Read Online Mage Prime (Book 2) by B.J. Beach - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: B.J. Beach
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a notebook.”
The almost gleeful expression on Karryl’s face told him straight away that he’d left himself wide open. “Don’t worry. I’ll remember it all and you can write it down later, when you won’t have to hurry.”
Symon gave his apprentice a flat look, wincing inwardly at this oblique reminder of Karryl’s ability to remember everything he read or heard. He gave a brief nod.
Agmar continued. “As you all know, Vellethen is a very ancient city. Much of its original foundations lie deep beneath the present one, even deeper than the old city in which the War of Power was fought. Consequently, all attempts to reach those ancient foundations have failed.”
Karryl leaned forward, his brows knitting in a thoughtful frown. “Could there be another reason apart from natural curiosity, for wanting to reach the original city? Is that the reason the War of Power happened in the first place?”
No-one spoke, and Karryl was certain he could feel Agmar’s eyes boring into his skull. “Did I say something?”
Agmar tapped his fore-fingers against his lower lip. “Only the same thing as our most learned scholars have recently been surmising. You see, it is almost a thousand years since the War of Power. According to our astrologers and astronomers, when that time comes the same stars will be in conjunction as were then. Therefore we are inclined to believe that when this occurs history is bound to repeat itself.”
Karryl looked slightly perplexed. “But that still doesn’t tell us what it is about Vellethen that’s so important to them. If we don’t find out somehow or other, what’s to stop the city being destroyed again?”
Once more, silence fell over the room as the awful truth hit home. King Vailin broke the palpable hush with the question which Karryl and Symon were almost afraid to ask. “How long do we have before this ill-fated occurrence?”
Agmar didn’t reply immediately but regarded each one of them in turn as if assessing their individual strengths. “By your calendar the conjunction will occur next year, on the twenty-fifth day of the eighth month.”
Karryl did a quick mental calculation. “That’s exactly sixteen months. Mid-summer, and usually the hottest and driest month of the year.”
He gave Symon a wry smile. “That doesn’t give us much time to discover what they’re after. At least if it does come to another War of Power I shan’t have to worry about keeping warm.”
Symon shook his head in mock despair, but there was a hard glint in his grey eyes as he turned to the king. “How much are we going to tell our esteemed ministers out there?”
Vailin shot Agmar a brief questioning glance. The grey-robed elder fingered the large blue jewel he wore then gave the young monarch a brief nod.
Vailin stood up, the others hastily following suit. “Gentlemen, we tell them everything. They’re bound to find out sooner or later. At least if they hear it from us they’ll have the story right. Now, if you’re ready shall we go and face the music?”
CHAPTER TEN
The steadily rising clamour of impatience reached them through the heavy thickness of the curtain. As the liveried footman stepped through and announced the entrance of King Vailin, silence cut like a knife through the jabber of voices. Cocking a quizzical eyebrow at the others, Vailin ducked through the curtain, crossed the dais and settled himself on his throne, followed by Symon who sat to his right, Karryl to Symon’s right and Agmar to the king’s left. Satin, silk and velvet whispered and rustled as the assembled ministers, the majority of them elderly, straightened up from deep bows of respect. Although seats were placed around the sides of the room, the majority of those present chose to perambulate, moving from group to group, exchanging comments and opinions.
Not one for impressive ceremony, Vailin leaned forward, crossed his legs at the ankles and stared hard at the small sea of faces which gazed
The almost gleeful expression on Karryl’s face told him straight away that he’d left himself wide open. “Don’t worry. I’ll remember it all and you can write it down later, when you won’t have to hurry.”
Symon gave his apprentice a flat look, wincing inwardly at this oblique reminder of Karryl’s ability to remember everything he read or heard. He gave a brief nod.
Agmar continued. “As you all know, Vellethen is a very ancient city. Much of its original foundations lie deep beneath the present one, even deeper than the old city in which the War of Power was fought. Consequently, all attempts to reach those ancient foundations have failed.”
Karryl leaned forward, his brows knitting in a thoughtful frown. “Could there be another reason apart from natural curiosity, for wanting to reach the original city? Is that the reason the War of Power happened in the first place?”
No-one spoke, and Karryl was certain he could feel Agmar’s eyes boring into his skull. “Did I say something?”
Agmar tapped his fore-fingers against his lower lip. “Only the same thing as our most learned scholars have recently been surmising. You see, it is almost a thousand years since the War of Power. According to our astrologers and astronomers, when that time comes the same stars will be in conjunction as were then. Therefore we are inclined to believe that when this occurs history is bound to repeat itself.”
Karryl looked slightly perplexed. “But that still doesn’t tell us what it is about Vellethen that’s so important to them. If we don’t find out somehow or other, what’s to stop the city being destroyed again?”
Once more, silence fell over the room as the awful truth hit home. King Vailin broke the palpable hush with the question which Karryl and Symon were almost afraid to ask. “How long do we have before this ill-fated occurrence?”
Agmar didn’t reply immediately but regarded each one of them in turn as if assessing their individual strengths. “By your calendar the conjunction will occur next year, on the twenty-fifth day of the eighth month.”
Karryl did a quick mental calculation. “That’s exactly sixteen months. Mid-summer, and usually the hottest and driest month of the year.”
He gave Symon a wry smile. “That doesn’t give us much time to discover what they’re after. At least if it does come to another War of Power I shan’t have to worry about keeping warm.”
Symon shook his head in mock despair, but there was a hard glint in his grey eyes as he turned to the king. “How much are we going to tell our esteemed ministers out there?”
Vailin shot Agmar a brief questioning glance. The grey-robed elder fingered the large blue jewel he wore then gave the young monarch a brief nod.
Vailin stood up, the others hastily following suit. “Gentlemen, we tell them everything. They’re bound to find out sooner or later. At least if they hear it from us they’ll have the story right. Now, if you’re ready shall we go and face the music?”
CHAPTER TEN
The steadily rising clamour of impatience reached them through the heavy thickness of the curtain. As the liveried footman stepped through and announced the entrance of King Vailin, silence cut like a knife through the jabber of voices. Cocking a quizzical eyebrow at the others, Vailin ducked through the curtain, crossed the dais and settled himself on his throne, followed by Symon who sat to his right, Karryl to Symon’s right and Agmar to the king’s left. Satin, silk and velvet whispered and rustled as the assembled ministers, the majority of them elderly, straightened up from deep bows of respect. Although seats were placed around the sides of the room, the majority of those present chose to perambulate, moving from group to group, exchanging comments and opinions.
Not one for impressive ceremony, Vailin leaned forward, crossed his legs at the ankles and stared hard at the small sea of faces which gazed
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