The Rift War by Michelle L. Levigne Read Free Book Online Page B

part of his life, and Brysta, as he prepared to leave
Moerta, perhaps for good.
    His most dominant thought was that he had brought this trouble on Emrillian and Mrillis
and a world he preferred over the one he had been born into. If he hadn't focused so intently on
proving star-metal was not only tamable but had been tamed in the past, and essential to the
continuing growth of his world, none of this would be happening.
    The com-box signaled when Grego had gone through his house for possibly the last
time, gathering up the last few items he knew he couldn't live without, and returned to stand over
his bed, trying to decide if he could fit it all into his saddlebags.
    With his luck, Kayn was on the other end, unable to sleep with all the plans he had made
to ensure no one in the world knew star-metal existed on the shores of Moerta. Grego knew his
partner in the project considered him a dreamer, unrealistic, idealistic, and despised him. He
knew what irritated Kayn more than the existence of the Archaics was the fact that his foolish
Archaic partner was one of the few people he could talk to about the project that seemed to have
become his sole purpose for living. If Grego didn't answer the call, despite the lateness of the
hour, the other man would find a way to authorize breaking down his door within ten minutes of
being unable to get through to him. He needed to get out of his house and head to the Rakkell
estate within the next half hour. Now was not the time to annoy or infuriate Kayn, even though
he had a growing need to stick his tongue out at the man.
    "Grego? Please tell me you've been asleep," Karstis said, almost before his image
appeared on the com-screen, "and Shar is just playing a really, really bad joke."
    "It's true. All of it." Grego held up his hand and concentrated on his ring to make the
star-metal glow, rippling through green to blue and back again. His stomach knotted when a
reason for his friend's doubt occurred to him. "Please tell me you have imbrose just like
Emmi thought."
    "I don't know what it is. It scares me half to death. Especially after what we've been
gearing up to do for the last six hours." Visible on the screen, he picked up the browband Shalara
had been sent to give him and slowly rolled it between his hands as he spoke. "I'm under
suspicion because they know I'm friends with Emmi and Master Illis. Are they-- It can't be true,
can it? We've had vague tales that Athrar-- But everyone said they were more lies, like the stories
about Edrout-- But she can't really be his--can she?"
    "The first thing we're doing when we get to Lygroes is head to the Stronghold and
reclaim Braenlicach. Emmi refers to Meghianna, Queen of Snows as Aunt Meggi ."
Grego scrubbed at his eyes. It figured. Now he felt tired, after being unable to sleep for the last
five hours. "What do you need me to confirm for you? I have to leave in ten minutes now."
    "This dome that we're going to destroy with the power siphon."
    Grego took a deep breath, closed his eyes to gather his thoughts, and spilled the lecture
he was prepared to give to all their Archaics friends, as well as to the people of Lygroes, to
explain their danger. Years ago, Mrillis had given him the task of educating and preparing
himself to be Queen Emrillian's ambassador and teacher, to stand as liaison between the two
worlds and times. That meant helping each understand the other.
    Basically, all the Threads in the world wrapped around Lygroes, keeping it inside the
dome that warped time and kept the rest of the world out. All the star-metal power in the world
was concentrated on that task, and there was very little energy to feed magic in all the rest of the
world because of that. Star-metal attracted all other star-metal, and that was why all the yearly
starshowers fell on Lygroes and in the sea around it. That falling star-metal added more energy
to the task of maintaining the dome around Lygroes and repelling all invaders.
    When the Science Directorate