The Swordmage Trilogy: Volume 02 - The Darkest Hour Read Free

they turned to see a girl no older than eight or nine standing in the doorway. Her miniature robes swirled around her ankles. The girl’s long black hair was pulled back in a ponytail and framed a delicate face so pale and flawless that it reminded Tiadaria of smooth porcelain.
                  “Yes, Tionne?” Faxon’s voice was gentler than it had been just a moment before.
                  “Head Master Maera wishes to see you, Master Indra.” Tionne’s wide round eyes, like little pools of emerald fire, glittered in the dim light. Tiadaria found the effect unsettling.
                  “Thank you, Tionne,” Faxon said with a wave. “Please tell her that I’ll be along momentarily.”
                  Tionne nodded and padded off down the hall, her slippers making only the slightest whisper on the smooth obsidian floor.
                  “Tionne,” Tiadaria said thoughtfully, then shot Faxon a startled glance. “Not the girl from Doshmill?”
                  Faxon nodded gravely. “The same. She showed an affinity for the arts, so Torus brought her here after the attack. She’s a quick study. She’ll outmatch even me one day.”
                  “That’s hard?” Tiadaria quipped.
                  “Quiet you,” Faxon snapped. He was gathering stacks of paper and piling them on top of each other. He hefted the entire pile and gave her a measured look. “I need to meet with the Head Master. If you want to make yourself useful, you can start going through the library again to see if I missed anything. Once I’m done with Maera, we’ll have dinner and tomorrow maybe we’ll see about heading to Ethergate. I have an apprentice there who can probably help us dig up some details.”
                  He squeezed past her and stopped in the hallway, turning to face her. “Stay put until I get back, Tiadaria. This is no time to be flaunting your independence.”
                  “Have I ever?” She asked sweetly.
                  “Oh, only at every turn.” He gave her a piercing look. “I mean it, Tia. This could get ugly. I’ll be back.”
                  With that, he disappeared from the doorway, leaving her alone in the office.
     
    * * *
     
                  The library in Blackbeach was a large rectangular building that filled the better part of the entire northwest corner of the city. It was bounded on the north by the city walls, the east by the great eastern ocean, and the west by the Great Tower itself. Four stories were crammed floor to ceiling with books and scrolls, diagrams and paintings, from all over Solendrea. One of Tiadaria’s favorite things about the library was the way it smelled. The subtle combination of old paper, ink, and lamp oil was soothing no matter how frayed her nerves were when she arrived.
                  She slipped through the arched doorway and passed the prune-faced quintessentialist at the reference desk. Tiadaria had long ago learned not to let the disapproving glances at her collar bother her. There were many, both here and in Dragonfell, who didn’t approve of her unorthodox jewelry. However, since she was vouched for by not only her reputation, but also one of the most powerful quintessentialists in the realm, and the One True King himself, there weren’t many who would openly show her any blatant disrespect. No matter how they thought of her in private.
                  Tiadaria climbed the spiral staircase to the third floor and let herself into the map room. Large wide cabinets dominated the perimeter walls, while a series of tables were pushed together in the center of the room forming one large table that allowed even the largest maps to be spread out in all their glory. Small moveable steps were scattered around the table, allowing those viewing the maps to climb up and gain the