Free A Crucible of Souls (Book One of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence) by Mitchell Hogan Page B

about the other day, about your parents. But when you do, your thoughts will naturally turn to questions. Questions you will think need answers. I would caution you to be careful, very careful. Your mother seeking answers is probably what led to the fire, and revenge… well… nothing good can come of it. ”
    “ I don’t know what I’ll do. It’s all too much at the moment. ”
    Delife nodded sympathetically. “ I don’t envy you your problems, Caldan. There was a time when I thought, perhaps naively, that you would join our Order. But the past catches up with all of us. A word of advice: if you plan on finding out about your family, your best option is to trace the origins of your trinket . Such valuable items are usually kept under tight control by those that can afford them. I would imagine records of all trinkets exist; it’s just a matter of ferreting them out. ”
    With a shake of his head, Caldan looked around the room. “ Where are my rings? My belongings… ”
    “ Don’t worry, I made sure we were the ones to clear out your room. The trinket is safe, but find a way to secure it to your person as soon as possible. ”
    Caldan nodded and Delife turned to the door and opened it. A burly guard entered carrying two sacks filled to bursting, deposited them on the floor then left. Caldan’s possessions.
    “ Look out for a guard early tomorrow morning, before the cock crows. You’ll be off the island soon after sunrise. Good luck. It is a hard world out there. ” With one last look over his shoulder, Delife left Caldan alone.
    Caldan thought he would have a few months to organize his life, whether he wanted to stay on the island or not. Only recently that had dwindled to a mere few weeks, and now… it seemed he would be departing any day. The thought of leaving the monastery was devastating. His friends, the place he belonged, all gone.
    Jemma would hate him now. She probably couldn’t stand the sight of him. He had thought of her more and more these last few months. He tried not to build too much into their friendship, but lately she didn’t seem to be as out of reach to him as before. But it didn’t matter now. His hopes were shattered, burnt to ashes and spread on the wind.
    For long moments he stared at his belongings. He gave a cursory look inside to make sure everything he owned was there, but his heart wasn’t in it, as it would have been if he were embarking on his own free will. His rings he slipped into his smallclothes and vowed to find a better place to secure them. They were the only things he had from his parents, and both were precious to him, whatever their intrinsic value was.
    He felt if anything else were missing he didn’t care. He didn’t have much of value, and the monks wouldn’t steal anything.
    He folded some of the clothes he had pulled out so they wouldn’t rumple too much, repacked them on top of the rest of his belongings and tied the sacks securely.

     
    Caldan woke, sure he had been asleep for a few hours. Something had woken him, but what?
    A knock sounded at the door.
    “ Did you hear me? Get up! You’re leaving soon. Get your stuff together. ”
    Caldan’s heart thudded in his chest. Soon?
    “ Oi! You deaf? Did you hear me? ”
    “ Yes, ” Caldan yelled. “ I heard you. ”
    He struggled into a wrinkled shirt. “ Do I have time to get a few things? I need to buy some bits and pieces for the trip. ”
    “ Straight to the docks with you. Orders are orders. ”
    There was much he wanted to do before he left, but he was out of time. Jemma, everyone who had helped him here. There were many people he wanted to talk to, say farewell to, thank for their friendship and everything they had done for him. He sighed and stood up, only then noticing a folded piece of parchment that must have been slipped under the door while he was asleep. He picked it up as the door opened. The guard stood there holding a lantern.
    “ C’mon. Get your stuff and get going. We ain’t