The Rawn Chronicles Book One: The Orrinn and the Blacksword: Unabridged (The Rawn Chronicles Series 1) by P.D. Ceanneir Read Free Book Online Page A

asked Magnus. The Derma Ken was a name given to the Vallkyte religion. They promoted tolerance of other beliefs, including the Rogun faith of Rogal Ken.
    “Yes, Aunt Cinnibar joined them about forty years ago when the Ri Order refused her entry.”
    “Why?” asked Eleana.
    “Probably because the Ri Order is male only,” said Havoc.
    “Again, Your Highness, I must ask why?” asked Eleana, in what Mia always called her brazen voice, which she always used when talking to Havoc.
    Verna answered for him. “Women have difficulty in mastering the Rawn Arts and it is for this reason, more than others, that they are denied entry. However rare it is, when a woman does become adept at the arts, she becomes very powerful. It is said, in every generation or so, a female Rawn Master comes along and acquires Ri abilities extremely quickly,” she said, all this while not taking her eyes off Cinnibar.
    Havoc laughed. “Then for that reason they should be allowed into the order.”
    Verna smiled up at him and nodded. “Quite so,” she said, “but it seems she is making her own order with the Havants. They were not as strict about mixed sexes in their order as the Ris, and they allowed her entry after her brave deeds against Baron Telmar, and, of course, her royal status helped. One thing to mention here, though: there are only five men left in the order; most of the females joined due to Cinnibar’s influence.”
    “Who’s he, then?” asked Magnus, pointing to the grey-haired priest.
    “Kellborne, the high priest.”
    “At least there’s still a man in charge,” he said gloomily.
    “Maybe not for long, from what Verna has just said,” Havoc said. He rubbed his chin; he was feeling uncomfortable and did not know why.
    “Why start new Rawn Orders when you can infiltrate one that is already established?” he asked himself.
    Verna looked up at Havoc with awe. “Very astute of you, brother.”
    “Thank you, sister, we males can use our brains too, you know.”
    “How old do you think Ness Ri is, then?” asked Magnus.
    “Well over two thousand years, I think,” said Verna.
    They all looked at her.
    “How do you know these things?” scoffed Magnus.
    “From the history books!” she said.
    “What history books?” Magnus frowned.
    She pointed towards the library in the distance. “I like to read, Magnus, you should try it sometime.”
    Everyone now moved into the palace, and then eventually into the council chambers inside the parliament building. The council of war was due to start after lunch, and then on for a couple of more days.
    “It would be interesting to know what is said at the council, wouldn’t it,” said Magnus to Havoc when they had a quiet time on their own away from the others.
    Havoc could see the mischief in his brother’s eyes.
    “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” asked Havoc.
    “Yes, the grill.”
    During a game of Hide and Seek one summer before their Rawn training, Magnus had hidden in a broom cupboard on the second floor overlooking the council rooms. He had heard voices coming from the main meeting room, but muffled; looking behind a wooden cupboard, he found a brass grill that formed part of the ventilation system that went all around the parliament building. Vent openings under the roof gutters would draw air down narrow stone tubes hidden inside the walls and out through these brass vents to all the rooms in the building, giving much-needed fresh air to many crowded conferences.
    The grill had a silver knob, used to open the vent and its companion vent in the room opposite, but it was stiff. The next day, he had stolen some tallow from the palace kitchens, which did the trick of opening it easier.
    “We could sneak in before they arrive and listen; we may even know something before Verna does,” said Magnus.
    “What about Verna?” Mia asked suspiciously in front of them.
    “Man talk,” said Magnus, who though Mia must have the hearing of a bat.
    She scowled at Magnus and