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Night of the Change

by Michael Lawson

328 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-1208; ISBN 1-55395-493-9; US$26.50, C$31.15, EUR22.00, £15.50

Night of the Change is the first of a series of novels recounting the unleashing of magic in the land of Toll. For thousands of years magic has been bound by the Restraints, a spell which limits the operation of magic. Now, there has arisen a cadre of rebel wizards intent on ruling Toll by force and magic. Night of the Change reports the battle of wizards and kings, lovers and friends, as they seek to defeat evil magic.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book For thousands of years, evil wizards ruled Toll by force of magic. Common men lived in fear for their lives. Hilan the Peacemaker, a wizard of great power, arose to defend those without magical talent. In an epic battle and at the loss of his life, Hilan cast the spell of Restraint and formed the Flame of Hilan. These Restraints: Time, Depth, and Distance serve to limit the power of magic's operation in Toll. The Order of the Flame, born from the death of Hilan, guards the Flame, heals the sick, and protects the weak by force of good magic. From within its stronghold in Flame Valley, the Order, led by Adna Toulan the Flame Lord, dispatches its wizards into the five great holds of Toll to protect and heal. As the ten-year Gathering of the Lords approaches, the Flame of Hilan is attacked by an unseen cadre of rebel wizards, leaving the Restraints unstable, the operation of magic unreliably dangerous, and the Flame Lord near death. On the same night as the attack on the Flame, war, led by unknown lords and wizards with unbelievable magic control of weather, descends upon the Holds, while at the same time the royal families are betrayed by traitors. The Flame Lord and the loyal Hold Lords have only one chance of survival; find and defeat the attackers of the Flame before the Restraints fail and wild magic is forever loosed in Toll.

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About the Author Michael Lawson lives in Albany, Ga. He is married and has four sons. Michael discovered his love for fantasy while creating mythic lands to entertain his young sons, on long trips in a very small car. His sons grew up, went to college, and moved away, but his love of mythic lands remains.

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Excerpts

Place: Danis/Artorn Freelands
Time: Seven Moons after the Night of Change

The valley through which Eker passed followed a well-known west to east trade route of the Freelanders. At the point where the valley turned to the north it intersected another basin, presently full of raiders.
"No wonder Ziz is confident," Eker said.
Raum observed Shavah Ziz talking to a group of men, and wanting no part of him, moved no further. The force gathered before him formed an army, no longer a raiding party. They made a formidable enemy without his magic, but the likelihood of success dramatically increased with Eker controlling the elements.

Sharu waited, out of view to others, rather than risk being seen by Ziz. Raum descended the mound to her side.
"Isn't it wonderful? With all these Freelanders we can't help but win. The people have finally united to destroy the Holds. I can't wait for the day when the Holds are free and we can live in peace!"

Sharu had listened for a moon to Raum talk about the war of liberation and the battle to destroy the Restraints, not understanding how he could speak of freedom and call Shavah Ziz an ally. She said nothing to the wizard of her thoughts; in fact, she said almost nothing at all, until now.
"They're not Freelanders, Eker."
"What did you say?" Eker asked.
"They're not Freelanders," Sharu repeated.
"I don't understand, Sharu. What do you mean?"
In answer, Sharu pointed, with her chin, to their camp. The Freelanders rested where they stopped, with no order to their placement. She then turned to the other valley and waited for the obvious to strike Eker. "Soldiers," she whispered.
Raum understood. The other encampment had order, they camped in ranks, with fires and tents arranged in military precision. Their band of freedom fighters had been joined to somebody's army.

Only the Holds had armies, and only one Hold loved freedom enough to go to war for it. Without realizing it, Eker witnessed the second stage of Antone Segovia's war being birthed. Soldiers, dressed as Freelanders, had traversed the Artorn frontier and passed through the mountains to join the Freelanders.

"Do you know what this means?" he asked excitedly, "It's started, the war has started and we are here to see it. Sharu, do you know what this means?"
The little servant of Shavah Ziz said nothing as she turned away, but thought, "Yes, Eker, I know what it means. It means more people are going to die because Segovia wants to rule Toll. It means Ziz can go on killing. I know exactly what it means."

Shavah stormed into his camp displaying the foulest mood Eker could remember. Cursing and throwing things, he kicked whatever he came in contact with. Being completely given over to his rage, he made no attempt to hide his disdain for Eker. By design, Raum had camped close to Ziz to be near Sharu.

He announced his entrance into the camp by striking a little girl bent over a fire, then cursed her for being in his way. Sharu had vanished and Eker felt relieved, for her and himself, having determined Ziz would not hit her again without a response.

He didn't know what he would do, but he would not stand by and see Sharu abused any longer. Eker had never seen Ziz hit Sharu, although he had seen the marks on her face and body. He watched Ziz tear through his camp making life miserable for all those around him, and made no pretense of not watching.

Ziz caught Eker's eye. "What are you looking at, boy?"
Raum made no answer, locking stares with Ziz.
"I asked you a question, boy." Ziz's tone dripped with disdain.
Raum made no answer but continued to look at Ziz, his lack of a response further enraging Shavah.

"I asked you a question. Answer me or I'll tear your tongue from your mouth!"

Ziz cursed Raum with all the filth at his disposal and moved through his camp toward the wizard. Ziz took two steps toward Eker and as he did, reached into his belt sheath to draw his short sword. Raum saw the snarling rage in Ziz and knew he intended to kill him.

Ziz moved with a purpose: Raum had seen it before. Shavah would walk at a quick pace, not overbalancing himself, advancing on his opponent, allowing no reaction time until close enough to use his knife. Eker did not plan nor intend his ferocity; it rose out of anger at Ziz's treatment of everyone around him, especially Sharu. He felt a release, a permission to act. Shavah had started this and Raum felt liberated to defend himself. Eker stood and faced Ziz, thrusting his arms away from him toward his campfire.

He opened his "GATE," spoke the word of power, and pulled fire into the mortal world. Raum, enraged and taken by his magic, rammed his control into the campfire, and with a voice originating deep in his chest, spoke the words of command.

Raum spell wrote in a rage, not from learned magic, but from a hatred so deep it commanded the mind and controlled the soul. Eker, maddened, wanted to kill Ziz and rejoice in his pain. He shouted the words of control, and as he did, his voice surrounded the burning campfire. Obeying his command, the little fire that cooked his meals reared its head into the night, fueling itself on the insanity in Eker Raum. The tiny blaze became a howling inferno, its roar echoing through the two camps. The light of magic's anger illuminated the valley as the torrent of flame climbed into the night, searching for the apex of boundless rage.

Eker spoke a word of control he had never learned; it rose from his spirit and became light and heat. From the top of the burning column, a ball of burning separated from its mother to answer a father's call. The orb hovered overhead, the size of a wheel on a travel wagon, the circumference licking out into the night with tongues of death. Eker looked from his creation to Shavah Ziz, who stood motionless, stunned to immobility. Eker locked eyes with Ziz and smiled.

With a whisper, Raum sent death toward Shavah, speaking the send as a mother soothes a child. Eker's baby hurtled toward the ground, leaving a trail of flames in its wake. At the last instant, the Freelander threw himself to the ground and rolled over on his shoulder to come up in a crouch. Eker's fire, powered by his disgust, had no direction other than to attack. As death magic slammed into the earth, an explosion of sound echoed throughout the mountains, and the impact sent portions of destruction in all directions. The grass and ground around Ziz sizzled with magic's fire.

Shavah looked to the fireball's landing and then to Eker. The wizard smiled again, a sweet, serene smile, the smile of certain death. He stretched out his hand toward Ziz and turned his palm toward the sky. As he did, a small flame formed over his fingers, burning yellow, having been called from the death portion of the FLOWING.

Shavah beheld the palm of the wizard, and then glanced around as would an animal trapped. More quickly than his size betrayed, Shavah Ziz ran into the night.

Eker allowed the fire to burn over his fingertips for a moment, then waved his hand with a flourish, and the fire disappeared. He returned to his campfire, its blaze abated, and looked into the flames, in appearance calm but internally awash with emotions. No wizard could do what he had done, but Raum knew he could do it again.

Watching from the darkness, Sharu followed Ziz until he disappeared into the night. When sure Ziz had gone, she went quietly to Eker's side, saying nothing as she sat close beside him. Reaching over into his lap, Sharu took Raum's hand and held it between both of hers.
Looking into the fire she said, "Friends."
Eker, too occupied to notice, failed to see Sharu smile. Only once, and for a short time, but she did smile.

As the morning broke Eker rose to find Sharu asleep beside him. He went to relieve himself, and as he did, spoke to those around him, as always. They looked down and spoke quickly, turning away from the wizard as soon as possible. Eker returned to find Sharu awake and preparing a meal so he told her what happened.
"They are afraid of you, Eker," she explained.
Eker learned two things that morning. The first being a position of power is a lonely place. The second he learned when Ziz appeared at the edge of his camp. Ziz stopped at the unseen perimeter of Eker's camp, while Eker, showing no emotion, touched his "GATE" in preparation.

Ziz smiled at Eker and said from his place of distance, "My Lord Wizard, I've come to ask your pardon. My temper is my enemy."
Eker said nothing but stood to face Ziz.
"I had been drinking last night and was in a foul mood. I had no business coming at you the way I did. We have to put this behind us for the good of the war. We are allies, and friends, Eker."

As Ziz spoke his name the wizard felt the rage in him start to rise.
"I would like to forget it ever happened," said Shavah.
Shavah stretched out his hand toward Eker, and Raum walked around the little campfire to where Ziz waited.
"Lord Ziz, we are all under pressure. I too, apologize for losing my temper, please forgive my," Eker searched for a word, "...outburst. As far as I'm concerned it never happened. Again, please forgive me."
Ziz, extremely pleased, smiled and clapped the wizard on the back.
"Good, I'm glad it's behind us. As soon as you're ready, the leader of our new forces would like to meet you. He asked if I would escort you."
Eker replied, "I will be along shortly if you don't mind, Shavah."
Shavah smiled a huge grin and said, "Whatever is best for you, Eker. I will tell them to await your arrival."

Ziz said goodbye and walked away toward the other valley. Eker watched Ziz go and learned his second lesson of the day. Either he would kill Ziz, or Ziz would kill him. There would be no mercy asked, and none given. Some enemies cease to be enemies only when they are dead.

Sharu returned to stand at Eker's side.
"Sharu, he means to kill me."
"He always has, Eker."
She said nothing more and Eker watched as she walked away.
He smiled and said in a whisper, "That's the first time she has called my name!"

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Catalogue Information

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