The High Lord Read Online Free PDF Page A

surprise Akkarin had encouraged Dannyl to continue. Dannyl still sent research notes every few months, but each bundle was smaller. Dannyl had expressed frustration at having exhausted all sources of knowledge in Elyne, yet, remembering how distant and evasive Dannyl had been during his visit to the Guild, Rothen could not help wondering occasionally if his friend was holding something back. Furthermore, Dannyl had mentioned discussing something confidential with the High Lord.
    Rothen brought his empty cup back to the dining table. Dannyl was a Guild Ambassador and as such he would be trusted with all kinds of information he could not share with ordinary magicians. The confidential matter could have just been something political.
    But he couldn’t help worrying that Dannyl was unknowingly helping Akkarin in some dreadful, sinister plot.
    He could do nothing about that, however. He could only trust in Dannyl’s good sense. His friend would not follow orders blindly, especially not if he was asked to do something questionable or wrong.
    No matter how many times Dannyl visited the Great Library, the sight of it still filled him with wonder. Cut into a high cliff, the building’s enormous door and windows were so large it was easy to imagine that a race of giant men had carved it out of the rock for their use. The corridors and rooms inside, however, were made to suit an ordinary man’s proportions, so no race of giants had made
them.
As his carriage pulled up outside the massive door, a smaller door at the base of it opened and a striking young man stepped out.
    Dannyl smiled and felt a glow of affection as he climbed out to greet his friend and lover. Tayend’s bow was respectful, but was followed by a familiar grin.
    “You took your time getting here, Ambassador,” he said.
    “Don’t blame me. You Elynes should have built your city closer to the library.”
    “Now there’s a good idea. I’ll suggest it to the King next time I attend court.”
    “You never attend court.”
    “That’s right.” Tayend smiled. “Irand wants to speak to you.”
    Dannyl paused. Did the librarian already know about the matters covered in the letter Dannyl had just received? Had he received a similar letter himself?
    “What about?”
    Tayend shrugged. “I think he just wants to chat.”
    They entered a corridor, then climbed a flight of stairs to a long narrow room. Mullioned windows dominated one side of the room, and groups of chairs were arranged informally along the length of the hall.
    An elderly man sat in one of the closest chairs. As he began to push himself up out of it, Dannyl waved a hand.
    “Don’t trouble yourself, Librarian.” He dropped into a chair. “How are you?”
    Irand’s shoulders lifted slightly. “Well enough for an old man. Well enough. How are you, Ambassador?”
    “Good. There isn’t much work at the Guild House at the moment. A few testings, a few minor disputes, a few small parties. Nothing overly time-consuming.”
    “And Errend?”
    Dannyl smiled. “The First Guild Ambassador is as cheerful as ever,” he replied. “And most relieved to have me out of his way for the day.”
    Irand chuckled. “Tayend tells me your research is going nowhere.”
    Dannyl sighed and glanced at Tayend. “We could read every book in the library on the odd chance we might find something new, but we would need several lifetimes or a hundred assistants.”
    While Dannyl had first started researching ancient magic at Lorlen’s request, he had himself become intrigued by the subject. Akkarin had begun a similar search, long before he became High Lord, which had kept him roaming the lands for five years. He had returned empty-handed, however, and Dannyl had initially assumed Lorlen had asked him to retrace Akkarin’s steps in order to gift his friend with some of the information he had lost.
    But six months later, after Dannyl had travelled to Lonmar and Vin, Lorlen had abruptly informed Dannyl that he no longer