Beyond the Boundary Stones (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

back. “Smash it!”
    Vigorre’s arms went around her protectively. “What?”
    Nirel pressed against him. Of all the wizards in Tevenar, why did it have to be that one? She pointed at a cluster of people and animals standing in the bow of the ship. “Does that look like a donkey to you?”
    Vigorre peered across the water. “I guess so. Why?”
    Nirel bit back more curses. Beside the small grey donkey stood a lanky figure with a mop of curly brown hair. “It’s Josiah.”
    Vigorre tightened his arm around her shoulders, his voice warmly humorous. “You know the donkey?”
    Nirel shook her head impatiently. “Yes. His name is Sar, he’s a wizard’s familiar. He used to belong to Elkan. See that tall man with the long black hair? But now I think he’s Josiah’s. Or at least, I saw them doing magic together once. They tried to stop our ship when we were escaping.”
    Vigorre went rigid and still. His voice dropped to a whisper. “One of their demons.”
    Nirel swallowed and nodded. She hated the lie, but the Faithful’s hopes rested on Vigorre and the other Keepers believing it.
    Vigorre pointed, trembling in a way Nirel suspected was due more to anger than fear. “And that huge cat-thing? Is that another?”
    “Yes.” Tobi hadn’t been bonded to a wizard when Nirel had known her, but maybe that had changed. “It attacked me once.” That was true, although Josiah had assured her she’d never been in any danger. “I was lucky to escape.”
    Vigorre’s hand clamped around her wrist. “I’m getting you away from here.”
    “No, wait.” As the ship progressed, Nirel could see the cluster of figures more clearly. “Look, there’s Kevessa and her father.”
    Vigorre glowered at the ship. “Do you see any other wizards?”
    Nirel studied the ship for another long moment, then sighed. “No. I guess Guildmaster Dabiel only sent the two of them.”
    “Two of those foul creatures and their slaves are more than enough.” Vigorre drew on her arm more insistently. “Please, Nirel. They know you know their secret. We can’t risk them finding out you’re here.”
    Nirel let him pull her away from the railing and lead her back through the crowd. “No. They can’t ever know.” She let her voice shake. “Please, take me home.”
    Vigorre used all his new Keeper authority to clear a path through the throng, barking commands at anyone slow to get out of their way. As soon as he dropped her off in the village where the refugees from Tevenar made their home, she’d walk back to the city and go to the hidden shrine in the Dualist Quarter. Elder Davon wouldn’t like her report, but he needed to know his plan had failed. Wizards had returned to Ravanetha.

Three
    J osiah wound his fingers in Sar’s mane and gaped at the huge city sprawling down the slopes that encircled the bay. Gevan and Kevessa had told him about Ramunna, but the reality surpassed his most extravagant attempt to picture what they’d described. It really was at least three times as big as Elathir. That must be the Matriarch’s palace off to the left, but the crag was far steeper and higher than Josiah had expected, and the castle at its peak larger and more elaborate. He’d harbored private skepticism that anyone would cover a whole dome in gold, even if it was a temple dedicated to worshipping the Mother. Yet there it was, just across the waves, shining brilliantly even in the weak late winter sun. And up at the top of the central hill the buildings of the University were as grand and numerous as Gevan had said. Josiah marveled at the thought of enough people to fill those spacious halls all busily engaged in learning and discovering new things. If they were all as smart as Gevan, it must be the most amazing place in the world.
    Kevessa grinned at him and nervously stroked Nina. The gray squirrel nestled in her arms and peered at the approaching shore. “What do you think?” she asked.
    “It’s incredible,” Josiah said with complete