Read Online A Warrior of Dreams by Richard Parks - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Richard Parks
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of someone... Aesyd? That sounded right. The voice was Aesyd's, and seemed to come to him when only when he needed chiding. It was very useful. Ghost narrowed his concentration, as ordered.
'Ossia.' That is harder ...
When that scroll finally opened, it contained not words but a doorway. Ghost shrugged and stepped through.
*
Aesyd stood at the lectern at the cartographer's table, still-in-process Map of the West spread out before him. A rather younger-looking Ghost stood with the other students ringed around him.
"Of all western city-states, only two are currently of any account: Darsa on the south coast and Ly Ossia to the north. Please don't embarrass me or yourselves by not noting the derivations: Dyr Sa — "Sea Road." Darsa is the seat of the Temple of Somna, of course, and a major trading center besides because of its harbor. Ly Ossia — "Safe Stone." Ly Ossia guards one end of the most western pass through the White Mountains known; several of our order have made the journey though it is not on the Pilgrimage Roster. In all other respects it is a poor second to Darsa. Both are currently beyond the Imperial frontier."
Ghost heard himself speak. "Why was the Temple built so far west? Surely Mekthos is more suitable?"
Aesyd smiled that patient smile that always let him know that you'd asked the precise foolish question he'd expected. Ghost remembered being annoyed. For a moment he was annoyed. Ghost savored the revenant of emotion far too long and had to hurry his concentration to hear what the Master was saying.
"...Tolsan Dynasty and Empire is a fairly recent development, Lad. Two hundred years is nothing, and the tide of civilization ebbs and flows from one end of the world to another and back again. Once it was in the west, though how long ago that was no one is certain. There is legend that the Aversan's had a major shrine in what is now Darsa, though there is no evidence of that. The Temple is there because it's there; if you need more reason I'm afraid you'll have to find it yourself. Now then — "
They never finished the lesson that day. Brother Lyrs appeared in the open doorway, red faced and nearly out of breath. "Master Aesyd, a word..." Aesyd met him at the doorway and they conversed for a few moments in low tones. Finally Lyrs bowed hurriedly and sped away, and after a moment Master Aesyd turned to face Ghost and the other Traveler acolytes.
"Word just came. Our Emperor crossed the border at Pol Mon two weeks ago. Ly Ossia and Darsa were annexed into the Empire as we expected. Except..."
Ghost remembered the look on his old Master's face as the rest of the memory faded. This was the only part that mattered.
Except ?
"Except the Temple at Darsa has been destroyed."
*
No one knew why, though the question was asked again and again. A mistake, surely. Ghost shrugged; it made no difference to him. The best he could do in his search was the memory of a greater city, now reduced and impoverished in favor of the bloated mess before him.
Safe Stone. It doesn't look particularly safe. Useless .
Ghost wiped his graying brown hair out of his eyes and looked one last time. Still no emotion, but he did get an image — gate. Strewn between two modest peaks in the foothills, Ly Ossia looked like a broken gate.
An image is better than a nothing .
Ghost got up and followed his lengthening shadow down to the city.
*
Most of the time Dusk Street lived up to its name. It was cobbled with dark stones and very narrow, weaving its way through some of the tallest buildings in the merchant's quarter. But at noon the sun pierced its slim roof of sky and glared down as fiercely as the gargoyles at the eaves. Then the hawkers and potioners retreated deeper into the labyrinth to await a friendlier hour.
Joslyn hurried along the nearly deserted street, grateful for its current deserted state. Her Initiate's robes would attract attention otherwise; Temple Dreamers were not so often seen in the streets that they could
'Ossia.' That is harder ...
When that scroll finally opened, it contained not words but a doorway. Ghost shrugged and stepped through.
*
Aesyd stood at the lectern at the cartographer's table, still-in-process Map of the West spread out before him. A rather younger-looking Ghost stood with the other students ringed around him.
"Of all western city-states, only two are currently of any account: Darsa on the south coast and Ly Ossia to the north. Please don't embarrass me or yourselves by not noting the derivations: Dyr Sa — "Sea Road." Darsa is the seat of the Temple of Somna, of course, and a major trading center besides because of its harbor. Ly Ossia — "Safe Stone." Ly Ossia guards one end of the most western pass through the White Mountains known; several of our order have made the journey though it is not on the Pilgrimage Roster. In all other respects it is a poor second to Darsa. Both are currently beyond the Imperial frontier."
Ghost heard himself speak. "Why was the Temple built so far west? Surely Mekthos is more suitable?"
Aesyd smiled that patient smile that always let him know that you'd asked the precise foolish question he'd expected. Ghost remembered being annoyed. For a moment he was annoyed. Ghost savored the revenant of emotion far too long and had to hurry his concentration to hear what the Master was saying.
"...Tolsan Dynasty and Empire is a fairly recent development, Lad. Two hundred years is nothing, and the tide of civilization ebbs and flows from one end of the world to another and back again. Once it was in the west, though how long ago that was no one is certain. There is legend that the Aversan's had a major shrine in what is now Darsa, though there is no evidence of that. The Temple is there because it's there; if you need more reason I'm afraid you'll have to find it yourself. Now then — "
They never finished the lesson that day. Brother Lyrs appeared in the open doorway, red faced and nearly out of breath. "Master Aesyd, a word..." Aesyd met him at the doorway and they conversed for a few moments in low tones. Finally Lyrs bowed hurriedly and sped away, and after a moment Master Aesyd turned to face Ghost and the other Traveler acolytes.
"Word just came. Our Emperor crossed the border at Pol Mon two weeks ago. Ly Ossia and Darsa were annexed into the Empire as we expected. Except..."
Ghost remembered the look on his old Master's face as the rest of the memory faded. This was the only part that mattered.
Except ?
"Except the Temple at Darsa has been destroyed."
*
No one knew why, though the question was asked again and again. A mistake, surely. Ghost shrugged; it made no difference to him. The best he could do in his search was the memory of a greater city, now reduced and impoverished in favor of the bloated mess before him.
Safe Stone. It doesn't look particularly safe. Useless .
Ghost wiped his graying brown hair out of his eyes and looked one last time. Still no emotion, but he did get an image — gate. Strewn between two modest peaks in the foothills, Ly Ossia looked like a broken gate.
An image is better than a nothing .
Ghost got up and followed his lengthening shadow down to the city.
*
Most of the time Dusk Street lived up to its name. It was cobbled with dark stones and very narrow, weaving its way through some of the tallest buildings in the merchant's quarter. But at noon the sun pierced its slim roof of sky and glared down as fiercely as the gargoyles at the eaves. Then the hawkers and potioners retreated deeper into the labyrinth to await a friendlier hour.
Joslyn hurried along the nearly deserted street, grateful for its current deserted state. Her Initiate's robes would attract attention otherwise; Temple Dreamers were not so often seen in the streets that they could
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