The Shadow Of What Was Lost by James Islington Read Free Book Online

cowardice.”
    There was silence for a few
seconds, then Ilseth sighed, calming. “In answer to your question – nobody
really knew what the Augurs could do, except the Augurs. They were nothing if
not secretive, and there were only maybe a dozen of them at any one time. The
only abilities we know they had for certain are the ones mentioned in the
Treaty.”
    “So Reading and Seeing.” Davian
knew that part of the Treaty all too well.
    Ilseth nodded. “Beyond those,
lad, you’re into the realm of rumour and speculation. And we have enough of
that going around from Administration without me adding to it.”
    Davian nodded, trying to conceal
his disappointment. He kicked a stone along the road idly. “Do you hate them?”
    Ilseth frowned, puzzled. “The
Augurs? Why would you ask that?”
    “The Elders won’t talk about it,
but I can tell that they blame them for the way things are.” Davian shrugged,
trying to hide his discomfort. "Administration say the Augurs were
tyrants, and I've never really heard anyone claim otherwise."
    Ilseth considered for a moment.
"Administration will also tell you that we were their willing accomplices
- that back then, every single one of us used the Gift to take advantage of
those less fortunate," he pointed out. "For the most part it's just
rhetoric, taking the exception and presenting it as the rule. The Augurs were
far from loved - feared, mostly, to be honest - and sometimes they did things
that were unpopular. But until just before the war, people accepted them.
Understood the value of having them in charge."
    Davian frowned. "So they
didn't oppress anyone?"
    Ilseth hesitated. "I don't
think they ever meant to... but at the end, when they realised their visions were
no longer accurate, they panicked. Didn't tell anyone what was happening at
first, not even the Gifted. Covered up the worst of their mistakes. Refused to
cede any authority once people found out, and instead tried to create stricter
laws and harsher penalties for any who opposed them - which they then tasked
the Gifted with enforcing." He shrugged. "They were just trying to
buy time to find out what had gone wrong with their visions, I think, but...
things got messy after that. Fast."
    He sighed. "So yes - with
the way they acted just before the Unseen War, they are at fault.
Undoubtedly. But do I hate them? No. I suppose I understand why others might,
but I don't.”
    Davian nodded in fascination. “So
what do you think happened to their visions?” Another matter on which the
Elders were always tight-lipped.
    Ilseth raised an eyebrow.
“Perhaps I can tell you the location of Sandin’s Emerald, or give you the names
of the five Traitors of Keth while I’m at it?” He laughed. “It’s the greatest
mystery of my generation, lad. I don’t know. Nobody does. There are a lot of
theories, but none with enough evidence to give them any merit. They just...
stopped getting things right.” He sighed. “I was there that night, you know. I
was in the palace the night that Vardin Shal and his men attacked. The night
the Augurs died.”
    Davian felt his eyes widen. “What
was it like?” he asked before he could stop himself.
    “Chaotic,” replied Ilseth grimly,
apparently not offended by the question. “People running everywhere screaming.
The Gifted not knowing about Traps, not understanding that they couldn’t use
Essence, dying where they stood. It wasn't the glorious battle the Loyalists
would have it be, that’s for certain.” He shook his head. “I’d been studying
late that night, and it saved my life. Those asleep in the Gifted quarters had
their throats slit where they lay. Even the children.”
    Davian blanched. He’d never heard
details like that before. “That’s awful.”
    Ilseth shook his head. “That was
tragic, despicable even. Walking into the meeting chambers and seeing every
Augur in Andarra dead – that was awful.” His face twisted at the memory.
“It’s difficult for your generation