The Exercise of Vital Powers by Ian Gregoire

Author:Ian Gregoire
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: adventure, cautionary tale, coming of age, fantasy, dark fantasy, high fantasy
ISBN: 9781999600907
Publisher: Lucid Dream
Published: 2018-06-03T00:00:00+00:00

In the wake of Fay’s rather abrupt departure, Kayden quickly rejoined Ari at the north gate. He displayed no inclination to know what had passed between herself and Fay, choosing instead to silently lead her through the gate, out of the grounds into the city. She noticed how he adjusted the hood of his cloak, further obscuring much of his face, as if he didn’t wish to be recognised.

“Are you worried about bumping into someone you know, Master?” Kayden inquired.

Glancing at her sideways, Ari replied with a smile, “No. I’d just like us to reach our destination before sunset. Being recognised walking the streets would not be conducive to that end; we’d likely be delayed, repeatedly, by people wanting to offer their greetings.”

“Sunset is about two hours away, surely that’s more than enough time to get there.” It suddenly occurred to Kayden that Ari hadn’t actually mentioned where he was taking her. “Where exactly are we going, Master?”

“To a place few people know about, and even fewer people ever go.”

It was a frustratingly cryptic reply. She considered pressing Ari further but figured she would be wasting her time. Wherever it was they were going, she would know in due course. She remained silent and switched her focus to the city streets they were traversing. The hustle and bustle she experienced during her arrival in Temis Rulan was greatly reduced—presumably most of the populace were now indoors sitting down for dinner, much like the inhabitants within the Order’s headquarters.

Ari adopted a swift walking pace that Kayden matched as she was guided steadily northward through the city. While she cast cursory glances at the buildings and structures they passed by, it suddenly dawned on Kayden that she had failed to notice, during her initial arrival, something that was now glaringly obvious. The architecture of Temis Rulan was not typical of any city she had ever been to before, which she thought very odd. Though her travels had been rather limited, it was well known that the Nine Kingdoms shared a monoculture; the people spoke the same language, Shintanese—although those not born and raised in Shintana insisted on calling it ‘the common tongue’ instead. They upheld compatible social mores, pursued identical pastimes, and enjoyed similar cuisine. It also meant the architecture of one kingdom was more or less interchangeable with another—to the extent that it was frequently said, ‘the unvisited places of the Nine Kingdoms are as familiar as the visited.’ There was only one thing Kayden could infer from the observation, something she had already speculated upon since she first emerged from the portal that transported herself and Fay from Antaris campus. Temis Rulan was located outside the Nine Kingdoms.

After several minutes walking, Master Ari still hadn’t said so much as a word to Kayden. For a man who supposedly wanted to get to know her better his efforts thus far left a lot to be desired. Apparently, he was in too much of a hurry to leave the city to talk.

“Master?” Kayden decided she might as well be the one to initiate discussion if Ari wasn’t going to.

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