Battle Mage: Winds of Change (The High King: A Tale of Alus Book 11) Read Online Free PDF Page B

courtyard, except for those rare times a portal was created inside.
    Escorting the mage to the doorway which had been reinforced with metal strapping, the guard opened the door to where six more guards stood watch while two wizards sat trying to stay awake until the end of their shift.
    "Falcon Sebastian Trillon is here to check on the portal, wizards," the guard stated even as he stepped out of the younger man's path. Sebastian wasn't trying to push his way past by any means, but was willing to take the opening to enter the courtyard.
    The female wizard stood looking more awake than her companion. Her blond hair looked grayer in the light before the sun arrived on the eastern horizon and her green eyes seemed equally washed out as did the rest of those gathered in the courtyard. From that stand point, Sebastian could have picked a better time to visit, but he knew it would be quiet and that he should have a moment to test some of his theories.
    "Falcon, what brings you so early, or late, depending on how one views this side of morning?" the older woman questioned. While she was still in her prime by the look of her, Sebastian was nearing twenty-one now making her his senior by more than a decade if he had to guess at her age.
    "I had problems sleeping because I am worried over the security of the portal gates," he replied truthfully. His mind had been going over how simple it had been for him to find the emperor's gates and change them to suit Southwall's needs. Holding a map, the mage could trace the magic used to create and maintain a portal doorway. He had chased the familiar signature of a dark mage named Palose, who had once been a Southwall battle mage and his friend, and overridden every portal the Betrayer had managed to create south of the wall and took them for his own use.
    The woman gestured to an empty space that would appear rather unimpressive to someone without the ability to see magic. Even for someone like that, the faint power coming from a pair of stones set about eight feet apart was rather basic.
    "There haven't been any calls to arms or tests on this portal since I heard we sent troops to support you," the woman stated even as the male wizard behind her looked over at the two and rubbed his left eye. He was awake but looking ready to return to his room and the bed waiting for him there. "I don't know why you would worry over security when you can see it clear enough. We have our guards and this courtyard has been created to keep us isolated in the case of any other type of event. Nothing has happened so I am not sure what you expect to find."
    "Could you do me the favor and open a door size portal to Windmeer's test room?" the mage requested rather than answering Wizard Treya's question.
    Motioning for the earth wizard to help her, the woman eyed the battle mage again thinking that he was way too young to be asking for favors, but Sebastian's reputation had grown to nearly legendary heights in just over a year. He was known for his assistance in the Battle of the Two Towers for calling the portal gateways by himself, a feat that most wizards had been unable to do so far.
    "Aren't you supposed to be capable of making one yourself, mage?" the woman asked appearing skeptical despites the stories.
    Sebastian placed his left hand over his right forearm and an oval rune appeared darkening his skin making the wizards' eyes widen slightly in surprise. He had spoken no words and this magic was completely unknown to either of them. With magic he had learned on his journey, the mage nicknamed the owl had surprises not only for his people but the Dark One's as well.
    Answering as a sword was drawn from the magic mark, Sebastian informed the wizards, "While I can it is hard to hold one open and inspect it at the same time."
    Looking ready to question him again, Treya was elbowed by Zeben as he began the incantation given them by the high wizard from Eirdhen. Portal magic was in Southwall's hands now, but the wizards