Read Online A Secret Atlas by Michael A. Stackpole - Free Book Online

anyone else, Keles might have thought he had simply had a
    revelation and relented in his previous opinion, but his grandfather was too complex for
    that answer to satisfy him.
    The Prince smiled. “I applaud your vision, dicaikyr Anturasi. The existence of this device, of course, must be kept secret. I can count on your complicity in this, Master Gryst?”
    The blindfolded man nodded. “Oh yes, Highness. And my son, too. I’m sure he’s quite
    forgotten about it, now that he has his new pouch-clock. That’s what he calls it, a pouch-
    clock.”
    “Splendid.” Prince Cyron slipped his hands into the opposite sleeves of his overshirt. “And
    where is your son now? I should like to speak with him.”
    “And I know he would like to speak with you, Highness. It would be an honor. I know it.”
    “Good, have him report to me as soon as he can. After the Festival will be fine, but during
    would be better.”
    “Oh, Highness, I wish I could comply, but he’s probably in Solaeth now, or perhaps even
    in Dolosan.”
    The Prince’s eyebrow rose. “He’s in the wastelands?”
    “On his way. That’s where one gets thaumston, Highness.”
    “Yes, very true.” The Prince looked back at Qiro. “Perhaps you could have Master Gryst
    escorted down to the gate? I will see him home after we converse for a moment.”
    “Of course, Highness. Jorim, please do as the Prince asks.”
    “Yes, Grandfather.” Jorim crossed and took Gryst by the elbow, guiding him from the
    curtained area.
    “Your pleasure, my Prince?” Qiro pointed to a side table with glasses and a pitcher.
    “Keles, pour us some wine.”
    “No, thank you, dicaikyr .”
    Keles looked at his grandfather. “Will you drink?”
    “No.” Qiro lifted his chin and clasped his hands at the small of his back. “What is it,
    Highness?”
    “First, congratulations on finding the dual clock and recognizing its potential. You realize,
    of course, that the device Borosan Gryst is testing is . . . equally valuable. Its applications, especially as concerns our ability to defend ourselves against the Desei, cannot be
    overvalued.”
    Qiro nodded solemnly. “I have seen the value in it, too, for my applications, my Prince.
    Keles and Jorim have the talent that allows them to send me images and information,
    mind to mind. While this might not be as accurate as I would desire, the time saved is
    invaluable. Such a device would let me field more survey teams and would provide a
    check on the accuracy of the dual clock.”
    “Good. Then we are of a mind.”
    “That being, Highness?”
    “That having Borosan Gryst in the Wastes is too dangerous. I will need you to prepare
    charts that will allow a group to be dispatched to find him and return him to the capital.”
    “An expedition to the Wastes, Highness?”
    “Yes, Master Anturasi. The one we have long talked about will now be mounted. It will
    require your charts, of course, else any chance of success is negligible.”
    “My charts of that area are the best in the world, but they are still not very good.” Qiro
    rubbed a hand over his forehead. “When the Cataclysm released the wild magic, it
    wrought changes in what had been there before. While the centuries have brought a
    retreat of the magic, it is not complete. The storms cycle strong and weak, and could still
    be creating changes. I will make the charts—all based on my travels of course—but I
    cannot swear by their accuracy.”
    The Prince nodded. “That will have to do, though we will have to remedy that situation as
    well. If gyanri can create things as powerful as what we are talking about, and the Wastes are the source of the thaumston that powers them, we will need to find deposits and
    possess them, or destroy them. That is a matter of national importance.”
    Qiro’s icy eyes glittered. “A matter of Imperial importance, even.”
    “Yes, indeed.” Cyron nodded, but refused to let himself be distracted by Imperial
    daydreams. “I will need