Read Online Wizard's Blood [Part Two] by Bob Blink - Free Book Online Page A

Ygooro, and what did you hope to find there?”
    Jolan wasn’t sure he wanted to reveal how he’d come by the map, but he was willing to explain what took him there.
    “ I sometimes get these feelings where something important can be found. That’s how I came upon my staff. Something told me I’d find something important in Ygooro. I was hoping it might be a way home, or something that could help with the war.”
    “ And that’s where the rest of your group is? They’re still in Ygooro?”
    “ Rifod and Nerila are still there. The rest are off on other errands.”
    “ Off where?” asked Ward, now clearly curious what was going on.
    “ Ronoran should be getting close to Carta by now, and Asari and Luzoke should be up by the great lake outside of Trailways.”
    “ That’s behind Ale’ald’s lines,” said Dibon. “What are they doing there?”
    “ I know,” said Jolan. “I’m a bit worried about that. If they get up to the lake, I doubt anyone will know they are there. Getting there might have been a problem. They are looking for Tilano, which is supposed to be hidden there somewhere. I hope to be able to talk with him in a day or so?”
    “ Tilano? Why would you think Tilano is up there? No one has even found a trace of where it might be in a thousand years of searching. There were at least bits and pieces that indicated Ygooro was in the southern desert somewhere, but none of the expeditions ever found a thing. I think we should let you tell this in your own way,” suggested Vaen. “We’ve been so full of questions, we haven’t given you a chance to tell us why you came back.”
    Jolan looked at the expectant faces around him.
    “ Some of this I think we are going to want to keep secret. Maybe just among the members of this group, but that is for you to decide.” He looked around to see how they reacted. Seeing no dissent, he told them the rest “After we found the library in Ygooro, Nerila found a hand written note that told about the location of Tilano and the fact it had been hidden. Once she showed me the note, I had that same feeling that I had to go there. That is why Asari and the others are scattered about so.”
    “ What does that have to do with Ronoran going to Seret?” asked Vaen, forgetting she was going to let Jolan tell this in his own way.
    “ There is something I need in Seret,” answered Jolan, wondering if he should reveal this secret.
    Vaen and the others were waiting, so he charged ahead.
    “ I think the “key to the city” for Tilano is there,” he said.
    “ What do you know of the “key” asked Ward.
    “ I’ve heard the story that the key is necessary to open the city. If I find the city, then I’m going to need the key.”
    “ Why would you believe there is such a thing?”
    “ Because the Council has been after the man who supposedly took it for many years. There must be some truth to the story, or why would the Council care if it was taken?”
    “ Altz is in Seret?” asked Vaen. “How do you know about Altz?”
    “ He was. I hope he still is. He helped me before I came here. I had no idea what his issue was with the College until the matter came up in Ygooro.”
    “ I want that man,” said Vaen. “He violated the confidence of his position and stole from this institution.”
    “ I realize there is an outstanding matter to be resolved, but I would ask that you consider the ultimate end. I might be able to find him and get his help, but not if everyone is after him at the same time.”
    “ How do you hope to make any of this work?” asked Dibon. “There’s a war on, and the distances between these places is immense. Winter is coming, and you have people in very remote locations.”
    “ That’s the part I was getting to. Nerila learned something else while we were in Ygooro. She learned how to activate the portals.”
    He could see they didn’t understand. He’d become used to knowing what the structures were for, but they had been around them