Free Techromancy Scrolls: Adept by Erik Schubach Page B

discovered an artifact yesterday that shows they used road signs in the Before Times. It...” I paused, in all the pandemonium I had forgotten about the road sign. I frowned.
    Celeste prompted, “What is it Laney?”
    I shrugged and said quietly, almost embarrassed, “I never got paid for the post. I ummm... before I...”
    She smiled broadly. “I'll be sure to make sure you get a fair price, it was your find.”
    I took a quick breath then looked to the Techromancer, he had his attention fully on me. “It was a steel post with three aluminum signs on it. One was octagonal that said 'stop', a rectangular one had no pigments remaining but it was embossed with 'dead end', then...” I smiled hoping I was clever. “...a long rectangular one was mostly unreadable but on a green background in white letters it read 'lane'. Marking a road.”
    He was nodding with an unreadable expression. “Yes, we have seen many such markers.” My shoulders fell, well of course they have, why would I think I discovered something new? He smiled softly at me. “Don't despair about it. It helps solidify scientific theories. The more empirical evidence we can gather about any hypothesis, serves to prove that hypothesis out as fact. It is how science works. You just gave yet another example, farther solidifying our observations.”
    Then he tilted his head, “Your enthusiasm over discovery is commendable and you had come up with the same hypothesis as others, but now I have proved out your hypothesis for you. We have helped each other in a scientific manner.”
    My hand was outlining the metal emblem in my pocket. I felt silly now. He made me feel better about my uneducated enthusiasm, but I figured they already knew the other thing I wished to share. He was watching my hand keenly, reading me. “There was more?”
    I looked at him, trying to figure out if he were teasing or mocking, but he seemed genuinely interested and not condescending. I nodded slowly as I pulled the emblem out of my pocket and rubbed it with my fingers. “You probably already know this too. I thought I was clever when I found this on an old conveyance I unearthed.”
    I handed it to him and said, “It says mustang and has a carving of a horse. I had assumed that the wizards of the Before had named their conveyances after horses. It made sense to me since they would have replaced the horses with the machines.”
    I paused at the look on the man's face. His eyes were glittering and he seemed to be full of nervous energy suddenly. His voice was full of excitement and mischief, “I think you may be right young Laney! Would you like to prove your hypothesis out with me?”
    My jaw dropped, I was stunned. Not only did he seem like he was surprised by my assumption, he wanted to help me prove it out... like a scholar? Celeste was smiling at me at my reaction. I nodded and he hopped to his feet. “Grand! Follow me girls.” He flicked the emblem into the air toward me with his thumb and I caught it.
    I just stood there watching them walk toward the door. Celeste looked back and grinned and stepped back to me and looped her arm in mine and dragged me along. Her voice was cheerful, “Come along my squire, we have science to do.”
    I blushed and we followed the excited man. I felt warm inside. We caught up with Donovan as we walked briskly up a sweeping curved stone staircase to the next level and I froze and pulled out of Celeste's grip when the big man stopped at the huge arched oak doors at the entrance to the great library of the Techromancy Scrolls.
    I stepped back and the Prime Techromancer looked down at me in concern. “What is it child?”
    I felt all the blood drain from my face. Celeste stood in front of me and locked eyes with me but spoke to her father. “When she was young, she snuck into the library. The magistrate had her flogged at the whipping post. She still bears the scars.”
    He shook his head and looked as though he had just eaten something sour. Then