Wellspring of Chaos by L. E. Modesitt Jr

Author:L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Epic, Fantasy, General, order as published, Fiction
ISBN: 9780765348081
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2005-03-31T22:00:00+00:00

He looked at the two metals. The black iron was darker, indeed

blackish to the sight, while the iron of the bracket was a duller gray. He

couldn’t compare their weights, and he already knew that the black iron was

harder. So he closed his eyes and tried to sense the difference between the two.

Almost instantly, he could feel the aura of darkness tied to the black iron.

He opened his eyes, and he still saw the difference. Was that because he was

learning how to use some sort of order-sensing? He tried to sense the linkages

or ordering within the black iron. At first, nothing happened. All he could feel

was the order-darkness. But he knew there was more there. He tried to see if he

could sense a difference in the grain of the metal. That made a difference,

because the iron bracket somehow felt rough, almost jagged, in comparison to the

black iron bands on the staff.

Could he make plain iron into black iron? Somehow, the bracket looked large and

heavy, even though it was only slightly larger than his hand and but a fraction

of a thumbspan in thickness. Kharl bent down and looked in the bins below the

bench, where he found an iron nail. He straightened and set it on the bench

beside the staff.

Then he concentrated on sensing just how the black iron felt, how the grain of

the metal almost locked together. Could he somehow smooth the “roughness” of the

nail into a pattern like that of the staff bands? He tried just imagining,

visualizing that change. Nothing happened.

Could he use his order-sense more like a forge hammer, in a regular rhythm,

striking, shaping?

How long he concentrated on that Kharl was not sure, except that a good quarter

glass had passed, and the nail was darker—not quite with the smooth orderedness

of the staff’s black iron, but far more ordered and… solid.

As he looked at the nail, he felt light-headed and had to reach out and steady

himself with a hand on the bench. He looked down at the iron nail once more,

which was no longer gray iron, but a form of black iron.

“I did it…” he murmured.

But he felt so weak—and all for a little nail.

He sat down on Tarkyn’s stool and took out the book. Doggedly, he began to skim

through pages.

Black iron should only be created while being forged… attempting to change

less-ordered cold iron into black iron is possible only with great effort,

enough to exhaust even the strongest of mages…

Kharl didn’t know whether to shake his head or laugh. Once more, he had almost

gotten himself into danger because he hadn’t been patient enough. He took a deep

breath, then reached out and slipped the black iron nail into his wallet.

Sometime, he might find a use for it, but if not, it might be a good reminder

that he needed to try to learn more before he acted.

Then, that had always been his problem—except where he had not acted at all.

LIX

Once through the Straits of Esalia and past Summerdock, where the Seastag did

not port, Hagen brought the ship onto a course to the northwest for most of the

day.

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