A Threat of Shadows Read Online Free PDF

council?”
    Alaric held the red scroll from Sidion securely in his hand, feeling the rich thrum of power it held. A power with more fire than the Keepers’ books held. “I would like to travel to Sidion.”
    Most of the faces remained impassive. Keeper Gerone sighed, and Keeper Mikal huffed in disapproval.
    “For what purpose?” the Shield asked.
    They already knew the answer, but Alaric forced the words out, anyway.
    “All my attempts have failed. Evangeline is at rest in a holding trance, but I cannot completely stop the progression of the rock snake venom. Our skills cannot save her. I need a way to extract it from her body without killing her.”
    Several men murmured in disapproval.
    “And you think this is wise?”
    “I think my wife is too young to die,” Alaric snapped. “It’s arrogant to think we have all the answers. There are references”—he waved the red scroll at them, causing little bits to crumble off—”of magic beyond what we practice. The Shade Seekers can sever the vitalle from the body—”
    “Sever!” cried out Keeper Mikal above the muttering that filled the room. “The body is nothing without vitalle . The life energy and the body are intertwined—”
    “Peace, brother,” the Shield broke in. The room fell silent. “Alaric knows all these things. His learning has never been deficient.”
    “Any man can become a fool,” muttered Mikal.
    “Yes, and any man can stop being a fool and become something better,” the Shield answered. “I, myself, have done both—more than once.” He turned to Alaric. “You knew that we wouldn’t approve this, and you knew why.”
    Alaric thought of Evangeline, the blackness of the venom twisting through her body. “Your reasons aren’t as compelling as they used to be.”
    The Shield sighed. “No, I don’t suppose they are.”
    “This is why Keepers don’t waste time marrying,” Mikal said. “It divides loyalties.”
    Alaric’s anger flared, but he refused to look at Mikal, refused to have this fight again. “Will you give me leave to go?”
    “No.” The Shield’s answer was simple. More sad than angry.
    “Then you sentence my wife to death.” Alaric flung the word across the table.
    The Shield did not flinch. “I would save her, and you, from something worse.”
    “You sit here in your tower,” Alaric said, biting off each word, “isolated from the world, judging and recording only part of it. You disregard and forbid things you are ignorant of.”
    “It is not from ignorance that we have banned the practices of Sidion.”
    “You’ve been there? You’ve studied their arts?” Alaric shot at the Shield.
    “Yes.”
    Several heads turned sharply toward their leader.
    “One of those choices that made me more of a fool.”
    Alaric paused at that. But then her face came back to him. Her desperate eyes, her hollowed cheeks.
    “I must go.”
    “Then you will no longer be a Keeper.” Mikal shoved his chair back as he stood.
    “No one is discussing casting Alaric out,” the Shield said firmly.
    Mikal glared at Alaric before slamming back down into his chair.
    The Shield looked around the room. “We do not cast men out for a single choice because no man is defined by a single choice. With each day, we decide anew who we are, what we will grow toward. Alaric has chosen to be a Keeper a thousand times in a thousand ways. No one is discussing his place here, only his request to travel to Sidion.” He turned back to Alaric. “We cannot give you leave to go. It is forbidden.”
    Alaric stood, looking down the table at the frail old man. “I asked as a courtesy. I don’t need your permission.”
    “We will not stop you, of course, and you will be welcomed back when you return.” The Shield met Alaric’s gaze. “But I beg you to reconsider. This is not what you want. Shade Seekers do not value the things we do. Please do not go. For her sake.”
    Alaric stared hard at the man. “I will not sit by and watch her die,”