Flameseeker (Book 3) Read Free Page A

idiot.
    Burke gave his nephew a stern glare before turning
expectantly to Jarial. “Master Glace, this offer remains. Do you accept?”
    Jarial scanned the people sitting around the
table, a bitter taste on his tongue. “Your offer flatters me, Elder. I am
honored. But I ... need some time to think on this. I have new endeavors and
tasks that I must finish. I would like to learn more about Xavorin’s urges and
why he was so obsessed with Necromancy. I once considered him a good friend,
after all.” He glanced at Virgil, expecting a snide remark, but the man
remained surprisingly silent for a change.
    Burke sighed, looking disappointed, and he nodded.
“If that is your wish, Master Glace. I fear, however, our setback will continue
just a while longer.”
    “What do you mean?” Jarial tilted his head to the
side.
    “We cannot effectively operate without a Master of
Illusion,” Maira reminded him. “Other than Faulk, you were the only other
viable choice.”
    “Are there no worthy students?” Jarial asked.
    “You do not realize the power and competency that
you possess, which makes you an ideal candidate for a Councilmember,” Burke
said.
    Jarial held back a smirk. Of course he realized
it, but he preferred to pursue his own goals, instead of the goals of others.
“Has it truly been that difficult to find a replacement?” Or were you simply
waiting for me to return?
    “There were only two others, but one of them, whom
Faulk expressed interest in. But the decision was unanimous that we thought he
was not yet ready to take that next step.”
    Maira shook her head. “It’s much harder than you
think to find someone to fill a Councilmember’s seat.”
    “Who is this student whom Master Faulk chose?”
Jarial asked the elder.
    “His name is Omari Batsuyou, a young man of twenty-eight,”
Burke replied.
    Jarial stroked his chin. He remembered the young
man as a boy, just beginning to learn the Arcane Arts. It pleased him to know
that Omari had surpassed himself to become masterful at it.
    “His hard work and dedication to the Art earned
him the opportunity to undergo his trial of ascension,” Burke continued. “He
was sent out with a group who would observe him and relay his progress to us.
But only a few days after they left, we lost contact. We attempted to scry
their location, to no avail. We had concluded that Omari’s trial had failed.”
    Another Citadel mage, missing? Jarial
leaned forward in his chair, eyeing the elder intently. “And what was his
trial, Elder?”
    “He was to go to the Mallowyn Crags far to the
south and have the Dragon there enchant his staff.”
    Jarial gasped. “A Dragon! Is that not a little too
extreme for a novice mage?”
    “He was no novice, Jarial.” Burke’s tone was
stern, and annoyance showed in his omission of Jarial’s formal title. “Omari
was a unique student whose admirable efforts piqued our interests. He would
have made a fine addition to the Council in due time. This is no different than
when the Council first considered you. In fact, Omari reminded me of you.”
    Jarial made a sour face, unsure if he should be
flattered or offended. Regardless, it seemed that much promising talent had
gone to waste with Omari’s untimely end.
    “With Omari and Na’val’s disappearances, it has
been troubling times for us all,” Burke continued. “But now, you are here.”
    “It is hard to imagine that only two students have
proven to be worthy candidates of Council positions,” Jarial said, frowning. “Such
a shame the Citadel does not have the dedicated students it once had.”
    Burke shook his head. “It’s not that. We have just
raised our expectations a little higher. You have been away for far too long.
Times have changed.”
    Jarial nodded. Changed for the worse, it seems.
    “At least think about my offer, Master Glace.”
    “I will.” Jarial looked around the table once more. Would things really improve if I were to return? Are they truly that