The Reluctant Mage: Book One in the Zandar Series Read Online Free Page B
Author: R. E. Donnellan
is time you learned about this place and your heritage.”
Chapter V: A History Lesson
Marko walked back and sat next to his mother as his uncle sat down on the other side of the table.
“Marko, what I am about to tell you must stay in our family. There are others that know, but the knowledge I am about to share with you is considered an Imperial secret. If you told any of what I am about to say to anyone unauthorized by the Emperor’s Council, you would find yourself in a prison cell for the rest of your days.”
“Uh, don’t worry uncle, but why is this so secretive?”
“Because history can be destructive to a society, especially if it is incomplete. That is one of the reasons why I am living here.”
“The first thing you need to know Marko is that part of our society is very old. I know that you’ve been told our history is over five hundred years old. The truth is that some of us have ancestors that came from an older land.”
“Our side of the family descended from those ancestors. Indeed, they sailed to our land about five hundred years ago, but their society had been around for over thousands years.”
Marko’s eyes got wider as he listened to his uncle speak. In his wildest dreams he never thought there was anything beyond the shores of the Empire’s immediate reach.
“In fact, the language you speak and write today comes from the people you see on these walls. They were refugees from the battle you looked at just now. I have spent the better part of my career researching their culture. Very little of it remains as you can see here in this tomb.”
“This tomb!” shouted Marko. “What are you talking about?”
His uncle’s eves smiled back. “Tarnith Mor, is loosely translated as “tomb cave”. This was the final home and resting place of the last refugees that left the old word. They ventured out from this very cave to interact with the savages that lived here hundreds of years ago. They taught them about trade and farming among other things.”
“And the statues I saw as I entered the cave…I mean tomb?” asked Marko.
“That is them, or at least was them. It is hard to be sure. I am sure that they looked exactly like those statues.”
“Uncle, I still don’t understand. Why does this have to be kept a secret? I mean everyone has ancestors. What does it matter if they came from another land?”
“Marko, both the King and Emperor need their populations to think that all of humanity is confined to our shores and the island of Kiev. If they knew that there might be a society beyond these lands, then it would put their rule in jeopardy.”
“Citizens would go on expeditions to try to make contact with these societies. There is nothing the Emperor could do to stop every merchant from trying to establish contact with another land. If they left, two things would happen. They would either get lost and eventually die on the ocean. That is a loss to the Empire. Or they would make contact with the ancient land. In that case, the Empire might be lost and die.”
“How would the Empire die just by making contact with another land? After all, these refugees came from that land,” challenged Marko.
“Those refugees you saw entering the hall, were good people. They were fleeing a tyrannical ruler. Marko, I don’t know the whole story, but you cannot imagine the evil that existed in that time.” As he said that, Marko’s uncle pointed to the picture of the great battle.
“Look at the people you see in those robes. Those were wizards. The power they possessed dwarfed the power of Imperial army mages or Kastav priests.”
Marko just stared at his uncle. Imperial mages were the Emperor’s best soldiers. Although he had never seen one, his father often talked about how they could turn the tide of battle. Mages were also the best defense against the Kastav priesthood. The priests were the
Chapter V: A History Lesson
Marko walked back and sat next to his mother as his uncle sat down on the other side of the table.
“Marko, what I am about to tell you must stay in our family. There are others that know, but the knowledge I am about to share with you is considered an Imperial secret. If you told any of what I am about to say to anyone unauthorized by the Emperor’s Council, you would find yourself in a prison cell for the rest of your days.”
“Uh, don’t worry uncle, but why is this so secretive?”
“Because history can be destructive to a society, especially if it is incomplete. That is one of the reasons why I am living here.”
“The first thing you need to know Marko is that part of our society is very old. I know that you’ve been told our history is over five hundred years old. The truth is that some of us have ancestors that came from an older land.”
“Our side of the family descended from those ancestors. Indeed, they sailed to our land about five hundred years ago, but their society had been around for over thousands years.”
Marko’s eyes got wider as he listened to his uncle speak. In his wildest dreams he never thought there was anything beyond the shores of the Empire’s immediate reach.
“In fact, the language you speak and write today comes from the people you see on these walls. They were refugees from the battle you looked at just now. I have spent the better part of my career researching their culture. Very little of it remains as you can see here in this tomb.”
“This tomb!” shouted Marko. “What are you talking about?”
His uncle’s eves smiled back. “Tarnith Mor, is loosely translated as “tomb cave”. This was the final home and resting place of the last refugees that left the old word. They ventured out from this very cave to interact with the savages that lived here hundreds of years ago. They taught them about trade and farming among other things.”
“And the statues I saw as I entered the cave…I mean tomb?” asked Marko.
“That is them, or at least was them. It is hard to be sure. I am sure that they looked exactly like those statues.”
“Uncle, I still don’t understand. Why does this have to be kept a secret? I mean everyone has ancestors. What does it matter if they came from another land?”
“Marko, both the King and Emperor need their populations to think that all of humanity is confined to our shores and the island of Kiev. If they knew that there might be a society beyond these lands, then it would put their rule in jeopardy.”
“Citizens would go on expeditions to try to make contact with these societies. There is nothing the Emperor could do to stop every merchant from trying to establish contact with another land. If they left, two things would happen. They would either get lost and eventually die on the ocean. That is a loss to the Empire. Or they would make contact with the ancient land. In that case, the Empire might be lost and die.”
“How would the Empire die just by making contact with another land? After all, these refugees came from that land,” challenged Marko.
“Those refugees you saw entering the hall, were good people. They were fleeing a tyrannical ruler. Marko, I don’t know the whole story, but you cannot imagine the evil that existed in that time.” As he said that, Marko’s uncle pointed to the picture of the great battle.
“Look at the people you see in those robes. Those were wizards. The power they possessed dwarfed the power of Imperial army mages or Kastav priests.”
Marko just stared at his uncle. Imperial mages were the Emperor’s best soldiers. Although he had never seen one, his father often talked about how they could turn the tide of battle. Mages were also the best defense against the Kastav priesthood. The priests were the
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