The Secret Kingdom: Path of the Apprentice mage by Barbara Ferrier

Author:Barbara Ferrier [Ferrier, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2022-10-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

“I made a terrible mistake,” Manni said. “I was trying to protect our own Dynasty Crystals here. I moved them so Wesley wouldn’t find them, but he caught me in the act. One has gone. I assume he took it. I tried to hide the other crystals in a secret cabinet where they couldn’t be found, but he followed me and …”

“They’re still there,” Kai said. Senna nodded. “Just before we found you, we saw them because one of the mages fell and slammed into that hidden cabinet. It opened slightly. We closed it so it’s invisible again.” Manni looked at them with a sigh of relief.

“That strange trail weakened the castle,” Manni said.

“It’s gone. Koryn sealed it off,” Kelne said.

“So did Brutus. He didn’t want Wesley to return,” Senna said. They all looked at her. “He started a mutiny. Brutus is taking all the stones and the operation. But I don’t think he’s going anywhere. I think he wanted to keep Wesley from coming back.”

“I suspect they’ll work out their differences,” Manni said. “Crooks and all. They have so much dirt on each other they can’t stay separated for long.”

“How did Wesley get to the stones?” Senna asked.

“The castle was open for the performance. I thought I left enough protection in place. But of course, Once he arrived with the crowd, Wesley broke through. They must have found layers of security and worked through them during the performance,” Manni said. “The stones probably should have been placed in the cliffs instead of the castle.”

“The Protector can do an assessment later,” Kelne said.

“I think we should know the status of the real Dynasty Crystals, and again I apologize that I let my guard down with criminals out searching.” Kelne met Manni’s eyes, and both men nodded in agreement. “Make sure none of Wesley’s men are still here.”

“He’s quite a destructive energy, that Wesley, Manni said.”

“Did you know him?” Kai asked, “I mean, before he brought me back here on Solstice? Why did he call you his friend?” Manni sighed a long exhale, realizing he needed to explain his history with Wesley.

“Yes. We knew one another, back when he was well regarded,” Manni said hesitantly. “Our relationship was different. At first, we were friends and our communities got along. We worked together, you know, on large projects, helped each other build,” Senna and Kai both turned to him. Riya looked at Manni too, with interest.

“Can you believe there was a time when Wesley was a leader? Yes, an actual leader of a tribe. He was responsible,” Manni explained. “He lived in the far northern reaches of the Badlands. Occasionally, he worked with some of us in the Blue Cliff Basin. We were trading partners.”

“He lived on the other side of those cliffs,” Manni pointed to the cliffs that separated the desert from the badlands of Kalendra to their east. His community was on the water in the north. It was a lovely fishing village.” Both Kai and Senna leaned forward ready to ask questions.

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