Wizard's Blood [Part Two] by Bob Blink Page A

grounds to meet Jolan’s friend Tomas. Ingari had insisted on traveling with Morin for the first time in a long while. She was feeling completely normal, and had even lost a bit of the gray that had been rapidly spreading through her hair.
    The guard returned a moment later, opened the large gates and told them where to go. They were unprepared for the extent of the grounds, and couldn’t help staring as they made their way up the long tree lined carriage way toward the house. Waiting for them was an elegantly dressed young man.
    “ Only Jolan would know some of the things in your note,” he said after they had exchanged greetings. “He is vague about what this is about, but he asks that I show you to the stone monument I told him we have on the property. Do any of you know what this is about?”
    Ronoron nodded and said. “I do, but I’m certain you wouldn’t believe me. It is better if I show you.”
    “ This way then. It’s out back of the house. The open area in front of it has always made a fabulous patio.”
    Tomas lead the group into the house and straight through to the back. None had seen such a finely furnished residence before, and Tomas caught them gaping at the furnishings.
    “ This is my father’s place. It’s a bit ornate for my tastes, but he hasn’t been well so I have been staying here. Perhaps after this business is completed we can have refreshments and you can bring me up to date on my friend.”
    The portal sat just outside the back door, off to one corner of a large patio area. Tomas led them over to it, and Ronoran walked over to the opening. He had the activator crystal, but he wouldn’t need it. Even a mage of his level could turn it on if he knew how. Moments later, the faint glow could be seen in the hollow cavity indicating the portal had indeed responded to Ronoran’s spell.
    “ I’ve never seen it glow like that,” said Tomas. “Now what do we do?”
    Ronoran was uncertain whether he should attempt to try the portal or not. He was about to step into the glow and see if any other portals had been activated, when suddenly Jolan stepped out of the opening with a big smile on his face.
     

Chapter 96
     
     
    The five day ride up the coast from Burar to Cobalo gave Jolan a lot of time to think. He was traveling alone, something he had never done before in all the time he’d been on Gaea, and it was an odd sensation being without someone to talk to. The fact he was able to travel without attracting attention showed how well he fit in and had adapted to the life here over the past two years. He knew it would have been easy to be happy here if it weren’t for all the trouble Cheurt had caused by his schemes to take over the Settled Lands.
    Jolan had no idea what to expect once he reached Cobalo. The only news he had were the bits and pieces he’d picked up at the various inns while traveling, and there was no telling how accurate any of that might be. It seemed that the Queen still ruled Angon, which meant Mojol had not yet been found. That would be the first strike against him when he returned. Sayusta had been adamant that he leave for fear his presence was the motivation for Cheurt’s attacks. He could see no reason for that to have changed, especially with Lonid’s poison tongue prompting her decisions. Once again he wondered why he was making this trip. He’d far rather be attending to matters at hand by searching up at the lake where he’d sent Asari.
    He shifted in the saddle and sighed. He couldn’t very well let the whole kingdom fall just because he had personal issues with a couple of the people currently in charge. He had discovered information that could very well change the course of the war, and that had to be brought back to the Council. He’d decide when he arrived, and saw what kind of reception he received, how much of the peripheral matters he would reveal. Giving them access to the portals would mean someone would almost certainly get curious and pop