Arcane (The Arinthian Line Book 1) (40 page)

A period of silence followed in which no one moved or spoke.

Augum, lost to his thoughts, finally became aware of Mrs. Stone arcanely healing his broken arm. She then healed everyone else’s cuts and bruises. He noticed they looked to her differently now, as if she was their great-grandmother as well—except Sydo, who only wore a resentful expression on his face.

Mrs. Stone stood apart and faced them. “Before we go, there is one final task to attend to. Bridget, please come here.”

Bridget gave Augum an uncertain look as she stepped forward. Mrs. Stone straightened to her full height and fixed her with a stern gaze.

“In accordance with the ancient tradition of the Founding, I, Anna Atticus Stone, having achieved mastery in the element of lightning, before these witnesses—”

Augum tensed. Could it be—?

“—hereby bestow upon you, Bridget Burns, daughter of Henry and Annette Burns, the 1st arcane degree.” She raised her arm, which now shone fiercely, and touched Bridget’s wrist. With an electric crackle, Mrs. Stone’s arm dimmed and extinguished, channeling its light to Bridget’s wrist and spiraling around it, before settling to a glowing ivy ring.

“My first stripe,” Bridget whispered, inspecting her wrist. Everybody but Sydo quietly hugged and congratulated her.

“I hope you will forgive such a tranquil affair, usually this kind of event warrants a few days’ celebration, but under the circumstances …”

“Oh, Mrs. Stone, of course we understand!” Bridget said. “And … thank you.”

“Well earned and well done.” She turned her gaze to Leera. “Please come here, child.”

Leera’s mouth hung open as she stepped forward. Mrs. Stone repeated the ceremony with her, naming Matilda and Oscar Jones as her parents. Leera’s own arm ring was light-blue in color and shimmered like tropical water. She too received muted congratulations and hugs. Her and Bridget’s eyes were moist. Augum realized they probably wished their parents were here to see them earn their very 1st degree.

Mrs. Stone stiffened and raised her chin, fixing Augum with a stern look. “Step forward, great-grandson.”

He swallowed and stepped before his great-grandmother.

“In accordance with the ancient tradition of the founding, I, Anna Atticus Stone, having achieved mastery in the element of lightning,
before these witnesses, hereby bestow upon you, Augum Stone, son of Lividius and Terra Titan Stone, the 1st arcane degree.”

And with those words, Augum earned his first stripe, a band of lightning that crackled around his wrist. He received hugs and congratulations from the girls. Mya even gave him a teary-eyed kiss on the cheek.

Mrs. Stone let them enjoy a celebratory moment together before she cleared her throat, drawing their attention.

“The time has come to depart. I am about to summon the scion and open the portal to Ley. Once I do, the castle defenses shall cease to function. You will step through one at a time, taking your cue from me. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Mrs. Stone,” everyone chorused.

Mrs. Stone nodded, spread her palm, and closed her eyes. Her arm again flared into a solid electric sleeve. A moment later, the castle shook and there was a blinding flash. When Augum opened his eyes, a small crystal orb floated before them. The scion clouded with a silent storm that flashed soundless lightning. A quiet hum emanated from it though, as if a bee was trapped inside.

Mrs. Stone let it hang in the air before grasping it, turning her attention to the fountain. “Now, old friend, I ask you to open yourself to me, Anna Atticus Stone, descendant of Atrius Arinthian, possessor of the lightning scion, your one and only key.”

With those words, the peaceful-looking bald figure on the fountain bowed and drew an oval in the air, which quickly enlarged to form a portal of blinding white light. Despite Augum shutting his eyes, the light seemed to penetrate his very being. Thankfully, unlike other portals, there was no wind, only a distant echo of one.

“One at a time please,” Mrs. Stone said, taking Sydo by the hand and leading him up to the portal. Like leaves in a gentle breeze, it rustled softly as he stepped through. Mrs. Stone repeated this process with everybody until at last it was Augum’s turn. He stopped just before the radiant portal and turned to Mrs. Stone, the pair bathed in light.

“Thank you … Nana.”

Her face crinkled into a smile. She patted him on the hand. “Come, great-grandson, there is much to do,” and with that, great-grandmother and great-grandson stepped through together.

A note from the author

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Riven
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This book is an independent work, and because honest reviews are critical to the success of an independent book nowadays, I’d be grateful if you would consider leaving one on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever you picked it up from. The second and third novels in
The Arinthian Line
series are expected to be released in early 2015, with a fourth (and later fifth) to follow.

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Tribal Machine

www.tribalmachine.com

Need to reach me for media purposes, found a typo, or just want to say hello? Email me direct at severbronny
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Lastly, thank you, dear reader, for giving this book a chance. And thank you to my family, friends, and especially my loving wife, Tansy, whose support and editing was essential in the completion of this book.

Hope to see you again in
Riven
, the sequel to
Arcane
, where the adventures of Augum, Bridget and Leera continue!

All my best to you and those you love,

Sever Bronny

December 2014 update: Two-and-a-half weeks after releasing
Arcane,
the book hit three Amazon bestseller lists in various fantasy subgenres. That's because you believed in it. Thank you. Seriously.

About the author

Sever Bronny is a musician and author living in Victoria, British Columbia. He has released three albums with his industrial-rock music project Tribal Machine, including the full-length concept album
The Orwellian Night
. One of his songs can be heard in the feature-length film
The Gene Generation
.
Arcane
is his first book.