Page 36 of The Sundered Realms

“Welcome,” Vhannor said behind her, “to the University of Embhullor.”

Chapter 6

The University of Embhullor has arguably the top spellcraft program in the world, which also means its language departments are without peer. The name Embhullor is synonymous with trusted standards for the vast majority of commentaries and dictionaries spellcrafters consult. My notes on Thyrasel are modeled on their structure, and now they’ll be judged by them.

I’m not sure whether I should be mortified or relieved that by my estimation, Thyrasel idiom does not deviate significantly from their norm for the quantity of ancient language references that are actually penis jokes.

It was a little ways farther from that perfectly crafted view to the actual entrance to the city. Just as with the Gates they’d passed through, no one asked about Liris’ identification or licenses when the Lord of Embhullor waved her through.

She really would not have gotten far without him. At least not anywhere near so quickly.

Then again, he could still be leading her very quickly to a jail cell, letting her walk to her own doom so he didn’t have to inefficiently drag her.

As they began toward the spire, or so Liris assumed, Shry asked, “Are we taking the scenic route rather than the efficient one for any particular reason?”

“I want to give Liris a quick tour of the town center so she can orient herself,” Vhannor said.

Still doing her favors.

That shouldn’t have made her heart pound.

“I can explore on my own,” she told him.

Vhannor shrugged, lavender gaze looking elsewhere like it didn’t merit consideration. “It’s no trouble.”

Shry raised her eyebrows at him. “It’s not like you to not go fetch a new weapon first thing. What happened to your knife, anyway?”

Vhannor frowned at her.

Shry elaborated, “I can feel less magic on you. You lost your fancy one.”

Liris swallowed. “I lost it.”

Vhannor shrugged again. “No point having a magic knife if you’re not going to use it.”

“I shouldn’t have thrown it at the end.”

Shry focused on Liris. “Did you cut a demon with it?”

“Yes.”

“Then that’s all that matters. I’ll go tell Lady Inealuwor you’ll be a little while.”

And then she was gone.

Liris blinked. “Did she just vanish?”

“No, she’s just very fast.” Liris looked at him skeptically, and Vhannor smirked. “Very fast.”

Wow. Okay, then. “And who’s Lady Inealuwor?”

This was another name she’d learned in her training, but she wondered how much Vhannor would tell her.

He strode down the winding cobbled path with an ease that made it plain that although he traveled, he’d spent a lot of time walking these streets. “Lady Inealuwor, among other things, is the one arranging your room. If you don’t like it, she’ll help you make other arrangements, but it’ll get you started.”

He wasn’t going to tell her? Liris shouldn’t have been surprised, but she was.

She covered her disappointment, asking, “Shouldn’t Lady Inealuwor know we’re here then?”

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