The Magic Engineer Read Online Free PDF Page B

order and machines, but everyone thinks that will lead to chaos. I know it won’t, but they don’t listen.”
    Dorrin wonders what part her father’s new wife played in Jyll’s departure. “I take it your father found another woman?”
    “Father? Let’s say that she found him. She’s also a singer, ofsorts, and very devoted to him.” Jyll takes the last bite of greens.
    Dorrin munches through the last of the black bread.
    “Where are you from?” asks Shendr, from above a plate that is so clean the gray glaze of the earthenware almost glistens. “I’ve met Jyll before.”
    “Extina,” offers Dorrin.
    “I haven’t met her,” says Alys, adding quickly, “I’m from Alaren.”
    “I’ve spent most of my time on Recluce in Land’s End,” answers Jyll.
    “That’s a strange way of putting it. Have you traveled a lot?”
    “I’ve been to Freetown and Hydolar and Tyrhavven,” explains Jyll.
    Lisabet continues to chew slowly on the remaining greens before her.
    Dorrin wonders at the odd grouping of the so-called students. Alys and Jyll both seem from a somewhat indulged background, yet Brede and Shendr seem almost common in background. Not dull, but common. And Kadara is bright and willful, but neither indulged nor privileged. Finally, he speaks. “Lisabet, why do you think you are here?”
    The tall girl finishes her mouthful of greens, then takes a sip of redberry from her mug. “I would suspect that all of us are present because in our inner selves we do not accept the way things are on Recluce.”
    “Rebels? I’m certainly no rebel,” asserts Alys. “I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. I mean, in Hamor, they lock you up after you’re married…”
    Lisabet continues with the greens on her plate while Alys expounds on the oppression of women in the Hamorian Empire. Dorrin takes another mouthful of stew.

IX
    The walled city that serves as the key to the Westhorns shall not fall nor sleep so long as her ruler holds fast to theGreat Keep, and that keep remains girded in three layers of stone.
    The fields of Gallos, the groves of Kyphros, and the highlands of Analeria shall support the same great ruler; they shall support that ruler until they are sundered by the mountains of fire.
    A man with a sword of white shall lift hills from the earth; he shall set a road of stone down their spine, yet none shall see that road, nor ride it, save the servants of chaos.
    From the blackness of the stars shall come one like an ancient angel, building unto himself tools such as those forged by Nylan that first vanquished the reborn masters of light, and he shall be rejected by chaos and by order; neither shall give him refuge.
    He shall make a city of black stone in a place where none dwell, north of the sun and east of chaos; and the hand of every power shall be against him; his tools shall prevail and shall anchor the course of order.
    Yet chaos will prevail west of the black city, north and south of the sun; and those in white shall serve light and travel the hidden highways; they shall attain richness and every favor for their pleasure.
    Those of the black city and in that place where it dwells shall remain girded; their ships shall travel the oceans great and small, and they shall prosper so long as they remain in their land.
    For in time, the double sun will wax in the high sky and sunder the servants of light; their towers shall melt like wax upon a forge; and their highways shall be lost; men and women will revile their names, even as seekers quest for the knowledge of light.
    Never shall darkness nor light prevail, for one must balance the other; yet many of light will seek to banish darkness, and a multitude shall seek to cloak the light; but the balance will destroy all who seek the full ends of darkness and light.
    Then shall a woman rule the parched fields and dry groves of the reformed Kyphros and the highlands of Analeria and the enchanted hills; and all matters of wonders shall come to