The Gateway (Harbinger of Doom Volume 1) Read Online Free

Your wizard was reluctant to
speak of magic,” said Theta. “I would ask that you explain
this.”
    “ He behaved that way, because in
Lomion it’s considered rather improper to speak of such things. One
reason being most people believe magic is no more than mummery. The
greater reason being it’s illegal to practice the true arcane arts
publicly. Those that do so face ostracism at best, and prison or
exile if things go against them. I gather that in your lands such
is not the case.”
    “ Indeed, things are different
there. With your laws as they are, how is it that ye have a House
Wizard?”
    “ Ah, well- being a wizard, or
rather, proclaiming yourself a wizard is not illegal. On every
street corner in the great cities of the realm, there are those
that call themselves wizards, sorcerers, or seers. But they are
charlatans all. They trick the unwary and unwise with sleight of
hand, and fool the foolish with palm readings, astrology, and other
such bunk. As far as the common people know, that’s all there is to
magic and wizards. All that they know of true magic comes only from
legend and superstition. We’re a superstitious people you see, so
the people fear those olden tales. They fear the olden magic and
those that weave it. It’s better to believe only in the card
tricksters and their ilk.”
    “ So they think thy House Wizards
are no more than well-dressed street hawkers.”
    “ Exactly.”
    “ And I gather that that isn’t the
case.”
    “ Indeed, it is not. There are
those few, those most singular few that belong to the Order of the
Arcane. These men are learned in the true mysteries of the magical
arts of thaumaturgy, divination, sorcery, necromancy, and other
such esoteric fields of study. A goodly number of their members can
command fantastic magics and enchantments to accomplish all manner
of wondrous deeds. Par Talbon, our House Wizard, is such a man, as
is Par Tanch. These men are sworn to never use their skills
publicly, save in the defense of their lives, the lives of their
master, or by order of the Crown. Rare it is that such vows are
broken. When magic is used, the authorities quickly cover up the
incidents and remove the evidence; the government long ago having
decided that the common people mustn’t know of such things. For
good or ill, that’s the way of things.
    “ And no one other than those in
the Order can command the magical arts?”
    “ Some few members of certain
militant orders are trained in the ways of magic. But their command
of the arts is typically far more limited than members of the
Arcane Order.”
    “ I take it that these knights are
under the same restrictions regarding using their arcane
skills.”
    “ They are.”
    “ You have such skills,” he said in
a manner that could easily have been mistaken as a question –
though it most certainly was a statement.
    “ I do,” said Claradon, not quite
holding back a slight grin at Theta’s insight. “As you’ve no doubt
already discerned, my brother and I are knights of the realm of
Lomion, each holding membership in one of the militant orders. I
serve the Caradonian Order of the Knights of Odin, and they afford
me the title of ‘Brother’. Ector and my brother Jude are members of
the Tyrian Order, whose patron is Tyr, god of justice. Jude and
Malcolm, my youngest brother, are in Lomion, our capital city, on
House business.”

    IV
    THE PRAYER

    “ Hear me my brothers,” said
Claradon as he stood beside the lectern, “now gather close and
harken to my words, for they art passed down to us from the before
time.”
    The assembled knights of Dor Eotrus dropped to
one knee and bowed their heads. Lord Theta and Dolan stood alone in
the rear of the chapel.
    “ Now look to the north and behold
ancient Asgard, shining and bright, though hard and cold as the
stone, the ice, and the sea.”
    “ To the north lies Asgard,” said
the men in unison.
    “ Now look unto the east and behold
thy brothers, thy sons, and thy