Read Online The Callindra Chronicles Book One - First Quest by Benjamin Fisher-Merritt - Free Book Online Page A

sword in her clenched
fist. “He came to take your Title but you killed him
instead.”
    “ You’re partially right
Apprentice. I am the Titled mage he sought and he came to take that
Title from me. As you can see though, I do not take the lives those
who come to challenge me. I instead kill their weapons and send
them on their way.”
    “ Why did you keep this from
me?” Callindra backed away and a gust of wind cut between them,
actually scoring the ground. Her eyes widened in fear and dust
began to whirl about her. The wind tugged at her hair, moved the
scabbard over her shoulder and ruffled her shirt. “What are you
doing this for?”
    “ Ssshhhh, quiet now.”
Glarian’s voice was low and the winds calmed themselves. She could
see him through the dust now; he was sitting cross legged on the
ground. “Callindra, control yourself. What you’re doing is
dangerous, the winds are my domain but as with everything else in
my life you seem to turn it on its head.”
    She still held her sword, but Callindra
managed to get her breathing under control using the exercise he
had taught her. As with Daleus, she had to believe that if he was
going to harm her he would have done it long before. She sat a few
feet away from him and laid her sword across her knees, mirroring
him.
    “ What is your Title then
Master?” She asked, hoping it would help her to better
understand.
    “ I am The Master of the
North Wind.” He replied, and Callindra gasped. She had read about
him. Nobody knew his real name; he was a master of Masters, had
fought in countless battles and defeated a multitude of opponents.
Then one day he had simply vanished, taking his Title with him and
leaving the balance of the Compass of the Winds off
kilter.
    “ What are you doing out
here? Why did you leave The Order? What is someone like you doing
teaching someone like me?” She was trying to make sense of it all
but the idea that he might not be telling the truth never crossed
her mind.
    “ I have been exiled. I had a
… disagreement … with the other Masters about how and when our
power should be used so they attempted to strip me of my Title.
When that failed, they did the only other thing they
could.”
    “ When that failed? What does
that mean?”
    Glarian sighed sadly, pressing his palms flat
onto the hilt and flat of his sword. “I had to kill a few of them.
They left me no choice; when they attacked one after another I
couldn’t defend myself without taking lives. Killing their weapons
would have tired me to the point of defeat. When they realized they
couldn’t defeat me in single combat, they surrounded me and forced
me to take oaths never to practice or teach magic again.
    “ From the moment we met,
some part of me knew you would bring me to break those oaths
Callindra. They were taken against my will and therefore I do not
regret breaking them, although doing so will likely cost me my
life. You are my most worthy student and the one who shall inherit
my style and my Title.” He let that sink in and she gradually
realized what he was trying to say.
    “ What do you mean? I’m no
mage, I don’t like magic Master, I just want to learn The Sword.”
She started to feel the fear encroaching on her calm again, a
breeze tousled her hair and she nearly jumped to her
feet.
    “ You are an awakening mage
Callindra, nothing can stop that. Your unfortunate contact with
Daleus seems to have accelerated your body’s ability to channel the
Weave. Even as we speak the winds have been reflecting your mood.
If I hadn’t gotten you to calm down you very well might have
summoned a tornado right here in the courtyard.”
    “ WHAT?” She was trying hard
not to panic but this was too much. Winds tore through the clearing
and with each gust they grew more violent. Glarian didn’t bat an
eye; he sat like a boulder in the middle of a stream. The winds
seemed to slow as they neared him.
    “ Remember your training
Callindra. The first Korumn is of the