Red Jade: Book 3: The Assembly by Stephen J. Wolf

Author:Stephen J. Wolf [Wolf, Stephen J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stephen J. Wolf
Published: 2016-05-13T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 38

The Magitorium

Dariak’s lonely journey through the western plains of Hathreneir was only mildly eventful. He passed a few hunters and shared meals with them and battled a handful of feral creatures defending their nests. The landscape was very flat with little shade, save random patches of shrubbery. Though he yearned for some form of companionship, he chose to avoid the larger settlements, fearing they would only distract him from his goal.

So he pressed onward for several days, foraging when he could, and dipping into his provisions when he had to. Small brooks wove their way through the landscape, making the whole area feel like an oversized map with travel routes sketched into it. Eventually, he saw the top of the northern mage tower come into view and he hastened his steps to reach it.

The structure looked much like the Prisoner’s Tower in design, just not as tall. It was a whiter stone than the southern mage tower, but it felt sturdier, as if it were meant to stand despite the magic being used within, rather than requiring its powers to hold it upright. The doors were solid oak with brass knockers all over them.

“What’s with all the knockers?” he asked himself, wondering which one to pull. He reached but the nearest brass hoop was electrified and he jerked his hand away in pain. “What?” Another knocker seemed oddly warm to the touch, whereas another was ice cold. Each of the dozens of handles was imbued with some form of magic and Dariak realized that it must be a test.

He stepped back and considered the door for a time, thinking of the spells he knew already and how they might help him disable the defenses. As he fumbled in his pocket for a pebble, the door creaked open and a wild-eyed mage poked his wrinkled face out.

“Whatcha want?”

“I seek entrance,” Dariak replied, wondering why the old man kept looking all around.

“Who’s with you?”

“No one. I’m here alone.”

The old man pushed the door and shook his head admonishingly at Dariak. “Then why in all the blazes did you go on and hit all the knobs? Have you any idea how much noise that makes?”

“I—well, no.”

“Daft foreigner,” the man accused. “Well, come on in, you idiot. You’re making me keep this door open and if it’s open for much longer, the warblebees will escape.”

Dariak accepted the invitation and stepped within. “Warblebees?”

“Don’t know a lick about your surroundings do you?” the man grumbled, shoving the door closed. “What, did you wander here lost or something? Looking for a free meal and someone to knit you some shoes?”

“Knit some…?”

“Bah, never mind, you. Go that way, let Rmfrmr help you. Go on, Rmfrmr, that’s right. Go.” He gestured with a gnarled hard and Dariak stepped away, glancing once over his shoulder to see the old codger grabbing for things in the air that, to Dariak, were invisible. Perhaps they were his warblebees.

The foyer was small and lined with wood everywhere, which Dariak found interesting. Mages

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