Arcane Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 2) by Kara Jaynes Page A

hoped, the sky jewel.

 
    23
    Aaric
     
    T here. Aaric put the last wire in place, smiling in satisfaction. He started work on the plans months ago, and had used the past week to put it together. It was a more . . . violent invention than the glider to be sure, but if used correctly it could serve a very practical purpose. He just needed to find a way to test it now without blowing himself to smithereens.
    “Once again, you astound me.” An older gentleman with a graying mustache leaned over Aaric’s shoulder, observing his work. “Absolutely astounding.”
    “Thank you, sir,” Aaric said. The man was Sirius Archer, the president of the Scholar’s Guild. Luna had introduced him at Aaric’s request. Sirius had shown immense interest in the glider plans and was showing equal interest in Aaric’s current project.
    “Is this one ready, then?”
    “It’s close,” Aaric said. “It still needs a little testing, but I’m confident it will work.” He stood, leaving his project on the table.
    “If this one is successful, I think we could find some use for it right away,” Sirius remarked, still eying the contraption with interest.
    “Use for it, sir?” Aaric asked. “In what way?”
    Sirius smiled, but said nothing more on it. He waved Aaric away. “It’s getting late. Adaryn will probably come looking for you soon.”
    Aaric nodded. She often did if he worked past dinner. “I’d better be going then,” he said.
    He gave his farewell, and left. Walking down the busy streets, he idly wondered what Sirius had planned.
    “Hey.” Bran separated himself from the crowd, matching Aaric’s stride.
    “You’ve been gone awhile,” Aaric remarked. “Did you find the elusive Fyrsil, or a brigand lair?”
    “Nothing,” Bran growled. “Not so much as one blasted footprint.”
    “You tried hunting them with magic, I presume.”
    “I tried everything,” Bran sighed, scrubbing a hand through his hair. “I tried tracking them, hunting with magic; I even asked some locals if they had seen any brigand activity lately.” He laughed. “They weren’t too keen on answering those questions, the suspicious louts. Must have thought I was one of them.”
    Arriving at the Dancing Cat, they seated themselves at a table in the common room, just in time for dinner. A few minutes later and the men were eagerly tucking into savory roast beef, baked potatoes and bread. Bran scarfed the food down like it was his last meal.
    “You ate while you were out, right?” Aaric laughed.
    “The occasional rabbit and any wild roots I found,” he said, reaching for another bread slice.
    “Bran!”
    Adaryn hurried over from the stairs, and sat next to him with a smile. “Did you find anything?”
    “No,” Aaric said for him, as Bran’s mouth was full of beef. “He wasn’t able to find anything.” He tried to keep the disappointment from showing on his face. “I guess this means there isn’t a brigand leader and his sky jewel out there for us to find.”
    “I wouldn’t count on that just yet.” Adaryn turned to face him, her eyes sparkling in the firelight.
    “What do you mean?” Bran asked.
    Adaryn looked around the common room, suddenly wary. It was too packed and noisy for anyone to overhear, Aaric guessed, but the nomad was clearly uncomfortable. “Both of you finish your food and meet me upstairs in my room,” she said, standing. The two men shared a confused stare as she left but didn’t comment on it.
    Bran managed to shovel down three heaping plates of food before staggering upstairs to Adaryn’s room, Aaric following. Adaryn was pacing her room, and motioned them to both sit on the bed while she took the small chair.
    “So what’s up?” Bran asked.
    “Tyrko Ruins is up,” she said excitedly. “Did you have a chance to search them, Bran?”
    Bran barked a short, humorless laugh. “Have you seen them, Adaryn?” he asked. “You could hide a city in there. I scanned the edges, but there’s no way I’d be