The Sage Seed Chronicles: The Unraveling Read Online Free Page A

Kunscap by mid-morning. It was
the provincial ‘seat of law’ but because it was also the home of
the realm’s Great One it was a bigger founder city than any other.
The entire foot of the mountain was honeycombed with businesses and
homes. Looking at it from the front there were tiers of windows
several stories tall with walkways and balconies strung between.
Erin knew, by being in the other founder cities, that they were
powered by geothermal vents in the mountain and that all of the
shops and public offices were on the ground floor. There were
several large archways into the city and a large plaza out front
paved with glow stones in an intricate pattern and flanked by
beautifully gem encrusted columns. On either side of the old city
were streets of outbuildings.
    Erin couldn’t see how they were going to get
to the Aerie which she had spotted higher up the mountain and
further back from Kunscap. Drune had been here before and instead
of going directly to the front arches, after leaving the horses in
the immense city stable, he led Erin down a street to the right of
the city entrance. Tempo kept pace with them and Keir flew up
ahead. They carried their packs down the street and around a spur
of the hill to another road that climbed up the mountain to Aerie.
The road was cobbled with old glow stones so tightly fit that there
wasn’t a blade of grass growing in it’s entire length.
    They climbed the old road until they passed
though a large open gateway. The posts on either side of the
opening reminded Erin of those in Ree’s garden. Keir was waiting
for them on the top of the gateway. Drune slipped his pack off just
inside the courtyard and gave it to a couple of lads to take to
their quarters. Erin did the same. Tempo looked up at Erin. ‘As one
of your companions and not a ‘pet’ I would prefer to walk beside
you as you meet the Great One.’ Erin nodded. She wouldn’t think of
insulting the little skunk’s dignity.
    Keir landed on her shoulder. ‘I think riding
on your shoulder would be safer for me than flying through
hallways.’
    Erin grinned. ‘Both of your preferences are
very wise.’
    Drune led the way into Aerie where they were
met by a dignified older man. He was short and slender with thick
snow white hair. He looked up at them with bright black eyes and
nodded his greeting. “I am Sterling. I’m to bring you to the Great
One.”
    Drune responded with the need to get out a
pressing message. “We need to first report that there has been a
rock slide across the road several miles back. It happened right
behind us or we may not have been able to get here.”
    Sterling nodded. “I’ll see to relaying your
message. Thank you. Would you like to freshen up before meeting
Gyan? It is up to you entirely. You will be having lunch with him
and it is not quite ready.”
    Erin nodded. “I would like that immensely,
particularly since there is time.”
    Drune nodded in agreement. “That sounds
wonderful.”
    “Then come this way and I will show you to
your rooms.”
    Sterling led them through the great hall and
up two staircases. Erin was keeping track where she was but was
also taking in the beauty of the place. Nothing was ornate but the
materials used were beautiful. Occasionally lintels or posts were
lightly carved. Sometimes the motif was natural like a small bird
perched on a branch with leaves. Other times it was a design
similar to the celtic knot that she had seen in Ree’s home. There
seemed to be a pattern to these small embellishments. It was like
they were indicators for the room name or use. Sterling stopped
beside two rooms. One had a small carving of a squirrel sleeping
with its tail wrapped near its head. The other had an owl perched
on a branch. Erin smiled that her guess was somewhat correct.
Sterling pointed to the room with the owl. “Erin, this one is yours
and Drune, yours is the other.” indicating the one with the curled
up squirrel above the door. “I’ll be back in twenty