The Siege of Tryon Keep: New Paladin Order Book 2 by Cromwell Charles & Cromwell Kenneth

Author:Cromwell, Charles & Cromwell, Kenneth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-01-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Aftermath

Among the racks and shelves in Sabreax’s main laboratory, Telvar found spices from the Galium Marshes, preserved eyes from an eagle native to the Plum Peaks, a wing from a crystalized butterfly found in the Drifting Desert, saliva from a rabid wolf of the Aus Steppe, and yellow ash from an unknown volcano. In Sabreax’s secret library, Telvar discovered an impressive collection of texts on alchemy, including the entire works of Ultan, the greatest alchemist born after the fall of Antium, and numerous recipes for obscure, but mostly innocuous, potions. What Telvar could not find was Sabreax’s formula to grow artificial tower gems. “We must find his private study,” he wondered aloud. “It is the only place it could be. . . .”

Rowmel rested a hand on her hip. “Where what could be?”

Telvar was staggered by her obtuseness. “His formula, of course! The real reason you were sent here to stop him.” When Rowmel frowned, he said, “You really think the Wizard Council cared that Sabreax was importing a few banned reagents?”

“Yes!” Rowmel snapped. She folded her arms over her chest. “Yes, I do!” she repeated.

Telvar sighed. “Well, you can stand there and glare at me all day, or you can help me find his private collection containing his personal notations.” Telvar scratched his head. “Better still, you can just stay out of my way!”

Rowmel grabbed Telvar’s robes before he could get past her. She flipped her hair to enable her wizard band to show more clearly. “Need I remind you that this is my mission? That you are on probation and that I could end your career with a negative report to the Council?”

“Sabreax is dead, the mission is over,” countered Telvar. “Now, Rowmel—”

“Lady Rowmel,” she yelled.

“Listen, please,” he begged. “You can’t return to the Council empty-handed, with neither the alchemist nor his notes on the experiments he performed. These experiments were the reason he moved out of Secundus, was obtaining banned reagents, and had an alliance with Tages! His notes must be here. We have to search his bedroom again.”

Telvar broke free of Rowmel, his black robes a blur as he headed to the alchemist’s private chambers.

The appearance of Sabreax’s master bedroom was in stark contrast to the rest of his mansion. While the other rooms had been kept immaculate, the bedroom looked as if one of his experiments had gone awry and exploded. Plates with encrusted food were scattered on the floor, bottles of wine either partially full or empty littered every tabletop, thick spider webs containing dead insects spanned each corner, and every piece of furniture, from the bed to the nightstand to the wardrobe, was blanketed in a thick layer of dust. Telvar took little notice of the state of the room, but Rowmel, who had followed him there, was appalled.

“Disgusting,” she said, stepping over piles of unwashed clothes. “He had a maid! He should’ve let her clean this mess.”

“He did not want her inside his bedroom, because he was afraid she might stumble upon his private study.

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