Read Dralin for Free Online Page B

and
keep it from happening, even if it means taking the people out of
the city to a monastery.”
    Sheela gave a little shiver and moved
closer, which pleased him to no end. The snow still fell lightly
and rested atop her hair like a halo. He liked snow when it wasn’t
blowing or black from soot in the air. The sky had been mostly
clean the past couple of weeks though. “So it’s dangerous, but we
should be alright if we don’t drink the water or stay too long?”
Sheela asked.
    “Right,” Frath confirmed. He pointed to the
street ahead where towers of various heights started to appear
above the rooftops. We’re about to enter the Tower District.
Everything here is crazy so don’t let go of me.”
    “I wouldn’t dream of it,” she replied shyly.
Looking ahead, she noticed the air starting to become hazy, as
though a fog was creeping in. “I know the Tower District is where
most of the wizards live, but do the streets really move?”
    “There are a few beliefs about that, but
only the most powerful wizards and the Grand Assembly know for
certain,” Frath said as they crossed into the district. Much like
Carnival had been a sudden change, entering the Tower District was
an abrupt experience. It felt like the entire world shifted to the
left just a tiny bit. “The streets are always in different
locations, making it hard to find anything. The wizards like it
that way and cast numerous illusions to add to the effect.”
    “Will we get lost?” Sheela asked, suddenly
anxious.
    “No. Specific runes are sewn into every
guard’s uniform to protect against illusion and some basic magics.
In addition, we spend a year training in the Tower District,
learning how to navigate our way through it.” He led her back
across the street, avoiding a red robed man juggling yellow balls
of lightning. A couple dropped, their little bolts running along
the cracks of the cobbled street. Each time it happened, a new one
would materialize to replace it. The man’s eyes were glowing green
and he was laughing like a bird whistles.
    “What’s wrong with him?” Sheela asked,
unable to turn her gaze.
    “I don’t know, nor do I care at the moment.
It’s my day off.” Frath winked at her. “Even if I were on duty, I
wouldn’t want to know.”
    She looked back at the mad-eyed wizard and
decided she didn’t want to know either. Frath turned down a street
heading south and became quiet for a few minutes while watching
people around them for any sign of danger. There were a lot of
wizards on the streets in addition to a few common workers and
other people of various professions.
    The snow gave every indication it was going
to spend the day with them, but Frath didn’t mind too much. He
liked snow better than the unbearably hot summer days when the city
seemed to melt. While walking, he carefully scanned for pollution.
An extraordinary amount of magic was wielded in Dralin, but nowhere
more than the Tower District. They were on a main street that was
kept clean unlike many of the smaller streets in the district with
their puddles of corrupted magic. He definitely didn’t want to
expose Sheela to that.
    Every tower was different. All were at least
three levels high while the tops of many disappeared into the sky.
“How do the towers stay up? They’re so tall it looks like they
could tip over any minute, especially the ones that are leaning,”
Sheela asked, pointing at an especially precarious one that tilted
over the street. She covered her head instinctively as they walked
under it.
    “Some of it is illusion, some is
extraordinary craftsmanship and most is magical enhancements,”
Frath answered. “Most of these buildings have been here for
centuries. Each wizard that moves in finds it necessary to add more
and the only way is to go up.” He pointed to a tower that
disappeared into the low clouds above them. Snow fell gently upon
his face. They stopped a moment and stared at the white flakes
drifting down between the looming