The Castrofax Read Online Free

tone.
    “If you should listen to any lectures about
profound structures, it should be this one. You have two—someday
three—Mages who call Jaden their home, and it would be admirable of
you to understand their culture. Tell me three things concerning
Castle Jaden.”
    Robyn crumpled her fingers together. She
really had not been listening to the lecture, but sometimes Gabriel
spoke of it. “Jaden is the smallest but the most powerful of
kingdoms since it houses the Mages. Mages bred themselves out of
High Classes after the Mage Wars made it acceptable to marry
non-Mages.” She rolled her eyes up, trying to think of more. “The
Castle has never been breached and is rumored to be the safest
place on land.”
    Magin glared at her. “You have been talking
to Mage Cordis. I said none of those things. Now, listen this time. Castle Jaden was founded by Class Ten Cornel Jaden in 1555 when
he purchased land from Eccoveria, what is now Anatoly. Jaden did
not become its own kingdom until 2020 when the castle was
completed…. ”
    “I don’t want to learn of castles, Magin. I
want to study the Mage Wars!”
    “ Don’t ? Sweet stars, you have been talking to Cordis too much. Alas, he would be the man to speak
with about the Mage Wars, but he is busy.” She nodded her head
outside and Robyn followed with a longing gaze.
    Father and son stood with their backs to her.
Dagan walked up with an open book, speaking words she could not
hear and gesturing to sketches on the pages. Robyn had seen many
books with sketches in their library that showed how patterns were
laid and how the body moved to manipulate them. Dagan set the book
on a stone table and made several large-armed gestures before
stopping and shaking his head. The earth gave a slight tremble as
he moved, and Robyn braced for excitement only to be
disappointed.
    Cordis pointed to the book as Gabriel folded
his arms, speaking for a few moments. Gabriel shrugged and nodded
before unlinking his arms.
    “Robyn.” Magin stated.
    “Wait,” she whispered, sensing entertainment
on the horizon.
    Gabriel took a defensive stance, and with
great care and seriousness, laid the unseen pattern. Dagan and
Cordis backed up as he worked, and with each step their faces grew
more surprised.
    “Robyn.”
    Gabriel moved his arms in circular motions,
stopping and drawing his hand back twice as if pulling something.
She watched with rapt attention, ignoring Magin as he slightly bent
in the knees. Suddenly the earth gave a tremendous roar and sprang
up around him in a circular dome that swallowed him. The top of the
dome twisted soil, grass, roots and stones together in a grinding
mass that slowed and stopped. Robyn found herself on her feet
squealing with excitement as her eyes flicked to the Mages and the
dome. Cordis and Dagan stood with limp arms and open faces, staring
at the place where Gabriel had been swallowed up.
    Slowly, the earth began to shrink back to the
garden to reveal a whole and hale Gabriel in the center, his arms
level with his waist as he pushed the earth back down. His hair and
shoulders were dusty but he was unharmed, and with a quick shake of
his hair he looked normal once more.
    Cordis and Dagan exploded in excited tones,
closing the gap as they gestured and pointed, unsteady on their
feet. Gabriel seemed to brighten at their congratulations and
smiled. Cordis grabbed the book and pointed to a picture before
shifting back a page, then stopped and gaped at Dagan. ‘Eight,’ he
mouthed. That much Robyn could tell.
    “What does Mage Cordis mean by eight?” Robyn
asked, turning to Magin.
    “Did you not see?” Magin posed. “Mage Dagan
is a Class Six and failed when attempting the pattern, but Gabriel
succeeded. There are a thousand patterns only certain Classes can
perform and fuel properly. Many have been lost to the Ages as Mages
bred themselves out. It seems young Master Gabriel has succeeded in
a pattern made for Class Eights.”
    “This is fantastic,” Robyn