Read Online Night's Haunting by Matthew Sprange - Free Book Online
Authors: Matthew Sprange
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However, it has never been proved. There has never been one successful experiment or casting that proves that battle magic is ascendant over necromancy, or that necromancy is subservient to battle magic."
"So what is dominant over necromancy?" asked Adrianna.
"Nothing. Or, at least, nothing that we have found."
"So..." Lucius began hesitantly, not sure he had understood where Forbeck was going. "It is like a part of the circle is missing?"
"Precisely!"
"But what can cause magic to go missing?"
"The two empires fought, and one of them went too far. Everything I have ever heard and read has said it was the elves that pushed too hard and brought destruction to both empires. It is said that they had such a mastery of magic that they were able to bring one of your threads, as you call them, into the physical world - permanently. Imagine that, the essence of raw magic, made physical. It would be like... being able to wield the power of the sun. You could control the stars themselves!"
"That didn't happen though," said Adrianna flatly.
"Of course not. They could not control that much magic. A cataclysm befell them. Huge portions of their empires fell into the sea, which began to churn with endless storms, as it does today. Elf and dwarf were completely wiped out, leaving our race behind. All their knowledge, all the grandeur of their civilisation, wiped out in an instant because of greed and the desire to massacre their enemies. In doing so, they took some part of magic with them."
"Is all that true?" Lucius asked.
"No idea!" Forbeck grinned. "It fits all the known facts, but could still be completely wrong. We may never know the answers!
We'll continue your training and see what happens. Still, we have done enough for today. Rest and reflect on the tale. For my part, I must bid you farewell - affairs of other guild members call upon my time."
"I'll come with you," Adrianna said.
"Foolish girl, don't worry for my safety - I am more than capable of taking care of myself."
"She's right," Lucius said, suddenly thinking of Magnus, the previous guildmaster of thieves. "You should not wander the streets alone."
"I thank you both for your concern, truly. But there are some things, I confess, that I must do alone, and I will not suffer interference from those seeking to protect me from an illusory threat."
"Well, just keep an eye open," he finally said.
"My dear Lucius, coming from a thief, that is indeed good advice!"
Lucius became aware of Adrianna standing close behind him as they both watched Forbeck leave the warehouse. She placed a hand on his shoulder.
"He knows more about our craft than you and I are ever likely to know, but I believe he is underestimating the intentions of Vos this time. Keep your ears open, Lucius; see what your thieves can find out about this Preacher Divine. You and I have to work together if we are going to keep Master Forbeck alive."
Chapter Five
Staring in disbelief across the Five Markets, Ambrose shook his head, unable to reconcile what he saw with any kind of sense. He had worked the Five Markets for years, managing children the thieves' guild recruited as pickpockets within his own franchise. It was a lucrative business, and served the guild as a tool for bringing young blood into its ranks. He had grown used to working under the shadow of the Vos Empire, personified by the soaring towers of the Citadel that loomed darkly over each of the separate markets.
Now, his worst nightmare had come true. Being so close to the Citadel, small patrols of red-liveried guards were common enough, and it was his role to keep his pickpocket teams on the move, timing patrols so the guards did not see the same familiar faces in the crowd time and again.
As soon as he arrived in the Five Markets that morning, Ambrose saw what had changed. The guard were present in force. Pairs of guards stood at every conceivable entrance to the markets, from the wide Ring Street that linked all the markets, to the
"So what is dominant over necromancy?" asked Adrianna.
"Nothing. Or, at least, nothing that we have found."
"So..." Lucius began hesitantly, not sure he had understood where Forbeck was going. "It is like a part of the circle is missing?"
"Precisely!"
"But what can cause magic to go missing?"
"The two empires fought, and one of them went too far. Everything I have ever heard and read has said it was the elves that pushed too hard and brought destruction to both empires. It is said that they had such a mastery of magic that they were able to bring one of your threads, as you call them, into the physical world - permanently. Imagine that, the essence of raw magic, made physical. It would be like... being able to wield the power of the sun. You could control the stars themselves!"
"That didn't happen though," said Adrianna flatly.
"Of course not. They could not control that much magic. A cataclysm befell them. Huge portions of their empires fell into the sea, which began to churn with endless storms, as it does today. Elf and dwarf were completely wiped out, leaving our race behind. All their knowledge, all the grandeur of their civilisation, wiped out in an instant because of greed and the desire to massacre their enemies. In doing so, they took some part of magic with them."
"Is all that true?" Lucius asked.
"No idea!" Forbeck grinned. "It fits all the known facts, but could still be completely wrong. We may never know the answers!
We'll continue your training and see what happens. Still, we have done enough for today. Rest and reflect on the tale. For my part, I must bid you farewell - affairs of other guild members call upon my time."
"I'll come with you," Adrianna said.
"Foolish girl, don't worry for my safety - I am more than capable of taking care of myself."
"She's right," Lucius said, suddenly thinking of Magnus, the previous guildmaster of thieves. "You should not wander the streets alone."
"I thank you both for your concern, truly. But there are some things, I confess, that I must do alone, and I will not suffer interference from those seeking to protect me from an illusory threat."
"Well, just keep an eye open," he finally said.
"My dear Lucius, coming from a thief, that is indeed good advice!"
Lucius became aware of Adrianna standing close behind him as they both watched Forbeck leave the warehouse. She placed a hand on his shoulder.
"He knows more about our craft than you and I are ever likely to know, but I believe he is underestimating the intentions of Vos this time. Keep your ears open, Lucius; see what your thieves can find out about this Preacher Divine. You and I have to work together if we are going to keep Master Forbeck alive."
Chapter Five
Staring in disbelief across the Five Markets, Ambrose shook his head, unable to reconcile what he saw with any kind of sense. He had worked the Five Markets for years, managing children the thieves' guild recruited as pickpockets within his own franchise. It was a lucrative business, and served the guild as a tool for bringing young blood into its ranks. He had grown used to working under the shadow of the Vos Empire, personified by the soaring towers of the Citadel that loomed darkly over each of the separate markets.
Now, his worst nightmare had come true. Being so close to the Citadel, small patrols of red-liveried guards were common enough, and it was his role to keep his pickpocket teams on the move, timing patrols so the guards did not see the same familiar faces in the crowd time and again.
As soon as he arrived in the Five Markets that morning, Ambrose saw what had changed. The guard were present in force. Pairs of guards stood at every conceivable entrance to the markets, from the wide Ring Street that linked all the markets, to the
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