Royal Assassin
Prologue
Dreams and Awakenings
Why is it forbidden to write down specific knowledge of the magics?
Perhaps because we all fear that such knowledge would fall into the
hands of one not worthy to use it. Certainly there has always been a
system of apprenticeship to ensure that specific knowledge of magic
is passed only to those trained and judged worthy of such knowledge.
While this seems a laudable attempt to protect us from unworthy
practitioners of arcane lore, it ignores the fact that the magics
are not derived from this specific knowledge. The predilection for a
certain type of magic is either inborn or lacking. For instance, the
ability for the magics known as the Skill is tied closely to blood
relationship to the royal Farseer line, though it may also occur as
a 'wild strain' amongst folk whose ancestors came from both the
Inland tribes and the Outislanders. One trained in the Skill is able
to reach out to another's mind, no matter how distant, and know what
he is thinking. Those who are strongly Skilled can influence that
thinking, or have converse with that person. For the conducting of a
battle, or the gathering of information, it is a most useful tool.
Folklore tells of an even older magic, much despised now, known as ... read full excerpt from: Royal Assassin ebook
