SpellBreaker: First Ordinance, Book 4 Read Online Free Page B
Author: Connie Suttle
blinked at her.
"Yes. Sorry, but that was information I needed to know. It confirmed my suspicions. Now I know what's keeping me awake at night."
"Your only concern was to protect the throne?" I asked.
"When you have terrible nightmares of what may come if you don't," she said, "Then yes, my concern—and my self-appointed mission—is to protect the rightful King of Karathia and his son, the Prince."
"Jeez-Louise," I muttered one of Gran's favorite phrases while rubbing my forehead.
"Look, I can't see past a Sirenali's fog any better than anyone else," she said. "But that doesn't mean I'm not working on ways to get around it."
"Will you keep me updated?" I asked. "And I apologize for the paperweight incident. That was a stupid thing to do."
"You call what a Sirenali can do a fog?" Gran, who was also in this impromptu meeting with Ilya, Daragar and me, asked.
"It's what it looks like when I see their obsession in someone," Zaria replied. "Like their brain has been fogged and all they know from that point forward is whatever obsession has been planted there."
"We see it as much the same," Daragar admitted. "It is impossible to see through; there is information in the Archives concerning such."
"Where did you see someone who'd been obsessed?" Gran asked.
"On my way home from the market," she said. "On Tulgalan. Three men ran down the street toward me, while Targis' constables raced after them. I dropped my shield long enough to attempt to read them. That attempt was futile—I only saw the fog. Then, the one who'd obsessed them appeared from nothing. By that time, I'd transported myself to a safer place so I wouldn't be caught in the weapons crossfire. That didn't mean I couldn't read the Sirenali, however, who had murder and thievery on his mind. He disappeared with one of the culprits; the constables captured the other two, who suddenly dropped dead on the walkway and exploded. This incident is recorded in the constable's records; the three constables present would have died if I hadn't thrown a shield about them at the last moment."
"Dear God," Gran muttered. "Did the dreams start after that?"
"Shortly after, yes."
"Can you describe the Sirenali you saw?"
"Do you have paper?" she asked.
Gran Pulled in several sheets of paper. We watched as Zaria placed her hand on the top sheet. An image appeared beneath her fingers. It was an advanced spell that few warlocks or witches could do; it required perfect recall. Somehow, I wasn't surprised that the Q'elindi could do it.
"I'll hand this to Kooper," Gran said. "Although I worry that this Sirenali may have ordered someone to change his appearance by now."
"I will know him if I ever see him again," Zaria said. "If I understand things properly, Quin may also know."
"She will," I said, lowering my gaze. I did—and didn't—understand Zaria's reluctance to come to Dad before. It wasn't until Karathia was threatened that she'd made her way to the palace, and then, she'd applied to be a cook's assistant.
She probably found the prospect of serving the crown until the end of time somewhat smothering , Gran pointed out in mindspeech.
Try being royal—wait, you are , I teased back.
I hear that. She probably realized early on what going to see your father would entail. It's a shame in some ways and perfectly understandable in others. For now, I'd rather keep her where she is—guarding you and Quin. She seems happy enough to do that , Gran said. If you keep her at your side, I can't imagine there'll be many unwelcome surprises coming in your direction.
True and exactly what I was thinking , I responded.
"Zaria," I said aloud, "I'd like to keep you where you are—guarding Quin and me. I hope that's agreeable to you, too."
"It is, or I'd have said no in the beginning," she said.
"You need to keep this to yourselves," Daragar warned. "A Q'elindi would be considered a great prize to many, most of whom have less than legitimate reasons to want one."
"I can take care of
"Yes. Sorry, but that was information I needed to know. It confirmed my suspicions. Now I know what's keeping me awake at night."
"Your only concern was to protect the throne?" I asked.
"When you have terrible nightmares of what may come if you don't," she said, "Then yes, my concern—and my self-appointed mission—is to protect the rightful King of Karathia and his son, the Prince."
"Jeez-Louise," I muttered one of Gran's favorite phrases while rubbing my forehead.
"Look, I can't see past a Sirenali's fog any better than anyone else," she said. "But that doesn't mean I'm not working on ways to get around it."
"Will you keep me updated?" I asked. "And I apologize for the paperweight incident. That was a stupid thing to do."
"You call what a Sirenali can do a fog?" Gran, who was also in this impromptu meeting with Ilya, Daragar and me, asked.
"It's what it looks like when I see their obsession in someone," Zaria replied. "Like their brain has been fogged and all they know from that point forward is whatever obsession has been planted there."
"We see it as much the same," Daragar admitted. "It is impossible to see through; there is information in the Archives concerning such."
"Where did you see someone who'd been obsessed?" Gran asked.
"On my way home from the market," she said. "On Tulgalan. Three men ran down the street toward me, while Targis' constables raced after them. I dropped my shield long enough to attempt to read them. That attempt was futile—I only saw the fog. Then, the one who'd obsessed them appeared from nothing. By that time, I'd transported myself to a safer place so I wouldn't be caught in the weapons crossfire. That didn't mean I couldn't read the Sirenali, however, who had murder and thievery on his mind. He disappeared with one of the culprits; the constables captured the other two, who suddenly dropped dead on the walkway and exploded. This incident is recorded in the constable's records; the three constables present would have died if I hadn't thrown a shield about them at the last moment."
"Dear God," Gran muttered. "Did the dreams start after that?"
"Shortly after, yes."
"Can you describe the Sirenali you saw?"
"Do you have paper?" she asked.
Gran Pulled in several sheets of paper. We watched as Zaria placed her hand on the top sheet. An image appeared beneath her fingers. It was an advanced spell that few warlocks or witches could do; it required perfect recall. Somehow, I wasn't surprised that the Q'elindi could do it.
"I'll hand this to Kooper," Gran said. "Although I worry that this Sirenali may have ordered someone to change his appearance by now."
"I will know him if I ever see him again," Zaria said. "If I understand things properly, Quin may also know."
"She will," I said, lowering my gaze. I did—and didn't—understand Zaria's reluctance to come to Dad before. It wasn't until Karathia was threatened that she'd made her way to the palace, and then, she'd applied to be a cook's assistant.
She probably found the prospect of serving the crown until the end of time somewhat smothering , Gran pointed out in mindspeech.
Try being royal—wait, you are , I teased back.
I hear that. She probably realized early on what going to see your father would entail. It's a shame in some ways and perfectly understandable in others. For now, I'd rather keep her where she is—guarding you and Quin. She seems happy enough to do that , Gran said. If you keep her at your side, I can't imagine there'll be many unwelcome surprises coming in your direction.
True and exactly what I was thinking , I responded.
"Zaria," I said aloud, "I'd like to keep you where you are—guarding Quin and me. I hope that's agreeable to you, too."
"It is, or I'd have said no in the beginning," she said.
"You need to keep this to yourselves," Daragar warned. "A Q'elindi would be considered a great prize to many, most of whom have less than legitimate reasons to want one."
"I can take care of
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