Citadels of the Lost Read Free Page B

head.
    â€œOuch! Well, yes, then . . . the point is that Aer magic wells up naturally from the ground. It is a relatively weak force and must be gathered to the wizard over time. The wizard’s job is then to retain the Aer magic, cultivate it within himself, and add to it as time passes. Aer wizards absorb the power of the world slowly and naturally then channel that power to their wills.”
    â€œI’m guessing that’s not the case with Aether magic?” Drakis replied.
    â€œAether magic . . .” Jugar began.
    â€œAether magic is a higher form of magic,” Ethis answered. “It is built on the foundations of Aer magic but it uses mystic technologies—like the crystals of the Aether Wells—to pull the power of Aer out of the world rather than wait for it to come naturally. It is more powerful, more focused in some ways but also more fragile because of its dependence on physical devices. Still, that didn’t stop the dwarves from dabbling in it, too, did it?”
    Jugar was silent.
    â€œThat ‘Heart of Aer’ that you keep avoiding talking about,” Ethis said, his eyes fixed on the dwarf. “The vaunted Nine Kingdoms who had built their nation on the power of Aer had come at last to dabbling in Aether, had they not?”
    â€œThe point is,” Jugar said suddenly, “that I can no more activate that portal than . . . than . . .”
    â€œFloat?” Urulani suggested.
    â€œYe are a vicious woman, Urulani,” the dwarf grumbled.
    Drakis threw his hands up in disgust. “So that means we have to find another way back.”
    â€œNo, what this means,” Ethis responded, “is that we have to find shelter and food. That is the first priority. We have the supplies we brought with us in our packs but those were intended to last us through two or three days. With rationing we can extend that, of course, but that won’t be nearly enough time to make our way back to Urulani’s ship. I have never been in this territory or anything remotely like it and I doubt that any of the rest of you have either. Palm trees were new to you just a few weeks ago, Drakis. We’ll never survive several weeks’ march anywhere until we figure out what we can eat and drink and reasonably anticipate the dangers of the way.”
    â€œSo you want us to just set up camp here and wait?” Drakis fumed. He did not trust Ethis. The blank face of the chimerian had fooled him too many times and his ability to mimic other people’s forms with perfection had cost him more dearly than he cared to admit. Ethis was playing his own game, and until Drakis completely understood what that game was, he would remain on his guard against his former comrade in arms.
    â€œI am saying that it would be better if we didn’t just charge off into the brush without preparing for it,” Ethis said. “You insisted on bringing both Mala and the Lyric with us on our little expedition to the God’s Wall because you were so keen on proving that dragons did not exist and that you were not the fated one of the prophecies. Well, here we are, Drakis . . . the dragons most definitely do exist. If you have any further doubts to express then perhaps you and I can go right over there together and kick that huge dead head of that nonexistent . . .”
    Ethis stopped short.
    â€œWhere is it?” Ethis said, blinking.
    Drakis turned, then, without thinking, drew his sword.
    â€œWhere did it go?” Jugar breathed.
    â€œThey took it.”
    Everyone turned to face the Lyric.
    The jaw of her thin, pale face was set, her eyes determinedly fixed on the space before the broken altar. She strode determinedly across the plaza, her body leaning forward and her arms held slightly away from her body. Drakis, Ethis, and Urulani fell in behind her.
    â€œWho is she today?” Ethis said sotto voce toward Urulani.
    â€œI haven’t a clue,” she answered