The Exodus Sagas: Book II - Of Dragons And Crowns by Jason R Jones Read Free Book Online

mirrors at himself. White beard neatly trimmed, his shaved head full of a week’s stubble, and his ordained robes were perfect as always. In the king’s court at L’Herrim he was made to wait, often he was overlooked at the Aldane meetings due to the politics and reputation of Harlaheim. Far too common was it that he felt that his title of Bishop held little weight, and now he was waiting to see a holy relic of religious importance. If it were the Cardinal here, they would have waited for him, not the other way around. Javiel felt anger, being the last in line to be invited to view and discuss an ancient text that had to do with his religion more than any wizard or band of fugitives from the south. He started to walk up the stairs, slowly, not waiting for the guards or an escort. I am the Bishop of Harlaheim, of the church of God Alden for the entire capital , and I will not wait for the beckon of Kalzarius or an invite of a dwarf to see this relic of Annar, brother of the Lord of Heaven, he thought. Savanno had gone up with the elf, yet Javiel had waited. Kalzarius should have come to greet him, should have shown him respect.
    He reached the nineteenth floor, tired and sweating in his layers of robes and holy attire. The doors were cracked open just a finger width, light flooding the dark stairwell. Bishop Javiel approached the doors, but stopped, hearing the old wizard speaking of religious histories. He wished to see how much the old man really knew, and watched from his hidden position outside the study. His temper was not cooling, for it should have been he discussing such things. He felt it only the right of the church to have priority in the research and analysis of such an artifact. The Bishop did not enter, he merely watched and listened, the others unaware of his presence. A minotaur, an elf, a heathen priest, a foreign knight, two wizards, and the Lord Knight Errant, all before me in a matter of holy scripture , he fumed.
    “…and we have found in those examinations, that indeed this parchment is made of compressed skin. The writing was done with a fingernail and blood, and the words in the ancient Carician and Altestani tongues dating back over four thousand years at the start. They finish, in the same style of writing, less than a century ago.” Kalzarius paused, seeing many confused looks from all, especially James.
    “That is not possible. No man could sustain himself that long, even with magicks of the arcane, you must be incorrect Kalzarius.” Savanno spoke softly, respectfully.
    “It was no man, Lord Savanno. It was Annar, brother to Alden. It was Annar who was cast beneath the realms of the earth for standing over his brother Alden when Yjaros had his wings torn from him for loving mankind. The Aldane histories teach us of the Lord of Heaven, and his journey or an exodus of sorts that led him and man to heaven after the rival Gimmorian angels desecrated him. Much of the works of old speak of Megos, their father, and other angels or Gods of note. The revisions of newer texts have simply-“
    “This is dangerous talk, old friend. Men would burn for this if it were to be spoken aloud.” Savanno continued to whisper, intrigued, but worried.
    “Dangerous only to the church, the church that has rewritten their own texts and histories to focus on Alden as God . The Altestani worship Yjaros, the one God, who condemned all the others they say, Alden included. This scroll speaks of Cancuru and Shukuru as wicked guardians for God, and the enforcers of his will, not the poetic winged creatures that guard the path to the afterlife the northerners paint them as. It says for their deeds upon Alden, they were rewarded with hell and the lands of the dead to do with as they wished. Now that , would not only set turmoil in the Aldane, but in the great empire of the northern kingdoms as well.” Kalzarius loved debate on history, especially when he had ground to stand upon.
    “This scroll mentions devils and