Page 23 of Path of the Dark
“What a desolate sight,” Gael murmured, voicing his thoughts aloud.
“The Order hasn’t been welcome in Veldoras for years,” Saskia replied. She stepped past him, leading the way toward the rusting iron door. “King Aron succeeded in turning the populace against our kind. He blamed them for everything from The Grey Ravage to a poor harvest. They’re fortunate the folk here didn’t run them out of the city. Good luck raising them out of the gutter.”
Her tone told him that she wished him the exact opposite.
Gael followed Saskia to the doors. He lagged a few steps behind, seizing the opportunity to admire the attractive enchanter. Dressed in tight-fitting grey leggings, high boots, and a light-grey shirt belted at the waist, the woman definitely pleased the eye. She had tied back her long dark hair into a braid that bounced between her shoulder-blades as she walked. She dressed in the fashion of Anthor enchanters, a style that accentuated her lithe curves.
Saskia grabbed the door knocker and banged twice. The sound echoed hollowly, as if they stood within a vast cavern. Around them the dingy, rubbish-strewn street was quiet.
It took a while for someone to answer the door. Saskia knocked twice more, before they heard the scuffle of feet and the scrape of an iron bar being lifted.
A lanky young man wearing stained smoke-grey robes greeted them. “What do you want?”
“Good morning.” Gael flashed him a smile. “We’re here to see the High Enchanter.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No … but since we’re here on behalf of the King of Anthor, she’ll want to see us.”
The young enchanter regarded him for a moment, his brow furrowing. Then he stepped back, throwing open the door wide. “Follow me.”
Leaving their escort of guards on the street, Gael and Saskia stepped inside. The door boomed shut behind them, blocking out the daylight. A musty smell assailed Gael’s nostrils. It was as if no one ever opened the windows in this place. Sconces burned on damp stone walls.
The youth led them to the center of the building. The House of Light and Darkness was built around a vast inner courtyard. Terraces of floors rose up in a square around it, with stone balustrades. They were on the first level here, and Gael surveyed the enormous courtyard before him. The sun shone down, filtering between the pillars lining the wide space.
It was eerily silent; you could almost believe that a busy city didn’t exist beyond these walls. Gael noted the lichen creeping over the stones, the ivy climbing up the pillars. Mirrar Rock’s House of Lightness had a similar space; this would be where the apprentices trained, but there was no sign of anyone this morning.
As their escort led them toward the first set of stairs heading to the next level, Gael called out to him. “Where is everybody?”
The young man glanced over his shoulder. “Busy.”
“Doing what? Sleeping?”
The enchanter scowled.
“What’s your name?” Gael asked, persevering.
“Daric.”
“When did you join the order, Daric?”
“Ten years ago.”
Saskia cut him an amused look, clearly wondering why he was bothering to talk to the lad. In response, Gael felt his irritation rise.
Ignore her, Shade’s soothing voice interrupted his thoughts.You have a plan.
Indeed, Gael did have a plan—one that entailed gaining the trust of the enchanters of this House. The first thing you did when trying to earn someone’s trust was learn their name.
Daric led them up to the top level of the building. Here, the sun filtered onto the walkway and warmed their faces. Gael looked around him as he walked, taking in the flaking paint on the building’s façade. Above him, he spied high arched windows. This House had once been a grand building. There should have been voices echoing off the stone this morning, enchanters moving down its hallways and stairwells. It was a shame to see it so neglected.
Their boots scuffed upon worn stone as they reached a huge pair of double doors.
Daric stopped before them and turned to face Gael and Saskia. “Wait here,” he ordered.
Mysandra, High Enchanter of Veldoras’s House of Light and Darkness, leaned back in her chair, scrutinizing the man and woman who stood before her.
Gael held her gaze and waited till she had finished her inspection.
