Dragonslayer by Duncan M. Hamilton

Author:Duncan M. Hamilton
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781250306722
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2019-07-02T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

24

“I have to admit,” dal Drezony said, “that I’m very curious to see what you’re capable of. I’ve never seen the Prince Bishop speak in quite so animated a way about any new recruit.”

After a visit to the Order’s quartermaster to get the uniforms she would need for her training and packing the garments away in her room, she went to the refectory for supper. As soon as Solène entered the long hall, lined from end to end by three rows of communal tables, dal Drezony had called her over. Solène had spent the better part of her adult life trying to be invisible, and being singled out as soon as she entered a room, with so many other people there, bothered her. The questioning made it even worse, but the smell of the food was enough to convince her it was worth staying.

She shrugged in response to dal Drezony. For her, being noticed had always meant trouble, but she realised that was something she was going to have to get over. Forgettable was the impression she had always sought to get across. Except for Trelain, where she had started to think she could make a life and a business. She could never forget where that had gotten her.

“After we eat, I thought you could give me a demonstration,” dal Drezony said. “Give me an idea of where we’ll be starting.”

Solène shrugged again. “What do you want me to do?”

Dal Drezony laughed. “I don’t know. What can you do? What did you do for the Prince Bishop?”

Pride would not allow Solène to repeat the same demonstration, but there were few things she could do intentionally. Looking along the table, she spotted an empty glass that no one was using. She focussed her thoughts, this time locking onto something different, something she had seen in the city, and had been wondering about ever since. She turned the glass upside down and stared at it. The air inside the bowl seemed to swirl and grow thicker, until it looked more like a liquid than a gas. Then it ignited into a light that bathed Solène and dal Drezony in a warm glow. Solène relaxed and smiled.

Dal Drezony watched in silence until the light faded, then disappeared. She had a pleased but bemused expression on her face.

“I saw the everlasting lamps when I got to the city,” Solène said. “I’ve wanted to try making my own ever since.”

“Magelamps,” dal Drezony said. “They’re called magelamps. And this was your first try at one?”

Solène nodded.

Dal Drezony let out a short laugh. “I wouldn’t let the fading of the light bother you. No one here’s been able to make them last very long either, and they’ve had a lot more practise. When did you stop concentrating on the light?”

“As soon as I made it,” Solène said. “It’s not much use if you have to concentrate on it the whole time, is it?”

Dal Drezony let out an incredulous bark of laughter. “No, I suppose it isn’t. You’ve definitely not had any training? If you have, you can be honest.

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