Bringers of Doom Page 10

  He leads us into a long row of stables covered with a thatched roof. His home had apparently been built alongside the horse stalls. I’m not sure how he deals with the smell, I think, wrinkling my nose.

  “Do you have any horses available for this one?” Tamara asks, jabbing a thumb in my direction. She approaches a tall buckskin replete with saddlebags and two quivers of arrows hanging from the side. “A mare or a gelding, perhaps?”

  The old man rubs his stubbly chin. “I’ve got a gelding in the corner there. It’ll take a minute to get him saddled, but he’s a good horse. Strong, and fast.”

  “We’ll take him,” Tamara says without hesitation, producing a pair of gold coins and holding them out in her open palm.

  The stable man eyes the coins for a moment before taking them. Oddly enough, he seems annoyed at having to unexpectedly do more work. Despite his age, however, he manages to swiftly saddle the horse and attach my saddlebags, moving with surprising speed and dexterity.

  The horse seems mild-mannered enough as I mount him, and before I know it we are riding our horses out into the open street while the old man holds the stable door open for us.

  Blinking against the sudden brightness, I look to Tamara for further instructions. She gestures out to the open fields in front of us.

  "South," she says simply, guiding her horse with her knees and heading even further away from the city. "We ride as far as we can before sunset. With any luck, we should reach the Grand Lodge in no more than two days."

  I nod and move forward to follow her, leaving Tarsys behind me. As we depart I spare one final glance at the grand city over my shoulder. My thoughts, of course, are on Zara.

  THE RIDE ITSELF IS long and awkward.

  First Warden Haun keeps us moving at a good pace, pausing only briefly to water the horses whenever we pass an inn or a stream. Within two hours, Tarsys is nothing more than a tiny dot on the horizon behind us, the ever-present beam of light shooting up into the sky and disappearing.

  She does not converse with me on journey at all. When I ask her questions, she responds only with quick, one-word answers, keeping her eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead.

  Eventually I give up trying to make conversation, settling into a sullen silence and sinking deep into my own thoughts.

  Where do my loyalties lie, I ask myself, staring glumly out at the verdant plains around me. We told the Circle and the High Magus about the demon invasion, and they swore us to secrecy. And yet, the Master Warden and the other rangers deserve to know of this attack as well. My oath demands that I tell them...

  My thoughts drift from my predicament to Zara and then back again, circling in a maddening fashion that grants me no answers.

  Before long, however, the sun begins to set and we pull off of the main road, entering a small farming community that I doubt even has a name.

  Together we approach the only inn, a large, inviting building with billowing smoke emitting from the chimney. A wooden sign above the door reads "Evening Delight", with a painted image of a steaming loaf of bread. Without talking, we guide the horses to the humble stable and tie them up, removing our weapons and other valuable from our saddlebags.

  As we walk up to the front door, Tamara finally breaks her long silence. "We'll sleep here for the night," she says, reaching into a small pouch and counting the coins within. "We will eat supper and rest early, then be out on the road again at dawn."

  I nod, not knowing what I should say, and she pulls open the door without preamble.

  The smells of food and beer wash over us as we step inside, along with the jovial conversations of the people patronizing the inn. The common room is well-lit and warm, and seems to be filled to about half-capacity with farmers, merchants and other travelers, all interacting with one another in amiable fashion.

  When we walk in, though, all conversation seems to stop.

  I can feel the eyes of everyone in the room on me as we find a table and sit down, the presence of rangers no doubt unnerving to the simple townsfolk of this unnamed village. Eventually conversation does pick back up, resuming its timbre when the people realize that we are not a threat.

  A nervous-looking barmaid approaches us, wearing a forced smile and carrying a pitcher of ale and a couple of mugs. "Anything I can get you this evening?"

  Tamara hands her a few coins. "Dinner for the night," she replies evenly, "and a room – two beds if you have it."

  The barmaid nods. "Of course," she replies, setting the pitcher down in front of us along with the mugs. "Coming right up."

  She scampers off, leaving Tamara and I alone at our table.

  Tamara seems to be staring at me, a strange intensity blazing in her eyes. "So," she begins softly, keeping her voice low so that she cannot be overheard. "You say that Elias sent you alone to the city."

  I nod. "That's right."

  "Hmph," she sniffs, settling back into her chair. "That doesn't sound like him at all."

  I perk up at the promise of new information. "You know him?"

  "Of course I know him," she responds sharply, leaning forward and pouring some ale into the mug in front of her. "One of the finest rangers in the kingdom. Could've been a Warden if he'd wanted it. I just find it hard to believe that he would send you on some fool mission to the Conclave and then simply vanish." She brings the mug to her lips and takes a long drink.

  "It's the truth," I growl, feeling my cheeks start to flush with heat. Careful, Owyn, I think to myself. Remember who you're dealing with here.

  She doesn't seem upset at my insolence, however. She almost looks amused. "I believe you," she says after a moment. "And there will be words with Elias as soon as he returns. There is no denying that it is strange situation. I believe that you are honest, Owyn Lund, but I also believe that there is a lot that you aren't telling me."

  I regard her silently for a few heartbeats before pouring myself some ale.

  "Still," she continues, her voice contemplative, "I suppose the truth will all come out when we reach the Ashwood. Your oath demands that you tell the Master Warden everything, despite any other promises you have made."

  She locks eyes with me and I see something there – suspicion.

  We settle back into an uncomfortable silence until our food arrives, seared pork with a side of carrots and potatoes.

  I can feel my mouth start to water.

  We eat in silence, and I am grateful for the opportunity to focus on something else besides my current problems. The food is delicious, and I wolf it down almost faster than I can chew.

  About halfway through our meal, the front door opens again, permitting a group of five burly men, all carrying weapons at their belt. The common room again goes quiet, only this time there is a hint of danger in the air. From the corner of my eye, I see that Tamara is watching them cautiously, her hand straying to the sword on her hip.

  "These men look like trouble," she mutters quietly. "Be ready."

  A nervous knot forms in my stomach. It feels like a fight is about to begin.

  Chapter Twelve

  Zara

  I wake up to a new day at the Conclave.

  Turning on my side in bed, I gaze out the veiled window at the city, the thin fabric dimming the sunlight but not fully obscuring the view. From my vantage, I have a dazzling panorama of the eastern side of the city, which is partially blocked by the Pillar of Radiance itself. It rises like a silent sentinel from the earth, disappearing at the top of my window where I know it continues upward far higher. The scene makes a faint smile appear on my lips.

  A girl can get used to a view like this.

  Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sit up in bed, yawning and stretching comfortably on my soft, silken sheets. Judging by the position of the sun outside, I guess that it is already several hours past dawn.

  For the first time since I can remember, I have actually slept in.

  How wonderful! I think, stretching my legs luxuriously on the bed. I feel so well-rested! How have I ever gone
without this much sleep? After a minute or two, though, I actually start to feel a little guilty. As an initiate, I was never allowed to sleep in, and I doubt full mages allow themselves to waste so much time in the Conclave.

  Now I am a mage, I remind myself silently as I lower my feet over the side of the bed and slide them into a pair of soft, rabbit-fur slippers. I need to start holding myself to a higher standard. That is what the High Magus and the others will expect of me.

  But then, as I sit there, a thought suddenly strikes me, causing me to wonder.

  I have more freedom than I have ever had before. But what do I do with it?

  I sit there for a moment, staring out the window before finally coming to a solution. I should probably should start with getting dressed.

  Pushing myself up from the bed, I make my way across the enormous room to my new wardrobe. It is more of a walk-in closet, lit inside by strange, glowing white stones set into the ceiling. They do not catch my attention, however, as my eyes are focused on the dozens of outfits arrayed inside.

  They are more spectacular than even the view from my bedroom window.

  Expensive fabrics of every shade line the great closet; dresses, blouses, skirts and stockings, all hanging neatly for me to wear at my leisure. It is more clothing than I have ever owned in my entire life. Mages robes in every shade of blue hang along one of the walls, and boots, slippers, shoes and sandals line the floor all around the closet, polished and shining and ready to be worn.

  I walk through the wardrobe, eyes open wide as I reach out with my fingers and feel all the fabric.

  “So many options,” I whisper to myself, mesmerized. “What should I wear today?”

  It takes me far longer than I feel comfortable admitting, but eventually I settle on a cream-colored dress to go on under a form-fitting set of blue mage robes.

  The outfit is perfectly tailored to my figure.

  Slipping into a pair of doeskin boots, I walk out to the full-length mirror in my bedroom and admire how I look. “Not bad,” I say to myself, turning around and gazing over every inch of myself. “Not bad at all.”

  Then, noticing my disheveled hair, I decide to head over to the nightstand to find a brush.

  Lotions, creams, makeup, and every sized brush and comb that one could imagine is laid out before me, just waiting to be used. Honestly, I feel a little overwhelmed at it all, but I decide to just stick to the basics. I run a brush through my hair to get rid of all the tangles and clean my teeth with a small cloth and some tooth powder.

  Feeling refreshed and ready to uncover all of the secrets the Conclave has to offer, I leave my bedroom and make my way to the front door.

  Before I step out into the hall, something catches my eye. Sitting on the table in the middle of the main room is a plate of food. Curious, I approach it, only now realizing the empty feeling in my stomach.

  I hadn’t heard any servants come inside, I think as I inspect the food. They must have been quieter than a mouse, bringing this up here.

  The plate is laden with fruit and hearty bread, including a small dish of honey and several slices of cheese. Beside the plate are two glasses, one filled with some sort of red juice and the other filled with water.

  Not wanting to let the food go to waste, I sit down, popping a piece of fruit into my mouth. Fresh food is brought directly to my room in the morning? It’s almost as if I’m living in a palace!

  Breakfast is pleasant, if a little lonely. The food is delicious, but I find my mind wandering to Owyn as sit alone in my spacious apartments.

  No, I think forcefully, shoving the thought out of my mind. He’s gone now. There’s no point dwelling on the past. You’re a mage now, and you have limitless potential waiting for you just outside that door! Eat your food and lose yourself in the work.

  I commit to doing exactly that.

  Once my meal is finished, I stand up from my place at the table and walk up to the front door. Somebody will probably be along to take the dirty dishes away. Pushing the door open, I step outside and begin my first day at the Conclave.

  Because of the lifts located in the center of the tower, I am able to make it to the bottom in no time at all, walking out into the courtyard at an easy pace and feeling the warmth of the morning sun on my face.

  The Azure Tower is a slender, delicate building, despite the grand size of its interior. Though not as tall and physically imposing as the Pillar of Radiance, it is still massive, with sleek walls and a sloping slate roof that appears almost blue in the sunlight.

  As I walk I gaze up at the many towers above me, like great fingers reaching for the heavens. There are five towers in total, and in truth I don’t know what purpose all of them serve. The four surround the Pillar of Radiance in the shape of a diamond, and are linked together by a series of sky bridges, arching high above the grand courtyard and gardens below. To foreigners, the Conclave can appear imposing, but not to me.

  To me, the towers provide a sense of peace and security.

  This place literally holds our broken world together, I think as I take in a deep breath and begin to walk through the courtyard.

  I make my way to the central tower and enter through the great double doors, but instead of heading to the lifts I go to a winding staircase off to the side, leading down to the lower levels. The mage standing guard takes one look at my mage robes and lets me pass, not even sparing me a second glance.

  I'm one of them, I realize, feeling a little giddy. These blue robes certainly have their perks.

  The staircase is lit with flickering blue torches, and I take the steps two at a time as I descend, eager to reach my destination.

  When I finally get to the bottom, I hardly know what to do with myself.

  Beneath the Pillar of Radiance is the Great Library of Tarsys, a place containing all the knowledge of the world in one, single location. I find myself standing in a vast chamber, filled with more books than I could ever dream of reading. A domed ceiling high above shelters a labyrinth of bookshelves, and an enormous chandelier hangs from the top, filling the chamber with brilliant white light. Large mirrors hang suspended from the curved ceiling at different angles, catching the light from the chandelier and reflecting it down into the many aisles, ensuring that every nook and cranny of the library has sufficient light to read a book.

  I stand there for a moment, breathless at actually being able to be here alone. Only mages are permitted to enter the library unaccompanied, and I have only ever been here a handful of times before as an initiate, and then only briefly. The library at the Academy was substantial, to be sure, but it was nothing compared to this monument of human learning and progression.

  For a while I simply wander the countless bookshelves, which rise high above my head and create a sort of maze. Every so often, I discover a section of tables or a reading nook within the maze, all of which I take in with a profound sense of wonder.

  Eventually, I find a section labeled "Legacy of the Conclave" and pull a random book off the shelf. Choosing one of the nearest reading areas, I sit on a cushioned sofa and open the dusty tome on my lap. The title page says the book is called Kingdom of Magic: Tales of Early Tarsynium.

  As I flip through the musty pages, I begin to the devour the archaic text written within.

  The book goes over the founding of the city of Tarsys, and the formation of the kingdom around it more than a thousand years ago. Apparently, Tarsys had been a place of exile, created by mages who were driven out of their homelands because of persecution. They founded the Conclave as a ruling body dedicated to the safe study of radiant magic, and as an administrator for the growing city state. Eventually, Tarsynium became a mighty nation, and in order to maintain peace with the growing population, the first king was chosen from among the common people. That was when the first union was forged between the Conclave and the crown, and alliance that still exists today.

  Of course, I had heard most of this story before. It was taught to first year initiates when they were
admitted to the Academy. Still, it is a good reminder of the origins of the last kingdom of man, and why the current political climate is the way that it is.

  When I grow bored of this book, I return it to its place on the shelf and find another one, and then another and another.

  For hours, it seems, I sit and I read, enjoying the quiet of the library and the chance to read for pleasure and not for study. When somebody approaches my spot in the reading area, I practically jump out of my seat in surprise.

  "I'm sorry to disturb you," the white-robed man says, lifting up his hands in front of him in a placating gesture. I recognize him as Elwyn Mathis, the steward of the High Magus.

  "It's quite alright," I reply with a forced smile, my heart thudding loudly in my chest. "May I help you?"

  Mathis nods, his bald head catching the light of the chandelier. "Yes, Magus Dennel, you can. I've been searching for you for the better part of an hour, but it didn't strike me until recently to search for you here. The High Magus has requested your presence in her office. I've been told to escort you there immediately."

  My breath catches in my throat. Why would the High Magus want to see me? "I haven't gotten in trouble already, have I?"

  Mathis lets out a small chuckle. "No, no. Nothing like that. She usually spends some time interviewing newly raised mages. I think that she just wants to talk with you."

  "Oh," I reply, letting out a relieved breath. "That doesn't sound so bad."

  I stand up and move to follow him, but he glances down at the book in my hands and raises an eyebrow. "It is forbidden to remove books from the library."

  Feeling foolish, I give him a nervous smile. "Of course. Sorry about that."

  I quickly return the book to its proper place then come back to his side. Nodding his approval, he leads the way out of the maze of bookshelves, taking his up the narrow staircase and onto the main level of the tower.

  Without pausing to look for directions he strides straight for a pillar in the middle of the columns, and I realize it is the same lift I had taken the first night we had arrived. The mage standing guard in front of it promptly steps aside and grants us entry, Mathis placing an open palm on the stone's surface and igniting the magic within.