Spellwright Read Online Free

only use primary gargoyles for that.”
    Shannon brought his left hand up to assist his manipulation of the gargoyle’s Numinous passages. “How long did you touch her?”
    “No more than a few moments,” Nicodemus insisted. He was about to say more when Shannon clapped the monkey’s head together and pulled the Numinous lattice from her head as if it were a tablecloth.
    The gargoyle sank to all fours and looked up at Shannon. Her blank stone eyes searched his face. “I could have a name now,” she said in a quick, childlike voice.
    Shannon’s nod sent his white dreadlocks swaying. “But I wouldn’t pick one just yet. Get used to your new thoughts first.”
    She smiled and then, dreamily, nodded.
    Shannon stood and looked toward Nicodemus. “What was it you wrapped her in?”
    “A tapestry,” Nicodemus said weakly. “From the Stacks.”
    Shannon sighed and turned back to the gargoyle. “Please re-hang that tapestry and finish reshelving. Use the rest of the night to name yourself.”
    The energized gargoyle nodded eagerly then scooped up the tapestry and scampered out the door.
    “Magister, I—” Nicodemus stopped as Shannon turned to face him.
    The old man was dressed in the billowing black robes of a grand wizard. Even in the dim moonlight, the lining of his large hood shone white, indicating that he was a linguist. Silver and gold buttons ran down his sleeves, signifying his fluency in Numinous and Magnus.
    Shannon’s blind gaze was turned slightly away, but when he spoke, Nicodemus felt as if the old man was staring through his body to his soul.
    “My boy, you surprise me. As a younger spellwright, I bribed a few constructs, even got into hot water with overly ambitious texts. But your disability places a special burden on us both. I keenly want you to earn a lesser hood, but if another wizard had seen that misspelled gargoyle…well, it would have ended your hopes of escaping apprenticeship and made life harder for the other cacographers.”
    “Yes, Magister.”
    Shannon sighed. “I will continue fighting for your hood, but only if there won’t be a repetition of such…carelessness.”
    Nicodemus looked at his boots. “There won’t be, Magister.”
    The old man began to walk back to his desk. “And why in the Creator’s name did you touch the gargoyle?”
    “I didn’t mean to. I was editing text into her when there was a crash. Then it sounded like someone was running on the roof. It made me accidentally touch the gargoyle.”
    Shannon stopped. “When was this?”
    “Maybe half an hour ago.”
    The grand wizard turned to face him. “Tell me everything.”
    As Nicodemus described the strange sounds, Shannon’s lips again pressed into a thin line. “Magister, is something wrong?”
    Shannon went to his desk. “Light two of my candles; leave one here, take one yourself. Then run up to Magister Smallwood’s study. He always works late. Ask him to join me.”
    Nicodemus started for the candle drawer.
    “Then you’re to go straight back to the Drum Tower—no detours, no dillydally.” Shannon sat down behind his desk. “I will send Azure to your quarters with a message. Am I clear?”
    “Yes, Magister.” Nicodemus set up and lit the candles.
    Shannon began sorting through the manuscripts on his desk. “You’ll spend tomorrow with me. I’ve received permission to begin casting a primary research spell and will need your assistance. And then there’s my new composition class to teach. I’ll have you excused from apprentice duty.”
    “Truly?” Nicodemus smiled in surprise. “Might I teach? I’ve practiced the introductory lecture.”
    “Perhaps,” Shannon said without looking up from the manuscript he was reading. “Now run up to Magister Smallwood and then straight to the Drum Tower, nowhere else.”
    “Yes, Magister.” Nicodemus eagerly picked up a candle and made his way to the door.
    But when he put his hand on the latch, an idea stopped him. “Magister,” he asked