Det här är Master of the Five Magics av Lyndon Hardy.
Boken (och dess uppföljare) berättar Alodars historia, när han reser genom lärandet av Fem Magics (Thaumaturgy, Alchemy, Magic, Sorcery och Wizardry) i ett uppdrag som börjar försöka vinna handen av drottningen, men blir en kamp mot en demon-invasion där endast Archmage (eller Mästaren i Fem Magikerna) kan råda.
Biten du kommer ihåg är var en av huvudpersonerna skickar sin hantlangare (Rendrac) till en brunnsöppning för att få en skatt av ädelstenar för att hjälpa drottningen och stärka hennes statskassan.
Alodar är vid denna tid en lärling till en alkemist och skapar en dryck som kan användas för att avleda eldens värme, men måste användas sparsamt.
“You did as well as you were able, Saxton,” Alodar said as he looked about the room. Anger began to boil. “I will pursue and give Rendrac his due. We shall recover the ointment yet and your treasure as well.”
“It is too late for that, my lad,” Saxton said, beginning to breathe with difficulty. “I have studied the inner organs of animals enough to guess what has happened to me. I am not to partake of any of the jewels of the mountains.”
He stopped, and a deep sigh rattled through his lungs. “But then neither will Basil have his way,” he continued. “Two successes with a caloric shield! It is enough for any alchemist.”
“Sweetbalm, or perhaps thaumaturgy,” Alodar said. “We have quested, Saxton, you and I. Do not falter when the goal is in sight.”
“All the balms were destroyed in the mess.” Saxton waved one arm in a feeble arc over his head. “Think no more of me. Flee instead while you can. Basil will receive enough from Rendrac’s trip into the heart of the mountains to care little for the service of a novice.”
“Rendrac braves the heat?” Alodar asked.
“Yes, he anointed himself with the full contents of one flask as I looked on helplessly,” Saxton replied. “When he was done, he resembled less a man than a silver demon, the coating did shine so. And the second batch he crushed underfoot and rubbed its precious salve into the muck he already had made. The other two flasks on the roof were destroyed as well, I fear, when he tossed all the gear to the earth in his rage to find the ointment.”
Alodar tillämpar vad som är kvar av Caloric Shield salva och ventures i återkomst med en liten pärla av pärlor också. Rendarc försöker ta bröstet av honom och de strider
In disbelief, Alodar looked to Rendrac’s face and then back to the weapon still in midswing. As Alodar watched, it slowed to a crawl and then stopped motionless. Almost simultaneously, the big man uttered a weak yelp, and his free hand slowly rose with a spasm of effort from his waist to a mouth held rigidly open under eyes filled with fear. For a second, nothing happened and then, like a silver statue, Rendrac toppled to the ground with a loud clang. Alodar moved to the prostrate form, its limbs still in the rigid position they had held when erect. He reached out and touched the hand that held the blade and felt a deep coldness, rock-hard and smooth, Alodar struck down with his own sword, pommel first, onto an outstretched rigid arm. The now inert form rang from the contact.
“The ointment,” Alodar murmured. “It was meant to be used sparingly and burnt off. Rendrac was too greedy and applied too much. And now it has degraded with age and entrapped him.”
De efterföljande böckerna är Secret of the Sixth Magic och Riddle of the Seven Realms .