Hemlock And The Dead God's Legacy (Book 2) by B. Throwsnaill

passionate volume.
    “ I never agreed with giving them potions. Why should we give them something which their stature has not earned? We will make them softer and weaker than they already are. They will come to depend on us like lecherous worms. We needed to let them use magic, and we needed the best of them to fill out our ranks. I think Zaringer made a mistake in trying to suppress all non-Guild magic.
    But I don’t support giving magic secrets away , either. They are something that should be earned, and with that difficulty should come a sense of responsibility.  This free distribution of magic that you are leading will backfire, Hemlock.  Just you wait!”
    Hemlock sighed audibly.  “I appreciate your opinion, Renevos.  You need not concern yourself with these matters now—at least until we return to the City.  I’m actually trying to get my mind off of the City on this journey.”
    Renevos rose and walked off, muttering: “Such are the whims of the young.  No time for wise words from their elders.”
    After Renevos had left earshot, Tored spoke . “Well, he’s a dour one.  But perhaps there is some wisdom in his words?”
    Hemlock sighed again in response, and did not answer.
    Tored rose and shouldered his backpack.  The other Tanna Varrans followed his lead, and did the same; the wizards followed suit.  Soon, the walkers resumed their journey west.
    They walked for several hours without incident.  The terrain began to undulate with soft hills interspersed with small conifer forests.
    Around that time it was noticed that a flock of birds began to wheel over the group. Initially they flew at some altitude, but then they began to glide lower and pass closer. They were white birds with pronounced beaks and stubby, awkward looking bodies. But, despite their shape, they were fast and powerful flyers.
    The distinctive call of the birds, which resembled a person's laugh, began to trouble the Tanna Varrans.
    "Hemlock, what of these birds that fly overhead? They concern the men, who say that they are a bad omen," said Tored.
    "They're called Laughing Warblers. They are thought to be good luck in the City.  But I've never seen so many at once," replied Hemlock.
    As minutes turned into an hour and the birds remained overhead, Hemlock could see the strain on the faces of the Tanna Varrans as they looked upwards nervously, and took to grumbling amongst themselves.
    "Tored, why do you think the birds are bad luck?"
    "In our land, when birds follow overhead, we think that evil spirits are tracking our movements. Also these birds are white like many of the evil birds in our land. And their laugh sounds like it mocks us."
    That laughing sound is getting on my nerves , too.
    "Remember," she reminded Tored, "don't use magic here."
    "It is true that in our land we would take flight to scatter the birds.  But we remember your warning."
    "Perhaps you should remind your men?"
    Tored's jaw thrust out. "These are Tanna Varran warriors! No reminder should be necessary."
    Hemlock was not so sure, but she yielded to Tored's dismissive tone, and did not ask again.
    Mere minutes later , Hemlock watched in disbelief as Faud, the Tanna Varran youth that had been accosting her throughout the trip, launched into the air powerfully, and scattered the birds overhead.
    A friend of Taros Sundar quickly took to the air after Faud with an impressive burst of power.  But Umra Vyle looked determined to upstage him, and launched a few seconds later—easily exceeding the power of the first two flyers.  Both men grabbed Faud roughly, and the trio descended back to the ground rapidly.
    As they landed, Umra Vyle struck Faud hard across the face, knocking the slender youth to the ground with a splatter of blood.
    Members of the Taros and Umra clan gathered around the scene in an instant, and Hemlock feared that a general melee was about to break out.
    Tored arrived on the scene, and shouldered his way between Umra Vyle and Taros Sundar, who were