"I had far less evidence then. Borin, perhaps it would be better if the young apprentices left while we discuss this."
Aidan felt anger blossom in his chest.
We managed to hike all the way here over a week through the woods, only to be thrown out as little children.
Nonetheless, he said nothing as the amogh girl stepped aside to let him and Timothy leave.
"You too, Aaliyah," Borin said, "It will only take a few moments."
Aaliyah opened her mouth to protest, but was silenced by a stern look from her master. She bowed her head and grudgingly followed the mages, shutting the door behind her.
Aidan sat down against the wall, and was surprised to hear a squelch.
He looked down and saw mud.
No floor? Even the orphanage had planks of wood on the ground…
"What's wrong, magic boy? Never seen a dirt floor?" The girl said with contempt.
Aidan glanced at Timothy, who just shrugged.
There were a few uncomfortable moments in the hall, while Aaliyah smoldered and Aidan and Timothy tried to look comfortable.
After what seemed like an eternity, Borin opened the door.
"Aaliyah, it seems as if these two will be staying here tonight. If you could find some lodgings for them, I have some important news for you. Boys, I need to talk to you. Come inside"
The girl looked like she was ready to explode, but she bowed again and left, shutting the door a little harder than necessary.
Borin frowned and shook his head.
"That one's spirited, but she's the best fighter we have." He said. "Your master had to leave unexpectedly, but he was able give me some important information before he left. Tell me, what do you know about the Phoenix Isle?"
"I know that Marcus Thunderheart died there." Aidan said, feeling stupid. He knew that Timothy could probably recite the history book to him.
"Yes," Borin said, closing his eyes. "That was the worst day of my life. But it wasn't just his resting place. It was his final stronghold, and humanity's last hope."
He pulled out a map and set it on the desk before the boys. "This is the center continent of Sortiledge. And this," he said, pointing to a small green dot on the waters a few miles out in the water, "is the Phoenix Isle. Naturally, every creature coming from the Nefarious Lands, which are to the north, would have to pass over or around it. It was the best place to make a last stand, and it was also the sight of Malcommer's first defeat. Have you ever seen a painting of him?"
Aidan shook his head while Timothy nodded.
"The first thing you'll notice is that he's missing an eye. It was on the Phoenix Isle that I gave him that wound."
Timothy raised an eyebrow, skeptical, but Aidan felt he was telling the truth.
"I'm sorry," the younger boy said, "but that was sixty years ago. You look fairly young, sir."
The amogh laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment. Tell me, did Edwin ever complete his aging experiments?"
"Yes, actually," Aidan said, "how did you know?"
"Some of his tests involved amoghs. We age slower than most people."
For a moment Aidan saw pain flash through Borin's eyes.
"He used you for that, didn't he?" the mage asked.
Borin smiled sadly. "Yes, he did. Marcus was the one who freed me from him. That was the beginning of the rift that formed between them, and eventually led to Edwin's downfall."
Timothy cleared his throat. "What exactly does the Phoenix Isle have to do with Master Bartemus? That place was destroyed when Thunderheart and his phoenix created the Dragonback Range."
"Yes it was, and Bartemus wasn't able to get to that part. What I do know is that he's planning on you being there within three weeks, with one of my amoghs."
"What?" Aidan asked, starting to get a little frustrated. "How are we supposed to do that?"
"Don't worry, it'll be easy compared to the hike to here. All you have to do is walk fifty miles south, to the city of Argentah. I will provide you with enough money to buy a griffin large enough for you all and your master to ride, which you will then fly to the Phoenix Isle."
Aidan sat back in his chair, his head spinning. He had learned from a boy whose father had been a thief before an untimely death that Argentah was a city of merchants and smugglers, located directly in the middle of Gurvinite. Anytime the dwarves wanted to trade with the elves, or vice versa, they could either sail around Gurvinite, or they could travel through it. Most merchants opted for the latter, as the Dragonback Range made sailing north difficult, and the southern waters were full of sea serpents, a kraken, and other dangers.
Argentah had developed right in the center of a highway that stretched coast to coast. It had, as a result, became home to dwarves, elves, and humans alike.