Chapter 226 To the House of Flames (2/2)
Arran sighed, then shook his head ”Brightblade wants me to study with the other Houses I don't think she intends to leave me much tiress in ic?” Doran looked as if he'd just eaten a mouthful of moldy bread ”With your skill at the sword, she wants you to focus on learning ood at it, and she intends to change that”
”I suppose it can't be helped, then,” Doran said regretfully ”But if you find the time, come train with us”
They spoke for severalways As he left, Arran could clearly tell that the adept was disappointed Yet Arran had no choice in the matter — ashis sword skills, Brightblade had decided he should focus on ic
And, in truth, he knew her decision was the right one As much as he enjoyed sword play, what needed his attention ths
When he arrived at thefor hilass of wine at her side and an ancient-looking book in her lap
When she saw hiht smile ”Good, you're here,” she said ”And earlier than I expected — which is fortunate, because your training with the House of Flames starts tomorrow”
”Tomorrow?” Arran frowned ”Didn't you say it would take a few days?”
He had hoped he would have at least some days to train with the adepts of the House of Swords, but it seeranted that short respite
”I decided to have you join the initiates instead of the novices,” Brightblade replied ”That was easier to arrange, and I trust that you will be able to rise through the ranks yourself” She reached for her void bag, then produced a se ”You'll need this to prove your identity”
Arran suppressed a sigh Forcing a smile, he said, ”I'll doless,” Brightblade said, nodding in satisfaction ”Training starts an hour after dawn, so I suggest you head to bed early The House of Flames is several hours fro, the sky outside was still pitch black Resisting the urge to get back in bed, he wearily ate a breakfast of fruits and dragon hold
He ran most of the way — first to the capital, then to the House of Flames, which was a few miles south of the capital — but even so, it ell past dawn by the time he arrived
I like the House of Swords Their walled stronghold was far larger, the size of a city, and despite the early hour there were already ates
Most of these wore criuessed orn by the members of the House of Flames Arran's own robe was a sione unnoticed in most places, but here, it clearly ate, a criuard immediately came toward him ”What's your business here?”
”I'e Brightblade had given hiuard asked curtly
”I'm an initiate,” Arran said ”I have—”
”Follow the road to your left,” the guard interrupted hie ”It's the hall at the end of the road”
Without giving Arran a second look, he returned to his post The affairs of initiates clearly were of no interest to hiht iht ahead, he sahat looked to be a sizable city, while to his left and right were two roads that led past a series of vast stone halls
Arran hurried down the left road, finding it dense with people, all but a few of them in the robes of the House of Flaot ry looks, but there was no tih he didn't know the exact ti late
The road led past numerous halls that looked mostly identical, and up close, Arran could see that they were built out of large chunks of stone, put together in a way that did not seem entirely natural Inside the halls, he could Sense the fah the walls seerew less dense as he er and — he suspected — weaker
Finally, after a good two miles, he reached the end of the road There were several stone halls here, and Arran quickly entered the thick doors of the furthest one
Behind the doors, he found a single vast space, several hundreds of feet across and at least a hundred feet high Inside, the stone walls bore e, and he guessed the walls were soic
At the center of the hall stood a large group of people, at least a hundred from what Arran could tell About half of the robes in other colors — initiates frouessed
As Arran approached theroup Tall and dark-haired, he was handsoant look on his face
”You there! What are you doing here?” the young man called out at Arran