The Guild Secret (The Dark Ability Book 6) Read Online Free

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    “I’ve been going along on these scouting expeditions because I want to keep Venass from attacking our city again,” Valn said. “We’ve barely managed to rebuild what they destroyed. If they come again… if they manage to attack and we don’t have Rsiran’s advantage… think of how much destruction they’ll be able to bring.”
    “I have. That’s why we need to understand this sword.” Sarah hovered over it, staring down at the black blade that seemed to absorb the light around them. Whereas heartstone and lorcith practically glowed with light and energy of their own, shadowsteel appeared to have the opposite effect. Nothing came from the shadowsteel but emptiness.
    Valn stopped at the edge of the table, making a point not to get too close to the sword, as if he was afraid to touch it. “If you’re going to understand it, at least ask your father. The alchemists might know something about a metal like that.”
    “They do.” Rsiran thought back to what Ephram had said when they were near the Elder Trees. “Ephram mentioned that the alchemists knew the secret to shadowsteel. He said they refused to create it.”
    Valn glanced over to Sarah. “Did you know this?”
    “I was with Rsiran when he told him.”
    “Why didn’t you share that with me?”
    Sarah flung the end of the cloak over the sword, covering the blade again. “You’re not of the Alchemist Guild. It didn’t matter.”
    Valn’s eyes reflected hurt. “Didn’t matter? After everything that we’ve been through facing Venass? I would have thought that you recognized the need for the guilds to share information. If I’m going to be facing Venass, if the others of my guild are asked to face them, don’t you think that we deserve to know what we’re up against, even if that includes secrets of your father’s guild?”
    Her eyes widened slightly. “It’s my guild as well.”
    “You’re of the Thenar Guild,” Valn reminded her.
    He turned, and with a flicker of color, he Slid from the room.
    Rsiran stood, debating whether he should follow Valn or stay to say something more to Sarah. He didn’t know Valn as well, but they had grown closer since the Venass attack on the city, and he knew the man likely needed time away to cool off.
    “He’s right, you know,” Rsiran said.
    “I don’t need you to start siding with him.”
    “I’ll side with him if he speaks the truth. We need to know everything that we can about shadowsteel. All of the guilds should understand what we face.”
    “It’s a secret of the Alchemist Guild.”
    “Why?”
    Sarah stared at the bundle of her cloak around the sword. “I don’t know. Father won’t share that with me, which makes me realize that there is a reason. He wouldn’t keep something from me unless it were dangerous for it to get out.”
    “As dangerous as having swords made of shadowsteel? As dangerous as strange exploding orbs of shadowsteel?” Rsiran asked. “It was this metal that they used to poison the Elder Trees. I think we all need to understand what it is so we can find a way to protect ourselves from the next attack.”
    Sarah didn’t take her eyes off the table. “I’ll talk to him.”
    He considered saying something more, but decided against it. He might be the smith guildlord now, but he was a newcomer compared to the others. Pushing himself into issues would only alienate him from the rest.
    “Good. Do you still want to come with us the next time?”
    Sarah did look up then. “You intend to go out again?”
    “I haven’t found my father. And we haven’t heard anything about what my grandfather plans. I think we have to go out again.”
    “You will take Valn with you?”
    “Valn can come if he chooses.”
    Sarah’s gaze drifted toward the door, her eyes going distant, something like what Haern did when he attempted a Seeing. Did she use her ability to detect Valn? “And if something happens to him?”
    “I don’t want anything to happen to Valn any more than