Read Online The Shadow Realm (The Age of Dawn Book 4) by Everet Martins - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Everet Martins
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eyes cast down. “I had to test you. You understand?”
Nyset didn’t understand, but was glad to feel the tension slipping out of her muscles. “Of course.” She could see now his eyes were wet, his body trembling. The most severe, hidden wounds were shared by all.
“There are beasts who can change their faces about. I’ve seen ‘em. Had to make sure you were the real Arch Wizard.”
“Rise,” she said with her best air of command. Just what she needed, a Metamorphose to worry about.
He stood, holding his fist over his heart. “I live to serve, Mistress.” Mistress, how she hated that word. Customs had to be followed though.
Could she trust him? He was clearly mad, but she felt she could. Some of the brightest wizards were mad to the outside world. You just had to get to know them to get past their quirks and see their real brilliance. She had to start trusting that people had good intentions. “I could use someone to help us here.”
“My eyes are yours.”
“Great,” she squeaked with more excitement than she had intended. “Why do you wear the white of the Purists?”
He leaned in close, breath stinking like onions from two feet away. “I walk in many circles. I like to keep my eye on them.” Claw said, tapping a dirty fingernail on his eyelid. She was amazed he hadn’t lost his eyes to infection touching them with fingers that soiled.
“You’re a madman then?” Vesla said. Nyset had forgotten she was there and found herself snickering.
He started giggling and nodding. “Yeah, suppose so.” He grinned, flashing his five front teeth.
“Vesla, add him as our first veteran. We just need to add you to the ledger. Your first task will be to help us here, stand guard and try not to scare the children.”
He clapped his hands together. “Right, right. My first task. How exciting!” Claw shuffled over to Vesla, answering her rote questions.
Nyset rubbed her eyes. The day would be long indeed. “Who is next?” Nyset beckoned.
A girl in unadorned charcoal robes strode up, her gait determined. She had a wide jaw and beautiful skin, dark as elixir. She would have been stunning if not for the ugly burn on her cheek, partially healed and oozing with yellow pus. Her hair was short and tussled. “You’re the Arch Wizard?”
“Please don’t tell me this is another test.” Nyset leaned back against the mossy wall, her fingertips brushing its wet and spongy texture.
The girl covered her mouth, and let out a long sigh. A smile started forming on her lips. “No, no. Uh… where to start?” The girl’s thick eyebrows scrunched up, staring down at her simple shoes. “It has been a long journey. I have searched for you for so long,” she laughed shakily.
“How about with your name?”
“My name.” She blinked rapidly, eyes wet with tears. “My name,” she repeated and almost seemed to start laughing.
“Yes?” Nyset blew out her cheeks. The line behind her was only getting longer.
Claw circled around in front of Nyset and stood at her side. The girl looked him over quickly, seeming to swallow all of his madness in a glance. There was a hidden intellect there. There were weapons there too, daggers, maybe swords under her robe.
The words spilled from her mouth like a broken dam. “My name is Senka. I bring dark tidings, wizard, Mistress, ma’am. The Black Furnaces—”
Nyset reached out and put a hand on her bony shoulder. “Relax, you’re safe here. Come, let’s walk.” The Black Furnaces. The last time she heard about them was from Baylan. “Vesla, please carry on without me. I’ll be back shortly.” There was something about Senka that compelled Nyset to investigate further. Maybe it was her look or the urgency in her voice. She had felt like that before and knew the frustration of not being taken seriously.
Senka had an empty water skin around her shoulder and Nyset thought she saw the edge of armor creeping out from her neckline. Her right hand was wrapped in
Nyset didn’t understand, but was glad to feel the tension slipping out of her muscles. “Of course.” She could see now his eyes were wet, his body trembling. The most severe, hidden wounds were shared by all.
“There are beasts who can change their faces about. I’ve seen ‘em. Had to make sure you were the real Arch Wizard.”
“Rise,” she said with her best air of command. Just what she needed, a Metamorphose to worry about.
He stood, holding his fist over his heart. “I live to serve, Mistress.” Mistress, how she hated that word. Customs had to be followed though.
Could she trust him? He was clearly mad, but she felt she could. Some of the brightest wizards were mad to the outside world. You just had to get to know them to get past their quirks and see their real brilliance. She had to start trusting that people had good intentions. “I could use someone to help us here.”
“My eyes are yours.”
“Great,” she squeaked with more excitement than she had intended. “Why do you wear the white of the Purists?”
He leaned in close, breath stinking like onions from two feet away. “I walk in many circles. I like to keep my eye on them.” Claw said, tapping a dirty fingernail on his eyelid. She was amazed he hadn’t lost his eyes to infection touching them with fingers that soiled.
“You’re a madman then?” Vesla said. Nyset had forgotten she was there and found herself snickering.
He started giggling and nodding. “Yeah, suppose so.” He grinned, flashing his five front teeth.
“Vesla, add him as our first veteran. We just need to add you to the ledger. Your first task will be to help us here, stand guard and try not to scare the children.”
He clapped his hands together. “Right, right. My first task. How exciting!” Claw shuffled over to Vesla, answering her rote questions.
Nyset rubbed her eyes. The day would be long indeed. “Who is next?” Nyset beckoned.
A girl in unadorned charcoal robes strode up, her gait determined. She had a wide jaw and beautiful skin, dark as elixir. She would have been stunning if not for the ugly burn on her cheek, partially healed and oozing with yellow pus. Her hair was short and tussled. “You’re the Arch Wizard?”
“Please don’t tell me this is another test.” Nyset leaned back against the mossy wall, her fingertips brushing its wet and spongy texture.
The girl covered her mouth, and let out a long sigh. A smile started forming on her lips. “No, no. Uh… where to start?” The girl’s thick eyebrows scrunched up, staring down at her simple shoes. “It has been a long journey. I have searched for you for so long,” she laughed shakily.
“How about with your name?”
“My name.” She blinked rapidly, eyes wet with tears. “My name,” she repeated and almost seemed to start laughing.
“Yes?” Nyset blew out her cheeks. The line behind her was only getting longer.
Claw circled around in front of Nyset and stood at her side. The girl looked him over quickly, seeming to swallow all of his madness in a glance. There was a hidden intellect there. There were weapons there too, daggers, maybe swords under her robe.
The words spilled from her mouth like a broken dam. “My name is Senka. I bring dark tidings, wizard, Mistress, ma’am. The Black Furnaces—”
Nyset reached out and put a hand on her bony shoulder. “Relax, you’re safe here. Come, let’s walk.” The Black Furnaces. The last time she heard about them was from Baylan. “Vesla, please carry on without me. I’ll be back shortly.” There was something about Senka that compelled Nyset to investigate further. Maybe it was her look or the urgency in her voice. She had felt like that before and knew the frustration of not being taken seriously.
Senka had an empty water skin around her shoulder and Nyset thought she saw the edge of armor creeping out from her neckline. Her right hand was wrapped in
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