Birthright-The Technomage Archive by B.J. Keeton Read Free Book Online Page A

“agriculture.”
    “ You know Gramps?” he asked. Ceril’s day was getting odder and odder.
    “ I used to. I'll tell you about it sometime,” the headmaster said. “As far as the Charons and your training and all of this, I’ll give you the short version right now. Once you get into Orientation, Roman will bore you with the longer, more detailed history. The man takes a special delight in just that, it seems.” Squalt motioned for Ceril to sit back down then continued, “There was a civil war, a long time ago, between two factions within the Charons. Ennd's Academy was set up as a last ditch effort by one side, not just to keep their technology around and influence maintained, but to keep their ranks filled. To find new members of their order. They wanted to make sure that their research continued. Ennd's is just a front for us, Ceril. It is an elaborate recruitment tool that your grandfather—Gramps, you called him?—disapproved of. He said that the school would eventually shut down from—what did he say now? Lim?”
    “ I believe the phrase he used was negligence and ignorance ,” Professor Nephil said.
    The headmaster laughed. “That was it! He always did have a way with words. Anyway, Ceril, we use Phase II Presentation to vet students’ potential for joining the Charonic Archive. Having a Flameblade materialize at your feet kind of tipped us off to your potential. We had originally thought that you were not up for it, hence the welcome message I gave you yesterday.” He coughed. “I didn’t know what else to say, given your unique circumstances.”
    “ What do you mean?” Ceril asked.
    “ In due time, son. In due time. I’m sad to say that I have seen nothing in the past five years that makes you stand out, nothing that even remotely indicates you’re suitable for recruitment. However, your affinity to the Flameblade technology cannot be denied.” The headmaster eyed the golden sword on Ceril’s lap, frowned, and then clapped his hands together as he met the boy’s eyes once again. “So here we are. We’ll see how it all works out, yes?”
    Ceril just blinked. He was having a hard time soaking all this in. “Are you serious?” he asked.
    “ Very much so.”
    It was Professor Nephil's turn to speak now. “You will start tomorrow morning, Ceril. I suggest that you take what is left of the evening to get some dinner and rest up. Make sure your belongings are still packed away in your bags, too, though I doubt you’ve had time to do any unpacking just yet.” He rose from the chair and walked to the office's door. “Come along, Ceril. Let’s stop wasting the headmaster’s time discussing things you’ll be told soon enough.”
    Ceril got up to leave with Professor Nephil. He looked back at Headmaster Squalt, who sat smiling at him. With the early afternoon sunlight beaming through the window behind the couch, he almost had a halo around him. He said, “Do you have any questions before you go, Ceril?”
    “ The sword…” Ceril said. “Where did it go, do you know? I didn’t mean to lose it.”
    “ I’m sure you’ll find it eventually,” the headmaster said. “These things have a way of turning up for people like you.” He clapped his hands on his knees and pushed himself to his feet. “I look forward to working with you, Ceril. Oh, and I almost forgot. I’m going to need you to keep your recruitment to yourself for the time being. We strive to keep this part of Ennd’s out of the public knowledge.”
    “ Can I tell Gramps?”
    “ No, I’m afraid not,” said Squalt. After a brief pause, he added, “I’ll handle that, actually. It’s been a while since the two of us spoke, anyway.”
    “ Okay…” Ceril said. He didn’t have much of a choice, it seemed. “Can I tell Swarley, though? He's my roommate. He’ll need to know what’s going on.”
    Professor Nephil said, “I would prefer that you keep all of this to yourself for the moment, if you would not mind. If