Messenger of the Dark Prophet (The Bowl of Souls: Book Two) by Trevor H. Cooley Read Free Book Online Page B

Defensive magic came easy to him. He seemed to have a natural knack for looking at simple spells with his mage sight and knowing how to block them. He didn’t even know how he did it. It was instinctive.
     
    He wasn’t able to counter anything complex yet, but the professors told him that it was only a matter of time. Justan didn’t like that answer. He never had been patient and his time was limited.
     
    Justan's volunteer work in the library began just before or right after lunch depending on when his earlier classes ended. He was one of five students working under Vincent and it soon became evident to Justan that the absent minded gnome’s other assistants took advantage of him. Vincent would send the students off on some errand, and they would just wander off and do whatever they wished, knowing that the poor gnome would completely forget where he had sent them.
     
    This annoyed Justan. He made it a point to be completely honest with the librarian. He always finished every task for the gnome with precision and never took advantage of the gnome’s lack of memory. Vincent noticed this and soon they developed a good friendship. This was beneficial for Justan, because Vincent knew every inch of the library and every book in it. If Justan needed to know where to find something while he was studying, the gnome was more than happy to help. Besides, Justan didn’t find his time assisting the gnome to be any bother at all. Most of the errands that Vincent sent him on were research oriented and Justan found it fascinating.
     
    After their “volunteer” work was over, the students were all given free time before their next class started. Justan usually stayed in the library working on personal projects. He took particular pleasure in reading their books on battle strategy and warfare. Justan also made it a point to study the books that Vincent told him his father, Faldon, had read when he had visited the school years ago. Every one of those books had something to do with the Bowl of Souls and becoming a named warrior.
     
    It was intriguing information. The bowl used some kind of process to delve into the mind of a person and take measure of their soul. One thing that stuck out to Justan was that whatever magic the bowl used to recognize a named warrior or wizard, it did not use any of the four elements to do so. There were many eyewitnesses that had watched the entire naming ceremony with their mage sight and none of them could see the magic of the bowl occur.
     
    One day Justan came to the last book that his father had read before leaving the school. It was about the history of the naming ceremony. He found several passages referring to the first appearance of the bowl. The Bowl of Souls was not just a regular magic item, but a gift from the Prophet himself.
     
    As soon as he read that, he understood why his father had never undertaken the naming ceremony. Faldon had once met the Prophet. Justan remembered the night his mother had told him the story.
     
    It had been a cold evening and Faldon the Fierce had been away on academy business for an entire month. They had both missed him dearly. Justan, who was only eight at the time, had been bored that night and begged his mom for a story. He was always begging her for stories.
     
    Darlan was a great storyteller. She spoke with emotion and had voices for all the different characters. Often times she would invite the neighboring children in and give out cookies. The kids would fill their front room and eat while she told her tales. Justan had fond memories of those days. When Darlan was talking, nobody picked on him or bothered him about being clumsy. Those were the only times Justan felt like he had friends.
     
    That night, he had begged her for a story about his father. She had been reluctant at first. Justan wanted tales of Faldon’s heroism and daring and his mother did not want Justan following in his father’s footsteps. She didn’t want to worry about him