The White Order by L. E. Modesitt Jr. Page B
Authors: L. E. Modesitt Jr.
Tags: Speculative Fiction
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him the best gold oak timbers for his shop ... and a few other things." Dylert's face clouded.
Cerryl wondered what favor was so bad that the genial Dylert had a bad memory about it.
"Now, Tellis, he's a cousin of Dyella, and he's a scrivener. You know what a scrivener is?"
Cerryl didn't have to feign puzzlement. Why was Dylert talking about scriveners?
"Scriveners write things for others," Dylert said slowly, "and in Fairhaven they make books, like the ones Erhana let you read."
"Yes, ser."
"Well, you be liking books, and Tellis owing me, and sure as he could use a young fellow works hard as you . . . and Fairhaven being a better place for you ... and ... well... being a place where someone with... the kind of talent mayhap you have . . . seeing as if you didn't use it... it wouldn't be so unexpected ... and Tellis, he knows how that land lies, if you see the line I'm laying ..." Dylert cleared his throat.
Cerryl did see the line Dylert laid. The millmaster was worried that any passing white wizard might stumble on Cerryl and hold Dylert responsible. He was also suggesting that Cerryl would be safer in Fairhaven, especially if he did not use his talents openly-or perhaps at all. "Yes, ser."
"You understand, young fellow ... it's not just you ..."
"I understand, ser. You've been fair and good to me."
"Dinner be ready," Dylert said. "We'll talk more after we eat. You be needing some clothes, and a pair of good boots."
"Thank you."
"After we eat," Dylert repeated, opening the door to the kitchen.
XXIII
Under the spells and songs of Creslin, who descended from the black Nylan and the dark songmage Ayrlyn, Megaera persuaded her cousin, the Duke of Montgren, to give both herself and Creslin refuge, for the white brethren had pursued the two and sought to bind them before they brought yet more darkness unto all of Candar.
In his weakness, the duke brought his cousin and her dark liege Creslin under his protection, and Creslin used the refuge at Vergren to build his powers, until darkness infested every stone of that ancient keep, until the very sun was kept at bay.
In the depths of that keep, Creslin took Megaera for consort, and bound her to him with the dark tie that meant, should he die, so, too, would she. Such blasphemy of light and goodness was too great even for the duke, and he fell into a stupor.
Fearing that, without the duke's protection, the keep would be opened to the forces of light, Creslin and Megaera fled over the northern hills.
As he knew what the evil pair might bring upon Candar, the Viscount of Certis sent forth a host, but Creslin seized the winds of the north and pummeled that force with spears of ice and hammers of frost, and he slew from the depths of a magic fog the fair young wizard that advised the lancers of Certis, and only a handful of those lancers ever returned to Jellico.
When Creslin and Megaera reached the port of Tyrhavven, there they seized a ship of the duke's, binding the crew with darkness and forcing them to carry the two dark mages across the gulf to the desert isle of Recluce ...
Colors of White
(Manual of the Guild at Fairhaven)
Preface
XXIV
After washing at the well and coming back to his room to finish dressing, Cerryl took out the silver-rimmed mirror and studied himself. The pale gray shirt and trousers were not new but almost could have passed for such, and the thick-soled boots Brental had given him seemed barely worn. In his pack, besides his books, were his old work clothes and an older sheepskin jacket, the fleece to the inside and barely matted.
His hair was shorter-Dyella had trimmed it for him the day before-but the shorter length seemed to emphasize the narrow triangular shape of his face. He fingered his chin, feeling the first hints of what might be a beard. Somehow, he doubted that any beard he grew would match the thick splendor of those of his uncle or of Dylert, or even the red bush sported by Brental.
The mirror went
Cerryl wondered what favor was so bad that the genial Dylert had a bad memory about it.
"Now, Tellis, he's a cousin of Dyella, and he's a scrivener. You know what a scrivener is?"
Cerryl didn't have to feign puzzlement. Why was Dylert talking about scriveners?
"Scriveners write things for others," Dylert said slowly, "and in Fairhaven they make books, like the ones Erhana let you read."
"Yes, ser."
"Well, you be liking books, and Tellis owing me, and sure as he could use a young fellow works hard as you . . . and Fairhaven being a better place for you ... and ... well... being a place where someone with... the kind of talent mayhap you have . . . seeing as if you didn't use it... it wouldn't be so unexpected ... and Tellis, he knows how that land lies, if you see the line I'm laying ..." Dylert cleared his throat.
Cerryl did see the line Dylert laid. The millmaster was worried that any passing white wizard might stumble on Cerryl and hold Dylert responsible. He was also suggesting that Cerryl would be safer in Fairhaven, especially if he did not use his talents openly-or perhaps at all. "Yes, ser."
"You understand, young fellow ... it's not just you ..."
"I understand, ser. You've been fair and good to me."
"Dinner be ready," Dylert said. "We'll talk more after we eat. You be needing some clothes, and a pair of good boots."
"Thank you."
"After we eat," Dylert repeated, opening the door to the kitchen.
XXIII
Under the spells and songs of Creslin, who descended from the black Nylan and the dark songmage Ayrlyn, Megaera persuaded her cousin, the Duke of Montgren, to give both herself and Creslin refuge, for the white brethren had pursued the two and sought to bind them before they brought yet more darkness unto all of Candar.
In his weakness, the duke brought his cousin and her dark liege Creslin under his protection, and Creslin used the refuge at Vergren to build his powers, until darkness infested every stone of that ancient keep, until the very sun was kept at bay.
In the depths of that keep, Creslin took Megaera for consort, and bound her to him with the dark tie that meant, should he die, so, too, would she. Such blasphemy of light and goodness was too great even for the duke, and he fell into a stupor.
Fearing that, without the duke's protection, the keep would be opened to the forces of light, Creslin and Megaera fled over the northern hills.
As he knew what the evil pair might bring upon Candar, the Viscount of Certis sent forth a host, but Creslin seized the winds of the north and pummeled that force with spears of ice and hammers of frost, and he slew from the depths of a magic fog the fair young wizard that advised the lancers of Certis, and only a handful of those lancers ever returned to Jellico.
When Creslin and Megaera reached the port of Tyrhavven, there they seized a ship of the duke's, binding the crew with darkness and forcing them to carry the two dark mages across the gulf to the desert isle of Recluce ...
Colors of White
(Manual of the Guild at Fairhaven)
Preface
XXIV
After washing at the well and coming back to his room to finish dressing, Cerryl took out the silver-rimmed mirror and studied himself. The pale gray shirt and trousers were not new but almost could have passed for such, and the thick-soled boots Brental had given him seemed barely worn. In his pack, besides his books, were his old work clothes and an older sheepskin jacket, the fleece to the inside and barely matted.
His hair was shorter-Dyella had trimmed it for him the day before-but the shorter length seemed to emphasize the narrow triangular shape of his face. He fingered his chin, feeling the first hints of what might be a beard. Somehow, he doubted that any beard he grew would match the thick splendor of those of his uncle or of Dylert, or even the red bush sported by Brental.
The mirror went
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