Branded Mage Read Online Free PDF Page A

door a hard knock. Just as his hand began to descend the door swung open. Having put too much strength into the blow Thad stumbled forward as he tried to pull it back.
     
    An elderly woman, easily in her late nineties, looked up at him through squinted eyes. She looked more than aged as she stood hunched over leaning heavily on a dark wooden cane. Her hair hung around her shoulders like a silvery waterfall.
    “Yes, can I help you young man?” she said , her voice soft and barely above a whisper.
    “I hope so. Lady Alysia said you were the best person to discuss my problems with.”
    “Ah! Little Alysia? Well do come in.” she said turning around.
    Thad followed her to the corner of the office, where two large heavy cushioned chairs sat in front of a large fireplace. The room was more plain than he had expected. His mind having pictured the room littered with objects of great value and rarity.
    “What brings you to visit an old crone like me?” She asked pouring him a cup of water from a glass pitcher.
    Thad took the cup graciously. “This is kind of hard to explain. I work with magic, and I am working on a project that involves heat. The problem is, I have no understanding as to how it is made or transferred.”
    For the briefest of moments the old woman’s eyes sparkled. “So, you are the mage that has all my professors in an uproar. Meredith has been bugging me endlessly to petition the queen for an audience with you.” She said lightly chuckling.
    “As for your problem, there are many books I could recommend you to read, and I shall do so later, but for now I would enjoy a nice friendly chat.”
    Laura as s he preferred to be called was full of information. She had traveled extensively in her earlier years with a band of adventurers trying to unearth lost relics of the Empire. Sometimes it took her awhile to remember all the details, but Thad didn’t mind the long pauses. He was so enthralled in one of Laura’s stories where she had been exploring an underground cavern; he nearly wet himself when a loud rap sounded at the door.
    “Would you get that for me dear? Moving around at my age is more work than it’s worth most of the time.”
    Thad gladly obeyed hop ping up from his chair and rushing to the door like an impatient child hurrying to get back to playing. The door swung open to reveal a lithe woman, easily in her early thirties with deep-set brown eyes that reminded him of bronze coins. She had thick, straight, red hair that was cut short and her clothes were utilitarian, with a completely gray color scheme.
    Not even taking note of his presences she walked past him and strai ght to where the dean sat. “Have you contacted the queen yet? It is most imperative that I meet with the mage. Think of everything we could learn. It might even be possible to teach others, and revive the lost art of magic.”
    “Meredith I was wondering when you would be about. I guess it was too much to hope you would leave an old woman to her own amusements.” Laura said with a hint of annoyance. “I guess I shouldn’t hog our guest all to myself. Thad , I am sure the lovely professor here will drag you off, so I will have the books you need delivered to the palace by days end.”
     
    “Laura, what are you talking about?” She examined him closely, as if noticing his presence for the first time. The intensity of her eyes made him more than a little uncomfortable. “Oh! You’re from the palace. Did you bring word back involving my query on the young mage?”
    “I believe I am the mage in question, unless another one has surfaced that I haven’t heard about.” Thad said with much more confidence than he felt.
    “Not what I expected, but dreams and reality are seldom the same.” She said as she grabbed him by the arm and led him from the room. To say she gently urged him along would have been kind. She moved with haste and her grip was like an iron trap, making him feel as if a team of horses were dragging