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Rodian was silent for a long moment. "That seems quite a venture, but I haven't heard of any new branch in the making."
"It wasn't anywhere nearby."
"Then abroad? I know the Lhoin'na, the elves to the far southeast, have a branch. Another is in the Suman Empire on its western coast. It seems there's no need for one more."
"Not here… on the eastern continent."
"A lengthy journey. You must've been gone a long while. Yet now you do nothing. So the endeavor failed, and you and your mentor returned?"
"No, just me. The others still strive to keep it going."
"Is this a common pursuit… to establish further branches in far-off lands?"
"It's the only attempt I know of—in my lifetime."
"I see," Rodian said, and that was all.
They rode in silence until Wy
"Wy
The thunderous growl carried to her as the captain's horse neared the front gate. Beyond, just outside the gatehouse, Domin High-Tower stood with two apprentices in gray. He began striding down the path, and both apprentices scurried after in nervous steps.
"You'd better leave me here," Wy
He reached back, bracing her as she slid off his horse. Before she could thank him for the ride, Domin High-Tower came at them.
"Get back inside!" he barked at her, but his outraged expression was aimed at the captain. "And you were told no interrogation without supervision."
Baffled, Wy
"By the Trinity, I thank you for the tutelage, Journeyor Hygeorht," the captain said. "Knowledge is always a blessing, when it comes. Perhaps you would teach me more at a better time."
Wy
Firstly she knew his reference to one of several religions in the land—they called it the Blessed Trinity of Sentience. Though one of the most reasoned, it didn't sit well with her. Captain Rodian was an arrogant, controlling, ambitious man, but she hadn't figured him as a fanatic.
As he turned his horse down the street, Wy
He had played her, but she wasn't sure how well or for what.
At the first intersection along Old Procession Road, Rodian reined in and turned his horse in time to watch the dwarven sage herding Wy
Whatever the sages had in their possession and hid from outside eyes under royal protection, he had little doubt where it had come from. Or at least, who had brought those texts to them.
Half a year, Sykion had said, since translations had begun—and six moons since a young journeyor returned alone from abroad. In that time, the project was still ongoing in small pieces. Whatever Wy
Wy
It didn't matter that these sages dismissed a co
Captain Siweard Rodian believed—knew—this, as sure as his faith.
Chapter 4
After finishing half a supper, alone among the others in the common hall, Wy
Everyone living within the guild grounds equally shared regular duties. Tonight Wy
Whether it was snide comments about Wy
Perhaps the venom stemmed from a zealous approach to her order's pragmatic pursuits in natural and earth studies. Or maybe it was just her noble upbringing. Either way, Wy
She trudged to the i
Wy
As Captain Rodian had shoved her out of the Upright Quill, she'd glimpsed a shimmer, like fur touched by distant street lanterns, as something ducked into the alley. Again she found herself missing Chap to a painful degree.
Wy
She shook her head and scoffed. That was all she needed—to lend more credence to her fame for addled wits, even if only to herself. She reluctantly turned up the path and was nearly to the gatehouse when she froze.
Large torches, their blazing heads girded in iron bands, were mounted to either side of the tu
Nikolas Columsarn inched out into plain sight.
Wy
"I heard the captain brought you back," Nikolas said softly, uncertain whether to whisper or not. "Did he tell you anything about…?"
"Jeremy and Elias?" she finished after he faltered.
"My only friends, except maybe Imaret."
"I saw her today. She asked after you."
He brushed his hair aside. "How is she?"
"Sad. You should go see her."
Wy
His shuffling gait sent the sound of scraping leather on stone rolling around the tu
"Does the captain know anything yet?" Nikolas repeated.
"Why are you asking me?"
"I can't ask Domin High-Tower, or the premin… or anyone else. They wouldn't talk to me. Do you think the captain will find whoever did this… punish them, execute them?"
Wy