The Sorcerer's Abyss (The Sorcerer's Path) Read Online Free PDF Page A

thin line of a black beard took a step forward from the few others in attendance. "Headmaster, esteemed council members; an associate of mine has sent me word of an event which has occurred in North Haven, and I believe it requires the immediate attention of The Academy."
     
"What is this event, Magus?"
     
"Several days ago, a young woman believed to be a member of the Orphan's Academy, as the locals call it, used magic in a populated eating establishment resulting in numerous severe injuries, the destruction of the building, and damage to several nearby structures. I feel this so-called school has operated for far too long without being under the auspices of The Academy. I have voiced my opinion before regarding this renegade school of magic and the dangers its teaching of unregulated magic poses."
     
Headmaster Florent's lips compressed into a thin line of disapproval. "Yes, you have made your concerns clear in the past. Do we know for certain the wizard belongs to this school?"
     
"I do not have that level of detailed information at this time, Headmaster, but if you give me leave to conduct an investigation so we can bring this renegade wizard to heel, I will certainly get it. Then, with that information in hand, I will recommend the unlawful school either falls under the control of The Academy or is permanently shut down."
     
"Magus Harvey, may I remind you this school is now being run by two of The Academy's most esteemed archmages and a wizard-level Academy graduate?"
     
"I appreciate the fact, and only that fact keeps me from filing a formal petition to have the school shut down immediately. The argument remains that a renegade whose teaching doctrine does not follow Academy guidelines, moral standards, or rigid attendance requirements founded it. This may be the biggest disaster created by one of their poorly trained students of magic thus far, but it is far from an isolated event. If the school does not fall under full Academy oversight, I feel this is just the beginning. We may soon be facing numerous renegades of substantial power with little to no discipline. We must act before another tragedy occurs."
     
"Do we know the identity of the mage in question?" Headmaster Florent asked.
     
"I do not have that information at this time, but she is described as a young woman of an age between sixteen and twenty years of age. If the council would grant me a writ of inquisition, I am certain I can find out very quickly."
     
A fit man in his late forties or early fifties stood up and addressed the council. "Before you go and do something irrevocably stupid, I can tell you who it was."
     
"Ambassador Sabaht, you know the identity of the woman?" the Headmaster asked.
     
"I do." Devlin, Azerick's former master, turned his eyes toward Magus Harvey. "I too have associates who pass important information to me, and it would seem they do a significantly better job. The mage is Ellyssa Jensen, and she is hardly a woman, but a girl who only recently turned fourteen. She was Sorcerer Azerick's ward and apprentice."
     
Magus Harvey sneered. "Well, that certainly explains a great deal. It hardly comes as a surprise a renegade would beget a renegade. This only proves my point of the practices being taught in North Haven is a very real danger to the kingdom and should be stopped immediately. Need I remind the council this was the same man who murdered the former Headmaster?"
     
"Headmaster Dondrian was involved in a scheme to overthrow King Jarvin, which goes against the strict laws of Academy neutrality," Devlin pointed out.
     
"A fact that only came to light after he killed Dondrian. He also took Academy wizards to End's Run in the support of King Jarvin, thus breaking the law of neutrality himself!" Magus Harvey countered.
     
"A law Azerick is not beholden to since he never made it to the level required to take the oaths of an official member of The Academy. It could be argued he acted as his oaths to the King required by