The Fifth Magic (Book 1) by Brian Rathbone Read Free Book Online Page A

circle back twice," he said. "Kept running into people. It's unlikely Chase will make it."
    Strom and Osbourne both nodded, knowing it was better not to give anyone reason to watch them more closely than they already were. Trinda knew they were loyal to Catrin, and they, along with many others in the hold, were surreptitiously watched.
    "Things outside are happening fast," Strom said. "I'm betting Sinjin needs a smith, a glassmaker, and an engineer."
    "You always were one to get straight to the point," Martik said.
    "I don't think I'll be all that much help in either case," Osbourne said. "Not much glass can do to help."
    "You undervalue your skills," Martik countered.
    Osbourne didn't respond.
    "The only thing keeping me here are the wonders of this keep," Strom said. "There's more here than meets the eye, and she's up to something. Not sure what yet, but she's downplaying this. I can tell by the way she watches."
    "What are you working on, anyway, Martik?" Osbourne asked.
    "No one is allowed to speak of it, so don't say anything of this to anyone," Martik said.
    Osbourne gave him a look indicating that was obvious.
    "There's a stone wheel as tall as fifty horses standing on top of one another, and perhaps just as wide, though we can only see one side of it; the rest is embedded in the mountain itself."
    "And?" Strom asked.
    "Beyond the fact that I can't figure out how it was made, I cannot imagine what purpose such a gigantic mechanism could serve. I know this wheel is not part of what made the keep move and hasn't budged for perhaps thousands of years. That's what she wants me to fix."
    "So you're fixing a machine you don't understand so it can fulfill its purpose, which you also don't understand. Sounds like a great idea. What could go wrong?"
    "I know it sounds crazy, but I'm pretty sure Trinda knows exactly what this thing does, and I'm betting she's counting on it for something. I just don't know what."
    "Can you sabotage it?" Strom asked.
    "Not easily," Martik said. "This thing can take anything I can throw at it. The best way to keep it nonfunctional would be to never try to fix it. She's watching, though, and I don't think it would take long for her to catch on."
    "It's not worth the risk," Strom said. "Maybe the best way to keep it from being fixed would be to remove you from the equation."
    "It would buy you some time," Martik said. "But I've already had to explain to my best men how to get the job done. They're down there working on it as we speak."
    "Still," Strom said. "You're the real brains behind it. Without you, they are bound to be delayed at the very least." It was clear Martik was reluctant to leave, and Strom was intrigued by what possible purpose this mechanism could serve. Knowing Trinda was trying to hide her interest made him think fixing it would be a huge mistake. The child queen had proven a capable leader, and her edicts were mostly palatable, but they were edicts nonetheless. The fact that the news from the outside world was so different from what the people of the Godfist were being told by Trinda and those loyal to her was reason enough to have doubts. "How long until you can be ready to go, Osbo?"
    "Glass doesn't travel well," Osbourne said. "I can be ready within an hour."
    Strom nodded, his friend was nothing if not practical.
    "How long until you can be ready, Martik?"
    "I could leave straight from this meeting with a clear conscience," Martik said.
    "Good," Strom said. "I think the time has--" The rest of the sentence never left his lips. A mighty banging at the door made all three jump from their chairs. After taking a moment to breathe and gather his wits, Strom moved to the door. Osbourne and Martik did what they could to appear normal, but that somehow made their guilt and anxiety even more obvious. There was nothing to be done about it, as the determined banging rang out once again. "What is it?" Strom asked when he opened the door, trying to act angry rather than afraid.
    "We've