War of Power (The Trouble with Magic Book 3) by B. J. Beach Page A

Kaerilaeastius I think I’d have shortened it as well. How old is this book?”
    Carefully Evalin turned back to the first page which was covered in neat close script, and pointed to some tiny figures in the top left hand corner.
    Karryl frowned. “But that’s only five hundred years ago!”
    Evalin smiled and wagged a finger. “Ah! So it may be, but what’s to say it wasn’t copied from a far older document that hasn’t survived? I think Master Keril has had himself placed on guard over the artefact.”
    Karryl’s eyes widened. “He must have left instructions as to where he was to be buried. He had it all worked out before he died. Do you think he knew?”
    “That he was going to die? Probably; just not that soon. Of course, there is the possibility that his life was being threatened after the Battle of Power, and that’s why he made sure everything was in order.”
    Karryl looked thoughtful. “The entity only said that he died. He didn’t actually say how he died.”
    Evalin shook her head. “I’m thinking the circumstances of his death are irrelevant. What remains now is to try and get the rest of the riddle solved. The more you know before you start, the better prepared you can be.” Almost tenderly, she closed the book. “Now, perhaps we can go to my study and you can make me a copy of the riddle. You may have memorised it, but I would like to see the words in front of me.”
    A short while later, as Karryl studied a framed geographical map of the island of Arinel which hung on the study wall, Evalin studied the words of the riddle that had been retrieved from Keril’s book.
    ‘No steps are there into my place but downward steps are nine to find a lattice ward bound by a candles time mind what is written there will fade dark sighted eyes will see old bones descry as low they lie awaiting what must be’
    Just as he was wondering whether Arinel was the place Mordas had in mind for Symon, and how he would get there, Evalin’s voice broke his train of thought. “Do you have dark-sight Karryl?”
    He turned away from his study of the map. “Yes I do, but it’s spell-cast and limited to about half an hour.” He dropped into a chair and folded his arms. “According to the riddle, it would seem that I’m going to need it to see the bones.”
    Evalin smiled and shook her head. “I think you’ll be needing it to see something else. It’s all down to where you make the pause when you read it. If you stop after the word ‘time’, then again after ‘see’, it reads completely differently.”
    Karryl scanned the words in his mind, placing the stops where Evalin suggested.
    He gave her a wry smile. “I should have seen that.” He leaned forward, elbows on knees. “That means that there must be some writing down there that can only be seen with dark-sight. That’s clever.” He frowned and looked at Evalin. “Not all mages have the gift of dark-sight. How could he possibly have known that I would?”
    Evalin smiled. “I think he probably made a fair assumption that whoever was given the power to access the book and had the means of extracting the riddle would also have been given that gift. Now, I can see that you’re tired, so be getting yourself off home. I will see Mordas in the morning, to make arrangements for Symon’s little holiday, and we’ll call on you in the afternoon.”
    Giving her a grateful smile, Karryl stood up. “That will give me the morning to start my search.” His smile faded. “I think that’s going to be the easy part.”
    As he crossed the sitting room, he stopped to look down at the enormous diamond shining on its bed of dark blue cloth. “Will you keep that safe? I don’t think I should be carrying it around in my pocket.”
    Evalin chuckled. “It will be quite safe here, and I’m thinking perhaps I’ll not tell Mordas of it for a while. I’ll wait for a more appropriate time. If she asks, say the crystal vanished, which is what she’ll be expecting. Now,