The Baldari (Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

Nals, although that might change once Queen Rosul relinquished the Throne to the new Ruler in the coming months.  The elections were due to be held in less than two weeks, a bit earlier than had been originally planned, but Rosul was anxious to be relieved, and matters of state had settled down.  At least it had seemed so until this most recent attack.
    “I’m not yet convinced that Mitty will be mostly restricted to what her Farvision reveals,” Daim said.  “I have spoken with Mos’pera on this, and she agrees that while she was wrong when she warned Mitty about revealing what she saw, it is likely she will have a mix of both Farvision and the talent of a true Seer.  Only time will tell.  It will be important to examine each vision to attempt to discover which is which.  With time, telling the two apart will be automatic.”
    Mitty shook her head minutely, but didn’t say anything.  Mitty felt this wasn’t the time to pursue the matter.  To date, she had demonstrated little of the abilities that Queen Mos’pera commanded.  What Mitty saw most frequently were current events, not something yet to happen.  Not always, however.  There had been exceptions.
    “They were after the power crystals?” Jeen asked.  “I didn’t think they used magic or would have a use for them.”
    Ardra nodded her head, her long reddish hair reflecting the light of the power globes.  She lacked the inherent magic of most of those present, but was a powerful Caster, and as co-director of the newly structured Guild in Sedfair, she was confident of herself and her abilities.  The Guild was an even more complex organization than the Outpost as Casters, Wizards, and those who were both struggled somewhat to find their new path.  Men were now as prominent in the organization as women, and Lyes, who was well known to all those present in this meeting, was her partner in leading the organization.
    “That appears to be the case,” she said.  “They made a straight path for the city of Fernwah, taking care to travel unseen, then broke into two groups, with one heading straight for the mines that they had attacked once before.  They clearly knew what they would find.  Once they cleaned out the storeroom, those with the crystals rode away without attempting to help their fellows.”
    “They are not a very loyal group,” Ash’urn noted softly at the explanation.
    “I thought they didn’t get very many of the crystals,” Nycoh said. 
    “They didn’t,” Ardra agreed with a certain satisfaction.  “After the last attack, once a week the output of the mines have been shipped out of Fernwah.  There were only a couple of day’s output in the storehouse when they attacked.  I suspect they were disappointed by their gain.  They lost a lot of men for very little return.”
    “I believe there will be more attacks as they seek the power crystals,” Nycoh said.  “Even Casters will be at some risk as the Baldari will be after them for their staffs each of which carry one of the crystals.”  She nodded her head at the staffs that Ardra and Ash’urn each had braced next to their seats.
    “Did they perform any magic during the attacks?” Jeen asked.
    “The only sign of any magic was the protective barrier as they rode into Fernwah,” Ardra explained.  “Arrows would not strike home, and as the small group fled at the end, the barrier prevented the wizards and Casters from being able to strike.  During the actual battle they reverted to their more familiar form of fighting, using only their swords and a few with small bows.”
    “Was there any sign how the barrier was being produced?” Ash’urn asked.  He had been quiet through most of the discussion, listening rather than offering suggestions.  To Rigo, Ash’urn looked older somehow.  Frail wasn’t a word that fit exactly, but his long time friend was less robust than he’d been before they had set out across the Ruins.  The taxing journey and the ordeals