Read Nature's Peril Part 1 (The Nature Mage Series) for Free Online

Gaspi?” Hephistole asked. “See anything you like?”
    “Yep. The belt, that ring you showed me, one of the items granting invisibility, and the Wizard’s Eye. Where did you get that from? I didn’t think we could make stuff like that anymore.”
    “ We can’t,” Hephistole responded. “Most of the objects were enchanted over the summer, but the Wizard’s Eye is from my private collection. You must have seen it – in the sixth alcove of the Observatory, near the field of variable density.”
    “The what?” Gaspi asked.
    “The hole in the floor.”
    “Oh, right,” Gaspi answered. “I’ve never been in the alcove.”
    “ My mistake,” Hephistole said. “That’s where I keep all manner of magical curios, including some rare artefacts like the Wizard’s Eye.”
    “And it works like the scryer, right?” Gaspi asked.
    “Yes, but with a much more limited range. The scryer in the Observatory is the only one of its kind remaining, and as far as I’m aware, the same goes for the Wizard’s Eye.”
    “Wow,” Gaspi said, glancing back at the now-covered shelves. He opened his mouth to speak again but Hephistole stalled him with a raised hand.
    “Sorry Gaspi, I know you have a lot of questions, but they will have to wait for now. Besides, I think that your friends may be getting impatient.”
    Gaspi glanced over at the other three, and saw that they were watching him and Taurnil, waiting for them to finish talking with Hephistole. “Okay, we’ll go,” he said.
    “We’ll speak about this again soon, but for now please don’t talk about this where anyone might overhear. This is a matter of the highest importance, and requires absolute secrecy.”
    “Of course,” Gaspi responded as the chancellor turned to leave. “Hephistole,” he added quickly, and the chancellor turned back around.
    “Yes Gaspi?”
    “I spoke to Jonn a few days ago,” he started.
    “ Ah, so he managed to speak with you,” the chancellor said. “What did he tell you?”
    “He told me he was going under cover to try and rescue Adela from a crime-lord called Belash. I was hoping you’d know more about what he’s doing.”
    “I know you mean well, but Jonn will not appreciate any interference,” Hephistole said.
    “I know that!” Gaspi said impatiently. “Jonn made me promise not to try and help. Even if I can’t help, I still want to know as much as possible.”
    “I ’m afraid I’m not going to be much help,” Hephistole said gently. “Jonn has gone to live among some very dangerous people, and he can’t pop in and out whenever he likes to keep me updated. I cast the disguise, and if he’s there long enough he’ll have to find a way to reach me so I can renew it, but I doubt I’ll see him now for some time.”
    “You don’t even know where he is?” Gaspi asked .
    “No I don’t. It’s a secretive organisation Gaspi, and even Jonn doesn’t know very much. He must at least find out where Adela is kept before I see him again, and to do that I expect he’ll have to work his way through several layers of the organisation.”
    “Okay, fair enough,” Gaspi said despondently.
    Hephistole was watching him sympathetically. “I know it’s hard, but Jonn can look after himself. He knows where I am if he needs help, and when the time comes to rescue Adela, he will not be unsupported.”
    Gaspi nodded, not wanting to extend the conversation any further. Hephistole clearly didn’t know any more than he did about the details of Jonn’s mission. “I’d better go,” he said.
    “Take care Gaspi,” Hephistole said.
    Gaspi nodded once more and turned away. He and Taurnil re-joined the other three. “Traveller’s Rest?” Emmy asked with a raised eyebrow.
    “Absolutely,” Gaspi said, and with that they climbed the stairway and left the cellar.
     
    …
     
    When they reached the Rest, they ordered a large pot of tea and retired to one of the snugs. Lydia sat down first, taking a deep armchair by the window.