this young lady has a few things to tell you.”
29
Adaryn
“ W hat?” I spluttered. “Who are you?” I eyed the graying man somewhat dubiously.
Aaric coughed, and muttered under his breath. “Adaryn, he’s the head of the Scholar’s Guild. You can trust him.”
“Why would he care about any of this?” I whispered back.
“Just tell him,” Aaric said, scrubbing a hand through his hair. “We’re going to need their help.”
I looked back at the older man. He was peering at me quite intently. I bit my lip, thinking. The Scholar’s Guild had power and influence in the city. If anyone could take Matias out of power, it was them. We didn’t stand a chance, otherwise.
I took a deep breath, and told him about how I met Matias, and his connection with the brigands. I left the sky jewel out of the story, and surprisingly Luna and Aaric didn’t correct me. It was just as well. If the Scholar’s Guild knew about it, they’d probably lock it up for study, and we couldn’t afford to let that happen.
Sirius was silent after I finished my story, idly drumming his fingers on his desk. “So. Matias is a traitor to his people. I have suspected for some time, but I didn’t realize his treachery went this far.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
Sirius tilted his head to the side, regarding me. “Do? I am not sure, young lady. Obviously something has to be done, but problems like this can’t be rushed into. People tend to get hurt.” He eyed me sadly. “You rushed in to help Matias when those men ambushed him, you said. Those were members of our Guild.”
I shifted my feet, suddenly wary, but Sirius went on, not noticing my discomfort. “And they rushed in as well, without my orders, I might add. They thought they could force an answer out of Matias, and, well . . . we know how that turned out.”
I nodded. I felt the need to do something, and right away, but he was right. Rushing in without a plan could get us all killed.
“You’re the faction,” Bran spoke up. “I’ve heard rumors of a group trying to overthrow the king.”
Sirius nodded. “Some of us, yes. Some Guild members are merely content to study and seek out knowledge. Others feel that such pursuit is useless, unless one is willing to put it toward bettering our society.” He smiled at me. “Most of us fall in the latter category. Do not worry. You have our support. We will help you and Aaric defeat King Matias. We owe it to the people. Knowledge cannot progress under such a ruler.”
Aaric stepped forward, thanking him profusely. I was silent, letting Aaric do the talking. My jaw firmed as I thought of Matias. It hurt to think I had trusted him so completely, only to have him betray me. I clenched my fists. He would pay, I thought angrily. The traitor king wouldn’t make it easy, but with the backing of the Guild, I was hopeful we would succeed in our quest of claiming the sky jewel, and giving Aaric a place of honor in the nomad clan.
Sneak Peek of Book 3 in the Unbreakable Force series by Kara Jaynes
1
Adaryn
“ A protest?” Aaric suggested. “Outside the castle, perhaps?”
Bran, Aaric, and I were seated around a small table in my room at the Scholar’s Guild, trying to come up with a way to dethrone Matias. He was the scoundrel behind all the brigand attacks on the travelers, merchants, and commoners, as well as the holder of a sky jewel, which we needed to take in order for Aaric to be accepted into our clan.
I shook my head in response to his suggestion. “Too peaceful. Matias won’t care.”
“The people do need to know what he’s been up to,” Bran said. “I suggest we start with telling them what’s been going on. He’ll have a hard time forcing a tax when they realize he’s cheating them out of their money.”
I nodded. It would be a good start. No one liked increased taxes, especially when the money was being used to support brigands hired by the king to steal from
29
Adaryn
“ W hat?” I spluttered. “Who are you?” I eyed the graying man somewhat dubiously.
Aaric coughed, and muttered under his breath. “Adaryn, he’s the head of the Scholar’s Guild. You can trust him.”
“Why would he care about any of this?” I whispered back.
“Just tell him,” Aaric said, scrubbing a hand through his hair. “We’re going to need their help.”
I looked back at the older man. He was peering at me quite intently. I bit my lip, thinking. The Scholar’s Guild had power and influence in the city. If anyone could take Matias out of power, it was them. We didn’t stand a chance, otherwise.
I took a deep breath, and told him about how I met Matias, and his connection with the brigands. I left the sky jewel out of the story, and surprisingly Luna and Aaric didn’t correct me. It was just as well. If the Scholar’s Guild knew about it, they’d probably lock it up for study, and we couldn’t afford to let that happen.
Sirius was silent after I finished my story, idly drumming his fingers on his desk. “So. Matias is a traitor to his people. I have suspected for some time, but I didn’t realize his treachery went this far.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
Sirius tilted his head to the side, regarding me. “Do? I am not sure, young lady. Obviously something has to be done, but problems like this can’t be rushed into. People tend to get hurt.” He eyed me sadly. “You rushed in to help Matias when those men ambushed him, you said. Those were members of our Guild.”
I shifted my feet, suddenly wary, but Sirius went on, not noticing my discomfort. “And they rushed in as well, without my orders, I might add. They thought they could force an answer out of Matias, and, well . . . we know how that turned out.”
I nodded. I felt the need to do something, and right away, but he was right. Rushing in without a plan could get us all killed.
“You’re the faction,” Bran spoke up. “I’ve heard rumors of a group trying to overthrow the king.”
Sirius nodded. “Some of us, yes. Some Guild members are merely content to study and seek out knowledge. Others feel that such pursuit is useless, unless one is willing to put it toward bettering our society.” He smiled at me. “Most of us fall in the latter category. Do not worry. You have our support. We will help you and Aaric defeat King Matias. We owe it to the people. Knowledge cannot progress under such a ruler.”
Aaric stepped forward, thanking him profusely. I was silent, letting Aaric do the talking. My jaw firmed as I thought of Matias. It hurt to think I had trusted him so completely, only to have him betray me. I clenched my fists. He would pay, I thought angrily. The traitor king wouldn’t make it easy, but with the backing of the Guild, I was hopeful we would succeed in our quest of claiming the sky jewel, and giving Aaric a place of honor in the nomad clan.
Sneak Peek of Book 3 in the Unbreakable Force series by Kara Jaynes
1
Adaryn
“ A protest?” Aaric suggested. “Outside the castle, perhaps?”
Bran, Aaric, and I were seated around a small table in my room at the Scholar’s Guild, trying to come up with a way to dethrone Matias. He was the scoundrel behind all the brigand attacks on the travelers, merchants, and commoners, as well as the holder of a sky jewel, which we needed to take in order for Aaric to be accepted into our clan.
I shook my head in response to his suggestion. “Too peaceful. Matias won’t care.”
“The people do need to know what he’s been up to,” Bran said. “I suggest we start with telling them what’s been going on. He’ll have a hard time forcing a tax when they realize he’s cheating them out of their money.”
I nodded. It would be a good start. No one liked increased taxes, especially when the money was being used to support brigands hired by the king to steal from
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