The Castrofax Read Online Free PDF Page B

sympathetic smile.
    “How old is he really? How long has he been
hibernating through the Ages?”
    “No one knows. There have been many terrible
occurrences through history we attribute to him or one of his Arch
Mages, but I think they go back to the Second Age, and that just
sounds too fantastic.”
    “Four Ages old,” Robyn breathed. “So you
really do have something to fear.”
    He put a hand on her shoulder just like her
big brother used to. “Jaden is unbreachable, and I like to think
it’s inescapable too.”
    Robyn stared at the ground before her. “What
else did Ryker make?”
    He shrugged and pushed a curly lock out of
his eyes, only to watch it fall back in place. “Rings that could
control a person’s will, a crown that projected illusions,
necklaces that could hold off wounds sustained in battle,” he
drifted off and lazily flicked his wrist to suggest there were
others. “Who knows for certain?”
    “He sounds terrible.” Robyn replied and
wrinkled her nose.
    Gabriel stood up swiftly, towering over her.
“Come, we have happier moments to think of, and it’s not too late
to sneak a cake from the kitchens.”
     
     
     
     
    Gabriel woke with the sun as was his custom,
rising with the light. His skin tingled this morning with unusual
tenacity. He shook his hands and rubbed his forearms as the manor
masseuse would to loosen the muscles. With the voracity he used his
arms in pattern-laying, it was paramount to have a resident
masseuse to loosen the body.
    Lacing his short black boots, he suddenly
stopped as a wave of energy coursed over him, standing the hair on
the back of his neck. It was as if a specter appeared to scare him
senseless, or a great rush of adrenaline coursed through his body
to leave him calm but on the edge of fright. The feeling moved
faintly from left to right before vanishing a few seconds later. He
slowly looked about the room searching for the source of energy but
finding only his reflection in the long mirror which gave him
another fright.
    He gathered his wits making his way down the
stairs, and listened to the faint sounds of the house waking up.
This early in the morning he could hear servants in the kitchen,
clinking dishes, clanking pots, doors creaking and shutting, and
the crackle of hearths. Somewhere down the hall he heard the
familiar scrape of Cordis’ study door open, and he set his feet in
that direction.
    “Good morning, Gabriel,” Dagan’s voice
carried from high above him. Gabriel glanced up the stair case to
see the green-clad Mage descending from his room on the third
level. He wore a long green tunic over a white blouse. “Shall we
learn how to grow tree roots this afternoon?”
    “I should think so,” Gabriel replied before
he slipped out of Dagan’s vision. In truth, he was going to make
the most of his last few days in the manor and steal away with
Robyn. The past few days of archery had improved her aim, though
she complained fiercely about her sore shoulder.
    Gabriel let himself into his father’s study
and found Cordis within, a scroll over his lap as he took his
morning tea. The familiar tingling sensation returned, very faint
but lingering as Gabriel entered and poured himself a mug of black
tea.
    “Word from Anatoly City says it is in revolt
against the Novaculas ascension to the throne,” Cordis said as
Gabriel poured milk into his tea. Cordis tapped the scroll. “The
power houses claim the Novaculas murdered the heiress, while the
merchants are siding with Balien Bolt in his declaration that
Miranda Novacula is heir by right. It seems your dear friend is
caught in a tight place.”
    “Does he know where she is?” Gabriel asked as
he stepped up to the bay window, looking out on the fresh
morning.
    “No one knows. Not even he. Especially not
he.” Cordis took a sip of tea, and the faint tingle jumped across
Gabriel’s skin, causing him to turn. “He would be the first to come
looking for her.” Cordis gazed up at Gabriel’s