“Tradition has said that we ignore the song of the lorcith. Why, exactly, do you think we do that?” Seval asked. “Is it because it makes us better smiths? From seeing what Lareth has been able to learn—on his own, I might add—I would argue that it makes us lesser.”
“You listen to the lorcith?” Master James asked. He was about the same age as Brusus, and had medium green eyes.
Rsiran nodded.
“And you were able to create this?” Master Polan asked.
Rsiran nodded again.
“He has my support.” This came from Master Eldon, who had been silent for much of the time. Rsiran hadn’t seen him much since rescuing him from Asador, but the man looked to him and nodded solemnly.
“James? Polan?”
At first, neither man answered, but then they both nodded. “He has my support,” Polan said.
“And mine.”
“Including mine, he has the majority,” Seval said.
“You neglect one,” Marten said.
“Neran is not with us,” Seval said. “We don’t even know if he still lives.”
Rsiran sighed. “He lives.”
Seval met his eyes. “Are you certain?”
Rsiran nodded. “Danis told me that he lived. I will find him and bring him back to Elaeavn.”
Marten studied him. “Your feelings toward him are no secret. You would find him after everything that he did?”
“I’m no longer certain how much of it was his choice.”
Marten closed his eyes and then nodded. “You have my vote.”
Seval grinned. “Rsiran Lareth, you have been recognized and welcomed to the Smith Guild.”
Rsiran swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. For so long, he had wanted recognition. Mostly from his father, or his mother, but then from his friends. He had not realized how much he wanted the guild’s approval as well. Now that he had it… what did it change?
“I—” he started, uncertain how to finish.
Seval nodded. “You might have much to learn about aspects of running your own smithy, but those can be taught. The guild needs you, Lareth, and your skill with lorcith. But first, we must talk about finding you a smithy of your own.”
Rsiran allowed himself to smile. “That is already taken care of.”
Seval nodded. “Good. Then there is one other thing.” He looked around at the other master smiths, meeting each man’s eyes. “Now that Lareth is of the guild, it is time we choose a guildlord.”
“We have—”
“Had. With the attack and the abductions, we’ve lost our guildlord,” Seval said. “But the mark of the smith has returned to us.”
“How?” Kevan asked.
Seval nodded to Rsiran. “Lareth returned it. With him in the guild, I would propose that we choose the next guildlord.” Seval turned to him. “What do you say, Rsiran? Will you lead the smiths? Will you help us regain the connection to lorcith that we’ve lost? Will you serve as our guildlord?”
The others looked at him expectantly, and none seemed offended by the suggestion. It was as if him joining the guild were a bigger hurdle than having him serve as guildlord. The way Seval watched him, Rsiran wondered if the man hadn’t planned this all along. He had known Rsiran had the mark of the guildlord, but had not sought to reclaim it.
The idea was almost enough for him to laugh if not for the earnest expression the other men wore.
Rsiran pulled the medallion from his pocket, and it caught the light filtering through the trees. He could easily detect the serpentine shape buried beneath the visible fox head. The mark of the guildlord.
What could he say? What should he say?
Jessa took his hand and squeezed. He looked to her, but she had no answers, only an expression of support.
Rsiran inhaled deeply and nodded. “I will serve as guildlord.”
The massive Elder Tree to his right flashed with light briefly as if supporting him. Rsiran didn’t know if he was the right person, but Della was right. It was time for him to step out of the shadows and lead.
Get Book 6 of The Dark Ability: The Guild Secret
No longer forced to hide his ability, Rsiran now Slides openly throughout the city as he helps it recover from the recent attack. Requirements of his time continue to mount, not only as he tries to help his friends, but new responsibilities to the guild force him to interact with the Elvraeth, where he discovers the uneasy alliance that exists between the guilds and the council.
When one of the great crystals goes missing, that alliance is tested, and the quest to find the crystal leads him to realize a secret long hidden, one that risks everyone in the city, and a discovery of a betrayal far deeper than he would have believed. Rsiran must risk everything to save those he cares about, but even that might not be enough to prevent the next Venass attack.
The penultimate novel in the Dark Ability series.
About the Author
DK Holmberg currently lives in rural Minnesota where the winter cold and the summer mosquitoes keep him inside and writing.
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@dkholmberg
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Also by D.K. Holmberg
The Dark Ability
The Dark Ability
The Heartstone Blade
The Tower of Venass
Blood of the Watcher
The Shadowsteel Forge
The Guild Secret
Also in the world of The Dark Ability
The Painted Girl
The Binders Game
The Forgotten
The Cloud Warrior Saga
Chased by Fire
Bound by Fire
Changed by Fire
Fortress of Fire
Forged in Fire
Serpent of Fire
Servant of Fire
Born of Fire
Broken of Fire: September 2016
Light of Fire: November 2016
Others in the Cloud Warrior Series
Prelude to Fire
Chasing the Wind
Drowned by Water
Deceived by Water
Salvaged by Water
The Lost Garden
Keeper of the Forest
The Desolate Bond
Keeper of Light
The Painter Mage
Shifted Agony
Arcane Mark
Painter For Hire
Stolen Compass