Free His Cure For Magic (Book 2) by M.R. Forbes

book. I'll give you horses, coin, weapons, anything you need."
    Silas glanced over at Eryn. She would take on all of his armies at once if it meant freeing a single soul from the mines. "I want to help you also, Davin. I think the best way we can do that is to find him and end his life. Once he is gone, there will be no more ore mines, and she'll be free. Please, give us the book. We can translate the ancient texts, and there may be some clue inside that will help lead us to him ."
    Davin shook his head. "What if you fail? What if he defeats you? If you want the best chance to save us all, you need to rescue Saretta."
    "Why?" Eryn asked. "Why is she so important?"
    "One, she is my love, and my wife. Two, she's been to the Dark. That's where she found this book."

CHAPTER NINE
    Wilem

    Wilem was uncomfortable.
    Not because he wasn't used to the noise, and crowds, and smells of the city. Not because they had ridden as hard as their horses would allow, without time to rest for food or drink until they had reached the gates of Varrow City sometime in the late evening.  
    "Well, boy," Kelkin said. "Shall we get a move on?"
    He was uncomfortable because Clau had split them up, and commanded him to the Heart with the elder Mediator.  
    Wilem took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves. There was no good reason he should be so uncomfortable around the man. They were both Mediators, both special; but he was younger, faster, and maybe even more powerful. He was destined to replace Kelkin at Clau's side. It was the elder who should have been nervous.
    "Yes, my Lord." It was better to be respectful. Wilem made only brief eye contact, catching Kelkin's small brown orbs with his own gaze for only a moment. He was a little less frightening in breeches and shirt than he had been in the Mediator's robes.
    Kelkin led the way, walking them through Varrow City towards the palace and carrying a small box that held their vials of purified blood. Clau had made them leave their horses behind, explaining that they were too well kept and too well trained to pass as anything but his .  
    "Have you ever been to Varrow before, boy?" Kelkin asked. His body shifted strangely as he walked, more like he was slithering than striding. Wilem smiled at that, out of his view.
    "No, my Lord. I grew up in Edgewater, and never left before my assignment with the General."
    "Har!" Kelkin threw his head back to laugh. "You'll learn fast out here, boy."
    Wilem just wished he would stop calling him 'boy'. "I've already learned much."  
    "You just need a little more seasoning. To control yourself a bit better. You did well with the runner, but it was dangerous to over-exert yourself like that."
    Would he never hear the end of it? Wilem didn't respond. He was certain it hadn't been his fault, and he was confident he would come through when the time came.
    "Where are we going to stay, my Lord?" Wilem asked.
    Kelkin stopped walking and turned around. "Wilem, call me 'my Lord' one more time and I'm going to show you some of the nastier things I've learned after forty years on the road. Kelkin will suffice for me. If that is too informal, Master Kelkin will do."
    Wilem could feel his face turning red, but he forced himself to meet the older Mediator's gaze and hold himself there. "Yes, Kelkin."
    They started walking again.
    "To answer your question," Kelkin said over his shoulder, "we'll be staying at an inn called Waverly's. The innkeeper there, Patmos, is a known sympathizer."
    "I don't understand, my... Kelkin. If he is known to be connected to the rebellion, why is he allowed to remain in business?" In Edgewater, such people were routinely arrested and sent to the mines.  
    "For the same reason the Heart is right near the palace. Do you think that who we are gives us power, boy? It is nothing compared to the power of information. That was Iolis' biggest mistake in Elling. He threatened those who threatened the Empire, when he should have either gone all the way and