The Wrath Of the Forgotten Read Free Page B

her signature, and then you’re supposed to let me in.”
    One of the guards took the scroll and unrolled it. His mouth formed a tight line between his cheeks. The man’s eyes darted from top to bottom. After a moment, he rolled the scroll back up and then handed it back to Nori.
    The guard said “Sorry for the inconvenience, sir. If you’ll please follow me, I’ll show you how to get to Madame Hao’s office.”
    Nori collected his things and followed the guard inside. Something very small tugged at him internally, and so he indulged in his curiosity. Nori glanced back over his shoulder. A large crowd gazed in absolute astonishment. The fear they had once openly directed at him had been consumed by something even greater. As the doors to the university closed behind him, Nori beamed a mischievous smile at the crowd.
    The exterior of the tower had been plain stone and plaster, but the inside possessed a kind of grandness that only the Imperial Palace surpassed. Sleek dark wooden floorboards spanned the hallways. Beautiful paintings clung to the walls. The air smelled of jasmine and lilacs. The foyer of the tower was a great open chamber that had a ceiling thirty feet above Nori’s head. A wide stone stairwell with railings wrapped around the interior of the wall and disappeared into the ceiling, presumably leading to the next floor. Two corridors split off from the foyer, and numerous doorways lined each of them.
    The guard stopped at the base of the stairs. He pointed upward. “This staircase goes all the way to the top floor. Once you get there, one of the guards stationed there can take you to Madame Hao’s office. You’ll no doubt have to show your scroll to them as well.” A tinge of nervousness crested in his voice. “We don’t get many Onistans in this part of the empire. In fact, I don’t think we’ve ever seen your kind here.”
    “My people seldom leave Onista unless it’s due to Imperial decree.” Nori readjusted the bags on his shoulder. “Thank you for your help.”
    The guard turned away and moved to the front door, so Nori began his ascent. The stairwell opened up to a smaller chamber where corridors connected to it. Everything was very quiet. Doors were closed. Nori climbed to the third floor.
    This floor actually had bustling human activity. Some people stood in the smaller chamber while others moved down the corridors. Each of the people wore silk garments that varied from person to person. Many of the people had intricate visible tattoos on their bodies. Tidbits of words found their ways into Nori’s ears, but he didn’t quite understand what the people were talking about exactly.
    One of the people noticed him and stopped their conversation. That led to more people turning their attention to him. Much like the docks and in the city, these people also stared at Nori wonderingly.
    While some people appeared apprehensive or frightened of his presence, others gaped at him at with an unusual sparkle that Nori was not accustomed to. If these people were warriors, Nori would have assumed it was something akin to wanting to challenge him to physical combat. These people weren’t warriors though, they were mages.
    A shiver scrambled down his back, and so Nori started to climb the stairs to the fourth floor. Shuffling feet echoed behind him. The mages, or perhaps mage students, filled the doorway connecting the third floor and their stairwell. Delicate whispers crackled on the edge of comprehension.
    Nori quickened his pace.
    The fourth floor had more people gathered around in discussion, although not nearly as many as the third floor. Nori didn’t stop to view them, nor did he want to be viewed. It was going to be hard enough to keep a low profile given his birth given features.
    Nori reached the top of the stairs, and a pair of guards held out their hands toward him.
    “Halt!” one of the guards asked. “Who are you? What business do you have here in the University?”
    Nori produced the