Ward Against Darkness (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer) Read Online Free Page B

full glass of wine. It was dark, like blood, and an oily sheen on top caught the light in a hazy rainbow. Zephnyr oil. With its hallucinogenic properties, it wasn’t something he wanted to consume.
    Macerio chuckled. “So it would seem. But trying won’t be enough in the tests.”
    “The tests?” Right, the man’s search for an apprentice.
    “To prove which of you is the most capable and worthy.”
    Ward pretended to take a sip of wine. “Of course.” Just say whatever would make this man happy so Celia and he could leave.
    The door burst open, and a rotund man stormed in, his curled wig leaving a cloud of fresh powder behind him. His girth, swathed in a yellow and tan scholar’s robe, was too big and bright for the subdued lighting in the room. A middle-aged woman followed him, her hair streaked with silver. She, at least, wore a demure gray, maybe hoping to blend into the shadows.
    Everyone in the room froze, and all eyes watched them rush through the maze of furniture to Macerio.
    The large man, his face a brilliant shade of red, opened his mouth. Macerio narrowed his eyes, and the large man snapped his mouth shut, a small, strange beard on his chin quivering with the sudden movement.
    “My lord,” the woman said, clutching bent arthritic hands to her chest. “We’ve just heard the news.”
    “I’m sure you have,” Macerio said, his voice dry.
    “We’re so thrilled the last apprentice-hopeful could finally make it.” Sweat broke out on the man’s round face, and he dabbed at it with the lace jutting from the sleeve of his robe.
    “I’m sure,” Macerio said.
    A wicked smile pulled at Lyla’s lips and lit her eyes. “A little more competition never hurt.”
    “No, of course not.” The woman bowed her head.
    That made Lyla’s smile even deeper. “Enota, Rodas, meet Quirin. He brought his pet as proof of his abilities.”
    All eyes turned to Celia then jerked back to Ward. The man, Rodas, glared at Ward. Enota shrunk a little more in on herself.
    “You’ll still get your chance to prove your worthiness.” Macerio sat forward and pushed his loose hair back, revealing a collection of gold hoops in his ear.
    Ward’s stomach clenched. He was sure his eyes had gone wide at the sight of the earrings. They couldn’t be Rings of Habil. That wasn’t possible. It would mean Macerio was an Innecroestri with the power to maintain control over vesperitti—one creature for each earring. But there weren’t any Innecriestri left alive. Celia had killed the last known Innecroestri in Brawenal.
    Macerio stood, towering over them. “Tomorrow night, I’ll invite one of you to join Habil’s sacred ranks. I hope you’re ready.”
    Ward’s mouth went dry. This was wrong, all wrong. But all the pieces of the conversation fell into place with sickening clarity. Macerio really was an Innecroestri, he was looking for an apprentice, and he thought Ward was interested in the job.
    “I won’t let you down,” Rodas said.
    “I’m sure you won’t.” Macerio stepped off the raised section. “If I pick you.”
    Rodas bobbed his head while Enota shifted beside him.
    “Until tomorrow night, hopefuls.” He strode out of the room.
    Oh no. No no no. They had to get out of there. Now.
    Grandfather would say it was Ward’s duty to do something about Macerio, find his soul jars, free those he’d enslaved, and right the balance of life and death. But Macerio had over half a dozen vesperitti, and Ward hadn’t seen the man’s other ear. He’d heard vesperitti were deceased people brought back from the dead by a false resurrection spell. These monsters were stronger, faster, and harder to kill than any man. There was no way Ward could stand against one of them if even half the legends were true.
    No, his duty was to get out of there and tell the Necromantic Council of Elders about Macerio.
    Rodas growled and knocked the glass from Ward’s hand, spraying wine over the cushions. “You think you can just show up here