Read Online The Shadow Realm (The Age of Dawn Book 4) by Everet Martins - Free Book Online

Her presence was all that was needed. It wasn’t arrogance, she thought. It was self-awareness.
    She glanced over at Vesla scribbling in a ledger beside her. She had shiny midnight hair that shone with hints of blue, straight and in a ponytail. Her eyes were a cherry-brown and her cheekbones were sharp. She had taken on the role of her assistant, but Nyset liked to think of her as a friend first. It was nice to have a budding friendship with a woman for once. They were both in their nineteenth birth years. She had always had trouble with connecting with other girls. She had never quite figured out why.
    Nyset silks were a bold red, impossible to miss in the gloom of neutrals. She was making herself a target, she knew. There had to be enemies here. They were all around, only miles from Helm’s Reach. The Death Spawn had to be badly weakened to have not yet attacked here. Unless they were elsewhere. What were they waiting for? She felt her throat tightening at the thoughts and directed herself back to the present.
    The girl standing before her sniffed. She was staring at her, shuffling her feet and swaying from side to side.
    “Sorry. What’s your name, child?” Nyset asked, tilting her head. The day already felt too long.
    “Tesana,” she squeaked.
    “And do you touch the Dragon?” She didn’t have time to waste with frivolous conversation.
    “Oh yes, yes of course.” Tesana’s eyes lit up, glowing like dying embers.
    “Alright then. Show me your best spell.” Nyset folded her arms and leaned back in the rickety chair. She loved the way her silks caressed her skin, even when sticking and wet.
    Tesana took a few steps back from the table. Her lips pressed together and she lifted her hand into the air, an index finger extended. A sprig of fire danced on her fingertip, bright as a candle. Nyset frowned. Too young and too weak.
    “You’ll make a fine apprentice, darling. Vesla will enter your name in the books.” She gestured towards Vesla, who flashed her a bright smile. It was a task that would’ve bored Nyset to death.
    “Who’s next?” Nyset beckoned to a grizzled man with sunken eyes.
    Nyset nodded at him as he stepped up to her table. “Hello,” her breath caught. His features startled her. He looked like her father, reminding her of home. It wasn’t him though. It couldn’t possibly be. He was safe in Breden with her mother.
    “Are you alright, Arch Wizard?”
    “Ah… yes. Fine. You’re touched by the Phoenix then?”
    “Yes, ma’am. I’ll show you.” He casually reached around his back and drew a dull carving knife. Nyset embraced the Dragon, swirling fire in her veins. He held the stubby knife out to his side, reflecting the fire in her eyes. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. I wouldn’t hurt you. I just want to show you what I say is true.”
    She should have brought a few of the armsman with her, just in case. There were many people here, more than the two of them could manage. The man dragged his knife across his palm and the skin spread apart, spilling blood. A woman behind him gasped. He sheathed the knife with his other hand while his wound knitted together, bursting with the sky blue light of the Phoenix. “See?”
    “Very well. Please step over here and my assistant will finish up.”
    The man planted his bloody palm at the front of her table, leaning close. “It’s good to be scared. Never know where the next dagger will come,” he said flatly.
    “Right.” She blinked at him, waiting for him to move along.
    “Just a little advice for you, Arch Wizard.” He clicked his tongue. “Wouldn’t want to see anything happen to you.” He left a bloody print on her table and sauntered over to Vesla.
    Vesla cringed away from him, then flashed Nyset a raised eyebrow.
    “You left your blood on my table.” Nyset lazily pointed at it.
    “Oh. You want me to clean that?”
    She stared at him, looking into his grinning eyes and blackened teeth. He stared back, his cracking lips