Veilspeaker (Pharim War Book 2) Read Free Page A

with pale skin and golden hair. Anger flashed in her eyes as
she met Jez’s gaze, and his blood went cold. He realized why Osmund had thought
he’d heard of Lord Varin. He was the father of Lina, a former student of the
Academy who had almost gotten Osmund kicked out.
    Jez
stared at her face, astonished that the supposedly unhealable scar that had
once marred her cheek was completely gone. Quite deliberately, she turned away
and eyed the guards lined up on the wall. When she saw Osmund, a gasp escaped
her throat. Her face wavered and a red line appeared on her face, running from
just beneath her right eye to the bottom of her chin. It had been hidden by an
illusion. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and Osmund turned away and mumbled
something. Instantly, Lord Varin was at Lina’s side asking what was the matter.
The king stared. Finally, she lifted her hand and pointed at Osmund.
    “It
was him. He did this to me.”
    Lord
Varin’s face twisted in rage, and he stormed up to Osmund. He looked like a
child next to the large boy. “Is this true?”
    For a
moment, Jez thought his friend would deny it, but Osmund closed his eyes and
nodded. His voice was so quiet Jez barely heard it. “I’m sorry.”
    Varin
turned to Haziel, his face red with fury. “I demand you arrest this monster.”
    Jez
shot to his feet, but a glare from the king kept him silent. Haziel looked from
Osmund to Jez. Finally, addressed Jez.
    “He
is a commoner?”
    “Well
yes, but—”
    “Guards!
Take the baron’s body servant and throw him in the dungeon until we can decide
how he is to be punished for assaulting a noble.”

CHAPTER 5
    Jez stared at Osmund through the iron
bars in the dungeon under Rumar Keep. The room was almost ridiculously small
for his large form, and even sitting on the stone slab carved from the wall,
the cell looked tiny. Torches lined the hall though they were spaced so far
apart they barely provided any illumination at all. A musty smell hung in the
air, and from somewhere in the darkness, Jez heard a scurrying sound
accompanied by the squeaking of rats.
    “Osmund, why does this always happen to you?” Osmund’s
eyes narrowed, but he didn’t respond. Jez eyed the bars. “Can’t you break out
of here?”
    Osmund shrugged. “It’s warded, just like the cells
under the Academy. I think I could still change.” He ran his fingers along the
bars. “Ziary’s sword would cut right through these. Somehow, I don’t think that
would be the best thing.”
    “No, it wouldn’t,” a voice said from behind.
    Jez spun. For a moment, a ball of water appeared
around his closed fist shedding, a soft blue light. The boy, a few years older
than Jez himself took a step back, his eyes wide. It took Jez a second to
recognize him as Villia’s apprentice. He searched his mind for the name, but it
didn’t come. He lowered his hand and the water dripped to the floor. The boy
took a step forward, his eyes locked on Jez’s hand.
    “Pulling water from there air?” His voice was barely
above a whisper. His eyes were so wide Jez thought they would pop out of their
sockets. “That’s incredible.”
    Jez shrugged. “I studied aqua magic at the Academy.
It’s not exactly dry down here. I’m sorry. I don’t remember your name.”
    It looked like his face reddened, though in the
darkness, Jez couldn’t be sure. The boy went to one knee, accidently wetting
his robes in the water from Jez’s working.
    “Oh, forgive me, my lord. I am Sharim, Mage Villia’s
apprentice.”
    “Sharim, please get up.” The boy did and started to
brush off his robe. Apparently realizing it was useless, he gave up and
inclined his head. Jez sighed. “What were you saying?”
    “Only that it would not be wise for your guard to try
to escape. There are twice as many guards patrolling the dungeon than there
normally would be. Out of respect for your position, they’re staying out of
sight, but they’re here, and there are archers stationed at the end of