Read Online Farthest Reach by Richard Baker - Free Book Online

daemonfey.”
    “Sarya and her sons, and a few others. Yes, that makes sense. We know that the daemonfey escaped from Arcorar and insinuated themselves into several powerful Houses in Siluvanede, creating the fey’ri.” Araevin read farther, and his eyes widened. “Interesting,” he breathed. “This may be what I was looking for. Near the end of this account Sanathar tells us that the Nightstar was interred in a secure vault—that we know, of course, since I eventually found it there—but he also says that Ithraides departed for Arvandor soon after the creation of the vault. The star elf Morthil took many of Ithraides’s tomes and treasures into his keeping.”
    “Star elf? An unusual turn of phrase. Do you think he meant sun or moon elf?”
    “No, it’s quite clear. Look, other sun elves and moon elves are named here, and here. I think the text implies a separate race or nationality.”
    “I’ve never heard of star elves before,” Ilsevele said. “A kindred of the People who died out long ago? Or maybe he is referring to elves who came to this world from another world? Some of Evermeet’s folk are descended from elves who sailed the Sea of Night in flying ships.”
    Araevin studied the ancient yellow parchment for a long moment, eyes narrowed in thought.
    “Just because we haven’t heard the term ‘star elf’ before doesn’t mean that no one else has,” he finally replied. “My friend Quastarte has spent years studying the realms and races of elvenkind in this world. He knows far more about the topic than I do. Perhaps he could tell us more about who these people were, or where and when they lived. For that matter, there might be information close at hand here in the Vault.”
    He began reading the passage more carefully, studying the exact nuances of the text.
    Ilsevele set aside the pages of the manuscript that Araevin was interested in, and continued to read ahead while he pored over the older pages. The two of them read together in silence for a short time, until Ilsevele stiffened and drew back from the old parchment in front of her.
    “There is something else, Araevin.”
    Araevin glanced up from the scroll. “What?”
    “There’s a passage by Ithraides. He’s writing about the Nightstar here.” Her brow furrowed. “Ithraides records that the selukiira killed two mages of Arcorar. The selukiira was protected by fearsome wards, spells designed to make sure that only daemonfey wizards would be able to use the stone. In fact, Ithraides writes here that he did not dare touch it himself.” Ilsevele glanced down at Araevin’s chest, even though the lorestone was hidden beneath his shirt. “If the Nightstar is that dangerous, why didn’t it destroy you, as well? Did the deadly spells fail with time?”
    “No, they’re still there.” Araevin looked down at the tabletop before him. “The Nightstar spared me because it recognized me.”
    “Recognized you? What do you mean by that?”
    He could not bear to look up to her face. “I mean that it found Dlardrageth blood in me. The Nightstar is not permitted to destroy a Dlardrageth—at least, not one who knows enough about magic to make use of its powers. I am related to Saelethil Dlardrageth, at least distantly.”
    Ilsevele drew in a soft breath. “Araevin, I didn’t—why didn’t you tell me?”
    “I did not know for certain myself until I attempted the selukiira. Oh, I suspected that I might have a distant kinship to one or the other of the fey’ri houses—a very long time ago, my family dwelled in Siluvanede, in the years before the Seven Citadels’ War. And when I spoke with Elorfindar in the House of Long Silences, he reminded me of our relationship. But I never dreamed that I could be a Dlardrageth.”
    He made himself meet her gaze, and said, “I understand that you will break off our engagement, of course. I can’t blame you.”
    “Break off the engagement?” Ilsevele stared at him. “Because twenty or thirty generations ago