Magic caused the war. Magic is forbidden. Magic will save us. The Relic Guild is the award nominated first book in The Relic Guild trilogy.
It was said the Labyrinth had once been the great meeting place, a sprawling city at the heart of an endless...
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-FORTY YEARS EARLIER-
The first to arrive through the doorway was an elderly and portly Aelf, dressed in desert robes with his head wrapped in scarves that concealed the points of his ears. His nose and mouth were small, but his eyes were twice the size of any human's, and his face carried the odd triangular shape that was typical of the Aelfir. Ebril, Ambassador to House Mirage, shielded his large eyes from the sun, and a toothy grin split his impressive grey beard.
'The Giant's Hand,' he whispered, and then bellowed at the pink sky. 'Home at last!'
He dropped to his knees and kissed the rock.
The rest of Ambassador Ebril's entourage emerged from the doorway: five younger Aelfir, three women and two men, all dressed desert-fashion. The last and youngest of them was Ebril's daughter Namji. A petite Aelf, her face had more of a subtle heart shape than the typical triangular appearance. The long plait of her black hair hung over her shoulder like a snake. As Namji breathed in the desert air, her soft green eyes gazed at Van Bam for a moment. They filled with tears and she mouthed the words 'thank you'. She then laughed happily at the sight of her father kneeling upon the floor, lips pressed to the Giant's Hand, before sharing excited hugs with the rest of the Aelfir.
Ebril and his entourage had been conducting diplomatic business in Labrys Town when the war against Spiral began, and the use of the portals leading in and out of the Great Labyrinth had been revoked for all. Two years they had lived in exile from their House, refugees of the war, and their joy at returning home was infectious.
'You should be careful,' Angel whispered to Van Bam. 'I think Namji has a thing for you.'
Van Bam nodded distantly as he watched the celebrations. Namji was a young Aelf – only fifteen, sixteen at the most – but the illusionist had already been warned that she was a slippery customer who was not to be trusted.
With a groan, Ebril got to his feet and bowed to the Relic Guild agents. 'My friends, we are in your debt,' he said, and then turned to his entourage. 'Come, let us announce our return.'
From around his neck, Ebril removed a thin chain connected to a small gold pendant that had been cast in the shape of a teardrop. Van Bam and Angel stepped aside to allow Ebril through as he marched up to the bell of red glass. He pushed his hand up into the bell, and began running the pendant around its interior. The bell emitted a tinkling that seemed to spread rather than grow in volume. It continued after Ebril had stepped back.
Van Bam gained the impression that the bell was calling out to the desert.
The air shifted and wavered.
'You might want to catch this show,' Angel said, nudging Van Bam forward.
He stepped closer to the edge of the Giant's Hand and gazed down onto the desert.
