Nature's Peril Part 1 (The Nature Mage Series) Read Online Free Page A

and Zaric, who served as city guards. Gaspi remembered them from the annual tournament held only months after his enrolment in the college. They’d made it all the way to the final battle, so they were clearly formidable warriors, but that was all he knew about them.
    Most notable was Jonn’s absence – the reasons for which he’d shared with Taurnil, Rimulth and Lydia, but which otherwise remained a secret. Whatever Hephistole had in mind, his guardian would have been part of it if he wasn’t living deep within Helioport’s underworld. Hoping to find out more about what Jonn was doing, Gaspi decided to speak to Hephistole, who must know more than they did. He’d placed the disguise on Jonn after all.
    Gaspi glanced at the chancellor , noting that he was once again dressed in black from head to toe. It was less than a week since Everand had been murdered by Ferast, and since that time the usually flamboyant chancellor had only worn mourning clothes. Gaspi understood the need to grieve – he was doing plenty of it himself – but he suspected it went beyond grief in Hephistole’s case; the chancellor was blaming himself for Everand’s death. Gaspi could understand why he might feel that way. After all, a pupil from the college had been brutally murdered by a boy who used to be his classmate. Perhaps others may even blame Hephistole too, but in his heart of hearts, Gaspi knew that it was wrong to do so. Ferast was a dark and dangerous individual, and seeking out Shirukai Sestin had been a natural step for him. The boy was twisted – it was as simple as that – but Hephistole was unlikely to see sense. Gaspi looked at the uncharacteristic droop to Hephistole’s shoulders and was saddened by the absence of his usual energy. As if sensing Gaspi’s scrutiny, Hephistole looked up and met his gaze. Giving Gaspi a small nod, he stepped out in front of the group.
    “Thank you all for coming so promptly,” he started. “Only Voltan knows what this is all about, so I’ll get straight to the point. We have been assessing our position, and find that we are lacking in strength. As most of you know, we believe the boy, Ferast, to be in league with Shirukai Sestin. Zlekic, Zaric, Talmo, we will bring you up to speed on the relevant details later, but suffice it to say that our enemy now has an apprentice of sorts, and one whose powers are already something to be reckoned with. We don’t know what kind of evil Sestin himself is capable of, but it must be significantly more than what we have suffered at the hands of his pupil. We also know that Sestin has summoned a powerful demon, known as a Darkman, to aid him. Rimulth, Talmo, you have already seen this demon, when it took the life of your friend. That was the moment of its emergence into this plane.”
    “Balkrist,” Talmo said with sadness, and Rimulth lowered his head.
    “Yes,” Hephistole responded. “So you already know what this Darkman is capable of. Demons do not make good slaves - it will resist Sestin’s mastery with its whole being. We can only hope that it resists him still, but we have to assume that the renegade will subjugate it to his will eventually. When he does so, he will send it after us. It is a relentless killer, and having never faced such a being before, we cannot say with any confidence that we can defeat it.”
    “Stop being so cheerful Hephistole!” Baard growled.
    Hephistole gave a ghost of a smile. “We can assume that Sestin has other demons at his beck and call, along with an army of wargs. In short, we are outmanned.” He paused for a moment, looking into the middle distance. “After much deliberation, Voltan and I have come to the conclusion that we must seek the aid of a higher power.”
    “What power do you refer to?” Talmo asked, frowning.
    “That is the heart of the matter, and my purpose in summoning you today. There is a n ancient temple in distant Pell, which houses an altar at its heart. Time was that this altar was