of life. There was another vague disappointment in how meager it was. How quickly he inventoried it all.

He looked around the apartment one last time, as there would be no reason to come back. His eyes fell on the stock of books covering the sofa. Not understanding exactly why, he knew he had to take them. He couldn’t leave them behind or bear to part with them. Retrieving the box of empties from the slab out back, he dumped the crushed beer cans in the middle of the floor and scooped the books off the couch into it. The box was almost big enough to hold the dozen or so books. He made three quick trips to the car to load his few belongings then took one final look around the apartment before leaving. As a last minute thought he decided to strip the old worn blankets off the bed and take them too. Marvin took the key out of a pocket and threw it in the middle of the floor, a last act of defiance for his situation.

Driving away, if he’d taken the time to look back he would have seen a face peering around the corner of his former abode. Not that he would have cared about a stress related, emotionally generated, paranoiac hallucination. No, that was his former life and he was leaving it behind, farther than even he anticipated.

Chapter 2

Stranger In The Night

The small fire cast flickering shadows across his thin body as he slouched in a canvas folding chair. The night was warm enough so a fire wasn’t needed but